BusinessWeek Mindanao (January 29, 2018)

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume VIII, No. 106 As of 6:00 pm January 26, 2018 (friday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P50.84

9,041.2

3 cent

42.03 points

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Briefly Fast growth THE Philippines remains one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia as its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, bringing full-year growth to 6.7 percent.

In a press briefing, National E conomic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the economy’s growth follows China’s 6.9 percent and Vietnam’s 6.8 percent.

Last year’s 6.7-percent economic growth was slightly lower than 6.9-percent expansion in 2016, but still within the government’s 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent fullyear target.

Pambansang day off LABOR and domestic workers’ organizations on Saturday launched the “Pambansang Day Off” campaign to raise awareness on their rights and call for inclusive social protection coverage for them.

The Philippine Campaign to Promote Decent Work for Domestic Workers Technical Working Group (Domestic Work TWG) said despite the enactment of Republic Act 10361 or the Batas Kasambahay which requires mandatory coverage of domestic workers by all social protection institutions, not even 10 percent of the close to two million domestic workers had been registered with the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) and the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG).

Data from September 2015 show that the SSS has 158,567 registered kasamabahays, with PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG having worse numbers at 60,603 and 86,562.

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YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Monday | January 29, 2018

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HE need to prioritize the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is a rare time that the Senate and House of Representatives (HOR) actually agree on something, a senator said Friday, urging the passage of a law that establishes a new Bangsamoro political identity in its place.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, in an interview, said the passage of the BBL is a “commonality” that the Senate, House, and even the Executive Department had.

In this case, mayroong tayong (we have) commonality, mayroon tayong puwedeng pagkasunduan (We have something we can agree on). I know that this is a priority also of Congress and even the Executive, nabanggit na rin ito ni (this was also mentioned by) President (Rodrigo) Duterte,” Aquino said.

“This is one of those times, medyo (it’s agreement/PAGE 9

RIGODON. Senate Pimentel Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III (right) administers the oath of Cagayan de Oro city officials, headed by Mayor Oscar Moreno (2nd from right), and other city and municipal officials from Northern Mindanao, at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) gymnasium on Saturday.

Also in the photo are PDP Laban officials Department of Justice assistant secretary Sergio Yap and Criminology professor Manny Jaudian. photo by gerry lee gorit

Davao folk warned migration may cause disease outbreak

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

CALL FOR SWIFT JUSTICE. The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) academic community submits their petition letter to Senate President Koko Pimentel III calling for swift justice for the slain university president Dr. Ricardo Rotoras.

The petition contained 5,000 signatures representing more than two-thirds of the studentry. photo by mark francisco

Senators: BBL to prevent another Marawi siege

By FROILAN GALLARDO MindaNews

MARAWI City — After seeing the destruction of this city, talking to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership and listening to the people in the public hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), senators said on Friday that they will push for the passage of the law siege/PAGE 9

DAVAO City – The influx of people migrating to Davao City from different parts of the country may pose a risk of transmitting diseases to the Dabawenyos, an official

said, citing the occurrence of a measles outbreak.

City Health Office head Josephine Villafuerte told a press briefing here that a single case of measles could

lead to an outbreak in a community if no mitigating measures are taken like vaccinations.

“Davao City is a center for trade and commerce in Mindanao, thus influx of outbreak/PAGE 9

Farmers turn deserted rice fields into organic farms

By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN Contributing Editor

‘NO BBL, NO PEACE’. Various groups stage a rally outside the Dimaporo Gym at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Friday, January 26, while the Senate Sub-Committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is conducting a public hearing on the Bangsamoro law inside the gym. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

CLAVER, Surigao del Norte — Farmers in this rich mining town have turned their laterite-laden abandoned rice fields into a model organic rice farm.

The farmers living in the village of Urbiztundo which is situated at the foot of the organic/PAGE 9

ORGANIC RICE. Planting rice is never fun, as the old traditional Filipino song goes, but Lt. Col. Xerxes Trinidad, commander of the Army’s 36th IB, and staff of THPAL Nickel Corp. are actually having fun in this backbreaking planting of organic rice seedlings at a plot of rice paddies to mark the launch of Kapalayapaan organic rice farm project. photo by chris v. panganiban

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Economy Fake beneficiaries delay Laguindingan farmers compensation

By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

DISPLACED farmers in Misamis Oriental, who were affected by the Laguindingan airport project over a decade ago, will finally be compensated three months from now.

This was the assurance of Faisal Mambuay, regional director of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Region 10 (DAR

10), in a press conference on Wednesday.

Mambuay said the computation process for the more than 200 families will last until April, if plans don’t miscarry.

From then on, he said the compensation will start trickling in.

Mambuay said people who were not original beneficiaries when the

farmers won their case against Ayala Corporation before the Supreme Court (SC) took advantage of the situation, and started listing themselves as among the claimants before DAR. He said this complicated the computation process because DAR had to verify the real claimants to separate them from the false ones.

“This usually occurs when there is a long land dispute here in our country. Certain people take advantage by listing themselves as claimants when they had not toiled the land in fact,” Mambuay said.

Ayala Corporation already owned the land occupied by 403 farming delay/PAGE 11

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DOLE-10 conducts orientation on General Labor Standards in MisOcc PLARIDEL, Misamis Occidental – Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE-10), through its Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Office (Mis. Occ. PFO) conducted its first monthly meeting of the Mis. Occ. Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers Association (MOPEMA), followed by an orientation seminar on General Labor Standards (GLS) to the Local Government Unit (LGU) employees of Plaridel on 11 January 2018 at Shang’s Resort, Misamis Occidental.

The event was hosted by the Plaridel PESO thru

PESO Manager Gemma Cabiles, with some of its 18 local government unity (LGU) and academe managers and Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) implementers of the province.

DOLE-10 MisOcc PFO Chief Leonardo G. Rodrigo said, “PESO aims to provide non-fee charging employment services facility or entity to strengthen and expand the existing employment facilitation and equality of opportunities to DOLE clients and constituents all over the country.”

Rodrigo reported that as of the end of CY 2017, orientation/PAGE 11

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Decision on election postponement Commissioner Luie Tito Guia of the Commission on Elections (ComElec) says that the postponement of upcoming May 14, 2018 elections in Mindanao will depend on the Congress or lawmakers and that the poll body would simply implement whatever law would be passed regarding the proposed May 2018 polls during the ComElec Public Hearing on January 23 at Grand Caprice, Cagayan de Oro City.

Guia stresses that the position papers and views cited during the public hearing will be forwarded to the Congress.(RTP/PIA10)

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Industries’ revenue up 8.6% in Q3 2017

T

OTAL gross revenues of industries from July to September in 2017 increased by 8.6 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday.

The PSA noted that growth in total revenue of industries in the third quarter last year accelerated from its 6.8 percent growth in the same period in 2016.

The finance industry

posted the highest growth of 12.6 percent followed by private services at 9.4 percent and trade at 8.9 percent.

Other industries that had increments in revenues in Q3 2017 were real estate, manufacturing, and transportation and communications.

Employment and compensation indices of industries also grew faster in Q3 2017 compared to Q3 2016 figures, PSA data

showed.

Total employment index slightly increased to 1.5 percent in July-toSeptember period last year from 1.1 percent in the same months in 2016.

Industries that posted growth in employment index include real estate, at 3.1 percent, transportation and communications at 3.0 percent, trade, at 2.5 percent, private services, at 2.1 percent,

manufacturing, at 1.1 percent, electricity and water, at 1.0 percent, finance, at 0.8 percent, and mining and quarrying, at 0.1 percent.

Total compensation index rose 7.4 percent in Q3 2017 from 5.9 percent in the same period in its previous year.

Likewise, total compensation per employee index increased by 5.8 percent in Q3 last year. (PNA)

Fernandes says AirAsia may buy more jets AIRASIA Bhd., the budget airline that has grown to become one of the biggest customers of Airbus SE planes, could consider buying more aircraft as economic expansion across India, China and the Southeast Asian nations propel travel demand across the continent.

“Right now, we are short of aircraft,” Tony Fernandes, AirAsia group chief executive officer, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV’s Haslinda Amin in Davos on Tuesday. “Demand is very, very robust. We would have to look at an order eventually but not at present.”

The British-educated Fernandes, 53, is expanding his Malaysiabased carrier across the continent, doing what Ryanair Holdings Plc did in Europe and Southwest Airlines Co. achieved in North America. A rash of low-cost airlines have come across Asia, driving down fares and enabling more people to take to the skies.

Fernandes’s AirAsia operates an all-Airbus fleet and he is known to make big orders at air shows.

In 2016, he announced a $12.6-billion jetliner order with Airbus during the Farnborough Air Show.

AirAsia group has more

than 200 planes in its fleet and hundreds in order.

“Airbus has been great,” Fernandes said. “We have brought forward some of our deliveries. We don’t have plans to do so at the moment.”

AirAsia isn’t too worried about the recent rise in oil prices, Fernandes said, adding that the airline doesn’t plan to adjust its hedging program or impose fuel surcharges. He said that oil prices around $60 is still a “honeymoon period” compared with $100 a barrel in 2014.

AirAsia shares are hovering at almost record levels in Malaysia amid

Newly-crowned Miss Taboc 2018 Jedaia Decinilla (right) dazzles with her predecessor Miss Taboc 2017 Clarisse Palacio (left) during her crowning last January 26 at Opol Gym in Misamis Oriental. photo supplied cmyk

3

CorporateWorld

a surge in traffic for the carrier. The stock, which has climbed 23% this year, fell 0.7% to 4.11 ringgit as of 3:58 p.m. in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. — Bloomberg

Additional perks for BPO sector unlikely: Dominguez FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said businesses in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector should not expect to get additional incentives to lift their plateauring growth as the government is firm on rationalizing fiscal incentives.

He said the BPO sector is already enjoying huge tax perks since “they only pay five percent on practically net income,” which he said should be reviewed.

He added that the BPO sector’s main challenge right now is not tax but the increasing studies and demand for artificial intelligence (AI).

“That is the challenge that they are facing that’s why they are plateauing.

So they have to address that issue,” he said.

Department of Finance (DOF) is pushing for the reform of the incentives being given to businesses in line with the bid to ensure that the state gets the necessary revenues to fund its social protection and massive infrastructure program.

The Duterte administration’s infrastructure program, dubbed Build, Build, Build, has a programmed allocation of at least PHP8 perks/PAGE 11

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Opinion

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Life’s frailties

HOTLINE Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO

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Ruffy magbanua LIKE it or not, we are all victims of life’s frailties.

Because if not of a man’s or woman’s frailties, then this planet Earth would have been uninhabited and absolutely bare –- no humans, no nothing.

Remember the embattled now detained Sen. Leila de Lima and her driver cum

have my say

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Just a spoonful think a minute

jhan tiafau hurst Think a minute…In 1919, just after World War I, the cholera disease broke out all over Europe killing many thousands of people.

The British government sent doctors all over the world to find a cure for cholera. Thes e do c tors later came back and said that the Chinese did not get cholera because they boiled their water before they used it. Soon all the radios and ne wsp ap ers in England were telling everyone to boil their water before they drink it. They even sent this message to the Pacific Islands since they had British soldiers there.

Yet later, they heard that the cholera disease had still broken out in the islands killing many thousands of Islanders. The British l e a d e rs qu e st i one d t he

people in the island villages and asked them if they were boiling their water? The Islanders answered yes, they definitely were boiling their water to drink.

But this is how they did it. They boiled just a small amount of water and put it in a bottle. Then only once or twice a day, they would get the bottle and drink a small teaspoon of the boiled water, like taking medicine.

Then they would put the bottle away again and the rest of the day they drank unboiled, dirty water. No wonder people still got cholera and died!

Yet many of us do that with Jesus Christ. We don’t want to live Jesus’ way every day, so we go to church one day a week to feel better about ourselves. Then we go back to living our own way the other 6 days of the week. Or, if we’re not religious church people, we think that if we’re a good, kind person, then God will accept us into heaven after we die.

But just like 1 teaspoon of clean water a day will not keep you healthy, only 1 day a week of living for Jesus Christ, or just trying to be a good person, is not hurst/PAGE 11

klaus doring In my opinion: solar is the best. But, even living in the Philippines since 19 years now, it seems to be so difficult to get solar panels installed.

One thing is - of course - the question of price and the terrible price gaps.

Just now, the United States, the European Union and India are all slapping tariffs on Chinese solar panels, accusing Beijing of dumping. Does this trade war risk killing the nascent solar power industry?

The global solar industry is reeling this week following the Trump administration’s announcement that it will impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels, mainly from China.

The US Solar Industries Association said this will

lover Ronnie Dayan? They were no exemption to the rule -- that of the dereliction of human life.

After all, the checkered life of the detained good s e n at o r w o u l d n o t b e a ho - hu m w it hout t he imperfections of the human heart.

And remember the Clinton-Lewinski affair?

Their romance happened right at the very nose of the world’s most powerful enclave – the oval office of the White House.

That sexual adventure h a d n e ar l y i mp e a c h e d Clinton, thanks to his ever loyal wife, case was closed but not without paying a high price – Hillary didn’t make it to the White House.

Even Vice President Leni

Robredo is no exception to this kind of human frailty.

Or Kris Aquino and many more out there including our very own local officials who openly flaunt their frailties before a quizzical public!

This leads to the impending passage of the bill allowing the easy dissolution of marriage filed

by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, himself a ‘victim’ of life’s frailties.

Speaker Alvarez wants this proposed bill pass before Valentine’s Day because he wanted to give it as a ‘gift’ to the Filipinos ‘suffering ‘ from their marriages, especially those working abroad.

Alvare z f i le d Hous e Bill No. 6027, titled “An Act Providing for Grounds

re su lt i n t he d el ay or cancellation of billions of dollars in solar investments, and the loss of 23,000 US jobs this year.

Despite the dramatic p re d i c t i o n s , t h e s o l a r industry likely knew the announcement was coming.

The European Union has set roughly equivalent tariffs on imported Chinese panels, which were renewed in September 2017.

Another indication was how earlier this week, India set a whopping 70 percent import duty on Chinese and Malaysian solar panels.

Br uss els , D el hi and Washington all allege that China has been “dumping” the panels on their markets — selling them at artificially low prices and taking a loss in the short term in order to kill competitors in rival markets.

Indeed, China’s solar industry has benefited from export. But when consumers, like you and me, get even a small breath of chance of benefits?

That’s how we stand today: SolarWorld Americas, the largest US solar panel manufacturer, first called

for the US to impose such tariffs three years ago. The move fits with US President Donald Trump’s protectionist promises.

But other parts of the US solar industr y have been pleading with the administration to not follow Europe’s lead, saying it would cripple their young but fastgrowing businesses. They convinced a bipartisan group of 16 US Senators and 53 House members to write to Trump last year asking him not to impose the tariffs.

The US has set such tariffs before, in 2014, but ran afoul of World Trade Organization rules. South Korea has said in will likely challenge these new tariffs with the WTO. Are we experiencing a global solar slowdown? I am afraid, yes. Heaven forbid!

While US and European solar panel manufacturers have said the tariffs are necessary to make a level playing field, solar installers, generators and users say thanks to the tariffs, those manufacturers may not have any customers left.

“While tariffs in this case will not create adequate cell or module manufacturing to

Solar slowdown?

for the Dissolution of a Marriage,” in July last year.

S everal legislators, including those from the opposition, contributed as co-authors. The measure allows ‘irreconcilable d i f f e re n c e s’ or ‘s e v e re and chronic unhappiness’ as grounds for marriage dissolution.

Once it hurdles the House approval, Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’Pimentel III, whose marriage with ex-wife Jewel Lobaton has been annulled lately says he would ‘keep an open mind’ on the proposed measure as this would allow separated couples to move on and become ‘productive citizens.’

Advance Happy Valentine’s to all! (ruffy44_ ph2000@yahoo.com).

meet US demand, or keep foreign-owned Suniva and SolarWorld afloat, they will create a crisis in a part of our economy that has been thriving,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Industries Association. This “will ultimately cost tens of thousands of hard-working, blue-collar Americans their jobs,” she added.

She predicted that the tariffs could cut forecast solar installations this year by nearly 20 percent, to 9 gigawatts from 11 gigawatts.

“It’s just basic economics: If you raise the price of a product, it’s going to decrease demand for that product.”

US solar companies have pointed to the experience of their counterparts in Europe, where anti-dumping duties have been in place on Chinese solar panels since 2013.

The industry association SolarPower Europe has said the EU tariffs have added at least €500 ($622) to the cost of a household installation. “ These policies have been tried in many parts of the world, and in not one case have the measures lead to more jobs, more slowdown/PAGE 11

KFC GMA, Cavite workers ever ready to help customers Kakampi mo ang batas

Batas Mauricio LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’…”

(Jesus, our God and Savior, in Matthew 25:40, the Holy Bible).

-ooo K FC GM A, CAV ITE WORKERS EVER READY TO HELP CUSTOMERS: Employees who exercise

judicious discernment and who have big hearts which are ever ready to help customers in their most pressing needs can really a go long way in enhancing the businesses of the companies where they are employed. I got the chance to experience this personally from a number of counteremployees at the KFC store in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite, noon of Friday, January 26, 2018.

I was then travelling to go to the Department of Labor and Employment Cavite Field Office at Trece Martirez City along the wide stretch of Governor’s Drive, when I felt truly hungry. It would be terribly bad if I’d become too hungry, because there is too much sugar in me. If someone who has too much sugar gets greatly hungry, it could give rise to dire

consequences.

I m m e d i a t e l y, m y companions and I parked in front of the KFC GMA store.

I literally dashed inside, only to find too many customers lining up at the counter. This prompted me to talk to a cashier present there at that time, “Reina”, explaining to her my sugar condition, and asking her to give me one glass of soft drink right away. Without even batting an eyelash, and without even asking for my money, she got me a glass of that soft drink.

-ooo I’LL REGULARLY EAT KFC CHICKEN NOW: Now, the soft drink did not satisfy the hunger gnawing at my stomach. Since the line of waiting customers remained quite long, I decided to again go straight to the counter to talk to a male companion-

cashier of “Reina”. I asked him to give me two pieces of “original” KFC fried chicken.

Even if I did not give any payment yet, he gave me the two pieces of chicken without hesitation which I immediately devoured.

I nd e e d , I pr of u s e l y thanked God, in the Name of Jesus, for what “Reina” and her co-cashier did at the KFC GMA to respond to my situation, even if I did not tender any payment of any sort yet. Because of their magnanimous gesture, my hunger and thirst were satisfied and quenched right away.

I also was totally grateful that the two did not display any hesitation or even the slightest doubt when I asked them to give me the food and drinks, even if I was workers/PAGE 11

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Banking&Finance

Tax reform expected to benefit insurance industry I NSURANCE Commissioner Dennis Funa is optimistic of the impact of the first package of tax reform on the insurance industry since people will have additional disposable income.

Funa in a briefing Friday, said people would have more capacity to buy microinsurance with the implementation of the first package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law this year, which gives workers’ first PHP250,000 annual income a tax free rate, “If they will have a bigger take home pay they will be planning for the future for their families or children and the micro

sector is just there waiting for these wage earners,” he said.

Data released by the Insurance Commission (IC) Friday showed that mutual benefit associations (MBA), where bulk of the entities that sell microinsurance belong, posted an 11.57 percent rise in total assets last year to P77.47 billion.

MBAs’ premiums totaled to P8.74 billion in 2017, up 16.89 percent from the previous year’s PHP7.48 billion.

Funa declined to give any numbers for the possible expansion of microinsurance sales this year but cited that to date there are around 32 million Filipinos who have microinsurance.

He said the poor are starting to realize the necessity of having insurance and slowly embracing the opportunities to get one for themselves.

This is where microinsurance comes in, he said, “because microinsurance makes insurance coverage more affordable.”

He noted that “it’s really difficult for big companies to sell micro because you have to go down to the barrios (municipalities).’

“The group that can really go down the barrios are the coops (cooperatives) and the MBAs that’s why the bulk of the sales of micro (insurance companies)

are those sold by MBAs because they have a captive market,” he said.

“The only threat that I see in both the life and nonlife sector I would say a catastrophic incident, like (Typhoon) Yolanda or (Typhoon) Ondoy or an earthquake that will impact greatly on the nonlife sector,” he said.

“That is why we have the DOF (Department of Finance) having these initiatives on catastrophic insurance and we are working together with the DOF on these,” he added.

The insurance industry’s total assets rose by 17.89 percent to P1.55 trillion in 2017 and premiums by 11.97 percent to P259.65 billion.

(PNA)

Fitch ups Landbank, DBP ratings FITCH Ratings on Friday revised upwards the long-term issuer default ratings (IDRs) of stateowned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-“ with Stable outlook following the same upgrade of the domestic economy’s rating last December.

The debt watcher revised its rating for the Philippines two levels higher than junk status in December 2017 on sustained improvement of macroeconomic fundamentals.

In a statement, Fitch said the upgrade of the

two banks’ IDRs was due to the improvement of their support rating floors (SRFs) based on “a reassessment of the government’s propensity to support the banks and follow their rating upgrades in December 2017 to ‘BBB-’ from ‘BB+’, reflecting the Philippine sovereign’s greater capacity for support.’

It explained that the financial institutions’ roles “appear to have been expanded and future roles made clearer after pronouncements by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, even though there have been no changes in their

state ownership, systemic importance or broader mandates.”

“This raises our expectations for the state to provide support to the banks in times of need to enable them to carry out their objectives in support of government policy,” it said.

The statement noted Landbank’s acquisition of another state-owned bank, Philippine Postal Savings Bank (Postbank), and its decision to convert it to Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank) is in line with Duterte’s program.

Duterte led the launch of OFBank last January 18.

The current

administration has also tasked DBP to focus more on infrastructure projects in line with the government’s bid to increase infrastructure investments to about seven percent by 2022 from the current five percent level.

“Both declarations are in line with the administration’s policy agenda, which includes improving the nation’s infrastructure base and better catering to the needs of overseas Filipinos,” the statement said, citing that both the Landbank and DBP “have also been allocated specific roles within the 2018 national budget.” (PNA)

UnionBank nets P8.4-B in 2017 LISTED Aboitiz-led UnionBank of the Philippines on Friday reported a 16.35-percent decline in net profit in 2017 due mainly to lower

earnings from trading and non-trading financial assets.

UnionBank told the local bourse its net income reached P8.42 billion in

2017 compared to the P10.07 billion recorded last year.

In its income statements, the bank said interest income, which

includes loans and other receivables, trading and investment securities, cash and cash equivalents and interbank loans receivable, nets/PAGE 11

5 OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

AMANAH/ISLAMIC BANK V. Neri Street Carmen, Cdoc 858988/8587965 / 722274

METRO BANK- COGON Osmeña Hayes St. Cdoc | 726438/8572057

ASIA UNITED BANK Cor.Camp Alagar Road Lapasan, Cdoc 729678 / 8568893

METRO BANK- CARMEN Max Suniel St. Carmen, Cdoc 8581722/ 8585162

BDO – VELEZ Velez-Rn Abejuela Street, Cdoc 2314246/8572075

METRO BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW, Cdoc 724461/8561721

BDO – SM G/F SM City, Master Son’s Avenue Upper Carmen Cdoc | 8592623/8592637

METRO BANK- OSMEÑA Brgy Osmeña St. Cdoc | 722014 /8800924

BDO – XU XU Lib. Annex Corrales St. Cdoc 8574108 / 8573796

METRO BANK- CORRALES Corrales Avenue, Cdoc | 8572635/728731

BDO – CDO HAYES Trendline Bldg.,Hayes Street, 8568151/727405

METRO BANK- GAISANO 8561720

BDO – COGON Sky hi Bldg JR Borja St. Cogon, Cdoc 8577963/ 725209/ 725203 BDO – OSMEÑA Osmeña corner Ramon Chavez St. Cdoc 724567/8563727 BDO – LAPASAN Lapasan Highway Cdoc 8563233 /8563234 / 725178 BDO – RN- PELAEZ George Town CyberMall Rn Pelaez Blvd Kauswagan Cdoc | 8562617/729052 BDO – CARMEN Maxsuniel cor.V Neri St. Carmen, .Cdoc 8584854 /8581133 BANK OF COMMERCE- VELEZ Akut- Velez St.Cdoc | 8564371 / 726880 BANK OF COMMERCE- LAPASAN

CM Recto Ave. Lapasan, Cdoc, 8563991/727731

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK RER kauswagan,HW Cdoc 8573733 /722519 BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK Gaston Park Cdoc | 8801518 BPI – LAPASAN Cm Recto HW Lapasan Cdoc 724076/ 8524602 BPI- VELEZ Velez-JR Borja St.Cdoc 8564213/722406 BPI – CAPISTRANO Capistrano St. Cdoc 8574264/8574263 BPI- COGON Osmeña St. Cdoc 8571297/8571298 CHINA BANK –GAISANO 745887/745880 CHINA BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc 8572212/8573274 CHINA BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW Cdoc 8561325 /722240 CHINA BANK – CARMEN Max Suniel, Cor. Yakal St. Cdoc 8583903/723091 CHINA BANK – DIVISORIA RN Abejuela St. Divosoria Cdoc 8575759/722641 CITY SAVINGS BANK TS Fashion Ave.Justo Ramonal Corner St.Cdoc 2316060/ 2316059 CHINATRUST Suite U&5 G/LGateway Tower Lapasan Lkk Cdoc 8521846/8521844 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK HW. Lapasan Cdoc | 8564201/ 8564201 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK Vamenta Carmen Sts. Cdoc | 8585366 DBP – CORRALES Corrales Ave., St. Cdoc | 8572087/722649 DBP – CAPISTRANO JR Borja Capistrano St. Cdoc 8567776/722819

PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK

Tiano Bros St. Cdoc | 727083 /727082 PHILTRUST BANK Ramonal OsmeñaSt. CDO 8807234/2316694/2316695 PNB- CORRALES Corrales Avenue Cdoc | 729500 / 729723

PNB- LKK MALL NORTH CONCOURSE

LKK Mall N.Concourse Cdoc 8574149/8575682

PNB- CARMEN Elipe Bldg.Carmen, Cdoc | 8583158/ 8584203 PNB- LKK LKK Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564347/722872 PNB CDO– DIVISORIA Tiano Bros.Cruz Taal St., Cdoc 722861 /722816 PNB CDO– LAPASAN LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564732 / 723992 PNB CDO– COGON LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc 8571991/ 723992 PHILIPPINE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK, INC. bels_domingo@yahoo.com.ph Rizal Chavez Cdoc 8572194/725438 PS BANK Velez Corner A. Mabini St., Cdoc 8574183/725184 PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK Tiano-Abejuela St. Cdoc 722644/8573386 QUEEN CITY DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC. Sacred Heart Mont. Cm RectoAve., Cdoc 8562390 RCBC- VELEZ Velez-Borja St. Cdoc | 8564982/8568888 RCBC- COGON Simplex Bldg. Osmeña St. Cdoc 8562888/725863/8521329 RCBC- LAPASAN Cm. Recto Lapasan HW. Cdoc 8561888/722449 RCBC- LKK Gateway, Tower 1 LkkCenter, Cdoc 8563707/722449 RCBC SAVINGS- CARMEN Walingwaling St.,Carmen St. Cdoc 8585793/ 8586248 RCBC SAVINGS- VELEZ Velez St. Cdoc | 729083/8562460 RCBC SAVINGS- AGORA 8807891/8807892 RURAL BANK OF CABADBARAN, Inc.

#58 Tiano FernandezSt.CDO 727215/ 8563552 *805

SECURITY BANK- OSMEÑA Osmeña St. Cdoc | 8563965/ 723411/728774 SECURITY BANK- LKK Limketkai | 8801258/8801625

EAST WEST BANK #5 Juan Sia Bldg. Apolinar Velez St.Cdoc 8578801/720081

SECURITY BANK- VELEZ Velez Montalvan St., Cdoc | 728334/856632

EAST WEST BANK Cogon De Oro Constraction Bldg. LKK Drive 8500339/8500331

STERLING BANK OF ASIA Tiano Velez St. CDO | 8528171/8528168

ENTERPRISE BANK INC. Centro Mariano Bldg Osmeña St. Cdoc 723869/ 3093395 FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK CM Recto Ave., Cor.Agudo Road Cdoc 8565360/2316678 LBP – CAPISTRANO Capsitrano St. Cdoc | 8565515/727678 LBP – VELEZ LunaVelez St. | 723549/8563198 LBP – PUERTO Puerto Cdoc | 8558858 MAYBANK JR Borja Tiano Cor. Bldg. Cdoc 8574439/726060

ComElec public hearing The Commission on Elections (ComElec) holds a public hearing in view of the Resolution of Both Houses No. 13 (For Further Extension of the Proclamation of Martial Law and the Suspension of the Privilege of Writ of Habeas Corpus of the Whole of Mindanao for a period of one year from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 or for Such Other Period) to determine whether or not to postpone the May 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Mindanao or in any part thereof on January 23 at Grand Caprice, Cagayan de Oro City.(RTP/PIA10)

PBCOM Tiano-HayesSt. Cdoc | 726519/8571558

METRO BANK- DIVISORIA Pabayo Abejuela St. Divisoria Park, Cdoc 724783/8576999 METRO BANK- VELEZ A. Velez St. Cdoc | 8561724/726054 METRO BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc | 8572999/724415

UCPB BANK- LAPASAN Osmeña Corner Lkk Drive, Cdoc 85771842/ 725135 UCPB BANK- VELEZ Velez Corner C. Pacana St. CDO 8564474/8564527 UCPB BANK SAVINGS-CAPISTRANO

Capistrano Corner CruzTaal St. CDO 8524099/722695

UCPB BANK SAVINGS- OPOL Gf forever Books Bldg.Bulua National CDO 754519/8588063 UNION BANK Lapasan Cm.Recto Cdoc | 8566847/8563805 WEALTHBANK Velez Gomez St. Cdoc | 8568942/722174 1ST VALLEY BANK Vamenta Blvd. CornerLirio St. Carmen, Cdoc 8501871/ 8584146 OROBANKERS CLUB Inc. Pnb Carmen | 09151850242

6

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monday|january 29, 2018

Butig Mayor calls for concerted efforts to fight violent extremism By: Lou Ellen L. Antonio

ILIGAN CITY (PIA TFBM ICCC) – As Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) works on the rehabilitation of Marawi City and other provinces in Lanao del Sur, Mayor Dimnatang Pansar of Butig called for a concerted effort of all stakeholders and local government units (LGUs) in fighting violent extremism.

Pansar made the call during the first Technical Working Group meeting of TFBM for 2018. He further said that there

is a need “to sustain the campaign to eliminate these violent extremists.”

“Kapag hindi naman sila masupress, wala ring mangyayari sa ginagawa nating rehabilitation,” said Pansar.

[If they will not be suppressed [violent extremists], our rehabilitation efforts will be wasted.]

“Kailangan natin iyong suporta, concertive efforts of all stakeholders; hindi lang military, PNP o LGU kundi lahat tayo,” he added.

[We need support, concerted efforts of all stakeholders; not just of the military, Philippine National Police or the local government units, but of all of us.]

Pansar also said that if the rehabilitation efforts will not be pursued, there will be a reason for the violent extremists to convince people to join them. “Kaya napakaganda iyong ginagawa natin na lahat ng different line agencies and stakeholders are doing their best na marehab,” he said.

[This is why it is great that all different line

agencies and stakeholders are doing their best for the rehabilitation.]

It can be recalled that Butig was attacked by Maute group three times.

And with the recent attack, by which Pansar is already the mayor, five barangays are seriously affected.

Pansar said that one of the reasons why the Maute group did not succeed in conquering their town, was because of their determination and bravery to fight these extremists.

“Marami ang aming pulong-pulong,

barangay chairmen, all stakeholders; pati mga babae. Nakita nila na lalaban kami. In fact, iyong bahay namin maraming tama sira.

Pero despite that di ako umalis kasama iyong mga kamaganak ko,” he said.

[We had so many meetings, with barangay chairmen, all stakeholders even the women. They saw that we will really fight. In fact, our house had so much damages. But despite of that, I did not leave, also my relatives.]

“Dapat pagtulungtulongan at di dapat tayo matakot sa kanila. Kung

tayo ay naniniwala na mali iyong ginagawa nila at tapos tayo ang tama dapat mas matapang tayo sa kanila. And dapat lahat ng stakeholders, gawin nila iyong dapat nilang gawin bilang isang mamayan,” Pansar said.

[We should have collaborative efforts and we should not fear them. If we believe that what they are doing is wrong and that we are right, we should be braver than them. And all stakeholders should do what they must do as citizens.] (LEA/PIA TFBM ICCC)

BALAOD Mindanaw ramps up anti-trafficking efforts

By MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The nongovernment group BALAOD Mindanaw has stepped up its anti-human trafficking efforts.

BALAOD Mindanaw executive director Normie Batula said that all 52 schools in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental that they have trained in 2017 have already formulated their respective policies in their campuses

to prevent human trafficking.

She said that in order to mitigate human trafficking, schools must have clear coordination and open lines of communication with barangay officials, the police station assigned to their jurisdiction and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Batula said that most of the persons that have confided physical abuse to them during their

community visits were perpetrated within their neighborhoods and do not necessarily qualify as trafficking.

Still, Batula said they are grateful that these victims came out in the open only when the BALAOD Mindanaw team visited their places.

“As paralegals, we have already assisted some of these victims,” she said, adding that human trafficking and related instances have an expiry period of 20

years. “So if the incident happened in 2013, then don’t be afraid to speak out. You can still file complaints against your molester.”

To ramp up their anti-trafficking efforts to the studentry level, BALAOD Mindanaw is organizing video contests, extemporaneous speech contests and jingle contests among the 52 participating schools.

The contest proper will be held next month.

Globe tightens security process in Change SIM (CSIM) requests As more Filipinos use their smartphones for transactions such as internet banking - linking their mobile number to most of their accounts, users are now more vulnerable to fraud or identity theft. In recent years, fraudulent SIM swap complaints have risen, with perpetrators getting smarter in circumventing the verification process.

With the amount of customer data Globe Telecom has, it strongly commits to combating SIM fraud and protecting its patrons. Due to the alarming incidents of identity theft involving the changing of sim cards, Globe has reviewed and tightened its Change SIM Process. The company now has institutionalized more precautions and implemented stricter controls to protect the

data of its customers.

Since SIM cards can now store more personal data, fraudsters target this by going to Globe stores requesting to re-activate and replace it as he or she supposedly owns and has lost or damaged it.

The suspect would then use the new SIM to gain access to the real owner's bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other personal data.

According to Globe General Counsel, Atty.

Froilan Castelo, “Globe assures its customers that their personal data is protected. This is why we have instituted tighter security measures when it comes to Change SIM requests. The process now has a more rigorous verification process to ensure that the request is legitimate and that the new SIM is really owned by the customer who

requested for it.”

For the replacement of lost/damaged sim card, Globe will offer the option to replace the old SIM with a new one that is also assigned a new number. Should the customer want to retain his old number, he will then be advised on the requirements to prove ownership including the old SIM (if available), the SIM Card bed, and G-Cash Card if registered, among others. Once all security measures are taken, the replacement SIM will be released after 24 hours.

The strengthened process includes a checking system that utilizes existing CRM or network information and verification tools. In line with the National Data Privacy Commission, Globe also requires filled out CSIM Request

Forms and mandatory CRM Notes to document requests. Customers who request for CSIM will undergo postchecking through Q and A to ensure compliance.

Guidelines for Verification Questions are also in place with a limit to allowable incorrect answers.

The new issued SIM Cards will also be LTE-enabled for a better mobile experience. Customers are encouraged to shift to the new LTE SIMs and LTE-capable devices to maximize their connectivity.

Over the years, Globe has been steadily expanding its LTE coverage by continuously upgrading its network infrastructure and capacities to serve the bandwidth requirements of its customers.

Environment 7 DENR monitors environmental impacts of Mayon Volcano eruption Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

monday|january 29, 2018

T

he Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is closely monitoring the activity of Mayon Volcano and will advise the public on its potential effects on the environment and public health.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu gave this assurance following his visit to Albay province on Monday to check on the air quality conditions of affected areas in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan and cities of Tabaco and Ligao, as well as the vicinities of the 6-kilometer danger zone and the extended 7-km danger zone.

“The DENR, in close coordination with the Department of Health, will continue to monitor the air and water quality on affected areas and river systems to minimize environmental and health impacts of the volcanic eruption,” Cimatu said.

He said the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 5 will

also coordinate with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the Office of the Civil Defense, and the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office regarding the announcement of advisories and evacuation plan.

“We need to observe harmonized protocols among concerned agencies to ensure zero casualty,” said Cimatu, a former Armed Forces chief and special envoy for overseas Filipino workers in distress.

Director Eva Ocfemia of the EMB-Region 5 reported that of the affected areas, only Guinobatan showed increasing results of total suspended particulates

photo courtesy of news . sky . com

(TSP) concentration.

Ocfemia, however, said the sulfur dioxide concentrations in Camalig and Guinobatan still conformed to the national ambient air quality guideline value of 0.034 parts per million.

Cimatu, meanwhile, warned that volcanic

DENR readies charges vs Mt. Pulag forest fire suspects The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is preparing criminal charges against those responsible for the forest fire that destroyed more than five hectares of grassland, including luscious grass and dwarf bamboo plants, inside the Mt. Pulag National Park in Benguet province last Saturday.

Initial investigation revealed that the blaze was caused by an explosion from a butane gas stove brought by a group of hikers from Cebu.

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the incident did not only recklessly endanger other people who were in the park at that time, it also caused damage to precious forest resources.

“The DENR recognizes the impact of the fire had on the national park and we will pursue all legal avenues to bring those responsible to account,” Cimatu said.

Regional Director Ralph Pablo of the DENRCordillera Administrative Region said seven mountaineers led by a certain Kristomar Mackay could face criminal charges for violation of Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, and

Presidential Decree No. 75, also known as the Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, the DENR is planning to impose additional requirements for hikers wanting to climb Mt. Pulag in the wake of the forest fire.

Some parts of Mt. Pulag have already been declared off-limits to visitors to pave the way for rehabilitation of the area damaged by the blaze.

The forest fire, although suppressed a few hours after it broke out, damaged more than five hectares of grassland stretching from the Saddle Camp Site to the ridge slopes at the northeastern

part of the Mt. Pulag summit.

To prevent a repeat of the incident, Pablo said the national park management now plan to designate an open area where cooking may be allowed and require overnight campers to bring portable fire extinguishers.

Cimatu supported such plan, as well as other measures the local DENR office may deem necessary to protect the national park and its visitors.

The environment chief also urged trekkers to observe the park rules not only ensure their safe and enjoyable visit, but also to help preserve Mt. Pulag’s charges/PAGE 11

gases, particularly sulfur dioxide, have significant environmental impacts and hazardous effects on human health.

He said that when sulfur dioxide combines with water and air, it forms sulfuric acid, which is the main component of acid rain.

“We all know that acid rain can cause deforestation, acidify waterways to the detriment of aquatic life, and corrode building materials and paints,” Cimatu pointed out.

In terms of health, Cimatu said sulfur dioxide could affect the respiratory

system, particularly lung function, and can irritate the eyes.

Sulfur dioxide irritates the respiratory tract and increases the risk of pulmonary tract infections.

It causes coughing, mucus secretion and aggravates conditions such as asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu is urging all sectors of society to take zero waste seriously amid the worsening garbage problem in the country.

“The issue of solid waste management has hounded us for many

decades now. It is time that we address this once and for all, and ensure that we walk the talk,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu issued the statement as the nation celebrates January as the National Zero Waste Month and the 17th anniversary of the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The celebration culminates with the holding of 4th Integrated Waste Management Expo on January 25-27 at the ABS-CBN Vertis Tent in Quezon City.

Cimatu, who promised to make the full implementation of R.A.

9003 as one of his top priorities soon after he assumed the DENR post in May last year, said that poor waste management is not only a source of pollution but it also negatively impacts the environment and public health.

“When we live in unsanitary conditions, we breathe polluted air and dirty water comes out of our faucets. These violate our basic right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing,” Cimatu said.

Cimatu was on his third month in office when the DENR ordered the permanent closure of the Payatas sanitary landfill in waste/PAGE 11

Cimatu: Time to take zero waste seriously

DENR conferred ISO certification anew For the fourth year in a row, the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City secured a certification for environment management system (EMS) from the Switzerland-based International Organization for Standardization or ISO. DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the DENR was once again

issued ISO 14001:2015 certification for persistently incorporating environmental aspects into its operations, particularly at its main office located on Visayas Avenue in Diliman.

“This ISO certification is consistent with the DENR’s mission of promoting the conservation, management and development of the country’s natural

resources, and the protection of the environment,” Cimatu said.

He added: “This also demonstrates the commitment of each and every official and employee of the DENR to be a role model in environmental management, and in promoting sustainable development.”

ISO/PAGE 11

8

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Trade facilitation measures to boost competitiveness of firms The Philippines is implementing trade facilitation measures to enhance competitiveness of firms, especially the smaller ones, and enable them to do business overseas.

“Competitiveness at the enterprise level is essential for firms to establish their presence within the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) market and beyond,” said a document titled “The Philippine AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) 2015 Game Plan.”

The government has been pursuing strategies to advance the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and mainstreaming them in the AEC agenda. These are summed up in seven Ms: markets, mindset, mastery, mentoring, money, machines and models.

“Markets are more accessible to small firms when good communication and transport infrastructure link them readily

with their customers.

E-commerce platforms are a rapidly growing medium for this,” it said.

The document noted that export market opportunities are easier tapped when small firms overcome the mindset of individualism, and are prepared to cluster and team up with former competitors to meet volume orders.

“Trade facilitation measures ease MSMEs access to imported inputs that could help improve their competitiveness and business sustainability,” it said.

The document underscored the need to also strengthen collaboration and intensify communication in achieving the vision and ideals of AEC 2025 at the local, national and regional levels, as the country enhances competitiveness and achieves compliance with the AEC Blueprint 2025.

“Cross-border collaboration among trade/PAGE 9

Some foreign shipping companies have allegedly created “schemes” that make freight cost calculations less transparent in order to benefit some sellers and exporters overseas at the expense of Filipino importers, according to a new report.

The findings were part of the report entitled “Potentially Avoidable International Shipping Costs and Other Charges”. This study was commissioned by the Export Development Council (EDC) Networking Committee on Transport and Logistics, highlights of which were

bared during a Lower House hearing January 17, 2018 tackling high shipping charges.

The EDC, citing the results of a business survey done last year, said Filipino importers are highly concerned about having to pay “excessive [and] questionable international shipping lines’ destination charges” that leave “a huge impact on the competitiveness of the Philippine economy.”

In recent years, “some international shipping lines have invented schemes to make freight cost calculations less transparent,” said the report.

Canitoan wins big in 2017 Oro Kalimpyo Awards Story by MARK FRANCISCO

A

fter more than six months of meticulously evaluating and assessing how different barangays in Cagayan de Oro implemented its proper solid waste management, the Oro Kalimpyo Search Committee together with the Solid Waste Management Board and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro awarded Canitoan led by barangay chairman Joshua Taboclaon as the cleanest village in the city as this year's Oro Kalimpyo awardee for suburban category, bagging P200,000 in the process.

Canitoan is joined by barangay Tuburan (Hinterland Category) and Brgy 22 (Urban Category), which both received P150,000.

For Hinterland Barangay category: Brgy

Mambuaya won second prize with P100,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy Baikingon, 3rd place with P75,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy Indahag and Balubal, 4th placers with P10,000 cash prize + certificate.

For the Sub-Urban

“The intense competition in the global shipping arena coupled with an oversupply of bottoms (ships) [has] led some international shipping lines to charge origin and destination surcharges on top of freight to recover losses,” said the study.

Under this practice, the report continued, freight collected from shippers overseas under applicable INCO Terms has been replaced with discounted rates and refunds that are given to shipping agents/ shippers (sellers/exporters) at origin ports.

Then the shipping lines allegedly collect

from consignees (buyers/ importers) a host of “destination charges.” In the case of the Philippines, these charges include the terminal handling cost, container imbalance charge, emergency cost recovery surcharge, container deposit fees, container cleaning fees, container detention and demurrage charges, docs fees, online release fee, foreign currency adjustment, and bunker price adjustment.

Speaking for the EDC, Emmarita Z. Mijares, deputy executive director, cited as an example of this imbalance in charges the probe/PAGE 11

category: Brgy Gusa won 2nd place with P150,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy Tablon 3rd place with P100,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy Kauswagan 4th place and Brgy Bugo 5th place with P20,000 cash prize + certificate each.

For Urban category: Brgy 24 won 2nd place with P100,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy 23 3rd prize winner with P75,000 cash prize + trophy; Brgy 25 and Brgy 27 4th and 5th prize winners with P20,000 cash prize + certificate.

PHOTO BY CIO

Report presses probe on ‘excessive’ Under TRAIN Law, destination charges by foreign liners documentary stamp tax on B/L up 100% Stamp tax on several documentations, which include bills of lading and certificates, has doubled under the Philippines’ new Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. Republic Act No. 10963 or TRAIN, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 19, 2017, amends several sections of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended. TRAIN is the first package under the comprehensive tax reform program of the government.

Sections 51 to 70 of TRAIN amend several sections of the NIRC that cover documentary stamp tax, which is a tax on documents, instruments, loan agreements and papers evidencing the acceptance, assignment, sale or transfer of an obligation, right or property.

Under TRAIN, stamp tax on bills of lading or receipts has doubled from only P1 to P2 if the value of goods exceeds P100 but does not exceed P1,000, and from P10 to P20 if the value exceeds P1,000.

Stamp/PAGE 10

Joint Foreign Chambers asks for regulation of foreign shipping lines’ charges The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) has underscored the need to regulate the charges imposed by international shipping lines, saying the lack of government control is hurting the Philippine economy and eroding the country’s competitiveness.

Stating its position at the hearing by the Lower House People’s Committee on Transportation last January 17, the JFC said that unlike in the airline and inland transport sectors, shipping lines conducting business in the Philippines are not regulated.

This lack of regulatory controls in shipping

leads to the imposition of container deposits and, at times, “exorbitant demurrage, detention and a host of other ‘destination charges’ in an unbridled fashion,” Michael Raeuber, who represented the JFC at the hearing, alleged before the committee.

Raeuber further claimed that the destination charges, demurrage and detention charges as well as container deposits levied by shipping lines “have no restrictions imposed by law and thus can be conveniently manipulated, dictated and controlled by the shipping lines particularly when for shipments ex China and

Vietnam on freight prepaid terms the lines have no contractual relationship with the importers [who are] forced to pay these charges.”

He added that the transacting public, due to lack of alternatives and out of necessity, is forced to submit to “the mercy of shipping lines and [has] no choice but to pay whatever charges these shipping lines will impose in releasing their inbound containers.”

The effect of an unregulated shipping line industry where compliance with existing Philippine laws and international INCO terms, or International

Commercial Terms, is not controlled is “the escalation of prices and due to high shipping costs creating major obstacles to attracting investments and making the Philippines uncompetitive,” said Raeuber, also the coauthor of the study entitled “Potentially Avoidable International Shiopping Costs and Other Charges”.

The study was commissioned by the Export Development Council (EDC) Networking Committee on Transport and Logistics Chaired by Dr. Enrico Basilio, also the main author of the study.

Inco terms refers to a series of pre-

defined commercial terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce relating to international commercial law and widely used in international commercial transactions or procurement processes.

Raeuber said that shipping lines impose a host of destination charges “at will” and in the absence of a competitive market, “such destination charges are usually not disclosed to the exporter.”

“Such practice gives reason to regulate and control the imposition of these charges by a government regulatory agency in order to make sure that these charges

follow local laws and INCO term regulations and rules, and are not dependent on the whims and caprice of the shipping lines imposing fees to parties with whom they have no contractual relationship,” he concluded.

In response, the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) said that container deposits are not a cost to the importer or customs broker since they are refunded. The complaint from importers, AISL said, is not about the container deposit itself but the delay by some shipping lines in giving the refund charges/PAGE 9

9

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Agreement...

immunization is also low,” she said. from page 1 Villafuerte said most of the (it’s a bit) rare na rin ito patients are below 5 years old, ngayon (now), so let’s take as this is the age group that the opportunity na puwede has not yet been immunized. t ayong mag k asu nd o at She said 9- to 12-month talagang buuin natin ang old babies could already get (where we can come into the vaccine. agreement and craft the) T h e h e a l t h o f f i c e e nc ou r age d p are nt s to BBL,” he added.

Aquino, who has filed submit their children for his own version of the BBL, immunization because it is described the proposed law as a lifetime protection from “something that we can all be measles. proud of ” and believed that As of January 23, the it is a long-term solution to CHO had immunized 55,021 achieving peace in Mindanao. children out of the 151,468 He reiterated full support target. for the BBL and rallied for Villafuerte said they find it difficult to immunize its “urgent” passage.

Senator Juan Miguel the children in some cases Zubiri, chair of the Senate because the parents would subcommittee on the BBL, refuse. earlier said that the BBL is She said children don’t expected to be passed on third get vaccinated because the and final reading before the parents are either too busy or Senate adjourns its session they view it as against their beliefs. in March.

“I think the timetable In a press release on ni Sen. Zubiri na March, We d n e s d a y, t h e C i t y we’re hoping we can get this Information Office said the passed as soon as possible. CHO has been conducting Unahin na natin ito (Let’s measles immunization for prioritize this). Urgent na po children 6-59 months old at pressing iyong mga issues and information campaign na kailangang mai-address in homes and workplaces. ng BBL (The issues the BBL It added the signs and wants to address are urgent symptoms of measles, which and pressing),” Aquino said. are felt after around two weeks Zubiri earlier assured that of exposure to the virus, are the BBL will be a “priority.” high fever, cough, colds, sore The first hearing on the throat, inflammation of the BBL was held last December eyes, skin rashes, and white 20 while the Senate was spots on the inner lining of already on Christmas break. the cheeks.

Other hearings have also been held in Cotabato City from page 1 and Marawi City. (PNA) before Congress goes on recess on March 24. from page 1 “Hindi ko ma-imagine people coming from different ganoon pala pagkasira. parts of the Philippines made Na k a k a l u n g k o t ( I d i d it vulnerable for disease not imagine that was the extent of the damage. It was transmission,” she said.

She explained that people heartbreaking), Senator could easily get infected with Cynthia Villar, member of the virus if they’re living in the Senate Sub-Committee tightly packed households on the BBL said. “We have in urban poor areas like in to pass a relevant BBL to Barangay 23-C, one of the prevent another Marawi from most crowded areas “where happening,” she said. airborne transmission easily The senators were given a tour of the former “Ground happens.”

She said houses in these Zero” or what is now referred areas are clustered and located to as the MAA or ‘main proximal to each other and affected area’ where they saw have more than one family the effects of the five-month living in one-room spaces. fighting between government As of January 23, the troops and ISIS-inspired CHO reported a total of 252 Maute Group, Abu Sayyaf suspected cases of measles and their allies. with 11 deaths, but Villafuerte The Sub-Committee, stressed that they have yet chaired by Senator Juan to confirm if these patients Miguel Zubiri held a public hearing at the Mindanao died of measles.

Pn e u m on i a w a s t h e State University in Marawi on leading caus e of death Friday, a day after holding a for children infected with similar hearing in Cotabato measles because they are City and meeting with the “very vulnerable to illness,” MILF leadership in Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, she said.

Of the 252 suspected cases, Maguindanao. she said the government Villar said the extent of conducted confirmatory tests damage in Marawi City has on 224 children under 5 years moved her to vote for the old. At least 16 have so far passage of the proposed BBL draft of the Bangsamoro been confirmed, she said.

She added the city declared Transition Commission. a measles outbreak because She said she is confident the latest number of patients that the Senate will pass the infected with the disease was BBL before the Senate goes the highest since 2012 where on recess on March 24. only one case was recorded. “We must put a stop to “One case of measles could violent extremism. Dahil sa lead to an outbreak most ginagawa po nating status especially if immunity is quo, lalong lumalakas ang low because the coverage of violent extremism. Kasi

Siege...

Outbreak...

sinasabi po ng mga taong ito, tignan ninyo napabayaan na ang peace process. Lahat ng ipinangako nila hindi natupad ng gobyerno. Kaya subukan po nating pigilan ito. And this is the best time to do it. Dahil ang ating Pangulo, tubong Mindanao” (The status quo is strengthening violent extremism. These peopel are saying, ‘look, the peace process has been ignored, what was promised to them were not fulfilled by government. That’s why we should try to prevent this), Zubiri said.

Senator Sonny Angara, chair of the C ommitee on Local Governments, said: “I’d like to commit to Senator Zubiri. We will support the hard work of the chairman and assure that the proposed BBL be reflective and inclusive of all the ambitions and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.”

Enough votes Senator Joseph Ejercito said he, too, is confident that the BBL draft submitted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commissionl will muster enough votes at the Senate.

Ejercito said the only obstacle for the passage are some “key constitutional questions” that he expects senators will ask before casting their votes.

“This might be the one instrument that could give lasting peace to Mindanao,” he said.

Ghazali Jaafar, the MILF’s 1st vice chair and concurrent chair of the Bangsamoro Transition C ommission (BTC) that drafted the BBL said they are confident that the senators will make good on their promise.

Jaafar said they think President Rodrigo Duterte has enough clout to persuade the Senate and House of Representatives to vote for the passage of the law.

“We have to trust them,” Jaafar said.

In his opening speech at the public hearing, Jaafar said what happened in Marawi City “was caused not because Muslims do not like Christians. What happened in Marawi City is what we are going to address through the Bangsamoro Basic Law.” He emphasized the BBL is a political solution to the Moro struggle.

“This problem is a political problem. So it cannot be solved by means of social solution or military solution.

It can only be solved through a political solution,” he said, citing the need to pass the BBL. Four versions, Eight versions The Bangsamoro Transition C ommission (BTC) submitted its draft BBL to President Duterte on July 17 last year, in ceremonial rites witnessed by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Jr. There are four bills on the Bangsamoro that are pending in the Senate, authored by Pimentel, Zubiri’s which he later withdrew and substituted with the BTC draft, Senator

Bam Aquino and Senator Risa Hontiveros.

The Senate SubC ommitte e’s t ask is to consolidate these bills.

At t he Hou s e of Representatives, there are also four versions that the House Sub-Committee on BBL is consolidating — bills filed by Reps. Bai Sandra Sema, Deputy Speaker for Mindanao; Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, and the BTC draft filed by Alvarez and co-authors.

The proposed Bangsamoro law is part of the political settlement agreed upon by the government and MILF in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The CAB provides for the creation of a new political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), a regional entity that is “autonomous” in name but is dependent on the national government as the present structure has no fiscal autonomy.

BTC Commissioner Atty.

Maisara Latiph said the new draft includes 18 new provisions that give more protection to the Lumads and Christian settlers. “The lumads and the settlers are better protected now,” she said.

Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo (1stdistrict), author of one of the four Bangsamoro bills pending at the House, vehemently opposed the inclusion of six Lanao del Norte towns—Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagoloan an d Tangc a l — i nt o t h e proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro territory without a new plebiscite.

But Munai town Mayor Casan Maquiling and Nunungan town Mayor Marcos Mamay pointed out their towns had already voted to be part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a plebiscite in 2001.

“We should respect that vote,” Maquiling and Mamay told the senators.

The BBL hearings will continue on January 30 at the Senate. Other Mindanao hearings will be held on the second week of February in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Zamboanga. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Organic... from page 1

infamous “red mountain” were encouraged to turn at least 10 hectares deserted farm lands into organic rice fields through the “Kapalayapaan peace building project of the Philippine Army’s 36th Infantry Battalion (36th IB).

“Red mountain” refers to the mountain ranges which has large nickel ore deposits that stretches the coastal towns of Claver towards Carrascal town in neighboring Surigao del Sur province, now considered the mining capital of the country.

O n Ja nu a r y 2 6 , Lt .

C o l . X e r x e s Tr i n i d a d , commanding officer of the

36th IB, along with staff from Taganito HPAL (THPAL) Nickel Corporation and Good Harvest Bio-organic Farming, Inc., launch the Kapalayapaan organic rice farm project with the planting of hybrid organic rice seedlings on a plot of rice paddies.

Eight farmers who will tend their rice fields anew after 12 years of deserting it will be supervised by Ignacio Lauzon, CEO of Good Harvest Bio-organic Farming, to ensure that they can yield at least 100 sacks of organic rice in April this year.

Julius Dalubatan, one of the recipient farmers, said they abandoned their farms at the height of the mining operation boom in 2006 when their lands were affected by large volumes of laterite wastes that overflowed from Taganito river during the heavy flooding.

He said since the laterites mixed the soil of the rice fields , yield during harvest season had drastically declined that they could hardly get 30 sacks of rice a hectare.

Claver , once a farming and fishing town, has hosted some eight large mining companies including THPAL, a Japaneseowned nickel processing plant, which is extending financial support through their Social Development and Management Program to pursue t he 36t h IB “Kapalayapaan” organic rice farm project.

Ka-Palay-apaan (coined from a mixture of Tagalog words, peace and rice) is a joint initiative among stakeholders in the government to help the poor farmers liberate from “high cost yet low yield” old farming methods.

The project was the br ai n c h i l d of Lt . C o l .

Randolph Rojas, former 3 6 t h I B c o m m a n d e r, who introduced it to the impoverished farmers in the conflict-stricken village of Lindoy in Tago town in Surigao del Sur. The Lindoy experience where farmers of this once New Peoples Army influenced community have already sustained at least 100 sacks per hectare production in the last three harvest seasons became an inspiration to drive the 36th IB soldiers to replicate the initiative to four other towns in Surigao del Sur. Trinidad said introducing Kapalayapaan in the mining town of Claver was a big challenge but t he y are committed to make it a big success. “We are true to our intent to bring food to the table of every Filipino home,”

adding that “If the stomachs of every family member are full, no one would think of doing bad things.”

For her part, Genevieve Chua, manager of Community Relations at THPAL, said their company wanted Claver residents to be engaged in sustainable livelihood activities like organic rice farming for them to be prepared when mining stops operation after 25 years.

Lauzon said bio-organic farming would change the attitude of farmers to become hard working since tending this kind of farm involves a lot of manual labor aside from strictly following the tedious protocol and processing from land preparation to blooming of rice until the harvest time.

It took Lauzon and the eight farmers 20 days to till back the land into rice paddies that some residents who passed by were surprised plowing was done four times apart from mixing the soil with bio-organic fertilizers at 10 sacks per hectare.

Trade... from page 8

business entities through value chain linkages, trade, and investment flows across the ASEAN member countries are the essence of regional economic integration under the AEC,” it said.

A particularly important collaboration imperative arising out of AEC 2025 and other trade agreements is the need for a national coordinative body/ me chanism on matters of t rade faci lit at ion, a prominent element in the AEC 2025 Blueprint and the Consolidated Strategic Action Plan.

Charges... from page 8

for container deposits.

AISL general manager Maximino Cruz said they keep reminding their member shipping lines to return the container deposits to the importer or custom broker within two weeks of the return of the empty containers.

“Inaamin po namin na may mga shipping lines na talaga namang ang tagal magbalik ng refund. May mga efficient…Unfortunately, merong mga iba hindi. Yun po ang sakit ng ulo namin,” said Cruz.

Meanwhile, AISL’s Joselito Ilagan suggested that port users negotiate with shipping lines on these charges.

“Shipping lines are open to dialogue. We’re very open to dialogue. Not all carriers actually impose such charges,” he said.

10 Stamp... from page 8

Section 64 of TRAIN amends Section 191 of the NIRC, which now states that “on each set of bills of lading or receipts (except charter party) for any goods, merchandis e or ef fec ts shipped from one port or place in the Philippines to another port or place in the Philippines (except on ferries across rivers), or to any foreign port, there shall be collected documentary stamp tax of two pesos (P2.00), if the value of such goods exceeds one hundred pesos (P100.00) and does not exceed one thousand p es os (P1,000); twenty pesos (P20), if the value exceeds one thousand pesos (P1,000): provided, however, that freight tickets covering goods, merchandise or effects carried as accompanied baggage of passengers on land and water carriers primarily engaged in the transportation of passengers are hereby exempt.”

Section 61 of TRAIN also amends Section 188 of NIRC, increasing stamp tax on certificates from P15 to P30.

“On each certificate of damages or otherwise, and on every certificate or document issued by any customs officer, marine surveyor, or other person acting as such, and on each certificate issued by a notary public, and on each certificate of any description required by law or by rules or regulations of a public office, or which is issued for the purpose of giving information, or establishing proof of a fact, and not otherwise specified herein, there shall be collected a documentar y stamp tax of thirty pesos (P30.00),” Section 61 states.

Stamp tax on warehouse receipts has also doubled from P15 to P30. NIRC’s Section 189 has been amended by TRAIN’s Section 62, which states that “On each warehouse receipt for property held in storage in a public or private warehouse or yard for any person other than the proprietor of such warehouse or yard, there shall be collected a documentary stamp tax of thirty pesos (P30.00): provided, that no tax shall be collected on each warehouse receipt issued to any one person in any one calendar month covering property the value of which does not exceed two hundred pesos (P200).”

TRAIN’s Section 70, meanwhile, amends NIRC’s Section 197, likewise doubling stamp tax on charter parties and similar instruments.

On every charter party, contract or agreement for the charter of any ship, vessel or steamer, or any letter or memorandum or other writing between the captain, master or owner, or other person acting as agent of any ship, vessel or steamer, and any other person or persons for or relating to the charter of any such ship, vessel or steamer, and on any renewal or transfer of such charter,

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contract, agreement, letter or memorandum, TRAIN said there shall be collected a documentary stamp tax.

“If the registered gross tonnage of the ship, vessel or steamer does not exceed one thousand (1,000) tons, and the duration of the charter or contract does not exceed six (6) months, one thousand pesos (P1,000); and for each month or fraction of a month in excess of six (6) months, an additional tax of one hundred pesos (P100.00) shall be paid,”

the law said. If the registered gross tonnage exceeds 1,000 tons and does not exceed 10,000 tons, and the duration of the charter or contract does not exceed six months, P2,000 will now be collected for documentary stamp tax; and for each month or fraction of a month in excess of six months, an additional tax of P200 shall be paid.

If the registered gross tonnage exceeds 10,000 tons and the duration of the charter or contract does

not exceed six months, the stamp tax is now P3,000; and for each month or fraction of a month in excess of six months, anDEadditional tax of CAGAYAN ORO MAIN BRANCH & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers P300Pshall be paid.

Kalambagohan Sts., TRAIN Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) took effect on 856-1947 January 1, CAMIGUIN BRANCH 2018, and the implementing B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Tel. # (088) 387-0491 rulesCamiguin and regulations must CORRALES BRANCH b e Corrales promulgated by Ave., Cagayan de Oro Citythe Department Finance, DIVISORIA of BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. St.,recommendation Cagayan de Oro City uponVelez the Tel. # (088) 857-3631 of the Internal Revenue LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City commissioner, 30 days after Tel. # (088) 231-6739 the law’sCARMEN effectivity.

BRANCH -- www.

Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City portcalls.com Tel. # (088) 231-2011

CDO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947

DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631

CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491

LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739

CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City

CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

11

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Delay... from page 2

families in the 1990s i n b a r a n g a y Tu b a j o n , Laguindingan town, when the national government informed the company that they will be using the property and convert it as an airport.

The conglomerate p r o mp t l y d o n at e d t h e 400-hectare property to the national government, paying the farmers disturbance compensation in the amount of P100,000 each.

Only around 200 farmers agreed with the amount then.

The rest challenged the Ayala computation and went to court. The litigation eventually landed before the Supreme Court recently, with the farmers winning the case.

Orientation... from page 2

18 PESO Managers were a c t i v e t h ro u g h o ut t h e province, comprising of 14 PESO-LGU and four PESOAcademe.

Meanwhile, the meeting highlighted on the core planning for the year 2018 as well as the discussions on implementation of DOLE programs at the local level, particularly on livelihood and emergency employment, and SPES pledge of commitment.

For the efficient implementation, the importance of liquidation of previously-released grants and the prompt monthly submission of PESO reports are to be emphasized.

Subsequently, the GLS seminar oriented the employees on the concepts on security of tenure; alternative dispute resolution strategies; management prerogatives and its limitations and the rights and obligations of the employees.

GLS keeps employees up-to-date of the current developments in labor laws; guarantees professional growth in knowledge, skills and attitude in line with the changes in the business system and helps improve their continuous productivity in their jobs.

In his statement, Rodrigo encouraged the workers and employers to become responsible partners in the promotion of productive and decent workplace by actively adopting the GLS. (LMRoa/ DOLE Mis Occ PFO)

Perks... from page 3

trillion until the end of its term in mid-2022.

Dominguez said the review of the tax incentives being extended to businesses is part of the tax reform program’s Package 2, which DOF officials submitted to Congress last Jan. 15.

He said the current gove r n m e nt w ant s t h e incentives to meet four standards namely targeted, time-bound, transparent and will greatly benefit the people.

He said the government wants to encourage more businesses that cater to current trends such as robotics and those involved in digital technology, among

others.

He said incentives should be time-bound so that players will further improve their operations and be at par with the rest of the world, citing that there are certain sectors that have been benefiting from incentives in the last 40 years even if they do not have to.

He discounted concerns that the country will lose its competitiveness if incentives given to businesses are rationalized.

He said there are around 14 investment incentivesg iv ing agencies in t he country, way more than the one in two agencies in other jurisdictions.

“Don’t you think it’s time that we rationalize what we’re doing? We are one of the generous in the world and yet our FDI (foreign direct investment) is low. You better think why. Is it because the infrastructure is bad? Is it because that in the past peace and order was bad? So you have to think about these things,” he added. (PNA)

Hurst...

from page 4 even close to our Maker’s standard of pure goodness.

The only kind of goodness God can live together with is perfect, pure goodness of all our thoughts, motives, words, and actions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Think a Minute…

Slowdown... from page 4

manufacturing and more value,” said James Watson, SolarPower Europe’s CEO. “In essence, trade measures are a blunt tool with many unforeseen consequences on solar manufacturers of other crucial elements of the value chain.”

Let’s face this: solar power has been massively expanded in the US over the past several years. How about in the Philippines?

The US is the world’s fourth-largest solar market after China, Japan and Germany. Zvi Schreiber, CEO of online freight marketplace Freightos, noted that the tariff is going to cause disruption in global trade patterns for these products — which could have the effect of shutting down new solar projects around the world. “ There will be shifts in demand,” he said in an interview. “It’s not just the solar panels themselves — today any product they manufacture includes dozens if not hundreds of materials.”

Even if the playing field isn’t level at the moment, Schreiber questions whether Washington and Brussels are cutting off their nose to spite their face, risking killing off an industry that does environmental good in the name of free trade — and risking a trade war with China in the process.

“Of course, the big loser is the environment,” he said. “If China is willing to subsidize solar panels, we should all say ‘thank you very much,’ because that’s going to help our planet — which is more

important than whether it’s fair.”

That’s something that benefits all of us. +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot,com .

Workers...

from page 4 supposed to be at the end of the customers’ queue. I no longer asked if this kind of a response was required of them by their managers, but there was no denying the fact that their behavior was behind my resolve to eat KFC chicken every time I am given the opportunity to do so.

-ooo HELPING OTHERS IS PLEASING TO GOD: Helping those who are hungry or thirsty, or those who lack even the most basic necessities in life, is pleasing to God, whatever be the religious affiliation of the one who extended help. According to Christian doctrine, Jesus praised and promised Paradise to those who fed and gave water to drink to, or visited, people who were hungry and thirsty, or sick, or in detention.

At the end of time, Jesus will separate the men and women who helped others, from the men and women who did nothing. Those who helped others, whom He called as sheep, would be placed in His right side, and would be brought by Him to the clouds before being brought to Paradise. The people who did not help were called by Him as goats, and would be thrown in the lake of burning sulfur.

This has a good moral lesson in it. It is a certainty, as we go through our everyday lives, that we will be meeting many who will be needing our help. If we will not hesitate to extend assistance to those in need, Jesus will undoubtedly bring us with Him to His Kingdom. If we will refrain from helping, it is a cinch that hell would be the destination.

The good news is this: we can still do something to help our fellowmen now!

-ooo FOR QU E ST IONS , REACTIONS: If anyone would like to ask me any question about what the burning issues of the day mean, or what we have discussed here, or to consult on any problem, whatever it maybe, please call 0917 984 24 68, or email me at batasmauricio@yahoo. com, or post your concerns at www.facebook.com/attybatas or w w w. f a c e b o o k . c om / angtangingdaan. Promise, I will answer right away. Thank God in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

Nets... from page 5

actually surged by 22.26 percent to P24.59 billion from P20.11 billion.

Excluding last year’s onetime gains from securities trading, core income was up by a robust 30.4 percent to P8.2 billion from PHP6.3

billion a year ago.

However, earnings from sale of trading and nontrading financial assets reached only P266.58 million in 2017 from P3.81 billion the previous year, while interest expense rose to P6.95 billion in 2017 from P5.27 billion the previous year.

Other expenses, including taxes and licenses, also rose from P11.75 billion to P13.50 billion.

“We are p l e a s e d t o continue making major headway on both our business and digital transformation strategies. Financial results were driven by recurring income across all customer business segments,” said UnionBank President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin R. Bautista.

“Amid investments in various digital initiatives, the Bank continues to sustain very solid profitability results,” he said. (PNA)

Waste... from page 7

Quezon City due to serious environmental violations and susceptibility to trash slide.

In June last year, Cimatu put to task the municipal government of Malay in Aklan for the garbage problem on Boracay Island which at the time was a major public and environmental concern in one of the country’s top tourist destinations.

The waste management expo, organized by the DENR’s Env ironment a l Management Bureau, aims to raise awareness of the public and beef up efforts in solving the rising problem of solid waste in Metro Manila and other urban areas across the country.

The expo is open to the public, including government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.

It offers various activities like forums, talks and workshops that bear interesting topics on environmental protection, renewable energy, sustainable livelihood and updates on consumer goods that help save the planet.

More than 60 exhibitors are expected to join the event to showcase their products, services and best available technolog y on solid waste management and environmental practices.

Charges... from page 7

f r a g i l e l a n d s c ap e a n d ecosystems.

"The DENR is mandated to protect Mt. Pulag, but it is imperative that hikers and visitors do their part as well,” Cimatu pointed out.

“Mt. Pulag has one of the richest biodiversities from the foot of the mountain to its summit and we must all be responsible agents for its conservation," he added.

Aside from adding more rules for hikers, the DENR is also preparing measures to speed up the rehabilitation of the burned grassland area.

Mt. Pulag National Park is a protected area designated as an initial component of the NIPAS. As such, it is classified as a forest reservation.

Section 78 of the Revised Forestry Code penalizes a ny on e w h o o c c upi e s , possesses and/or causes destruction to forest or grazing lands. This criminal offense includes negligently causing a fire within forest or grazing lands.

ISO...

from page 7 In 2015, the DENR became the first institution or agency in the country to receive ISO 14001:2015 from the ISO, an international standardsetting body composed of representatives from national standard organizations of over 140 member-countries.

Since then, the ISO has b een reissuing the certification to the agency based on the recommendation of the Philippine arm of SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification firm.

ISO 14001:2015 is an i nt e r n at i on a l l y a g re e d st and ard t hat s e t s out the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders.

Last December 13, Cimatu signed the DENR’s E n v i r o n m e n t a l Po l i c y Statement in which the agency reaffirmed its commitment to promote environmental consciousness among Filipinos.

According to Rolando Castro, director of DENR’s Human Resource Development Service and vice chair of the EMS Audit Team, the DENR passed a recertification audit after having successfully implemented an effective EMS. An EMS allows an organization to identify and reduce all environmental impacts of its operations or activities in the delivery of its services. It also calls for the management of environmental aspects and ensure their conformity to compliance obligations w h i l e a d d re ss i ng r isk s associated with threats and opportunities.

The DENR had identified nine environmental aspects, namely, energy use, health and safety, disposal to land, discharge to water, water usage, air emissions, paper usage, fuel usage and legal non-compliance.

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Shanghai-Manila route, in which freight cost imposed in t he or ig in Shang hai supp os e d ly amounts to only 2% of total cost, with the destination surcharges in Manila at 98%. On the Manila-Shanghai route, the freight cost imposed in the Philippines is said to be 39% and the destination surcharges to Shanghai 61%.

In t he Viet nam (Ho Chi Minh)-Manila route, freight rate comprises 7% and destination surcharges 93%.

“These schemes

were designed by some international shipping lines to avoid competition by (a) giving benefits to the p ar t y ( s e l l e r / e x p or t e r ) obligated to pay and (b) coercing and putting under duress the other party at the destination (buyer/ importer/consignee) to pay the ‘destination charges,’” the report observed.

Furthermore, all these costs (freight and origin/ destination surcharges) are d e te r m i n e d by t h e i nt e r n at i on a l s h i p p i n g companies “in accordance with their strategies to get more business, reduce competition and improve re venue, dep ending on where they can pass these costs to i.e., to the supplier or to our importers,” alleged the report.

T h e s t u d y recommends that the Ph i l ippi ne gove r n me nt mandatethrough an executive order or a memorandum circular from the Department of Trade and Industrythe daily publication of all-in freight charges per route imposed by international shipping lines “in order to help our importers and exporters in selecting their shipping company for every instance.”

“The government must not allow these costs to be incurred by (or passed on to) Philippine Shippers especially if they do not have any contractual relationship with the Carriers, and/or are not obligated to pay them under INCO terms,” it further said.

It als o suggests that the trade department, in c ol l ab or at i on w it h t h e private sector, establish a n i n f o r m at i o n p o r t a l as a mechanism for disseminating shipping cost information to Filipino shippers (exporters/ importers).

D o c u m e nt f e e mu s t be charged only once at origin. For detention and demurrage charges, the cost recovery should be limited to actual, not consequential, cost per day, estimated at $1 to $2 per day. For container cleaning, there should be a standard tariff schedule that could serve as uniform basis for charging, said the report.

It also suggests that the Philippine C ompetition Commission investigate possible violations of antitrust laws, prevent cartel like behavior of shipping lines, and promote ethical and unrestricted competition.

The Maritime Industry Authority is also urged to regulate international shipping lines doing business in the Philippines and enforce their compliance with INCO terms and local jurisprudence.

Finally, “the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) may look at the impact on its revenue collections the reduction of taxable income resulting from the transfer of costs from the foreign shipp ers (exp or ters) to the consignees (Philippine importers),” said the paper.

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cmyk

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monday|january 29, 2018

Globe sets up Libreng WiFi, Tawag, Charging stations in Albay

Residents affected by the Mayon eruption line up to avail of Libreng Tawag services provided by Globe in Guinobatan East Central Elementary School

G

lobe Telecom set up four Libreng Tawag, Libreng WiFi and Libreng Charging stations in Albay province following the eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Specifically, Libreng Tawag, Libreng WiFi and Libreng Charging services are being provided by the telecommunications operator in Guinobatan West Central Elementary School, Gogon Elementary School and

Albay Central School in Legazpi and in Guinobatan East Central Elementary School. Globe also provided assistance in bringing potable water to evacuees.

“The communication assistance that Globe is providing in Albay is in line with the company’s commitment to nation-building, enabling the flow of relief and assistance for the immediate rehabilitation of affected communities,”

Globe Director for Citizenship Chelle Obligacion-Gray said.

Globe is also in collaboration with the local government units concerned for relief operations that will soon be undertaken in the following areas: Guinobatan West Elementary School; Guinobatan East Elementary School; Albay Central School and Gogon Elementary School and in Camalig, Albay.