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DoE to shift to reverse auction system for power supply deals

THE Department of Energy (DoE) is planning to issue a regulation that will require generation companies to bid to supply power instead of signing power supply agreements (PSA) with distribution utilities.

“[This is aimed] to implement a more objective platform for sourcing of electricity for a given area,” DoE Undersecretary Jesus Cristino P. Posadas told reporters in a media gathering on Monday.

Energy Secretary Alfonso C. Cusi said he was looking at the first quarter of the year as the implementation of the proposal, although guidelines are targeted to be ready earlier than that.

Mr. Posadas described the process as “reverse” auction of power supply because the buyers are the ones looking for suppliers.

At present, power generation companies offer their power output to distribution utilities, with which they negotiate a PSA and agree on the terms including pricing, which is then subjected to price challengers through a competitive selection process.

“We will change that,” Mr. Cusi said, adding that the process will start with an auction at the onset.

A third-party auctioneer with no interest in the deal will also be designated to conduct the auction. The Philippine Electricity Market Corp., the entity that operates the wholesale electricity spot market, may be a candidate for third-party auctioneer.

As example, Mr. Cusi said that an area that needs 100 megawatts of power would be assessed by the DoE on the type of power plant that could offer supply based on its requirement for baseload, mid-merit or peaking power.

He said the department would then determine the pricing for the electricity per kilowatt-hour (kWh), which will be bid out, with the one offering the least cost per kWh winning the auction. — Victor V. Saulon

Jeepney prototypes inspected as Senate holds inquiry on modernization program

By Arjay L. Balinbin

JEEPNEY prototypes were presented outside the Senate on Monday, Dec. 11., on the occasion of its inquiry into the jeepney modernization program, with one group questioning the features of those models.

“Hindi compliant. Walang para sa PWD (Not compliant. There is nothing for Persons with Disabilities),” Lalaine M. Guanzon of the PWD Federation told Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, during its public hearing on the program, after checking the prototypes parked outside the Senate building.

Ms. Guanzon also said her group had earlier done some ocular visits at some manufacturing companies and concluded that modern jeepneys are not PWD-friendly.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, for his part, acknowledged that “there are indeed prototypes presented to the department that do not comply with the requirements,” one of which is to “provide comfort or convenience to persons with disabilities.”

Mr. Tugade assured that he does “not approve” prototypes that do not comply with the basic requirements stipulated in the “omnibus franchising guidelines,” and adding that he “advises manufacturers to modify the design of the model” for them to get an approval.

The Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) requirements under the omnibus franchising guidelines indicate four major features for modern jeepneys, such as their being environmentally friendly, their safety and security components, and their comfort and convenience.

For a vehicle to be environmentally friendly, it has to comply with the Clean Air Act, Euro 4 emission standards and safety standards, and uses electricity, solar, or an alternative source of energy. For safety, the unit must have side doors, speed limiters, and an automatic braking system.

For security purposes, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) requires units to have CCTV, GPS, and dashboard camera. Meanwhile, for commuter comfort and convenience, units must have Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), free Wi-Fi, and must be PWD and elderly-friendly.

Major transport groups such as the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO), Confederation of Drivers and Operators in Central Luzon, and National Federation of Transport Cooperative have expressed their opposition to these requirements.

“We are not against modernization. The problem is that the omnibus guidelines (were) not made clear to the transport groups. We were not given a chance to speak at public hearings. They should have heard our side,” said ACTO chairman Efren de Luna.

For his part, Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators in Central Luzon (PCDO) chairman Dan Yumul said, “They should have included us in formulating the guidelines.”

Mr. Tugade insisted that the agency “had invited them to participate in the public consultations.”

For her part, Ms. Poe said “the government indeed has plans for modernization — ambitious, yes, impossible, no. However, we cannot deny that despite efforts at dialogue, there is opposition because of the following: the fact that the new routes have not been identified, the high unit cost and burdensome financing terms, the requirement of consolidation into transport cooperatives — all these big details that need to be ironed out before we require our driver-operators to scrap their old units in favor of new ones.”

In the DoTr’s overall implementation timeline, there is an ongoing full implementation of the route rationalization study within Metro Manila which will last until 2018. In Davao, the route rationalization study has been fully implemented this year, while Cebu is still in the pilot stage.

Of the financing terms which most transport groups question, the government commits to initially pay the 5% subsidy, while the remaining amount shall be paid within a seven-year period at 6% rate per annum.

For drivers or operators to be eligible to participate in the program, the omnibus franchising guidelines require them to form a cooperative.

“Part of the components that will work well, dapat may (there should be) industry consolidation. Ito yung maliliit na operators na magkaisa (This is for small operators to unite). It’s an option. They can create their own corporation to get a franchise,” said Martin B. Delgra III, chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Ms. Poe said resistance to the modernization program is understandable, citing the same opposition to when the LRT, FX, and UV express first came out.

The DoTr has committed to a three-year transition period towards full modernization, where there will be pilot areas and implementation will be according to phases, and that old jeepneys will not be phased out right away given that the program’s budget is only P2.2 billion and that only 28,000 units will be covered by the subsidy program next year.

Ms. Poe also noted the DoTr’s commitment to extend the LTFRB franchise of jeepneys from five to seven years, and to ensure monitoring of new units, whether they are in compliance with the requirements using the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS), and regular consultations by the DoTr secretary during the program’s implementation.

Mr. Tugade told the hearing he is “still open to discussions” and that he “will meet” the transport groups “every two months.”

House passes on final reading proposed base pay for military, uniformed personnel

THE House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a measure to increase the base pay of military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

Garnering a vote of 167-4-0 on Monday’s session, Dec. 11, House Joint Resolution No. 18 modifies the base pay of military personnel under the Department of National Defense (DND) and uniformed personnel under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Mapping and Resource Authority (NAMRIA).

Under the resolution, MUPs will receive an average increase of 58.7% from the previous base pay provided in Joint Resolution No. 4 of 2009.

Candidate soldiers from DND and candidate members of the Coast Guard will have a monthly base pay of P18,587 from P11,265.

Personnel with the ranks of private under DND, fire/jail officer I and police officer I under DILG, and apprentice seamen under PCG and NAMRIA will receive P29,668 from P14,834.

A general or director general under DND and DILG will be given P121,143 from P67,500.

In addition, there will be a hazard pay of P540 a month.

The increase will take effect starting Jan. 1, 2018. — Minde Nyl R. Dela Cruz

Ed Sheeran tops Spotify’s 2017 music charts

MUSIC STREAMING service Spotify has named 2017 as the year of Ed Sheeran (real name: Edward Christopher Sheeran) as the English crooner dominated its global charts with his most recent album, Divide, garnering 3.1 billion streams worldwide, and his single “Shape of You” becoming the “most streamed Spotify track of all time” with over 1.4 billion streams to its name.

Released on March 3, Mr. Sheeran’s third album — his first in three years after a hiatus — immediately smashed records as it debuted atop Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, earning 451,000 equivalent album units, making it the highest-selling album of 2017 (in terms of first week sales) until it was replaced by pal Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album Reputation which was unloaded on Nov. 10.

Ms. Swift was also named by Spotify Philippines as the Top Female Artist of 2017. Ms. Swift famously removed her entire catalog from the streaming service in 2014 and returned to its fold on October this year, though her newest album was only added to Spotify on Dec. 1.

Back to Mr. Sheeran, his first single off of the new album, “Shape of You” was described by Billboard’s Taylor Weatherby as a song that “doesn’t quite sound like your typical Sheeran tune,” but that it “almost serves as an indication of what the ‘Thinking Out Loud’ singer has been up to during his hiatus: creating music that still feels like Sheeran, just with a new twist.”

The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica described it as a “nimble and effective song that takes the aggressive thinning of Caribbean music that Justin Bieber rode to pop success and runs it through a sieve five or 10 more times, leaving only the barest essence, then adds some acoustic guitar at the end as some combination of young-person taunt and old-person dog whistle.”

“Ed Sheeran absolutely dominated this year with the release of his record-breaking album Divide,” said Stefan Blom, Spotify’s chief content officer in a press release.

“Shape of You” has replaced Drake’s “One Dance” as the most popular song on the service.

On the global front, hip hop is seen to continue its role as a major music genre as the world listened to it 74% more of it than the past year, “a significant increase, considering its popularity in 2016,” said the release.

Latin music is also making waves on the service as listening increased by 110%, largely credited to the popularity of Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” (featuring Daddy Yankee) and J. Balvin and Willy William’s “Mi Gente.” Both songs were the first two Latin tracks to sit atop the global Spotify charts during their release.

“Despacito-Remix” which adds Justin Bieber to the Fonsi/Daddy Yankee mix was also named Spotify’s Song of the Summer.

Going over to the Asian continent, K-pop saw a 63% increase in listening year on year. The Philippines also streamed so much K-pop that it holds the number two position globally (second only to K-pop’s home country) in terms of the number of K-pop streams on Spotify.

Below is the Spotify Philippine’s Year in Music 2017:

MOST STREAMED ARTISTS

• Ed Sheeran
• The Chainsmokers
• Bruno Mars
• Coldplay
• Taylor Swift
• Maroon 5
• Ariana Grande
• LANY
• Jonas Blue
• BTS

MOST STREAMED TRACKS

• “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran
• “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur
• “Versace on the Floor” by Bruno Mars
• “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars
• “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers
• “Despacito (Remix)” by Luis Fonsi (ft. Justin Bieber)
• “I’m the One” by DJ Khaled
• “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by ZAYN
• “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran
• “Malaya” by Moira dela Torre

MOST STREAMED ALBUMS

• Divide, Ed Sheeran
• 24K Magic, Bruno Mars
• American Teen, Khalid
• Illuminate, Shawn Mendes
• Memories…Do Not Open, The Chainsmokers
• x, Ed Sheeran
• LANY, LANY
• Glory Days (Deluxe), Little Mix
• Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande
• In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith

TOP MALE ARTISTS

• Ed Sheeran
• Bruno Mars
• Jonas Blue
• Khalid
• Shawn Mendes
• Sam Smith
• Charlie Puth
• James Arthur
• Drake
• Martin Garrix

TOP FEMALE ARTISTS

• Taylor Swift
• Ariana Grande
• Alessia Cara
• Hailee Steinfeld
• Moira dela Torre
• Selena Gomez
• Camila Cabello
• Dua Lipa
• Sarah Geronimo
• Juris

— Zsarlene B. Chua

DoF to start talks on ADB PPP reform loan by H1

THE Department of Finance (DoF) aims to start negotiations with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on a public-private partnership (PPP) policy reform loan within the first half of 2018.

“We have the Expanding Private Participation in Infrastructure Program… We are looking at a $300-million loan under this program. So most likely first to second quarter negotiation,” Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Z. Tan said on Thursday.

She said that it would be a program loan aimed to increase private investments in infrastructure through PPP policy reforms.

“They are currently collecting the remaining compliance documents from the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) and DoTr (Department of Transportation).”

Meanwhile, projects in the pipeline eligible for ADB’s sovereign financing program next year include the $70-million Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, the $300-million Inclusive Financial Sector Development Program, the $300-million Secondary Education Support Project, the $100-million Metro Manila Transport Project, the $200-million Metro Manila Water Supply Project, the $100-million Central Spine Connectivity Project Phase 1, the $160-million Mindanao River Basin Flood Control Project, and the $300-million Expanded Social Assistance Project.

Ms. Tan said that 2018 disbursement is expected for the four loan packages that were approved by the bank earlier this year.

These include the $100-million Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility, the $300-million Encouraging Investment through Capital Market Reforms Program, Subprogram 2, the $300-million Facilitating Youth School-to-Work Transition Program, and the $380-million Improving Growth Corridors in the Mindanao Road Sector Project.

The DoF and the ADB are also expected to firm up the co-financing arrangement with Japan Official Development Assistance (ODA) on the Philippine National Railway’s (PNR) P211.46-billion Malolos-Clark north line, and the Tutuban-Los Baños south commuter line.

“So that’s next year.”

The multilateral bank last week unveiled its Country Operations Business Plan 2018-2020 for the Philippines, which offered $3.68 billion, with 40% of the amount going to infrastructure-related projects.

It also includes some $1 billion worth of loans on standby. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Yeng Guiao to suggest creation of new sports stadium in Clark to MVP

TWO years ago, sports officials in the country had identified Clark, Pampanga as a possible site for the creation of a new sports stadium, one that will serve as training ground for the Philippine athletes.

It was suggested by then Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia and longest-serving Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco to Yeng Guiao, who serves as co-chair of the sports committee in sports at the House of Representatives in 2015.

“The idea then was to put up a sports stadium which not only allow our athletes to train, but could also provide them a dormitory. It was also suggested to have a school inside the sports stadium to allow them to study,” Mr. Guiao told BusinessWorld.

Creating a new sports stadium may finally come true, especially now that the Philippines was given hosting rights for the 2023 World Cup alongside Japan and Indonesia and Mr. Guiao will suggest this to Manuel V. Pangilinan, the chief backer of Gilas Pilipinas.

“I’ll suggest that to MVP. I think this is a good time for the creation of a new sports stadium with Clark being identified as the logical site,” added Mr. Guiao.

Why is Clark considered to be an ideal venue for the FIBA World Cup?

“If you look at the location of Araneta Coliseum, it is in Quezon City and once you drive your way to NLEx, you’ll get to Philippine Arena, which is another ideal venue for the World Cup. If you continue to drive straight, you’ll be headed to Clark,” said Mr. Guiao. “It’s also good for the NLEx business because people will go there, so I think it’s worth the investment for Boss MVP.”

Araneta Coliseum, which served as one of the venues when the Philippines last hosted the World Championship in 1978, needs to upgrade its facilities and meet the requirements of FIBA. Two years ago, the venue didn’t pass the standard set by the world governing basketball body, which is one of the reasons why the Philippines lost in its hosting bid for the 2019 World Cup.

The Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, which attracted close to 55,000 fans during Game 7 of the finals series between Ginebra and Meralco, is boast of an Olympic-size sports stadium that has a basketball gymnasium, track oval and swimming pool among others.

Mr. Guiao expects the new sports stadium to be created similar to that. — Rey Joble

Filler streamrolls into the WPA World 9-Ball tourney knockout rounds

By Ted Lerner
WPA Press Officer

DOHA, QATAR — The action at the 2017 World 9-ball Championship picked up apace on Day 2, as 32 players out of the field of 128 were shown the exits, while another 32 punched their tickets to the Final 64 single elimination knockout stage.

The remaining 32 players to vie for pool’s most prestigious crown will be determined on Monday at the Al Arabi Sports Club in Doha. From there all eyes will be on the prize, as whoever wins six straight matches over three days will be crowned the new champion of the world in 9-ball come Dec. 14.

For those who hastily got their pink slips on Sunday, there wasn’t too much misery to speak of. This was due to the fact that most of the 32 players who took their second defeats really had no hope of making much noise in the first place. However, there were several shockers that still turned some heads throughout the pool world.

Mika Immonen is normally a player fans expect to make a run in big events. But the 44-year-old Hall of Famer never seemed to get it together this week. In a do or die match against Korea’s Woo Seung Ryu, Immonen fell flat for the second day in a row, bowing out of the tournament in the group stage via a 9-5 score line.

Alex Pagulayan reached the semi-finals last year here in Doha, but 2017 in Doha turned out to be a stinker for the Fil-Canadian. The gregarious 39-year-old fell to Lebanon’s Mohammad Berjawi, 9-7, and was knocked out barely after the proceedings had begun.

Other notable players who were shown the exits included China’s Wang Can, and Japan’s Toru Korubiyashi.

For the Americans, the 2017 campaign will go down as perhaps the worst in the illustrious 25 year history of the World 9-ball Championship. No big name American players bothered to make the trip to the Middle East this year. And the two that did, Hunter Lombardo and Robert Hart, both went two matches and out. This could be the first time in history that the last 64 of the World 9-ball Championship will not feature one single American player.

The field that is taking shape for the final 64 is, however, looking very deep indeed. One thing that is certainly quite apparent already is that the youth movement throughout the sport will continue and expand this week in Doha.

The 20-year-old German Joshua Filler has been generating tons of excitement throughout the pool world lately. His incredible talent and devil-may-care shooting style has many proclaiming that the German youngster is destined to be the Ronnie O’Sullivan of the pool world. Despite a long trip from Vegas where he won the Mosconi Cup and captured the MVP prize for Team Europe, Filler hasn’t missed a beat here in Doha. On Sunday he played without a care in the world, first taking down Greece’s Damianos Giallourakis, 9-6, and then handily defeating China’s Kong Dejing by the same score for a spot in the final 64.

Another youngster grabbing a lot of attention is 19-year-old Albanian Klenti Kaci. While the exact opposite of Filler in terms of speed and style, the talented Kaci always seems to find a way to win, no matter the opponent. On Sunday, the Albanian star defeated Chu Bingjie of China to qualify for the final 64.

In terms of countries, Taiwan easily had the best day on Sunday with six players qualifying for the final 64. World number one Chang Jung Lin, Chang Yu Lung, Ko Pin Yi, Ko Ping Chung, Lin Wu Kun and Chieh Liu Cheng all won their second straight matches to make the knockout rounds.

The Philippines is looking like it will send its usual armada to the knockout rounds. Carlo Biado, Jeffrey de Luna and Jeffrey Ignacio all won their second straight matches and qualified for the final 64. Warren Kiamco, Johann Chua, Francisco Felicilda, and Roland Garcia all lost on the winners side of their groups and will have one more chance on Monday to try and make the knockout rounds.

There will be Europeans aplenty in the final 64. Defending champion Albin Ouschan of Austria handily beat Taiwan’s Hsieh Chia Chen, 9-5, to advance. Spain’s Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Russia’s Konstantin Stepanov, Sweden’s Fischer Sparrenlov, Greece’s Nikolas Malai and Alexander Kazakis, the Netherlands Marco Teutscher, Czech’s Roman Hybler, Polish veteran Radislaw Babica, and 19-year-old Lithuanian Pijus Labutis all won their second matches to make the grade.

It was a good day for South America at the World 9-ball Championship. Venezuela’s Jalal Al Sarisi (Yousef) beat the Philippines Johann Chua, 9-8, to advance. Peru will have its first ever player in the knockout rounds after Martines Gerson defeated Germany’s Andre Lackner, 9-8.

Japan’s Naoyuki Oi barely squeaked by Canada’s John Morra, 9-8, to qualify. While compatriot Hayato Hijikata took down Estonia’s Dennis Grabe on the winners side to make the knockout rounds.

Senate passes measure aligning training with industry requirements

THE SENATE has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to align the training and education of Filipino workers with actual industry standards and needs.

According to a statement from the office of the legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, Senate Bill No. 1456, or the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act of 2017, passed with 14 affirmative votes, two negative votes and one abstention.

Mr. Villanueva said the measure “enhances the link between education and the economy or the labor market. This will put an end to our perennial problem of job-skills mismatch.”

The Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) is defined by the bill as “the national policy which describes the levels of educational qualifications and set the standards for qualification outcomes. It is a quality assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of a certain country.”

“The PQF will pave the way for every Filipino to become a lifelong learner by allowing him or her to start at the level that suits him or her and then build-up his or her qualifications as his or her needs and interests develop and change over time,” Mr. Villanueva said.

He noted that under the PQF, school curriculums will not be fixed, as these “should correspond to the progress of technology and development of new work especially in Information Technology, Robotics, Logistics, Renewable-Energy, Travel and Hospitality, etc.”

The bill calls for training and educational institutions to conform to standards and qualifications set by the Philippine Qualifications Framework-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) mandated “to harmonize and promote a seamless education and training system.”

The PQF-NCC will be composed of the heads of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and a representative from the economic sector. The new body will be chaired by the DepEd Secretary.

The hype reawakens: Star Wars stages Last Jedi premiere

LOS ANGELES — Stormtroopers, droids and celebrities from galaxies near and far hit the red carpet in the shadow of a giant AT-AT assault vehicle Saturday at the glittering world premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi — although one star almost didn’t make it.

R2-D2 (L) and C-3PO characters arrive at the premiere of Disney Pictures and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Dec. 9 in Los Angeles, California. — AFP

John Boyega, who plays the heroic stormtrooper-turned-rebel Finn, had tweeted that he feared missing the big event because a snowstorm had gridlocked air travel out of Atlanta.

“Trying to get back for the LA premiere! I actually NEED a pilot !!!” he lamented, before turning up in the nick of time for the big screening in downtown LA after managing to catch a flight.

“It’s thanks to Poe Dameron, the best pilot in the galaxy!” he joked on the red carpet, referring to the rebel pilot who aided his escape in the previous film.

He was joined on the red carpet by the rest of the all-star cast, including Daisy Ridley (Rey in the space saga) who arrived wearing a suitably shimmering dress decorated in stars.

Hotter than one of Yoda’s root leaf curries, the Star Wars: The Last Jedi is expected to cash in on 12 months of relentless hype with one of the biggest domestic opening weekends ever.

Thousands of guests lucky enough to get tickets were the first moviegoers in the world outside of the production to see the eighth installment of the blockbuster space saga.

Director Rian Johnson introduced the movie by bringing the cast onstage, and paid an emotional tribute to the late Carrie Fisher, the iconic General Leia Organa in the series, who died last December.

Moviegoers clapped throughout as she appeared onscreen, and rose for a standing ovation as the credits rolled.

RAPTUROUS INITIAL REACTIONS
Lucasfilm has embargoed detailed reviews until 9 a.m. Los Angeles time (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, but fans were quick to flood social media with rapturous initial reactions to the movie, the longest in the series at 153 minutes.

“There aren’t enough words to express how much I LOVED Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It is mind-blowing! I’m in geek heaven!” tweeted Jenna Busch, a writer for fansite LegionofLeia.com.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi is so very different, exciting, surprising. So many emotions, so many amazing moments. Stay away from spoilers,” added Peter Sciretta of entertainment portal slashfilm.com.

The premiere came six days before the movie’s general release in US theaters, kicking off a run widely expected to be the most successful worldwide since 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Experts are predicting an opening weekend domestic box office of around $220 million, which would push it beyond Jurassic World (2015) into second place behind Awakens ($248 million).

The cast came together in LA with director Rian Johnson on Sunday to build buzz for The Last Jedi, which sees the return of the characters introduced in J.J. Abrams’s first entry in the rebooted trilogy.

Gwendoline Christie, who plays stormtrooper commander Captain Phasma, put the continued relevance of Star Wars down to its foundational mythology of good versus evil.

“I think it’s because the world we live in is a changing and evolving place that it retains the simplicity of those elements,” she said. “But it really resonates with what it is to follow your own human, dark, narcissistic tendencies, where that will take you.”

‘DIRE SITUATION’
Christie was joined at the Sunday event by returning stars Ridley, Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domnhall Gleeson, and Luke Skywalker himself — Mark Hamill.

There were new faces too: Kelly Marie Tran as Resistance maintenance worker Rose Tico and Laura Dern, who plays Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo.

The Last Jedi — filmed on the west coast of Ireland and at Pinewood Studios near London — marks the last appearance of Fisher, who died after already having wrapped her scenes.

Written by Johnson, The Last Jedi picks up directly where The Force Awakens left off, with Rey looking to Luke to teach her about The Force.

It presages adverse times for the Resistance — prompting comparisons with the middle chapter of the original trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back.

Like Fisher and Hamill, Harrison Ford was a Star Wars mainstay as loveable rogue Han Solo — but the character is missing from the latest chapter, having been killed off.

“There hasn’t been a Star Wars movie yet that has explored war the way The Last Jedi has,” said Boyega.

“It’s very messy. The categorizing of good and evil is all mixed together.”

“It’s a dire situation, it’s critical. The Resistance is on its last legs,” added Isaac.

“When you’re trying to survive, the First Order’s right on top of us, it is like war, where you’ve got to keep moving to try to survive. You feel the momentum of everything that happened in The Force Awakens just pushing to a critical mass.” — AFP

Roque slams De Lima, Gascon over EJK definition

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON Harry L. Roque, Jr on Monday, Dec. 11, slammed detained Senator Leila de Lima and Commission on Human Rights Chairman Jose Luis Martin “Chito” C. Gascon, calling them hypocrites, for continuously accusing the administration of being behind alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the drug war. Mr. Roque pointed out that these two officials are signatories of Administrative Order No. 35, signed by former President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, which gave a definition to EJKs that excludes the killings of suspected drug suspects. “How is it now that when drug pushers or users die, Senator De Lima and Chairman Gascon insist that these are EJKs? Their sudden about-face is baffling given that these drug pushers and users are not members or affiliated with any political, environmental, agrarian, or labor organization. These drug pushers or users are likewise not journalists,” Mr. Roque said in a statement sent to reporters. — Rosemarie A. Zamora

Advancing transitional justice through women, peace, and security

The Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC), as a concrete entity borne out of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), was the first of its kind in the country. From a gender perspective, it was pioneering in a way that it consciously and diligently included gender in its principles, processes, and output.

In its Final Report launched in March 2016, for example, the TJRC noted patterns of conflict-related violence against women in the Bangsamoro that consisted of rape, mutilation of women’s reproductive organs, killing, abduction, sexual abuse, enforced disappearances, sexual slavery, forced marriage, and abandonment.

The TJRC’s gender-relevant General Recommendations were on the appointment of a gender adviser in the operational aspect of the National Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission on the Bangsamoro (NTJRCB) as well as the inclusion of the function “to investigate serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, focusing, inter alia, on specific emblematic cases of mass atrocity crimes, of land dispossession, and of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence” in the mandate of the proposed Sub-Commission on Bangsamoro Historical Memory.

On the other hand, specific recommendations proposed to national and regional government agencies related to gender were on gender disaggregation of data, development/delivery of culturally and gender-sensitive educational materials, public services, psychosocial healing and reparation packages, and memorialization initiatives.

In light of the existing policy discourse on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), the TJRC recommended “to institutionalize capacity building programs for women in the Bangsamoro towards their empowerment and recognition of their integrality of their rights, including property rights,” “support the future Bangsamoro authorities in continuing, strengthening, and expanding existing structures and mechanisms for women at various levels,” “ensure the meaningful political participation of Moro and indigenous women in national, regional, and local bodies,” and “enhance the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and include a Regional and/or Local Action Plan on UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 in the ARMM.”

HOUSE BILL 5669
After over a year since the release of the TJRC Report, Representative Jose Christopher Belmonte filed House Bill (HB) 5669 or the “Transitional Justice and Reconciliation for the Bangsamoro Act.”

To a large extent, it picked up on the recommendations of the TJRC, particularly, the institutional bodies, namely, the NTJRCB and its Sub-Commissions on Historical Memory, Against Impunity and for the Promotion of Accountability and the Rule of Law, on Land Dispossession, and on Healing and Reconciliation. HB 5669, under the function of the Sub-Commission on Historical Memory, stipulated the following gender-specific provisions:

• “…the sub-commission shall listen to the testimony of victims in closed or public hearings, in order to collect witness statements and evidence related to specific violent events, with sensitivity to accounts of women who have been victims of gender-based and sexual violence;” and

• “To investigate serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, focusing, among others, on specific emblematic cases of mass atrocity crimes, of land dispossession, and of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence to determine whether such forms of violence were practiced as a deliberate strategy of war in the Bangsamoro conflict.”

TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE THROUGH WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
At this point, however, since the TJRC-recommended institutional bodies have yet to be established and HB 5669 has yet to pass, an existing strategic pathway for transitional justice through WPS may be the immediate way forward.

Transitional justice is a gender issue that is integral to WPS. Mandate-wise, it can draw from the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP WPS) 2017-2022 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (ARMM RAP WPS) 2017-2019.

Both policy frames already exist and have specific provisions as well as indicators/strategies on transitional justice.

For example, the NAP WPS commits to the “inclusion of gender and transitional justice in negotiated peace agreements as well as in mechanisms relevant to the implementation of closure agreements” and implementation of the gender-specific recommendations of the TJRC, particularly, “those related to emblematic mass atrocity crimes committed against Moro and indigenous women and those pertaining to reparation and land rights.”

In the case of the ARMM RAP WPS, the key transitional justice strategy was to systematically document “past and present conflict-related women’s human rights violations with the goal to create a data base and contribute to information on women’s experiences during conflict in aid of establishing transitional justice mechanisms such as memorialization, truth commission, and reparations, among others.”

Furthermore, using the existing institutional mechanisms of the NAP WPS, it is possible to tap the National Steering Committee on Women, Peace and Security (NSC WPS) — led by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) — to establish a technical working group (TWG) on Gender and Transitional Justice that will map out appropriate strategies and programs.

Financially and programmatically, government agency-implementers of the NAP WPS can draw from their respective Gender and Development (GAD) budget to implement their gender-sensitive transitional justice initiatives.

Moreover, the NSC WPS national government agency members — specifically, PCW, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Justice (DoJ) — can work together in the development of a gender-sensitive victim-focused approach related to handling victims of conflict-related sexual violence and other violations of women’s human rights. Central to their efforts should be the framing of initiatives within the right to know (e.g. women’s truth telling spaces), right to justice (e.g. special court on conflict-related sexual violence), right to reparation (e.g. preferential treatment to women’s right and access to land and property), and guarantee of non-recurrence (e.g. strengthening the protection of women’s human rights by institutional duty-bearers).

In 2015, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the Philippines was lauded for our achievement in women’s participation in peace negotiations and agreements. Maybe this time, our country can be known for being at forefront of implementing a gender-sensitive transitional justice system in the Bangsamoro and making a concrete difference in the lives of women who have lived through the armed conflict.

 

Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza, Phd. is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science of the Ateneo de Manila University.

mrallonza@ateneo.edu

Pru Life UK taking cycling thrust to another level

IN line with its thrust to promote responsible and safe cycling in the country and further underscore what it is all about as a brand, Pru Life UK has decided to take its well-received cycling event to another level.

Happening on two weekends in January, PRUride PH 2018 is being hailed as one of the biggest cycling events in the Philippines to start the new year.

The event is set to gather some of the national team cyclists from the country and across Southeast Asia with two competition legs — Jan. 11 to 14, 2018 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, and Jan. 21 at McKinley West, Taguig.

“Pru Life is living up to its standard as a brand. It’s a big company. That being said, we are taking it to another level armed with what we have learned in the past to reach out to and include more people,” said Allan Tumbaga, Pru Life UK senior vice-president and chief marketing officer, to a group of writers during the launch of PRUride PH 2018 recently as he discussed the reason for the leveling up of the event which was initially held solely at McKinley Hill.

“PRUride PH 2018 continues Pru Life UK’s commitment to promote responsible and safe cycling. We also hope to increase awareness on cycling as an alternative mode of transportation so we can all work towards having a safe and environment-friendly community for the generations to come,” added Mr. Tumbaga on using cycling as a platform to communicate their cause.

For PRUride PH 2018, organizers said participants should expect a packed schedule of activities.

With more than 5,000 participants expected to sign up, Pru Life UK arranged several racing segments to cater to a wider range of cyclists, from amateur and age-group riders to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) license holders.

Among the activities included are the Professional Individual Time Trial, Amateur Time Trial, and the 100-kilometer Gran Fondo — all to be held in Subic — and a repeat of the 2016 Criterium races in Taguig.

Organizers said seasoned cyclists can put their skills to test at the PRUride Professional Road Race, a UCI-accredited (class B) event and a platform for young athletes aspiring to be in the national cycling team to show off their talents. It will also take UCI license holders and elite professionals to a 160-kilometer course, leading them to the historic peak of Mount Samat in the town of Pilar, Province of Bataan.

PRUride PH 2018 will also bring in the popular and exciting Brompton Challenge to the country for the very first time.

The challenge includes the Slowest Lap Challenge, which tests the balance of a rider where the slowest participant to cross the finish line without stepping on the ground winning the event.

The other one is the Brompton Criterium, which utilizes the folding bikes and features a 30-minute race with two laps. In it participants are required to wear a formal top and will begin with their bikes folded at the starting line. At the sound of the horn, participants will run, unfold their bikes and ride. The local Brompton Criterium will be flavored with a Filipino twist and will require riders to wear a barong tagalog or Filipiniana top.

This year’s prize pool has been increased to a total of more than P1 million worth of cash prizes. P50,000 is at stake for the top finishers of all Elite professional categories for both men and women.

Moreover, six all-expense-paid trips to London will be given away, including two for the grand winners of the men and women Elite Criterium in McKinley West, and two for the men and women Professional Road Race winners in Subic. Two trips will also be raffled off during the Bike Community Days in both locations.

All participants of the event will also get a limited-edition PRUride PH 2018 jersey and all finishers will be awarded with a finisher medal.

To ensure the success of the staging as well as ensure that its product trademark of “caring, contemporary and professional” are upheld throughout the event, Pru Life UK has partnered with the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, National Bicycle Organization, and the local government unit of the Province of Bataan.

“Expect PRUride PH 2018 to be both fun and arduous,” said Mr. Tumbaga.

To know more about the event and register, log on to https://pruride.ph/. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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