Issuu

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Your daily business paper

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Volume V, No. 142

Market Indicators

As of 6:35 pm apr. 13, 2015 (monday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P44.67

8,073.25 points

12 cents

54.23

points

Briefly Rice at P27/kilo THE National Food Authority (NFA) has announced that they are now selling 25% broken rice variety at P 27/kg in all NFA accredited outlets. The agency introduced this starting last week of March, ensuring that they continue to provide quality and affordable staple food in the market, while the 15% brokens sold at P32/kg are still made available, giving the people more choices. Regional Director Gil Pepito B. Paqueo likewise directed all provincial monitoring and enforcement team to keep a tight watch on all NFA accredited outlets.

Jobs fair DAVAO City -- The Department of Labor and Employment formally forged an agreement with its agencies, two malls, and two media partners to support the jobs fair slated on the last week of April towards May 1, International Labor Day. Atty. Jason Balais, acting regional director of the DOLE 11 said 62 business establishments have confirmed to join in the jobs fair in order to provide employment to the residents of the city this year. He said the DOLE 11 expects more than a hundred establishments to sign in on the Labor Day Jobs Fair. Balais said 37 local agencies have confirmed to support the activity, where 25 overseas agencies are also expected to join.

P15.00

WB: PHL eco growth now more inclusive www.businessweekmindanao.com

Tuesday | April 14, 2015

By KRIS M. CRISMUNDO, Philippine News Agency

HE Philippines’ economic growth has become more inclusive as its impact to poverty reduction increases, World Bank lead economist Rogier van den Brink said in a press briefing Monday.

Van den Brink explained that for every 1.0 percent growth in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the number of population

in poverty or those who are living at or less than USD1.25 a day also decreases by 0.9 percent. growth/PAGE 11

RIVER RIDE. A child paddles a wooden canoe across Baug river along the fishing village in Magallanes, Agusan del Norte. mindanews photo by erwin mascarinas

Uratex has just opened its Showroom in Cagayan de Oro City on Saturday. Experience luxury and comfort in your sleep with Uratex Foams’ newest mattress collection.

Uratex opens showroom in CDO By CHENG ORDONEZ, Associate Editor

RGC Group of C omp anies has op ene d its manufacturing plant and showroom for its foam brand Uratex in Cagayan de Oro. “Establishing a manufacturing plant and showroom in CDO is part of our commitment to expand our business in Visayas and Mindanao, and support the continued development in the region,” Eddie Gallor, executive vice president of RGC Group of Companies,

said. Gallor said Uratex is also eyeing to open production centers in Tacloban, Butuan, Iligan and General Santos City. Uratex is the country’s largest manufacturer of commercial and automobile polyurethane foam products and is considered as one of South East Asia’s leading foam brands, and a consistent recipient of “Mo s t Tr u s t e d B r a n d” Platinum award since 2009.

Davao Region seeks P96.5-B budget By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

DAVAO City -- Davao’s R e g i on a l D e vel opme nt Council (RDC) is seeking a P96.5-billion allocation from the national government in 2016, with about a quarter going to Davao del Sur, which will have an offshoot province, Davao Occidental, by that year. D av a o d e l Su r a n d Davao Occidental will have

a proposed share of P23.4 billion, while Davao del Norte gets P14.563 billion, followed by Compostela Valley with P14.4 billion. Davao City and Davao Oriental get P10.88 billion and P10.51 billion, respectively. Davao Occidental, created in 2013 under Republic Act 10360, will have its first set of local government officials

elected in May 2016. The new province includes the municipalities of Malita, which will become the capital, Sta. Maria, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani. Davao del Sur, meanwhile, will be left with the existing capital Digos City, Kiblawan, Magsaysay, Matanao, Bansalan, Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Padada, Sulop and Malalag. budget/PAGE 11

Govt maintains peace process will address causes of conflict

The government panel maintains BBL is on the right track to peace in Mindanao.

THE ongoing peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is among the measures being pursued to substantially reduce threat to security and peace and order in Mindanao from armed groups that foment lawlessness and instability in the South, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said. “Peace between government and MILF means peace with the largest, most organized armed group which has been fighting peace/PAGE 11

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

Economy

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Nelson Constantino

Shellfish from Murcielagos Bay continues to be safe to eat By RUTCHIE CABAHUG-AGUHOB, Contributor

ORO QUIETA City -Shellf ish and minute shrimps or “alamang” collected from Murcielagos Bay in the boundary of Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte have continued to be safe for human consumption. This, after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources (BFAR) have declared the area free from toxic red tide c o nt a m i n at i o n , Vi s a Tan-Dimerin, director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), region 10, said. D i m e r i n s ai d t h i s information was published in the BFAR

Shellfish Bulletin Nos. 1-8, series of 2015, based on the results of laboratory examinations of the sea water from the areas, conducted by BFAR, in coordination with the concerned local government units (LGU). These bulletins have

already been released by BFAR, after every two weeks, starting January 5, 2015, of which the latest was April 1, this year, she said. As explained in the bulletins, all types of shellfish and Acetes specie or “alamang” (minute

shrimps) gathered from the area can be harvested, sold, bought and safe for human consumption, Dimerin, said. Meanwhile, the other areas in Mindanao, which have been declared free from red tide toxin by BFAR are Dumagillas

Bay in Zamboanga del Sur, Tantanang Bay in Zamboanga Sibuguey, Hinatuan, Bislig and Llanga Bays in Surigao del Sur, Balite Bay in Mat i, D avo O r i e nt a l and Taguines Lagoon in B enoni, Ma hinog, Camiguin Island.

Coop leaders join organic fertilizer forum in Surigao SU R I G AO C i t y - - A total of 54 cooperatives and farmer leaders and agricultural workers throughout the city and neighboring municipalities attended the Plantmate Organic Fertilizer Forum held on March 31, 2015 at the City Cultural Center, here. The forum was organized by the Surigao C it y In f or m a l Wa s t e Sector Association ( S U C I S AWA ) i n coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry to promote the use of organic fertilizer for various agricultural

crops such as rice and vegetables. Locally produced in C l aver by t he C l aver Coconut Farmers MultiP u r p os e C o op e rat ive ( C L A C O FA R M C O ) , the Plantmate Organic Fer t i lizer pro duc t ion process makes use of the coco dust agricultural waste in their coco coir and coconet processing project. The fertilizer is produced by using the bio-plus activator from the Agroman BioSystems Corporation to accelerate the organic matter decomposition process.

R o el Fl aut a of t he City Agriculture Office explained the benefits of using organic fertilizer in producing agricultural products that is of good quality and healthy food items, while, Engr. Angelita M. Espinosa, project caretaker of C L AC O FA R M C O Plantmate Organic Fertilizer explained t h e u n i q u e q u a l it i e s of the product and its efficacy in maintaining soil fertility and increase production. DTI provincial director Celestino L . Ne g ap at an , i n h i s message, stressed the importance of managing their respective farming endeavours into sustainable business enterprises. He encouraged the c o op e r at i ve s t o h e lp facilitate the distribution of the organic fertilizer which can be viable business that can support their farmer-members

in ter ms of ad apt ing environment f riendly and cost efficient farming technologies that will sustainably increase their farm productivity. The farmers and a g r i c u lt u r a l w or k e r s appreciate the effort of the sponsors in sharing the product and its potential benefits. Wit h re g ards to t he apprehensions of participants on the d r aw b a ck s of re du c e production at the initial stage while using organic fertilizer, Engr. Espinosa recommends to religiously adapt the Plantmate Organic Fertilizer crop production protocol to ensure att ainment of optimum yield level as experienced by rice farmers in Nueva Ecija that were able to produce 300 cavans of palay per hectare. (SDR/Rodrigo R. Matabaran, DTI-Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 â€˘ 0947-8935776

tuesday|April 14, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Opinion

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, Ph.D. Vice President for Finance

ALLAN mario MEDIANTE

Vice President for Corporate Affairs

Joe felicilda

Vice President for Administration

joe palabao

Vice President for Marketing

NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief

Alejandrae Uy

Cheng ordoñez

Section Editor

Associate Editor

SHIELA gosanes

CLIFFORD SANTILLAN

Advertising

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Cell No: 09352379999

Juni Law Office Cruz Taal St., CDO Legal Counsel

Layout Artist

Cris diaz mike baños Uriel quilinguing Editorial Consultants

MARKETING staff manila office: Unit 310 Valero Plaza, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City; lani vallido-Marketing Manager

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Corporation every Monday to Friday with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Registration No. CS201531633 with BIR Certificate of Registration No. 2RC0000831068, TIN No. 463826-272-000 – VAT. Reg., and with Business Permit No. 201512879. Tel. Nos.: (088)8578447, 74-5380, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424 Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

Member: Philippine Press Institute Oro Chamber

Will SC probe graft at Court of Appeals now?

IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… maintain justice in the courts…” (Amos 5:15, the Holy Bible). -ooo WILL SC PROBE GRAFT AT COURT OF APPEALS NOW? What will the Supreme Court and the Judicial and Bar Council do, now that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has been reported as having filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into his disclosures that two Court of Appeals justices who stopped the suspension of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay were paid millions of pesos by the Binay Family through a Makati-based lawyer? I am sure this is no longer a matter that can be swept under the rug, so to speak, and which would go away if it is ignored and not attended to by the tribunal and the Council. It is now a corruption scandal of epic proportions which can engulf even the Supreme Court and the JBC if they are not going to act on it. There is no more justification for any “handsoff policy” from the Court, as its spokesman, Atty. Theodore Te was reported to have announced several days ago in the wake of a clamor, sparked by news headlines, for an investigation of justices at the same Court of Appeals who allegedly sell

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst anger is a bad teacher. But when we keep our cool and control our anger each time we correct or discipline our children, we’re teaching our kids well, not only by what we say, but by our example of how controlled and calmly we say it. But you know, even patient, good parents have their limits! And kids sometimes push us past our limits. That’s why we need Jesus Christ to give us His supernatural patience and love every day. Only His kind of will power can help us control our anger, no matter how stressful or maddening our kids get! So friend, won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for your past mistakes and failures as a parent, and ask Him to take full charge of your heart and character everyday? Because it’s only then we can become the good example and parent our kids need. Just, Think a Minute…

their decisions to highest bidders. This scandal of judicial corruption has clearly become an ailment that needs excising. -ooo WE MUST DO SOMETHING MORE AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING: All these talk about global warming and climate change scorching some 60,000 hectares of agricultural lands all throughout the Philippines would have been a good reminder about the evils of environmental degradation and the death and destruction that would surely come in their wake. This is, after all, no longer just a national problem but a scourge of international reach. But, sadly, government officials and private individuals or entities trying to do something about global warming and climate change actually are contributing more to the worsening of the problem rather than solving it, by their present approaches and proffered solutions which are, at best, mere palliatives that would not yield any benefit. Again, let me point out that trillions and trillions of dollars, euros, yens, and even pesos, have already been spent in the past, in the hope of arresting deadly weather aberrations, but it is clear that the global march to death and

destruction because of these aberrations goes on unabated, and has even accelerated in frightening speed. So what do we do? -ooo READ THE BIBLE, OBEY GOD: SURE ANTIDOES TO CLIMATE CHANGE: Try some other solutions, side by side with the current international efforts to combat global warming and climate change, that’s what. Time and again, I am saying that it has become greatly imperative to realize that this climatic danger was prophesied to happen by the Bible in its chapters and verses, so that it is extremely necessary now to see what the Bible is proposing as solutions. Right away, I can think of Deuteronomy 28:15 and 22-24 and Matthew 7:2427 as Biblical warnings which foretell the coming of environment destruction. There is nothing to lose for anyone if we study these verses for a moment, and then try to discern from them the fact that the solution being offered to fight global war ming is immens ely simple. What is this solution? It is making all of humanity go back to God, by a sincere and earnest reading of the Bible, and then obeying God’s commands written therein. It is only when we

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio adopt this approach that things will begin to change. By then, people will be inspired to care truthfully not only for themselves but even for others, and for the environment as well. There is still time for this, really! -ooo PLEASE LISTEN: DZEC1062 kHz Manila, 1080 kHz Dagupan City, 711 kHz Naga City, 1260 kHz Lucena City, 1224 kHz Davao City, and www.eaglenews. ph Mondays to Fridays, 6 a.m.; DYKA 801 kHz Panay Island, Yes Radio 88.3 FM, Barobo City, Surigao del Sur, Yes Radio 93.9 FM, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m.; 92.7 Smile FM, San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur, Kiss 101.1 FM, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, Mondays to Fridays, 12 noon; 107.5 Win 107.5 FM, Roxas, Isabela, Saturday, 5:30 a.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. -30-

Victorious in Defeat

A Bad Teacher

hink a Minute … Do you sometimes feel that the only way your kids will listen and obey you is if you get angry with them? We can understand the school teacher who said she hates her job because the only way she can control her class of naughty children is to always be angry with them! Many parents get so tired and frustrated from being angry with their children. But we think our being angry is the only way our kids will take us seriously. But does using anger really work to teach our children well? Imagine you’re driving your car too fast, breaking the speed limit. And a policeman who is not on duty or in uniform sees you. But he has no authority to stop and ticket you. So this policeman gets angry and starts screaming and yelling at you as you speed by. Would you slow down and drive by the rules just because a man by the road is angry and screaming at you? Probably not! So the only thing that man accomplished was to make himself look foolish. But we parents sometimes do the same thing when we use our anger to correct and teach our children. When our kids see us not able to control our own anger, it’s hard for them to truly respect us. Because we expect them to do something we cannot do ourselves. That’s why

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

hat may sound funny, or a literary oxymoron, but in the lives of saints, in the life of Christ himself, yes, there can be victory in what may largely be considered as defeat. Just look at Christ’s own crucifixion and death. That event, from all human angles, could only mean defeat, a crushing defeat. But it was what led to his resurrection. It was what paid the price for all our sins to attain our redemption. From the spiritual angle, it can only mean victory. We n e e d t o l o o k more closely at this very mysterious phenomenon, so that we can be more in line with God’s logic and ways, rather than remain in our very limited, time-andearth-bound understanding of things. We need to expand and deepen our perspectives to accommodate this wonderful spiritual and supernatural reality offered to us. Of course, for this to happen, we have to pray, meditate, be humble enough to ask for God’s grace, for this is a truth of faith that can only enter our mind and heart when faith that requires humility is alive in us. Truth is, in this life of ours here on earth, often described as a “vale of tears,” we cannot help but experience contradictions,

difficulties, mistakes, insults, ridicule, and all the other forms of failures. This is part of our human condition. It would, however, be naive on our part if we choose to get stuck with the merely earthly and temporal aspects of our life, when the reality that governs us includes the spiritual and supernatural that requires us to use our faith, more than just our senses and intelligence. With faith operative in us, we may experience all sorts of weaknesses, but we still can manage to have hope and to wage an appropriate battle to tackle them. With faith, we can avoid falling into the paralyzing state of cowardice. We can spring into action. Faith lets us share in the power of God who knows how to draw life from death, rest from hard labor, light from darkness, good from evil. We have to learn how to access this reality that is abundantly offered to us by God himself. With faith, we can echo St. Paul’s: “In all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses...as dying, and behold we live; as chastised, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as needy, yet enriching many; as having

nothing, and possessing all things.” (2 Cor 6,9-10) With faith, we would know the value and meaning of p ai n , su f fe r i ng and trials. These are sources of purification, occasions to grow in maturity and other virtues, moments to refine our awareness we are children of God who “chastises whom he loves, and scourges every son he receives.” (Heb 12,6) Thus, we need to exercise our faith more forcefully and consistently, something that we can do if we pray, meditate on God’s word, study the doctrine of our faith, develop the virtues, have recourse to the sacraments, wage a lifelong interior struggle, etcetera. Unfortunately, these are activities that are hardly appreciated by the people of today. They are even considered as a waste of time, a repression of the human spirit and freedom, useless relics of antiquity and of the dark ages, etcetera, the exact opposite of what these activities actually achieve if done properly. We n e e d t o r e s c u e ourselves from such ignorance or misinformation. That’s why we have to talk a lot about the role of faith in life of all of us. Faith, like our reason, is not supposed to be practised by a few. Though we can refuse the

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala use of faith, just like what we can do with reason, we have to understand that faith is meant to be used by all. We are actually beings not only of senses and reason, but also of faith. We use faith, knowingly or unknowingly. So, we have to realize that faith also has a valid and legitimate place in our public discourses-be it in the media or in the halls of congress and government. We cannot say that just because it is a Catholic faith or a Protestant or Muslim one, it is optional and therefore does not have a necessary role to play in our discourses. Truth is, faith is always in the middle of our discussionsif not a faith in God, then a faith in something else, including a faith only in oneself. Whether we are aware of that or not, the fact is some kind of faith is always involved. roycimagala@gmail.com

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Nelson Constantino

CorporateWorld

Gov’t set to start bids for Davao Sasa Port project THE Aquino administration this week will begin seeking bids for its first publicprivate partnership (PPP) seaport project. The P17-billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project involves the design, redevelopment, operation and maintenance (O&M) of the facility, which was built during the mid-1990s by the Ramos administration. The Davao Sasa Wharf is

the Philippines’ main port for shipping out bananas, one of the country’s dollarearning commodities. The port can handle 700,000 t we nt y - fo ot e qu iv a l e nt u n i t s ( T E Us ) , b u t t h e government expects volume to increase to 1.2-million TEUs by 2020. The w inning bidder should build a new apron and linear quay, expand the back-up area, container

yards and warehouses, as well as install ship-to-shore cranes and rubber-tyred gantry. The winning bidder will operate the facility for 30 years. The Philippine Ports Au t h o r i t y ( P PA ) w i l l conduct a two-stage bidding: pre-qualification based on legal, technical and financial criteria set by the Department of Public

Wo r k s a n d H i g h w a y s (DPWH), before the submission of actual bids. Bidding documents will be available starting April 14 for a non-refundable fee of P300,000. S t a t e - o w n e d Development Bank of the Philippines and the International Finance C orporation ser ve as t r ans a c t i on a dv i s e rs . - InterAksyon

ALI still keen on reclamation contract AYALA Land, Inc. said it has not abandoned its bid to corner a deal involving the reclamation of a 300-hectare area along Manila Bay, even after SM Prime Holdings, Inc. already made significant headway. At the center of the rivalry is a reclamation contract earlier awarded by the Parañaque City government to SM Prime and endorsed to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA). But the Ayala camp said the battle is not yet over, with the PRA yet to act on the proposed P50.19-billion Parañaque re clamat ion project. “We remain interested,” Ay a l a L and C or p or ate S e c re t ar y S ol omon M . He r mo su r a s ai d i n an interview last week at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. “ I t ’s a l a r g e - s c a l e

development we can’t miss out on,” he said in Filipino. Aya la L and has not yet filed an appeal, Mr. Hermosura said, and is “still studying” the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 146, which governs all reclamation projects in the country. The IRR, published in February this year and took effect last Feb. 22, outlined requirements and procedures for securing approval for such projects. Besides listing a host of documentary requirements, including a project feasibility study and environmental permit, the IRR also required contracts for such projects to be auctioned off in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184, or t h e Bu i l d - O p e r ate Transfer Law, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Joint Venture Guidelines of 2013

“or such other laws, rules and regulations as may be applicable.” Exempted f rom this p ar t ic u lar re quirement are reclamation activities forming part of civil works of infrastructure projects like airports, ports and power plants (which still require NEDA Board approval); local government-initiated projects that are completely funded by these units; and national governmentinitiated ventures wholly funded by the General Appropriations Act or state firms. Those initiated or proposed by private entities or else funded through partnership with them should undergo Swiss Challenge, the IRR said. In December last year, Ayala Land, SM Prime and GT Capital Holdings, Inc. su bm itte d E x pre ss i ons

of Interest to the city of Parañaque, which awarded the reclamation contract to SM Prime after the two other contenders failed to comply with the bidding requirements. The SM Prime proposal is now with the PRA after hurdling local government unit level. The PRA, which was supposed to endorse the project to NEDA for final approval, however said it will not process the project until 2017 -- when it has finished the commissioning of a comprehensive study for Manila Bay. SM Prime had said in September last year that it plans to merge the Parañaque reclamation project with a similar one under the jurisdiction of Pasay City t o f o r m a c o nt i g u o u s 600-hectare central business district estimated to be worth a combined P100 billion.

Globe myBusiness strengthens foothold in PH SME market Posts exceptional growth in revenues, customer base with beefed-up portfolio to cater to SMEs’ digital needs G l o b e m y B u s i n e s s , th e small and medium enterprise (SME) arm of Globe Telecom, continues to gain stronghold in the Philippine SME industry after the business segment closed 2014 with excellent growth in revenues and customer base. After undergoing a major rebranding campaign supported by a beefed-up product portfolio for SMEs, Globe myBusiness posted 16% growth in gross service revenues (GSR). The SME segment also saw noteworthy growth in its business postpaid revenues at 24% as well as 34% in corporate data revenues and 4% in broadband revenues. Globe myBusiness’ product portfolio boasts of more tailorfitted offers that prioritize the needs of entrepreneurs. True to the brand’s core of equipping SMEs technology and solutions to ensure their success, Globe myBusiness is also committed to providing targeted solutions that will help digitize and automate one’s

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

business. “To see businesses we support flourish is part of our commitment in inspiring their success. Knowing our customers more and strengthening our relationships with them enable us to improve our services and develop new ways to help grow their businesses. This year, we are poised to be more relevant to the SME community in the country with communication solutions attuned to their needs. With communication tools becoming more vital, business owners are now more conscious of their needs, especially when it comes to their spending. As every peso counts, entrepreneurs are after solutions that make their businesses more efficient,” says Martha Sazon, Globe SVP for Small and Medium Business Group. Earlier this year, entrepreneurs saw the latest customizable postpaid plan portfolio from Globe myBusiness that gave them

a total communication package that is flexible, affordable and worry-free with the new Globe myBusiness Postpaid Plan. For as low as Plan 299, business owners get a free DUO landline with unlimited calls to local landline and DUO customers nationwide. By having a DUO landline, mobile phones are no longer just for calls or SMS, as it also functions as a wireless landline to enable users to continue their operations. The new plans also come with a free 30-day webpage trial that can be customized for one’s business. With internet penetration growing at a rapid pace, this feature lets the business stay competitive and easier to search. Taking into account this trend, Globe myBusiness will help create and maintain the webpage, giving entrepreneurs a hasslefree experience in running their operations using the online media. Entrepreneurs can choose a plan for as low as Plan

299 a month to Plan 3799, depending on their needs and scale of communication requirements. Each plan comes with consumables at least 50% more than for the monthly service fee. The consumables can be used to customize their plan with calls, SMS, mobile internet and gadgets. Finally, they can boost their plans with solutions that help increase productivity and sales of their business. To apply for a new Globe myBusiness Postpaid Plan, visit any Globe Store, go to http://mybusiness.globe.com. ph/mybusinesspostpaidplan, or call its dedicated hotlines at (02) 730-1010 in Metro Manila and Luzon, (032) 401-1010 in Visayas and (082) 321-1010 in Mindanao. For more information on Globe myBusiness, log on to www.mybusiness.globe.com. ph, email mybusinesscare@ globe.com.ph, follow the official Globe myBusiness Facebook page and on Twitter: @GlobemyBusiness.

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

RESORTS, HOTEL & RESTAURANTS DIRECTORIES

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

Algen’s Dive Resort (088) 3872015 Apple Tree Resort & Hotel 735411 / 754525 Fax: 754497 0917-7144040 / 0923-3269366 / 09399076948 Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin (088) 3871057 / 3870131 Fax: 3870278 Basamanggas Resort 08822-760564 Fax: 760565 Cagayan Riverview Inn 8584245 / 729039 Fax: 8584245 Casa Crystalla 8561704 / 722465 Fax: 722480 Casa Isabella (088) 8564065 Casa Azucena 8563402 / 09236593973 Chali Beach Resort 732840 / 8552108 Fax: 8555941 Chananthon Bed & Breakfast 8568189 / 3093095 Country Village Hotel 8583004-06 Fax: 8583006 D’Budgetel 8564200/726643 Fax: 8564300 Dahilayan Forest Park 8568562 to 63 De Luxe Hotel 8572144 / 724548 Fax: 724563 Discovery Hotel 727814 / 8563896 Fax: 8563897 Duka Bay Resort (088) 3312290 Fax: 725265 Dynasty Court Hotel 8574802 Fax: 857900 Grand City Hotel 8571900 / 728469 Fax: 723718 Hotel Conchita 8563856 / 727355 Fax: 8563857 Hotel Koresco 8589749-50 Fax: 8589748 Hotel Sogo 8520383 Kingston Lodge 8585696 Fax: 8585696 Mapawa Natures Park 8584402 Fax: 725265 Mallberry Suites 8541999 / 7249999 Fax: 8544999 Maxandrea Hotel 8572244/729943 Fax: 724090 Miami Inn 8581901 to 02 Fax: 725279/728486 N Hotel (088) 8801924 Paras Beach Resort 8568563 Fax: 8568563 Philtown Hotel 726295 / 8564402 Fax: 723104 Pryce Plaza Hotel 8583131 Fax: 726687

Prawn House (088) 3095992 Fax: 8519219 Ridge View Chalet 8588946 / 8587946 Fax: 8588946 Seda Centrio Hotel 32288888 Southwinds Hotel 724803 / 8562036 Fax: 8562036 Stargate Dream Vacation Resort 8515003 / 8509999 The VIP Hotel 726080 / 8562505 Fax: 726441 Tune Hotel 8800888/8801306 Travelers Pod 8518988 Uptown Condotel 8511800 Villa Paraiso Apartelle 3870419 Fax: 3870429 HONORARY MEMBERS: Dept. of Tourism 723696/726394 / 8564048 Fax: 723696 RESTAURANTS: Bigby’s Café 72-1071/857-5511/8575836 Fax: 711843 Café Laguna 8582999 Fax: 8567001 DM Villaruy Restaurant 733790 Golden Ajirang I 856-5271 Fax: 727876 Grand Caprice Restaurant 72-6955/856-2302 Fax: 72-4986 Kagay-anon Restaurant 728958 / 8563688 Fax: 8563843 / 729003 La Ilongga Restaurant 72-6183 / 857-3652 Fax: 72-4605 Max’s Restaurant 8586297 Fax: 8568264 Missy Bon Bon 8566852 / 09228606442 Fax: 8566852 SLERS Ham & Café 8551438 Thai Me Up 738424/3108424 Fax: 738424 Barkadahan Grill 8551234 La Tegola Cucina Italiana 8585959 limketkai luxe hotel 8800000 Dear manok tiano 8564914 dear manok divisoriachaves 8573413

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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

Feature

PAGE 10 6

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

CEB holds 50% off systemwide seat sale For July-December travel The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) offers guests the opportunity to book flights across its network in advance at 50%

off. The seat sale is on offer until April 15, 2015 or until seats last, for travel from July 1 to December 31, 2015.

NIGHT FLIGHT . A Cebu Pacific airbus at the Laguindingan Airport, Misamis Oriental.

Photo by SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

The 50% seat sale is available on flights to CEB’s 34 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations. The travel period covers international shopping festivals, semestral break, and peak travel season during Halloween or Christmas. Meanwhile, seats from Manila to Jakarta or Denpasar (Bali) are up for grabs for PHP1,488 and PHP2,488, respectively. Passengers can also book flights from Manila to Sydney for PHP2,139, all-inclusive of country taxes. “Now is the perfect time to plan trips in the 2nd half of the year, to avail of maximum travel savings. We encourage everyJuan to gather their family and friends, pick a new destination to visit, and book their flights,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

For bookings, passengers can visit www.cebupacificair.com or reservation hotlines (02)7020-888 or (032)230-8888. They may also download the Cebu Pacific official mobile app on the App Store and Play Store. The latest seat sales can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter (@ CebuPacificAir) and Facebook pages. CEB’s 55-strong fleet is comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 31 Airbus A320, 6 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR 72-500 aircraft. It is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. Between 2015 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 7 more brand-new Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft. It recently launched direct Hong Kong – Kalibo (Boracay) flights, and Cebu – Narita (Tokyo) flights. It is slated to launch Manila – Doha flights on June 4, 2015.

Traversing towards her dreams DAVAO CITY -Wearing her trusty backpack and clasping her textbooks on both hands, her bare feet covered in mud, 12-year old Rogelyn Cautivo traverses the usual hilly, mud-laden 1.5-kilometer path to her school in Lumondao, Marilog District. Rogelyn has been a consistent first honor student since Grade 1 and she graduates as class valedictorian this year. Belonging to a Bagobo family, Rogelyn is the eldest of two siblings. Her family is one of the 1,461 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries in Marilog, Davao City. Rogelyn’s parents –Rowena, 38, and Roldan, 34, work at a local Nata de Coco factory in Calinan, Davao City. Working 7 days a week for a Php 120 daily salary, her parents squeeze in the little time they have to be able to visit their three children in Marilog. “Wala mi makalampos og high school sa akoang bana. Busa dako kaayo amoang kalipay nga luyo sa kalisod sa amoang kinabuhi, nakita gyud namo ang paningkamot ni Rogelyn nga makalampos sa esklwela (My husband and I did not finish elementary. That is why we are overjoyed that despite our impoverished situation, we saw how Rogelyn really worked hard to finish her studies),” Rowena shared. Rogelyn and her siblings are left to the care of their 74-year old Lola Rosita who stood as both a mother

and father to her grandchildren. “Dako kaayo ang akoang kalipay nga makatapos na si Rogelyn sa elementarya. Kugihan kaayo ni ang akoang apo. Inig human sa iyang klase kay motabang pa na siya og pangabo og tubig didto sa pikas buntod dayon mag-study (I am very happy that Rogelyn will now finish her elementary. She is very diligent. After class, she would help us fetch water from a spring in another hill before she works on her school assignments),” recounted Lola Rosita. Rachelle Cuaton, Rogelyn’s adviser lauds how Pantawid Pamilya has helped the children beneficiaries in her school. “Dako og nahatag nga suporta ang Pantawid Pamilya ilabi na sa edukasyon sa mga bata. Maengganyo ang mga ginikanan nga magpa-eskwela sa ilang mga anak ug ang mga bata malipayon nga moadto sa eskwelahan tungod sa programa (Pantawid Pamilya has provided a huge support especially in the education of children beneficiaries. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school and the children, as well, are excited to go to school because of the program).” Out of 14 graduating students from her class, 11 are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya. Rogelyn is one of the 405 top performing students in Davao Region who will graduate this year from elementary and high school.

Rogelyn Cautivo, 12, graduated as class valedictorian in Lumondao Elementary School in Marilog, Davao City. Rogelyn is one of the 405 top performing Pantawid students in Davao Region for school year 2014-2015.

“Ang Pantawid Pamilya usa sa instrumento nga gihatag sa atoa sa Ginoo aron makatabang busa atoa gyud kining ampingan. Sa mga kauban nako nga estudyante nga mo-graduate, dili kita mawad-an og paglaom, dapat maningkamot kita aron makahuman ta sa atoang pageskwela (Pantawid Pamilya is one of the instruments given by God to help us, hence we should take care of this. To my co-graduates, we should not lose hope, we should strive hard to be able to finish school),” stressed Rogelyn. Now with her new umbrella and new pair of boots, Rogelyn will continue on walking the familiar path with confidence in her heart that she will be a step closer in achieving her dreams of being a teacher. (DSWD/Sheryll Jane S. Fernandez)

Lola Rosita, Nanay Rowena and Tatay Roldan proudly pose with their daughter Rogelyn, 12, who graduated class valedictorian in Lumondao Elementary School in Marilog, Davao City. Rogelyn is one of the 405 top performing Pantawid students in Davao Region for school year 2014-2015.

MEDICAL MISSION IN BRGY. LOWER POBLACION, JASAAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL. FDC Misamis Power Corporation and NEPC Philippines sponsor a medical mission program initiated by the Office of the 2nd District Representative and Villanueva LGU in Misamis Oriental. FDC Misamis Project Engineer Leonardo Lachica (3rd from left) and NEPC HSSE Manager Wang Libing (2nd from left), hand over prescription medicines and multivitamins to a resident of the beneficiary community. (Supplied Photo)

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 â€˘ 0947-8935776

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

Community

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Cheng Ordoñez

Philippine coin shortage looms The Philippines is facing a very serious coin shortage pro b l e m b e c au s e of a recommendation of the Numismatic Committee of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to adopt “multi-ply” technolog y in the production of all coin denominations in the country under the BSP’s New Generation Currency program, industry sources with knowledge of the BSP plans said. Multi-Ply is a patented product that can only be supplied by a single mint

in the world, and most developed countries, i n c l u d i n g t h e Un i t e d States, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, and France use Mono-Ply, which is the internationally recognized best standard and practice for plated coins. “Many industr y and coinage experts are very concerned about the intended direction of the BSP for the new coin series because with a limited supply source for Multi-Ply coins, the Philippines will definitely experience difficulty in

procurement,” according to one of the industry sources who requested not to be named for fear of reprisals from the BSP. “ There is also a big monopoly danger since Multi-Ply is a patented product and this means majority of the world’s mints cannot participate in the bidding for the supply of coins to the Philippines. Because of this monopoly, the BSP can expect higher costs in the long term since they would have no alternative sources,” the industry insider

revealed. “But perhaps the biggest d anger is t he p ossible shortage of coins because Mono-Ply coins are less durable and of lower quality, and their circulation lifespan is only about five years, compared to at least 10 years for mono-ply coins,” the source added. “This will definitely worsen the already serious coin shortage in the country.” According to a report by the independent testing firm Fraunhofer USA, which conducted a study on coin

TESDA infuses P65-M training fund for IT-BPO industry The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) beefed up its support to the Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM) with the infusion of fresh funding for the training of its potential workers. In a statement, TESDA said

it will channel P65 million worth of scholarship vouchers for the pre-employment training and retooling of incoming workers in the indust r y, according to separate Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) recently signed by TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva with

the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMOAP) and Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI). The training will be carried out through TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP). “Prospects for continued

growth are bright for the ITBPO industry, and we should be able to capitalize on this opportunity,” Villanueva said. “We will continue to provide quality education and training to have a pool of skilled and employable youth for these firms,” he said. tesda/PAGE 11 GRADUATION CEREMONY IN MAT-I NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, CLAVERIA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL - VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ graces the graduation ceremony of Mat-I National High School in Mat-I, Claveria, Misamis Oriental. This, among several other graduation ceremonies of remote and scarcely populated areas in the province is what the vice governor takes an effort to attend to with the hope of inspiring young graduates to take a step further in their studies. He seeks to deliver the message that even students from distant places can make a difference in the future.

wear test and analysis on Multi-Ply and Mono-Ply coins, “single layer nickel plated coins (mono-ply) still hold a longer circulation lifespan, as the plating layer is thicker than multi-ply coins.” A numismatic expert, on the other hand, said the BSP’s move will have similar effects to the “poor quality”

of Philippine paper bills that are in current circulation, which the expert described as “very easy to deteriorate and are also very confusing.” The new paper bills in the Philippines were also produced under the BSP’s New Generation Currency program. The new coins, if the BSP plan pushes through, will be introduced in 2016.

SURSECO II to hold BOD polls, 4 members due for election TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur – Four out of the 14-member board of directors (BOD) of Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (SURSECO II) are due for election this April 2015, according to Macedonio Andoy, Jr., BOD secretary. In a letter dated February 25, 2015 informing Governor Johnny Pimentel of the event, he cited the dates of the BOD polls on April 11, 12, 18, and 19, respectively, for Carrascal, Cortes, Tago, and Bayabas. Notably, such schedules fall on weekends—either Saturday or Sunday. “We would like to inform you that this coming April 2015, Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (SURSECO II) will be holding again an election for the members of the Board of Directors for four (4) districts/municipalities,” Andoy pointed out. Meanwhile, based on the final screening of candidates, only one for each district has come out to have qualified for the upcoming BOD polls. Aguinaldo Jaluag, SURSECO II information officer, agreed that apparently these qualified candidates are already sure winners. In the meantime, Lourna Padro, Institutional Services Department (ISD) manager, certified true and correct the information regarding the list of qualified candidates.

This includes both incumbent BODs-candidates Celso Azarcon of Carrascal and Reynold Dumagan of Cortes; besides candidates Marcel Laurente of Tago and Isidro Quimpan of Bayabas, who are both aiming for their maiden term. Earlier, it was learned that both “second termer” Bayabas and Tago B ODs, in the persons of Macedonio Andoy, Jr. and Nicolas Laurente, are already barred from running owing to the new Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC’s) policy regarding state employees, including espouses, if married, whose positions carry the salary grade (SG) of 16 and above. As far as Carrascal and Cortes districts, Azarcon and Dumagan, both reelectionists, will surely keep their respective posts since the challenger for the former was said to have been disqualified while the latter is unopposed. BOD Azarcon is currently gunning for his last term while BOD Dumagan is going for his second term, it was learned. (NGBT/Greg Tataro Jr., Radyo ng Bayan-Tandag/ PIA-Surigao del Sur)

300 job vacancies at mini-job fair TANDAG CITY - More than 300 job vacancies from the two local employers are available at the mini-job fair slated in two separate schedules at the city gymnasium, here. Ta n d a g Public Employment Service Office (PESO) officer Lorna Novo said, the Prince Warehouse Club Incorporation, located at Moonglow, Bag-ong Lungsod, this city is scheduled to accept applicants from April 14 to 16 for several positions. While on April 16-18, the Gaisano Capital Tandag, which is set to open within this year, is looking for around 300 workers. Novo said interested applicants may visit the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Surigao del Sur provincial office or call telephone number (086) 211-3378 or at the PESO Tandag at telephone number (086) 211-5169. (Grace Barcena/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Cheng Ordoñez

Environment

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

Siete Pecados Marine Park is best for snorkeling site for the local and foreign tourists. Its spectacular marine life is a must-see, it's like a different world. They call it Siete Pecados because of seven limestone rock formation located at Barangay Tagumpay, Coron, Palawan. (PNA photos by Roland Nablo)

Gov’t intensifies preparation against effect of ‘El Nino’ The government is intensifying its preparation against the adverse e f f e c t o f t h e E l Ni n o phenomenon, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Sunday. “Patuloy na pinaiigting ng pamahalaan ang mga paghahanda upang labanan ang epekto ng El Niño sa bansa at masiguro ang katatagan ng produksyon ng pagkain, partikular ang

palay, sa iba’t ibang bukirin at sakahan,” said Coloma during a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. He noted that concerned government agencies are working together to minimize the effect of El Nino. “Kumikilos na ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan sa pangunguna ng Kagawaran ng Agrikultura upang big yan ng karampatang tulong ang mga magsasaka

at manggagawa sa kabukiran, tulad ng pamamahagi ng mga drought resistant na punla ng palay, maging ang pagsasaayos ng kanilang mga cropping season upang maiwasan ang mga tinaguriang disaster-prone na mga buwan alinsunod s a inilat ag na E l Niño mitigation and adaptation plan,” he added. T h e D e p a r t m e nt of Agriculture together with the National Irrigation

Administration will manage the water supplies for the irrigation of crops as water level in dams dwindles this summer. “Handa namang magpatupad ang pamahalaan ng iba pang mga hakbang, tulad ng cloud seeding operations kung kinakailangan, lalo na sa mga lugar na nakararanas ng matinding panunuyo ng pananim,” said Coloma. (PCOO/PND)

S. Cotabato to replace traditional fish pens with plastic fish cages KORONADAL CIT Y -Traditonal bamboo fish pens will soon be a thing in the past in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. This as the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) reported that they are introducing permanent and durable fish cages made of pipes with plastic containers as floaters. Loida Villa, environment management specialist in PEMO’s Forest and Inland Water Division disclosed that fish farmers that who are bona fide residents of Lake

Sebu can avail such fish cages under its “Convert Now, Pay Later” scheme. “The cost of labor and materials under said scheme is P20,000 for each fish cage operator; they will pay it in installment basis,” Villa said. Initially, 150 fish cages will be constructed or assembled from the first quarter up to the third quarter of this year. These will amount to a total investment of P 3 million. Funds are sourced come from the province’s 5% Calamity Fund for 2015. Recipients of this project

are assured of long term use of the fish cages with minimal maintenance. Villa added that the project will “help reduce the organic load present and improve water circulation in the lake, thus minimizing water pollution.” “The project will further promote the tourism industry in Lake Sebu by enhancing aquaculture industry through uniform fish pen structures. Besides, we will further improve its panoramic view,” Villa emphasized. (FSumagaysay Jr-S outh

Capiceños grateful for IOM’s assistance ROXAS CITY – Capiceños are one in extending appreciation and gratitude for helping them build back better after the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda. During the recent testimonial and thanksgiving program of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), program beneficiaries of the said organization, including the ser vice providers and other partner agencies, expressed their gratitude for all the help. Ronel Delos Santos of Cuartero town, who was suffering from osteomyelitis and had gradually lost his mobility, had been full of expression in extending his profound thanks for his gradual recovery and for his “getting up” with his two feet now after given medical help by the IOM. For Judith Bulana, a casual employee of the provincial government of Capiz who was built a house by the said

humanitarian organization, a word of thanks is not enough for her whole family to extend to IOM. “With I alone who is working for my children to be sent to school and to buy the daily medicine of my sick husband, my earning is not enough and I could not afford to build our totally destroyed house because of typhoon Yolanda,” said Judith teary-eyed. During the said gathering, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital Chief Dr. Florencio Luching Jr. likewise shared his appreciation and thanks to the said international humanitarian organization for all the help especially in the health programs for Capiceños. Among those health programs extended here include the repair and const r uc t ion of he a lt h facilities, capacity training, mental and psychosocial support, medical outreach

and referral, and emergency preparedness training aside from the provision of medicines and other medical equipments to some Rural Health Units and government hospitals. Building of houses and provision of shelter materials to affected Capiceños have also been extended by said organization. On the other hand, IOM C apiz Sub-Of f ice he ad Arshad Rashid disclosed that their organization was able to extend shelter assistance to more than 11,000 beneficiaries in the province. Rashid added that in their 16-month response after typhoon Yolanda, more than 120,000 Capiceños have benefitted from their health programs. He also acknowledged the help of their international program donors that made possible their emergency assistance/PAGE 11

Cotabato PIO/DEDoguilesPIA 12)

SurSur PDRRM spearheads training on incident command system TA N DAG C I T Y – T h e Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) of Surigao del Sur will lead the conduct of a three-day Basic/ Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) training course from Apr i l 1 5 - 1 7 , 2 0 1 5 at La Entrada Resort in Britania, municipality of San Agustin. Around 40 participants are e x p e c t e d t o att e n d the said training, it was learned. The three-day activity aims to enhance the council members to have a common understanding of command, control and coordination of response as they work toward the

common goal of stabilizing the incident or disaster. “This is also part o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s o n scene disaster response system to ensure the effective consequence management of disasters o r e m e r g e n c i e s ,” s a i d Provincial DRRM officer Abel de Guzman. De Guzman further said that in the recent years, t he d e st r u c t i on c aus e d by disasters (man-made and natural calamity) highlighted the number of gaps in the existing DRRM system particularly in the early warning system in terms of policies, institutional coordination and operational protocols. ( G r a c e B a rc e n a / P IASurigao del Sur)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

Feature

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Cheng Ordoñez

Of Moms and Kids

Water birth offers gentle birthing experience By Ma. Cristina C. Arayata

iving birth anytime soon? Want to consider water birth? People say that labor brings moms an enigmatic pain. Imagine, for many hours, expecting moms have to endure that pain until the baby comes out safely. Water birth apparently g ive s a more s o ot h i ng experience for the mother. According to an OB-Gyn doctor, water birth is far from the “traumatic” method of delivery, and it alleviates the pain that moms have to go through during delivery. Actually, water birth is a ver y old method of giving birth, but is not too common in the country. St. Lukes Medical City (SLMC)

is the first hospital in the Philippines that had set up water birthing facilities. According to Dr. Rebecca Singson of SLMC obstetrics and gynecology department, water birth gives moms a ve r y ge nt l e bi r t h i ng experience. She said that the water birth experience is not traumatic because of amniotic fluid environment. Moreover, moms would no longer need pain killers and epidural anesthesia in this method because the water relaxes the perineum, and thus, there would be less episiotomy. Dr. Singson added that as the water touches the nipples, this stimulates both

Values Education: Keeping the values in the changing world By Helen D. Arena Teacher – I Kalawitan Elementary School

This world is changing. Change, in a sense that it is improved by ways of the existence of modern technologies. As an example, people nowadays could communicate to each other even though ocean aparts through the use of mobile phones. Te c h n o l o g i e s a r e i n d e e d b e n e f i c i a l . It makes task easier and faster to perform. It makes solutions more effective. Moreover, it gives comfort to a lot of entities. Different to good things that it cause, however. There are matters that have been negatively affected by technology. One is the attitude of the people. This has changed as well. In the negative sides, technologies have taken away their values. Thus, Values Education

should b e given with utmost importance. This subject is offered under the curriculum of both elementary and high school. It aims to coil values among students. These values are considered core traits representing each person’s beliefs and guiding principles that form the person on who he is. T h i s subj e c t i s s o much important for at young age, it is encouraged that parents and teachers should input to children the positive and worthwhile values in order to assist them in building and strengthening personal and social skills and responsibilities. This world is indeed changing, but let the values instilled grow as a person explore this world.

OPEN HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM (OHSP) By Josephine D. Capagngan

One of the programs of the Department of Education is to help students who are unable to come to school regularly due to physical disability, employment, financial constraint, distance of home to school and other justifiable and legitimate reasons. It is the alternative mode of the secondary education that makes use of the distance learning. T h e re fore , s e c on d ar y education can be obtained outside the classroom already to maximize the education in the hope at all Filipinos will be functionally literate and productive. The students under this program are

given modules or printed learning materials to work on and do not need to report to class regularly. The learner and the teacher only have scheduled meetings, which have been pre-arranged in a certain day in a week. The Macabalan National High School would like to prom ote OH SP to help potential students who leave school and to encourage drop-out students to increase their enthusiasm in school. Everybody is welcome. It is open to all who can demonstrate a capacity for independent learning and are willing for self-directed learning.

the release of oxytocin and the contraction of the uterus. As the human body has the capability to heal by itself, Dr. Singson said that moms will notice that the perineum would heal like nothing happened. She also shared that in 2009, the C ochraine Collaboration (a group of volunteers from more than

100 countries who review the effects of health care interventions in biomedical controlled science), released a statement saying that there is evidence that water birth reduces pain for the laboring mom. The statement also cited that there is no evidence that there is increased mortality and morbidity for the mother or

the baby from undergoing water birth. Me a nw h i l e , S L M C ’s water birthing facilities also aim to let expecting moms experience child birth with her whole family. Not all hospitals in the Philippines allow moms to be surrounded by her whole family during delivery. Oh, and if you think

that this method is too expensive, Dr. Singson said that water birth is actually cheaper. This is because moms would not need to hire an anesthesiologist and would no longer need to pay for epidural anesthesia. So for moms and expecting moms out there, water birth can be a treat. (PNA)

Need for managing kids affected by armed conflict, disasters cited By Leilani S. Junio

Children affected by war or armed-conflict, disasters or any other similar difficult situations should be provided with a way to “unload” such traumatic experiences. According to Dr. Rico Caraos, National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) medical specialist providing psychiatric treatment and training for management of mental disorders, “unloading moment” is a very important way to release what is inside the minds of children, especially those who are below 10 years old. In an interview with the Philippines News Agency (PNA), Dr. Caraos said that severe effects can later manifest among children with traumatic experiences such as incidences where they almost got killed or if their parents and other loved ones had died from violent incidents. “ T h e p ro b l e m w i t h children is that unlike adults,

they cannot verbalize what it is inside them. For example, if at a certain point, the child is perplexed on what happened, and then another similar experience occurred again, there is a tendency to trigger the one that he or she had experienced before, which was still unresolved in his/ her mind,” Caraos explained. He said that since the children do not have the capacity to verbalize what they feel compared with adults who manifest them by becoming hysterical, that unexpressed or suppressed feeling among the children can manifest in having repeated nightmares or dreams that can possibly result to mental disorder in the future if not properly addressed. The psychiatrist said that since “unloading is a way to release certain feelings” by talking or sharing to others what is bothering them, the listening factor of those

whom a person has opened up like the psychiatrist or trained health practitioner on mental management and family circles or friends is therapeutic itself. The doctor noted that in dealing with the prevention of the problem of possible mental disorder or triggering of it in times of very difficult s itu at i on , t h e N C M H , through Dr. Thelma Barrera, program officer, provides psychosocial counseling among victims of disaster and trains provincial leaders in providing stress-debriefing sessions. “For children, stressdebriefing is done through play and art therapy. By participating in play and art or drawing activities, the children can express what they feel or what is bothering them. In that way, they have an outlet to release their emotions also,” the psychiatrist said. He explained that in the period of coping, it is important to keep a child

busy with an activity where his or her mind can be focused on productive ways and see also the positive side of life and learn to smile or be happy. According to Department of S o c i a l We l f are an d D e v e l opm e nt ( D S W D ) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman, the trauma of war lingers longer among children and there is a tendency for them to continue to manifest it until they become adults. Soliman noted that when there is war, children are not only affected physically but also psychologically, mentally and emotionally. Stressing that war causes great damage on the minds of the children who do not deserve to bear the brunt of such violent incident as children’s rights should always be protected and promoted at all times, the DSWD chief said the government’s continued pursuance of peace in Mindanao is very important for children’s sake. (PNA)

Sacrifices always pay off:

Sacada’s daughter is valedictorian By Montesa Grino-Caoyonan

SAGAY CITY – Pen and paper. These two made a change in her life. Without any property because of poverty, 17-yearold Arlyn Martinez bested other 832 graduating students of Sagay National High School because of her dreams. She did not have MONEY and never owned a cellphone but with a paper and a pencil along with her determination, she graduated as a valedictorian in her school this school year. A daughter of a `sacada’ or a labourer in hacienda’s vast sugarcane plantation wherein most of these labourers thrived in Negros Occidental, known to be the ‘sugar capital’ or ‘sugar bowl’ of the Philippines. Living in a secluded hacienda in Sagay City located in northern part of Negros Occidental, walking

almost an hour before reaching the school is not new to her. Fresh from her memories as she recalls her past, Arlyn said everyday she has to walk or ride on her father’s carabao to reach the main road before she could board a tricycle on her way to school. Arlyn said she may not have experienced the luxury in life like living in a comfortable house or even riding a car just like some of her well-off classmates and schoolmates but maintains a happy dispositionFor Arlyn, she is proud being a daughter of sacada. “My father has been working hard to feed the 10 hungry mouths including my young twin sisters,” she said. “There is nothing compared to the hard work and manual labor of my father as a `karga tapas’ (the

process of cutting and loading sugarcane onto trucks) in the sugarcane field,” she added. She also said that there was even a time when he doubled as a sugarcane worker and then plowed the farm at night to sustain the family’s needs.Someday, Arlyn dreams of uplifting her family’s living condition. “As what I promised to myself, I want to pay back my father’s sacrifice that’s why I study hard,” she said. Arlyn’s family is one of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program – the government’s anti-poverty strategy to ensure that the children are healthy and in school. Arlyn together with her two other siblings are covered by the program. She said the cash grant they are receiving every two months help a lot in their daily expenses especially for their baon, school supplies and uniform.

“The program has helped me to be the valedictorian of our class,” she said. If given an opportunity, Arlyn wants either to be an engineer or teacher. She promised that when she gets a JOB and gets her first salary, she wants to buy a carabao so that her father could own one. During her valedictory speech, Arlyn told her parents how lucky she is to have them and how thankful she is to them to make sure that she does not suffer the same fate since they only finished elementary education. “Despite poverty, we don’t need to lose hope. Let us keep dreaming and working hard because these will definitely pay off all our sacrifices and later on, the realization of our dreams and what lives we want to live in the future,” Arlyn said as she stood before the stage and wearing her white toga. (PNA)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

tuesday|April 14, 2015

Growth... from page 1

“It used to be -0.24 which means for 1.0 percent [GDP] growth increase it will translate to 0.24 percent poverty reduction,” he said. “The inclusiveness of this growth has changed. So the rate which every percentage of GDP growth reduces poverty has improved,” he stressed. He added that poverty reduction will be easily attainable for the Philippines if the country can continue to grow its economy by 6.0 percent to 6.5 percent annually. “If you continue to grow at 6.5 percent and this pattern continues, you will be able to easily eradicate poverty in a generation. Remember, a 6.0-percent growth a year will double per capita income in a decade and it will rise five times in 20 years,” van den Brink mentioned. World Bank data show that the Philippines’ poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines was at 25.2 percent in 2012. Further, in its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released also on Monday, the World Bank sees Philippine GDP growth at 6.5 percent in 2015 and 2016 and easing to 6.3 percent in 2017. The full-year growth projection of World Bank for the country this year was cut by 0.2 percentage points from the 6.7-percent GDP growth forecasted in its October 2014 East Asia and Pacific Economic Update. Singapore-based World Bank East Asia and Pacific Region chief economist Sudhir Shetty mentioned that the lack of infrastructure and slowed down capital spending of the government, among others, have limited the growth potential of the Philippines. H e n c e , t h e Wo r l d Bank urged the Philippine government to continue and hasten its investments in infrastructure, health, education, and social protection to further achieve inclusive growth. Despite cutting its forecast, the World Bank noted that the Philippines’ G DP g row t h t h is ye ar remains bullish compared to other developing ASEAN neighbors such as Vietnam with GDP growth forecast of 6.0 percent; Indonesia at 5.2 percent; Malaysia at 4.7 percent; and Thailand at 3.5 percent. (PNA)

Budget... from page 1

The RD C has yet to release the breakdown of the proposed budget, but the council, in a statement, said it will fund priority programs identified in the Updated Davao Regional Development Plan aimed at addressing poverty, climate change and disasters, and peace-building. Next year’s budget is higher than the P76.1 billion

for this year, which will be spent mostly on infrastructure development. RDC Davao’s Annual Investment Program for 2015 covers infrastructure development with P37.05 billion for farm-to-market and tourism roads, social development projects with P25.88 billion, and the remainder for economicrelated programs. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said this year’s spending would translate “the strategies and targets set in the Updated Davao Region Development Plan 20142016 into actual investment projects for the year.” NEDA Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said while the focus remains on agriculture development, the tourism industry has also been made a priority. This year, the Department of Public Works and Highways reported that it has set aside P2.2 billion for roads that will provide easier access to tourism destinations.

Peace... from page 1

government for decades. Ending this armed conflict means that this organized ar m e d b o dy c e a s e s t o fight the government and instead becomes a partner in addressing the problems facing the country, including problems of lawlessness in the South,” she said. “It enables the effective exercise of the rule of law over areas previously outside its reach and ungovernable. Certainly, that must have some value in achieving our national aspiration for shared security and shared prosperity,” she added. Her statement came after a published news report quoted a study funded by the World Bank which noted that political violence related to rebellion and insurgency inflicts the “largest human cost” that affect Philippine development. Deles said the government had early in the Administration concluded that negotiating with the MILF, which has concluded with a peace agreement and its legal iteration, the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), would make efforts to address the root causes of the conflict in Mindanao more effective. Deles said despite efforts by critics to paint the Mamasapano incident as proof that the BBL won’t address the threat from armed groups in Mindanao, the peace agreement with the MILF and the establishment of the proposed Bangsamoro in the BBL would be an i nd i sp e ns abl e bi g ste p towards disarming not just the MILF but other threat groups in Mindanao. “The decommissioning process will cover not only the MILF but also other armed groups. Hence, the BBL will have a multiplier effect,” she said. Under the Comprehensive

Agreement on the B angsamoro w hich the government and MILF signed on March last year, the MILF agreed to decommission its firearms and weaponry and its 11,000-strong Bangsamoro Is l a m i c A r m e d Forc e s (BIAF) in exchange for the establishment of a political entity with genuine autonomy to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Its fighters would undergo a normalization process so they could resume lives as ordinary citizens, and not as combatants anymore. The CAB -- a product of more than 17 years of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF -- has also made the MILF, the biggest armed group in Mindanao, to undergo a transformation from a secessionist movement to a political group with intentions to participate and field candidates in the coming elections. “The challenge is tough but unavoidable and doable through a combination of MILF co op erat ion and government law enforcement,” Deles said. “Rule of law begets trust and vice versa. Together both will encourage people to choose lawful ways to resolve conflict or to sustain life,” she added.

TESDA... from page 8

T he s e p arate MOAs stated that HIMOAP get P50 million worth of scholarship vouchers, while ACPI will get P15 million. The training will complement the excellent infrastructure and support that the government continues to provide, which make the Philippines the top destination for IT-BPM firms, Villanueva said. The agreement with

HIMOAP will focus on training for Medical Transcription Finishing C ourse NC II, Medical Transcription NC II and Medical Coding and Billing NC II. Beneficiaries under the MOA with ACPI will be trained to get employed in the animation industry. According to the agreements, the partners committed an employment rate of at least 75 percent within six months from the scholar’s graduation. HIMOAP also pledged to formulate a fund replenishment scheme to extend the mileage of the scholarship program. Signing the separate agreements were Villanueva for TESDA, Myla Rose Reyes for HIMOAP and Juan Miguel del Rosario for ACPI. HIMOAP is a non-stock and non-profit organization which aims to promote the Philippines as a destination of choice for outsourced he a lt hcare infor mat ion management ser vices (HIMS). ACPI is an organization recognized and supported by the Philippine government whose aim is to promote the animation industry globally with the intention of creating an identity for the Philippines to be considered amongst the preferred countries that service the animation industry. The MOAs are for the continuous partnership among TESDA and the two organizations for the training of workers in the IT-BPM industry.(TESDA)

Assistance... from page 9

response and various programs in Capiz and in the other parts of the region that were greatly devastated

Republic Philippines Republicof of the the Philippines Department of Environment and Resources Department of Environment andNatural Natural Resources NATIONAL BOARD NATIONALWATER WATERRESOURCES RESOURCES BOARD LIBERTY LAND CORPORATION, LIBERTY LAND CORPORATION, Applicant. Applicant.

Case No. 15-2049Case No. 15-2049

x-----------------------------------------x x-----------------------------------------x NOTICEOF OF HEARING NOTICE HEARING Thisisis an an application for for the the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience operate and This application issuance of a Certificate of Public to Convenience maintain a waterworks system within Woodland Heights Subdivision, Barangay Upper Macasandig, to operate and maintain a waterworks system within Woodland Heights Subdivision, Cagayan De Oro City, with the following proposed rates: Barangay Upper Macasandig, Cagayan De Oro City, with the following proposed rates: PROPOSED RATES Residential / Institutional / Public Taps Commercial / Industrial Consumption, cu.m. Peso / cu.m. Consumption, cu.m. Peso / cu.m. 0-10 (min.) P 223.00 (min.) 11-20 24.50 0-25 (min.) P 1,115.00 (min.) 21-30 27.00 31-40 29.50 26-1000 54.00 41-50 32.00 Over 50

32.00

Over 1000

64.00

This application be initially heard by the May 18, 2015, This application willwill be initially heard by the Board on Board May 18,on 2015, hearing will starthearing at 9:00 will start o’clockat in morningConference at the NWRB-WUD Room 8th Floor, o’clockatin9:00 the morning thethe NWRB-WUD Room 8th Floor,Conference NIA Building, EDSA. Quezon City NIA Building, EDSA.shall Quezon at its which time applicant shall present present its at which time applicant present City present evidence. evidence. least fifteen days priorprior to thetoscheduled hearing, applicant shall publish this notice once AtAtleast fifteen(15) (15) days the scheduled hearing, applicant shall publish in a notice daily newspaper circulation in of Cagayan De circulation Oro City and in serve by personal or this once inofa general daily newspaper general Cagayan De delivery Oro City registered copy of (i)delivery the application and its attachments, to all affected and servemail by apersonal or registered mail a copyand of (ii) (i) this the notice, application and its parties appearingand on page 2 hereof. attachments, (ii) this notice, to all affected parties appearing on page 2 hereof. Parties opposed to the granting of the application must file their written opposition Parties opposed to the granting of the application must file their written opposition supported by supported by documentary evidence on or before the above scheduled date of hearing, documentary evidence on or before the above scheduled date of hearing, furnishing a copy of the same furnishing a copy of the same to the Applicant. to the Applicant. Failure on the part of any affected party to file its opposition on time and to appear at the hearing construed as a waiver right to beonheard andtothe Board will Failure onwill thebepart of any affected party tooffiletheir its opposition time and appear at the proceed and decide theofapplication onand thethe evidence hearing willtobehear construed as a waiver their right tobased be heard Board willsubmitted. proceed to hear and decideLikewise, failure byonthe to appear at the hearing shall amount to lack of the application based theapplicant evidence submitted. interest on its part and the instant application shall be dismissed accordingly. Witness Honorable Executive Director the National Water Resources Likewise,the failure by the applicant to appear at theofhearing shall amount to lack of interestBoard on its this day of March 2015. part 31st and the instant application shall be dismissed accordingly. By Authority of the Board: (Sgd) SEVILLO D. DAVID, JR. Ph.D. Executive Director BWM : April 13, 2015

by said calamity in November 2013. As their program response here ended last March 31, he thanked the stakeholders, communities as well as the local government officials and other partner agencies for making their intervention here a success. Rashid likewise urged the local media to help in disseminating and educating the communities on disaster preparedness and resiliency. He said that the role of the media is very vital in reaching more stakeholders especially on issues such as diseases, emergencies and protection, among others. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Canon...

from page 12

The first step. Celso Ravina, MSICES Philippines Assistant Vice President for Sales and Marketing (leftmost), Jimmy Go, CEO and President (3rd from left) and Princess Ong-Chua, Executive Vice President and General Manager (2nd from right) are joined by Canon's Raymund Fung, Marketing Philippines Vice President for Regional Business and Imaging Solutions (2nd from left), Lim Kok Hin, President and CEO (3rd from right), and Jojo Bolima, Senior Director for Business Imaging solutions (rightmost) in announcing the imageRUNNER 1024 and imageRUNNER 2002, the banner models under the partnership between MSI-ECS and Canon.

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 Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR 293-07-2015 CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME AND DATE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF DANIEL OBASA ETANG, JR. IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR 294-07-2015 THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME AND DATE OF MARRIAGE OF PARENTS IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF TOPHER OBASA ETANG. IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR 295-07-2015 THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME FROM MARIA LOIDA REAL OBASA TO LOIDA REAL OBASA IN THE CERTIFICAT OF LIVE BIRTH OF DANMAR OBASA ETANG.

SPL. PROC. NO.

DANIEL O. ETANG, TOPHER O. ETANG, and DANMAR O. ETANG, represented by their mother, LOIDA REAL OBASA ETANG. Petitioner. -versusOFFICE OF THE CIVIL REGISTRAR , Municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Respondent. X--------------------------/

ORDER

A verified petitions for correction of entries in the Certificates of Live Birth of DANIEL, TOPHER and DANMAR, all OBASA ETANG were filed before this Court by LOIDA O. ETANG, petitioner in this case, praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Respondent to effect the corrections sought for. Petitioner alleges that she is a Filipino citizen, of legal age, and resident of Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Respondent is sued in her official capacity. She was married to DANIEL DELA PEŇA ETANG on December 30, 1988 at Tagbilaran City. Out of their marital union they bore children namely; DANIEL, TOPHER, and DANMAR, all surname ETANG. DANIEL OBASA ETANG was born on June 12, 1988 and his birth was registered at the Respondent’s Office. Incidentally, under the maiden name of his mother, it was erroneously entered as “MA. LAIDA REAL OBASA”, instead of her real name LOIDA REAL OBASA as reflected in her Birth Certificate issued by the Local Civil Registrar of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. Likewise, the date of marriage of parents was also erroneously entered as “December 12, 1983” instead of December 30, 1988. TOPHER OBASA ETANG was born on December 26, 1989. In his Certificate of Live Birth, the entry under the name of his mother was also entered erroneously as MARIA LAIDA REAL OBASA instead of her real name LOIDA REAL OBASA. Likewise the date of marriage of parents was also erroneously entered as December 12, 1983 instead of December 30, 1988, the true and correct date. DANMAR OBASA ETANG was born on September 8, 2005. The same erroneous entry is found in his Certificate of Live Birth as to the name of his mother. Written in his Birth Certificate is MARIA LOIDA REAL OBASA instead of LOIDA REAL OBASA. Set the initial hearing of the petition to June 8, 2015 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Furnish copy of this Order to the office of the Solicitor General at Makati City, Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Public Prosecutor’s Office in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Atty. Nestle Agopitac, the petitioner’s counsel and to Loida Real Obasa Etang, the petitioner in this case whose address is at Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. The petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to a newspaper of general circulation within the province of Lanao delNorte for three (3) consecutive weeks, at her expense. Any person who is interested over the petition may come to Court and show cause why said petition may not be granted. So Ordered. Tubod, Lanao del Norte. March 30, 2015. (SGD) DENNIS P. VICOY Acting Presiding Judge BWM March 31, April 7 & 14, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO THE BUSINESSMEN’S NEWSPAPER 2013 PPI’S BEST IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC REPORTING

TUESDAY | APRIL 14, 2015

editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

DISTRICT 3870 DISCON MAY 7-9, 2015 @ PRYCE PLAZA HOTEL

PAGE 12

Photo from http://www.toyota.com.ph/toyota-vios.php

Toyota achieves highest sales in a single month

he largest local car manufacturer in the country achieved its highest sales to date in a single month last March. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) registered its recordbreaking performance of 10,237 units sold. Its previous sales milestone was recorded last October 2014 with 10,163 units sold. Based on the most recent CAMPI report, Toyota registered a market

share of 43.5% for the month. During this record breaking run, the bestselling vehicle in the country has once again outperformed its best sales level since its introduction. The locally-manufactured Toyota Vios registered a total of 2,774 units continuing to show strength in the automotive industry. This is the highest record a single model has achieved

in the history of the local automotive scene. For the first three months of the year, TMP has reached 10,960 and 16,856 sales for its Passenger Car and Commercial Vehicle Segments respectively. In total, the number one car brand in the Philippines has already sold a 27,816 units in just the first quarter of the year. Compared to the same period of last year, Toyota’s performance grew by 22%.

In a statement, TMPC President Michinobu Sugata expressed “The continued robust economy has given us the momentum to achieve this sales milestone. Toyota has also foreseen that market demand will continue to strengthen especially before the long holiday as customers eagerly require new vehicles for outof-town trips. That is why, we at Toyota, took action by ensuring supply of vehicles

to meet the requirements of the consumers during this period.” Sugata also added saying that “With the launch of our summer ‘Drive Away Deals’ promo, it even makes owning a Toyota more attainable. TMP is likewise extending this promo for the whole month of April for customers who would want to take advantage of this offer and purchase a vehicle this summer.”

Canon appoints MSI-ECS as business printers distributor Aiming to promote efficiency in business workplaces all over the country, Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. partners with MSI-ECS, one of the country’s leading ICT Distributors. With its extensive channel reach, MSI-ECS will make it easier for businesses to improve efficiency in their working environment by adding Canon products in their distributions list. imageRUNNER 1024, a hassle free entry-level A4 copier designed to meet small business office needs and imageRUNNER 2002, an A3 copier which comes packed with a unique array of features including Remote Scanning, ID Card Copy and image combination, will be the banner models under the partnership. Both known for providing the best solutions for personal and business needs, Canon and MSI-ECS will team up to offer small and big enterprises everything they need to optimize their capabilities. Canon has been in the forefront of maximizing efficiency and improving the workflow of tasks by offering multifunction printers with cutting edge CANON | PAGE 11