BUSINESSWEEKMINDANAO OCT.12,2012

Page 1

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 115, Volume III • Oct. 12-14, 2012

*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

Market Indicators

AS OF 5:46 PM OCT. 10, 2012 (Wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.55

5,369.60 points

25.30 points

;

1 cents

;

Briefly Fitch rating

Fitch Ratings on Tuesday said clinching peace in Mindanao may boost investments in the area, but warned that any lasting contribution to the Philippine economy would depend on addressing the “weak overall investment climate and low fiscal revenue base.” “A lasting peace deal in the Philippine island group of Mindanao would be supportive of both public and private sector investment in the area, and may boost the investment rate for the economy as a whole, supporting economic growth,” the international credit rating firm said in a statement. Having said the above, Fitch said “a permanent deal” remains uncertain, citing the experience of the 2008 settlement forged by the previous administration that the Supreme Court junked because of the shallow consultation done on the terms of the accord.

By NELSON V. CONSTANTINO, Editor-in-Chief and BONG FABE, Correspondent

B

USINESS and civic leaders have expressed optimisms that the newlysigned peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would help generate more investments and jobs and thereby promote lasting peace in Mindanao.

2-hour brownout

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has announced the need to implement a two-hour power outage in most areas of Mindanao daily following the shutting down of one independent power producers since October 6 for consumers to cope with the shrinking supply of electricity. Bambi Capulong, spokesperson of the NGCP-Southern Mindanao Field Office said the shutting down of the Steag State Power Incorporated based in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental since October 6 due to preventive maintenance impacts more on the diminishing power supply in Mindanao. She said the NGCP has to ration the available power provided by the National Power Corporation as SSPI’s preventive maintenance will go on until November 4, 2012.

Bigger infra budget THE Department of Public Works and Highways in the Region is expecting a bigger infrastructure budget for 2013. DPWH Region XI Director Mariano Alquiza said that for 2013 there will be an allocation of P7.280 billion worth of projects spread out across the different engineering districts in the region. About P4.2 billion was allocated for the region in 2012. Alquiza said the increase in the infrastructure budget is in line with President Benigno Aquino’s promise in his 2012 State of the Nation Address that by 2016 all national roads should have been paved.

PEACE AT LAST? Internally displaced persons affected by war in a remote town in the southern part of Mindanao. The unstable peace and order situation, ongoing threats to human security, lack of livelihood and employment have slowed the pace of development in Mindanao. The new peace accord is seen as the first big step towards the island’s growth. ( PHOTO COURTESY OF ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT)

In a press statement, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Miguel B. Varela said the “Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” is a way to a lasting peace and prosperity on the island. “This is a very good opportunity, a road to political stability. More investors will be encouraged to invest in Mindanao,” Varela said. “The lack of peace and order has been a concern among potential investors in the island. Many parts of Mindanao have also lagged behind in infrastructure, resulting in high shipping costs,” Varela pointed out. But with peace in Mindanao on the horizon, sectors such as agriculture, power and tourism will likely benefit from more investments, Varela said. Among the major roadblocks that hinder the island’s development are the lack of power supply and the continued atrocities in some areas that scare away

investments. Varela said investors from Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have expressed interest to do business in mainly Muslim Mindanao, especially in the food and agriculture sectors. “They are interested in the development of agricultural lands,” he said. Malaysia’s Felda Global Ventures, the world’s largest crude palm oil producer, is the first foreign investor to express interest in Mindanao after Manila agreed on the framework of a peace deal, potentially opening up tracts of farm land. Conflict-wracked Mindanao has the most suitable land in the Philippines for oil palms, Sabri Ahmad, chief executive of cash-rich Felda Global, told Reuters in an interview. “We will go there for oil palms,” he said in the Malaysian capital late on Monday. PEACE/PAGE 6

Additional power plants to curb Diesel-fired barges to rotating brownouts in Mindanao save Mindanao woes By MIKE BAÑOS, Correspondent

The 102 MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant (IDPP) in Iligan City is soon back to normal operation.

ROTATING brownouts in the Mindanao grid could be a thing of the past as more generating plants come online in the short and medium term. For 2012, the 102 MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant POWER/PAGE 6

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO and BUTCH ENERIO Correspondents

A POWER generator is set to do overtime to cushion the impending shortage of power in Mindanao as a result of a more than a month preventive maintena nce system (PMS) that the Mindanao Power

Therma Marine’s power barge in Nasipit town.

Corporation-Steag Inc. is BARGES/PAGE 6


2

October 12-14, 2012

Economy

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Davao Region to boost onion production By BEN D. ARCHE, Correspondent

DAVAO City – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region XI will augment the area planted to onions with the additional 117 hectares of land suitable for the crop. According to Melanie Provido, DA regional highva lue commercia l crops coordinator, the National Government allotted a budget at least P97 million for the Quick Response Fund (QRF), of which, P5 million has been set aside for the region.

The QR F is used for funding the rehabilitation of farmlands in various regions nationwide devastated by calamities. Through the DA’s High Value Crops Development Program, the agricultural department will provide as-

sistance to affected farmers using the QRF by providing seeds and planting materials, and other inputs to rehabilitate production areas. DA will also provide organic fertilizers and at least one multi-cultivator for every 20 hectare-cluster of farms as a technical assistance to farmers. Provido said the DA will utilize the P5 million QRF allocated in planting onions to help farmers earn and to resist illegal importation ac-

tivities in Mindanao. “Th is is the fi rst time that the DA will be planting onions in the region,” she said. Of the additional 117 hectares, the 53 hectares will be planted with red onions, 20 hectares for the yellow variety and 23 hectares to shallots. DA is expecting a total production of 530 metric tons (MT) for red onions, 300 MT for yellow onions and 210 MT for shallots. The farmers will start planting shallot onions on

October this year while the planting of red and yellow onions will take place on January 2013, Provido said. Earlier, authorities in Davao discovered 23 container vans of smuggled potatoes and onions from Hongkong and China worth P18 million. The products were declared as margarine, lanolin, savory products, seasoning and yeast. The DA high crops coordinator believed that the local demand for onions can

already keep the industry on the right track, adding that part of the produce will be brought to Visayas and Luzon markets.

Bamboo eyed as potential industry in Davao province By BEN D. ARCHE Correspondent

TAGUM City – With the creation of a supervising council, the Davao del Norte field office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) believed it would maximize the business and the nvironment gains of bamboo in the province. DTI provincial director Vedastito Galvez is determined to organize the Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) which will serve

as a convergence of agencies involved in developing the bamboo industry. The concept of creating the council came after a recent forum dubbed as Eco-Industry Using Bamboo for Riverbank Rehabilitation and Sustainable Business Opportunity jointly organized by the Department of Science and Technology, DANA Foundation, and the Provincial Government of Davao del Norte. Galvez said the province has set up a Provincial Bamboo Development Plan which

is harmonious to President Aquino’s directives on bamboo production. The market is wide and ready but the bamboo supply is lacking, Galvez said. However, he said farmers should go for big-scale production of the right variety of bamboo based on market demands. Galvez cited the need to tie up with agricultural firms for the production of the needed bamboo varieties, especially the banana plantations known of having been using bamboos.

Organic farming urged nationwide 0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

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

PAGADIAN City -- The Department of Agriculture is pursuing its organic agriculture campaign by trying to reach out to organic farming practitioners in the country. The Nationa l Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB), together with the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), is visiting major regions in the country to update all organic practitioners from the nongovernment organizations (NGO), peoples’ organizations (PO) and local government units on the implementing rules and regulations of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (R.A. 10068) as well as its programs that are beneficial to farmers.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, the conduct of the Mindanaowide NGO-PO Forum in Dipolog City raised questions and presented major concerns that focused on the sustainability of the program and the technicalities of the proposalmaking for the program grant. During the opening, DADipolog City Officer–In-Charge Vicente Balinguit read the message of Regional Executive Director Eduardo B. Holoyohoy that said “the activity supports the Food self-sufficiency and nutrition security through sustainable organic and ecological agriculture in the Philippines and the production of ‘healthier’ food through organic farming.” He also quoted Secretary

Proceso J. Alcala saying “our emphasis on organic farming rests on our thrust to surmount dependency on imported agricultural chemicals which not only drain our foreign exchange reserves, but also contribute to environmental and land degradation.” Rey Pedroso of the Badianagan Organic Farmers’ Association and Visayas Representative for Small Farmers said, “The department is serious in its advocacy for the sustainability of the program but since the main thrust of DA is food security, we cannot abruptly shift from conventional to organic as it might cause food shortage in the country.” To advance the program to the next level, grants are given in the form of organic farming infrastructures, trainings/ extensions, and production support in which the organizations are required to submit proposal to be approved by the NOAB. “Slowly and patiently we are trying to win the hearts of other entities to shift to organic farming as there is no question about its environmental sustainability and health benefits. The creation of R.A. 10068 means that you are already recognized as organic agriculture farmers, from there let’s create a common perspective,” added Dr. Charito Medina, of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura. As part of the department’s support to the farmers, DARFU-IX Organic Focal Person Peter Andalahao proposed a proposal-making training as an aid for the approval of the requests of farmers.


BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Motoring

Pinoy designer says: ‘Sketching Zs all my life’ led to iconic Nissan 370Z SUPER sleek with that palpable classic feel, the much talked about Nissan 370Z is the all-time iconic sports car of the company’s Z series and a fitting predecessor to the successful Nissan 350Z. Just like the 350Z, Nissan’s all-time iconic sports car features retro-inspired styling that draws heavily from the first generation of “Z” cars like the Datsun 240Z. It’s a thumbs up especially for Nissan 370Z’s Filipino designer Randy Rodriguez who recently visited the Philippines to grace the 4th Philippine International Motor Show held last August 16 to 19 at the World Trade Center in Manila. Rodriguez flew in courtesy of Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc.’s (NMPI) where he participated in the company’s “Drive the Fun” campaign during the motor show’s four-day event. NMPI President and CEO Allen Chen shared, “We are all set to showcase the true meaning of ‘Drive for Fun.’ We’re very fortunate that we have Randy and that he’s more than happy to share his achievements with his fellow

Filipino-Canadian designer Randy Rodriguez, senior designer of Nissan Design America, is shown with the internationally acclaimed Nissan 370Z that he designed. PETER C . MARQUEZ , INTERAKSYON . COM .

Filipinos. The 370Z model is one of the best vehicles to exemplify fun-to-drive that embodies all Nissan model.” Now based at the Nissan Design America in California, one of the world’s foremost creative facilities, Rodriguez showed up at the NMPI booth where he had a meet-and-greet and autograph signing session among fans. Car aficionados got the chance to talk to Rodriguez and learn more

about his design philosophy, his creative process, and of course, how he was able to conceptualize Nissan’s most celebrated sports car. Although born and raised in Vancouver, Rodriguez is a Filipino by heart and by heritage—his parents are both Filipinos. He considers himself a fan of Nissan and its Z models ever since he got his first Z car when he was still 14. In fact, Rodriguez recounted in 2010 interview

with Asian Journal: “I’ve been drawing Z’s my whole life, that’s why the 370Z theme came out quickly and naturally,” The Nissan 350Z, which came in the form of a coupe or roadster, had been the company’s all-time bestseller since its introduction in 2002 and up until Nissan opened a design competition among all designers within the global Nissan Design Studios. In 2009, the Nisssan 370Z was unveiled and was based on the winning design of Rodriguez. Immediately, his sleeker, lighter, and refined modern and vintage approach to the latest Z series incarnation got the attention of international car reviewers and aficionados that he soon found himself being featured in various motoring magazines and interviewed on TV by the international press. The challenge was for the designers to make a super evolution of the 350Z while honoring its heritage and long history of innovative ideas. NISSAM/PAGE 6

October 12-14, 2012

3

Honda recalls 489,000 CR-Vs in US, Europe TOKYO — Honda Motor Co said it would recall about 489,000 CR-Vs in Europe and the United States after finding rain water may enter the vehicles’ power window switch on the driver’s door, which could ultimately cause the switch to overheat and catch fire. The Japanese automaker will be recalling about 220,000 CR-V sport utility vehicles in Europe, some 268,000 units in the United States and fewer than 100 in Africa, a Honda spokeswoman said on Sunday. All the recalled vehicles are from

model years 2002 through 2006. There have been reports of five switch fires, but no crashes or injuries have been reported related to the issue, the spokeswoman said. Honda, Japan’s thirdlargest automaker, did not give estimated costs for the recall. The development comes on the heels of another Honda recall of more than 600,000 Accord mid-sized sedans in North America to address a potential power steering fluid leak problem that could cause a fire under the hood.

Jaguar marks best Pinoy car drifters IN one big night of celebration, the best Filipino drifters were feted by the official importer of the British luxury car brand at the posh Opus Restaurant and Lounge in Resorts World Manila. Audel Sison was awarded on September 27 as the overall champion of the First Jaguar Drift Fest that was held on September 22 at Kings Playground in the sprawling Food Terminal Inc. complex in Taguig City. Je su s Romero -S a la s , meanwhile, was the novice champion. Sison and Romero-Salas

were deemed the best among their peers who joined the First Jaguar Drift Fest, which was organized by Car Porn Racing to promote drifting in a safe and controlled development. The First Jaguar Drift Fest also showcased a special demonstration by drifting expert Ian King, who drove a Jaguar XKR. To “drift,” a car is over steered for it to lose rear wheel traction and slide. While drifting has been practiced by rally racing enthusiasts starting in the JAGUAR/PAGE 6


4

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.

VIEWS/COMMENTS

Quick rethink on cybercrime law in Philippines By BOB DIETZ/CPJ Asia Program Coordinator

ON Tuesday, the Philippines Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order stopping the government from enforcing the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 which President Benigno Aquino III signed into law last month. The court, in full session, ordered that oral arguments for and against will start January 15. And it gave the government 10 days to respond to the many petitioners seeking to declare the law unconstitutional. As we wrote last week in “Online in Philippines? Check out #notocybercrimelaw,” the law doubled maximum penalties for libel from six years to 12 - and comments posted online and judged libelous would be criminal offenses. This would have a chilling effect, to say the least. But don’t think this is a finished battle. President Aquino supported the law, then publicly backed away from the increased penalties even though he signed knowing full well what was on the page. It might be wise to launch an Anti-Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2013 campaign. Meanwhile, my Best Anti-Cybercrime Law of 2012 Heightened Rhetoric Award goes

BusinessWeek

Opinion

October 12-14, 2012

to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, whose members have a deeply vested interest in maintaining as much free speech in the country as possible. They’re usually the prime targets of politicians out to silence critics through the legal harassment that prevailing laws have allowed. The NUJP said in its petition calling for repeal that the Cybercrime Act would “set back decades of struggle against the darkness of ‘constitutional dictatorship’ and replace it with ‘cyber authoritarianism.’” You might recall that former Presidentcum-dictator Ferdinand Marcos described his martial law government as “constitutional authoritarianism.” No one is claiming this misstep was a march back toward that era, but it certainly wasn’t a fast forward step away from it, either. (Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk)

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

What’s Good Enough? THINK a minute… Is your voice good enough to sing a solo on T.V. or radio? If you’re like me, you’ll stick to singing in the shower only! So what are you good at? And compared to whom? If golf is your sport and you can beat your buddies in a round, how good are you compared to Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, or Veejay Singh? You and I cannot begin to measure up their world-class standard of golf! Years ago I had to learn a new language. After 3 months of study and practice, I felt quite good about my progress. Compared to the tourists, I was a whiz and very fluent. But compared to the locals, I

talked like a 5-year-old little boy. In the same way, we may look at some really bad people and feel quite good about ourselves. Compared to them, we almost look like saints! But compared to God, how good do we look? Well, who doesn’t look like dirt compared to our perfect Creator! Even if we locked ourselves away from all temptation and prayed all day for the rest of our lives, we still could not come even close to being as pure and perfectly good as God is. So because we want to feel we’re still OK and good enough, we choose to compare ourselves to those really bad people.

But there is only one way that God can accept you and me so we can live in a right relationship with Him. God has to give us the gift of His own perfect goodness. That’s why God the Son became a human being to pay the penalty of death for all our wrongs and sins. Not His, since he has no wrongs to die for. Jesus wants to give you His perfect goodness free, so you can be good enough to become God’s child and enjoy His life with Him—both now and in heaven after you die. But it’s up to you to ask Jesus for His free gift of forgiveness and new life. Just ask Him to forgive you for all your wrongs and living

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST your own way. Then ask Him to take full charge of your life and start changing your character with His kind of goodness inside every day, for the rest of your life. Just think a minute…

That which is not visible to the naked eye THERE are certain findings that may not be appreciated using the naked eye. That which is visible to the eyes may be alarming by itself. But, if one’s result is positive only after a microscopic examination, the alarm bells may even be higher. Thus, it comes as no surprise that a very good friend of mine, came to see me, bringing with her , her urinalysis result, worried and anxious. I saw that everything was normal except for the presence of red cells in her urine. Hmmm... of course, in the absence of a menstrual period , the presence of those red cells is quite suspect. It took quite an explanation and a visit to her Nephrologist friend for her to have peace of mind. Microscopic hematuria, is a term used when red blood cells are seen in the urine, but grossly the urine is clear. If one were to see one’s urine color as reddish, to pinkish

to smoky or tea colored, then that is what we call as gross hematuria. Whether gross or microscopic, the very presence of hematuria is never normal. Its presence warrants further investigation or work up. A properly col lected sample is as important as the reader. The ideal sample should be collected mid stream, making sure that it doesn’t get contaminated. A first morning sample is the best specimen since the red cells are best preserved with the urine being concentrated. Once the sample is collected, it must be brought to the Laboratory within the hour for examination, otherwise, there will be bacterial multiplication, making the ph acidic and causing disintegration of the red cells and casts ( if there are ). Should there be a delay in the transport, the urine may be refrigerated. The sample container should be clean

and wide mouthed. Once a result for microscopic hematuria is released, it would be best to have the examination repeated twice. Simply means, have the test repeated again, with a newly collected first morning or mid stream clean catch urine, for examination. If the red cells are persistent, then, a visit to our Nephrologist friends is to the best interest of the patient. During the visit, a history of drug intake, ingestion of certain foods containing nitrites and food coloring, will be asked. Other information may be taken during the history taking and physical examination. There are quite a number of tests thay may also be requested for, as part of u rolog ic e v a lu at ion, such as t he Intravenous Pyelography, Ultrasound and even cystoscopy. These diagnostic tests will tr y to visualize and evaluate the urinary system. The

reasons for having microscopic hemat u r ia ra nge from the benign and self limited exercise induced to the more common urinary tract infection , presence of stones and to the more fearsome presence of tumors. A balance between being overly anxious and disregard will keep you informed on your health condition. Nothing beats a visit to your friendly Attending Physician, for it always pays to know and understand what is going on inside your body.

Angels THERE used to be some kind of fad on angels before. This was some years ago when all of a sudden a lot people took interest in these spiritual beings. Even the media reflected this phenomenon by publishing pictures and articles about them. But now, it seems this fondness has evaporated. And if there happens to be some mention in the media about these spiritual beings, it usually has something to do with some people’s encounters with so-called “ghosts” or paranormal experiences that cannot be clearly verified. But angels really do exist. They are not myths, figments of our piously fertile imagination. They are pure spirits, and that’s why they cannot be perceived normally through the senses. We know them more by faith and the devotion arising from that faith. Our Catechism, for example, tells us that “the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls

‘angels’ is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.” (328) Thus, t he Catechism continues, we have abundant references to them in the Bible. “They closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham’s hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets.” (332) “Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself.” (332) An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him the real story about Mary’s pregnancy. An angel comforted Christ after being tempted by the devil. O u r i ntel l igenc e , of course, can somehow discern them. If we too have something spiritual, precisely because of our capacity to think, know, judge, reason, love, etc., thereby making us persons and not just things, there must be beings too that are pure spirits, unlike us

whose spirit is integrated with our body. Being pure spirit, angels live and operate in ways very different from ours. They are created directly from God, unlike us whose life depends both on God and on our parents. And upon creation, angels immediately have to make the choice, being free beings like us, between wanting to be with God or against God. This is the peculiar property of spiritual beings. We, on the other hand, make this choice in our whole lifetime. But for angels, they make this choice upon creation, and their choice determines their status as good or bad angels permanently. They don’t change midway. In our case, we can change status many times in our lifetime. And our choice becomes definitive only at death. It’s good that we strengthen our faith in the angels and develop the appropriate devotion to them. In fact, it would really be good if we can spread this devotion more widely, because it would be a

HINTS AND TRACES

FR. ROY CIMAGALA pity, a real waste of precious resource, if we ignore them. We are told that angels do nothing other than to serve in “the accomplishment of the divine plan.” They serve the Church as well. “In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance.” (335) More, “from its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to CIMAGALA/PAGE 6


BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

Corpboard

October 12-14, 2012

www.businessweekmindanao.com

5

BPI launches post-graduate scholarship for teachers From left to right, Gina O. Astilla, Finance and Administrative officer and VP Florendo G. Maranan, Executive Director of BPI Foundation, Dr. Domingo M. Non of Mindanao State University - General Santos, Dr. Ma. Rosa C. Gutierrez, Officer-in-charge, Office of the Regional Director DEPED Region XII

K+12 in Special Education By LORETO C. LLABAN

THIS school year, the Department of Education has started to implement the K+12 program which revamps the basic curriculum from 10 years to 12 years — six years in elementary (Grades 1 to 6), four years in junior high school (Grades 7 to 10), two years in senior high school (Grades 11 to 12). The program started this year with Grade 1 and Grade 7 students in all public elementary and high schools nationwide. The program’s full implementation is expected to be in full swing in 2016. However, in a statement released by the education department, children with special needs (CSNs) will also follow the K+12 program. This is part of the government’s inclusive education program that all children, regardless of any physical or learning disability, shall subscribe to the regular curriculum of the school. Apart from covering students with physical and learning disabilities, the program also covers gifted children. CURRICULUM MODIFICATION Basically, students under SpEd follow the basic curriculum of general education but modifi ed according to the CSN’s needs. The curriculum also differs depending on the condition of the child — autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome, deaf, visually impaired, etc. “We modify the basic curriculum based on the learning disabilities. Each of the learning areas has its own curriculum,” says Mirla Olores, DepEd SpEd Division chief. For example, for the visually impaired, the curriculum is modified to add courses on mobility and Braille. This also goes for children who are deaf who have to study sign language in addition to the basic curriculum. With the new K+12 curriculum, further modifications for SpEd are thus needed. But Olores said that they have yet to modify the new curriculum for the SpEd kindergarten and Grade 1. “ Pag-aaralan pa naming mabuti. Titignan namin kung ano ang bago sa curriculum ng K+12 na ilalagay namin doon sa curriculum ng mga CSNs and Headstart program (gifted class),” Olores explains. CSNs who are mainstreamed or those who are taking regular class with regular students may already follow the new curriculum since they are already in regular class. THE ADVANTAGES OF PRIVATE SPED SCHOOLS Under Philippine law, private schools have the flexibility to either follow the DepEd curriculum or modify it. That is why many private schools, regular and SpEd, have long been implementing 12 years in basic education, thus there is hardly any change in their curriculum. The Learning Center (TLC), a private SpEd school in Parañaque, is already familiar with the K + 12 program since they have been adopting some elements of the 12-year basic education of other

• New system set to reform basic curriculum countries in their program. “Since we are already familiar with other K to 12 curriculum of other countries, there will be no major change in our curriculum. We also have our free rein on how we can modify our curriculum. It’s not really difficult to adjust,” shares TLC curriculum director Landa Bautista. For instance, TLC’s curriculum already has functional learning, where CSNs are taught life skills that can help them live independently or skills that will help them find work. This is similar to the new K +12 program of DepEd where senior high school students study vocational skills to ready them for work. “The K +12 program is a continuum process for mastery of the learning competencies. In the regular curriculum or the old curriculum, they cram what the students need to learn in 10 years. So the K +12 is like decongesting the system so that there are more years for students to master learning skills,” Bautista says. Bautista adds that private SpEd schools have no problems with the K to 12 program. They are just hoping that the new curriculum will benefit the students with special needs especially those in public schools since they have to adjust more than the private school. INTERACTIVE AND HANDS-ON LEARNING The basic goal of SpEd is to teach CSNs basic academic and life skills, especially to moderate to low functioning CSNs. “For some students with special needs, teaching a particular skill can take weeks, months and even years, depending on their learning ability. So we base the curriculum on the competencies and ability of the child,” Olores says. “What is important for them is they can communicate. They can comprehend. We don’t expect them to master advanced Math or English. We can help them become productive, independent citizens.” Bautista says that there is promise to the K + 12 program if they stick to their vision of holistically developing students’ potentials and skills. She just hopes that the new curriculum will focus on the functional literacy of a special child and has more hands-on and interactive learning. Olores adds that the change is necessary because students with special needs are also part of the education system. Aside from the curriculum, she says there is also a need to enhance the teaching strategies of SpEd teachers. “It’s a must that the curriculum be modified for our special children. We give them what is due. Aayusin mo ang lahat, hindi lang ang curriculum, pati na rin ang strategies na rin sa pagtuturo. What is the best for our child should be on top of our mind,” Olores says.

TWELVE public high school teachers from Region XII (SOCCSKARGEN) were accepted in the BPI Post Graduate scholarship program launched this year in partnership with the Department of Education and Mindanao State University - General Santos. Region XII is considered as one of the poorest region in the country and with lowest result in the

2006 National Achievement Test, ranking no.14 out of 17 regions in the county. This is one of the goals of BPI Founation: to contribute towards the upliftment of the quality of Philippine education. The scholarship given will be for the Masters Degree in teaching Reading, Science and Mathematics for two years covering academic years 2012-2014 inclu-

sive of summer 2013. The scholars will be studying full time for the 1st year and will write and defend their thesis in the 2nd year while back in service. They will be required to teach back in their schools for 3 years for every year of scholarship. Monitoring of their performance will be conducted by DepEd. The MOA signing was held on September 12, 2012

at SunCity Suites, General Santos city represented by the BPI Foundation’s Executive Director Florendo G. Maranan and Finance and Administrative officer, Ms. Gina O. Astilla, Dr. Domingo M. Non of Mindanao State University, General Santos and Dr. Ma. Rosa C. Gutierrez, Officer-in-charge from the Office of the Regional Director DEPED Region XII.


6

BusinessWeek

October 12-14, 2012

Peace... from page 1

“There is ample area for oil palms to meet strong local demand,” he added. Likewise, the Asian Development Bank on Wednesday said the restoration of peace in Mindanao could boost economic growth in the region. “It’s very, very important step forward in the resolution of conf licted portion in Mindanao and resolution of these conf licts do have a very positive impact on growth,” Neeraj Jain, ADB country director was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo. “We really appreciate and welcome the government steps. We do feel that this would have a spillover effect on the economy,” Jain said. Meanwhile, leaders of civil society organizations in Mindanao urged all political leaders, especially those seeking elective positions in next year’s midterm elections, to support the “Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro” between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front “As we face the political realities of the midterm election in 2013, MPC believes that the Framework Agreement should figure high in the electoral agenda of the politicians from the national down to the local elective positions. Considering the fact that this agreement is in the nature of a political settlement, critical to its full implementation and sustainability will be the unwavering support and commitment of the political leaders in this country,” said Pastor Reu Montecillo, co-chair of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus. Charlito “Kaloy” Z. Manlupig, founder and president of the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs (BMG), said that Ba ngsa moro f ra mework agreement reaffirms the belief of many that lasting peace in Mindanao can be achieved. However, Montecillo, MPC co-chair, said that at the stage, information dissemination “will play a very crucial role in generating support and acceptance of the framework agreement among Muslims, Christians and Indigenous communities all over the country.” He urged religious leaders to help explain and enlighten brethrens on the contents and substance of the agreement. Manlupig also said that no one should be excluded in the pursuit of peace. For business leaders, peace is badly needed to attract investors to the island that badly needs sustainable development as some of the country’s poorest municipalities are located in Mindanao. In a release, Bronx Hebrona, regional governor for Southwestern Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), said Mindanao traders were optimistic that the forging of the framework

agreement will eventually lead to a permanent peace agreement. “It is very heartening that prospects for a final peace agreement are getting brighter. An agreement finally looks closer at hand. I am very confident that the MILF and the GPH will earnestly and sincerely rise above the current realities and challenges to finally attain lasting peace in Mindanao,” he said. “The peace dividend that will ensue will undoubtedly positively impact not only the business climate but eventually the quality of life of all Mindanaoans,” he added. PCCI Vice President for Mindanao Ricardo Juliano also said that a successful peace agreement would benefit “not only Mindanao but the entire country as well.” “We are fully supporting the peace process,” Juliano said. “We have high hopes for this administration.”

Power... from page 1

(IDPP) in Iligan City which could be operational in three months provided legal constraints on the transfer of its ownership from the Iligan City Government to Alsons Power are expedited. Being a bunker fueled plant, the IDPP would primarily be a peaking plant and should be a big boost to the Mindanao Grid. As of Sunday, October 7, 2012, the NGCCP website Power Situation Outlook for the Mindanao Grid showed a system peak of 1,088MW with a system capacity of only 955MW for a -133MW system reserve. Some of the island’s biggest utilities such as the Davao Light and Power Corp (DLPC) which serves Southern Philippines and the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (CEPALCO) in Northern Mindanao are capable of weathering the current power deficiency in the grid with their embedded power generators. DLPC has some 100MW of embedded power capacity on a mix of diesel and hydro while CEPALCO has approximately 50MW on a similar diesel/hydro mix plus the only grid connected solar power plant in Mindanao. DLPC could withstand a grid curtailment level of up to 450MW and CEPALCO 300MW before they resort to rotating brownouts. However, except for the two other private utilities in Cotabato and Iligan, the 26 grid connected power coops of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) with the exception of BUSECO and FIBECO in Bukidnon and DANECO in Tagum, lack such capability. During a presentation made to in a power forum in Cagayan de Oro earlier this year, Engr. Ernesto B. Pantangco, president of the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association (PIPPA), pointed out how Mindanao’s present power

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

mix makes it susceptible to chronic power shortages. Compared to Luzon and Visayas Grids which have 67 percent and 76 percent of present capacities provided by baseload power plants, Mr. Pantangco said the Mindanao Grid only has 37 percent. Baseload plants include coal, gas and natural gas. Despite its vast hydropower capacity, only 650MW of Mindanao’s hydropower capacity is considered “baseload” due to its susceptibility to El Niño and lower water inflows brought by climate change. “Although the Mindanao grid has a total installed generating capacity of 1,970MW, its dependable capacity is reckoned at only 1,697MW of which only 1,290MW is available for use,” Mr. Pantangco said. “With the requirement to maintain a 13 percent reserve (150MW in top of peak demand), NGCP cannot accommodate 221MW of peak load during peak hours of high demand months.” In grids where there are sufficient reserves, the system operator allocates generation capacity for regulating and contingency reserve or approximately 13 percent of demand. However, in supply short grids such “allocation” of reserves is executed by manually dropping loads, Mr. Pangtanco said. Hence, when distribution utilities and industries exceed their mandated loads to maintain for the day, the system operator drops their loads manually to prevent the grid from going out of kilter. The power supply shortfall in Mindanao is expected to hit 480 MW by 2014— enough to cut off the entire power allocation for the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga and Butuan. Hopefully, after the IDPP gets going in Iligan three months from now, Aboitiz Power can commission the first unit of its 2 x 150-megawatt (MW) circulating fluidized-bed coal-fired power plant in at Barangay Binugao, Toril District, Davao City, and in Barangay Inayawan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur 14 months hence. A project of its subsidiary Therma South Inc. (TS), APC has invested its own funds amounting to P25 billion to fast track construction. Around the first semester of 2015, Alsons Power would have activated the first 105 MW unit of its Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) coal fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani. SEC has signed power supply deals with distribution utilities in South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte for the plant’s output. A year later, the company’s San Ramon Power Inc. (SRPI) in San Ramon, Zamboanga City will also come online while the 2nd 105MW unit of SEC is expected in 2018. Within three years, Alsons Power would have brought a total of 310MW baseload capacity in the Mindanao

Grid. Thus, even if STEAG again brings down its Unit 2 in a year’s time for a similar PMS in November next year, supply is expected to be sufficient to cover demand during the time. On top of that, the preventive maintenance shutdown of the two STEAG units would improve the power plant’s operational reliability which already registered a 93.3 percent availability rate and an unplanned outage rate of less than one percent. Even with the planned month long outage this year, SPI remains confident it can still attain a 91 percent availability rate for the year.

Barges...

from page 1 under taking. In a press statement, Therma Marine Inc.(TMI) chief operating officer Jovy P. Batiquin, said the company’s two barges are expected to operate at full or maximum capacity on extended hours in order to provide additional power supply to electric cooperatives, distribution utilities and industrial customers. The two diesel-fired power barges that Aboitiz Power Corp. bought from government in 2009 are currently moored at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and in Compostela Valley. Mr. Batiquin said the critical power shortage in Mindanao requires the company to operate on extended hours, noting the barges currently run about 10 hours a day to supply power cooperatives in areas in Mindanao where electricity supply is inadequate. The barges have become the run-to power supplier after Mindanao has been beset by lower power output and supply shortages in previous years. The power shortages was due to the deterioration of the old hydroelectric power plants run by the National Power Corp., a government entity. Based on the advisory of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the power situation in Mindanao yesterday was on red alert between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. as the curtailment level, or the supply shortage, would increase to 370 MW. The increase in curtailment level is due to the outage of PB 104, a 10-MW power barge of the National Power Corp. moored in Mindanao, as well as the reduced capability of Pulangi to 150 MW due to the low water level of the lake. The power supply shortage was also due to the shutting down of the 40-MW Agus 6 hydroelectric plant, and the outage of Steag since last Saturday. This city’s power utilit y, meanwhi le, assured its customers that outages in its franchise areas are unlikely. “In spite of the possible increase in power curtailment in Mindanao as a consequence, Davao Light (and Power Co.) will do its

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. President and CEO Dennis Uy (right) and Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Dennis Salvador (left) sign the commitment for Phoenix’s adoption of a Philippine Eagle for 5 years, on September 25, 2012 in Davao City. With them are Philippine Eagle Foundation Curator Anna Mae Sumaya and Phoenix Corporate Affairs Manager Ben Sur.

best to avoid implementing rotational power interruptions,” said Rossano C. Luga, spokesperson of the company in an e-mail. Mr. Luga said the power distributor would be able to cushion the impact on the power shortage with the “optimization of its embedded power plants.” These power plants include its own 40-MW standby diesel plant and the hydroelectric power plants of its sister company, Hedcor, Inc., in Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. He added that the distributor, also a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Power, was also among those that have bought power from Therma Marine, Inc. “All these are aimed at ensuring the economic activity and welfare of the people in our franchise area will be least affected by the power crisis,” said Mr. Luga.

and inject the car with some steroids. The 370Z is more dynamic and emotional with a bigger chest, flexed muscles and a more aggressive stance.” The designer’s creative vision and drive for excellence has not only gathered winning points for Nissan but also marks another triumph for Filipino artistry and ingenuity in the international scene. On the key to his success, Rodriguez advised, “It’s all about passion — passion to do the things you love. To my kababayans, designer or not, I urge you to find your own passion. Fuel it and share it. Follow your dreams and to be truly happy in life, you should do what you love. Focus, work harder than everyone else, and don’t give up. Develop your skills and talent to increase your chances in life.”

Jaguar...

here on earth, the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.” (336) Many saints have very interesting personal testimonies about angels. St. Josemaria Escriva, for example, believed it was his guardian angel who saved him when he was suddenly attacked on the road by a madman. A stranger just came to his rescue and told him something that St. Josemaria was telling to himself in private. “How are you, donkey with sores?” In those years, St. Josemaria called himself “donkey with sores” as some kind of ejaculatory prayer. He never told anyone about this very private practice of his. Our guardian angels can act as our security guard, our errand boy, a finder of lost items, a memory guide, etc. A friend of mine once told me that in a trip to Hongkong by boat, he arrived with his sick mother at the port when a heavy downpour took place. There were many passengers trying to get a taxi. Since he could not get a taxi because of the competition and his mother was getting tired, he prayed to his guardian angel, asking for a taxi. And behold, in a few minutes, an empty taxi just stopped in front of him.

from page 3

1950s, it was only 30 years ago when Japan’s mountain roads became the playground for drifting fanatics and the motorsport became a big hit. According to Jaguar Philippines, a drifter joining competitions like the First Jaguar Drift Fest is judged based on: the line the car takes against an established line set by the judges; the angle and speed the car takes when drifting; and the overall show factor, which includes the amount of smoke the tires burn and audience impact.

Nissan... from page 3

Rodriguez shared, “It’s like the kid in me was brought to life! Because of my passion for the brand, the model, and the fact that I have been drawing Zs whole my life, my ideas for the 370Z’s theme came out quickly and naturally.” The concept for the 370Z was “Erotic Mechanism,” something sexy while highlighting technical and mechanical details. “I can say it’s all the things a designer would want. I applaud the engineers and planners at Nissan for making that happen. “The 350Z is beautiful, but a little friendly-looking to me, especially in the front. I wanted to turn up the anger a few levels

Cimagala... from page 4


BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Vista Land starts newest project VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc. launched its newest project, Crown Asia Residences Wack Wack, which will rise at the corner of Laurel Street and Shaw Boulevard. In a statement on Wednesday, Vista Land said the 38-f loor tower will have a sales value of P5 billion from a total of 1,502 units. “Crown Asia Residences Wack Wack will provide immediate access to Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM Megamall and Liberty Mall, and the Shaw MRT station and Edsa itself,” the statement said. The Lourdes Hospital, Medical City and Cardinal Santos Hospital will be easy to reach in case of an emergency, and the country’s top schools—La Salle Greenhills, Xavier University and the Immaculate Concepcion Academy, it added. Crown Asia has 10 other developments in various stages of completion. These are the The Symphony Towers in Quezon City, The Currency in Ortigas Business Center, Crown Tower University Belt, Wil Tower Mall in Quezon City, Salcedo Square in Makati City, Bresica Residences in Quezon City, Pine Crest in New Manila, Presidio at Lakefront in Sucat, and Madison Place in Cubao. Vista Land is the holding company of five business units—Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines and its condominium development subsidiary, Vista Residences. The builder reported earlier that net income in the first half increased 25 percent to P2.19 billion as the builder continued to post strong sales growth. The earnings jump came on the back of revenue growth of 22 percent to P8.1 billion. Sales also remained strong, registering 47 percent growth to P20 billion, on track to hit the full-year target of P40 billion. Vista Land shares rose 0.42 percent to P4.80 each on Wednesday, giving it a market value of P40.3 billion.

Property

October 12-14, 2012

7

SM Lanang attracts record crowd THE Park, an outdoor event venue with a breathtaking 122-meter musical fountain, a Skygarden with greens, water features and restaurants, the first Imax theater in Mindanao, the first Forever 21 store in the region and an SMX Convention Center—with these attractions, it is not surprising that SM Lanang Premier attracted record crowds on opening day. SM Lanang Premier— SM Prime’s 46th shopping center and SM’s fourth in Mindanao and the second in Davao, is a mall of firsts. It brings the definitive shopping experience of a premier SM mall to Davao City with its modern structure and cutting-edge design, upscale retail mix, dining concepts, and world-class entertainment and convention facilities never seen before in Mindanao. Strategically located on a 100,000-square-meter site a long JP Laurel Avenue in Barangay Lanang, the 145,000-sq-m mall will serve customers in the northern part of Metro Davao, an area t hat has long been known as an aff luent residential, commercial and leisure address in the city. It will also bring the premier shopping, leisure and entertainment experience to residents in neighboring cities and provinces like Panabo, Tagum, Davao del

(left) SM City Lanang Premier, the 46th SM supermall, brings the shopping, leisure and entertainment experience to Mindanao and (right) SM Prime Holdings President Hans T. Sy welcomes the first wave of Davaoeño shoppers during the opening of SM Lanang Premier.

Norte, Compostela Valley, Mati and Davao Oriental. SM Lanang Premier’s design w i l l easi ly ma ke it a la ndmark in highly urbanized Davao, which is considered the biggest city in the world in terms of land coverage. Inspired by the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, the origami, SM Lanang Premier has a folded building design concept. Like the origami, it is made up of intricate folds in a complex system that form a simple yet elegant tectonic box when put together. The signature and efficient shoebox building topology is retained, while the abstract and asymmetric lines of the origami are introduced with the North, South and West façades, as well as in the interiors

with its monumental atrium skylight. Lighting is key in its aluminum cladding façades and the signature atrium skylight. In the evening, the building gets highlighted, glows and mutates with an endless color spectrum of embedded LED lighting. The four-story mall offers a world of shopping convenience with its main anchors, the SM Store and SM Supermarket, as well as SM mainstays including SM Appliance Center, Watsons, ACE Hardware, Our Home and Kultura. Global brands like Forever 21, as well as f lagship stores of major national brands like Penshoppe and Bench, add to the shopping excitement. The Cyberzone, the ultimate tech and IT lifestyle center of the SM malls, completes

the shopping picture. Eating out at SM Lanang Premier literally brings the dining experience to a higher level. The Flat Café designed on top of a free- standing slab offers a 360-degree view of the monumental atrium. There is, of course, the Skygarden, and the Fountain Court, a two-level strip of finedining restaura nts w it h a spectacular view of the 122-meter musical fountain, the first of its kind in Mindanao and the longest in the country. Many of the restaurants in the Fountain Court are new to Davao—Claw Daddy’s, Vikings, Morisco by Don Beppe, Hog’s Breath Café, Mr. Kurusawa, Sumo Sam Legacy and New Orleans Café. SM Lanang Premier also

redefines leisure and entertainment with the first Imax cinema in Mindanao, aside from five state-of-theart digital cinemas and a live-theater cinema. It also has an SMX Convention Center, a Bowling Center and a hotel, the Park Inn Radisson. For customer convenience, SM Lanang Premier has 1,535 parking slots with park finders in the indoor parking slots. SM Lanang Premier’s design team includes Point Design Inc., design architect; G&W Architects, architect of record; NGCB, general contractor; and D.A. Abcede and Associates, project manager. It also has Edge as its cinema designer, AbesamisGuerrero as its trade hall designer, and HBO+EMTB as its Cyberzone designer.

Sta. Lucia pushes expansion outside Manila

Outsourcing fueling demand

Realty and Development, Inc. in Imus, Cavite; • with Carlos Antonio S. Tan and Mark Davies S. Santos in Cainta, Rizal; • with Irma SB. IgnacioTaban in Cainta, Rizal; and • with MFC Holdings Corp. in Barangay Tolotolo in Consolacion, Cebu. Sta. Lucia Land was not immediately available for more details on the transactions. Last Ju ne, t he company said it was likely to ramp up joint ventures

with other developers this year, citing partnerships as a key business strategy since these are less capitalintensive. Sta. Lucia Land, formerly known as Zipporah Rea lt y Hold i ngs , I nc ., was incorporated in 1996, according to information posted on PSE’s Web site. The company’s current 10,000-hectare, 200-project portfolio consists of various horizonta l and ver t ica l proper t ies nationwide and one shopping mall, with ongoing

projects in Rizal, Cebu, and Davao, the company’s end-June financial statement showed. Sta. Lucia Land grew its net income by 13.13% to P338.91 million in the f irst half from P299.59 mi l lion last yea r. Revenues, mostly from real estate and rental income, rose 2 . 27% to P752 .14 million from P735.46 mill ion i n t he sa me comparative periods, while costs and expenses grew 7.85% P555.68 m i l l ion from P515.25 million.

es and offices,” he said. “HSBC (The Hongkong a nd Sha ng ha i Ba n k ing Cor p.), A NZ [Ba n k i ng Group Ltd.], and Deutsche [Bank AG] have done it already, so other big banks are a lso look ing at the Philippines.” ATTRACTED T he cou nt r y ’s sol id background in the service sector, coupled with government efforts to cultivate a business-friendly environment, seems to be encouraging more KPOs to set up shop here, Mr. Orr said. “I think the track record that you have on the customer service side and the good experience the call centers have had has

started to make people think, ‘beyond that, maybe we can do other forms of BPOs,’” he noted. “The BoI (Board of Investments) has been pretty proactive in encouraging foreign companies to come in. It’s (Philippines has) been a user-friendly place, frankly.” This makes the country well-positioned even versus developing peers who are beginning to pose a challenge in the BPO field. “You don’t see competition in the numbers, but you always have to be cautious. China is very much there,” Mr. Orr said when asked if rising competition from emerging BPO hubs

elsewhere has begun to take a toll on office demand in the Philippines. “But again, going back to customer service, it will be a long while before the language ability of China reaches the standard here. The same goes for Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand -- potential competitors. We’ve got ver y much a head start, we just have to make sure we maintain it,” Mr. Orr said. T he cou nt r y is now home to a rou nd 939 BPO sites, a bulk (82%) of which is concentrated in the National Capital Reg ion, specif ica l ly in Makati City, but more sites are still being developed for expansion, according

to JLLL’s second-quarter Metro Manila Real Estate Market Overview. “The Makati central business district (CBD) a nd Or t igas CBD provided the first buildings to be occupied by BPOs, but real estate developers responded to t he need for BPOs to explore new sources of qualified labor by developing other districts,” the JLLL read. At t r ac t ive site s for BPO developments outside Metro Manila include L ag u na , Bacolod Cit y, Davao, Baguio City, and Iloilo, while in Metro Manila, emerging locations include Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City in the City of Taguig.

OF F IC E DE M A N D i n the country is expected to grow further on the back of a booming business process outsourcing (BPO) industry that shows no sign of slowing dow n but has, i n fac t , also been stepping up to higher-value operations, a proper t y ex per t sa id recently. “There’s now an increasing focus on KPO (knowledge process outsourcing). The basic track record of BPOs is simple customer service -- your call centers. That’s where the natural advantage is and that’s where probably more than two-thirds of total revenues a re cu rrent ly

PROPERTY DEVELOPER Sta. Lucia Land, Inc. is poised to forge six jointventure agreements with various groups in order to further expand its residential portfolio outside Metro Manila, the company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) last week. Following a meeting on Thursday, Sta. Lucia Land’s executive committee authorized the com-

coming from,” Lindsay Orr, chief operating officer of Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu (JLLL), said in an inter v iew on Thursday last week at The Tower Club, Philam Life Tower, in Makati City. “But the higher-value companies -- the KPOs -- are now being looked at and they are starting to come in,” Mr. Orr noted. “Most of the industry growth this year has been from expansion from firms like Accenture, TeleTech, and Convergys,” he added. “But looking into the future, there will be more newcomers, specifically t hese foreign f ina ncia l institutions are looking to set-up shared servic-

pa ny to enter i nto t he following joint-venture deals to build subdivisions: • with Trillasun Realty and Development Corp. for a project in Barangay Du moclay i n Bata ngas City; • with Sta. Lucia Land’s parent Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, Inc. for projects in Taytay, Rizal and in Barrio Mendez in Tagaytay City; • with Royale Homes


8

October 12-14, 2012

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com


BusinessWeek Eco-Dev’t

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Editor: Allan Mediante

October 12-14, 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers – Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH AƩy. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739a

Bukn prov’l gov’t promotes tourist spots By Fredilyn Ragandang

BUKIDNON has been acclaimed as the most-visited province by local and national tourists, prompting the provincial government to conduct a search for Wellmaintained Tourist Spot on September, last month. The contest was initiated by provincial governor Alex P. Calingasan to encourage Local Government Units (LGUs) to focus on tourism efforts and maintain the physical attributes of various spring resorts and natural parks and its magnificent landscapes. This, according to governor Calingasan, would attract more tourists to visit the province and ultimately enrich its tourism potentials. The Search is also a means to generate more income for the local government units from tourist influx. Maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of the tourist spots would make

Bukidnon the favorite destination of visitors, foreign or national. The recent search for tourist spots was successful. The winners were as follows: Cariis Cave in Barangay Conception, Valencia City for Cave category. Pinamaloy Lake in Quezon, Bukidnon for Lakes and Falls category;, and Maramag Plaza for Historical Plaza & Cultural Site category. In the Resort CategoryPrivate Operated, the MGM Spring Resort in Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon was named the best. The Lowanlowan Spring Resort in Quezon, Bukidnon was number one in LGU-Operated category. Governor Calingasan bared that based on the records of the Regional Tourism Office-10, Bukidnon was the most-visited province in Region 10. He said that first and foremost, the residents of the provincethemselves should be the first ones to appreci-

MGM Spring Resort in Dologon, Maramag, Bukidnon was named best-Private Operated Resort category,

ate and patronize their own tourist spots before thinking of going to other places. The evaluators of the contest included employees from

the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Public Affairs, Information and Assistance (PAIA), Provincial Budget

Office, Provincial Tourism Office, Bukidnon Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), Department of Interior and Local Government

(DILG)-Bukidnon, Bukidnon Cavers Club (BCC), Provincial Governor’s Office, Provincial Vice Governor’s Office an the Provincial Accounting Office.

Cynthia Villar’s reaction regarding Villaroyo issue “Senator Manny Villar and I have moved on from the 2010 campaign. I just want to inform Risa Hontiveros that I stood by my record that I voted with her for the impeachment of Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2005. I am enclosing here the records of Congress (votes results on PGMA’s impeachment). In fact, I lost my pork barrel barrel because of that vote. Senator Manny Villar and I didn’t ask any favor and didn’t have the need to ask any favor from former president GMA. Thus, tagging or labeling us as ‘Villaroyo’ is not true. We live very simple lives and our public life is public service.”

In an enterview of Mrs Cynthia Villar regard-ing her reaction of Risa Hontiveros continued d statements/pronouncements about the Vil-laroyo issue etc.


10

Corporate Dev’ts

October 12-14, 2012

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

New companies massing up in Region XI By Ben D. Arche DAVAO City – At least 540 new business companies are now being registered with the Securities and E xcha nge C om m ission (SEC) Davao Extension Field Office here for the first eight months of this year. Ac c ord i ng to SEC Davao director Atty. Javey Paul Francisco, the number of registrants increased by about 13.4 percent from Januar y to August this year compared to same period last year with only 476 firms. Francisco said the bullish business condition in the entire region triggered the continuous inf lux of investors, especially here in Davao City. He said 70 percent of the newly registered companies will be operating in the city. Fifty percent of these companies are family-owned and are mostly to engage in wholesale, retail and trade endeavors. The total approved capital stock investments for the new registered companies amounted to some P3.2 billion. SEC-Davao netted about P32 million from last year’s registration fees based on business capital or “1/5 of the 1 percent of the autho-

rized capital investment.” Other areas covered by the Davao Extension Office include Region 12, Surigao del Sur, Cotabato City, and some parts of Autonomous

Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Davao SEC Office had already revoked more than 1,000 company registrations for non-com-

pliance of the required reports since 2002. Also, Francisco said there are 616 new non-stock corporations as of January to August this year while

BWM: OCT. 5, 12 & 19, 2012

registering, monitoring, and regulating all stock businesses which include business partnership, corporation, and non-stock corporations.

15,000 units of acquired properties up for sale at SM Mall housing fair ABOUT 15,000 acquired assets will be for sale at the annual Housing Fair Expo, which will run from October 8 to 10, 2012 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Vice President and Housi ng a nd Urba n Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Jejomar C. Binay said : “If you are planning to buy a house, this is the best time to do it as you will find affordable

and decent housing units in this Fair.” The Vice President said Key Shelter Agencies (KSAs) led by Home Development Mut u a l Fu nd (Pa g-I BIG Fund), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and Home Guara nt y Cor porat ion (HGC) together with Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) namely Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and Social Security System (SSS) will

of fer housing units f rom their inventory of acquired properties. “Private housing developers will also join the Fair and will offer brand new housing units from t heir ex isting projects,” he added. According to Binay, the shelter agencies have been developing programs that would help Filipino families acquire their own homes. In 2010, Pag-IBIG Fund opened its membership to all

Filipino workers belonging to both the formal and informal sector, whether they are based in the country or overseas. This universal membership coverage means that more workers will be able to avail themselves of the membership benefits of the Fund. Aside from the housing loan privilege, membership benefits include provident savings as well as access to short-term loan programs of the Fund. For those who can afford to pay higher monthly amortizations, Pag-IBIG recently increased from P3 Million to P6 Million the maximum loanable amount a member can borrow. Pag-IBIG also lowered its interest rate from 6% to 4.5% for housing loans up to P400,000 of minimum wage earners. Mea nwhi le, f ive loca l government units (LGUs) will receive Best Practices Awards on the opening day of the Housing Fair. The f ive cities namely Malabon, Metro Manila; San Congressman Rufus B Rodriguez leads the ground breaking ceremony for the P2 million road concreting project in front of the Sacred Heart Academy in Brgy. Bugo. With the Rep. Rodriguez are Sacred Heart Sister Mary Concepcion Perijan, PTA Pres. Dick Gostado, Barangay Chair Raul Aleria, kagawads Alan Igot and Jesus Morial.

DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF TEODORA MAGSALAY ALCANTARA Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late TEODORA P. MAGSALAY ALCANTARA, who was childless and died on November 6, 1996 in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, at the time of her death, left two (2) parcels of paraphernal properties located in Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-46072 and Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-46073 and more particularly described as follows: I. Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-46072 (Lot 1209-A, Psd-10-008130), Located at Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Containing an area of (4,478) square meters more or less. II. Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-46073 (Lot 1209-B, Psd-10-008130), Located at Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. Containing an area of (383) square meters more or less, are the subject of DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF TEODORA MAGSALAY ALCANTARA, made and entered into by and among the legitimate nieces and nephews and sole heirs namely; LITA ECHANO ACEBES, of legal age, married and resident of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir’ ROLANDO ECHANO, representing RICARDO MAGSALAY ECHANO, of legal age, married and resident of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir; LIGAYA ECHANO BAGONGON, of legal age, widow and resident of Cala-cala, Barangay Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir; SUSAN ECHANO SALVACION, of legal age, married and resident of Calacala, Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir; JERPHY MAGSALAY ECHANO, of legal age, widower and resident of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir; and JOSE SHIRLITO MAGSALAY ECHANO, of legal age, married and resident of Cala-cala, Cogon, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, herein referred to as Heir. As per Doc. No. 028, Page No. 007, Book No. XXVI, Series of 2012, under Notary Public of ATTY. SAMUEL B. ARNADO.

there were 627 non-stock groups registered last year. Non-stock corporations are private groups and clubs. SEC is a government a genc y re sp onsible i n

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 41 Cagayan de Oro City 2012-419 OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF File No. 2012-253 NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon Extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135/1508 filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (Pag-ibig) Cagayan de Oro City, against RAQUEL M. AGCOPRA, single, of legal age, Filipino citizen with residence and postal address at Lot 25-P & SOUTHVIEW HOMES, MACASANDIG, Cagayan de Oro City to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of August 24, 2012 amounts to FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY TWO PESOS & 72/100 ONLY (P437,432.72) Philippine Currency, including penalties, charges, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned sheriff or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on November 21, 2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the main entrance of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 41, Capitol Compound, A. Luna Street, Cagayan de Oro City to the highest bidders, for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following personal property to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-192328 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 17-A-1, Psd-10-038456, being a portion of Lot 17-A, (LRC) Psd-45555) situated in the Barangay of Upper Macasandig, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Consisting an area of TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN (277) square meters, more or less. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated date time and place. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date for whatever reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication. Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the property hereinabove described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Cagayan de Oro City, September 21, 2012 FOR THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF By: ALDEN V. SAMBAAN Sheriff IV BWM: OCT. 5, 12 & 19, 2012

Republic of the Philippines REGIOAL TRIAL COURT 10TH Judicial Region Branch 16, Tangub City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT AND EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF-2012-012 Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act 4118 filed by JIMMY P. LIM against FELICIDAD PALER VDA. DE GUCOR to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 2012 amounts to Twenty Thousand Pesos Only (Php. 20,000.00) excluding interest, attorneys fees, and other lawful fees for the service of foreclosure, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at public auction on October 31,2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Br. 16, Tangub City, to the highest bidder in cash, Philippine Currency the herein mortgage property to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-1582 “A parcel of land and all improvements thereon Lot 300-A-2, Psd-10- 041091.portion of Lot 300- A (LRC) Psd. 60028; situated in the Barrio of Dimalooc, City of Tangub, Province of Misamis Occidental, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the SW. 1-2 by Lot 300 –A-1; on the NW. 2-3 by Lot A-II (Road); on the NE. 3-4 by Lot 300 –A-3, all of Psd -10-041091 and on the SE 4-1 by Lot 300-B (LRC) Psd-10-60028. Beginning the point marked “1” on the plan being S.88 deg. 49’W., 582.45m. from BLLM No. 3 Cad 271. Thence: 1-2 N. 43 deg. 21’W., 63.48m. 2-3 N. 46 deg 26’E., 73.69m. 3-4 S. 43 deg 21’E., 63.28m. 4-1 S. 46 deg. 17’W., 73.69m. Containing an area of FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY (4,670) Square meters, more or less. All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above state time, date and place of auction sale. In the event that the public auction should not take place on said date or these is only one bidder, it shall be held on November 5, 2012 at the same time & place without further notice. Bidders are enjoined to investigate for themselves any encumbrance on the herein property if any there be. September 13, 2012, at Tangub City, Philippines. FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: BY: BWM: OCT. 5, 12 & 19, 2012

WILLIAM C. ARANIEGO Sheriff IV

Carlos, Pangasinan; Lipa, Bata ngas; Tag u m, Davao del Norte; and Kidapawan, North Cotabato will receive cash incentives to further strengthen their programs against squatting syndicates and professional squatters. The awarding ceremonies will be led by Binay and representatives from memberagencies of the National Drive Against Professional Squatters and Squatting Syndicates (NDAPSSS), an inter-agency task force composed of 11 national government agencies. “A communit y f ree of professional squatters and squatting sy ndicates w il l bring about a smooth delivery of the government’s housing program to the people, particularly the poor,” Binay said.

Design industry gets boost for competitiveness THE promotion and strengthening of the Philippine design industry are seen with the recent boost it got from lawmakers. A house bill was filed to enhance the competitiveness of the country’s design industry products and services to drive sustainable economic growth. House Bill 6513 or the proposed “Philippine Design Competitiveness Act of 2012,” was authored by Rep. Jorge Banal (3rd District, Quezon City), as he believes that there is a need to review the country’s policy on national design if the government is truly serious about providing support for the millions who work in the various industries and depend on the competitiveness of their firms. The bill provides for the reengineering and renaming of the PDDCP into the Design Center of the Philippines which shall spearhead the creation and implementation of the National Design Policy (NDP). The NDP shall serve as the State’s strategy in promoting design as a driving force towards economic growth. It also provides for the creation of a Design Advisory Council (DAC), a publicprivate partnership and which shall serve as an advisory body to the Design Center of the Philippines. The Design Center of the Philippines shall have an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President, and shall execute and administer the policies and plans approved by the DAC.


BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Developments

October 12-14, 2012

11

Alternative mining policy pushed BY Bong Fabe CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A human rights advocate and one of the principal authors of various pieces of legislation instituting a more sustainable, just and equitable mining policy urged those who are calling for a repeal of the Mining Act of 1995 to create a public clamor to push the Congress to pass within the 15th Congress the Philippine Minerals Resources Act (PMRA). “We need to build a strong constituency that will push for the passage of the bill. Ganyan po ang labanan dito. Hindi yung paano natin sila maiisahan, ngunit kung paano natin imo-mobilize ang public opinion at ang malawak na sektor ng ating lipunan upang itulak ang pagbabasura ng Mining Act of 1995 at ipapalit itong mas progresibong patakaran sa pagmimina,” stressed Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño Jr. during the PartnersMindanao Leaders Summit here last Saturday. This is Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, the summit’s lead convenor, reiterated his earlier call for the need to stop all mining activities all over the country, especially in the city’s watershed areas, until a strict independent scientific research has been done about the effects of mining to all sectors of society, especially to those immediately affected like the rural poor, the environment, the agriculture sector, etc. “We need an impact assessment on mining and logging, including large-scale upland plantations, on environmentally—fragile areas within a proximate radius from the city center; the implications of a ride-river-reef approach in conserving our waterways; and how extractive activities impact on an island ecology,” the prelate said. Ledesma reiterated his five (5) calls regarding mining: (1) For an independent, multi-sectoral monitoring body to periodically examine the actual state of mining and logging activities in the watershed areas of Cagayan de Oro. “This multi-sectoral body should include representatives

of civil society organizations, upland and lowland communities, church leaders and academe. This body should engage government agencies and local government units.” He also called (2) for a comprehensive scientific study of the river basin and watersheds of Cagayan de Oro River and adjoining tributaries; (3) for a broadening of the meaning of “free, prior, and informed consent” (FPIC) to include not only the upland communities but also the downstream communities that will be affected by mining and logging activities; (4) for a clarification of the issue of environmental governance in terms of the prior role of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in issuing clearances, the collective responsibility of city councillors and the chief executive, and the need for transparency and accountability; and (5) the institutionalization of the precautionary principle— that in the face of so many unresolved issues, the more prudent recourse is safety first for the larger community.

Ledesma urged the Christian communities to “treasure gratefully God’s gift of our natural resources, to be vigilant stewards of the environment and to initiate conservation practices.” Casiño, who is running for senator in next year’s midterm elections under the Makabayan party, said public clamor — from whatever communities irrespective of religious affiliation — is the key to push Congress to pass the PMRA, a bill that consolidates all the other bills of similar purpose and intent. The PRMA is now with the Committee on Natural Resources, headed by Surigao del Norte (1st District) Francisco Matugas, who earlier this year promised to approve the bill in the committee, Casiño said. Casiño, one of the convenor of the Dapitan Initiative of 2002— which strengthen the calls for the scrapping of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) and the formulation of an alternative mining policy — said that Matugas’ committee will meet on October 17 to

tackle the PMRA. “Our plan is to move the committee to make a decision to approve the bill and have it submit a committee report to the plenary for second reading,” he said, adding that if they will be successful in next week committee hearing, they will ask the Committee on Rules to have the PMRA taken up in plenary debates. “But based on our

experience, this kind of legislation ay hindi nakukuha sa isang Congress lang. This will be a long drawn-out struggle. And the key here is not in Congress because will we all always be outf lanked by the powerful lobby of the mining companies. They key is in building a network of constituency that will galvanize public opinion that will force the hands of Congress and

Malacañang,” he stressed. He said that while there is a large militant constituency gainst mining at the local level, with local government units passing ordinances banning mining, these so-called antimining advocates have not joined the fray in pushing for the passage of the PMRA. “This requires a lot of education [to get them on board],” he said.

The Media Center BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO

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

Students of Tablon Elementary School together with their teachers receive certificates for the Effective Writing Seminar-Workshop, October 9, 2012 at BWM Media Center. In the picture (L-R) are Training Director for Print Allan M. Mediante, BusinessWeek Mindanao Publisher Dante M. Sudaria and Rose Mary D. Sudaria Photo by: Arjay Felicilda

We grow minds!

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

BusinessWeek Mindanao

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

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


BusinessWeek

12 October 12-14, 2012 Valencia City pioneers Farm Service Provider in Region 10 VALENCIA CITY- As the principal government agency mandated to spur agricultural production, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) introduced an empowering scheme among rural farming communities such as the Farm Service Provider. The said initiative aims to transform existing farm labourers to become efficient agents for the improvement of farming system, in which it pools human resources of a certain area to serve as paid farm workers. Likewise, it seeks to empower farm labourers with

the necessary skills, knowledge and attitude by investing in capability building undertakings, institutional building and provision of basic equipment and tools that are all geared towards quality farm services, thereby resulting to increased productivity and profitability among farmers. The Valencia Service Providers Association comprises 30 members from three barangays, namely: Nabag-o, Tongan-tongan and Colonia, with rice as their commodity in focus and area of operations in Valencia City and other nearby municipalities.

As initial assistance to the association, the DA-10 through the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program provided the association with logistic support in terms of farm tools and equipment, amounting to P 399,450.00. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala personally handed-over the assistance, including 30 units drum seeder, 30 units rotary weeder and 30 units of sickle, during the recently concluded Farmers Field Day and Technology Forum at the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center on September 27, 2012.

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Ulysses P. Ortega, DPA (left photo) of LSD, DA-10 relates to the participants the local issues on waste management and offers a re-entry plan to address such concern during the three-day Waste Management and Biogas Technology Training where it aims to amplify technical staff and stakeholders’ awareness over the matter to stir suitable and efficient action on managing waste among legislators.

Mitigate climate change thru waste management - DA Malaybalay City, Bukidnon – In support to DA’s climate change interventions, the Livestock Sector Division (LSD) of the Department of Agriculture-10 (DA-10) conducted a threeday Waste Management and Biogas Technology training to 36 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) from the Local Government Units (LGUs) within the region last September 12-14, 2012 at the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center, this city. The said activity aims to increase AEWs and farmers’ awareness on proper waste management, specifically on agricultural wastes by applying biogas technology to mitigate the adverse effects brought by change climate. It also promotes the use of biogas digester, which mainly operates on the principle of anaerobic digestion that converts animal, human and agricultural waste into an economical and high quality fuel called biogas. Biogas can be used to run engine, in cooking, lighting and ironing clothes. Approximately, 5-6 m3 biogas is enough for one hour of ironing clothes which originally consumes around 1 kWh. On average, one cubic meter biogas contains 5,000 to 6,000 kcal of heat value which is equivalent to 0.6 liter kerosene or 1.5 kilogram charcoal or 3.5 kilograms firewood. Thus, by using biogas, consumption of commercial energy is lessened

PRIMARY CARE BENEFIT 1 LAUNCHING AND PHILHEALTH MOVES Primary care benefits 1 launching and Philhealth Moves was first launched in Kitaotao,Bukidnon October 04, 2012. Activity was held at the Municipal gym of this town attended by all constituents especially from barangays who were also philhealth beneficiaries.Mayor Rodito Rafisura gave his welcome address and the presentation of the Overview of the Primary Health Benefits Package 1 was tackled by the PHIC Representative Mr. Romulo M Lapuz Jr ,Local Head Health Insurance office,Valencia ci t y, Bu k i d n o n .T h e M unicipal health office of kitaotao recieved a check of 1.185 million from Philheal th and phi lheal th beneficiaries also recieved their identification cards on that same day.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region Branch 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte NOTICE OF SALE OF EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY WHEREAS, by virtue of an Order granting for the issuance of a Writ of Execution issued by the HON. ROSITE B. PAPANDAYAN-MACARAYA, Judge of the 6th MCTC Tubod Baroy Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte and a Writ of Execution was issued the same on August 12, 2010, in Civil Case No. 1271 entitled SPOUSES JOSPICIO T. PALANAS AND MERCEDES B. PALANAS versus RODRIGA REQUINO, for the recovery of the sum ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php100,000.00) PESOS plus interest, plus Sheriff’s fees and expenses, awarded by the court, levy was made by Sheriff Conrado V. Hingco Jr. on July 25, 2012, thru the Register of Deeds of Lanao del Norte, on the rights, interests, and participation of the said property more particularly described as follows. The one half share of the childrens of Rodriga Requino only of the described property below is the subject of this sheriff’s auction sale thru its compromise agreement approved by the court and their failure to pay their debts to the complainant spouses Palanas “A parcel of Agricultural Land situated Salong, Baroy, Lanao del Norte with an area of 14,767 square meters more or less under Original Certificate of Title No. P-7834 in the name of Regino Requino married to Rodriga Requino. Bounded on the South along line 1-2 by Lot No. 1142-M, Csd-12-001667 on the West along line 2-3-4 by Road; on the North along line 4-5 by Lot No. 1142-A, Csd-12-001667 and on the East along line 5-1 by Lot No. 1142-K, Csd-12-001667 all the improvements found thereon. NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of said Writ Execution and in accordance with Rule 39, Section 19, of the Rules of Court, Sheriff CONRADO V. HINGCO JR. will sell at public auction to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, on November 27, 2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning/afternoon or soon thereafter, at RTC Branch 7, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, the ownership, rights, interests, and participation of Judgment debtor Children’s of Rodriga Requino, in the above-described real property in order to satisfy said Writ of Execution, together with interest, costs, sheriff’s fees and the expenses of sale. Date this 3rd day of October 2012 at Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF Tubod, Lanao del Norte

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region Branch 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF No.: 169-07-2012

NOTICE OF SALE OF EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY

Upon the Extra Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135/1508, as amended, filed by the 1st Valley Bank Inc., Baroy, Lanao del Norte against MARGARITO B. OPAY, Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte to satisfy the indebtedness which as of March 1, 2012 amounting to TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php 200,000.00) excluding penalties, changes, attorney’s fee and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on 27th day of November 2012 at 10:00 AM or soon thereafter at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 07, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all its improvements, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-23,465 “A parcel of land Lot 1954-G, Psd-10-046568 being a portion of Lot 1954, Lala Pls-13 situated in Brgy. Bagong Dawis, Mun. of Baroy Prov. Of Lanao del Norte Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the NE., along line 1-2 by Lot 1954-I, (ROAD LOT) ; on the SE., along line 2-3 by Lot 1954-F; on the SW., along line 3-1 by Lot 1954-H, all of the subd. Plan Psd-10-046568. Together all the improvement found thereon; Area: 399 sq.m. “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date. Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, this October 4, 2012. For the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff CONRADO V. HINGCO JR. Sheriff IV

CONRADO V. HINGCO JR. Sheriff IV BWM: OCT. 12, 19 & 26, 2012

while addressing environmental degradation as well. Aside from this benefit, residue from biogas production such as fermented organic materials called sludge is a good soil conditioner containing essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In addition, dried sludge can be used as animal feed providing 10% of swine and cattle feed requirement and 50% for ducks. Important local issues on waste management were discussed by Mr. Ortega of LSD, DA-10 in which he introduced a re-entry plan about the matter highlighting the importance of self-discipline in disposing waste materials. To strengthen this advocacy, the DA ensues to establish a 30 m3 biogas digester at the Malaybalay Stock Farm to supply electricity within the station. Likewise, the department is looking forward to create a waste management congress to intensify awareness among concerned individuals the importance of properly managing agricultural and household wastes. After the series of discussions, the training concluded with a technology exposure to the actual and operational biogas digester designed by Mr. Fermelo Enaya and Mr. Napoleon Lancin located at Opol and El Salvador, Misamis Oriental respectively. # (Ruthceli O. Alfeche, DA-10)

BWM: OCT. 12, 19 & 26, 2012

WHEREAS, by virtue of an Order granting for the issuance of a Writ of Execution issued by the Hon. Allan L. Flores, Regional Trial Court Judge Branch 07, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and a Writ of Execution was issued the same on September 19, 2011, in Civil Case No. SPL Case No. 00707-2009 entitled ELIZABETH LONGCOB-LONTAYAO versus CRISPOLO LONGCOB, CARIDAD LONGCOB-CABANAS, CERELINO LONGCOB, ROMEO LONGCOB, for the recovery of the sum ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php150,000.00) PESOS plus interest, plus Sheriff’s fees and expenses, awarded by the court, levy was made by Sheriff Conrado V. Hingco Jr. on January 18, 2012, thru the Register of Deeds of Lanao del Norte, on the rights, interests, and participation of the said property more particularly described as follows: “A parcel of Agricultural Land situated Bualan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte with an area of 1,3191 square meter more or less under Cadastral Lot No. 4466-B, Assessor’s Lot No. 004, Tax Declaration No. G-0400556. Covered by Certificate of Title No. P-8228, more particularly described as follows; North Lot No. 4465, South East Lot No. 4466-A, East, North East Road Lot No. 4465, West Road Lot. With all the improvements found thereon. NOW THEREFORE, by virtue of said Writ of Execution and in accordance with Rule 39, Section 19, of the Rules of Court, Sheriff CONRADO V. HINGCO JR. will sell at public auction to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, on November 26, 2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning/afternoon or soon thereafter, at RTC Branch 7, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, the ownership, rights, interests, and participation of Judgment debtor Spouses ELIZABETH and NESTOR LONTAYAO, in the above-described real property in order to satisfy said Writ of Execution, together with interest, costs, sheriff’s fees and the expenses of sale. Date this 3rd day of October 2012 at Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. CONRADO V. HINGCO JR. Sheriff IV BWM: OCT. 12, 19 & 26, 2012


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.