Kuh mounts special benefit show

Kuh Ledesma

She normally doesn’t celebrate her birthday the big way, especially through concerts like most artists, but Kuh Ledesma is doing it for the second time on March 16. Like the first one held two years ago, it will be a benefit event, to raise funds for the Holy Bible Giver Foundation. It will also be held at the 8,000-seater Mega Church CCF in Tiendesitas.

But more than a fundraising concert for the foundation she runs, the “2nd KuhL Event” is Kuh’s way of thanking the Lord for blessing her with another year. “I asked myself: What can I do on my birthday to give back to the God who has given me another blessed year? So I thought that since on March 16, I will be celebrating the day I was born, perhaps I should do exactly that – mount a meaningful and inspiring concert that will draw my audience to God!”

To make the concert more special, Kuh will be joined by friends Piolo Pascual, Alden Richards, Christian Bautista, Nanette Inventor, Carlo Orosa, Migo Adecer, Tim Pavino, Perkins Twins, and Ogie Alcasid. And of course, Kuh’s daughter Isabella will share the stage with them.

As their repertoire, they will be singing songs that are expressions of life, inspirational.

“Kahit pop kailangan positive ang dating. We won’t be singing trashy songs for sure. We’re also doing a medley of songs from ‘The Greatest Showman,’ ang ganda kasi, the ones pertaining to life, the good side of life…”

• • •

Inspired to give best

Pauline Mendoza

Pauline Mendoza is inspired to do her best on the top-rating GMA series “Kambal, Karibal” because of her talented co-stars – Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Kyline Alcantara, Christopher de Leon, Marvin Agustin, Carmina Villarroel, and Jean Garcia. Of course, Pauline would like to be at par with their respective performances.

Pauline plays the character Crisel (the twin of Crisan played by Bianca) who had invaded the body of Cheska (Kyline).

Pauline admires her co-stars’ talents and dedication to their craft and she would like to emulate them. They have developed closeness, she said.

• • •

ABS-CBN, GMA both claim ratings lead

ABS-CBN Corp. claimed a lead in national television ratings for February this year while main rival GMA Network Inc. said it cornered the lion’s share in urban viewership.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it had cornered a national audience share of 46 percent against GMA’s 33 percent. This was based on data from Kantar Media.

For its part, GMA said it was the most watched TV station, based on National Urban Television Audience Measurement (Nutam), with an average of 43.6 percent against ABS-CBN’s 37.9 percent. GMA, for its part, uses data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Competition was more pronounced in Luzon, especially in the capital district.

ABS-CBN said it had captured 40 percent of the audience share in Metro Manila versus GMA’s 28 percent.

The Lopez-owned network said it led the primetime block from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., with average audience share of 51 percent, 20 points ahead of GMA.

ABS-CBN also led the morning block with 39 percent, the noontime block with 44 percent and the afternoon block with 42 percent.

Nine of the ten most watched programs nationwide in February were also produced by ABS-CBN, led by the long-running police drama “FPJ's Ang Probinsyano,” which garnered an average national TV rating of 41.2 percent.

“Pilipinas Got Talent” was in second place with 39.6 percent, followed by the Asia’s longest-running drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” “TV Patrol,” “La Luna Sangre,” “The Good Son,” “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” “Bandila,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “It’s Showtime,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “Asintado,” “ASAP,” “Hanggang Saan,” “Wansapanataym,” “Wildflower,” “TV Patrol Weekend,” “Goin' Bulilit,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “The Blood Sisters,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “I Can See Your Voice” and “Rated K".

As of November 2017, ABS-CBN said it sold 4 million units of units of its TVplus digital service. Its content is also available online through iWant TV.

GMA said it had cornered 52.1 percent of “total day people audience share” in Mega Manila, including Metro Manila, against ABS-CBN’s 27.6 percent. By the same measure, it got 49.1 percent of Urban Luzon versus ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.

ABS-CBN kept its traditionally wide lead in Total Visayas (56 percent against GMA’s 27 percent) and Total Mindanao (52 percent against GMA’s 31 percent).

Moreover, ABS-CBN said it was ahead in the coveted primetime block. Its average audience share here hit 51 percent, higher than GMA’s 31 percent, for February.

Likewise, in Mega Manila (with official data from February 1 to 24), the Kapuso Network remained undefeated with a 52.1 percent total day people audience share while ABS-CBN managed to get only 27.6 percent.

Award-winning news magazine show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” still reigned as the most watched GMA program nationwide in February.

Other GMA ratings drivers last month were “Magpakailanman,” “Kambal, Karibal,” “Pepito Manaloto,” “24 Oras,” “Sherlock Jr.,” “All-Star Videoke,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “Ika-6 na Utos."

Also in the list of top programs were “Sirkus,” “The One That Got Away,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “The Stepdaughters,” “Imbestigador,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Tadhana,” “Impostora,” “Sunday Pinasaya,” “Haplos” and “Wowowin.”

GMA Network still dominated the list of top programs in Urban Luzon with eight Kapuso shows in the top 10. Moreover, GMA programs swept the first nine spots in Mega Manila.

Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.

Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. February ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 42.9 percent in February, winning over DZMM’s 39.5 percent and DZRH’s 30.4 percent.

From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.

Meanwhile, viewers can now enjoy a more colorful, more vibrant, and clearer viewing experience as GMA Network’s digital TV signal now covers all parts of Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. GMA-7 and GMA News TV’s digital broadcast can be accessed by simply rescanning the channels through their digital TV boxes.

“The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively,” ABS-CBN said in a statement.

On Monday, shares in ABS-CBN closed at P29.80 each, lower by 5.40%, while GMA shares inched up by 2.07% to P6.41 apiece.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 6, go to Gretchen Barretto, Rudy Tee, Mark R. Ablaza, Vicky Amalingan, Roberto Reyes, Meden Espino, Norma Williams, Felicidad Tabios, Robald Castillon, Randy Garcia of PNB PCSO Branch, Jaclyn Isip, Chris Teodoro, Anacleta Rubang-Velasco, Atty. Zerline Go Trinidad-Balleque of Tagum City and Archie Alemania... Happy wedding anniversary to Alex and Ana Cayabyab... March 7: Gerald Anderson, Ms. Carmen Patena, Tom Apacible. Leo Martinez, Rica Peralejo, Nora Robles, Francis Choy, Dr. Johnny Labodahon, Karylle Abigail Adao, Tomas B. Medina, Engr. Jay Paul Galino, Charlotte Quiambao-Pascual, Perpetua C. Plastina, Carmen Bautista, Veronica R. Samio, Victor Oida Solomo of Hong Kong, Lalaine Paguirigan, Jojo Gonzales de Guzman, Andy Miranda, Ella Mae Saison, MB’s Eloisa Bernabe, Nelson Elises, Emma Enriquez and Tong Payumo, former SMBA chair…

ABS-CBN, GMA both claim ratings lead

ABS-CBN Corp. claimed a lead in national television ratings for February this year while main rival GMA Network Inc. said it cornered the lion’s share in urban viewership.

In a statement, ABS-CBN said it had cornered a national audience share of 46 percent against GMA’s 33 percent. This was based on data from Kantar Media.

For its part, GMA said it was the most watched TV station, based on National Urban Television Audience Measurement (Nutam), with an average of 43.6 percent against ABS-CBN’s 37.9 percent. GMA, for its part, uses data from Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

Competition was more pronounced in Luzon, especially in the capital district.

ABS-CBN said it had captured 40 percent of the audience share in Metro Manila versus GMA’s 28 percent.

The Lopez-owned network said it led the primetime block from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., with average audience share of 51 percent, 20 points ahead of GMA.

ABS-CBN also led the morning block with 39 percent, the noontime block with 44 percent and the afternoon block with 42 percent.

Nine of the ten most watched programs nationwide in February were also produced by ABS-CBN, led by the long-running police drama “FPJ's Ang Probinsyano,” which garnered an average national TV rating of 41.2 percent.

“Pilipinas Got Talent” was in second place with 39.6 percent, followed by the Asia’s longest-running drama anthology “MMK,” “TV Patrol,” “La Luna Sangre,” “The Good Son,” “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” “Bandila,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “It’s Showtime,” “Asintado,” “Hanggang Saan,” “Wansapanataym,” “Wildflower,” “TV Patrol Weekend,” “Goin' Bulilit,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “The Blood Sisters,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “I Can See Your Voice” and “Rated K".

GMA said it had cornered 52.1 percent of “total day people audience share” in Mega Manila, including Metro Manila, against ABS-CBN’s 27.6 percent. By the same measure, it got 49.1 percent of Urban Luzon versus ABS-CBN’s 31.4 percent.

ABS-CBN kept its traditionally wide lead in Total Visayas (56 percent against GMA’s 27 percent) and Total Mindanao (52 percent against GMA’s 31 percent).

Moreover, ABS-CBN said it was ahead in the coveted primetime block. Its average audience share here hit 51 percent, higher than GMA’s 31 percent, for February.

Meanwhile, DZMM also led in the latest AM radio survey released by Kantar Media for the period of February 1 to 28, 2018 in Metro Manila. ABS-CBN’s flagship AM radio station garnered an audience share of 46% in the AM band with almost half of AM radio listeners choosing to tune in to the station. A far second is DZBB with an audience share of 25%, followed by DZRH with 18%.

Likewise, in Mega Manila (with official data from February 1 to 24), the Kapuso Network remained undefeated with a 52.1 percent total day people audience share while ABS-CBN managed to get only 27.6 percent.

Award-winning news magazine show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” still reigned as the most watched GMA program nationwide in February.

Other GMA ratings drivers last month were “Magpakailanman,” “Kambal, Karibal,” “Pepito Manaloto,” “24 Oras,” “Sherlock Jr.,” “All-Star Videoke,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “Ika-6 na Utos.”

Also in the list of top programs were “Sirkus,” “The One That Got Away,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “The Stepdaughters,” “Imbestigador,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Tadhana,” “Wish Ko Lang,” “Impostora,” “Sunday Pinasaya,” “Haplos” and “Wowowin.”

GMA Network still dominated the list of top programs in Urban Luzon with eight Kapuso shows in the top 10. Moreover, GMA programs swept the first nine spots in Mega Manila.

Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.

Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. February ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 42.9 percent in February, winning over DZMM’s 39.5 percent and DZRH’s 30.4 percent.

From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.

“The primetime block is the most important part of the day when most Filipinos watch TV and advertisers put a larger chunk of their investment in to reach more consumers effectively,” ABS-CBN said in a statement. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/247064/abs-cbn-gma-claim-ratings-lead-3 

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House OKs Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as language of the deaf

The House committee on appropriations has approved a substitute bill declaring Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language of the Filipino deaf and the official sign language of the government in all transactions involving the deaf.

The committee approved the funding provision of the bill as spelled out in its Section 15 after which it passed the measure in its entirety.

The initial funding of the proposed “”The Filipino Sign Language Act” shall be taken from the current year’s appropriations of the concerned government agencies. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The bill declares as policy of the State to take all appropriate measures to ensure the Filipino deaf can exercise the right to expression and opinion. Accordingly, the State recognizes and promotes the use of sign languages embodying the specific cultural and linguistic identity of the Filipino deaf.

The bill declares the FSL as the national sign language of the Philippines. The FSL shall be recognized, promoted, and supported as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education, without prejudice to the use of other forms of communication depending on individual choice or preference.

The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher and Technical Education (CHED), the Technical Educational Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and all other national and local government agencies involved in the education of the deaf are tasked to henceforth use FSL as the medium of instruction in deaf education.

Likewise, the FSL shall be the official language of legal interpreting for the deaf in all public hearings, proceedings, and transactions of the courts, quasi-judicial agencies, and other tribunals. They shall ensure the availability of a qualified sign language interpreter in all proceedings involving the deaf, without prejudice to the right of the deaf to choose other forms or modes of communication, if they so prefer.

The FSL also shall be the official language of the deaf employed in the civil service and in all government workplaces. All government offices shall take reasonable measures, including the conduct of awareness and training seminars on the rationale and use of FSL, to encourage its use among deaf and hearing-impaired government employees.

In the health system, state hospitals and all health facilities shall ensure access of the Filipino deaf to health services, including the free provision of FSL interpreters and accessible materials upon the request of deaf patients or individuals who have deaf family members.

The FSL also shall be used as the medium of official communication in all other public transactions, services and facilities.

The FSL shall be the language of broadcast media interpreting. The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) shall, within one year from the effectivity of the Act, require FSL interpreter insets, compliant with accessibility standards for television, in news, public affairs, religious, talk and variety programs.

The bill mandates the Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino, in coordination with the DepEd Secretary, CHED Chairperson, TESDA Director-General, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairperson, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Secretary of Justice, and the heads of other relevant agencies, and in consultation with representatives of the deaf community, teachers with knowledge and experience with the use of FSL in deaf education, the academe, interpreters, and other persons concerned, to promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the Act. / RB Bundang

TEASER (March 3, 2018)

Susunod na po ang inyong tanghalian ng iyong buhay, EAT BULAGA! Samahan natin ang ating Dubsmash Queen na si Maine Mendoza sa kanyang birthday ngayon!

ABS-CBN obtains P6b in BPI loan to refinance debt

ABS-CBN Corp. on Friday said it borrowed P6 billion from Bank of the Philippine Islands to refinance debt.

The Lopez-led multimedia company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange it would use proceeds of the the loan to refinance maturing debt and for other general corporate requirements. The loan has a term of seven years.

ABS-CBN earlier reported a net profit of P2.3 billion in the first nine months of 2017, down 20 percent from last year’s P2.85 billion.

Advertising revenues fell 3 percent in the nine-month period to P15.3 billion, net of election-related spending.

The company’s profit guidance for 2017 was between P2.7 billion and P3 billion. 

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN registered an average national audience share of 46 percent in February or 13 points higher than GMA’s 33 percent, according to data from Kantar Media.

ABS-CBN commanded the ratings game in areas such as Metro Manila, where it recorded an average audience share of 40 percent against GMA’s 28 percent, in Total Luzon where it got 42 percent against GMA’s 35 percent, in Total Visayas where it garnered 56 percent against GMA’s 27 percent, and in Total Mindanao where it hit 52 percent against GMA’s 31 percent.

ABS-CBN also scored the most number of viewers on its primetime block (6 p.m. to 12 midnight), where it hit an average audience share of 51 percent, or 20 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent.

The Lopez-owned network said it led the primetime block from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., with average audience share of 51 percent, 20 points ahead of GMA.

ABS-CBN also led the morning block with 39 percent, the noontime block with 44 percent and the afternoon block with 42 percent.

Nine of the ten most watched programs nationwide in February were also produced by ABS-CBN, led by the long-running police drama “FPJ's Ang Probinsyano,” which garnered an average national TV rating of 41.2 percent.

“Pilipinas Got Talent” was in second place with 39.6 percent, followed by the Asia’s longest-running drama anthology “MMK,” “TV Patrol,” “La Luna Sangre,” “The Good Son,” “Tonight with Boy Abunda,” “Bandila,” “Sana Dalawa ang Puso,” “It's Showtime,” “Asintado,” “Hanggang Saan,” “Ipaglaban Mo,” “Wansapanataym,” “Wildflower,” “Goin' Bulilit,” “Home Sweetie Home,” “The Blood Sisters,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” “I Can See Your Voice” and “Rated K".

As of November 2017, ABS-CBN said it sold 4 million units of units of its TVplus digital service. Its content is also available online through iWant TV.

Rival GMA Network, meanwhile, said it posted an average of 43.6 percent total day people audience share in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement toppling ABS-CBN’s 37.9 percent based on the Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

The network registered a solid 42.5 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 33.7 percent in the morning block in NUTAM, while GMA posted an even bigger lead in the afternoon block with 48.4 percent versus competition’s 35.3 percent.

GMA won across all day parts with steadily increasing margins in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day people audience share of 49.1 percent as against its rival network’s 31.4 percent.

Likewise, in Mega Manila (with official data from February 1 to 24), the Kapuso Network remained undefeated with a 52.1 percent total day people audience share while ABS-CBN managed to get only 27.6 percent.

Award-winning news magazine show “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” (KMJS) still reigned as the most watched GMA program nationwide in February.

Other GMA ratings drivers last month were “Magpakailanman,” “Kambal, Karibal,” “Pepito Manaloto,” “24 Oras,” “Sherlock Jr.,” “All-Star Videoke,” “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko” and “Ika-6 na Utos."

Also in the list of top programs were “Sirkus,” “The One That Got Away,” “Bubble Gang,” “Saksi,” “The Stepdaughters,” “Imbestigador,” “24 Oras Weekend,” “Eat Bulaga,” “Tadhana,” “Impostora,” “Sunday Pinasaya” and “Haplos."

GMA Network still dominated the list of top programs in Urban Luzon with eight Kapuso shows in the top 10. Moreover, GMA programs swept the first nine spots in Mega Manila.

Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.

Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. February ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 42.9 percent in February, winning over DZMM’s 39.5 percent and DZRH’s 30.4 percent.

From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.

Meanwhile, viewers can now enjoy a more colorful, more vibrant, and clearer viewing experience as GMA Network’s digital TV signal now covers all parts of Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. GMA-7 and GMA News TV’s digital broadcast can be accessed by simply rescanning the channels through their digital TV boxes.

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 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.

Yamaha Motor bags 3-year naming right for LRT-1 Monumento station

YAMAHA BAGS NAMING RIGHT FOR LRT-1 MONUMENTO STATION – Shown from left are: Prem Bhatia, Phar Managing Director – Asia; Jude Camus, Marketing Section Senior Manager; Alfredo Lejano, Corporate Administration Director; Akihiro Maruo, Sales and Marketing Division Head; Mr. Lin Jarvis, Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director; Valentino Rossi; Maverick Vinales; Toru Osugi, President, Yamaha Motor Philippines Inc.; Juan Alfonso, LRMC President and CEO; Kouichi Tsuji, President of Yamaha Motor Racing and General Manager of Motorsports Development Division, Yamaha Motor Company; and Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre.

Yamaha Motor Philippines (Yamaha) recently signed with Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) operator Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC) for a three-year naming rights under the rail operator’s Station Partnership Program through its ancillary revenue partner PHAR.

Yamaha is the first company that has committed to a long-term investment on the LRT-1 station with the highest foot traffic at more than 50,000 daily average. Revenues from the Station Partnership Program will fund the station improvement which included improved lighting, roofing, and the overall cleanliness and maintenance of the station.

PHAR, an international media and marketing agency, has launched the Southeast Asia’s first Naming Rights program in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur where it forged partnerships with banks, real estate companies, and airlines for Malaysia’s Rapid KL stations.

“Railway operators around the world have successfully taken on naming rights programs to fund station improvements,” LRMC President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso said. “We are giving our partners high visibility at the station and, in turn, they contribute to significantly improving customer experience on LRT-1 facilities.”

“We have been working with LRMC for over a year now to design the Naming Rights program – everything from the logo, to the branding, to the improvements in the station. This is win-win for everybody. Yamaha gets valuable marketing rights, LRMC gets revenue which goes back into station improvements, and passengers get better facilities,” said Prem Bhatia, Managing Director of PHAR.

He added, “With Yamaha it was very clear from the outset. Although they valued the ridership and the branding, Yamaha wanted to give back to the city of Caloocan – they wanted to improve the city in a measurable, visible and tangible manner. With LRMC they found the right partner to help them realize that ambition.”

PHAR works with a number of transport majors like Transport for London, Jewel Changi Airport, Manchester Airport Group, Air Asia, Philippines Airlines, Jetstar, Rapid KL, to name a few.

Naming Rights is a trend that began with sports stadiums in the USA, and has now seen several companies targeting transport hubs as marketing opportunities, given that it gives brands the opportunity to be seen by passengers 365 days a year.

First in 2018: No MRT3 breakdown in 9 days

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade attributes this 'luck' to the availability of spare parts delivered mid-February. Still, there are only 8 functioning trains.

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) reached 9 days without glitches, the longest worry-free streak since the year opened.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade attributed this "luck" to the availability of spare parts delivered mid-February.

"These days, we are lucky because the spare parts needed have been delivered.... I hope this [improvement in services] continues," Tugade said in Filipino at a transportation summit on Thursday, March 1.

The improvement comes after the MRT3 suffered from its worst breakdown last week, on February 19, when there were no functioning trains for its quarter of a million passengers.

February saw only 11 glitches – 9 of which prompted passenger unloading while 2 were service interruptions. This is an improvement from the almost daily glitches in January at 27 recorded incidents.



Ridership up

As the MRT3 management struggled to maintain 8 running trains, the glitch-free week saw an increase in passenger ridership.

From Monday, February 26 to Thursday, March 1, an average of some 270,000 passengers rode the MRT3 – higher than last week's figures of 230,000.

Monday saw an increase in trains, with the MRT3 running 9 trains by 8 am. The day ended with 283,312 passengers riding the railway system.

On Tuesday, February 27, the number of available trains went down to 7 when operations opened but the management was quick to put back another train by 8 am. When the day ended, Tuesday averaged 8 trains, serving some 281,000 passengers.

On Wednesday, February 28, only 6 trains were running at 6 am. By 7 am, 7 trains were operational. There were 8 running trains by 9 am but ridership went down to close to 262,000 passengers.

On Thursday, there were 8 operational trains for the most of the day but by 5 pm, the management was able to put out 9 trains that served 264,000 passengers.

Promises

Despite maintaining 8 running trains when the month of February closed, it's still lower than half of the 20 trains in operation in 2017.

Tugade said on Thursday that the department is keen on delivering on its promises of better MRT3 services. He said that by April, there should be 15 running trains for the public to use.

Full rehabilitation of the MRT3 railway system will be done between March 28 and March 31.

As the deadlines set by the department draws to a close, the Transportation Secretary sought for public understanding in case these were not met.

"Huwag niyo naman kaming sumbatan kung hindi mangyari. Fifteen by Holy Week sana...'Pag hindi na-achieve, tulungan niyo lang kami," he told reporters.

(Don't lash out at us if it (the targets) was not achieved. We're targetting 15 trains hopefully by Holy Week. If we don't achieve it, just help us.)

In January, German-based TUV Rheinland was tapped to evaluate the "overweight" 48 trains delivered by China-based CRRC Dalian Company Limited. The assessment, due March 10, will determine whether these trains are safe for the public to use.

Earlier this February, engineers from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) began a system audit of the MRT3. JICA is expected to release a report on the restoration works needed for the railway system.

The number of trains was drastically decreased after the MRT3 Maintenance Transition Team took over, as trains and spare parts left by the former maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail Incorporated (BURI) was not in the right condition needed, the DOTr earlier said.

Since the start of 2018, the DOTr has recorded a total of 38 glitches.

In 2017, there were 516 MRT3 glitches recorded – almost 10 incidents a week. (READ: MRT3 suffers almost daily breakdowns since start of 2018)

GMA Network continues to hold number one spot in NUTAM

GMA Network continued its winning streak in nationwide television ratings based on the latest data from the industry’s widely-trusted ratings service provider, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

For the full month of February (with February 18 to 28 based on overnight data), GMA remained the most watched TV station in the National Urban Television Audience Measurement (NUTAM) with an average of 43.6 percent total day people audience share, toppling ABS-CBN’s 37.9 percent.

The Kapuso Network registered a solid 42.5 percent people audience share versus ABS-CBN’s 33.7 percent in the morning block in NUTAM, while GMA posted an even bigger lead in the afternoon block with 48.4 percent versus competition’s 35.3 percent.

GMA won across all day parts with steadily increasing margins in both Urban Luzon and Mega Manila, which respectively account for 76 and 59 percent of all urban viewers in the country.

In Urban Luzon, GMA posted a total day people audience share of 49.1 percent as against its rival network’s 31.4 percent.

Likewise, in Mega Manila (with official data from February 1 to 24), the Kapuso Network remained undefeated with a 52.1 percent total day people audience share while ABS-CBN managed to get only 27.6 percent.


Award-winning news magazine show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) still reigned as the most watched GMA program nationwide in February.


Other GMA ratings drivers last month were Magpakailanman; Kambal, Karibal; Pepito Manaloto; 24 Oras; Sherlock Jr.; All-Star Videoke; Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko; and Ika-6 na Utos.


Also in the list of top programs were Sirkus; The One That Got Away; Bubble Gang; Saksi; The Stepdaughters; 24 Oras Weekend; Eat Bulaga; Tadhana; Impostora; Sunday Pinasaya; and Haplos.


GMA Network still dominated the list of top programs in Urban Luzon with eight Kapuso shows in the top 10. Moreover, GMA programs swept the first nine spots in Mega Manila.


Further, GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB was also hailed as the listeners’ number one choice in Mega Manila proving GMA’s dominance both in TV and radio.


Based on the most recent data from Nielsen Radio Audience Measurement. February ratings data show DZBB posting a total week average audience share of 42.9 percent in February, winning over DZMM’s 39.5 percent and DZRH’s 30.4 percent.


From Monday to Friday, DZBB’s ratings dominance was driven by its topnotch delivery of news and fearless commentaries through “Saksi sa Dobol B” anchored by Mike Enriquez; “Sino?” with Mike, Arnold Clavio, and Ali Sotto; “Super Balita sa Umaga Nationwide” with Mike and Joel Reyes Zobel; and “Dobol B Balitang-Balita” anchored by Melo del Prado.


Meanwhile, viewers can now enjoy a more colorful, more vibrant, and clearer viewing experience as GMA Network’s digital TV signal now covers all parts of Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Pampanga. GMA-7 and GMA News TV’s digital broadcast can be accessed by simply rescanning the channels through their digital TV boxes.


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 2017, Nielsen TV Audience Measurement increased its client pool to a total of 41 clients/subscribers consisting of 12 local TV networks including TV5, Aksyon TV, CNN Philippines, Net 25, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Viva Communications Inc., among others; 5 regional clients; 2 blocktimers; 21 agencies (18 media agencies, 2 consulting agencies, 1 digital agency); and 1 advertiser.

Ronnie reaps benefits of healthy lifestyle

Ronnie Liang

Ronnie Liang’s dedication and commitment to achieve a healthy body is paying off big time. He has become leaner which prompted Holistic Integrative Care Center (HICC) to make him their ambassador.

Ronnie used to be overweight. Hearing discouraging remarks about his physical condition made him decide, in 2013, to go on a strict diet. He gave up fatty food (like pork and beef) and even rice. The new physique he achieved after this, earned him the lead role in the acclaimed indie movie (directed by Elwood Perez) “Esoterika: Maynila” screened recently at Teatro in Fort Santiago, Intramuros.

Ronnie’s fifth studio album will be released this year by Viva Records.

• • •

Stars visit Iriga

Iriga City Mayor Madelaine Alfelor with Melai Cantiveros-Francisco

The Tinagba Festival of Iriga City was again a showcase of entertainment and more this year.

Artists celebrating and performing at the Tinagba Festival were the Power 7 Boy Band, Maria Yna Angela Uy, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, Paul Andre Salas, Bugoy Drilon, Arci Muñoz and young singer Brian Gazmen.

Described as a festival of harvest, Tinagba was also about the progress of the city through the years under the leadership of Mayor Madelaine Yorobe Alfelor-Gazmen. “Harvest” now also means a progressive economy from businesses and investments in Iriga.

The safety of Irigeños has always been the topmost priority of the mayor that a new fire department building was spruced up. And what to look forward to an app especially made for Irigeños. As the mayor explained, if you get kidnapped, lost or experience even life threatening emergencies, using the app would save you. The app is connected to all branches of government in Iriga city.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 3, go to Michael Agassi, Atty. Lulu Castaneda, Linda Bolido, Nena del Rosario, Connie Mopas, Bambi Mendoza, Marina Leah Guinto, Luz Cruz, Edith Caligacion of Toronto, Canada, Marina Escaño and Baby Gil of Viva Entertainment…March 4: Dawn Zulueta, Carol Banawa, Ella Reyes – Choy, Wilma Redler, David Flores, Joan Camille Tisoy, Hattie Pili, Ruby Co, Judith Los Banos, Sharon Sze, Auraeus Solita, Alex Ancelmucio, Sandra Estrella, and Joanne Ramirez..March 5: Darius Razon, Olive Alvarez, Sonny Melicor, Bertrand Russell Sanchez, Maxine Anne McAninch, Pip and Paul Buncio,  and Melanie Sison…

ABS-CBN keeps ratings lead in February: Kantar

ABS-CBN said Friday it kept its position as the country's number 1 television network in February, citing a nationwide audience measurement by Kantar Media.

The country's largest media and entertainment company registered an average national audience share of 46 percent, outpacing rival GMA Network by 13 points, ABS-CBN said, citing a Kantar study that involved 2,610 urban and rural homes that is representative of the country's entire TV viewing population.

ABS-CBN said it led in Metro Manila with 40 percent average audience share against 28 percent for GMA, in the entire Luzon with 42 percent versus 35 percent, Visayas with 56 percent against 27 percent and Mindanao with 52 percent versus 31 percent.

The Lopez-owned network said it led the primetime block from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., with average audience share of 51 percent, 20 points ahead of GMA.

ABS-CBN also led the morning block with 39 percent, the noontime block with 44 percent and the afternoon block with 42 percent.

Nine of the ten most watched programs nationwide in February were also produced by ABS-CBN, led by the long-running police drama "FPJ's Ang Probinsyano," which garnered an average national TV rating of 41.2 percent.

"Pilipinas Got Talent”" was in second place with 39.6 percent, followed by the Asia’s longest-running drama anthology "MMK," "TV Patrol," "La Luna Sangre," "The Good Son," "Tonight with Boy Abunda," "Bandila," "Sana Dalawa ang Puso," "It's Showtime," "Asintado," "Hanggang Saan," "Ipaglaban Mo," "Wansapanataym", "Wildflower," "Goin' Bulilit," "Home Sweetie Home," "The Blood Sisters," "Gandang Gabi Vice," "I Can See Your Voice" and "Rated K".

As of November 2017, ABS-CBN said it sold 4 million units of units of its TVplus digital service. Its content is also available online through iWant TV.

ABS-CBN and S+A will be shifted to 16:9 SD broadcast....

ABS-CBN made changes to its DTT lineup:
(Channel 43; 647.143 Mhz; PSIP 1.x):
1.1 ABS-CBN (ABS-CBN Manila) - 16:9 480i
1.2 S+A (ABS-CBN S+A) - 4:3 480i
+ 1.3 CINEMO (Cinemo) - 16:9 480i
+ 1.4 YeY! (Yey!) - 16:9 480i
+ 1.5 Knowledge Channel (Knowledge Channel) - 4:3 480i
+ 1.6 DZMM TeleRadyo (DZMM TeleRadyo) - 16:9 480i
+ 1.7 My Only Radio (Test Card) - 16:9 480i
1.8 ABS-CBN OneSeg (ABS-CBN) - 16:9 240p

(Channel 35; 599.143 Mhz; PSIP 2.x):
+# 2.1 Myx (N/A) 4:3 480i
+# 2.2 ANC (N/A) - 16:9 480i
+# 2.3 Jeepney TV (N/A) - 4:3 480i
+# 2.4 Metro.Style (N/A) - 16:9 480i
+ 2.5 OShopping (Test Card) - 16:9 480i
+ 2.6 KBO 1 (Test Card) - 4:3 480i
++ 2.7 KBO 2 (Kapamilya Box Office) - 4:3 480i
2.8 S+A OneSeg (Test Card) - 4:3 240p

+ - Only viewable on ABS-CBN TVplus
++ - Only viewable on ABS-CBN TVplus with subscription to KBO

NAIA rehab, upgrade bid heats up

THE GROUP behind the ongoing upgrade of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will go head-to-head against a consortium made up of some of the country’s biggest conglomerates in the bid to rehabilitate and upgrade Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the country’s premier gateway.

Megawide Construction Corp. and India-based GMR Infrastructure Ltd. said in a joint press release on Thursday that they submitted a proposal to rehabilitate NAIA for $3 billion.

“As an experienced private operator, we have a deep understanding of the problem experienced by NAIA and we would like to offer our take on the solution,” the statement quoted Manuel Louie B. Ferrer, corporate information officer of Megawide, as saying.

The engineering-infrastructure company’s share price edged up by 0.71% to close P21.30 apiece on Thursday.

EXPERIENCED
GMR has been operating New Delhi Airport since 2006 as well as Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

Both firms formed a consortium that won the 25-year contract in April 2014 for the P17.52-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building project — 83.34% completed as of end-2017 according to the Web site of the Public-Private Partnership Center — and are now undertaking this through GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp.

Their plan challenges the P350-billion unsolicited proposal for the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of NAIA that was submitted to the Department of Transportation on Feb. 12 by a consortium composed of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.s’ Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc.; Ayala Corp.’s AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.

That consortium has tapped airport operator Changi Airports International Pte Ltd as technical partner for rehabilitation work.

The GMR-Megawide proposal seeks to increase airfield capacity to 950-1,000 aircraft movements a day, a 30-37% hike from about 730 currently.

Proposed concession period will run for 18 years, about half the first group’s proposed 35 years.

The planned investment of $3 billion covers all airside, terminal and landside improvements, Megawide-GMR said, explaining that the first phase (for up to two years) will improve NAIA airside capacity and improve the existing terminal, the second phase (third to fourth year) will introduce “key performance measures” while the fifth to sixth year will build “future capacity.”

Immediately upon takeover- GMR-Megawide will improve capacity of airside infrastructure by building full-length parallel taxiways for both runways, constructing additional rapid-exit taxiways for the primary runway, extending the secondary runway and providing “the maximum number of aircraft stands”.

Within 24 months of taking over operations, GMR-Megawide plans to rehabilitate and expand existing terminals, doubling space to over 700,000 square meters.

Once completed, both airside facilities and terminals should be able to handle a total annual throughput of 72 million passengers compared to last year’s 42 million people and the designed capacity of 30.5 million.

Over the 18-year concession period, GMR-Megawide also plans to pay annual concession fees consisting of revenue share with a guaranteed minimum component; will not require any subsidy, equity or guarantee from the government and will hand over all assets to the government free of cost at the end of the concession term.

GMR-Megawide has also chosen US-based The MITRE Corp. as technical partner, especially for research and development in maximizing NAIA’s existing airside facilities.

“This is a technically responsive proposal,” Megawide’s Mr. Ferrer said in the statement.

“We have evaluated multiple options to enhance NAIA’s capacity and efficiency while reducing airside and landside congestion,” he added.

The same statement quoted Andrew Harrison, another authorized representative of the consortium, as saying: “Our detailed master plan takes into account all possible constraints in transforming a fully operational brownfield airport.”

Metro Pacific net income rises by 15% in 2017

The increase to P13.2 billion in 2017, from P11.5 billion in 2016, is largely due to Meralco and Global Business Power

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), the infrastructure holding firm of the Manuel V Pangilinan group, saw its bottom line rise last year on the back of power sector investments.

MPIC disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Thursday, March 1, that its consolidated reported net income attributable to owners of the parent company rose 15% to P13.2 billion in 2017 from P11.5 billion in 2016.

Excluding non-recurring items, MPIC's consolidated core income increased by 17% to P14.1 billion in 2017 compared to P12.1 billion in 2016.

These non-recurring items totaled P953 million, up from P650 million, and consisted mainly of refinancing expenses, project expenses, and separation costs of a redundancy program at Maynilad Water Services Incorporated.

MPIC noted, however, that it was largely offset by a realized gain on sale of shares in Manila Electric Company (Meralco).

Power the biggest contributor

The group's power arm, both in distribution and generation, was the main contributor at 52% of the total net income, while toll roads brought in 22% and water contributed 21%.

MPIC's hospital group provided 4% of the total while its rail, logistics, and systems group delivered 1%.

MPIC's power business contributed P9.4 billion to core net income in 2017, an increase of 30% which the firm attributed to step-up investments in Meralco and Global Business Power Corporation (GBP).

MPIC acquired the remaining 25% ownership in Beacon Electric in July 2017 at an aggregate purchase price of P21.8 billion. Following this and related transactions, MPIC's economic interest in Meralco is 45.5% and 62.4% in GBP.

GBP in turn acquired a 50% stake in Alsons Thermal Energy Corporation, the holding company for Alsons Consolidated Resources Incorporated's coal power plant assets in Mindanao, in November 2017.

Meralco's core net income for 2017 rose 3% to P20.2 billion while GBP's core net income was up 1% to P2.9 billion.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), meanwhile, had a core net income of P3.9 billion in 2017, a 20% increase from the P3.3 billion recorded in 2016.

The firm said system-wide vehicle entries increased by 64% to an average of 903,525 a day due mainly to the investment in PT Nusantara Infrastructure Tbk in Indonesia.

MPTC also noted that it would spend approximately P122.8 billion in the next 5 years on building highways and toll roads around the Philippines.

The contribution of both Maynilad and MetroPac Water Investments Corporation to core net income combined totaled P3.7 billion for 2017, most of it attributable to Maynilad.

Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Incorporated (MPHHI) saw aggregate core net income rise by 17% to P2 billion in 2017.

The firm noted that 4% of the increase was attributable to the contribution from new hospital acquisitions while 13% was driven by lower interest expense, cost savings from purchasing synergies, and increasing patient numbers.

MPHHI completed the acquisition of a 54% stake in St Elizabeth Hospital Incorporated (SEHI) which increased to 80% in December 2017. SEHI is a 248-bed tertiary level hospital located in General Santos City.

MPHHI had 14 hospitals as of end-December 2017, with approximately 3,300 beds.

Meanwhile, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1), contributed P283 million to MPIC's core net income for 2017.

LRMC also noted that "assuming government delivers a sufficient portion of the necessary right-of-way," it will begin construction of the LRT1 extension by the middle of 2018.

"We are doing our best to support the Build, Build, Build agenda of the government. However, our investors (many of whom are hardworking Filipino savers and pensioners by the way) and our creditors need confidence that our various concession and franchise agreements will be observed. We are working hard to resolve these matters. It is our hope that our partners in government could come along with us in the spirit of partnership in which our various projects were conceived," said Pangilinan, MPIC chairman, in a statement.

"The overwhelming demand for the services we provide, against the backdrop of strong economic growth, underpins our outlook for 2018. It is too early to give earnings or capital expenditure guidance for the year at this time, especially as we attempt to resolve our tariff issues in the course of 2018," he added.

MPIC also declared a final dividend for 2017 of 7.6 centavos per share which it noted was 12% higher than the year-ago figure and marked a payout ratio of 25% of core income per share. The payment date for the dividend is April 26 this year.

Tugade urges public: Don't rush use of Dalian trains on MRT3

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said on Thursday, March 1, that the government cannot rush the use of the 48 trains acquired from China-based CRRC Dalian Company Limited, as this would depend on the audit being conducted on the trains.

In an interview on Thursday, Tugade urged the public to wait for the audit results of the Dalian trains, to be sure whether the trains can be used.

Since 2018 started, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) experienced a total of 38 breakdowns from its 8 to 9 working trains, with ridership falling to some 270,000 passengers on average this week.

"Let's not rush what the audit will reveal. We haven't seen the result of the audit. Until then, we will be able to come up with the next steps," Tugade said in Filipino in a media interview on Thursday.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) tapped Germany-based TUV Rheinland to evaluate the unused MRT3 trains. The assessment will come out on March 10.

During the Senate hearing on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) in February, an expert said that the 48 Dalian trains are "not overweight" and within the allowable limit that MRT3 train tracks can carry.

DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said on Thursday that the audit by TUV Rheinland will determine not only the usability of the Dalian trains but the entire MRT3 system.

"We want to ensure that we will not expose our half a million passengers to unsafe conditions – that's the reason why we are focusing on the safety and compatibility of the Dalian trains," Batan said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Improvement

After experiencing a new low on February 19 when the week opened without functioning trains, the now MRT3 averages with 8 to 9 operational trains this week – an improvement from last week's 7 trains on average.

Tugade attributed this to the availability of spare parts which were recently delivered.

According to the DOTr, the MRT3 did not suffer from glitches for 7 days since the last breakdown last week. (READ: Surviving MRT3: Worst train fails in 2017)

"These days, we are lucky because the spare parts needed have been delivered....I hope this [improvement in services] continues," Tugade told reporters.

The transportation secretary appealled for public understanding. He said that the department was doing its best to deliver on its promises of timelines and number of trains available. (READ: DOTr promises better MRT3 services by 2nd quarter of 2018)

The MRT3 management is expected to conduct a full rehabilitation of its trains from March 28 to 31, promising the public better services after. According to Tugade, the public should expect 15 working trains by then.

Power business boosts MPIC’s profit in 2017 by 17% to P14.1 billion

METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MIPC) on Thursday said its consolidated net income rose 17 percent to P14.1 billion, from last year’s P12.1 billion, mainly on higher revenues on power as a result of its increased investments in both power distribution and generation.

Revenues grew 11 percent to P373 billion, from P335 billion last year.

In terms of contribution to the company’s net operating income, power accounted for P9.4 billion, or half of the aggregate contribution. MPIC’s toll-roads business contributed P3.9 billion, or 22 percent, of the total while its water business, which includes distribution, production and sewerage treatment, contributed P3.7 billion, or 21 percent, of the total.

MPIC’s hospital group contributed P685 million, or 4 percent, of the total while its rail, logistics and systems group delivered P150 million, or 1 percent, of the total.

The company said it is allocating some P76.9 billion in capital expenditures this year. MPIC said the amount includes P38.9 billion for acquisitions.

“We continue with our mission to build and operate well run and needed infrastructure, offering good value for the public,” MPIC Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said. The hard work, dedication and focus on customer service of our many employees is reflected in improving service metrics of all our operations.”

Pangilinan added the company is “doing best to support the ‘Build, Build, Build’ agenda of the government.”

“However, our investors, many of whom are hardworking Filipino savers and pensioners, by the way, and our creditors need confidence that our various concession and franchise agreements will be observed,” he said. “We are working hard to resolve these matters. It is our hope that our partners in the government could come along with us in the spirit of partnership in which our various projects were conceived.”

Last year group-wide capital expenditure was at P38 billion and spending some P38.9 billion in new investments in power sector, and expanding into new markets, including Indonesia.

“Our earnings growth reflects significant volume increases for all our businesses, supported by years of high investment, together with our continuing emphasis on operational efficiencies,” MPIC President and CEO Jose Ma. K. Lim said.

The company said it had about P185 billion worth of unsolicited proposal to the government. The bulk of the proposal is the three projects in toll roads worth P140 billion, a total of P18 billion in water, some P15 billion in waste-to-energy projects and P12 billion for the possible operation and maintenance of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3.

Lim said the company is not keen on bidding for the combined 22-percent stake of the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines in MRT 3 that is being put on sale since it has a proposal to the government.

“We want that concession agreement first,” Lim said.

No MRT-3 glitch in the past 7 days, believe it or not

Talk of the troubled Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT 3) and glitch and unloading of passengers on mid-track is a normal occurrence, rain or shine.

But the train service that passes along the stretch of EDSA is starting to improve. It was an unusually smooth ride for passengers in the past seven days, and this significant achievement since a maintenance transition team took over operations last November is reportedly due to the arrival last month of the initial batch of procured spare parts.

“We can attribute this mainly to the arrival of spare parts wherein deliveries started February. Further, we also implemented improvements on our day-to-day operations and maintenance services such as strengthening our coordination processes and monitoring and information sharing platforms,” MRT-3 media relations officer Aly Narvaez said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) terminated its contract with Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI) due to non-performance of its obligations and took over the operation of the rail system in November.

Narvaez said the last unloading incident on the MRT-3 was recorded last February 21, 2018.

The DOTr earlier assured there would be improvements on the MRT operations once the general overhaul of trains will be concluded after the Holy Week break and with the increase in the number of running trains due to the arrival of spare parts.

The DOTr expects the number of trains will be increased to 15 by April after its three-day shutdown during the Holy Week when the railway management can fully work on the maintenance of the rail system.

Furthermore, an audit on the 48 trains delivered by Dalian CCRC for MRT-3 by independent audit and assessment consultant TUV Rheinland is expected to be concluded on March 10.

The audit would be vital in determining whether the Dalian trains could be used for the MRT system.

A Special Bids and Awards Committee created by the DOTr has completed the procurement of spare parts last December to be delivered from 30 to 90 days. The initial batch of spare parts started arriving last month.

DOTr has also signed an agreement with Canadian firm Bombardier Transportation for the procurement of spare parts for the signaling system of the troubled MRT-3.

The repair of the MRT system is expected to cost around P400 million and could last for six months.

DOTr is implementing a four-point strategy for the improvement and rehabilitation of the MRT which involves promoting accountability through the termination of BURI’s maintenance contract; ensuring continued service delivery through the establishment of the Maintenance Transition Team; contracting a qualified maintenance and rehabilitation service provider through direct engagement of Sumitomo Corporation and its technical partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and pursuing an unsolicited proposal for the 30-year operation and maintenance of MRT-3.

‘Thank you spare parts,’ MRT management tells of worry-free week

While the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT 3) management lauded how the past week went by without its trains experiencing any unloading incident, the public isn’t too happy just yet with this development as the reliability of the country’s main train line leaves much to be desired.

According to Renato Reyes, secretary general of the militant group Bayan, though the absence of unloading incidents at the MRT 3 provided passengers some form of respite, there remains the “greater challenge” of ensuring that the line comes out with more functional trains to serve the public.

Since the Department of Transportation (DOTr) took over the maintenance of the MRT 3 in November last year, the number of operational trains has significantly dropped from 20 to just between seven to nine trains.

Within those three months, it was only on Monday that there had been a weeklong absence of unloading incidents, an “all-time high” according to the MRT 3 management.

“What a way to end February! Thank you, spare parts!” the MRT 3 management said in a brief statement.

Sought for comment, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that they may have just been “lucky” over the past week.

“The spare parts we need are already there. We are able to address [issues] immediately. There are no commuters who force open our doors. Hopefully, this would continue,” he said at the sidelines of the Transportation Summit held at Mapua University on Thursday.

Netizens though aren’t too pleased, as they pointed out that having no glitches or service interruptions should be normal and “not to be bragged.” Others questioned as well if this should even be considered an “achievement.”

Reyes stressed that given the current condition of the country’s busiest train line, “it’s too early to be celebrating anything.”

“A long-term plan for maintenance needs to be put in place. Our position is that the government should undertake the maintenance work, improve the situation of the train system and orient it toward genuine service not profits. Why do we need to privatize it if they supposedly can do it?” Reyes told the Inquirer.

The DOTr earlier said that Japanese railway engineers and experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) were conducting a system audit of the MRT 3. The audit will help the Jica-nominated maintenance provider once it proceeds with the rehabilitation and restoration works of the train system in May.

In February, the MRT 3 encountered nine unloading incidents and two service interruptions. For the entire month, it was able to serve an average of only 236,266 passengers daily, almost half of last year’s average of 463,000 riders.

On March 10, audit firm TUV Rheinland is expected to come out with its report on the 48 Dalian trains. Should the audit show that the P3.8-billion trains purchased by the Aquino administration are safe to be used by the public following minor adjustments, the MRT management said that this would be rolled out to help improve the system’s reliability.

Early this week though, a number of passengers were sent out of a southbound train before it left the North Avenue station.

The MRT 3 management said that this was not an unloading incident, but rather classified as a “train removal or non-insertion” since their engineers pulled out the train prior to its operation. /jpv

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/972322/thank-you-spare-parts-mrt-management-tells-of-worry-free-week-mrt-3-trains-commuters-transportation#ixzz58apY78ll
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POE PUSHES FOR NAIA EXPANSION

Sen. Grace Poe today said expanding the country's main gateway would be the main solution to address congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said the government should seriously consider the unsolicited proposals of the private sector for the rehabilitation and maintenance of NAIA.

"We have the interest of the private sector to be able to help the government... We have to admit that sometimes with the help of the private sector, we can implement projects faster and especially if the consortium is composed of credible investors," Poe told reporters in a chance interview after emerging from the Senate hearing on airport congestion.

NAIA, which only has two runways, was designed to handle 30 million passengers, but travelers who used the four terminals reached almost 40 million in 2016. NAIA was also consistently tagged as one of the worst airports in the world in recent years.

A "super" consortium composed of some of the country's biggest conglomerates and GMR-Megawide have submitted to the government their unsolicited proposals separately worth P350 billion and P150 billion to upgrade the highly congested NAIA.

"For as long as there's an agreement that they will not overcharge passengers and there are certain safeguards and guidelines, I think that we should welcome as much interest to be able to rehabilitate NAIA," Poe said.

Poe likewise touted the soon-to-open Cebu international airport terminal when she recently visited the province, saying the modern design of infrastructure projects that provide passenger efficiency can be achieved if the government works closely with reputable private firms.

"I visited the Cebu airport and they are going to inaugurate the new terminal and I see the promise of that. Hopefully more [airports will be modernized] but definitely it [bidder] has to be somebody with the track record and competence to be able to do this because government is so stretched and we need investors and expertise," the senator added.

Poe's proposal also comes as the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) plans to rationalize operations at Manila's four airports. Terminals 1 and 3 will be exclusive to domestic and international flights while Terminal 2 and 4 will be for domestic and international flights, meaning some domestic and international operations will have to be redistributed within NAIA and Clark airport, which is some 100 kilometers north of Manila.

The senator said distributing domestic operations is only a band-aid solution.

"Kahit saang terminal ilipat diyan ay puno na ang terminal, puno pa rin at magiging siksikan pa rin. Ang talagang solusyon diyan ay hindi paglilipat ng terminal ng mga ibang airline kundi pag-eexpand ng NAIA," she added.

"Kung i-expand natin ang NAIA, may malulugaran at hindi yung parang inilipat mo sa isang kwarto na masikip doon sa isang kwarto na masikip din. Kaya bigyan natin nang mas mahabang panahon na mapag-aralan ang maayos na paglilipat," Poe said.

Meanwhile, Poe said passengers should demand airline companies for a refund after it was reported that at least P250 million in unused terminal fee remains unclaimed from Cebu Pacific.

"A lot are paying the terminal fees but they don't actually take the flight, they are entitled to a refund... Sayang naman, kunin po ninyo ang pera ninyo," said Poe, who added that there should be an easier mechanism for processing of refunds.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific said they are processing requests for refund.

SM bags seafront property for P18B

The SM group has sealed a deal to buy a seafront property situated between its sprawling Mall of Asia shopping complex and the Solaire Resort and Casino from UK-based investment fund Ashmore and its local partner Eric Recto.

The transaction—worth at least P18 billion, or P180,000 per square meter for the 10-hectare prime parcel of reclaimed land —will give the real estate giant additional space on which to build residential condominium towers under the SMDC brand.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official involved in what is one of the biggest property deals in recent years said SM needed the property to “replenish its stock of condominiums” in the Manila Bay area due to the strong demand that has seen its current projects being taken up “almost 100 percent.”

“The demand for residential units in this area is so strong, including from Chinese buyers who have business interests in the country,” the official said.

The deal also marks the formal end of Ashmore’s involvement in the country in the private equity space, which started with a partnership with businessman Roberto Ongpin a decade ago and ended up in a divorce that saw both parties carving up a multibillion-peso business empire to settle the dispute.

Another source said the Ayala group, which is also building a mixed-use development on an adjacent property in partnership with the Wenceslao family who owns the land, first approached the Ashmore-Recto group in a bid to buy the property to expand their commercial project’s footprint.

A successful bid for the property would have given the Ayala-Wenceslao development a “commercially attractive” direct access to Manila Bay, the source said.

“But we understand their bid was a little conservative, and they refused to go higher,” said another official, who said the Ayala group’s offer price stood at “about half” of what the SM retail conglomerate eventually bought the property for.

“When the [SM] owners say ‘go,’ they really mean go,” the official said, explaining the aggressive acquisition price.

The property was formerly under a joint-venture agreement between Ongpin’s Alphaland Corp. and the Wenceslao family and was originally slated to become an exclusive yacht club called “Alphaland Marina Club.”

An ensuing dispute between Ongpin and the Wenceslaos resulted in the former partners dividing the property, with the former ending up owning the seafront portion

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/246725/sm-bags-seafront-property-p18b#ixzz58TPk0oF7
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Duggan’s Serra Mortuary President Dan Duggan heads the list of March birthday celebrants

Duggan’s Serra Mortuary President Dan Duggan heads the list of March birthday celebrants

DAN Duggan, the President of Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, heads the list of March birthday celebrants.   He will be celebrating his birthday on Easter Sunday, March 27.

Duggan’s Serra Mortuary is highly trusted by Filipino-Americans in the Peninsula, especially during their most trying times as they honor and pay respects to their loved ones who have passed away.

Other personalities celebrating their birthdays this March are:

March 1 - Royal Dynasty founder Nellie Cojuangco Tuazon, and Premiere Appliances owner Tony Premiere;

• March 3 - Actress Maricel Soriano, Dr. Tita Martinez Picache of Danville, and United Airlines employee Edward Teofilo Cabrera;
• March 4 - Morly Alinio, Beautiful actress Dawn Zulueta, Fiesta Filipina Restaurant grand lady Dorie Guevarra, and Pedro “Jonjing” Ejercito de Castro (nephew of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada);
• March 6 - Isabelle Diaz (daughter of the first Filipina Miss Universe and actress Gloria Diaz), and actress Gretchen Barretto;
• March 8 - Former Senator Ramon Revilla, and actor Archie Alemania;
• March 9 - Veteran actress Rosemarie Gil, Atty, KJ Petsas, and hair stylist Edmond Dizon;
• March 10 - Philippines Today co-publisher Marilyn King Camilosa, Kapamilya actor JC de Vera, and character actor Paolo Contis;
• March 11 - Singer and songwriter Jose Mari Chan;
• March 12 - Raphael Robes;
• March 13 - PR practitioner and talent manager Keren Pascual of KP&PR&EMS, Inc. and Myx VJ Sunny Kim;
• March 14 - Homeland Security officer Ermin Apolinario, former Miss United Nations World winner Natty Averia Mendoza, and Pittsburg Filipina community leader Mathie Roldan Velasco;
• March 16 - Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma;
• March 17 - Daly City Councilman Mike Guingona, former Mr. United Nations-USA winner Roberto “Bobby” Tuason, and retired Navy Captain Jimmy Velasco;
• March 18 - The pioneer of LuzViMin Association of Northern California Rey Reyes;
• March 19 - Kapamilya actress Julia Montes;
• March 20 - Batanguenos of Northern California best dressed matron Liza Manalo, and Kapuso actress Bianca King;
• March 21 - Dennis Antenor, Jr., Statewide Realty proprietress Alicia Gabriana Atienza and Jeron Teng;
• March 23 - Kapuso actors Geoff Eigenmann and Rocco Nacino;
• March 24 - Actor Aljur Abrenica and swimmer Gian Berino;
• March 25 - Leo Katigbak, Asian Journal Publications President Cora Macabagdal Oriel, photographer Ray Guarin and STAR Magic talent Matteo Guidicelli;
• March 26 - Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi;
• March 28 - Miss Earth beauty pageant Executive Producer Ramon Monzon;
• March 30 - Thomasian USA founder Alice Pena Bulos, and SamTrans employee Eugene Cabugao;
• March 31 - Entertainment producer Lerma de la Cruz.

To all March celebrants, a very happy birthday!

SM bags seafront property for P18B

The SM group has sealed a deal to buy a seafront property situated between its sprawling Mall of Asia shopping complex and the Solaire Resort and Casino from UK-based investment fund Ashmore and its local partner Eric Recto.

The transaction—worth at least P18 billion, or P180,000 per square meter for the 10-hectare prime parcel of reclaimed land —will give the real estate giant additional space on which to build residential condominium towers under the SMDC brand.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official involved in what is one of the biggest property deals in recent years said SM needed the property to “replenish its stock of condominiums” in the Manila Bay area due to the strong demand that has seen its current projects being taken up “almost 100 percent.”

“The demand for residential units in this area is so strong, including from Chinese buyers who have business interests in the country,” the official said.

The deal also marks the formal end of Ashmore’s involvement in the country in the private equity space, which started with a partnership with businessman Roberto Ongpin a decade ago and ended up in a divorce that saw both parties carving up a multibillion-peso business empire to settle the dispute.

Another source said the Ayala group, which is also building a mixed-use development on an adjacent property in partnership with the Wenceslao family who owns the land, first approached the Ashmore-Recto group in a bid to buy the property to expand their commercial project’s footprint.

A successful bid for the property would have given the Ayala-Wenceslao development a “commercially attractive” direct access to Manila Bay, the source said.

“But we understand their bid was a little conservative, and they refused to go higher,” said another official, who said the Ayala group’s offer price stood at “about half” of what the SM retail conglomerate eventually bought the property for.

“When the owners say ‘go,’ they really mean go,” the official said, explaining the aggressive acquisition price.

The property was formerly under a joint-venture agreement between Ongpin’s Alphaland Corp. and the Wenceslao family and was originally slated to become an exclusive yacht club called “Alphaland Marina Club.”

An ensuing dispute between Ongpin and the Wenceslaos resulted in the former partners dividing the property, with the former ending up owning the seafront portion.

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/246725/sm-bags-seafront-property-p18b#ixzz5NtYk7f00
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