NBI autopsy shows Filipina housemaid was sexually abused

January 13, 2020 | 12:08 am

AN AUTOPSY by Philippine investigators showed that a Filipina allegedly killed in the hands of her employer was sexually abused, the Justice department said on Sunday.

“There were clear indications of sexual abuse,” Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra told reporters in a group message, citing the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) autopsy of Filipina housemaid Jeanelyn Villavende.

NBI agents will submit a report to him on Monday, he said.

NBI medico-legal division chief Ricardo Rodaje conducted the autopsy on Jan. 10 in Cotabato, near Ms. Villavende’s residence, Mr. Guevarra said.

The justice secretary ordered the autopsy last week and said government prosecutors would look at potential liabilities of the Filipina worker’s recruiters.

Ms. Villavende was allegedly beaten up, according to preliminary reports, while a certificate of embalmment from Kuwait showed she died from heart and respiratory failure due to injuries on her vascular system.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration this month stopped the deployment of Filipino housemaids to Kuwait after Ms. Villavende’s death and other reports of maltreatment.

Mr. Guevarra last week said the department could only provide legal assistance because Kuwaiti authorities have exclusive jurisdiction over the case.

Ms. Villavende’s body arrived in the Philippines on Jan. 8. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Congressman calls for national minimum wage hike

January 13, 2020 | 12:07 am

A CONGRESSMAN is pushing for a P650 national minimum wage, citing inflation concerns and inequitable salaries of workers in various regions.

Kabayan Party list Rep. Ron P. Salo said he had filed a bill that calls for a national minimum wage and the abolition of the regional wage board system.

Mr. Salo said the cost of living in the provinces have also gone up, adding that wages in the private sector were getting behind.

Minimum wages in the Philippines follow a two-tiered system and the amount varies per region. Metro Manila enjoys the highest minimum wage in non-agriculture establishments at P537, while the Ilocos region’s minimum wage is P282 for agriculture workers.

The current wage system is determined by a Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board. The law allows wage hikes once a year.

A similar bill was filed in the previous Congress but it did not go beyond the committee level. — Gillian M. Cortez

USDA upgrades PHL 2020 pork output estimate

January 13, 2020 | 12:07 am

THE United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is projecting a 10% decrease in the Philippines pork production for 2020 due to the impact of African Swine Fever (ASF), though it upgraded a previous estimate made in October due to effective disease-containment measures.

“Production is forecast to fall 10% year-over-year due to ASF impacts,” USDA said in its Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report. The agency is projecting volume of 1.475 million MT for 2020, down from 2019’s 1.640 million MT.

It noted that the latest estimate represents a 5% upgrade of its October projection of 1.4 million MT due to “higher-than-expected hog supplies and fewer disease impacts.” Imports projection are projected to decline 14% this year while domestic consumption is expected to fall 5%, to 1.775 million MT.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said in December that ASF cases are tapering off amid various control measures like movement restrictions which have confined the outbreak to Luzon.

According to the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), pigs culled have totaled 147,334 head as of December 15, of which 18% were infected by the virus and the rest disposed of as a precautionary measure.

The disease was found in 612 barangays in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Tarlac, Rizal, Cavite, Pangasinan, and Metro Manila.

Hog raisers have said that the supply of pork is sufficient, as the culled pigs represent only a small portion of the entire herd, estimated at about 13.01 million head as of October.

ASF has also figured in upgraded estimates for chicken imports in 2020 as consumers avoid pork.

“Imports for 2019 are revised up 10% to 345,000 tons as consumers substitute chicken for pork following ASF outbreaks,” the USDA said. Domestic production is expected to increase 10% year-on-year to 1.6 million MT.

Domestic consumption of chicken is also expected to increase 11% year-on-year to 1.990 million MT. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Arthaland readies P3-billion green bonds by month’s end

January 13, 2020 | 12:07 am

By Denise A. Valdez

ARTHALAND Corp. is targeting the issuance of its P3-billion Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) green bonds before the end of January.

Leonardo T. Po, executive vice-president and treasurer of the listed niche property developer, told reporters last week the company is hoping to receive the permit to sell the bonds from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) soon.

“P6 billion is the total shelf registration. But we’re only activating P2 billion with an option to increase to P3 billion… We’re hoping to get it done by the end of this month,” he said.

Arthaland previously disclosed it plans to use proceeds from the bond issuance for its pipeline of green projects — a requirement by the SEC for companies to offer ASEAN green bonds.

The company has internationally and locally recognized green buildings in its portfolio, such as the Arthaland Century Pacific Tower and Arya Residences in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

It is also building the Cebu Exchange, Savya Financial Center in Taguig City and Sevina Park in Laguna, and has plans to launch projects in its properties in Makati City and Cebu Business Park.

Mr. Po said while green bonds are not yet very popular in the Philippines, noting Arthaland is the first non-financial corporation to do such issuance in the country, there is high interest from foreign investors for the climate-focused financing instrument.

“Investing in sustainable financial instruments is more common in developed markets. But it’s only now that it’s coming here… If you look to what’s happening around the world, we see that there is traction for this type of investment,” he said.

Once Arthaland completes the first tranche of its P6-billion shelf registration, Mr. Po said the remaining P3 billion will be offered “as and when we need it.” The bonds will have a three-year validity from the SEC’s approval of the registration.

Arthaland Senior Vice-President for Strategic Funding and Investments Sheryll P. Verano said the cash the company expects to raise from the green bonds is expected to be “good at least for up to 2024.” She noted Arthaland may consider bank financing for other fundraising activities.

Arthaland has a five-year plan until 2024 to expand its development portfolio by five times, increasing its gross floor area to a little over 500,000 square meters from 100,000 square meters.

With its list of projects over the next four years, the company is set to complete P60-billion worth of developments to load its portfolio.

Earnings of Arthaland soared to P647.36 million in the first nine months of 2019 from P75.64 million in the same period in 2018, driven by a 151% growth in its revenues to P1.49 billion.

Its shares at the stock exchange dipped 2 centavos or 2.38% to P0.82 each on Friday.

Kings regain series lead with big Game Three win

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings regained the upper hand in their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup finals series with the Meralco Bolts, two games to one, after taking Game Three, 92-84, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Stanley Pringle led a ferocious run in the third quarter by the Kings to create a considerable distance from which the Bolts could not recover from, handing Barangay Ginebra the win that left it just two victories away from claiming the title in the season-ending PBA tournament.

The match was tightly fought in the opening half, with the Kings up by only a point, 43-42, at the break.

In the third quarter, Barangay Ginebra started to blow the game open.

It open the frame with a 10-0 run as Mr. Pringle started to find his mark, helping his team to a 53-42 lead with 9:43 to go.

The Kings stretched their lead to 21 points, 76-55, with a minute left before settling for a 78-68 advantage heading into the fourth.

But Meralco would not go down without a fight.

Led by rookie Trevis Jackson and import Allen Durham, the Bolts tried to rally back.

They would come to within five points, 87-82, with 2:04 to go but a triple but LA Tenorio at the 1:47 mark gave the Kings more breathing space, 90-82.

A deuce by Chris Newsome 11 seconds later pushed Meralco to within six points, 90-84, but they would not get any closer than that as a basket by Japeth Aguilar with 30 seconds left put the game away for Barangay Ginebra.

Import Justin Brownlee led the Kings in the win with 24 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Mr. Aguilar had 23 points and seven blocks to win player of the game honors.

Mr. Pringle finished with 21 points, 17 coming from their telling third-quarter run. Mr. Tenorio had 11 markers.

For the Bolts, it was Mr. Newsome who top-scored with 24 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two blocks.

Mr. Durham had 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists while Bryan Faundo came off the bench to fire off 10 points.

Big man Raymond Almazan finished with two points and two rebounds before leaving the game midway into the opening quarter from an apparent knee injury.

He was set to undergo an MRI later last night with his status in future games in the series still to be known.

Game Four of the finals is on Wednesday, Jan. 15, also at the Big Dome.

Help desk, livelihood program set in Iloilo and Lanao for OFWs in Middle East

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

LOCALIZED initiatives are being rolled out to assist overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families amid tension in the Middle East. In Iloilo province, a 24/7 help desk has been set up at the capitol lobby to help address repatriation and other related queries. The Operation Bulig Ilonggo is manned by representatives from the province’s Public Employment Service Office and various national government agencies relating to OFWs, including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)and the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA), among others. “As much as possible we would like to only cover requests for repatriation, updates, and communication. All other concerns will be coursed through OWWA and DFA,” Provincial Administrator Suzette A. Mamon said in a statement on Friday.

MINDA
In Mindanao, a livelihood orientation program will be held in Lanao del Sur this week for OFWs from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair Emmanuel F. Piñol said they have drafted various livelihood programs and income-generating projects that returning OFWs can tap. “The MinDA initiative to contribute to the preparations for the crisis was mainly because of the fact that many of the OFWs in Islamic countries in the Middle East come from Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Provinces,” Mr. Piñol said in a statement last week. “With proper preparation, the feared crisis could yet become a window of opportunity for the agricultural and economic development of Mindanao with the involvement of thousands of OFWs,” he added. — MSJ

Didal determined to see her Olympic push through

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

IN the mix to make it to the Tokyo Summer Games later this year, Filipino skateboarding star Margielyn Didal said she is determined to see her Olympic push through but admitted needing all the help that she can get to make it a reality.

Currently ranked 14^th in the world, Ms. Didal, 20, is on the right track in her bid for Olympic qualification.

She, however, still needs to fortify her position by competing and doing well in a series of qualifiers in the lead-up to the Games as other top skateboarders are also expected to go all out to earn an Olympic spot for themselves.

In the Olympics, only the top 20 skateboarders in the world qualify, leaving slots really tightly fought for.

“I’m confident of entering the Olympics but there a lot of competitions that I have to compete in. We need all the support that we can get for these events to sustain the momentum we have built and get the points needed to stay in contention for a spot in the Olympics,” said Ms. Didal in an interview.

She is currently in Hong Kong training for the qualifier next month in Melbourne, Australia. Ms. Didal is also girding for another competition in Peru in March.

The Cebu City native built much momentum in her Olympic thrust as 2019 drew to a close, finishing well in tournaments she competed in, including the 30^th Southeast Asian Games here in the country where skateboarding made its debut.

Ms. Didal was a two-time gold medallist in the SEA Games, winning in street skateboarding and Game of S.KA.T.E.

Prior to it, she also competed in the OI STU Open Street/Park Skateboarding in Brazil in November where she finished in the top 10.

Those good showing she had has her confident of her chances even as she said that she hopes to take cue from them in competitions this year.

“Currently I’m in the top 14 in the world and we are on the right path, so there is a chance. If the Olympics started today we can qualify,” said Ms. Didal.

The Asian Games gold medallist went on to underscore that the tack to have Filipino athletes have more foreign exposure must be sustained to gauge “where we are in our game.”

She also welcomes plans to build more skate parks in the country where skateboarders like her can hone their skills and train.

For the SEA Games, skateboard facilities were built in Tagaytay City while the Bases Conversion and Development Authority said that Phase 2 of the development of the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, is planned to include skate parks.

Pasig River ferry service to acquire four more boats

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

THE PASIG RIVER ferry service is budgeted to expand its fleet by four boats this year, Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara said, adding to its current inventory of nine boats.

Mr. Angara said in a statement Sunday that the service has been allocated P176 million this year to make it more viable as a commuting option.

“The P176-million budget lodged with the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) is intended to make the Pasig River ferry system more viable as a mode of transport, especially with traffic congestion on the roads of Metro Manila seemingly getting worse by the day,” Mr. Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said.

He said the service will buy four 50-seater air-conditioned ferry boats with the funding. Of the nine boats currently in the fleet only two are operating daily.

“The skyway systems that aim to ease traffic along the major thoroughfares such as EDSA are still under construction but this doesn’t mean that we can do nothing to help our commuters. We have to look for solutions and the Pasig River ferry could help” Mr. Angara said.

The funds will also be used to improve the accessibility of ferry stations and intermodal transfer points.

“Purchasing new boats is not enough because the commuting public must be provided with easy access to the ferry stations if they are to be enticed to use this mode of transport” Mr. Angara said.

There are currently 14 ferry stations along the Pasig River, but only 11 are operational. The current system runs from the city of Pasig to Manila via Mandaluyong and Makati.

“We still have a long way to go before the revitalized ferry system that is being envisioned becomes a reality, but this is a good start. We owe it to the public to continuously provide them with solutions to problems such as traffic congestion” Mr. Angara said. — Genshen L. Espedido

Construction costs rose by 15% on labor shortage, say builders

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

By Jenina P. Ibañez

CONSTRUCTION projects take on an additional 10-15% in costs due to a shortage in skilled construction workers and necessary equipment, Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Association (CREBA) Chairman Charlie A. V. Gorayeb said.

In a phone interview on Thursday, Mr. Gorayeb said the industry employs additional workers to make up for the lack of training and equipment.

“If you have unskilled workers, dinadaan na lang sa dami (you just employ more). We have five workers doing masonry, where in some other countries, two people are enough to do it because they have complete equipment,” he said.

Building projects encounter years-long delays and wastage of materials, he said.

On the other hand, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) Executive Director Santiago F. Ducay said in a phone interview on Friday that additional costs are shouldered by the private sector making up for the training gap.

“In some way, it raises the cost because there’s training costs and the learning curve that has to be awaited,” he said.

Mr. Gorayeb explained that the construction industry has been experiencing its skilled labor shortage for years, but this shortage has been emphasized after the government started its Build, Build, Build infrastructure program.

“The government embarked on a huge construction program without training workers,” he said.

“They all know that long before and nothing was done. And it became even more obvious and problematic when the government went into a trillion (peso) infrastructure (project).”

The Duterte administration in November released a revised list of flagship infrastructure projects, increasing the number to 100 from 75. The government is pushing for 56 of these projects to be completed by the end of 2022.

The construction industry every year addresses the housing needs of a growing population.

“The housing industry needs to build one million housing units yearly to satisfy population requirements,” Mr. Ducay said, adding that the sector also addresses housing losses due to calamities and dilapidation.

To solve the skilled labor shortage, both the government and the private sector should invest in upskilling programs, including on-the-job training, he said.

Mr. Gorayeb said contractors are can be partly blamed for the shortage as they do not engage in formal skills training for construction workers.

But even as skilled workers are trained by the government through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the same workers move abroad in search for higher wages.

“What the government is doing is train (workers) at TESDA and then send them outside (the country). As long as we do that then we don’t train for the (domestic) labor requirement,” Mr. Gorayeb said.

DMCI Holdings, Inc. Chairman and President Isidro A. Consunji last week said he expects the take home pay of workers to increase as the construction industry continues to experience labor shortages. He said that the take home pay of workers must increase as the construction industry continues to experience labor shortages.

“The government should revisit and review the wage structure for more competitive wages,” Mr. Ducay said.

The average daily basic pay in the industry has increased from P319 to P376 from 2013 to 2017, according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission.

According to preliminary data from the Philippine statistics authority, the construction industry in 2019 had an estimated 4.2 million jobs, compared with 3.9 million in 2018.

Iloilo City extends ban on pork from Luzon

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

THE ILOILO City government has extended the ban on pork and by-products from Luzon until June to ensure that the city’s swine industry remains free from African Swine Fever (ASF).

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 3, series of 2020, on Jan. 8, extending the initial three-month ban issued Oct. 10, 2019 following reports of ASF cases in various parts of Luzon.

“Iloilo is considered a leader of trade and a commercial hub for Western Visayas. It is a main entry/exit of inter-regional conveyance through the Iloilo International Airport and the Iloilo International Port in Loboc, Lapuz, Iloilo City. There are still cases of ASF in the country particularly in Luzon, thus a possibility of it reaching Region 6 and cause high mortality affecting the food security of the city,” the mayor said in his order.

The ban also covers pork and pork products from countries identified positive for ASF.

Mr. Treñas, in an interview last week, said the ban extension was recommended by City Veterinarian Tomas J. Forteza Jr.

“Dr. Forteza explained to me why we need to extend the ban. He told me that there are cases of ASF in Luzon. We just want to ensure that our city is free from ASF and small piggeries in the city are protected,” he said.

Earlier, the Iloilo City Veterinarian’s Office announced a plan to make permanent or at least extend the 90-day ban after it found some pork products sold in public markets and private supermarkets to have been shipped in from Mindanao and Cebu but with raw materials from Luzon.

The Western Visayas hog industry is valued at P7.69 billion with a population of 1,250,681 head as of Jan. 1, according to the Regional Veterinary Quarantine Office. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Titans strike quickly, stun Ravens; 49ers win in NFC

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

LOS ANGELES — The Tennessee Titans on Saturday shocked the high-powered Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers won their first NFL playoff game in six seasons to advance to the conference championships.

Ryan Tannehill passed for two touchdowns and ran for another and Derrick Henry rushed for 195 yards and passed for a score that broke the Ravens’ backs as the sixth-seeded Titans buried the number one ranked Ravens 28-12.

Tennessee scored the game’s first 14 points and led 28-6 after three quarters.

The surprising Titans will meet the winner of Sunday’s Houston Texans-Kansas City Chief’s game for the American Football Conference (AFC) title next Sunday.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson passed for 365 yards but was intercepted twice.

San Francisco advanced to the National Football Conference championship with a 27-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers will be home to Sunday’s Seattle-Green Bay winner for the NFC title.

The Super Bowl between the conference champions is set for Feb. 2 in Miami.

Running back Tevin Coleman’s two short touchdowns and an aggressive defense powered the 49ers past the Vikings.

The top-seeded 49ers never trailed, their defense holding the Vikings to 21 yards rushing and 147 total yards.

Minnesota had only seven first downs as Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins could not get on track and was sacked six times.

Top Vikings running back Dalvin Cook was held to a mere 18 yards.

The 49ers’ offensive line also was effective, controlling the game up front.

“Those guys did very well, they moved the guys back, so I could have clear holes to run through,” Coleman, who scored on runs of one and two yards and rushed for 105 yards, told reporters.

“It’s an amazing feeling.”

The proud San Francisco franchise had not been in the playoffs since the 2013 season.

“We’ve got some things to clean up, but we played well enough to win and that’s all you can ask for,” said 49ers tight end George Kittle. “Playoff football anyone can win and we just made more plays today.”

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo got the 49ers rolling, hitting Kendrick Bourne with a three-yard touchdown pass for their opening drive.

He completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards and one interception.

Minnesota came back to tie the score on Cousins’ 41-yard pass to Stefon Diggs, but Coleman’s first touchdown put San Francisco ahead 14-7.

The teams traded field goals before the 49ers put the game out of reach 24-10 on Coleman’s second touchdown run after Richard Sherman’s interception of Cousin.

Robbie Gould’s second field goal for San Francisco, which covered 21 yards, ended the scoring at 27-10.

Cousins, who had led Minnesota to a surprising overtime win over the New Orleans Saints last weekend, passed for 172 yards this time, connecting on 21 of 29 attempts with an interception. — Reuters

Subaru unveils stunning VIZIV Adrenaline Concept, new Forester variants, updated Impreza in Singapore Motorshow 2020

January 13, 2020 | 12:06 am

Words and photos by Manny N. de los Reyes

SINGAPORE — Motor Image, the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in Singapore and close to a dozen other countries in the region, announced a slew of new and face-lifted production models as well as a show-stopping concept car in the 2020 edition of the Singapore Motorshow.

“We are proud to introduce three new Subaru models to Singapore — the Forester e-BOXER, Forester GT Edition and Impreza. Thanks to e-BOXER technology, the award-winning Forester now offers even smoother acceleration and better fuel efficiency. At the same time, those who feel that the Forester over the years has become a little sedate and mainstream will appreciate the GT Edition. With its sharpened design all around, we are positive the sporty and stylish Forester GT Edition will stand out wherever it goes,” said Glenn Tan, deputy chairman and managing director of Tan Chong International Ltd. Tan Chong International Ltd. owns the Motor Image Group of companies.

“With its styling upgrades, the new Impreza is even better looking than before. The addition of Sport and Intelligent driving modes also means it offers an improved driving experience,” added Mr. Tan.

VIZIV ADRENALINE CONCEPT
Arguably the most head-turning vehicle in the show was the striking VIZIV Adrenaline Concept. It was first unveiled at the 89^th Geneva International Motor Show in March 2019. The name VIZIV has been coined from the phrase “Vision for Innovation.”

The VIZIV Adrenaline Concept is the first concept vehicle designed under Subaru’s new “BOLDER” design philosophy. Its body shape exhibits a dynamic and strong feel and features a unique roof design. White accents on the wheels and rugged all-terrain tires further emphasize its adventurous nature. These elements express the toughness and agility of the VIZIZ concept car.

Through the new “BOLDER” design philosophy, Subaru aims to broaden the brand’s outlook, define the characteristics of Subaru vehicles more prominently, and give future Subaru vehicles a more compelling road presence.

SUBARU FORESTER E-BOXER
The all-new Forester e-BOXER has a self-charging, mild hybrid e-BOXER system. This combines battery-powered electric motor assistance with two of Subaru’s core technologies: Boxer Engine and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. With e-BOXER, the Forester now offers smoother and more responsive acceleration, enhanced off-road capability and better efficiency. This also makes it well suited for both city and highway driving.

Despite the extra weight from the electric components, the strengthened vehicle undercarriage of the Forester e-BOXER helps maintain the uniquely satisfying driving feel and peace of mind offered by Subaru vehicles.

FORESTER GT EDITION
Subaru is also launching the Forester GT Edition. It is the second GT Edition model being offered (after the XV), with a special aero kit which has four well-made and integrated elements that give the car a sportier and more custom look.

Both the Forester e-BOXER and Forester GT Edition are equipped with the new 8-inch Display Audio System with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and a 360° Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which enables drivers to park and maneuver with ease.

Both Forester models should make their way to the Philippine market this year.

MINOR CHANGE IMPREZA
Improved for 2020 with styling, convenience and mechanical upgrades, the new Impreza sports a revised front and rear fascia inclusive of new LED headlamps and blacked-out tail lamps (on 5-Door hatchback), new 17-inch wheels, a Speed Sensitive Door Lock and Rear Seat Reminder feature, a newly added SI-DRIVE function and retuned suspension.