BusinessDaily (August 7, 2013)

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Volume III, No. 272

Market Indicators As of 6:12 pm AUG. 6, 2013 (Tuesday)

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Briefly Farm -to - market roads THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is seek ing bid s to construct six farm-to-market roads in Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte under contracts worth a total P19.74 million.

The DA said that the following farm-to-market roads would be built in Calamba, Misamis Occidental: a 287-meter road worth P2.766 million in Brgy. Singalat, a 200m road worth P2.01 million in Brgy. San Isidro, a 108-m road worth P1.085 million in Brgy.

Magcamiguing, and a 210-m road worth P2.061 million in Brgy. Calaran.

In Lanao del Norte, an 840-m farm-to-market road worth P8.865 million would be built in Poona Piagapo, and a 340-m such road worth P2.955 million, in Pantar.

Kadayawan CHOICES of Filipino dishes will be featured this August in time for the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival where most of the restaurants and hotels in the city showcase all about Kadayawan festivities for a celebration of nature’s bountiful harvest of the land and sea.

O f fer ing an array of sumptuous and delicious Filipino fare, like the case of “The White House” where it treats diners that would make one want for more of its Kadayawan sa Dabaw Feast offering.

The White House co-owner Cathy Binag said diners could delightfully sink their teeth into the wonderful taste of the “Real Kare-Kare” made with sauteed roasted rice, Ox tail, Ox tripe with separate peanut sauce and steamed vegetables.

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Brownouts get worse as power supply dips August 7, 2013

steag’s other generator bogs down

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By IRENE DAYAO, Reporter

INDANAO’S already deficient power supply further gets deeper with one of Steag State Power, Inc. (SPI) generators has to undergo an unscheduled shutdown starting July 29 due to technical problems, the company statement said Monday.

SHUTDOWN. Steag State Power Inc. contributes at least 20% of power generation mix to the Mindanao grid. But with one of its two units under preventive maintenance work and another generator experiencing problems, longer brownouts are now imminent in many parts of the island.

This is on top of Steag’s rout ina r y prevent ive maintenance works on one of its two 105MW units which began July 27 up to August 24.

Based on Nat iona l Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) power outlook for Monday this week, the country’s second largest island group’s power

supply deficit for the day stood at 65 megawatts (MW).

This, after system capacity totaled to 1,218 MW while system peak is expected at 1,283 MW. On the contrary, Luzon, which is the largest island group, has a n expected reserve of 1,113 MW while Visayas has a projected reserve of 274 MW. SPI Power Plant Manager Dr. Carsten Evers said the shutdown is a must to limit supply/PAGE 11

ERC okays less Mindanao generates $4-B worth of agri exports energy costs

By JUDY QUIROS Contributor

ILIGAN City --The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) may lessen the cost of ancillary services (AS) charges by 30 to 40 percent than the current structure for the same amount of reserves.

This is after the Energy Regulator y Commission (ERC) recent ly g ra nted prov isiona l aut horit y to NGCP to i mplement its Anci l lar y Ser v ice Procurement Agreement (ASPA) with three Aboitizowned power firms – SN ERC/PAGE 11

john gaisano

DAVAO City -- Mindanao remains as the country’s premier food source and a g r ibu si ne s s pro duc er, generat ing more t ha n $4-billion worth of agricultural exports and accounting for 60 percent of t h e c ou nt r y ’s t ot a l agricultural exports in 2012.

This was according to Mindanao Development Au t h o r i t y (M i n DA) c h a i r p er s on, S e c re t a r y Luwa lhati R . Antonino, during the 1st Mindanao Exporters Congress held exports/PAGE 11

AGRI EXPORTS. A farmer sorts coconut at his farm in Mati, Davao Oriental before carving out the meat for copra, which is a raw material in producing coconut oil. mindanews file photo by keith bacongco

All systems go for 22nd Minbizcon

DAVAO Cit y -- “It’s a ll systems go,” announced Joh n G a is a no, Jr., conference director of this year’s Mindanao Business

Conference (MinBizCon), the biggest annual gathering of business leaders, policymakers, exporters, traders, and exhibitors in

the island-region.

He said that as of Tuesday, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (DCCCII),

the lead organizer of the event confirmed more than 300 pre-event registrations from expected participants, minbizcon/PAGE 11

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Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . caraga . davao E-mail: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com

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Japan commits to help SMEs ARMM endorses P50-M master plan DAVAO CITY—The Japanese government is committed to continuously help the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Takahiro Sasaki said JICA is determined to provide assistance on the gaps being experienced and identified by the local SMEs by sharing

its expertise through various programs it is implementing with different organizations.

In the case of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), JICA is extending some assistance to SMEs through the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP).

The NICCEP, which is a three-year technical cooperation funded by JICA and started last year, strives to enhance the capacity of selected industry clusters throughout the country to plan, implement, facilitate service delivery, evaluate projects, and improve industry competitiveness and business environment.

The priority industry clusters are: milkfish, dairy, coffee, bamboo, tourism, information and communications technology (ICT), health and wellness, and wearables and homestyles for Luzon; gifts, decors, and housewares (GDH), tourism, ICT, and health and wellness for Visayas; and, banana, mango, coconut, seaweeds, wood, mining, tourism, ICT, rubber, poultry, tuna, and palm oil for Mindanao.

Sasaki recognized the NICCEP for its contribution to the country’s economic development as it generates income and jobs for the middle class business sector. japan/PAGE 11

Exporters confident on 2013 performance

DAVAO CITY – Exporters in the country still expressed confidence that the industry could rebound in the remaining quarters of 2013, despite the slight reduction in performance of the Philippine export of eight percent from $4.93 billion in May, 2012, to $4.89 in the same month this year.

Philippine Export Confederation (PhilExport) national president Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., in his address during the recent opening of the 1st Mindanao Exporters Congress at the SMX Convention here, said the slight reduction in exports came inthe wake of the lingering recession in the confident/PAGE 11

COTABATO CITY—The Department of Public Works and Highways of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DPWH-ARMM) is reviving the mothballed flood control master plan to address squarely the frequent inundations that currently affected more than 50,000 families in Maguindanao, and this city as well as neighboring North Cotabato towns.

The blueprint has been archived at the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which absorbed the assets and functions of the defunct Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development (TFMRBRD).

The task force, formerly chaired by Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, was bankrolled with a P50-million fund to craft and complete the master plan. But before the blueprint could be carried out, President Aquino abolished the ad hoc office in 2011.

DPWH-ARMM Secretary Emil Sadain said he will strongly endorse to central office and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) the blueprint for possible use and funding after reviewing it amid the flooding of 18 towns in Maguindanao, and many villages here last week.

But due to lack of technical expertise, the MinDA has not reviewed, modified, or carried out the plan, said Sadain, who reviewed the plan last month.

“We’ve reviewed and found it (master plan) very viable against perennial flooding. We will endorse it for adoption and funding by the DPWH main office and/or the JICA,” Sadain said.

As this developed, Sadain flew to Manila Friday to meet the consultants who made the plan and “get more insights” on its recommendations before making his endorsement to the DPWH and the JICA. The master plan prescribes for the dredging of the two heavily silted exit streams of the marsh – the vast Rio Grande de Mindanao and the Tamontaka River – and the forming of dikes on their banks out of sediments excavated from such waterways.

When piled up to a height substantial to prevent flood, the soil dikes should be planted with bamboos and strong ARMM/PAGE 11

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Banking&Finance

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3 BDO targets bulk of returning Japanese firms BSP mounts exhibit teaching children value of savings BDO Unibank has tied up with several Japanese banks to facilitate financial support to companies from Japan keen on setting up shop in the Philippines.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, BDO said it signed p a r t ne r s h ip s w it h t h e following Japanese regional banks: Hokuto Bank, Ltd., Shonai Bank, Ltd., Joyo Bank, Ltd., Chiba Kogyo Bank, Ltd., Juroku Bank, Ltd., Awa Bank, Ltd., and Daisan Bank, Ltd. The partnerships come in the wake of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that BDO and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) signed last March. The MOU provides a framework under which the Japanese regional banks can extend financial support to small and medium enterprises

(SMEs) that want to establish businesses in the Philippines.

BDO is the second major Philippine bank to venture into the Japanese corporate market in recent years. Bank of the Philippine Islands last year opened a Japan desk to cater to this segment of corporate demand.

A growing number of Japanese companies that left the Philippines for China

have been reconsidering a return amid political tensions between the two north Asian cou nt r ie s , r i si ng labor costs in the mainland and Manila’s improving economic prospects.

In the first five months of the year, Japanese pledges accounted for the bulk of investments registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) over the weekend opened its first exhibit for children at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center, Quezon City, aimed at introducing them to savings and spending money at an early age.

Dubbed “Money Mattes for Kids,” the exhibit will introduce the concepts of money, savings and spending, according to BSP Assistant Governor Johnny Noe Ravalo.

He said nurturing the va lue of sav i ng a mong children can help increase the country’s savings rate of 23 percent, which is low compared to other Asean member-countries.

“The awareness of saving more is something you expect

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will accrue over time and that will be the benefit,” Ravalo said.

The exhibit complements ef for t s of t he ba n k i ng industry, with 12 lenders offering deposit accounts for kids that require as low as P100 to open an account and no maintaining balance.

The BSP will mount the exhibit in different cities and municipalities across the country, to enable the agency to cover more ground in teaching the citizenry to become disciplined savers, conscious spenders, and smart consumers at an early bsp/PAGE 10

DOF mulls transfer of post-entry audit, importer accreditation THE Bureau of Customs will no longer be responsible for auditing imports and accrediting importers, after the Department of Finance (DOF) decided to transfer these tasks to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“One of the measures we are going to present to the President is the transferring of some accreditation and post-audit requirements

of [Customs] to the BIR,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said.

Purisima said the BIR not on ly ha s more competent people, but also has a bet ter IT system.

Post-entr y audit entai ls determining the correct v a lu e s of i mp or t s a nd assigning the proper tariffs, whereas accreditat ion involves background

checking on individuals or companies seeking licenses to import.

“In our experience in [Customs], while we are able to identify some smugglers, we have difficulty in finding t he compa ny because [Customs] has been given a wrong address,” he said.

In his fourth State-ofthe-Nation Address (SONA), President Benigno Aquino

I I I c r it ic i z e d Cu s tom s among three agencies where corruption is rampant and incompetence run high.

On t he he el s of t he President’s tirade, Customs Commissioner Ruf ino Biazon, a fellow Liberal Pa r t y member who lost i n t he 2 010 s e n ator i a l elections, offered to resign, but the President asked him to stay on.

D u r i n g M o n d a y ’s press conference, Biazon welcomed the DOF move, saying, “This will definitely be a big help as the BIR does not only have more t ra i ned people i n aud it and taxation, but they also have more stringent audit procedures.”

He however asked for time to “iron out” some matters such as “valuation

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a n d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n” o f imports before the audit function is transferred.

On the transfer of the accred it at ion f u nc t ion, Bia z on s a id , “ T he BI R would be the best agency to determine the legitimacy of companies as they have extensive records and more comprehensive procedures in verif y ing t he rea l existence of companies.”

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AseanWatch

MinBizCon to tackle ASEAN business integration GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The business sector is ready to present tomorrow (Thursday) an eight-point Mindanao policy agenda to show their readiness for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

Ricardo Juliano, Mindanao Business Conference 2013 conference chair, said the policy agenda will be presented at the opening of the 22nd MinBizCon with President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivering the keynote address. Fourteen Cabinet secretaries are expected to discuss various issues with Mindanao’s business executives.

The eight-point agenda is based on the five regional consultations the MinBizCon 2013 organizers conducted a few months ago, said John Gaisano, conference director of the host city of Davao.

The issues raised in the business agenda are Agriculture, Power, Tourism, Transport

and logistics, Skills development, Small and Medium Enterprises, Information and Communications Technology, and Mining.

Juliano, also PCCI vice president for Mindanao, said the conference will help Mindanao prepare for a bigger market and opportunities that will arise as a result of the integration of ASEAN economies.

Juliano explained that “in simple terms, the ASEAN will become one big single market and production base.”

The integration also seeks to make the ASEAN “a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development and a region fully integrated

into the global economy.”

“The ASEAN economic integration is an opportunity to be a lot better and for Mindanao particularly, it is an opportunity to shine,” Juliano said.

For the looming integration of ASEAN economies, Juliano said Mindanao has competitive edge due to its still vast fertile lands, tourism spots and geographically closer locations to some countries in the

PHL, Vietnam to seek ASEAN negotiations with China on maritime Code of Conduct TH E Ph i l ippi nes a nd Vietnam will try to persuade ot her ASEA N members at a meeting in Thailand this month to go beyond mere consultations and go on to negotiations on the Code of Conduct on their maritime disputes when the 10-member bloc meets with China later this year.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said Manila and Hanoi agreed to pitch to the Association of t he Sout heast Asia n Nations, including two other claimants in the South China Sea — Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam — not to settle for mere consultations but instead go for a “negotiation stage” in September.

“We wanted to take a giant steps with China [in terms of the COC]. It is supposed to be just a consultation meeting, but we want to be able to bring it to a negotiation stage,” he said. Should the 10-member bloc agree to the Manila-Hanoi proposal, they will bring up the matter at the ASEAN-China meeting in September in Beijing.

The Beijing meeting is the first time China has agreed to hold consultations with ASEAN as a bloc on the drafting of the Code of C onduc t for pa r t ies in t he Sout h China Sea [which the Philippines calls West Philippine Sea], an instrument that is backed by the United States and is

ASEAN threatens PHL sugar THE Trade Department has expressed concern over the competitiveness of the local sugar industry come 2015, when tariff barriers are to be eliminated as a part of the economic integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations into a single market. “[The tariff reduction] is programmed under the ASEAN. We have no choice. To be able to compete, the Agriculture Department should have incentives in place already. The support is with them, with sugar being part of its agricultural mandate,” Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.

Domingo said the reduction of tariff on sugar would have a big impact on the local industry.

Sugar import tariff would be cut from 38 percent in 2010 to 18 percent in 2013 and further to 10 percent by 2014. By 2015, tariff will be down to 5 percent.

The government is concerned that without a firm action plan, farmers and sugar millers would have a difficult time competing with imports. (MST)

ASEAN region like the predominantly Muslim Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

It is a lso a good oppor tunit y for Mindanao’s food manufacturing sector to capture a bigger market by focusing on halal production, he said.

The 22nd Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) will be held on August 8 to 10 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier. (PNA)

China seen increasing ASEAN imports

THE Philippines’ manufacturing sector is expected to get a boost from China’s recent pledge to increase its imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as part of its rebalancing effort after bilateral trade started to favor China in the second half of 2012.

China’s exports of ordinary and processed goods to the ASEAN have been increasing rapidly over the years, said Willem Thorbecke, senior fellow of the Research Institute of Economy, Trade, and Industry in Japan, in an August 1, 2013 briefing in Manila.

In contrast, its imports from the region have tapered a little over the past few years, he noted during his talk on “Understanding the PRC’s Evolving Trade Patterns.”

In 2012, trade between China and the ASEAN hit $400.1 billion, up 10.2 percent over the preceding year, with an average annual growth rate of 22 percent.

Chinese exports totaled $204.3 billion, while imports amounted to $195.8 billion last year, leaving China with a seen as a way to manage the does not include a dispute trade surplus of $8.5 billion, Chinese government statistics territorial disputes in the settlement mechanism; it show. is just a means for holding China is ASEAN’s biggest trade partner, and the ASEAN region.

T he C ode , howe ver, code/PAGE 10 is China’s third largest trade partner.

For the Philippines in particular, exports to China have been inching up, although they have leveled off somewhat of late, said Thorbecke, with trade between the two going in China’s favor.

THE Bank of the Philippine Islands “Right now, we’re properly sized... Data gathered by the National Statistics Office show is prepared for ASEAN integration to do what we need to do,” Consing that Philippine exports to China amounted to $572 million in May 2013, while imports totaled $727.4 million. This and considers itself at present big said. enough to be relevant.

But he said that they are not has created a two-way trade value of $1.3 billion and a Cezar Consing, BPI president and closing their doors to mergers and trade deficit of $155.4 million for the Philippines during the month.

CEO, said that while some sectors acquisitions. of the economy may not be ready “If opportunities arise, we’ll Thorbecke said the slowdown since 2007 of Philippine for the integration the banking look. But to say we’ll go out there shipments, particularly of electronic products, to China industry is pepared. and look, that would be inaccurate,” could be traced to “structural issues,” including those on infrastructure, power costs, and corruption.

As for BPI, Consing said “we Consing said. are positioning the bank to support Economic integration among These concerns need to be addressed to make the the growth of and benefit from the members of the Association of Philippines’ business environment friendlier to foreign growth of our local economy,” Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) direct investments and bolster the competitiveness of the parts and components sector in the Chinese and even “We don’t need to acquire another pushes through by 2015. bank... We have enough scale to be Leaders of the ASEAN members global markets, he said. relevant to our clients,” Consing last April affirmed their commitments He further said that the Philippines would benefit said. to t he creation of t he ASEAN from the coming ASEAN economic unification. “The But Consing said that banks from Economic Community (AEC), which more integrated (the region is) the easier for parts and Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and hopes to “transform ASEAN into a components to go back and forth within the region,” he told Indonesia are, by far, still bigger region with free movement of goods, Philexport News and Features in an exclusive interview. than Philippine banks.

BPI/PAGE 10 imports/PAGE 10

BPI ready for AEC 2015

100 kids in MisOr receive school supplies, rain gears from DOLE CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) -- Some 100 indigent children coming from a number of barangays in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental province received school supplies and rain gears from the Department of Labor and Employment-Eastern Misamis Oriental (DOLE-EMO) Provincial Field Office.

These kids, who are in kindergarten, elementary and high school, are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The school supplies, uniforms, and rain gears were funded from the proceeds of the “Lakaw ta Para sa Bata, Tibuok Amihanang Mindanao,” a region-wide walk for cause headed by the DOLE during the Labor Day celebration last May 1.

The distribution ceremony held recently in Tagoloan Covered Court also highlighted the launching of DOLE’s Angel Tree Project in the municipality in support to the Child Labor Free Municipality Program.

Project Angel Tree gathers and grants the wishes of child laborers through the building up of a network of patrons and supporters to the national efforts against child labor.

Meanwhile, interested benefactors may contact the DOLE-EMO Provincial Field Office at the Corner Motoomull and Dugenio Streets in Gingoog City with telefax number (8842) 7051. They may also visit the DOLE-EMO satellite office at Villa Manga, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. (Monadette N. Balanay/DOLE-EMO/APB/PIA-10)

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Hillary Clinton lauds Philippines’ environmental protection efforts THE Philippines’ environmental protection efforts under President Benigno Aquino III continue drawing international accolade, the latest of which came from former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

From reef to ridge: A stroll through PHL’s latest ASEAN Heritage Park (1st of 3 Parts)

By Philipp Gassner

PLUMMETING down a 500-meter deep valley on your trip is perhaps not the most tempting outlook for most readers. But once you become finally conscious about the fact that you are safely strapped to a reassuringly strong steel cable, spanning the whopping 1.5 kilometers between two mountain ridges, you might actually enjoy this unique zip-line experience in Misamis Occidental, Mindanao.

As soon as the adrenaline rush settles down a little, it is worthwhile taking a glance around: the mountain Barangay Hoyohoy behind you, Barangay Guimad in front of you, Ozamiz 850-meter lower; on the coastline to the right, Mount Malindang to the left and Labo River, running down the mountain range, beyond you.

In next to no time you will make out a remarkable difference between the lush and vivid rain forest on the left side, and the landscape on the right side, featuring bare land and endless parallel rows of monotonous palm plantations.

ASEAN Heritage Parks: Answer to staggering deforestation Sadly, the latter represents much of the presentday Philippines, and Southeast Asia for that matter.

Only about 15-percent forest cover is left in the once entirely woody Philippines, with one-third lost just between 1990 and 2005.

In Southeast Asia deforestation accounts for a jawdropping 555,587 square kilometers (sq km) between 1980 and 2007, equivalent to the total area of Thailand.

This ravage of ecosystems has dire consequences for mankind, including the alteration of local and global climates, soil erosion, pollution of water resources, extinction of species and desertification, among many others.

Accordingly, deforestation is estimated to reduce the global gross domestic product (GDP) by about 7 percent in 2050, if only measured in economic terms.

However, we cannot afford to lose forests as the livelihoods for hundreds of millions of indigenous people, the warrant of a stable climate and ultimately for its intrinsic value and beauty.

A beauty worth defending. Galvanized by such sad and costly effects, it is imperative to preserve the indispensable values of our natural ecosystems and resources, which brings us back to the left side of the picture: the Mount Malindang Range Natural Park, part of the 10 percent to 15 percent of the world’s land surface that is categorized as protected areas.

The Philippines feature 240 of such protected areas, which proved to be the single most effective way of conservation. Since environmental problems, however, are not confined to individual countries like the Philippines, protection beyond national boarders is essential.

For Southeast Asia, such supra-national protection is realized through the network of Asean Heritage Parks (AHPs), areas of high conservation importance, preserving an inclusive and representative spectrum stroll/PAGE 10

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretar y R a mon Paje s a id M rs .

Clinton recently wrote the Phi lippine President to commend the government for such efforts including the landmark June 2013 destruction of $10-million worth of confiscated ivory tusks weighing some 5,000 tons and smuggled into the country from Africa.

“Last week, we received

that letter from Mrs. Clinton who said she’s happy the Philippines is doing right,” Paje said Friday in Metro Manila during the awarding ceremony for winners of the search for solid waste m a n a ge me nt (S W M) champions in the Manila Bay Region.

He assured President Aquino’s administration will continue spearheading environmental protection efforts nationwide so future

generations of Filipinos can have natural resources to enjoy, sustainably use and benefit from.

Prior to receiving Mrs. Clinton’s commendation, Philippine environmental protection efforts secured favorable rev iews f rom international non-prof it policy organization Revenue Watch I nst it ute (RW I) a nd proponent s of t he Environmental Performance Index.

RE a major PHL program — Alvarez FAR from neglecting renewable energy sources, the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III significantly advanced the country’s clean and sustainable energy program.

Climate Change Commission (CCC) Commissioner and former Senator Heherson Alvarez gave such clarification in response to Greenpeace’s statement expressing grave disappointment over the President’s statement on coal-driven energy during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Alvarez said the PNoy administration is in fact pursuing a two-track energy program – first, an expedient program based on coal and fossil fuels to sustain high economic growth rate and, second, a strategy of developing clean energy sources that could ultimately displace fossil fuels.

He said the Philippines is the leading user of renewable energy in Asia.

“While our power plant base loads are still reliant on hydrocarbons, renewable energy in the country’s diversified energy mix is registering a significant and growing share,” he noted.

Stressing that increasingly broader reliance on renewable energy is the goal, Alvarez said economic realities dictate the expedient use of hydrocarbons for power generation as the Philippines strives for

stability and growth.

“Without a measured shift to alternative energy, the Philippine economy would definitely be set back since green technologies cannot yet compete with fossil fuel prices which do not ref lect the heavy costs of pollution and environmental destruction,” he said.

Alvarez cited key programs mandated by the President, as chair of CCC, through three resolutions issued recently to the agency. program/PAGE 10

Environment protection is a ‘gut issue’ — Loren SENATOR L oren L ega rda yesterday lamented that despite all the hard work and advocacy to increase awareness to protect the environment, the damage to the environment has not be reversed. “ T h i s i s b e c au s e prote c t i ng t he environment is a gut issue,” she said.

L ega rd a , who is a lso lead i ng a n environment protection advocacy, stressed that every Filipino, in fact, every person on earth, has “an equal obligation to protect Mother Earth.”

“It is not only the responsibility of government and concerned organizations to come up with policies and action plans in the fight against climate change and global warming. Individuals also have an

equal obligation to protect Mother Earth and make this their daily mantra,” she said.

With the new normal now upon us, “everbody is challenged anew to work together and act as one in strengthening the capacity of communities for reducing risk and building resilience against disasters and climate change,” she said.

She also urged Filipinos to adopt an “environment-conscious” lifestyle.

“We should clean and protect our rivers and lakes. We should push for communitybased heritage tourism and ensure that climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction are issues that are understood (down to) the barangay level,” she said.

(BDF)

During the ceremony, Paje led officials who recognized and awarded winners of the SWM search which covered shopping malls in regions III (Central Luzon) and IVA (Calabarzon). lauds/PAGE 10

Ozamiz CDRRMC conducts awareness contests on NDCM OZAMIZ CITY—Some 45 high school students have participated in an Oratorical, Essay-Writing and Drawing Contest on the sub-theme “Safer Ozamiz: Progressive Ozamiz.”

Held at t he La Sa l le University-Integrated School (LSU-IS), here, all 15 high schools in the city were represented in each of the contest.

The sub-theme was an offshoot of this year’s NDCM theme: “Ligtas na Bayan, Ligtas na Pamayanan” (Safer Communities, Progressive Communities), Mark Vincent Israel, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) Officer, said.

“We have invited you here, not only to win, but because we wanted to know the level of your awareness on how to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the risk of disasters in our lives,” he told the contestants.

Stressing t he role of the youth, Israel said “We cannot do anything to stop the calamities, but we can do things to adapt to it so damage to properties can be minimized and loss of lives can be prevented.”

And so we will welcome your suggestions a nd proposals, which you will interpret in your oratorical piece, in your essay and in your drawings, the CDRRM Officer said.

Meanwhile, the following st udent s were decla red winners in the contests: contests/PAGE 10

4th Mech KALASAG conducts IED awareness campaign

By Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, August 5 (PIA) -- A joint team of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) experts headed by the fourth Mechanized Infantry (Kalasag) Battalion, Philippine Army, conducted an (IED) Awareness in the Gaisano Supermall parking lot, on August 2 this city.

Around 140 participants composed of security heads and personnel, as well as the establishment’s sales supervisors were among those who heard the lectures shared by the 35th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team and the EOD unit from the PNP- Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) led by P/SInsp. Oliver Pableo.

The discussion focused on the IED familiarization, it’s devastating effects and

the bomb threat management.

Lt. Col Danilo G, Ibon, commanding officer, based in Camp Climaco Pintoy, Barangay Suarez, Iligan City, said with the recent bombing incident in Cagayan de Oro City, it is important for us to be attentive of our surroundings to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

“It is only through our joint efforts, both the civilian and the military, that we may be able to counter the harmful plans of the heartless terrorists, thus, let us be vigilant in doing our part as concerned Iliganons,” LtCol Ibon said. (LVG/PIA-10 LDN/1Lt George A. Bearneza Jr/4th Mech)

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Be first

T

THINK

hi n k a mi nute… A mother had not spoken A Minute to her son for 3 years because By Jhan Tiafau Hurst of an argument they had.

Even af ter 3 years t he mother was still offended and felt her son should apologize first, not her.

By now she had become ve r y s ic k a nd w a s e ve n planning on dying without making peace with her son.

But finally, the mother decided to be the f irst to humble herself and ask her son to forgive her.

Immediately her son apologized to her and they became close friends again.

You know, when we choose to stay angry and hold a grudge against someone, we believe the lie that our being right is more important than our being happy and healthy.

But it’s not!

The only way to be at peace in your own life is for you to forgive others.

You be wise and strong enough to be the one to apologize, even if you’re older.

You be the peacemaker and take the first step.

Yet sadly, many of us would rather boil in our anger because we feel the other person was wrong and they owes us an apology.

You see, maybe we were right.

But life’s just too short to wait for everybody in life who has wronged us to finally come to us first and apologize.

It just isn’t going to happen that way.

So the sooner we swallow our pride and be the peacemaker, the sooner we’ll be free and happy.

That’s exactly what God the Son, Jesus Christ, did for you and me.

We are the ones who wronged and rejected God, yet He still loved us enough to humiliate Himself by becoming a human being to live and die for all our wrongs against Him and others.

He did it so you and I could be at peace with him both now and forever after we die. hurst/PAGE 7

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Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessdailymindanao@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)

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blame for this violence on the akampi desire of certain groups to use Mo A ng Batas Mindanao for very strategic

By Atty. Batas Mauricio economic, political, social, and military advantage. What is the truth in all these?

-ooo W H Y I S V IOL E N C E GR IPPING MINDANAO? Over and above the quest for truth on who is responsible for these bombings should be the search for the “why?” or the “cause” of it all. Why are these happening? What caused all of these? This kind of an approach may yet provide us with a clue on what to do to eliminate or at least minimize the death and destruction arising from incidents like these.

For sure, there will be a lot of theories and suggestions on what is causing these bombings, and many may even dig up and relate them to the case of a foreigner whose lower limbs were blasted away in a Davao City hotel, presumably by a bomb he was tinkering with himself, and who was suddenly taken out of the city, to the dismay and chagrin of city officials.

Indeed, there are many things that do not fit in all batas/PAGE 7

K

The power of communication

he month-long anniversary celebration of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) ended on a high note last week with yet another recognition for BSP Governor and Monetary Board Chairman Amando M. Tetangco Jr. Tetangco, last year’s “Central Banker of the Year for Asia” according to The Banker and Emerging Markets, was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Business Communicators – Philippines at the 2013 CEO Excel Awards last July 26.

The CEO Excel Awards recognizes top-level executives who have led their organizations towards achieving their objectives in business, environment or social development, through the skillful use of communication strategies and tools.

BSP’s beloved “Gov. Say” was chosen as this year’s Top Awa rdee for ta k ing t he lead in creat ing a nd communicating monetary policies that have strengthened confidence in our economy and have led us to our first ever investment grade rating.

In his acceptance speech, Tetangco emphasized the important role of communication in the BSP’s job of promoting monetary, financial, and price stability. He said a two-way communication between the BSP and its various constituents is essential not only in formulating and implementing policies but also in pursuing common

ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, Ph.D. General Manager

Text warnings vs. bombings, true after all

IFE’S INSPIR ATIONS: “… All these curses will come on you. They will pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you…” (Deuteronomy 28:45, the Holy Bible).

-ooo TEXT WARNINGS VS. BOMBINGS, TRUE AFTER ALL: The text messages that circulated shortly after the Cagayan De Oro City bombing saying there will be more bombings and destructive killings in many parts of Mindanao in the coming days are true after all. The texter gave specific details where the bombs will go off, and capped his expose with a plea: avoid crowded places in Southern Philippines until December 2013 as violence and mayhem are sure to explode.

I dismissed those text messages as pure nonsense, especially because the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines gave repeated assurances that they have the peace and order situation in Mindanao under control. Well, now, with what is happening, let me join the plea of that texter, whoever he or she is (I lost his/her message and his/her number at this point): avoid the crowds in Mindanao.

This is really sad and very tragic, but what, really, can our countrymen from the South do? It would seem that there is more to what meets the eye, so to speak, in these bombings, because after Cagayan De Oro City, a series of articles appeared in the Internet, laying the

T

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SPEAKING

goals or advocacies.

This award from IABC O ut Philippines actually By Ignacio Bunye c a me at ver y oppor t u ne t i me a s c om mu n ic at ion a nd col laborat ion w it h stakeholders were the focal points of BSP’s ver y own recognition program.

Last July 16, the BSP held its 10th Stakeholders Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch, wherein it gave away 71 awards to institutions that have contributed and supported its statistical undertakings, information requirements, and advocacy programs.

T he s e a re b a n k s , c or p or at ion s , gove r n me nt institutions, and organizations that consistently and ef f icient ly responded to the studies and activities that the BSP conducts. Among these studies were the quarterly Consumer Expectations Survey and Business Expectations Survey among thousands of households and companies.

Tetangco revealed that results of these informationbunye/PAGE 7

The world we love-hate

N biblical literature, the world can elicit two opposing reactions. One is hating it or at least be cautious of it, as in, “What shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Mk 8,36) Church Fathers have enlarged that line as typified by some words of St. Ignatius of Antioch: “No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world.”

The other reaction is loving it, because God himself loves it, as in, “For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” (Jn 3,16) I am sure that after stirring our mind a bit, we can see that both reactions can be made compatible if we consider the contexts in which they are mentioned. We have to hate the world insofar as it has absorbed our own sinfulness and has become a source of temptation and sin itself.

But we also have to love it because in the first place it is also a creation of God like ourselves, and therefore is good, at least in its original state until we have corrupted it. The world is also where God has placed us to work out our free choice of whether we want to be God’s image and likeness and children as he wants us to be, or not.

It’s important that we don’t get confused and lost in

HINTS

this very nuanced attitude we ought to have toward the and Traces world. We have to outgrow

By Fr. Roy Cimagala the simplistic all-or-nothing mindset that forces us to choose whether we are for the world or against it.

That mentality has produced a distorted culture that divides people into either world ly or ot her-world ly, without making the effort to relate this world and the ‘other world.’

We need to love the world the way God loves it. We just have to learn to purify it because of the anomalies it has acquired due to our sins.

But we need to understand that the world has an inherent objective relation to God and to us that we need to discover, appreciate and enhance.

This is still a point hardly known and understood by many of us. The common attitude is that one is simply on his own as to what to make out of the world. While it’s true that we can discover some natural laws governing the world, we fail to see how these laws come from God and are supposed to be oriented toward God. And so we feel quite free, in a licentious way, to do with it in any way that suits our purposes, but hardly cimagala/PAGE 7

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News

Koko condemns media killings, urges swift govt action Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, PDP Laban President, today expressed alarm over the recent spate of killings of members of media.

“I condemn in t he strongest possible terms t he recent k i l l i ngs of journalists and urge the police to t horoughly investigate these cases and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Pimentel said.

The lawmaker said “the government must firmly put an end to the culture of impunit y t hat a l lows the perpetrators to remain scot-free and thus commit murder and mayhem again and again.”

J u s t r e c e n t l y, t w o colu m n ist s of a nowdefunct tabloid, Richard Kho and Bonifacio Loreto, w e r e g u n n e d d ow n i n Q u e z o n C i t y. T h e i r families believe that the t w i n mu rders were t he result of their hard-hitting stance against wrongdoing by certain public officials.

P i me nt e l s a id m a ny cases of violence against journalists in the past had gone unsolved, with only a few having been arrested and prosecuted in court.

The senator from M i nd a nao u rged pol ice aut horities to prioritize the investigation of cases aga inst journa lists as “freedom of the press is a hallmark of our democratic system and any curtailment of this freedom, whether t h rou g h nu i s a nc e l ib el suits or harassment a nd out rig ht mu rder of crusading journalists by hired k illers, is a direct assault on our democracy as well.”

from page 6

He did everything for us. All we have to do is ask Jesus for His gif t of forgiveness and new life.

You see, it’s only when we ask Jesus to take charge of our heart that we will have His love and strength to be the first to forgive and make peace, so we can enjoy a happy life with our family and friends.

Today, won’t you ask Jesus to give you His power to be a peacemaker—before it’s too late?

Just Think a Minute…

Batas... from page 6

these, but then, there is one more thing that is bothering me about all of these things.

It would appear to me that, once aga i n, whatever is happening in Mindanao appears to be a part of a Biblical warning, given to people who no longer listen to God (t hat is, who no longer read His Bible), and

who no longer obey Him. -ooo W A R N I N G OF FOR EIGN V IOL ENCE FROM THE BIBLE: I am referring to Deuteronomy 2 8:15, i n re l at ion to Deuteronomy 28:20, and 49-52. Deuteronomy 28:15 is saying that if a people will no longer listen to God (or will no longer read His Bible), and will no longer obey Him, ma ny curses will come upon them and over t a ke t hem . A mong these curses, Deuteronomy 28:20 says, are “confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed…”

Deuteronomy 28:49-52 talks about more awesome a nd d re ad f u l c u rs e s of foreigners coming to our la nd, ta k ing ever y t hing from us: “The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand, a fiercelook i ng nat ion w it hout

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RPN’s Acappella Singing Search rocks CdO

The Sangunian Panlalawigan of Lanao del Norte during its session on July 29, 2013 announced the new composition of its standing committees. Through Resolution No. 215-2013, the provincial council adopted the new set of committee chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and membership of its 24 standing committees. (PIO-LDN)

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno welcomes participants of the Mindanao wide Greeneration Summita gathering for youth empowerment on climate change and states their efforts in keeping the city safe for everyone at Capitol University on August 2. (romeo james halley paculba /pia10)

Hurst...

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respect for the old or pity for the young…

“They will devour the young of your livestock and the crops of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave you no grain, new wine or olive oil, nor any calves of your herds or lambs of your f locks until you are ruined. They will lay siege to all the cities throughout your land until the high fortified walls in which you trust fall down.

They will besiege all the cities throughout the land t he you r G od is g iv i ng you…”

-ooo R E AC T IONS? Plea se c a l l m e a t 0 917 9 8 4 2 4 6 8 , 0 918 574 019 3 , 0922 833 43 96. Ema i l: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, m mau r iciojr111@g ma i l. com.

Bunye... from page 6

i ntensive stud ies a re factored in when t he Monetary Board sets policy rates and inf lation targets.

Communication is also key in the implementation of BSP’s g u idel i nes a nd policies for the bank ing community. Examiners are st rateg ica l ly desig nated a mong t he t housa nds of ba n k s a nd non-ba n k f inancia l institutions under BSP’s jurisdiction to ensure compliance. The BSP also immediately posts its issuances, publications, and other announcements on its website w w w.bsp. gov.ph for the benefit of the banks and also of the media and other concerned parties.

Finally, communication plays an important role in finding common grounds and collaborating in advocacy efforts.

Among BSP’s causes that have immensely benefitted from keeping an open line with our stakeholders are the microfinance program to reach the “unbanked,” the coin recirculation and clean banknotes program, the fight against counterfeit money and financial scams,

Not even the bombing incident that had happen seventeen hours before the launching of Boses Tinig P-Noy on July 27, 2013 has stopped many Cagay-anons from watching the show held at the activity center of LimKetkai Mall, about 100 meters away where the bombing took place.

The event was flocked by overwhelming crowd as they witnessed and cheered this unique talent search singing in acappella that started at 4pm and extended about 30minutes beyond the allotted show time inside the mall.

Highlighting the event was the breathtaking performances of balladeers Anthony Castelo, Aileen Papin and the 11-year old singing scientist Constantine with the participation of Shiela Amoncio, the Mystica of CdO. There were six participating groups during the launching composed of three sets for each of the category, the duet and trio respectively and they served as the weekly winners of the search which will run for 1 season or 3 month period.

According to Rpn Pres Robert Rivera the search is an avenue to discover local talents to be recording artists as winners await over 1million in cash and fabulous prizes including a singing contract with Universal-Polyeast Records. Likewise this is a project that would make a turnaround for RPN who has been known of producing superstars like Nora Aunor, Rivera said.

The active and vibrant president of RPN led its officials and men in conducting the event here in CdO with a motorcade and a press conference after the same was first launched in Baguio last June.

Boses Tinig P-Noy A Cappella Search is a nationwide contest and each grand winner of the 12 provincial stations of RPN will compete this March in Manila after a weekly, monthly and quarterly finals is done per area. The said contest is open to all talented singers from 15 years old and above. Even the physically disabled persons are welcome to join the acappella search as audition continues in nearby RPN stations nationwide.

and finally, its financial literacy program.

Truly, we can say that the excellent communication bet ween BSP and its stakeholders has helped a lot in attaining our strong economic growth. After all, as we have stated time and again, the task of growing ou r economy is a tea m effort.

Meanwhile, these awards r e c e i v e d b y Te t a n g c o a nd B SP ’s out s t a nd i ng sta keholder-respondents will serve as reminders of how communication and working hand in hand can bring us far and through any challenge or uncertainty.

Cimagala... from page 6

connecting it with God’s plans and providence. This is the mentality that is quite embedded in us but which we have to reform drastically, since it does not conform to how we in our relation with the world should be. We need to learn to see God in the world and to act the way God wants us to act in the world. Otherwise,

we would just be at the mercy of the blind forces of the world, and vulnerable to the maneuverings the more clever and powerful people around.

We have to start by reminding ourselves that everything that we see, touch, handle, and use comes from God. The very least thing that we can do is to thank God for all these things, and then try to discern what God wants us to do with them.

We can always presume that God has something grand for us to do every day. He is love himself. His ways, his plans, his interventions in our life are of love. And love is always about being generous, heroic, making big things even out of small things.

This is something we need to be clear and be strongly convinced about. Otherwise, we would think our life is just a matter of coasting along and waiting for something big, in human terms, to happen.

If we have the right understanding of the world, we can always make beautiful music out of the humdrum routine of our daily life, for we would know how to discover God who is love there.

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Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy

Live hassle-free with world-class quality and affordable products from Lamoiyan Corporation HOW far can you go with P5?

Citing rising inflation rates, economic think tanks agree that P5 is the new P1 of today.

For practical mom Edith Dimalanta from Malabon, the P5 is still valuable, especially when she goes to a nearby sarisari store to buy an important personal hygiene item. “I can still buy a sachet of toothpaste for P5,” she beams, “and that’s Hapee toothpaste.”

With a product that’s more affordable than other leading brands, she says that buying a quality yet affordable tooth care product remains possible for an average Filipino family like them amid rising costs of living.

“We thank the makers of Hapee toothpaste and other personal care items. Now, fa mi lies ca n live qua lit y lives through their better yet affordable products,” notes Ronald Serillos, a cab driver and father of five from San Juan.

Not too many know that behind this all-Filipino brand is Lamoiyan Corporation.

Headed by a visionary, Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, Lamoiyan Cor porat ion da red t he g ia nts of t he toot hpaste manufacturing industry and provided consumers with a world-class qua lit y yet affordable alternative oral care product.

It was in 1998 when his business venture that supplied aluminum toothpaste tubes to multinationals closed shop due to the shift from using aluminum to plastic tubes.

However, it opened the door for him to establish Lamoiyan Corporation in March that same year.

“We introduced worldclass quality toothpaste at affordable prices so Filipinos can afford to brush their teeth regularly, especially those in the provinces where toothpaste and toothbrush are expensive. That dream pushed us initially and we were not afraid to face the giant multinationals because we believe there is the need to help Filipinos, particularly the poorest of the poor,” says Dr. Pedro, President and CEO of Lamoiyan Corporation.

Since day one, the company lived up to its corporate mission—to help improve the quality of life of Filipino families through world-class products. From creating the phenomena l denta l c a re product Hapee toothpaste, the company also expanded to include household and personal care brands like Gumtect, Kutitap, Dazz, and Licealiz.

By bring ing essent ia l products within reach of many, this brought 25 years of happy moments not just for the company itself and its people, but also for those who shared

the journey with Lamoiyan Corporation. Maintaining the world-class quality and affordability of their products enabled customers to save money for other important things for their families.

“The money I could save from buying a sachet of Hapee toothpaste instead of the more expensive brands will really help me a lot. I could use it to buy other things we need at home or even for my kids’ ‘baon,'” cites Dimalanta.

Apart from the economic benefits, consumers remained loyal to the brand due to its world-class quality. “Just like its dishwashing product [Dazz], it keeps our dishes always clean and germ-free,” bares Serillos.

Health-wise, the company also never compromises on this regard. Mindful of the fact that one of the reasons of kids’ absenteeism in schools are tooth decay and head lice infestation, Lamoiyan Corporation committed itself to be part of the solution via its Hapee and Licealiz Antilice Shampoo products.

“I u sed to be a lways

absent in school because of toothache,” says Homer Ellamil, a Grade 2 student from Batasan Hills Elementary School in Quezon City.

“Because of Hapee toothpaste, I can now brush my teeth regularly; no more toothaches.”

Meanwhile, for Princess Tejada, a Grade 3 pupil of Batasan Hills, whose head used to be infested with head lice, she tried Licealiz when Lamoiyan Corporation held its “Adopt-a-Barangay” program in their area. From then on, she never missed a class anymore.

“My mother used ‘suyod’ to remove the lice in my hair but it was not effective. When I tried Licealiz, I became itch-free and I don’t skip school anymore because of lice infestation that made me feel insecure,” she vividly recalls.

Tejada, toget her w it h Di ma la nt a , S er i l los a nd Ellamil, are just some of the living proof of how excellent Lamoiyan products are that enable them to live worryfree lives. They remind us that the P5 seen today of no value, nevertheless, is worthy of keeping students in school.

It’s a whole new season of f a bu lou s f a s h ion fun at SM Accessories Children’s Department!

Be whoever you want to be with looks that show the different ways you can be yourself.

L o o k l i k e y o u ’r e ready for a tea party with laces and pearls fit for a little lady. Do you feel like rock ing out? Be a punk princess w it h layers of studs, sequins and shades of black and pink. Or are you the artsy and crafty type? Wear bold colors

of crochet f lowers and fruits in bright beads and stand out from the crowd. You ca n a lso twist and turn like a ballerina with ribbons a nd tu l le in pastel shades that are so sweet!

Li k e w h a t y o u’r e rea ding? Lik e u s on Facebook for more trend updates: SM Accessories Kids.

To get first dibs on the items, don’t forget to drop by at your nearest SM Store! See you there!

Mindanao Daily

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BSP...

from page 3

age.

The exhibit features a make-believe bank where children can play the roles of bank managers and tellers, as well as a mock-up automated teller machine (ATM) that teaches kids how to use ATM cards and enter personal identification numbers.

A grocery shop teaches kids how to budget and to differentiate between needs and wants, whereas a booth featuring ultraviolet light provides a venue where they can learn about the security features of peso bills and distinguish between genuine and fake banknotes.

The exhibit in Gateway Mall will run from August 2-17 and will be open to the public during mall hours. The exhibit is a component of the BSP’s integrated Economic a nd Fina ncia l Learning Program.

The exhibit is spearheaded by t he BSP ’s Fi na ncia l Consumer Affairs Group which has adopted “Financial Education: Building Block for a Stronger Economy” as a theme for its financial advocacy initiatives.

Code... from page 4

claimant-countries more liable based on the provisions of the 2002 Declaration on the Code of Conduct (DOC).

Del Rosario and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had wideranging discussions at the 7th meeting of PhilippineVietnam Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. The meeting tackled maritime disputes in the region and ways “to cooperate more closely in terms of the dispute settlement situation that we find ourselves in.”

In the meeting, said the DFA chief, Minister Pham

signaled that Hanoi was open to the possibility of joining in the arbitration process that Manila opted to use by filing a case last January with the United Nations. The process for the arbitral tribunal is under way, with Manila and Beijing being directed by the five-member panel of judges to submit this month their comments on draft rules set by the judges to govern the process.

Del Rosario noted that “Vietnam has been ver y clear in terms of advocating the position as part of the peaceful resolution according t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w, arbitration is a mechanism that should be respected.”

The matters of maritime domain awareness, sharing of information and patrolling the maritime borders will h ave t o b e d i s c u s s e d , meanwhile, when Vietnam’s defense minister meets with Defense Secretary Voltaire Ga zmin later t his yea r, according to del Rosario.

The Philippines f iled in January 22 this year a case before the UN arbitral tribunal against China’s excessive and expansive claim over the disputed sea. It said China’s nine-dash-line claim is excessive and baseless.

Beijing has repeatedly rejected arbitration, insisting it wanted to resolve the d i spute solely t h rou g h “bilateral” negotiations.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), even if China refuses to participate in the arbitration, the Philippines can still proceed with its case to prove that Beijing’s ninedash-line claim is excessive and baseless.

Beijing’s claim covers the entire South China Sea, parts of which are being claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Hanoi backs arbitration: Pham assured the DFA

chief that Hanoi support Manila’s case before the Arbitral Tribunal. “They are very supportive of that [Ph i l ippi ne a rbit r at ion case against China]; we’re discussing the possibilities t hat we may be able to cooperate closely with them in terms of the settlement of the dispute,” del Rosario said.

The relationship between the two ASEAN neighbors was recently tested following reports that Vietnam had entered into an agreement with China to jointly explore the resources in the disputed sea, believed to hold vast reserves of oil and gas.

Analysts had said that such an agreement leaves the Philippines alone in dealing with China.

Del Rosario clarified that Vietnam did not enter into any agreement with China that would violate Hanoi’s loca l law. Even t houg h China has been proposing to both the Philippines and Vietnam that they enter into a “joint development proposal” including joint gas exploration, the two ASEAN countries did not agree with Beijing’s proposal.

“I think they said that China is proposing a joint development proposal with them, but I think they have taken the same position as ourselves. That a joint venture is possible if it is consistent with the laws of Vietnam, and in our case in the laws of the Philippines,” del Rosario explained.

Asked if Vietnam will join the UN arbitration, del Rosario said “possibly”.

He added, “that’s one option; of course it is a possibility that we may be able to cooperate closely with them in terms of the settlement of the dispute,” t he DFA secretar y said.

(Interaksyon.com)

BPI...

from page 4

movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labor, and freer flow of capital.”

The leaders said that the process of integration and consolidation will continue to be an “inescapable reality” as long as member states wish to remain part of the global economy.

“I think it is a more short to medium concern. But I think we are more ready,” Consing said.

He said that integration for the markets will “make the obvious come out – that Filipinos will do well with the integration.”

“It behooves us to be releva nt in t he ASEA N contex t, t hat mea ns we have to be strong here and meaningful to the region.

There’s plenty to do at home right now as this is a very, very exciting time to be in the Philippines,” he continued.

“There is so much growth for all the players in the banking system. We have to be ready for them,” Consing said.

The domestic economy registered the highest growth

among ASEAN member nations in the first three months this year after gross domestic product (GPD) rose by 7.8 percent. Consing said the robust growth is a “huge opportunity” for banks not to take advantage of.

BPI earlier said that it registered a net income of P12 billion in the first half of 2013, a 27 percent increase over the P9.4 billion made during the same period in 2012.

C on si ng s a id “BPI ’s financial results for the first half of the year are strong,” and the increase in earnings was a result of a 14 percent increase in total revenues coupled with a relatively modest 6 percent increase in operating expenses.

The increase in total revenues was accounted for by a 6 percent rise in net interest income and a 23 percent jump in non-interest income.

“The growth in our loan book is well balanced and funded by a deposit base that is low cost and growing. We shortened the duration of our securities portfolio to reflect the changing market conditions, and our over-all business is well poised to take advantage of a rising interest rate environment,” Consing said.

He added that gains were recorded in all major types of non-interest income, with fees and commissions, foreign exchange, securities trading, insurance income and other operating income growing by 17 percent, 24 percent, 14 percent, 70 percent, and 34 percent, respectively, over the same period a year ago.

The bank ’s return on equity for the first half of 2013 was 23.7 percent.

Reflective of the robust expansion of the Philippine economy, Consing said the bank’s total assets reached P1.02 trillion at the end of the first half of 2013, a 13 percent increase year-onyear.

The bank’s loan portfolio grew by 17 percent year-onyear, well balanced between an 18 percent growth in corporate loans and a 15 percent growth in consumer loans. (APM)

Imports... from page 4

Last month, China’s vice minister of Commerce Gao Yan said at a press conference that the country plans to enhance trade with ASEAN through cooperation in areas including customs and quality checking, Chinese dailies reported. It will also send purchasing groups to buy agricultural products from within ASEAN. Gao forecast China-ASEAN trade to reach $500 billion in 2015. (Philexport News and Features)

Stroll... from page 5

of ecosystems in the region.

The 32 AHPs in the 10 Asean member-states are established to facilitate greater awareness, appreciation and conservation of the Asean’s

rich natural heritage, and to generate collaboration among the states in its conservation.

The launching of Mount Malindang in 2012 as the four t h Phi lippine AHP provides a rather suitable occasion for a nice Sunday stroll up the green slopes of this stunning mountain range, giving a prime example for the features, importance and challenges of AHPs. To begin the trip, we have to put our bathing trunks on and immerse ourselves into the aquatic landscape of the park. The coastal zone consists of shallow marine waters, which harbor colorful coral reefs, thriving seagrass beds, a seaweed ecosystem, diverse mangrove forest and nipa swamps.

Here, we can marvel the voluptuous richness of 59 seaweed species, 60 algae species, over 100 plankton species, among manifold f ish, sponges, sea fans, anemones, worms, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, shells, slugs, nudibranchs, clams, octopods, starfish, sea urchins, feather stars and sea snakes, to only name a few.

This habitat type serves as important sanctuary for fish and nursery for their young; it supports the marine food web and protects the shoreline from erosion. Considering that 87 percent of the province’s population lives within 50 km of the coast and directly or indirectly depends on marine natural resources, this ecosystem is of utmost importance, but also at peril.

Much of the coastal area is already converted to residential area, coconut farms or rice fields. (To be continued)

Lauds... from page 5

Declared winners in Region III were SM City Baliuag (first prize), SM City Tarlac (second prize) and Marquee Mall (third prize).

SWM winners from Region IVA were SM Center Molino (first prize), Puregold GMA (second prize) and SM City Dasmarinas (third prize).

Winner of the first, second and third prizes received P75,000, P60,000 and P25,000, respectively.

Paje urged the winners as well as other shopping malls nationwide to further partner with government on reducing and properly handling solid waste.

“Shopping malls are among the country’s biggest waste generators but environmental protection isn’t the monopoly of just the environment department - it’s everyone’s responsibility,” Paje said.

Earlier, RWI gave the Philippines an index score of 54, noting such result suggests the government “made meaningful progress towards improved resource governance.”

RWI assesses the nations’ respective resource governance in the oil, gas and minerals sectors.

That organization’s report on the Philippines covered the minerals sector and ranked the country 23rd among 58

countries assessed in terms of four resource governance components: institutional and legal setting, reporting practices, safeguards and quality controls as well as enabling environment.

The Philippines also gained recognition as one of the world’s strong environmental performers, rising from 50th to 42nd place among 132 nations in the 2012 EPI of Yale University, Columbia Un i v e r s i t y, E u r o p e a n Commission and World Economic Forum.

EPI rates nations on per forma nce ind icators tracked across policy categories covering environmental public health and ecosystem vitality.

Paje reiterated such results show the Aquino government’s policies and programs “are on the right track.” (PNA/ Interaksyon.com)

Program... from page 5

Those are Resolution 5 reinforcing public-private collaboration on sustainable development; Resolution 6 launching a low-to-zero carbon program for a sustainable power system that would enable selected LGUs to transition from dependence on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and Resolution 7 approving a mitigation program which will drastically cut black carbon in urban areas.

Black carbon or soot is composed of microscopic airborne particles created by diesel-powered public utility and commercial vehicles.

Black carbon is listed by the UNFCCC as among dangerous greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.

Alvarez also credited the President for development of 18 major river basins as a priority program to exploit the electricgeneration potential of rivers.

This is also a long-term adaptation program to arrest the destructive impact of climate change, promote sustainable development and reverse destruction of riverine ecosystems and biodiversity.

(PNA)

Contests...

from page 5 Oratorical – Jojie B. Edma, Labo National High School (NHS), 1st, Dayce Drizzle T. Lalimos, Misamis University (MU), 2nd and Bon Anthony M. Uy, Misamis Union High School (MUHS), 3rd.

Essay-Writing – Trischa Sheen A. Dumanjug, Ozamiz City NHS, 1st, Jessa Mae M. Caamiňo, Gala NHS, 2nd and Noven S. Abe, Labinay NHS, 3rd.

Drawing - Renato Jumawan, Labo National High School (NHS), 1st; Joshua M. Biloran, Ozamiz City School of Arts and Trade (OCSAT), 2nd; and Janeson B. Vilan, 3rd.

Winners will receive P3,000, P2,000 and P1,000, for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, respectively, plus a plaque of recognition, each, while nonwinners will each receive P500 as consolation prizes, during the Flag Raising Ceremony on August 5, at the City Hall Grounds, Israel said. (PIA)

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Supply... from page 1

the damage on the generator. “ T he Depa r t ment of Energy (DOE), the National Power Corporation and the grid operator NGCP have been notified about this and we are coordinating with them with regard to this matter,” he said.

SPI has yet to establish the maintenance timetable for unit 2 pending the results of the technical assessment and the extent of the repairs needed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Evers said the current maintenance work s on SPI’s Un it 1 generator is on track.

“We hope to bring Unit 1 earlier than schedule and Unit 2 as soon as possible,” he added.

SPI supplies about 20 p erc ent of M i nd a nao’s generation mix.

At the end of the first half this year, the company has delivered more than 9.6 billion kWh of electricity to the Mindanao grid.

ERC... from page 1

Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc., SN Aboitiz Power – Benguet, Inc. and Therma Luzon, Inc. NGCP President Henry Sy Jr. has long been pushing to lower AS rates for NGCP grid customers. “We are constantly looking for ways to lessen AS cost by engaging power generators which are technically capable and willing to provide AS at a rate acceptable to grid-users,” Sy said.

The Commission issued the order in response to the petition of NGCP to procure Ancillary Service (AS) from the three power plants to augment the existing reserves for the Luzon Grid wherein the demand is increasing.

According to NGCP, the available reserves are not sufficient to comply with the required levels of contingency and dispatchable reserves prescribed in the Philippine Grid Code (PGC).

The agreement will also address the possible AS supply deficiency during the dry season when Kalayaan Hydroelectric Plant has low water reserve.

NG CP Spokesperson Att y. Cy nthia D. PerezAlabanza explained, “By entering into an agreement with the AS suppliers, NGCP is ensured of the reliability of the supply of reserves necessary to maintain the quality and frequency of electricity transmitted to distribution utilities and other grid-users.”

The ASPA, which will be effective for a period three years, is a result of negotiations between NGCP and the three power firms to arrive at an AS rate that is beneficial for both the generators as supplier and NGCP’s power customers as consumer. In turn, the ERCapproved AS rate indicates that AS charges may be 30 to 40 percent less than the current structure for the

same amount of reserves.

Sy added, “We continue to push for less expensive ancillary services to make sure that we only get the more efficient and affordable ancillary services providers.

We want to serve our grid customers better. We will secure the reliability and stability of the grid, but we will not burden the endconsumers.”

Ancillary Services, as defined in Section 4 (b) of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), are “t hose ser v ices t hat are necessary to support the transmission of capacity and energy from resources to loads while maintaining reliable operation of the t ra nsmission system i n accordance with good utility practice and the Grid Code”.

AS are needed to regulate the frequency of transmitted electricity to avoid f luctuations and to help the system adapt to sudden loss of power supply to prevent the occurrence of massive blackouts. AS also provides assistance to back-up generating plants to recover from a shutdown to temporarily augment lack of supply in the system, thereby, normalizing the system during a power loss.

Exports... from page 1

recently in Davao City.

Antonino said crude and refined coconut oil remained as the top export products of the island-region last year, cornering almost a billion dollars in exports, or 21.26 percent of Mindanao’s total exports, surpassing banana, t he t rad it iona l produc t export winner of Mindanao since 2010.

She named nickel ores, pineapples, and prepared fish as other Mindanao products that fared well.

The island-region also posted an export growth of 16.7 percent, more than double as compared to the country’s 7.6 percent increase in exports last year.

“This positive trend only goes to show that Mindanao rema i ns resi l ient as a n agriculture-based economy d e s pit e t he c h a l le n ge s brought about by global market slowdown coupled by the natural calamities that we recently experienced.

These are indications of the region’s strength as it aims to expand its horizon to tap other opportunities that are changing the face of the import-export industry,” Antonino said.

A ntonino however pointed out the need of an enabling environment towards a sustainable export growth.

She cited the lowering of transpor t cost of commodities from the farms to export gateways through infrastructure development as one intervention which is needed to sustain export growth.

And, on the software side, she cited the need to facilitate the efficient

transport of export products from Mindanao’s gateways to target markets through streamlining of procedures, and amendments of policies among others, the Cabotage law and Roll on- Roll off.

A nt o n i n o a l s o t o l d exporters on the need to look into the competitiveness of industries and the export sector in order to capture more markets and create more demand for farmers’ products.

“Creating more demand for our farmers’ products could mean more incentives to increase farm productivity, expand agribusiness activities and create more opportunities for our people,” she said.

For infrastructure needs, Antonino specifically cited the current widening of the Tagum-Davao-General Sa ntos road , ongoi ng improvement of the DavaoDigos-General Santos and Davao City By-pass road, as developments that would develop export gateways.

She said MinDA will push for the improvement of the Padada-Kiblawan-Datu Paglas road, the Junction Surallah-Lake Sebu-Maitum Road, the implementation of t he Davao Or ienta lTa g u m H i g h St a nd a rd Highway, the General Santos C i rc u m fe r e nt i a l R o a d , t he Sura lla h-Tupi Road, t he Lut aya n- C olombioDatu Paglas Road, and the Ka la ma nsig-Pa li mba ngMaitum Road.

“Improving these roads in Mindanao would facilitate lower-cost production and marketing, reduce internal transport costs and therefore will increase transaction efficiencies in the marketing chains,” she said.

O t he r i nt e r ve nt ion s needed are the setting up of integrated agribusiness infrastructure and other va lue-add i ng suppor t facilities that include logistics, food terminals, technology incubation centers, and ICT support centers in strategic locations nearer the export gateways; sufficient power supply, increased research a nd d e ve lopme nt ; a nd amendment to the Cabotage Law to allow foreign vessels to directly transport domestic cargo between two ports other than those designated as international ports, she said. (PNA)

Minbizcon... from page 1

t he h ig he st nu mber of pre-registrations for the MinBizCon in the past ten years.

While Gaisano is optimistic that they can hit their desired number of participants, he explained t hat t he conference can only accommodate 1,000 seats considering that the venue might be filled up due to President Aquino’s confirmed attendance to the event.

He said that President Aquino, who will be the conference’s keynote speaker, will be accompanied by 11 of his cabinet secretaries.

Slated from August 8 to 9 here in this city, the conference will present to the president policy agenda aimed to prepare the islandregion for the 2015 ASEAN integration.

Gaisano added that prior to the conference, a team from DCCCII, Philippine Cha mber of C om merce Inc., and the Mindanao Development Aut horit y (MinDA) travelled around the six regions in Mindanao to gather key issues, concerns, and recommendations from more than 250 businessmen and business organizations.

The key issues, concerns, and recommendations were translated into policy agenda, which are the bases for the conference’s program and the selection of speakers and executives who will respond to it.

Gaisano said that the pol ic y a gend a a re a lso designed to address issues of key Mindanao economic sectors such as agriculture, energ y, information and technology, tourism, small and medium enterprises, logistics and infrastructure, sk ills development, a nd natura l resource management. “ The need for t he government and private sectors to work together in preparation for the greater ASEAN Integration is among the key items included in the policy agenda,” said Gaisano, adding that the over 630 million population size of ASEAN will provide a very large market for Mindanao’s micro and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Gaisano explained however that the integration will also put Mindanaobased MSMEs into a fierce compet it ion w it h t hei r ASEAN counterparts.

“There is a need to revisit our policies and procedures if we are to enter into a free trade agreement with ASEAN,” he said, adding that 98 percent of the country’s economy is comprised with MSMEs, which accounts for 68 percent of the country’s total domestic employment.

He added that MSMEs are the backbone of the country’s economy. “Helping them is the true meaning of inclusive growth,” said Gaisano.

Moreover, among the highlights of the conference include the signing of the sisterhood ag reement between the Israel Chamber of Commerce of t he Philippines and DCCCII, and the presentations of Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and MinDA Chair Luwa l hat i A ntonino on ASEAN integration.

“The President’s decision to participate in the event reaffirms his commitment for the successful delivery a nd i mplement at ion of major Mindanao economic initiatives,” said Antonino.

She added that the presence of key cabinet secretaries in the MinBizCon signals the government’s move to push for policy measures that will

complement Mindanao’s changing business climate a nd it s cr ucia l role i n t he a nt icipated ASEA N integration,” said Antonino.

Antonino said that the conference will also highlight presentations on reforms in the financial sector by Depa r t ment of Fina nce Secretary Cesar Purisima; a discussion on finance and the agriculture sector by Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala; and a talk on the financing schemes for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

by Development Bank of the Philippines Chairman Jose Nuñez.

Secretaries Carlos Petilla of the Department of Energy, Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology, Emmanuel Villanueva of the Technical Education a nd Sk i l ls Development Authority, and Rozzano Rufino Biazon of the Bureau of Customs are also expected to deliver their respective responses to the business sector’s issues and concerns during the event.

(PNA)

Japan... from page 2

A mong t he projec t ’s major contributions are the generation of 97,000 jobs and P2.6-billion worth of investments.

Me a nw h i le , D T I 11 Regional Director Marizon S. Loreto said she is optimistic that JICA’s commitment will bring about positive results in the economic performance of the country, especially in Davao Region.

“Most of the identified priority industry clusters under NICCEP are vastly produced in the region.

T h e r e for e , we a l r e a d y have the opportunity for these industries to further capture success, especially economically speaking,” she said.

T he Davao Indust r y Cluster Capacity En ha ncement Projec t (DICCEP), which is t he predecessor of NICCEP and implemented from 2008 until 2010, was able to facilitate the preparation of 69 action plans/project implementation plans, reaching out about 4,700 beneficiaries upon implementation.

Some of t he projects implemented under DICCEP became showcase of collaborative action and innovation. For instance, the pilot projects for the enhancement of banana industry cluster in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, model cooperative seaweeds farming of the Island Garden City of Samal, mango dwarfing (rejuvenation) project of Southern Philippines AgriBusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), and tourism databank and web-marketing were considered showcases that can be replicated. Many practitioners, researchers, i nve stors a nd i ndu st r y players visited these projects.

(PNA)

11

Confident... from page 2

European Union (EU), and the United States (US).

The US and European recessions, he added, has c ouple d f a c tor s i n t he Philippine scene, such as the increasing cost of doing business, and the fluctuating peso that have repeatedly placed the country’s export industry in turmoil.

But he also pointed out that the month-to-month decline in export appeared slower especia l ly in t he electronics sector.

“This gives hope for the industry to still post positive growth,” he added.

The country’s export is also getting confidence on the core product strategies of the Philippine Export Development Fund (PEDF), he said.

“PEDP focuses on moving up the value chain, capturing higher-value processes in the global supply chain and developing product linkages for organic, natural, green and certification-enabled products,” he stressed.

Core market strategies, he noted, involves maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements, the targeting of high-growth emerging markets, and attracting the migration of supply chain nodes to the Philippines. “ Ph i l E x p o r t i s a l s o ba n k i ng it s con f idence on PE DP ’s k e y e x p or t promotion strateg y t hat integrates tourism, services a nd mercha nd ise t r ade to ma ximize returns on promot iona l spend i ng a nd a c h i e ve s u s t a i ne d growth in market share,” he emphasized.

Ortiz-Luis also recog nized as potent ia l for exports the indigenous products mainly made out of local raw materials that make full the use of the creat iveness of Fi lipi no artisans, artists and craf tsmen especia l ly on garments, fine and fashion jewelry, furniture and home furnishings.

He sa id t hat t hese products are considered next to electronics in gaining position in the international ma rke t s , i nclud i ng t he garments industry with its players currently receiving inquiries of sizeable orders f rom t he US a nd ot her foreign markets. (MB)

ARMM... from page 2

grasses to prevent erosion, the blueprint prescribes.

Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), a fast growing perennial grass reaching up to 1.5-meter high with wide base is recommended.

D re d g i ng shou ld b e done during summer t ime, sta r t ing f rom t he dow nst rea m of t he t wo rivers, Sadain said.

“We have done it in other f lood-prone areas of the country. We can do it in ARMM if given the support from our national office and the JICA,” said Sadain. (MB)

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July 27, 2013 - The Rotary Anns and the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (RCCDO) distributed school supplies to kindergarten and intermediate pupils at the Sunshine Daycare Center, Purok 1-A, Gusa, last July 27, 2013 during their "Balik Eskwela Project". In attendance were Rotary Ann President Doris Lagrosas and RCCDO President Ferdie Bernasor. Photo by PRO Mike Mendoza

HAPSAY RUNNERS. Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar “Oca” Moreno and wife Arlene leads the way to kick off the 1st Mayor Oca Moreno Fun Run “Dagan sa Kahapsay Kagayan”, August 4, part of the proceeds will go to the City Veterinary Office for the improvement of facilities and services.

Kagayhaan canine club. KCC Founding President & Chairman of the KCC Board Edgardo Palad and Kenneth Tan, the KCC project chairman are all smiles after the success of the 1st Mayor Oca Moreno Fun Run “Dagan sa Kahapsay Kagayan”, August 4, part of the proceeds will go to the City Veterinary Office for the improvement of facilities and services.

Finishers. Dr. Sheila Dangazo - Tan and Jeffrey Bergante, RN completed the 5K run category of the 1st Mayor Oca Moreno Fun Run “Dagan sa Kahapsay Kagayan”, August 4, 2013.

Photos Courtesy of Ryan Lumacad, KCC member