BusinessWeek Mindanao (August 18, 2014)

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Volume V, No. 31

Market Indicators

As of 6:12 pm August 16, 2014 (Saturday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P43.67

7,008.51 points

52.49 cents

X

1 cent

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Briefly Armm posts growth MARAWI City -- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has registered a remarkable economic growth of 3.6 percent in 2013 from its 2010 mark of negative 0.3 percent.

According to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the total value of final goods and services produced in the ARMM grew from 1.1 percent in 2012 to 3.6 percent in 2013. The growth is driven by strong performance of the region’s service sector and agriculture.

Agriculture, which included hunting, fishing and forestry, accounted for 61.3 percent of ARMM’s economy followed by services with 33.6 percent and the industry sector with 5.1 percent.

ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman cited the improved confidence of the people in the regional government.

Good governance meant that development aid that was meant for the sectors are actually reaching them and are being used for improvement and growth.

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Govt takes drastic steps to take-over Lasureco

By MYRNA VELASCO, Contributor

T

HE government has taken steps to take over the debt-ridden Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) in a bid to rehabilitate the local power distribution and ensure a sustainable electrification program for the province.

Ta k i n g t h e h e l m o f t h e rehabilitation effort, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Mar Roxas has called on various stakeholders’ support the government’s takeover of LASURECO by honoring their obligation as power consumers.

LASURECO has newly installed Board of Directors who took over the management of the power cooperative to restore electricity and provide lasting solution to the power crisis in the province.

The new Board of Directors of LASURECO, which is also comprised of Task Force Metering, is led by Assistant Secretary Matanog Mapandi of the Department of Energy (DOE).

The two other members are Police Chief Supt. Ed Ingking representing steps/PAGE 11

KADAYAWAN FLUVIAL PARADE. Tausug dancers perform pangalay at the fluvial parade along Bangkerohan river, Davao City on August 15. The fluvial parade is one of the highlights of the 29th Kadayawan festival. mindanews photo by toto lozano

BBL final draft goes to PNoy this week

Economic enterprise STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur -- The municipality of Sta. Cruz is in the process of finalizing its Local Economic Enterprise strategic plan which is expected to boost the existing local enterprises of the municipality.

In a recent two-day workshop at the Waterfront Insular Hotel, all unit personnel of the local economic enterprise offices had presented their respective operation plans.

Mayor Joel Ray Lopez said that the operation of economic enterprises is crucial to the overall economic development of Sta. Cruz as this will eventually generates more local revenue to the municipality.

Monday | August 18, 2014

By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS, MindaNews

DURIAN SEASON. Durian are being sold for as low as 25 pesos a kilo at Bangkerohan market, Davao City this Kadayawan season. mindanews photo by toto lozano

D AVA O C i t y — T h e government (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced Friday last week after a threeday exchange of papers and conversations here between Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal,

that they have “concluded discussions” on the “various i s s u e s” i n v o l v i n g t h e draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and that the resolutions arrived at would be incorporated into the final draft “that will be prepared and submitted to President Benigno S. Aquino.”

“Finished na,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles told MindaNews.

Deles said the final draft will be submitted to President Aquino “before end of [this] week” and to Congress “by end of August.”

Who will prepare and submit the final draft to the bbl/PAGE 11

Investment promotion in Mindanao pushed

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

DAVAO C I T Y - - T h e Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is forging ties with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to attract more

investors to Mindanao.

MinDA Chair Luwalhati R. Antonino met this week with two of PBSP’s top officials, Vice Chair Paul G. Dominguez and Executive

Director Rafael C. Lopa, to start the discussion on the partnership.

The agreement is scheduled to be signed on Sept. 8, according to Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA investment/PAGE 11

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Economy

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City approves ‘Safe MotherHood Law’ THE Cagayan de Oro City C ou n c i l h a s approv e d an ordinance that would promote safe and quality care for pregnant mother, a city councilor said on Friday.

City Councilor Dante Pajo, author of Ordinance

No. 12824-2014, also known as the “Safe Motherhood Ordinance of Cagayan De Oro,” would address maternal and infant mortality by requiring every pregnant mother to deliver the baby in a health facility.

“Under the approved Ordinance, birth delivery at home will no longer be allowed. The Ordinance also requires a skilled birth attendant to attend to every birth delivery,” Pajo said.

He said that the skilled birth attendants are referred to only registered doctors, registered midwives and nurses who are proficiently trained to manage normal deliveries and diagnoses.

The same ordinance prohibits traditional birth attendants from performing deliveries without the direct supervision of skilled birth attendants, Pajo said.

The newly approved ordinance also mandates the village councils to provide transportation for pregnant mothers during an emergency that requires urgent referral to the nearest hospital.

Village officials should exercise police power in the community in order

to strictly implement the ordinance and to establish a functional blood donation program in the locality, Pajo said.

He said that it is also the responsibility of the village council to ensure that every pregnant mother in the community could avail of the services of the skilled birth attendant in the village health centers.

Each health center is required to install a pregnant tracking system, provide free and quality services for antenatal and postnatal care and extends an affordable, safe and quality care for normal birth delivery, Pajo said.

T h e ord i n an c e a l s o requires the community to participate in organizing a Women Health Team in coordination with the B ar ang ay C ou nc i l and Barangay Health Center staff to support pregnant

mothers in the community, with the health center as the lead agency.

According to Pajo, the ordinance also mandates that aside from providing adequate technical and logistic support in providing a safe and quality maternal

and child health services, the City Health Office should also oversee the implementation of the Ordinance.

Pajo said that the City Health Office would also ensure the adequacy of the resources for health centers approves/PAGE 8

DA turns over P1.4-M worth of veggie seeds BUTUAN City -- As its continued support to the farmers here in the region, the Department of AgricultureRegional Field Office 13 (DARFO 13) through High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) has turned over to the Provincial and City Agricultural Officer a total of 23,731 pouches of various vegetable seeds amounting to P1.4 million.

The Provincial and City Agriculture Offices will in

turn distribute the seeds to identified municipalities and non-government organization for planting.

The identified beneficiaries are those from production areas of vegetables such as Antongalon, Anticala and Pianing for Butuan City; Cabadbaran, Santiago, Buenavista and Jabongga for Agusan del No r t e ; S a n F r a n c i s c o, Bayugan City, Esperanza, Veggie/PAGE 8

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C orporateWorld 4 Establishments with generators PAL back in black in 2Q could help avert power shortage Best in Business and Economic Reporting

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THE operator of Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Friday said it has turned around in the second quarter of the year, as revenue climbed on the wings of new flights.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PAL Holdings Inc said it turned in a profit of P1.49 billion in the April to June period, reversing the P1.08 billion loss in the same three months of last year.

Second-quarter revenue shot up by 47.4 percent to P27.30 billion this year from P18.52 billion last

year. Earlier, PAL president Ramon Ang said that the flag carrier likely turned in a profit starting April. “ The increase was attributable mainly to the favorable passenger revenue performance during the quarter. This was brought about mainly by the introduction of new routes such as London, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Riyadh, Canton, and Haneda, Japan,” PAL said.

PAL carried 4.5 million passengers in the first six months of this year.

O p e r at i ng e x p e ns e s climbed 31 percent yearon-year to P19.47 billion.

“This was largely on

account of higher expenses related to flying operations, aircraft and traffic servicing, pal/PAGE 8

ABOITIZ Power Corp is pushing for the nationwide adoption of an opt-out program that allows establishments to be cut off from the grid in times of tight electricity supply to avert a projected shortage next year.

In a statement, Ab oit i z Powe r s ai d it supports the nationwide implement at ion of t he interruptible load program or the ILP to avert an anticipated power shortage by April 2015 in Luzon due to delays in the construction of power plants and to growing demand.

The ILP is a system that AboitizPower’s distribution utilities, Visayan Electric Co (VECO) and Davao Light have been using for years.

It was first introduced by VECO in 2009, when the Visayas grid suffered from blackouts, as the construction of new power plants failed to keep up with fast-growing demand.

U n d e r t h e I L P, participating companies with private gensets are compensated for their fuel and other costs should they choose to be cut off from the distribution utility’s network during periods of tight electricity supply. This frees up additional power supply to help prevent outages or resolve existing interruptions.

Par t icip at ion in t he

scheme is voluntary. Anytime, for instance, VECO or Davao Light sees a power shortfall, they identify which p ar t i c ip at i ng c omp any would be best to tap for the requirement. A quick phone call to the company to switch to their genset for a given time period, activates the program. On the other hand, if the participating company declines at that time, the dispatcher just moves on to the next candidate.

How e v e r, S e b a s t i a n Lacson, VECO chief operating officer, said the company is now exploring the conversion of some ILP agreements into power purchase agreements, which would compel participating establishments to run their gensets whenever it becomes necessary, to further improve the program.

T h e I L P p r ov e d t o be especially helpful last November and December 2013, when Visayas suffered from a huge power shortfall due to super typhoon Yolanda.

ILP covered 43 percent of the supply shortfall.

Currently, VECO has 64 megawatts (MW) and Davao Light has 26.5 MW of ILP contracted capacity, composed mostly of large corporations, hotels, government institutions, and shopping malls.

Vista Land on pace for full-year targets VISTA LAND & Lifescapes, Inc. on Thursday said it is on track with its “doubledigit” top line and bottom line growth target for the year, after reporting a 12% increase in net profit for the first half, driven by strong sales of its Camella housing brand.

Net profit for the first six months hit P2.8 billion, while revenue rose 14% to P11 billion and sales grew 10% to P25.9 billion.

“We are pretty much in line with our target of double-digit top line and bottom line growth for the year, as developments have been good. But again, t h e s e are e x p e c t at i ons a n d n o t a g u a r a nt e e ,” Vista Land President and Chief Executive Officer Manuel Paolo A. Villar told reporters at the company’s first-half briefing at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel on Thursday.

In the first six months, the company launched 21 projects with an estimated total value of P13.1 billion, with 20 targeting the affordable segments and one to be offered to middleincome clients.

First-half reservations - - a n a c c o u nt n o t y e t recognized as sales which nevertheless point to future revenue potential as projects

are completed -- rose 10% to P25.92 billion.

Former senator and Vista Land Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said in a statement: “Vista Land continues to remain firmly on a solid growth path… Demand for housing continued to be robust, particularly in the affordable price segment which is dominated by our Camella brand. There is no oversupply in housing and our plans to expand countr ywide remain unchanged.”

At present, the company has residential housing projects in 34 provinces and 74 cities and municipalities nat ionwide. It has f ive business units, Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines and its condominium development subsidiar y, Vista Residences.

C apit a l e x p e n d itu re for 2014 are expected to hit P21.6 billion, with the bulk -- P13.2 billion -going to construction, P4.6 billion to land development, and P3.8 billion to land acquisition. As of end-June, the company has already spent 48% or P10.4 billion of the budget.

The company has earmarked a total of P50 billion in capex over the next five years.

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Environment

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‘Diwata’ to bolster DRR nationwide: gov’t

By Catherine J. Teves

MANILA -- Government i s f u r t h e r wor k i ng on enhancing its nationwide dis aster r isk reduc tion (DRR) bid to better protect life, limb and property from flooding and other hazards in the country.

Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) Executive Director Mahar Lagmay said the State-run University of the Philippines and its Japanese partners are developing ‘Diwata’ so government can launch this micro-satellite in space to generate images that’ll help improveDRR and related undertakings in the country. “ That micro-satellite will focus solely on the Philippines and data it’ll

gather will have many uses,” Dr. Lagmay said Friday on the side of a DRR-oriented forum in Metro Manila.

Among such uses is enabling government to better monitor conditions nationwide so authorities concerned can issue more accurate early warnings when necessary, he said.

He noted the monitoring will also help government better track environmental changes like loss of forest cover, enabling authorities to implement corresponding measures for addressing these accordingly.

Experts said disaster often results from a community’s combine d exposure to a hazard, its existing vulnerabilities and

PSHS to embed tropical forest into its curriculum

By Perla G. Lena

PALO, Leyte --The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Eastern Visayas campus for the first time will be integrating tropical forest into its curriculum.

This was disclosed by its campus director Reynaldo B. Garnace after PSHS was chosen by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conser vation Foundation, (PTFCF) Inc. as host to a nursery that will grow mangrove seedlings to be utilized for the rehabilitation of the coastal areas of Leyte and Samar.

“We are going to embed this tropical forest in our curriculum. We are creating a project team in the campus level so that we will be able to see how our students immersing into the project, especially in integrated science and laboratory classes,” he said.

“This aims to promote awareness about ecosystem, biodiversity, about taking care of our environment, mitigating climate change. All these are offered in our curricula; that’s the focal point that we need to stress in implementing this project,” Garnace added.

Further, the school will encourage its scholars to “come up with researches related to biodiversity and ecosystem.”

The partnership is an opportunity as the PTFCF believed that as scholars they can contribute a lot, he pointed out.

For a one-year period the school is expected to collect some 10,000 seedlings that will be sold to local government units (LGUs) or through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at a lower cost.

“We already have built up the nursery initially,” he said. (PNA)

insufficient capacity to either reduce or cope with the hazard’s potential negative consequences.

D is aste r r isk is t he potential loss of lives, health status, livelihood, assets and services which can occur in a community, they continued.

They also said DRR is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risk through lessening exposure to a hazard, improve d preparedness for adverse events and other efforts for analyzing and managing the causal factors of disasters.

Government continues enhancing its DRR bid, p ar t ic u larly as exp er ts warned the Philippines is among countries most vulnerable to climate change.

Onslaught of extreme weather events as well as sea

level and temperature rise are climate change’s impacts on the country, they said.

Lagmay said government earlier set 2016 as its target year to launch ‘Diwata.’

He noted ‘Diwata’ isn’t part of Project NOAH’s Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation– Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) project. “’Diwata’ will enhance Project NOAH, however,” he said.

Launched in 2012, Project NOAH harnesses technology to boost government’s DRR activities.

Government came up with DREAM-LIDAR to produce more accurate three-dimensional flood inundation and hazard maps for the country’s flood-prone major river systems and

watersheds.

Such mapping activity is nearly concluded so coordination is underway regarding distribution of the maps to LGUs nationwide, noted Lagmay.

“It’s our duty to inform people about pertinent information on hazards in their communities,” he said.

Manila 5th District Rep. and House ecology committee chairperson Amado Bagatsing agrees government must diss eminate such information to people before hazards strike.

“People must be prepared always and not wait for disasters to happen before reacting,” he said during the forum.

He assured the ecology committee’s continuing efforts to come up with bills

that’ll help further improve DRR and environmental protection nationwide.

F r i d a y ’s f o r u m a t Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Manila was the second of its kind which Philex Mining Corp. spearheaded after holding the first at University of the Philippines in Diliman earlier this year.

Conduct of the forum aims to help raise public awareness and action on DRR and environmental protection in the country.

Over 100 PUP students and officials of the university attended the second forum.

During the event, they and other stakeholders who also attended the event committed doing their share to help save the environment.

(PNA)

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The Human Machine

T

hink a minute…Can you imagine life without machines? If we didn’t have cars, buses, telephones or radios, we’d be lost without these basic machines we use every day. But a machine only helps your life if you know how to use it. It reminds me of the old chief from the jungle who came to town because he was asked to make a speech on the radio. The old guy had never been in a radio studio or seen modern gadgets like a microphone before. So when the radio host gave him the microphone, this jungle chief grabbed it and put it up to his EAR to give his speech!

Machines and gadgets are great—if you know how to use them correctly.

Do you know the most sophisticated, advanced machine ever invented? It’s you and me! The human machine. In fact, the more that scientists and doctors discover about the human body and brain, the more they learn what an amazing computer and machine we human beings are. Our mind, body, emotions, and will make up the total person that we are. You see, the only one who knows everything about how the human machine works correctly is the One Who designed and invented us. God made us differently from all the other animals

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THINK

A Minute

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst

Can EPIRA Amendment Attract Energy Investors?

I

t has been argued that there are other steps to prevent the energy shortfall expected to grow worse by early next year besides amending the Electric Power Industr y Reform Act (EPIRA) or granting emergency powers to the President. We are facing a potential undersupply of 200 megawatts to 300 MW of power next year, particularly from March to May. There is no need to amend the EPIRA, or Electric Power Industry Reform Act, because doing so would only “create unnecessar y restlessness and uncertainties and slow down the present market and investment momentum,” in the same way that declaring a national emergency not founded on any solid plan

W

editorial would.

The business sector says the government has to deal with the impending power u n d e r s upp l y pre d i c t e d to start by March 2015, but there is no need to change to the EPIRA. Any amendment would cause major uncertainty in the business sector and discourage investors from investing in new power plants.

Inste a d, t h e E n e rg y Regulatory Board (ERB) should adjust the price cap on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) to

encourage the release of more capacity into the market.

One possible solution to the problem is a review of the s econdar y pr ice ceiling on the WESM by ERB, because the cap was deterring incoming capacity since it does not provide adequate compensation for new capacity generation, the PCCI argues. Indeed it is necessary.

T h e D e p a r t m e nt o f Energy (DOE) must look into generating additional capacity by reactivating the Limay, Bauang, and other mothballed power plants in

the country.

Invoking Section 71 of the EPIRA to give emergency powers to the President to accelerate government efforts to increase power supply to the grid is not the solution.

Si nce is t he re is no emergency situation yet, the government has several months to work out a plan to prevent blackouts next year.

There may be opportunities for limited emergency powers to address the energy crisis.

But like Charter change, the danger is it could open the floodgates if there is no solid plan. Without a plan worse problems come instead.

Every stakeholder must focus on the problem of sustainability.

Facebook issues in the workplace

ith close to 30 million users in the P h i l i p p i n e s , Fa c e b o o k remains as the Filipinos’ favorite social networking sites. It is not surprising that cases involving the use of Facebook in the workplace have already started making their way into our legal system.

Although there judicial framework has yet to be established, principles from the Constitution and the Labor Code are useful as a starting point.

Many offices have opted to restrict access to social networking sites either by blocking Facebook, Twitter, etc. on company computers or limiting access only to lunch break and rest periods, before 8:00 am and after5:30 pm. I’ve heard that some employers even block webmails like

Gmail and Yahoo, as well as YouTube and LinkedIn. Restricting or blocking access has pros and cons.

Employers do these to make sure that work hours are not spent browsing timelines, liking posts, uploading photos or playing online games.

Naturally, employers want to boost productivity. On the other hand, doing so may indicate distrust and alienation. It can even be argued that checking your Facebook is the same as taking a break, going to the water cooler or lighting a cigarette. Sometimes, it may even be ineffective, especially since employees can check social networks on their phones.

Facebook has also paved the way for employee discipline. Because of its public nature, Facebook has become

a venue for airing rants and complaints. When employees post workplace issues in Facebook, it falls squarely under insubordination. The same is true when employees post leaks on Facebook about confidential matters in the workplace. Depending on the employees’ online conduct, he or she may be disciplined or even justly terminated under the Labor Code. This is because the law provides for a catch-all provision for serious misconduct, specifically Article 282 (e) which states that “other causes analogous to” serious misconduct, willful disobedience of employer’s lawful orders, gross and habitual neglect of employee duties, fraud, willful breach of trust, and commission of a crime or offense against the employer, the employer’s family or representative. If

So The Public

M ay K now

By Atty. Sara Jane A. Suguitan

the incriminating Facebook post made by an employee is analogous to any of these, he or she can be disciplined, suspended and even justly terminated.

This article should not be interpreted as legal advice.

Consult your lawyer before acting on it. Questions may be addressed to www. suguitanlaw.com

Help Others, Change Lives: UPCAT Story

L which have no ability to choose in their lives. They do everything simply by instinct.

But we are free to think with our mind and conscience to make our own choices how we live. God did not make us robots that He controls and forces to live the right way.

Sadly, since we’ve all chosen to be stubborn and self-centered, we’ve used our freedom wrongly. We even think we know better than our Maker and Inventor what will make us happy. We’ve all chosen to live our own way, instead of using our bodies and minds the way God designed us to enjoy life—the right way that works. God’s commands are not to stop us from having fun. It’s just the opposite! The Bible is simply the manual and instruction book for the human machine, hurst/PAGE 9

IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up…” (Galatians 6:9, the Holy Bible).

-ooo WHY ARE MRT 3 TRAIN COACHES SUFFERING PROBLEMS? We should all be concerned, and be wary at the same time, about accidents and incidents which tend to show the dilapidated and outmoded condition of the train coaches being used by the MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit 3) line in Metro Manila.

Not only can they cause injuries and destruction of property, but they can also cost us, taxpayers, hundreds of millions of pesos in diverted government funds all over again. Why am I saying this? Well, with the accidents and incidents indicating the decrepit condition of the train coaches, there would be a need for the government to buy new ones, right?

Now, if there is a need for the government to buy new train coaches, some wise guys and favored souls would surely find a way somehow to earn handsome and multimillion commissions, either from the government in the form of overpriced payments, or from the suppliers of the train coaches as “finders’ fees”, right? Wasn’t that, in fact, the accusation of a foreign dignitary some months ago?

-ooo CONTRIVED AND DELIBERATE? I think that what is happening now to MRT-3 train coaches in the past several days is somehow contrived and deliberate. It would seem that the obvious intention is to draw attention to the need to buy new train coaches. Was this not the same scheme which was done in the late 1980s to compel the purchase of generator sets to lick the recurring and debilitating brownouts then?

-ooo GIRL HELPS B OY

PA S S T H E U P C AT, A REMINISCING: As t he University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and in its other campuses nationwide held its UP C ollege Admission Test (UPCAT) to deter mine who will be able to enter its portals next school year, I am reminded once again of the story of a boy from the province who outshone the top ten students of his high school class by being admitted to UP Diliman all by his lonesome.

The top ten students all took the UPCAT, but by some quirk of fate, it was only the boy “from the other town” who got admitted to the University’s Diliman campus, and later proceeded to finish two courses there, in a span of about nine years. But this auspicious turn of events nearly escaped the boy, who inexplicably refused to fill up the papers needed to allow him to take the UPCAT. Two days before the deadline for the submission of those papers in 1973, a

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

By Atty. Batas Mauricio

pretty girl-classmate of the boy learned that he had not filled up the documents yet, had not taken his photo for the application papers yet, and had not paid the application fee yet. That prompted a surprise flurry of activities on the part of the girl, leading to the completion and submission of the boy’s application form.

-ooo HELP OTHERS, CHANGE LIVES: That was providential because, as I already mentioned, it was only that boy who passed the batas/PAGE 8

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Community

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VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ HOLDS LOCAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE MISAMIS ORIENTAL – In the hope of harmonizing legislative processes among the various Sanggunians, Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez, organized the 1st MisOr Local Legislative Conference which was held at the Gardens of Malasag Ecovillage, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City last month. The conference was attended by Vice Mayors and their respective Sanggunian Secretaries of the component cities and municipalities of Misamis Oriental.

Under Section 56 (a) of R e publ i c Ac t 7 1 6 0 , otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panglungsod or Sangguniang Bayan are mandated to transmit to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan copies of approved ordinances

and the resolutions approving the local development plans and publ i c i nve st me nt programs formulated by the local development councils within three (3) days from approval.

“I don’t want to return your ordinances or resolutions to your respective sanggunians because I believe that these are products of your collective efforts. But please submit it to us within the time frame provided by laws and with complete attachments so that we can act on it the soonest time possible,” Vice Governor Pelaez said.

Vice Governor Pelaez also emphasized that what is mandated under the law for the sanggunians to submit are only ordinances and resolutions approving

Capitol puts up tourist information kiosk at Laguindingan airport To f o r t i f y its tourism i n d u s t r y, t h e prov i n c i a l government of Misamis Oriental has started the construction of a tourist information kiosk at Laguindingan airport.

According to Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano it will showcase the vibrant culture and products of the province.

“We will invest small amount for the information kiosk but I am confident that its return will be tripled and even more,” the Governor said.

“As my administration delves on developing and promoting the tourism industry of the province, this will help us in our information drive and tourism campaign. Laguindingan airport is one of the strategic locations wherein we can entice more local and foreign tourists,” the Governor added.

“The information kiosk will be the satellite agency of the provincial tour ism of f ice and it w i l l c ar r y information pertaining to the province’s tourist attractions, tour packages and statistical data,” the Governor explained.

Rebecca Banan, provincial architect said its design features “kuyamis” as the province’s product.

“The information kiosk will be designed with “kuyamis” and we will display a television set which will present the salient facets of Misamis Oriental,” Banan said.

“The information kiosk will be located at the ground floor adjacent to the information booth of the Department of Tourism region 10 and the marker at the center façade, approaching the airport,” she added.

“A l s o , a s G o v e r n o r E m a n o envisions the province to be the “coconut capital” of the Philippines, then this is the first step,” she added.

In addition, Capitol is set to put up a tourism marker next week, still at Laguindingan airport.

local development plans and publ i c i nve st me nt programs formulated by local development councils.

“Submit to us all your ordinances but please do not submit to us resolutions which do not fall under the classification as mentioned in the law,” Vice Governor Pelaez reminded the participants.

Vice Governor Pelaez also tackled the issue on energy, addressing it to the Vice Mayors as the presiding officers of their respective sanggunians. He said that proper scrutiny and prudence must be exercised before deciding on the applications of the power utilities in their respective sanggunians. “Let me make it clear that I am not against the power utilities. All conference/PAGE 9

VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ talked about issues and concerns affecting the Province of Misamis Oriental during the Local Legislative Conference held at the Gardens of Malasag Ecovillage, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City.

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Approves... from page 2

and the establishment of a strategic Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEMONC) at the city hospital.

Pajo, chair of the city council committee on health and sanitation, said that the enactment of the ordinance was necessary to address the growing maternal and infant mortality rate in the country.

He said that since 2002, the maternal and infant deaths in the country have steadily increased from 162 per 100,000 live births in 2009 to 221 per 100,000 live births in 2011.

Pajo said that maternal and infant death could be prevented through proper health care services and providing pregnant mothers an access to antenatal and postnatal care. (PNA)

Veggie... from page 2

Trento, Sta. Josefa, Rosario, Talacogon, Prosperidad and Sibagat for Agusan del Sur; Lanuza, Carrascal and Lingig for Surigao del Sur; and, Pamayapan, Burbuanan, San Roque and San Isidro for Bislig City.

The seeds included upland, lowland, spices and indigenous.

The province of Agusan del Sur received 6, 257 pouches; Surigao del Norte received 4,122 pouches; Surigao del Sur received 2,381 pouches; Agusan del Norte got 5,721 pouches and Butuan City received 1, 436 pouches while the province

of Dinagat Islands were given 1,421 pouches.

The DA seed distribution is a regular intervention of the vegetable production program.

“The intervention aims to lower production cost of the farmers as well as provide their access to quality seeds,” Lynn A. Pareno, HVCDP Regional Coordinator said.

Rafael Alba, Chairman of Bislig Vegetable Growers association said he is thankful for the intervention as it gives him one less thing to worry about.

The program also seeks to answer the shortage of supply of vegetable in the region. Caraga’s vegetable production is not enough to meet the demand as the region relies on supply coming from Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City and other Northern Mindanao areas to augment the deficit.

Further, the program is also in support to attaining the targeted growth rate of 1.77 percent in highland vegetable production for the country and the 1.77 percent and 1.4 percent growth rates targeted for the lowland and spices vegetable, respectively.

(PNA)

PAL... from page 4

passenger service, reservation and sales, general and administrative expenses countered by the decrease in maintenance expense,” PAL said.

The flag carrier recently shifted its accounting period to calendar year ending December 31, instead of fiscal year ending

March 31.

As such, the first six months ending June 2014 can only be compared to the April to June of 2013, since January to March 2013 is part of another fiscal year.

PAL’s revenue for the six months ending June 30 this year amounted to P48.9 billion, up by 164.3 percent from P18.52 billion in the April to June period of last year.

The San Miguel Group is running both PAL and budget unit PAL Express, after Lucio Tan sold a 49 percent stake in both carriers to the

diversifying food-and-beverage conglomerate for $500 million.

The remaining 51 percent of PAL remains with Tan. Re c e n t l y , S a n M i g u el admitted that it was in discussions for either divesting from PAL or buying out Tan’s group.

Batas... from page 6

UPCAT and was subsequently allowed to enroll in UP Diliman, under the student number 73-11158. The girl enrolled in another school, where she also took two courses that led

her to finish a very delicate specialization.

Why am I narrating this story? Well, the story shows the power of helping even those who are not asking for any help. If the girl did not help the boy whatever her reasons may have been then, I am sure the boy would have ended up as an ordinary man in their sleepy town, living an ordinary life. But because the girl selflessly helped him with all her might without expecting any reward, that boy’s life was changed forever.

-ooo-

REMINDERS: Please listen: “Tambalang Batas at Somintac”, 1062 kHz, Mondays to Fridays, 6 a.m., simulcast over 1080 kHz in Dagupan City, 711 kHz in Naga City, 1260 kHz in Lucena City, 1224 kHz in Davao City, and worldwide, at www.eaglenews.ph; “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas”, at 103.7 mHz in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, Mondays to Fridays, at 7 a.m.; “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” at 801 kHz on the AM band (Panay Island), Mondays to Fridays, at 10 a.m.; and “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas” at 107.5 Win FM, Roxas, Isabela (every Sunday, at 7 a.m.).

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DepEd-10 Quality Assurance to Strengthen Regulatory Functions with Private Schools

By Shambaeh A. Usman,Ph.D.

PRINT MEDIA TRAINING MODULES Print Media 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Column Writing Editorial Writing Editorial Cartooning Feature Writing Fact-sheet Writing Feature Writing First Aid During Media Coverage and Other Emergency Situations 8. Headline Writing 9. Investigative Reporting 10. Keeping Media Practitioner’s Family Safe

11. Layouting 12. Low-cost Media 13. News/Press Conference Organizing and Facilitation 14. News Paper Editing 15. News Writing for Print 16. Photography 17. Print News Release Preparation 18. Securing the Newsroom 19. Specialized Writing : Sports, Business, etc.

While DepEd-10 puts in place basic education operation in public schools, it nonetheless will strengthen its regulatory functions with private schools.

This intention became clearer when private school and quality assurance coordinators region-wide gathered to an Assessment and Strategic

Planning Workshop for Private Schools held in the Regional Educational Learning Center, Cagayan de Oro City on August 7-8, 2014.

In gracing the occasion, Atty. Shirley O. Chatto, OICRegional Director, expressed the need to achieve quality basic education in the region,

thus raise performance scores in the National Achievement Test. She counts on the private schools to make the lead partner in this endeavor, and was also positive that through the leadership of Dr. Shambaeh A. Usman, Chief of Quality Assurance Division, the region could from hereon gain good results.

The workshop aimed to

Hurst...

Vice Governor Pelaez invited Police Senior Superintendent Felixberto M. Castillo, Regional Chief of the Highway Patrol Unit 10 who reported about carnapping in the region. PSSUPT Castillo made a proposal to all the Sanggunians in the province to each pass an Ordinance to require dealers/sellers to clear with the HPG the legal status of second-hand cars before displaying them at display centers of their respective municipalities. He even gave sample ordinances to the participants of the conference.

Vice Governor Pelaez also invited Director Edward Bhagwani of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Office as resource speaker. Director Bhagwani talked about updates on DILG policies, rules and regulations and Supreme Court Decisions pertinent to Local

Government.

Present during the conference were Vice Mayor Jose Elcid Ladica of Magsaysay, Vice Mayor Kim Michael Odchigue of Medina, Vice Mayor Carlito Rayon of Talisayan, Vice Mayor Bella Veja Ongcachuy-Dilla of Balingoan, Vice Mayor Marietta Abogado of Balingasag, Councilor Reynaldo Tutica of Tagoloan (representative of Vice Mayor Sabio), Councilor Love Joy Triambulo of Opol (representative of Vice Mayor Ortigoza), Vice Mayor Diosdado Obsioma of Laguindingan, Councilor Prezyl Magtoltol of Gitagum (representative of Vice Mayor Taroy), Councilor Susan Balabat of Initao (representative of Vice Mayor Sayre) and Vice Mayor Jay Michael Manlawe of Lugait.

Board Secretaries present were Ma. Teresa Guanzon of Gingoog City, Mark Vosotros

9

assess implementation of private school regulations and draw out strategic plans to become more effective in the near future. It also oriented the coordinators on the impact of the new rationalized structure to private schools, as well as on the implementation of the Senior High School Program.

(DepEd/msmmm)

of Medina, Corazon Mercedes of Talisayan, Felisa Bais of Balingoan, Giovanni Hisoler of Kinoguitan, Ana Anayron of Sugbongcogon, Hazel May Abao of Binuangan, Francisca Agcopra of Salay, Palmero Berigay of Lagonglong, Agnes Miral of Balingasag, Frederick Llausas of Jasaan, Ma. Christina Manticajon of Claveria, Myrna Cosin of Tagoloan, Edward Yasay of Opol, Alfredo Paz of El Salvador City, Marilou Araneta of Alubijid, Eleno Sambaan of Laguindingan, Thelma Briones of Gitagum, Nerizza Acain of Initao, Victorino Baslot, Jr. of Naawan and Cedric Dayta of Lugait.

Vice Governor Pelaez plans to conduct more Local Legislative Conferences involving wider participation from Municipal and City Councilors, including those in the barangay level.

SP COMMUNICATIONS

BROADCAST MEDIA TRAINING MODULES

1. Audiocraft 2. Audio News Release Production 3. Broadcast Editorial Writing 4. Broadcast Media and the Church Broadcast News Scriptwriting \ Broadcast News Simulation 5. Communication Theory 6. Community Radio Program Production 7. Conducting Energizers/Ice Breakers 8. Coverage of Civil Disorders, Natural and Human-induced Catastrophic Situations, Wars and Conflicts, Abuse and Exploitation 9. Data Gathering 10. Dealing with Death Threats and Surveillance 11. Disc Jockeying (Disk Jokering) 12. Effective Listening and Questioning 13. Feature Writing and Production 14. First Aid During Media Coverage and Other Emergency Situations 15. Headline Writing 16. Interviewing Children 17. Investigative Reporting 18. Keeping Media Practitioner’s Family Safe 19. Lantern Lecture Techniques 20. Microphone Handling 21. Newscasting

22. Non-linear Audio-Video Editing 23. News/Press Conference Organizing and Facilitation 24. Overcoming Ambush Interview 25. Overcoming Stage Fright 26. Program Hosting/Anchoring 27. Public Journalism 28. Radio, As Community Development Tool 29. Radio Programming 30. Radio and TV Guesting and Interview 31. Securing the Newsroom 32. Specialized Writing : Sports, Business, etc.

33. Telephone Interview and Reporting 34. Television, As Community Development Tool 35. Video Camera Handling 36. Video News Release Production 37. Voice Development Others 1. Structured Learning Exercises 2. Trainers Training on Training Facilitation 3. What To Do When Abducted, Arrested, or Stopped at Checkpoints or Roadblocks 4. Zero Waste Management

GENDER AND HEALTH TRAINING MODULE

1. Adolescent and Youth Health 2. Gender and Reproductive Health 3. Gender Sensitivity for Couples, Women and Men 4. Gender Sensitivity in Media 5. Gender Sensitivity Training for Lupon 6. Gender in Waste Management 7. Violence Against Women and Children

INFORMATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION (IEC) and ADVOCACY MODULES 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

Brainstorming and Project Presentation Building a Constituency for Support Communicating with the Adolescents, Handicaps Community Organizing and Planning Community Public Address System (ComPAS) Conducting an Advocacy Campaign Designating Spokespersons Data Gathering Defending Against and Addressing the Opposition Development Communication Educating Colleagues Establishing Goals, Objectives and Activities Expanding Your Base of Support Enhancing Your Public Education Efforts Establishing Hotlines Framing Issues and Shaping Your Message Going Public/External Relations

18. Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Communication 19. Knowing Your Community 20. Letter to the Editor Writing 21. Making Contacts 22. Media Relations 23. Networking and Coalition Building 24. Objective Setting and Action Planning 25. Organizational Communication 26. Overcoming Burnout 27. Overcoming Stage Fright 28. Program/Project Audience Analysis 29. Project Proposal Writing and Presentation 30. Public Address System Operation 31. Public Speaking 32. Reaching the General Public 33. Reaching Policy Makers, Lobbying, Legislative Approaches 34. Strategic Planning 35. Verbal and Non-verbal Communication 36. Vision, Mission and Goals Setting 37. Writing Mission Statements

VALUES AND RELATED TRAINING MODULES

1. Aggressiveness and Assertiveness 2. Coping With (Post-traumatic) Stress and Depression 3. Dealing with Conflict 4. Developing Positive Personal Values 5. Discovering Interpersonal Life 6. Emotional Quotient 7. Etiquette and Grooming 8. Good Passenger Handling 9. Human Relations and Personhood 10. Intelligence Quotient 11. Leadership 12. Overcoming Difficult People 13. Prayer Writing and Delivery 14. Public Relations 15. Sermon Writing and Delivery 16. Supervisor, as Formater 17. SWOT Analysis 18. Team-building 19. Values Clarification

For training facilitation, please contact +639997990008, +639262553215, or +639355588706

from page 6

so we can keep enjoying life without hurting ourselves and breaking down. Jesus our Designer shows us His blueprint for success and satisfaction that lasts.

But it’s never too late to get your life fixed and working correctly again. So why not ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for living your own way? Then ask Him to take charge so you can start living His right, successful way. It’s the only way you’ll ever enjoy your life fully the way it was meant to work.

Just Think a Minute…

Conference... from page 7

I want is for them to make reasonable measure which is pro-poor for the welfare of our constituents,” Vice Governor Pelaez said.

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A rts &C ulture 10 PH Jesuits on SJ restoration’s bicentenary: ‘Go, set the world on fire’ Best in Business and Economic Reporting

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By Stephen J. Pedroza

W

ith the theme ‘Ite inflammate omnia’ which means “Go, set the world on fire,” the Philippine Provincial Jesuits commemorated the 200th anniversary of the re-establishment of the Society of Jesus in Cagayan de Oro City on August 6-7.

X av i e r Un i v e r s it y Ateneo de Cagayan hosted the event that served as an opportunity for the Jesuits to recollect and ref lect on their challenges and accomplishments over the years.

XU president Fr. Roberto “Bobby” C. Yap SJ related the reflection of Superior

General Fr. Adolfo Nicolás SJ on this celebration. “ [ Fr . Ni c o l á s ] d o e s not want a restoration of the glory of the Society.

Something has to die of the desires of power, security and worldly ambitions.

Rather Fr. Nico wishes that during this anniversary, we make an effort to live more

profoundly the spiritual aspects of our vocation,” Fr Bobby said.

Among the aspects the Jesuits must inculcate according to Fr. Nicolás are: creative fidelity, love for the institute, fraternal companionship, universal mission and faith in providence.

Rewriting Mindanao history The celebration started with a forum on how the Jesuits can help in addressing various social issues, especially in Mindanao and the different pronouncements of Pope Francis, the first pope from the Society of Jesus.

One of the members of the discussion panel, CDO A rc hbi s h op Mo s t R e v.

Antonio J. Ledesma SJ, DD, underscored the importance of inter-religious dialogues

and peace talks in the conflict areas of the second largest island of the Philippines.

“Peace-building and t h e c ompl e t i on of t h e Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro are major concerns. We can focus on the rewriting of a more balanced history of Mindanao that includes the perspectives of Muslims and the indigenous people (IP).”

Sustainable agriculture, the challenges faced by

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), rehabilitation of the environment to mitigate climate change and reduce disaster risks, among others were also tackled in the forum.

Officials of the SJ Philippine Province, the presidents and faculty of the different Ateneo universities and representatives f r o m n o n - g ov e r n m e nt o r g a n i z at i o n s ( N G O s ) attended the event.

Jesuits in the Philippines On Aug 7, 1814, came the official restoration of the Jesuits with Pope Pius VII’s issuance of ‘Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiaru,’ the papal bull by which he reinstated the Society worldwide.

The restoration encouraged the return of the Jesuits to the Philippines.

On December 10, 1859, Spanish Jesuits star ted op e r at i n g t h e E s c u e l a Municipal, a small school for the children of Spanish residents in Manila, which is presently known as Ateneo de

Manila University (AdMU).

In the following years, the Society concentrated its missionar y work in Mindanao and they were able to establish 3 Ateneo schools (in CDO, Davao and Zamboanga) and a number of parishes across the island.

PH Provincial Superior Fr. Antonio F. Moreno SJ said in his homily during the celebratory mass that the support from their partners has continued to be overwhelming to this day, adding that the curtailment

of the Society of Jesus was a revelation of its obedience and submission to “God’s great plans.” “ The stor y of the suppression and restoration of the Jesuits is a narrative of God’s graciousness. We have nothing to claim as absolutely ours. Everything we have is a result of admitting that there are always other people involved in our mission,” he said.

PARADE OF JESUITS. The Jesuits marched from the entrance of University Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan to celebrate a mass on the 200th anniversary of restoration of the Society of Jesus. All photos by XU Communications Office.

The dissolution of the Jesuits This year, the Society of Jesus looks back on one of the most challenging periods in their history—the abolishment of their religious order, following the political tremors in Europe during the 17th century.

The curtailment of the Society transpired at the height of the numerous tensions between the Catholic Church and the different European royal states, as kings and princes were already “getting fed up” with the Church’s thirst for political control and wealth.

“In his papal brief of July 21st 1773, ‘Dominus

ac Redemptor,’ Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits worldwide including those in the Philippines were expelled,” Fr. Bobby said in his Red Mass homily.

The Society, at that time with over 22,000 members worldwide and the leading youth educator all over Europe, became the first religious institution inflicted by the papal suppression.

In 1767, six years earlier from the official papal brief, the Spanish throne already ordered the banishing of the Society from all its dominions but the royal decree only

reached the Philippines a year after, on May 17, 1768.

“Why was the Society targeted during that fight?

She was the most developed and powerful religious congregation. The Society had been very close to the political powers, as some Jesuits were spiritual directors of kings and princes. To suppress the Society was to weaken the Church in one of her most decisive institutions,” Fr. Bobby continued.

However, only Russia, under the power of Catherine the Great, was able to resist the promulgation of the said papal decree.

COMPANIONSHIP. XU president Fr. Roberto “Bobby” C. Yap SJ underscores the essence of the camaraderie, humility and the spiritual aspects of the vocation of the Jesuits.

REWRITE MINDANAO. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Most Rev. Antonio J. Ledesma SJ, DD, highlights in his discussion the need for inter-religious dialogues in building longlasting peace in Mindanao.

THANKSGIVING. The Society of Jesus and XU community come together for the celebratory mass.

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Steps... from page 1

the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Col. Glenn G. Macasero representing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

LASURECO has faced heavy financial problems for the past several years. Its outstanding debt has ballooned to P8 billion reportedly because of the power consumers’ refusal to pay their bills arguing that they have no electric meters to accurately measure their electric consumption.

“Ang pag-produce ng kuryente ay may karampatang halaga. Iyon po ay dapat bayaran. Hindi po libre ang kuryente (Electricity has a corresponding price. That has to be paid. Electricity does not come for free),” said Roxas.

Secretary Jericho Petilla of the Department of Energy (DOE), meanwhile, said the government plans to install electric meter for every household-consumer by November and hold an election to put in place a new set of officers by February 2015.

He added that the Board of Directors of LASURECO including its General Manager, Sultan Ashary P. Maongco, are not prevented by law from seeking re-election.

BBL... from page 1

President, the two-paragraph, nine-line Joint Statement did not indicate.

The noontime announcement on the conclusion of the discussions came three days before the self-imposed deadline

of the peace panels. The panels on August 10 reiterated at the end of their ten-day “workshop” that they were committed to “finish an agreed draft Bangsamoro Basic Law by August 18, 2014, in sha Allah (God-willing).”

The panels held a series of four “workshops” totaling 21 days — July 8 to 11 in Kuala Lumpur, 18 to 21 and 25 to 27 in Manila and August 1 to 10 in Davao City – but failed to craft a “mutually acceptable” draft BBL. In the morning of August 10, the panels continued their meeting at the Kalaw Room of the Waterfront Insular Hotel with neither party knowing if there would be a press conference at all. Although both sides would reportedly issue a press statement, what to say in that statement was still a problem in the morning.

Ochoa takes over From a morning of “no direction” on August 10, it became an afternoon of action when Ochoa arrived at noon and practically took over the helm of the negotiations on behalf of government, meeting separately with the panel chairs.

Ochoa and Iqbal met twice that afternoon, the first to discuss “immediate ways forward” and the second, for the MILF to hand over a list of still unresolved issues that Ochoa would bring to the President’s attention.

Ochoa and Iqbal signed the August 15 Joint Statement, with Iqbal signing as chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body mandated to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The statement said that

11

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

after a “series of productive meetings involving the GPH and MILF Peace Panels, the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process, the Office of the Executive Secretary, and the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, we have concluded discussions on the various issues involving the draft Basic Bangsamoro Law(BBL) originally drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and submitted to the President last April.”

In both paragraphs, the statement referred to a “Basic Bangsamoro Law” instead of “Bangsamoro Basic Law.” “That’s an oversight because of the rush,” Deles said.

From Malagos to Marco Polo The GPH and MILF peace panels initially met at the Malagos Garden Resort in Calinan at the outskirts of the city on Wednesday, August 13 but venue of the discussions were moved to Marco Polo hotel downtown by Thursday.

Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed arrived also on August 13 while members of the International Contact Group arrived on Thursday.

Both panels were under strict instructions not to divulge the venue of the meeting.

MindaNews learned there was not a single panel to panel meeting although the GPH peace panel led by chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer was in the same venue.

Three meetings were held between Ochoa and Iqbal – in Malagos on Wednesday afternoon, Marco Polo on Thursday afternoon and shortly

before noon Friday.

Ochoa was accompanied to the meetings by Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Alfredo Benjamin Sabater Caguioa.

Investment... from page 1

public affairs head.

Under the partnership, explained Mr. Montenegro, the business association will invite its members to look at investment possibilities in Mindanao, particularly in impoverished areas.

PBSP, currently with 249 members, was formed 44 years ago by 50 business leaders who committed to allocate one percent of their respective company’s net income before taxes for corporate social responsibility undertakings.

Under the partnership, MinDA will “help in the facilitation of these investments so these would be realized on the ground,” said Mr. Montenegro.

Aside from coordinating with local government units and other

agencies, MinDA will also lobby the national government for the needed support infrastructure and other facilities.

Mr. Montenegro said the partnership also complements the recently-launched “inclusive growth” program of MinDA wherein they are matching investors with areas ideal for their business plan.

“This will not only provide

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investors of areas where they can grow their money, but also address poverty, especially in the countryside,” Mr. Montenegro said.

“Through this mechanism, the highly impoverished areas, the targeted communities, would be brought to the economic mainstream and part of the supply chain of these companies,” he added.

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