BusinessWeek Mindanao (August 5, 2016)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

Volume VII, No. 025

Market Indicators

As of 6:10 pm august 4, 2016 (thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P47.014

7,978.57

1.7

X X Briefly

cents

90.13 points

Aid for OFWs

LABOR and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III yesterday said that the Department is coordinating with other concerned government agencies to assist the families and other beneficiaries of OFWs who were displaced by the oil price crisis in the Middle East.

“The drop in oil prices in the Gulf States caused financial difficulties to many construction companies which employ a good number of overseas Filipino workers. 4 Because of this, many of our OFWs were displaced and has little or no means to support their families at home,” said Bello. He added that the displaced OFWs requested for the Department to intercede in their behalf with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide assistance to their families and other beneficiaries.

Peace convergence PRESIDENTIAL peace adviser Jesus Dureza on Thursday stressed the need to consolidate the government’s peace accords with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in order to craft a more inclusive proposed enabling law.

During a briefing on the new peace roadmap for international partners, Dureza said that the lack of inclusivity was the “very reason” that led to the nonpassage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the previous Congress.

“The MILF claims that it (BBL) was very inclusive, but the perception and in actuality, other factions felt and still feel now that it is not inclusive,” said Dureza.

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DOE wants Agus-Pulangi assets retained by govt www.businessweekmindanao.com

Friday | August 5, 2016

E

By MYRNA VELASCO, Contributor

NERGY Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi prefers that the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex in Mindanao be retained under government ownership given the level of positive earnings the facilities have been bringing to the State coffers.

The energy chief reportedly sounded off his discretion when the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) presented the privatization plan they will be pursuing for the remaining

assets of the National Power Corporation (NPC).

The 727-megawatt Agus complex and the 255-MW Pulangui hydropower plant were traditionally the main source of power supply for Assets/PAGE 10

SILTATION. A motorist stops to look at the effect of mining operations in the boundary of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. This is part of the area where the Clarence T. Pimentel Mining Corporation operates. The firm is among seven mining companies now being audited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, according to Secretary Gina Lopez. MindaNews photo by Roel N. Catoto

DENR audits mining firms in Surigao

By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

SURIGAO City -- Mining firms in the two Surigao provinces are being audited by the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said at least

seven mining f irms are now on audit to confirm whether or not there a r e v i o l at i o n s i n t h e i r operations. mining/PAGE 10

President to spend 10 days in Mindanao

By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS, MindaNews

DAVAO City – The country’s 16th President and first Mindanawon to lead the nation will spend 10 days in Mindanao when he returns this week from Malacanang “I’ll be spending about 10 days after tomorrow. I’m gonna fix the, firm (up) the structure sa Mindanao issue,” President Rodrigo Duterte

said at the mass oath-taking of undersecretaries Monday afternoon in Malacanang, aired live on national television.

Since he took his oath as President on June 30, Duterte has been coming home for the weekends in this city where he served as mayor for 22 years. president/PAGE 10

ILLEGAL. The city government is beefing up drive to stop the rampant sale of petroleum products.

DOE gives city ‘go-ahead’ to intercept resold fuels

By MARK D. FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has given city hall a go-ahead to apprehend “resellers” of petroleum products.

The Cagayan de Oro City government through

treasurer Glenn C. Banez has called on DOE officials in a meeting Wednesday to tackle legal impediments in the drive against the proliferation of petroleum products sold fuels/PAGE 10

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Economy

Food tips for the home during disaster

SOME hazards are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events which can be geophysical like earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and volcanic activity.

Others are hydrological like avalanches and floods some climatological such as extreme temperatures, droug ht and wildf ires, meteorological like storms and wave surges, or biological such as disease epidemics and insect or animal plagues.

Te c h n o l o g i c a l o r man-made hazards are complex emergencies or conflicts, famine, displaced

p opulations, industrial accidents and transport accidents. These are events that are caused by humans and occur in or close to human settlements. These can include environmental degradation, pollution and accidents.

A natural or man-made disaster can cause loss of lives or damages to properties. Our country is not spared from the havoc of natural disasters, as it is surrounded by bodies of water and is located along the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”, from where typhoons, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and earthquake emanate.

Emergency reserve food and water in the home are essential in the event of a natural disaster. Ensuring the safety and quality of food and water supply is ver y important because consumption of contaminated food or water may result in illness or death. Careful planning and readiness help ensure safe food and water supply for the family.

Here are some practical food tips that you can follow when disaster occurs: Store food that are nonperishable or with long storage life Fo o ds t hat need no

What is like to be a teacher?

refrigeration Foods that are easy to prepare to prepare and cook Foods that require a minimal amount of water if preparation is needed Foods should be compact and lightweight Store clean water in safe sealed containers Also wash hands with soap and water when handling foods to prevent illnesses and Include hand sanitizer Examples of foods to store are ready-to-eat canned goods like sardines, dried fruits, juices, staples (sugar, salt, pepper), instant low-salt noodles, high energy foods disaster/PAGE 10

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friday|august 5, 2016

Davao City Mayor shuts down famed night market DAVAO City -- The evening crowd gathered as they usually do at the stretch of Roxas Boulevard, however to their surprise the stalls which sold street food, used clothing and other merchandise were gone.

This after Mayor Sara Duterte ordered the closure of the famed night market due to numerous violations and complaints.

Among these rules were one family-one stall rule, existence of dummies running stalls owned by financiers, not following mandated locations, subleasing of stalls.

“The vendors must follow our rules. It is not the other way around. If they can’t follow the rules, I will never reopen the night market.”

They City Mayor said.

Pe r s on n e l f rom t h e City Transportation and

Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) were deployed in the streets to enforce the order of the Mayor.

“It is not us who will follow them but they must follow us.”

Duterte said during the press conference held yesterday (August 3).

Red Jao, a businesswoman who frequents the night market said she was surprised that the street was empty. “I was supposed to buy buchi (sweet rice cake) but they are all gone. Sana makabalik sila kasi kawawa, walang hanapbuhay. (I hope they can return, it’s a pity, they have no livelihood).

“Mas maayo ana, magbuhat ug bag-o na masterlist, bag-o na profiling, para mao tong daghan ug area, isa nalang.

(The best way is to create a new masterlist, new profiling, market/PAGE 9

By Cecilia B. Gamalo

What is it like to be a public teacher? Many seemed to see it as a calling - a way of making a difference but others also said that it is not a job to earn lots of money but it is a profession that involves commitment and dedication to serve the people especially the significant others in the community. If you are thinking of becoming a teacher, it is vital that you weigh all the pros and cons that you may encounter in your journey . You should have the potential and ability to surmount every obstacle in work.

Being a teacher is never an e as y j ob. St r u g g l e s and sacrifices are there in the midst of challenges

and pressures in work. In order to become a better a g o o d e d u c at o r, y o u need to have passion and willingness to fulfill your task effectively.

To be a teacher requires many responsibilities. You have to be organized, self-aware, and confident to accomplish with all of the tasks. As a teacher , it is a twenty-four hour job because the welfare of the pupils are constantly in your thoughts. It has to be because; you are responsible for the the students. Sometimes you lay awake at night thinking through a difficult problem in the classroom , other times something prevents you from sleeping well or enters in your dreams. In

many ways you are always “on the job” even when you are off or away on vacation, your work as a teacher never ends.

There are many pros and cons of being a teacher . Take all factors of both sides into consideration before making your final decision. If you do not feel you can handle the cons, stay away from this job.

If you believe that the cons are only roadblocks, and the pros are well worth it, then go for it. It can be a most rewarding job. Remember, it can be a terrific career choice for the right person.

The footprint is enormous, so you have your hand in everything, and this can be an overwhelming profession.

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friday|august 5, 2016 The District Governor and the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro welcomes fellow Rotarians to the DISTRICT SEAMLESS SEMINAR for the Rotary year 20162017 in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro City on August 6, 2016 at Grand Caprice Restaurant, Limketkai Center.

The DISTRICT SEAMLESS SEMINAR will take up a number of issues and concerns on key areas of Rotary covering THE ROTARY FOUNDATION, MEMBERSHIP and PUBLIC IMAGE in order to sustain its mission of service to the community and to the world.

A good Rotarian is a well-informed Rotarian, in this light, we strongly suggest that you participate in this endeavour as we have invited powerful speakers who are now icons in the Rotary world not only in the Philippines but even abroad.

PE. Tonyboy Fernandez Chairman Sec. Mike Mendoza Secretariat Rtn. Gus Rodano Online Registration Dir. Ariel Ceniza Treasurer Rtn. Rey Lomarda Program/ Tokens PAG Luigi Sarraga PAG JohnMark Sarraga AG Cris Parojinog Ways and Means PDG. Manny Along Promotions/Training DIR. DANTE SUDARIA Public Relation Dir. Erik Mendoza Venue Manny Aliñabon Stage Design / Sound Josy Aliñabon Food Dir. JP Gaston Transportation Thanks to the Rotary Anns Cagayan de Oro Thanks to Pres. Dodie L agrosas a n d t h e RCCDO

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Opinion

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friday|august 5, 2016

Discipline, not a matter of military training alone

Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO

ALLAN mario MEDIANTE

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Joe felicilda

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Feature Editor

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JUN AYENSA

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The End of the World Think a minute…Recently the biggest-selling book in America was about the end of the world. Sometimes watching the world’s news is like watching a horror movie, isn’t it? You know that the 20th century had more people killed in wars than all the other centuries of history combined! Besides all the wars, we’re seeing an increase in many kinds of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes; plus totally new weather patterns that never existed before such as El Nino and La Nina.

Then, there are the terrible diseases, plagues, and new mystery viruses. AIDS, the worst disease in history, is killing millions of people worldwide with still no cure in sight! In Africa, entire towns have no adults because they’ve all died from AIDS, so just babies and children are left to survive alone.

According to a new United Nations report, we now have the worst world hunger and famine in history. Hundreds of millions are starving with countless thousands dying every day.

You know that Jesus Christ told us that all these things would happen and that they’re like labor pains just before a mother gives birth. These terrible things are the sign

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst that He’s getting ready to come back. Only this time, He’s coming to judge all this world’s evil and wrong. Jesus said we can’t know the exact day of His return, so it will be sudden and here before we know it. But Jesus explained it’s because He loves us so much that He’s waited as long as He can for more of us to choose to receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, before it’s too late! But if you know the world’s Judge personally as your friend, then His return is good news because you’re going home with Him to live forever in paradise, just as He promised.

That morning of September 11, those people who went to work at the World Trade Center in New York had no idea they would never see their family again. hurst/PAGE 9

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…

The LORD does not look at the things people look at.

People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…” (1 Samuel 16:7, the Holy Bible).

-ooo DISCIPLINE, NOT A SIMPLE MATTER OF MILITARY TRAINING: Okay, alright, lawyer Ariel Joseph Arias has a point in his Facebook post that there is a need to revive the ROTC program for college students not only to instill discipline among them but also to foster good citizenship and love of country.

For who would not want disciplined children growing up to be disciplined citizens, especially in the midst of devilish kids and treacherous older men and women who can do even the most heinous of crimes at the flick of a finger?

The problem however is that instilling discipline is not a simple matter of school children going through a military-like training, for even those rigorously trained in a discipline-filled academy like the one we all know of from Baguio City have shown themselves to be

quite capable of absolute lack of discipline, and even total treachery in raiding government coffers and stealing billions of pesos once they are in power!

-ooo T RU E D I S C I P L I N E COMES FROM KNOWING WHERE ONE GOES: True discipline comes only after people realize that at one point in their lives, the breath in their nostrils would be pulled away from them and would ultimately stop, causing all other organs inside their puny bodies to ground to a halt, leaving them dead, forever.

It is the realization of their ultimate destiny---which is death---that sends people to serious thinking about where they would possibly go after dying. If they believe in God, they would have to believe likewise that there are only two alternatives of their final destination, and these are heaven and hell.

Surely, 99% of every man and woman in this world know that heaven is the place where those who listened to, and obeyed, God would go, to spend the rest of eternity in blissful living with Him. On the other hand, the same

number of people would also know that hell is the place where those who disobeyed and ignored God would go, to be burned in unending fire and being eaten by immortal worms.

-ooo DI S C I PL I N E F ROM DEEPER SPIRITUALITY: My take is that, if we want true discipline to come among our p e ople, we should re-introduce them to spiritually, and a deeper faith in God, no matter what they conceive Him to be, or whether He is called Jesus (in the case of Christians) or Allah (in the case of Muslims), or whether He is known by any other name.

We must teach our people that mankind, who is as wonderfully complex as anything else in this world could ever be, could not have been born merely out of an accident or of some senseless catastrophe, but by a grand design which only an Almighty and Intelligent Being could have planned and brought about.

We must tell man that he was brought into this world for a very special purpose, under various rules that must be obeyed and complied

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio with faithfully and sincerely.

When we obey those rules, the promises contained in them will be given to us, in this world and in eternity.

When we disobey, we reap the punishment that have been promised in them right from the start!

-ooo PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible study and prayer session online could now be heard, 24 HOURS a day, in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook.com/ angtangingdaan or www. facebook.com/ANDKNK (and look for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts). Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Beware of the culture of triviality We have to be careful not to fall to triviality. The profusion of data, images and messages that are now technologically generated and circulated can easily confuse, intoxicate and desensitize us to the point of developing a culture of triviality–ever ything would be considered of the same value or nothing is considered serious.

With this attitude, we can lose our sense of balance and direction, priorities are thrown haywire, and we mostly likely would be led only by our senses, feelings, instincts and passions, that at best can only cover so much of the reality we are in.

Even if we still have a good use of our reason and intelligence, we would find it hard to discern the impulses of faith and grace, the promptings of the Holy Spirit that for sure continue to come to us, since our life is always a shared life with God, in spite of our freedom and independence.

In fact, the sense of the sacred vanishes. Faith and religion are not only ignored.

T h e y a re i n c re a s i n g l y attacked, accused of being anti-human. Talking about developing a supernatural outlook is now considered trash talk.

We need to be properly grounded and sober, and at the same time flexible, able to flow with the times

that are getting more and more complex. This is now an urgent re quirement that should be met fast and adequately. Let’s hope families, schools and other institutions realize this and start to act about it.

Fact is there are now many young people falling to triviality, and a host of other anomalies that usually go with it. To mention a few, we can cite vulgarity, laziness, disorder, addictions that now go beyond substance or drug addiction.

We can now talk about psychological addiction that may be fed mainly by smut and porn. From there, all sorts of perversions can come. And when not promptly corrected, they can spread quickly, causing a kind of epidemic.

And since these irregularities are more moral than organic, more psychological than physical, the urge to justify them can easily take place. This is what we are seeing in some developed countries that are actually getting into decadence. And we are starting to see signs and symptoms of these problems in our country.

In fact, we now have moves to legalize these irregularities in an effort to make these practices the new normal in a new world order where God is stricken out. The world culture is

becoming a Godless culture.

Saint Paul already warned us of this eventuality. “The time is coming when people wi ll not endure s ound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.” (2 Tim 3-4) We have to see to it that we are properly guided and directed even as we sail through life’s seas. For this, everyone should try to come up with an effective plan, consisting of certain practices of piety organically linked to his daily activities so that the love of God and others would always throb in his heart.

The proper structures and atmosphere in homes, schools, offices, etcetera shou ld b e cre ate d and maintained, so that this plan of piety can really be lived.

Very crucial to this would be a continuing program of formation and education that should be pursued in an air of freedom and never of coercion.

O b v i o u s l y, f o r t h i s purpose, the Church leaders should be in the forefront.

But they should also train others–especially parents and teachers–to be experts in this plan of piety so they, the parents and teachers, can transmit this plan to children and students through their

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala words, actions and the very testimony of their own lives.

In this task of formation, we need to highlight the core truth that all of us who are creatures and children of God actually have a natural longing for God, though that longing is often thwarted by a number of factors. We just have to find ways of recovering it when it is lost, and to reinforce it especially when we face trials.

That formation has to be wholistic, covering the human aspect that is always basic, as well as the doctrinal and spiritual aspects that would include teaching others how to pray, to value sacrifice, to wage a lifelong ascetical struggle, to have recourse to the sacraments, and precisely to take care of their on-going formation.

This formation would prevent us from falling into triviality, with mind focused and heart burning with love. roycimagala@gmail.com.

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CorporateWorld 5 Alsons awards contract for 210-MW Sarangani coal plant to Japan firm Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

friday|august 5, 2016

J

GC Philippines, local subsidiary of Japanbased global engineering firm JGC Corporation, has secured the US$ 280-million construction deal for the expansion of the Sarangani coal-fired power plant of the Alcantara group.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Alsons Power Group said it has recently awarded JGC Philippines the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to build the second unit of the 210-megawatt (MW) baseload plant in

Maasim, Sarangani province under Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC).

The first SEC unit began its operations in April, providing 105 MW of baseload power to over three million residents of Sarangani Province, General

Santos City and other key areas in Mindanao.

The second 105-MW unit, which is expected to commence operation in April 2019, is set to contribute power supply to three million residents of South Cotabato, Cagayan

A L S ON S C ons ol i d ate d Resources, Inc. has placed the price tag to the contract it has awarded to the local unit of Japan’s JGC Corp. at $280 million, which will cover the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) work for the second section of its 210-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Sarangani province.

The amount is almost half of the plant’s disclosed cost of $570 million, which Alsons described as the “single largest investment” in Sarangani and the whole of Soccsksargen or Region 12.

In a statement on Wednesday, Alsons said the contract was signed

by JGC C orp. Director

Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Alsons Chairman and President Tomas I. Alcantara and JGC Philippines, Inc. President Antonio Cabrera.

The two-unit baseload pl ant i s u n d e r A l s ons subsidiary Sarangani Energy Corp., which in April started operating the first 105-MW section. It provides baseload power to more than 3 million

residents of the province, General Santos City and other key areas of Mindanao.

Alsons did not say when the deal was signed, but on July 7, the Yokohamabased global engineering firm said its local unit JGC Philippines had been awarded a lump-sum turnkey basis contract for the second phase plant/PAGE 9

de Oro City, and other growing population centers in Mindanao.

S o far, the US$ 570 million SEC power plant is the single largest investment in Sarangani province and the entire Region 12.

Signatories of the

EPC contract were JGC Corporation director Hiroyuki Miyoshi, Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR) Inc. chairman and president Tomas Alcantara, and JGC Philippines president Antonio Cabrera.

(PNA)

AN electric cooperative i n Mi s am i s O c c i d e nt a l has ag re e d to s ource 1 megawatt (MW) of power from a hydropower project of an Aboitiz Power Corp. sub si d i ar y t hat w i l l b e completed next year.

Publicly listed AboitizPower said Hedcor, Inc., w h i ch hous e s t he c omp any ’s i nve st m e nt s in mini-hydroelectric plants, signed a renewable energy supply agreement with Misamis Occidental I Electric Cooperative, Inc. on July 25, 2016.

“With this agreement, we have forged, 1,000 kWh of clean and renewable energy will be coming into Misamis Occidental and a total of 68.8 MW of clean energy for Mindanao by 2017,”

said Rolando G. Pacquiao, Hedcor vice-president for Mindanao operations, in a statement on Wednesday.

This is the third electric cooperative to close a supply contract with the 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich run-ofriver hydropower plant, which started construction in 2015 and is expected to be finished in 2017. “ The development of this renewable energ y source is promoting energy efficiency and clean energy and this will def initely boost the economic activity in our region and in the Mindanao region,” said Rey Roger B. Villanueva, president of the Misamis Occidental cooperative’s board. hedcor/PAGE 9

to supply power Japan firm to build Sarangani power plant Hedcor to Misamis cooperative

Industry eyes provinces to host half of IT-BPM jobs in PHL THE country’s information technology and business process management (ITBP M ) i ndust r y t arge t s provinces to host 50 percent of the sector’s jobs in the coming years.

Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) President Benedict

Hernandez, at the sidelines of a press conference Wednesday, said it would be a good target to bring half of IT-BPM jobs outside Metro Manila to spur economic growth, particularly in rural areas.

This target will be an increase from the 30 percent current share of areas outside

MEDIA PARTNERS:

Metro Manila in number of IT-BPM workforce.

Hernandez said that about 300,000 people were employed by the industry in cities outside the National Capital Region (NCR).

The workforce population in provinces has tripled in 10 years in which number of jobs outside NCR was

only at more than 90,000.

“Our contribution and aspiration is ver y much aligned with government and hence there’s opportunity for dialogue on how we can contribute to the same outcome -- a lot of IT jobs creating a new middle class,” the CCAP chief said. host/PAGE 9

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Feature

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friday|august 5, 2016

Juan Science, One Nation

Researchers face formidable obstacles to raise PH R&D intensity

By Mike Baños

In a 2004 paper, Bernie S. Justimbaste, Science & Technology Director for Planning and Evaluation, said the Philippines spent P 4.5 billion on R&D in 2002 (0.11 % of the country’s 2002 gross domestic product (GDP), down from 0.19 % in 1996 and 0.22 % in 1992.

(Justimbaste, Improving the Philippine Research and Development Statistical System, 2004) Fourteen years, later, the R&D intensity of the country has not improved at all at 0.14%, even lower than the 0.19% in 1996 and 0.22% in 1992.

In his opening remarks for the regional celebration of National Science and Technology Week 2016 held from July 23-26, Dept. of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 10, Director Alfonso P. Alamban said, “This can still be considered an improvement from the PhP2-billion five years ago.”

“What we should strive for is really the RDE itself, which is only 1.38% of the country’s expenditure of about Php 16 Billion,” he added.

But two leading academebased researchers doing studies in the region believe there’s more to improving the country’s R&D Intensity than merely ramping up funding.

“DOST has always been calling for proposals but only a few of the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the region can respond quickly, I hear a lot of funding for research is being reverted to the national treasury because it is not being consumed,” said Dr. Alita T. Roxas, Dean of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s (MSUIIT) School of Graduate

Studies. “There is funding but the response to the call for proposals has not been maximized.”

As full-time employees of the government, Roxas said their other duties as faculty and administration limits the time they can devote to research.

“DOST releases the funding when you are already ready to receive it based on their requirements, but in our institution, the process of liquidating expenses incurred in research are too taxing, considering we are already doing research on top our teaching, we do fieldwork and then we spend time liquidating. It’s a very long and tiring process.”

Pamela F. Resurreccion, associate professor at the MSU-IIT College of Business Administration and Accountancy, concurs.

“Liquidation has to pass through the institution so we have to comply with the requirements internally, because the requirements differ with various funders.”

Associate Prof. Lemuel Clark P. Velasco of the Dept. of Information Technology, MSU-IIT School of Computer

Studies, said the stiff requirements for DOST research funds convinced him to look elsewhere for funding.

“I don’t consider applying for DOST because of the bureaucracy, and their valid concerns like financial to documentation. Some HEIs do not have the research culture to do it; some are discouraged by the red tape.”

“Another issue is the validity of health data available even with government offices,” Velasco noted. “For instance, my research is on an automated system that can process data, thus relying on available secondary data.

The attitude of some local health professionals towards research is often times even a harder constraint than funding.”

Despite the country’s increasing focus on research and development through industry-academe linkages, Regional Science & Technology Ambassador for Business Elpidio M. Paras said it still lags behind the so called Tiger Economies of Asia.

For instance, the Philippines latest budget for higher education related to S&T is a mere fraction of

what Taiwan spent in 2010 (47.97-million TWD or PhP 70.57-billion).

“I am sorry to compare ourselves to Taiwan, but just 4 decades ago, this nation which has an area smaller than Luzon, was poorer than the Philippines. Today, it is an economic powerhouse ranked among the top 15 countries in the world.”

“Clearly, we need to ask Congress for additional budget; how else can we compete with other countries, when we are not investing as much in Higher Education?” Paras said. “Human resource is one of our greatest assets.

Shall we be contented to be just OFWs or call center operators? There is so much talent that is wasted here in this country.”

Unlike their government counterparts in Iligan, the research team of a Cagayan de Oro University utilizes internal funds for its projects.

“We secure our research expenditures from our internal Faculty Development Fund and have not availed of government research funds to date but we are looking at partnerships with some agencies like DOST, the Dept. of Health (DOH) and the Commission on

Dr. Lesley C. Lubos, Vice President for Research, Publication & Extension, Liceo de Cagayan University

Dr. Alita T. Roxas, Dean, MSU-IIT School of Graduate Studies

Higher Education (CHeD), said Lesley C. Lubos, vice president for Research, Publication and Extension of Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU).

Although Lubos admits depending on internal funds alone is a constraint on what they can do, the support of the university leadership “is enough for us to continue our advocacy especially in health research.”

Just recently, the LDCU team were granted a PhP 1.5-million research fund from DOH for Phase II of previous studies on HIV and Dengue.

“I believe they (i.e., research studies) will be expanded with partnerships with DOH, DOST and CHeD,” he replied when asked about the prospects for the team’s immediate future.

Prof. Lemuel Clark Velasco, Dept. of Information Technology, MSU0-IIT School of Computer Studies

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friday|august 5, 2016

7

Banking&Finance

Senate committee rejects calls for VAT hike

T

HE chairman of the Senate ways and means committee has rejected calls to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate to compensate for the projected revenue loss from reducing income tax rates.

“I don’t agree with the move to increase VAT as it would only burden ordinary Filipino consumers. The VAT is a pass-on tax, meaning, businesses and corporations claim their input tax but they

pass on the ultimate tax to the consumers,” said Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

“So it kind of defeats the purpose of having inclusive growth because by raising VAT, we’re passing on the

RCBC 1H 2016 net income at P2.6B RIZAL Commercial Banking C or poration posted an unaudited consolidated net income of P2.61 billion for the first half of 2016, 3.3% higher than the P2.53 billion net income reported for the same period last year. Core income excluding the cyclical trading gains increased by 59%. Annualized Return on Equity and Return on Assets stood at 8.8% and 1.1%, respectively.

Total consolidated assets expanded by 6.7% year-onyear to P500.33 billion while Capital Funds was at P59.91 billion, according to a press release of the bank. Its CAR of 16.78% was over the BSP minimum requirement of 10% while Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) Ratio of 13.48% also exceeded the minimum CET1 Ratio requirement (with capital conservation buffer) of 8.5%.

Total deposits reached P319.82 billion while CASA deposits stood at P202.96 billion, translating to a CASA-to-Total Deposits ratio of 63.5% as of end-June 2016.

Net Interest Income reached P8.06 billion, up by 8.2% and represented 66.39% of Gross Income.

Annualized Net Interest Margin (NIM) was sustained at 4.2% in the first half of 2016, principally driven by consumer loans which expanded by 19%. Meanwhile, microfinance lending through Rizal Microbank continued its consistent climb with outstanding loan portfolio increasing by 105.8%.

The interest income from the lending business accounted for 82.7% of the total interest income of the Bank.

The Bank’s asset quality remained well-managed with NPL Ratios of the Parent Bank at 0.25% and Consolidated Bank at 0.84%.

NPL Covers of the Parent Bank and Consolidated Bank both stood strong at 180.32% and 99.1%, respectively.

Other operating income reached P4.08 billion with fee income totaling P1.75 billion representing 14.4% rcbc/PAGE 9

BSP preparing system for PERA T H E LONG - DE L AY E D personal equity and retirement account (PERA) may soon be in place with authorities awaiting to conduct test runs with industry players before finally offering the new savings program to the public, a senior central bank official said.

The implementation of the PERA Law got a fresh push last week after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) released rules which details the reporting requirements covering the new investment tool.

The PERA L aw or Republic Act 9505 was passed in 2008, which aims to encourage Filipinos to save up for retirement by serving as a new investment product.

However, its implementation has been stalled pending the BIR’s reporting guidelines.

A person can contribute a maximum of P100,000 yearly under the platform, but the amount may be as much as P200,000 for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

A qualified contributor may place money in five PERA accounts at once across five recognized investment pro du c ts . In tur n, t he individual can enjoy a 5% tax

credit that can be deducted in his/her annual tax liabilities to encourage saving up for the future.

The contributions will then be invested in other products such as trust funds, mutual funds, insurance, preneed, government bonds and listed equities for the money to grow, the proceeds of which may be claimed once a person reaches the age of 55 or has invested in the fund for at least five years.

T h e m on e y m ay b e claimed by on a periodic or lump sum basis, and will be on top of pensions that will be paid by the Social Security System or the Government Service Insurance System.

Asked about additional preparations that need to be put in place to carry out the PERA, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said that they are simply awaiting for the BIR to register fund administrators before they can proceed with offering the new investment scheme. “[The] system is in place. We just need to do dry runs to test. As soon as BIR registers two approved bsp/PAGE 9

burden to ordinary Filipinos who are paying the taxes,” he explained.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has also recently announced that he was inclined to oppose the proposal to increase the VAT rate from 12 percent to 14 percent, pointing out that being more efficient in collecting VAT could already double VAT collections to offset the possible forgone revenue due to lower income tax rates.

The last increase in VAT rate from 10 percent to 12 percent took effect in 2006.

This VAT hike resulted in a

higher VAT collection from P156 billion in 2005 to P259 billion in 2006.

The Phi lippines’ 12-percent VAT is already the highest in the ASEAN, where the average VAT or sales tax is at 8.56 percent.

A study by the National Tax Research Center (NTRC) showed that with the current VAT rate of 12 percent, a VAT effort of 3.75 percent indicates that only around 30 percent of the economic activities were captured by VAT. The same study also estimated that the country’s VAT gap, which represents

the difference between potential VAT revenues and actual collection, stood at P135 billion in 2009.

NTRC said the ballooning VAT gap may be attributed to weak tax administration, under-declaration of sales, non-issuance of receipts, and excessive claims of input VAT. “The country also has a huge informal economy. We want to engage those people by formalizing them and getting them not necessarily to pay taxes but to register so the government can give them assistance,” said Angara, who has filed Senate Bill

309 or the Magna Carta of Workers in Informal Economy (MACWIE).

“Ang tingin kasi ng mga maliliit na negosyante, kapag nanatili silang underground, makakaiwas sila sa mga bureaucratic fees and costs.

Dapat nating ipaunawa sa kanila na mayroong mga karampatang insentibo kapag sila ay nagparehistro,” he added.

The senator said the ways and means committee can review the list of exemptions from VAT coverage and identify the transactions that should no longer be exempted from VAT.

8

Billboard SM Lanang Premier opens Kadayawan with month-long Durian Fest From August 5 to September 4, 2016, SM Lanang Premier hails the ‘King of Fruits’ with a festival to support the city’s much-anticipated Kadayawan celebration.

The Kadayawan Durian Festival

showcases the bountiful produce of key players in Davao’s durian industry.

Already on its third year, it is the mall’s way of increasing patronage for the agricultural harvest of the local farmers.

Indulge in eat-allyou-can sessions at the Kadayawan Durian Festival in SM Lanang Premier.

The many varieties of durian being grown in the region are also highlighted in the festival.

The 2016 Kadayawan Durian Festival is made possible by SM Lanang Premier’s partnership with the Durian Industry Council of Davao City, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Tourism, Air Asia (official airline partner), Solar Entertainment Corporation-ETC Channel (official media partner), Department of Trade and Industry,

the Department of Science and Technology, the City Government of Davao, the City Agriculturist Office, City Tourism Operations Office, Kadayawan Festival 2016 Committee, and Davies.

Mallgoers are invited to visit the festival and grab a taste of durian starting August 5, from 10am to 9pm, at SM Lanang Premier’s Fountain Court grounds. They can enjoy eat-all-youcan Durian promos from Mondays to Fridays, from 10am to 4pm. Durian byproducts such as jam,

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Visit The Fountain Court grounds for the Durian Festival on August 5 to September 4.

candies, tarts and Davao’s other wellloved fruits such as mangosteen, marang, pomelo are also being sold at the event.

Celebrate #KadayawanGoodVibes at the metro’s premier

shopping and lifestyle destination. Like SM Lanang Premier’s official account on Facebook and follow @ SMLanangPremier on Twitter and Instagram for news and event updates.

SAP Asia Pacific Japan Accelerates Cloud Growth in Q2FY16

Taguig City, Philippines — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced financial results in the Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) region for its fiscal year 2016 second quarter ending June 30, 2016. Non-IFRS cloud subscriptions and support revenue grew 47% at constant currency.

Non-IFRS cloud and software revenue was up 9% at constant currency.

Non-IFRS total revenues were €802 million.

In APJ, SAP had strong double-digit software licenses revenue growth in India, whereas Japan had almost triple-digit growth.

Both countries grew double-digit in cloud subscriptions and support revenue for the quarter.

“Our cloud business continues on its fast growth path, driving strong

momentum for SAP Asia Pacific Japan. In the digital economy, we continue to see robust demand for SAP S/4HANA as more customers reimagine their businesses with a digital core that provides immediate insight and agility,” said Adaire FoxMartin, President, SAP Asia Pacific Japan.

SAP customer highlights in the second quarter:

• Rockland Distilleries Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer & distributor of spirits and fine wine, has chosen SAP over Salesforce.com and Oracle to lead them through its digital transformation journey. With SAP, Rockland Distilleries will be able to facilitate strategic and transformational decisions based on business insights.

• NTUC Fairprice Co-Op Limited, chose SAP HANA, SAP Payroll, SAP Multiposting, and SAP SuccessFactors Suite, including SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, to improve employee productivity and employee engagement.

• The 55 million-tonneper-annum Roy Hill Project represents the next generation of integrated iron

ore mine, rail and port projects to be developed in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Situated 115 kilometres north of Newman, , the world class Roy Hill Project is the only independent iron ore project with West Australian majority ownership. With SAP, Roy Hill Holdings Pty Ltd aims to improve making informed decisions about their business.

• Daikin

Airconditioning India Pvt. Ltd. ( DAIPL) is a 100% subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd., Japan, a global leader in the manufacturing of commercial-use and residential air conditioning systems.

It purchased SAP Hybris Cloud for Customer and HANA Cloud Integration to facilitate an endto-end connected system that gives it a 360-degree view of its customers and prospects

so it can improve customer experience and collaboration between sales and service agents, dealers, and field service technicians.

• CJ korea express, the largest logistics company in South Korea, aims to become one of the top five global logistics enterprises by 2020. To support its ambitious expansion plans, CJ korea express needed to improve the stability and agility of its IT foundation to deliver short time-to-value.

Therefore, CJ korea express chose SAP S/4HANA Finance solution to support the company’s global expansion on a single platform.

For more information, visit the SAP News Center.

Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.

9

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friday|august 5, 2016

Jasaan kicks off communitydriven project. Officials of Barangay Jampason, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, led by Barangay Captain Ermelinda N. Agbong (center) along with their Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee chairman Virgilio C. Lijesta (3rd from left) and the barangay council, gathered in Purok 6 for the ground breaking ceremony, July 13, 2016. The community residents proposed a sub-project to the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa KahirapanComprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services: National Community Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP) which is the Concreting of .310 km farm-to-market road along Purok 6. Agbong, in her speech, said that the capsule symbolizes that the construction of the farm to market road will make the delivery of their farm products to the market faster.

Furthermore, the farm-to-market road gives the children an easier access going to school especially during the rainy season. Jasaan is among the new areas of the KALAHI-CIDSS: NCDDP implementation.

Photo by Andie James M. Pacudan, Area Coordinator of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS: NCDDP, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

Market... from page 2

so that those with many stalls will only have one.) Blaire Casquejo a street food vendor said when interviewed by the media.

Nere Calapardo another vendor affected by the closure said they are worried that they were not allowed to display their wares. “Naka-prepare na mi, nakaluto na mi itlog unsa pa.” (We already prepared, we had cooked eggs and other items.)

Established in 2013, the Roxas Night Market aimed to solve the problem of sidewalk vendors along City Hall in San Pedro Street by transferring their activity to the wide avenue seldom used during nighttime. Amidst opposition by the vendors, the night market transformed Roxas Avenue into a beehive of economic activity which benefited not just the vendors but the city government as well.

In 2015 the night market contributed P4-million to the city coffers. (PIA/RG Alama)

Hurst... from page 4

And neither do we know if we’ll live to see tomorrow.

Jesus made it clear that we all live forever—either in heaven or hell. The choice is ours. So why not ask Jesus to forgive you and take charge of your life every day? Then you’ll have absolutely nothing to fear—neither your sudden death, nor even the end of the world. Just Think a Minute…

Plant... from page 5

construction work for the contract.

Alsons holds 75% of the subscribed capital of Sarangani Energy, while Japanese firm Toyota Tsusho owns the rest.

It said the Sarangani plant’s second unit is set to contribute another 105-MW baseload power to 3 million residents of South Cotabato,

Cagayan de Oro City and other growing population centers in Mindanao. JGC Corp. previously said that the project would be completed in April 2019.

The second unit is one of three major power projects that Alsons is targeting to start buiding in Mindanao before the end of the year.

The others are the 15-MW Siguil river run-of-river hydroelectric plant also in Maasim, and the 105-MW San Ramon Power, Inc. baseload coal-fired power plant in Talisayan, Zamboanga City.

Host...

from page 5 To f u r t h e r prom ot e growth in provinces, Hernandez noted that the industry is closely working with the government.

The industry and former Information and Communication Technology Office (ICTO) in the last eight years have jointly developed the Next Wave Cities Program, identifying cities outside Metro Manila which can be hubs for ITBPM companies. “ Wi t h o u r p a r t n e r s from the government, the for mer ICT Of f ice, we jointly embarked on Next Wave Cities Program which allow us to have a better understanding what exists in cities outside Metro Manila, get a relevant data, create a scorecard for those cities, recognized the ones that showing high potential to become a business location for us,” Hernandez added.

For this year, the country’s ‘next wave’ cities are Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Dasmariñas, Dumaguete, Lipa, Malolos, Naga, Sta. Rosa, and Taytay.

The cities of Balanga, B atangas, Iriga, L aoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga which were noted as new emerging cities, have potential to be the ‘next wave’ cities.

Moreover, Hernandez

mentioned that there would be huge opportunities for the Philippines in the IT-BPM industry as only 17 percent of total work that can be subcontracted globally were currently outsourced.

This only valued at USD 166 billion out of USD 3 trillion worth of work that can be outsourced.

Between 2015 and 2022, global IT-BPM industry is seen to grow by 6 percent annually.

Hernandez said local industry growth would be two to three times faster than the global industry.

Revenue of the country’s IT-BPM industry in 2015 was estimated at USD 22 billion.

The CCAP president said the industry was also on track of its USD 25-billion revenue target for this year with employment reaching to 1.3 million. (PNA)

Hedcor... from page 5

The Misamis Occidental electric cooperative has a peak demand of 10 MW. It distributes power to the municipalities of Calamba and neighboring areas in northern Mindanao.

Hedcor owns and operates 22 run-of-river hydropower plants in the country, half of which are in Benguet. Its power plants have a combined capacity of 185 MW. In Mindanao, it has nine plants with a total capacity of 60 MW. The project in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon is designed to have two cascading plants, one of which will have an installed capacity of 43.4 MW, while the other will have 25.4 MW. A b o i t i z P o w e r, t h e holding firm for the Aboitiz group’s investments in power generation, d i s t r i but i on an d re t ai l electricity services, is a unit of diversified conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV).

RCBC... from page 7

of gross income.

The Bank’s distribution network grew to 477 branches by end of June 2016 from 450 for the same period last year, while the number of ATMs increased to 1,443 as of endJune 2016 compared to 1,232 as of end-June 2015. This resulted in a 3.03 branchto-ATM ratio, one of the highest in the industry.

Meanwhile, the number of RCBC Bankard credit cardholders reached over 500,000 or an increase of 8% year on year.

“RCBC’s core income driven by its core businesses is firming up. NIM at 4.2% is one of the highest in the industry while asset quality remains in check. RCBC remains on-track with its long-term goals,” said newlyappointed RCBC President & CEO Gil A. Buenaventura.

Buenaventura took the helm of the bank several m o nt h s a g o f o l l ow i n g t h e re s i g n at i on of h i s predecessor Lorenzo Tan, who said he had to leave office despite being cleared by an internal investigation of any wrongdoing in the $81-million cyber heist of Bangladeshi funds that hackers took from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, then diverted to bogus accounts in RCBC’s Jupiter branch. The Senate conducted seven hearings on the case, and the Justice department has filed criminal charges against several parties, led by the Jupiter branch’s former manager.

Despite that imbroglio, RCBC said its pursuit of excellence is manifested in the numerous awards the bank received for its achievements.

Among those in 2016: Best Domestic Private Bank and Overall Best Private Bank in the Philippines for five consecutive years since 2012, as voted by high net worth individuals (HNWIs) from Asiamoney Polls; Best Card

Offering Category from Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2016 for RCBC Bankard. In 2015, Best CSR and Best Investor Relations Company in the Philippines from Corporate Governance Asia Magazine; Domestic Retail Bank of the Year (Philippines) and SME Bank of the Year (Philippines) from ABF Retail Banking Awards; and Best Credit Card Offering from Cards and Electronic Payments International (CEPI) Asia Awards.

Recently, RCBC received f rom Fitch R at ings an upgrade in its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR), from ‘BB’ to ‘BB+’, and in its Viability Rating (VR) from ‘bb’ to ‘bb+’. RCBC also received a rating upgrade to Baa3 (stable) from Ba2 by Moody’s Investor Services in May 2015.

RCB C is engaged in all aspects of traditional banking, investment banking, microfinance, retail financing (auto, mortgage and housing loans, and credit cards), remittance, leasing, foreign exchange, and stock brokering. It is a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), one of the oldest and largest conglomerates in South East Asia.

BSP...

from page 7 administrators so far, we can go live,” Mr. Espenilla said in a text message.

Und e r BI R R e ve nu e Memorandum Order 42-2016, Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay detailed the reporting standards before the agency’s PERA

processing office, which registers applications from f und administ rators as approved by the BSP, the Insurance Commission, or the Securities and Exchange Commission. “[M]any employers are expected to take this opp or tunity to b ecome an agent in furthering the objective of the State to promote capital market development and savings mobilization. Employees, including self-employed individuals and overseas Filipinos, can start planning their future by establishing their own PERA,” the BIR order read.

The BSP has approved two administrators so far, Mr. Espenilla said, who will have to register with the BIR before they can offer the investment product targeting retirees. Administrators are given the task of reporting contributions, computing investment values, and collecting taxes covered by the fund, according to the law.

In 2014, the Monetary Board came up with rules for accrediting service providers under the PERA to cover banks and trust companies which they regulate.

Mr. Esp enilla added that it will have to engage market participants -- or the PERA administrators, investment managers and fund custodians -- in a test run before offering the product to the public.

“The dry run is a PERA systems test involving BSP and market participants to make sure everything works before going live,” the central bank official said last week.

10

Assets... from page 1

Mindanao end-users.

Given the volume these plants have been delivering to customers, PSALM emphasized that net earnings from them hover at R6.0 bi l lion to R8.0 bi l lion annually.

The reported income caught the attention of Cusi, thus, he contemplated on having the plants better kept under government hands.

Nevertheless, the Department of Finance (DOF) is having a different opinion in regard to the AgusPulangui complex, as it also wants PSALM to fully carry out its mandate of divesting all of NPC’s remaining power assets.

PSALM Officer-in-Charge Lourdes S. Alzona admitted that the split perspective of these two relevant agencies would be something that they would have to weigh at some point in time.

“When Secretary Cusi had seen that Agus-Pulangui’s financial results have been positive over the years, he thought that it might be better to retain the assets as government rather than privatize them,” the PSALM executive relayed.

Based on the privatization timeline provided to media, the DOE indicated that divestment plan for the AgusPulangui complex will be next year, “subject to consultation with Congress,” as prescribed under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. The privatization of the Agus-Pulangui hydropower facilities had always been controversial, with many s t a k e h o l d e r g roup s i n Mindanao opposing the plan.

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friday|august 5, 2016

Their alternative proposal will be to place the assets under a government-controlled firm – the propounded Mindanao Power Corporation – that will then manage the asset and sustain it as a cheap source of power for Mindanao customers.

There have also been earlier plans to privatize the asset via the engagement of an independent power producer administrator (IPPA) – but this too had not picked up pace with many of the concerned Mindanao stakeholders.

Mining... from page 1

She identified these firms as Marc Ventures Development Corporations located in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur; Clarence T. Pimentel Mining Corporation and Carrascal Nickel Corporation, both operating in Carrascal town in Surigao del Sur; Platinum Group Metals Corporation, Adnama Mining Corporation a n d Ta g a n i t o M i n i n g Corporation, all located in Claver town in Surigao del Norte; Hinatuan Mining Corporation in Tagana-an town in Surigao del Norte; and Greenstone Resources Mining Corporation Inc. (GRCI) in Tubod town in Surigao del Norte.

All of these companies except GRCI, which is mining gold and silver, are extracting nickel ore and shipping it to China and Japan.

“We are looking at their operations and their impact to the environment,” she told MindaNews on Tuesday.

Lopez said these provinces are beautiful but some portions have become ugly because of the mining

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED ELACRIO H. PABUALAN, CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS SALE/ DONATION MADE BY THE HEIRS AND DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late ELARCIO H. PABUALAN left A PARCEL OF LAND TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-24387 situated in the Barrio of Cogon, Municipality of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of EIGHTEEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT (18, 178) square meters more or less is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF THE DECEASED ELACRIO H. PABUALAN, CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS SALE/ DONATION MADE BY THE HEIRS AND DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE made and executed among heirs namely: - BONIFACIO U. PABUALAN - HEIRS OF RAMON U. PABUALAN represented by MA. NIÑA P. ZABALLERO - NICOLAS U. PABUALAN - HEIRS OF TIRSO U. PABUALAN represented by FELIXBERTA P. PABUALAN - HEIRS OF ANTONIO U. PABUALAN namely: • ESTERLITA B. PABUALAN • CHERYL P. LLAGUNO • VIVIAN P. VILLAMOR • ALVIN B. PABUALAN • ESTRELLA B. PABUALAN • ARVIN B. PABUALAN - SHERLINDA P. MARTO - DURITA P. CAWALING - ALICIA P. ANAYRON - LOLITA U. PABUALAN. That the above mentioned name, being all of legal age and with full civil capacity to contract hereby adjudicate and partition the above described real property in a certain manners. That for in consideration of the sum FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED PESE (438,600.00) acknowledge from vendee NORMAN PABUALAN that the HEIRS OF ANTONIO PABUALAN do hereby sell, transfer & convey to the VENDEE our share described in the above extrajudicial settlement which share consist of a total area of (1,462) sq.m Under Notary public ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI per doc. No. 387; page No.78; book No. 193; series of 2016 BWM: July 22, 29 & Aug. 5, 2016

operations.

“I know talagang kawawa ang Surigao at sayang na sayang kasi maganda,” she pointed out.

Lopez said the audit will be concluded this week.

Sought for comment, former Surigao City Councilor Edgar Canda said Lopez should stop immediately the operations of mining companies in Surigao.

“They never helped the people of Surigao,” he said.

Canda pointed out that aside from destroying the environment, the mining industry could be blamed for the proliferation of illegal drugs, like shabu, in the area as its use has become rampant among heavy equipment operators.

Canda said the mining firms must pay the damage wrought to the environment.

President... from page 1

“We will be going for the framework regarding the two factions,” he said, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) with whom government signed separate peace agreements.

Duterte was apparently referring to the convergence of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the MILF and the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) with the MNLF, for the drafting of a more inclusive Bangsamoro law.

Under the Duterte peace roadmap, the 15-member allMoro Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) will be reconstituted to make the seven government nominees in the Commission “more inclusive.”

The BTC will be tasked to draft a “more inclusive” enabling law that will be filed with Congress” in lieu of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that was not passed by the previous Congress, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said.

At the press conference that followed the oath-taking, Duterte he will stay for ten days here because “I have to fix the … Mindanao issue.

Tingnan ko ‘yung framework.

I have to travel to Cotabato to talk again to (the MILF) to hurry up. And I travel to Jolo to talk to Nur (MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari).”

In the latter part of his press conference, he said he

is going to Mindanao “maybe day after tomorrow and start to look into the firming up of the framework and if I have the time, I’ll just fly to Jolo (to meet Misuari) and to Murad again to talk and I’ll just give them the firm commitments.”

Murad is MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim who is based in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, near Cotabato City.

Dureza met with Murad in Camp Darapanan last July 21 and both agreed that the formal resumption of the peace process will be during the meeting of GPH-MILF Implementing Team in Kuala Lumpur in early August.

The joint implementing team, composed of five representatives from the GPH and five from the MILF, is expected to discuss the peace roadmap in accordance with the CAB and in convergence with the MNLF’s FPA, and other sectors for what would be a broader, more inclusive Bangsamoro Peace roadmap, Dureza said.

As of August 1, no date has been set yet for the Kuala Lumpur meeting.

Dureza’s visit to the MILF camp came three days after Duterte approved the peace roadmap which provides that work on the new proposed Bangsamoro enabling law “will be done simultaneous with the moves to shift to a federal set-up, the latter expected to come later under the planned timeline.”

At the press conference in Malacanang last Monday, Misuari’s status as a fugitive was apparently mentioned by a reporter. Duterte replied “I’m talking to Sison, he’s a fugitive.” Sison is Jose Ma. Sison, founding chair of the Communist Party of the Philippines and chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front (NDF).

He said Misuari and Sison “are waging rebellions…. ideology-driven” and that their “redeeming factor” is “you rebel because you want a better set-up or a better life for the people.”

“But all of these guys will have my… I’ll consider an amnesty kung magkausap tayo at (if we talk and) we can agree to a peaceful coexistence. I will accommodate them,” Duterte said.

He said he asked the military and the police “you might want to consider just for a day makalabas lang sila” (that they be given a pass).

He plans to tell Misuari,

Republic of the Philippines Region X Province of Lanao del Norte Municipality of Kapatagan Office of the Municipal Civil Registrar NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

In compliance with section 5 of R.A. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that DAYLINDA CABUGUAS LENIS has filed with this office a petition for Change of Name from JULIETA LYENES to DAYLINDA LENIS in the birth certificate of JULIETA LYENES who was born on NOVEMBER 18, 1962 at Sta. Cruz, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and whose parents are PACIFICO C. LENIS and PAGUITA C. LENIS. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later 15 days.

BWM: Aug. 5 & 12, 2016

(Sgd.) IVY REYES TONGCO Municipal Civil Registrar

“Nur, once the talk starts, I’ll give everybody a safe conduct pass.”

Duterte said he told the military and police: “you will just have to navigate the way as it (has) been done, in a process of negotiation everywhere. When you talk to the rebels, you have to give them a safe conduct pass or at least a sense of security to face you and talk about what’s bugging the country.”

But Duterte’s peace adviser, Dureza told Malacanang reporters on July 19, a day after the peace roadmap was approved, that the Duterte administration will officially deal with Misuari only when the effects of the warrants of arrest he is facing are suspended.

D u r e z a , h o w e v e r, e mp h a s i z e d t h at t h e i r communication lines with Misuari are open, and that in fact, Duterte phoned his friend Misuari the night before.

Warrants of arrest had been issued against Misuari and 59 others for rebellion and violation of Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and other Crimes against Humanity following the September 2013 stand-off in Zamboanga City between his followers and government troops that left 104 persons dead, 192 injured and 110,000 of its 807,000 population displaced.

Fuels... from page 1

in street corners in the city.

The bulk of the products sold in bottles were reportedly bought from legitimate gas outlets.

During the meeting, Oil Industry Management Bureau director Melita V. Obillo said the city government could pin down these unscrupulous vendors by invoking Republic Act (RA) 8479, otherwise known as the Oil Deregulation Law of 1998.

Ms. Obillo said that under RA 8479, any individual or entity engaged in selling petroleum products must secure a permit from DOE. Mr. Banez presided the meeting in his capacity as head of the Business Permits and Licensing Division of the city government.

Yet, Ms. Obillo added that the government would be given more “teeth” in accosting these sidewalk fuel vendors if an ordinance prohibiting it would be passed at the local level.

Earlier this week, councilors sounded alarm bells after a fire broke out in barangay Camaman-an, which, report said, emanated from hoarded gasoline and diesel products.

“We will not wait for someone to be hurt or for more structures to be damaged. We must act now,” Mr. Banez said.

The City Council committee on energy will invite various stakeholders so they could draft the ordinance that is expected to be calendared in next week’s session.

Disaster... from page 2

(peanut butter, jelly, nuts, energy bars), cookies, candies and other snack foods. Also, avoid storing foods that are salty, spicy and caffeinated because these will increase thirst.

We must also consider the special nutritional needs of infants and young children, pregnant and lactating and older persons in the home because they are the most vulnerable persons. Like for infants and young children, breastmilk is still the best food for them. Practice and maintain exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months.

For pregnant and lactating women, micronutrient-rich foods must be considered, like fortified foods such as instant low-salt noodles and cereals.

For older persons, store easy to chew and digest foods like soft biscuits, bread, oats and easy to prepare soups.

Also, water is the most essential life-sustaining resource. Keeping water in a clean plastic bottle will keep you hydrated.

Have a bag of foods ready to carry when disaster strikes.

Ever y household should assemble a disaster supplies kit and keep it up to date.

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items a family would probably need to stay safe and be more comfortable during and after a disaster. Disaster supplies kit items should be stored in a portable container near or as close as possible to exit door.

Review the contents of your kit at least once every quarter or as your family needs change. Major food shortages can be a major feature during emergency situation. Planning ahead and preparing the disaster kits before calamities strike would to prevent us from additional stress when disaster strikes.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact: Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, D i r e c t o r, F o o d a n d Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City; Telephone/ Fax Nos: 837-2934 or 837-3164; Direct Line:8391839; DOST Trunk Line: 837-2071-82 local 2296 or 2284; e-mail: mvc@fnri.dost. gov.ph or at mar_v_c@yahoo. com; FNRI-DOST website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.

Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/FNRI.DOST or follow our Twitter account at twitter.com/FNRI_DOST. (Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa, Ph. D., FNRI-DOST S&T Media Service/PIA-Caraga)

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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friday|august 5, 2016

Trip...

from page 12

Pierre Hermé is a must try as well. They have super yummy French macarons. Located at Harbour City.

A must try when in Hong Kong is the Godiva ice cream.

Visited their Harbour City and IFC Mall locations.

good so anytime we feel tired, we can just go walk back to the hotel and rest, rooms and suites are relaxing, room service serves good food, very clean and service is great.

When you stay there, you must get their Rolls Royce Phantom for your ride. Try also their iconic and classic afternoon tea with sandwiches, pastries, scones and others at the lobby.

I remember, it was a Sunday when we went to IFC Mall and we took the subway going there. There were so many Filipinos at the subway station and at the trains.

I assumed that it was their day off. I felt like I was in the Philippines. I felt at home right away.

I just couldn’t help myself but I started conversations with some of them while in the train. Elmer was laughing at me because for him, … do I really have to talk? Why not? It’s fun for me! Happy to see their smiling faces. One thing I’ve noticed was that most of them were using their cellphones with headset and Viber probably talking to their families back home. Proud of our hardworking OFWs. Well of course, we never leave Hong

Kong without a visit to Disneyland. This place never fails to make me happy.

And yes, again, I ate my favorite fried chicken at Tomorrowland and mango pudding for dessert. A must try as well when you’re there. There’s also a new Star Wars ride but I decided not to join the boys because it was a roller coaster kind of ride and honestly, I’m scared. I’m only for ‘It’s A Small World’ ride type of person.

Traveling with the family is priceless.

Save money to travel because memories are forever and time is really precious.

Stop waiting for “the right time” to travel because before you realize, it might be too late already.

Travel when you’re still young. I started traveling a lot at the early age of 23.

America, Asia and Europe. I said to myself by the age of 30, I’ll stop and just stay home. But now, I just can’t because

it’s so much fun and I want Elmer and I to have more fun travel memories with our son. Dominic has never been to some places where Elmer and I went to so I guess, we should do everything all over again with him. Now that he’s turning 14 years old, he now appreciates historical places.

So, travel now my friends. Now is always the perfect time. Reminding you all to live life to the fullest!

Love, M.

The Peninsula Hotel... Love it here!

BusinessWeek Feature

MINDANAO www.businessweekmindanao.com

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Friday | August 5, 2016

Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro names 5 moms for “Dakilang Ina, Ikaw Na” awardees Last July 14 2016, the RCCDO and the Rotary Anns of RCCDO has chosen five notable mothers for this year’s “Dakilang Ina, Ikaw Na” Project awardees. A district wide project under the leadership of Rotary 3870 District Governor Miriam Ruth “Jing” dela Calzada, the Dakilang Ina award were bestowed to the following: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Lady & Ann President Rosalina Caragos Lady & PP Tere Sarraga Lady & PP Biema Along PP Nits Evangelista Ann Nanang Paras

Here are the criteria of choosing the 5 awardees: 1. A Model Mom (at least 35 years, with good parenting skills) - 40% 2. Income Provider - 15%

ROTARY CLUB OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CONDUCTS “BALIK ESKWELA”PROJECT AT GUSA The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro, together with the Rotary Anns, successfully implemented the Balik Eskwela Project at the Philippine Sinter Corporation Clubhouse, Villa Ernesto Subdivision, Gusa last July 23, 2016. Project Chairman PAG John Mark Sarraga, together with RCCDO President Dufel Lagrosas, Ann President Rosalinda Caragos, Assistant Governor and IPP Cris Parojinog, with 20 plus other Rotary members and Anns, distributed school supplies and other gifts to the children of the Sunshine Day Care Center – which was also located inside the subdivision.

3. Moral and Spiritual Exemplar - 10% 4. A lady respected and admired, not only at home, but in the community - 35%

(Left to Right) RCCDO Vice-President Danilo Empedrad, Awardee Rosalinda Caragos, Awardee Nanang Paras, RCCDO President Dufel Lagrosas.

Another Fun Hong Kong Trip I just came from a super fun trip to Hong Kong with my husband, Elmer, and son, Dominic.

It’s actually my and Dominic’s early birthday treat and celebration.

These past few months had been very busy for me.

My trusted house help left and as a homemaker, that’s a big deal. No kidding.

So, I had to train the new ones and had to personally cook again daily for the family and do some One of the best fried chickens that I have ever tried is this one from Tomorrowland in Disneyland.

Crispy and juicy. And their Mango Pudding... so good!

household chores.

I love what I do but sometimes, it can be physically tiring. But, I’m not complaining.

Our trip was very relaxing because it was long. Four days in Hong Kong and some days were spent in Manila.

I never get tired of visiting Hong Kong. Why? Because shopping is always satisfying there, they have good food, always fun at Disneyland and they have nice hotels.

And of course, it’s very near the Philippines. Only two hours by plane…

For shopping, we usually just go around the Kowloon side particularly at Tsim Sha Tsui and shop at Lane Crawford and Harbour City. But during this trip, we decided to explore

the other side of Hong Kong… The Hong Kong Island side. Went around IFC Mall and Pacific Place Mall. For me, I still enjoy the shops at Tsim Sha Tsui. But I was glad to have visited and experienced going to the other side. It was very easy to go from one place to another because of their subways.

Before visiting Hong Kong, I listed down some places to eat that I got from the Food Network channel. Too bad we weren’t able to try any one of them as when we asked the hotel concierge, they said that the places are all far from the hotel. Maybe next time. We’ve tried some Michelin Star restaurants, though.

Whenever I’m in

Behind me is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland.

Hong Kong, the first thing I crave for is their cold/iced Milk Tea. A must!

As always, we stayed at our

favorite hotel in Hong Kong, The Peninsula. For me, it’s still the best hotel there. Location is Trip/PAGE 11