BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 19, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

G e t yo u r BW M L oya l t y C a rd NOW at any of our participating business establishments for ONLY P350.00, and avail of DISCOUNTS.

Your daily business paper

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Volume V, No. 105

Market Indicators

As of 6:10 pm feb. 18, 2015 (Wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P44.23

7,803.45 points

1

X X Briefly 10.05

cent

points

Disaster mitigation THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has allocated P2 billion for disaster mitigation project in this regional trading hub in 2015, DPWH officials said Tuesday.

Sandra Flores, the DPWH spokesperson for Northern Mindanao, said that DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson made the disclosure during a visit last week.

Flores said the amount would be used for the construction of the Slope Protection/River Control in Iponan River and Cagayan De Oro River after its multi-million river control wall was damaged by typhoon Sendong (Washi) in 2011.

Pamana projects BUTUAN City -- In continuous pursuit of its peace-building initiatives, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to implement a total of P78 million infrastructure projects in the city this year under the PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program.

According to Engr. Roy Rosales of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), these infrastructure projects will be implemented in the barangays of Pianing and Bugsukan where P56 million has been allotted for the concreting of a 4.8 kilometer Pianing Farm to Market Road (FMR) and construction of a 20 meter single lane bridge while P22 million is allotted for the concreting of a 2 kilometer Bugsukan Farm to Market Road (FMR).

Rosales revealed the Pianing FMR will traverse Purok 1C, 2, 4 and 5 while the Bugsukan FMR will start from Purok 7 Barangay San Agustin, Taligaman to Purok 7, Bugsukan.

Flower growers DAVAO City -- A good number of plant growers has leveled up into doing landscaping jobs with the rise of real property business in the city.

Plant grower of ornamental plants and other varieties Vivencio Gallego told the Philippine News Agency that there are 30 registered landscapers in Davao City. This means, these are the growers with business permits issued by the city government.

But what is good with this type of business here is that they could provide jobs to others as they would also need laborers, planters to grow thousands of cover plants.

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Thursday | February 19, 2015

P15.00

Power shortage looms as Steag repairs units M

By CHENG ORDONEZ, Associate Editor

INDANAO is once again facing power supply deficiency as Steag State Power Inc. (SPI) undergoes preventive maintenance starting today (Feb. 19) of its 210-megawatt power producing units.

In a press statement, SPI announced a 26-day planned

maintenance shutdown: Unit 1 -- with a 105 MW capacity

-- will be shutdown for 12 power/PAGE 11

Steag State Power, Inc. (SPI) coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental begins preventive maintenance repair of its two power generating units starting today. The scheduled shutdown is expected to result to power deficiency in the Mindanao grid.

Expropriation of lot for trapped residents starts

By CRIS DIAZ, Associate Editor

THE Cagayan de Oro City government would begin expropriation proceedings of a lot to allow about 300 residents in Lapasan an unhindered passage here, a city councilor said Tuesday.

City C ouncilor Alex Dacer, chair of the city committee on subdivision and

landed estate, said that the committee decided to conduct expropriation proceedings after the negotiation with the lot owners failed.

He said that the residents in the San Miguel, a small village in Lapasan, east of the city, has sought the intercession lot/PAGE 11

Landscaping job doing good business in Davao

By DIGNA D. BANZON, Philippine News Agency

DAVAO City -- A good number of plant growers has leveled up into doing landscaping jobs with the rise of real property business in the city.

Plant grower of ornamental plants and other varieties Vivencio Gallego told the Philippine News Agency that there are 30 registered business/PAGE 11

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

2

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

Economy

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

CEDAR Eco Park: Summer’s unmissable destination IMPASUGONG, Bukidnon — The great weather over the past few weeks means summer is just around the corner and this may be the best time to get started on that long to-do list and start making plans for your grand summer vacation.

Then, as the best part of choosing begins, you may hit your landmark searches in Impasugong, Bukidnon and get a feel for its terrain.

B est known as “home of the country’s finest cowboys,” Impasugong town in Bukidnon province is now aggressive in building its tourism prestige through its Center for Ecological Development and Recreation

(CEDAR) Ecotourism Park.

This eco-park is said to be one of the “must-see” tourist destinations in town situated in Impalutao village.

It houses natural and man-made forests of tall, strong trees seen along the main highway where family travellers and visitors could park while inhaling cool fresh air that lulls one into sleep.

Cedar is a protected forest reserve with adventure scenery for it has a hiking trail under the canopies of towering age-old trees.

E m m anu e l H . Lu m oyo d , municipal environment and natural resources officer, said CEDAR Eco

Park has been developed over the last 11 years as a unique community resource, but its lush verdant forests had been there since 1927.

It offers a variety of outdoor activities and is suitable for adventure such as camping, trail hiking, river trekking, rappelling, swimming, canyoneering and a lot more—all set within 373 hectares of man-made and natural forest.

It has a total land area of 1,703 hectares. The large area is contained

by Mount Kibuwa which is generally grassland and made up mostly of igneous rock.

There is also a man-made swimming pool fed with ice-cold

crystal-clear spring water near the camping site, where friends and families alike can stay overnight.

CEDAR E co Park’s main attraction is not just one. It has five natural waterfalls that attract tourists.

Trekking underneath forests along unpaved access trail would lead scenery lovers into the five waterfalls cascading into a rocky surface.

But the major cascades include Gantungan, Natigbasan and Dila natural falls. From the center of CEDAR, Gantungan Falls is a walking distance of about 720 meters, while Natigbasan

is 780 meters and Dila Falls at approximately 960 meters. These falls are blessed with pleasantly cool waters and a breath-taking display of granite rock and boulders.

Swimming is not ideal because of the strong current and depth of the water.

CEDAR is filled with tremendous natural wonders and amazing man made sights. The place could really be a perfect place for fun, adventure, refreshment and so for treasuring an amazing experience — one of the places you simply must see in this mountaintop province. (Hazel P. Castilla, CMU DevCom/RLRB, PIA 10 Bukidnon)

SIS offers emergency loans in VisMin areas Zambo’s bakery owners urged STATE-run Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) opened an enhanced emergenc y l o a n w i n d ow t o a c t i v e members in Visayas and Mindanao who were hit by t y p h o on s Ru by a n d S eniang.

The pension fund for government workers s ai d a tot a l of 1 0 1 , 0 6 5 members working and residing in the calamitydeclared localities in Vi s ay a s an d M i n d a n a o are qualified to apply for

the loan. “ Those who will avail of the loan program for the first time may borrow P20,000. Members with existing emergency loan may apply for a renewal, with a loan ceiling of P40,000,” GSIS said.

Payment of 12 monthly amortizations on the existing emergency loan is no longer a requirement for loan renewal, it added.

Among the three provinces declared under state of calamity in the

0935-160-0668 HERMILINO VILLALON

22nd/31st Nazareth, Cagayan de O ro Cit y

a f t e r m at h o f t y p h o o n s Ruby and S eniang were Cebu, Aklan, and Biliran.

Other areas affected by S eniang include B ohol; Agusan del Sur ; Butuan City and municipalities of Jabonga and Las Nieves in Agusan Del Norte; and Mo n k a y o, C o m p o s t e l a Valley.

Qualified to apply are members who are not on leave of absence, have no arrears in paying their mandatory monthly premium contributions, and have no loans in default.

Carr ying a 6 percent interest rate per annum, the loan is payable in 36 monthly installments.

It is covere d by a lo an re d e mp t i o n i n s u r a n c e , which means that in case of a m e m b e r’s d e m i s e , the loan will be deemed fully paid.

The deadline for filing

of application in C ebu, Aklan, and Biliran is Febr u ar y 20; in B ohol, March 4; and in Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, and C ompostela Valley, March 5.

Me mb e r s m ay apply through the GSIS Wireless Au t o m a t e d P r o c e s s i n g System (GW@PS) kiosks in all GSIS servicing offices, provincial capitols, city halls, selected municipal offices, large government agencies such as the Department of Education, and selected Robinsons Malls.

The processing of loan applications is subject to the approval of the Authorized Agency Of f icers (AAOs).

Loan proceeds are electronically credited to the borrower’s GSIS eCard or unified multipurpose i d e nt i f i c at i o n ( UM I D ) card.

to reduce prices of bread

PAGADIAN City -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has urged the local bakery owners to reduce the prices of bread or increase the size of their products.

DTI Provincial Director Ma. Socorro Atay made the call Wednesday following the decrease in the prices of flour and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Atay said they can either reduce the prices or increase the size of the breads they sell like what the members of the Philippine Federation of Bakers’ Association, Inc. (PFBA) have recently agreed.

Atay said the members of the PFBA have agreed last January 27 to either lower the prices of bread, especially “Pan de sal,” by 15 centavos each or add two grams each.

“Other bakery operators retained the price of Pan de sal of P1 or P2 each but

increased the weight by two grams a piece,” Atay said.

In this province, she said it was learned that some of the bakery owners give one or two extra pieces of bread for every 10 pieces of Pan de sal bought by a customer.

Meanwhile, she urged the local bakery owners to form themselves into an association and “cooperate” rather than competing each other since they are friends.

“They listen and talk to each other about their problems and concerns,” she added.

She further added that the bakery industry of the province will grow if the owners are in harmony with each other. (PNA)

Bangko Sentral can hold rates steady for rest of the year THE central bank can hold its benchmark interest rate for most of 2015 even as a lower inflation forecast gives policy makers more room to maneuver, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco said.

“If things remain as they are, that is inflation expectations are well anchored, domestic demand continues to be resilient, rates/PAGE 11

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

CorporateWorld

PH, Singapore agree to add flights E X P E C T m o r e f l i g ht s between the Philippines and Singapore after both countries increased the number of seat entitlements per week.

In a text message, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) executive director Carmelo Arcilla said air panels of both countries concluded last Friday negotiations f or a d d it i on a l f l i g ht s .

The new Memorandum of Understanding on Air Services increased capacity to 18,888 seats a week for each country from the existing 17,627.

Arcilla said Iloilo and Bacolod were added as co-ter mina l p oints for Singaporean carriers, in addition to Cebu, Davao and Puerto Princesa.

“It means that Singaporean

carriers can fly to Cebu for example and then proceed to Davao,” he said.

“B oth countries also agreed to increase the limit on the frequencies for fifth freedom, from 8 per week to 10 per week. This means that a Singaporean carrier, for example, can operate a route that starts from Singapore to Manila and proceeds to Osaka, 10 times a week,” Arcilla added.

The Philippines and Singapore also agreed on third country code sharing, which allows airlines from the two countries to collaborate with airlines from third countries in marketing ser vices between the Philippines and Singapore.

“Overall, the agreement opens up more commercial opportunities for the airlines

Ayala Land’s 2014 profit beat estimates PROPERTY giant Ayala Land, Inc. grew its net income by an annual 26% on the back of higher revenues, topping its 20% yearly target as well as analysts estimates.

Bottom line for the whole 2014 reached P14.8 billion from P11.7 billion a year gap, the company said in a press statement on Monday, surpassing the P14.5-billion median estimate of three brokerage firms interviewed on Monday.

Shares in the company gained five centavos or 0.14% to close at P35.35 apiece on Monday.

Ayala Land’s consolidated revenues rose 17% year on year to P95.2 billion.

In the property d e v e l o p m e nt s e g m e nt , which includes the sale of residential lots and units, office spaces, and commercial and industrial lots, the company grew its revenues by 21% to P65.9 billion.

Ayala Land’s commercial leasing business also reported

revenues of P21.2 billion, 18% higher year on year, while revenues from hotels and resorts jumped 40% to P5.6 billion, “primarily driven by the improved performance of new hotels and resorts.”

“We remain positive,” Ayala Land President and Chief Executive Officer Bernard Vincent O. Dy told a media briefing in Makati City.

ALI’s 2020 targets include an annual net income growth of 20% to P40 billion by 2020, and a recurring income business that contributes 50% to total profit.

At present, the company’s recurring income accounts for 38% of its total profit, while the rest comes from property development, Ayala Land Chief Finance Officer Jaime E. Ysmael said in the same briefing.

This year, the company is looking at launching projects worth P100-120 billion, “depending on demand,” ayala/PAGE 11

Panasonic provides solar lanterns to PHL OSAKA-based Panasonic Corporation has donated 2,376 solar lanterns to areas in the Philippines with limited access to electricity through 18 non-government organizations (NGOs).

Panasonic Philippines vice president Masaru Toyota said in a briefing on Tuesday that providing solar lanterns to areas with limited access to power is under the firm’s global 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project.

T h e pro j e c t t a r g e t s to resolve various social challenges faced by people living in areas with challenging electrical power conditions, especially to emerging and developing countries like the Philippines.

Goals include improving educational environment such

as gloomy elementary and middle schools and literacy classes at night; providing light in community center to support the independence of women; providing light in health centers where nighttime medical care is provided to infants and expectant or nursing mothers; and boost partnership with NGOs and social enterprises active in regions without electricity.

“Panasonic has a long history here in the Philippines -- almost 50 years -- since establishing a corporation joint venture in 1967,” Toyota said.

“With 16 million people without electricity, we hope that these solar lanterns can bring light to their lives and improve health access as well solar/PAGE 11

of the two countries,” Arcilla said.

Data from the Department of Tou r i s m s h ow t h at Singaporean visitors to the Philippines reached 146,996 in the first 10 months of 2014.

Arcilla had said the Philippine air panel will be holding discussions with its counterparts from Oman, Taiwan and Australia within the first six months of 2015.

T h e P h i l ip p i n e A i r Services Negotiating Panel is composed of officials from the CAB, Departments of Tr ansp or t at i on an d

Communications, of Foreign Affairs, and of Tourism (DOT), as well as from the Clark International Airport Corporation and local airline companies.

Arc i l l a s ai d t he ai r negotiations with these countries are aligned with the priority of DOT to meet the government’s tourist arrivals target.

T h e Aq u i n o administration is pursuing more air talks as part of its open skies policy, which aims to double tourist arrivals to 10 million by 2016.

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

3

Real estate, motor vehicle purchases drive consumer loans HOUSEHOLD borrowing is on a roll, as banks continued to lend out money to consumers for a sixth straight year.

In a report, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said consumer loans rose 5.7 percent to P849.6 billion in the July to September period from P804 billion in the previous three months of last year.

According to the BSP, consumer lending has grown quarter-on-quarter since 2008, with the latest data driven by purchases of real estate and motor vehicles.

C onsu me r sp e nd i ng comprises two-thirds of the Philippine economy.

Despite an increase in their consumer exposure, b an k s ke pt t he i r nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio manageable at 4.9 percent during the third quarter of last year, down from 5 percent in the previous three-month period.

Even with the improvement in loan quality, banks set aside loan loss re s e r ve s e qu iv a l e nt to 64 percent of their nonperforming consumer loans.

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Opinion

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

4

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, Ph.D. Vice President for Finance

ALLAN mario MEDIANTE

Vice President for Corporate Affairs

Joe felicilda

Vice President for Administration

joe palabao

Vice President for Marketing

NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief

Alejandrae Uy

Cheng ordoñez

Section Editor

Associate Editor

SHIELA gosanes

CLIFFORD SANTILLAN

Advertising

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Cell No: 09352379999

Juni Law Office Cruz Taal St., CDO Legal Counsel

Layout Artist

Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

Member: Philippine Press Institute Oro Chamber

T

Persistence Pays

hink a minute…You know that overnight success usually takes at least 10 years?

One man said, “My overnight success was the longest night of my life. I spent many days and nights just getting there!”

Remember, “Rome was not built in a day.” Many people are waiting for their ship to come in…when they’ve not even sent it out of the harbor.

You see, winners simply do what losers don’t want to do.

And they keep doing it until they get the success they want.

Success is mostly just hanging on after others have let go! Or as one guy put it: “Big shots are just little shots who kept on shooting.” So the most important trip you’ll ever make is when you go the extra mile.

Many people who failed did not know how close they were to success when they gave up.

People don’t actually fail, they just quit too easily. One guy said: “The secret to success is to start from scratch—and to keep on scratching.” So don’t quit trying just because your trying times are hard. The great inventor, Thomas Edison, tried a certain experiment hundreds of times, but it still did not work. So his assistant said to him: “It’s too bad that we did all that work without any results. But Edison replied: “Oh, we have lots of results!

We now know 700 things that won’t work!”

Never forget, delay does not always mean denial. If we

Billions of pesos lost to smuggling

B

UREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE (BIR) figures released recently, showed that the projected total revenue loss from smuggling could amount to P200 billion today.

This is alarming. Two hundred billion pesos is no joke. The government is losing out on a very large source of taxes and revenue that could other wise go to infrastructure, social services, and income for farmers and fishers-folk.

Smuggling and corruption are worse culprits that bring havoc to our economy.

Instead of funding the needs of the Filipino population, the perpetrators of smuggling and corruption are getting richer and richer. There is a need to overhaul the

Cris diaz mike baños Uriel quilinguing Editorial Consultants

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Corporation every Monday to Friday with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City.

It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Registration No. CS201531633 with BIR Certificate of Registration No. 2RC0000831068, TIN No. 463826-272-000 – VAT. Reg., and with Business Permit No. 201512879. Tel. Nos.: (088)8578447, 74-5380, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424

THINK

A Minute

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst

hold out and hold on, we can accomplish almost anything.

The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said: “Never, never, never, never give up!”

And the American President Calvin Coolidge made this statement: “Nothing can bring success like persistence. Talent cannot, for there are many talented people who are not successful. Education will not, for the world is full of educated losers. Only persistence and determination can give you the power to succeed.”

You see, you can succeed just like anyone else. Just keep wanting it enough to keep working for it enough. So why not decide today to start going the extra mile on the road to your success? Ask Jesus Christ to take charge of your life. It’s with His strength and willpower that you’ll find the determination and persistence to succeed—which will pay you big profits.

Just Think a Minute…

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

editorial processes in importation to prevent opportunities of corruption.

T h e ov e r h au l i n g of importation procedures would curb the smuggling into our countr y of agricultural and food products, as well as oil, vehicles, and electronics, among others.

The Bureau of Customs (B oC) should be at the fore f ront of t h e d r ive against rampant smuggling of agricultural products by ma king t ransp arent importation information contained in the Inward

Foreign Manifest (IFM) according to a lawmaker.

The IFM is a list containing details about the products being imported into the Philippines, such as the importer’s name, the source country, the shipping vessel, and the date of arrival.

Currently, only the Bureau of Customs has access to this information, making it easy for unscrupulous parties within the agency to get involved in smuggling.

It is now apparent that there could be some serious flaws in the system. These offer unscrupulous elements

several opportunities for corruption. If the procedures are efficient, we should see less opp or tunities, and therefore less cases, of smuggling and corruption, if none at all.

The government must look into all possible angles to crack down on these smuggling rings and probe into systems and processes, and gather information on possible food smuggling rings or syndicates operating within the bureaucracy.

We don’t want to see the day when a food crisis will erupt in our country because of the death of our agricultural industry, so if massive changes will have to be made, now is the time to do it.

Did US have other intentions in Marwan hunt?

L

IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded…”

(James 5:1-2, the Holy Bible).

-ooo QUESTIONS ON US ROLE IN MAMASAPANO K I L L I N G S : Is t h e re a connection between the Mam a s ap an o m a ss a c re where 44 officers and men of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police were mercilessly killed, and the failure or refusal of the Aquino government to take a more militaristic or confrontational action against China in connection with the virtual take-over by the Chinese of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea? It would be nice if someone can give us insights into this question, considering the spate of reports in the media confirming the participation of---or outright direction

by---the United States in the Mamasapano massacre. These reports, quoting unnamed sources, are saying that the US funded and directed the Mamasapano police operation from the start in an effort to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, or Marwan as he was known.

But some are starting to ask: was the US concerned only with killing Marwan, whom it considered a very dangerous terrorist on account of his expertise on making bombs, during the Mamapasano incident?

Could it be possible that the US had other intentions in pushing through with the Marwan operation even if it knew beforehand that the operation meant the slaughter of 44 fine and highly-trained policemen?

-ooo DID US HAVE OTHER INTENTIONS IN MARWAN HUNT? Indeed, what could possibly be these other intentions of the US in carrying out the Mamasapano operation? Was the operation

against Marwan also meant to create an atmosphere of hate and distrust, at a scale that many Filipinos are exp er iencing r ig ht now, to scuttle the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and, therefore, to throw out the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law? And why would anyone want to sidetrack the peace agreement between the Aquino government and the MILF? It cannot be denied, of course, that with the peace agreement being sidetracked, the war in Mindanao will be resumed, and the calls for Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines not only will become stronger, but will possibly materialize real soon, especially if aided by foreign interests.

In a situation where Mindanao is going to be established as a separate country from the rest of the Philippines, who will really benefit from it? The Muslim-Fi lipinos? The Bangsamoro? The Christians

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

By Atty. Batas Mauricio

who are in Mindanao? Or, some other entities which can use Mindanao as their base of operation, for the furtherance of their own interests?

-ooo C ONNECTION B E T W E E N M A RWA N KILLING & SPRATLYS CHINA ROW: But why would anyone want to focus on Mindanao to protect their interests when they could still uphold these interests even if Mindanao remains a part of the Philippines? There could only be one possible reason batas/PAGE 11

God’s providence and our work

I

t’s always a necessity for us to be able to see the bigger, if not the whole picture, and to avoid getting stuck with the small picture. More than that, we need to see the vital link between the small picture and the big one, the local and the global, the here-and-now and the ultimate, and play the part of that link that belongs to us.

We need to convince ourselves that our life and everything in it, including our work especially, is not an isolated and unrelated element in the very fluid ocean of the universe. We are always a vital part of a whole plan of God’s love and wisdom, a verse in the divine epic of the continuing work of God over all of his creation.

We have to overcome our tendency to have a

very restrictive, narrow and shallow view of our life, ruled solely by mere human estimation of things, worldly standards and criteria, instead of our faith that gives us the complete vision of things and the adequate means to reach our ultimate end.

We have to be most wary when we are simply carried away by the impulses of our senses, our emotions and passions, and some worldly values that, while legitimate, do not give us the complete picture. This is a real challenge, because we do need a radical paradigm shift, a quantum leap to achieve what is ideal for us.

Again, to be sure, God has given us everything for us to be what we ought to be, to do what we ought to do.

Things now just depend on us, on whether we are willing

and humble enough to make the necessary adjustments to conform ourselves to God’s plans and ways.

We have to be more aware that with our creation by our Father God, we are meant to work. Work for us is an essential, inalienable part of our human nature. It is the very operation of our Godgiven powers and faculties that range from the spiritual to the intellectual and mental, to the emotional all the way to the manual and the physical.

It is what relates us to God and to others, what enables us to attain the ultimate goal of our life-full communion with God and with others. We need to understand then that our work is a vital part of God’s abiding providence over all his creation, especially over us.

God’s providence is the

HINTS

and

Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

organic, necessary extension in time and all the way to eternity of God’s creation.

When God created us, he just did not put us into existence and then left us to be on our own. He continues to be with us, governing and leading us to him with due respect of our freedom, because as Creator, God cannot leave cimagala/PAGE 11

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

5

Lessandra Heights, Gran Europa, Cagayan de Oro City This is the community to pick for Lessandra Gran Europa's the easy-to-own home in CDO. Lessandra Gran Europa offers starter homes nestled in a safe community and surrounded by family-friendly amenities.

Vista Land’s 9-months sales hit 38.7 billion targets for fiscal year 2014.

“I am very confident that we will meet our guidance numbers for sales, revenues and earnings this year,” said Manuel Paolo Villar, President & Chief Executive Officer of Vista Land. “I am pleased to report that the strategie in the housing market that we have adopted will allow us to meet our full year targets,” he added.

For the first nine months of the year, Vista Land’s real estate revenues were PHP16.7 billion while net income was PHP4.2 billion.

“We are averaging almost PHP13 billion in sales every quarter and we should be able to hit a record PHP51 billion in sales for 2014,” said Manuel B. Villar, Jr., Chairman of Vista Land. “Most of our sales have been coming from

Nestlé Coffee Waste Recycling Project wins award

PDIC public auctions of closed banks’ assets bared

Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., the country’s largest homebuilder reported record sales for the first nine months of 2014. Sales for the 3rd quarter reached almost PHP12.8 billion, bringing the total for the first nine months of the year to PHP38.7 billion.

The company said that it was confident it would meet its net income and sales

MANILA - Nestlé Philippines won the First Prize in the Success Story Award of the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines (PCAPI). The award was formally conferred during PCAPI’s 34th National Annual Convention recently, with Corporate Affairs Head Edith de Leon, Agricultural Services Head Art Baria, and Corporate Affairs Executive Jess Reyes receiving it on behalf of the Company.

The Company’s awardwinning entry, called “Waste to Resource”, underscores Nestlé’s commitment to environmentally sustainable business practices. It is currently being implemented

by Cagayan de Oro Factory and Agricultural Services with the objective of reducing end waste output to zero and generate savings in the process. The challenge for the Company is to continuously strive towards improving the efficiency and sustainability of its operations and use of resources. Seeking innovation in its operations is crucial, as the Company continuously attempts to prevent waste by converting it into a resource.

The “Waste to Resource” project comprises two separate and interlinked initiatives.

The first is the installation of Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Boiler (AFBB), a system takes metric tons of spent coffee grounds produced per month, and converts this to steam. It is designed to produce 24,000 kg/hr of steam using 3,200 kg/ hr of spent coffee grounds. The second aspect of the project is the composting initiative, which utilizes ash generated

per week by the Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Boiler, and the sludge generated weekly by the water treatment facility.

The ash and sludge are made into compost. This compost is then turned into fertilizer, which is distributed to the coffee farmers for free and to the coffee facilities of Nestlé.

The Success Story Awards are given annually by PCAPI to companies that share PCAPI’s vision of continuing the protection of the environment, as well as prevention, abatement and control of land, air, and water pollution. This year’s panel of judges was composed of Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Management Bureau (EMB) officials.

This was the Company’s third Success Story Award, following its award-wining projects “Greening the Supply Chain” in 2003, and “Water Initiatives” in 2011.

In addition, Corporate Affairs Executive Jess Reyes earned the recognition of being the Top Outstanding Pollution Control Officer Award twice— in 1998 and 2011.

In a related development, Nestlé’s GSC partner San Miguel Yamamura Asia Corporation garnered the 1st runner-up title in the Mother Nature Award also given by PCAPI. This award is given to companies that have designed and implemented sound environmental management systems and programs and that possess sterling track records of community-relate initiatives.

Nestlé Philippines was the first Mother Nature Awardee in 1998.

The Philippine Deposit Insu rance C or p orat ion (PDIC), through its Real & Other Properties Acquired (ROPA) Disposal Committee, is set to sell on an “as-is, where-is” basis various assets of closed banks with an aggregate minimum disposal value of P253.9 million in separate public auctions to be held in Davao and Makati City.

To b e auc t ione d on February 26, 2015 at Unit 80, 8th Floor, Landco-PDCP Condominium Building, Pryce Business Park, J.P. Laurel Davao City, Davao Del Sur are 115 properties consisting of condominium units, parking slots and other real properties. The auction will be conducted from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Properties for auction are located in Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro City, Compostella Valley, General Santos City, and Camiguin.

Meanwhile, for auction on March 5, 2015 at the 9th Floor, SSS Building 6782 Ayala Ave. corner V. A. Rufino St., Makati City are 12 transportation equipment and three generator sets. The auction will be held from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Auction time may be extended by the ROPA Disposal Committee.

Bidders are advised to bring proper identification (ID) with photo and to come at least one hour prior to the opening of bids to register and submit the requirements.

Bid documents such as Bid auctions/PAGE 11

our core product which is housing, both in Metro Manila and in the provincial areas. We fully expect to see continued strong sales performance in the coming years as demand for house and lots, particularly in the mid to low end segment of the market, continues to be robust. We launched 16 subdivisions projects outside Metro Manila such as Cebu, Batangas, Iloilo, Quezon and Isabela to name a few,” he added. Vista Land has the broadest presence in the Philippines among all the major property developers and has been continuously

launching projects outside Metro Manila.

Vista Land is the holding company of five business units, Br itt any, Crow n As i a , C am e l l a Hom e s , Communities Philippines and Vista Residences.

The c o m p a n y ’s consolidated assets as of September 2014 totaled P106.2 billion compared to P84.5 billion end of December of last year.

Capital expenditures for 2014 are expected to reach P21 billion.

“I have been and continue to be optimistic about the outlook for the housing

sector. I am confident that Vista Land will continue to be a dominant force in the housing market,” said CEO Manuel Paolo Villar. “As you all know by now, we are the leader by far in the house and lot segment and have a strong competitive advantage given our track record of delivering quality housing units for more than thirty years across the country,” he added.

The countr y’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land, is recognized for its themed and masterplanned communities that offer quality housing across all market segments.

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

6

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

Community

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

LDN holds 15th Dev’t. Council Meeting

More than 10 mayors from different towns of the Province of Lanao de Norte attended the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting at Macapagal Training Center, in the capital town of Tubod.

The meeting was organized by the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) and presided by Governor Khalid Dimaporo, also Regional Development Council chair.

D u r i n g t h e c ou n c i l meeting, members were briefed on the progress of national programs and proj e c ts c ur rent ly implemented in the province, including Philippine Rural Development Project, Payapa at Masagang Pamayanan (PAMANA), Provincial

Road Management Facility (PRMF), MRDP-APL2, and the National Community Demand Driven Program (NCDDP) of DSWD. Budget allocation for the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) and 20-percent Development Fund Program for CY 2015 was also presented to the members.

The 20-percent Development Fund, amounting to P172 million was divided among different programs and projects such as maintenance, stabilization, asphalting and concreting of provincial roads, provision of livelihood projects to marginal farmers, procurement of equipment for provincial road maintenance, Philippine Rural Development Project

Peace council urges brgys to support terrorist watch

By Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

OZ AMIZ CIT Y -- The Ozamiz City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) has called on the chiefs of the city’s 55 barangays to support the “terrorist watch” of the Ozamiz City Police Station (OCPS).

This, as mayor Reynaldo O. Parojinog, Sr., chairperson of CPOC, has directed the barangay leaders to activate their Barangay Patrol Action Teams (BPAT) and actively participate in the campaign to spot the terrorists in their respective areas. “ T h i s c ou l d b e ou r contribution to the Mindanao peace process, currently being talked about, to make sure that we do not allow terrorists

to roam around our city, freely and continue with their threats,” the mayor said during this year’s first full council meeting, held here, last Feb. 13.

Just recently, OCPS has launched a terrorist watch for Rener Lou Pidoy Dongon, also as (a.k.a.) Ren-Ren and Kudri, a student of Zulkifli bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan in making bombs, and one of the suspects in the bombing of Maxandria Hotel and Rosario Arcade, both of Cagayan de Oro City, last 2012 and 2013, respectively.

A resident of barangay Tinago, Baroy, Lanao del Norte, Dongon has deep links Watch/PAGE 11

counterpart and NCDDP counterpart.

Other infrastructure projects reviewed by the C ou n c i l we re proj e c t s funded from the Department of Foreign Af fairs and Trade (DFAT)-Australian Government, European Union and World Bank, Department of Health and Department of Agriculture.

The 15th PDC meeting was also attended by more than 30 municipal employees from different towns of Lanao del Norte.

On the same day, Governor K h a l i d D i m ap oro a l s o convened the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) to monitor the Governor Khalid Dimaporo (left) is being serenaded by Kapatagan LGU officials led by present security concerns Mayor Benjie Baguio (3rd from right) during the 15th Provincial Development Council in the province.

(PDC) meeting. (LDN-PIO)

Health office explains importance of oral health

By Apipa P. Bagumbaran

POOR oral health can affect a person’s physical, mental and social well-being thus it is important to take proper care of one’s teeth.

This was the message of Dr. Artawan P. Indar, supervising dentist of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), during the Ozor ka, R anao! radio program of the Philippine Information Agency and DxSO R adyo ng B ayan Marawi Monday, February 16.

Dr. Indar said routine dental cleansing and exams

are the best ways to ensure and maintain oral health.

“We should brush our teeth every after eating or thrice a day especially during night time,” she said.

According to her, the foods that are consumed during the day may stick to the surfaces of the teeth and may create bacteria build-up or plaque.

“Dental examinations should also be conducted twice a year to determine if a person has dental problems,” she added.

Meanwhile, the IPHO

BSP UNFAZED – Despite the unfounded allegations against the leadership of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) in the national scene, VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ continues his local scouting duties and leads the Rover Orientation and Vigil Investiture at Salay National High School which was attended by more than 100 student-participants from BSU-ESC Salay Campus. BSP-MisOr organized the Rover Orientation and Investiture to facilitate the entry of young people, 16 years old and above, to become Rover Scouts and be initiated into the BSP Rover Program. Vice Governor Pelaez is currently the Chairman of the BSP-MisOr Council and at the same time a Regular Member of the National Executive Board (NEB). As part of the NEB, he is very much willing to face the Senate inquiry on the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in the coming weeks to explain that transactions made by the BSP are forthright and aboveboard.

an d P h i l ippi n e D e nt a l Association–Lanao Chapter with the support of local government units is providing dental package services to various areas in the province.

O u r d e nt a l p a ck age ser vices include dental check-up, tooth extraction, provision of free toothbrushes and toothpastes, and oral health education, Dr. Indar said.

She said they are also conducting tooth brushing drill to teach children the

proper technique of brushing teeth.

These services, among others, are being provided by IPHO during its community outreach program in line with the Oral Health Month celebration this February.

D r. I n d a r s a i d t h e areas identified for their community outreach program this month are Marawi City and the municipalities of Saguiaran, Masiu, Taraka, Buadipuso Buntong, and Balindong. (APB/PIA-10)

Mindanao qualifying chess leg set March 12-16 in NorCot The 2015 Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza AgeGroup Chess Championships (Mindanao Qualifying Leg) is set on March 12 to 16 at the Amas Provincial Capitol in Kidapawan, North Cotabato.

“We are bringing here the Mindanao Qualifying Leg to give more chances to our young chess players especially in Cotabato to be able to play in the national or international competition,” s ai d G ov. L a l a Ta l i ño Mendoza.

The top three winners from each categor y will qualify to this year’s Grand Finals of the National AgeGroup Chess Championships slated in San Juan City in Metro Manila on April 12-19.

T h e Nat i on a l C h e s s Federation of the Phils. ( N C F P ) h e a d e d by it s chairman and president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. will send the national winners to represent the country to the 16th ASEAN + Age-Group Chess Championships in Singapore on June 8-17.

The tournament is open to all youth players from 20 years old and below both boys and girls. The categories are 20 and below, 18 and below, 16 and below, 14 and below,

12 and below, 10 and below and 8 and below.

Cash prizes, medals and trophies are up for grabs in the 6-round Swiss System event.

Registration fee is P300.

All players must submit a copy of his/her birth or baptismal certificate as proof of age. Time control shall be 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment for each player to make all the moves necessary to finish the game using the digital clocks or two hours using mechanical clocks. Recording of moves in Algebraic notation is mandatory.

Tournament director is GM Jas on G onzales, secretary-general of NCFP while chief arbiter is IA Gene Poliarco.

Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza has already made an initial org ani z at i ona l me e t i ng for t he s aid Mind anao Qualify Leg with NCFP XI regional director IA James Infiesto together with North Cotabato provincial sports coordinator Romeo “Boy” Anito, provincial governor’s office coordinators Allan Matullano and Ronald Olay.

The provincial government chess/PAGE 11

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

The importance of communication in leading a group

By Merlita M. Montilla Teacher II Kapatagan National High School Kapatagan Lanao del Norte

Leadership means inf luencing others to be leaders in their own lives. It is adopting the responsibility of being an inspiration to the members.

It is a challenging task, yes.

Thus, in what way one could a leader could be effective being a good influence and as an inspiration?

The first step in being an effective leader is he should be a good communicator.

He should know that having good communication skills is a plus. Through it, he could deliver his good ways, pieces of advice and corrections clearly.

He could tell all the dos and don’ts he want to impose upon performing of responsibilities.

Being a communicator could encourage clear leadership path because information is properly delivered and received. The leader could delegate his team members. Delegating tasks to each subordinate is a great help so that each

person is informed of his specific job to perform.

Proper communication also allows leader and members to be transparent mirrors to each other’s needs. In other words, the leader is knowledgeable of his members’ needs.

He could get feedbacks, insights and suggestions through interacting with them. Furthermore, it allows sharing ideas, plans and realizations among the team. In return, good communicat ion a l low members to be aware of the intentions and targets that a leader want at the end of an assignment. It means that each member could see the goals that a leader want to achieve, encouraging fruitful response. This thought makes a leader not just efficient but an effective leader.

Communication i s a lw ay s t h e ke y i n u n d e r s t an d i ng g roup goals. Thus, it should be practiced and enhanced in ways possible.

The Adopt-a-School program

By Lucita O. Suan Teacher II Salvador Central Elementary School District of Salvador Division of Lanao del Norte

Education is really an important thing that each child should grow having it. Through this, children will have the chance to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

H o w e v e r, a n y o n e cannot deny the rate of poverty incidence in the countr y, reason some Filipino families cannot send their children to school. The government allots the biggest share of the national budget to public basic education, but due to increasing student population, it could hardly be enough.

Department of E d u c a t i o n , h o w e v e r, come up with different strategies to heal this gaps in Education. These efforts include educational programs and projects that extends to marginalized individuals such as outof-school youths, student dropouts, senior citizens and the like.

Adopt-a-School Program is one of these. It is created through Republic Act No. 8525, pursuant to Adopta-School Act of 1998.

This program allows private entities to assist a public schools in terms of, but not limited to, staff and faculty development for training and further education, construction of facilities, upgrading of

existing facilities, provision of books, publications and other instructional materials and modernization of instructional technologies.

The program can assist public schools in any levels, whether it is an elementary, secondary or tertiary school.

These beneficiary schools are located in any of 20 poorest provinces identified

by Presidential Council for Countryside Development or any other government agency tasked in identifying such kind of provinces.

In 2007, the program has generated about 4.5 billion pesos worth of intervention, donations and pledges, more than a number of percent increase in donations from 2000 to 2006 which amounts to 2.1 billion pesos.

Interventions reduced student dropouts and kept the youth off the streets.

The program also increased student achievement levels and improved teacher performance.

Adopt-a-School program is very much helpful to millions of Filipino families. It feeds the idea that someday, through educating youngsters, its outcome would result to a great lifestyle shift. DepEd and private entities should keep their passion burning in helping these families.

This is a big contribution to a dynamic nation-building.

Teacher’s Views

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

MMC: In encouraging appreciation in Math and producing international Mathletes

By Rico D. Viernes Teacher III Kapatagan National High School

The Department of Education is continuing its endeavour in promoting the importance of education among all Filipino children.

It is through implementing programs, projects and activities that encourage learning and appreciation of knowledge. Math Challenge is one of these.

Math subject, to many, is considered as the most unfriendly subject in class. It is because it involves learning and understanding theories, problem-solving concepts,

Mathematical symbols and rules that require critical and deep thinking. Thus, Math is a challenge to students, especially to those who are not good in figures.

The Metrobank – MTAP – D e p E d Mat h e m at i c s Challenge (MMC) is an annual nationwide Math competition that runs in about 14 years. It is the most widely participated Math competition organized by Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines

(MTAP), and Department of Education (D epEd).

It is first conducted in National Capital Region, then expanded to elementary and high schools all over the nation starting 2001.

The purpose of MMC is to awaken greater interest in Math among students and to discover the Mathematical talents among the youth.

It is also helpful in encouraging students to appreciate Math. In a speech given by one of Metrobank personalities, she encouraged students to go back to their respective schools and use their God-given talents and

7

skills in Mathematics to help those who are challenged with the subject. Moreover, she said that MMC could be one of the avenues to m a k e t h e s e Mat h l e t e s (Math athletes) in making a difference through looking beyond medals and trophies and let the recognition create good impact to others.

MMC is b eing held by district, division, r e g i o n a l a n d n at i o n a l level. The winners then for national level will battle for the international level competition, International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

8

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

BWM: Feb. 19, 2015

BusinessWeek

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 M I NShaun DAN AO Editor: Alejandrae Yap Uy BEST IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC REPORTING

B2

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

THURSDAY| FEBRUARY 19, 2015

HHealth ealth

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 M I NEditor: D A NShaun A O Alejandrae Yap Uy

BusinessWeek Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

9

Health office in Lanao del Sur explains importance of oral health

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- Poor oral health can affect a person’s physical, mental and social wellbeing thus it is important to take proper care of one’s teeth.

This was the message of Dr. Artawan P. Indar, supervising dentist of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), during the Ozor ka, Ranao! radio program of the Philippine Information Agency and DxSO Radyo

ng Bayan Marawi Monday, February 16.

Dr. Indar said routine dental cleansing and exams are the best ways to ensure and maintain oral health.

“We should brush our teeth every after eating or thrice a day especially during night time,” she said.

According to her, the foods that are consumed during the day may stick to the surfaces of the teeth

EAT RIGHT!

For healthy kidneys, eat right: Fluids Staying hydrated is necessary for prevention and treatment. Keeping your urine diluted is important for keeping your kidneys healthy. Water is the best choice, but you can also drink fresh fruit juices, ginger ale or tea. If your urine is light colored after you go to the bathroom, you are getting enough fluid. Also try to limit caffeinated beverages to one to two cups a day because it can actually make you dehydrated.

Fruits and vegetables Fruits and vegetables improve your kidney function.

Low-potassium foods Since kidneys regulate potassium, it’s important that you monitor your potassium intake. If your potassium level gets too high, you may develop a greater risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack.

Iron-rich foods If you are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, your body may be low in iron. The kidneys play a role in the production of red blood cells, but without a properly functioning kidney, your red blood cell count may be too low, and your energy levels might suffer as a result. Eating iron-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables and eggs can help you increase your iron intake.

A reminder from National Nutrition Council and Radyo Mo Sa Nutrisyon

and may create bacteria build-up or plaque.

“Dental examinations should also be conducted twice a year to determine if a person has dental problems,” she added.

Meanwhile, the IPHO and Philippine Dental Association–Lanao Chapter with the support

of local government units is providing dental package services to various areas in the province.

Our dental package services include dental check-up, tooth extraction, provision of free toothbrushes and toothpastes, and oral health education, Dr.

Indar said.

She said they are also conducting tooth brushing drill to teach children the proper technique of brushing teeth.

These services, among others, are being provided by IPHO during its community outreach program in line with

the Oral Health Month celebration this February.

Dr. Indar said the areas identified for their community outreach program this month are Marawi City and the municipalities of Saguiaran, Masiu, Taraka, Buadipuso Buntong, and Balindong. (APB/PIA-10)

BusinessWeek

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact • 0947-8935776 M I Nnos.

D A: 0917-7121424 NAO Editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY Best in Business and Economic Reporting

10

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

PPlaces laces

BusinessWeek

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact : 0917-7121424 M Inos.

ND A N A O • 0947-8935776 Editor: Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy BEST IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC REPORTING

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 19, 2015

10

KASUROYAN:

Ultra Winds Mountain Resort

By MICHAEL RAY of www.tsadagyud.com I visited Ultra Winds Mountain Resort for the first time last Sunday with my family. This place took my breath away…

Located in Baungon, Bukidnon, Ultra Winds is actually just 20 minutes away from downtown CDO. If you intend to go there with your own private car, well let me just inform you that the road going there is quite steep but definitely not rough.

Once you arrive there, you will be asked to pay P100 entrance fee but consumable. I noticed that there are rooms there for an overnight stay for as low as P1900. There are exciting amenities too like zip line. I wasn’t able to check and take photos of these amenities because I was already deeply engrossed by its grand balcony.

Ultra Winds gave me an awe-inspiring panoramic view of Cagayan de Oro. It was around 5pm already and the sun was about to set. The lush greens, the silhouette from the dusk and the cool breeze of fresh air gave me an instant relaxing feeling. I wanted to capture the moment that I took as many selfies and groupies as I can.

When it was finally dark, the dinner was served. A minor flaw that I saw was there were only few waiters serving diners. It took sometime before our order was served. But apart from that, everything else went smoothly. While eating, I couldn’t help but appreciate the view. If you want to have a romantic and intimate dinner with your special someone, this is definitely the place to be.

There you go folks! If you want a place that can give you solace and an impressive view of Cagayan de Oro, try Ultra Winds Mountain Resort. Set your gears and go towards the direction of Aluba and Taguanao. It is actually just a few distance away from Cagayan de Oro International Convention Center and Nanuri International School. They also have a shuttle service.

For more information, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ ultrawindsmountainresort

The panoramic view taken from their balcony

All Photos by TsadaGyud.com

When it is all dark and appetizing

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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

Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

thursday|february 19, 2015

Power... from page 1

days from February 19 to March 2, 2015, while its Unit 2 -- with another 105 MW -- will also be subjected to preventive maintenance for 24 days starting February 21 to March 16, 2015.

But SPI has qualified that the facility’s downtime was carefully planned and properly coordinated with system operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

It might also be helpful for the Mindanao grid that the programmed maintenance activities are happening at a time when summer season is still not at its peak – or the period when the hydro facilities being the main source of power for Mindanao, are not yet on cyclical downtrend on their generation.

Plant Manager Dr. Carsten Evers said that the units will be on planned outage during the period in order for SPI to carry out the necessary unit inspection and appropriate maintenance activities.

“These maintenance activities are part of the company’s commitment to sustain quality customer service by way of ensuring that the power plant is able to optimize its long-term operations and produce the power needed to sustain Mindanao’s growth and development,” Evers said.

Evers also explained that the maintenance schedule has been carefully planned and closely coordinated with the National Power Corporation (NPC) and approved by the grid operator, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Evers says they have closely coordinated this schedule with our partners in the power industry in order to minimize any impact on the island’s volatile electric power supply condition.

They also hope to complete the maintenance activities as planned and within schedule and to bring the units back to the grid as soon as possible.

SPI’s power plant is located at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental. The power plant is composed of two identical power generating units, each with a net generating output of 105MW. Jerome Soldevilla, corporate communications officer of Steag, said there is imminent brownouts resulting from the shutting down of the units, but leaves the matter to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

A supply shortage of 105 MW to 210 MW for the maintenance period is expected to affect the Mindanao grid.

But, Soldevila said, this is the right period to do maintenance work, saying most of the power sources are up and running.

At the height of summer months, demands peak because of the hot weather and supply becomes limited due to reduced water pressure from hydropower facilities.

Beth Ladaga, corporate communications officer of NGCP in Northern Mindanao, has confirmed that an hour of brownout a day for the duration of the preventive maintenance work on Steag’s units looms in the Mindanao grid.

However, Ladaga said, it is up to the distribution utilities (DUs) -- the electric cooperatives -- on how to source their power elsewhere to cope with the power shortage.

Ladaga said three factors will prevent DUs from imposing the imminent brownout, resulting from Steag’s shut down of its units.

First, if a cooperative has an existing contract with other private power sources to tap; second, if the cooperative can provide an embedded power generator of its own; and third, by using the Interruptible Load Program (ILP).

Under the ILP, large electricity consumers such as malls, office and residential towers, and factories will be asked to operate their own generators when the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines expects the supply of electricity to fall short of demand.

Since start of its plant operations in November 2006, Steag has delivered more than 11.5 billion kWh of electricity to the Mindanao grid representing about a fifth of the island’s total power supply.

Principally owned by the German company Steag GmbH, Steag claims to be the leader in advance coal-power generation technology and one of the pioneers in operating and maintaining a highly efficient and reliable coal-fired power plant in the country.

Lot...

from page 1

of the city government after the Mindanao Health Care Corporation, the lot owner, closed and quarried the road where residents passes through during the last 30 years.

Dacer said that the city government and the corporate lawyers of the Mindanao Health Care had sat down to negotiate the road right of way for the more than 200 residents in the area.

The city government pleaded for the residents to be allowed to use a small portion of the lot so that people living in the area would enjoy an unhampered access to and fro their residences to no avail, Dacer said.

He said that the city council was left with no option but expropriate the area through an approved City Ordinance, which was subsequently signed by the City Mayor. (PNA)

Business... from page 1

landscapers in Davao City. This means, these are the growers with business permits issued by the city government.

But what is good with this type of business here is that they could provide jobs to others as they would also need laborers, planters to grow thousands of cover plants.

He said aside from growing the plants in their respective area they rent out vacant spaces within a village or subdivision to grow grasses used for landscaping.

Big contracts cost millions of pesos, he said, adding that this is along very high end

subdivisions. It is a trend now in the city that projects either residential or big buildings are accompanied with landscaping.

In our city, Gallego said most of his high end projects are the tropical type which includes trees, ornamental plants including wide area that would need thousands of mini plants and other several types of plants of different shades of colors.

In 201 alone, he had about 8 big projects and his services did not stop after the installation because he is also contracted for care services with separate payment.

Meanwhile, Gallego said they also conduct exhibits on occasions like Araw ng Davao this March and the Kadayawan sa Dabaw in August.

Gallego being the president of the Mindanao Federation of Cutflowers and Plant Growers, Inc. (MINFED) said their group together with Floriculture Industry of Davao, Inc. (FIDI) is getting ready for the March 2015 Araw ng Dabaw exhibit which usually run for a month showcasing the Best of the Ornamental Plants, Best Orchid, Best Waling-Waling orchid, Best Bonsai plants and many others.

He said it is also during this occasion that new plants of new varieties are first introduced to the market.

Last year the newest plant introduced was the Agave Geminiflora of Davao that was marketed at P1,500 per plant.

He said they still has no idea right now what will be the newest plant to be marketed this year as this will be shown by the plant growers when the exhibit opens next month. (PNA)

Rates... from page 2

oil prices remain low but not too volatile and Fed normalization is orderly, I think we can keep rates steady for the most part of 2015,” Tetangco said in an interview with Rishaad Salamat on Bloomberg Television from Manila on Friday.

BSP held its benchmark at 4 percent yesterday and cut inflation forecasts for this year and next. The central bank will watch for the possible effects of sustained low crude prices on global growth and any risk of a delayed increase in US interest rates because of cheap oil, Tetangco said.

“He’s very comfortable with the inflation outlook,” said Euben Paracuelles, a Singapore-based senior economist at Nomura Holdings, Inc. “As long as it stays within target there’s no need to move either way. They could think about easing only if inflation falls below 2 percent for a sustained period,” he said, referring to the lower end of the central bank’s 2 percent to 4 percent goal for this year and next.

The peso gained 0.2 percent to 44.26 per dollar as of the noon break in Manila, according to Tullett Prebon Plc. Philippine stocks climbed the most in more than a week, holding near a record. The yield on bonds due August, 2024 fell for a second day, according to midday fixing prices at Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

While the inflation outlook gives policy makers more room, firm demand, uncertainty over oil prices, and minimal deflationary risk are being considered, Tetangco said, when asked if there’s more scope to ease monetary policy.

“Real lending rates in the Philippines are the third lowest in the region,” he said. “We kept rates steady because we believe that this is consistent with a symmetric inflation targeting approach. We felt that we had room to wait for additional data to see if the lower end of our target range, for instance, will be breached for a persistent period.”

The Philippine economy expanded 6.9 percent in the three months through December from a year earlier, the fastest in five quarters. Consumer prices rose 2.4 percent in January from a year earlier, the slowest pace since August, 2013.

“Consumption will benefit from a steady low-rate environment and will help boost company profits,” said Marc Bautista, head of research at Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. in Manila. “There’s low cost of funds for businesses, while interest rates on government bonds could remain steady or even go down.”

Ayala... from page 3

Mr. Dy said, noting that the company expects growth “across the board.”

For the office segment alone, the gross leasable area to be launched this year will amount to 300,000 square meters (sq.m.)

-- roughly the same level last year -- in Alabang Town Center, Cebu City and Bonifacio Global City. Another 147,000 sq.m. leasable space in shopping malls will also be launched this year, including those in Nuvali, Bonifacio Global City, Ortigas, Tagaytay, Circuit Makati and UP Town Center.

“Ayala Land outpaced our estimate of 22%,” said Nisha S. Alicer, chief equity analyst at DA Market Securities, Inc. “We maintain a buy recommendation with a TP (target price) of P39.”

Solar... from page 3

as education and business opportunities for locals,” he added.

Victims of typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan) had benefitted to this project in 2013.

He also cited that aside from this project, the Japanese electronics firm has been actively doing other corporate social responsibility activities in areas of environment education and scholarship programs.

Meanwhile, Panasonic’s 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project has donated over 40,000 units globally by end-March 2015 which also include the 6,000 solar lanterns donation to Myanmar and Cambodia and 240 more units in Ebola-stricken Liberia.

Panasonic will continue this project in Vietnam, India, and Kenya.

Other beneficiaries of Panasonic’s project include Uganda, Niger, Tanzania, and

some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Indonesia, China, as well as its home country Japan.

(PNA)

Batas... from page 4

for this: the possibility that the Philippines may fall---if it has not really fallen yet---into the hands of competing interests or foreign domination by a country other than the US. A cause for concern along this line is the conceded and undeniable occupation now of the Spratlys or of the entire South China Sea (or West Philippine Sea as the Aquino government is belated calling this area), a vital part of Philippine territory, by China. The perception by many is that the Aquino government is not only not doing anything to repel China’s invasion and occupation of the Spratlys.

What is more worrisome is that, the Aquino government is also perceived as even abetting, expressly or indirectly, in more ways than one, this invasion and occupation of the Philippines by China, thereby placing in peril America’s interests not only in the country, but in the entire Pacific region. In the face of all these possibilities, can anyone come forward and tell us what, really, is happening?

-ooo REACTIONS? Please call me at +63 917 984 24 68, +63 918 574 0193, +63 922 833 43 96, or Skype (batasmauricio), Viber (+63 918 574 0193) and Line (+63 917 984 24 68).

Email: batasmauricio@yahoo. com, melaniolazomauriciojr@ outlook.com, mmauriciojr111@ gmail.com.

-30-

Cimagala... from page 4

us, otherwise we will cease to exist.

This providence of God now involves itself in the salvation of man, after we have alienated ourselves from him through sin, both the original and the personal. Since our work is our participation in that divine providence, we have to understand that our work ought to be involved too in our own salvation.

It therefore has an eminently redemptive character. It just cannot be stuck with purely worldly objectives, no matter how valuable, recommendable and legitimate these worldly objectives are. roycimagala@ gmail.com

Auctions... from page 5

Forms, Conditions of Bid, and standard format of the Special Power of Attorney and Secretary’s Certificate may be downloaded free of charge from the PDIC website, www. pdic.gov.ph.

A participation fee in the amount of P25,000.00 either in cash and/or Manager’s check is required of all bidders. The fee will be returned to non-winning bidders at the end of the auction.

The winning bidder is required to pay a downpayment equivalent to 10% of the bid on the day of the auction. The participation

11

fee of the winning bidder will form part of the downpayment and purchase price.

Regular conduct of public biddings and auctions are undertaken to expeditiously dispose of non-financial assets, one of the strategic directions outlined in the PDIC’s Roadmap.

As Liquidator of closed banks, the PDIC disposes of assets acquired from closed banks and proceeds from these are maintained in funds-held-intrust for closed banks and are used to enhance the recovery of uninsured depositors and creditors.

Chess... from page 6

under Gov. Taliño-Mendoza has already been supporting chess with its annual Mindanao Open Championship during its Kalibungan Festival from August to September. This has been participated in by grand masters, international masters, national masters and top-caliber non-rated players from all over the country.

The deadline of registration on-line for the 2015 Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza National Age-Group Chess Championships is on March 11. Titled-players (except CM/ WCM) are ceded in the Grand Finals provided they confirm their participation through submission of their complete profile on or before March 10.For more inquiry, email ncfpsecretariat2012@gmail.com or visit the website: www.ncf-phil. org or text 09336635401(NCFP XI) or 09127529263 (PGOSports). (PNA)

Watch... from page 6

to the international terrorist movement, as his sister Zainab is one of Marwan’s wives.

Another sister Aminah is married to Jainal Antel Sali, a.k.a. Abu Solaiman, while a third sister, Norain, is wife of Ahmad Santos, founder of the Rajah Solaiman Movement (RSM) Abu Tariq and member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who was killed when the bomb he was holding exploded, police superintendent Michael Cadiogan Bawayan, Jr., chief of OCPS, said.

Among the documents recovered from Dongon, when he eluded arrest by authorities in Marawi City, was a certification of a drug test he took from the Mehakans Drug Testing Center, located at the Integrated Bus and Jeepney Terminal (IBJT) Building, in barangay Maloro, Tangub City, which only proves that he has freely entered Misamis Occidental, Bawayan said.

“His picture is now posted in commercial establishments, city malls/eateries, piers, bus terminals, public markets, and other public places, and in the social media, so his presence in the city can be reported to the OCPS, either by calling telephone nos.

521-2201/586-0211/166 or through email: ozamizcps@ yahoo.com,” the OCPS chief said. (RCA/PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

VIBE

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Welcome the Lunar New Year at SM!

THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 19, 2015

Marites Allen conducts Fortune Forecast at SM Lanang Premier on February 11, 5PM.

editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

The year of Sheep promises to be calm and measured. Ring in an auspicious year of the Sheep at your nearest SM malls from February 11 to 21.

Learn more about your elements and discover what forces influence your stars this coming year.

Catch Marites Allen at SM Lanang Premier Atrium on February 11. Solicit Feng Shui tips from expert Richard Yu on February 13 at SM City General Santos, February 20-21 at SM City Davao Annex Event Center and February 22 at SM City Cagayan De Oro. Plus, know your zodiac fortune from the Zodiac Walls at SM Davao.

An old tradition in China involves dancers wearing masks resembling animals or mythical creatures. These dances are performed to drive away unpleasant spirits.

On February 19, welcome the Lunar New Year with Lion and Dragon dances as we bid farewell to the year of the Horse and start a fresh new year.

To complete the celebration, check out Chinese charms and treats at the Chinese Bazaars at SM City Cagayan De Oro and SM City Davao. Also, immerse in traditional Chinese culture with live performances at SM malls on the weekend.

Usher in prosperity and good fortune at SM malls this Chinese New Year! For more information and event updates, contact the nearest SM mall or visit and like the malls’ Official Facebook pages.

PAGE 12

Consultation with Feng Shui expert Richard Yu will happen on February 13 at SM City General Santos, February 20-21 at SM City Davao and February 22 at SM City Cagayan De Oro.