BusinessWeek Mindanao (December 2, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Volume VI, No. 070

Market Indicators

As of 6:30 pm December 1, 2015 (tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P47.153

7,060.60

1.5

X X Briefly

cents

133.53 points

Italpinas shares PROPERTY developer Italpinas Development Corp. enjoyed robust demand for its initial public offering (IPO), the underwriter of the share sale said.

Unicapital, Inc. Managing Director Leonardo R. Arguelles, Jr. said in a mobile phone message said the allocation for the local small investors (LSI), trading participants (TP) and quality institutional buyers (QIB) was oversubscribed by multiple times at the close of the offering last Friday.

“LSI was fully taken up as of Tuesday. TPs [were] 3.5 times oversubscribed. QIBs [were] 3 times oversubscribed,” Mr. Arguelles said, adding the LSI was 2.6 times oversubscribed.

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Wednesday | December 2, 2015

By CRIS DIAZ, Contributing Editor

NTIL the power transmission lines are secured, the entry of new power players would not improve the energy situation in Mindanao, a firm tasked to transmit power in Mindanao said on Tuesday.

Beth Ladaga, who heads the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Regional Corporate and Public Affairs said that the energy situation will not improve if there are no transmission lines to deliver the new capacity to the distribution utilities and household consumers.

Ladaga was referring to various transmission lines that crossed along farm lots in Lanao Del Sur that have remained vulnerable due to trees planted by landowners w h o w a nt p ay m e nt at exorbitant rates.

She cited the case of a certain Balao Pundag who supply/PAGE 11

ADVENT. A lighted Advent wreath is visible during Mass last Sunday, November 29, at the Jesus Nazareno Parish, Shrine of the Black Nazarene in Cagayan de Oro City, signaling the start of the long Christmas season in the country. photo by mark francisco

Back to normal POWER supply on the Mindanao grid was back at positive levels on Monday after a week of deficiencies, but electricity distributors in several major cities will still have scheduled brownouts this week as the energy situation remains unstable in the hydropowerdependent southern island due to the prevailing El Niño.

As of Nov. 29, the Mindanao grid had a capacity of 1,246 megawatts (MW), which was 132 MW more than the peak demand at 1,114 MW, based on data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ Web site.

However, rotational power interruptions could still be experienced in Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities and nearby areas, among others, where the distributors are mainly dependent on supply from the main grid.

P15.00

Mindanao power supply still bleak due to threats www.businessweekmindanao.com

Banana exporter braces for effects of El Niño

By CARMELITO Q.FRANCISCO, Correspondent

YOUNG FISHERMAN. A young fisherman carries his yield, a boxfull of assorted fish, at the fish landing in Poblacion, San Jose, Dinagat Province Tuesday. mindanews photo by roel n . catoto

Solons bat for strengthening of tax exemption for coops

By CRIS DIAZ, Contributing Editor

LAWMAKERS are pushing for the strengthening of the tax exemption of registered cooperatives as one of the economic prime movers in the country.

Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, both authors of House Bill (HB) coops/PAGE 11

THE country’s largest banana exporter, Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (Tadeco), is allocating about P120 million in a plan aimed at cushioning the impact of El Niño, which forecasters say will be one of the worst dry spells on record.

Anthony Alexander N.

Valoria, president of Anflo Management and Investment Corporation (Anflocor), said the amount is budgeted under next year’s capital expenditures, “but we have to advance it to ensure that the dry spell will have a minimal impact on Tadeco’s

operations.”

Tadeco is the flagship firm of the Floirendo family’s Anflocor.

“We need to address the impact of the drought on our irrigation system as well as look for other ways to ensure our productivity,” Mr. Valoria told BusinessWeek Mindanao. banana/PAGE 10

Moreno urges enhancement of preparedness Oro exec says Sendong is ‘best example of bad governance’

By BONG D. FABE, Contributing Editor

SENDONG was a “mistake of governance” that should never be repeated.

Twenty days before the 4th anniversary of Sendong,

internationally known as Tropical Storm Washi, Mayor Oscar S. Moreno described the devastation wrought on the city by the strongest

storm in 2011 as an example of bad governance paid for by the lives of thousands of Kagay-anons.

Moreno, who keynoted the simple hand-over ceremony moreno/PAGE 10

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Duterte disqualification may lead to revolt

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IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Fo r t h e o n e i n authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer…” (Romans 13:4, the Holy Bible).

-ooo FILIPINOS’ SUPPORT FOR DUTERTE IS PHENOMENAL: Pictures coming out in Facebook and other social networking sites Sunday, November 29, 2015, showing the big crowd in a Metro Manila gathering for Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on that day, even when he was not expected to be present, and even when no coordinators worked to bring in the people, should be scaring the wits out of the other presidential candidates in t he 2016 elections.

Undeniably, there is now a huge and very big number of Filipino voters who are giving Duterte not only their votes, but even their time, money, and effort, just to make sure that the long-time Davao City mayor is elected president in the upcoming national political exercise.

The outp our ing and manifestation of support

Oro Chamber

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The Greatest Job hink a minute…The Greek philosopher Diogenes said that when a son does wrong or behaves badly, it’s the father who should be punished since he’s the one who failed to do his job. Many men are successful in their public career and job, but failures in their most important job: being a father.

One of the richest men in the world was the German Friedrich Flick. When he died, his personal fortune was $1 ½ billion. That’s 1 thousand, 5 hundred million! He owned 300 different companies and was respected as one of the smartest businessmen in the world. He seemed to make all the right moves. Yet with all of his world-class success, wealth, and power, He could not control his own children.

He could put big companies together, but he could not put his own family together. So after he died, his children fought for years over his money; and all the experts tried to clean up the big mess of broken pieces Flick left behind because of his failure as a father. So he actually died a poor man and failure at his most important job.

The famous army General, Doug las MacAr thur, is thought by many to be one

for Duterte, who became well-known for running his city with iron-fisted policies and tough anticrime campaigns, is nothing short of phenomenal. It is stupendous, even, considering that Duterte has not had a previous national exposure, unlike candidates Mar Roxas, Jojo Binay, and Miriam Santiago.

-ooo WHY IS “ TOUGH” DUTERTE SO POPULAR? Why are Filipinos s o enamored with Duterte, even if he widely believed to have played, many a time, the role of a jur y and executioner against the dangerous criminals in his city? Why are Filipinos wanting to elect him president even if he had been quoted as saying that many will be killed, if he became president, if they persisted in their criminal activities?

There are a lot of reasons for this. One is that, many Filipinos are now painfully aware and are fed-up that many criminals and criminal-minded citizens and even many foreigners in the country no longer fear the government and are now committing their nefarious trades with impunity and in great mocker y of the law, of the justice system,

and of the entire Filipino nation.

Then, there is a widespread belief that the government is not only helpless in fighting crime and criminality, but that, in reality, many of its officials and leaders are in fact the criminals themselves, or are co-conspirators with lawless elements in the commission of crimes, in consideration of, or pursuant to, political and economic advantage and concessions.

-ooo D U T E R T E D I S Q UA L I F I C AT I O N MAY PROVOKE BLOODY REVOLT: And Filipinos believe, rightly or wrongly, that only Duterte can put a stop to this crime and criminality, and that only he can neutralize individuals or groups in the government and in the private sectors who either condone or e nc ou r age l aw l e ss ne ss , graft, and corruption, given his own experience in Davao City.

Therefore, those who would want to derail D uter te’s c andid ac y by disqualifying him, for any reason, from running for president, should better be warned not to attempt any silly maneuver against his candidacy for the highest office of the land.

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio Wit h t h e pre v ai l i ng mo o d of many Duter te s u p p o r t e r s t o d a y, a ny disqualification of Duterte will never be acceptable, and could even provoke his supporters into fits of violence that could spark a truly bloody revolution that may yet fully destroy the country and its people.

Forewarned is forearmed!

-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 w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / ANDKNK (For ANDKNK, look for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts). Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0 9 7 7 8 0 5 9 0 5 8 . E m ai l : batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Meaning of Advent

Philippine Press Institute

T

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THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst of the greatest military leaders of all time. He led the Allied armies to victory over the Japanese in World War II. Later he was the leader of the United Nations forces in Korea.

Yet even though he was such a great success as a military leader, MacArthur did not think it was his most important job or success. In 1942 he said this in a public speech: “By profession, I am a soldier, and take great pride in that. But I am much prouder, to be a father. It is my hope in life, that when I am gone, my son will remember me not from my victories on the battlefield, but from my leadership and example in the home.”

In World War II, every morning General MacArthur hurst/PAGE 11

e have just ended a liturgical year with the celebration of the Solemnity of the Christ the King. We are now beginning a new one with the season of Advent, the proximate preparation for the birth of Christ at Christmas.

The immediate thought that comes to mind in this transition of the old and new liturgical years is that while we should have the mind of ending well and also beginning well, we should neither forget that this cycle of life is meant to catapult us to the eternal life where there will be no more changes of seasons and shifts of days and nights.

We have to understand then that the season of Advent implies that we have to learn how to begin again very well.

What is presumed is that we have a global picture of our life.

We ought to know the different constitutive elements of our life here on earth as well as their relations among each other. We have to distinguish as well as relate the different dimensions of our life, like the material and the spiritual, the temporal and the eternal, the natural and the supernatural, the mundane and the sacred, the theory and the praxis, piety and morals, work and prayer, etc.

With Advent, we are

reminded that it is Christ who enables us to get this global picture, since he is the very pattern of God’s creation, and especially of us, as well as our savior after we messed up God’s original creation through our sin.

Advent tries to arouse in us this longing for Christ who should not be just a historical character buried in the past.

He is alive, for he is God who lives in eternity and thus is living even up to now. He is always a contemporary of everyone of us, irrespective of what era we pass through this world.

In a world sunk in its own fantasy, all but locked out from God, its creator, there is a great need for us to recover our proper bearing and to restore the proper place of God in our life. Advent precisely gives us another opportunity to do readjustments in our life to conform ourselves more faithfully to our ultimate dignity as children of God. This God has revealed himself to us and remains with us through Christ in the Holy Spirit. It should not be difficult for us to meet, know and deal with him. If we do our part, we can readily see him, since on the part of God, everything is already given for us to enter into an intimate relation with him.

The questions to ask ourselves are: Are we praying and making an effort to know him? Do we try to be familiar with God’s word, left in Sacred Scripture and taught authoritatively by the Church Magisterium? Do we avail of the sacraments which are the effective signs of grace and of Christ himself, especially in the Holy Eucharist?

Or are we still indifferent to this need, still dominated by our laziness or doubts and skepticism, or worse, by some worldly ideologies that undermine our faith and piety and lead us to agnosticism and atheism?

We have to understand Ad v e nt a s a t i m e f or conversion, for growing in our knowledge and love for Christ.

It’s not just one more season of the year, marked simply be decorating our places with Christmas ornaments. Advent gives us another beginning, another chance clean up the past and start new with a clean slate.

What can help is to pay close attention to the prayers and readings of the liturgy of the season of Advent.

There we can taste afresh the preparation of the coming of Christ, our Redeemer, the drama and the mysterious ways God uses to pursue his plan for our redemption.

We should accompany

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala Mary and Joseph in their involvement in the coming of Christ. They can actually show us how to prepare for Christ’s birth, especially spiritually, so that Christ too can be born in each one of us.

Human as we are, we need to feel all these things.

The spirit of Advent is not simply an intellectual, spiritual affair. It involves our whole humanity, down to our feelings, passions, instincts and senses. The expectation and longing so characteristic of Advent should be felt as much as possible, and made to trigger the appropriate actions.

Advent should be an effective occasion to bring us back to God. When the world seems to be drifting away from him, Advent can start a new journey back to our Creator and Father, through Christ.

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Economy 5 60 Mindanaoan stakeholders support Pag-ibig Fund’s integrity pledge Mindanao Film Fest to feature provincial films 2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

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DAVAO City -- A total of 60 stakeholders signified their commitment to the Integrity Pledge as Pag-ibig Fund holds the third of a series of governance and integrity forum in Davao City.

Att y. D arlene Mar ie Berberabe, president and ch i e f e xe c ut ive of f i c e r of the Pag-ibig Fund s a i d t r an s p a re n c y a n d a c c o u nt a b i l i t y i s v e r y important in their mission as they put importance to excellence, performance and good governance.

“The integrity pledge is the right thing to do. We are setting the tone from the top,” she said.

Berberabe stressed that since Pag-ibig is entrusted with large contributions from the people, it must as well adhere to values like honesty and transparency from its ranks towards their

partner stakeholders.

“People must know what we are doing,” she pointed out.

Berberabe said the Pag - i bi g Fu nd i s I S O certified 9001:2008 which is an indicative of their commitment to improve their services.

She said that the agency also gets 100 percent passing rate in anti-red tape in surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014 conducted by the Civil Service Commission. “ We b e l i e v e i n performance, but we also believe in integrity,” Berberabe said stressed.

She also took the opp or tunity to pres ent updates on the Pag-ibig Fund’s accomplishments especially its achievements resulting from good governance. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DAVAO City -- Short films shot and produced in the provinces in Region-XI will be shown during the 11th Mindanao Film Festival.

Among these films from the provinces include a selection coming from the Nabunturan Independent Film Exchange (Nabifilmex ), a film festival held in Nabunturan, the capital town of Compostela Valley Province.

Among these films from Nabifilmex include Supot, Tami-aw, Pangagho and Pantok, these films were created by Comvalenyo filmmakers deriving from local stories.

Tami-aw a short docu-

Information Office, the film was shot in the scenic Talikud Island in Davao del Norte.

Another short from Davao

nar rat ive f i lm ab out a conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiary won special citation on documentary and the NCCCA Sulyap Kultura Award in the recent Nabifilmex while Supot was awarded as Best DepEd Comval film.

Another Comval shot short film titled “Pakot” will also be screened in the festival it tells the story of a young volunteer teacher serving a hinterland indigenous community in Comval.

Pagsalig a short film about the last faith healer in Talikud Island was created by a production team composed of personnel coming from the Davao del Norte Provincial

del Norte is the student film “Usahay sa Tulay” created by Panabo City National High films/PAGE 11

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SSS posts 10% growth in contributions

T

HE Social Security System col l e c te d P98.26 billion in contributions during the first nine months of this year, a 10 percent increase from the P89.03 billion for the same period in 2014.

C ol le c t ions f rom a l l four major segments of SSS membership -- employees, self-employed individuals, voluntar y members and overseas Filipino workers -- also grew from six to 11 percent in Eleonora Cinco, officer-in-charge of the Management Services and

Planning Division, said in a statement.

“Contribution collections from employed m e m b e r s a m o u nt e d t o P85.50 billion, which was 11 p ercent hig her t han the P77.35 billion total for the same period last year. This was the result of our coverage drives and stricter implementation of p o l i c i e s c on c e r n i ng t h e S S S o b l i g at i on s of employers,” Cinco s aid in the statement.

Employers classified as large accounts, or those

with at least 100 employees, remitted a total of P57.35 billion, or about two-thirds of the total EE collections.

Collections from employers under branch accounts, or those with less than a hundred EEs, reached P28.16 billion.

Since 2010, the SSS has sued more than 7,000 employers for delinquency in the remittance of their employees’ contributions.

Cinco advised employee memb ers to reg ister at the My.SSS facility of the SSS website (www.sss.gov.

ph) so they can monitor whether their employers have been remitting their monthly contributions.

The website ser vices are also available for SE, VM and OFW. Similar to EE contributions, the ninemonth VM collections also achieved an 11 percent g row t h , tot a l i ng P 5 . 4 7 billion this year from P4.93 billion in 2014. SE collections grew by nine percent from P4.02 billion to P 4 . 4 0 bi l l i on , w h i l e OFW contributions rose

New requirements set for quasi-banks THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has required quasi-banks to also appoint chief compliance officers (CCOs) to oversee a program against business r isks, years after it set the same requirement for big banks and financial institutions.

BSP Circular 893, signed Nov. 16 and published in a newspaper yesterday, now requires entities engaged in quasi-banking functions -- such as the sale of debt instruments -- to draw up a formal compliance system within the entities.

The system will be headed

by a duly-assigned CCO, as in the circular.

“A compliance system shall be designed to specifically identify and mitigate business risks which may erode the franchise value of the quasi-bank,” the BSP circular read.

“The compliance function shall have a formal status within the organization.”

It was in February 2012 w hen t he BSP ordered universal and commercial banks to put up their own compliance systems to guard against business risks.

Now, f o l l ow i n g t h e

issuance of this circular, quasi-banks -- among them investment houses -- will soon be covered by the same rule.

Business risk was defined in the latest BSP circular as “conditions which may be detrimental to a quasibank’s business model and its ability to generate returns from operations,” among them internal decisions or practices that may taint the firm’s reputation, actions against known best practices, and legal risks.

“A robust, dynamicallyresponsive and distinctly-

Congratulations to

appropriate compliance system shall be put in place as an integral component of an institution’s internal controls,” the issuance read.

As in the new rules, the compliance function must put in place measures that will allow the CCO and relevant officers to access data and conduct investigations during possible breaches of good corporate governance.

The designated CCO is likewise tasked to prepare the quasi-bank’s submissions to the central bank for regulator y compliancerelated issues.

by six percent from P2.73 billion to P2.88 billion. “ The growths in SE, VM and OFW collections are encouraging for these are sectors that are much harder to cover as c omp are d w it h t h e E E s e g me nt . It shows t hat these individuals have a better appreciation of the social security benef its that they can get when they religiously pay their contributions,” Cinco said.

“We are also making it easier for individuallypaying members to remit

their SSS payments as they have no employer to do it for them. For example, we have been accrediting cooperatives and microfinance institutions to act as collecting agents for the SSS payments of their members and clients,” she added.

The SSS currently has 33.33 million registered members, with EEs account ing for over 70 percent of the total.

Nearly half of SSS members are based in the National Capital Region.

Jan-Oct sin tax collection up 22%, hits P105.5B, says DOF SIN tax collections from January to October this year reached P105.5 billion, a 22 percent, or P19.1 billion, increase from the same period in 2014, the Department of Finance said Tuesday.

The amount was also 20 percent, or P17.7 billion, over the collection target for the period.

Excise taxes from tobacco products totaled P72.2 billion, a 27 percent, or P15.6 billion, increase from last year, while alcohol amounted for P33.3 billion, growing by 12 percent, or P3.5 billion, the DOF said.

October alone saw P14.5 billion in six tax collections, an 80 percent growth from the same month last year, with the P10.9 billion from tobacco representing a 126 percent increase. Alcohol taxes also grew by 12 percent during the month, to P3.7 billion.

The DOF also said that incremental revenues from sin tax reform have so far totaled P149.5 billion.

The growth in collections was accomp anie d by a “continued depression of tax/PAGE 10

ILIGAN CAPITOL COLLEGE LAUNCHES JOURNAL FOR CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT

The Editorial Board and Consultants of The Catalyst Journal. Inset is Dr. Rosalinda R. Deleste, ICC and LIF President.

Ms. Jenevie Talasan Majorenos

who passed the recent teacher’s board exam.

Greetings from:

Your Family, Teachers, Relatives and Friends

On the occasion of its 51st Foundation Day on November 27,2015 , Iligan Capitol College affirmed its commitment to engage the academic community in serving as catalyst for change through the launching of its refereed Journal for Change and Development – the 360° Change Engagement THE CATALYST. In her message, Dr. Rosalinda R. Deleste, President of Iligan Capitol College (ICC) and its sister school Lyceum of Iligan Foundation (LIF) , highlighted the changing realities triggered by globalization which explains why today’s life

and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge.

This spurred the need for a sustained commitment from the academe to conduct more researches that will pave the way to better practices and working knowledge on how to handle both challenges and opportunities in undertaking changes.

Thus, the Journal Launch marks the beginning of a collective effort to engage the community in managing change.

The Catalyst journal is a group effort of both faculty and students under the leadership of the Editor-in-Chief, Dr.

Mary Jean T. Lusterio with the guidance of the consultants, Dr. Salvador A. Aves and Dr. Luvismin S. Aves.

The Journal Launch was graced by invited guests from the academe and the officials of Barangay Mahayahay.

Dr. Olga Alonsabe, Asst.

Superintendent of the Schools Division of Iligan City was the invited guest speaker who recognized the role of the institution in leading change as envisioned by the Founder, Madame Gloria Laureana San Pedro Rosales who was acknowledged as a dedicated Agent of Change during her lifetime.

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CorporateWorld

AirAsia urges passengers to personally check-in early during holiday season

A

IRASIA would like to encourage all guests travelling during the holiday period to conduct self-check-in and arrive at the airport earlier to clear all travelling formalities and avoid the expected congestion due to the surge of passenger numbers throughout this period.

Guests are recommended to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours for AirAsia flights prior to the scheduled time of departure of their respective flights and to perform SelfCheck-In via Web, Mobile app or Kiosk services for their travel convenience.

Self Check-In via Web, Mobile or Kiosk services are available from 14 days and up to 1 hour prior to departure for all AirAsia flights. It is also highly recommended for guests to print out their boarding passes before arriving at the airport to ease their travel process.

For guests with baggage to check-in, Baggage Drop counters close 60 minutes before flight departure. As congestion is expected at the baggage drop counters, immigration checkpoints, s ecurity s canning, and baggage clearance during this holiday season, it is advisable to complete the

baggage drop process and proceed to the boarding gate as early as possible.

The airline would like to remind guests that only ONE piece of carry-on cabin baggage weighing no more than 7kg and within the 36cm (h) x 23cm (w) x 56cm (l) dimensions are allowed.

Guests are also advised to ensure they have pre-book sufficient baggage allocation for their travels, and can always add more baggage allocation via the ‘Manage My Booking’ feature on the website.

It is also recommended for guests to pre-book their meals online to avoid any

disappointment and ensure their preferred meals are av ai l ab l e du r i n g t h e i r flights. Pre-booked meals are available up to 24 hours before scheduled departure time via the ‘Manage My Booking’ feature as well.

Guests with group booking, reduced mobility or with special needs are only allowed to check-in at the counter and should allocate more time to clear all travelling formalities. Rest assured, AirAsia’s ground staff will be available at the airport to assist all guests with their travelling needs and to ensure a pleasant journey for everyone.

DTI set to rule on Montero issue after 2-week probe THE Department of Trade and Industry is to come to a decision after two weeks whether to issue a mandatory recall order or not on local Mitsubishi Monteros following c o mp l a i nt s p e r t a i n i n g to so-called "sudden unintended acceleration" (SUA) problem.

Trade Under-Secretary Mario Dimagiba has formed a three-man panel in the wake of consumer

complaints that certain Montero units tended to accelerate by themselves, voluntarily, without the driver's intervention.

The three-man panel is composed of DTI directors Anselmo Adriano of the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau, Claire Cabochan of the Bureau of Philippine Standards, and Danilo Enriquez of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau. " I d i re c te d t he m to

undertake an investigation toward making a re c om me nd at i on as to whether a mandator y product recall is going to be needed," Dimagiba said.

Dimagiba said DTI is set to invite representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, Land Transportation Office, UP College of Engineering, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the Automotive Association

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of the Philippines to provide the panel with expert testimony.

D i m a g i b a , h ow e v e r, declined to specify what possible findings would prompt a possible recall order.

Bayan Muna partylist Representatives Neri C olmenares and Carlos Zarate already filed House Resolution 2531 calling for an investigation into the issue/PAGE 10

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Manuel B. Villar, Jr., chairman of All Value Holdings Corp., speaks at the opening of AllHome Vista Place in Quezon City on Nov. 27.

Villar to ramp up AllHome store expansion in 2016 THE VILL AR group is ramping up the expansion of its chain of full-service home furnishing stores AllHome next year that may include its first branch outside Luzon.

Manuel B. Villar, Jr., chair man of A l l Va lue Holdings Corp., speaks at the opening of AllHome Vista Place in Quezon City on Nov. 27.

All Value Holdings Corp., the holding firm for the group’s retail ventures, will open eight AllHome stores starting March next year to end 2016 with 20 stores, the company’s Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. told reporters last Friday.

The planned new store launches for next year have surpassed the project annual rollout of 6-7 stores over the next five years that the

former Senate president set in April.

“By end of next year, we’ll have 20 stores. So it’s 12 plus 8. I’m just saying that as early March, we’ll be starting the additional eight stores,” Mr. Villar said.

Since launching its first store in 2013, AllHome quickly expanded in the metropolis.

The newest branch, the fourlevel AllHome Vista Place at the Wil Tower Mall in Quezon City, opened last Friday evening.

Next year, AllHome may open its first location outside Luzon, as it sets sights on key urban areas such as Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro, Mr. Villar said.

The Vi l l ar g roup is being guided by its partner H o m e P r o , T h a i l a n d ’s allhome/PAGE 9

A griBusiness 8 DA-12 pushes for organic farming BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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GENERAL Santos City -- The Depar tment of Agriculture (DA) XII, along with organic farmingadvocates is pushing for organic farming practice in SOCCSKSARGEN. Lorna Vilbar, focal person for the Organic Agricultural Program of DA XII said they are targeting 5% of the agricultural land in the entire region to be converted into organic farming.

This, she added would benefit not only the farmers but the consumers as well stressing further that organic food is “health beneficial” than that of commercial produce.

In a recently-held 2nd Regional Organic Agriculture Congress, organic farming advocates maintained that

though organic products are expensive compared to the mainstream, their nutritional value outweighs the cost of money spent.

According to Dr. Albert Jo, president of Negros Island Certification Board, nonorganic products might be cheaper but they may also contain toxins that can endanger consumers’ health.

Other than the law of demand and supply that contributes to its cost, Dr. Jo said: “A lot of things make it pricey.”

“It is hard, tedious, marami kang tao na gagamitin, wala kaming pesticide, hindi kami gumagamit ng chemical pesticides, nag-eexperiment ka muna kung ang insects, papaano kukunin (It is hard, tedious because we employ

many people, we don’t use pesticides. We do a lot of experiments on how to remove insects or pests). ” During the congress, PhilExport Soccsksargen executive director Ismael Salih urged farmers to venture into organic farming.

He said countries like US and Europe are already making organic products their regular food staples.

This can be an opportunity for farmers to reach global market, Salih said.

Alfredo Hebrona Jr., president of Soccsksargen Organic Farmers and Pro du c e r s As s o c i at i on

(SOFPA) said LGUs should also help provide market for farmers through the effective and efficient implementation of RA 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.

Under the law, LGUs are mandated to provide a display area for organic products.

Hebrona said that one way to heighten farmers’ interest and enthusiasm to go organic is by knowing there is a market area for their produce, which will later redound to enhanced production.

He also called on media to support organic farming and promote it to general

public saying if “we stop at advocacy, we lose.”

Meanwhile, Romano Laurilla, general manager of Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative advised farmers to develop the technical-know how in organic agriculture as this will make organic farming a lot easier.

According to him, the region had not have exports in the conventional farming but lately there has been a number of local products that are being recognized in the global market now that some farms had turned organic.

Don Bosco Multi-Purpose

Cooperative based in Mlang, North Cotabato has been exporting organic brown and black rice since 2012.

Among t he re g i on’s organic products include muscovado and coco sugar, lettuce, and pomelo.

DA XII said that for a farm to be certified organic, it has to be inspected, evaluated, and approved by certifying body, the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines, a non-stock and non-profit organization that is tasked to set the standards for certification. (CT Apelacio with Lipsy Grace Carayo/ PIA-12 General Santos City)

Farm equipment turned over to co-ops, MNLF areas DAVAO City -- Farm tools and portable farm equipment were given to farmer cooperatives, mostly in recognized Moro National Liberation Front communities in Maguindanao last week.

The equipment consisted of postharvest equipment, such as farm tractor with implements, harvester with implements, hand tractors with trailers and knapsack sprayers.

“These are estimated to be worth P20 million,” said lawyer Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

She said the equipment were eyed at increasing crop production by reducing postharvest losses.

A R M M G o v. Mu j i v Hataman and Alamia, who also assumed as officer in charge of the region’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, led the distribution of farm tools and implements on November 19, during the opening ceremony of the 26th ARMM anniversary at the ARMM Compound in Cotabato City.

Alamia said the fund used in the acquisition and distribution of the farm machineries and implements came from the Agri-Pinoy Rice and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) programs.

The Agri-Pinoy Rice Program is a banner initiative of t h e D e p a r t m e nt of Agriculture targeting rice farming, while the Pamana is the national government’s peace and development framework for conflictaffected areas.

“We urge the farmers to enhance their knowledge on farming technologies to further boost agriculture in the province,” Alamia said.

She hoped that the distributed farming equipment would increase agricultural activities among Maguindanaoan farmers.

Under the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, the recipients were the Mindanao State University-Maguindanao, Al Muizz Farmer and Livelihood Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Ekssalam Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative, and equipment/PAGE 9

BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL – VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ continues the distribution of books in Cagayan de Oro City schools as he gives some to the REGIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City during the meeting of the General Parents-Teachers Association (GPTA) Meeting.

These hardbound books were given by Children International Philippines, Inc. In his message, Vice Governor Pelaez emphasized that the books donated should be allowed to be borrowed by the students for them to hone their skills in reading comprehension and mastery in the English language. The books were turned-over to MRS. CARMELITA B. JARANILLA and DR. RICHARD C. LICAYAN, both teachers from the said school. Parents also thanked Vice Governor Pelaez for his continued support to the school. photo provided

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Lending firm taps into BPI sets new banking trend with “underserved” SMEs in Visayas Make the Best Happen campaign CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is setting a new trend in banking with its Make the Best Happen campaign.

Over and above offering its slew its range of products and services, BPI first of all wants to support its clients by helping them focus on their life aspirations.

BPI, the first bank in the Philippines and in the Southeast Asian region, has a wide range of consumer, corporate, and investment banking products and services.

In a statement, Cezar P. Consing, BPI President, said the bank wants to focus on needs-based financial planning where individuals make decisions based not on returns but on the goals they want to achieve.

The process begins with helping clients identify their life needs and goals and then create a priority list based on those aspirations. Clients are then encouraged to make personal financial assessments, computing, among others, one’s net worth, cash flow requirements, and even emergency funds.

Based on this initial assessment, BPI helps clients create a game plan, mindful of their budgets, goals, risk profile, and investment options.

“BPI empowers Filipinos to make the best of their lives happen by through its innovative and accessible financial solutions,” Consing said.“We strive to know and understand the individual circumstances and financial

needs of our clients, then offer financial advice. Only then do we propose certain solutions that are suitable and customized for each and every client.”

Tricia Quiambao, Head of BPI’s Strategic Brand Management, said BPI’s Make the Best Happen campaign is a different look on banking.

“We put a premium on understanding our clients and their needs, whether it’s to travel, or start a business, or fund their children’s education,” she said.

“As people become more and more aware of the world around them and the many possibilities and opportunities it offers, BPI would like to enable them to accomplish those goals and aspirations better, faster and more

efficiently.”

Rally Jereza, BPI Division He a d for Vis ay as and Mindanao, added: “Cagayan De Oro City has been a hub of out-of-the-box thinking, and BPI feels right at home with our trendsetting solutions. With Make the Best Happen, we aim to expand the conversation with our clients and friends, beyond solutions and into actual life and lifestyle choices.”

The microsite devoted to t he Ma ke t he B est Happen campaign— makethebesthappen.ph— addresses some of the top life and lifestyle goals of most individuals: travel, health, parenting, shopping, future, and dining. Its content is enriched every week with updated content derived from current areas of interest.

Globe sustains growth of prepaid business with co-branding partnership, better offers Globe Telecom is looking to sustain growth momentum of its prepaid business after several quarters of strong performance with a co-branding partnership with leading mobile phone manufacturer Cherry Mobile.

Consolidated Globe prepaid customer base reached 47.8 million as of end-September 2015, up 17% from previous year’s 40.7 million. Globe Prepaid customer base posted growth of 14% year-on-year, while the TM base grew by 20% on the back of offers that recognize the youth and mass market’s shift to the digital lifestyle.

Globe Prepaid has made strides in positioning itself as the digital brand for the youth with offers which are bundled with free access to top social networking and messaging apps such as Facebook and Viber, premium apps and content such Spotify, as well as top mobile games such as Clash of Clans. Globe Prepaid also enhanced its revolutionary GoSAKTO, which now allows customers to create more than 200 million call, text, and app combos that fit their needs, budget, and lifestyle.

On the other hand, its TM brand, specifically targeting the value prepaid market, has

been strong with innovative value for money offerings with the most affordable call, text and surfing promos, including TM Extend which allows customers to extend the validity of TM call and text promos for as low as P5 for 1 day. Over the years, TM has achieved steady growth trajectory, making it the fastest-growing mobile brand in the value prepaid category.

“We are very pleased with the performance of our prepaid business over the last few years amid the very intense competition in this segment. Globe Prepaid has become the preferred brand among today’s digital youth while our TM brand remains the go-to mobile brand for the value prepaid market who are always on the lookout for the best deals. With the advent of the digital revolution, it is very encouraging to see how customers maximized our offerings to help them embrace the digital lifestyle,” says Issa Cabreira, Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing at Globe.

To sustain the growth momentum in its prepaid business, Globe recently forged a co-branding agreement with Cherry Mobile to offer Cherry Prepaid. This new partnership allows Globe

to reach out to new and untapped prepaid markets and position the telco as the network of choice for new smartphone users.

“The number 1 mobile brand with the number 1 mobile phone manufacturer in the country coming together to revolutionize the prepaid market in the Philippines spells a huge difference in terms of customer experience.

This partnership with Cherry Mobile serves as a vehicle for us to provide mobile internet services for every Filipino to ultimately empower their digital lifestyle,” adds Cabreira.

The prepaid offering, dubbed as Cherry Prepaid powered by Globe, combines high quality mobile phones and prepaid service into one affordable package.

Customers can choose between a P399 Lite Bundle, a P999 Big Time Bundle, and P1699 Partner Bundle. Users can also avail of the SIM-only option for only P29. All phone bundles come with a Cherry Prepaid SIM and a roster of freebies, including a bonus load feature which entitles customers to receive free prepaid load ranging from P10 to P300.

With the co-branding partnership with Cherry Mobile, Globe hopes to

Issue...

Equipment...

matter.

However, the editorin-chief of the influential local motoring publication TopGear, Vernon B. Sarne, h a d a l re a d y e x pre s s e d skepticism on the validity of the SUA issue through a web post: One question if the Montero Sport really suffers from unintended acceleration.

Kalumenga Kadtatabanga Farmers Association.

The Pamana beneficiaries were El-Grande Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Datu Odin Sinsuat Women’s Producers C ooperative, Talayan Agri-Farm Industry Marketing Cooperative, Tunggol Farmers’ Producers Cooperative and Greenfield Producers Cooperative.

Bai Soraya Sinsuat, MSUMaguindanao chancellor, said the farm tractor with implements that the university received would be used by agriculture students in their academic research work.

Alamia said the ARMM’s Agriculture and Fisheries department would still distribute more machineries and implements to farmers in the other provinces of the region before the end of the year.

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gain at least 2 to 3 million additional prepaid customers as it expands its reach to low-end prepaid customers who are beginning to use smartphones and internet access on their devices.

Aiming to reach “unders er ve d” sma l l and medium enterprises (SMEs) outside of Luzon, Esquire Finance, Inc (EFI) expands to C ebu.

After building operational scale in Manila, EFI opens its doors to ser ve the “untapp ed” SMEs in the Visayas. “ We a r e t h e d i r e c t response to the needs of SMEs,” said EFI President & Chief Operating Officer Navin Uttamchandani.

Un l i k e b a n k s w h o s e r ve a l ow nu mb e r of SM E s du e to e x te ns ive collateral requirements, revenue-driven structure, and high minimum loan amounts; the firm offers non-collateral business loans which are tailor m a d e f o r t h e c l i e n t ’s needs, goals, cash flows, c ap a c it y, and f i n anc i a l p osition.

“There is a lot of growth that can happen to the SME segment if they are supp or ted correctly and given the necessar y guidance on how to g r o w t h e i r b u s i n e s s ,” Uttamchandani added.

He added that the l e a d i n g pro b l e m SM E s f a c e i s t h e i n a d e q u at e access to financing which is why EFI aims to “f ill

media partners

t he void in t he g rowt h challenge of SMEs.” “EFI is de dic ate d to bui lding a dist r ibut ion network that allows the one m i l l i on bus i ne ss e s in the country to conveniently access o u r l o a n o f f e r i n g s ,” Uttamchandani added.

Since its incorporation in 2011, the firm has served around 5,000 clients with loans ranging from P100, 000 to P10 M. Howe ver, 95 p ercent of their clients are Luzonbased and opening an office in Cebu is seen as means to tap into the regional market.

“As the first provincial branch developed, we will focus on tapping t h e m a r k e t of n ot j u s t Cebu but also for the surrounding area,” said EFI Cebu Branch Service Officer Arjean Simbajon.

For September – October, the Cebu branch has already released a total of P4 M. Their C ebu office is at G/F 148 Residences Pelaez St., Kalubihan, C ebu City.

T h e c omp any of fe r s “f lexible” interest rates b ut w i l l n o t e x c e e d t o 3.5 p ercent p er month.

The firm also has a delinquency ratio of less than two p ercent.

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Banana... from page 1

The comp any’s plan involves work on the irrigation systems, adjustments in fertilizer application and modification in harvesting procedures, among others.

“We need to get prepared because, based on the latest report, the critical months would be April and May of next year,” he added, referring to the Philippine weather bureau’s El Niño advisory.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has announced that the prevailing El Niño has a high probability of being one of the worst in recent history and that about 58% of the country would experience extended dry period between the last quarter of 2015 to the first half of next year.

Ta d e c o i s p u s h i n g its departments of agriproduction, research and development and engineering to link “arms to identify shared concerns.”

“Together, they devised col le c t ive ac t ion plans that would mitigate the debilitating effects of the El Niño phenomenon and to hasten recovery,” Mr. Valoria said.

The company’s El Niño draft plan indicates that, “a mixed slew of the latest technologies and proven homegrown techniques developed by our combined research and production teams in the field are being multiplied and deployed in nearly 80% of the total production areas.”

Preparations include the use of “the latest equipment and extension technologies for the irrigation system to maintain the required soil moisture while greatly reducing water waste.”

Heavy equipment was used “in this comprehensive effort to rehabilitate and cleanse the two main reservoirs.”

“Primar y part of the water resource optimization program is the thorough and intensive rehabilitation of plantation reservoirs to increase or restore their storage volume capacities and to significantly reduce, if not completely eliminate, the presence of fusariumbearing contaminants and other elements in the water that could be harmful to both plants and animals,” the report said.

Fusarium wilt, more popularly known as Panama disease, has infected banana farms in the Davao region, forcing some growers to stop operations.

“The fertilizer application program was also adjusted while various changes in certain standard operating procedures in the farm practices, particularly pertaining to soil nutrition, have been approved after study, and these are also being currently implemented,” the report added.

The company has also developed a har vesting

mechanism that “would extend the life-supporting nutrients stored and pre s e r ve d i n t he d e a d stump of harvested plant to continue its nourishing support to its next generation of followers sustaining them for a considerable period during a dry spell.”

Moreno... from page 1

of emergency equipment and orientation on emergency situation protocol at the B a l ay Mi nd anaw Pe a c e C enter, urged barangay officials to enhance their disaster preparedness and avoid the “mistake of governance that led to Sendong.”

“Good governance is not about politics; it is about giving the best service to our people regardless of political colors, which is what public service is all about. And these equipment that Balay Mindanaw are giving you today are part of your contingency measures to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of governance during Sendong,” he said.

The city’s chief executive said Sendong, which wreaked havoc to this city and neighboring Iligan City on the night of December 16, 2011, was “the best example of bad governance.”

“Years before Sendong, the city’s officials especially the city mayor, were warned about the impending disaster. They were already warned of the damage that will happen if people are allowed to continue living in the middle of the river.

But they did not listen.

And we know the rest of the story,” he said, referring to Cala-Cala, a sandbar t hat e ventually b ecame an island in the middle the Cagayan de Oro River where thousands of urban p o or lived in B arangay Macasandig.

Cala-Cala, now referred to as “ground zero”, has since been re-declared as a no-build zone since the Environment department has declared it at such in the immediate years before Sendong struck down the city.

Because a disaster does not select its victims, it is up to local officials — most especially barangay of f icia ls since t he y are the first responder during disasters — to enhance their communities’ capacity and preparedness, Moreno said.

T h e b a r a n g a y s t h at received the emergenc y equipment that the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) through the German Humanitarian Assistance, and Johanniter International Assistance of the Johanniter-UnfallHilfe (JUH) coursed through Balay Mindanaw also have undergone the Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment ( P C VA ) w o r k s h o p , contingenc y planning workshop, participator y

trainings and workshops for t he for mu l at i on of their respective Barangay Development Plans (BDPs) and Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Plans (BDRRMPs), that the Foundation facilitated.

Among the equipment that Balay Mindanaw handed over to the barangays are, among others, hand-held radios, laptops, and skyhydrant, a water filtration system from the Australia-based SkyJuice Foundation through the Disaster Aid International and Disaster Aid Australia.

“Thank you very much, Balay Mindanaw. Thank you for choosing our barangays regardless of colors and for helping us become resilient to disasters,” said Omar L abuntog , chair man of Barangay L apasan, who spoke in behalf of the other barangay chairmen present.

Rochelle “Bibing” Mordeno urged the b arang ay s to t a ke c are of the equipment and to use them to benefit their constituents, especially the most vulnerable sector of their communities.

T h e b a r a n g ay s t h at received the equipment are B a lu l an g , B onb on , C amaman - an , C ar me n , Gusa, Kauswagan, Lapasan, Lumbia, Mambuaya, Ma c a s a n d i g , Pa g at p at , Patag, Tablon Tignapoloan,

Tuburan, and Tumpagon.

The hand-over of emergency equipment was part of the Communitybased Health and Disaster Preparedness to Strengthen Resilience in 18 Disasterprone Barangays in the city, a project of B alay Mindanaw under its Disaster Risk Reduction, Resiliency-building aned Emergenc y Assistance Mission (DR3AM) program.

T he proj e c t ai ms at reducing the number of fatalities and economic damages in future disasters through enhanced capacities, resources, networking of decentralized government bodies, national NGO and vulnerable communities in the city towards better disaster preparedness and greater disaster resilience.

Balay Mindanaw came up with the project, which is being implemented in partnership with the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, b ecaus e of the (1) cont inuing ne e d to increas e understanding of the barangays on the concept and objectives of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Ad apt at i on ( C C A ) , ( 2 ) health and medical needs (2a) at Sendong relocation sites and/or strategic health centers, and (2b) increasing incidence of dengue cases, among others, in the city.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City Branch 22 OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF SHERRIF’S NOTICE OF SALE EJF File No. 2015-285 Upon Extra-Judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended filed by BALIKATAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC., mortgagee, with postal address at 22/F RCBC Savings Bank Corporate Center, 26th & 25th Streets, Bonifacio South,Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City against SPS. CESAR L. HAO & MANOLITA T. HAO, mortgagor/s, of legal age/s, Filipino/s with postal address at Block 4, Lot 3, Virginia Homes I, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of March 31, 2014 amounts to TWO HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY PESOS AND 57/100 (P262,620.57) Philippine Currency excluding interest, penalty charges, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned sheriff will sell at public auction on January 11,2016 at 10:00 a.m. or soon thereafter at the RTC Branch 22 Office, City Tourism Hall, City Hall, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the herein described property and all existing and future improvements thereon to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO T-93783 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 3, Block 4, Psd-104305018798, being a portion of lot 3656, Cad-237, Cagayan Cadastre), situated in the Barrio of Iponan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Containing an area of EIGHTY SIX (86) SQUARE METERS more or less.

Prospective buyer/bidders may investigate for themselves the title of the herein described property and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be on the next working day without further notice.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 16, 2015

FOR THE PROVINCIAL EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Tax...

AllHome...

consumption, in keeping with the reform’s health-oriented goals,” the agency added, noting that “the volume of removals for cigarette packs only increased by a mere 6.55 percent to about 3.2 billion packs,” while “fermented liquors increased 1.16 percent to 1.1 billion liters” and “distilled spirits contracted 5.02 percent to 315 million proof liters.”

It cited a Social Weather Stations Survey that “showed 26 percent of the adult population smoking in 2014, a drop from the 29 percent they recorded in 2012” and a study

by Dr. Antonio Dans, based on data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s National Nutrition Health Survey, showing “the country’s adult smoking prevalence has declined below the 30 percent level.”

The decline, from 2008’s 31 percent to 2013’s 25.4 percent, equates to “about 3.2 million less smokers today, averting an approximate 32,000 smoking-related deaths.”

And with the scheduled increase in excise tax rates until 2017, “the government is optimistic these figures will further improve.”

largest operator of home improvement stores, for its AllHome venture “ They have 60 or 70 (stores). They are the number one player, way of ahead of the number t w o,” M r. Vi l l a r s a i d , adding that the Thai firm has roughly $3 billion in market capitalization.

He s ai d i n Apr i l it s one-stop shop for home construction, renovation and decoration needs may go public once it reaches a network of 30-40 stores, which may likely be achieved in the next three years.

The expansion of AllHome is seen riding on the robust growth of the residential sector where Mr. Villar also has an interest through Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., a leading homebuilder in the country.

The billionaire is consolidating his residential and commercial leasing business es under Vist a Land in a deal valued at P33 billion, accelerating its t ransfor mat ion into one of t he Phi lippines’ biggest integrated property developers.

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF Tubod, Lanao de Norte NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF No. 200-07-2015 Upon the Extra Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135/1508, as amended, filed by the 1st Valley Bank Inc., Baroy, Lanao del Norte against CAROLINA BIRONDO CABALLERO, Sto. Niño Village, Baroy, Lanao del Norte to satisfy the indebtedness which as of December 27, 2014 amounting to TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php 250,000.00) excluding penalties, changes, attorney’s fee and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on 7th day of January 2016,at 10:00 AM or soon thereafter at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 07 Provincial Capitol of Lanao del Norte, Pigcarangan, Tubod,Lanao del Norte, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all its improvements, to wit: TCT No. T-23,886 A parcel of Land Lot 1983-B-6-H Psd 10-049871 being a portion of Lot 1983-B-6, Psd-10-040703 situated in Barangay Sto. Niño, Mun. of Baroy. Province of Lanao del Norte, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the NE., along line 1-2

by Lot 1983-B-6G, of the subdivision plan Psd-10-049871; SE., along line 2-3 by Lot 1983-B-5 Psd-10-040703; SW., along line 3-4 by Lot 1983-B-6-I; NW., along line 4-1 by Lot 1983-B-6-J (ALLEY), also both of the subdivision plan Psd-10-049871 (over). Beginning from a point marked “1” on plan being N. 45 deg. 08’W., 623.55 m. from BLLM No. 109 Pls-13, Lala Public Land Subdivision.

1-2 2-3 3-4 4-1

S.36 deg. 10’E., 24.04 m.

S.45 deg.07’W., 16.00 m.

N.38 deg. 45’W., 25.62 m.

N. 50 deg. 54’W., 17.00 m.

Containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED EIGHT (408) SQUARE METERS, more or less. All points referred to are indicated on the plan and are marked on the ground points all are Ps Cyl. Conc. Together with all improvements found thereon.

“All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, this 12th day of November, 2015 For the Clerk of Court and

Ex-Officio Sheriff

(SGD.) JOEL LYDVEL G. PAKINO

Sheriff IV

(SGD.) CONRADO V. HINGCO, JR.

Sheriff IV

BWM: Nov. 25, Dec. 2 & 9, 2015

BWM: December 2, 9 & 16, 2015

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Supply... from page 1

has planted 1,500 trees along the right of way of the NGCP’s transmission lines that threatens the Agus 2 – Kibawe 138kV line.

Ladaga said the NGCP has been negotiating with Pundag for the past 16 months in the hope the maintenance crew could enter the lot area and clear the trees that poses danger to the power transmission lines.

The NGCP has expressed t he w i l ling ness to p ay PHP77,750 for the 1,500 trees in its prevailing market and assessed value. However, Pundag wants a PHP478,650 payment for the trees, the NGCP said.

Ladaga said the NGCP has to stick to a standard v a lu at i on of prop e r t y, which is based on verifiable sources such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and government financial institutions.

“It is sad to think that for years, both the government and private sectors have been working together to invite power stakeholders to build new sources of energy in

Mindanao in order to address the island’s power deficiency,” she said.

She that the NGCP has been working to ensure that the facilities necessary to connect these plants to the grid are already in place by the time these power plants are ready to operate.

Ho w e v e r, i f o u r transmission lines become non-operational because some landowners are preventing the NGCP from properly maintaining the power lines, then Mindanao will continue to be plagued by power interruptions in the future, Ladaga said. (PNA)

Coops... from page 1

No. 6281, said that the Bill amends Republic Act (RA) No. 9520.

R A No. 9520 is a ls o known as “An act amending the C ooperative C ode of the Philippines to be known as the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008.”

HB 6281 adds a new Article numbered 61-A to RA 9520, which reads: “A r t .

61-A. A Certificate of Good

St and i ng issu e d by t he Cooperative Development Authority certifying that a cooperative is in good st anding and t hat such cooperative falls under the provisions of Articles 60 and 61 of this Act shall be considered as conclusive proof for the Bureau of Internal Revenue that the cooperative is entitled to the corresponding tax exemptions.”

With the amendment, the proposed Bill intends to strengthen the tax exemption of 24,633 reg istere d co op erat ives all over the country, which translate to millions of members.

These cooperatives also prov i d e s o c i o e c onom i c services to members, which could not be availed from financial institutions, local gover nments and ot her ser vice providers, the proposed Bill said.

It said that the cooperatives have also been recognized as vehicles for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power towards the attainment of economic development and social justice. (PNA)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF RONNIE ELEO ANDO

- for –

SPL. PROC. NO. 308-07-2015 Correction of Entries in the Certificate of Live Birth

RONNIE ELEO ANDO,

Petitioner,

- versus –

ORDER Filed before this Court is a petition for Correction of Entries in the Certificate of Live Birth of RONNIE ELEO ANDO praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Respondents to effect the correction sought for.

Petitioner alleges that she is of legal age, married, Filipino, and resident of Luyang, Siquijor, Siquijor. Respondent are sued in their official capacities. Petitioner was born ON BOARD a vessel while in transit bound for Mindanao on January 26, 1964. Her facts of birth was registered at the respondent’s office with the name “RONNIE MAGSAYO ELEU” and under the entry of “sex”, it was reflected in her birth records as “Male”, may be because her name sounds masculine or it may be through inadvertence that such male gender appears in her birth records. The truth is, she was born “FEMALE”. Two (2) disinterested persons executed theirs affidavits to attest as to the fact of her gender being FEMALE. She believes that her surname is “ELEO” not “ELEU”, in fact in all her school records and documents of importance, she was using “ELEO” as her surname.

She honestly believed that she was born in Cang-agong, Siquijor, Siquijor. Never in her wildest dreams she believes that she had been born somewhere other than Cang-agong, Siquijor. That is why in all her transaction, entries written therein as her place of birth were all “Cang-agong, Siquijor, Siquijor”. She got married to JOSE ANDO. When she took the Civil Service Eligibility Examination, she used the name RONNIE ELEO ANDO. However, when she applied for a regular employment in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, she cannot used her Certificate of Eligibility because what is reflected therein is “RONNIE ELEO ANDO, Place of Birth – Cang-agong, Siquijor, Siquijor and Gender is “FEMALE” contrary to her Birth Certificate. That she filed the instant petition inorder to straighten her records of birth to conform to the true facts of her birth.

Set the initial hearing of the case to January 11, 2016 at 8:30 in the morning for the reception of evidence to establish jurisdictional requirements.

The Petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Lanao del Norte for three (3) consecutive weeks at her expense. Furnish copy of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, the Civil Registrar General, Atty. Rex A. Perewperew of Olo, Siquijor, Siquijor, and to the petitioner herself at her known address, at Luyang, Siquijor, Siquijor.

Let copy of this Order be posted at the Bulletin of this Court and at the Bulletin of the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.

So Ordered.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

October 26, 2015.

Acting Presiding Judge

BWM: Nov. 18, 25 & Dec. 2, 2015

from page 4

read his Bible and prayed this prayer: “Lord, help me teach my son to be strong enough to know when he is weak. A son who will be honest and brave when he loses, but humble and kind when he wins. Help me build a son who is strong in hard times, and has compassion for those who fail. Help me build a son whose character is right, and whose standard is high. A son who masters himself, before he tries to master others. Lord, give him humility and true strength, and an open mind to learn wisdom. Then I, his father, will dare to say ‘I have not failed in life.’”

So dad, never forget: your child’s life will be determined

by how hard you work…at being a father! And the only One Who can give you the strength, wisdom, and love you need to succeed at your most important job is your own Father in heaven. So today, won’t you ask God to forgive you, and to take charge of your heart and character? He will help you to start becoming the strong, loving and successful father your children need. Just Think a Minute…

Films... from page 5

School students under the auspices of the Population Commission (PopCom).

“Usahay sa Tulay” is the re g i ona l re pre s e nt at ive to Popcom’s Adolescent H e a l t h a n d Yo u t h

Development Film Festival in Manila.

These films from the provinces are among the nearly 27 films to be screened in the film festival which will be held on December 9-15 at Gaisano Mall Cinema 6.

T h e M i n d an a o F i l m Festival now on its 11th year is the country’s longest running regional film festival, it is organized by the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation together with the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FD CP) an d t h e D av a o Aut i s m Inter vention Center Foundation Inc (DACFI).

(PIA/RG Alama)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte

IN RE: PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF MARIA PERPETUA C. CASTRO. FROM MARIA PERPETUA CASTILLANO CASTRO TO MERLYN CASTILLANO CASTRO. LIKEWISE IN THE SAME CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY OF THE DATE OF BIRTH FROM NOVEMBER 11, 1958 TO NOVEMBER 12, 1958.

SPL. PROC. NO. 306-07-2015 FOR: CHANGE OF NAME, CORRECTION OF ENTRY

MERLYN CASTILLANO CASTRO-KERNS represented by SUSAN S. TION her Attorney-In-Fact,

Petitioners,

- versus – LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF KOLAMBUGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE,

Respondent. x------------------------------------------/ ORDER

THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF KOLAMBUGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE, THE CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL,

Public Respondents. x------------------------------------------/

Hurst...

11

2014 ppi’S Best in ENVIRONMENTAL Reporting

(Sgd) DENNIS P. VICOY

A verified petition for Change of Name and Correction of Entry was filed before this Court on October 13, 2015 by the herein petitioner represented by Susan S. Tion, her attorney-in-fact praying among others that after notice and hearing, the petition sought for be granted.

Petitioner alleges that she is of legal age, an American citizen and a former natural born Filipino citizen, married and a resident of 649 Greenwood St., Allentown, Pennsylvania, represented by SUSAN S. TION, of legal age, Filipino, widow and a resident of Poblacion, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Respondent is sued in her capacity as such.

Petitioner was born to spouses Romeo Castro and Severina Castillano of Baybay, Kolambugan, formerly Lanao province now Lanao del Norte. That from elementary school days until she graduated from college and in all official transaction, she has been known as MERLYN CASTILLANO CASTRO as shown in all her documents of importance. That in all official transactions when required to submit her Certificate of Live Birth, she presented the Certification issued by the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte attesting to the fact of loss of the records of births, marriages and deaths of said office due to the fire that completely burned the Municipal Building on August 31, 1966. When she applied for a record of her birth at the National Statistics Office, she was issued a Certification of a Negative Result from the Office of the Registrar General Manila dated March 18, 1999. That in lieu of her Certificate of Live Birth, she submitted a JOINT AFFIDAVIT of two (2) disinterested persons attesting to the fact that she is MERLYN CASTILLANO CASTRO, thus enable her to acquire/secure PASSPORT for her travel to the United States after she married to PAUL J. KERNS and lived there and officially registered her married name as MERLYN CASTILLANO KERNS, as practiced in the US, it was her last name –CASTRO- that was dropped and changed to her husband’s family name – KERNS, thus officially, she is MERLYN CASTILLANO KERNS as reflected in her Certificate of Naturalization, Passport and US Driver’s License.

That she desired to petition for retention of her Filipino citizenship under RA 9225 and as a requirement thereof, she secured a copy of her Certificate of Live Birth from the NSO and to her surprise, it yielded a result but to her dismay, her FIRST name is registered as MARIA PERPETUA not MERLYN as she had always been known. Likewise in the said Certificate of Live Birth her date of birth is erroneously indicated as November 11, 1958.

Thus, the instant petition to change her name from MARIA PERPETUA to MERLYN, and to correct her date of birth from November 11, 1958 to November 12, 1958 inorder to avoid confusion, future inconveniences and to straighten her record of birth.

Set the initial hearing of the petition to March 7, 2016 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. The petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to a newspaper of general circulation for three (3) consecutive weeks, at her expense.

The Civil Case-in-charge is also directed to post copy of this Order at the Bulletin Board of this Court and in the Bulletin Board of the Municipal Hall of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.

Furnish copy of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City, Office of the Public Prosecutor in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Local Civil Registrar of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, Atty. Dorothea Basalo, petitioner’s counsel and to the Petitioner, Merlyn Castillano Castro-Kerns care off Susan S. Tion of Baroy Poblacion, Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

So ORDERED Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

October 19, 2015.

BWM: Nov. 18, 25 & Dec. 2, 2015

(Sgd) DENNIS P. VICOY Acting Presiding Judge

12

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Editor: Cheng Ordoñez

YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Corporation

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0915-563-6246

Bell Church Cagayan de Oro chapter celebrates 26th anniversary New set of officers for 2016 inducted by Master Ng

B

By Mike Baños, Editor-at-Large

ell Church Cagayan de Oro chapter celebrated the 26th anniversary of its founding last November 29 with the induction of its new set of officers at its iconic church at Tambo, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. see full story/PAGE B2

Rev. Elias R. Ng, Spiritual Master of Bell Church Phils leads the blessing of the new set of officers for Bell Church CDO photo by mike baños , npn

Top Outstanding Pilgrim alumni 2015 honored Story and Photo by MARK FRANCISCO

DURING their 67th Foundation Days last week, Pilgrim Christian College feted ten outstanding alumni who have become leaders in their chosen field after graduation.

Dr. Amparo Vedua-

Dinagsao of HS 1991 is now a doctor of philosophy in education.

Presently the head of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) Research Center for Education Studies and Socio Economics,

Dinagsao is also an accreditor with the Accrediting Agency of the Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACUP) and is a Dux Gregis awardee.

The awardee for entrepreneurship went to honored/PAGE B2

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Bell Church Cagayan de Oro chapter celebrates 26th anniversary New set of officers for 2016 inducted by Master Ng

B

By Mike Baños, Editor-at-Large

ell Church Cagayan de Oro chapter celebrated the 26th anniversary of its founding last November 29 with the induction of its new set of officers at its iconic church at Tambo, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City.

Rev. Elias R. Ng, Spiritual Leader and Head Administrator of Bell Church Philippines based in Baguio City, was the guest of honor and inducting officer.

The Bell Church Board of Directors include Lorenzo Co Tan (past president), Judith Bernardo (past president), Henry Hui (past president), Greg Marten Lao (president), Hui Bun Chi (executive vice president), Juan Sia (vice president), Quinciano Lui (vice president), Ricky Go (vice president/secretary), George Lui (vice president), Catalina Tiu (vice president), Adelfa Sia (treasurer) and Susan Lui (treasurer).

Established in 1989, Bell Church Cagayan de Oro is a chapter of the main Bell Church in Baguio City, situated atop a hill at the scenic boundary of Baguio City and Trinidad, Benguet.

Founded in 1954 by Rev. Ng’s father Ng Pee (Kok Fan), it started out as a dining hall in a dining hall where Ng Pee would preach. However,

Honored... from page B1

Luth Salvacion-Gonzaga, a member of Class 1987.

Her family owns Salgonz Medical Supplies, Inc. Eladio Aviola of HS 1955 is the awardee for church and community leadership, being previously chairman of Brokenshire Memorial Hospital.

A person who made his mark in international culinary arts is the 2015 awardee for Global Event Management in the name of Christopher Agbuya of HS 1980. He was able to proceed post-graduate studies in Hospitality and Restaurant Management at New York University and Culinary Institute of America before being involved in international food events, among which is the upcoming papal visit in New York City in 2016.

The awardee for government service is Vierna Madroñal-Picazo of HS 1974. Currently a senior project planning and development officer at the National Housing Authority (NHA), Picazo was also cited previously as 2009 Most Outstanding Officer of the Year Award at NHA.

he transferred it to their residence at Km. 6 in La Trinidad which became the first site of the Bell Church, then known as the Chinese Buddhist Temple.

Rev. Ng recalls the first members were mostly Chinese farmers from the vegetable-growing town of La Trinidad. However, when the church moved to the present one-hectare property at Km. 3 in the 1960s, its name was changed to Bell Church.

“This became the perfect location because the hills remind the Chinese congregation of their home villages in Hong Kong and China,” said Rev. Ng. In time, the residence that served as the church was transformed into a temple as more support from the local Chinese community poured in. Rev. Ng said the temple was designed under the guidance of the saints whom they consulted on how they wanted it to be designed, both exterior and interiors.

The church got its name from the bell which was has The Global Filipino Professional award went to Engr. Duane Zambas of HS 1998. He now owns and manages several rental properties in Alberta and Ontario in Canada; and Sydney in Australia.

The TOPS awardee in the field of corporate management is Jennifer Manuel-Antonio, the valedictorian of HS 1990.

A nurse by profession, she first became a medical representative for Nestle Philippines nad now she’s the field operations manager for North Greater Manila area.

Dr. Aaron Oliveros of HS 1979 is the TOPS awardee for medicine.

He is currently the chief operation officer of St. Ignatius Health Foundation.

The awardee for research is Prof.

Pemenorejoan Calumpang, currently the director for research, development and planning at Pilgrim Christian College.

Joey Nacalaban, a Mass Communication graduate in 1990, is the TOP awardee in the field of journalism. He was the national photojournalist awardee in 2011 by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI).

traditionally been used by almost all people to summon citizens together or warn them of a threat. Today, the Bell Church uses the bell as a symbol of spiritual awakening, said Rev. Ng. The Bell Church headquarters in Baguio has since become a hub of religious, cultural and tourism activity for the area. It has since established chapters around the country in various locations including Dagupan City, La Loma, Quezon City; Manila, Dumaguete City, Cagayan de Oro City, Davao City, Cotabato City, Zamboanga City and overseas in Hong Kong and San Francisco in the United States.

Its five patrons saints representing the World’s Five Great Religions represent Taoism, Confucianism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism.

As a cultural hub of the Chinese-Filipino Community, members of the congregation celebrate the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Christmas Day and even Valentine’s Day in the Bell Church.

However, its influence on the social and cultural fabric of the local FilipinoChinese community has grown beyond its religious and cultural reputation as a tourism destination in its own right.

The Baguio headquarters even has a gym where students learn martial arts, and the dragon and lion dances traditionally performed during the Lunar New Year.

The late Dr. Charles Cheng and Katherine Bersamina-Cheng cites in their 1997 book, The Ethnic Chinese in Baguio and the Cordillera Philippines how even Filipinos have come to consult the Rev. Ng to seek answers to the questions about the future, business, and romance, lending more credence to the Bell Church’s reputation of promoting peace, unity and spiritual healing.

In 2009, Rev. Ng was cited with the Gintong Tala Achievers Award for spiritual and religious services from the Baguio Elderly Assembly (BEA) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in partnership with the city government administration.

Bell Church CDO chapter members undergo the water blessing rite under the watchful eyes of Bell Church Spiritual Master Rev. Elias R. Ng. photo by mike baños, npn

Young teachers from PROC taking their apprenticeship at Kong Hua School render a Chinese song

Tai Chi Exhibition

Bell Church International President Albert Leung

Bell Church CDO Chapter President Greg Marten Lao

Bell Church Cagayan de Oro at Tambo, Macasandig

All photos by MIKE BAÑOS, NPN

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