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CTDI holds one-day tax seminar on CITIRA, Transfer Pricing & Regulatory Updates

Center for Training and Development, Inc. (CTDI), in cooperation with Bernaldo Directo & Po Law Offices and R.S. Bernaldo & Associates, will hold a one-day public seminar entitled “Seminar on Corporate Income Tax and Incentive Rationalization Act (CITIRA), Transfer Pricing and Regulatory Updates” on Dec. 6, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Case Room 5th Floor, Tower II, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Get hold of the salient features of CITIRA and their possible effects on the way we do our business. This seminar also features the topics on transfer pricing and other regulatory updates that will enhance our compliance commitments. For details and reservations, call Evangeline E. Idusora at +632 8840-0535 to 38 local 105 or e-mail to: evangeline.idusora@bdplaw.com.ph.

Vivo NEX 3: A masterpiece of premium technology

Vivo has been known globally for its above-par efforts in bringing technological innovations— from the drawing board to industry-anticipated experimental smartphones—into commercially-available and successful flagship models.

Today, the brand continues to explore and push the envelope of creativity—both in hardware and software technology—to come up with the most aesthetic-looking yet highly-functional smartphones.

And among its current array of trendsetting flagship handsets that cater to different markets, the Vivo NEX 3 is perhaps the most remarkable, owing to a unique set of impressive features that rival other brand’s high-end smartphones.

Reputed to be the “device of the future” with its next-generation innovations and trendsetting design, the latest flagship model in Vivo’s high-end NEX series is built for young, aspiring entrepreneurs and success-driven individuals.

The NEX 3 is equipped with a powerful Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855+ octa-core processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM of storage to deliver faster cutting-edge performance and smoother multitasking capabilities.

But what really sets the NEX 3 apart and elevates it further as Vivo’s technological masterpiece is a world’s first AMOLED Waterfall FullView™ Display. The smartphone’s pièce de résistance, the display stretches and curves the screen around the edges, hugging the smartphone along its sides, to enable broader, borderless views.

And with no bezels on both sides, the smartphone is also without any physical buttons. To achieve this, NEX 3 introduces virtual buttons using an X-axis Haptic Vibration motor and Touch Sense technology. One can easily use the sleep-wake and volume buttons by touching pressure-sensitive and ribbed strips along the phone’s edges.

For top-notch optics that produces “super HD clarity” images, the NEX 3 sports a 64-megapixel main camera, 13MP wide-angle camera and a 13MP telescopic camera at the rear, while a 16MP Elevating Front Camera makes for perfect selfies.

The NEX 3 has a fast in-display fingerprint sensor embedded in its 6.89-inch display that boasts of an incredible 99.6% screen-to-body ratio. A Glowing Night-colored aluminum alloy unibody design and a Corning® Gorilla® Glass 6 protects the NEX 3 and its 4500mAh battery from accidental drops.

Developed around groundbreaking innovations and trendsetting minimalist design, the NEX 3 is truly a masterpiece that reflects Vivo’s passion for creating premium technology.

The NEX 3 smartphone is available at all authorized Vivo outlets nationwide.

For more details, visit https://www.vivoglobal.ph/product/Nex3

Sharp better solutions for a better life

With the continuous evolution of technology and the significant role it plays in the everyday lives of people, Sharp Philippines Corporation (SPC) continues to introduce products that aim to incorporate ease and convenience into the Filipino household.

SPC’s products are categorized into four sections, or what they refer to as Solutions – that seek to address the needs of consumers. These are: Entertainment Solution, Clean & Comfort Solution, Health & Beauty Solution and Business Solution.

Products highlighted last November 28, 2019 at The Madison Events Place complement those that were launched earlier in July. Though SHARP’s global direction is to bring in the latest products with 8K and AIoT technology, the company also devotes its resources in coming up with items packed with technologies that enables efficiency, provides comfort and promotes good health.

The audience was treated to a visual display as well as live demonstrations conducted by their corresponding Product Specialists, showcasing the features and capability of the items.

Entertainment Solution

Having introduced the AQUOS 8K LED TV for the Filipino market last July, SHARP now presents its Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) series of Full HD and 4K HDR Android Televisions. Eligible Android TVs are Google Assistant ready, enabling users to interact with their devices and perform tasks such as playing music/videos, searching for the latest news among others, all hands-free. The new line of Android TVs comes with features such as Comfort Mode, a special AV Mode that reduces 50% of blue light. It also has an Advanced Bluetooth version, which allows users to connect the television to their external Bluetooth speakers.

Have your own personal cinematic sound system with the AQUOS Sound Partner AN-SX7A. It is compatible with a wide variety of devices and is extremely portable; resting comfortably on ones shoulders. The Acoustic Vibration System provides powerful sound and heavy bass, ensuring an immersive audio-visual experience that is perfect for when you are playing video games or enjoying the latest shows on Netflix.

Clean & Comfort Solution

Personal hygiene is an important aspect in a Filipino’s life. Apart from ensuring the cleanliness of our own being, we want this to be reflected in our homes as well; a place considered as a sanctuary for individuals and families alike.

 

SPC has your well-being in mind; that is why they develop products that help achieve and maintain a fresh, comfortable environment. These are: Washing Machines, Ractive Air Vacuum Cleaner, Mite Catcher, Air-conditioner with AIoT J-Tech Inverter Technology and Air Purifier/Cleaner equipped with SHARP’s original Plasmacluster Ion Technology.

The application or use of these products are not only limited to homes, as they can also be utilized in venues such as offices, schools, hospitals and other establishments with high population densities; sure to benefit its occupants.

Health & Beauty Solution

We try to keep ourselves healthy through proper exercise and appropriate diet. This also reflects on the food that we consume and how it is cooked. With SHARP’s Healsio Hot Cook, healthy cooking is made possible as the natural moisture and original flavor from ingredients together with its nutritional values are retained, compared to conventional cooking. Dishes are hassle-free; with automatic control and various cooking programs depending on your menu, just place all the necessary ingredients and wait until it is finished. Voila! Your meal is now ready to be served.

Looking good is also tantamount to feeling good. When we exert even the littlest effort in fixing ourselves up, be it reporting to work every day or attending an event, we feel much more confident in facing the world. Beauty appliances for women, such as the Hair Dryer, Hair Iron and Curling Ion with Plasmacluster feature lessens dirt and prevents hair damage. The Scalp Massager on the other hand, reduces dry scalp and keeps our hair healthy.

Business Solution

Understanding the needs of businesses, SHARP also has dedicated products that cater to the corporate sector through their dynamic displays that project clear and beautiful images for application as digital signages or for business meetings via the internet.
SHARP has also acquired and further developed the Dynabook Laptop, designed for business professionals and workplace environments. Combining their technologies (displays, sensors etc.) with that of Toshiba, they seek to produce market-leading computers and other devices. The Dynabook features a thin design with a long-lasting battery and is rated with MIL-STD-810G for utmost durability.

Committed to quality and innovation, SHARP will continue to develop products that will bring Better Solutions for a Better Life to consumers.

Nov. factory growth slowest in 5 months

FACTORY ACTIVITY continued to improve in November, though by the smallest increment in five months as output and new orders bared weaker increases and employment “failed to improve,” IHS Markit reported on Monday.

A news release said the IHS Markit Philippines Manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Managers’ Index) eased to 51.4 in November from 52.1 in the preceding month, indicating “moderate improvement in operating conditions in the goods-producing sector.”

The latest reading was the lowest since June’s 51.3.

The headline PMI measures manufacturing conditions through the weighted average of five indices: new orders (30%), output (25%), employment (20%), suppliers’ delivery times (15%) and stocks of purchases (10%). The 50 mark separates readings above that denote improvement in operating conditions from the preceding month, while lower readings point to deterioration.

IHS Markit said “all five components… placed downward pressure” on the Philippines headline PMI.

The Philippines remained second among six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members tracked for the fourth month in a row, after Myanmar (52.7), which dislodged the Philippines from the helm in February and which has topped the region since then. Vietnam, which has been the Philippines closest contender in this regard, posted a 51.0 reading.

The Philippine reading continued to outdo ASEAN’s PMI, which improved to 49.2 in November from 48.5 in October but still marked the sixth straight month of contraction on “further declines in output, new business and employment.”

“Growth softened to a modest pace in the Philippines manufacturing sector in November, as firms noted the weakest rise in factory orders since August,” IHS Markit economist David Owen said in the news release.

This, in turn, “led companies to hold back on hiring plans, signaling reduced pressure on capacity as output growth slowed.

The output index was at its weakest since April, indicating “a loss of growth momentum.”

Sales continued to rise, at a solid pace, the statement read, even as the rate of expansion “was the weakest since August.”

While domestic demand was strong, new foreign orders fell “for the fifth time in six months”.

Survey respondents said they held off hiring in the face of weaker sales growth, “with the latest data signaling unchanged payroll numbers from October” after “four successive months of job creation.”

“While some companies hired new workers due to greater output requirements, others reduced labor or chose not to replace voluntary leavers.”

Moreover, production input costs “rose solidly” by the quickest pace since February, “in part resulting from higher demand for inputs.”

Companies affected by higher input costs “often passed” the burden on to customers through higher selling prices, although “the overall mark-up was modest and only slightly faster than October’s 45-month low.”

Manufacturers also continued to complain of traffic that caused continued “deterioration in vendor performance in as many months.”

At the same time, the outlook for manufacturing output improved by “a notable extent” in November, marking the highest level in nine months as respondents looked to new products and opening of new factories next year.

The Philippine results were based on survey responses to monthly questionnaires by purchasing managers of about 400 manufacturers, collected on Nov. 12-24. — Beatrice M. Laforga

Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index of select ASEAN economies, November (2019)

Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index of select ASEAN economies, November (2019)

FACTORY ACTIVITY continued to improve in November, though by the smallest increment in five months as output and new orders bared weaker increases and employment “failed to improve,” IHS Markit reported on Monday. Read the full story.

Manufacturing purchasing managers’ index of select ASEAN economies, November (2019)

Bulacan airport project groundbreaking being delayed — proponent

THE GROUNDBREAKING for the planned Bulacan airport that was planned for this month is being delayed after the government raised concerns about the contract, the project proponent told reporters on Sunday.

At the same time, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) rehabilitation project, which the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved on Friday last week, is expected to be implemented starting 2021 even as the project has yet to undergo Swiss challenge whereby the original proposal will be matched by competing offers of other parties.

“Delayed na ’yung groundbreaking dahil on hold eh,” San Miguel Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang told reporters last Sunday in Alabang when asked for updates on the planned groundbreaking for the Bulacan airport.

Asked when San Miguel was supposed to break ground for the project, Mr. Ang replied: “This December, kaya lang meron na naman silang (but the government again raised) issue.”

“Tanungin n’yo kay (DoTr Secretary Arthur P.) Tugade. Meron na naman bagong (There is a new) issue daw eh. Meron na namang nagtatanoong ng kung ano-ano (Someone is again raising various issues)… Nagpadala na naman daw ng mga sulat, ng kung ano-ano na naman. Dini-delay nila (Someone again sent a letter raising various issues. The project is being delayed),” he added.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade told reporters separately that it was the Department of Finance (DoF) that raised concerns about the project contract.

“Its not even a major concern.Si (Finance) Sec(retary Carlos G.) Dominguez (III) mahal niya ang bayan. Makikita niyo ’yung mga contract na dinaan sa Finance it will benefit the country (he loves the country. You will see that contracts reviewed by DoF benefit the country),” Mr. Tugade said.

“Gusto niya lang makita na talagang ‘yung sinasabi namin na (Mr. Dominguez just wants to make sure that contracts are) in favor of government, ma-klaro. He is not making objections. In other words it’s an issue of wordings and interpretations kaya sinama sa DoJ (Department of Justice) review… ’yung cap sa (concerning the cap on government) liabilty,” he added.

Noting that the contract for upgrading as well as operation and maintenance of Clark International Airport caps the government’s liability in the project, Mr. Tugade said there should also be such a cap in the Bulacan airport project.

The P734-billion Bulacan airport project, which will be officially called the New Manila International Airport, involves construction of a 2,400-hectare airport with four parallel runways (expandable to six runways), eight taxiways and three passenger terminal buildings. It will have an annual capacity of 100 million travelers, which the government hopes will help decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.

As for NAIA rehabilitation, the DoTr said in a news release on Monday that the project with have three phases running from 2021 to 2024.

The consortium undertaking the project consists of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

Phase 1, which will be implemented from 2021 to 2022, “involves the immediate improvements and reconfiguration of the existing airport terminals” that will increase NAIA’s capacity to 47 million passengers per annum (MPPA) from 31 MPPA currently.

Phase 2, from 2022 to 2023, will cover development of a new passenger building (Terminal 2 Annex) and improvement of the corresponding apron to increase the capacity to 21 MPPA from 11 MPPA. This phase also involves reconfiguration and expansion of the Terminal 3 building and apron to increase terminal capacity to 24 MMPA from 23 MPPA, as well as construction of a new taxiway and installation and upgrading of Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management equipment.

Phase 3, to be implemented from 2023 to 2024, will cover, among others, construction of new terminals (a new terminal annex building will add 5 MPPA) and expansion of existing terminals to increase capacity to 65 MPPA from 58 MPPA.

The NEDA Board approved approved last Friday the unsolicited P102-billion proposal from the country’s top tycoons to rehabilitate NAIA. The project will be subjected to a Swiss challenge after the Manila International Airport Authority and the NAIA Consortium agree on terms and condition of the concession agreement. MIAA will submit the draft agreement to the Office of the Solicitor General and the DoF for comment. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Gov’t rejects PXP proposal to take over Malampaya

THE GOVERNMENT has rejected the unsolicited proposal of listed exploration company PXP Energy Corp. to take over the Malampaya gas exploration service contract, Energy officials said on Monday, explaining that the process is not allowed under existing rules.

“We advised PXP that we cannot take cognizance of their unsolicited proposal,” Department of Energy (DoE) Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III told reporters when asked for an update on the proposal during a briefing at the agency’s head office in Taguig City to observe the “National Energy Consciousness Month.”

“The reason is very basic. We have what we call the PCECP (Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program).”

He said the program gives proponents only two ways to get a service contract to explore the country’s oil and gas resources. PCECP is the department’s initiative to revive exploration activities in the country. The DoE identified 14 areas with potential for oil and gas finds and offered these for competitive bidding. Proponents can also nominate areas outside the list.

Mr. Pulido said what PXP did was outside the provisions allowed under PCECP. He said Malampaya is under Service Contract (SC) 38, which is already held by private entities. “So we had to deny the unsolicited proposal of PXP,” he said.

On Nov. 12, PXP said it had submitted on Nov. 11 an unsolicited proposal to the DoE for the “strategic development and utilization” of an integrated gas hub in Malampaya when SC 38 expires in 2024. The upstream oil and gas company also offered to acquire the 45% stake of Chevron Malampaya LLC in SC 38, which is located offshore northwest of Palawan.

PXP is a unit of Philex Mining Corp. which in turn is one of the Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Company Ltd, the others being Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

“It has been Udenna (Corp.) that has been negotiating with them (Chevron) and we were told that they have reached an agreement,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said on Monday during the same briefing.

PXP said its project aims to ensure energy security of the country from indigenous natural gas resources for the next 25 years and beyond, while bringing in “significant revenues” to the Philippine government. It said the use of the Malampaya facilities as the integrated gas hub would also support the development of a robust indigenous gas industry.

Under its proposal, the company envisions the Malampaya infrastructure and distribution network to support the continued development of the oil discovery’s resources as well as the economic development of Sampaguita field and other nearby projects under SC 72, which is operated by PXP Energy through Forum (GSEC 101) Ltd.

The Malampaya deepwater gas-to-power project is the first oil and gas platform designed and built in the Philippines. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEx) operates the project on behalf of the SC 38 consortium.

SPEx also holds a 45% in SC 38, while state-led Philippine National Oil Co. Exploration Corp. has the remaining 10%.

On Monday, shares in PXP Energy rose by 0.38% to close at P10.52 each. — Victor V. Saulon

ADB names Japanese international finance, dev’t expert as its next president

THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB) on Monday announced the selection of Masatsugu Asakawa, special advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Taro Aso, as its president starting next year.

In a statement on Monday, ADB said Mr. Asakawa will assume office on Jan. 17 next year, succeeding Takehiko Nakao who steps down on Jan. 16.

Mr. Asakawa will serve the balance of Mr. Nakao’s term which ends on Nov. 23, 2021, ADB said.

He had been vice-minister of Finance for International Affairs, and had been engaged in development policy, foreign exchange markets and international tax policy.

“Mr. Asakawa’s extensive, diverse experience in international finance and development will serve ADB well in pursuing its vision of a prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and the Pacific,” Hong Nam-Ki, chairman of ADB’s Board of Governors as well as the deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance of South Korea, said in the statement.

ADB said Mr. Asakawa had also served as the Finance Deputy for the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit and the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Japan.

In the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis back in 2008, he participated in the first G20 Leaders’ Summit Meeting as the executive essistant to then Prime Minister Taro Aso.

Mr. Asakawa was visiting professor at the University of Tokyo from 2012 to 2015 and at Saitama University from 2006 to 2009.

He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tokyo in 1981 and MPA from Princeton University in 1985. — B. M. Laforga

Construction of Makati subway to start this year

By Denise A. Valdez, Reporter

THE builder of the Makati City Subway Project is hopeful of completing the intracity railway a year ahead of schedule after obtaining an environmental clearance from the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

Antonio L. Tiu, president and chief executive officer of project proponent Philippine Infradev Holdings, Inc., told BusinessWorld Monday the company is looking to begin construction of the Makati subway before the year ends.

He said Philippine Infradev is currently working to get “hopefully before year end” its last set of permits — local government unit (LGU) construction permits — to be able to start work on the subway immediately.

This follows the company’s disclosure to the stock exchange yesterday that it has received the Environmental Compliance Certificate by the DENR last week.

If things go as planned, Mr. Tiu said the Makati subway may be completed “best effort 2024” — a year ahead of its 2025 deadline.

The $3.5-billion Makati City Subway Project is being undertaken as a public-private partnership between Philippine Infradev and the City Government of Makati.

Mr. Tiu’s listed firm is working with a consortium that includes Chinese firms Greenland Holdings Group, Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group Co. Ltd., Holdings Ltd. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.

The subway will have 10 stations traversing 10 kilometers of Makati City’s central business district, which the proponent hopes will help decongest road traffic by carrying about 700,000 passengers daily.

Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail S. Binay-Campos previously said the tunnel boring machine, an equipment that will drill through the ground to make way for the subway, is scheduled to arrive in December.

Aside from the Makati City Subway Project, Mr. Tiu’s other company Greenergy Holdings, Inc. is aspiring to build a “modern tramway system” in Manila City. An unsolicited proposal has been submitted to the local government last month.

Shares in Philippine Infradev at the stock exchange inched up 0.03 points or 2.36% to P1.30 apiece on Monday.

Goyo bags top Luna Award

HISTORICAL epic Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral by Jerrold Tarog won Best Motion Picture along with several technical awards at the Luna Awards, held on Nov. 30 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

The film about the life and death of young General Gregorio del Pilar also won Best Sound for Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc and Best Musical Score for Mr. Tarog.

Another of the night’s big winners was Chito S. Roño who won Best Director for Signal Rock, a film about a man living in a remote island who takes care of his family while his sister works overseas. Signal Rock’s Daria Ramirez won Best Supporting Actress.

The top acting awards were handed to Glaiza de Castro for her work in Kip Oebanda’s Liway, a film about a mother and her child who were incarcerated during Martial Law, and Daniel Padilla for his work in Cathy Garcia-Molina’s The Hows of Us, a film about a couple who struggle to maintain a long-term relationship even as they dream of growing old together.

Liway also won Best Screenplay for Zig Dulay and Kip Oebanda and Best Editing for Chuck Guttierez.

The Luna Awards are given annually by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) to recognize outstanding achievements in the Filipino film industry. The first awards were presented in 1983 in Pasay. This year, the awards is co-presented by the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Below is the complete list of winners:

• Best Motion Picture: Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

• Best Director: Chito Rono, Signal Rock

• Best Actor: Daniel Padilla, The Hows of Us

• Best Actress: Glaiza de Castro, Liway

• Best Supporting Actor: Arjo Atayde, Buy Bust

• Best Supporting Actress: Daria Ramirez, Signal Rock

• Best Screenplay: Zig Dulay and Kip Oebanda, Liway

• Best Sound: Albert Michael Idioma and Alex Tomboc, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

• Best Production Design: Maolen Fadul, Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

• Best Cinematography: Neil Daza, Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus

• Best Musical Score: Jerrold Tarog, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

• Best Editing: Chuck Guttierez, Liway

• Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ) Lifetime Achievement Award: Lily Monteverde

• Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievements: Nova Villa

• The Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award: directors Wenn Deramas and Soxie Topacio — Zsarlene B. Chua

ALI unit ends JV with Gatchalian firms for Plastic City project

AVIDA LAND Corp. is cancelling its joint venture with Gatchalian-led Philippines Estates Corp. (PHES) and the subsidiaries of Wellex Industries, Inc. (WIN) for a proposed project in Valenzuela City’s Plastic City.

Avida’s parent Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) told the stock exchange yesterday the companies have “mutually agreed to terminate the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) executed by the parties in December 2012.”

The MoA refers to the two firms’ proposed development of a 21-hectare property in Plastic City — a plastic manufacturing plant in Barangay Canumay that the Gatchalian family used to run through WIN subsidiary Plastic City Industrial Corp. (PCIC).

“PHES and subsidiaries of WIN have decided to reevaluate its concept and feasibility studies on the property while Avida will focus on its ongoing and other planned projects,” ALI’s disclosure read.

The tandem of ALI’s mid-income residential brand and the Gatchalian companies was planning to develop Plastic City into a mixed-use urban complex with residential condominiums, townhouses and office spaces.

In WIN’s 2018 annual report, it said the land covered by the MoA with Avida had a carrying value of P75.61 million.

Despite their partnership trailing as far back as 2012, the companies could not begin with the project until last year, when WIN’s subsidiaries terminated the rehabilitation case of PCIC to be allowed to keep possession of the Plastic City property.

When PCIC ended commercial operations of Plastic City in 2002, the warehouse and building facilities of the plant have been leased out by PCIC subsidiaries, which are all under WIN.

WIN said in a regulatory filing its business is now focused on maintaining equipment and facilities in Plastic City, which it hopes to resume operations by finding strategic partners.

PHES, on the other hand, was an agriculture firm but is now in the business of real estate holdings with an agreement with Rexlon Realty Group, Inc.; Recovery Real Estate Corp.; Ropeman International Corp.; The Wellex Group, Inc. and Pacific Rehouse Corp.

Earlier this year, Avida launched a subdivision within ALI’s mixed-use estate Vermosa in Imus, Cavita. Avida Verra Settings Vermosa offers 370 units on the 10-hectare property.

It also unveiled Avida Towers (AT) Makati Southpoint — a three-tower residential condominium development located on an 11,000 square meter lot along Chino Roces Avenue in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City.

Shares in ALI at the stock exchange grew 1.50 points or 3.30% to P47 each on Monday, while shares in WIN fell 4.48% to P0.213 each and shares in PHES increased 1.27% to P0.40 each. — Denise A. Valdez

K-Pop suicide sparks a reckoning on revenge porn, sexual assault

THE SUICIDE of a popular South Korean singer has prompted calls in the country to overhaul laws on sexual assault and to more harshly punish revenge porn.

Koo Hara, 28, was found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday. Her last message on Instagram showed her staring into a camera lens from beneath blankets on her bed with a message of “good night.” Police say a note was found at the scene in which she expressed hopelessness.

Many in South Korea were already aware of her past that included assault by a former boyfriend who she alleged was threatening to release a sex video of her. The two most popular hashtags on social media in South Korea last week called for punishment of the ex-boyfriend and for the definition of sexual assault to be revamped.

A petition filed with the president’s office demanding changes to laws had one quarter of a million signatures. Lawmakers said it is time to push forward measures stalled in Parliament that make it easier to impose harsh penalties on those who engage in revenge porn or clandestinely take sexually charged videos.

Liberal lawmaker Lee Jung-mi of the minor Justice Party said in a social media post that Koo’s death shows that change is needed because the nation “cannot neglect illegal filming and circulation of videos.”

Lee in September 2018 introduced a bill to revise how South Korea’s criminal law defines rape. She said recent verdicts on sexual crime show the current standards don’t focus on consent but how much “resistance” there was from the victim.

President Moon Jae-in has called for a wide-ranging investigation of sex offenses linked to the entertainment industry and ordered the reopening of inquiries into past allegations. He issued a decree in June 2017 that set punishment of up to five years in prison, with the measure mostly pertaining to filming through hidden cameras.

Moon has not commented on Koo’s death or on revamping sexual violence laws. On Nov. 19 he did comment on women’s social status saying, “It’s still quite a dark reality compared to the rest of the world. I can tell you that I will pay more attention on gender equality.”

Some of those who are fighting for changes to the laws say they are frustrated with the pace of change.

“The current justice system sends a message to women that it will never be able to protect them,” said Yun Dan-woo, a writer and women’s rights activist.

RECENT CASES
Some recent cases illustrate critics’ concerns. In May 2018, a male judge ruled that a man wasn’t guilty of raping a woman who walked to a motel with him, according to the Law Talk legal journal and local media. Surveillance video presented as evidence showed the man pulling the woman. The judge acknowledged she had rejected sex but ruled this wasn’t a case where she was in danger, the reports said.

In a case in November, a male judge found a man not guilty of rape even though he had sex with a woman against her will. The judge ruled she gave consent by holding hands and giving the defendant an extra piece of meat at a restaurant, according to the legal journal and local media.

Koo, who used the stage name HaRa, was a member of the group Kara, which had nearly a decade-long run as a top act in the notoriously fickle K-pop music industry. One of group’s biggest songs, “Step,” garnered nearly 100 million views on YouTube, helping Koo win fame in Japan, China and other major markets outside of Asia.

In Koo’s case, a judge found her boyfriend guilty of assault yet acquitted him of illicitly filming Koo and trying to blackmail her. On Friday, dozens of people rallied in front of the Seoul District Court, demanding that the judge in the case resign.

Although the laws on clandestine recording could be applied to revenge porn — posting without permission explicit images of individuals that may be taken in acts including consensual sex — that sort of prosecution is almost unheard of in South Korea. More than 40 US states have laws banning the practice as do other countries.

Proponents of more stringent measures say they want to act now while Koo’s death is fresh in the public mind and may give a push for change.

“Korean society has this misconception of rape of always being done by some random monster who comes out of nowhere in a dark alley at night, which is why it doesn’t acknowledge that someone close and intimate is more likely to be the perpetrator,” said Claire Park, an activist at the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center. — Bloomberg

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