Makati City News December 2013

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Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
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Monument of Ninoy Aquino

Makati declares no-firecracker zone

By: Katrina Domingo


Tuesday night will be the fourth consecutive New Year's Eve that residents of Barangay Bangkal in Makati City won't be using firecrackers.

In July 2010, oil seeped into the basement of West Towers Condominium due to a leak at a pipeline owned by First Philippine Industrial Corporation.

Because of the possibility that soil in the area is laced with oil the city government has prohibited the use of firecrackers in the barangay.

To make up for that, the barangay sponsored a street party during each of the recent New Year's eves.

But, this time, there won't be a street party, either, as the city government has donated its budget to typhoon Yolanda relief.

Although the barangay is skipping its New Year street party, Herman de Los Santos, Bangkal's Barangay Chairman, said law enforcers will still make the rounds of the area to make sure the ban is complied with.

An emergency response unit is also on standby for any possible untoward incident.

It has been observed that many of the injuries on New Year's Eve are the result of drinking sprees.

Those who violate the anti-firecracker ordinance will be detained in the barangay hall.

Acknowledging that the punishment is not stiff enough, De los Santos says the local government is considering fining violators.






Makati lifts number coding for New Year

By: Bong Lozada


MANILA, Philippines—The city of Makati has lifted its number coding to give way for the New Year celebration. The official Twitter account of the City Government of Makati said in an advisory that beginning Monday, December 30, 2013 until Wednesday, January 1, 2014, the traffic scheme in the city is suspended.





Yearender: SC embarks on House cleaning

By: Rey E. Requejo


After issuing a series of controversial and landmark decisions, the Supreme Court finds itself trying to keep its house in order.

Charges of influence peddling and big-time fixing involving justices and judges prompted the high tribunal to look into its internal affairs, with Associate Justice Marvic Leonen tasked to do the housecleaning.

Leonen has promised to come up with results not later than April next year before more damage could be inflicted on the high tribunal.

Foremost among the cases is that of an alleged influence peddling in the judiciary pepetrated by a certain “Ma’am Arlene”, also called as the “Napoles of of the Judiciary,” an allusion to the alleged brains of the pork barrel scam.

Talk of “Ma’m Arlene” spread around the legal circle sometime in September before the hotly contested elections in the Philippine Judges Association.

Arlene allegedly hosted accommodations and provided expensive gifts to judges during their conventions.

The SC had traced the source of the reports to a supposed smear campaign in the electoral contest in the PJA.

Three judges who vied for the top post in the PJA denied involvement in the controversy.

PJA president-elect and Quezon City regional trial court Judge Ralph Lee and his rivals Makati City RTC Judge Rommel Baybay and Marikina City RTC Judge Felix Reyes all said they had nothing to do with allegations of influence peddling.

Still, the controversy was so alarming that the high court had to pursue an investigation into the matter.

Several names had cropped up during investigation, which the SC opted to do behind closed doors. Among them was Arlene Lerma, a former Manila City Hall employee reportedly linked to Vice Mayor Isko Moreno who had left the country last October and has not returned since.

But despite the attacks on the judiciary, 2013 saw the high court deciding on more important cases in favor of public interest.

A case in point was the recent temporary retraining order it imposed against the record-high power rate increase of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). The SC issued the TRO amid public outrage against the rate hike at a time the nation had just been devastated by a strong earthquake and Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The high court’s performance could bebest gauged by its rising public approval rating.

In the Social Weather Station survey conducted from September 20 to 23, the SC surpassed the public satisfaction of both the Senate and the House.

The high court’s rating stayed good, up by four points to +41 (60% satisfied, 18% dissatisfied) from the +37 it recorded last June. Its satisfaction remained good since August last year.

In contrast, the Senates satisfaction rating declined to good from very good with net satisfaction ratings dropping by 18 points to +36 (59% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied from +54 in June 2013.

Public satisfaction with the House of Representatives also fell to moderate from good. Net satisfaction was +27 (50% satisfied, 23% dissatisfied), down 10 points from the previous quarters +37.

For the executive department as a whole, net satisfaction hardly moved, staying as moderate at +27 (48% satisfied, 21% dissatisfied) from the previous quarter of +28. It has been moderated since September 2010, except in August 2012 when it was a good +33.

Chief Justice Sereno’s ratings also increased by 4 points to +17 (39% satisfied and 22% dissatisfied) from +13 in the previous quarter. Her latest rating was the highest since she was first rated in the last quarter of 2012 after her appointment as Chief Justice in August 2012.

Serenos satisfaction was also the highest for a head of the judiciary since Retired Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. notched a +13 in Sept. 2005.

The coming year brings to the halls of the high court more challenges with the SC expected to apply its power of review over the executive branch this time.

Justices are expected to rule this year on other controversial cases like the Disbursement Acceleration Program of President Aquino, Cyber Crime Prevention Act and the highly debated Reproductive Health law.

The high court already heard last Nov.19 oral arguments on petitions filed by former Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco Jr.; lawyers Jose Malvar Villegas Jr. and Manuelito Luna; Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa); Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP); the militant Bayan Muna, Kabataan and Gabriela party-list groups; Christian sects led by losing senatorial candidate Greco Belgica; Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage); and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

The second debate where the office of the solicitor general is supposed to defend the legality of President Aquinos discretionary funds was supposed to be held last Dec. 10, but the SC postponed it to January 28.

The postponement was made upon the request of the Senate and House of Representatives, which wanted to get their own lawyers separate from the solicitor general to represent them in this case.

It came, however, after Rep. Reynaldo Umali a member of President Aquino’s Liberal Party - raised the threat of impeachment proceedings against the justices over their rulings in the pork barrel (PDAF) and in a House member who the SC disqualified for being an American citizen.

The opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) believed that the threat of impeachment is a ploy of the administration and the Liberal Party (LP) to blackmail the SC justices into declaring DAP as legal.

The DAP became controversial after Senator Jinggoy Estrada revealed that P50 million in funds allegedly from DAP were released by the Palace to lawmakers as “incentives” for the impeachment of Renato Corona.

Corona claimed vindication in Estrada’s revelations, but he said he would leave it to God whatever the outcome of the unfolding events.

He said Estradas claim that Budget Secretary Butch Abad sent letters to senator-judges offering additional pork barrel should they vote for conviction only confirmed what he had long believed that the Palace had used its resources to oust him.

Its been, however, over a year since Corona was removed from his post now occupied by Aquino-appointed Chief Justice Sereno.

Corona’s impeachment had led to transparency in the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of justices.

For the second time last July, the “Gods of Padre Faura” released their SALNs for 2012.

Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo, the magistrate who earlier faced impeachment proceedings in Congress over a plagiarism charge, remained the richest magistrate.

Justice Del Castillos net worth for last year was P109,743,118.28, or an increase by some P840,000 from P108,904,519.37 in 2011. He had P110,127,634.66 in total assets and P384,516.38 in total liabilities.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the most junior member of the high court who was appointed by President Aquino in Nov. last year, had the least net worth for 2012 with P1,674,623.22. He had P2,333,679.22 in total assets and P659,056 in liabilities. His SALN showed he had no real properties.

The biggest gainers were Associate Justice Lucas Bersamin, whose net worth of P18,811,447.87 in 2011 grew to P26,119,275.39 last year, and Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, whose net worth of P22,642,264.73 in the previous year grew to P29,382,037.60 in 2012.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Serenos SALN showed she had P18,143,104.01 in net worth last year, with P19,155,024.90 in assets and P1,011,920.89 in liabilities. In 2011, she had P18,029,575.51.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio is the second richest with P83,885,614.57 in net worth for 2012, or an increase of around P4 million from his P79,895,025.57 in 2011.

Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes had P76,542,167.31 in net worth last year. In 2011, he had P75,146,199.

Another appointee of President Aquino, Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe had P73,827,435 in net worth in 2012, or an increase of over P5 million from her P67,101,327 net worth in 2011.

In the latest SALNs, Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. had net worth of P8,679,740.49, Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro with P8,941,000, Justice Arturo Brion with P11,908,742, Justice Roberto Abad with P43.4 million, Justice Martin Villarama Jr. with P21,911,495.36, Justice Jose Mendoza with P29,982,165.66, and Justice Jose Perez with P11.76 million.

The SC has approved the public release of SALNs of justices for 2012 in their session last June 18 through requests of several media outfits.

The SALNs of the justices were released for the first time after 20 years in August 2012 following the impeachment of Corona, who was removed from the top judicial post by the Senate last May 29 after he was found guilty of culpable violation of the constitution and betrayal of public trust after impeachment trial showed he did not declare millions worth of properties in his SALN.

PHL stocks end 2013 slightly higher

By: DANESSA O. RIVERA


Philippine stocks managed to end the year on a positive note as market players went on with their usual year-end window dressing.

However, some investors selling down some stocks drove the index to narrower gains in the last trading day of the year.

The benchmark PSEi gained 11.51 points or 0.20 percent to 5,889.83. The broader all shares index added 11.79 points or 0.33 percent to 3,614.32.

Over 2.14 billion shares valued at P6.39 billion were traded. Gainers outweighed losers 91 to 70 while 48 issues were unchanged.

"The year-end window dressing was not enough to propel the market as there were stocks sold down at the close of the market," Miguel Agarao, analyst at Wealth Securities Inc., told GMA News Online.

Window dressing, or buying top-performing stocks in exchange of losing ones, is done by fund managers at the end of a period to improve their portfolio.

"Financials did poorly at the last trading day of the year, pulling the PSEi gains lower, with some funds cleaning out their inventory before the year is out," Agarao said.

Financials were down 0.11 percent along with mining and oil by 0.19 percent, while the rest of the sub indexes were in the green.

Looking at the broader picture, Agarao said the main index was better 1.3 percent than the PSEi's 2012 close of 5,812.73.

This year, the PSEi carved its 31st record high when it closed at 7,392.20 on May 15. Market volatility mainly due to the US Federal Reserve's taper issue caused the local stock market to wipe out year-to-date gains three times.

This is also the fifth straight year the PSEi ended the year higher since 2009, PSE president and CEO Hans Sicat told reporters during the 10th listing anniversary briefing in Makati City.

"2013 really has been a banner year for the Exchange not just in terms of products and services that have been rolled out but the market response to our initiatives," Sicat said.

He said the Philippine equities market is now "deeper" with 50-percent growth in average daily trading value despite volatility on suggestions of a Fed taper.

"Philippine investors, both retail and institutional, are a lot more active this year," Sicat said.

"But we're still net foreign position as foreign buying this year was 55 percent higher than last year," Sicat said.

Based on PSE data, 51 percent of the total investors are foreign and 49 percent are local.

In 2013, foreign buying was at P1.308 trillion while foreign selling reached P1.293 trillion.

For 2014, Agarao said the local stock market will still be in consolidation for the early part of the year as some foreign funds repatriate money to developed markets from emerging markets as an effect of Fed fallout.

"The upside is this will make stocks cheaper in 2014," he said.

Meanwhile, PSE's Sicat said the local market will be driven by the Philippine economy's strong fundamentals.

"The news next year is a slow taper, which means less easy money... But it's okay as long as there is global and US economic recovery," he said.

"And with the Philippines' fundamental economic story, particularly the consumer story, low inflation environment and fiscal surplus, the market should be in positive territory next year," he added.

Philippine markets are closed on Dec. 30 for Rizal Day and on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for the New Year Holidays.

Trading will resume on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. — JDS, GMA News

Makati bans fireworks in three areas near 2010 oil leak site

By:ELR, GMA News


For the fourth year, Makati City is banning fireworks in three villages affected by the West Tower oil leak in Barangay Bangkal in 2010.

The city government cited City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020 banning fireworks in Barangays Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar.

“Although the cleaning phase of the oil leak has been ongoing for years now, the city government deems it proper to keep the ordinance in effect so that no further harm could befall our constituents,” Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said, according to a report on state-run Philippines News Agency.

He added the city government has been "in constant communication" with environmental specialists and consultants "who will determine when the soil and water in the area have been freed from traces of oil."

Under City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020, those violating the firecracker ban will face a fine of P5,000 or six months' imprisonment.

Covered by the fireworks ban are baby rocket, bawang, small triangulo, pulling of strings, paper caps, el Diablo, watusi, Judah’s belt, and sky rocket (kwitis). Banned pyrotechnic devices include sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle, butterfly, and all kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw).

The oil leak occurred at the basement of the 22-story West Tower Condominium in July 2010. Condo administration had the building evacuated.

Mayor Binay also reminded the public that a 1994 ordinance that banning the sale of any firecracker to minors aged 15 years and below remains in effect and will be enforced.

Violation of this ordinance may mean a fine of P1,000 and/or imprisonment or 15 days, or both.

HLURB’s intervention sought in Makati condo builders’ row

By: Mike Frialde


MANILA, Philippines - The Makati city government on Thursday said the ban on the use of fireworks in three barangays affected by the oil leak of the First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) pipeline stays.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said that the fireworks ban will remain in effect this year in barangays Bangkal, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar as ordered by City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020.

“Although the cleaning phase of the oil leak has been ongoing for years now, the city government deems it proper to keep the ordinance in effect so that no further harm could befall our constituents,” Binay said.

"We have been in constant communication with our environmental specialists and consultants who will determine when the soil and water in the area have been freed from traces of oil,” he added.

It would be recalled that oil leak from the pipeline was discovered at the basement of the 22-story West Tower Condominium in July 2010 that prompted the city government to order the evacuation of the building.

The FPIC pipeline transported oil and petroleum products from Batangas province to the oil depots in Pandacan, Manila.

Under City Ordinance No. 2010-A-020, violators of the firecrackers ban will be penalized with a fine of P5,000 or six months imprisonment. For juridical entities, such as corporations or partnerships, the president or general manager, or any other person acting in behalf of the president or the general manager shall be held liable. The owner of single proprietorship businesses or the person acting in his or her behalf will be held liable the violation under the ordinance.

The fireworks prohibited by the ordinance includes baby rockets, bawang, small triangulo, pulling of strings, paper caps, el Diablo, watusi, Judas' belt, and sky rocket (kwitis).

Banned pyrotechnic devices meanwhile includes sparklers, luces, fountain, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, roman candle, trompillo, airwolf, whistle, butterfly, and all kinds of pyrotechnic devices (pailaw).

Binay also reminded the public that the city government still implements the 1994 ordinance that prohibits the sale of any firecracker to minors aged 15 years and below.

Ordinance No. 1997-290 prohibits merchants or storeowners in the city from selling any kind of firecracker to minors 15 years old and below. Violation for this would entail a fine of P1,000 and/or imprisonment or 15 days, or both at the discretion of the court.

At present, the city government is still coordinating with the FPIC on the ongoing cleaning and remediation phase of the soil and water underneath the West Tower Condominium.

Alphaland talks with foreign groups to sell Makati building

By: bworldonline.com


ONGPIN-LED Alphaland Corp. is in talks with foreign groups looking to buy its office building in Makati City after Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) opted not to push through with the acquisition. 

	 “Our direction is really to sell the building. There are people who are interested,” Alphaland President Mario A. Oreta told reporters in chance interview in Makati City on Thursday last week.

“There are a lot of people interested from Singapore, from Malaysia, so we’re still talking to a lot of people,” Mr. Oreta added, though he would not identify the prospective buyers.

This comes after talks with PLDT fell through.

“The price we agreed upon was P8 billion but there were some circumstances that arose so they did not proceed with the sale,” Mr. Oreta said without elaborating.

“That’s their decision, but we agreed on the terms, we agreed on the price, but suddenly they (PLDT) decided not to push through with it.”

PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan had said in August that his company was interested in buying Alphaland Tower, which was eyed to be PLDT Group’s headquarters, together with wireless units Smart Communications, Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. which operates Sun Cellular.

Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT president and chief executive officer, last month said the deal did not push through due to “legal issues.”

The 34-storey Alphaland Tower, which has a gross floor area of 48,000 square meters, features state-of-the-art conference centers, meeting rooms, dining facilities, and security systems.

The lobby is designed to use natural lighting. Its environmental features earned recognition from the United States Green Building Council.

Alphaland has also held off offers to lease amid talks for a prospective sale.

“We’re not leasing it out yet because we don’t want to handcuff the buyer. The buyer might want the entire thing for himself,” Mr. Oreta explained.

“There are a lot of people who want to lease. But our decision is not to lease it out floor by floor. We will just look for the right buyer,” he added.

“We can hold it like that -- wait for the right buyer to come along and then sell the whole building.”

Alphaland’s net income jumped 46.28% to P2.75 billion as of end-September from P1.88 billion in the same nine months last year. Revenues climbed 34.62% to P530.91 million from P394.39 million, while cost and expenses doubled to P667.28 million from P321.99 million. “Other income,” which includes extraordinary gains and revenues beyond the company’s core businesses, increased 56.96% to P3.61 billion from P2.30 billion.

Shares of Alphaland lost P5.80 or 17.06% to close P28.20 apiece on Monday from P34.00 each on Friday last week.

Philippine financial markets were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Christmas holidays. Trading resumes today.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld. -- CHCV






Immigration bureau eyes office in Makati’s central business district

By: Niña P. Calleja

Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration wants to make its services accessible to foreign nationals by setting up a frontline office at the central business district of Makati City. Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison said the agency has been scouting for a building in Makati to house the immigration personnel in its frontline operations. “We would want our services like processing of renewal and extension of visas of foreign nationals to be accessible. They can no longer have the excuse that our office is too far from them,” Mison said in a recent interview with reporters. The BI main office is located in Intramuros, Manila, while it has field offices in other regions in the country. “Our main office will still be here in Intramuros. My office will still be here. Just a part of operations will just be transferred to Makati to make it conducive and convenient foreign nationals,” Mison said. Makati is the place of choice, according to Mison, since it is the middle of the metropolis’ urban centers. “We think most of our foreign nationals stay there since it’s the country’s financial capital. It is also relatively near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” the BI chief said. Mison said the agency would like to see the office set up by 2014 in line with its plan to hire 200 additional immigration officers to be assigned in the country’s ports of entry. The immigration commissioner said all the plans of the agency have been wired with the Department of Tourism’s goal of 10 million arrivals by 2016, two years from now. The 200 new officers would fill the current personnel shortage of the immigration bureau, Mison said.






HLURB’s intervention sought in Makati condo builders’ row

By: Maricar B. Brizuela

Philippine Daily Inquirer


One of the two condominium developers whose security guards and workers figured in a tense standoff Friday over the control of a road has revealed plans to take the dispute before the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). In an e-mail to the Inquirer, Century Properties Group Inc. spokesperson Terrie Fucanan-Yu said the company has prepared a letter to HLURB Commissioner Antonio Bernardo to “request (the board’s) intervention as a third-party government agency to give due recourse to a situation that it is facing with Picar Development Inc.” Century and Picar are currently building condos next to each other on Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. Their workers figured in a scuffle, and Century claimed that Picar guards fired their shotguns on two occasions Friday to stop Century’s installation of lampposts on a “common road” separating the two projects. Century officials reported the incidents to the Makati police, but Picar’s spokesperson Cherry Julian disputed the accounts concerning the gunshots. Julian, however, explained that as “co-owners” of the road “we tried to resist because we had to protect our interests.” “As Century does not want the situation to escalate into possible violence with our people on-site, we are seeking help from the HLURB. We hope they will assist in resolving the matter,” Yu said in Sunday’s statement. Yu said the disagreement with Picar was mainly about the completion of roadworks which, she said, “form part of the deliverables of the Century City project in Makati.” “One of the works we implemented which met resistance from Picar security was the installation of a traffic light system on Kalayaan Avenue that Century is donating to Makati City,” she said, adding that the system was put up on a public pedestrian lane, not a Century or a Picar property. Yu also cited other works being done on a road from General Luna Street to Kalayaan Avenue, which include the setup of streetlights, landscaping, asphalt-laying and marking of pedestrian lanes. She alleged that Picar had refused to allow these additional works and tried to stop Century workers using its security force. “On Friday, Picar installed boom barriers on a portion of the road near Kalayaan Avenue. On Friday evening and the next day, it positioned in the same area a total of three buses near Kalayaan Avenue. On Sunday, it added two vehicles and a bus, blocking access from Kalayaan Avenue.” The Century spokesperson also said Picar agreed in October to let Century do those improvements but had since been delaying their implementation. Reached for comment, Julian countered that “you cannot call that an agreement since our communication was only through letters expressing intent to improve that road but there was no final decision yet.” The supposed agreement cited by Century was not legally binding since both camps had not even discussed the details of the plan, she said. “We were just on the documentation phase so we were shocked when they already had contracts which did not involve Picar as a signatory.” “We stopped negotiations because we asked them to amend the contracts and include Picar as a signatory. But instead of fixing the documents, they decided to implement the improvement works on the common road,” she said. As to Friday’s tensions, “I am repeating that those allegations are false,” Julian said. “The gunshots did not come from our end.”

Senator Binay takes up the cudgels for brother

By: Leila B. Salaverria, TJ A. Burgonio


Senator Nancy Binay on Saturday bristled at Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s comments about the behavior of her brother, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., during an altercation with security guards at an exclusive residential subdivision in Makati City three weeks ago. Dropping her pronouncement of a “first and last official statement about the incident” on Thursday, Senator Binay, an eyewitness to the incident, said Cayetano could have easily verified with her the “true circumstances” of the Nov. 30 altercation at Dasmariñas Village before talking to the press on Friday. Weighing in on the controversy on Friday, Cayetano said Vice President Jejomar Binay should tell his son to go on leave for 15 days to give way to an investigation of the incident by Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. If indeed he’s running for President in 2016, the Vice President should set an example and dispel perception that political dynasties are abusive, Cayetano said. The Inquirer report about that incident has drawn the attention of Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice who said on Saturday that he would introduce a resolution for a House investigation of the Dasmariñas scandal to determine the extent of local officials’ power over police and see if this was being abused. A video taken by security cameras at Dasmariñas showed Makati policemen aiding Mayor Binay in getting out of the village through a gate that was closed for security around midnight on Nov. 30. Village security rules require the closing of the gate on Banyan Road to outgoing traffic after 10 p.m. Residents and guests should take the Palm Avenue gate, 150 meters away from the Banyan gate. Mayor Binay, backed by a bodyguard with a cocked semiautomatic pistol and the policemen, had his way and left in a four-vehicle convoy through the Banyan gate. The policemen took the security guards to their station but released them four hours later. No charges were filed against the security guards.

Arbitrary arrest For that, Mayor Binay’s group and the policemen may be liable for arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention, according to lawyer Berteni Causing. Writing on his blog, Causing described the incident as “bullying,” adding that Binay’s group and the policemen could also be liable for graft. The video of the incident, which has gone viral on the Internet, is sufficient for any lawyer to bring a case against Binay’s group and the cops, Causing said. Another lawyer, Mel Sta. Maria, dean of Far Eastern University Institute of Law, wrote in his online column on Friday that even the Supreme Court had recognized that an “invitation” to the police station had become a euphemism for an arrest without warrant. Causing agreed, saying that the Supreme Court, in resolving a case last year, ruled that there is arrest when there is actual restraint of liberty or voluntary custody.

Saddening comments Senator Binay said she had stayed away from the turf war between her brother and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, the senator’s wife, over Bonifacio Global City to avoid an escalation of tensions between the two cities. “I am not one who comments on every issue just to get publicity and advance any political plans,” she said in a new statement. “And it’s not my character to malign others just to be in the media limelight.” Senator Binay said she was saddened by Cayetano’s comments, adding that he could have called her first before talking to journalists. “As a colleague, he could have talked to me first so he would know the truth,” she said. “I kept my peace at the height of the dispute between Makati and Taguig over Fort Bonifacio so as not to raise tensions. I kept quiet when employees of Taguig were seen on CCTV [cameras] entering McKinley Road in Makati acting in an aggressive manner,” she said. She said she stayed out of the controversy to avoid being accused of politicking or “riding on an issue that involves my city and my family.” ‘Old issue’ Otherwise, she said the Binay family had moved on and so had the other parties, and they did not want the “old issue” to be blown up. “As far as we’re concerned, that issue is over, yet apparently some people want to keep it alive,” she said. “Just the same, I look forward to celebrating the season of love and understanding with my family,” she said. By “old issue,” Senator Binay meant the Dasmariñas Village incident, which Erice said must be investigated in aid of legislation to see if mayors were giving illegal orders to police. “This is prevalent not only in Metro Manila but in the whole country,” Erice said in a phone interview. Erice condemned Mayor Binay’s treatment of the security guards. He said that going by what he had seen in the video, the rights of the security guards might have been violated and this, too, needed to be investigated.

Political dynasties He said the Dasmariñas Village incident was one more reason why his bill prohibiting political dynasties should be enacted into law. “Members of political dynasties act as if they are lords, as if they are gods in their districts, as if they are God’s gifts to humanity,” Erice said. The Binays are one of the country’s political dynasties, with four members in public office: the Vice President, Senator Binay, a sister who serves in the House as Makati representative and Mayor Binay. The Vice President’s wife is a former mayor of Makati. Erice disputed contentions that mayors could override security rules in private subdivisions, referring to the argument of Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian who said on Friday that as mayor, Binay had jurisdiction over the entire Makati, including Dasmariñas Village. Erice said that as a former vice mayor, he knew that there must be a council resolution authorizing the closing or opening of subdivision gates or private roads. Mayors cannot unilaterally order the opening or closing of private gates or roads, he said. With a report from Jerome Aning

VP Binay: My son deserves courtesy

By: Gil Cabacungan, Jerome Aning



Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday defended his son, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., against public criticism, saying his son deserved “some courtesy.” The Vice President, in a television interview, called the Inquirer report on the altercation between his son and security guards at Dasmariñas Village on Nov. 30 “distorted.” “What happened that night was related the following morning to me by Junjun. I said, it was saddening, but it was good that the reaction went well,” Binay said, referring to the settlement of the controversy. “From what I had gathered, I think it (the Inquirer report) was distorted from what really happened. Moreover, they (the parties) have already explained to each other and cleared the issues,” he added. “A little courtesy, please, to the mayor,” he said. He said he did not know if his political enemies were behind the report. Why Nancy? The Vice President also deplored comments involving his daughter, Sen. Nancy Binay, in the Dasmariñas Village incident. “Why would there be an issue with Senator Nancy? She was just with the convoy,” he said. Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian took the side of Mayor Binay.


STANDOFF AT DASMARIÑAS Video sequence shows confrontation between Makati Mayor Junjun Binay (top, center) and Dasmariñas Village guards who barred his convoy from passing through Banyan gate on Nov. 30. Binay’s bodyguards later surrounded the gatekeepers. CONTRIBUTED/SCREEN GRAB ‘Not independent country’ “Dasmariñas Village is not an independent country. I personally believe that the actions of the security guards are uncalled for and that they totally disregarded the authority vested on Mayor Binay as the father and leader of the city,” Gatchalian said. “As the city mayor, [he has jurisdiction over the entire Makati], including Dasmariñas Village. They should remember that the village is not an independent state and he should be allowed to move freely within the city’s territorial bounds,” he said. Binay’s discretion “The security guards should have realized in the first place that they were talking with their mayor and as a matter of showing respect and as a courtesy to him, they should have [quickly allowed him and his group out of the village],” he said. Gatchalian said it was within Mayor Binay’s discretion to call the police and remove the security bar at the gate. “If a mayor cannot enter or leave a property within the area of his jurisdiction because of supposed rules and regulations that were drawn and implemented by a group of private individuals, then this would surely diminish his effectiveness as the leader of his town or city,” Gatchalian said.






Guards not arrested–Binay camp

By: Reports from Maricar B. Brizuela and Norman Bordadora


The three security guards who barred the four-vehicle convoy of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay from passing through a gate of the plush Dasmariñas Village in the city on Nov. 30 were not arrested, the mayor’s camp said on Thursday in a rebuttal to the Inquirer story. “The guards volunteered to go with the police. The video bears this out,” said Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman and chief information officer. Sen. Nancy Binay, a passenger of one of the vehicles, branded as “malicious” the Inquirer story on her brother’s alleged harassment of two subdivision guards. The mayor and senator are children of Vice President Jejomar Binay, a former mayor of Makati who has declared he will run for president in 2016. Another sibling, Abigail, is a Makati representative. In a statement, Nancy said the story “had glaring biases and bends.” With Christmas just a few days away and with the incident well past behind those concerned, the senator indicated that it was time to move on from the controversy. “The so-called Dasmariñas incident happened three weeks ago and we have forgotten about it,” Nancy said. Saying the unnamed source of the Inquirer report that appeared on Thursday on its front page gave false and malicious information, Salgado stressed that Binay did not order any arrest. Salgado said this information was made clear by both the president of Right Eight Security Inc., Ram Antonio, and the Makati police chief, Supt. Manuel Lucban, in their interviews, but that the Inquirer “opted to bury their statements.” Text message In a text message to the Inquirer, Salgado said Antonio had wanted to issue again his statement because he claimed his “full statement” was not used in the article. The Inquirer tried to reach the president of the security agency but his staff said he was on a trip abroad. Banyan, McKinley Roads The mayor came from his sister’s house in Dasmariñas Village in Makati when their convoy was not allowed to exit from the Banyan Road gate of the village on McKinley Road. The guards of Right Eight Security Inc. did not raise the iron barrier because vehicles were not allowed to pass through the gate after 10 p.m., the source earlier told the Inquirer. “All vehicles are allowed to pass this gate during the day. They can enter until midnight, but no one is allowed to go out after 10 in the evening,” the source said. He said residents, such as senators, congressmen, mayors and diplomats, follow village rules. The source said the mayor’s convoy should have used the Palm Avenue exit, “which is 150 meters away from Banyan Road.” 24-minute video The standoff at the gate of Banyan and McKinley Roads was recorded by the closed-circuit television cameras of North Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village, the source, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from City Hall, told the Inquirer. The 24-minute video, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, showed the mayor stepping out of the lead vehicle after the two guards manning the Banyan Road gate on McKinley Road did not raise the iron barrier to allow the convoy to pass. (The video is available on Inquirer.net.) “The mayor got off from the lead car and asked the guards, ‘Do you know me?’” the source told the Inquirer. Cocked handgun The video also showed Binay stepping away from the guard house toward the side of McKinley Road. He was talking on his cell phone. One of the mayor’s security personnel loaded a handgun and cocked it, while another aide of the mayor carried a rifle. The video also showed Binay talking to the two guards a few minutes before policemen in uniform, armed with M-16 rifles, arrived. Makati policemen lifted the gate’s barrier and, shortly after, arrested the two guards and Virgilio Robang, the Dasmariñas Village security officer in charge, according to the source. The source said the three security personnel of the village were taken to the Makati City Police headquarters where they were detained for at least four hours. No force used The City Hall spokesperson said it was unfortunate that “the Inquirer relied too heavily on a source who was conveniently not identified.” “The CCTV footage showed that the mayor’s convoy did not force its way through the gate. In fact, it waited for the police to arrive,” Salgado said. The “Kilala mo ba ako (Do you know me)?” line that the Inquirer source quoted Binay as saying to the guards when he went out of his vehicle was never uttered by the mayor, according to Salgado. Social media posts The quote that has quickly gained popularity in social media posts and Internet memes was “false and downright malicious,” he said. “On the contrary, the mayor went down his vehicle and said ‘Si Mayor Binay ako. Baka pwedeng makiraan lang,’” the city spokesperson said. The mayor said this after one of the guards refused to believe a member of the mayor’s staff who said that Binay was inside one of the vehicles, according to Salgado. He said the Binay camp had already considered the matter closed after Antonio apologized for the “lapses in providing security assistance to the mayor,” which he noted is a courtesy extended to all VIPs visiting the subdivision. “What was reported in the Inquirer had glaring biases and bends. The video does not capture what really happened,” Nancy said. Heartwarming The senator said it was “really heartwarming to know that there are people who are not swayed by the malicious story in the Inquirer and spiteful posts on social media.” “It is apparent that there are people bent on putting the name of my family in a bad light,” she said. Nancy was a target of social media critics during the 2013 senatorial campaign after she refused to accept Risa Hontiveros’ challenge to a debate. “No amount of explanation would satisfy those who have never-ending dislike for our family. All parties have already explained their side and have resolved the matter civilly long before the news landed above-the-fold in the Inquirer,” she said. Time to move on “In the spirit of Christmas, I pray that we all work for peace and reconciliation instead of kindling hate. The issue has already been good-naturedly settled—all’s well that ends well. This is a season of giving and forgiving. Time to move on,” she added. A member of the senator’s staff said the mayor’s sister would give no further comment on what she described as “biases and bends” in the Inquirer report. “This is my first and last official statement on the incident. Please understand if I can hardly take your calls at the moment. I hope you will allow me to have some private time with my kids and my family since Christmas is just a few days away. ‘Maligayang Pasko,’” Nancy said.

3 Dasma guards who stopped Binay convoy held, freed

By: Nancy C. Carvajal

Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—Makati Mayor Junjun Binay ordered the arrest of three security guards of a posh subdivision in the city when the guards refused to allow his four-car convoy to pass through a restricted gate close to midnight on Nov. 30, according to a source privy to the incident. The entire incident at the gate of Banyan and McKinley Roads was recorded by the closed-circuit television cameras of North Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village, the source, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from City Hall, told the Inquirer. Based on a 24-minute video, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, the standoff was witnessed by the mayor’s sister, Sen. Nancy Binay, a passenger of one of the vehicles. The siblings are the children of Vice President Jejomar Binay, a former mayor of Makati who has declared he will run for president in 2016. The mayor came from his sister’s house in Dasmariñas Village when their convoy was not allowed to get past the Banyan Road gate of the village. The guards of Right Eight Security Inc. did not raise the iron barrier because vehicles are not allowed to pass through the gate after 10 p.m. for security reasons, the source said. “All vehicles are allowed to pass this gate during the day. They can enter until midnight, but no one is allowed to go out after 10 in the evening,” the source said. He noted that high-profile residents, such as senators, congressmen, mayors and diplomats, were following village rules. The source said the mayor’s convoy should have used the Palm Avenue exit, “which is 150 meters away from Banyan Road.” The video clip showed that the mayor, who was in a polo shirt, stepped out of the lead vehicle after two security guards manning the Banyan Road gate on McKinley Road did not lift the iron barrier to allow the convoy to pass. “The mayor went down from the lead car and asked the guards, ‘Don’t you know me?’” the source told the Inquirer. Gun loaded, cocked The video also showed Binay stepping away from the guard house toward the side of McKinley Road. He was talking on his cell phone. An aide held an open umbrella for the mayor. One of the mayor’s security personnel loaded a handgun and cocked it, while another aide of the mayor carried a rifle. The video also showed the young Binay talking to the two guards a few minutes before policemen in uniform, armed with M-16 rifles, arrived. It was the Makati policemen who lifted the gate’s barrier and, shortly after, arrested the two guards and Virgilio Robang, the Dasmariñas Village security officer in charge. Detained The source said the three guards were taken to the Makati City Police headquarters where they were detained for at least four hours. The video also showed Robang, who arrived on a motorbike, saluting the young Binay, but he was quickly surrounded and disarmed by the mayor’s security personnel. Before Robang was arrested with the two guards, Binay was seen talking to him with the mayor’s index finger pointed to Robang’s chest. Supt. Manuel Lucban, Makati City Police head, told the Inquirer in a phone interview that the guards were brought to the police headquarters for verification purposes. Settled, apologies “We wanted to verify if the permits of their firearms were in order and [we did not file] charges. They were eventually released,” Lucban said. Jay Pantangco, president of the Dasmariñas Village Homeowners Association, confirmed the incident between the guards and Binay. “But this has already been settled,” he said. Pantangco declined to elaborate on the incident. Ram Antonio, president of Right Eight Security, said the agency had already apologized to Binay. “We have instructed our guards to apologize to the mayor and we have started a debriefing session,” Antonio said. In a text message, Joey Salgado, City Hall spokesman, said the president of Right Eight had sent a letter to Binay and “apologized profusely for the incident.” Salgado said Pantangco had admitted that “there were lapses in their procedures.”

Kerry: Cemeteries showcase close Philippine-US ties

By: inquirer.net


MANILA, Philippines—US Secretary of State John Kerry laid a wreath Tuesday at a cemetery for US and Filipino war dead, and said it symbolized the countries’ close ties. Kerry, a Vietnam war veteran, said he was “honored” to lay the wreath at the American Cemetery in Makati City, which contains the remains of over 16,600 Americans and 570 Filipinos who died fighting the Japanese during World War II. “That is the largest cemetery in which Americans are buried from World War II. It is a remarkable place and it is a humbling tribute to the links between us in our struggle for freedom,” he said during a two-day visit to the Philippines. Kerry also cited a newly signed agreement under which the two countries will cooperate to upgrade and maintain a run-down veterans’ cemetery at the former US Clark airbase north of the capital. Under the agreement, the United States will provide $5 million to rehabilitate the Clark Veterans’ Cemetery, which holds the remains of about 8,600 Filipinos and Americans who died fighting under the US flag from the turn of the century to the 1990s. The seven-hectare (17-acre) cemetery had largely remained untended after US military bases in the Philippines were closed in 1992. US veterans’ groups in the Philippines had decried its abandonment and were raising funds for its rehabilitation. Kerry said the new agreement upholds “the sacred promise to honor those who served and sacrificed on our behalf.” The United States won the Philippines as a colony in the Spanish-American war in 1898. Although Filipino nationalists resisted the US control, many Filipinos served in the US military. Fighters from both sides battled Japanese forces who invaded the country during World War II. The Philippines was granted independence in 1946 but the US remains its closest ally and main trading partner. Kerry said more than 300,000 Americans now live in the Philippines while more than four million Americans have Filipino origins.

Makati distributes DOH-certified Christmas goodies to 97,000 public schoolchildren

By: pia.gov.ph


MAKATI CITY, Dec. 17 (PIA) -- Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay has led the distribution of Pamasko bags filled with food stuff to some 3,200 public school students from preschool to the sixth grade at the Fort Bonifacio Elementary School.

Binay said each bag contains energy-packed foods and drinks that children are usually fond of, providing them an enjoyable yet nutritious treat this Christmas.

“We have made sure that all the contents of our Christmas gift bags are child-friendly. In fact, the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health has given its approval on the project, especially for its nutritional impact on our schoolchildren,” the mayor said.

The Christmas gift-giving project for Makati’s schoolchildren is being implemented by the city government for the first time this year, and covers over 97,000 students from preschool to high school, including over 7,000 K to 12 students currently enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 at the Senior High School of UMak (University of Makati).

Binay said the city government decided to expand its traditional Pamaskong Handog gift-giving project, which has benefited Makati residents and city government employees for several years now since the term of then Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

Each Christmas bag for the students contain food products such as raisins, oatmeal, cheese, choco chips, powdered choco milk, arroz caldo, champorado, tonic food drink, crackers and cookies, cereals, and bread sticks, among others. All public elementary and high schools are distributing the goods simultaneously starting today to ensure that all beneficiaries receive them before the Christmas break.

The traditional Pamasko bag, on the other hand, contains T-shirts and 26 assorted canned goods such as corned beef, sausages and sardines. Distribution has also started at the City Hall Quadrangle, with senior citizens getting their share as early as December 2, coinciding with the distribution of their year-end cash gift.

Through its effective nutrition program, Makati has continued to lower its malnutrition prevalence rate, which has been reduced further from 0.90 in 2012 to 0.73 this year. (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)






MAYOR BINAY LEADS DISTRIBUTION OF DOH-CERTIFIED CHRISTMAS GOODIES TO 97,000 PUBLIC SCHOOLCHILDREN

By: makati.gov.ph


Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay today launched the distribution of Pamasko bags filled with food stuff at the Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, to some 3,200 public school students from preschool to the sixth grade.

Binay said each bag contains energy-packed foods and drinks that children are usually fond of, providing them an enjoyable yet nutritious treat this Christmas.

“We have made sure that all the contents of our Christmas gift bags are child-friendly. In fact, the Center for Health Development of the Department of Health has given its approval on the project, especially for its nutritional impact on our schoolchildren,” Binay said.

The Christmas gift-giving project for Makati’s schoolchildren is being implemented by the city government for the first time this year, and covers over 97,000 students from preschool to high school, including over 7,000 K to 12 students currently enrolled in Grades 11 and 12 at the Senior High School of UMak (University of Makati).

Binay said the city government decided to expand its traditional Pamaskong Handog gift-giving project, which has benefited Makati residents and city government employees for several years now since the term of then Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.

Each Christmas bag for the students contain food products such as raisins, oatmeal, cheese, choco chips, powdered choco milk, arroz caldo, champorado, tonic food drink, crackers and cookies, cereals, and bread sticks, among others. All public elementary and high schools are distributing the goods simultaneously starting today to ensure that all beneficiaries receive them before the Christmas break.

The traditional Pamasko bag, on the other hand, contains T-shirts and 26 assorted canned goods such as corned beef, sausages and sardines. Distribution has also started at the City Hall Quadrangle, with senior citizens getting their share as early as December 2, coinciding with the distribution of their year-end cash gift.

Through its effective nutrition program, Makati has continued to lower its malnutrition prevalence rate, which has been reduced further from 0.90 in 2012 to 0.73 this year.






DTI confiscates 2,900 uncertified Christmas lights in Metro Manila

By: pia.gov.ph


MAKATI CITY, Dec 14 -- With less than two weeks before Christmas, the Department of Trade and Industry continues its crackdown against proliferation of substandard Christmas lights, as it seized a total of 2,900 alleged Christmas lights with no Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers from nine stores in various locations in Metro Manila.

According to DTI-Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Officer in Charge Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba, about 2,326 sets of Christmas lights were seized from two establishments in Baclaran Market, Paranaque, while 61 sets were taken from one establishment located at Makati Cinema Square, Makati City

Last week, the standards enforcement team confiscated 527 sets of Christmas lights from six sellers in Greenhills San Juan, and Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

“Our standards enforcement teams found out that those Christmas lights were not complying with the required Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers, thus subjecting the seized items under investigation.” Atty Dimagiba said.

“The store owners were issued Notices of Violation (NOV) and are ordered to explain their non-compliance within 48 hours. Atty Dimagiba added.

The brands of confiscated Christmas lights include Ako/Mabuhay Star, Seven Star, Twinkle Light, Holiday Season, North Star, Crown Led Light, Lucky Bright, and Star.

This recent seizure of substandard confiscation is part of DTI’s crackdown against selling and proliferation of substandard Christmas lights in the market.

Atty. Dimagiba warned that sellers found not complying with the Bureau of Product Standard Certification Scheme will be filed administrative charges for violating DTI Administrative Order (DAO) 2:2007, the Republic Act (RA) 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act of the Philippines; and RA 4109 or the Standards Law. If found guilty, violators shall be penalized with P150,000 fine and revocation of DTI-issued permits and license.

Atty Dimagiba repeats his call to traders to sell only certified Christmas lights brands while the consumers are urged to buy only brands of Christmas lights as it have already passed the tests and are proven to be safe for use.

Consumers may visit DTI website (www.dti.gov.ph) to find out the list of authorized importers, sellers, and brands of Christmas lights and to learn more about buying certified Christmas lights. To report establishments that sell substandard Christmas lights, please call DTI Direct 751.3330 or 0917.8343330. (DTI)

Makati folk can scrutinize city plan on billboard ads

By: Niña P. Calleja


The Makati City government will allow residents to scrutinize its 10-year master plan to regulate the outdoor advertising industry.

In an advisory on Thursday, City Hall said public hearings would be held on Monday, Dec. 16, on the proposed Makati City Billboard and Signage Master Plan for 2013 to 2023, to inform the public and concerned parties about the rules and regulations involving the construction, installation and maintenance of these structures.

Through an ordinance passed in 2004, Makati imposed a moratorium on the construction of new billboards and signs. This was after the city saw major accidents involving toppled giant billboards.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the time had come for a comprehensive master plan and a set of rules to be adopted so that billboards and signs, especially those installed in public spaces and structures, could be regulated.

“The city government believes that advertising stimulates economic growth but the right balance must be found between the interest of business groups and advertisers, and the general public’s welfare and safety,” the mayor said.

On Monday, the public may attend the public hearings in two sessions, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon or from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., on the 22nd floor of the new city hall.

“The view in Makati gets cluttered because of these billboards. We want to stop the clutter and regulate their installation and construction,” said Joey Salgado, the city’s public information officer.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently made similar moves to regulate billboards on major thoroughfares, with the crafting of an agreement also known as the Magna Carta on Outdoor Media.

The agreement, which was signed by the MMDA and advertising groups, imposes limits on the size and height of billboards, and requires operators to add “vertical gardens” or allot spaces for ornamental plants. It is set to take effect in 2015.






MMDA, shopping malls to implement traffic schemes this Christmas season

By: pia.gov.ph


MAKATI CITY, December 12 (PIA) – To help ease traffic in shopping malls this Christmas season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) together with shopping mall operators in Metro Manila agreed to implement traffic-alleviating schemes and disaster preparedness measures.

"Shopping malls and similar commercial establishments are traffic generators during the Christmas holidays so we have to come up with effective and sustainable measures to provide convenience to the public," said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

Tolentino together with mall managers came up with action plans.

MMDA will provide traffic management crash course to at least five security personnel from each shopping mall and similar establishments.

A manual of operations will also be drafted for implementation during Christmas and Holy Week for Metro Manila-based malls and MMDA.

Likewise, creation of the Metro Manila Mall Operators Association is proposed to firm up and strengthen the shopping establishments' cooperation on issues affecting the public, especially traffic and public safety.

Likewise, the conduct of simultaneous Metro Manila-wide night time earthquake drills in malls which is set in January 2014 and conduct of basic search and rescue and disaster management for mall personnel.

The MMDA chief said these measures were agreed upon to reduce the anticipated traffic congestion during the holidays.

Meanwhile, Tolentino said that for the traffic management crash course which will start Thursday, December 12, malls' security personnel will be deputized to provide additional manpower to MMDA traffic units, particularly in the vicinities of the shopping malls.

The mall personnel will also be tapped to manage traffic outside the shopping mall's perimeter that will be supervised by MMDA traffic constables.

However, Tolentino clarified that the deputation of the mall security personnel will only be until December 26 and that they will not be given traffic violation receipts.

Among those who participated in the meeting were representatives from Ayala malls (Trinoma and Glorietta), SM, Robinsons, Centris, Fisher Mall, Starmall, Eastwood, and Araneta Center. (MMDA/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)







Makati sends another retrieval team to typhoon-ravaged Leyte

By: Mike Frialde


MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government last Monday sent another team to Leyte with the task of retrieving cadavers still trapped in the rubble left by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the 15-man Makati Rescue team left for Tacloban on board a Philippine Air Force plane C-130 and after setting up their camp at the Remedios T. Romualdez Hospital, had immediately started operating in the area.

Binay said that as of Tuesday, the team was able to recover 12 bodies from various sitios in San Jose, Tacloban City.

“The first batch of Makati Rescue and Philippine K-9 members returned to Metro Manila last December 6,” Binay said.

“During their five-day operations in San Jose, they were able to retrieve 38 victims, including some children,” he added.

The first team, accompanied by trained search dogs “Drena” and “Ash”, were able to retrieve 38 victims from the different parts of San Jose, Tacloban on the following dates: December 1, four victims (one female, two children, one undetermined); December 2, 11 victims (two children, three males, one female, five undetermined); December 3 (two female victims; December 4, nine victims (one child, four males, three females, one undetermined); and December 5, 12 victims (two children, six males, two females, two undetermined).

Binay thanked the search team members who participated in the first search and retrieval operations, namely: from PH-K9, Joel Carandang (Overall Team Leader), Willes John Camu, Jeffrey del Rosario, and Marve Umali; from Makati Rescue, Frederick Garcia (Operations Team Leader), Richard Tupas, Mervicto Verduz, Aldrin Lutao, John Paul Amado, Caven Castro, Roderick Perez, Michael Cliff Pagsiat, Andrew Reyes, Ranier Dagdag and Windmark Larosa.

The members of the second batch of search and retrieval team are all from Makati Rescue.

They will team up with International Canine which already has search dogs in the area of operation.

Condo builder targets university areas

By: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon


“Lined up for next year are university areas,” Maribeth C. Tolentino, president of Vista Residences, Inc., said in an interview in Makati City on Wednesday last week.

“We already have one (condominium) near La Salle (De La Salle University in Manila, or DLSU), two near UST (University of Santo Tomas in Manila) and one near Ateneo (Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City),” she added.

“We are eyeing one (more) each in those areas.”

In a telephone interview last weekend, Red J. Rosales, Vista Residences vice-president for planning and marketing, said the company will spend P1.5 billion to build the three buildings with total sales estimated at P3 billion.

“Usually, we build 30-storey condominiums near campus areas,” Mr. Rosales said.

“Most of our existing units are already 95-100% sold out.”

Ms. Tolentino said the company is targeting those who buy units as investments.

“It’s like dormitory, it is a rental business, so it is good for investors,” she said. “In university areas, we do joint ventures; we also look for some properties that are available for acquisition.”

Building high-rise residential projects near campuses is a common strategy among developers as investors usually take bulk orders.

Sy-led SM Development Corp. has Blue Residences along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City near the Ateneo and Sun Residences in the Welcome Rotonda area in Quezon City near UST. It is also building Green Residences along Taft Avenue in near DLSU.

Vista Land, the property investment holding firm of the family of company founder and former Sen. Manuel B. Villar, Jr., recorded a net income of P3.79 billion as of end-September, up 16.98% from P3.24 billion in the same nine months last year.

Revenues rose 20.51% to P15.92 billion from P13.21 billion, while cost of sales increased 22.35% P11.99 billion from P9.8 billion.

In the same comparative periods, revenues of Vista Residences alone went up 38% to P820 million from P595 million, “attributable to the increase in overall completion rate of its sold inventories in the nine-months of 2013.” Reservation sales rose 18% annually to P35.5 billion from P30.1 billion as the company launched 27 projects collectively worth P19.4 billion.

Vista Land had planned to spend P18.6 billion this year, with nearly P10 billion earmarked to start new projects and the rest for land acquisition.

Shares of Vista Land ended trading yesterday at P5 apiece, unchanged since Thursday last week.

Hungary eyes reopening of embassy in PHL

By: VERONICA PULUMBARIT


Hungary’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister János Martonyi, said his country might reopen its embassy in the Philippines if their economy continues to improve.

In an interview with reporters at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Pasay City on Saturday, Martonyi said the embassy was closed down in 1995 due to budgetary constraints.

Martonyi said the Philippines is on top of the list of countries being considered for the reopening of Hungarian embassies “but this depends on the budget situation of my country, which is now improving so let's hope for the best.”

At present, Hungary has a consulate at the Pacific Star Building along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati and the Honorary Consul General of Hungary in Manila is Alfonso Yuchengco III.

Priority country

In a separate interview with GMA News Online also on Saturday, Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Maria Zeneida Angara-Collinson confirmed that the Philippines is a priority country for the reopening of Hungarian embassies.

“They are encouraged by the high growth, the promising fundamentals so they want to catch a piece of the action so to speak. They want to promote trade, they're actively promoting their meat exports,” Angara-Collinson said.

According to data provided by the DFA, the total trade between the Philippines and Hungary in 2012 was at US$156.5 million.

The products traded between the two countries included food, beverage, components, devices (semi-conductors), electronic data processing, pharmaceuticals, metal automotive parts, petrochemicals, intermediate and fabricated products.

An estimated 180 Filipinos live in Hungary based on the 2012 Stock Estimate of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

Stronger ties

Martonyi said Hungary intends to develop stronger ties with the Philippines as part of his country’s East opening policy or “strategy of opening up towards Asia.”

“The Philippines has a very important role to play because it's a democratic country and it's a country with which we have the same values. For us, it’s very important that this [the Philippines] is a Christian nation,” he said.

Martonyi was in the Philippines from December 5 to 7 at the invitation of his counterpart, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. The two officials had previously met in the multilateral forum of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

During his visit, Martonyi discussed with Vice President Jejomar Binay and Commissioner Patricia Licuanan issues such as Hungary’s cooperation in the implementation of the post-Yolanda recovery and rehabilitation program.

Help for Yolanda victims

The DFA said Hungary was one of the first countries to offer humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the country in November, killing nearly 6,000 people and causing damage over P35.5 billion.

The DFA noted that Hungary immediately sent a medical mission after Yolanda struck the Philippines on November 8.

Last Saturday, Hungary, an expert in water technology, donated a mobile water purification plant capable of producing 100,000 liters daily.

Martonyi said the purification plant was a symbolic gesture of Hungary’s sympathy and solidarity with the victims of Yolanda as well as their intention to develop relations between Hungary and the Philippines.

“I believe that there is now much room for the development of our relationship be it trade, be it tourism, be it investments,” he said.

On the issue of education, Martonyi said Hungary is offering 35 scholarships for Filipino students who want to specialize in engineering or other fields.

Human trafficking

Meanwhile, on the problem about the human trafficking of Filipinos in Europe, Martonyi said Hungary participates “in every international effort to fight human trafficking.”

“We promote all possible initiatives on a global or an international level to fight human trafficking which is one of the evils mankind has to fight against,” he added.

Angara-Collinson supported this statement, saying “Europe is at the forefront of the fight against human trafficking.”

The year 2013 marks the 40th year of the Philippines’ official relations with Hungary, a former communist country.

A BBC report cited Hungary’s key role in “accelerating the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe when it opened its border with Austria in 1989, allowing thousands of East Germans to escape to the West.” East Germany was at that time a communism stronghold while West Germany was a free country.

By 1993, only four years after the collapse of communism in Hungary, nearly half of the country’s economic enterprises had been turned over to the private sector. By 1998, “Hungary was attracting nearly half of all foreign direct investment in Central Europe,” BBC said.

The year 2013 marks the 40th year of the Philippines’ official relations with Hungary, a former communist country. — KBK, GMA News

Property company cites $200-million dev’ts

By: Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano


ITPI Corp. plans to spend some $200 million to develop mixed-used projects in Luzon and Mindanao, the firm’s top official told reporters on Friday night. 

	 “We are set to develop at least $200 million worth of projects within the next six years,” Romolo V. Nati, ITPI’s executive chairman and chief executive officer, said over dinner in Makati City.

The Italian architect said the company will start construction of two projects -- to be located in Batangas and Cagayan de Oro City -- next year.

“One project on ITPI’s drawing board is a larger mixed-use development in Cagayan de Oro City,” Mr. Nati said, even as he refused to give details.

ITPI has an existing 10-storey, twin-tower condominium complex in the city known as Primavera Residences. The $11-million project is located on a 19,000-square-meter (sq.m.) site. The first tower was completed in September last year, while the second one is expected to be completed in April 2015.

Besides expanding its presence in southern Philippines, ITPI is also set to invest more than $100 million for a mixed-use development in Batangas.

“The other ITPI development in Sto. Tomas, Batangas is a $124.5-million, 120,000-sq.m., mixed-use development that will feature several buildings that are designed in a climate change-resistant round shape,” said Mr. Nati, adding that all the company’s projects use existing green building technologies.

Mr. Nati added that the company plans to hike its authorized capital stock by yearend “to attract new equity investors as we envision an initial public offering in the next two years,” but declined to provide details. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano






76-yr-old man dies in Makati fire

By: philstar.com


MANILA, Philippines - An old man died in a fire that struck houses in two compounds in Makati City on Friday night.

Makati City fire bureau's Inspector Rodolfo Dinaga identified the fatality as Santiago, Alupinto, 76.

Fire investigators said Alupinto failed to rush out of their burning home in Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo.

The fire broke out at around 8:55 p.m. It took firefighters nearly an hour to put out the blaze.

The local social welfare and development division said at least 34 families were displaced by the blaze.

Makati distributes year-end cash gift to seniors

By: pia.gov.ph


MAKATI CITY, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- The local government, through the Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) has started distributing the city's year-end cash gift for BLU Card holders in the city’s 33 barangays.

In a statement, MSWD officer-in-charge Ryan Barcelo said some 61,459 qualified beneficiaries started receiving their cash gift on scheduled dates since Monday. The gift giving will run until December 14, 2013 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm daily at designated venues.

Resident senior citizens need only to get in touch with the MSWD at (02) 870-1000 for the details regarding their schedule of gift distribution.

The BLU Card Program was launched in 2002 initially to provide financial assistance amounting to P3,000 to beneficiaries of a BLU card holder upon his or her demise. It was later expanded to include financial assistance in the form of a cash gift to augment their budget for daily needs like food and medicine.

Last year, the City Council approved City Ordinance No. 2012-017 that increased the cash gift received by elderly residents aged 70 to 79 years from 2,000 per year to P3,000, and for those aged 80 and above, from P3,000 per year to P4,000. Meanwhile, those aged 60 to 69 years will continue to receive P2,000. The cash gift for all age groups is given in two equal instalments every June and December.

In claiming the cash gift, beneficiaries who are unable to come in person can send their duly authorized representative whose name appears at the back of the BLU Card to the Cash Division at the 3rd floor of Makati City Hall. The representative should be able to present a medical certificate as proof of the beneficiaries’ condition, whether bedridden, disabled or confined in a hospital.

Authorization forms are available at the MSWD office at the fifth floor of Makati City Hall.

On the other hand, senior citizens who are out-of-town or abroad during the distribution of the cash gifts are not entitled to claim the said benefit, and authorization presented by a representative will not be honored by the Cash Division. (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

Makati hotel pledges $5 donation for each staying guest to ‘Yolanda’ victims

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo


MANILA, Philippines – A popular hotel in Makati City has pledged to donate $5 for each guest that stays with them, for the benefit of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international codename: Haiyan) survivors. “From 1st December 2013 to 31st January 2014….all Peninsula hotels will make a donation of $5 for each guest stay,” The Peninsula Manila said in a statement Wednesday. The donations will go to the Peninsula group’s “Hope for the Philippines,” a worldwide effort to raise funds for the rebuilding of homes and communities in Eastern Visayas, which was the hardest hit by the typhoon. The funds raised will be given directly to the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. Almost 600,000 houses were totally destroyed by the typhoon’s strong winds and deadly storm surges last November 8. Another 600,000 houses were also damaged. Recently, the government has shifted focus to the rehabilitation of affected areas, which includes the reconstruction of infrastructure and alternative jobs for the residents.

4 hurt in Makati fire

By: Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren



SFO1 Richelle Leal said the victims are borders of one of the three houses engulfed by fire. The fire started at about 6:30 a.m. on the second level of a house at 2089 E. Pascua Street in Barangay Kasilawan, Makati City. The fire reached the third alarm before it was put out at 6:52 am.

2 hurt in Makati blaze

By: Jerome Lantin, ABS-CBN News


MANILA – Two people were wounded after a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Carmona, Makati City on Tuesday morning.

The fire erupted along Pascua Street at around 6:30 a.m. and razed at least three homes. It reached the third alarm and was declared out at 6:52 a.m.

Two house occupants sustained scratches while running away from the fire.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the amount of damage it caused.






Makati holds exhibit sale for Yolanda survivors

By: pia.gov.ph

MAKATI CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA) -- As part of its commitment to helping the survivors of super-typhoon Yolanda, the local government, through its Museum and Cultural Affairs Office, has partnered with the Iloilo Chamber of Commerce and Industry to organize this year’s Likhang Kamay Exhibit as a fund-raising event at the Activity Area of Glorietta 4 beginning today, Dec. 2 until Dec. 4.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay said proceeds of the three-day exhibit sale, open from 10am to 9pm, will be used for the relief and rehabilitation of Yolanda-ravaged towns in Northern Iloilo, and appealed to residents, tourists and the general public to support the event.

“We invite everyone to come to the exhibit, which offers fashionable clothes and items made of Iloilo’s trademark hablon material, as well as its native delicacies. Your purchases will go a long way in helping our kababayans in Northern Iloilo rebuild their lives,” Binay said.

The 35th Likhang Kamay exhibit carries the theme “BANGON ILOILO!” as a rallying cry for the recovery and rehabilitation of the towns of Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Balasan, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Lemery, Sara, San Dionisio, and San Rafael, which were among the worst-hit areas.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog will be bringing the famous Dinagyang performers, 2013 champion of Aliwan Festival, to perform at the opening ceremonies. Also expected to attend are city officials led by Mayor Binay and former Mayor, Dr. Elenita S. Binay, and Iloilo Chamber of Commerce Industry President Joe Marie Agriam.

Also, a fashion show mounted by the Iloilo Fashion Designers Guild will be held at the Activity Center, Glorietta 4, featuring designer clothes made of hablon and other indigenous materials Iloilo is famous for.

Products on sale at the exhibit will include dresses, blouses, scarves, bags and household decors made of hablon and other popular indigenous materials of Iloilo, as well as its native delicacies like pinasugbu, piaya, empanadas, barquillos, pañares and fresh lumpiang ubod.

Meanwhile, a donation box shall be positioned within the area for any goods the public may wish to donate.

The 35th Likhang Kamay is being presented in cooperation with Ayala Malls, the Iloilo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Iloilo City Tourism Office. (ICRD/RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)






Makati elderly get cash gifts

By: Anna Liza Villas


Manila, Philippines — The Makati City government will begin today its distribution of year-end cash gift to 61,459 senior residents of Makati City who are BLU Card holders.

The Elderly Welfare Section of the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) said the distribution of the year-end cash gift for BLU Card holders in the city’s 33 barangays will last until December 14, 2013.

In a report to Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, MSWD officer-in-charge Ryan Barcelo said some 61,459 qualified beneficiaries are set to receive their cash gift on scheduled dates from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in their respective barangay halls.

The BLU Card Program was launched in 2002 initially to provide financial assistance amounting to P3,000 to beneficiaries of a BLU card holder upon his or her demise.

It was later expanded to include financial assistance in the form of a cash gift to augment their budget for daily needs like food and medicine.

Last year, the City Council approved City Ordinance No. 2012-017 that increased the cash gift received by elderly residents aged 70 to 79 years from 2,000 per year to P3,000, and for those aged 80 and above, from P3,000 per year to P4,000.

Meanwhile, those aged 60 to 69 years will continue to receive P2,000. The cash gift for all age groups is given in two equal installments every June and December.

In claiming the cash gift, beneficiaries who are unable to come in person can send their duly authorized representative whose name appears at the back of the BLU Card to the Cash Division at the 3rd floor of Makati City Hall. The representative should be able to present a medical certificate as proof of the beneficiaries’ condition, whether bedridden, disabled or confined in a hospital.

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