BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE
Volume VIII, No. 33
Market Indicators
As of 5:30 pm August 22, 2017 (tuesday)
FOREX
PHISIX
US$1 = P51.24
8,015.93
X Briefly
51.49
0.80
cents
points
X
Avian task force BUTUAN City -- While there is no reported case of bird flu infection in Caraga Region yet, agriculture officials said they are not taking any chances. A multi-agency task force will be reactivated anytime this week to coordinate the region’s efforts to prevent the entry of infected poultry products in local markets, said John Gamboa, chief of the Integrated Laboratory Division at the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DACaraga). Gamboa clarified that the region’s poultry products remain fit for human consumption. He added that preventive measures are being undertaken following the “unfortunate incident” in San Luis, Pampanga, where a bird flu outbreak has been confirmed. He said the Regional Avian Influenza Task Force (RAITF) will be tasked with monitoring possible avian flu cases and establish measures to prevent potentially compromised poultry products from entering the region.
YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper
RELIABLE
NEA plans big loans to electric coops www.businessweekmindanao.com
S
By MYRNA M. VELASCO, Contributor
TATE-run agency National Electrification Administration (NEA) will be funneling bulk of its P4.9-billion budget for 2018 to loans and energization projects of electric cooperatives (ECs).
P15.00
Wednesday | August 23, 2017
It said the credit window for the ECs could come in the form of either short- or long-term loans – and could be utilized for their required capital spending and other electrification ventures.
Of the proposed budget for the agency for next year, tangibly specified to be released as loan to ECs would be P1.7 billion. The budget for NEA had been presented to the
C ong re ss on Thurs d ay (August 17), as part of the deliberations to next year’s General Appropriations Act. As f l e she d out , t he allocation for the agency loans/PAGE 11
CDO beefs up security for annual festival THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) vowed it can handle all the security concerns for the month-long feast of the annual “Higalaay Festival 2017.” Pol i c e C h i e f Insp. Mardy Hortillosa II, Cocpo spokesperson, said no terror threat is, so far, imminent in the city during the entire festivities despite the monthslong siege in nearby Marawi City.
There is no need for any reinforcement from the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO-10), Hortillosa said, in contrast to last year’s festival which required security augmentation from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB). Hortillosa added that trainees from the Regional Training School (RTS) might act as security augmentation security/PAGE 11 HEIGHTENED ALERT. Security forces stand guard to ensure a peaceful celebration of Cagayan de Oro City fiesta in honor of patron saint, St Augustine, on August 28. photo by gerry lee gorit
Wide energy base BUTUAN City -- Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi called for the widening of the energy base with efficient and reliable power sources at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) event held recently in Panglao, Bohol. In his keynote address at the opening of the three-day ACD, Cusi said the strategy can help nations secure their energy needs while addressing the challenges of climate change and energy affordability. “We have a diversified energy mix, with nearly 24 percent of our power being sourced from renewable sources. And this diversified mix has proven to be competitive and sustainable,” Cusi said. To achieve security and sustainability requires a three-pronged approach driven by three “Is” - incentives, investments and innovation, according to Cusi.
IN-DEPTH
Grab mulls expanding operations in Davao By LILIAN MELLEJOR, PNA
CALM WATER. A boatman clears his way from the thick water hyacinth along the Agusan River bank in Butuan City. photo by jun ayensa
DAVAO C i t y - - G r a b Philippines is mulling on expanding its GrabC ar operations in Davao City which is now under study if it’s feasible amid a good taxi system here. Leo Gonzalez, head of the
Public Affairs, said Grab is testing the environment in Davao City if Davaoenos are ready to pay higher fares for a more convenient ride. Gonzalez stressed the company is looking more on the demand side under
such operation. He said the company has already expressed interest with the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) to operate in the city. GrabCar is a car-booking application that dispatches private vehicles. The app grab/PAGE 11
More daily tuna allocation for Davao market pushed By LILIAN MELLEJOR, PNA
DAVAO City -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region XI (BFAR-XI) on Monday bared it has submitted the request of the Davao City government to increase tuna allocation per day from the Davao Fish Port
for non-exportable products from 3.5 metric tons to 20 metric tons. BFAR-XI regional director Fatma Idris said, “I have already endorsed the request of the city government as facilitated by Davao City
Councilors Marissa Abella and Conrado Baluran.” Idris said the request was submitted to the Department of Agriculture central office last August 17. Idris said the 3.5 MT allocation was contained in the certification issued by tuna/PAGE 8
A fish trader inspects the quality of yellow fin tuna brought to Bangkerohan’s “bagsakan” in Davao City in this MindaNews file photo.
Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776