BusinessWeek Mindanao (December 10, 2013)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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Volume IV, No. 30

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Briefly Reforestation NEARLY one month before the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) starts its Environmental Awareness Year, it advances the celebration through formalizing its commitment to implement a 138-hectare reforestation project in Mindanao.

Together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its City Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENRO), NGCP signed on December 3 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to commence greening projects in four sites in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao.

Local government units (LGUs), the academe and non-government organizations were also in full support of the development of reforestation areas.

Project was conducted in accordance with NGCP and DENR’s agreements to plant a hundred trees for every tree that will be cleared to make way for the construction of transmission lines.

Savings ZAMBOANGA City – The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said it saved anew a hefty amount of funds from the open bidding process for nine major infrastructure projects worth P363 million.

ARMM’s Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Emil Sadain said the bidding process for the projects, made open to the media and representatives of various civil society organizations in the region, resulted to the P520,000 savings from the earmarked fund.

The contracts for the projects, which include reblocking of the damaged portions of highways in Maguindanao, concreting of roads in the 2nd District of the province, and construction of roads and seaports, and a water system in Basilan, were awarded to winning bidders last November 29.

Sadain said they will request for a clearance from the national government to spend the savings either for other projects, or for the procurement of engineering equipment.

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Exporters can fight for competition: DTI

D

OING business in Free Trade Areas (FTA) would give businessmen the leeway to fight for better competition, said Nestor Palabyab, Trade and Industry deputy executive director.

He said exporters in light of the implementation of the Free Trade Agreements among seven ASEAN countries can now ask government to give them remedies to meet global competition.

“They (exporters) deserve those remedies,” he said.

Pa l aby ab c on f i r me d Philippine exporters meet many challenges with the implementation of FTA. “However, exporters could always complain or file a case to level the playing field.”

Aside from providing opportunities, the FTA has rid of many barriers in the exporting business such

excessive tariff rates, Palabyab said .

He mentioned product quality as one of the challenge which the world of FTA brings to Philippine exporters.

“Your product must be acceptable,” he said adding that FTA brings Philippine businessmen to a bigger world of business.

In the absence of FTA, the minds of businessmen are very “domestic-focused,” he said saying that FTA improves the awareness of Philippine exporters that their product could be the best sellers in the world resulting to a thriving business. (PNA)

LOOK MOM, IT’S BIG. Christmas lights blanket a giant replica of a shoe at the “Luneta Park” in Surigao City on Sunday. Built in the 1970s, the structure houses a power generator that services the city hall, police headquarters, fire department and public market during blackouts. It also has a siren that sounds off every 8am, 12nn, 5pm and 10pm and during emergencies. mindanews photo by roel n. catoto

Aboitiz power Civil society hails signing of Power-sharing annex expansion gets Davao backing

By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS MindaNews

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO Correspondent

DAVAO City -- Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has thrown his support behind Aboitiz Power Corp.’s (AboitizPower) plan to expand its soon-to-be-completed power project on the boundary of this city and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. On Friday, Mr. Duterte said the expansion of the project was a “necessity” and cited the continued increase in the demand for power in the city. aboitiz/PAGE 11

Number of poor families up in 2012

DESPITE rosy figures that supposedly depict the country’s economic growth, there were 11% more poor Filipino families in 2012, the government said yesterday.

“Although the proportion of poor families has been practically similar between 2006 and poor/PAGE 11

K UA L A LUM P U R – C iv i l society leaders in Mindanao hailed Sunday’s signing of the Annex on Power-sharing by the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as a “breakthrough” that would hasten the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Guiamel Alim, a member of the Council of Elders of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS) in Cotabato City and concurrent executive director of the Kadtuntaya Foundation, told MindaNews in a text message that the signing heralds how close the panels are to signing the Comprehensive Political signing/PAGE 11

MILF PANEL. MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal (right) with panel members (from left to right) Datu Michael Mastura, Datu Antonio Kinoc, Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga and Abdullah Camlian and Jun Mantawil, head of the MILF peace panel secretariat, on their way to lunch after a two-hour executive session with the GPH peace panel and the Malaysian facilitator at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on December 6. MindaNews photo

by Carolyn O. Arguillas

Stricter WESM penalties to start in January 2014

By MYRNA VELASCO, Contributor

STARTING January 2014, more stringent penalty measures await offending trading participants in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) – that has been

based on Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla’s marching order to the board of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation.

“The Secretary said he wants the

Mindanao Daily NEWS

rules changed, including those on penalties, starting January next year so we have to deliver on that,” PEMC president Melinda L. Ocampo said.

PEMC supervises the operations of the electricity spot market.

WESM/PAGE 11

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UNDP allocates US$11M for ‘Yolanda’ PNOC’s banked gas attracts power company’s interest recovery efforts in 5 provinces

By Joann Santiago

MANILA -- In line with the Philippine government’s relief efforts, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), announced that it has allocated USD11 million to launch recovery programs in five provinces in the Visayas Region severely affected by the onslaught of Super typhoon “Yolanda” last Nov. 8.

The relief body announced that it will open six offices that will manage emergency employment cash-for-work projects in debris clearing and rehabilitation of markets, schools, hospitals and other public spaces.

The UNDP stated that the cash-for-work portfolio

of activities will expand to cover re-establishment of livelihoods and local economy through repairs to dwellings and municipal buildings, shops and businesses, boats and farms.

Funding is distributed to affected areas in the following five provinces, according to

an initial assessment of needs and upon consultations with local governments: -Leyte and Samar - USD7.5 million -Cebu - USD500,000 -Panay - USD2.5 million -Palawan - US500,000 UNDP is currently operating cash-for-work projects in Tacloban and Palo, LEYTE; and Roxas City, Capiz.

In c ompl i an c e w it h g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c y, participating workers earn minimum wage (for example, in Tacloban it is P260 a day).

Beneficiaries are paid

every week, and each person is employed for at least 15 days.

The workers are selected in coordination with local authorities and community leaders to ensure that the employment opportunities are available to the groups that need it most.

The objectives of the cashfor-work program include: -Clearing debris to allow easier access for aid to reach affected households; -Enabling people to bring home much needed income; -Injecting cash into the undp/PAGE 10

MANILA -- First Gas Power Corporation has expressed interest to buy the Philippine National Oil Corporation’s (PNOC) accumulated banked gas, Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said.

Petilla, however, said mode of sale of the banked gas has to be determined by the PNOC and Pilipinas Shell, which also have banked gas.

He also stressed that it has not been decided yet whether the banked gas will be sold to First Gas alone.

He also pointed out that First Gas does not have a new power plant where the

banked gas will be used.

Earlier, the Energy chief said the banked gas will be sold only to a new power plant player to increase power supply in the country.

He said the power plant or plants that will utilize the banked gas is or are expected to provide additional 100 megawatt capacity.

PNO C a c qu i re d t he banked gas from D OE, which previously had the rights to the banked gas accumulated over the years from the Malampaya project, after both parties entered a pnoc/PAGE 10

Humanitarian org sees huge improvement a month after ‘Yolanda’

MANIL A -- With only a month after typhoon “Yolanda” wreaked havoc in many areas in Visayas, a humanitarian organization said that “significant progress” can already be seen in such a short space of time.

United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Philippines, Luiza Carvalho said that during her return to visit Tacloban on Sunday, the difference can be seen org/PAGE 10

Petilla cautions lawmakers on use Malampaya Fund MANILA -- Some lawmakers have suggested that government tap the Malampaya Fund to subsidize electricity bills of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) customers vis-àvis the looming price hike this month.

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said this should be studied carefully given the Supreme Court (SC) decision

stressing that the use of the said fund will only be for energy resource development.

The rate increase is because of the impact of the one-month maintenance shutdown of Malampaya gas-to-oil project at offshore Palawan.

The maintenance shutdown is to regulate the use of its own gas supply.

Petilla/PAGE 10

The Middle East is projected to become a major growth market for flag carrier Philippine Airlines after successfully launching its maiden flights to Riyadh and Dammam, last December 1 and 3, respectively. PAL started its Mid-East service with Abu Dhabi in October 1, followed by Dubai in November 6, 2013. In photo standing (L-R)during the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the inaugural send-off to Dammam are: PAL AVP - Passenger Sales Philippines Tony Herrera, PAL Marketing Head Jojo Fermin, PAL SVP-Airline Operations Ismael Augusto Gozon, H.E. Ambassador Abdullah Al Hassan of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and NAIA Terminal 2 Manager Atty. Cecilio Bobila.(PNA photo courtesy of PAL Corporate Communications)

PHL foreign reserves hit by lower gold valuation No.: 09161714813 (GLOBE)

MANILA -- The Philippines is likely to miss its gross international reserves (GIR) target for 2013 due to lower gold valuation.

“The GIR has actually been pulled down by the negative revaluation of gold,” reserves/PAGE 10

‘Go eco-friendly, save electricity this Christmas’

MANILA -- An environmental group on Sunday urged the public preparing for the holidays to make everything about Christmas not just merry, but also creatively trash-free. save/PAGE 10

Saudi Arabia to reap benefits from illegal workers’ departure RIYADH -- The rents of vacant accommodations will go down by 15 percent and up to 7 billion U.S. dollars of remittances will be saved as of next year in Saudi Arabia because of the deportation of a number of illegal workers, according to local newspapers Sunday.

Saudi Arabia has been deporting illegal expatriates after the end of amnesty that concluded last month.

The increasing number of expatriates over the past years led to increased demand for

residential units in popular areas, creating a gap between supply and demand and taking rent prices up, Fuad Boqari, a real estate dealer, told Arab News.

Among deportees, Saudi Arabia deported 90,000 illegal Ethiopians workers, while it announced earlier this year a plan to deport 2 million foreign workers, who represent nearly one third of the labor market, according to Al Eqtisadiya newspaper.

This could create job saudi/PAGE 10

which comprises only 5% of the total subscriber base, our postpaid segment now contributes 37% of total mobile revenues, up from 33% in the same period last year and from 29% in the first nine months of 2010,” noted Cu. Cu said absolute increase in postpaid revenues of approximately P 3.3 billion is almost twice that of the increase in subsidies and recontracting cost over the 9-month period. Still, such costs are recoverable within the two-year contract period of each subscriber, he emphasized.

The company’s prepaid business also continued to perform well, with revenues improving 3% year on year to P 34.1 billion pesos, despite the market’s continued preference for value-based offers, said Cu. TM continued to lead the way for prepaid, on the back of strong subscriber acquisition efforts, leading the brand to have total subscribers of 17.6 million, a 23% rise from a year earlier.

On t he ot her hand, the company’s broadband subscribers, at the end of the nine-month period, reached 1.9 million, a 15% rise from a year earlier and 4% globe/PAGE 10

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DAVAO City -- SM Lanang Premier here showcases the exceptional eats and most alluring specialties uniquely made in Davao thru the holding of the three-day Davao Gourmet Collective Holiday Market starting Sunday.

Russel Alaba, assistant vice president for marketing of Mindanao SM Supermalls, said that the Davao Gourmet Collective aims to promote food tourism in Davao.

It was the second edition, the first was held during the Kadayawan Festival last August this year.

The second Gourmet Collective highlights the most distinctive local flavors but this time it focuses on the gourmet must-haves during Christmas holidays, the favorite time of the years, Alaba said.

About 12 purveyors joined the second edition Gourmet Collective. They are the city’s finest artisans and gourmands

showcasing their unique specialties.

Held at the Mall’s atrium, the 12 purveyors include RBG

Of Park Inn Davao, Crazy Cook, Jonathan’s Cupcakery, Cellar de Boca Wine Kitchen, sm/PAGE 10

Puregold buys stake in San Roque Supermarket chain A subsidiary of Puregold Price Club Inc. is acquiring close to a 50-percent stake of a supermarket operator in Metro Manila.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Friday, Puregold said Estenso Equities Inc. acquired 49.34 percent of San Roque Supermarket, which

has nine stores within Metro Manila.

In a phone interview, investor relations officer Jimmy Reyes said Puregold will just purchase a minority stake in the supermarket chain but declined to disclose the acquisition cost.

“The board just approved

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LastJuly,Puregoldannounced it was putting up Estenso Equities to house its investments in other food retail-related activities.

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In the same month, Entenso entered into a joint venture agreement with Ayala Land Inc. subsidiary Varejo Corporation to develop and operate mid-market supermarkets in new integrated and mixed-use developments.

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GLOBE Telecom’s subscriber take-up continued to gather momentum as the company’s net subscriber additions in the January to September period surged 70% to 3.4 million from a year earlier.

The company’s sharp increase in net subscriber additions pushed the company’s total subscribers at the end of the period to a fresh record of 36.5 million, an increment of 14% from a year earlier. This, in turn, generated robust gains in its postpaid and mobile browsing businesses despite intense competition and supported a 10% revenue growth of P67.3 billion, leading to a core net income rise of 9% to P 9.5 billion.

Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu attributes the company’s encouraging growth in the first nine months of the year to the strong performance of its mobile business, which generated total revenues of P54.1 billion in the first nine months of the year, an 8% increase from a year earlier.

Postpaid revenues alone reached almost P20 billion, a 20% jump from a year earlier, courtesy of a 19% growth in postpaid subscribers.

“On a subscriber base of almost 2 million subscribers,

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AgriBusiness

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Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (left), of the DA expresses encouragement to the prime movers of the rice industry in continuing their efforts to attain food security and sufficiency in the country, during the first National Grains Retailers/Wholesalers Conference.

Grains retailers, wholesalers support FSSP “ Ha b a n g p i n i p i l i t p o natin ma-attain ang rice self-sufficiency, dapat po natin pag-usapan din kung papaano mas palalakihin ang kita ng mga magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng mababang input cost” (While we are trying to reach our goals on rice self sufficiency, let’s also discuss on how we can help increase farmers’ income through low input cost), said Secretary Proceso J.

Alcala of the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the first National Grains Retailers and Wholesalers Conference conducted on November 29, 2013 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila.

Grains retailers and wholesalers, regional fe d e r at i on of f i c e r s of irrigators’ associations (IAs) and small water impounding system associations (SWISA)

from all over the country convened and expressed their support to the DA’s goal in attaining food staples sufficiency for the whole populace.

The event also provided a venue for the major propellers to be provided with updates on the policies and strategies in the grains business.

M o r e s o, t h e y w e r e also presented with the inter ventions initiated

by the DA in support to rice production such as the establishment of rice processing center, which they can avail of. Being a farmer-based enterprise with an integrated drying, milling and storage system, the DA is optimistic that it will strengthen its effort to reduce postharvest losses thereby increasing farmers’ income.

With the gathering at

hand, the participants were given the chance to identify the issues and problems encountered at the grassroots level which Secretary Alcala assured will be taken into consideration for the quick turn-around programs which will be slated by the agency for the development of the rice industry specific to the needs in their respective field. (VANESSA MAE S. SIANO, DA-RAFID 10)

Optimism for deal to lower Pacific tuna catches SYDNEY – Conservationists and fishing industr y representatives expressed confidence Thursday they were close to agreement on cutbacks in the lucrative tuna fishing industry in the Pacific.

Amid fears about the depletion rate of tuna stocks, there have been calls for action to reduce catches at a week-long meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) which wraps up in the northern Australian city of Cairns on Friday.

“Negotiations are progressing rather than stalling on some of the more difficult proposals at this mid-point in the talks,” said Amanda Nickson, the Pew Environment Group’s director for global tuna conservation.

However, she cautioned there were “a number of issues yet to be resolved, such as how big the quota cuts should be and who should take them”.

A record 2.65 million tons of tuna was hauled from the Pacific last year,

accounting for 60 percent of the global catch, with most of the fishing conducted by so-called “distant water” fleets from as far afield as Europe, the United States, China, South Korea and Taiwan.

Eig ht Pacif ic isl and nations, members of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, along with Japan and the Philippines, want to reduce the catch of bigeye and yellowfin tuna over the next four years.

But objections from the “distant water” fleets meant

a modified proposal was now being worked on, said Brian Hallman, executive director of the American Tunaboat Association, which represents about 40 USflagged purse seine fishing vessels.

“At this stage, there is not a clear consensus on a solution which would be acceptable to all members,” Hallman said.

“However, it does seem that the meeting is moving towards a consensus on limiting, or freezing, the numb er of purs e s eine

vessels allowed to fish from countries that are not Pacific island nations.

“This would be a major accomplishment, and is an encouraging development.”

The WCPFC has a mix of 25 members, ranging from small Niue (population 1,200) to the European Union. It makes decisions by consensus, which critics say makes it difficult to get anything done.

It has been unable to reach agreement for several years on tuna cutbacks despite warnings from scientists of

over-fishing.

An international independent assessment has found stocks of bluefin tuna, prized by sushi lovers, have fallen dramatically, with juveniles forming the majority of specimens now being caught, pushing the species closer to extinction.

As a result, another sushi favorite, bigeye tuna, is now coming under severe pressure, while catches of skipjack and yellowfin tuna, which are canned, have also been steadily rising. – Agence France-Presse

FDA: ‘GMOs food safe, DA bans cutting of coconut trees requires no labeling’ PROPONENTS of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as safe-to-eat gained the upper-hand as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement on Friday it will not require labeling of GM products.

GMOs virtually has no difference from conventional food, is not cancer-causing, and has been proven safe for human health under numerous tests, the FDA statement said.

According to the food authority, packaged products containing GM crops like the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn and those that are

not yet in the market, the Bt eggplant and the Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice, have no verifiable difference from any other conventional crops, adding that labeling is only mandatory if there are safety issues.

“These are as safe as the usual crops in the market.

The nutrition contents too

are substantially equivalent compared to usual farmers’ produce, so why GM food should be labeled?” Oscar Gutierrez Jr., chairman of the FDA Policy Planning Office, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Controversies ON May 17, the Special 13th Division of the Court of Appeals issued a ruling to permanently stop confined field trials of Bt eggplant because these allegedly pose risks to human health and the environment. labeling/PAGE 9

ALARMED by the extent of damage to coconut trees in Regions 6 and 8 brought by Supertyphoon Yolanda, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered suspension on cutting coconut trees for lumber.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has suspended the issuance of permit to cut coconut trees and transport permit with few exceptions, PCA said in a statement on Friday.

The PCA said that coconut trees deemed “beyond recovery” can be cut for lumber, even in areas hit by Yolanda, e.g., Regions 6, 7, 8 and the Mimaropa region. Likewise, this exception is given to areas

damaged by Typhoon Pablo, like Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in Region 11.

Coconut trees heavily infested by the scale insect

and also classified as “beyond recovery” can be sawed off.

Likewise, trees that pose danger to life and property, that are bans/PAGE 9

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Banking&Finance

Citi hikes PH growth forecast

By Kathleen A. Martin, The Philippine Star

MANILA - American financial giant Citigroup has upgraded its 2014 economic growth forecast for the Philippines due to post-typhoon rehabilitation efforts which can spur public and private spending early next year.

In a report titled Pan-Asia Road Ahead: 2014 Outlook, Citi said the countr y’s economy would grow 7.3 percent next year, an upward revision from an earlier target of 6.9 percent.

“The devastation wrought

by Typhoon Yolanda may slow fourth quarter 2013 GDP growth, but the rebuilding efforts could prompt a sharp recovery in first quarter of 2014,” Citi said.

The forecast is near the higher end of government’s 6.5-to 7.5-percent target for 2014. This was also an improvement from Citi’s 2013 economic growth forecast of 6.5 percent, a downgrade from an earlier outlook of 7.3 percent.

The Philippine economy expanded by 7.4 percent in the nine months to September, still faster than government’s six-to seven-

percent target this year.

However, the government foresees a sharp decline in the pace of growth for the fourth quarter following the devastation brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

The typhoon, which ravaged central Philippines in November, has killed more than 5,700 and destroyed over P35 billion worth of infrastructure and agriculture, based on latest government estimates.

At the same time, Citi expects the rise in domestic prices to stay within the central bank’s three-to fiveciti/PAGE 9

CCAP admonishes credit card users THE Christmas season brings unavoidable expenses, therefore the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) urged consumers to take extra care in using their credit cards during this peak month.

“Using a credit card for holiday shopping is truly a practical and convenient choice, but cardholders need to be smart and safe,” Alex Ilagan shared, Executive Director and Spokesperson for the CCAP. Ilagan added that making a list in advance, setting a budget, and charging within your means are the best ways to save consumers

from payment worries in the coming New Year.

“Credit cards are an ‘avail now and pay later’ facility – they should not be treated like ‘free money’,” Ilagan underscored. “As such, the same budgeting rules apply: compute how much you can realistically afford, and use that number as your guide.”

Data from CCAP showed that consumer spending using credit cards issued

by CCAP member banks increased by 6 percent last year to P471.76 million, from P445.12 million a year before.

Not surprisingly, December remains to be the strongest month.

“The great thing about credit card shopping is that many banks provide zero percent installment promos on purchases that would otherwise leave a dent in your wallet,” Ilagan further pointed out. “The ability to spread out expenses over a period of time has proven to be very useful for countless consumers.”

The CCAP Executive Director was quick to remind shoppers about some safety tips as well.

“Put your card away after each use, and avoid putting it in your pocket – apart from the risk of theft, it may ccap/PAGE 10

PDIC top recipient of gov’t subsidy in Oct THE state deposit insurer received the biggest subsidy from the national government at the start of the fourth quarter, according to the Bureau of Treasury.

In its monthly cash operations report, the bureau said subsidy to government owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) in October fell by 74.84 percent year-on-year to P507 million.

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp (PDIC) got the largest financial aid at P314 million, followed by the Philippine Coconut Authority at P171 million and the Philippine Heart Center at P16 million.

The October releases

brought the 10-month subsidy to P35.907 billion, a 75 percent increase from the P20.479 billion in the same period last year, as the government ramped up financial aid for indigents’ health needs and for the housing requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (Philhealth) has received the biggest subsidy so far this year at P11.974 billion or nearly a third of the financial aid given to all GOCCs. The National Housing Authority (NHA) got the second largest aid at P8.255 billion.

Electric cooperatives

received the third biggest allocation at P4.283 billion coursed through the National Electrification Administration.

T h e Nat i on a l Fo o d Authority, which subsidizes the rice requirements of the poor, got P2 billion so far this year, while the PDIC, which has been bailing out failed rural banks, received P1.884 billion.

Despite the subsidy, the national government has managed to trim its budget deficit to P112.5 billion in the first 10 months of the year, less than half the full-year ceiling of P238 billion.

The budget deficit arose from tax revenues falling short of government expenditures.

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Your Family Tree THINK

hink a minute...Ever hear the expressions “Like father, like A Minute son?” or “The fruit doesn’t fall By Jhan Tiafau Hurst far from the tree?”

Two families in America were studied for many years. One was the Max Jukes family; the other was the Jonathan Edwards family.

What was discovered in this study is very interesting.

Max Jukes was a man who did not believe in God or strong principles of right and wrong, and he married a woman like himself.

More than 1,200 of their descendants were studied for several generations. 310 became professional beggars; 440 died of sexually transmitted diseases; 130 were sent to prison, 7 of them for murder; over 100 became alcoholics; 60 became professional thieves and robbers; and 190 became prostitutes. Only 20 learned a profession, and10 of those learned their trade in prison.

Jonathan Edwards, however, was a man who daily lived by the principles of Jesus Christ, and he chose to marry a woman who also had a personal relationship with Christ. Their descendants were studied over generations also.

300 of them became Christian ministers, missionaries, and theology professors; over 100 others became university professors; another100 became lawyers and attorneys; 30 became judges; 60 became medical doctors; another 60 became writers of published, popular books; 14 became presidents of universities; many others became successful business people; 3 became United States congressmen; and 1 became the Vice President of the United States.

It is clearly true that our children end up following our example much more than following our advice!

You cannot train up your child in the way you’re not going yourself. But you can start changing and going that way today—by asking the One Who invented families to forgive you for your wrong way of living. Then ask Jesus Christ to take charge of your heart and character.

As you start living His way every day, you will start showing your children the successful, right way of living. And they will also teach their children, who will then teach their children. Because well trained children grow up to train their children well.

Just Think a Minute…

Opinion

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

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

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DOT 9 Launches 'Vinta de Esperanza'

Department of Tourism – IX (DOT 9) launched 'Vinta de Esperanza' last December 3, 2013 at Paseo del Mar, Zamboanga City. City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco and DOT9 Dir. Mary June Bugante graced the event as the vinta sailing began and will continue the whole month of December 2013 until the first week of January 2014.

tuesday - december 10, 2013

T

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

Getting Life Back on Track with Rehab Access

By Mike Baños

E

ver since she started her medical practice in Cagayan de Oro City twenty seven years ago, Dr. Grace R. Cid, M.D. has constantly found it necessary to make the public aware of her specialty and the great difference it is capable of in improving the quality of their lives.

Dr. Cid is a physiatrist. She is a Fellow of the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine, a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Rehabilitation Medicine and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. She has formally trained for and accredited in her subspecialty of Sports Medicine.

“A physiatrist practices in the field of physiatry (also called physical medicine and rehabilitation) –a branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease primarily using "physical" means, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and medications,” Dr. Cid explains. “We treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move and function. By taking the whole body into account, we are able to accurately pinpoint problems and enhance performance - without surgery.”

Treadmill

Rehab Access Locator Photo The term 'physiatry' was coined by Dr. Frank H. Krusen in 1938. The term was accepted by the American Medical Association in 1946. The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is approximately over 60 years old. Today, there are still just some 300 physicians practicing physical medicine and rehabilitation in the Philippines and only 10 in Northern Mindanao. ( Frontera, W.R. (ed.). (2010).

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Principles and Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin.) ("Information for Patients and Family," American Academy of Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation, accessed August 2011.) (http://www.spine-health.com/ treatment/spine-specialists/what-a-physiatrist) After establishing her hospital based practice in three of the city’s leading medical institutions (Northern Mindanao Medical Center, Maria ReynaXavier University Hospital and Cagayan de Oro Polymedic General Hospital) over the last three decades, Dr. Cid recently opened Rehab Access, a private, fully equipped physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic located at the 1st floor of the El Cid Building along Gen. Antonio Luna Extension, Cagayan de Oro City next to the regional offices of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Rehab Access offers medical rehabilitation services for Neurologic Disorders (Stroke, Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Nerve and Muscle Diseases, Parkinsonism); Muscoskeletal Disorders (Back and Neck Pain, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Spine Deformity, Osteoporosis, Amputation, Healed Fracture, Contracture, Post Orthopedic Surgery); Pediatric Disorders (Cerebral Palsy, Delayed Motor Development) Conditioning in Cardiac and Pulmonary Disorders; Geriatric Rehabilitation; Orthotics (Pre- and Post-Prosthetic Training) and Sports Injuries.

The center is fully equipped with instruments and facilities essential to rehabilitation medicine such as heating pads and bath, ice packs, traction devices, paraffin wax bath, ultrasound, laser, infrared light, electrotherapy unit, stimulators and a therapeutic gym.

“You should consider seeing a rehabilitation physician if you had an accident or have an injury or chronic condition that has left you with pain or limited function,” Dr. Cid explains. “We can also assist you if you’re contemplating or recovering from surgery; have

an illness or treatment that has diminished your energy or ability to move easily; recovering from the effects of a stroke or other problems related to nerve damage; have chronic pain from arthritis, a repetitive stress injury, or back problems; have had a heart attack or had undergone cardiac surgery; or recently experienced life changes such as childbirth or menopause which have created new challenges to your physical function.”

Among the common conditions that are treated by the rehabilitation therapists are stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal pain syndromes such as low back pain, fibromyalgia, frozen shoulder, amputation, and sports injuries. They also facilitate cardiopulmonary rehabilitation which involves optimizing function in those afflicted with heart or obstructive lung disease.

“The job of a rehabilitation physician is to treat any disability resulting from disease or injury, from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries,” Dr. Cid says.

“The focus is on the development of a comprehensive program for putting the pieces of a person's life back together after injury or disease – without or after surgery.”

“We will thoroughly assess your condition, needs, and expectations and rule out any serious medical illnesses in developing a treatment plan to address your specific needs and goals. A clear understanding of your condition and limitations will help us develop a treatment plan suited to your unique needs,” she added.

“If surgery is needed, we will team up with your surgeons before and after surgery. By directing your treatment team and collaborating with other health care professionals, we can design a treatment program specially tailored for you.”

By providing an appropriate treatment plan, rehabilitation physicians help patients stay as active as possible at any age. Their broad medical expertise allows them to treat disabling conditions throughout a person’s lifetime (http://www.aapmr.org/patients/ aboutpmr/pages/physiatrist.aspx) Rehab Access is open Mondays to Fridays 9-12am and 2-6PM and Saturdays 8-12AM. Consultation hours with Dr. Cid are Mondays to Fridays 2-6PM and Saturdays 9-12AM. For more details, contact tel.(88) 880-1373 or mobile # 09177073356.

Ultrasound

Stationary Bike

Rehab Access

Lumbar Traction

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CDP President Cong Rufus Rodríguez with his daughter Regine Rodríguez and her team of KLIK-CDYAP. photo by lorelyn galarrita dumaug

Bans... from page 4

affected by the eminent domain rule, or property boundaries can be cut.

Included in the exception are coconut trees covered by land use or conversion orders issued by the DA and the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Farmers are also allowed to cut coconut trees for personal use for not more than five individual trees and which are considered no longer productive.

In its third quarter report for major nonfood crops, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said during the July-to-September 2013 period, coconut production was estimated at 4.17 million metric tons or 3 percent less than last year’s production of 4.30 MMT. Around 98 percent were harvested as mature nuts, while 2 percent were harvested as young nuts, which were 3 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively lower than the corresponding outputs in Julyto-September 2012.

The BAS, also an attached bureau of the DA, blamed Typhoon Labuyo for the lower outputs. Pablo, internationally designated as Utor, battered the Aurora province in midAugust, causing the production on mature coconut to drop by 38.5 percent or by 14,830 metric tons (MT).

Cutting and replanting of trees were also reported in Oriental Mindoro according to the BAS, reducing number of bearing trees by 2.2 percent resulting to a 7.9-percent (2,020 MT) drop in the province’s production.

In Batangas cutting of trees infected by the scale insect caused the production of mature coconut to drop by 20.3 percent.

The BAS also said shifting from coconut to rubber farming in Basilan reduced the area and the number of mature coconut trees, resulting to a 10-percent decrease in production in the province. Pablo’s damage in Davao Region reduced coconut production in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental and

Davao del Norte by 32.9 percent, 40.6 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively.

More than 32 million trees were damaged by Yolanda in Samar and Leyte areas, and another 2 million in Region 6, according to PCA. The coconut authority also said that Pablo damaged 5.4 million coco trees in Davao area, raising to almost 40 million the number of coconut trees damaged.

Damaged trees were allowed to be cut in the typhoon-affected areas to prevent Rhinoceros beetles from multiplying. These beetles multiply by eating decayed trees.

Felled trees can provide millions of board feet for housing and public buildings for the typhoon victims, the PCA also said in its statement.

According to the BAS, the top coconut producers were Eastern Visayas with 13.6 percent share to the national total followed by Davao region with 12.8 percent, and Calabarzon with 11.9 percent.

Labeling... from page 4

The appellate court said the field trials of Bt talong (Bt eggplant) are unsafe to humans and environment and that the government of Philippines has failed to adopt sufficient biosafety protocols, as well as feasibility studies on GMOs to protect the environment and people’s health.

The groups Masipag (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), Greenpeace Southeast Asia, and other advocates against GMOs contend that Bt eggplant is genetically modified to produce its own toxin to kill the eggplant fruit and shoot borer.

According to these groups, genetic engineering disrupts the precise sequence of genetic codes, disturbing the functions of neighboring genes, and that when consumed; GM foods may give rise to potentially toxic or allergenic molecules or even alter the nutritional value.

Concerns were also raised over genetic contamination,

9

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w h e re i n a G M O c ro p reproduces once released in the open via pollination and interacts genetically with natural varieties of the same crop. Bt corn has contaminated the indigenous varieties of corn in Oaxaca, Mexico, a rich gene pool for maize varieties, according to a study published in academic science journal Nature.

In an earlier interview, Masipag said that prospects of export for Philippine organic corn, and eventually rice, might be affected once contamination is proven.

Last month the Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Operations Dante S. Delima said the country has already shipped out 350 metric tons of organic rice to several countries.

Biotechnology was identified by the agriculture department as one of the strategies of the government to pursue its food staples sufficienc y program in improving the production of staple foods to feed the burgeoning population.

Citi...

from page 5

percent target range.

“Inflation should stay within an acceptable range of four to five percent; hence, we expect a gradual 50bps (basis points) policy rate hike in 2H14 (second half of 2014),” Citi said.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation to average four percent next year, at the mid-point of the target range.

The rate has s o far averaged 2.8 percent this year, below the central bank’s three to five percent target range.

The benign inflation and the country’s robust economic growth has allowed the central bank to keep policy rates steady since the start of the year.

“A s i d e f r o m t h e reconstruction theme, we see deployment of excess liquidity and gradually rising rates as key drivers of the market,” Citi noted.

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UNDP... from page 2

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local economy; -Developing ownership of the recovery process; and -Reducing the risk of disease by properly disposing waste.

UNDP’s target is to provide cash-for-work benefits to 10,000 people across the five provinces by the end of the year.

The relief body is working with its partners to raise another USD38 million to achieve the post-”Yolanda” recovery targets, officials said. (PNA)

PNOC... from page 2

Deed of Sale Agreement in 2009.

PNOC purchased 108.6-petajoules of banked gas from the 1,200-megawatt Ilijan natural gas power plant for P14 billion.

Pet i l l a has issue d a Department Order (DO) directing among others the institution of a technical working group (TWG) that would study and propose guidelines for the disposal of the banked gas.

Price of the banked gas is still being studied by the PNOC and Pilipinas Shell, Petilla said.

The Energy chief said the pricing scheme will be determined through a bidding.

He said the banked gas has a capacity of 150 megawatt (MW) but can be extended to 400 MW if it would be utilized only during peak hours, which are 11am, 2pm and 7pm.

Providing power only during peak hours entails higher depreciation cost for power plants compared to operating it on a 24-hour basis.

Petilla said operators of these plants are allowed to sell at a higher cost to recover expenses but only within a limited period of about two to three years as no new plants go online and after getting an approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). (PNA)

Org...

from page 2

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and already felt.

Carvalho said that upon visiting Tacloban, it was encouraging to see significant progress, also adding that it is still “a long road ahead.”

C ha l lenges over t he coming months, she said, will involve reopening the damaged schools and public buildings and restoring services.

The international communit y has ra l lie d to support the affected communities but support will be needed well into 2014 as the long task of rebuilding lives continues, she added. “ T h e p e opl e of t h e Philippines are known the world over for their resilience.

You just have to see Tacloban and how the recovery of the city, which was so badly damaged, is under way,”

Carvalho said. “ Wor k i n g a l on g s i d e the Government, the humanitarian community will continue to assist in the creation of livelihoods and to provide shelter solutions for the many people whose homes were destroyed,” she added.

Car valho expressed gratitude for the international outpouring of support and hoped it continues in the months ahead.

“These inputs are essential to enable people to return to a productive and healthy life” she said.

She noted that in Tacloban, the airport was already operational, fuel was available, the water system was reconnected, people were receiving assistance and the town hall was functioning.

(PNA)

Petilla... from page 2

Thus, the plant is now running on diesel, which is expensive compared to the gas produced by the plant.

And since the plant is running on diesel, the capacity it supplies to distribution utility Meralco will also be expensive.

Me r a l c o h a s y e t t o announce how much the increase would be and the mode, whether one-time or staggered. This will be done after a meeting of officials of Meralco and the Energy Regulator y Commission (ERC) Monday.

Petilla, in an interview, explained that since the price increase is not resource development-related factor, the Malampaya Fund cannot be tapped for this.

He even pointed out that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot tap the Malampaya Fund for the rehabilitation of transmission lines affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

“We can’t use the fund even after a destruction caused by calamity so we have to study this (subsidy),” he added. (PNA)

Reserves... from page 2

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said.

The central bank has a US$ 87 billion target for foreign reserves this year but as of last November it only amounted to US$ 84 billion.

This is higher than monthago’s US$ 83.6 billion and year-ago’s US$ 83.93 billion.

Monetary officials review their economic targets twice a year, in April and November.

They have yet to make the formal announcement on any adjustments but reports said it was trimmed down to US$ 85 billion.

Te t a n g c o, h o w e v e r, declined to confirm or deny this.

“Our statement still holds true, GIR remains higher if not for the negative revaluation of gold,” he added.

The countr y’s dollar reser ves come from the c e nt r a l b a n k’s f ore i g n

exchange operations and income from investments overseas.

Dollar deposits of the national government also boost the central bank’s foreign currency reserves.

(PNA)

Save...

from page 2 By simply reusing decorations including the Belen, parol and even the Christmas tree by recreating them with recycled materials, it could lessen the trash immensely, the EcoWaste Coalition stated.

Another unique idea the group suggested was to opt for potted plants as Christmas trees or even go distinctive by designing one out of trees, twigs or broomsticks.

The group also advised the public to purchase items that are locally made, nontoxic, reusable and require no electricity.

As for saving electricity, the group suggested that when selecting Christmas lights, the public should choose safe, energy efficient and long lasting ones with genuine Import Commodity Clearance (ICC).

Christmas lights should b e used sparingly, and should only be lit up only as Christmas nears and only when needed, the group noted.

Otherwise, the group said that the lights should be turned them off during daylight hours and also off when residents are away or asleep.

Individuals should also bear in mind to refrain from over-the-top use of Christmas lights and instead conserve electricity, EcoWaste further said. (PNA)

Saudi... from page 2

opportunities for locals, as statistics indicate that there is one unemployed among each four Saudis in the employment age.

Al Eqtisadiya also highlighted that the deportation will enable Saudi Arabia to save 7 billion dollars of remittances. (PNA/ Xinhua)

Globe... from page 3

improvement from a previous quarter. According to Cu, the growth in subscribers came from both wired and wireless solutions as fixed broadband subscribers grew 17% on year nomadic subscribers grew 14% over the same period last year.

Continuing expansion of the company’s broadband subscribers pushed revenues for the January to September period to P7.8 billion, a 22% rise from a year earlier and contributing 12% of total revenues, improving from its 10% contribution a year earlier.

“The company continues to contribute innovative broadband products, providing differentiated data speeds and enhanced services to cater to varying market

preferences,” noted Cu. Cu added that the c omp any ’s mo d e r n i z e d network infrastructure is expected to lift capacity and boost network performance and thus further enhance Globe branding moving forward. (PNA)

SM...

from page 3 Baby Cakes, La Bodequita, Malagos Farmhouse Cheeses, Sunahana Ramen, Osvaldo’s C a k e s , B a n g k o k Wo k , Pastanni, Sweet Spot Artisan Ice Cream, and Bleu Chili Wing Bar. Crazy Cook’s offers its Truffle Cheese Pate, Caviar Pate and Assorted Baos. RBG of Park Inn Davao boasts of its signature Porchetta, noodles and other tasty dishes.

For Asian food options, Sunahana’s Ramen’s Tonkatsu and Korean Tacos, and Bangkok’s Woks authentic Thai dishes like the Kao Soy, Chicken Satay and Roast Duck Curry, Sweet Spot’s World entertains the customers with its famous Crocodile Ice Cream.

For pasta-eating lovers, they can treat themselves to Pastanni’s and Bleu Chili’s wraps and La Bodequita’s great Spanish collections.

Osvaldo’s delish Cheese Cakes could make one smile so with Jonathan’s homemade cupcakes and dessert bars.

For pure chocolate wines, one should be at the booth of the Malagos Farmhouse Cheeses’ Bignay Wine and Malagos Chocolate and Cellar de Boca’s Lagarde wines imported from Argentina, and one should not miss Christmas staples such as Castañas, Alaba said.

These and many more gourmet foodies are showcased at the holiday market.

A lab a s aid t he y are planning for a long Gourmet Collective 1st quarter next year. (PNA)

CCAP... from page 5

fall out. Don’t linger at the cashier with your credit card exposed as well, for we’ve had reports of people standing in line at checkouts for the sole purpose of memorizing credit card numbers,” he advised.

For those with multiple credit cards, Ilagan said it is advisable to take only one or two of them, as the incidence of theft during the holidays is higher.

Likewise, he strongly discouraged the practice of lending out credit cards, especially to children or friends, because “once it’s out of your hands, it’s out of your control. You need to keep your credit card firmly in your own control.”

Once holiday season is over, CCAP encourages consumers to pay their balances in full come January to avoid incurring interest charges.

“That’s the great part about setting a budget and charging only what you can afford – you’ve managed your Christmas expenses, and start the year debt-free,” Ilagan concluded.

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Aboitiz... from page 1

“We will exp erience shortage, definitely, if no one invests in the energy sector,” he said.

However, Mr. Duterte said the support of his administ rat ion for t he expansion of the project “will probably be the last one” for him.

Early last week, AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. sought the city government’s approval to expand its 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant project to 645 MW, with project completion set for 2018.

Manuel M. Orig, AboitizPower first vicepresident, told the city councilors in his presentation that the expansion will “help ensure that Davao and Mindanao will have adequate supply to support its continued development and growth.”

Mr. Orig cited Department of Energy data showing that Mindanao has an installed capacity of 2,049.3 MW, but the dependable capacity is only 79% or 1,614.4 MW.

Poor... from page 1

2012, on account of the country’s growing population, the estimated number of poor families has risen from 3.8 million in 2006 to 4.2 million in 2012,” the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said in a press release as it released the complete poverty statistics for 2012.

The NSCB said that while poverty incidence, or the proportion of poor families to total number of families, was lower at 19.7% in 2012, this was “not statistically significant” from the 20.5% and 21% respectively recorded in 2009 and 2006.

But based on the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of poor families by 2015, the NSCB said poverty incidence in 2012 represented a significant accomplishment against the 29.7% estimate in 1991.

The NSCB also said that the poorest among poor families was “steady” at 1.6 million in 2012 despite the increase in the number of poor families.

Subsistence incidence, or the proportion of families in extreme poverty to total number of families, was estimated at 7.5%, steady from 2009 but lower compared to the 8.8% recorded in 2006.

Signing... from page 1

Agreement, especially if they are able to fast-track the negotiations on the last of four annexes – the Annex on Normalization.”

“The panels must now revise, refine the timeframe and the next milestones till the end of 2014. Everything should wind up by 2014. This simply means they should rush up,” Alim said.

In their Joint Statement Sunday, the panels said they are confident they will “finish the Annex on Normalization and an addendum on the matter of Bangsamoro waters … in January 2014.”

In a statement signed

by Patricia Sarenas, the Mindanao C oalition of Development Networks ( M I NC ODE ) an d t h e Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) commended the Philippine government and the MILF for the “historic” document.

“Even as the country reels from the effects of the calamities that have unfortunately affected our people in many parts of the country in the recent months, we have never lost sight of the fact that the GPH-MILF peace process was an important matter that did not have to be sidelined or delayed any further because it is of utmost importance that the remaining two Annexes will be needed to complete the work of the Bangsamoro Transition C ommission (BTC),” Sarenas wrote.

She said the annexes will hasten the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which as to be completed “as soon as possible so that Congress can start the process of enacting the law. “ “As we celebrate the historic signing in Kuala Lumpur today of the Annex on Power Sharing, we renew our call for the completion of the last Annex on Normalization as soon as possible,” Sarenas said.

Ma r y A n n A r n a d o, secretar y-general of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus said that having settled p ower-sharing at the negotiating table, civil society organizations “can confidently proceed in the conduct of public engagements.”

Arnado’s group, as well as Sarenas’ and other civil society organizations are assisting the BTC, the joint GPH-MILF body drafting the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the conduct of consultations with various sectors.

‘While we are of course happy with this breakthrough, we urge the peace panels to sustain the momentum by not losing time in finishing the remaining annex on Normalization at the soonest time possible, if possible before the year ends,” Arnado said, adding she hopes the peace panels would “walk the extra mile to deliver a comprehensive p eace agreement before the end of 2013.”

Both panels, however, have agreed to meet again in January 2014 to finish the Annex on Normalization and the addendum of Bangsamoro Waters to the Annexes on Power-Sharing and WealthSharing.

The two panels had earlier agreed to sign the Annex on Power-Sharing with the unresolved issue on Bangsamoro waters treated as an addendum to the two annexes

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Lechon House More economic integration ABELLANOSA Corner Magsaysay Abellanosa St., Cag. de Oro City seen with RCEP finality in 2014 MANAGED BY :

DAVAO City -- Greater economic integration among countries in light of free trade agreements is seen as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) enters its third and final negotiation next year.

Rafaelita Castro, Doing Business in Free Trade Areas (DBFTA) program manager, also chief of the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion of the Department of Industry (DTI), said the third and last negotiations for RCEP signals the reality that “Free Trade Agreements are here to stay.”

The RCEP is a 16-party Free Trade Agreement that was launched by the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asia Nation and their current FTA Partners of Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

She said the RCEP aside from leading to greater economic integration it would also support equitable “We call on our people especially the grassroots leaders to go out of our way and explain to the communities the content and spirit of the powersharing agreement which spells the modalities on how the Bangsamoro people will exercise their right to selfdetermination,” Arnado said.

She called on civil society leaders to “unite and close ranks as we work hand in hand with the Bangsamoro Transition C ommission in reaching out and consulting the people for their inputs, proposals and recommendations for the BBL. Let us help one another and maximize our meager resources in order to generate a massive public support for the Bangsamoro Basic Law.”

WESM...

from page 1 In last week’s International Conference on Competition in the Power Industry, Petilla announced that “the WESM rules are being fine-tuned”, emphasizing the need for imp osition of stronger sanctions against market breaches.

“There are rules in the competition that have been subject to abuse, so there are a few things that we have to fine-tune,” the energy chief stressed.

G i v e n l a s t w e e k ’s skyrocketing prices at the WESM, Petilla was obviously vexed that he ordered an immediate investigation of the alleged “collusive acts” of some power plant owners and operators. “If there are parties colluding or violating market rules, I want them penalized,” he stressed.

The energy chief reminded power industry players that a competitive market “is not only about profits, but also about public service.”

economic development and strengthen economic cooperation among the countries involved.

She said the first and second round of negotiations for RCEP were just finished.

With the third negotiation slated next year, implementation is targeted by 2015.

She said more market accessibility for Philippine products would highlight the third and final RCEP negotiations.

Castro said the Philippines in terms of export products is strong in furniture and agriculture products.

The RCEP initiative was announced by the ASEAN leaders in Nov. 2011 during the 19th ASEAN Summit.

The leaders established the RCEP as an ASEANled process through which ASEAN would broaden and deepen its economic engagements with its FTA partners. (PNA) Petilla further averred that after seven years of WESM’s “birth pains”, it is already high time “to look at the rules that we have and if these are actually being violated.”

The participant-power generators are not the only ones targeted for penalty impositions, but also the other market players, such as the retail electricity suppliers (RES); as well as system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) primarily on concerns relating to dispatch calls on capacities.

NGCP executives have not denied “acts of omission” on its ancillary services procurement mandate, admitting that the company scrambled at times on the scheduling and dispatch of power facilities and may have been oblivious of the technical constraints of the generating units. It reasoned out though that such had been part of its “struggle to keep pace with the complexities” of the restructured power market.

So for all parties to start on “equal footing,” NGCP has been proposing “moratorium on penalties” until the enforcement of the revised WESM rules.

The company propounded that even the penalties imposed against the power generators by the WESM’s market surveillance committee (MSC) be written off for now, just so the rules “would treat everybody fairly.”

Moving forward, NGCP said it will improve on its system operation (SO) function and will adhere to mandates on reporting all of its dispatch instructions, including lastminute schedules for ancillary services or must-run units, so the industry can be properly apprised as to which party has been committing market breaches.

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Xavier Ecoville Youth Perform with ART and soul in Sining Galing

by Xyla Mercedita E. Gualberto

S

ining Galing- A Xavier Ecoville Arts Program for the Youth had its grand talent showcase on November 30 at the Xavier University Little Theater.

The event, titled Straight from the Art, was the culmination activity of the said arts program which ran from August to November. It featured stellar performances and visual artworks by the Xavier Ecoville (XE)Youth and Children, reflecting their heart’s dreams, stories and emotions.

Sining Galing was funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts through its Cultural Education Committee's Bugkusan . It is implemented by the Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) in partnership with the Xavier Ecoville community.

The program aims to foster healing for the Sendong survivors through art therapy. It also gives them a chance to discover their artistic side, to nurture it, and to share their stories and experiences creatively. XCCA Director Hobart Savior said “I always believe that the arts are the best assets of humanity. And we believe that this is something that is worthy to be shared to our community, especially since we have established a community that benefits our cause. They were hit by the tragedy that is Sendong, and we know that the arts are tools for them to recover and for to reclaim again their lives and their spirit as members of the humanity.”

The program had 8 recurring art workshops including: teen theater, children’s theater, cultural dance, visual arts, photography, chorale, guitar lessons and storytelling. It also had a 2-day Arts and Environment Workshop facilitated by all-around artist and Ms. Rosalie Zerrudo. Xavier University students, who are XCCA talents, serve as mentors to the Sining Galing participants. This gives them an opportunity to serve their fellow youth by sharing their talents and skills in the arts. Their community outreach indeed affirms XU’s Ruby Anniversary theme “Forming Leaders the Ateneo Way”. When asked about his best experience in Sining Galing, mentor for guitar lessons Luigi Gingco said “Seeing the faces of the teens. Kay it's enlightening man gud as a mentor”.

Straight from the Art made the participants very excited. They were hands-on in preparing their recitals.

They helped set-up their exhibit, decorated the stage and rehearsed religiously to put up a good show. Then results were not disappointing. In fact, Straight from the Art proved that the Filipino Youth’s creativity shines bright even in times of adversity. The event was more than just a culmination, but it was a colorful celebration of life expressed so beautifully through the arts.

The highlight of the night was the heart-gripping finale “Sa Xavier Ecoville”, an original musical composition by XE youth Paul Peji Aguiman. “Among gi reflect sa kanta ang mga na sinatian namo, sa among gi bati, ug sa karon, ug sa umaabot nga panahon .Amo ning gi himo ni nga kanta sa pinaagi sa among mga kamot ug among mga idea. Amo ni'ng gi himo para sa mga kabtan-unan, kabataan, ginikanan, ug sa mga future nga mu puyoay sa ecoville. Para kini sa ilaha ug sa amoa.” He, his band mates from the guitar lessons group, together with the children and the rest of the participants of Sining Galing proudly sang as one community “Sa Xavier Ecoville, kami malipayon. Tungod sa pagsinabtanay sa matagusang panimalay. Naningkamot ang usag-usa alang sa kausaban. Salamat sa kahitas-an gidungog ang kabagohan namong tanan.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed the recitals, exhibiting the paintings and the photographs of the visual arts group.

Flordeliza Mabaylan, the Xavier Ecoville Youth Club Vice President and Sining Galing Youth Coordinator said “Happy kaayo ko nga na tagaan ug chance ang mga youth nga ma dugangan ang ilang mga kahibalo kung unsa ilang gusto mabal-an sauna… sama sa theater, dance ug uban pa. Happy pod ko nga bisan gamay lang among nahibal-an sauna, karon nga daghan-daghan na.”

*** Straight from the Art may have culminated, but the learning continues. The Xavier Ecoville youth will forever carry with them the colorful experiences and deep new friendships they have gained from the Sining Galing arts program.