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INSIDE LOOK
Volume III, No. 195
IN-DEPTH
Friday
Motul power at Manila motor show
Economy
Market Indicators FOREX
PHISIX
US$1 = P41.22
6,857.48 points
X X Briefly 7.22 points
More infra funds
PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III assured on Thursday that the government intends to allocate more funds on infrastructure projects in the province and other parts of the country to achieve the target of 56.1 million tourists by 2016. In his keynote speech during the ground breaking ceremony of the P335 million road upgrading project at Barangay Cogon here on Thursday, the Chief Executive said his administration plans to allocate funds for year 2014 to boost the country’s tourism. “We have alloted P21 billion from 2011 to 2013 to improve tourism roads, and we plan to allocate an additional P13 billion in 2014 to hasten tourism opportunities in other parts of the country,” the President said. He expressed confidence that local tourism in Zamboanga del Norte will continue to grow and play a key role in the country’s economic growth.
Salintubig project
THIRTY municipalities and two cities of Northern Mindanao will implement the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat (Salintubig) project this 2013. Salintubig is a project of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) designed to provide water supply systems to waterless municipalities, barangays, health centers and resettlement sites. Lawyer Rene K. Burdeos, DILG Region 10 regional director, said the project aims to enhance the capacity of local government units (LGUs) and water service providers in planning, implementing and operating water supply facilities. Sixteen of the target beneficiaries come from the province of Bukidnon, eight from Lanao del Norte, seven from Misamis Occidental and one from Camiguin.
P15.00
April 19, 2013
Agri workers among lowest paid
PSBank picks new president
Crystal Waves Hotel and Resort choose Sun Business
DSWD to rid poverty in Region 12
As of 5:57 pm apr. 18, 2013 (Wednesday)
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Feature
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Palm oil stakeholders set roadmap for dev’t 8th Palm Oil Congress geared toward 10-year industry development plan
By CHENG ORDONEZ, Executive Editor with KAREN LIÑAN, Mascom Intern, Liceo University
S
takeholder in the palm oil industry gathered here in Cagayan de Oro City to set the roadmap for development in the next ten years.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. who did not make it during yesterday’s opening of the 2-day 8th Palm Oil Congress held at the posh Xavier Estate and
Stakeholders in the palm oil industry draw a 10-year development plan during the ongoing Congress being held in Cagayan de Oro. file photo
Mindanao container port expansion sealed By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter
DUE to increasing volume of cargoes passing through Minda nao Conta iner Ter m i na l i n Ta goloa n, Misamis Oriental, the stateowned Phividec Industrial Authority and publicly listed Internationa l Container
Ter m i na l S er v ices I nc . (ICTSI) recently agreed to expand the port to increase its capacity. Dante Clarito, Phividec port department manager, said the two sides have agreed in principle for the expansion
to accommodate more goods. ICTSI will spend for the required investments of the terminal. “We have agreed that there’s a need to expand [the port]; that’s the most sealed/PAGE 11 POWER OUTLOOK
J.P. RIZAL - CRUZ TAAL STS., (NEAR SHANGHAI BAKERY) DIVISORIA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY
Country Club, said it is important for the industry players to set their goals in the long term. “The need to have an roadmap/PAGE 11
Usec. Edilberto de Luna, who represented Sec. Proceso Alcala of the Dept. of Agriculture, gets a plaque from Philippine Palm Oil Development Council, Inc. (PPODCI) President Robertino Pizarro and Vice President Erwin Garcia, during yesterday’s opening of 8th Palm Oil Congress in Cagayan de Oro City. photo by karen mae eduave liñan, liceo university intern
Cebu Pacific reverts to old sked after postponement WITH the opening of the Laguindingan International Airport now moved to June 15, Cebu Pacific yesterday announced it will revert to
the original schedules for flights to and from Cagayan De Oro. Cebu Pacific, in a reverts/PAGE 11
M’nao power crisis slackens growth THE country’s better-thanexpected growth rate last year could have been more rosy if Mindanao has not been troubled by power shortage. Senator Ralph Recto said the Mindanao power crisis pulled down the country’s growth rate from 7.5% to
6.6%. “Na ka kabawas sa economic growth rate ang nangyayari sa Mindanao, that’s for sure,” he said, adding that power supply and price constitute the bulk of economic development. Outlook/PAGE 11
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Economy DSWD, partners out to rid poverty in Region 12 By DANILO E. DOGUILES Contributor
Yellow taxi-cab just like plying Manila-NAIA routes will soon be here to operate Laguindingan-Cagayan de Oro City.
Yellow cabs to service Laguindingan airport By GERRY LEE GORIT, Reporter
WHEN the Laguindingan airport finally opens on June 15 there will be metered airport taxis for passengers going to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities. La nd Tra nspor tat ion Franchising and Regulatory Board regional director Mandangan Darimbang. said the airport taxi system is the same as that used in Manila and Cebu where the flag down rate is P70. In contrast, the flag down rate of regular taxis is P40, but they have the same amount for every succeeding kilometer. “The fare is regulated,” he said, adding that the system will remove abuses usually
committed by drivers who are on a “boundary basis” rather than salaried. He said the airport yellow cabs will have salaried drivers so that there will be no overcharging or “kontrata” agreements. “We are a lso putting into place a shuttle service,” Darimbang said. The fare of the shuttle service will also be regulated by the LTFRB, he said. However, he added that they still have to set the rates. Darimbang said the LTFRB will coordinate with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in implementservice/PAGE 11
KORONADAL City -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development – 12 and its partners are forging a collaboration in poverty alleviation program in line with continuing efforts to address needs of indigent families in Soccsksargen. In a forum in Glan, Sarangani recently DSWD 12 and various regional line agencies drafted a memorandum of understanding (MOU), particularly to uplift the economic conditions of poor families in the region. With DSWD 12 in the drafting of the MOU were the following government agencies in the region: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority , Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute, Department of Tourism, and Department of Labor and Employment. The MOU is a result of DSWD-12’s search for areas for convergence, partnership, and cooperation with its partners in the poverty alleviation efforts. Florentino Fiel, regional convergence coordinator of DSWD 12, said he sought the help of said national agencies to
The social welfare department collaborates with other agencies in the hope of alleviating poverty in the countryside.
refocus and synchronize their efforts along poverty alleviation program implementation. “We need the support of partners especially in helping improve the lives of the poor economically,” Fiel said. For instance, he said, they recognize the importance of the support of TESDA 12 in providing capability-building training and technical education among our Pantawid Pamilya
families and their members who are out of school. TESDA also plays significant role in the registration or certification of indigent individuals who possess technical skills Meanwhile, DOLE 12 could also help by providing referral to convergence program beneficiaries where they could get income generating livelihood or regular employment. Fiel identified several areas
considered as priority in the provision of support by DSWD and the other collaborators. These include 4Ps areas: Maasim and Malapatan in Sarangani, Lake Sebu and Tboli in South Cotabato and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat. These municipalities are identified as poorest of the poor municipalities in Soccsksargen Region, Fiel explained. Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato. In South Cotabato and Sarangani, more or less 70, 000 beneficiaries are registered under the 4Ps and are being given interventions to improve their standard of living. Soonest, according to Fiel, the proposed MOUs will be reviewed by top management officials of concerned agencies and will be launched through a formal signing of the document. Fiel hoped that these partnership efforts will be the beginning of a series of action-oriented and result-oriented strategy that gives meaning to convergence.
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Isuzu Philippines introduces new president
ISUZU Philippines Corporation will have a new company president by next month, who is poised to continue the positive developments of its predecessors. During a press conference on Thursday, IPC formally introduced incoming President Nobuo Izumina to the media. Izumina worked with the Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) for 33 years, under overseas operations. Starting May 3, 56-year old Izumina will replace Ryoji Yamazaki, who was designated as Managing Director of Isuzu Car Life, an affiliate of IML. Prior to his current appointment as IPC president, the Tokyo-born Izumina was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of General Motors Isuzu Camiones Andinos in Bogota, Colombia. He joined the IML Production Control Department in 1980, a month after receiving a degree in Economics from the Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo. After that, he was placed in IML Overseas Distribution Department, and then became Manager of the Sales Department handling North America. isuzu/PAGE 11
Motoring
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Motul power at Manila motor show JUST as the name “Le Mans” is inextricably linked to sports cars and endurance racing, so is the Motul brand known for the formulation, development and production of world-class endurance lubricants. The globally renowned high-performance lubricant brand once again made its presence felt at the recent s t a g i n g of t he M a n i l a Internationa l Autoshow (MIAS) as it showcased motorspor ts most wel lknown name plates. “Ou r d isplay a rea is a tribute to automotive engineering and Motul’s
rich racing history,” explains Gono. The four-day car show saw people drooling over a 2013 Shelby GT 500, 1968 Mustang GT 350, 1971 Pantera de Tomaso, 1965 LOLA T 100 Series, 1969 Mercedes Benz 280SL and a modified Subaru BR Z turbo,” said Carlos Gono, managing partner motul/PAGE 11 Motul display area at the recent Manila International Autoshow.
How car owners might be affected by airbag recall FOUR Japanese automakers are recalling 3.4 million vehicles sold around the world because their airbags, made by Japan’s Takata Corp, are at risk of catching fire or injuring passengers. This includes 1.3 million vehicles in the United States. Following are details on what cars have been recalled, the risks identified and what owners need to do. What cars have been recalled? The following makes and models are subject to the recall:
• Toyota Motor Corp is recalling about 1.73 million vehicles produced between November 2000 and March 2004, including 580,000
veh icles sold i n Nor t h America and 490,000 vehicles sold in Europe. Among the affected models are the Lexus SC, the Toyota Corolla,
Sequoia and Tundra and the Pontiac Vibe. The Camry sedan is also affected, but not in the U.S. market. • Honda Motor Co Ltd said it was recalling around 1.14 million vehicles worldwide, including 561,400 vehicles in the United States a nd a not her 107,80 0 in Canada. Affected models include the Civic, CR-V and Odyssey. • Nissan Motor Co Ltd said it was recalling about 480,000 vehicles globally; more than 265,000 of those were in the United States.
• Mazda Motor Corp said it was recalling 45,500 vehicles worldwide. It has not yet disclosed the same level of detail as Toyota and Honda about recalled models and years. Mazda is recalling 149 cars in the United States including 147 Mazda 6 sedans and two RX-8 sports cars. What is the danger? In an accident, the airbag for the front passenger seat may not inf late correctly because of a manufacturing defect in the propellant used in the airbag inf lator, the airbag/PAGE 11
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Brunei’s Bolkiah to bring natural gas in Mindanao to solve power shortage By Lilybeth G. Ison
MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday divulged that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is seriously considering bringing natural gas to Mindanao to solve the region’s power shortage.
In his speech during the ceremonial contract signing of PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority and FILINVEST Development Corporation Utilities Inc. in Malacanang, the President said the energy situation in Mindanao did not arise overnight. He said: “Trouble began brewing when a number of legislators from the region wished to be exempted from the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA). “This divorced Mindanao from the Republic Act that allowed NAPOCOR (National Power Corporation) to sell its plants to private investors, using the proceeds to reduce its debt. “It would allow -- and it has allowed -- our power sector to be influenced by sound business policies, and not merely by political expediency.” Aquino said EPIRA abolished the system that once allowed politicians and other officials to simply undertake what was politically convenient -- to artificially lower electricity rates just to gear up for coming elections.
“But the system remained the same in Mindanao,” he said. Back then, the President said, leaders from Mindanao sought to continue taking advantage of the massive hydro resources in the area, with the dangerous assumption that the cheap hydro power could last forever. “They (Mindanao leaders) neglected the fact that the hydro power plants are machines that need to be maintained and improved, especially if they are to meet the increasing demand,” he said. “The focus on maintaining cheap power in an unsustainable manner scared away investors, who did not have the confidence to set up alternative power resources in Mindanao. In short, temporary convenience trumped preparedness for the future, and, ultimately, the people of Mindanao lost,” he noted. Since he assumed office, President Aquino said, “our intention has been clear -No longer will Mindanao be known merely as the Land of Promise. It will become the
Land of Promise Fulfilled.” He said the contract being signed Wednesday “is a concrete symbol of our progress towards that goal. It is a strong statement of our administration’s belief that long standing problems can be solved not simply by choosing the easy solution, but by embarking on the right solutions -- which require a thorough understanding of the problem, and careful consideration of all factors involved.” The contract signing also demonstrates “a new face of Philippine governance -- We are witnessing a great step in our shared pursuit of bequeathing to succeeding generations a Philippines that meets its full potential,” he noted. “Through the collective efforts of forward thinkers in public service, and of our partners in FILINVEST, we are showing our commitment to sustainable, inclusive growth whose impact will be felt by Filipinos even decades from now,” he added. Under his administration, President Aquino said they have begun making the structural changes that encouraged the private sector to come in and put up power plants. He cited Aboitiz who has Bolkiah/PAGE 11
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5 ADB official: No asset price bubble in PHL, but there are risks THERE is no evidence that asset price bubbles in the Philippines’ real estate sector and financial markets are forming, but the government needs to address lack of investment opportunities to stem excessive foreign fund inflows, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) economist said Tuesday.
EXPERTS see no asset price bubble as most projects in Metro Manila and other urban centers cater to endusers and not speculating buyers in the office and residential sector.
At a forum sponsored by the Center for Philippine Futuristics Studies and Management Inc., ADB senior country economist for the Philippines Norio Usui said, “There are no clear sign of asset price bubbles, but the government must be keen on developments.”
“There is no bubble now, but there are risks,” he added. Usui said portfolio inflows have been increasing since 2009 as foreign fund managers pour in money into the Philippines as it economy continues to hurtle forward amid a bleak global economic backdrop.
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Based on latest Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas data, foreign portfolio investments – also known as hot money given the ease with which they can be put in and out of an economy – in the first quarter was recorded at $1.086 billion, way above the $464.45 million in the same period last year. Hot money inflows, unlike foreign direct investments, are speculative in nature and do not directly strengthen industries and create jobs. These, instead, cause foreign exchange volatility and fuel asset prices
up. What the government can do to cushion effects of increased speculative inflows on foreign exchange and asset prices is to increase investment opportunities here, Usui said. “Once money goes here, there should be a place where they can be parked,” he added. Usui noted, “If there [are] enough investment opportunities present here, then it is good. But if there are no places to go to, money will be funneled into financial asset/PAGE 10
PSBank picks new president PHILIPPINE Savings Bank (PSBank), the thrift banking arm of the Metrobank Group, has appointed Vicente R. Cuna, Jr. as its new president, replacing Pascual M. Garcia III. Mr. Garcia will retire from his post in the bank on Friday, PSBank said in a statement released on Wednesday. He will officially turn over his post to Mr. Cuna during the PSBank board of directors’ organizational meeting on Friday after the bank’s annual stockholders’ meeting. Mr. Cuna is currently the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) senior executive vice president. He served as PSBank’s vice chairman and director from 2009 to 2011. He previously headed t he institutiona l a nd corporate banking division
of Metrobank and chaired Metro Remittance (Canada), Inc. too. He was also an adviser of Metrobank and the Philippine Charter Insurance Corp. and a director in SMBC Metro Investment Corp. Meanwhile, Mr. Garcia was PSBank’s president since 2001. He also headed the Chamber of Thrift Banks, w h ic h i s t he u mbre l l a organization of thrift banks in the country. “Wit h [Mr. Ga rcia’s] vision and leadership, the bank has become the second largest savings bank in the country,” PSBank said. PSBank targets a 15% rise in net income this year to P2.645 billion from P2.3 billion it earned a year ago. The bank’s shares closed at P131 apiece yesterday, down 0.68% or 90 centavos from their P131.90 close last Tuesday.
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Finance leaders to discuss IMF voting power reforms GLOBAL finance leaders will do a stocktaking of IMF voting power changes when they meet in Washington this week amid concerns that a key IMF reform package is being held up in the US Congress, a tough sell in a tight budget year. Without mentioning the United States, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Wednesday repeated a call to member countries to
approve the 2010 package, which would boost the voting power of emerging countries like China and India that have long called for more say in the IMF to reflect their growing economic might. The voting power issue will be discussed by the Group of 20 developed and emerging countries and by the IMF’s steering panel, the International Monetary and reforms/PAGE 10
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Our need for St. Thomas Aquinas today
T
he title may sound anachronistic and can provoke a turning-off reaction, given and Traces By Fr. Roy Cimagala today’s general mentality. But that’s part, in fact, a big part of why we have to bring this topic out in the open. With the world drifting to a repeat of the Enlightenment that is self-generated, we need the mind of St. Thomas, his way of reasoning and looking at the world, to see that we need a light outside of ourselves, that our light is at best something received and can only reflect. Ours can never be the original and creative light. When we say we have to be original and creative, we have to understand those qualities in a broad sense, never in the strict, literal sense. We can only be the moon with respect to the sun. Our originality and creativity are borrowed and shared qualities. They are a given-and-received affair involving us, rational, free and therefore responsible creatures who can rightfully think that what we think, say and do are also ours even if we can only react and reflect exterior or even interior stimuli. At the moment, we have many thinkers who pride themselves as free-thinkers and who think they can go about understanding the world and the universe by their own selves. The brightest of these free-thinkers cannot go far beyond their own ideas, precisely because they imprison themselves in their own world. They cannot transcend. They claim they have no biases, no presuppositions at all, and that they are not pre-conditioned, which are already quite an assumption to make. In the end, what they mean is that no one has the right to tell them anything. Everything ought to start and end with them. No authority is above or before them. That already sounds funny to me. Any mention of faith, religion, Church, God, etc., already turns them off. That’s already quite a contradiction for those who claim they are not conditioned by anything at all. They, a priori, already eliminate any possible contribution to their knowledge and wisdom from these sources. Cimagala/PAGE 10
HINTS
Tear down these walls
famous man and woman who were neighbors were always arguing. They just could not get along with each other. One day the woman said to the man: “Sir, if you were my husband, I’d give you poison!” The man quickly answered: “Madam, if you were my wife, I’d take it!” You know, the greatest problems in the world always have been and always will be problems between people. Just look at our own family and extended family. Is everyone getting along all the time? How about in your village or neighborhood, your school, or your workplace? Did you know that the beautiful ‘paradise’ islands of the Pacific have some of the highest suicide rates in the world? But why? Because there is no peace in paradise! Instead, there are walls of hurt and hate built up between people: between parents and children, between husbands and wives, between different races and cultures. All over the world there is trouble and problems between people! Many people are hurting, hoping someday to finally have real peace. But even if everyone was given lots of money and a high-paying job, the best education, and a great government, we’d still have problems because of the walls between people—walls of pride and prejudice, walls of hurt, mistrust,
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A Minute jealousy, and unforgiveness. By Jhan Tiafau Hurst And it’s into this kind of world with this big problem that God the Son came to bring peace, and tear down these walls between people. But before we can have real peace and truly love without conditions our children, our wife or husband, our neighbors, as well as people of other races and cultures, we ourselves must first be loved that way by someone else and experience that kind of love. That’s exactly what Jesus Christ came to do: to love us. He came to accept and forgive us for all our wrongs, so we could finally be reunited in true peace with our Maker. You see, it’s only then that we can also live in peace with the other people in our life. So today, won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for all your wrongs and to take charge of your heart everyday? Then He can start changing your life and relationships so you’ll finally have real peace with the people in your life. Just Think a Minute…
Knowledge economy
he economy of the past consisted and focused primarily on hard physical assets like land, building and other land-based assets. Dominance in any significant industry was measured by one’s landbanking assets and manufacturing facilities. It was a brick and mortar set-up. Start-up entrepreneurs need to build up their physical assets considerably to make a dent in the local economy. Hence, the top companies and high net-worth individuals had the most number of land, labor and physical assets. The phenomenon of globalization which is characterized by an explosion of information communications technology and the rapid advancements of computer technology has led to the rise of techno-preneurs-individuals who contribute something to the economy via computer and technology applications. Then through the miracle process of venture capitalism, these enterpreneurs become multi-millionaires once their idea are accepted by the marketplace. Technology and industry applications are now the most sought after business assets that can drive up a creative individual’s personal net worth. This setting has been the experience of Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg. Indeed, the structure of today’s economy, is albeit very different yet at the same time, it is very interesting. According to Mark Zuckerberg, today’s economy is “primarily based on knowledge and ideas— resources that are renewable and available to everyone. This can change everything. In a knowledge economy, the most important resources are the talented people we educate and attract to our country. A knowledge economy can scale further, create better
ECONOMIC
B uttresses
By Amparo Pamela Fabe jobs, and provide a higher quality of living for everyone.” M o r e o v e r, t h e t e r m “knowledge-based economy” stems from a fuller recognition of the role of knowledgeand technology in the economic growth of a country. Knowledge, as embodied in human beings is sometimes referred to as the (“human capital”)and in technology, has always been central to economic development. Current investment is now focused on high-technology goods a nd ser v ices, pa r t icu la rly informat iona nd communications technologies. Computers and related equipment are the fastestgrowingcomponent of tangible corporate investment. Corporations are channeling more intangible investments in research anddevelopment (R&D), the human resource development training of the labor force, computer software and technical expertise. For example, resource spending on research has reached 2.3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the developed economies. Education accountsfor an average 12 per cent of government expenditures, and investments in job-related trainingare estimated to be as high as 2.5 per cent of GDP in countries such as Germany and Austria whichhave dual training (combining school and work) systems. Other trends such as purchases of computersoftware and investments on product enhancement is driving fabe/PAGE 10
BSP acts on ATM skimming
e may have heard of the term “ATM skimming” – a criminal endeavor involving an unwitting ATM user and a technologically savvy perpetrator – in recent new reports. According to Dr. Johnny Noe Ravalo, managing director of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the suspects carry on with this modus operandi by installing a seemingly “chameleonic” device made to blend with the ATM card slot. This device acts like a photocopying machine, automatically “memorizing” the ATM card’s magnetic strip, which contains the victim’s vital banking information. Aside from the copying device, the suspects also install a micro-camera to spy on the victim while he is punching his PIN number. “Even if they successfully duplicate the actual ATM card through the skimming machine, the suspects would not be able to use it if they do not know the victim’s PIN number,” Ravalo explained in a radio interview. The BSP official further revealed that it would only take a perpetrator about two and a half minutes to install the skimming machine. The suspect, accompanied by two others, would normally choose an unengaged ATM machine to avoid suspicion while installing the machine. Or if the line in a particular ATM machine is long, three more suspects would create noise to distract the other bank customers while their companions are working on the skimming device. Banks protect their customers by making their ATM ma-
THINK
SPEAKING
O ut
By Ignacio Bunye
chines go “offline” as soon as they see the suspects through their CCTVs. Bank officials do not make a scene on the spot to avoid possibly armed suspects, Ravalo explained. “Many of the perpetrators are foreigners. Some are Asians, while others are Caucasian,” Ravalo said. This makes sense, as there has been a growing number of unauthorized withdrawals in some countries within the Asian region using ATMS copied in the Philippines. There has also been a complaint from a Filipino ATM holder that he lost P100,000 through an unauthorized withdrawal made in Bulgaria. “We are presently meeting with the Association of Bank Compliance Officers and the Bank Security Management Officers Association to discuss countermeasures to these crimes,” Ravalo said, adding that they are exploring the possibility of an ATM withdrawal without using an ATM card. “Perpetrators use technology to take advantage of their victims, so we would also use technology to counter their efforts,” Ravalo said. The BSP official shares some tips to ensure the security of a financial consumer’s ATM card: • Do not use a common PIN number. A worldwide bunye/PAGE 10
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AgriBusiness
NSCB: Agri workers among lowest paid By BONG D. FABE
PEOPLE who produces food to feed the nation—those who work in the agriculture sector—are among the lowest paid in the entire Philippines. “According to the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES), the Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), indicates that agriculture receives the lowest average daily basic wage and salary compared to nonagriculture sectors. Farmers and fishermen are among the least paid workers in the Philippine economy with an average daily wage and salary of P156.8 and P178.43, respectively in 2011,” said NSCB secretary general Jose Ramon G. Albert said in the latest issue of Beyond the Numbers: How Important is Agriculture in the Economy? Albert noted that agricultural workers’ salary is just “comparable” to the wage of ordinary domestic helpers. “Wage and salary received by those in agriculture are comparable to those of private households with
employed persons (i.e., domestic helpers) at P138.99,” he added. Given that agriculture employs more than a third of the country’s labor force, the high incidence rate of poverty in the sector is as no surprise, Albert said. “Given the low labor productivity and wage rates, it is not surprising that across basic sectors, poverty in-
cidence is highest among fishermen and farmers at 41.4 percent and 36.7 percent, respectively, in 2009, way above the poverty incidence for the whole country at 26.5 percent in 2009,” he noted. Albert said that “Zamboanga Peninsula has the highest poverty incidence of farmers (at 54.0%), while Caraga has the highest poverty incidence (of 59.2%)
among fisherfolk” among all regions. He, however, said that government is doing its best to uplift the lives of the Filipino farmers and fisherfolks by implementing a number of policies and programs, such as an increase in the budget of the Department of Agriculture for the last three years. workers/PAGE 11
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DA extends assistance to ZamboSur farmers PAGA DI A N CIT Y--T he Department of Agriculture (DA) is extending aid to farmers in Zamboanga del Sur province through the Sikat Saka 2013 Financial Assistance Program. The assistance is in line with the government’s Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) and supported by a lending scheme devised by the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank). Farmers in t he pi lot municipalities of Dumingag, M a h ay a g , Mol ave a nd Tambulig will receive the funds directly or through conduit lending perfected by the state-run bank. Sikat Saka, one of the DA’s banner programs that focus on rice production, aims to nurture the progress of farmers who will be provided with capital to improve their market penetration, raise their output and help reduce rice imports. Farmers met with DA and LandBank officials to discuss Sikat Saka at the M a h ay a g Mu n ic ip a l it y Gymnasium on March 20. Among the officials were those from the National Food Aut hor it y (NFA), t he Nat iona l Irrigat ion Ad m i n i st r at ion (N I A), the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), the Bureau
of Agricultural Statistics and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. Lynn M. Agno, senior i r r igat ion de velopment officer of the Zamboanga del Sur Irrigation Management Of f ice, presented t he program’s requirements for farmers wanting to avail themselves of easy credit. Those eligible to borrow must be a member of a recognized irrigators’ association (IA), endorsed by the IA president, certified by the NIA and a holder of between half a hectare and 5 hectares of land. The eligible borrower must have no existing loans from banks or conduits in the past six months and must have a purchase order or market contract from the NFA or the National Agribusiness Corp. To initiate the program, the DA provided LandBank with an initial budget of P10 mi llion for lending at 15-percent interest per annum for the first two cycles and reduced it by 1 percent for succeeding cycle loans fully paid in time of the eighth cycle. In case t he memberborrower defaults, the IA will take over his or her land so that it can pay the loan. farmers/PAGE 11
Project CoFFEE launched in Surigao TAGBI NA, Su r igao del Sur—In an effort to make information on best coffee practices available to coffeegrowing communities in Mindanao, the country’s leading coffee brand has launched a private-public pa r t nersh ip (PPP) t hat is env isioned to be t he development model for coffee stakeholders in the southern Philippines. Nestle Philippines, Inc. (NPI), through its brand Nesca fe, lau nched here recently its PPP project called Coffee Technologies and Funds to Fuel Economic Empowerment (CoFFEE) which will provide smallscale coffee farmers and communities in Mindanao with innovative farming technologies tra ining, post-harvest upgrades, and marketing support. “Project CoFFEE seeks to make the information on best cof fee practices widely available to other communities. We hope that through this project, we can build a strong network of coffee communities that will become a significant resource base for Robusta coffee in the country, said Arthur Baria, NPI Agricultural Services chief. Baria said Project CoFFEE aims to (1) determine the gaps and opportunities in the coffee value chain of a locality; (2) share theoretical and practical knowledge on Robusta coffee farming;
COFFEE LAUNCHING. Officials of Nestle Philippines, Inc. (PNI), Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) during the launching of Project CoFFEE in Surigao. photo by pni
(3) introduce t he latest technologies in Robusta coffee such as high-yielding seed lings, innovative fe r t i l i z e r t h at i s b ot h efficient and sustainable, and new post-harvest drying techniques; (4) develop 30 farming entrepreneurs or FARMtrepreneurs in one area; and (5) create a business case for sustainable smallscale coffee communities. Baria noted t hat t he ma i n cha l lenges faci ng small-scale coffee farming communities are (1) lack of training; (2) lack of access to new coffee technologies; and (3) minimal awareness of the potential of the local Robusta coffee industry. “ T h r o u g h this collaborative project, we hope to address these challenges, especially in far-flung coffee communities such as those in Mindanao. We expect this project to not only help the small-coffee farmers but to also help address the supply shortage in the country,” he
said. The Philippines currently import about 70% of the country’s coffee requirement because there is over a 50% shortfall in coffee bean supply since annual local coffee production is only about 20,000 to 30,000 metric tons whereas the demand is about 64,000 metric tons. NPI, the biggest coffee buyer i n t he cou nt r y cornering about 80% of local coffee production, noted that demand is still growing. “We a re accelerat ing our efforts to help grow t he cof fee industr y and reverse the trend. Ideally, we would like to source all our coffee beans from the Philippines. The CoFFEE project is expected to greatly contribute to this goal because it encourages cooperation and knowledge-sharing among key stakeholders in a coffee community,” Baria explained. NPI is partnering with the Deutsche Investitions-und project/PAGE 11
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Fabe... from page 6
in knowledge-based sectors such asengineering studies and advertising. For t he Ph i l ippi ne s to be an essential and an indispensable part of this new economy, we need to inspire the young Filipinos to continue to be the most talented and hardest-working people in the world. Our schools need to train and prepa re t he best yout h workforce for the knowledgeintensive sectors.
Bunye... from page 6
study revealed that the commonly used passwords are: 1) the word “password,” 2) 123456, and 3) the user’s birthday. • Do not lend your ATM to anyone, even to your friends or relatives. • Take note of your account number and the bank’s hotline in case of emergency. • Do not make withdrawals in ATMs located in places unfamiliar to you.
Cimagala... from page 6
St. Thomas Aquinas was a medieval philosopher who made the great contribution of synthesizing the best of philosophy from the time of the ancient Greeks with the role and requirements of faith. It was he who clearly
distinguished between what is reason and what is faith, but he also made it clear that the two while distinct are not incompatible. More than that, he demonstrated that, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “a philosophy elaborated without the knowledge of Christ almost awaited the light of Jesus to be complete.” In short, it is in the nature of reason to be in need of faith. And it is also in the nature of faith to be in need of reason, since faith which is a supernatural gift needs to impact on us who always have to work through reason. Reason without the guidance of faith is a force with a limited sense of direction, at best, and has the likelihood to fall in circles, unable to go beyond what it can already perceive as beyond it-the world of the spiritual and the supernatural. This is the usual problem of many brilliant men who have little or no faith. They tend to allow their reason to be dominated by the impulses of the flesh and the things of the world. In their worst predicament, they keep reason to be fully captivated by the powers of reason alone. They don’t go to limits of reason to discern a deeper, richer reality that is just beyond reason. They feel quite convinced there is no reality outside what reason can take. The contribution of St.
Thomas Aquinas is precisely in demonstrating that reason has the capacity to transcend itself to discern this reality that is pure spirit and above our nature. In real life, of course, this conviction of St. Thomas can only be appreciated if one has the humility to accept the true character of our reason-that it is something created by someone who is not us, and that it is not self-generated. Without this humility, one gets blinded by the powers of reason alone and becomes incapable of discerning the world of faith. That’s why, St. Thomas, more than a brilliant man, was a very holy, pious and humble man. Others saints, like St. Edith Stein, who were also big minds got converted to the faith by the example of humility they saw in others and that moved them. This is what we need this daysintellectual humility.
Asset... from page 5
markets and assets like real property.” While the Bangko Sentral has said that it sees no asset price bubbles, monetary officials repeatedly said they remain watchful of the rise in asset prices and its effect on bank’s loan portfolio as a precautionary stance. Monetary officials will meet on April 25 to discuss policy. Last March 14, they
cut rates of special deposit accounts (SDA) – a tool used to mop-out excess liquidity that can stoke inflation — by 50 basis points to 2.5 percent to funnel more funds for productive uses. It rationalized SDA rates to 3 percent in January. Usui said, “Reduced rates of the SDA, will cause banks and financial institutions to just lend out more money to the private sector,” noting that the SDA window is a favorite of such firms to park unused funds. Policy rates have remained untouched at 3.5 percent for overnight borrowing and 5.5 percent for overnight lending since October last year. — KBK, GMA News
Reforms... from page 5
Finance Committee, starting on Friday. “There isn’t really much new in terms of issues on the table,” a senior International Monetary Fund official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters. “As soon as the US approves it, it will come into effect. Certainly the view of the membership is that it should happen as soon as possible, and that is certainly our view, and the US is also committed to getting it done,” the official said. While approval of the package is being delayed by the United States, there has been little progress since
January among countries on agreeing a new formula for calculating members’ voting shares. The official acknowledged that further discussions hinged on updated economic data due in June. The 2010 deal was meant to have been fully authorized by countries in October last year. But the Obama administration put off asking Congress to fund it last year to avoid controversy before the November presidential elections. Some countries believe that delays in the voting reform package and in compiling a new formula will set back the next phase of major vote changes due in January 2014. The United States has repeatedly said it is committed to the 2010 agreement, a thorny issue for some lawmakers who argue that the US money for the IMF should go toward safeguarding domestic programs that are being cut. L a st week Pre sident Barack Obama asked Congress to shift $63 billion of US money from an IMF crisis fund to permanently boost US funding to the IMF. The request, which would further enhance America’s clout within the IMF, will be considered as the appropriations committees start their work in deciding fiscal 2014 funding levels for government agencies and
discretionary programs. Some congressional aides have said US approval of IMF money is unlikely before October. New Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, testifying recently at a hearing on the president’s 2014 budget proposal, argued it was in the interest of the United States to maintain its leadership in the IMF and a veto power over policy decision. “We have a veto in the IMF, we have a controlling voice when we need to, we have leverage so that the United States can influence the economic decisions around the world, and it is something that our international leadership depends on,” Lew told the hearing. — Reuters
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Today’s HOROSCOPE AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) - In order to be able to sleep peacefully at night you have to live by your own ethical standards. Every person has a different moral capacity and you can’t base your actions off of another’s moral compass. Make sure each action you take is to your standards and you won’t go wrong.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) - Even if everyone around you has your best interests in mind there is still action you need to take. It is your responsibility to ensure your life takes the direction you want it to. Take command of your life and direct each situation to be completed in the manner you want it to be. Time spent now can ensure you get the results you want.
LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) - As much as you’d like everyday to be filled with romance, it simply isn’t realistic. Relationships can be difficult and require an outpouring of effort. On the days when love doesn’t seem romantic at all, stop and take stock of how lucky you are. Some issues just aren’t that important in the grand scheme of things.
PISCES (February 19 – March 20) - In order to set out in the new stage of life you’ve begun you need to have a new plan of action and fresh goals. Before you can go after what you want you must first be able to identify it. Once you know what you want you’ll need a solid plan and strategy to achieve it. It may sound simple, but sometimes the tried and true method works the best.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22) - When you give without thought of what you can gain you wind up a winner. Although it can be a challenge to open your heart so completely, the reward you receive will outweigh any discomfort. This level of giving possesses an extraordinary amount of energy and can inspire all sorts of wonderful benefits.
SCORPIO (October 23 – November 21) -Building a healthy relationship can be quite a labor intensive process and exercise in will-power. When the butterflies fill your stomach it can be quite difficult to take step back and remember to keep your freedom. If your heart longs to spend every waking moment with your lover just remember at some point you won’t be able to keep it up. Think long-term.
ARIES (March 21- April 19) - It is a wise practice to think before you speak. If you don’t you may wind up in a dramatic situation you have to apologize for. You have a thick skin and rarely take a comment personally, but not everyone operates in the same manner. A little forethought can allow you to sidestep a time wasting situation.
LEO (July 23 – August 22) - Expectations determine relationship satisfaction. In order to avoid disappointment and keep a healthy, happy partnership you or your partner must be realistic about what to expect from one another. If someone can accept you exactly as you are that is the truest form of love. When someone wants to change you and can’t they will be eternally dissatisfied with the union.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 – December 21) - Money is crucial to exist in the world today, but at least one area can be free from monetary value. Love is one area where money shouldn’t be top priority. If you choose a partner based on the girth of their wallet you could find yourself in big trouble later. In order to share your life with someone you need to look beyond their net worth.
TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) - Venus the love planet is in your sign making love a top priority right now. If you haven’t found the partner of your dreams it is likely to connect with them now. Just make sure your heart is open to receive love or the opportunity can pass you by.
VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) - If someone needs your input and is blissfully unaware of it, choose the right time to enlighten them. In order to get your point across and not ignite an argument, ensure you have your audience’s full attention. You care deeply about those in your life and in order to help them avoid a disaster you’ll want to make your message clear.
CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) - You have an extraordinary power to diffuse a potentially disastrous situation. When a friend or family member’s world is caving in around them a few positive words can make all the difference. Let your empathetic side stretch its legs and you can alleviate a lot of pressure for someone else.
CROSSWORD puzzle
CIRCLE A WORD Fabricated
ico lin jer een nim tw cam
se lon ask gham cot de vet
mus dam ra broc feta fon bric
across
19.Cockrow (4) 20.Sound of bells (4)
3.Ship’s lookout point (4’1-4) 8.Warmth (4) 9.Robert Mitchum film, My Lovely (8) 10.Force (6) 13.Parsian cathedral, Dame (5) 14.US 1950s crooner, Ray (7) 15.Many-seeded fruit (3) 16.Bad driver (4-3) 17.Pointed (5) 21.Passion (6) 22.US national game (8) 23.Dry and dusty (4) 24.Viral disease (9) DOWN 1.Deception (9) 2.Spotted dog (9) 4.Firearm (5) 5.Tusked African pig (4-3) 6.Pond creature (4) 7.Retailed (4) 11.Distasteful (9) 12.Dangerous criminal (9) 14.Irish dance (3) 15.Pardoned (7) 18.Dance in 3-4 time (5)
Answers for Yesterday (April 17, 2013)
ACROSS: 1.Tasteful, 5.Curd, 7.Amaze, 8.Utterly, 9.Pensioner, 13.Chic, 16.Ali, 17. B e e, 1 8 . Ev e r, 21 . S a n d p a p e r, 2 4 . G r e n a d a , 2 6 . C l i c k , 2 7. R a i l , 28.Ganymede DOWN: 1.Tragic, 2.Scampi, 3.Eye up, 4.Lit, 5.Cherokee, 6.Dr yer, 8.Urn, 10.Evita, 11.Sable, 12.Erse, 14.Hula, 15.Cardinal, 19.Venice, 20.Rankle, 21.Sugar, 22.Pea, 23.Rocky, 25.Dig
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Isuzu... from page 3
In 1993, Izumina was appointed as Vice President for Business Management at Isuzu Motors America in Los Angeles, California and in 1999, he was appointed as General Manager of the Sales Department for the company’s operations in Europe, Oceania, Central and South America in the IML headquarters. In 2009, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Isuzu Motors Mexico. Although being its first time to be assigned in handling in the Asean region, he is optimistic that the area has more room for growth for the automotive industry. “Among the markets in the region, the Philippines is in one of the best positions to capitalize on this potential, thanks to the country’s rising economy and the improving purchasing power of its expanding middle class,” Izumina said. “It is therefore challenging for me to head IPC and to cater to the Philippine market in my first posting in the ASEAN.” Meanwhile, Yamazaki said that the brand has some of the best products that suit the Philippine market’s needs and tastes. “In a competitive environment it is crucial to constantly evolve with the market, as well as to continuously innovate, in order to benefit from the opportunities now presented by a strong economy,” Yamazaki said. “IPC’s unrelenting commitment toward local manufacturing will bolster not only its position but also the growth of the domestic automotive industry.” During Yamazaki’s three year stint at IPC, the corporation bolstered the Isuzu Crosswind’s market position to record levels since 2004; registering for IPC in 2012 the company’s best annual sales performance since 2004; ensuring the continued market dominance of the Isuzu N-Series light-duty truck, which in 2012 has led its segment for a record 14 straight years; having expanded IPC’s network to 21 dealerships and 15 satellite offices nationwide; garnering an ISO 14001:2004 Certification for IPC’s worldclass manufacturing facilities in Laguna; and marking IPC’s 150,000th-unit production and sales milestone on the occasion of the company’s 15th Inaugural Anniversary last year.
Airbag... from page 3
companies said. As a resu lt, t here is a risk of f ires starting or of passengers being injured by metal fragments shooting up toward the windshield or down into the passenger foot well. Not all cars recalled will need the airbag fix, however - only those found to have the defective parts. How long will it take to fix, and what will it cost? Toyota, for example, said it will exchange the faulty airbag inflators for new ones, a fix that is expected to take anywhere from 1 hour to 2-1/2 hours for most models. The automakers have said the repairs will be free of charge. When will recall notices be sent? Honda has said it would start sending notifications to affected owners as of May 11. Other automakers have not yet provided those details. — Reuters
Motul... from page 3
of Autoplus Sportzentrium, exclusive distributors of Motul
oil and lubricants in the country. T h e aw e s o m e d i s p l ay of precious meta ls was in celebration of Motul’s 160th year in the industry. “We made sure that they all came in pairs, one for each generation.” With 60 years of development and racing experience, get real protection and performance from the country’s only 100 percent fully synthetic motor oil. MOTUL guarantees total protection for your engine with its line of fully synthetic motor oils, the H-TEC 100 and 300V. As an industry pioneer in synthetic oils, Motul’s H-TEC 100 and 300V was developed to provide lubrication for modern day sophisticated engines, while assuring fuel savings and automotive efficiency.
Bolkiah... from page 4
built two coal-fired power plants in Davao last year, which will provide a total of 300 megawatts. “These will be finished by 2015, and by then, with all the projects we have lined up, we fully expect that this (power shortage) problem will be a thing of the past,” he said. “The confidence we are enjoying is palpable even in the international community,” he noted. In fact, President Aquino said, as mentioned by the Sultan of Brunei during the meeting Tuesday, “they (Brunei) are very serious about their intention to bring natural gas to Mindanao.” “The memorandums of understanding have already been signed for this project,” he said. These power plants being put up by private sectors like Aboitiz, which will be producing, by 2016, an estimated production capacity to be almost 470 megawatts above peak demand -- “we are not just increasing Mindanao’s maximum capacity. Beyond that, we are reinforcing their entire energy supply with more reliable and stable sources,” the President stressed. “We are making their energy infrastructure much more competitive. We should also not forget that in constructing these power plants, Filinvest will be injecting P29 billion into Mindanao’s economy, while giving jobs to 2,000 workers in the process,” he noted. In the coming years, President Aquino said, “the economy of Mindanao is set for explosive growth” “We can fully expect that more investors will turn to Mindanao -- in addition to those that have already found places like Davao and Cagayan de Oro to be lucrative centers of business. Consistent and fairly priced energy will be the factor that will tip the scales in Mindanao’s favor, and ensure its growth -- and the well-being of its people -- in the years to come,” he said. (PNA)
Workers... from page 8
Government has also improved credit access for the sector through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and also started to compile information on farmers, fishermen and farm laborers, to be used for distribution of subsidies and benefits. “Whether the current efforts of government will be successful, only time will truly tell. Many efforts have not yielded fruit, but perhaps, it is time also for everyone to recognize that we can’t leave everything to government,” Albert said. “If we wish the agriculture sector to grow in importance, then we all have to do our share
in helping farmers, in reducing transportation costs, and reducing the profits of middle-men,” he stressed. (Bong D. Fabe)
Farmers... from page 8
To provide credit management to qualified borrowers, the ATI will hold a training on financial-credit discipline that will be handled by Geo Padilla from the central office under the Rice Banner Program. After the training, the NIA will certify the members as eligible borrowers. LandBank will do a credit investigation in two weeks after an application is filled up, followed by credit administration and account monitoring. Re-availment of the loan is encouraged after farmers have completed payments of existing credit within a year. “In lending, we don’t practice shortcuts to avoid issues in the future,” said Vincius Hamoy, LandBank chief in Dipolog. He encouraged farmers to avail themselves of the conduit lending scheme and go back to the cooperatives, saying that they will receive dividends and extra services from those groups. R e g i n o D e l f i n , N FA prov incia l manager in Zamboanga del Sur, said if the second cropping cycle is successful, “we will extend our help to other IAs so [that] more farmers will receive the service rendered by the government.” (BM)
Project... from page 8
Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) for CoFFEE. “DE G ’s i nve s t ment i n Project CoFFEE is tru ly a testament to the continuing commitment of the organization to create a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth. We hope that through this contribution, we can make a l ong-term improvement in the livelihood of small coffee fa rmers i n Tagbi na,” sa id Daniela Soehngen, DEG senior investment manager. Soehngen expressed high hopes for the impact of the project on the coffee community in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, where the first phase of the project was launched February 27. DEG, which serves as a cofinancier for the project, is one of Europe’s biggest development finance institutions. (BDF)
Service... from page 2
ing the airport taxi system and shuttle service. Originally planned to open on April 30, the P7.8-billion Laguindingan airport’s opening was postponed by the Department of Transportation and Communications to June 15 following petitions from several stakeholders. Darimbang said that April 30 is still within the election period and high passenger season. He said that there is no political interests in the opening of the airport. In a statement, the DOTC said: “As we took stock of the assessment of both CAAP and the airline companies that the Laguindingan Airport is already a safer alternative to the Lumbia Airport, we again listen to their inputs saying that postponing the transfer will be better for passenger convenience. With this development, the Lumbia airport will continue its operations until finally transferred.
Roadmap... from page 1
updated Oil Palm Industry Roadmap is now inevitable since situations have changed and we must be relevant to the times,” Alcala said in his message read by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Edilberberto de Luna. PCA (Philippine Coconut Aut hor it y) Ad m i n ist rator Euclides G. Forbes has told me that in 2004, an Oil Palm Roadmap was made and, in fact, was presented during one of your National Palm Oil Congresses. If it did not take off the ground, there must be a problem or problems. And in my term, I cannot allow that to happen again,” Sec. Alcala in his message, delivered by Asec. De Luna, said. Alcala also said that he directed PCA to prepare the roadmap for the industry and was happy to know that two weeks from now, a ConsultationWorkshop on Harmonization of Data and Statistics on the Philippine Palm Oil Industry will be held by the PCA in Davao City. “I expect that with the harmonized data, we will finally come up with a roadmap for the industry. One that is achievable within a timeframe of 10 years from 2013 to 2023,” Alcala’s message said. For his part, Dr. Pablito Pamplona, PPDCI director and secretary, said: “If we look at the situation of our country now, we are li ke (Ma nny) Pacquiao. We are down. To overcome the huge vegetable oil shortage of the country is necessary. In addition, there is the urgent need to promote high farm productivity, generate employment opportunities and help reduce the incidence of poverty with the use of Oil Palm following what the neighboring countries has done as models.” The 8th National Oil Palm Congress on April 18-19, 2013, has been organized by A Brown Company, Inc., through its subsidiary A Brown Energy Resources Development Inc. (ABERDI), which plays host to this year’s event, under the leadership of Robertino Pizarro, who is both president of the Philippine Palm Oil Development C ou nci l Inc (PPDCI) and A Brown Company. P i z a r r o d e l i ve re d t h e rationale of the congress with focus on this year’s theme, “Utilizing unproductive lands a nd promot i ng econom ic stability thru investments in the palm oil industry.” Ruffy Magbanua, manager, com mu n it y relat ions a nd de velopment of A Brow n Copany, said this is the first time that a Palm Oil Congress gathered this big number of delegates, and considered it as a successful gathering of local and foreign key players in the oil palm industry. ”Top industry keyplayers i n at tend a nce a side f rom Pizarro were Erwin Garcia, PPDCI vice president, Reynaldo Espanola, PPDCI director, Dr. Pablito Pamplona, director and secretary of PPDCI, among others. Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano, graced the opening program. He a lso inducted into office the board of directors of PPDCI. The Palm Oil Congress is co-sponsored by the Local Government of Cagayan de Oro, ABERDI, API Group of Companies, KIDI, FPPI, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Department of Agriculture (DA) and other major industry players, with the support of the Department of Trade and I ndu st r y (DT I), Reg iona l Board of Investments (RBOI),
Depa r t ment of Trade a nd Industry (DTI), PCA–PODO, Department of Tourism (DOT), (Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other stakeholders. Updates on the Philippine palm oil industry, development i n it i at i ve s , t e c h nolog ic a l advances, banking support, local and international trends and prospects among others will be discussed during the congress were readily available during the two-day congress. A BER DI operates a 1,500-hectare palm oil plantation in Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Tingalan, Opol, Misamis Oriental and soon in Tignapoloan, Cagayan de Oro City. ABERDI also operates a 10-tonner crude palm oil plant in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. By June this year, the 50-tonner palm oil refinery plant will be operational and is expected to produce 1,000 metric tons of palm oil per month.
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statement, said it was no longer necessary to change schedules after the government deferred to June 15 the transfer to the Laguidingan Internationa l A i r por t. T he Depa r t ment o f Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d C om mu n icat ions (DOTC) originally set the date of transfer on April 30. With the deferral, f lights coming in and going out of Lumbia Airport through June 14 would continue as scheduled. Earlier, Cebu Pacific said 75,000 passengers would be affected by the cancelled flights or changes in schedule. The airline is getting in touch w it h g uests for t he rescheduled flights. Guests may also call reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888 for f light details.
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important part. ICTSI is already conducting a study on how it will implement the expansion program,” Clarito said. Clarito did not give figures on how much it will cost to expand the entire 300-hectare facility as it will depend on the outcome of the ICSTI study. Phividec, which stands for Philippine Veterans Investments Development Corp., is t he regulator of the port, which is part of the 3,000-hectare economic zone that the agency also oversees. ICTSI is the sole operator of the port after it won the 25-year concession in 2008. The MCT has an annual capacity of 270,000 twentyfoot equivalent units. Data from Phividec showed that last year, the port handled 215,274 TEUs, composed mostly of agricultural goods, lumber and minerals for export, higher by 2 percent from the previous year’s 210,508 TEUs. Foreign goods account for 52 percent of the total or the same ratio in 2011. As a rule, a container port should not be operating at close to full capacity to prevent cargo congestion. Joma Fernandez, terminal manager of MCT, said the container yard utilization last year was only at 48 percent, which gives cargoes and trucks enough space to move around port. He said the immediate need of MCT, which was created as an alternative to the nearby domestic and international port, was the expansion of the 300-meter berth of the port that can only fit only one vessel at a time. “During the past two years, shipping lines deployed longer vessels. The newer domestic
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ships are also getting longer,” Fernandez said. When the port was constructed more than a decade ago, it was envisioned to handle one international vessel, which is 200 meters long, and a local vessel, according to Phividec. Many new cargo ships, howe ver, now exceed 20 0 meters. The current facility costs about P3.24 billion to construct. The funding came from the official development assistance f rom t he Japa n Ba n k for International Cooperation. Phiv idec has a l ready allocated 14.6 hectares for the port’s second berth and also an additional 9.36 hectares as back-up area and 8.3 hectares for the warehouse of Del Monte Philippines, one of the port’s main users. At the moment, only three major international shipping lines call at the port regularly. These a re APL (A merica n President’s Line), Maersk and MCC Singapore.
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Recto said the recurring eig ht-hou r rot at i ng d a i ly brownouts was “opportunity lost” for Mindanao. Citing the Asian Development Bank, which said that the Philippines could have reached 6% economic growth, he said the absence of a power problem in Mindanao could further raise that growth to 7.5%. Connect Luzon, Visayas to Mindanao Recto’s solut ion to t he Mindanao power crisis is to connect the Luzon and Visayas grids to Northern Mindanao. This, he said, would ensure a steady supply of power during the summer months of peak use when Mindanao’s hydro-electric power plants also produce less. “That’s the real solution,” he said, as the Luzon and Visayas grids are already connected. “We c a n not br i ng t he excess power in Luzon to Mindanao because there are no connections. If there is a connection, time will come that when there is power crisis in Luzon, and Mindanao have built its power plants, they can even supply to Luzon and Visayas,” Recto said. The politics of power Asked if politics was the reason why Mindanao has not been connected to the Luzon and Visayas grids, he said: Yes, laging kasama dyan (it’s always there),” he said. He urged decision makers to revisit the possibility of doing this because otherwise, the power brownouts will recur. “I believe it is a matter of time and the problem will be solved if they connect Mindanao to Luzon and Visayas grids,” he said. Mea nwhi le, Recto sa id power supply and demand should always be factored in in determining growth rate. He said a 6% growth rate requires a 9% growth rate in the power sector to be able to deal with the demands of that growth. “They did not factor the dema nd on power i n t he growth rate. For the supply side, Mindanao should have a mix of sources since they cannot rely on hydro power plants because of global warming. Coal, which (could be had at a) steady supply, should be part of the mix,” he explained. Payment of debts incurred by the National Power Corporation before the privatization of its powers plants raised the power rates, he said. The cost of these payments, in turn, was passed on to consumers. -- Interaksyon
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