Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Samsung Q9F-Series 88"-Class HDR UHD Smart QLED TV
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| Samsung Q9F-Series 88"-Class HDR UHD Smart QLED TV |
Ownership of firm operating MRT to change under Duterte–Roque
CHANGING the ownership of Metro Rail Transit Corp. (MRTC) is part of the Duterte administration’s plan to solve the many ills plaguing “rapid transit system” of Metro Manila.
In a news briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said changing the ownership of the MRTC is an action in the long-term.
“Government has taken steps, while it is currently operating the MRT to procure much needed spare parts and they have taken steps now to enter into a contract with Sumitomo Corp. to be the maintenance provider as well, and this has been facilitated by the signing of an agreement between the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and Japan,” Roque said.
Roque explained these actions after announcing that new cases may be filed against former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications over what he describes as the “MRT 3 mess.”
“There was a decision that cases will be pursued for those behind the miserable performance of MRT 3,” he told reporters. “There are pending complaints for plunder against officials of the previous administrations, specifically for awarding the maintenance contract to a company with absolutely no track record.”
Last year the government took over the maintenance of the MRT Line 3 after terminating a maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. Aside from the filing of cases, Roque said the President has ordered to take several steps to address the problems plaguing the country’s second urban rail system.
“He short-term is to purchase all necessary spare parts; the medium term is to enter into a maintenance contract with the original maintenance contractor Sumitomo; and the long-term, is to change the ownership of, which appears to have contributed to problem of MRT 3 as well.”
Roque emphasized that the change in ownership of MRTC “will definitely happen during this administration.”
In a news briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said changing the ownership of the MRTC is an action in the long-term.
“Government has taken steps, while it is currently operating the MRT to procure much needed spare parts and they have taken steps now to enter into a contract with Sumitomo Corp. to be the maintenance provider as well, and this has been facilitated by the signing of an agreement between the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and Japan,” Roque said.
Roque explained these actions after announcing that new cases may be filed against former officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications over what he describes as the “MRT 3 mess.”
“There was a decision that cases will be pursued for those behind the miserable performance of MRT 3,” he told reporters. “There are pending complaints for plunder against officials of the previous administrations, specifically for awarding the maintenance contract to a company with absolutely no track record.”
Last year the government took over the maintenance of the MRT Line 3 after terminating a maintenance contract with Busan Universal Rail Inc. Aside from the filing of cases, Roque said the President has ordered to take several steps to address the problems plaguing the country’s second urban rail system.
“He short-term is to purchase all necessary spare parts; the medium term is to enter into a maintenance contract with the original maintenance contractor Sumitomo; and the long-term, is to change the ownership of, which appears to have contributed to problem of MRT 3 as well.”
Roque emphasized that the change in ownership of MRTC “will definitely happen during this administration.”
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IHG to debut Holiday Inn in the heart of Cebu Business Park
Fast-growing Cebu is well on track to becoming one of South East Asia’s top information and communications technology destinations.
To meet the rising demand for internationally recognised accommodation in its capital, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a new Holiday Inn with The Erawan Group Public Company Limited — the first in the Philippines’ oldest city.
Set to open at the end of 2020, the new-build, 180-room Holiday Inn Cebu City will be situated at Samar Loop in the heart of the Cebu Business Park, making it a convenient accommodation choice for international and regional business travellers. Alongside multinational companies ranging from business process outsourcing to industries, the business park houses local and foreign financial institutions, as well as its lifestyle and leisure centrepiece— the 9-hectare Ayala Center Cebu shopping mall, which draws 60,000 visitors daily.
Commenting on this landmark signing, Rajit Sukumaran, Chief Development Officer EMEAA East, IHG said: “Cebu has enjoyed steady economic growth in recent years, thanks in part to its strong port facilities and excellent geographic location which have made it especially popular amongst multinational businesses. With the upcoming completion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport — the second busiest airport in the Philippines — later this year, we are expecting a further increase in visitors, including those travelling on business.”
“As part of our strategic expansion across this region, we believe that Holiday Inn Cebu City will be well-poised to meet the rising demand for reliable, internationally branded accommodation in this market. Holiday Inn is our most recognised brand and the largest midscale brand internationally; we are excited to introduce this offering to Cebu City, to cater to the needs of our guests with a consistent and welcoming experience.”
The developer, The Erawan Group Public Company limited, is well-established with 52 other hotels operating across Thailand and South-East Asia, including Holiday Inn Pattaya, a flagship Holiday Inn hotel in South East Asia.
Petch Krainukul, President, The Erawan Group Public Company Limited added: “With its strong track record in world-class hospitality offerings, we are delighted to work once again with our trusted partner IHG to bring the first Holiday Inn hotel to Cebu City. We are confident that the hotel’s much-loved brand offerings, coupled with its excellent location, will be a hit amongst travellers seeking comfortable and reliable accommodation when we open our doors in 2020. We strongly believe that this hotel will be one of the key driver for the future growth for ERAWAN.”
Holiday Inn Cebu City will feature meeting facilities, a fitness centre and swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, as well as the signature ‘Kids Stay & Eat Free’ programme, which offers complimentary stays and meals for children under the age of 12*. Located in the same tower as Erawan Philippines’ owned Hop Inn hotel, Holiday Inn Cebu City will be situated on the upper floors with its own separate entrance, lift and lobby.
Globally, there are currently 1,216 Holiday Inn hotels (more than 225,000 rooms) open, with 277 in the development pipeline for the next three to five years.
To meet the rising demand for internationally recognised accommodation in its capital, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of a new Holiday Inn with The Erawan Group Public Company Limited — the first in the Philippines’ oldest city.
Set to open at the end of 2020, the new-build, 180-room Holiday Inn Cebu City will be situated at Samar Loop in the heart of the Cebu Business Park, making it a convenient accommodation choice for international and regional business travellers. Alongside multinational companies ranging from business process outsourcing to industries, the business park houses local and foreign financial institutions, as well as its lifestyle and leisure centrepiece— the 9-hectare Ayala Center Cebu shopping mall, which draws 60,000 visitors daily.
Commenting on this landmark signing, Rajit Sukumaran, Chief Development Officer EMEAA East, IHG said: “Cebu has enjoyed steady economic growth in recent years, thanks in part to its strong port facilities and excellent geographic location which have made it especially popular amongst multinational businesses. With the upcoming completion of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport — the second busiest airport in the Philippines — later this year, we are expecting a further increase in visitors, including those travelling on business.”
“As part of our strategic expansion across this region, we believe that Holiday Inn Cebu City will be well-poised to meet the rising demand for reliable, internationally branded accommodation in this market. Holiday Inn is our most recognised brand and the largest midscale brand internationally; we are excited to introduce this offering to Cebu City, to cater to the needs of our guests with a consistent and welcoming experience.”
The developer, The Erawan Group Public Company limited, is well-established with 52 other hotels operating across Thailand and South-East Asia, including Holiday Inn Pattaya, a flagship Holiday Inn hotel in South East Asia.
Petch Krainukul, President, The Erawan Group Public Company Limited added: “With its strong track record in world-class hospitality offerings, we are delighted to work once again with our trusted partner IHG to bring the first Holiday Inn hotel to Cebu City. We are confident that the hotel’s much-loved brand offerings, coupled with its excellent location, will be a hit amongst travellers seeking comfortable and reliable accommodation when we open our doors in 2020. We strongly believe that this hotel will be one of the key driver for the future growth for ERAWAN.”
Holiday Inn Cebu City will feature meeting facilities, a fitness centre and swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, as well as the signature ‘Kids Stay & Eat Free’ programme, which offers complimentary stays and meals for children under the age of 12*. Located in the same tower as Erawan Philippines’ owned Hop Inn hotel, Holiday Inn Cebu City will be situated on the upper floors with its own separate entrance, lift and lobby.
Globally, there are currently 1,216 Holiday Inn hotels (more than 225,000 rooms) open, with 277 in the development pipeline for the next three to five years.
Government receives unsolicited proposals to take over MRT-3
THE Duterte government has received unsolicited proposals to take over operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) in a bid to put an end to the glitches and other problems, Malacañang said Tuesday, March 6. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a press briefing with Palace reporters, said a timetable has been plotted to ensure that ownership of the dilapidated rail system will change before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends. "There were timetables presented to the Cabinet. There are already unsolicited proposals and there will be an award to be made soon," he said, referring to the Cabinet meeting at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, March 5. Roque said looking for another MRT-3 owner was seen as a "long-term" solution to address the worsening condition of the rail transit system. He said the current MRT-3 proprietors are perceived as the ones who also "contributed to problem/s" experienced by the commuting public. "The long-term (solution to end woes) is to change the ownership of MRT-3 corporation," Roque said. "As you know, the ownership of MRT-3 is a private corporation. So they are thinking of changing the owners because we have had many problems with the current owners," he added. The MRT-3, which was designed as a build-lease-transfer project, is owned by the MRT Corporation led by Robert John Sobrepeña. Frequent technical glitches and capacity issues have plagued the MRT-3, which had often unloaded its passengers in the middle of the tracks. Roque said the government believed that purchasing new spare parts for the trouble-ridden train system would be a "short term" solution. The administration's "medium term" solution, on the other hand, was to rehire Japanese firm Sumitomo as the MRT-3 maintenance provider. In November 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) filed a plunder complaint against nine former Cabinet secretaries, including Joseph Emilio Abaya (Transportation), Manuel Roxas II (Local Government) and Florencio Abad (Budget) over the P3.8-billion contract for the maintenance operations of the MRT-3. The DOTr questioned the awarding of the alleged anomalous three-year contract to Busan Universal Railways Inc. (Buri), whose officials were also named respondents. Roque said the current administration was mulling to file a supplemental case against those responsible for the deteriorating state of the train system. He said Duterte had already asked Solicitor General Jose Calida to study the possible filing of other charges against the individuals involved in MRT-3 woes. "There was a decision that cases will be pursued for those behind the miserable performance of MRT-3. There are pending complaints for plunder against officials of the previous administrations, specifically for awarding the maintenance contract to a company with absolutely no track record," he said. "I know there was already a case filed for Buri but there could be other cases filed as well. There could be new ones because apparently, the problem lies not just with Buri; the problem also lies with the current owners of MRT-3," he added. (SunStar Philippines)
Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2018/03/06/government-receives-unsolicited-proposals-take-over-mrt-3-592263
Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook
Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2018/03/06/government-receives-unsolicited-proposals-take-over-mrt-3-592263
Follow us: @sunstaronline on Twitter | SunStar Philippines on Facebook
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Kuh mounts special benefit show
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| Kuh Ledesma |
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
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| Pauline Mendoza |
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…
Monday, March 5, 2018
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
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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
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
Saturday, March 3, 2018
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.
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
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| 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 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)
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
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| Ronnie Liang |
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
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| 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…
Friday, March 2, 2018
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
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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