BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 4, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO THE BUSINESSMEN’S NEWSPAPER

2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Volume V, No. 98

Market Indicators

As of 6:10 pm feb. 3, 2015 (tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P44.13

7,613.15 points

3 cents

X

X Briefly 17.56 points

Asean integration OROQUIETA City -- There is a need to harmonize our national and local laws and strengthen our competitive culture in preparation for the regional economic integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“These are only some of the things that need fixing before the integration takes effect in 2016, when products and services within the ASEAN can be freely traded without tariff or visa,” Linda O. Boniao, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), region 10, said.

Meanwhile, Boniao said there is also a need to fix our industries to make it competitive with our ASEAN neighbors, citing as example the cost of Philippine sugar, which is high compared to those produced in Thailand.

No shortage BUTUAN City -- The local electricity provider – Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) expressed high confidence that the city and Agusan del Norte will not experience power shortage this summer.

During the consumer network (ConsumerNET) meeting attended by representatives of various government agencies and water, electricity and cable providers, ANECO Information Officer Danny dela Cena said that they continue to contract other power providers to be able to come up with the supply requirements of its consumers.

Dela Cena also pointed out the noticeable reduction of electricity rates reflected in its latest billing saying this is due to the reduction in the generation charge.

Dela Cena also revealed that, after a little delay to ensure no untoward incident will happen to its consumers, ANECO has put back the more than 100 posts downed by typhoon Seniang.

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Wednesday | February 4, 2015

New coal plant set for commissioning phase

By MYRNA VELASCO Contributor

Power business eats bulk of Aboitiz group capex this year C ON T I N U E D for ay i n power generation business is once again taking the largest bulk the Aboitiz Group capital outlay for this year.

In a statement, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) said it is setting aside P60 billion for its capex, with its power-sector subsidiary getting the lion’s share.

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AP) will spend P52 billion in line with its target of increasing its generating capacity by over 2,000 megawatts (MW) in the next five years.

Projects lined up for this year include the following: • 420-MW Pagbilao c o a l p l a nt i n Q u e z on , c on s t r u c t i on of w h i c h started last year; • 340-MW Therma Visayas baseload plant in Cebu, the groundbreaking for which is slated for this year; POWER/PAGE 11

M

INDANAO’S brownout predicaments are becoming certain to be over this year, as another power plant project is now advancing to commissioning phase – the 105 megawatt first phase of the Sarangani coalfired power project of the Alcantara group.

AT PEACE, FOR NOW. A child evacuee sleeps in a makeshift hammock at the evacuation site in Barangay Balit, San Luis, Agusan del Sur. He is among some 1,000 Banwaons from Barangays Mahagsay, Sta Rita, Binicalan and San Pedro in San Luis who fled their homes to escape alleged abuses by paramilitary groups. (photo courtesy of Karapatan-Caraga)

In a statement to the media, the project developer f ir m Sarangani Energ y C or poration (SEC) has announced that the power facility is now 89-percent complete “and will begin COAL/PAGE 11

Bus firms urged to adopt ‘counter terrorism’ measures

By MARK FRANCISCO, Reporter

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday issued a memorandum to all

bus operators and drivers plying within Northern Mindanao to implement measures to counter terrorism

Sultan Mandangan Darimbang, LTFRB regional director, said the LTFRB formulated the measure as part of the strict security policy to secure the

commuting public.

Under the Memo Order, the bus operators should put a sticker to baggages with corresponding number BUS/PAGE 11

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Need to transfer Davao airport pushed D AVA O C i t y - - R e g i o n a l Development Council Chairperson Ro dolfo P. Del Rosario this morning, once again pointed out the need to transfer the Davao International Airport (DIA) to a 1,000-hectare area.

Speaking during the first 2015 press forum organized by RDC through the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) XI, Del Rosario saw the need for an alternate of the 217-hectare DIA which he foresaw to eventually become congested and unfit for “big bodied” aircraft.

He was eyeing areas in nearby cities of Panabo and Samal in

Davao del Norte, north of Davao City; and areas in Davao del Sur, south of Davao City while he cautioned a negative repercussions on tourism industry and on local economy.

“If we cannot provide the facility for the big bodied aircraft, we will lose out in tourism and economic benefits,” he said. “We just have to do it,” he said, stressing the need to start looking for an alternate airport.

He admitted truth to the observation that DIA currently has yet to reach its full capacity as he revealed that the national government has approved a P40

billion budget for the improvement of the international airport.

But he explained that what he was pointing out was a future necessity s aying “no matter what we do, there is no room for expansion” of the DIA which he said cannot accommodate a development of an industrial park through which air loading and unloading of cargoes can become an add-on flight benefits especially for big aircrafts. “ The big aircrafts will be dependent not only on passengers but also on cargo,” Del Rosario said.

He encouraged Davao City

local government to start looking for another area where to develop an international airport if it desires to still host such facility but “they have to indicate where, in preparation for the eventual transfer (of DIA)”.

Del Rosario seemed to favor the idea of developing an international airport in the Island Garden City of SAmal which he said, has a land area of about 30,000 hectares while citing the situation of Mactan in Cebu.

Like Mactan which is close to mainland Cebu, the Island Garden City of Samal lies very near Davao City which he said

will still serve as basin of tourism and commercial development just like what has happened to Cebu when the international airport was transferred to Mactan.

Along with the airport development comes the construction of a bridge connecting Davao City with the Island Garden City of Samal, he said.

Same with his call for the transfer of DIA, Del Rosario has been advocating for the construction of a bridge connecting Samal to Davao City to ease cargo and vehicular traffic along Sasa Wharf in Davao City. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

Habitat for Humanity home partners express gratitude to beneficiaries BUTUAN City – In time with the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Butuan Habitat for Humanity, Inc. (BHFHI) on Saturday held at the Imadejas Convention Hall, this city, the homepartners who are beneficiaries of the home units of Habitat villages have imparted their sincere words of gratitude and appreciation to the BHFHI team and generous donors for continually providing a long-term housing security for their family.

In her personal testimony, homepartner Mary Jane Ventura thanked BHFHI for allowing her

entire household to avail a decent and affordable shelter. “Now that we are at our 8th year of living in a happy Habitat village, we are also grateful that we are about to finish our modest monthly amortization.

I’m glad that my family has also helped other homeless people by encouraging them to apply for home ownership in BHFHI,” she said.

Homepartner Alan Emam of BHFHI Alvarado Bading village recalled his hardship during the time when his family struggled in finding a home to dwell in.

0935-160-0668 HERMILINO VILLALON

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

“It’s difficult when you only have a meager income enough to provide and sustain the daily needs of your family. But with BHFHI, my dream of owning a conducive and durable home unit at a low cost was realized. I make sure that I also do my part in maintaining a clean environment and peaceful community, and build better relationship with my neighborhood,” he said.

Meanwhile, BHFHI president Eufroceles Udarbe expressed his gratitude to the homepartners for their unified support and active

participation in living up with the aspirations of the group. “We have already become a part of the system so we continue to go forward despite difficulties for we have not been lacking of support from our donors whose overwhelming assistance is always available. Let’s make things happen. Adelante BHFHI!” stated Udarbe.

In behalf of Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante, Jr. as guest speaker, Councilor Sammy Amante relayed in his message the interest of the city governmentt

of Butuan to influence the BHFHI beneficiaries in aligning with the vision 2020. “Our end goal is to include rural areas in the economic development and for communities to continually support our greening programs,” articulated Amante.

“I am sincerely pleased w/ the partnership between the city government of Butuan and Butuan Habitat for Humanity, Inc. because through our partnership, we are taking more concrete steps towards a more positive direction of our homeless people. Last year, we held our donors’ dinner and we were able to raise an amount of almost two million pesos. The amount may not be that much but it is enough to pursue with our plans to build homes for our people,” bared mayor Amante.

Meanwhile, the BHFHI awarded the outstanding homepartners who were consistent with their prompt performance in paying the monthly housing obligations and for their positive contributions to the Habitat communities.

Also, BHFHI president

Udarbe handed over the plaque of appreciation to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga regional director Abner Caga in gratetul recognition of his commendable cooperation and contributed support of the BHFHI projects.

Gathered together in solidarity, the officials of the BHFHI joined the member homeowners and guests in a community singing of Habitat’s official song, “Bridges of Love.” Cash prizes were also given away to the winners of the dance and singing contests while everybody got the chance to win home appliance units and food items in a raffle draw.

“This year we celebrate again our thanksgiving for the blessing that our almighty Father has blessed us, for sustaining us with our basic needs, our homes. We hope that this year and the years ahead will be filled with prosperity as we continue to provide homes for our brethrens,” said pastor Charlie Prior, BHFHI board member.

The BHFHI, a non-government organization working on a mission to provide decent and durable shelters, has built more than a thousand houses in Caraga region and is currently helping the disaster-affected families by helping them establish a new home to live in.

Anchored on its national millennium development goals, BHFHI supports the following objectives: end poverty and hunger; promote universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, environmental sustainability; combat HIV/AIDS; and global partnerships.

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Villar group allots P6-B for 6 AllHome stores this year THE VILL AR group is investing nearly P3 billion this year to build six new stores for its furniture and hardware retail brand AllHome.

Last Saturday, All Value Holdings Corp. opened its seventh AllHome outlet in Vista City at Daang Hari in Las Piñas City.

Other potential locations include Sta. Rosa, Laguna; Imus, Cavite; and Antipolo

C i t y, t h e c o m p a n y ’s Chairman and former Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.

The group has to spend about P300 million to build a store, and another P200 million for inventory, he said.

“The sales for the first six branches were ver y encouraging so we decided to go full blast this year and

SM poised for record spending in 2015 SM INVESTMENTS Corp. is poised to spend like never before this year -- a record P75 billion to P80 billion -piggybacking on the strength of consumer spending and prospects for sustained Philippine economic growth.

SM Senior Vice-President for Investor Relations Cora P. Guidote told reporters last Friday the conglomerate’s capital spending for the year will hit “between P75 billion and P80 billion.”

SM, the country’s biggest conglomerate by market capitalization, spent an actual P70 billion last year, according to Ms. Guidote.

That’s lower than the P80billion capital expenditure budget it set for 2014.

SM -- which has core

businesses in property, banking and retail -- expects to b enef it f rom robust consumer spending as a result of falling oil prices and election-related spending in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, Ms. Guidote said.

“The odds are in our favor. Barring any climate disturbance, our economy will be very good,” she added.

The Philippine economy grew 6.1% in 2014, capping three successive years of above-6% growth. That growth pace, however, fell below the government’s fullyear target of 6.5%-7.5%.

The government expects the Philippine economy to expand at a faster pace of sm/PAGE 11

the next,” said Mr. Villar, who is also chairman of two listed firms: homebuilder Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. and mall developer Starmalls, Inc. AllHome is primarily targeted at residents at the group’s Vista Land projects, while some outlets are also located within Starmall centers.

“Next year we will go to the Visayas and Mindanao

because we will service Vista homes there. We will be very aggressive in going to the regions to service all contractors and homebuyers nationwide,” Mr. Villar said.

Around six to eight AllHome stores are expected to be rolled out annually.

AllHome was first launched in 2013 and is now present in Taguig, Alabang, Bulacan, C ebu, Pampanga and Muntinlupa.

Globe, Japan’s Brastel Telecom tie up for reloadable calling cards GLOBE Telecom has entered into a strategic partnership with a Japanese company to offer reloadable calling cards, targeting Filipinos in Tokyo.

In a briefing today, Globe Telecom Inc senior vice president Rizza ManiegoEala said the partnership with Brastel Telecom is expected to strengthen the Philipine company’s position in the Japanese market.

“Japan has always been an important market for Globe because of the hundreds of thousands of Pinoys there,” Eala said, adding that the partnership with Brastel gives Globe an opportunity to offer quality calls and

superior rates.

S h e s a i d t h e re i s a “substantial market” for reloadable charging in Japan, particularly for Filipinos despite the popularity of social networking sites.

The reloadable calling card was developed for the 250,000 overseas Filipinos in Japan and offers calling rates to Globe and Touch Mobile in the Philippines that are as low as half of the cost of other offers in the market.

“The Philippines is our key market for growth.

We are very excited with this partnership,” Jorge Tatsuki Takata, Brastel’s general manager for Carrier Operations and Support

said.

He s aid t he average monthly telecom expenditure of Filipinos in Japan stood at 2,000 yen or about P800.

Takata said the reloadable calling card is available at partner convenience stores such as Family Mart, Mini Stop, Circle K and Lawson.

The card can also be reloaded via the Brastel website using a credit card in denominations of 2,000 up to 10,000 yen.

“Since our founding in 1996, we at Brastel aim to give our customers a voice by providing them with the b est packages and offers. Through our partnership with Globe,

we are delighted to enable stronger connections between overseas Filipinos in Japan and their family and friends back home,” Wilson Kendi Kawai, Brastel chief executive said in a statement.

Globe earned P10.53 billion in the first nine months of 2014, up 198 percent from P3.53 billion the previous year.

Excluding foreign exchange and mark-tomarket gains and losses as well as other non-recurring items, the company’s core net income rose 22 percent to P11. 58 billion from P9.53 billion over the same period.

R e v e nu e c l i m b e d 8 percent to P72.7 billion from P67.3 billion in 2013.

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Early Registration: Starting the School Year right

By Mary Jane C. Birondo School In-charge Sta. Cruz Elementary School Claveria I District Claveria, Misamis Oriental

Education is considered a truly significant element in the society. It is one foundation that builds a nation. Moreover, among members of the society, education is something that they could call as their property which no one can overtake.

Thus, it is just proper that even the processes involving the deliver y, access, organization or similar matters pertaining to education should be in order to push efficiency and effectiveness.

This is t he re as on that DepEd encouraged all elementary and high school students nationwide to register early for the next school year.

The implementation aims to achieve universal completion of basic education and make school opening as smooth as possible and as well universally participated in as possible by everyone.

It i s i mp l e m e nt e d through efforts coming from the school, local

government units, ParentTeachers Associations, barangay officials, civil s o c i e t y g roup s , c i v i c organizations, and the business sector.

E a r l y R e g i s t r at i on implementation also aims to bring all school-aged children to school and out-of-school youth back to the classrooms, and as well youths from disadvantaged groups, including street children aged 5 to 18. The marginalized individuals can get their preferred education delivery system, which could be formal through alternative delivery mode (ADM) or alternative learning system (ALS).

The st ar t at t imes parallels the midpoint and the beginning. Thus, beginning a school year with organization is equal to a complete achievement of vision, mission and goals of an institution in the entire year. For DepEd, implementing Early Registration is the start of the whole process.

Banking&Finance

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East West Bank raising P8B from rights offer EASTWEST Banking Corporation is planning to raise as much as P8 billion in additional common equity tier-1 capital through a rights offer to support its medium-term growth plans.

The bank said the new capital will provide sufficient cushion on top of the capital levels required under Basel III and allow EW to continue its growth momentum.

EastWest Bank said it has a positive outlook on the Philippine economy

and looks to continue with its growth trajectory driven mainly by the consumer and middle market corporate sectors.

The approximately 1:3 rights offer will allow all shareholders to proportionally participate in the capital raising program.

Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), the majority shareholder of EW, has expressed their support for the Bank’s expansion plans and the proposed rights offer.

FD C has committe d to subscribe to its proportionate share and will consider underwriting the shares not taken up by the minority shareholders.

“We have completed Phase 1 of our expansion with the completion of the 405 consolidated branch stores from 123 in 2012.

We now proceed to Phase 2,” said EW President Tony C. Moncupa Jr. He explained that Phase 2 “will focus on serving more customers, booking more

business, and expanding our balance sheet. This capital raising exercise is the fuel for this next expansion.”

EW chief finance officer Rene K. De Borja Jr. said “we remain bullish on the economic prospects of the country and we intend to ride on the country’s growth momentum. We want to be in a good position to respond to the increasing banking needs of our customers. We need this additional capital to make this happen.”

ATM network unification deal signed A DE A L u n i f y i n g t h e country’s automated teller machine (ATM) networks was inked on Friday -- the “important first step” in building an “efficient and inclusive retail payment system,” according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chief.

M a n u e l C . Ta g a z a , chairman of BancNet and electronic channels group head at Bank of the Philippine Islands, and Nestor V. Tan, chairman of Megalink and president and CEO at BDO Unibank, Inc., signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the consolidation of the two ATM network on Friday at the BSP’s

headquarters in Manila.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. and Bankers Association of the Philippines President Lorenzo V. Tan were on hand to witness the signing, as well as other senior BSP and Monetary Board officials and executives of the country’s biggest banks.

“Our 50 million plus customers throughout the Philippines will be the main beneficiaries of our shared commitment to providing the best ATM network services and eventually the national retail payment system,” BAP’s Mr. Tan said in his welcoming remarks, referring to an integrated electronic payment system envisioned

by the BSP. Mr. Tagaza, in his own message, said B ancNet came to the MOA signing “delighted that we will finally be one with Megalink.”

“Together, we become even stronger as we get ready to face the daunting challenges that our consolidated network faces in this new era of integrated digital payments,” Mr. Tagaza said, citing challenges “that we can expect to multiply as the users of the system expand to non-banks.”

A BancNet press release provided to reporters during the signing detailed that “the consolidation which resulted with BancNet as

the designated operator will be consummated when MegaLink members join BancNet through a memb ership ac t ivat ion process, without additional costs to the former.

The same press release noted that BancNet and Megalink, under the stewardship of the BAP, jointly formulated an arrangement addressing the requirements of BSP: efficiency through a single payment switch, a service-oriented business model with sufficient research and development capability to address advances in technology, and a viable risk management framework to signed/PAGE 10

‘Abot Alam’: zero percent OSY by 2016

By ANGELITO U. FELISILDA, Principal II City Central School

Education is an important tool in developing a person in various possible ways which could enable him to be more productive in life.

However, not everyone are given the chance to attend school because of different reasons, including financial problems.

In 2012, the Department of Education identified a number of Filipino youths that do not attend school.

This group include those who do not have interest in schooling, and also those who do not have other choice but to stop going to school, such as individuals experiencing financial instability, family problems, difficult access to school, lack of interest and confidence, bullying, personal crisis and several others.

The education department is aiming to lessen this problem among young people.

Thus, the creation of ‘Abot Alam’ project is made possible.

This project is a nat i onw i d e c amp ai g n pushing for an improved delivery of free and quality education and eradication of out-of-school youths (OSY) in the country.

It is org an i z e d by

Department of Education and in partnership w i t h Nat i o n a l Yo u t h Commission.

‘Abot Alam’ intends to minimize the number of out-of-school youths and even targets zero percent by year 2016.

T h i s i s d one w it h the efforts coming from barangays and municipalities. OSY aging 15-30 are encouraged to register in a website in order to be recognized and be part of the ‘Abot Alam’.

These individuals will then be referred to A l t e r n at i v e L e a r n i n g System coordinator to schedule their classes, since this project constitutes home study and face to face method.

At t he e nd of t he classes, an assessment will be conducted in order to design programs suited for students.

Honest to say, achieving zero percent OSY and complete eradication of their number might be too ambitious in the minds of most people. However, this is not impossible if everyone will join hand-in-hand in promoting the importance of Education and as well share its wise ways, such as the ‘Abot Alam’ project.

History in the Making As t he ent iret y of t he Association of South East Asian Nations anticipates the great economic phenomenon known as the ASEAN integration of 2015, WORLDBEX, the Asia’s most anticipated building and construction exposition aspires to wield the onslaught of opportunities and mold it into realities that will catapult the industry into the forefront of economic ascendance.

Celebrating their 20th

year, WORLDBEX or the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition brings together more than 500 exhibiting companies and more than a thousand booths. With more industry players setting its sight on the country, a rapid increase in construction activities is foreseen with the strong need to hasten modernization and urban development. This is why WORLDBEX is set to be bigger and better than ever.

With a theme, “Building Visions in the realm of ASEAN integration,” the exposition will position itself as a powerful tool for industry players to connect with the right network for this new era and discover the next big thing in this intensely competitive atmosphere.

Without the impetus to create and build, visions remain merely as visions.

But with WORLDBEX 2015, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. It will not only provide direction, it will also be the catalyst to usher in a new era for the

construction and building industry.

Build visions and open up windows to the future.

WORLDBEX 2015 will t a ke pl ace f rom 1 1 -1 5 March 2015 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), WTCMM East Wing A & B and the Philippine Trade Training Center. WORLDBEX 2015 will cover a total exhibition area of 30,000 square metres.

For more information on WORLDBEX 2015, telephone (+63) 2 6569 239, email info@ worldbex.com or visit www. worldbex.com

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hink a minute…Bees and buzzards are very different in their eating habits. Buzzards fly and circle above looking for animals that are either hurt or dead. Then when they see one, they swoop down to tear and feast on it until it’s gone. But honeybees are the exact opposite.

Honeybees only look for the good sweet nectar, as they fly from flower to flower.

Buzzards only produce fear, pain, and death in their feeding. But honeybees produce honeycombs full of honey, which gives health and enjoyment to others.

You see, buzzards and bees always find what they’re looking for. Just like a wife can usually find what she’s looking for in her husband.

She’ll see what she chooses to see: the good or the bad. So if we’ll focus on our husband’s faults and mistakes, we’ll find them. And the more fault we find in our husband, the less we’ll respect him.

So then when our husband feels that we don’t respect him, maybe even see him as a loser and failure, guess who’s the last person he will want to be with? His wife!

Since he feels he can never please her or be good enough for her.

But rather, if we try to look for the good qualities in our husband, and focus on those, we can grow to

THINK

A Minute

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst

respect even admire him.

Then when our husband feels this respect from us, because we stop cutting him down and criticizing him, our marriage and relationship will be much happier. As a wise person said: “To your husband’s qualities and good points, be very kind; and to his faults and mistakes—a little blind.”

Fortunately, there is a big difference between us and buzzards and bees. Animals cannot choose their instincts and behavior. But God made us human beings the highest of all His creation, so we can choose what we think, say, and do. So if you’ve not been the kind, loving wife you know you should be, won’t you ask Jesus Christ to forgive you? Right now ask Him to take charge of your heart and nature, so you can start changing to become the wife your husband needs.

Just Think a Minute …

Uptown CdO: A Lifestyle Haven in Northern Mindanao

was first introduced to CdO in October 2011 when I was invited by a delegation of foreign entrepreneurs and Filipino business owners. I flew to the “Garden of the Philippines” without any expectations and as open minded as possible. Family, friends and neighbours were very dubious about me flying to Mindanao with all the stories we get to hear in national and international media but such things never had too much effect on me. After 5 years spent living in the Middle East I could tell the difference between common belief and reality. The fact that there was a renowned Italian Architect building a classy condominium was reason enough for me to be confident and start my travel with a healthy enthusiasm.

My travel companion was an American seasoned real estate professional with years of rewarding experience in California for one of the biggest international agencies like CBRE. He knew the ins- and outs of land and community development thanks to his 25 years of experience in real estate.

Both actually had lots in common and shared our near to similar horror stories with our respective ex-wives so we got on very well and could relate to each other.

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After landing at the old Lumbia airport we visited the city in downtown, the port facilities and then got back to Pueblo de Oro Business Park in Uptown, saw the golf course, SM and the then lonesome showroom of Primavera Residences which had just started construction back then. After driving around Uptown all afternoon I noticed a strange sparkle in my American companion’s eyes. He knew that this was the place to be, the place to invest and the place to focus on in town.

After 4 years and extensive t ravel in t he region I realise that my American companion was absolutely right. Uptown is indeed the Makati of Northern Mindanao, still underrated though but well recognized by those who count and can afford to live in upper class communities like Xavier Estates. Be it the Filipino family or the retired foreigner, if lifestyle is to be identified with good air, flood-free, spacious communities, accessible shopping facilities, little or no traffic and lots of nature then Uptown is the place to be. I also realised that CdO enjoys the best weather of the Philippines and is at the same time served by the freshest fruits and vegetables

from Bukidnon. Hospitals are equipped and competent so there is nothing missing in town. No wonder there are plenty of elderly foreigners populating the subdivisions there with their families and/ or Filipino wifes/husbands.

Americans, Germans, Swiss, British, Italians, Koreans, Japanese and even Indians are clear proof of where the Western standard has set itself to be.

There are rumours that several lots in Uptown’s Pueblo de Oro are going to be developed with new office and residential buildings which will bring even more life into the already thriving community. Every morning and evening people are flocking to Pueblo near SM to run, cycle, play volleyball and gather among friends as it is literally the only place that offers ample spaces. On weekends there are even families gathering for picnics among other physical exercise and it’s all good signs of a breeding community. Events, shows and exhibitions are also being held at SM. Beyond barangay rivalries you can now hear young people saying: “I am from Uptown” giving it a new sense of identity for the Uptown citizen. I would not be surprised to see an Uptown basketball

O ut

of

The B iz B ox

By Mr. Lorens Ziller

or soccer team rising soon.

This should bring new wind to the sails of the Uptown stakeholders and all those entrepreneurs thinking of setting up businesses in the area. With BPO’s thriving all over the Philippines and Savills even thinking of opefning a CdO office the time is right to take Uptown to the next level.

The successful example of Primavera Residences bringing new condo lifestyle to the city and representing the very first condominium in town will drag more investors to the community.

There is nowhere else to be identified as the place where superior lifestyle marries with modern design and accessible shopping facilities.

I am aware that there is still some people who prefer the chaotic, polluted and flood prone downtown but for me Uptown is the place to be.

To get in touch with reality

I

n the course of a conversation, a friend asked me these questions: “What then is reality? How do we get in touch with it?

You mean, we are not yet fully in touch with reality?”

Difficult questions, of course. To answer them wou ld re quire a lot of explanation. These were raised because we were talking about faith and the creative will of God, full of love and wisdom, mercy and compassion, that in the end contains the whole scope of reality in all its objectivity and complexity.

It is in that will that ever ything is known at once. This is the case of God himself. But in our case, it would be that faith and the creative will of God that would enable to know the part of reality that we ought to know at the moment, or as it should be known.

And most important is that it is in that faith and in that divine will that we get to know things in relation to their ultimate and absolute end, which is what in the end matters. Our real concern is how to engage and relate ourselves to that divine will.

This engaging and relating ourselves to that divine will is actually easy to do, since God, for his part, will always facilitate things for us. If God has given us

his Son who had to offer his life for us on the cross, then everything is already given to us.

If we do our part, knowing the divine will should not be hard.

In that conversation, I told my friend him that our contact with reality that is based simply on our senses, feelings, and other worldly things like our sociology, politics, economics, and the whole gamut of our sciences, arts and technology, can at best be only partial, instrumental, provisional.

Our senses can only capture the sensible reality.

Our feelings are highly subjective. The sciences, arts and technologies can only parcel reality according to their formal objects. All of these still miss out a lot of things.

This is not to mention that precisely because of their partiality, instrumentality and provisionality, our contact with reality is prone to be distorted, biased, and to be manipulated according to one’s subjective motives.

Such understanding of getting in touch with reality can hardly escape from the grip of subjectivism. It would be a fertile breeding place for anomalies like bigotry and self-righteousness.

My understanding of reality is one whose radical

foundation is God’s creative will itself that God shares with us through the gift of faith. Everything is contained there: the material and spiritual, the natural and supernatural, the temporal and eternal, etc.

God’s creative will would even know how to handle the highly fragile nature of our human freedom, which can turn in every which way.

That’s why we need to do everything to know and to get in touch with God’s will.

This we can do if we pray, develop an intimate rel at i onsh ip w it h h i m, become a real contemplative right in the middle of the world, study the doctrine of our faith that articulates his divine revelation that has its fullness in Christ and is perpetuated in the Church.

This we can do if we have recourse to the sacraments which are the usual channels of God’s grace, undertake a continuing ascetical struggle to develop virtues and to do battle with the enemies of God and our soul.

This we can do if we continue to immerse ourselves in the lives of others and in the things of the world, since God speaks to us through them, showing us what he wants us to do in a given moment. In short, getting in touch with God is the key to getting in touch

HINTS

and

Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

with reality.

But we a ls o have to understand that while the business of getting in touch with God starts with our proper disposition of faith, shown in prayer, recourse to the sacraments, etc., we also need to get immersed in the lives of others and in the world itself and relate them to God. It is always a two-way affair - immersing ourselves in God as well as immersing ourselves in others and the world. That is why Christ, when asked what the greatest commandment was or, in other words, what God really wants us to do, said: to love God with all our might and the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor.

To get in touch with reality is a matter of getting in touch with God and getting in touch with others and the world. roycimagala@gmail.com

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Palay and corn output to grow in first half of 2015 PALAY and corn production for the first half of this year is “foreseen to be higher” by 2.02 percent and 6.02 percent, respectively, from the same period in 2014, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

“The January to June 2015 probable production (palay) may reach 8.55 million metric tons (MT), 2.02 percent more than the 8.38 million MT output in 2014,” BAS said in its rice and corn situation outlook.

It said harvest area may be higher by 0.07 percent to 2.099 million hectares this year from 2.098 million hectares last year.

“Yield may improve from 3.99 MT per hectare to 4.07 MT per hectare, or by 1.95 percent,” BAS said.

Ac c o r d i n g t o BA S , probable growths in production and harvest area are expected in Region II

(Cagayan Valley), Region IV-B (Mimaropa), Region VI (Western Visayas), Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) and Region V (Bicol Region).

However, production, harvest area and yield may decrease in April to June due to early croppings that fall harvest to the first quarter of 2015 in Regions IV-B, II, and XII. “In C entral Luzon ( R e g i on I I I ) , prob abl e decrease in harvest area could be due to low water level in Pantabangan and Angat Dam which are major source of irrigation water in the region,” BAS noted.

Meanwhile, corn production in January to June is expected to increase by 6.02 percent to 3.69 million MT from 3.48 million MT. Har vest area is also expected to grow by 2.55 percent to 1.123 million hectares, from 1.095 million

hectares.

“Yield may go up from 3.18 MT per hectares in 2014 to 3.29 MT in 2015,” the bureau said.

Ac c o r d i n g t o BA S , Regions II, III, X (Northern Mindanao), VI, and Region XI (Davao Region) are expected to contribute to the “bulk of increment in output.”

“The probable increment could be attributed to the availability of HYV (high yielding variety) seeds and fertilizer support from LGUs, DA-RFOs (Department of Agriculture Regional Office) and local financiers, more usage of HYVs, encouraging higher price for corn, and favorable weather condition,” it said.

BAS noted that palay and corn production in 2014 exceeded 2013 levels by 2.87 percent and 5.33 percent, respectively.

“The increments were attributed to the increase in yield brought by more utilization of HYVs, more fertilizer usage, favorable weather condition, and government institutions,” BAS said.

Palay production in 2014 reached 18.97 million MT, 2.87 percent higher than 2013 output of 18.44 million MT. Harvest area was lower by 6,419 hectares or by 0.14 percent.

Significant production growths were noted in Regions II, III, IV-B, X, and XI. C or n pro duc t ion in 2014, on the other hand, reached 7.77 million MT, 5.33 percent above 7.38 million MT output in 2013.

Harvest area increased by 1.86 percent to 2.61 million hectares from 2.56 million hectares in 2013.

Agri-fishery program in Davao del Sur to continue DIGOS City -- The provincial government here will continue to give focus on improving its agriculture and fishery program to help upgrade the living conditions of the farmers and fisherfolk in the province.

Marivic Hubac, executive assistant to Governor Claude Bautista, said the provincial government is set to specifically

continue this year the coastal development program where fisherfolk are given the opportunity to own motorized banca (small fishing boats) through a special loan.

This year, Hubac bared, the local government is preparing to distribute 100 bancas to qualified beneficiaries in Malita and 150 fisherfolk in

Don Marcelino, both of Davao Occidental province which is still under the administration of the governor of Davao del Sur. The motorized banca loan amounting to P30,000 per unit is giving the beneficiaries the chance of paying at least PhP50 pesos a day, and to have it fully paid in less than two years.

Governor Bautista said not less than 2,500 fishing boats will be distributed to other coastal areas in the province until 2016.

The Banca Loan Program started in 2013 with a total of 160 fisherfolk from Digos City, and municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Sta. Maria already benefiting from the project.

(PNA)

Vice Governor Joey Pelaez and SP MisOr Ask DPWH Region X to Check Structural Integrity of All Bridges in Misamis Oriental CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- The latest damages brought about

by Typhoon Seniang which affect and threaten both the economy and the safety of the people of Misamis Oriental prompted Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez and Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) to unanimously pass SP Resolution No. 06-2015 urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to check, monitor and reinforce the structural integrity of all the bridges in Misamis Oriental to withstand future calamities and avoid greater damage to the province as a whole during the SP’s 2nd Regular Session last 13 January 2015.

The legislative measure was

introduced by Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, the principal sponsor of the Resolution, after the Mambayaan Bridge in the Municipality of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental was damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Seniang last 29 December 2014.

The central pier of Mambayaan Bridge partially collapsed which makes the infrastructure unfit for use, more difficult for the riding public and costly for the transportation of goods. The bridge serves an important and valuable role in strengthening the economy of the province as it connects Agusan del Norte and Misamis Oriental. It facilitates the free flow of goods, services and transportation to the area.

It will be recalled that when Tropical Depression Agaton hit the Province last January 2014, Mambayaan Bridge and its approach were damaged due to the strong current of the river which made it unserviceable for several days.

Though the approach of the said bridge was rehabilitated directly after Tropical Depression Agaton, it has been observed, however, that nothing has been done to thoroughly inspect and strengthen the bridge to anticipate the effects of a more vigorous flow of water, mud and stones.

According to Vice Governor Joey Pelaez, the overall damage was not only limited to the structure itself as it has also

taken its toll on the economic and social activities of the Province, hampering economic growth and limiting the activities of people. Vice Governor Pelaez hails from Medina, Misamis Oriental which is one of the municipalities in the 1st District of Misamis Oriental greatly affected and inconvenienced by the structural damage of the Mambayaan Bridge.

Such problem could have been avoided if the structural integrity of the bridge was assessed during the first instance to extend its usefulness and additional reinforcements were made to strengthen it, Vice Governor Pelaez added.

Mambayaan Bridge is just one of the bridges in the Province which are already decades-old and need significant assessments and reinforcements to hold out against the wrath of nature brought about by climate change.

Vice Governor Pelaez and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are optimistic that through this legislative initiative the public and all other stakeholders will be informed of the status of the structural integrity of all the bridges in the province and collectively initiate steps or rehabilitation programs, if necessary.

7

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3.

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Column Writing Editorial Writing Editorial Cartooning Feature Writing Fact-sheet Writing Feature Writing First Aid During Media Coverage and Other Emergency Situations 8. Headline Writing 9. Investigative Reporting 10. Keeping Media Practitioner’s Family Safe

11. Layouting 12. Low-cost Media 13. News/Press Conference Organizing and Facilitation 14. News Paper Editing 15. News Writing for Print 16. Photography 17. Print News Release Preparation 18. Securing the Newsroom 19. Specialized Writing : Sports, Business, etc.

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1. Audiocraft 2. Audio News Release Production 3. Broadcast Editorial Writing 4. Broadcast Media and the Church Broadcast News Scriptwriting \ Broadcast News Simulation 5. Communication Theory 6. Community Radio Program Production 7. Conducting Energizers/Ice Breakers 8. Coverage of Civil Disorders, Natural and Human-induced Catastrophic Situations, Wars and Conflicts, Abuse and Exploitation 9. Data Gathering 10. Dealing with Death Threats and Surveillance 11. Disc Jockeying (Disk Jokering) 12. Effective Listening and Questioning 13. Feature Writing and Production 14. First Aid During Media Coverage and Other Emergency Situations 15. Headline Writing 16. Interviewing Children 17. Investigative Reporting 18. Keeping Media Practitioner’s Family Safe 19. Lantern Lecture Techniques 20. Microphone Handling 21. Newscasting

22. Non-linear Audio-Video Editing 23. News/Press Conference Organizing and Facilitation 24. Overcoming Ambush Interview 25. Overcoming Stage Fright 26. Program Hosting/Anchoring 27. Public Journalism 28. Radio, As Community Development Tool 29. Radio Programming 30. Radio and TV Guesting and Interview 31. Securing the Newsroom 32. Specialized Writing : Sports, Business, etc.

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GENDER AND HEALTH TRAINING MODULE

1. Adolescent and Youth Health 2. Gender and Reproductive Health 3. Gender Sensitivity for Couples, Women and Men 4. Gender Sensitivity in Media 5. Gender Sensitivity Training for Lupon 6. Gender in Waste Management 7. Violence Against Women and Children

INFORMATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION (IEC) and ADVOCACY MODULES 1.

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Brainstorming and Project Presentation Building a Constituency for Support Communicating with the Adolescents, Handicaps Community Organizing and Planning Community Public Address System (ComPAS) Conducting an Advocacy Campaign Designating Spokespersons Data Gathering Defending Against and Addressing the Opposition Development Communication Educating Colleagues Establishing Goals, Objectives and Activities Expanding Your Base of Support Enhancing Your Public Education Efforts Establishing Hotlines Framing Issues and Shaping Your Message Going Public/External Relations

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1. Aggressiveness and Assertiveness 2. Coping With (Post-traumatic) Stress and Depression 3. Dealing with Conflict 4. Developing Positive Personal Values 5. Discovering Interpersonal Life 6. Emotional Quotient 7. Etiquette and Grooming 8. Good Passenger Handling 9. Human Relations and Personhood 10. Intelligence Quotient 11. Leadership 12. Overcoming Difficult People 13. Prayer Writing and Delivery 14. Public Relations 15. Sermon Writing and Delivery 16. Supervisor, as Formater 17. SWOT Analysis 18. Team-building 19. Values Clarification

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PAGE 10

Energy firm, STEAG State Power Inc., lead by Dr. Carten Evers - Power Plant Manager, together with the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippines Army, Macajalar Bay Development Alliance (MBDA) chair Mayor Oliver Ubaub of Laguindingan pose for posterity during the formal turnover of a PhP 126,864.00 grant for the establishment of the Macajalar Bay Mangrove Nursery Project in Barangay Molugan, El Salvador City, February 3. Photo by SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

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More Occupational Safety Health practitioners accredited

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded on January 12 and 26 certificates for the accreditation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) practitioners during its Monday Convocation programs.

This is in consonance with its continuous drive to strengthen the administration and enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS). nergy firm, STEAG in Northern Mindanao in the nongovernmental organizations The accreditation of safety and health State Power Inc. (SPI), Philippines.

(NGO), civil society and professionals and organizations is a venue to together with the 4th MBDA is an alliance of 12 people’s organizations (POs), enhance the culture of safety and voluntary Infantry Division of the coastal municipalities and two academe and youth, in order to compliance to Labor Standards, particularly on Philippines Army formally cities (Cagayan de Oro and encourage multi-sectoral and occupational safety and health. This is pursuant to turns over PhP 126,864.00 El Salvador) surrounding the multi-agency cooperation in Department Order No. 16, Series of 2001. grant to the Macajalar Bay Macajalar Bay. They agreed to managing the Bay, the Xavier DOLE aims to strengthen accreditation through Development Alliance (MBDA) collaborate and pool resources University - McKeough Marine increasing the number of competent individuals for the establishment of the to ensure the sustainable Center providing the necessary qualified to carry out the provisions of the OSHS, Macajalar Bay Mangrove development of the Bay. The scientific and technical support thereby reducing hazards and accidents in every Nursery Project. alliance establishes and sets in to the alliance. STEAG State workplace.

The project, which is located motion a bay-wide Integrated Power Inc. (SPI) is one of DOLE-X OIC assistant regional director, in Barangay Molugan, El Coastal Management (ICM) the pioneering private sector Rodrigo A. Deloso awarded OSH practitioners, Salvador City, is part of the program. MBDA is presently partners in the alliance. continuing efforts spearheaded chaired by Laguindingan STEAG’s contribution is part Engr. June G. Blancaflor, electrical foreman, and Engr. Wenefredo L. Madera, Jr., control room by the MBDA to protect the Mayor Oliver Ubaub. of the company’s continuing operator, both of STEAG State Power Inc. in Macajalar Bay area.

The MBDA actively commitment to support Macajalar Bay is an promotes networking activities environmental conservation and Balacanas, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental last January 12. important fishing ground involving key stakeholders, protection efforts especially in Also awarded was Engr. Alvin M. Villanueva, and major industrial center including the private sector, communities where it operates.

OIC safety and health section of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Bureau of Mines and Geosciences (MGB) in Macabalan, Cagayan de City as renewal of his certificate.

On January 26, regional director Raymundo G. Agravante awarded Agnes L. Sato, Sr. safety engineer of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Mindanao Systems Operations in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

Director Agravante believes that this award will be the practitioners’ edge in their respective offices, especially in the lobbying of safety and health policies will be faster, thus uncompromising safety.

Facilitating the awarding were technical services and support division head, Atheneus A. Vasallo, Engr. Nicanor F. Aguilar, Jr., Engr.

Romeo B. Akut, and Evelyn J. Gallego of the DOLE-X. Interested applicants may visit http://www. oshc.dole.gov.ph/ for details and the requirements or you may visit the DOLE-X Regional Office, through the Technical Support and Services Division, 3F Monte Carlo Building, RER Phase I, Kauswagan National Highway, Cagayan de Oro Energy firm, STEAG State Power Inc (SPI) power plant manager Dr. Carten Evers, together with the 4th Infantry Division of City or through telephone number (88) 8571931 the Philippines Army, formally turns over a PhP 126,864.00 grant for the establishment of the Macajalar Bay Mangrove Nursery Project in Barangay Molugan, El Salvador City, February 3. Receiving the grant is Macajalar Bay Development and look for Evelyn J. Gallego.

Macajalar Bay mangrove nursery project to rise in El Salvador City

E

Alliance (MBDA) chair Mayor Oliver Ubaub of Laguindingan Photo by SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

(Mildred E. Dablio, Labor Communications Officer, DOLE-X)

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PAGE 9

Primavera’s La Rondine Hall now open for public use

P

rimavera Residences Condominium Corporation officially opens to the public La Rondine Hall as a new venue in Cagayan de Oro catering to parties, events, training and learning sessions, among others. La Rondine Hall is also a venue for art appreciation, providing an avenue for local artists to showcase their art works.

Formerly Primavera’s multipurpose hall, La Rondine has been a venue for social gatherings, trainings, seminars and art exhibits. Now that it has opened its doors to the public, more people can experience Primavera as an alternative venue in uptown Cagayan de Oro.

“La Rondine which is Italian for Barn Swallow is a bird that returns to Italy during spring season, or Primavera. It is mainly for this reason that we opted to use the name,” Italpinas CEO and Arch. Romolo Nati explained.

La Rondine is a migrant bird that is known to gracefully dart over fields and open water. With its shiny cobalt blue top mixed with tawny feathers underneath, this agile flier comes back to Italy at Primavera, when the countryside is brimming with colors and nature is at its best.

Provided with a 90 sq. m. floor area and decorated with a variety of artworks (for display and for sale), La Rondine Hall is

suited for versatile events such as birthday parties, learning sessions, yoga parties to mention some.

“We offer our clients with an affordable deal of P750 per hour. This is inclusive of hall, electricity charges, and maintenance personnel assistance. There are no corkage fees also,” Jelly Galleto, Primavera Residences Property Manager said.

La Rondine Hall can accommodate up to 80-100 people.

To know more about Primavera’s La Rondine Hall, call 088-880-8001 or visit www. primaveraresidences.com.

Apple Tree Resort & Hotel staff parades their new uniforms during the resort’s anniversary celebration and re-branding launch at the open activity area, Opol, Misamis Oriental, February 1. Photo by SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

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9

PAGASA LINKS UP VISAYAS WITH SMART INFOBOARD. The spate of weather-related disasters that hit Central Philippines in recent years underscored the need for an efficient communications tool that would facilitate timely and accurate weather bulletins to high-risk communities.

PAGASA Visayas has recently inked a partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) for the use of the Infoboard. It joined the growing number of government agencies that have tapped the web-based SMS tool as the region faced the increasing threat of disasters.

The Smart Infoboard allows efficient dissemination of weather forecasts, warnings, and other internal communications and circulars from the regional office in Cebu to PAGASA personnel in various field stations and offices all throughout Visayas.

The ceremonial turnover was held recently at the Conference Hall of the PAGASA Visayas Regional Office in Cebu City. In photo (from left) are Atty. Maria Jane Paredes, head of Smart Public Affairs VisMin; Engr.

Oscar Tabada, OIC Regional Director of PAGASA Visayas; and Engr. Al Quiblat, Chief Meteorologist, PAGASA Visayas.

Danao City turns to Smart Infoboard. The City Government of Danao in the Province of Cebu has inked a deal with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) for the use of its Infoboard.

The Smart Infoboard allows efficient dissemination of weather forecasts, warnings, and other internal communications and circulars from the regional office in Cebu to PAGASA personnel in various field stations and offices all throughout Visayas.

This would come in handy for the local government, especially for bulletins and circulars emanating from its disaster risk reduction and management council, which would help strengthen its disaster and emergency communications.

In photo during the recent turnover are, from left, Atty. Maria Jane C. Paredes, head of Public Affairs-VisMin for Smart; Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon Durano VI, and Engr. Jay Raymund Meca, officer-designate of the Danao City Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

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Signed... from page 4

protect not only the members but the final end-users as well.

Expressnet, another ATM network, was not part of the signing. The press release explained that Expressnet “was not a party in the consolidation after BPI’s memb ership ac t ivat ion in BancNet in April 2013, following similar transfers by the other Expressnet members to either Bancnet or Megalink.”

E xpressnet had a ls o already outsourced its ATM operations to BancNet in 2008, it noted.

BancNet, Inc. started

operations in July 1970 with eight member banks, led by then-Equitable PCI Bank and Security Banking Corp.

Today, BancNet is comprised of 34 of the country’s largest banks. The network had 12,712 ATMs as of Dec. 31, 2014.

Megalink is a consortium of 17 commercial banks with a combined network of 2,921 ATMs nationwide.

Expressnet member banks, meanwhile, include Ayalaowned Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), BPI Family Savings Bank, BDO Unibank, Inc. and Land Bank of the Philippines.

In 2010, the three networks interconnected

their point-of-sales, allowing card holders of their member b a n k s t o m a k e d e bit s anywhere.

INCLUSIVE, INTEGRATED SYSTEM In his closing remarks, BSP’s Mr. Tetangco said that “[w]hile the BAP and our ATM networks describe this event as inspired by the BSP, to us, the credit for implementing this milestone program properly belongs to our banks.”

“This coming together of our ATMs under a single network is the important first step toward an efficient and inclusive retail payment system,” Mr. Tetangco said.

“In this connection, I am

pleased to note that our ATM network has been expanding steadily -- it increased from 6,200 units in 2005 to over 16,000 in 2014.”

But Mr. Tetangco also enumerated the next steps Philippine banks should pursue: the establishment of well-defined rules to set the stage for areas of cooperation and areas of competition; upgrades to current arrangements to enable the participation of payment service providers, including non-banks; and the assurance of transparency, certainty and reliability to each customer.

“Our next step is to collaborate on how to best

implement not only the merger of ATM and point of sales operations, but the overall integration of our payments system,” said Mr. Tetangco.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Mr. Tagaza clarified that as far as the experience of the enduser is concerned, BancNet and Megalink “are already interconnected now, although there are two switches.”

“The goal really is to have one switch,” Mr. Tagaza said. “It’s not going to be felt differently by the end-user.

But it will be much more efficient.”

“On the technical side, there are still things that we need to address,” Mr. Tagaza noted. “BancNet will be the surviving switch. On Megalink right now, the two big banks -- BDO and Union Bank of the Philippines -- they will be connected directly to BancNet.” Mr. Tagaza said that the aim is to finish the

your one-stop

consolidation within 2015.

“BancNet has a standard, and the remaining banks of Megalink will [conform] to that... We’re hoping that it will be done by September.”

Mr. Tagaza attributed delays in the consolidation to negotiations between BancNet and Megalink over the governance model of the consolidated network.

“The governance model is one of those items that took a lot time,” Mr. Tagaza said. “But there’s already an agreement on how the board will be composed.” “ The BancNet board right now is composed of senior officials of the banks -- not necessarily CEOs,” Mr. Tagaza said. “What’s going to happen is that the board will now be composed of CEOs, because the ATM network now has national implications... in support of what the BSP wants to do in terms of interconnectedness of banks and non-banks.” -Raymund Luther B. Aquino

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Coal... from page 1

commissioning within the first half of this year.”

The company expounded that its full commercial operations will be October this year; while the next phase of another 105MW capacity will be set on stream fourth quarter next year.

The two-phased power plant venture commanded an investment of $570 million – considerably the single largest investment that was so far injected into the province of Sarangani and Region 12.

Mi nd an a o h a d l ong been embroiled in ‘literal darkness’, especially during the summer months when its demand would hit peak and its main source of power – the hydro plants – could be cyclically pared on its level of generation.

It had been the prudent decision of power project developers in the area then – to not just plug capacity gap but also diversify on their technology options to address the weather-induced intermittency of hydro power generation.

The Sarangani plant, it was emphasized, had been “one of the first new base load power plants to operate this year, and is seen to help provide a sustainable and lasting solution to the fouryear-old Mindanao power shortage.”

According to SEC of the Alsons Power Group, “the plant’s initial output of 105MW will provide power for roughly 3.47 million residents” in Sarangani province, General Santos and Iligan cities as well as for the key areas in South Cotabato, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte.

It added that “another

3.8 million residents of Cotabato, South Cotabato and Zamboanga del Norte will also benefit from the project once it runs its full 210MW capacity in 2016.”

The Alcantara group had been among the unflinching investors who responded to the government’s call for fresh power investments in Mindanao – braving initial opposition from some sectors primarily on their technology proposition.

Power... from page 1

• 300 MW Therma South coal plant, which will start operation before June to supply the Mindanao grid, and the 170-MW expansion of a third unit that begins construction within the year; • 6 8 - M W Man o l o Fortich hydropower plant in Bukidnon, which will also start construction within the year; and the • 600-MW Subic coal plant, which has yet to hurdle legal challenges.

AboitizPower also is expanding its renewable energy portfolio, including solar and geothermal sources.

T h e c omp any re c e nt ly partnered with US-based SunEdison to build solar plants in the Philippines.

Ab oit izPower a ls o identified roughly 200 MW of potential run-of-river power projects for the next five years Besides power, the Aboitiz Group will also spend P2.7 billion on Pilmico Foods Corporation, which will build a new layer farm and expand the capacity of various facilities under its flour, feeds, and swine divisions.

Ab oit iz L and Inc is spending P3.7 billion to acquire more industrial and residential land, as it

continues to expand its business outside of Cebu, and onto the national arena.

Un i o n B a n k o f t h e Philippines will require P455 million for branch expansion, as its subsidiary CitySavings Bank builds up its market share in Luzon.

AEV also plans to venture into infrastructure, which will form the fifth leg of its core businesses.

“We foresee the private and public sectors pouring large investments into this sector over the next 10 to 15 years and we want to play a role in this trend,” said AEV president and chief executive Erramon I. Aboitiz.

“We are very optimistic of the gains this new core business will bring to the Group, amid the huge demand for infrastructure in both the local and emerging markets across Asia,” he added.

Bus...

from page 1

while the other half is kept by bus personnel for record purposes. On disembarking, the passenger would then surrender the other half of the bus personnel.

Along this line, the LTFRB 10 has also designated loading areas, even for nonair conditioned buses so passengers could not simply embarked anywhere. This is to prevent a repeat of the December 2014 bombing of a non-air-conditioned bus near the Central Mindanao University (CMU) gate in Musuan, Bukidnon.

The agency has designated a total of 38 loading and disembarking areas for the Cagayan de Oro-Davao route, 27 for the Cagayan de OroKadingilan route, 18 for the Cagayan de Oro-Balingoan route, 48 for the Cagayan de Oro-Tacurong route and

35 for the Cagayan de OroBanisilan route.

Before this policy has been formulated, air conditioned buses plying these routes already have predetermined disembarking areas.

SM...

from page 3

7%-8% this year.

TIANJIN MALL Ms. Guidote said mall developer SM Prime Holdings, Inc. is pushing back the opening of the SM group’s biggest mall in Tianjin, China to 2016. SM Tianjin was originally scheduled to be launched this year.

“They want to make sure they do it right. It’s better to do it right at the start than to make any mistake,” she said.

Upon opening, SM Tianjin will have a gross floor area (GFA) of 540,000 square meters, bigger than SM Megamall, the company’s biggest mall in the Philippines, with a GFA of 530,000 square meters, Ms. Guidote said.

SM Prime will hold a grand launch for its SM Zibo in China this year after a soft opening late last year.

Apart from its expansion in the world’s second biggest e conomy, SM Pr ime is launching four to five new malls in the Philippines this year.

The conglomerate’s other retail venture is Alfamart, a partnership with one of Indonesia’s biggest minimarket chain operators. So far, the joint venture has built a network of 22 Alfamart stores outside Metro Manila since the rollout of the stores started in the middle of 2014.

“We’re still looking at profitability. It’s a matter of looking at the sustainability of the stores,” Ms. Guidote said.

Republic of the Philippines RIGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10th Judicial Region BRANCH 24 Cagayan de Oro City HDMF (PAG-IBIG), Mortgagee,

versus

ZAMBOANGA City -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is set to distribute 5,940 hectares of land to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) here in the region this year.

DAR Regional Director Julita Ragandang said Tuesday that the 5,940 hectares of land will be distributed to 4,212 ARBs they have identified in the different parts of the region.

Ragandang said that 2,741 hectares will be distributed to ARBs in Zamboanga del Norte; 1,605 hectares in Zamboanga Sibugay; and, the remaining 1,594 in Zamboanga del Sur. “The banner program of the DAR

SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under ACT 3135 as amended filed by HDMF (PAG-IBIG), mortgagee, against FRAULEIN T. SALANG, married to RODRIGO C. SALANG, mortgagor, resident of D4-221, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 31, 2014, amounts to (P 794,212.96) excluding penalties, charges, attorneys fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at Public Auction on March 2, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Hall of Justice, Hayes Street, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the properties with all its improvements to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-169368 Lot - 1201-B-3-B-3, Psd-10-015342 Portion of Lot - 1201-B-3-B, Psd-10-003304 Surveyed for - RICO S. JABAY Land Use - Residential Location - Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines Boundaries - NE., along lines 1-2-3 by Lot 1201-B-3-B-2 of the subdivision plan of psd-10-015342, along lines 3-4 by lot 1201-B-3-A, Psd-10-003304 SE., along line 4-5 by Lot 1201-B-4,Psd-10-000391. Containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED SQUARE METERS (400) more or less.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves, in the event of Auction Sale can not take place for whatever legal reason the sale will proceed on the following day, without further notice, posting and publication, the title here in above describe and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

1. LOCATION: Mactan Lapu-Lapu City Cebu, Near Imperial Palace Lot are 1,541 SQM 11 Fully Furnished Room w/ Hot & Cold Water, LCD, WIFI Cable w/ Coffee Shop, office, Nice Garden, Parking Space, 2 Staff Room, Income 150K above/month View Hiros Apartelle, Mactan or Youtube and Facebook

LOT FOR SALE 2. Hillsborough Pointe Pueblo Upper Carmen No Flood near SM & School at 6,500/SQM Lot Area: 395 SQM, Hillsborough Pointe Lot 2 Phase 4.

3. VIOS 1.5 XXXL, limited edition, Mileage 44K Full Skirt Sport type All Mags, 495 k Call: 850-1324/0917-853-5958 BWM: Nov 10, 2014-Jan 31, 2015

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10TH Judicial Region Branch 24 Cagayan de Oro City

- VersusSPS. MARILYN & PATCHELE BUHIA, Motgagors.

FILE NO. 2014-376 FOR : EJF OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135

x-----------------------------------------------------/ SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3155 as amended filed

by NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC), mortgagee, against MARILYN B. BUHIA, married to PATCHELE R. BUHIA, mortgagor, resident of Scions Elite 400 B6 L15 Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which was as of November 15, 2014 amounts to (P 1,532,121.70) excluding penalties, charges, attorneys fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned sheriff will sell at public auction on February 6, 2015, at 9:00 A.M. or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Hall of Justice , Hayes Street, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder, for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the herein described property including all existing improvement therein to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-59386 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 15, Block 6, Psd-10-013199, being a portion of PCN-10-000133) situated in the Barrio of kauswagan, City of Cagayan de Oro , Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the SE., along the S line 2-3 by Lot 14; Block 6, on the SW., along line 3-4 by Road Lot 6; on the NW., along line 4-1 by Lot 16, Block 6, all of the subdivision plan, Psd-10-013199; on the NE., along line 1-2 by Lot 2-E, Psd-10-007268. Containing an area ONE HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT (148 ) Square meter more or less.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves, In the event the of Auction Sale can not take place for whatever legal reason the sale will proceed on the following day, without further notice, posting and publication, the title here in above describe and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City , Philippines, January 5, 2015.

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, January 20, 2015.

(Sgd) TERESITO C. ESTENZO Sheriff IV

(Sgd) TERESITO C. ESTENZO Sheriff IV BWM: Jan. 28, Feb. 4 & 11, 2015

is land distribution.

This is really the major program that we are undertaking every year. We are pursuing to distribute to the farmer beneficiaries at the different barangays region wide,” Ragandang said.

Last year, she said they distributed 2,555 hectares of land to 2,416 beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, she said that there are 128,000 farmers-beneficiaries of DAR who are members of Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) here in the region.

She urged the individual farmerbeneficiaries of DAR to become members of ARCs in order for them to easily avail of the programs being implemented by the agency. (PNA)

APARTELLE FOR SALE 30 M (NEG.)

FILE NO. 2015-003

SPS. FRAULEIN & RODRIGO C. SALANG, Mortgagors. x-----------------------------------------------------------/

DAR set to distribute land in 2015

NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE, Mortgagee,

FOR: EJF OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135

11

BWM: Jan. 21, 28 & Feb. 4, 2015

VIBE

BusinessWeek MINDANAO WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 4, 2015

editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

Open to the Public:

PAGE

12

XU Festival of Ideas

by ROBERT DE LA SERNA

T

he Xavier University Festival of Ideas is brewed to establish a new intellectual university tradition aimed at forging public dialogue, discourse and discussion of ideas, policies, and works while creatively interconnecting the discussant's expertise with either one of the XU Research and Social Outreach (RSO) current thematic areas: environment, peace, health, food security, or governance.

One of the country's leading universities, Xavier University is at the forefront of shaping and influencing the course of Mindanao's development through greater societal engagement.

To this end the festival offers a platform for public intellectuals, researchers, wordsmiths, performers, policy and decisionmakers, and their ilk to spread their ideas and share their works in short but engaging public fora.

The country's first ever university-based event of its kind, the festival is timed for the annual celebration of the RSO Month in February.

For this pioneering launch, an eclectic mix of topics in an outof-the-box approach is whipped up: the audience, for instance, can expect a stand-up comedy that tackles the serious issue of drug addiction guaranteed

to put the crowd in stitches, a cooking show by agro-enterprise advocates exposing the challenges and sad plight of Mindanao farmers, a feet-stomping musical extravaganza on the politics of music by a professional DJ who will trace the evolution and influence of “rock-and-roll to rave”, a sharing of leadership journey by a bold young agent of change who continues to reform a government institution in the ARMM region, a mapping of the global and local issues of food security from the perspective

of a Dutch geography teacher, a resketching of the fast changing climate landscape of Mindanao by a Presidential Cabinet Secretary, and many more.

The festival will run for three successive Saturdays — February 7, 14 and 21, 2015. The morning only forum (from 8 am to 12nn) will feature two to three speakers in a back-to-back sharing of their topics. The venue is the Nursing Amphitheater, top floor of the CIT Building at Xavier University.

The event is open to the public for free.