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Cris Joven well prepared for this year’s Ronda Pilipinas

CRIS JOVEN seeks to improve on his third place last year as he rides for Army-Bicycology Shop in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC unfolding on March in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and ending on March 18 in Filinvest, Alabang.

Joven, 30, wound up third overall behind eventual champion Jan Paul Morales and Navy-Standard Insurance teammate Rudy Roque despite coming in with little preparation and will be come into the 12-stage race with a lot of optimism.

“Compared to last year, I’m better prepared now so hopefully I could contend and challenge them again,” said Joven, a proud son of Iriga, Camarines Sur, in Filipino.

Joven will also be backstopped by veteran campaigners Alfie Catalan, Merculio Ramos, Jr., Marvin Tapic, Reynaldo Navarro and Alvin Benosa as they challenge the big guns like Morales and former champions Santy Barnachea of Team Franzia and Iris Valenzuela of CCN Superteam.

The other members of the Army-Bicyclogy team are Lord Anthony del Rosario and Kenneth Solis in this race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.

A cool P1 million will be at stake in this 12-stage race that will be jump-started by the 40-kilometer (km.) Vigan criterium Stage One on March 3 and the 155.4-km. Vigan-Pagudpud Stage Two the next day.

The race resumes with the 223.5-km. Pagudpud-Tuguegarao Stage Three on March 5, 135.2-km. Tuguegarao-Isabela Stage Four on March 6, 179.4-km. Isabela-Nueva Ecija Stage Five on March 8, 111.8-km. Nueva Ecija-Tarlac Stage Six on March 9, 31.5-km. Individual Time Trial Stage Seven and 42.14-km. Team Time Trial Stage Eight both in Tarlac on March 10 and 11.

Winding up the race are the 207.2-km. Silang-Batangas-Tagaytay Stage Nine on March 15, 147.8-km. Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 on March 16, 92.72-km. Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 on March 17 and the 50-km. Filinvest Alabang criterium Stage 12 on March 18.

Other teams competing are the Tarlac Province, Go for Gold, Go for Gold Developmental team, South Luzon, Ilocos Sur Province, Nueva Ecija and Team Bike Xtreme.

Wesley So’s secrets

I wrote last week that Wesley So has recently authored two DVD’s in the Chessbase shop:

My Secret Weapon: 1.b3, and

My Black Secrets in the Modern Italian

With the kind permission of Wesley So I am presenting to our readers a game he annotated from the latter DVD. It is instructive, interesting and easy to follow. Go to www.chessbase.com and click “shop.” Beg, borrow, steal, but you have got to get these two DVDs!

Note: I have had to edit down the game below due to space limitations.

Anand, Viswanathan (2782) — So, Wesley (2788) [C50]
London Chess 2017 (9), 11.12.2017
[So, Wesley]

London was cold, snowy, sleety, rainy and windy. Although I fought hard in my games I couldn’t seem to create much heat. What to do? People seem to think that strong players can and should win whenever they want. My guess is the people who think that have never played the best chess players in the world in a lengthy tournament. Everyone fights to the death and more often than not, a win or loss can hang on one single move. Anyway, I had some great battles that did not end decisively and now I was at the last game. My last chance and I’m playing black against the great Anand. Hope dies hard and of course I had a flickering hope that I might crack a win this time but hey… I’m sure Vishy did too.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4

I was happy to see this move. I’d prepared mostly for 3.Bb5, but before this tournament I’d prepared a DVD for ChessBase in the Italian Game. In looking at the material for the work and familiarizing myself with the typical ideas, plans, and setups, I also noticed that it’s not easy for White to claim a clear cut advantage when Black knows what to do.

3…Bc5 4.0–0

The slow classical setup. For the time being, White just wants to castle and develop his pieces.

4…Nf6 5.d3 0–0

Here Black already has a flexible choice, with …a6,…a5,…d6, or …h6 all playable alternatives. I like 5…0–0, as I keep the option of going d7–d5 in one move and I am not necessarily afraid of the pin Bg5.

6.a4

Just the previous day, I’d been very impressed by Vishy’s game: 6.c3 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 (8.Re1 Bg4) 8…a6 9.Re1 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nbd2 f6 12.Ne4 Ba7 13.b4 Kh8 14.Bd2 Nce7 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 c6= with no problems. Black’s play here looks so convincing that in fact if Vishy went for this I wouldn’t have minded playing the exact same line starting with 8…a6 against him! Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Anand,V (2782) London 2017 ½–½ (27).

With both our kings castled short 6.Bg5 does not look dangerous, after 6…h6 7.Bh4 Black can just go 7…g5 8.Bg3 d6 9.c3 and here there are many possibilities, but I like 9…a6 to reserve a safe square for my bishop.

6.h3 is possible too. Black can play 6…d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 but it’s not the best timing, as d3 is solidly protected. So I would prefer 6…d6. 8.Nbd2 White is slightly better.

6.Re1 Ng4 7.Re2 gives Black the extra option of 7…Nd4!? (Or perhaps even better is 7…Kh8 8.h3 f5! 1–0 (57) So,W (2770)-Giri,A (2785) Bilbao 2016) 8.Nxd4 Bxd4 9.h3 Nf6 with simplifications.

6.Nbd2 is okay too, but it blocks the bishop from developing. Black can play 6…d6 7.c3 a5 8.Re1 Be6; 6.Nc3 is not scary, Black plays 6…h6 to prevent Bg5 then 7.Nd5 d6=

6…h6

A slight move-order subtlety. 6…a5 is natural, but I assume he would go 7.Bg5 which gives White extra possibilities, as now the b5 square is weak. Levon played 3 games in 2017 with 7…h6 8.Bh4 Be7 but I’m not particularly convinced and I haven’t analyzed it deeply enough either.

7.c3

[7.a5 is worthy of interest. White threatens a5–a6 so 7…a6 8.c3 d6 gives a slightly different pawn structure]

7…a5

I like this …a5 setup. Black fights for every bit of space in the queenside and controls the dark squares very well.

8.Nbd2

The move 8.d4 gives Black many possible options: 8…exd4 (8…Bb6 9.dxe5 Nxe4) 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.e5 d5 (Or 10…Ne8 11.Nc3 d6 seems to hold out well)

8…d6 9.h3 Be6

Trading pieces is welcome for Black.

10.Re1

[10.Bxe6 fxe6 looks a little worrying to me because of the doubled-pawns. But Black controls enough space and should be able to fight successfully. 11.Re1 d5 (Or 11…Qe8 12.Nf1 Nh5) ]

10…Bxc4 11.Nxc4 Re8 12.Be3

With g5 under my control he does not have really anything better than to exchange dark-squared bishops.

12…Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Qd7

The freeing break 13…d5 does not work yet 14.Qb3! dxe4 (14…d4 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Nf5 with a slightly better game for White) 15.dxe4 Nxe4 16.Qxb7 Re6 (16…Qd7 17.Rad1 Nd6 18.Nc4±) 17.Rad1; But I considered 13…Ne7 which is fine.

14.Qb3 Ne7

I was starting to get worried over my c4–b5 light squares though closer analysis shows White is not fast enough to exploit it. Then I decided to transfer my knight to a better square.

15.Nc4 Ng6 16.Rad1

I thought this was too slow, but the position is so sterile anyway. I told Vishy after the game that I thought 16.Re3 might be a bit better for White, as he is faster on the e-file. 16…b6 17.Rae1 Nh5! 18.Kh2 (18.d4 Nhf4) 18…Nhf4 but the computer disagrees with me anyway and it turns out that he has problems with my knight on f4.

16…b6 17.Qc2

Again this looks slow. I thought his queen was just fine where it was but it might be needed to protect the kingside from Nf4 sometimes. 17.d4 exd4 18.Rxd4 Re6 gives White problems along the e-file; 17.Qb5 Nf4=

17…d5

I could play other moves, such as Qc6 or Nh5 but generally if d6–d5 works I should just go for it.

18.exd5 Qxd5 19.b3

I was a little surprised with this as now it’s clear that I have no problems whatsoever. I expected 19.Ne3 Qc6 (19…Qb7 20.Nc4 draw.) 20.d4=

19…Rad8

Centralizing the rooks.

20.d4 exd4 21.Rxd4 Rxe1+ 22.Nxe1 Qa8 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8

By now I realize that Vishy is probably happy to force the draw.

24.Qd3?!

This is not the best way though as the queen can be kicked by my knights with Nf4, Nd5 etc.

24.Nd3 Nd5 might be a bit uncomfortable for White;

24.Qd2 Qxd2 25.Nxd2 Nf4;

I thought 24.b4 is the simplest, to trade pawns and weaken my queenside.

24…Qe7!

It is wise for Black to keep queens for now. I calculated this long line: 24…Qxd3 25.Nxd3 Nd5 26.b4 Ngf4 (26…Nxc3 27.bxa5 bxa5 28.Nc5) 27.bxa5 bxa5 28.Nc5 Ne6 29.Ne4 (29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.Nxa5 Nxc3 leaves me a pawn up.) 29…f5 30.Ng3 g6 31.Ne2 Nef4 32.Nxf4 Nxf4. But then it turns out I am not even winning a pawn: 33.Ne5! Ne2+ (33…Kg7 34.c4) 34.Kf1 Nxc3 35.Nxg6 Nxa4 36.Ne7+ Kf7 37.Nc6 is equal.

25.Nc2 Nf4 26.Qd2 N6d5 27.Kf1 <D>

[27.Kh2 Qe2 28.g3 Qxd2 29.Nxd2 Ne6 30.c4 Nb4 31.Nxb4 axb4 Black is only slightly better]

Position after 27.Kf1

27…Nxc3 28.N4e3?

The losing mistake. He still had a lot of time here. Obviously on a good day he would have surely spotted 28.Nxb6, but in London, Vishy and Michael Adams were a bit out of form. 28.Nxb6! might be enough for a draw. 28…cxb6 (28…Qg5 29.Ne1) 29.Qxc3 Qe2+ 30.Kg1 Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Ne2 32.Qc8+ The point of the knight sacrifice. 32…Kh7 33.Qf5+ is equal.

28…Ne4 29.Qd4 c5 30.Qd1 Qf6

Being quite low on time, I chose a logical looking move. Black wins right away after 30…Qh4! 31.Ng4 Nxh3! (31…f5 32.Qd7 Qh5 wins too, albeit a more complicated one) 32.gxh3 (32.g3 Qg5) 32…Qxh3+ 33.Kg1 Nc3 34.Qd8+ Kh7 and White’s king has no defense. I spotted 31…Nxh3! but I just couldn’t believe that it wins on the spot! Maybe I need to have more belief in myself. 35.Nh2 Ne2+ 36.Kh1 Qf5–+.

31.Ng4

Resistance could’ve been much tougher with 31.Qd7 threatening Qe8 check. 31…Kh7 32.f3 Ng3+ 33.Kf2 Qh4 34.Qg4; 31.f3 Ng3+ 32.Kf2 Qh4 is a bit different as White has no Qg4.

31…Qc3 32.Nce3 h5 33.Nh2 Qb2 0–1

Here Vishy had to resign, as he will inevitably lose a second pawn. An unexpected win for me! It’s quite difficult to win with the Black pieces against players of this caliber. You need to be in really good form, or your opponent in really bad form. As I missed chances against Nepomniatchi and Aronian earlier in the tournament, this win was received with a big sigh of relief!

I have said many times that a good exercise for self-improvement is to annotate your own games. As you can see from the above this is a skill that Wesley So has mastered very well.

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant, he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Wizards thrive without Wall

When news of John Wall’s impending surgery hit hoops circles late last month, not a few quarters figured the Wizards to be dead meat. After all, they sported a pedestrian 27-22 slate, and the five-time All-Star’s absence for the next six to eight weeks was sure to put a crimp on their already-questionable competitiveness. True, they were in the so-called Leastern Conference, where even those struggling to play .500 ball had a chance to make the playoffs. On the other hand, their campaign up to that point could best be described as up and down, and appeared headed for worse without their acknowledged leader.

Fast forward four weeks, and it looks like the Wizards will be just fine. In fact, they have thrived without Wall, going eight and three since he had his left knee cleaned up, and looking every bit like the conference power they were projected to be. And it isn’t just because they sit just half a game behind the still-in-transition Cavaliers for third place in the conference. The quality of their victories show the extent of their progress; en route, they’ve prevailed against such notables as the Thunder, the Raptors, the aforesaid defending East champions, and the Sixers.

These days, the Wizards are a confident bunch. It helps, of course, that they have another capable All-Star in Bradley Beal to spearhead their cause. More importantly, however, Wall’s forced sidelining has provided them with the impetus to prove their worth — as if they want all and sundry to see they remain a force — without him. If anything, they seem to rejoice in dealing with adversity without having to rely on him; starting Center Marcin Gortat even went so far as to indicate in a social-media post how much more of a “team” they are in his absence.

There’s evidence of the Wizards drawing strength in themselves, to be sure. Certainly, their performance sans Wall underscores their capacity to be greater than the sum of their parts. Every single player from Beal down has stepped up. Among others, Tomas Satoransky has thrived in a starter’s role, Otto Porter has gladly accepted a bigger offensive load, and Kelly Oubre has been a spark plug off the bench. That said, they understand that the only way they can go deep in the postseason is if they get him back at full strength.

Parenthetically, Wall’s problems with his left knee limited his effectiveness on the court, in large measure accounting for the Wizards’ woes early on. He needed to have it scoped, and, to their credit, they bonded in the aftermath. Moving forward, though, Beal is right. They’re much, much better with him — or, to be more precise, the unhampered him — in action. That they didn’t have to take a step back in order to make sure they can then take two steps ahead is a testament to their spirit.

Needless to say, Wall’s impending return will compel the Wizards to adjust anew. Nonetheless, they’ll be better prepped for the best-of-seven affairs to come with him on board. He’s integral to their success. He knows it. They know it. Everybody knows it.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is the Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Basic Energy Corp.

Meralco net income up by 27%

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) reported a net income of P4.46 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017, higher by 27% compared with P3.5 billion a year earlier as new consumer accounts and high consumer spending boosted energy sales, the distribution utility said on Monday, Feb. 26.

“[Fourth-quarter 2017] sales volume [at 10,701 gigawatt-hours] is 7% higher than 10,039 GWh in the fourth quarter of 2016 mainly due to new residential accounts and ramp-up of accounts energized in 2016 complemented by high consumer spending,” said Betty C. Siy-Yap, Meralco senior vice-president and chief finance officer, in a press conference.

Adjusted for one-time, exceptional transactions, core net income rose by 5% to P4.84 billion from P4.62 billion previously.

“For the commercial sector, the real estate, hotels and restaurants and retail trade drove the volume growth,” Mr. Siy-Yap said. “On the industrial front, semiconductor, basic metals, food and beverage industries continued to provide additional volumes.”

For full-year 2017, Meralco recorded a 3% rise in core net income at P20.2 billion, before exceptional items. Reported net income was up 6% to P20.38 billion.

Core income excludes the effect of foreign exchange gains or losses, impairment charges, mark-to-market adjustments, gain on disposal of investment and other one-off items.

“2017 turned out to be another good year for Meralco,” said Oscar S. Reyes, Meralco president and chief executive officer, citing an improvement on both the commercial, operating and financial fronts.

Mr. Reyes attributed the increase to the “combined effects” of a growing customer base and positive economic conditions, with gross domestic product growth of 6.7%, moderate inflation at 3.2% and the softening of the peso at P49.93 to a dollar. He also cited stable power supply and lower power plant outages. — Victor V. Saulon

Inflation likely to pick up pace in next two months — FMIC

Inflation will likely peak at 4.5% over the next two months as it reels from the impact of higher crude prices and new taxes imposed on basic goods, which will likely trigger a policy rate hike from the central bank by March.

Analysts at First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) said they expect inflation to pick up by March and April at 4.5%, before slowing to back to within the 2-4% target range set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

“[W]e think that inflation will accelerate in H1 but will start to decelerate thereafter as food and crude oil prices normalize,” the research firm said in its monthly report published Monday, Feb. 26.

Prices shot up by 4% in January, beating market expectations and logging the fastest in over three years.

BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. has attributed the price spike to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, as well as to rising oil and food prices. However, the central bank chief said the impact of tax reform is likely temporary and would eventually “stabilize.” — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

DBP posts 22% net income growth in 2017

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) saw its net income rise in 2017 on the back of steady growth in its loan portfolio.

In a press briefing on Monday, Feb. 26, DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Cecilia C. Borromeo said the state-owned lender booked a P5.1 billion net income in 2017, 22% higher than the P4.2 billion posted in 2016.

“There are a lot of positive things going in our institution. We are experiencing robust growth in our financials,” Ms. Borromeo said.

DBP’s net income growth was mainly spurred by its gross loan portfolio which grew to P293.47 billion by 22% from the P240.9 billion logged in a comparable year-ago period.

The lender’s deposits expanded to P412.36 billion last year, up 16% from the P356.24 billion recorded in 2016.

Overall, DBP’s total assets reached P597.41 billion, growing 11% from the P536.11 figure in 2016. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Aquino questions credibility of Dengvaxia forensic examiner

FORMER President Benigno S.C. Aquino on Monday, Feb. 26, slammed an “unqualified” forensic expert during the House inquiry into the Dengvaxia controversy where he appeared as resource person.

“Masakit po nito: Lahat na lang po may opinyon, kwalipikado man o hindi, lalo na po yung isang maingay na ang certification ay tila isang antas lang ang lamang sa nabibiling diploma sa Recto,” Mr. Aquino said, reading from his prepared statement.

Mr. Aquino alleged that the certification of the forensic expert came from a “questionable course.”

“Galing po ang certification ng maingay na ito, sa kwestyunableng kurso kung saan manonood ka lang raw ng video ng isang oras kalahati, saka mag-exam na open book, at matapos mong magbayad ng 660 dollars ay certified ka na sa forensics (The certification of this expert is from a questionable course, where you just watch a video for one-and-a-half hours, then take an exam, and after you pay $660 you are a certified forensic expert) ,” he said.

The former chief executive also said that it is the duty of the government to appease the public in times of calamity.

This is after parents are reportedly resisting the other immunization programs of the Department of Health (DoH).

DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III made the same call during the hearing and added that other government agencies should be “prudent” in releasing statements about the Dengvaxia vaccine to avoid creating hysteria and affecting the programs of the department.

Mr. Duque added that the Public Attorney’s Office and the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital, which are conducting separate studies, should work together in investigating the deaths possibly linked to the anti-dengue vaccine.

Ayala subsidiary buys controlling stake in solar firm

A subsidiary of Ayala Corp. acquired a majority interest in a manufacturer of innovative solar solutions that will allow the conglomerate to bolster its global manufacturing presence and potentially disrupt the solar energy industry.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the conglomerate said AC Industrial Technology Holdings Inc. purchased a controlling stake in Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc. where the group made a minority investment in 2016.

AC Industrials, through subsidiary ACI Solar Holdings NA, will own 78.2% of Merlin after the transaction and completion of other related activities.

ACI Solar held an 8.2% stake in Merlin prior to the transaction, according to regulatory filings. — Krista Angela M. Montealegre

Evolving heavyweights

Trucks are becoming more connected, safer and more environmental-friendly — features that, the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) noted in one its reports, repeatedly come up as priorities for truck manufacturers today.

Partiality to each feature varies per region. PwC pointed out that in the Triad — North America, Europe and Japan — connectivity is one key to sales. “Although the Triad markets have buyers willing to pay for new technologies as soon as they go into production, in other regions the market will wait for the financial return to be proven,” the firm said.

PwC predicted that in next few years following the release of its report, in 2014, there would be an increasing convergence of legal requirements on pollutant emissions worldwide. The aforementioned Triad have been stricter with their limits on pollutants since the early aughts, according to the firm, and other regions are following suit.

“This governmental pressure for emissions reduction is having an effect. It has led, for example, to higher emissions transparency, making the tracking of all emissions more feasible over the entire value chain. This is the best approach to minimizing emissions. When the production of emissions while driving is monitored more rigorously, it is easier to engineer solutions for controlling it,” PwC said.

Increasing traffic density is a key stimulus for the growing focus on the safety features of trucks. This phenomenon is particularly salient in metropolitan areas where there has been an increased risk of accident. “New sensors and displays are aimed at helping drivers anticipate hazards,” the firm said. “In the future, the following factors are expected to drive the update of new safety features: ROI and initial cost of procurement, effectiveness of the technology, driver acceptance, interface integration, liability, and regulation.”

Connectivity — a prized feature in developed countries —  will come to more premium trucks. Connected means being “linked to the Internet in hubs that aggregate details from on-truck monitors and allow more sophisticated forms of monitoring and control.” “The connected truck concept contains attractive features for fleet owners and for drivers, because it enables fleet management to be streamlined considerably, with truck data exchanged wirelessly on the move. This enables fleets to optimize logistics, availability, and costs,” PwC explained.

In a more recent report, the firm identified several technologies transforming trucking and logistics. One of which is the vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, a technology that allows trucks to communicate with their surroundings through GPS tracking and the digital links between the trucks and the road or other infrastructure installations. “The goal is to optimize traffic flows, automate routing, improve parking efficiency and safety, and allow drivers to be more efficient,” PwC said.

There is also vehicle-to-vehicle communication. And as the name of the technology suggests, it makes it possible for trucks to communicate with other vehicles on the road, which can potentially decrease fatal collisions. “Intelligent telematics systems linking trucks will share information regarding position, speed, and direction, allowing for automated alerts,” the firm added.

“Ultimately, of course, these technologies, combined with short- and long-distance radar, laser detection, cameras, sensors, and 3D mapping, will eventually lead to the era of self-driving trucks — and completely revolutionize the entire industry.” The question is whether the trucks that drive themselves would gain acceptance around the world. Besides, PwC emphasized, the complete elimination of the driver is still far in the future.

Still, the seemingly inevitable march toward autonomous trucks will not happen overnight but in stages. “Within the next 10 years, drivers may not be needed in long-haul trucks anymore, but will continue to take over trucks entering urban areas, the way local pilots board large ships as they enter a harbor. And drivers will still be needed for local deliveries. It will take another five years or so before all trucking becomes fully autonomous,” PwC said.

Trucks you can depend on

In business, reliability is premium. The more consistent you can provide quality goods and services to your consumers, the more recognition your brand will receive. That applies to all facets of business management in all industries, so any forward-looking executive needs to value good, dependable tools to get the job done. From the machinery in producing goods, to the heavy-duty vehicles that transport them, investing in good equipment is never a mistake.

We have compiled a list of proven, reliable workhorses your business can depend on.

MAN TGS

The MAN TGS was designed with the philosophy of “less is more”, opting for less showiness while offering more ability. Pushing out more power with less fuel, MAN’s torquey common-rail engines combine an enhanced dynamic performance with low fuel consumption like no other vehicle. Meanwhile, the automated MAN TipMatic gear change helps reduce the pressure on the driver through easing the load on the drive train, both helping to cut diesel consumption.

MAN put ruggedness and reliability as the foremost quality into the TGS lineup, promising secure and consistently timely transport even off the beaten track. With its unmatched, versatile drive configurations through to 8×8 all-wheel, the TGS offers a whole range of mobility, both on-road and off-road.

Foton Gratour Midi Truck

Built with purpose, Foton’s Gratour Midi Truck seeks to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises by offering a quality product to meet their demands. As the need for logistics grows with the Philippines’ enterprise-driven economy, the Gratour rises to the challenge.

With a maximum length of 4480 mm, the Gratour Midi Truck can weave through congested roads with ease, securing faster deliveries while remaining fuel efficient. Its engine is a 1206 cc, 1.2-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine that is Euro 5 compliant, producing reduced emissions and 85hp at 6000rpm and 112Nm of torque at 4000-4400 rpm. The motor is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox, riding on 14” wheels. The Gratour Midi Truck can carry load weighing up to 1.2 tons, making it a staunch and dependable workhorse for a variety of needs.

Suzuki Super Carry

The Super Carry is a model that aims to please, offering power through a robust engine with superior fuel economy. A range of features such as generous load space, durability and reliability combined with a functional cabin make the truck a new power player on the roads.

Touting a gamut of functions and features designed for security and safety, the Super Carry provides the versatility for all kinds of work, from cargo truck to mobile business. Primarily designed for small enterprises, it carries a maximum payload of 745kg, including passengers, while remaining easy to maneuver and position in tight spaces and traffic.

Isuzu N-Series

Equipped with Isuzu’s Blue Power technology, the N-Series of commercial vehicles will allow for efficient and dependable deliveries all while maintaining eco-responsibility. Not only does the new Euro IV Compliant Blue Power Diesel Engine provide cleaner, more energy-efficient service, it also comes with the added benefit of additional power and durability. All that comes at no cost to the lineup’s versatility. The Isuzu N-Series offers the performance, toughness, and functionality that makes it a great multi-purpose truck. With features like a sturdy and durable ladder frame chassis, a rugged undercarriage, and extensive anti-corrosion treatment on the cab and frame, it’s hard to go wrong. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Tricks to keep trucks in shape

Businesses of all size rely on trucks to transport their goods. For instance, trucks ship raw materials from forests, quarries and farms to manufacturers that need materials in making products. Finished products are then delivered to wholesalers, retailers and the marketplace, still by trucks.

Technically, trucks are the most efficient and reliable way to move goods across towns, cities and regions. Thus, taking care of them is relatively saving your business from further troubles.

Obviously, no truck is guaranteed against breakdowns but following some simple maintenance procedures will keep it running well. One of these is changing the oil regularly. The performance of truck’s engine depends on many aspects, and the most significant one is the engine oil. Using the best quality engine oil up to knowing the best time to replace the oil will keep the truck’s efficient performance.

Changing the oil is a process of removing the old oil from a vehicle’s engine and replacing it with new, fresh oil. It is important to regularly change it as it is accountable for the lubrication and cooling of all the internal parts of the engine. The more regularly the engine oil is changed, the more effectively the engine will be able to function.

Checking the tires properly inflated and keeping its weight equally distributed around the axle are another things to do to maintain the overall performance of a truck. Making sure that the tires are properly inflated and balanced will reduce the chances of getting a flat tire. An unbalanced set of tires can lead to vibrations and may cause an uneven control on tires while on the road.

Since trucks are used to carry heavy loads, bringing it to a full stop requires more effort. For trucks, brake inspections should be done as often as twice per year to ensure that the brakes are able to endure the more extreme weather shifts. In time unusual sounds or vibration are heard and observed, it is best to send the truck to mechanic.

The next essential thing to do is to check the truck’s essential fluid levels. As with all vehicles, trucks run with a variety of fluids. Next to engine oil, the next important thing to check is the oil itself. If it smells like gasoline, then it should be changed immediately. Check the engine coolant as well and refill it if necessary. Truck engines make a lot of heat, and engine coolant keeps it from overheating. Finally, check out the windshield washer fluid, it’s a good idea to keep an extra jug of the blue stuff somewhere onboard, especially on long trips.

Clean the truck often too. Buildups of dust or any spills inside the truck can ultimately cause long-term damage to its condition, so cleaning the inside of truck is an important part to maintain its value. Furthermore, examine the outside and check for any spots where rust is beginning to form. Apply an oil-based treatment to prevent it.

Lastly, read up. Essential things in keeping the truck in good shape, from cleaning, to optimal fluids and maintenance checklists, are found in the owner’s manual. — Mark Louis F. Ferrolino

Mart volatility weighs on public float hike

THE SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) still plans to raise the minimum public ownership (MPO) requirement of publicly listed companies by yearend, but recent market volatility has made corporate regulators cautious for now.

“For the existing companies, we plan to raise it to 15%. But we’re still studying the matter because unfortunately the market is not that stable to admit this increase. Because maybe some people, because of some volatility in the market, are not yet investing,” SEC Chairperson Teresita J. Herbosa told reporters on the sidelines of a forum in Quezon City last week.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) — considered a local barometer of investor confidence — has been on a steady decline since notching its 10th all-time high this year on Jan. 29 at 9,058.62 — 5.845% up from end-2017’s 8,558.42 finish that was last year’s 14th peak — ending Friday at 8,467.56, down 1.06% year-to-date.

Analysts have said Philippine macroeconomic fundamentals remain sound, blaming any PSE fluctuation on foreign factors like Wall Street’s fortunes, US monetary policy moves and geopolitical tensions.

“So if you release suddenly an increase of five percentage points on a public float of 10%, then there may be no buyers at this point, or only a few shares will be sold,” Ms. Herbosa explained.

“It will be very difficult for some companies to comply with that increase.”

Once publicly listed firms raise their float to at least 15% from the prevailing 10% minimum, the next step would be to increase the requirement to 20%, which the SEC plans to implement by 2020.

The commission has identified 68 out of 264 publicly listed companies that have a public float lower than 20%, with 39 of them having an MPO less than 15%. In a presentation in June last year, the SEC said the stock exchange can raise more than P130 billion once all companies comply with the 20% MPO by 2020. That computation was based on stock prices on May 31, 2017, at a time PSEi was trading at the 7,800 level.

The higher MPO requirement among publicly listed firms is in line with a SEC memorandum circular directing companies seeking to conduct an initial public offering to have an MPO of at least 20%.

The corporate regulator said a higher public float would lead to more liquidity in the market, in turn making the PSE more attractive to institutional investors.

So far, only one firm has submitted an IPO application based on the SEC’s new rules. Del Monte Philippines, Inc., the local unit of Del Monte Pacific Limited, filed earlier this month for a P16.7-billion IPO, where it will offer about 20% of outstanding shares to the public. — Arra B. Francia

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