BusinessWeek Mindanao (April 9, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Your daily business paper

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Volume V, No. 138

Market Indicators

As of 6:12 pm apr. 8, 2015 (wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P44.46

8,052.69 points

2 cents

X

X Briefly 45.99 points

Poverty alleviation PLARIDEL, Misamis Occidental -- At least 11 anti-poverty projects, all worth P12.5 million, will be implemented, here, under the Bottoms-Up Budgeting/ Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (BUB/GPBP), this year.

Of these projects, three, each, will be implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), two each, by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Local Government Special Fund (LGSF), and one by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

As to status, however, all the projects are still in the process of initially complying with the requirements necessary for its implementation, Sanivier G. Patoc, provincial director of DILG, said.

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Senate probe sought into alleged corruption in CDO

By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

A SENATE probe into alleged widespread corruption in the local government is a welcome move, a city councilor said Tuesday.

Howe ve r, C it y Councilor Prexy Elipe, is recommending to the Senate to also conduct an investigation of the City Hall in Cagayan De Oro City.

Elipe forwarded the proposal before h i s c o l l e a g u e s at t h e C it y C ou nc i l Mond ay

afternoon after learning that Senator Koko Pimentel has sought a probe of governors and mayors who are facing numerous cases before the Ombudsman.

According to Elipe, C ag ay an D e O ro C it y Mayor Oscar Moreno is facing a total of six cases before the Ombudsman.

Fo u r w e r e f i l e d b y a former village chief William Guialani of the village of Taglima-o here. probe/PAGE 11

P15.00

Thursday | April 9, 2015

New coal-plant seen to stabilize power supply S

By Juzel L. Danganan, Philippine News Agency

ARANGANI Energy Corp. (SEC), a subsidiary of Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc., is ready to put into commercial operations its 210-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani province, with its 140-member technical team. ” The operations and maintenance team that will man the SEC plant is already in place and ready to hit the ground running once operations commence. A total of 140 people — many of them licensed chemical,

electrical, and mechanical engineers — were hired for the plant’s Organization, Operations and Maintenance teams as early as November 2014.” SEC said in a statement Wednesday.

SEC noted that most of

the hires came from General Santos City, Sarangani, South Cotabato and other places in Mindanao.

The power generating company said it was ready to be online by the fourth quarter of 2015, with the first phase which has a capacity of 105 MWs. SEC hired Finnish power plant manager Jori Liimatta and American operations and maintenance (O&M) manager Richard Mark Jones to guide, train, coach and supervise the plant’s work force. supply/PAGE 11

Climate change adaptation BUTUAN City -- Regional director Nonito M. Tamayo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga said on Monday the United Nations Environment official have commended the efforts of the DENR to implement programs that cushion the impact of climate change.

He said that Secretary Ramon JP Paje has fine-tuned several climate-change adaptation programs with the officials of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) that will bolster the natural defenses and resiliency of the Filipinos on the impact of climate change.

Secretary Paje and UNEP executive director Achim Steiner met in a bilateral meeting over the weekend to improve potential cooperation on renewable energy and climate change. Director Achim was accompanied by the UNEP regional director and representative for Asia and the Pacific Kaveh Zahedi.

Director Tamayo said the UNEP officials were impressed upon the Philippine government’s effort to address climate change.

“The Philippines has been doing its share ahead of the Call to Action of the UN through directives and policies to combat the effects of Climate Change,” he said. Some of the programs implemented by the DENR to mitigate impact are the National Greening Program, log ban in natural forest through Executive Order No. 23, geohazard assessment and mapping program and clean air.

RIVER SAND. Totski Sabra pours sand he scooped from the riverbed into his wooden boat in Davao River near Maa, Davao City. Sabra says he earns P150 for every boat load of sand. mindanews photo by keith bacongco

DOLE pushes improved labor policies in fishing industry

By MINDANEWS

GENER AL Santos Cit y - - T h e D e p ar t me nt of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is pushing for the harmonization of various policies and regulations governing the operations of fishing companies as it moves to improve the labor practices in the industry.

Ofelia Domingo, DOLE Region 12 director, said a

joint department order is being crafted by the agency to properly lay down the national government’s laborrelated policies, programs and other inter ventions concerning fishing companies based in this city and other parts of the country.

She said such move was an offshoot of a memorandum Labor/PAGE 11

TALK ON VIOLENCE. Former broadcast journalist Primy Cane, who just completed her masteral on Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney, talks about how to distinguish the forms of violence during the Peace Journalism for Campus Journalists Workshop at the Father Saturnino Urios University Morelos Campus Mini Theater on Tuesday, April 7. mindanews photo by erwin mascarinas

PSALM reduces power sector debt to P699B

By MYRNA VELASCO, Contributor

THE influx of privatization proceeds into the coffers of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) was claimed to have pared the total debts of the power

sector.

The asset-seller company, in a statement to the media, has noted that the level of debts of the sector – inclusive of outstanding obligations and contingent liabilities –

had been reduced to P1.2 trillion way back in December 2000 to P698.9 billion as of end-2014.

The Aquino administration cannot solely claim credit for it though because bulk of the power asset sales happened in debt/PAGE 11

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Electric cooperatives’ task force efforts cited

By MYRNA VELASCO, Contributor

IN brownouts or in disasters – the Task Force Kapatid as i nst itut i ona l i z e d by t h e c o u n t r y ’s e l e c t r i c cooperatives with the aid of the National Electrification Agency (NEA) — had been at the frontline in electricity ser vice restoration and finally, their efforts gained Congressional accolade.

Via House Resolution No.

1581 recently issued in the Lower Chamber of Congress, the Task Force Kapatid as well as the thousands of its ‘unsung volunteers’ had been honored “for their heroism, selflessness and sacrifice beyond call of duty for working under adverse and harsh conditions to rep air and rehabi lit ate power lines and stations,”

especially when natural calamities strike or crisis happens in specific areas.

Congress has noted that with their self-sacrificing efforts, power supply had been immediately restored even in heavily-devastated areas.

The Task Force Kapatid h a d b e e n a f i x t u re i n many ‘electricity service restoration endeavors’ – not just after the strike of natural calamities but even in areas which are thumped by other problematic scenarios.

The NEA, which is the

government’s electrification arm, had been the task force’s unwavering guiding force.

But in the Congressional honor extended to them, it was NEA’s parent agency – the Department of Energy (DOE) which shared the limelight.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla has noted that the volunteers were revered “most especially during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda.” It was worth noting that their health and lives were in the line then in their render

of service to the calamityravaged areas.

The energy chief has noted that “they (task force volunteers) did not measure how much they can give, rather they gave all under harsh conditions and short deadlines – that if given to others, they would have simply given up, but they didn’t.”

It must be recalled that Petilla at that time had given pre-Christmas deadline in power supply restoration for typhoon Yolanda-walloped domains.

C o m e c u t - o f f d at e , however, the performance of concerned industry players and task force volunteers had fallen short because of several barangays still not getting back their electricity service.

Pe t i l l a t he n of fe re d to quit his p ost at the department – only to be thumbed down by President Aquino. It was an exercise for the energy secretary though that had not been let pass without the harshest of criticisms thrown against him.

Food security model program to rise in Bukidnon THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Hi n e l e b an Fou n d at i on conducted an ocular inspection, validation, and assessment to the selected groups of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the province of Bukidnon on March 17 – 19, 2015.

Rodelio L. Saway, one of the leaders of Hineleban Foundation, said that the purpose of the visit is to inspect, validate, and assess the area for farming family food security model program

of the Organic Agriculture Program.

The model follows the Integrated and Diversified Organic Farming System (IDOFS) which is dedicated for the IPs of Bukidnon. He also added that there are representatives from the national and regional offices of DA through the Agri-Pinoy Programs of Corn/Cassava, Rice, and High Value Crops (HVC), Organic Agriculture Program (OAP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of

Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Philippine Fiber Indu st r y D e ve l opme nt Authority (PhilFIDA), and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), to assess on what commodities to grow in the respective lands of the tribes.

Other than the land (0.35 hectare per family) as the counterpart of the IPs, Josephine C. Faustino, project development officer and Indigenous People Focal Person under the Office of Special Concerns, asked only one thing from the tribes: its full commitment to the program.

In return, DA will provide production support, technical assistance, farm implements and materials.

She also added that should this project be successful, this will become the basis of the program to be expanded in other municipalities in Northern Mindanao and

Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Considered to the program are the Talaandig Tribes of Tagbak, Talakag and Sungco, Lantapan; the Bukidnon Tribe of Dalwangan, Malaybalay City; the Matigsalog Tribe of Simsimon, San Fernando and Sinuda, Bukidnon; Manobo Tribe of Pigtauranan, Pan g antu c an , an d t h e Higaonon Tribe of Magsal, Guinoyoran, Valencia City.

This model is in support to the government’s drive of alleviating the living conditions of the IPs in their individual cultural communities and in line with the commitment o f B e r n a d e t t e Fat i m a Romulo-Puyat, Agriculture Undersecretary for Special Concerns, to the seven tribes of Bukidnon during the turn-over of coffee and abaca seedlings to the tribal leaders of the IPs conducted in barangay Sungco, Lantapan, Bukidnon on January 26, this year. (Cyrus Seraspe, DA-10/PIA 10)

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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Trillanes trains guns on judiciary corruption

L

IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders…” (Nehemiah 4:5, the Holy Bible).

-ooo A Q U I N O G U I LT Y I N M A M A S A PA N O MASSACRE: No matter what happens with the inquiry on the Mamasapano massacre, including that which the House of Representatives was scheduled to complete last Wednesday, April 08, 2015, the undeniable fact is that the Filipino people have already rendered their own verdict: President Aquino is guilty of allowing 44 fine police officers and men to be killed by the enemies of the State.

The cascading and consistent downslide of Aquino’s popularity, performance, satisfaction, and trust, ratings during the last several weeks as reported by every reputable survey firm confirm that guilty verdict, and no amount of whitewash, even to the epic magnitude that the Aquino government is now trying to undertake, can take away or change that verdict of the nation.

Aquino is guilty for the death of the Special Action Force commandoes, as far as Filipinos from all classes and from all regions, from North to South, are concerned,

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst and stealing now come rather naturally to us. We do whatever it takes to get what we want.

And if we don’t, most people think we’re weak and foolish!

That’s actually how confused we’ve become.

It all starts with the little dishonest things we say and do regularly. We think it’s just a little white lie or small thing we stole. But soon, being dishonest becomes our way of living. Yet, no matter how much money and prestige we have, we’ve become the poorest person there is. You see, it’s impossible to escape the painful penalty and consequences of all our dishonesty in life— except for one way: Ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for your dishonest heart and way of living. Then ask Him to help you start changing everyday to become a truly wealthy person of integrity. Then He will give you the greatest success in life you can ever have.

Just Think a Minute…

and he would do well to realize this fact, sooner than later. He must no longer wait for the people to find a more prejudicial way to show him their verdict other than expressing their utter loss of confidence against him through surveys!

-ooo TRILLANES TRAINS GUNS ON JUDICIARY CORRUPTION: I rarely agree with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, especially in his antics to ingratiate himself to Filipino voters in preparation for the 2016 elections, but I would egg him to immediately carry out his threat to expose personalities who, he said, conspired to pay for an injunction order from the Court of Appeals to stop the suspension of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Junjun Binay.

If Trillanes really has solid evidence that the Binay Family paid for the injunction order with “big money”, it is his obligation to share that evidence right away with the Filipino people, as what he had been doing with respect to allegations of corruption against the Mayor’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

That obligation to disclose is rendered greatly imperative by exposes being made in the media of late, accusing certain justices of the Court of Appeals as engaging in a “justice for sale” scam,

selling decisions to highest bidders, right inside their Court of Appeals’ offices.

Trillanes would be increasing his chances of being elected to a higher office if he trains his guns on cleaning the judiciary of corrupt grafters.

-ooo MASSIVE COVER-UP FOR PNOY: Looking back to assess the truth about the Mamasapano massacre, I am of the belief that everyone, from President Aquino down to each and every member of his Cabinet, and even the police and the military, are all engaged in a massive cover-up to enable Aquino to escape civil, criminal, and administrative liability for the gruesome killings on January 25, 2015.

Fact is, I can not believe t h at t h e Ma m a s ap a n o operation to get an international terrorist rabidly wanted even by the United States could be recklessly and irresponsibly planned and executed by only three to four people----the President, then suspended Philippine National Police chief Gen. Alan Purisima, then SAF chief Gen. Getulio Napenas, and a PNP intelligence officer.

I believe anybody who is somebody in the Aquino government fully knew of the Marwan operation.

Yet, because 44 good police officers and men were killed, and appeared to have been

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio sacrificed so as not to derail the peace process desperately craved for by the President, the collective decision was damage control, and limit all blame, initially to Napenas, and later on including Purisima.

-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-

Popular piety should bear fruit

The Best Policy

hink a minute…A recent survey of questions was given to thousands of people.

Their names were not known or recorded so they would answer the questions honestly.

Out of all these people, 91% said they regularly tell lies.

Half of them call in to their jobs and say they’re sick when they’re not sick at all. In fact, over half of all stealing from stores and businesses is done by their own employees. Another question was this: “What are you willing to do for $10 million?” 25% of the people said they would leave their mate and children, and 7% said they would murder a stranger for $10 million. So in a crowd of 1000 people, there are 70 people who would kill you for $10 million. Think about it!

I asked myself: How much like those average citizens am I? Have I lied to family or friends? Stolen from my workplace? Have I cheated in school or on my taxes?

Broken any of my promises?

If I was guaranteed I could get away with anything I wanted, what would I do? What is my conscience, self-respect, and good character worth?

A famous writer said: “Honesty is like art: you have to draw the line somewhere.”

But the problem is who draws the line? Me by myself? My circumstances and situation?

You see, since all we humans have rebelled and chosen to live our own way, lying, cheating

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O

f course, for popular piety to bear fruit, it has to be properly founded and oriented. It just cannot be an emotional or psychological affair, a matter of merely following social fads and trends, something that is showy on the outside but quite empty inside. It has to be rooted on genuine relationship of love with God and everybody else.

Otherwise, it would just be a sham, perhaps making a lot of noise but having no effect.

Once again, I was very impressed with the immense turn-out of people during the Easter Triduum services. Wherever I went, I saw practically a deluge of people from all walks of life. There were organized groups of families, parochial associations and barangays trooping to the churches, as well as individuals.

There were those who look pious enough and those who look like they just happened to drift into the churches. There were those who look rich, educated and sophisticated, and also those who look like with modest means only, perhaps deficient in schooling and quite simple.

Many of them sat in some mode of meditation and contemplation. Others were doing group rosaries and ways of the cross. During the Masses and other liturgical services, everyone participated as best

as he could. Of course, all these would not be complete wit hout babies cr ying, children running around, and some dogs climbing to the sanctuary.

This is real-life popular piety in our country. We indeed have good reason to be truly thankful, and also hopeful that things would go on improving. But we also have to acknowledge the concrete things that need to be fixed, improved, polished, and made fruitful.

What cannot be denied is that while the churches may be full and vibrant during Masses and other liturgical services in the Easter Triduum, we can still see outside many people who for one reason or another are not in the churches.

Some have valid reasons.

They may be sick or too old or they could not leave their work or the house. I saw “habal-habal” drivers who were happy to see me pass by.

They were not in the church. I surmised they had to earn for what they and their families had to eat that day.

But many others look like they need to be helped to realize the importance of these liturgical services.

There could be ignorance and confusion involved that, to a certain extent, are excusable.

But we cannot discount the possibility of people compromising their faith and have become thoroughly

secularized or paganised for one reason or another.

I worry especially about those young people, mostly working in the call centers.

They are many, and I suspect their work conditions are such that tend to deaden their spiritual life and longings.

Many of them work at night shifts, and I often see them drinking away in roadside cafes once they get out of the office in the early morning.

The contrast between the people in the churches and those outside is quite sharp and most intriguing. What could be done to close the gap somehow? How could we address the issue of religious ignorance and confusion, and the more challenging issue of religious indifference, apathy if not hostility?

This is where those who already have a working and vibrant piety should reach out to those who have little or no piety at all. They should feel addressed by the same words Christ told his apostles: “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, so do I send you.” (Jn 20,21) They need to sharpen their apostolic concern.

But wait. Even those who appear to have piety do need a lot of support to make their piety gain certain solidity and thus overflow into some apostolic action and become fruitful. It cannot be denied that many only have a shallow

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala kind of piety, often lacking in doctrinal formation, not to mention, still suffering from some spiritual and moral inconsistencies.

I suppose this is where the clergy should go to the frontline to directly care and form those who are open to receiving spiritual, moral and doctrinal formation. In this regard, let’s pray that the bishops and priests realize this duty more deeply and act on it. This should be given more priority over some administrative or bureaucratic tasks that often take theirour-time.

It is sometimes painful to see some clerics entangled with work that takes them away from their primary and more important duties. And the result often is that their own spiritual life suffers, and this predicament can be shown in the public sooner or later. roycimagala@gmail.com

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CorporateWorld

Puregold, Ayala Land supermarket opens in Q3 PUREGOLD Price Club, Inc. and Ayala Land, Inc. will together open at least two supermarkets this year under a new brand the joint venture is firming up, company officials said.

Puregold President Leonardo B. Dayao said in an interview the first supermarket will open in UP Town Center, an Ayala Land-owned commercial center in Quezon City.

The supermarket, which is slated for opening in the third quarter, may have a gross floor area of 2,000 to 2,500 square meters, John T. Hao, the Lucio Co-led firm’s investor relations officer, said in a text message.

“For this year, we are looking at [opening] a maximum of two,” Mr. Dayao said, without elaborating.

Both parties have yet to come up with a brand for the supermarket partnership.

In July 2013, Varejo Corp. and Estenso Equities, Inc. -- wholly owned subsidiaries of Ayala Land and Puregold,

respectively-- entered into a joint venture agreement to develop and operate midmarket supermarkets in some of the property giant’s mixeduse projects.

The partnership with Puregold expanded Ayala Land’s retail business after tying up with Tantoco-led SSI Group, Inc. for its venture into the convenience store and department store businesses.

The property firm is in the business of residential, commercial, office and leisure development.

L ast week, Puregold commenced the rollout of Japan’s Lawson stores in the Philippines with the opening of the maiden store in an urban residential area in Sta. Ana, Manila.

The listed retailer ended 2014 with a network of 248 stores -- consisting of 233 Puregold stores, nine S&R Membership stores and six S&R New York Style Pizza stores -- that had a net selling area of about 405,000 square meters.

Globe mulls fresh borrowing to fund this year’s capex GLOBE Telecom Inc plans to borrow anew to fund this year’s capital spending.

O n t he sidel i nes of t h e c o mp a ny ’s a n nu a l sto ck hol d e rs’ me e t i ng , Globe chief financial officer Albert de Larrazabal said the company is eyeing another P7 billion borrowing from local banks.

“We are getting proposals.

It’s another P7 billion. We’ve asked people to give us all offers but the one that is most compelling today is just a bilateral local deal,” de Larrazabal said.

The Ayala-led telecom company is allotting $850 million in capital expenditures for this year, including the $200 million carried over

from last year. Last month, Globe borrowed P7 billion from Philippine National Bank (PNB).

Globe plans to spend three-fourths of this year’s capex on boosting broadband capacity, strong demand for Internet connectivity is seen to push revenue beyond the P100-billion mark.

“It wou ld def initely happen and hopefully it would be much more than P100-billon in 2015,” Ernest Cu, Globe president said on the sidelines of the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

“The numbers reveal that we have already gained foothold in leadership in the local telco industry. We plan globe/PAGE 11

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ALI takes first foray into Malaysia AYALA LAND, Inc. (ALI), the country’s second largest property conglomerate by market value, said it bought a minority stake in Malaysian property developer MCT Bhd. in a P1.9-billion ($43-million) deal that would expand its footprint in Southeast Asia.

The transaction was through a private placement coursed through ALI’s wholly owned subsidiary Regent Wise Investments Ltd., which will gain 9.16% of MCT Bhd. and a seat in the Malaysian company’s seven-member board, ALI officials told a media briefing yesterday.

In a separate disclosure to Bursa Malaysia, MCT named ALI President and Chief Executive Officer Bernard Vincent O. Dy as a non-independent, nonexecutive director and a member of its remuneration and nomination committees.

M C T, w h i c h b e g a n op erat ions as Mo du l ar Construction Technology Sdn. Bhd. in 1999, yesterday debuted on the main market of B u r s a Ma l ay s i a v i a backdoor listing after “the completion of the reverse takeover exercise of GW Plastics Holdings Berhad,” the Malaysian builder said in its web site.

“By partnering with a company such as MCT Bhd., Ayala Land will be expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia in line with its diversification goals and sets the platform for growth in Malaysia,” ALI said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

“This allows Ayala Land to enter the Malaysian market with an experienced team, benefit from synergies of the partnership, and further add value to MCT over the long term to enable it to be a key player in the Malaysian real estate market.”

The deal marks Ayala Land’s first investment in Malaysia, after investing albeit on a smaller scale in Myanmar and China,

although there are no plans yet if it will introduce projects there under the Ayala Land brand as “MCT has its own brand in Malaysia.”

“We feel that Malaysia is a market that shows a lot of opportunities for us to participate in,” Mr. Dy told a media briefing at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

“MCT is involved in the same product lines we’re

in, including mid-income housing, hotel, retail, and offices.”

Pre s s e d for f u r t h e r information on the p a r t n e r s h i p , M r. D y replied: “When you talk of opportunities, you don’t know what’s going to come down the line. We’ll evaluate if there are opportunities depending on how things turn out.”

Courtesy of BusinessWeek Mindanao Corporation

Ayala Land continues to scout for opportunities in the Southeast Asian region, including in Vietnam and Indonesia, Ayala Land Chief Finance Officer Jaime E. Ysmael told reporters.

But Mr. Dy noted: “We’re primarily a Philippine player, we still expect a bulk of revenues to come from the Philippines.” ali/PAGE 11

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Feature

PWD among top academic achievers of Pantawid in NorthMin Story by OLIVER BADEL INODEO, DSWD Northern Mindanao

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ife has not been easy for 17-year-old Edy Rose T. Tayab of Purok 17, Barangay Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon. She was born with a congenital deformity. She has no feet and left hand.

But Edy Rose did not let her disability get in the way of achieving her dreams. She wanted to excel in her class, just like her friends.

“I want to prove myself that I can do what the normal people can do,” claimed Edy Rose who disclosed that she cannot avoid to compare herself to her classmates.

Having no feet, Edy Rose can still manage to walk using her underdeveloped lower limbs without crutches daily.

Her residence is approximately three kilometers away from Apayao National High School, a challenge she has to face just to finish her secondary formation.

“Usahay makamahay ( I feel resentful at times),” she said, especially when some or her classmates or even adults would taunt her, saying, “Nganong ingana man imong nilaktan? Mohilom nalang ko. Pero sa akong galamhan gisakitan nako, (Why are you walking like that? I just keep silent. But deep inside I am hurt).”

A dream come true Edy Rose, who placed top nine at Apayao National High School of Quezon town, this year started focusing on her studies even while in her elementary years. She is a consistent honor pupil.

“I enjoy studying,” Edy Rose said, adding that it was during in her elementary years that she noticed she loves Mathematics.

“It feel like I’m just playing games when it comes to Mathematics,” said Edy Rose. She added she wants to answer Mathematical challenges.

Finishing at the ninth place is a dream-cometrue for Edy Rose, who plans to take business and accountancy related courses in college.

Thankful to DSWD, PNoy Edy Rose, monitored by Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (Pantawid Pamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), expresses her heartfelt gratitude to DSWD and to

Edy Rose Tayab (center), a person with disability who excel in academic formation in her high school years, is flanked by her sisters and brother. She is Top 9 in her class in Apayao National High School, Quezon, Bukidnon province. Edy Rose is one of the 20,381 Pantawid Pamilya grantees who will graduate this school year 2014-2015 in high school in Northern Mindanao.

Photo by Oliver Badel Inodeo, DSWD Northern Mindanao

Pantawid Pamilya grantee Edy Rose Tayab (right) shows her medals and ribbons with her sister.

House of Edy Rose Tayab in Purok 17, Barangay Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon province. Edy Rose is a top 9 graduate of Apayao National High School in Quezon town, Bukidnon province.

Photo by Oliver Badel Inodeo, DSWD Northern Mindanao

President Benigno Aquino III. “Magpasalmat jud ko sa DSWD ug ni Presidente PNoy kay natabangan ko nila sa pag-eskwela pinaagi sa Pantawid Pamilya aron makab-ot nako ang akong mga pangandoy,” she said. (I will thank DSWD and President PNoy because they have helped me in my studies and in reaching my dreams through Pantawid Pamilya).

Before having been enrolled in the program, Edy Rose recalled that her family could hardly send her to school.

“May adlaw ko nga walay balon sauna.

Karon kompleto nako og balon ug mga gamit sa eskwelahan,” she disclosed.

(Before, there were days that I don’t have food to take for my meal. Now, I have food to eat and I have school supplies.)

Fellow Achiever Edy Rose is not the only Pantawid Pamilya academic achiever in her school. Via Calibjo is the Class Valedictorian of Apayao National High

School.

Calibjo also received academic awards like the Excellence in English, Excellence in Filipino, Excellence in Mathematics, and Excellence in Science.

Pantawid Pamilya is a government’s poverty-reduction strategy that provides cash grants to extremely poor households aimed at helping them raise educated and healthy children aged 18 years and below.

It utilizes the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme where beneficiaries receive cash grant provided that they send their children to school, get preventive health check-up, and the parents attend the monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

Edy Rose and Via are among the more than 20,381 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who will graduate this school year 2014-2015. Currently, Northern Mindanao has 271,077 active household beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya.

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E nvironment 8 program Meteorologist explains Greening monitored thru how typhoon develops geo-tagging Best in Business and Economic Reporting

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OW does a typhoon develop?

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and As t ron om i c a l S e r v i c e s Administration (PAGASA) Meteorologist Danny Galaty explained how a typhoon

develops in a lecture delivered to student participants of the Benguet State University National Service Training Program in a Kalikasan Camp, held recently.

Typhoon goes through various stages before

Write about Disaster Month and win P20T, agencies told

By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan

TO DRUMBEAT disaster preparedness, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is encouraging every personnel of member agencies to join its essay-writing contest on the proposed 2015 National Disaster C onsciousness Month (NDCM) theme.

In his memo to member agencies, NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama said the contest is open to all personnel of any member agenc y of the national and regional DRRMCs, whether permanent, casual, contractual, or under a contract of service.

“All entries must be related to disaster preparedness and must have a nationwide approach; must be original and unpublished; written in English and must be at least 500 to 2000 words,” Pama said.

Deadline of submission is on April 30 (Thursday) at 12 PM, just in time for the observance of National Disaster C onsciousness Month in July.

Under Executive Order No.137, the month of July is declared as Disaster Month

to increase awareness of every Filipino on natural and man-made disasters for a better appreciation of government’s disaster preparedness programs.

Prizes range from P20,000 for 1st prize, P15,000 for 2nd prize, and P10,000 for 3rd; plus, three consolation winners receiving P5,000 each, he added.

Pama said entries will be judged on Relevance (45%), Originality (25%), Structure (15%), and Style (15%).

He s aid to submit entries enclosed in a short brown envelop e to the Policy Development and Planning Services (PDPS), Office of Civil Defense – Central Office, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Personally or hand-carried or via post/courier must have the following details: complete name, office/ service/division address, contact number, and email address.

For contest details, please call Mr. Kenneth Menor of OCD-PDPS at telephone number 912-0441 or 9125947 or email him at ndrrmc. secretariat@yahoo.com.

(RJB/JCP/PIA-NCR)

it becomes full blown, Galaty said. It builds into low pressure at the Pacific Ocean with scattered rain showers and scattered cloud formations.

As it i nte ns i f i e s , it develops into a tropical depression. This time its body is developing but still dispersed with maximum winds of 35 to 63 kilometers per hour (kph).

When it gains strength it transforms into a tropical storm with a wind strength ranging from 64 kph to 118 kph. It now has a body and a possible eye. It brings strong rains aside from strong winds.

As the tropical storm intensifies, it becomes a typhoon with a faster wind rate exceeding 118 kph to a maximum of 218 kph. The spiral band is now very distinct with a defined eye

or a hole at the center.

Recently, due to the change in weather conditions typhoons have evolved, said Galaty. There is now a new classification called super typhoon or modified tropical cyclone borne out of the experience during typhoon Yolanda. Signal No. 5 shall be raised when wind speed reaches 220 kph. The highest used to be signal No. 4.

Based on international standards of the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva joined by 158 countries of which the Philippines is a member, the issuance of weather bulletin is every six hours Galaty said.

The weather bulletin is issued at 4:30AM, 11:00AM, 5:00PM and finally at 11PM released through mass media or online media. (JDP/SCAPIA)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said they are rigidly implementing t he te ch nolog y of ge ot ag g ing to monitor t he areas utilized for the g o v e r n m e n t’s f l a g s h i p reforestation program.

National Greening Program (NGP) C o ordinator Dr. A lici a Lu s t i c a s a i d t h a t t h e y are focused on site certification of the plantation areas covered for the NGP from 20112014.

“G e o - t a g g i ng wou l d ensure that the areas utilized for the NGP still exist and it would help in monitor ing s e e d ling g rowt h and mor t alit ies for replacement with new seedlings in NGP sites,” she said.

Geo-tagging is the process of attaching

c o o r d i n at e s a n d o t h e r location-specific information to pictures and videos, usually with a handheld device such a s a c a m e r a or m o bi l e phone that is enabled with global positioning system or GPS. The data usually consist of latitude and longitude coordinates, though they can also include altitude, bearing, distance, accuracy data, and place names.

M e a n w h i l e , D E N R6 said that the region’s NGP target for this year is to cover 10,966 hectares with forest and fruit tree species.

In 2 0 1 4 , t h e a ge n c y was able to plant forest an d f r u it t re e s s p e c i e s and mangroves in 12,108 h e c t a r e s i n We s t e r n Visayas which exceeded the target of 12,105 hectares. (JCM/LTP/PIA)

Lanao Norte LGU receives donation from Germany TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – More than one-million worth of medical equipment and medicines was turned-over to the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte (PGLDN) by representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) and Bureau of International Health.

The donation was from the Federal Government o f G e r m a n y, t h r o u g h Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW).

The objective of the medical assistance is to help lo ca l gover nment units (LGUs) operate their health facilities and provide quality health service to their constituents.

The donation is expected to help the LGU cope with situations during disaster or calamity. donation/PAGE 11

Provincial Administrator Joselito Quibranza (3rd from left) inspects the donated medical equipment and medicines from the Federal Government of Germany through Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW). (LDN-PIO)

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PEO Acting head Engr. Lester Bolo receives the 2 new computer sets from Governor Bambi Emano during flagraising ceremony March 23, 2015.

Also in photo are the members of LFC (Local Finance Committee) of the Provincial Gov't of Misamis Oriental. courtesy of governor bambi emano facebook page .

Reg’l census gearsup for 2015 PopCen CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Regional Census Coordinating Board (RCCB 10) of Region 10 convenes today at the Grand Caprice Restaurant to assess the needs of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and discuss issues and concerns related to the conduct of 2015 Census of Population (POPCEN).

The 2015 POPCEN is a

complete enumeration of households in the country designed to take inventory of the population of the entire Philippines.

It is the 14th census of population to be undertaken in the country since 1903.

Moreover, it is the 3rd middecade census following the 1995 and 2007 mid-decade censuses. The listing and

enumeration for the POPCEN 2015 will last for 25 working days, including Saturdays and holidays, from August 1 to 31, 2015.

Relative to this, the RCCB is created to assist the PSA in provision of transportation and communications facilities during the census operations, provision of training venues, census headquarters and

temporary lodging facilities for the census personnel, publicity and information campaign and security assistance to ensure complete coverage in the region.

The RCCB 10 is chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Engr. Leon M. Dacanay, Jr. and vice-chaired by the

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional director Rene K. Burdeos. It is constituted by the regional directors of the regional line agencies. PSA 10 interim regional director Eddie Nasol shall also serve as executive officer of the RCCB. The Board also has a local counterpart in the provinces

and cities and municipalities.

The Provincial CCBs are chaired by the provincial governors and the City/ Municipal CCBs are chaired by the city/municipal mayors with the provincial statistics officers and district statistics officer of the PSA as the executive officers for the PCCBs and C/ MCCBs, respectively. (PSA/ APB/PIA-10)

DBM releases P1.944M for death Don’t waste cash grants claims of 142 barangay officials Honoree to fellow grantees:

By Oliver Badel Inodeo

OROQUIETA CITY – A total of P1.944 million have been released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to settle the death claims of 142 barangay officials, nationwide, for the month of February, this year.

Of this amount, P528,000 was released for the benefits of 24 Punong Barangays (PB), P1,164,000, for 97 S ang g u n i ang B ar ang ay Members (SBM), P156,000, for 13, Barangay Secretaries (BS), and P96,000 for eight

Barangay Treasurers (BT).

Released through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), pursuant to Executive Order 115, death claims of barangay officials have been pegged at P22,000, each, for the PB’s

and P12,000, each, for the SBM’s, BS’ and BT’s.

Meanwhile, the DILG data shows that only 12 of the country’s 16 regions had death claims for their barangay officials, during claims/PAGE 11

HELP FROM THE NEW NBI REGIONAL DIRECTOR – VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ talks to Atty. Lito Magno, the new Regional Director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Region 10, before the 13th Regular Session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Oriental. Vice Governor Pelaez invited the new regional head of the NBI to seek help in the investigation on the gruesome murder of former City Councilor of Gingoog City and Consultant of the Provincial Government, Marc Anthony M. Bagaipo. Despite the very short notice, Atty.

Magno appeared during the Session and informed the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members that the NBI has already dispersed its agents who are doing a parallel investigation and assured that they will furnish a report to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan by the end of the month. Also present during the Session were PINSP Ismael O. Gundaya (Investigation/Operation Officer, Gingoog City Police Station) and SI Gerardo Tamayo (NBI Investigator).

AN HONOR student in Gingoog City, some two hours ride from here, calls for his fellow grantees of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) to capitalize on education and health and not waste the opportunity and the cash grants provided under the program.

In a recently concluded commencement exercise of Bal-ason National High School, 15-year old Jachor Mc Collins Calvo Opaon of Barangay Hindangon, Gingoog City, stressed to both students and parents who attended the activity that, “what we are enjoying now is a gift that must be capitalized on,” adding that “ once these opportunities are put to waste, there is no way to bring the past back and it is sad to look back on the opportunities wasted and lingered on the ‘what-if ’s.’

Jachor is a l l prais es with Pantawid Pamilya, expressing gratitude to President Benigno Aquino III and to DSWD for promoting a n d i mp l e m e nt i n g t h e program. He says Pantawid Pamilya has been helping him and his parents. “ The meager income of my mother, a Barangay Nut r it i on S chol ar, and father, a farmer, is not enough to supplement all the needs of my family,” Jachor discloses, adding that, “Now, with the cash grants, we have a budget

for our education.”

He als o thanked his parents for pushing him to be the best that he could be and for always reminding him t he imp or t ance of e du c at i on t o w h at e v e r dreams he has in the near future.

Jachor is among the millions of Pantawid Pamilya grantees in the country who will move on up after completing his Grade 9 studies in Balason National High School in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental province.

In the recently concluded recognition ceremonies, Jachor is the top one in his class. He also received the Best in English, Best in Science, Best in Filipino, Best in MAPEH, Best in Art awards. The city government of Gingoog through Mayor Marie Guingona also recognized him as outstanding Grade 9 student in the city.

In a generation where youth is synonymous with the social media and mobile phone applications and gaming, Jachor struggles to become effective and focus on family, education, values education, and decorum, instead.

Like his elementary years, Jachor manifested his grace and enthusiasm through his active involvement in his community and school.

He was an editorial writer participant in the Regional grants/PAGE 11

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Supply... from page 1

Liimatta praised the young new hires whom had an average grade of 98 in all the courses they had taught.

“The most important part of the operations is the people.

Without the right people, you can’t do it. We wanted to find the right people who possess the willingness to learn. We’re fortunate to train the people and we are pleasantly surprised that we have recruited intelligent, young individuals who are willing to learn. They have maintained an average score of 98 in all courses we’ve taught. The ones that were hired are truly exceptional,” Liimatta said.

The plant has a project cost of USD 570 million and is the biggest investment in Region 12.

Nicandro Fucoy, Alsons Power Project Implementation Vice President and Head of Coal Operations, said the plant’s full capacity would alleviate the power problems in Mindanao, powering up houses of more than six million people.

The first phase will power the provinces of Sarangani, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur; the cities of General Santos, Iligan, Bayugan, Butuan, Samal, and Tagum as well as key municipalities in Davao del Norte and South Cotabato.

Upon reaching its full 210-MW capacity, it will also power the entire province of South Cotabato, the whole province of Zamboanga del Norte and key areas of North Cotabato. It will include the cities of Dagupan, Dipolog, Koronadal and Kidapawan.

Meanwhile, Alsons Power is also developing the 105MW San Ramon Power, Inc. (SRPI) coal-fired power plant in Zamboanga City.

It currently holds three diesel plants in Mindanao to its portfolio, namely the Mapalad Power Corp.’s 103MW plant in Iligan City, the 55-MW Southern Philippines Power Corp. facility in Alabel, Sarangani and the 100-MW power plant of the Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga City. (PNA)

Probe... from page 1

In response, the City Council here has passed a resolution requesting Senator Pimentel to prioritize the investigation of Moreno because Cagayan De Oro is the home city of the sponsoring Senator.

“Since Pimentel comes from Cagayan De Oro, then it is only logical that he should investigate his turf first to find out what the local chief executive has done here,” Elipe said.

Councilor Roger Abaday, who opposed the resolution, feared that Pimentel might walk into a trap if he places the Cagayan de Oro City government on top of his list.

Abaday said his colleagues are doing everything to make Moreno not look good in the eyes of the senator and the public.

City Councilor Zaldy Ocon, a party mate of Moreno endorsed the resolution as the only way to vindicate the name of Moreno. “It is only proper that Moreno should be investigated in order to clear his name,” Ocon said.

Pimentel cited a recent published report, which categorized LGUs as the “No. 1 on the draft list” on account of the high number of graft and corruption cases filed against local public officials before the Ombudsman.

The scorecard showed that in 2014, for the fourth straight year, mayors and other local executives again topped the list of public officials who faced graft complaints with 2,053 cases filed by the Ombudsman.

Pimentel also stressed the need to improve further the system to stop local officials from turning their localities like their private turfs, and eliminate the temptation of violating the laws because of personal and political interests. (PNA)

Labor... from page 1

of agreement earlier signed

by DOLE, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tr ans p or t at i on an d Communication, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Maritime Industry Au t h o r i t y, P h i l i p p i n e F isher i es D e vel opment Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard.

These agencies specifically recognized the need to harmonize their interventions at the operational, program and policy levels to help address various labor concerns affecting the fishing industry, she said.

Domingo said the joint department order specifically sets the “rules and regulations governing the employment and working conditions of fishers employed in fishing vessels engaged in commercial fishing operation.”

“It aims to harmonize laws and regulations in giving decent work to fishermen and ease doing business with the fishing industry,” she said in a statement.

She said the order also wants to ensure that the industry will remain competitive and continue to expand and grow.

DOLE’s legal department has been conducting consultations with various sectors regarding the provisions of the joint department order.

The agency met with members of the Soccsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc. (SFFAII) and other fishing industry players here last month to introduce the proposed joint administrative order.

T h e S F FA I I a g r e e d last year to undergo an assessment by D OLE regarding the prevalence of

contractualization schemes in the operations of companies in the industry, especially the “cabo” system that is prevalent in tuna fishing operations.

The Labor Code of the Philippines defines “cabo” as “a person or group of persons or a labor group which, in the guise of a labor organization, supplies workers to an employer, with or without any monetary or ot her considerat ion whether in the capacity of an agent of the employer or as an ostensible independent contractor.”

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz earlier urged tuna industry players here to pursue reforms in their labor practices and make sure that they are aligned with international standards.

She said it is important for local tuna companies to be compliant with the labor laws to avoid possible problems later on with the European Union (EU).

Baldoz warned that the country’s inclusion of its tuna products in the EU’s G e ne r a l i z e d Sy ste m of Preferences Plus (GSP+) list could be jeopardized by the prevailing questionable labor practices in the tuna industry.

EU’s GSP+ mainly grants zero duty or tariff to over 6,000 eligible exports from the Philippines to its memberstates. It covers processed and canned-tuna products caught by 100-percent Philippineregistered vessels.

The city, which is home to six of the countr y’s tuna canneries, is dubbed the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.” The industry generates annual export receipts of around $350 million and directly employs about 20,000 workers.

R o s a n n a C ont re r a s , SFFAII executive director, said that they welcome DOLE’s efforts to come up with the proposed joint department order.

She urged the agency to conduct extensive studies as well as consultations on the matter with various industry stakeholders.

“We just hope that this will be studied properly before it will be implemented. We need to have deeper and longer engagements on this matter,” Contreras said.

Debt...

from page 1 the past administration under then the PSALM presidency of Jose C. Ibazeta.

Current PSALM President Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. has emphasized that the company was able to trim down principal debt by 30 percent to P582.2 billion, while interest payments had similarly been down by 69 percent to P256.3 billion.

“The remaining interest until the debt maturity still amounts to about P116.7 billion,” he added.

Ledesma reckoned that the government’s power p r i v at i z at i o n p r o g r a m generated aggregate proceeds

of P916.2 billion as of end last year. Part of that had been the divestments already consummated under Ledesma’s reign at PSALM. He qualified that “of the total privatization proceeds.

P420.1 billion has been paid to PSALM while P471.5 billion remains to be collected.”

Ledesma further noted “the balance of P24.6 billion accounts for the reduction due to foreign exchange fluctuations and contractual adjustments.”

On his tenure, the major assets turnover to the private sector buyers had been that of the 218-megawatt Angat hydropower plant and the 153.1-megawatt Naga thermal power facility in Cebu. “ T he c ompl e t i on of these privatization activities generated P21 billion for the government. PSALM received P20 billion from K-Water (Korea Water Resources Corporation) and P1.1 billion from SPC Power,” Ledesma averred.

PSALM is lining up the continuing privatization of the remaining power assets of the National Power Corporation – both for the plants set for straight sale and those that are for engagement of independent power producer administrators.

products and services that will cater to their digital lifestyle,” Cu added.

The telco closed 2014 with P99 billion in revenue, a nine percent increase from the P90.5 billion the previous year.

ALI...

from page 9

from page 5

P7-B RETAIL BONDS Also, ALI announced that the institutional bookbuilding for its P7-billion retail bond offer is currently underway, with the issuance scheduled to run from endApril up to early May. “We are already offering the next tranche of our retail bonds -- about P7 billion this year,” Mr. Ysmael said. “That’s the balance of the P15 billion we sought for approval last year.”

Ayala Land listed the first tranche -- P8 billion -- in April last year.

“Price setting should happen in the next two weeks, after which we will go to a one-week offer period,” he added.

The retail bonds will have a tenor of seven years and the offer’s arrangers are BPI Capital Corp., HSBC, PNB Capital, and China Banking Corp., Ayala Land Vice President and Treasurer Augusto Cesar D. Bengzon told reporters yesterday.

Mr. Ysmael said proceeds from the bond offer will be used to partly fund the company’s P100-billion capital expenditure budget this year for ongoing developments and launches of new residential and leasing projects.

Shares of the company shed 35 centavos or 0.87% to close at P39.65 apiece on Monday. -- with Reuters

Globe... from page 5

to sustain our momentum for the long haul as our driving force to continuously provide Filipinos with innovative

Donation... from page 8

Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW) is the implementing agency for this humanitarian initiative and provides assistance to poor and developing countries like the Philippines.

As one of t he lo cal recipients, the Lanao del Norte LGU received one pack of surgical drugs and medicines worth P649,225; 10 sets of obstetric and delivery kit worth P189,100; five sets of first aid kit worth P35,075; and two packs of surgical supplies worth P235,460.

Representatives from DOH and foreign donor KfW will be visiting the province later this year to assess how the medical equipment are utilized in government hospitals and to evaluate the effectiveness of their medical intervention program. LAR & VNL/PIO-LDN

Claims... the month, with both Region 1 and Region 2, having the highest amount of claims of P296,000, each, for 23 of their deceased barangay officials.

This was followed by Region 5 with P268,000 for 19 beneficiaries, Region 7, P256,000 for 18 beneficiaries Region 3, P154,000, for 12 beneficiaries, Region 8, P144,000 for 12 beneficiaries, National Capital Region (NCR), P138,000, for nine beneficiaries, Region 12, P126,000, for eight beneficiaries, Region 10 and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), P58,000, each, also for four beneficiaries, each, and Region 11, P36,000, for three beneficiaries.

11

In Northern Mindanao, the February 2015 death claims covered four barangay officials who all died in 2014, Sanivier G. Patoc, provincial director of DILG, Misamis Occidental, said.

They were Ariel B. Quiap, PB of Barangay Aquino, and Esterlita P. Collantes, SBM of Barangay Taguite, both of Tangub City, and SBM Jose M. Aspiras, Sr., Barangay Estante, Lopez-Jaena and Romulo C. Kilat of Barangay Del Pilar, Baliangao. (RCA/ PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

Grants... from page 9

School Press Conference, a science quiz bee finalist, among others. He tries to balance his curricular and extra-curricular activities to develop a well-rounded character.

He once bagged third place at the Mathematics challenge, M TA P (Mat he mat i cs Te ache rs Association of the Philippines) contest.

Pant awid Pami lya is a government’s povertyreduction strateg y that provides cash grants to extremely poor households aime d at helping t hem raise educated and healthy children aged 18 years and below.

It utilizes the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme where beneficiaries receive cash grant provided that they send their children to school, get preventive health check-up, and the parents attend the monthly Family Development Session.

Jachor is one of the 8,818 household grantees of Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental of Pantawid Pamilya. Currently, Northern Mindanao has 271,077 active household beneficiaries of the program.###smu Written by Oliver Badel Inodeo, DSWD Northern Mindanao with reports from Skye Stephan Reyes, SWA of Gingoog City.

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

THURSDAY | APRIL 9, 2015

editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

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

PAGE 12

Instax Mini cameras to be given away to lucky Smart Bro subscribers L ooking forward to your summer getaway with family and friends? If you’re a Smart Bro subscriber, you have a chance to capture and instantly print your fun moments with a cool Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 camera, by joining Smart’s “Capture Your Adventure” promo.

Smart and Fujifilm will give away 72 units of the Fujifilm Instax Mini 25 to prepaid and postpaid Smart Bro subscribers who will use Smart’s selfcare channels from April 8 to June 30, 2015.

To join the promo, you first need to register your Smart Bro number either by visiting www. smart.com.ph/capture or texting the following syntax to 6771: CAPTURE <space> Name/ Complete Address/Age/e-mail address/Smart Bro number (Example: CAPTURE Lia Cortez/42 Palm Ave., Makati City/24/lia.cortez03@yahoo.com / 09493857417) You can then earn raffle entries by completing one or more of the following self-care transactions: • Texting SAGOTAGAD <space> BRO to 888, to learn more about Smart Bro products and promos

• Using Smart’s customer service portal (my. smart.com.ph) to enroll for eStatements, view your bills in the past 12 months, or inquire about your prepaid balance • Paying your Smart Bro bills through bank (BPI, Metrobank, RCBC, etc.) or non-bank (7-Eleven, Bayad Center, Smart Money, etc.) accredited payment channels Winners will be determined by monthly raffle draws to be held on May 15, June 15, and July 15, 2015.

“In line with Smart’s vision of empowering people to ‘Live More,’ the company has been providing alternative customer service channels that allow its subscribers to easily, quickly, and conveniently complete various aftersales transactions for FREE. Several rewards programs and promos have also been launched as a way of thanking customers for their continued trust in Smart services, ” said Smart Customer Value Chain – Enterprise Process Quality Management Group Head, Maricris Crisostomo.

To know more about Self Care channels, please visit smart.com.ph/selfcare

SSS opens new office for Davao City residents

Smart is the Philippines’ undisputed No. 1 mobile service provider SMART Communications, Inc. (Smart) continues to be the number one mobile service provider in the Philippines, in terms of both subscriber base and revenues.

As of end-2014, Smart led the market in subscriber base, with over 56.4 million subscribers in its prepaid, postpaid, and broadband services.

Smart is also number one in terms of revenues, posting PHP92.0 billion, about 18% higher than the competition.

SMART and SUN CELLULAR Together with Sun Cellular, the two wireless units of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) further dominate the industry in terms of both subscriber base and revenues. Smart and Sun combined, has the largest subscriber base, with 72.8 million subscribers.

The two wireless units also posted combined revenues of PHP114.5 billion as of end-2014, about 47% higher than the competition, clearly giving the PLDT wireless group the strong and undisputed number one position in the mobile industry.

THE Social Security System (SSS) has recently opened a new branch in Gaisano Mall at Ilustre Street in Davao to provide additional service point for members residing within the first district of the city.

The SSS Ilustre branch will service about 3,180 employers, 20,000 employees and an estimated 30,000 self-employed members from 23 barangays.

SSS officials and guests represented by (from left to right) Gaisano Group of Companies Vice President for Supermaket Barbara Gail Gaisano Chua, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros Jr, Davao City Administrator Atty/ Jesus Melchor Quitain and SSS Senior Vice President from Visayas and Mindanao Group Eddi Jara led

the ribbon cutting during the branch inauguration and blessing ceremonies on February 23, 2015.

Also present to witness the event are (background, from left) SSS

Vice President for Public Affairs Division Marissu Bugante and the officiating priest from the Ascension of the Lord Parish Rev. Fr. Leonardo A. Dublan, Jr.

(Supplied Photos)