Deal on procurement of P2.4-B internet infra, defense gear signed

The Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for the procurement of a Wi-Fi infrastructure system in line with the initiative of the government to provide free Internet access across the country.

The DICT outsourced the services of the PITC to procure P2.39 billion worth of regional Wi-Fi infrastructure network in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to provide free Internet access in public places nationwide.

“This Wi-Fi project will benefit Filipinos in 81 provinces all over the country as we democratize access to the internet and information which can fuel economic growth, especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” PITC President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Almarinez said.

President Duterte recently signed into law Republic Act 10929 known as the “Free Internet Access In Public Access Act,” institutionalizing a free Internet access program in public places nationwide.

DICT, the lead implementing agency, will oversee the effective and efficient implementation of the law.

The department, through its “PipolKonek” project,” will roll out Free Public Wi-Fi hotspots in public plazas and parks; public libraries, schools, colleges and universities; rural health units and government hospitals; train stations, airports, and seaports; and national and local government offices.

The department aims to reach over 13,000 public places across 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities.

Defense equipment

The PITC has likewise partnered with the Department of National Defense (DND) for the procurement of defense equipment for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“The procurement of the defense equipment is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal of modernizing the supplies and weapons of our soldiers as one way of recognizing their bravery and selfless sacrifices for the nation,” Almarinez said.

The PITC inked the deal with DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and DICT Undersecretary Eliseo Rio. It was witnessed by Senator Cynthia Villar and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo during its 44th anniversary celebration held Thursday night at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The PITC, an attached agency of the DTI, is a state trading company that partners with Filipino entrepreneurs and industries to compete globally and benefit from international trade.

It has facilitated various government to government (G-G), business to government (B-G), business to business (B-B), and business to consumer transactions through its international trade services (exports trading, customs bonded warehousing, countertrade and imports trading) and procurement services.

It aims to engage in exports, trade services and special trading arrangements; ensure the most efficient and cost-effective procurement services; contribute to price/supply stabilization of goods and services and create strategic alliances that promote the growth and sustainability of businesses and enterprises.

Russian deal

The PITC recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Russia’s Geo Spectrum, an agency similar to the functions of PITC, for the procurement of a broad range of products such as coconut oil, marine and agriculture products, and pharmaceuticals that the Philippines can export to Russia.

The Philippines can export its agriculture products to Russia, while Geospectrum can bring in Russian goods to the Philippine market through PITC.

“We have been firm with our goal to create more jobs and opportunities for the Filipino people by opening our doors to other trading partners. This will further empower entrepreneurs and local industries to compete in the global arena,” Almarinez said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/deal-on-procurement-of-p2-4-b-internet-infra-defense-gear-signed/

Pros and cons of ODAs, GAAs, and PPP

By Andrew J. Masigan

THE clock is ticking on the Duterte administration.

After spending its first year reviewing, recalibrating, and rewriting the terms of engagements for various infrastructure projects, it is now left with just five years to roll out its ambitions, eight-trillion peso infrastructure plan.

Infrastructure development is the centerpiece of “Dutertenomics” and it is on this basis that the business community will judge this administration. With limited time, the pressure is on to roll-out projects in the fastest way possible.

Earlier this year, the Departments Finance (DoF) and Transportation (DoTr) announced its intention to forgo with Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and instead, utilize official development assistance (ODAs) and budget appropriations from the general appropriations act (GAAs) to finance infrastructure projects. The idea is to bypass the development time required by PPP contracts. Typically, it takes 29 months to settle the technical, financial, and legal frameworks of a PPP contract before it could even break ground. The shift to ODAs and GAAs further saves government from having to deal with the customary lawsuits filed by losing PPP bidders.

Project cost is another consideration. The DoF asserts that government can build projects more economically since its borrowing cost is substantially lower than that of the private sector. ODAs are concessional loans that come with interest rates as low as 1% per annum, easy repayment terms, and a grant element of 25% or greater. The lower cost to build inevitably translates to lower user fees for the public.

Having decided on the ODA and GAA route, government has since adapted what it calls “Hybrid PPP,” whereby it builds the physical structure and subsequently bids out the rights to operate and maintain the facility to a private enterprise.

At face value, the plan makes sense as it allows government to build projects in a cheaper and faster manner. But for all its supposed advantages, Hybrid PPP is far from perfect. There are imminent risks in using ODAs and GAAs, hence, it must be utilized selectively and with caution.

NOT NECESSARILY CHEAPER AND FASTER
Lower interest rates do not necessarily translate to cheaper project costs. One of the reasons is because ODAs come with the proviso that the donee must utilize certain engineering firms, contractors, equipment and parts suppliers nominated by the donor country. These suppliers may not be the cheapest nor the best in their field. In fact, a study conducted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism which covered 71 ODA projects revealed that seven out of 10 ODA projects failed to deliver their projected savings on the back of bloated supplier costs and repair works for shoddy construction.

Adding injury is the fact that this proviso leaves out local engineering and construction firms from benefitting from the infrastructure building boom.

Graft must also be factored into the equation.

A 2011 study conducted by Global Financial Integrity, a Washington DC based think tank, revealed that projects undertaken by the Philippine government were saddled with overspending and budget leaks ranging from 25% to as much as 50% of project cost.

While the study may have been done during the Arroyo administration, no one can deny that graft still persists today, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. Still, even with a minimal 5% graft cost, the saving derived from cheaper interest rates could be completely negated.

As for the savings of 29 months development time, this will only be realized if government can indeed construct a project as quickly as a private enterprise can.

In this regard, absorptive capacities becomes an issue.

As it stands, both the Departments of Transportation (DoTr) and Public Works & Highways (DPWH) are so choked up with project backlogs that certain projects have been put on hold or face years of delays. Cases in point are the P70-million slope protection project at Artemio Mate Avenue and the P30-million Tigbao-Diit bridge, both in Tacloban. The DoTr and DPWH need more engineers, more lawyers and financial auditors to cope with the hundreds of projects on its plate. Further dragging the process is the need to conform to stringent procurement laws.

Private companies work faster since they are motivated by profit, account to no one but their shareholders and face steep penalties if they fail to deliver a project on time. In contrast, delays don’t hurt the pockets of government bureaucrats.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Government officials feel they are awash with cash what with $8 billion worth of credit facilities committed by China and Japan. But the fact that government can afford to build projects using its own resources doesn’t mean it has to.

As a businessman, I always prefer to use investor’s money rather than my own for business ventures. Doing so frees my cash to be used for other projects or saved for a rainy day. It lowers my risk in case the project fails to deliver its economic benefits. It keeps my balance sheet strong with the ratio of liabilities to assets kept at a minimum. The same is true on a national scale.

DoF Secretary Sonny Dominguez said the Philippines has “a lot of headroom” to borrow since our debt-to-GDP ratio is exceptionally low at 41.87% as of March. Still, why use government funds when private enterprises are waiting in the wings to pick up the tab? Credit lines are a finite resource and it should be spent on missionary projects or projects not viable enough to attract private investors.

I look at debt with trepidation. No matter how cheap interest rates are, debts must still be repaid on the back of sovereign guarantees. It also exposes the system to foreign currency risk. The less obligations the nation is saddled with, the stronger our financial position will be.

In the end, I think that projects that require proprietary technologies from a donor nation and those that need government’s intervention to settle complicated right of way issues, like the Manila Subway project, qualify to be done through a hybrid model. However, projects that utilize cookie-cutter technologies and those that can do without government involvement, like the Clark Airport redevelopment, are better off in private hands.

I have no doubt that decision to scrap PPP in favor of a hybrid model is motivated by good intentions. But the last thing we want is to be overcome with debt while still experiencing delays in the roll-out of projects.

This is why the hybrid model need not be the exclusive format for all infrastructure projects. It must be used selectively and prudently. After all, experience has taught us that the private enterprises always carry out projects cheaper, faster, and better.

Andrew J. Masigan is an economist.

http://bworldonline.com/pros-cons-odas-gaas-ppp/

Gay actors

Kenjie Garcia

Paolo Rivero and Janvier Daily

Ran Domingo

GMA Network tops nationwide TV ratings in August

GMA Network, Inc. (GMA) maintained its lead in the nationwide TV ratings competition based on data from the industry’s widely trusted ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

From August 1 to 31 (with August 27 to 31 based on overnight data), GMA led competition across all day parts in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average total day people audience share of 42 percent; ahead of ABS-CBN’s 37.4 percent.

In Urban Luzon, the Network toppled competition from the morning up to the primetime block. GMA registered a total day people audience share of 48.7 percent; beating ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.

The Kapuso Network posted an even bigger margin in Mega Manila (based on August 1 to 26 data) with an impressive 51.9 percent people audience share across all time blocks versus ABS-CBN’s 27.1 percent.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Kapuso shows dominated the list of top programs in NUTAM with multi-awarded news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remaining as the most watched GMA show during the said period. GMA also claimed the top 8 spots in the Urban Luzon list while it swept the top 16 spots in Mega Manila with KMJS still at number one and was closely followed by Pepito Manaloto.

Also included in the list of top-rating Kapuso shows were Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Alyas Robin Hood, 24 Oras, My Love from the Star, I Heart Davao, My Korean Jagiya, Magpakailanman, Mulawin vs. Ravena, Eat Bulaga, Ika-6 Na Utos, Impostora, Haplos, Wowowin and Hay Bahay!.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/news/33704/gma-network-tops-nationwide-tv-ratings-in-august/story/

GMA, ABS-CBN claim lead

By Miguel R. Camus

Media giants GMA Network Inc. and ABS-CBN Corp. released television ratings for August, each saying they have kept their leads in their respective areas.

GMA Network said in a statement that it had cornered an audience share of 42 percent against ABS-CBN’s 37.4 percent last month in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement. GMA uses data prepared by Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

GMA said it was ahead of competition in Urban Luzon, where it got an audience share of 48.7 percent against ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.


It claimed a big margin in Mega Manila (Aug. 1 to 26 data) with a 51.9 percent audience share across “all time blocks” versus ABS-CBN’s 27.1 percent.


Urban Luzon and Mega Manila respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country, it said.


Kapuso shows dominated the list of top programs in NUTAM with multi-awarded news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remaining as the most watched GMA show during the said period. GMA also claimed the top 8 spots in the Urban Luzon list while it swept the top 16 spots in Mega Manila with KMJS still at number one and was closely followed by “Pepito Manaloto.”

Also included in the list of top-rating Kapuso shows were “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,” “Alyas Robin Hood,” “24 Oras,” “My Love from the Star,” “I Heart Davao,” “My Korean Jagiya,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “Magpakailanman,” “Celebrity Bluff,” “Mulawin vs. Ravena,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Sunday PinaSaya,” “Dear Uge,” “Ika-6 na Utos,” “Tadhana,” “Impostora,” “Haplos,” “Road Trip,” “Wowowin,” and “Hay Bahay.”

ABS-CBN, which uses data from Kantar Media, said in a separate statement that it got an average nationwide audience share of 46 percent against GMA’s 33 percent for August.

ABS-CBN cited its lead in the primetime block, where it scored an average audience share of 50 percent, against GMA’s 31 percent.

ABS-CBN said the primetime block was coveted because this was when most viewers watch television, prompting advertisers to park the bulk of their spending during these hours.

ABS-CBN said it was also ahead in the morning and afternoon blocks, where it registered average audience shares of 40 percent and 43 percent, respectively, compared to GMA’s 30 percent and 38 percent.

In the noontime block, ABS-CBN’s audience share rose to 46 percent from the previous month’s 44 percent. It said GMA’s ratings had declined to 35 percent.

ABS-CBN also kept its total day lead in other areas such as Luzon as it hit 42 percent versus GMA’s 35 percent, in Visayas with 55 percent versus GMA’s 26 percent and in Mindanao with 54 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent.

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” continued to hold the top position as the most watched program in the country with a national TV rating of 38.6 percent.

It was followed by the Philippine adaptation of talent-variety-talk show “Little Big Shots,” which recorded 35.9 percent.

Variety show “It’s Showtime,” is still the most watched noontime show in the country with a national TV rating of 32.5% on weekdays and 29% on Saturdays, against its rival “Eat Bulaga” which only got 30% on weekdays and 24.2% on Saturdays.

Other ABS-CBN programs that made it to August’s top 18 were “La Luna Sangre,” “A Love to Last,” “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” “Bandila,” “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin,” “Pusong Ligaw,” “The Better Half,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “TV Patrol,” “Wansapanataym,” “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Rated K,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “Wildflower,” “Bet on Your Baby,” “TV Patrol Weekend,” “Home Sweetie Home,” and “Goin’ Bulilit.”

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 7, go to Jackie Ejercito-Lopez, Nenita Evans, Regina Meer Castillo, Regine Tolentino, Sol Lavadia, Paquita Maglaya, Albert Morris, Mary Elizabeth S. Timbol, Jane J. Garcia, Linda Amon, Reggie Espinosa, Lilia Uy Hao, Samuel Velasco, Butch Roldan, Julia Lopez, Rolando Josef, Zach Hontiveros Pagkalinawan, Rickey Miranda, Arlyn Medina, Flor Punongbayan, Joan Lim, John Gatdula and Iriga City Mayor Madeleine Alfelor-Gazmen… Happy wedding anniversary to Titong C. Villacorta and Ma. Georgia Ejercito; and Tito and Mary Anna Salcedo…Sept. 8: awarded broadcast journalist Che Che Lazaro, Sec. Orlando J. Sacay, Maricris Bermont, Long Espina, Debbie Yu-Chan, Fe Ramos Esteban of Casino Filipino-Hyatt, Ramon Ting, Natividad L. Aventura, Naty B. Rodriguez, Naty A. Pappas, Eloy Pacheco of Rosy’s Pancit Malabon, Natalie Castel, Irene Guinan, Mary Jessica Dailo, Dr. Flor Concepcion-Lindres of Bulacan, Ronald de Leon, Bea Royo, Jay Laurel Leano, Lis Cojuangco, Maria Alyssa Varsovia, Nestoria M. Coronel, Graciella N. Martinez, Yosef Elizalde, Cesar Saavedra, Juliana Torres-Gomez and Sandy Santamaria…

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/236328/gma-abs-cbn-claim-lead#ixzz4rrobWJWT
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MPIC tollways unit hopeful of CTBEX project award

Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is hopeful it could get original proponent status for the P23.7 billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) before the end of the year as it submitted the additional requirements for the proposed project yesterday.

Metro Pacific Tollways South president Luigi Bautista told reporters the firm submitted the additional requirements which includes the updated draft concession agreement for the proposed CTBEX to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The proposed CTBEX is a 46-kilometer expressway that will link Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) at Silang in Cavite to Tagaytay City, and will terminate at Nasugbu in Batangas.

The firm submitted the unsolicited proposal to the DPWH last July 7.

After submitting the additional requirements, Bautista said the DPWH could declare it as a complete submission and it could begin evaluation of the proposal.

Following declaration of complete submission, the DPWH has 60 days to evaluate the proposal before they can award it or give Metro Pacific Tollways South the original proponent status.

“Perhaps, towards the end of the year, we will be able to get the original proponent status for CTBEX,” Bautista said.

At present, there are two tollway concessions under Metro Pacific Tollways South — Cavitex and Calax.

MPIC also operates other tollways such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

The infrastructure conglomerate is likewise working on other tollway projects such as NLEX-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road, NLEX-Harbor Link Segment 10, C-5 South Link and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

Apart from tollways, MPIC is engaged in other businesses such as water, power, hospitals, rail and logistics.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/09/06/1736089/mpic-tollways-unit-hopeful-ctbex-project-award

GMA, ABS-CBN claim ratings leadership in August

TELEVISION networks ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc. both claimed the lead in national TV ratings for the month of August, citing separate results from market research firms Nielsen TV Audience Measurement and Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN said in a statement that it remained unbeatable nationwide with an average audience share of 46 percent compared to GMA’s 33 percent, based on data from Kantar Media.

GMA, on the other hand, said it beat its rival network in National Urban Television Audience Measurement, posting an audience share of 42 percent, against ABS-CBN’s 37.4 percent, for August.

Citing the said research firms, both media giants highlighted segments where they excelled.

ABS-CBN said it ruled the primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 a.m.) with an audience share of 50 percent, 19 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent.

According to ABS-CBN, it continued to strengthen its lead with its morning (6 a.m. to 12 noon) and afternoon blocks (12 noon to 3 p.m.) that scored average audience shares of 40 percent an 43 percent, respectively, against GMA’s 30 percent and 38 percent.

ABS-CBN said it also kept its total day lead in other areas such as Total Luzon as it hit 42 percent versus GMA’s 35 percent; in Total Visayas with 55 percent versus GMA’s 26 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 54 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent.

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” continued to hold the top position as the most watched program in the country with a national TV rating of 38.6 percent.

It was followed by the Philippine adaptation of talent-variety-talk show “Little Big Shots,” which recorded 35.9 percent.

Other ABS-CBN programs that made it to August’s top 16 were “La Luna Sangre,” “A Love to Last”, “Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin”, “It’s Showtime”, "Pusong Ligaw”, “The Better Half”, “TV Patrol,” “Wansapanataym,” “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “Wildflower,” “Home Sweetie Home” and “Goin’ Bulilit.”

The network said that as of June this year, ABS-CBN TVplus has already sold 3 million boxes nationwide since its launch in 2015 and significantly boosted ABS-CBN’s TV ratings.

According to data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN’s audience share in Mega Manila increased to 36 percent in 2017, compared to 30 percent in 2015, as more households were able to experience clearer viewing experience with ABS-CBN TVplus.

ABS-CBN said it is also rapidly transitioning into a digital company with the biggest online presence among all Filipino media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

Its company media website abs-cbn.com logged 36 million users and hit over 1.7 billion page views as of end-May this year, becoming the country’s biggest local media website.

The company has also announced that it is opening its first Experience Store at Trinoma soon. It also partnered with Ayala Malls to launch its events place ABS-CBN Vertis Tent later this year, and with CityMall Commercial Centers, Inc. to manage the mall chain’s cinemas, the first of which opened last weekend.

ABS-CBN reported a net income of P1.2 billion for the first six months of 2017.

Aside from ABS-CBN, among Kantar Media’s local current subscribers are Peoples Television Network, Inc., Viva Communications, Inc., Solar Entertainment Corporation.

Meanwhile, GMA said the network toppled competition in Urban Luzon from the morning up to the primetime block, registering a total day audience share of 48.7 percent, beating ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.

GMA also highlighted its bigger margin in Mega Manila with 51.9 percent audience share across all time blocks compared to the Kapamilya network’s 27.1 percent.

Urban Luzon and Mega Manila respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

Kapuso shows dominated the list of top programs in NUTAM with multi-awarded news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) remaining as the most watched GMA show during the said period.

GMA also claimed the top 8 spots in the Urban Luzon list while it swept the top 16 spots in Mega Manila with KMJS still at number one and was closely followed by Pepito Manaloto.

Also included in the list of top-rating Kapuso shows were Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko,” “Alyas Robin Hood,” “24 Oras,” “My Love from the Star,” “I Heart Davao,” “My Korean Jagiya,” “Magpakailanman,” “Mulawin vs. Ravena,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Ika-6 Na Utos,” “Impostora,” “Haplos,” “Wowowin,” and “Hay Bahay.”

Nielsen data is gathered through a greater number of sampled homes nationwide in comparison to Kantar Media. With approximately 900 more homes surveyed in Total Urban and Rural Philippines compared to Kantar, Nielsen data is statistically considered more representative of the total TV population.


In 2016, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 36 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, AksyonTV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 block timers and 17 media agencies.

http://www.manilatimes.net/gma-abs-cbn-claim-ratings-leadership-aug/348959/

DMCI founder David Consunji passes away at 95

Construction and real estate magnate David M. Consunji, the founder of diversified engineering conglomerate DMCI Holdings, Inc. passed away on Monday at age 95.

DMCI, in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Tuesday, said Consunji died around noontime.

“Recognized locally as the father of contemporary construction industry, DM (Consunji) built landmarks and redefined cityscapes for generations of Filipinos,” the company said.

Consunji’s remains lie in state at the Capilla de San Francisco of the Santuario de San Antonio Parish, McKinley Road, Forbes Park in Makati City, and can be viewed starting September 5 until Friday, September 8..

He will be interred on Saturday, September 9, at the Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City after a 9:30 am mass at the Santuario de San Antonio.

Consunji was listed as the Philippines’ 6th richest man this year by Forbes, following Henry Sy, John Gokongwei, Enrique Razon, Jr., Lucio Tan, and Jaime Zobel de Ayala.

The tycoon founded his business initially by constructing chicken houses for the Bureau of Animal Industry until he earned a reputation for on schedule delivery, DMCI said, leading to larger scale projects such as the Tacloban Coca Cola Plant and Bacnotan Cement Plant.

He also served in government, having been appointed secretary of the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications from 1970 to 1975 during the Marcos administration.

DMCI Holdings handles the Consunji family’s businesses and investments in construction (DM Consunji), power and mining (DMCI Power Inc., Semirara Mining and Power Corp., DMCI Mining), property development (DMCI Homes, DMCI Project Developers Inc.), and water utilities (Maynilad Water Services Inc.)

http://www.manilatimes.net/dmci-founder-david-consunji-passes-away-95/348967/

ABS-CBN maintains nationwide ratings lead in August

ABS-CBN said Tuesday it once again drew more viewers in August compared to its rival TV networks, based on data from Kantar Media.

The country's largest media company said it got a nationwide average audience share of 46 percent versus GMA’s 33 percent.

ABS-CBN’s primetime block (6PM-12MN) also kept its stronghold of the nationwide lead as it scored an average audience share of 50 percent, 19 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent.

“FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” continued to hold the top position as the most watched program in the country with a national TV rating of 38.6 percent.

It was followed by the Philippine adaptation of talent-variety-talk show “Little Big Shots,” which recorded 35.9 percent.

Other ABS-CBN programs that made it to August’s top fourteen were “La Luna Sangre” (33.7 percent), "A Love to Last", "Tonight with Boy Abunda", "Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin", "It's Showtime", "Pusong Ligaw", "The Better Half", “TV Patrol” (32.5 percent), “Wansapanataym” (28.1 percent), “Maalaala Mo Kaya” (27.4 percent), “Wildflower” (25.3 percent), “Home Sweetie Home” (24.9 percent), and “Goin’ Bulilit” (22.7 percent).

ABS-CBN also kept viewers glued to its morning block (6AM-12NN) and afternoon block (3PM-6PM) that registered average audience shares of 40 percent and 43 percent, respectively, compared to GMA’s 30 percent and 38 percent.

In the noontime block, meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s audience share slightly climbed to 46 percent from the previous month’s 44 percent, while GMA’s dipped to 35 percent from 39 percent.

The Kapamilya network also kept its total day lead in other areas such as Total Luzon as it hit 42 percent versus GMA’s 35 percent, in Total Visayas with 55 percent versus GMA’s 26 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 54 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent.

The network said that as of June this year, ABS-CBN TVplus has already sold 3 million boxes nationwide since its launch in 2015 and significantly boosted ABS-CBN’s TV ratings.

According to data from Kantar Media, ABS-CBN’s audience share in Mega Manila increased to 36 percent in 2017, compared to 30 percent in 2015, as more households were able to experience clearer viewing experience with ABS-CBN TVplus.

ABS-CBN said it is also rapidly transitioning into a digital company with the biggest online presence among all Filipino media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

Its company media website abs-cbn.com logged 36 million users and hit over 1.7 billion page views as of end-May this year, becoming the country’s biggest local media website.

The company has also announced that it is opening its first Experience Story at Trinoma soon. It also partnered with Ayala Malls to launch its events place ABS-CBN Vertis Tent later this year, and with CityMall Commercial Centers, Inc. to manage the mall chain’s cinemas, the first of which opened last weekend.

ABS-CBN reported a net income of P1.2 billion for the first six months of 2017.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/05/17/abs-cbn-maintains-nationwide-ratings-lead-in-august