BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO OCT.1,2012

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 112, Volume III • Oct. 1-4, 2012

Market Indicators AS OF 5:56 PM SEPT. 28, 2012

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.70

5,346.10

; ; Briefly 17 cents

44.61 points

PPP workshop

THE Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) - 10, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) - 10, will conduct an Orientation Workshop on Public Private Partnership program on October 2-3 in Pearlmont Hotel, this city.

Said orientation aims to provide basic understanding on the fundamentals of public private partnership as well as various aspects the Center offers to facilitate the development of PPP projects.

The PPP program has been identified by government as one of its key strategies in achieving national development by realizing critical infrastructure and development projects at the national and local levels.

Bracing for El Niño

DAVAO City -- An officer of the Department of Agriculture urged farmers to plant ahead to cope with the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which is projected to come in January 2013.

The El Niño, which is caused by an abnormal warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, will initially cause below-normal rainfall that would later progress into drier conditions.

Speaking in the initial press briefing of the 8th Corn Congress at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna said the agricultural sector, especially the farmers, must learn to adapt with climate change by planting ahead while ample supply of water is available.

*Limited to Silver 700, Gold 950, Platinum 1,150 and Premium HD 1,350 packages.

Contract of 24 months lock in period z One month advance required.

Call: 8572663 762112 8573837

Editorial: 088-856-3344 • Advertising: 0917-7121424

P15.00

Business as usual:

Low-cost airliners seen to dominate Oro’s sky • Airphil to join the frey as PAL stops Manila-Cagayan de Oro flights starting Oct. 28

By PED T. QUIAMJOT, Contributor

W Air Express Philippines (Airphil) will slug it out with other low-cost airliners as it takes the cudgel for Philippine Airlines (PAL) as it cease its Cagayan de Oro-Manila flights and vice-versa starting Oct. 28.

ITH the boom for low-cost airlines cornering about 80% of air passenger market in Northern Mindanao, the newly re-established Air Express Philippines will pick up the brunt of serving the Cagayan de Oro-Manila flights and vice versa upon the stoppage of the Philippines Airlines flights here starting October 28, this year.

Reliable inside sources allayed fears of the business community and the travel agencies selling the Philippine Airlines services in the city that there will be no vacuum on airline travel.

With the acquisition of its new Airbus 320’s, Air Phil Express, which also offers cheaper fare along with rival Cebu Pacific Air and AIRLINERS/PAGE 7

Napocor restores Agus hydro power units

By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter

MINDANAO power consumers can now be assured of a more stable power supply with the restoration of the damaged generating units of the Agus hydroelectric power complex, the National Power Corporation said on Thursday.

In a report, state-owned Napocor said that repair work is already complete on generating units that earlier caught fire, allowing the company to provide 175 megawatts to the Mindanao grid.

The Agus 6 and 7 plants were cut off from the grid on September 1 after a fire broke out at the control cable tunnel leading to the facilities’ switchyard.

“As of last Friday, the cause of the fire which destroyed the control cables was still being investigated by the Fire Department of the City of Iligan,” Napocor said.

HYDRO/PAGE 7

DIYANDI. Former Rep. Cynthia Villar of Las Pinas City led the ceremonial bang to signal the start of the “Kasadya” showdown competition Thursday at Anahaw Amphitheater in Palao. Iligan City. With Villar are Jonathan Versoza, chairman of Kasadya of Iligan Jaycees, Councilor Marlene Young and Marianito Alemana, chairman Diyandi Executive Management Board .

PHOTO BY RICHEL V . UMEL

SM opens 2nd mall in Davao SM Prime Holdings Inc. began Friday commercial operations of its new mall in Davao, expanding the company’s shopping mall network to 46 nationwide.

In a statement, the Henry Sy-led mall developer and operator said SM Lanang Premier is already 88 per-

cent occupied by various tenants and will have a gross floor area of 144,000 square meters.

Located at J.P. Laurel Avenue, Barangay Lanang, Davao City, SM Lanang have an SM Department Store and an SM Supermarket SM/PAGE 7

BusinessWeek Economy 2 Filipino workforce to face global competition on 2015 October 1-4, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

By CARMENCITA A. CARILLO, Contributor

DAVAO City -- It’s fight or flight for the licensed Filipino workforce when global competition sets in by 2015 as a result of the full implementation of the (Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Community (AEC).

This was the challenge made by Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Jennifer Jardin-Manalili to the 46 PRC-regulated professions that will have to compete with the Asean workforce.

The 46 professions belong the four general areas including business; social and management; medical and health; and engineering and technology.

“The AEC will be characterized not only by free

flow of capital and goods but also the free movement of services and skilled labor,” she said.

This is the reason why PRC is holding the series of Basic Free Trade Areas Information Sessions in different parts of the country before the Convergence of Professional for National Building and Global Competitiveness Summit in October. The Davao leg, which is the fourth, was held last week.

Manalili said the profes-

sions have to come up with their own road maps so that our workforce will be ready when we open up even our services sector to the Asean countries. She added this is no longer just free trade of goods but also free trade of services.

“We are doing everything to prepare our workforce for 2015 because while it

means Asean workers can already enter the country to work, it can also mean that our professionals will also get the chance to work in other Asean countries,” she added.

The AEC will facilitate the movement of people in the Asean Region and our professionals better be ready to compete with

other professionals from these countries, she said.

The country implemented two strategies to meet the liberalization of professional workers by 2015. “One is the rapid assessments of professions where they will come up with competitive road maps and the other strategy is the holding of the Professional Summit.”

Japanese ice cream shop opens stores in Davao, Cagayan de Oro DAVAO City -- A Japanese ice cream shop has opened its first branch this city and soon another one in Cagayan de Oro City.

Nowie Potenciano, owner of Mochiko, said their first store in Mindanao was opened just last week in SM Davao at Ecoland, Matina, Davao City , to introduce an ice cream delicacy that is new to the country.

He said two more stores will be opened soon, one at SM Lanang Premiere in the north and another one at Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

Potenciano said they decided to open stores in Mindanao upon receiving many requests from both Davao and Cagayan de Oro markets, which had tasted

their product. The company invested around P600,000 for the branches at the two SM malls in the city.

He said the Davao branch is supplied with mochis straight from Metro Manila.

Mochi is a traditional dessert from Japan, but it is different from commercialized ice cream available in the market since it is made from premium fresh milk.

It is wrapped with sticky rice, comes with 16 different flavors with its top-sellers as Oreo and Milk and Cookie Dough.

He said the sticky rice coating helps sustain the ice cream frozen, which takes about 45 minutes before it melts. Given the longer period before the ice cream melts, customer can con-

veniently bring orders to home.

“We develop the products entirely by ourselves,” he said.

Mochi is also famous in Shanghai, Singapore, and Bangkok aside from Japan.

He said they introduced mochi in the Philippines in September 2010 in Tagaytay City and has since expanded to other areas in the country.

“We saw it in Japan and we thought we should bring it here,” Potenciano said.

Right now, Mochiko has eight branches nationwide and present in key areas Makati City, Metro Manila, Taguig City, Quezon City, Muntinlupa City, Tagaytay and Cebu City. They will also open its second branch in Cebu next week.

DOT awards individuals, companies for excellence 0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

AMENITIES : ZORBIT * ATV * TREE TOP ADVENTURE BUGGY * BUNGEE * PICNIC GROUNDS PLAYGROUND * CAFE * LUGE * MINI GOLF ROOM ACCOMODATIONS

SURIGAO City -- The city government here through the City Tourism Office bestowed awards of excellence to individuals and firms who contributed in the promotion and enriching of the city’s tourism industry.

For achieving the highest numbers of hotel guests from October 2011 to July 2012 among hotel accommodation establishments in the city, recognitions were given to Hotel Tavern with 20,220 guests; Aden Apartelle, 13,307; E.Y. Miner Suites, 13,164;

RSY Pension, 9,602; and Mt. Bagarabon Resort, 7,230.

For the highest hotel occupancy rate recorded from October 2011 to July 2012, recognitions were given to Philippine Gateway Hotel with 53.93; Aden Apartelle 35.60; E.Y. Miner Suites with 81.75; Gunter Pension 78.14 and Miwa Beach Resort with the rate of 72.94.

XL Pension House, Le Chard Place, Bed & Breakfast, Miami City Suites, Moon Café and D’Resto Bar & Grill received awards

for promoting tourism and demonstrating positive economic impact. A certificate of recognition was also awarded to Conching Apartelle for the untiring support to tourism data collection activities exemplified in the prompt submission of monthly tourist arrival data from the period of October 2011 to July 2012.

Also, a certificate of acknowledgement and recognition was given to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Officer-in-Charge Evangeline Babate and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Surigao Port Manager Isidro Butaslac for setting the standards and providing improved airport and port facilities to all the passengers and guests that created a tourist friendly atmosphere.

Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Roselyn Armida B. Merlin said that under the administration of City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas and that through the cooperation with the government sector and the private sector, soon, Surigao City will be known all over the country and eventually the whole world for its amazing and pristine tourist spots.

The award was given in line with the National Tourism Week celebration in the city.

BusinessWeek

October 1-4, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

BRANCHES 1. QAPI - CDO 2. QAPI-ILIGAN

Available at:

ADDRESS J.R. BORJA ST., C.D.O.C. DY PICO BLDG., LUNA ST.

3

CONTACT NUMBER

72-40-58/857-4113 063-221-3646 0917-632-5305 3. QAPI-VALENCIA T.N. PEPITO ST. 088-828-2090 0917-632-5306 4. QAPI-BUTUAN COR. MONTILLA VILLANUEVA ST. 085-815-2422 0917-632-5301 5. QAPI-PAGADIAN SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT 062-214-1754 0917-632-5308 6. QAPI-OZAMIZ J.P. RIZAL COR. LAUREL ST. 088-521-0917 0922-650-1879 7. QAPI-SURIGAO MAGALLANES ST. 086-826-1170 0917-632-5310 8. QAPI-DIPOLOG GEN. LUNA COR. OSMEÑA ST. 065-212-4327 0922-3045-290 9. QAPI-GENSAN SUN CITY SUITES NAT’ HI-WAY 083-301-9002 10. HAPI-OSMEÑA OSMEÑA EXTENSION, 72-63-13/856-4019 11. HAPI-DUMAGUETE MARIA CRISTINA ST. 035-225-1581 0922-8501-349 12. HAPI-TAGBILARAN C.P. GARCIA AVE. 038-235-3037 0922-8501-877 13. SAPI-CARMEN VAMENTA BOULEVARD 858-1660 14. SAPI-PALA-O PALAO EXTENSION 063-221-2607 0917-632-5313 15. RAPI-CAPISTRANO CAPISTRANO ST. 856-4929 16. RAPI-TACLOBAN ZAMORA COR. STO. NIÑO ST. 053-325-9957 0917-632-5339 17. CQ-LIFESTYLE CENTER J . R . B O R J A S T .

57-9001-04/ 714136-37 / 857-9094 0922-8228071 18. CQAI-CEBU OSMEÑA BOULEVARD 032-254-5899 0922-8228-068 19. CQAI-IPIL PRES. QUIRINO ST. 062-333-2491 0917-632-5321 20. CQAI-ZAMBOANGA ZONE 3, NUÑEZ ST., 0922-8501-339 062-992-2890 21. CQAI-MARANDING HIGHWAY, LALA, LDN 063-388-7116 0917-632-5333 22. CQAI-ORMOC AVILES ST. 053-255-7593 0922-8501-359 23. CQAI-SIDANGAN ZAMORA ST. 065-224-2802 0917-632-5336 24. CQAI-TALISAY BULACAO TALISAY CITY 032-272-1192 0922-8228-065 25. CQAI-TAYTAY No. 9 RIZAL AVE., 02-669-1182 0922-8228-067

4

BusinessWeek

October 1-4, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

World Teachers Day Celebration October 5, 2012, Limketkai Atrium Cagayan de Oro City A TRIBUTE TO THE FILIPINO TEACHER WHO MATTERS A LOT IN BUILDING OUR NATION

Congratulations and Best Wishes on your Culminating Celebration of the World Teachers Day in Cagayan de Oro -PHILIPPINE

VETERANS BANK

Gadgets & GC’s Garantisado Promo Launches To thank its customers for 20 years of success, Veterans Gift checks that can be claimed include SM Silver Pass, Robinson’s, Bank is launching the Gadgets & GC’s Garantisado! De- Rustan’s, Landmark, Jollibee, Greenwich, Chowking, and Red Ribbon. posit Promo, a promotions aimed at rewarding customers Gadgets that can be claimed include popular cellphones, gaming consoles, who maintain significant deposits with the Bank. and the popular iPad tablet.

From September 17, 2012 to March 15, 2013, customers who maintain with any Veterans Bank branch a minimum P100,000 in average daily balance (adb) for at least 90 days, whether from newly-opened checking or savings accounts (CASA) or as add-on to their existing CASA account, will automatically be eligible to claim a prize in the form of a gift check or a gadget. The bigger the deposit adb and the longer the account stays with the Bank (maximum 360 days), the higher the value of the reward.

For example, a depositor who maintains P100,000 for 90 days will get a P100 peso GC. If however, the depositor maintains the amount for 330 days, he will a P500 peso GC. On the other hand, a P1M deposit maintained for 90 days will get a MyPhone B88 cellphone but if the amount is maintained for 360 days, it will reward the depositor with a Nokia Asha 300.

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

October 1-4, 2012

5

6

Community

October 1-4, 2012

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA

The participants MaMA. Theresita M Talavera, Project Leader and director, IHNF-CHE, UPLB and Ms The participantstogether togetherwith withProf.

PROF. THERESA M. TALAVERA, Project Leader and Director, IHNF-CHE, UPLB Zenaida T. Tondares Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Region X and Coordinator, PNAO Estelita M. Madjos (in Black Suit) and MS. ZENAIDA T. TONDAREZ, Regional Nutrition Program Region X. of Bukidnon.

PHOTO BY RONALD MASTAIL

By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA he National Nutrition Correspondent

T

Council, Regional Nutrition Council X, Institute of Human NuNational trition he and Food and the College N of Human u t r i Ecology, tion University of the Philippines Council, has Los Baños in coordinacommissioned the, tion with the Province of Institute of Human Bukidnon kicked off the first day of their week long Nutrition and Food Training of Trainers on the of the College of HuBasic Course for Barangay man Ecology, UniverNutrition Scholars on Sepsity of the Philippines tember 17, Phil town Hotel, Los Baños to conduct this city. to for Zenaida theAccording TOT-BNS the Tondarez, Nutrition ProProvince of Bukidgram Coordinator Region non X, thiswhich trainingkicked is to coreoff out its first day of their people in every municipality and barangay of Bukidnon week long Training of that they will able to TOT-BNS onbe Septemcapacitate to ber 17, atthemselves Philtown perform nutrition service Hotel, deliveriesthis and city. to guide fuAccording to Mrs. Zenaida ture Barangay Nutrition T. Tondares, Nutrition Program Scholars (BNSs).

“This X, is Coordinator of NNC Region Photos by RONALD MASTAIL

T

this training includes core of trainers from twelve priority municipalities of Bukidnon to capacitate them to train front line nutrition service provids the Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs). “This is a significant effort of the National Nutrition Council (NNC), tapping UPLB to do this component for capacity building of LGUs”. This is in pursuit to meet the provisions of Presidential Decree 1569 which strengthen the Barangay Nutrition Program providing a trained Barangay Nutrition Scholar in every Barangay., The NNC is funding 30 batches of TOT-BNS nationwide, three for Region X which also covered Misamis Occidental (August 27-31, 2012) and Lanao Del Norte (September 3-7,2012).

Around 33 Municipal Nutrition Action Officers (MNAO) and an active member of the Local Nutrition committee from 12 municipalities (Baungon, Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Damulog,

cidental and Bukidnon among the Priority II. Priority I are areas severely underweight at which had severe 3.02%dofollowed by malnutriMisamis tion problems at that2.31% need extra Occidental and attention and action.

Lanao del Bukidnon at 1.17% (The Norte has a high prevalence rate North Minchildren Nutrition of preschool (PS)Situwith ationerclassified Calendaras2012). weights severely Also, based on followed the 7th underweight at 3.02% by Misamis Nutrition Occidental at 2.31% National Survey and Bukidnon at 1.17% (NNS) conducted by(The the North Min Nutrition Situationer Foods and Nutrition ReCalendar 2012). search Institute (FNRI) of Also, based on the 7th Nathe Department of Science tional Nutrition Survey (NNS) and Technology 2008,and the conducted by theinFood prevalence of underweight Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of stunting, under height and Science and Technology in 2008, wasting/thinness among the prevalence of underweight children 0-60 months in stunted or under height and Region X is dominated by wasting/thinness among children Bukidnon at 24.2%, 43.7%, 0-60 months in Region X is led 4.8% respectively. by Bukidnon at 24.2%, 43.7%, and With 4.8% respectively. the participation Institute of of Human Human of The the Institute Food and Nutrition of College of Nutrition and College of Human Ecology (CHE), UPLB, Human Ecology (CHE), according to Prof. Ma. Theresa UPLB, according to Prof.

Talavera, Project Leader and Ma. Theresa Talavera, ProjDirector, have been in partnerect Leader ship with the and NNCDirector, for three years just teach they now. haveThey beendon’t in conglomtheories but they do extension work and capability building training to improve the skills and competencies of the faculty and staff of UPLB research and extension. “This is an application of what we teach inside the classroom”.

“Hopefully, after this training, the participants will be able to capacitate themselves so that when they return, they will be also being able to roll the training of BNSs in the community.

This is a challenge for them to strengthen the delivery of basic nutrition services at community level”, Mrs. Tondares said.

This is the third and the last of the three batches of training of trainers (TOT) in Region X. The group has conducted this for Misamis Occidental of Oroquieta City (August 27-31, 2012), Lanao del Norte (September 3-7, 2012) also at the Philtown hotel, this City and for Bukidnon Province this week (September 17-21), Ms. Zenaida T. Tondares delivering her welcome speech Cagayan de Oro City.

Kalilangan, Kitaotao, Libona, BNS are barangay-based Pangantucan, Quezon, San Fernando, Sumilao, and who Talakag) volunteer workers deand twobasic cities (Malaybalay and liver nutrition and Valencia) and Bukidnon related health services,Provand ince participated.

These trainers links communities with then will be training the BNSs nutritionin and related serdeployed the barangays. vice They are Theproviders.

BNS is a barangay-based considered as the volunteer worker whoforerundelivers basic and related health nersnutrition in delivering nutrition services, and links communities and health services in the with nutritionThey and related barangays. serveservice as key providers. They are the forerundrivers in the advocacy for ners in delivering nutrition and community development health services in the barangays. p r o jserve e c t sas key drivers in They especially the advocacy for community development on nutri- projects along the nutrition services. tion related The barangay, as the basic aspects. political structure is the most The ba- for mass participaflexible venue rangay, as center of the BNS tion and the the basic program.

The Barangay Nutrition p o lProgram i t i c a l was launched as astructure means of meeting manpower needs a n d oftthe h e Philippine Nutrition Program and it continues most flexto this day. ibleThe venue nutrition problems in for Regionmass X, specifically Lanao participaDel Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Bukidnon have increased.

Weight is one indicator for

to the participants

assessing nutrition situation. of these children on Operation Timbang based (OPT) result calls for action. a reference table.The LGUs conducts the2011 regular weighing In the Operation of preschoolresults, childrenRegion every 1st Timbang X quarter of the year dubbed as show that Protein-Energy Operation Timbang (OPT) and Malnutrition (PEM) isstatus still determines the nutritional the most common of these children based nutrion the tional problem Northern new child GrowthinStandard.

In the 2011 TimMindanao.

InOperation 2011, there are bang results, Region Preschool X show that 35, 833 (6.25%) Protein-Energy children who Malnutrition are under(PEM) continue to be the nuweight and 7,826 (1.36%) are tritional problem in Northern severely underweight.

There Mindanao. In 2011, 35, 833 are 61,291 (6.25%) Preschool children are underweight and 7,826 ( 8 .(1.36%) 32%) are severely underweight.

E l e mThe ere nare 61,291 (8.32%) Elementary School tary School children and 14,775 children (7.23%) Secondary students who have Wasted Body and Mass14,775 Index ( 23%) (BMI) while 18, 1577 .(2.46%) Secondary Elementary School Children and 2,851 (1.39%) Secondary s t ustudents dents who are Severely Wasted based on who have BMI results at the start of school Wa s t e d year 2011-2012 (Reference:The o d y North Min NutritionBSituationer Mass InCalendar 2012). dex (BMI) According to Mrs. Tondares, w h isi one l e in 2007, Lanao del Norte among the 10 Priority I hunger mitigation areas. Misamis Oc-

Ms. Wilberta E. Tagud facilitating the GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER portion

Mr. Anecito B. Torayno, Jr. reading and discussing the participants’ individual expectations for the said workshop

Ms Camille C. Marron facilitating the participants

BusinessWeek

Banking/Finance

7 Veterans Bank gives out rewards to Davao customers YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

communications and social affairs department, Miguel Angelo Villareal, said the promo is in celebration of Veterans Bank’s 20 years of success since it reopened in 1992.

He said the promo from September 2013 to March 2013, is a way thanking Veterans Bank customers through the years.

Villareal was here to from page 1 launch the bank’s latest Agus 6 is the biggest promo. of the power plants in the He explained that cushydro complex, with five generating units capable of producing a total of 200 megawatts. Agus 7 consists from page 1 of two units with a combined capacity of 54 megawatts. and Zest Airways, will inBoth plants are located in crease their flight frequenIligan City. cies to Cagayan de Oro with The restoration of the business class amenities. In facilities are expected to flight, snacks and coffee help boost Mindanao’s elec- services offered by PAL in tricity supply, which has their regular flights will not been enough to meet also be offered by Air Phil demand because of insuf- Express. ficient generating capacity, PAL is coming up with Based on the National the new airline reservation Grid Corporation of the systems staring October 27 Philippines’ power outlook, as part of their upgrades the region is projected to re- and top airline management quire 1,208 megawatts once officials are continuously demand peaks on Friday. evaluating viability of the However, available generat- other routes serviced by the ing capacity is only at 1,116 airline. megawatts, thus Mindanao The emergence of the will incur a shortfall of 92 low cost airlines and their megawatts that could result periodic ticket slashed down in power outages. rates has affected the prof-

tomers who open or maintain checking accounts or savings accounts (CASA) with any Veterans Bank branch nationwide with at least P100,000 in average daily balance (ADB) for a minimum of 90 days instantly qualify for a redeemable prize.

The higher the ADB and the longer the deposit stays with the bank (maximum of 360 days) the higher the value of the incentive to be received, he said.

the Davao market and its vibrant tourism industry,” said Hans Sy, SM Prime president.

SM Lanang is the company’s second mall in the province, after SM City Davao, which opened in November 2001 and is nine kilometers away.

Lanang is a highly urbanized commercial center in the province of Davao, one of the country’s major sources of export-grade bananas, tuna, finished wood products, pineapples, and rubber.

Incorporating environmentally sustainable technology in its design and construction, SM Lanang Premier features a sky garden with water fountains, art installations, and landscaping. The mall is also designed with skylights and will use LED to ensure ef-

ficient energy consumption.

The mall’s facade is accentuated by the folded building concept, inspired by the traditional Japanese art of folding paper known as origami.

SM Lanang Premier brings the combined gross floor area of all SM malls in the country to 5.5 million square meters. It is the fifth SM mall opening this year after shopping centers in Olongapo, Zambales; Consolacion, Cebu; San Fernando, Pampanga; and General Santos, South Cotabato.

For the rest of 2012, SM Prime is scheduled to open SM Chongqing in China.

By the end of this year, SM Prime will have 46 malls in the Philippines and five in China with an estimated combined gross floor area of 6.3 million square meters.-InterAksyon

DAVAO City -- The Philippine Veterans Bank is giving out latest gadgets and gift certificates of considerable amount to its Davao customers through its ongoing “Gadgets & GCs Garantisado Deposit Promo”.

Veterans Bank vice president for corporate and

Hydro...

Airliners...

SM...

from page 1

anchor tenants. Other mall tenants are Watsons, Ace Hardware, Kultura, Forever 21, Centerstage, Vikings, Cha Time, Mesa, Jollibee and KFC. The mall, which also houses the SMX Davao Convention Center, offers amenities including five cinemas and an IMAX Theater, with a combined seating capacity of 2,200; a bowling center; a Science Discovery Center; and parking slots for over 1,500 vehicles.

“We warmly welcome our valued customers to our second mall in the province of Davao, SM Lanang Premier.

This is SM Prime’s biggest and first premier mall development project in Mindanao that is designed to cater to the growing demands of

itability of PAL in the last two years. Industry leaders have observed public preference to the low cost airlines gathering 80% of the air travellers market in Northern Mindanao.

Foreign and local travellers who bought earlier PAL tickets to Cagayan de Oro for their travel this October will be refunded in full.

Passengers taking Air Phil Express with connecting PAL flights abroad will be shuttled free of charge from NAIA 3 to the Philippine Airlines Departure Airport at NAIA 2.

PAL sources are optimistic that the opening of the new Laguindingan Airport next year can bring new direction to their business in Northern Mindanao.

DREAMWORKSHOP INNOVATION ENGINEERING Westbound, Crossing Bulua ACCEPTS: RENTALS: * metal works * Power Tools * wood works * Engineering Equipments * water works * Backhoe * plumbing works * Pay Loader * rock works * Grader * construction works * Bulldozer * home improvement works “Quality assurance and customer satisfaction in our service” CONTACT CELLPHONE TELEPHONE

: ENGR. DARIO R. MINOZA General Manager : 09266028598 : (088) 850-4576

Villareal said the bank’s promo is unlike other banks’ raffle promos where customers have to wait and see for their luck.

In the Veteran’s bank promo, customers are guaranteed of a reward as long as he or she meets the promo requirements, he said.

Gift certificates that can be claimed include SM Silver Pass, Robinson’s, Rustan’s, Landmark, Jollibee, Greenwhich, Chowking, and Red Ribbon. The gadgets that will be given out are popular mobile phones, gaming consoles, and the popular iPad tablet.

Villareal said Veterans

Bank is faring well since its reopening in 1992 having embarked on expansions.

Three years ago, the bank started expansion with the opening of its Kidapawan City branch, Digos City and an area in Davao del Norte.

The expansions, Villareal said indicates that the bank is experiencing substantial growth.

He further pointed out that the bank is currently focusing expansions in the countryside.

He said the bank primary focus remains for the veterans maintaining the 20 percent of its income

October 1-4, 2012

as share of the customer veterans.

While several banks are engaging into mergers, the Veterans Bank is not keen in towing the line due to some difficulties. This will include taking into consideration the consent of hundreds of veterans/customers.

“If there will be a merger or buy out, we have to consider talking first with over 400 bank member veterans,” Villareal said.

He also cited monetary requirements of the Bangko Sentral as another difficulty of the bank hindering it from entering into mergers at this time. (PNA)

SSS extends deadline of loan penalty condonation program THE SOCIAL Security System (SSS) has moved the deadline of its loan penalty condonation program to allow more members to join it.

“The agency moved the deadline of the six-month Loan Penalty Condonation Program for Individual Members to Monday, Oct. 1, from the original Sept. 30 cut-off date,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. said.

All SSS branches will also be open during the weekend to accommodate members who will file their last-minute applications for the amnesty program, the pension fund for private sector employees said in the same statement.

“Members can avail themselves of SSS services related to the condonation program this weekend. They can file their applications for condonation and remit payments at SSS branch tellers from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday,” Mr. de Quiros said.

The loan amnesty program that started last April 2 seeks to condone P3.2 billion in penalties from 1.64 million delinquent borrowers. So far, only 132,000 members have signed up.

“The penalties written off have amounted to over P976 million, while the collectible amount has reached P1.73 billion,” SSS said.

The loan condonation pro-

gram was implemented under SSS Circular No. 2012-005.

It aimed to condone the loan penalties of individual members, grouped into four: • those whose employers had deducted loan amortizations from their salaries or separation pay but failed to remit these to the pension fund; • beneficiaries of deceased member-borrowers with unpaid loans; • delinquent members who paid at least three monthly amortizations since the approval of their loan; and • delinquent members who were yet to file for retirement or total disability claim during the period of the program.

8

Community

October 1-4, 2012

NNC-X Nutrition Program Coordinator Zenaida Tondarez (second from right) with Mayor Farhana T.R Palawan (seated) and the staff of World Food Programme (WFP), Iligan.

PHOTO BY BY CHRISTINE H . CABIASA

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

3rd Caption: Municipal Planning and Development Officer Mangorsi Mamarinta (inset) explaines the overview and benefits of the project.

PHOTOBY BY CHRISTINE H . CABIASA

NNC-X turns over water supply fund in Lanao Norte

By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA

T

he National Nutrition Council turned over P350 thousand as financial assistance for the implementation of Level II potable water supply project (Bawasa Water System) for Sitio Pendulonan, Barangay Maliwanag, Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte on September 24.

The water system is an identified priority project of the municipality of Poona Piagapo as an outcome of the assessment made by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Team led by the Municipal Planning and Development Office of Poona Piagapo one of four pilot municipalities identified by Governor Khalid Q. Dimaporo of Lanao del norte in year 2010 to be trained on IPC and initiate interventions for food insecurity and related problem spotted through IPC analysis jointly conducted by the National Nutrition Council and the world Food Program.

Pe r I P C ana ly s i s , Poona Piagapo water access as per record of the Municipality is about 42%,this falls within the 0-50% level, thus considered famine or human catastrophe in which records also show that local water cause diseases in the barangay is rampant.

Barangay Maliwanag belongs to one of its waterless communities and that water supply access there is minimal.

“This project will enable access to safe and potable water and it will greatly help the municipality since it’s one of their major problems”, Mrs ZenaidaTondares, Nutrition Program Coordinator of NNC X said.

:NNC-X Nutrition Program Coordinator Zenaida T. Tondares (Center) turns over the check to Poona Piagapo, Lanao Del Norte Municipal Mayor Farhana T.R Palawan. Witnessing the turnover are the Municipal IPC Team leader- MPDC, M. Mamarinta, the Local Sangunian, MNAO Joycie Demcillo and WFP- Iligan OIC Ms Baican Macaraya and PNAO George Demavivas of PHOTO BY CHRISTINE H . CABIASA Lanao Del Norte

Also, this project is seen to increase households’ access to safe and p or table water f rom 1.60% to 60%, to reduce water-borne diseases from 50% to 10% and alleviate the status of the beneficiaries from poverty by providing them one of their basic needs which is water.

“Marami kasing nagkakasakit, kawawa naman yung mga bata natin doon, eto para maging ligtas sila kailangan nila nang malinis na tubig din”, Mangorsi Mamarinta, Municipal Planning and development Officer (MPDC) said.

As part of their call to good nutrition, NNC has

entered into a memorandum of understanding with the World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen the Philippine Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (PFNSS) with Lanao del Norte as pilot and Municipality of Poona Piagapo as one of their four priority Municipalities included

Municipal Mayor Farhana T.R Palawan gave her words of thanks and gratitude to National Nutrition Council and World Food Programme.

in the IPC Piloting.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa National Nutrition Council at sa World Food Programme kasi kahit malayo kami, may dumating pa rin na tulong lalong lalo na ito pinakakailangan nila ang tubig”, Hon Farhana T.R. Palawan, Municipal Mayor said.

PHOTOBY BY CHRISTINE H . CABIASA

BusinessWeek CorpBoard

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

October 1-4, 2012

Editor: Allan Mediante

ADB: World market harmed if RP stops importing rice

By CAI ORDINARIO

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ goal of attaining rice selfsufficiency in 2013 year may cause harm to the international rice market and cause price shocks, according to a working paper released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

If this happens, this would be the second time the Philippines affects global rice prices in recent history after being cited as one of the main reasons for the world rice price crisis in 2008.

In a paper released on Thursday, August 30, the Manila-based multilateral institution noted that the Philippines is one of the 3 biggest rice importers in the world.

The other top global importers are Nigeria and Indonesia.

“Net importing countries have pursued self-sufficiency in rice that is likely to insure them against the risk of trade disruptions. However, the self-sufficiency strategy raises the cost of rice security in the region,” the ADB said in paper titled “Enhancing ASEAN’s Resiliency to Extreme Rice Price Volatility.”

Regional rice index Meantime, the ADB recommended that rice importing countries lower their self-sufficiency targets in exchange for commitments from exporting countries to stay away from unilateral export restrictions.

Further, in another paper titled

“Commodities Exchange: Options for Addressing Price Risk and Volatility in Rice,” the ADB said that to calm world rice price volatility, Asian countries could establish a regional rice index and commodities exchange.

The ADB suggested financial instruments, like futures and options, could be traded on existing commodities exchanges in Hong Kong, China, or Singapore.

“Top exporters such as India, Thailand, and Vietnam could also establish domestic commodities exchanges, allowing farmers to obtain a better price by selling their most popular local rice grades directly on the market, rather than through a middleman,” the paper

read.

The road to rice self-sufficiency The local price of rice, the most politically sensitive among crops in the Philippines, rose close to 40% in 2008, when global supply was threatened, exposing the vulnerability of the Philippines to the world market.

The Arroyo government’s moves then to secure deals with Vietnam, a rice exporter, sent world prices soaring.

The Aquino government has since pursued a rice self-sufficiency policy, which has a timetable as follows: The Philippines has been citing the self-sufficiency program in rice RICE/PAGE 12

San Miguel raises record high P80 billion from share sale

(Above) Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, as well as the city councilors distributed the Certificates to the Sendong survivors from Tibasak, Macasandig, Isla de Oro, Balongis, Balulang, and Lomboy, Indahag. (Below) City Councilor Nadya Emano-Elipe hands out a Certificate of Award to a Sendong Survivor during the Turnover Ceremony held September 28, 2012 @ Balangay Pangandoy.

20 0 families were given their certificates assigning them their permanent homes in the Indahag Relocation Site.

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s largest business group raised P80 billion from a share sale deal, the highest in Philippine corporate history.

On Friday, September 28, diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. listed P80 billion-worth of Series 2 preferred shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

This overtakes Henry Sy-led Banco de Oro’s $1-billion stock rights issuance in July.

San Miguel’s offering was fully subscribed at the issue price of P75 each. It said the listing attracted both retail and institutional investors seeking higher yields in a low-interest environment. “(The success of the issue was due to the) robustness of the Philippine capital markets and prevailing business optimism, the draw of our company as an attractive investment option, and the coming together of all institutions to create what’s been the game changer for

our capital markets,” San Miguel president and chief operating officer (COO) Ramon S. Ang said.

In a statement, San Miguel said the bulk of the proceeds will be used to refinance the company’s outstanding Series 1 preferred and non-voting shares, as well as settle short-term debts. Most of the Series 1 preferreds were issued about 2 years ago to coconut farmer groups disputing the ownership of the coco-levy-related shares in San Miguel.

San Miguel offered 1.067 billion Series preferred shares that are “peso-denominated, perpetual, cumulative, non-participating and non-voting.”

SMC has the redemption option starting the 3rd, 5th and 7th year and every dividend payment thereafter. There will be a ‘step-up’ rate effective at the 5th, 7th and 10th year, respectively, if shares are un-redeemed.

SHARE/PAGE 12

10

October 1-4, 2012

BusinessWeek Your local online business paper

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Advertising and Promotions every Monday and Friday of the week with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Certificate No. 00875701, and with Business Permit No. 2010-5698, TIN No. 946-396-807 – Non VAT. TEL. NOS.: (088)8578447, 74-5380, 0923-4320687, 0917-7121424 Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com

E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com DANTE M. SUDARIA PUBLISHER ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA MANAGER NELSON CONSTANTINO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

½½ Ä Ã ® Äã

DOLLY PELONE A ò Ùã®Ý®Ä¦

FELIX SANTILLAN L ùÊçã AÙã®Ýã

ø çã®ò E ®ãÊÙ

JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA UÙ® ½ C. Q箽®Ä¦ç®Ä¦ E ®ãÊÙ® ½ CÊÄÝç½ã ÄãÝ

RIZA O. ARES LIEZL A. DELOSO JOE PALABAO RENE MICHAEL BAÑOS

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI ããù. ÙÊ ÙãÊ . Äã ¦Ê ¹Ù.

L ¦ ½ CÊçÄÝ ½Ý

M Ù» ã®Ä¦ CÊÄÝç½ã ÄãÝ

Member: -Philippine Press Institute -Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) -Misamis Oriental - Cagayan de Oro Association of Publishers (MOCAP), Inc.

A bite in a scratch IN just a matter of 2 days, I received text queries from a friend from way back High School days and from a student , on how they could have themselves tested for Rabies. The latter had been bitten by a rat while asleep and the former, had a scratch bite from her pet. It is a known fact that Rabies is something not to be taken lightly as it can be fatal.

Rabies is a disease that occurs when the virus is transmitted from an infected saliva of an animal, mostly dogs, but can happen also even with rats, and bats, via a scratch or a bite.

Forty percent of bites with suspect rabies affect children under the age of 15. It is when the symptoms start to appear that the disease is nearly always fatal!

The incubation period is typically 1-3 months but it can even be shorter for less than a week. Thus, it would be good to heed the advice to take care of the dog, once a bite occurs for 10 days and to observe for changes.

Problem is, when one animal who bit you, is a stray animal or if, the animal involved is a cat or a rat that tracing them for observation is next to impossible.

The site or location of the bite, the type of animal, and whether it was provoked or unprovoked, are important information that should be shared with the healthcare provider.

Symptoms vary, depending on whether it is furious or paralytic in form. The furious type exhibits signs

of hyperactivity, excited behaviour, hydrophobia and sometimes even aerophobia, and after a few days of manifesting these, patient usually dies from a cardiorespiratory arrest.

The other type, known as paralytic, which happens not as commonly as the furious type, has less dramatic presentation.

It may be seen and felt as gradual paralysis of the muscles, and patient may become comatose and eventually succumb to death.

Rabies in animals can be tested only post-mortem, meaning only after the animal’s death. Tissues will have to be taken from the brain, at least from two locations ( cerebellum and brainstem ), brought to the Laboratory for examination utilizing direct fluorescent antibody testing.

For humans, who may have been bitten or scratched with a high probability of the animal being infected, may have samples from their saliva, serum, spinal fluid and even skin biopsy of hair follicles from the DIAO/PAGE 15

Opinion

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Win With Words THINK a minute…

A famous man said, “Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind.

Words are like nitroglycerine: they can blow up bridges—or heal hearts.”

It just depends on how you use them: as a weapon to hurt or a tool to help. Our tongue really does have the power of life and death.

Words have brought peace or war between nations; life and death to millions. Words can either make or break the reputations and careers of people. So an important secret to success is learning how to use our words well, to say the right thing at the right time in the right way.

Yet sometimes, the best

statement we can make is our silence. It’s also a hard argument to beat. Occasionally, the only way to be heard is to be quiet.

Those who have the most to say usually say it with the fewest words. It’s the wise, successful person who says more by talking less.

Remember, “You’ll almost never hurt yourself by what you don’t say. It’s when the fish opens his mouth that he gets caught.” So a good rule to follow is: “Don’t speak unless you can improve on the silence.”

You can often tell more about a person by what they say about others than by what others say about them.

The reason we enjoy talking

about the faults of others is so we can feel better about our own faults. You see what you want to see and say what you want to say.

It’s out of our heart that our words come. But remember that a good word is as easy to say as a bad one. In fact, if we’re smart, we’ll “keep our words soft and sweet, because we may have to eat them.” Gentle words may fall lightly, but they carry great weight.

So the sooner we learn to use our words well, to build others up instead of tearing them down, the sooner we’ll start enjoying success and happier relationships. But first, we need to change our heart, since that’s where our

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

words come from. Just ask Jesus Christ to change your heart by taking full charge of your attitudes and words everyday. Then ask Him to give you the willpower and wisdom you need so you can win with your words.

Just think a minute…

Business as usual in the sky this October A NOSTALGIC memory on board Philippine Airlines BAC 111 in the late 80’s reminds me of my first visit to Cagayan de Oro. By then there was no other regular airline of public conveyance serving the Manila Cagayan de Oro route. Filipinas Air has long folded up. It was only in 1994 that Grand Air of the Panlilio group with their aging Boing 737 leased from a Greek company started landing at the Lumbia Airport. It did not take long for Grand Air, in 1997 when leased rentals were mounting, they stopped flying. By then a year earlier on March 8, 1996, another airline with the Sarimanok logo assigned to the 5J code started flying the DC-9’s determine to put up the competition under the airline deregulation laws.

It has a mission of bringing people together through an affordable, reliable mode of travel. They have the fun filled experience that

delivers the true heart and soul for service.

With their tag as the low cost airline offering various ticket sales, in-flight games and raffles to promotional rates in their short haul destinations. Cebu Pacific Air has come a long way in the last 17 years. After suffering a single mishap at Mt. Sumagaya in 1998, the airline has grown into a fleet of 38 aircrafts composed of 10, Airbus 319 and 20 Airbus 320 while 8 ATR 75-500 are deployed in the feeder routes. Another 20 aircrafts with 8 options are scheduled for staggered deliveries next year. Time has altered the airline market share in the country. Cebu Pacific Air now captures 80% of the riding public with PAL struggling to meet its various financial commitments. PAL was taking the competition lightly when it was still a semi government owned. It only woke up from slumber when Mr.

Lucio Tan took over as the Captain. Sooner it has to take partners who have subscribed a 49% of the total available shares. When one buys a company share of stocks it has to infuse fresh funds or new money. Of course, new partners with a huge exposure must wrist control of the company to protect their investment.

The huge investment among airline operators calls for tough management decisions and new strategies. Sometimes there are consolidations or cost cutting of non profitable routes. We may not fully understand the economies of scales why the decisions were made unless we are an investment banker or with the airline industry.

It hurts to those who were born in the 50’s to 60’s, to lose Philippine Airlines in the city. As a young child, I only knew of one airline.

In those years anything that flies in the sky is called PAL,

never mind if it was the Presidential plane or a UFO hovering in the horizon.

PAL is part of our lives.

Business in the sky will be as usual this October.

Air Philippines Express will pick up the brunt of serving the Cagayan de Oro Manila flights and vice versa upon the stoppage of the Philippines Airlines flight to Cagayan de Oro. Reliable inside sources allayed fears of the business community and the tourQUIAMJOT/PAGE 15

Pushing mobile banking to the limit (Conclusion) I am sure that most of us are aware that the Philippines has been considered a “trailblazer” in mobile technology.

We are proud of the fact that we have been repeatedly recognized as the “Texting Capital of the World,” even during an earlier time when mobile phones were just emerging as the new “it” thing.

“People in the Philippines have pioneered in mobile technology years and years before,” said Dr. Maura O’ Neill, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Chief Innovation Officer and Senior Counselor to the Administrator.

In a meeting hosted by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, USAID recently got together with BPI-Globe BanKo, G-Xchange and Smart Communications to push further the frontiers of mobile banking. This will be through the implementation

of the Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) Project.

O’Neill stressed that mobile technology, of which the Philippines is a trailblazer, is actually “a safe and stable way to create a new financial system.”

Over the past few years, the USAID has worked extensively with mobile network operators Globe and Smart. It is planning to expand cooperation to deepen financial inclusion in the country through technological innovations.

The USAID noted that while most mobile banking deployments around the world provide a new delivery channel to existing bank clients, transformative models like the SIMM Project aspire to integrate unbanked populations into the formal financial sector.

According to the USAID, financial services provide the means for the poor and the unbanked to build assets, better withstand shocks, and participate more broadly in

the formal economy.

Mobile phone banking truly has the potential to help the Philippines reach development goals faster and make those gains sustainable, the USAID emphasized.

After all, only 26 percent of Filipinos enjoy access to formal financial channels such as banks. It should also be pointed out that 610 out of 1,635 municipalities in the country do not have banks!

While the number of mobile money deployments has experienced a global explosive growth, the number of active mobile money users has not grown commensurately. The USAID/ SIMM Project intends to: • Grow mobile money to more than 1 million active users; one-quarter of these users would be new subscribers to mobile money services.

• Train more than 10,000 people through financial education and literacy on the uses of mobile money

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE and mobile money services for improved household financial management.

• Provide 10,000 people with new savings accounts via mobile banking.

• Establish an additional 2,500 cash-in/cash-out merchant partners focusing on rural areas.

• Increase payroll implementation and adoption to 100 small, medium, and large businesses and one Philippine government agency or local government unit.

• Increase the volume BUNYE/PAGE 15

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

Prov’l Dev’ts

October 1-4, 2012

www.businessweekmindanao.com

11

DA calls on farmers to prepare for El Nino

By JOEY SEM G. DALUMPINES

DAVAO CITY -- An officer of the Department of Agriculture urged farmers to plant ahead to cope with the impact of the El Nino phenomenon, which is projected to come in January 2013.

The El Niño, which is caused by a n abnorma l warming of surface ocean waters in the eastern tropical Pacific, will initially cause below-normal rainfall that would later progress into drier conditions.

Speaking in the initial press briefing of the 8th Corn Congress at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna said the agricultural sector, especially the farmers, must learn to adapt with climate

change by planting ahead while ample supply of water is available.

De Luna, who is also the national corn coordinator, said the El Nino phenomenon is inevitable and farmers need how to institute adaptation measures in their farming practices.

He cited areas vulnerable to the dry spell, namely, the provinces in Northern and Central Luzon, Northern Mindanao and Socsksargen areas.

“We will start to feel its effects on January, 2013. So if it comes, our strategy is for our farmers to plant early,” he said.

De Luna said DA has put up irrigation systems in areas where it is needed.

In an advisory, the Phil-

ippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the El Niño will likely hit various parts of the country beginning October and would last until May 2013.

In South Cotabato, the Provincial Agricultural Office mulled on revising its cropping pattern to prepare farmers from the effect of the long dry spell.

Reynaldo Legaste, provincial agriculturist, said palay and corn farmers, and other crop producers already made planting adjustments.

He recalled that in 2010, a mild El Niño caused farmlands in the province and the nearby areas to dry up for several months, destroying millions worth of agricultural crops. (JSGD-PIA 11)

Droughts caused by El Nino likely saw Philippine economic growth slowdown.

Surigao Tourism office awards individuals, firms for excellence SURIGAO CITY -- The city government here through the City Tourism Office bestowed awards of excellence to individuals and firms who contributed in the promotion and enriching of the city’s tourism industry.

For achieving the highest numbers of hotel guests from October 2011 to July

2012 among hotel accommodation establishments in the city, recognitions were given to Hotel Tavern with 20,220 guests; Aden Apartelle, 13,307; E.Y. Miner Suites, 13,164; RSY Pension, 9,602; and Mt. Bagarabon Resort, 7,230.

For the highest hotel occupancy rate recorded from October 2011 to July 2012,

recognitions were given to Philippine Gateway Hotel with 53.93; Aden Apartelle 35.60; E.Y. Miner Suites with 81.75; Gunter Pension 78.14 and Miwa Beach Resort with the rate of 72.94.

XL Pension House, Le Chard Place, Bed & Breakfast, Miami City Suites, Moon Café and D’Resto Bar & Grill received awards

for promoting tourism and demonstrating positive economic impact. A certificate of recognition was also awarded to Conching Apartelle for the untiring support to tourism data collection activities exemplified in the prompt submission of monthly tourist arrival data from the period of October TOURISM/PAGE 12

PRC urges professionals to renew licenses at SM mall

By CARINA L CAYON

DAVAO CITY-- The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in the region has urged professionals to renew licenses as it offers faster and more efficient ID renewal system which has recently been made available at SM City Davao.

PRC-XI Regional Director Josephine Villegas-Liamzon said establishing the PRC ID Renewal Center at SM mall would provide comfort and convenience for professionals

to renew and claim their IDs. In the ceremonial opening of the center on September 21 at the Customer Service Area at the ground f loor of SM Department Store, VillegasLiamzon explained that the center would address the long queues and congestion of applications for ID renewals at PRC offices.

Villegas-Liamzon told the media that the center is open during mall hours from Mondays to Sundays, even in

PRC/PAGE 12

12

October 1-4, 2012

Laws, Regulations

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Philippines: New ‘Cybercrime’ Law Will Harm Free Speech

REPRESENTATIVE Benjo Benaldo (1st District of Cagayan de Oro) on-stage with celebrity Diana Meneses. Photo taken during the compact fluorescent lamp distribution in his district. (Fb)

Barangay officials now Pag Ibig members Vice President Jejomar C. Binay bared that barangay officials may now become members of the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund, even as he pressed for their membership in the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

The Vice President also proposed the economic clustering of barangays and the establishment of local government unit (LGU) banks and LGU Cooperative Banks to further push the viability of barangays as engines of growth.

Binay said while barangays officials are expected to be at the forefront in responding to calamities and even domestic concerns, they have in the past been deprived benefits as government employees.

“Noong ako ay mayor pa lamang, lagi kong pinapansin na ang ating mga opisyal ng barangay - na inaasa han natin na laging naririyan tuwing may sunog, baha, aksidente o away ng magkakapitbahay - ay ni hindi man lamang miyembro ng GSIS. Kung kayat kapag matapos ang mahabang taon ng serbisyo, ang ating mga opisyal ng barangay ay magreretiro na ni wa la man lamang

katiting na pensiyon mula sa pamahalaan,” he said.

The Vice President said he will request President Benigno Aquino III and the GSIS to consider immediately extending GSIS membership to barangay officials.

Binay, who is Chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund, announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Pag-IBIG and the Liga ng mga Barangay, a llow ing barangay chairs and their kagawads to become Fund members.

As members of Pag-IBIG, barangay officials would be able to avail themselves of Multi-Purpose loans for educational, health and other needs. They may also secure Calamity Loans, and Housing Loans as well as other benefits that the Fund offers.

"Maaa ri na k ayong makapag-ipon para sa inyong kinabukasan. Sa tulong din ng kasunduang ito, may pagkakataon pa na tapatan ng barangay ang inyong ihuhulog sa Pag-IBIG kaya’t agad na magiging doble ang ipon ninyo," he added.

The Vice President also proposed the clustering of barangays to promote investment, with the view of improving the "viability of

the barangays as engines of economic development."

"Under the Local Government Code, the barangays are already empowered to promote this kind of initiative and the USAID has proposed funding for such an initiative," he said.

He likewise proposed adopting the ideas of countries like Germany and Costa Rica in setting up local government banks and LGU cooperative banks.

PRC...

from page 11 certain holidays.

She said applicants who would like to renew their licenses as SM mall would have to shell out a meager convenience fee of P20 which will go to SM, apart from the regular application fee of P450 required by the PRC. With the system put in place, processing time is reduced from 3-4 hours to at least two minutes or up to a maximum of ten minutes, said SM Department Store Branch Manager Pedro Sam. Sam said the period of claiming the IDs is seven

Tourism... from page 11

2011 to July 2012.

Also, a certificate of acknowledgement and recognition was given to Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Officerin-Charge Evangeline Ba-

Share.. from page 9

The preferred shares San Miguel refinanced represent the previously contentious stake that coconut farmer groups were claiming in the diversified conglomerate.

Some 14 companies in the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) were claiming ownership over more than 750 million common shares

Rice..

from page 9

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

and overall growth in the crops subsector as the main growth drivers in attaining agriculture growth of 4.3% to 5.3% in the medium term.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has re-

(New York, September 28, 2012) – A new Philippine “cybercrime” law drastically increases punishments for criminal libel and gives authorities excessive and unchecked powers to shut down websites and monitor online information, Human Rights Watch said today.

President Benigno Aquino III signed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 into law on September 12, 2012.

The law’s criminal penalties for online libel and other restrictions are a serious threat to free expression in the Philippines, Human Rights Watch said. Several legal cases have been filed in the Philippines Supreme Court, including for the law to be declared unconstitutional because it violates guarantees to free expression contained in the Philippines constitution and human rights treaties ratified by the Philippines.

“The cybercrime law needs to be repealed or replaced,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It violates Filipinos’ rights to free

expression and it is wholly incompatible with the Philippine government’s obligations under international law.”

The new law defines several new acts of “cybercrime.” Among the acts prohibited are “cybersex,” online child pornography, illegal access to computer systems or hacking, online identity theft, and spamming.

A section on libel specifies that criminal libel, already detailed in article 355 of the Philippines Revised Penal Code, will now apply to acts “committed through a computer system or any other similar means which may be devised in the future.” The new law drastically increases the penalty for computer-related libel, with the minimum punishment raised twelve-fold, from six months to six years.

The maximum punishment is doubled from six to twelve years in prison.

“Anybody using popular social networks or who publishes online is now at risk of a long prison term

should a reader – including government officials – bring a libel charge,” Adams said.

“Allegedly libelous speech, online or offline, should be handled as a private civil matter, not a crime.”

Human Rights Watch called on the Philippines government to repeal its existing criminal libel law.

The Aquino administration has shown little inclination to support legislation pending in the Philippine Congress to decriminalize libel.

Aside from the section on libel, the new law has a provision that grants new powers to the Department of Justice, which on its own and without a warrant, can order the shutdown of any website it finds violating the law. It also authorizes police to collect computer data in real time without a court order or warrant.

The use of criminal defamation laws also has a chilling effect on the speech of others, particularly those involved with similar issues, Human Rights Watch said.

CYBERCRIME/PAGE 15

working days after the application, adding that professionals could get their IDs at the center beyond government office hours.

Faodziyah K. Camsa, a registered nurse from Cotabato, said it just took her five minutes to apply for the renewal of her license which expired in July 2012.

Camsa was among the 20 professionals who availed of the renewal service at the PRC ID Renewal Center at SM City Davao on September 21, PRC Commissioner Jennifer J. Manalili said.

Manalili said about 400 applications of renewal have already been processed after

the launching of the PRC ID Renewal Center earlier this month in other SM malls such as in Mall of Asia and SM Marikina.

She said PRC has inked partnership with the Bureau of Treasury and SM Mart, Inc. on August 6, 2012 for the implementation of the ID renewal system at SM malls which is part PRC’s e-Service campaign.

PRC Chair Teresita R. Manzala explained that the processing undertakes online application system where database from PRC Central Office is linked to the database of SM mall.

Once the license subject

for renewal is found valid, there is an automatic computation of arrears if there is any, Manzala expounded during the launching of the center in Davao.

“PRC has the total control of all procedures,” she stated.

Manzala was grateful of the partnership with SM Mart, Inc. which did not only provide for the space but also supplied for free the necessary equipment including computer hardware and software for the online system.

She said the PRC ID Renewal Center at SM City Davao was the 20th to be established in the entire nation. (PIA-11/ Carina L. Cayon)

bate and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Surigao Port Manager Isidro Butaslac for setting the standards and providing improved airport and port facilities to all the passengers and guests that created a tourist friendly atmosphere.

Supervising Tourism

Operations Officer Roselyn Armida B. Merlin said that under the administration of City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas and that through the cooperation with the government sector and the private sector, soon, Surigao City will be known all over the country and eventu-

ally the whole world for its amazing and pristine tourist spots.

The award was given in line with the National Tourism Week celebration in the city. (SDR/Francis Burwell, Surigao City Media Information and Communication Office/PIA13).

in San Miguel, equivalent to a 24% stake, which they said were bought by the conglomerate’s chairman, Eduardo Cojuangco Jr, using funds from a levy imposed on coconut farmers during the Marcos regime.

The Supreme Court allowed San Miguel to convert the shares into preferred before the 2010 presidential elections.

Farmer groups slammed

the conversion of the common into non-voting preferred shares.

Preferred shares pay higher and consistent dividends, but carry no voting rights.

Common shares, on the other hand, do not promise consistent yields but entitle holders to vote in company matters such as election of the board of directors and approval of business plans.

Sa n M ig uel however

said the conversion allowed shareholders doubtful of its expansion into new businesses to minimize their risk by holding shares that pay consistent dividends.

San Miguel since 2007 has been aggressively moving away from its traditional food and drinks businesses into heavy and risky sectors such as energy, telecoms, mining, banking and infrastructure, and airlines. - Rappler.com

mained firm on efforts to attain 100% rice self sufficiency. He said the government has enough funds to spend for its self sufficiency bid.

The Philippines imported 500,000 MT of milled rice for 2012. Alcala said it is possible that the country

w i l l i mpor t “a mi ni ma l volume” of milled rice next year.

The DA is optimistic that it can produce 20.04 million metric tons (MMT) of palay and 8.75 MMT of corn in 2013 with a bigger budget approved by t he Department of Budget and

Management (DBM).

During a recent hearing on the DA’s budget for next year, Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the P74.1 billlion being proposed by the department to Congress will boost its ef for ts to produce more staples. - Rappler.com

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

PhilRice urges farmers to use certified seeds THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is urging farmers to use clean and certified seeds for the next planting season to avoid weed infestation.

Tony Martin, a crop protection expert of PhilRice, said the use of certified seeds helps lessen the population of weedy rice on infested fields.

Martin said certified or clean seeds also have the capacity to generate higher crop yields by 10 percent.

Weedy rice, which is a species of rice (Oryza) that produces fewer grains per plant than cultivated rice, is a serious threat to directseeded rice and a problem weed in parts of the United States, South America, and Asia.

Its origin is quite unclear but it is believed to be natural hybrids of cultivated rice and wild rice species.

“Though it looks like cultivated rice, it is a form of weed because it competes with rice and reduces crop yield as its grains mature earlier and shatter readily,” Martin said.

Corazon Arroyo, manager of Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center, said weedy rice was first sighted in Dingle, Iloilo in the late ‘90s during the conduct of a collaborative project with PhilRice.

Weedy rice could be easily distinguished from rice because it usually grows taller than the latter, has awns, and produces redcolored grains when milled, lowering its overall quality and thus affecting market price.

Arroyo said there are rice fields in Dingle that record as high as 50-80 percent infestation.

She said that at least eight towns in the province, comprising irrigated and rainfed rice areas, are affected by this weed infestation, including Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, and Pototan.

Based on studies, an estimated 50-60 percent grain yield loss where 35 percent of a crop is composed of weedy rice plants.

“Thorough land prepaFARMERS/PAGE 15

Aggie News

October 1-4, 2012

13

Mapalad entrusted with P 225 thou worth of agri-inputs DALWANGAN, Malaybalay City – TO push agricultural development among rural farming communities, in the province of Bukidnon, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through the Crops Division has formally manifested its partnership with the Task Force Mapalad (TFM) by an official turnover of agricultural inputs, totaling to P 224,950.00, recently at the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center, this city.

Poured assistance include the following: 52 bags of NSIC Rc212 rice seeds, 243 bags of Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) of white corn seeds, 50 packets of assorted vegetable seeds, one (1) kilo of Resist Crown cabbage seeds, one-half (1/2) kilo of smooth cayenne sweet pepper seeds and 1,000 pieces of G0 potato tubers.

Wherein, these agricultural inputs are expected to serve four validated associations under TFM, namely: Valero Estate Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association, Green Valley Farmer’s Association, Dalwangan United Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Association and

Gunoban Upland Farmers.

Specifically, these would also extend aid to 142 farmer-members, covering an overall of 151.08 hectares of land.

With the recently awarded interventions, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Lealyn A. Ramos expressed, that in no means, the agency has predispositions in the delivery of goods and services to its clienteles.

She explained that despite forging a partnership with TFM during the middle of the year, they were able to access projects from the department as they have managed to seek and identify necessary projects to be implemented in their respective areas.

Also recognizing the local government units as the DA’s staunch partners in propelling the agricultural sector, she added, that the group should likewise explore various windows for assistance through the latter as they can provide financial counterparts in the realization of interventions.

Meanwhile, OIC – Chief Crops Division Janen T. Paradero is expectant that with the provided agricultural inputs and their

DEMOCRACY: Who Cares?

By ELCRIS E. CAÑO

I glory in the past, I rejoice in the present, I shall live in a democratic future. I am the product of my ancestors and my nation. I am of no one national origin. I have a strain of Spanish, a fraction of American, and a part of Malay. Hence, I look on all men as brothers. I appreciate our abundant natural resources, the fertile fields, the dense forests, the rich natural resources managed by the able-bodied and willing. I owe my education to democracy. I am what I read- what I see - what I hear.

My dear fellowmen, we are capable of heroic imagination, we are capable of heroic action. We have shown

it, we have done it. Our only problem is sustaining it. We rise to brilliance in one blink of time only to plunge into interminable mediocrity afterward. We have shown ourselves to be so full of promise but so lacking in fulfillment. We have been called a country with an unfinished revolution, and it is only too true. Whatever the reason, we’ve found ourselves faced again and again with an aborted revolution.

armed resolve to succeed, the farmer-recipients would reap its intended and maximum advantages.

Commonly, the members of the TFM have conveyed their gratefulness and joy for the DA’s lately awarded projects. One of them, in particular, thought that this would pave way among the farmers themselves to further unite and find renewed hope towards agricultural development. # (Joanne L. Olson, DA-10)

Education calls Human Relations

By ELCRIS E. CAÑO

Effective human relationships are based upon effective interaction. Such interaction should not be unbalanced so that a timid type permits others to use him as a doormat, or so that a tyrannical type uses his dictatorial personality to force his way upon others.

Any relationship can only be beneficial to both parties if it

It has been found and proven in experience supported by many researches that a child should be totally developed

is based on the adult concept of mutual benefit. Give people what they hunger for, they in turn will fill your needs.

For this reason, both the school and community should be intertwined and inseparable to each other for a common purpose and vision. They go hand in hand. Teachers, armed with but the knowledge are zest to surpass every obstacles are able to augment the lives

of others through proper inculcations of what education had installed them to do so. To give light to those who are deviated and those who are in need of help.

Education therefore is change for the better. Teachers of today’s generation are entrusted with the tasks of full challenges so that the national aim of education will fully be realized.

Multiple Intelligences –Its Impact to Learning

By ELCRIS E. CAÑO

In an MI setting, not only are students more likely to learn and teachers more likely to bring their creativity to the fore, but other opportunities

are presented as well. Viewing intelligences as multidimensional and underst anding that all children have many different talents has the potential to change the discourse among te achers. Te achers

Physical Education: “A Subject or a mere Topic ”

By ELCRIS E. CAÑO

TURN-OVER OF AGRI-INPUTS TO TASK FORCE MAPALAD. Members of TFM rejoice as they receive various agri-inputs from the DA-10. With the assistance at hand, farmer-beneficiaries deemed that these would steer them towards development. Joining them is DA-10 RED Lealyn A. Ramos, OIC – Chief Crops Division Janen T. Paradero and NOMIARC Chief Juanita T. Salvani.

and educated. Children should be shaped in schools in the following aspects of life, such as mental, social, spiritual, moral and physical well-being.

However, it is sad to note

that some teachers seem to misconceived in differentiating Physical Education as a subject in the curriculum rather simply putting it just a mere topic.

and committee meetings can move from reiterations of information to discussions about learning and student growth. Teaching can change from something that is done by individual teachers to a collaborative, collegial endeavor in which the entire faculty works and grows together.

MI theory has served as a reminder to educators to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the individual child and has also offered conceptual support for edu-

cators seeking to prevent individual students from b e i ng s t i g m at i z e d by a low score on one of the standardized tests. When curriculum, instruction, assessment, and pedagogy are viewed through an MI p ersp ective, there are a myriad of ways for student to learn. When MI is the palate, the teacher relies on her wisdom to find the right brush and the right colors to make learning meaningful.

Market info brought closer to agri-clienteles CAGAYAN de Oro City – and marketing decisions cation technologies is seen maximizing profitability MAKING better investment thru information communi- as one of the requisites in among farmers, fisherfolks and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry.

To address the necessity, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) hosted a hands-on training on the web maintenance and data uploading in AFMIS HANDS-ON TRAINING. Representatives from the MDC agencies convened to the Agriculture and Fisheracquaint themselves with the web-based system that would allow them to report ies Marketing Information market-related information. These, in turn, would serve as valuable inputs for the System (AFMIS), recently, AFMIS, which are primarily intended for the empowerment of agricultural key players in this city. thru aiding them in making wise investment and marketing choices.

The developed AFMIS is a ‘web-based system that integrates various information resources of the Market Development Cluster (MDC) agencies into a single database and application system’.

Such was brought into fruition to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors throughout the country as mandated in Republic Act 8435 or otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act. Serving as the training’s

resource persons are Ms. Cristine D. Baldelomar and Mr. Edmar L. Fajutagana of the AFMIS-Technical Working Group (TWG), who have explained that Northern Mindanao is one of the four priority regions for the AFMIS implementation.

In order to provide reliable, sufficient and timely market-related information, the AFMIS features agrifishery statistics ranging from production, supply MARKET/PAGE 15

14

October 1-4, 2012

Congress•Watch

Stricter food standards gets Lower House nod THE House of Representatives has approved on third reading a bill strengthening the food safety regulatory system in the country to protect consumer health and facilitate market access of local foods and food products.

House Bill 6474 creates the Food Safety Regulation Coordinating Board to be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which is mandated to establish policies and procedures for coordination of regulatory systems as implemented by the DA, Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The bill was sponsored until plenary approval by the House Committee on Health chaired

by Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District, Negros Occidental). It substituted House Bill 3428 authored by Reps.

Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo Rodriguez (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), House Bill 3972 authored by Rep. Angelo Palmones (Party-list, Agham) and House Bill 4417 authored

by Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza (4th District, Batangas).

Rodriguez said the measure aims to protect the public from food-borne and water-borne illnesses and unsanitary, unwholesome, misbranded or adulterated foods.

“The measure will enhance industry and consumer confidence in the food regulatory system and contribute to economic growth and development by promoting fair trade practices and by sound regulation of domestic and international trade,” Rodriguez said.

Palmones said the creation of the Board will establish policies and procedures for coordination of regulatory systems as implemented by the DA, DOH and DILG and coordinate crisis management efforts during incidents involving food safety.

“The Board lays down the principles of food safety which include, but are not limited to, the determination of whether or not food is unsafe for human consumption; determination of whether or not

food is injurious to health and determination of whether or not food is unsafe for human consumption,” Palmones said.

Mendoza said it is the declared policy of the State, as provided for under Section 15, Article II of the 1987 Constitution to protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

“The State shall protect consumers from trade malpractices and from ubstandard or hazardous products. The State shall maintain a farm to fork food safety regulatory system that ensures a high level of food safety; promotes fair trade and advances the global competitiveness of Philippine foods and food products,” Mendoza said.

The measure mandates the DOH to use scientific and risk analysis to ensure that the public is protected from foods and food products that are unsafe for human consumption.

The bill protects consumer interest through the prevention of adulteration, misbranding, fraudulent practices and other practices which mislead the consumer. It sets Food Safety Standards in accordance with the Philippine National Standards and the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and provides transparency by way of mandating the DOH to give enough information to the public regarding foods that may pose risk to human health, the affected foods, types of food and the necessary measure to prevent, reduce or eliminate risk.

Under the measure, emergency measures are provided when it is evident that food originating from within the country or imported from other country is likely to constitute serious risk to human health. Such measures include the suspension of marketing of locally produced foods and suspension of importation of imported foods.

It provides for a Crisis Management system and procedures to address cases of possible radiation contamination of food, food shortage requiring combined action and

FOOD/PAGE 15

Convention on the Law and the Sea (UNCLOS).

“It is the policy of the State to preserve its sovereignty over the islands that it owns in the West Philippine Sea and its territorial sea, contiguous zones, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Rodriguez said.

The lawmakers from Mindanao explained the activities of the center will strengthen PH’s claims in territories within the West Philippine Sea, which has been internationally recognized as the South China Sea. “The Center shall also prepare concrete plans on how to develop and fully utilize all natural re-

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

House OKs bill on IPs participation in the civil registration system THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill providing for a culture-sensitive civil registration system for indigenous peoples (IPs).

The approved measure, House Bill 6419, substituted House Bill 4701authored

by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and House Bill 5184 introduced by Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan (Partylist, Gabriela).

The bill’s plenary approval was endorsed by the House Committee on National Cultural Communities chaired by Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jr. (Lone District, Ifugao).

Rodriguez said the measure aims to encourage the participation of the country’s IPs in the civil registration.

Rodriguez said the bill will provide both timely and late registration of acts and events concerning the civil status of indigenous peoples, particularly on birth, marriage, dissolution of marriage and death, be rendered free of charge.

“Birth registration is not generally known among disadvantaged Filipinos particularly in IPs and underprivileged families with children in need of special protection. Among these groups, birth registration remains insignificant.

Many of them understand the implications of nonregistration only when they get to experience problems in transactions requiring proofs of name, age or nationality,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said this lack of birth registration is often caused by the fact that many of these IPs are indigent and lack the necessary finances to be able to register.

Ilagan cited reports by Katipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) that there

Rufus are about eight million IPs divided into more or less 100 ethnic groups in the Philippines.

Ilagan added that of this number, however, more than a majority can be considered as undocumented as their vital data (birth, marriage and death) have been largely unrecorded in the local civil registry. This is affirmed by various studies which reported that levels of birth registration among the marginalized sectors (including IPs) have been very low.

“The extant civil registration system in the country was instituted through the passage of Act No. 3763 in 1930, when the country was still under American tutelage. Although this system had undergone several administrative revisions to fit into the changing times and conditions, it has retained much of its basically colonial framework,” Ilagan noted.

Ilagan said to illustrate, among others, most IPs do not use clocks. They also do not use the calendar and their territorial boundaries are largely un-delineated.

P50-M West PH Sea ‘center’ proposed THE formation of a center which would be in charge of studying PH’s claims over territories in the West Philippine Sea has been proposed in the House of Representatives.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Abante Mindnao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez pushed for the creation of “Center for West Philippine Sea” that would be under the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)’s Office of Special and Ocean Concerns.

Filing House Bill No. 6457, the Rodriguez brothers said the agency shall propose actions and measures in defense of the nation’s sovereignty and patrimony based on historical data, local and international laws as well as United Nations

BusinessWeek

sources in the area and perform other duties and responsibilities that would strengthen sovereignty and other claims over the area,” the bill stated.

“The Center shall prescribe and define its position structure and staffing pattern in accordance with existing civil service laws, rules and regulations,” it added.

The bill also proposes for a P50-million initial budget necessary to create the Center, which the House of Representatives should provide in DFA’s annual budget under the annual General Appropriations Act. The lawmakers filed the legislation, following the word war between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Antonio

Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Trillanes IV over the latter’s role as backdoor negotiator in the country’s talks with China over Scarborough Shoal.

Earlier this year, the Philippine Navy apprehended Chinese fishermen caught poaching in Scarborough Shoal near Zambales, which compromised the country’s peaceful relations with China.

Many of them still reckon time and space in accordance with an oral tradition based on the geology motions and landmarks of nature.

“The Tasadays, for example, in Southern Mindanao still go around on a one-name basis, replete with first name, surname and middle name,” Ilagan said.

Under the measure to be known as the “Free and Culture-Sensitive Indigenous Peoples Civil Registration System Act of 2012,” reports by the IPs themselves or their parent/s or by the concerned tribal priest/elder leader/doctor/ midwife concerning birth, marriage, dissolution of marriage and death, which were attended to or were

conducted following their traditional cultural practices be acceptable upon the Local Civil Registry Office without requiring any additional documents.

The bill amends the existing civil registry forms to ensure uniformity of all civil registry documents.

Furthermore, the measure mandates the National Statistics Office (NSO) to issue for free a Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage (CRASM) to IPs who are recognized by their respective indigenous communities as competent persons to solemnize marriage.

Co-authors of the measure are Reps. Maximo Rodriguez (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), Emerenciana De Jesus (Party-list, Gabriela), Catalina Bagasina (Party-list, ALE), Lani Mercado-Revilla (2nd District, Cavite), Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jr. (Lone District, Ifugao), Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st District, Western Samar), Bernardo Vergara (Lone District, Baguio City), Nancy Catamco (2nd District, North Cotabato), Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay (1st District, Compostela Valley), Reynaldo Umali (2nd District, Oriental Mindoro), Maria Isabelle Climaco (1st District, Zamboanga City), Teddy Casiño (Party-list, Bayan Muna), Raymond Palatino (Partylist, Kabataan) and Carlos Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya).

“A White Fiesta Gathering”

Divine Mercy devotees mark Feast Day of St. Faustina

By RIZA ARES

THE St. Faustina Divine Mercy Devotees Community (SFDMD) yesterday (Sept. 30) marked the Feast Day of St. Faustina Kowalska at the Capitol University Gym, Cagayan de Oro City with a celebration dubbed “A White Fiesta Gathering.”

Bishop Antonio Ledesma, Msgr. Elmer Abacahin and Congressman Benjo Benaldo were among the honored guests and hosts, along with guest speakers Brod. Jun Mendoza and Brod Jun Precillas, and Brod Butch & Liza Olano.

This year’s activity was highlighted by the enthronement St. Faustina, known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, with thousands of devotees in attendance.

During the program, there were various testimonies from speakers regarding the mystic and visionary life of St. Faustina and how the venerated Polish nun has inspired them.

Through her the Lord Jesus communicates to the world the great message of God’s mercy and reveals the pattern of Christian perfection based on trust in God and on the attitude of mercy toward one’s neighbors.

Sr. Faustina was born on August 25, 1905 in Glogowiec in Poland of a poor and religious family of peasants, the third of ten children. She was baptized with the name Helena in the parish

church of Swinice Warckie.

From a very tender age she stood out because of her love of prayer, work, obedience, and also her sensitivity to the poor.

At the age of seven she had already felt the first stirrings of a religious vocation.

Helen made her first Holy Communion at the age of nine, which was very profound moment in her awareness of the presence of the Divine Guest within her soul. She attended school for three years.

After finishing school, she wanted to enter the convent but her parents would not give her permission. Being of age at sixteen, Helen left home and went to work as a housekeeper in Aleksandrów, Lodi, and Ostrówek in order to find the means of supporting herself and of helping her parents.

Throughout her life, she reported a number of visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she wrote about in her diary, later published as the book Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul. Her Vatican biography quotes some of these conversations regarding the Divine Mercy devotion.

BusinessWeek

October 1-4, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Market... from page 13

demand data, quantities traded, price trends, market profiles such as distribution channels, marketing costs and other value-adding ac-

Quiamjot... from page 10

tourism industry. Travel agencies selling the Philippine Airlines in the city were assured that there will be no vacuum or disruption of airline travel to this fastest growing regional

Bunye... from page 11

(monetary value) of mobile money transactions by over 200 percent.

• Sponsor conferences and venues for networking support and produce research papers and assessments for knowledge sharing.

On the part of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the

Diao...

from page 11 nape area, submitted for testing of the virus.

This however may not be available in developing countries or if available, the test may be costly. In actual practice, though, humans get to be diagnosed of the disease only after the onset of the clinical manifestations.

Rabies is a highly preventable disease. Thus, for pet owners, immunizing their animals should be as routine as having themselves

Cybercrime... from page 12

When citizens face prison time for complaining about official performance, corruption, or abusive business practices, other people take notice and are less likely to draw attention to such problems themselves, undermining effective governance and civil society.

tivities, market infrastructure, product standards for both fresh and processed products, research information and technology, and among others.

On the issue of mainstreaming the website for

public consumption, Ms. Baldedomar enlightened the body that the AFMIS is still in its enhancement stage, underscoring that it entails the incorporation of more materials to the system.

If and when attained, she

destination. Sister company Air Philippines Express which acquired new Airbus – 320’s will increase their flight frequencies to Cagayan de Oro with business class amenities.

Philippine Airlines is coming up with the new airline reservation systems

this October 27, 2012 as part of their upgrades and top airline management officials are continuously consolidating their strategies. Those in the know may still see PAL, coming back to Cagayan de Oro and shining through with a new brand.

government’s implementing partner particularly in the areas of policy and regulation, it will continue to create an environment that promotes innovations rather than stifles them, while ensuring the safety, soundness, and integrity of the system at the same time.

BSP will also continue to be proactive in our measures to protect the rights of the consumers.

BSP hopes that the cooperation among the parties and agencies mentioned will not only result in the success of the SIMM Project, but also in the provision of much-needed financial services for the entire Filipino people.

Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com. Past articles may be viewed at http://speakingout. ph/speakingout.php

groomed. Should one be bitten or scratched, it is important to flush immediately and thoroughly the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water or povidone iodine, and seek medical attention for the administration of a vaccine or rabies immunoglobulin.

A pre-exposure immunization, is safe and effective. This is recommended for those who plan to travel to rural areas where stray dogs and rabies vaccination isn’t practiced well.

Persons in high risk occu-

pational groups like veterinarians and their staff and animal handlers, and for children, immunizing them as a preventive measure is acceptable.

Pets bring us so much joy and are great de-stressors.

The many psycohological benefits and well being a pet brings to one’s life could not be underestimated. Thus, it is but natural, that we also take good care of them and part of responsible ownership is, to groom them, provide for their physical and emotional needs and yes, get that visit to their veterinarians for their shots.

Several journalists in the Philippines have been imprisoned for libel in recent years, leaving a blot on the country’s record on press freedom. In the case of Davao City radio journalist Alexander Adonis, who was convicted in 2007 of libel and spent two years in prison, the United Nations Human Rights Committee determined that the Philippine government

violated article 19 on the right to freedom of expression and opinion of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The committee called on the Philippine government to decriminalize libel.

“So long as it stands, the new cybercrime law will have a chilling effect over the entire Philippine online community,” Adams said.

added, that the AFMISTWG along with its partners would ensue initiatives for the awareness of more agriadvocates.

Composition of the MDG include the AMAD, the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Division, the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council, the Agricultural Training Institute and the Regional Communication Unit in strong collaboration with farmers, fisherfolks and other key players in the agricultural

sector through the provincial and local government units. from page 14 # (Joanne L. Olson, DA-10)

Food...

Farmers... from page 11

ration, manual weeding or rouging, and cleaning of farm machineries used in infested f ields; and increased farmer awareness are also necessary to effectively combat and prevent weedy rice seeds from being introduced to uncontaminated fields,” Martin added. (PNA)

and other crisis situations which may compromise food safety.

Further, the bill provides for traceability by having in place a system by which the regulatory authorities can easily pinpoint the food business operator to which the foods or food products have been supplied and also for easy identification of person or company from whom food business operators are getting their supplies.

The Media Center BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO

Tanleh Bldg., g , Abellanosa St.,, Cagayan g y de Oro City y

PROVINCIAL P RO OVINCIAL VINCIA AL Information Informatio on Officer Officcer G Gil il EE. M Miranda iraanda (center) (ccenter) of the Department of Agrarian Reform - Agusan del Norte comments,

“The Radio Broadcasting Orientation conducted at the BWM Media Center in Cagayan de Oro City on September 18, 2012 would greatly help us in reaching out to our beneficiaries, especially in terms of information dissemination utilizing radio.”

In picture (L-R) are BWM Media Center Chief Executive Officer Dante M. Sudaria, Mindanao Star Balita News Editor Arjay S. Felicilda, Mr. Miranda, Training Assistant Irene Domingo and Broadcast Training Director Joe del Puerto Felicilda. (photo by Ronald Mastail)

We grow minds!

BusinessWeek Mindanao

MEDIA CENTER NOW accepts Political and Business Press Conferences with assured publications on four newspapers

15

Mindanao STAR Inadlaw’ng Kasayuran ug Kalingawan sa Masa

BALITA

“WE GROW MINDS”

Mindanao STAR Inadlaw’ng Kasayuran ug Kalingawan sa Masa

http://www.businessweekmindanao.com/ | Advertising: 09177121424 |

BALITA

http://www.facebook.com/BusinessWeek.Mindanao

16

Development

October 1-4, 2012

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

GROUNDBREAKING & TURN-OVER CEREMONIES Priority Development Assistance Funds of Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez 2nd Congressional District, Cagayan de Oro City. 23 Projects amounting to P170M.

Turn-over Ceremony of rehabilitation of South Divisoria, RN Abejuela -Tiano St., CDOC amounting to Php 8,931,225.06. Ribbon cutting led by Cong. Rufus B. Rodriguez (4th from right) with Barangay Chairman Mario A. Eronico (5th from right), DPWH OIC Assistant District Engineer Cesar M. Hipona, Jr. (2nd from right) and DPWH 2nd District Engineer Allan S. Borromeo (3rd from right).

Construction of Slope Protection along Butuan City-CDOC-Iligan City Road, AlaeBugo Section, Zone 4|Brgy. Bugo, Cag. de Oro, amounting to Php 14,102,000.00, with Barangay Chairman Raul Alleria.

Construction/Repair of Road 96 meters of Blk. 6, Lot 11 Road Villa Trinitas Bugo, CDO. Amounting to Php 2M.

Construction/Repair of Roads Corner to Corner 100meters leading to Sacred Heart Academy School Brgy. Bugo, CDO amounting to Php 2,000.000.00. Laying of Time Capsule to be led by (3rd from the left) Hon. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Congressman of 2nd District-CDO with School Principal of Sacred Heart Academy School Sister Conception T. Peresan-RSM, Barangay Chairman Raul Alleria with barangay kagawads as witnesses together with the pupils of Sacred Heart Academy School.

Concreting of Farm to Market Road Purok 0, Brgy. Tablon - 126meters amounting to Php2,740,277.78. Time capsule laying led by Cong. Rodriguez and the Barangay Council of Tablon.

Groundbreaking Ceremony of Const. of Slope Protection along Butuan City – CDO – Iligan City Road Brgy. Agusan, CDOC amounting to Php 11,565,000.00.

Laying of Time Capsule led by Cong. Rufus B. Rodriguez, with Barangay Chairman Marvin Gontiñas

Turn Over Ceremony of Rehabilitation/ Reconstruction/Upgrading of Damaged Paved Management System/HDM-4, Sayre Highway, Brgy. Puerto, CDO amounting to Php 4,013,772.47.

Ribbon cutting led by Cong. Rufus B. Rodriguez (4th from the left) with officials of Barangay Puerto and 2nd Districts with DPWH officers.

ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶͬZĞƉĂŝƌ ŽĨ ZŽĂĚ WƵƌŽŬ ϰ ƌŐLJ dĂďůŽŶ ĂŵŽƵŶƟŶŐ ƚŽ WŚƉ ϮD͘ Photos by: S.Uy, J.Llano & R. Paglinawan