BusinessWeek Mindanao (April 11, 2016)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Volume VI, No. 122

Market Indicators As of 6:10 pm april 8, 2016 (friday)

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Briefly Coop assistance ZAMBOANGA City -- Three cooperatives in Basilan provinces are set to receive P3 million worth of livelihood assistance projects from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace and Governance and Synergy (ARMM-HELPS).

The livelihood assistance projects will include skills training, capital infusion, and construction of a bakery for each of the beneficiary-cooperative.

It is by the ARMM’s Science and Technology Department (DOST-ARMM).

The assistance projects will be turned over on Monday and Tuesday (April 11-12)

by DOST-ARMM Secretary Myra Mangkabung and ARMMHELPS Program Manager Anwar Upahm to the beneficiary cooperatives.

Hydro project ALSONS Consolidated Resources, Inc. marked its entry into the renewable energy sector with an invitation to contractors to develop a 15-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric power plant at Saguil River in Maasim, Sarangani province.

“It’s a first of, we hope, several [hydroelectric plants],” Tirso G. Santillan, Jr., Alsons executive vice-president, told reporters in a briefing on Thursday night in General Santos City.

Alsons, whose operations are largely in Mindanao, is now looking for a contractor for three packages of the project covering civil works, electromechanical and transmission segments, he said.

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WB team inspects PRDP projects in Mindanao www.businessweekmindanao.com

Monday | April 11, 2016

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

A

N EIGHT-member World Bank team has conducted its two-day review mission for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in Mindanao.

HARVEST IN DROUGHT. Farmers in Antipas town, North Cotabato harvest rice amid a severe El Niño phenomenon in this photo taken on April 5, 2016. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

Longer brownouts as deficit widens

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

T H E s h or t f a l l on t h e Mindanao power grid has again widened after one of the two 150-megawatt (MW) coal-fired plants of Therma South Inc. (TSI) was shut down following a tripping of the transmission line in Toril,

Davao City on Wednesday afternoon.

As of Thursday morning, the Mindanao grid had a supply deficiency of 102 MW with a system capacity of 1,321 MW, based on the National Grid Corporation

of the Philippines’ data.

The TSI plant’s temporary closure compounded the already precarious situation of the grid due to the reduced capacity of the governmentr un Agus and Pu l ang i hydroelectric plants in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur. brownouts/PAGE 11

“Cloud seeding” brings rain to Bukidnon

By CRIS DIAZ, Contributing Editor

SCATTERED rain showers occurred in Bukidnon, the Northern Mindanao province hardest hit by the prolonged El Nino phenomenon, an agriculture official said Saturday.

Mary Grace Sta. Elena,

regional spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture (DA) here, said the rains were experienced in the town of San Fernando, and Malaybalay City, both in Bukidnon, Friday afternoon.

She said DA conducted

“cloud seeding” in many areas in Northern Mindanao Friday to induce rain amid a prolonged drought that started since October last year.

Cloud seeding is a weather modification technique, which involves rain/PAGE 11

The team was set to e v a lu ate b ot h p e nd i ng proposals and the implementation of approved projects, particularly those in Davao del Norte province and Davao City, the PRDP said in a statement.

PRDP Mindanao Cluster Project Director Lealyn A. Ramos noted the “surge in projects submitted to PRDP... in Mindanao.”

The PRDP, with the Department of Agriculture as lead implementing agency, reported that as of

March: “Mindanao has a total indicative portfolio of P12.33 billion under the infrastructure development component, which is a 30% increase from the first World Bank Mission when Mindanao only registered P9.91 billion portfolio.”

On infrastructure, about P6.26 billion in approved projects are in Mindanao, representing 44% of the total infrastructure portfolio.

Another P6.07 billion worth projects are in the inspects/PAGE 11

PRIMAVERA CITY. Artist’s rendition of Primavera City as envisioned by Italpinas Development Corporation to be built in Cagayan de Oro City.

Italpinas sets launch of Primavera City in 2Q CAGAYAN de Oro-based certified green builder Italpinas Development Corporation (IDC) has set for the second quarter of this year the

launch of its new huge and groundbreaking project – Primavera City – in this City of Golden Friendship. primavera/PAGE 11

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Economy

Tourism resort in MisOr gets orientation for productivity MEDINA, Misamis Oriental -- The National Conciliation a n d Me d i a t i o n B o a r d of Region 10 conducted a two batches of Basic Orientation C ourse on Workplace Cooperation and Productivity: Key to a Good Customer Value to the workers and management of Duka Bay Resort, Medina Misamis Oriental held in the

Training Hall of the resort on March 17, 2016.

Around 52 participants attended the activity and successfully institutionalized the creation of LMC Counsel with sub-committees namely: Productivity Improvement Programs; Safety & Health; Family Welfare; Grievance C ommittee; and L ab or Standard C ompliance

Committee. Committee Chairmen and members was elected accordingly in the presence of the owner Andy Pelaez and Manuela Pelaez.

During the activity, an action plan was given to the workers focusing on how to strengthen customer service. Related concerns such as Housekeeping, Front Desk, Safety and Security,

Restaurant Improvement and Cleanliness were part of the discussion aiming to improve services.

DBRI LMC meetings are scheduled every second Tues d ay of t he mont h to serve as an avenue to discuss concerns and for the development of both labor and management. (Junaliza Aragon/NCMB10)

Private university to raise funds for Kidapawan farmers A PRIVATE university would raise funds for the Kidapawan farmers through a series of benefit shows known as “Art for Rice,” local organizers said Friday.

The organizers are the Xavier University-based Xavier Center for Culture and Ar t s ( XC C A ) and Department of English Language and Literature, and Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan De Oro (United Writers of Cagayan De Oro).

Ho b a r t S a v i o r, t h e XCCA director, said that the “Art for Rice” program is a performance forum series, which aims to raise funds for the victims of El Niño in Kidapawan, North Cotabato and in some parts of Maguindanao.

He said that the campaign envisions a collaborative and complementary endeavor of all the performing, literary, visual and new media artists in Cagayan de Oro City and

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Northern Mindanao.

The organizers welcome local artists: poets, writers,

dancers, singers, musicians and other arts groups, to share funds/PAGE 11

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PhilHealth urged to cover drug, alcohol addiction treatment THE CAGAYAN de Oro City Council on Friday e n d or s e d a re s o lut i on urging the PhilHealth to include drug and alcohol addiction treatment in the government’s health coverage program.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, chair of the city council committee on health, said that the resolution was passed by the City Council of Ozamis, a neighboring city, 157 kilometers west of here.

Pajo said that the resolution was asking the League of Cities of the Philippines to lobby for the call for the inclusion of drug and alcohol addiction treatment in the coverage of

PhilHealth, a government health program.

The resolution cited that drug addiction and alcoholism have become primar y community problems, which are not included in the PhilHealth coverage.

Pajo said that the resolution has invoked the constitutional mandate of the government to protect the health and well-being of the citizens for which purpose PhilHealth was created.

He said that the resolution was forwarded to PhilHealth president A l e x a n d e r Pa d i l l a f o r consideration and approval.

(PNA)

Are we ready for Senior High?

By JHOVELYNE ACOSTA-ESPIRITU

According to President Benigno S. Aquino III, “Naninindigan pa rin po tayo sa ipinangako nating pagbabago sa edukasyon, ang gawin itong sentral sa estratehiya sa pamumuhunan sa pinakamahalaga nating yaman, ang mamayang Pilipino. Sa K to 12 tiwala tayong mabibigyang lakassi Juan dela Cruz upang mapaunlad hindi lamang ang kanyang sarili at pamilya kundi maging ang buong bansa.

O ur gover nment is confident that this K to 12 Program will help provide quality education. The K to 12 Program covers Kindergarten and 12 years of Basic Education (six years

of primary education, four years of Junior High School, and two years of Senior High School) to provide sufficient time for the mastery of concepts and skills, the development of lifelong learners, and to prepare g radu ates for ter t iar y education, middle-level skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

DepEd aims for better and quality education, that’s for sure. But the BIG QUESTION IS, ARE WE READY FOR SENIOR HIGH???

Wit h t h e v ar i ou s technical educations mentioned above, I guess not all schools can offer it considering that there are

problems and challenges with regards to the Philippine Education. According to the Business/Education Partnership Forum: The K-12 education system is huge: Public schools serve 49.4 million students, while private schools serve an additional 6 million. With a system this large, one can look at aggregate data on outcomes, but it is important to recognize that there is a great degree of variation from school to school, so it would be wise to review local school outcomes.

What we know is that we’re operating with a leaky pipeline: at every key stage of academic development, kids are being left behind or

falling between the cracks, too many need to take remedial classes in college - assuming they attend at all. This is not presented to affix blame to any group over another; collectively, however, if we want to create a strong population of adults prepared to earn a living and contribute to society, it is a challenge we must acknowledge and address.

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

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Prepare for Landing Think a minute…There’s a book entitled The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said.

This is one of those stupid things that was actually said.

“If you bought our course on ‘How To Fly An Airplane In Six Easy Lessons,’ we apologize for any inconvenience we may have caused you by our failing to include the last chapter, ‘How To Land Your Plane Safely.’ Send us your name and address and we will immediately send you this last chapter on how to land your airplane safely.”

Can you imagine a pilot taking off in an airplane not knowing how to land it? Yet some of us ‘fly’ through life without ever thinking about how we are going to ‘land.’

Pilots are never even allowed to take off without a flight plan: knowing where they’re going and how they’ll get there.

But many of us are like the university student who said: “I don’t like to think about things until they happen.

Death is still a long way away.”

My grandmother used to tease my grandfather when he would leave the house to go for walks. She’d say to him: “Now dear, don’t go so far you can’t get back!” You know, that’s exactly what happens to us when we die. We’ve gotten so far we can’t get back. Each

THINK

Rx: DUTERTE Why Duterte is My Prescription?

I do not claim to speak in behalf of all my fellow physicians. I speak for myself.

Definitely, there are some doctors who will dissent my opinion and it’s their right to do so. But I am a freethinker, not a blind follower to any temporal creed. I do still have the temerity of holding on to my own thinking Mind.

I may listen to the opinions of others but I also make it a point to think on my own and scrutinize facts first before swallowing. I accept that my life is my personal responsibility, that what I choose to do will always have a 100% specific effect as a consequence, and that I can choose anytime to influence society as a whole, hopefully in a positive way. I speak from my point of view as a brain specialist – a neurology physician, and as a financial consultant.

An acquaintance called my attention to an article in a paper where a reader was asking why a lot of Filipino doctors are supporting the presidential campaign of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, when we are supposed to uphold the “sanctity of life,” “human rights” and the “rule of law” in this “mostly Christian nation.” Should you yourself be wondering so, I am therefore writing this response.

My first question to ask is this: From what religious, political or cultural influence do you base your opinion f rom? In opposing the move of certain doctors to publicly and vocally support Duterte’s campaign, have you done your best to segregate your emotionality from

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst of us gets only one chance to live and then we have to die.

We only get one chance to ‘fly’ before we have to ‘land.’

“What goes up, must come down.” Ready or not, we’re going down! So we need to prepare for landing while we’ve still got time.

How about you? Do you know where you would ‘land’—if your life ended today? You see, we cannot know what’s going to happen to us tomorrow so we must be smart and sure we’re ready today! Just ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for your past wrongs and to take charge of your life every day. That’s the way you can live with total peace of mind that whenever your life ends, 5 years from now or 5 days from now, you know you’re ready for a safe landing. Just Think a Minute…

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rationality? It’s difficult to give much weight to emotionally charged opinions – too many uncorrected mistakes have already occurred this way.

A mong my g re ate st learnings in “life” so far, this stands out well: “Life is 90% neuropsychology, only 10% physical action.”

Your personal beliefs and paradigms dictate your mindset – and to a great extent how you approach living your own life.

“Religion” as we see it now in our planet, is a powerful entity that influences the belief systems of its respective constituents. “Religion,” prone to much he ate d discussions, is most often a case study in psychology.

Some religions even explicitly dictate their members who to vote. For many with unthinking followers a dime a dozen, this works quite well. The blind obedience of people, especially to certain “dogmas” that at times even on commonsensical terms are evidently skimming on the edges of irrationality, is the greatest kind of sickness that organized religion has ever sowed on the surface of this planet – the most poignant and perverted of which is to “kill other people for their ‘God’”, such as what history has written with crusades and jihads.

I do believe in a Transcendent entity shrouded in so much mystery that many people in history have given the name “God” by virtue of semantics. But I do not limit my beliefs in the immense power of this Transcendence using the dogmas of “religion” and the

rigorously restrained concept of an anthropomorphic “God” masquerading as a bearded old man seated on a heavenly throne while floating in the skies above and counting every sparrow that falls. Hence, similar to what the British-American spiritual philosopher Alan Wilson Watts has professed, I would be talking from the Universalist point of view of the “religion” of “having no religion,” where the emphasis is more on the spirituality of our Universal existence.

Yes, as doctors we should respect life. And the same applies to everyone else.

“Life” is the Universal cycle of birth and death – this reflects the Universal Law of Rhythm. Truth be told, everything in the Universe follows this divine principle.

If you respect “life,” you should also learn to respect “death” as the great equalizer, the great tool of Universal balance.

Or ient al phi los ophy provides us with a glimpse of one of the most powerful concepts of balance and mutual interdependence i n t he Un ive rs e – “pratītyasamutpāda.” It is also allied with the principle of non-judgment and the “middle way.” There is always polarity in everything you will encounter in this Universe – I specifically allude to the Universal laws of Polarity and Relativity.

And the “goodness” or “nongoodness” of things is simply relative.

Which is good? The black or the white? Being in the light or being in the shadows?

Being tall or short, big or

dr. don agcopra small? For these, there is only one Universal answer that binds all: IT DEPENDS! It depends on what we are talking about. It depends on what goals we have agreed to achieve. In a Universe filled with an infinite number of choices lying within a spectrum that spans between two extreme polar extremes, it is easy to understand that our choices depend on so many factors. When asked about his position concerning LGBTs, the more rationally liberal Pope Francis even gave this tart and well-known remark: “Who am I to judge?”

The same goes with the cycle of physical life – which begins with “birth” and ends with physical “death.” But speaking from the spiritual point of view, “death” is just part of the great drama of the physical aspect of our Universe, and the “spirit” is the eternal aspect not bound by temporality or the concept of “time” and hence, does not really “die.”

Thus, respecting “death” is in essence an integral part of respecting “life” itself.

I’ve come across patients who have already primed and agcopra/PAGE 10

Time to lift bank secrecy The current Senate investigation on the Bangladesh heist seems to be going around in circles.

After several days of trying to uncover who did what and how and to whom, there are still no clear answers.

This is as far as what we can reasonably expect from the probe. For one, the Senate is not properly equipped to do a sophisticated type of investigation. As former finance secretary Bobby De Ocampo suggested, let others, like the FBI, do it. Second, Senate probers go into the session hall with one hand proverbially tied behind their back.

What do I mean?

When the legislators wrote the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 (RA 9160), they, perhaps unwittingly, also gave money-launderers the perfect weapon to skirt the law.

In Section 2. Declaration of Policy, the legislators wrote: It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and preserve the integrity and confidentiality

of bank accounts…”

But come to think of it.

What is so sacrosanct about bank secrecy?

In fact, secrecy of bank deposits is merely a copycat legacy. Yes, we just borrowed it from tax haven countries who tried to attract deposits – regardless of source. Never mind if the money came from drug lords, dictators (whether incumbent or deposed), human traffickers, tax evaders and what have you. Remember the huge Nazi money which found their way to secret Swiss bank accounts?

Because of this policy, tax haven countries did achieve their objectives with huge success. We just followed the gravy train.

But is this something, we wish to perpetuate?

Bangko S entral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Vic Aquino has been a vocal advocate of the lifting of bank secrecy. Aquino served as Executive Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

From day one, he

expressed the view, that sans the lifting, Philippine banks will remain as ‘soft targets’ for launderers and criminals who want to conceal their crime.

Perhaps at the time of its adoption, the policy of bank secrecy had its (dubious?) merits. But now, even in socalled tax haven countries, the policy is under close re-examination in the face of the global trend toward transparency.

The Local, Switzerland Edition, reported in October 2013: “The Swiss government stated that it intended to sign an international agreement sponsored by the OECD that, if ratified by Parliament, will align Swiss bank practices with those of other countries and in effect end the special secrecy that clients of Swiss banks had enjoyed in the past.”

In addition to lifting bank secrecy, Deputy Governor Aquino makes the following suggestions: “Congress should lose no time in further amending the

SPEAKING

O ut

Ignacio Bunye AMLA (R.A. No. 9160, as amended) to include casinos, real estate agents and dealers in art works among “covered persons” in the AMLA. “These ‘covered persons’ are legally obligated to report covered and suspicious transactions; establish and record the true identity of their clients based on official documents; and maintain and safely restore all records of their transactions for five (5) yeas from the transaction dates. “ Aquino explains: “This will provide additional lines of defenses against money bunye/PAGE 11

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Uratex studying plans for 3rd factory in Mindanao Transfast launches money transfer services D

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

TRANSFAST, a leading g l o b a l m on e y t r ans fe r and payments solutions company, has introduced money transfer services from the Philippines to many countries including the US, Canada, UAE, India and China.

Customers will be able to send funds to the listed countries, from any of the 6,000 locations throughout t h e P h i l ippi n e s w h i c h are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The announcement was made at a Press conference held today in Manila.

Tr a n s f a s t i s k n ow n worldwide for providing instant deposits and instant cash, and the new service announced today further expands its services.

“In an increasingly mobile global population, customers are seeking convenient access to money transfer services, wherever they work and live,” says Samir Vidhate, Director – EMEAA, Transfast. “The f l ow of re m itt anc e s i s

important to the health of the global economy and sending funds overseas is, for many, a fundamental means of ensuring the financial security of businesses and families alike.”

Transfast has introduced the service to offer optimum convenience to residents in the Philippines, offering dependable and efficient global money transfer.

“Having a reliable service for transferring funds in a timely manner is a basic requirement for many. We are glad to be able to offer this much-needed service, available at many locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” says Kumar.

Tr a n s f a s t o f f e r s a highest locked-in exchange rate guarantee, and has a customer support unit, dedicated to Philippines.

The dedicated relationship managers monitor accounts 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are accessible by telephone or live web chat to answer questions.

Recovery seen for Hyundai sales in PHL HYUNDAI ASIA Resources, Inc. (HARI), official distributor of Hyundai in the country, sees sales recovering this year after registering two years of flat growth, with South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company likely to make a decision soon on whether to make the Philippines a key manufacturing hub for Southeast Asia.

On the sidelines of the Manila International Auto Show in Pasay City on Thursday, Ma. Fe PerezAgudo, president and chief executive officer of HARI, told reporters vehicle sales could reach 35,000 units this year, 58% higher from the level seen in 2015, driven by the brands Eon, Accent, Starex and Tucson.

“We are very optimistic because of the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Our taxes right now has dropped from 20% to 5% that has made our pricing very competitive,” Ms. Agudo said.

HARI customers are reaping the benefits of this agreement through low downp ayment and amortization as well as cash discounts, prompting other automotive brands to reduce their prices as well.

“There is a lot of heavy discounting going on in the market. I think this a transition or correction of the market also,” Ms. Agudo said.

The HARI executive said the South Korean car maker is evaluating its business strategy, with the Philippines -- Hyundai’s strongest market in the region after China -being in a strong position to be Hyundai’s manufacturing hub in the region.

“We are getting there...

Give me about three to six months,” Ms. Agudo said.

“You have to understand assembly becomes beneficial to ASEAN if there is an export program. If we will only use trucks and buses for the domestic market, there will be no economies of scale,” she said.

The Philippines has adopted the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program to make the country a regional hub for car manufacturing.

The Trade department also hopes that the program will turn local car makers into exporters in the near term and serve the ASEAN market.

HA R I a c q u i re d t h e commercial vehicle distributorship last February, g r ant i ng t h e c omp any exclusive rights to distribute Hyundai trucks and buses.

The South Korean giant is initially targeting to corner more than 10% of the market share of trucks and buses category by 2020, Ms. Agudo said. hyundai/PAGE 11

AVAO City -- The RGC Foam Group, maker of Uratex mattresses, is planning to put up a third factory in Mindanao, to be located in General Santos City, as the company takes advantage of a growing market for its high-end products.

“That plan is still being studied, but we want to expand to other areas in

the Visayas and Mindanao b e c au s e i t i s t h e f a s t growing market,” Marvey E. Alcantara, consumer marketing manager for the group’s Multiflex RNC Philippines Inc., said.

The company opened its P400-million factory and showroom here in 2014 and a P500-million manufacturing plant in Cagayan de Oro early last year.

In t h e Vi s ay a s , t h e company has facilities in Cebu and Iloilo.

Ms. Alcantara said sales of its top-of-the-line products that are priced up to P60,000 per mattress has been increasing as people become more conscious of the benefits of getting a good night’s sleep.

S h e a d d e d t h at t h e company continues to invest on research and development, since consumers are now more

willing and capable of paying for premium mattresses and other products.

“Ab o u t 2 0 % o f t h e company’s annual revenues were (from) those who would look for comfortability as they would ask whether their sleeping habits will improve,” she said during a talk in partnership with the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine at the Uratex showroom here.

Uratex/PAGE 11

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Editor: CHENG ORDOÑEZ

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Shipping confabs set in Davao, Cebu cities T

By Cheng Ordoñez, Executive Editor

HE Philippine International S e a f r e i g h t Forwarders Association, Inc . and Por tC a l ls a r e i nv i t i n g s h i p p i n g companies to the Mindanao

a n d Vi s ay a s S h i ppi ng Conferences on April 27, 2016 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, and April 28, 2016, at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.

Power company reaffirms support to secure electric supply during polls VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental – Power producer STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI) reaffirms its commitment to make available its full capacity a month ahead of the May 2016 local and national elections.

SPI President and CEO Dr. Bodo Goerlich said SPI had already taken steps to ensure uninterrupted power generation during the summer season and most especially throughout the May 2016 elections.

“We have already taken the necessary steps to ensure that our power plants are optimally available during the period” Dr. Goerlich said.

Dr. Goerlich said SPI had successfully carried out and completed all its preventive maintenance activities during the first quarter of the year in preparation for the anticipated tighter Mindanao power supply during the summer months.

SPI’s reaffirmation of commitment came in the wake of the Department of Energy (DOE) circular creating the Power Task Force Election 2016 to ensure adequate and reliable power supply before, during and after the 9 May 2016national and local elections.

The task force is headed by DOE Secretary Zenaida Monzada and composed of the heads of key power industry agencies of government and the private sector, and the different power industry support organizations.

The circular mandated all power suppliers and service

providers particularly the distribution utilities (DUs), electric cooperatives and power generation companies to provide full support and participation to ensure an orderly and credible conduct of the elections.

Meanwhile SPI power plant manager Dr. Carsten Evers said that SPI’s two electric generating units have been operating at full capacity. SPI has two identical electric generating units with a net generating output of 105 MW. Its combined net capacity of 210MW presently accounts for about 15% of Mindanao’s peak electric power demand.

“We are confident to sustain our full capacity operations until our next preventive maintenance activities scheduled towards the end of May 2016” Dr. Evers said.

SPI’s Unit 2 is slated to undergo a two-day maintenance check on 21-22 May 2016, weeks after the election period.

Dr. Evers explained that like any other machines, electric generators need to be shutdown in order to carry out the necessary periodic maintenance activities and ensure the longterm efficiency and reliability of the units.

SPI owns and operate a modern coal-fired power plant located at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

The company is principally owned by a leading German power producer Steag GmbH with Aboitiz Power and La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporations, as local shareholders.

Socio-economic Planning S ecretar y and National Economic and Development Authority director-general Dr. Emmanuel F. Esguerra will be the keynote speaker at both events.

Joining him are, among others, Bureau of Customs

deputy commissioner for assessment and operations Atty. Agaton Uvero and officials of Cebu and Davao port operators and shippers’ associations who will talk about issues affecting shipping in Visayas and Mindanao.

The conference is also an excellent opportunity to network with potential regional clients, organizers said.

Early bird registration fee (until April 19) is P2,000 (net) for each conference.

Sponsorship opportunities

are available.

To r e g i s t e r f o r t h e Davao and/or Cebu conference, please fill up the corresponding form (see attached conference flyer) and email to info@portcalls. com or lizaalmonte@gmail. com or fax to (02) 551-3207.

Mariwasa marks 50th years in tile business Mariwasa, a leader in the ceramic tile industry, marks its fiftieth year in the business.

E st abl ishe d in 1966 by the brothers Emerson and Edison Coseteng, the company, a pioneer in the industry, was founded on “a vision of producing ceramic products that would meet world standards for beauty and durability… (that) was to be achieved by harnessing the skills, discipline and creativity of the Filipino artisan,” said Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc. (MSC) President Phaskorn Buranawit, who is also the Country Director for SCG Philippines.

As an important part of the celebration, Mariwasa is unveiling its newest tile designs grouped into three avant-garde sub themes namely MORPHOLOGY, I N D I E - F LU E N C E a n d INNOTHERAPY which cater to different facets of modern urban consumers. Launched on March 16 at the 21st WORLDBEX, the Philippines’ largest construction building materials exposition, the latest collection is touted to strongly complement the company’s push for total home solution.

“This is our commitment to be always in step with the demands of an upbeat, young and upwardly mobile market,” said VP for Sales and Marketing Jakkrit Suwansilp.

“We are launching innovative designs that reflect the preferences of an important segment of our market, the millennials,” he added.

MARIWASA was the first to manufacture both wall and floor tiles in a vast range of colors and sizes.

“With each MARIWASA tile comes a firm commitment to product excellence that is fully supported by extensive research and development, innovative design and some of the most modern production facilities and processes in the Philippines, all of which are now operating under ISO 9001:2000 and PNS/ISO

MARIWASA Celebrates 50 years of uncompromising quality. (L-R) Emilie Maramag, VPFinance & Administration, Jakkrit Suwansilp, VP-Sales & Marketing, Regina Coseteng, Chair of MSC Board and Phaskorn Buranawit, President and SCG Philippines Country Director. photo supplied

13006 quality standards,” said Buranawit.

The President also stressed that apart from the company’s goals for its bottom line, Mariwasa is also committed in improving the quality of life of the community through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project.

In partnership with the

Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Program, the company has undertaken the Mariwasa Public School Toilet Renovation Project which aims to improve sanitation facilities in public school toilets in far-flung communities across the country. A total of 50 schools spread across Luzon, Visayas

and Mindanao were chosen as beneficiaries receiving complete toilet products and fixtures including wall and floor ceramic tiles, waterclosets, sanitary wares and tile accessories. Trained Mariwasa skilled personnel were fielded for installation of the products and to work mariwasa/PAGE 11

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RDC-X holds sector consultation on NorMin’s FY 2017 priority programs and projects The Regional Development C ouncil in Nor thern Mindanao (RDC-X) held simultaneous sector committee consultations on the FY 2017 priority programs and projects of 26 agencies on April 7, 2016 at the Grand Caprice Restaurant, Cagayan de Oro City.

About 200 representatives of government agencies, local government units, state universities and colleges, and non-government organizations participated in the review of the FY 2017 budget proposals of the regional offices of DOLE, DILG, CHED, DOH, DepEd, TESDA, NHA, DTI, BFAR, DA, DENR, DAR, MGB, EMB, DPWH, LTO, MARINA, PPAPMOs, NTC and NIA. The 2017 budgets of six State Universities/Colleges ( CPSC, NMSC, MOSCAT, CMU, MSU-IIT and MOSCAT) were also presented.

RDC-X Secretary and NEDA-X Assistant Regional D i re c tor Ma e E ste r T. Guiamadel presented the FY 2017 Regional Budget Priority Framework to ensure that the proposed agency budgets support priority infrastructure and socio-

economic projects identified in the Regional Development Plan, and consistent with the regional budget prioritization criteria in terms of relevance, effectiveness and propriety.

The sectoral committee consultations were presided

over by Dr. Erlinda Burton (RIMCU) for Macro and Development Administration; Director Alfonso P. Alamban (DOST-X) for Economic Development; Mayor Nelieta Q. Noval (Tubod, Lanao del Norte) for Social

Development; and Mayor Philip T. Tan (Tangub City) for Infrastructure/Utilities Development.

Recommendations included the following: 1) ensuring the inclusion of peacebuilding programs/

projects for conflict-affected areas; 2) considering the needs of indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities (PWDs); and 3) strict implementation of the mandatory provisions in the Joint DBM and concerned

agencies budget circulars such as the 1% of the total budget for PWDs and senior citizens, 5% for Gender and Development, and at most 20% of the 2016 budgets for Bottom-up-Budgeting (BUB) consultation/PAGE 11

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Camiguin protected area named ASEAN Heritage Park

By Jorie C. Valcorza

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin – The Island’s bold move to bid to the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) to be included among the finest protected areas in the region paid off when Mts. Timp o ong-Hib okhibok Natural Monument (MTHNM) was declared as the 8th ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) in the Philippines during and the 3rd in Region 10 during the Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2015.

To formally confirm the recognition, ACB Executive Director Atty. Roberto V. Ol iv a and D e p ar t me nt of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) Undersecretary for field operation Demetrio Ignacio Jr. presented the plague of declaration to Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Chair, DENR-10 Regional Director Ruth Tawantawan and Camiguin G ove r nor Ju rd i n Je sus M. Romualdo during the launching ceremony held in the province on 16 March 2016.

The declaration, according to Oliva is a first in many respects, “This is the only heritage park with recommendation coming f rom t he lo cal

government unit (LGU) and a manifestation of success when the DENR and the local government units (LGUs) are seeing eye to eye, passionately pursuing one vision to protect the biodiversity and surrounding natural resources.”

Oliva said MTHNM meets the criteria for exemplary uniqueness, completeness, and richness in biodiversity.

DENR rated the protected area with high level endemism, with diverse flora and fauna life. Various endemic species as birds, rodents, amphibians, medicinal trees, dipterocarps, rattans, and ferns have been discovered and identified inside the MRHNM. It has a tot a l st r ic t protection zone of 2,227 hectares and a buffer zone of 1,422 he c t ares. The local communities within the buffer zone acts as the social fence of the natural monument.

The MTHNM, being a watershed for the whole island, is the source of water for domestic and agricultural uses. Its geo-physical features which include waterfalls, cold, hot and soda springs, mountain lakes and distinctive rock formation have high ecotourism value. park/PAGE 11

Environment

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Forest fires continue to spread in Bukidnon’s Mt. Kitanglad natural park M A L AY B A L AY C I T Y, Bukidnon — The forest fires that started April 2 at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP) in Bukidnon is now increasing slowly but continuously, particularly in Mt. Nakalu situated in barangay Sil-ipon, Libona town.

Provincial Environment

and Natura l Res ources Officer (PENRO) Maria Theresa J. Allen said, initial field reports disclosed that 52 hectares of trees under National Greening Program (NGP) in sitio Magantol was razed by fire.

She said the fires burned down 10 hectares of natural forest in sitio Anlawon, while

five hectares in barangay Capehan and another five hectares in barangay Silipon, all in Libona town, were already burned.

Another fire occurrence was spotted Monday in the southern part of Mt. K it ang l a d at b ar ang ay Sungco, Lantapan town, and in the municipality of

Sumilao—northeast of the park.

There are also patches of forest fire occurrences in north of the park specifically in sitio Mangasa of Dalwangan village and barangay Imbayao all in Malaybalay City, but were contained by Kitanglad fires/PAGE 10

EL NINO. The prolonged drought has taken its toll on the waterfalls of Iligan City, known as The City of Majestic Waterfalls, particularly on Lumbatin Falls in Barangay Pugaan. Picture on the left was taken January 2015, while the one on the right was photographed Saturday (26 March 2016). MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

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Fitch Rating affirms investment grade rating on PHL F ITCH Ratings on Friday affirmed anew it’s ‘BBB-’ ratings on the Philippines, seven months after changing the ratings outlook to positive, citing the country’s strong external finances and improvement in its fiscal situation among others.

In a statement, the debt rater said it is also affirming the country’s ‘BBB’ local currency issuer default rating, the ‘BBB’ senior unsecured foreign-currency bond rating, ‘BBB’ local-currency bond rating, ‘BBB’ Country Ceiling rating, and the ‘F3’ Short-Term Foreign-Currency IDR rating.

This after the credit rater noted the sustained surplus of the country’s current account, which

has been achieved since 2003, due in part to the resiliency of inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), which in turn backed the country’s foreign reserves.

It said the current account surplus averaged at about three percent of domestic output from 2011-15.

“The country’s net external creditor position at nearly 14 percent of GDP compares to the median net debtor position of 4.6 percent of GDP among peers in the ‘BBB’ rating category,” it said.

The debt rater also cited the drop in the country’s debt and deficit levels, with the proportion of general government debt to gross domestic product (GDP) estimated

at 36 percent of domestic output as of end-2015 from 43 percent in 2010.

Government fiscal gap as of end-2015 accounted for 0.9 percent of GDP from 3.5 percent in 2010, it said.

“Fitch estimates that the fiscal deficit would remain under two percent of GDP over 2016-2017,” it said.

Fitch, on the other hand, said that it “continues to view low government revenues, which reduces the sovereign’s ability to contain fiscal balances in the event of a shock, as a weakness in the Philippines’ fiscal profile.”

It p r o j e c t s t h e g e n e r a l government revenue to account

to 20 percent of domestic output in 2015, which it noted is “lower than the ‘BBB’ median’s 28.6 percent and ‘A’ median’s 34.7 percent.

The country’s low average income and level of development is a credit weakness, it said.

Domestic growth, meanwhile, “remains favorable”, it said citing the 5.9 average from 2011-15 which is far above the ‘BBB’ median of 3.3 percent and the ‘A’ median of 3.2 percent.”

“Fitch expects the Philippines’ growth momentum to continue and expects real GDP growth to average around six percent over 2016-17,” it said.

The debt rater also cited the “ample” domestic liquidity, the

“strong” capitalization of the banking sector and its rising loanloss reserves.

“Ac t i v e s up e r v i s i on a n d regulation by a risk-aware central bank, which has progressively strengthened risk management requirements for the banks over the years, have helped to temper the risks from high credit growth,” Fitch said.

Improvement in governance standards was also cited as a plus on the country’s investment grade rating, which it achieved in 2013.

“It remains to be seen whether the next administration will preserve or extend the improvements in this area seen under Mr. (Benigno) Aquino’s (III) stewardship,” it added.

Thrift banks’ bad loans expand at end-January

SOURED DEBTS held by thrift banks rose by a fifth as the year opened to outpace the growth in loans handed out by lenders, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) bared.

Non-performing loans (NPLs) held by thrift banks rose to P33.104 billion as of end-January, 21.7% higher than the P27.21 billion tallied a year ago. This hiked the share of bad debts to 4.85%

relative to total loans from 4.5% in January 2015.

NPLs are debts left unpaid for at least 30 days past their due date, with the NPL ratio taken as one of the measures used by the BSP in monitoring the asset quality of banks.

The increase in bad loans outpaced the 12.9% expansion in the banks’ total loan portfolio to P682.511 billion from the previous year’s P604.419 billion, based

on central bank data.

Non-performing assets held by banks -- which include foreclosed properties and other seized items of value -- stood at P54.974 billion in January, 16.2% higher than the P47.291 billion recorded a year earlier.

The banks’ coverage for bad loans also slipped to just 71.71% from last year’s 72.74%, according to the data.

However, the lenders

BSP reports $82.6-B gross int’l reserves at end-March BA NG KO S e nt r a l ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said on Thursday that the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) rose to $82.6 billion at end-March of this year.

The $82.6 billion GIR for this period is also the highest since January last year.

GIR level at end-March has increased by $720 million from end-February 2016’s figure of $81.88 billion.

According to the central bank, the increment in

GIR for the said period is mainly due to net foreign currency deposits by the National Government (NG), including the proceeds from its issuance of Global Bonds amounting to $495 million, program loans extended by the Asian Development Bank, BSP’s income from investments abroad, and revaluation adjustments on the BSP’s foreign currencydenominated reserves.

“These were partially offset by payments made by the NG for its maturing foreign exchange obligations

and revaluation adjustments on the BSP’s gold holdings resulting from the decrease in the price of gold in the international market,” the central bank noted.

The improvement of GIR at end-March can cover 10.3 months of imports of goods and payments of services and income.

The $82.6-billion GIR is also equivalent to 5.4 times the country’s shortterm external debt based on original maturity and four times based on residual maturity, the BSP added.

beefed up their allowance for potential loan defaults to P17 billion, up by a nearly a fifth from P14.514 billion previously. Relative to total loans, the allotted cover against credit losses rose to 3.48% from 3.27%.

At end-2015, NPLs held by thrift banks went up to a

revised P31.399 billion, up by 22.96% from the yearago level of P25.373 billion, which brought the NPL ratio to 4.53%. The lenders booked a cumulative P11.786 billion in net income that year, up by 14.6% from 2014’s P10.287 billion.

The BSP regularly checks

the quality of loans and assets of Philippine banks in keeping high standards for the country’s banking sector to ensure ample credit risk management.

There were 67 thrift banks operating in the Philippines as of end-September, based on central bank data.

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Agcopra... from page 4

prepared themselves to “die” because for them, time has come for their game of “life” to end and they already would like to go back to where they came from. I’ve seen too many patients in coma in the ICU which I have already declared as “brain dead” per accepted medical protocol, hanging onto life merely by a thread, whose physical manifestation of “life” is just artificially prolonged by medical support systems (using mechanical ventilators and inotropic drugs – drugs which increase the heart’s pumping action). Yet their relatives are intent on doing everything they could to keep their patient “alive” when obviously the “time” has finally arrived for them to stop being physically “alive” and to go back to that enigmatic part of the Universe where they came from.

In psychology, fear plays an important role. What you fear controls you. The fear

of physical “death” (part and parcel of the overall fear of the unknown) is one of the foremost of all fears and phobias that holds a strong grip on the psychology of every member of humanity down to the very core. Hence, it becomes understandable why matters concerning “death” easily e l i c it s v e r y e m o t i on a l discussions – including that of “death penalty,” and from the psychological mind setting of believers of fear-based Abrahamic religions (specifically Judaism, Christianity and Islam) – whether in the “afterlife” you go to that place called “heaven” or suffer “endless wrath” and “eternal damnation” in that place called “hell.”

In Oriental philosophy (Buddhist philosophy, for instance), we see the Universe as an infinitely big organism composed of an infinite number of interdependent subsystems within systems.

Understandably, a human body is an organism composed of many interdep endent organs.

Each organ is composed of a multitude of interdependent cells working together for a common purpose (an example of which is the heart with muscle cells working in harmony to pump blood to the whole organism). We can indefinitely go to the more and more infinitesimal, such as how a cell is composed of many organelles, and so forth. But we can also go one rung up higher – and describe human society as being a bigger organism in itself. Collective human consciousness gives “life” to this greater social organism, it’s destiny constantly being created and decided upon by each and every human member of the group. The entire Earth itself and all its ecological systems make up one bigger organism of which human society is an integral part of. I am just one voice in this collective consciousness, but I consider it my duty to participate in discussions like this for the greater good of the collective whole.

A few cases in point for the person who raised

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the issue above. Being a “mostly Christian nation” does not all the time equate to being “humane” and compassionate. With this, you are talking from the biased perspective of “religion.” Your concept of “rule of law” in human society is relative – in fact, we have to constantly upgrade our laws for society to become better and better.

That’s w hy we have to continuously lobby for better laws. And when talking about “sanctity,” I hope this is not in keeping oneself purely within a biased “Christian” perspective of being “holy” and worthy of being allowed or disallowed entr y by whoever it is guarding the gates of “heaven” or “hell.”

I hope you transcend that s anc t imonious le vel of thought and adopt a more all-inclusive Universal stance of collective goodness and greatness. As for human life, to reiterate, let us learn to respect both “life” and “death” – they are simply two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist without the other. And as for “human rights” – remember, we all have the right also to defend ourselves from inhuman and savage elements. Die hard criminals are just different faces of the same terrorism.

As Vladimir Putin would most likely say it: “To forgive the terrorists is up to God, but to send them to Him is up to me.”

Many Filipinos (and for that matter, many other individuals the world over, such as the current Greeks who got into their debt crisis for instance) lack acceptance of personal responsibility and sustainable levels of discipline in their lives.

As a physician, I see many patients who still smoke and drink despite repeatedly advising them to stop or s u f fe r f rom t h e i r ow n detriment. Yet, when the adverse effects on their bodies come (stroke, heart attack, lung cancer, liver cirrhosis, etc.), it becomes too late for them to regret.

All because of the lack of personal responsibility and self-discipline. As a financial consultant, I’ve also come across many individuals who dream of becoming financially free someday, yet lack the real-world responsibility and discipline to learn how to earn honestly, s av e d i l i g e nt l y, i nv e s t intelligently and protect themselves and their assets with due prudence. Many individuals simply want the easy way out, like becoming a crook and stealing from others for instance. Even corrupt politicians have ma d e it a g r and habit of doing business out of political kickbacks. But if they really want to make money, why don’t they just go instead into traditional business the hard-earned way and correspondingly reap their rightfully deserved rewards? This is one very big reason why in a locality where the collective sense

of personal responsibility and self-discipline is so low, poverty, criminality and corruption is rampant while public morale goes down.

In order for society as a whole to progress, it should be imbued with a high degree of personal responsibility and discipline from its leadership above. I read a quote somewhere, saying that if a fearless lion is the leader of a pack of 100 dogs, expect all dogs to act like the lion. But if it’s a timid dog that’s leading a pack of 100 lions, the lion followers would most likely be just following the example of the dog – unless some particular lion would awaken to reality and drastically change his mind and realize that his own mindset is his destiny and that after all, it’s all within himself to act truly like a fearless lion.

Our human society needs a strong leader who can effectively impose to an acceptable level individual p ers ona l resp onsibi lity and self-discipline for the collective good of all. I hope that with a disciplined le ad e rsh ip ar me d w it h charisma and authority, people will be enjoined to adopt a culture of responsibility and discipline.

That’s how Singapore became the powerhouse that it is now, thanks for the efforts and sterling albeit authoritative leadership of a certain Mr. Harry Lee Kuan Yew. What about criminals, you might ask. Let me tell you the story of one patient of mine.

Tatay Inggo got admitted in the ICU due to stroke, and shortly thereafter developed pneumonia which eventually progressed into sepsis (a generalized invasion of the whole body by a pathogen such as bacteria). Sensing the greater likelihood of a much grimmer outcome, Linezolid, a more powerful antibiotic, was given to him via the intravenous route. Correspondingly, his infection subsided, and he ultimately survived the ordeal and was sent home alive. Without this intervention, it is highly doubtful if he did manage to survive. Without Linezolid’s timely inter vention, the patient would have undoubtedly succumbed to sepsis.

In a nation like the Phi lippines laden wit h much crime and corruption, we as a collective human society will ultimately decide which powerful cutting edge antibiotic to use. For me, Rodrigo Duterte is like Linezolid, that much needed broad spectrum intravenous antibiotic with the power to exterminate t hes e vir ulent b ac ter ia from the bigger Philippine social organism. Either you decisively eradicate the vicious bacterial culprits and send them back to thy kingdom come, or the whole human body suffers and dies. The same allegory goes to criminals and terrorists in society but only at a

higher level of organismic universal existence, and if necessary eradicate the public nuisance they make within “acceptable” limits of social norm as a whole (though this is always open to rat iona l deb ate and discussion).

That doesn’t mean that even though Rodrigo Duterte may be the ideal antibiotic now (barring somebody else better equipped to do so), he stays on forever. I believe though that he can pave the way for far better options for us in the future. And as our world continuously evolves and becomes much better, I trust the Universal Transcendence to give itself the necessary instruments to evolve into a continuously much better place. But that evolution and change starts with you and me, with every single one of us who strives for continuous and never ending improvement (CANEI). Deep within each one of us, we are the heroes in our own experience of life. We can create our own better and better selves, a more desirable nation, and a much grander Universe as it evolves through time.

I am the hero. You are the hero. Be awakened and be responsible for that truly great power lies within you!

(Dr. Adonis Agcopra, MD, MBA, RFC® is a consultant neurologist and a registered financial consultant acting as portfolio director of the AFIC Meridian financial consultancy group. He is a self-confessed bookaholic an d i d e a c at c h e r w it h interest in a wide variety of themes in neuropsychology, economics and finance, and universalism.)

Fires... from page 8

Guard Volunteers and Tribal Guards by establishing fire lines.

However, Allen said, the condition in Mt. Nakalu near Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park is alarming.

“If not controlled, it would damage huge number of hectares of natural forests.

Firefighters had tried to block the fire in Mt. Nakalu but failed because strong winds made firefighting efforts even more difficult,” she said.

Allen said they are now coordinating with Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) for assistance to provide helicopters for aerial water spray to extinguish the spreading fires.

Reports said the fire started in the burned grassland and bushes along Bubunawan river near the park’s downslope until it spread to the protected area.

This can be attributed to the long dry spell brought by the El Nino phenomenon.

Grasslands are ver y dr y including forests. This is not to discount the negligence of some residents burning the grasses along riverbanks, Allen said. (RLRB/PIA 10 Bukidnon)

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Inspects... from page 1

pipeline, mostly farm-tomarket roads.

Infrastructure covers about two-thirds, or P18 billion, of the P27.5 billion project fund for six years starting 2014.

T h e Wor l d B an k i s providing P20.56 billion in loans for the program, and the remaining P7 billion will be counterpart funds from the national and local government units.

On enterprise development, Mindanao got P545.43 million. As of March, eight projects with a budget of P124.38 million have been implemented, half of which are in the southcentral Mindanao area.

Brownouts... from page 1

Rossano C. Luga, assistant vice-president at the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC), said the franchise area of the company will experience “a maximum of four hours” of rotational brownouts.

Aside from Davao City, DLPC also serves Panabo City and three towns in Davao del Norte.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stocks Exchange (PSE) on Friday, Aboitiz Power Corp. said it targets the completion of restoration of its first unit by April 20.

Therma South is a whollyowned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp.

“After an investigation conducted today, it was found out that the unit has a boiler tube leak. The repairs on Unit 1 is expected to last 14 days,” Aboitiz Power Corp. said The Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. in Cagayan de Oro also has 2.5-hour clusters of scheduled load shedding.

TSI said both its two plants were turned off when a 138-kilovolt transmission line in Toril, the line that the plants are using to deliver their power to the grid, tripped after a tree fell on it.

But when the transmission line was fixed, one of the TSI plants failed to start.

The Aboitiz Power Corp. subsidiary said it has started investigating the problem “to determine the cause of the inability to the get the unit running.”

Since the start of April, the two hydroelectric plants operated by the National Power Corp. have been at critical levels given the low water supply due to El Niño and aggravated by the poor condition of the old facilities.

The Agus hydroelectric plants, which have a combined capacity of 727 MW, can only deliver about 120 MW while

Rain... from page 1

the introduction of a seeding agent such as “salt,” into a “suitable cloud” to encourage the formation or raindrops.

Sta. Elena said DA is spending about P2.4 million for the cloud seeding project

that might last for a month.

She said DA has assigned “spotters” in various towns in the region to look for clouds that would be suitable for seeding.

The DA has commissioned an aircraft, now on standby at the Lumbia airport here, to carry out the cloud seeding pro cess once a sp otter identifies a cloud that could be seeded, she said.

The agency has employed cloud seeding in most parts of Northern Mindanao as the prolonged drought wilted agricultural plants amounting to billions of pesos in this region alone.

L ast month, various government line agencies in Nor thern Mindanao reported of about 50,000 farmers directly or indirectly affected by the drought, which prompted the government to initiate mitigating programs to cushion the impact of the long dry spell in the region.

(PNA)

Primavera... from page 1

IDC made its mark in the real estate industry as the first Philippine company certified by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) – World Bank Group Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) for its flagship project also in Cagayan de Oro City, the Primavera Residences.

IDC Chairman and COO Romolo Valentino Nati, an Italian architect, said Phase 1 of Primavera City involves the construction of two towers of integrated multifunctional buildings (commercial, office, residential) project with 11 floors each. Located at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro (near SM City Cagayan de Oro), the project entails an investment of P653 million.

“Primavera City is a fitting follow-up to our highly successful and multi-awarded Pr i m ave r a R e s i d e n c e s , which caught the fancy of not just Filipino but even foreign buyers and property experts for its modern Italian design infused with ecofriendly architecture,” Nati emphasized.

The grand launch will be in the second quarter, and start of construction of the Primavera City Phase 1 is third quarter of 2016. IDC targets the completion of the project and the turnover of its units to their owners by the third quarter of 2018.

I D C P re s i d e nt Jo s e “Jojo” D. Leviste III said the two towers of Primavera City Phase 1 is designed to have 337 units, 57 of them commercial units; 231 are studio-type; 22 are onebedroom units, and 27 are two-bedroom units.

Their average sizes are 50 to 60 square meters (sqm) for commercial units, 28 sqm for studio-type units, 47 sqm for the single-bedroom units, and 70 sqm for the two-bedroom units. “ We w i l l c o n d u c t extensive marketing for our t arget buyers t hat

include employed and/or self-employed individuals with gross family income of at least P50,000 such as local entrepreneurs, SMEs, OFWs, young professionals and retirees, among others.

With Cagayan de Oro City now an emerging tourism and investment destination in the country, Primavera City is a great buy, not just for first-time home owners, but also for investors,” Leviste, a lawyer, stressed.

Nati said Primavera City is envisioned to be another IDC award-winning sustainabledevelopment project, with its passive green features, such as increased natural ventilation, shaded façade and semitransparent photo-voltaic panels covering the amenities located on the rooftop, among others. The project has been recognized as highly commended condo by the Climate Technology Initiative Private Financing Advisory Network (CTIPFAN) in Singapore in 2014.

Funds... from page 2

their talents, participate and volunteer for the events.

“We hope that the shows can encourage cash and rice donations and pledges from the audience,” Savior said.

He said that the guidelines and pro ce dure for t he donation would be released soon.

Another drop-off point for donations outside the university would be put up in the Student Entrepreneurship Center (SEC), Tagros said.

The performances featuring mainly Xavier artists are set for April 18 and 19 at 7 pm, and on April 23 at 3 pm all at the XU Little Theater.

The grand show with Xavier and local artists would be on May 18 at 3 pm and 7 pm but the venue is yet to be arranged.

Around 6,000 farmerprotesters extremely affected by hunger due to dry spell was on the third day of the barricade along the DavaoCotabato Highway to demand government assistance when the bloody police dispersal erupted on April 1. (PNA)

Bunye... from page 4

laundering and terrorism financing activities.”

Aquino fur ther asks that Congress “restore the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze any monetar y instrument or property which, based on the existence of probable cause, is in any way related to an unlawful activity or predicate crime.

This will enable AMLC to immediately freeze proceeds of predicate crimes.”

As it is, present provisions merely allow the AMLC “to close the stable door after the horse has escaped.”

Finally, Aquino reiterates a long-pending appeal to Congress to amend the Charter of the Bangko Sentral to enable it to more effectively ensure the stability and

soundness of the financial sector.

“It has been 23 years since the passage of the Bangko Sentral Act. Since then, a sea change has occurred in both the international and local financial landscapes,” Aquino said.

Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com.

Uratex... from page 5

“ This is t he market s egment t hat has b een growing fast and it is the top tier market because now, even the lower markets, the socalled E and D, have started investing on foam because the prices have become cheaper,” she added.

Dr. Duane L. Salud of the PSSM said people have started to become more aware about the relationship between good sleep and health.

“In some cases, the lack of sleep can be associated with other illnesses,” said Mr. Salud.

The sle ep sp e ci a list cited cases of children with sleep apnea who also exhibit attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. If not immediately treated, he said, these could lead to health problems like hypertension and even stroke.

The RGC Foam Group also manufactures automotive and other commercial foam products, fabric and other foam-related items.

Hyundai... from page 5

NEW FORD LAUNCHES Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company Philippines, Inc. is looking at new launches to drive sustained growth in sales this year after a banner year in 2015.

Ford Philippines Managing Director Lance Mosley declined to provide a specific target but noted that the limited EcoSport Black Edition and the new Everest Titanium -- which were unveiled during the event -- will help drive increase in sales this year.

“We’ve got some great momentum going and with the addition of two new variants, we expect continued success,” Mr. Mosley told reporters in the same event.

Ford Philippines grew its sales by a little over 50% through February, he said.

Last year, the company posted a 25% expansion in sales to 25,372 units.

Consultation... from page 7

projects.

Mayor Tan also pushed for the inclusion of the proposed Complementary Strategic Investment Program (CSIP) for the Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) Project in the FY 2017 budgets of concerned agencies. The CSIP contains projects that would facilitate the implementation and operation of the PBB and the development of its direct impact areas.

The final FY 2017 budget prop os a ls of Reg ion X

agencies will be presented to the RDC-X during its 108th Full Council meeting on April 12, 2016 and to the RDC Advisory Committee on April 15, 2016. (Peleta B. Abejo, DRD, NRO-X)

Canon... from page 12

gave inputs about specific topics such as Language of Light. This term was used by photographers, and it talks about how a photographer can manipulate the lightings at any time, for example: If a photographer wants an outdoor setting that looks like the sun shines directly to the subject even if it is already five o’clock in the afternoon, he can use all the resources he have, like speed lights or camera flashes, reflectors, etc.

The seminar was indeed an eye opener, most especially to the beginners in photography because it gave the basic information that a photographer must know to hone his/her talents in the world of photography.

Mariwasa... from page 6

on the required renovations. “ Through this CSR project Mariwasa has helped provide students with access to sanitary facilities and an environment that is conducive to learning and proper health,” Buranawit added.

According to Buranawit, the market is steadily growing, the horizon is decidedly widening, and opportunities will not be wasted. “We are certainly proud of those fifty years of uncompromising quality, and this we intend to carry on for maybe the next fifty years with our brand of innovation and excellence.

We are sticking to what has made us what we are today, and so much more. There is no stopping us,” Buranawit concluded.

Park... from page 8

Biodiversity as cornerstone for development Citing the edge of the ASEAN member countries as the fastest growing economy i n t he word, t he AC B Executive Director stressed

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2014 ppi’S Best in ENVIRONMENTAL Reporting

on the need for biodiversity protection and conservation.

“The cornerstone of A SE A N i nt e g r at i on or de velopment is our biodiversity, ASEAN occupies only 3 percent of the world’s surface but we are home to 20 percent of all flora and fauna in the world, 30 percent of coral reefs and 35 percent of mangrove forest. Philippines is a mega diverse country along with Indonesia and Malaysia.

The declaration of MTHNM as ASEAN Heritage Park will open opportunities for the islandprovince as there will be more information assistance and data sharing.

Becoming Champions As the leaders of the province successfully bring home the bacon, Oliva commended all Camiguingnons for their contribution noting “You are all champions, individual champions, but becoming a true champion we must all make others champion so that everyone will be prosperous.”

Congressman Xavier Jesus D. Romualdo likewise stressed that care for the environment has intergenerational indications; it involves the concept of intergenerational responsibility, that while we have the right to enjoy the environment and resources we als o have the legal obligation to take care of it.

“With privilege comes responsibility and responsibility begets accountability, for the people of Camiguin begins the day that we recognize, assert even greater responsibility to protect and conserve the environment,” he said.

Protected areas declared as AHP gets the edge as an ecotourism destination and models for effective protected area management through the enhancement programs of the ACB. Other AHPs found in the Philippines includes Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildfire Sanctuary, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, Mount Makiling Forest Reserve, Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. (JCV/PIA)

AFFIDAVIT OF SELF-ADJUDICATION I ESTRELLITA BARRIENTOS RUANO, of legal age, Filipino and a resident of Purok 5, Ledesma Ext., Carmen Annex, Ozamiz City, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law do hereby depose and say:

That I am the only surviving legal heir of late SPS LEONARDO BARRIENTOS AND ASTERIA BARRIENTOS who died on March 20, 2008 in Ozamiz City and August 4, 1992 in Oroquieta City:

That at the time of death of said SPS. LEONARDO BARRIENTOS AND ASTERIA BARRIENTOS, they left the following described properties, to wit: “PARCEL 1, described as Lot 484 Part, situated in Carmen (Annex), Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. Bounded on the NE., by Road (Ledesma Extension); on the SW., by Lot No. 484-Part; on the SE., by Lot No. 7340 and on the NW., by Lot No. 484-Part, consisting an area of FIFTY EIGHT (58) square meters, more or less and covered by Tax Declaration No. 13-051078.”

“PARCEL 2, described as Lot No. 1361 situated in Gango, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. Bounded on the North by Municipality of Clarin; on the East by Lot No. 1259; on the South by Lot No, 1356; and on the West by Lot No. 1362, consisting an area of SIX HUNDRED THREE (603) square meters, more or

less and covered by Tax Declaration No. 12-022974.”

That said deceased SPS. LEONARDO BARRIENTOS AND ASTERIA BARRIENTOS died without Last Will and Testament and without debts whatsoever.

That pursuant to Rule 74. Sec . 1 of the Rules of Court of the Philippines, I hereby adjudicate unto myself the herein properties by means of this Affidavit and that said adjudication be made effective without judicial proceedings as prescribed by the aforementioned Rules of Court.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature, 10th day of April 2013 at Ozamiz City, Philippines.

ESTRELLITA BARRIENTOS RUANO Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me, this 10th day of April 2013 at Ozamiz City, Philippines.

Herein affiant personally came and appeared with her VN-4210-010313-K1866BR20001-9, as evidence of her personal identity.

(Sgd.) ATTY. DANIEL C. LAO Notary Public

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Canon Imaging Academy: A seminar-workshop for basic photography F

Text and photos by DOY YARE and CHELSEA BIEN

rom beginners to experts of different ph oto g r aphy enthusiasts, together, they were able to learn and understand the basics in taking photographs even in the simplest way yet with great results. With the expertise of the famous Wedding Portrait and Advertising Photographer

Mr Kenneth Hao from Canon Imaging Academy, the basic p h o t o g r ap hy s e m i n a rworkshop was successfully conducted last April 2, 2016 at the Activity Center of Limketkai Level 2, Cagayan de Oro City.

During the seminarworkshop, Mr Kenneth Hao canon/PAGE 11

K ​ enneth Hao assisting the participants in using the different modes and settings of the camera.

BPI holds first-ever Lifestyle Madness in General Santos GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), k now n for its hig h ly anticipated “Madness” events, is holding its firstever BPI Lifestyle Madness on April 1 to 4, 2016 at Veranza Mall, General Santos City. The event is a one-stop-shop offering financial solutions and exclusive deals catering to the various needs of its clients.

Following similarly successful legs in key cities within Luzon, Visayas and other parts of Mindanao, BPI turns its focus on fast-growing parts of the countr y, as the bank’s clients, families, young urban professionals, and overseas Filipinos in these areas get to explore and meet their financial goals through the long-running Madness program.

To make the experience more fruitful, visitors will be guided by BPI

representatives who will give them on-the-spot expert advice on achieving their life goals. In addition, raffles—hourly draws and grand draws—will be held and are open for all, with gift certificates and premium home appliances from BPI’s partner merchants are at stake.

Apart from BPI’s deposit and investment products, the bank’s Auto Loan, Housing Loan, Ka-Negosyo Loan, Personal Loans, and BPI-Philam Life Insurance are offered in this event.

BPI Credit Card holders can also avail of items at Real 0%, pay up to 12 months in installments, and even get double the credit limit of their credit card, ideal for big-ticket purchases.

BPI Lifestyle Madness’ next stops will b e in Bacolod—June 2 to 5, Ilocos Nort—June 10 to 12, Davao—June 16 to 19, Bulacan—July 8 to 10.

Limketkai Center presents 2 summer art workshops Story and Photos by MARK FRANCISCO

THERE are two ongoing summer art workshops at Limketkai Center.

The first one, jointly organized by Yahshua Intelex and Artsada Kagay-an, Inc., is called the Learn Art the Easy Way Summer Art Workshop.

It will be divided into two batches. The first batch has

started theirs from April 4 to 29 with classes every Monday Wednesday and Friday beside Limketkai Events Center. Each session is three hours long from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The second batch will commence on May 2. For parents who are interested to enroll their kids for the

second batch, you may contact 09173297592.

The 12-session workshop consists of basic elements of art, portrait, animation, water colour painting, clay art, acrylic painting and t-shirt painting.

All participants will be given art materials, t-shirt, certificate and a slot in the culminating exhibit in exchange for a very minimal fee.

Meanwhile, the R Productions summer art workshop are also holding their sessions at basically the same dates – and also divided into two batches. For those who are interested to join the second batch next month, please call 09356158513. For a very minimal fee, your kids can enjoy free art materials, two painting canvasses, a t-shirt, exposure at Mindanao Daily News, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times and a certificate signed by no less than National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) regional representative Rhyan Casiño. Their sessions are occurring beside Timberland.

Participants will learn basic drawing, colour application, pastel, watercolour, anime, acrylic painting, human anatomy, basic sculpture, t-shirt painting, art composition and poster making.

Let your kids spend your summer in a creative way. Because learning is an investment that can harvest over time.