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BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Volume V, No. 185

Market Indicators

As of 6:20 pm june 16, 2015 (Tuesday)

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Growth corridors NORTHERN Mindanao’s Regional Development Council (RDC-10) recently expressed its support for the implementation of the Mindanao Development Corridors, citing it as an innovative strategy that responds to the development needs of the island-region. In a resolution signed on March 19, 2015, RDC-10 members and stakeholders are enjoined to ensure complementation, synchronization, and convergence of resources with the existing development and physical framework plans, and other ongoing initiatives and emerging trends in the country that affect Mindanao. “We are fully supportive of initiatives that promote sustainable development in Northern Mindanao, and anchoring our efforts to the Mindanao Development Corridors is one of the efficient ways of achieving our goals,” said RDC 10 Chair and Lanao del Norte Governor Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo.

Price tags SURIGAO City – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Surigao del Norte provincial director Celestino Negapatan reminds all business establishments that putting two price tags on products they are selling is prohibited. Negapatan said that the buying public should be aware that whether the payment is made in cash or through a credit card, the amount they should be paying should be the amount reflected in the price tag. If in case there are two price tags, the lowest price should prevail as basis for the payment of the product being bought.

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Banana exporters want say in China trade talks By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

ANANA growers have appealed to the government to give them a seat in ongoing trade talks between the Philippines and China as well as with other countries where the fruit is exported.

Industry representatives, in a recent dialogue with government officials, sought the help of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in pressing their request as the Philippines and

China are expected to reach agreements soon concerning banana exports. M i n DA’s R om e o M . Montenegro, head of public af fairs and invest ment trade/PAGE 11

CDO eyes ambitious P4.8-B revenue budget in 2016 By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer BIRTH OF A CITY. Young passersby took time to read and have a look-see at the exhibit stand in front of the City Tourism Assistance Center. The exhibit installation bares the city’s history and citations as to how Cagayan de Oro became a city, the exhibit also showed old photos of the city for visual support. photo by shaun alejandrae yap uy

Risk-taker farmers get ‘surprised’ cash support from tobacco firm By BONG D. FABE, Contributing Editor

C L AV E R I A , M i s a m i s Oriental—Teary-eyed with joy for the “surprise” she had just received, 50-yearold Magdalena Sawitan of Barangay Madaguing repeatedly kissed the check for P20,469 written for her by the PMFTC during the recent Farmers’ Week celebration here. “Thank you very much for your help. I was really not expecting this,” said Sawitan, one of the pioneer tobacco

farmers here. She said that she was “encouraged” to venture into flue cured (Virginia) tobacco farming because of the cigarette manufacturing giant’s promised of taking great care of the farmers. “The company also encouraged us to practice crop rotation. So I still plant corn and cassava after harvesting my tobacco leaf four months after transplanting them.” Crop rotation or planting corn

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after harvesting the tobacco or vice versa is mandatory for all tobacco farmers here as this practice is one of the many ways to avoid crop diseases. It also help soil regeneration. Sawitan started tobacco in 2012 on a two-hectare farm. Since then, she is receiving more than P1,000 a week from the sale of her tobacco leaf. While her sales of tobacco is “just comparable” to her sales of corn and cassava before, she said she will not abandon farmers/PAGE 11

T H E c i t y g o v e r n m e nt is looking forward to an ambit i ous P 4 . 8 bi l l i on revenue in 2016, City Mayor Oscar Moreno announced Monday. Moreno made the

statement in a message during the observance of the city’s 65th Charter Day celebration here on Monday. T h e C it y E x e c ut i v e expressed confidence that budget/PAGE 11

RELIEF ASSISTANCE. Tobacco farmer Magdalena Sawitan of Brgy. Madaguing, Claveria, Misamis Oriental was teary-eyed and

overjoyed after receiving a check worth P20,469 form Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp (PMFTC) executives led by Atty. Wilma Eisma, manager for public affairs and contributions and Claveria operations manager Ravi Lumunsad. The amount represents the company’s relief assistance to tobacco farmers affected by the onslaught of El Nino phenomenon. Aside from the cash subsidy, the farmers also got 2 sacks of rice and three-thousand pesos worth of goods for every half-a-hectare planted with tobacco. photo by shaun alejandrae yap uy

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Economy

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ECC intensifies advocacy for Employees’ Compensation Program in MisOcc

ZAMIZ City – T h e E m p l o y e e s’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has intensified its advocacy for the Employees’ Compensation Prog ram (ECP) in t he province, through a seminar, in Oroquieta City, on June 16, this year. The activity aims to raise the peoples’ awareness in the grassroots level and keep the public abreast of the social protection and safe work programs available to employees, Atty. Jonathan T. Villasoto, ECC Deputy Executive Director, said during a press conference

held in the city on June 15. In coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the seminar is the first ECC activity held in the province, since its creation in 1975, to promote ECP’s preventive, compensation and rehabilitation services, including the ECC-Quick Response and the ‘Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan or KaGabay Program. A government program, the ECP is designed to provide a compensation package to public and private employees or their dependents in the

RUSH SALE 12 Hectares of Land about 80% planted with Benguet/Carribean Pine Trees.

event of work-related injury or death, Villasoto said. About 120 human resource officers, employers/owners/

labor unions coming from various private enterprises, government agencies, including uniformed

personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy,

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), in the province, are expected to attend the seminar, Villasoto added.

Evacuees in MisOr return to tribal village M I S A M I S O r i e nt a l - Some 250 evacuees, mostly memb ers of t he t r ib a l community, p er for me d the traditional “send-off ” ceremony here Tuesday as the group decided to return to their hinterland villages. The evacuees decided to return home after the fact-finding team composed of representatives from the

provincial government, local village officials, and the National Commissions of Indigenous People (NCIP) assured the evacuees that the military has left the tribal village. S a r i s a Ac o s t a , w h o ser ved as spokesperson of the evacuees, said that the evacuees, most of the Higaonon tribe, left their

farmlands in the remote v i l l age of Mi n k amans i in Banglay, Lagonglong, Misamis Oriental two weeks ago to elude the military’s anti-insurgency operations in the area. Acosta said that the tribal community experiences paranoia every time the military conducts an antiinsurgency operation in the hinterlands of Misamis Oriental. “Sometime in May, the tribal community scampered for safety in disarray as the

military fired artillery toward their direction which resulted in the death of tribesmen and the destruction of the houses of the tribal residents,” Acosta said. She said that the tribal residents decided to evacuate and seek refuge in the provincial capitol ground when the military, once again, stayed in Minkamansi last June 4. Acosta said that, this time, the group vowed not to return home unless the evacuees/PAGE 11

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Toyota Motor to boost AirAsia to raise funds via debt issue, jet sale annual output by 20%

HE PHILIPPINE unit of Japan’s biggest automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is planning to expand its local production capacity by as much as 20% in the next two years to take advantage of new government incentives. The Philippines last week launched a scheme that will provide incentives worth $600 million over six years to its tiny auto industry in a bid to raise shrinking output and catch up with regional rivals. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., a joint venture with local conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc., is looking at increasing production capacity by 10%-20% from

the current 40,000 a year, said Alfred V. Ty, the automaker’s vice-chairman. “We need to improve efficiency and we have to expand. Our capacity is quite stretched,” Mr. Ty told Reuters, adding that its plant utilization rate was already more than 90%. Toyota Philippines, which has a dominant market share in the Philippine auto sector, assembles Vios and Innova models in its facility south of the capital Manila. Under the government scheme, a car firm can get incentives for that model if the model has a track record of competitiveness, plans to make new investment

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. assembles its Vios and in Laguna.

AIRASIA Bhd., Asia’s biggest budget airline, plans to raise funds at loss-making associates by issuing up to $300 million in bonds and may sell planes in assembly and targets a to help cut group debt, Chief production volume of at least Executive Officer Tony 200,000 over six years, among Fernandes said in a letter to other requirements. investors. To y o t a P h i l i p p i n e s Mr. Fernandes, who would take advantage of the has steered AirAsia into a incentives through the Vios billion-dollar business from a as the monthly production of two-plane operation in 2002, 2,000 was expected to increase said the group plans to issue to 2,500, Mr. Ty said, adding as much as $150 million in that construction of a larger convertible bonds at each of assembly plant could start as its Philippine and Indonesian soon as late this year. associates. It may also sell and Given the output volume lease back up to 20 aircraft required under the plan, only in the group’s fleet this year, the local units of Toyota and he said in the letter, of which Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Reuters obtained a copy. would be eligible to apply The comments in Mr. for incentives, said Ferdinand Fernandes’ letter, sent on Raquelsantos, head of motor Monday, came days after vehicle parts industry group Hong Kong-based firm MVPMAP. -- Reuters GMT Research issued a report questioning AirAsia’s accounting practices. In its report, GMT said AirAsia used transactions with associate companies to boost earnings, startling investors and leading the airline’s shares to fall to a five-year intraday low on June 12. AirAsia declined to comment on the GMT report. Though the leader among budget carriers in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, AirAsia’s business has been squeezed in recent times by competition with Innova models in its factory regional rivals, such as Malaysia

Airlines Bhd., the Jetstar unit of Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd., Indonesia’s Lion Air and subsidiaries of Singapore Airlines Ltd. “Some of the details here are still work-in-progress but what is written will more or less be reality,” Mr. Fernandes said in the letter. “D ue to t he re ce nt movement in our share price, we are sharing the details with you earlier than planned,” he said, without making reference to the GMT report. A spokesman from AirAsia declined to comment on the letter. AirAsia, the biggest Asian customer of plane maker Airbus, reported a net loss for October-December 2014, and is taking on fewer new aircraft to manage capacity. It has previously said it plans to list the Philippine and Indonesian associates to raise funds to develop business, but has been hit by weaker demand after a plane operated by its Indonesia affiliate crashed in December, killing all 162 people on board. In his letter, Mr. Fernandes sought to reassure investors that business is improving. “We believe that 2015 will be a very good year on the back of a better operating environment and a much more rational market. We have shown you good progress in 1Q15… We believe in results, not words,” Mr. Fernandes

FOLLOW WRANGLERPH

said. On Monday, AirAsia’s shares dropped 2.8%, after falling a total of as much as 18% since GMT published the report on June 10. “I guess there is probably a bit of skepticism, they are saying ‘We’re going to be bringing in a couple of investors to invest in equity (in associate companies), and also in convertible bonds,’ so they can use the money raised to pay back into the company’s balances,” said Timothy Ross, an analyst at Credit Suisse. “But I would ask, who is going to invest in a business that doesn’t make any earnings, just to see their investment going up to the parent company?” Mr. Fernandes said in the letter that AirAsia is looking to take the loss-making associates in Philippines and Indonesia public in 2017, seeking valuations of about $700 million for the Indonesia firm and $600 million for the Philippines business. “We target to float 20% of the shares raising a minimum of $150 million (in each),” Mr. Fernandes said. AirAsia Bhd. operates in the Philippines through Filipino-registered company AirAsia, Inc., where it has a 40% stake. AirAsia, Inc. owns 49% of homegrown airline Zest Airways, Inc. -- which has been rebranded as AirAsia Zest -- through a strategic alliance signed in May 2013. -- Reuters

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Start Again

hink a minute…How will you celebrate Christmas? With presents and Christmas songs? A big feast with your family? It’s funny how our birthday is such a big, important event to us when we’re children. We can hardly wait a whole year before our next birthday. But when we’re older, it’s the opposite. The years fly by and we seem to go “straight from pimples to wrinkles! So by the time our face clears up, our mind gets fuzzy!” They say the two greatest days of your life are the day you’re born and the day you discover why you were born. You know, Jesus Christ was born just so you and I could finally know why we were born. It’s sad that some people live their whole lives and die without ever even knowing why they were born. It’s like doing something the wrong way all your life without ever knowing there’s a right way to do it. So it’s only natural that the one Person Who knows the right way our life works is the One Who made us. Jesus Christ, who’s God the Son, said that for us to know why we were born we have to first be born again. What did He mean by that? Simply that we each must

Our Faith

o b e or not to b e. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith, we’re really nothing. Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents - or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found every where. We should believe in our friends, even it seems to become very difficult many times. Please remember, my dear readers: without faith will we reach the rock bottom. Don’t say, it’s a likely story. The German poet Johann

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THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst start life all over again by asking Jesus to forgive us for our past wrongs and living our own way. Then we must let Him take full control of every area of our life every day. Jesus does not want us to have religion. He wants us to have a daily, personal relationship with Him. This is why Jesus died and came back to life: so you could be forgiven and free from your past, wrong life. He’ll show you how to start living His right, successful way everyday for the rest of your life. So why not make today the greatest day of your life? You can be born again right now, if you’ll just ask Jesus for His free gift of forgiveness and your new life. It’s the most important choice you’ll ever make, and the one you’ll never regret. Just Think a Minute…

Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama “Maria Stuart”: “Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!” Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody’s thing, or “not everyone has faith”. “If I have faith, that can move mountains” (First Corinthians 13,2). Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the

following lyric: “Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith.” So, let’s even continue believing our government or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. faith is trust or reliance. Faith is really a pledged word. Faithful love is loyal, reliable, exact and honorable love. Faithful love means even to love your enemy. Allow me to close this column with a Chinese proverb: “People without faith in themselves cannot or will never survive!” - Worth to think about it! +++

H ave M y Say

Klaus Doring

Email: dor ingklau s@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

Details of P5-B plunder case vs. DFA officials

IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves…” (Isaiah 1:23, the Holy Bible). -ooo P5 B PLUNDER CASE FILED VS. DFA OFFICIALS: I wonder what President Aquino will say in response to accusations that top officials and ambassadors of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) under his presidency have been squandering some P5 billion in annual maintenance budgets for their office, allegedly disbursed for questionable works and projects that have been paid for with hundreds of millions. In a complaint for plunder that was filed and is still pending with the Office of the Ombudsman, the complainant who made the accusations was identified as Reynaldo Joson, the head of the Sanitary and Hygiene Unit of the DFA. Joson, through a 15page complaint, detailed the projects that the DFA allegedly paid with millions: renovation of roofing, P120

m i l l i on ; re nov at i on of auditorium, P200 million; water roofing of the DFA roof deck, P45 million; replacement of asbestos ceiling to Hardiflex ceiling, P100 million; replacement of centralized air-conditioning units, P200 million; renovation of staiways, P10 million; replacement of fire alarm system, P20 million and renovation of various parts of the DFA building, P20 million. -ooo DETAILS OF THE DFA PLUNDER ACCUSATIONS: He re are s ome d e t ai ls provided for by Joson to buttress his charge for plunder against DFA officials and ambassadors: for the P120 million renovation of the DFA roof, “the low quality of work by the contractor and poor engineering supervision caused the water lead of the DFA building. The water from the roof accumulated at the Auditorium area and served as a catch basin. “As the volume of water i n c re a s e d , t h e c e i l i n g

collapsed. The structural support that held the ceiling failed to carry the (water) load, (causing it to) collapse. Fortunately, there was no… activity at the Auditorium at the time… (even if ) almost the entire ceiling of the DFA head office… (collapsed)…” Joson charged. Then, “while the renovated roof and auditorium were still under warranty, U/ Sec. Franklin Ebdalin hired another contractor to do the repair of the damaged ceiling, including the repair of the water leak, without invoking the warranty.” -ooo F A V O R E D CONTRACTOR AT THE DFA? For the P200 million renovation of the DFA auditorium, Joson claimed t hat t he DFA of f ici a ls whom he sued before the Ombudsman “failed to take action against (the contractor and) instead, another contractor was taken in to initiate the necessary repair/remedy, to the extent of purchasing a newt set of

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio brand new floor carpet…” Insofar as the P200 million replacement of the DFA’s centralized air conditioning system, a contractor who got most of the other multimillion peso projects at the DFA was “contracted to replace the centralized air conditioning system. This project was made with the purchase of brand new equipment found to be nonoperational.” “Up to the present, the brand new centralized air conditioning system that the (same contractor) supplied batas/PAGE 11

Smile, laugh, have fun

s long as all these are properly grounded and oriented, there’s nothing at all to worry. Smiling, laughing and having fun would do us no harm, and in fact would be and would do good to all. The world would be a much better place to live, work and face our usual as well as our unusual concerns. If we manage to smile, to laugh and maintain a good sense of humor, in spite of whatever and all because of love of God and of others, then it can only mean we are healthy not only bodily but also spiritually. We need to cultivate this art of smiling and laughing especially these days when we see a lot of harassed faces. It’s indeed ironic that even as we seem to progress because we now enjoy a lot of technological facilities and many advancements

and developments in other areas, the number of distorted and contorted face has also increased. The Holy Father has talked about this phenomenon sometime ago. He made reference to people with funeral faces. This should not be the case, since if we truly go by our faith, there’s indeed no reason to feel sad, let alone, show it physically. Everything has already been taken care of by Christ. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace,” he reassured us. “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) It’s important that we know the ultimate source of our peace and serenity, our sense of confidence and hope that would enable us to be cheerful at all times no

matter what. It’s in Christ. In other words, the art of smiling and laughing would depend on how truly and vitally united we are with Christ. It’s not merely a matter of luck, of some advantages we happen to have in life in terms of health, wealth, social position, talents and other endowments. It’s w h e n w e t r u l y e n c ou nt e r C h r i s t w h o actually comes to us and who never abandons us, and overcome our initial fear in meeting him, and follow him as closely as possible, when we would be filled with indescribable joy that would simply overflow. Let’s remember that the apostles themselves were driven to great fear when they met Christ in some unusual occasions, as when Christ walked on the water. But when they were reassured it

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala was Christ, they immediately became very happy. Obviously, this joy will come when we know how to live in the presence of God, how to pray and refer things always to him, never feeling alone to face the vagaries of life. It comes and develops when we have an intimate relation with him, with his teachings, with his will at cimagala/PAGE 11

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Vice Governor Pelaez rallies Mindanao Sangguniang Panlalawigan to support MINPOCOR Bill Cagayan de Oro City – Misamis Oriental Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez rallies all Vice Governors and Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Mindanao to support the creation of Mindanao Power Corporation (MINPOCOR). Three bi l ls t hat aim to create the Mindanao Power Corporation are now in the Congress; House Bill No. 676 f iled by 1-Care Representative Edga rdo M a s ongs ong , H B 2 621 Zamboanga Representative

Celso Lobregat, and HB 4883 filed by Cagayan de Oro City 1st District Representative Rufus Rodriguez. It can be remembered that Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez has expressed his opposition to the privatization of AgusPulangi Hydroelectric Power Complexes. By virtue of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the Power Sector Assets and Liabi lit ies Ma nagement (PSALM) is mandated to privatize all assets owned

by t he Nat iona l Power Corporation (NPC). However, V i c e G o v e r n o r Pe l a e z argues that “the continued government ownership of the APHC is in the best interest of Mindanao because it will ensure affordable electricity rates, prevent the monopoly of the electricity market in Mindanao, and earn from the windfall profits of the hydroelectric power plant”. Fur t hermore, t hru Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 143 – 2015

which t he he aut hored, V i c e G ove r n or Pe l a e z articulated that the creation of MI NPOCOR “w i l l enhance the operations and maximize the potential of the APHC, and capacitate it to earn additional funds for Mindanao in order to achieve a reg ime of a f fordable, reliable and sustainable energy”. It will also create a significant impact on the environment considering “the ecological effects of the increasing entry of coal-

fired and bunker-fuel power plants.” “Mindanao cannot afford to give its prized possession in the energy industry to the hands of profit-driven private entities. The nonprivatization of the APHC will serve to protect the i nterest of t he a l ready burdened poor and the lessprivileged from enjoying, what modern day dictates as a necessity, affordable electricity” says the Vice Governor.

As the Vice President of the League of the Vice Governors in the Philippines, Vice Governor Pelaez have written all the Vice Governors in Mindanao to encourage t hem to pass a si mi la r Resolution. Moreover, copies of the Resolution was also sent to the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Senators and Representatives from Mindanao for their support and appropriate action.

AFFORABLE ELECTRICITY RATES – To ensure affordable power rates in Mindanao, Vice Governor Joey G. Pelaez calls on all the Sangguniang Palalawigan in Mindanao to support the creation of Mindanao Power Corporation (MINPOCOR) as proposed by 1-Care Partylist Representative Edgardo R. Masongsong. MINPOCOR will then own, maintain, and operate Agus-Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Complexes (APHC) ensuring Mindanaoans low electricity rates.

Sports activities of P4.15M tops list of SEF expenditures in MisOcc OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental -- Sports activities, amounting to P4.15 million, topped the list of expenditures under the Special Education Fund (SEF) of the province of Misamis Occidental, last year. The amount actually represents 46.83 percent of the P8.86 million SEF provided to the Provincial School Board (PSB) in 2014, Governor Herminia M. Ramiro, Chairman of the PSB, said. Ramiro said the PSB budget was prepared by the following: Dr. Jonathan S. Dela Pena,

Schools Division Superintendent of the Department of Education, Division of Misamis Occidental (DepEd MisOcc) and PSB CoChairperson, and Simplicia Neri, Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Education. Edgar B. Adlaon, President, Misamis Occidental Parents and Teachers’ Association (MOPUSTA), Alfonso T. Tare, Jr., President, Division Federated Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA), Elma B. Gula, Provincial Treasurer and Wilson Marcellana, President, Employees Association.

Meanwhile, the SEF expenditure for sports approved by the PSB included the following: Provincial, regional and national sports activities, P3.1 million, incentives to winning athletes, P300,000, and assistance to training of athletes, P200,000. Assistance to the divisionbased training of athletes for the 2014 Palarong Pambansa, P150,000, assistance to host municipality for the 2014 Palarong Panlalawigan, P300,000 and assistance to the Special Program for Sports, P100,000. (RCA/ PIA10-Misamis Occidental)

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MILF to start decommissioning process June 16

ANILA -- The chief peace negotiators of the G overnment and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) today announced that the MILF is scheduled to undergo the first phase of the decommissioning of its weapons and combatants. “We are scheduled to begin the decommissioning process this June 16,” Government of the Philippines peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer confirmed in a joint press conference with MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal today at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas Center, Pasig CIty. “Phase 1 of the process will begin with the ceremonial turnover of 55 high-powered and 20 crew-serve weapons, and the decommissioning of 145 members of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,” Ferrer said. Crew-

ser ve weapons refer to weapon systems that require more than one individual for it to function at optimum efficiency, usually needing one person to load and another person to fire, such as medium and heavy machine guns. “The President himself will be the guest of honor during the event and we are inviting our esteemed lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate to join us and witness the commitment of both Parties to put an end to the armed conflict,” the GPH chief negotiator said. “This is just the start of the decommissioning process, which the MILF has committed to undertake as a show of its sincerity to peace building,” she added, emphasizing that this “shows the continued

DAR-ARMM to distribute service facilities to agrarian reform beneficiaries MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DARARMM) will be distributing approximately P20-million worth of common service facilities to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations in the core provinces of the region. The common ser vice facilities are composed of six four-wheel drive tractors, three hand tractors, three corn shellers, and one power tiller. It will be distributed during the agency’s celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on June 15, 2015. The distribution is part of the Agrarian Reform

Community Connectivity and Economic Suppor t Services program of the agency, which is aimed at increasing production and engagement of farmerbeneficiaries in agri-based and related enterprises. The recipients of the facilities were identified through a series of processes conducted by the agency. Amihilda Sangcopan, DAR-ARMM Secretary, said the facilities will make an impact on the lives of the farmer-beneficiaries in the region. She said the agency will cover the insurance and transport of the facilities to their respective areas. Another highlight of the celebration is the launching of the new website of the agency. The website, said Sangcopan, facilities/PAGE 11

commitment of the Parties to bring peace” even as the Bangsamoro Basic Law is still being deliberated in both chambers of Congress. Earlier, Iqbal described the decommissioning process as “very difficult” but noted that the MILF has committed to “undertake the ultimate sacrifice.” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles has noted that the decommissioning process the MILF is set to undergo is unprecedented, as it was not done during the earlier peace agreement with the

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). “We’ve never had an armed organization that has been fighting with government as an organization voluntarily— in partnership with the government—turn over w e ap o n s ,” D e l e s s a i d , explaining that the peace accord with the MNLF only ushered in an integration of combatants with the armed forces and the police. Gradual decommissioning is part of the Annex on No r m a l i z a t i o n s i g n e d by t h e M I L F a n d t h e government last January

2014. Firearms will be turned over to the Independent Decommissioning B ody (IDB), while decommissioned combatants will undergo a registration, verification, and validation process, after which they will be provided immediate cash assistance amounting to P25,000 and PhilHealth Cards. Medium- to long-term socio economic interventions for the combatants will be handled by the Task Force on Decommissioned Combatants and Communities. The normalization process

has three main components— security, socioeconomic development, and transitional justice and reconciliation— which are aimed at fostering peace in conflict-affected communities in Mindanao, w h i ch w i l l t h e n a l l ow individuals to fully pursue productive and sustainable livelihoods without fear of violence or crime. According to the Annex on Nor m a l i z at i on , t he decommissioning of MILF weapons and forces “shall be parallel and commensurate to the implementation of all the agreements of the Parties.”?

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PH shares lessons learned from Typhoon Bopha, Haiyan at World Meteorological Org.

ANILA - The Philippines shared lessons learned during typhoon Bopha/Pablo and typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda at a sideline event on Lessons Learned from Disasters that Impacted WMO Members during the 17th Congress of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The discussions explored climate-induced disasters from the view of m e t e oro l o g i s t s an d

hydrologists a crucial facet of disaster risk reduction that is highly essential to ensure accurate, early warning and timely delivery of forecast that could save lives during weather disasters, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported. Dr. Vicente Malano, head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), provided valuable inputs,

culled from the Philippines unique experience of hurdling typhoon Yolanda - the most powerful typhoon ever to make landfall in recorded history. “It is of p aramount importance to build resilient weather stations and meteorological facilities that can withstand the operational, physical and structural strain brought about by extreme weather disturbances”, Dr. Malano

emphasized. “The integrity of our stations, including all the systems that support it, have to be ensured and secured, especially during the actual onslaught where information becomes more crucial”, he added. During extreme climatic hazards, weather systems get destroyed during impact. In other cases, power grids, communications, internet and other system to support weather stations get impaired

at the onslaught. As such, there is a need to develop the ability to sustain a global communicat ion system during the most needed time, particularly during power shut down. The PAGASA station in Tacloban, including its Doppler radar was destroyed after Haiyan’s maximum sustained winds of 315km/hr battered the region. Electric and communication lines were also knocked down, disrupting power support and cutting relay of vital information needed for analysis, documentation and disaster response. The Philippines also provided insight on its exp er ience w it h stor m surges during Typhoon Haiyan. Storm surges were primarily responsible for over 6,245 deaths, and over 28,000 injured in the storm’s aftermath. Other countries that provided insights are Fiji, Tonga, and Zimbabwe. Fiji was ravaged by Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2012. Tonga on the other hand was run down by Tropical Cyclone Ian in 2015 which was the first Category 5 that hit any islands of Tonga in the past 60 years. Zimbabwe was inundated by flood waters as torrential rains pounded

Harare in 2014 displacing over 2,000 households. A common lesson learned that ran through the discussion is the need to translate weather jargon, such as wind speed and rainfall, not just to the native dialect, but to a language that regular people understand. Most people who did not evacuate despite early warnings did not have the full comprehension of the damage and adverse consequences to their safety, household, livestock and livelihood. In the Philippines, the term storm surge was new and hence, there was a lack of awareness and understanding on the hazards of its impact. After typhoon Bopha and Haiyan, PAGASA is improving its Multi-Hazard E arly War n i ng Sy ste m (MHEWs), and are enhancing its radar observation network. PAGASA is also establishing additional flood forecasting and warning centers to cover 18 major river basins. The 17th session of the World Meteorological Congress (CG-17) is ongoing in Geneva, Switzerland and runs from May 25 to June 12 in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Meteorological Congress takes place every four years and represents the supreme governing body of the WMO. (DFA)

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LifeStyle

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MyPhone wagi laban sa mala-David vs Goliath na trademark case laban sa iPhone Kamakailan lang ay naipanalo ng Pinoy Phone brand na MyPhone ang isang kasong trademark na inihain ng global technology giant na Apple Inc. Inakusahan ng higanteng kumpanya ng pangagaya sa “iPhone” ang noon ay pasimula pa lamang na “my|phone” ng Solid Broadband Corporation. Base sa kanilang akusasyon, isa umanong “copycat” ang local na brand, at sumasakay lamang ito sa kasikatan ng noon ay kakalabas pa lamang din na brand ng telepono. Parehong inilabas ang unang

iPhone at MyPhone noong 2007. Ngunit matapos ang mahigit kumulang na anim na taong paglilitis ay ibinasura ng Intellectual Property Office sa Pilipinas ang nasabing kaso. Ayon sa nasabing ahensya, dapat ay kilalanin ang kakayanang mag-isip ng mga mamimili, lalo na sa merkado ng mobile phones kung saan maalam ang mga mamimili sa brand ng mga produkto. Ang pagpapakilala din mg “my|phone” bilang isang “local Pinoy Phone” at pamamaraan ng pagpromote nito ay higit

na nagpapa-iba dito sa “iPhone.” Base sa mga dokumentong ipinasa ng Solid Broadband, isinumite na ng kumpanya sa unang pagkakataon ang pag-rehistro sa “my|phone” noong June 25, 2007, ilang araw bago ilabas ang unang iPhone sa US. Makalipas ang dalawang taon ay isinampa ng Apple ang kaso ng trademark, ngunit hindi nila ito isinapubliko gay ang ialng paghahabla nila sa ibang kumpanya, isa na dito ang Samsung. “This is a case of a giant trying to claim more territory than

what it is entitled to (ito ay isang kaso ng isang higanteng nangangamkam ng teirtoryo na hindi niya pag mamay-ari),” sabi ng Migallos and Luna Law Office, legal na tagapayo ng Solid Broadband. Ang MyPhone ang nag lalayong gumawa ng mga produktong magiging abot kaya sa mga normal na Pilipinong mamimili. Ang mga telepono

nila ay naghahalagang Php499 hanggang Php 13,000. Dagdag ni Mr. Richie de Quina Vice President for Marketing and Business Development na ang MyPhone ay itinaguyod upang mabigyan na pagkakataon ang mga Pilipino na magkaroon ng Telepono na matibay at abot kaya at

maipagmamalaki ng mga Pilipino. Saktong sakto na ang kampanya ng MyPhone ngayon ay tinaguriang "Be Inspired" na sumabay sa balitang pagkapanalo ng MyPhone sa Trademark War with MyPhone. Isang produktong PINOY na talagang pwedeng ipagmalaki ng lahat ng mga Pilipino.

Take a Walk into the Fun Side with Wakai Wakai ライフスタイル which reads as “Wakai Raifusutairu” is a footwear brand rooted in the mission of providing lifestyle products for the young, dynamic and spirited urbanites. Taking inspiration from the 15th century shoe made and used by Spanish people in the Catalonia region, Wakai showcased a range of espadrilles that were remade to bear authenticity, comfort, creativity, and affordability in 2012. A couple of years later, Wakai has gained global acclaim yet it remains steadfast in its vision to embody its brand DNA of SMART that stands for Sport, Music, Art, Retail, and Technology. It is in the nature of Wakai as a Japanese brand to cascade its brand philosophy in all that it does. Carefully crafted with passion and dedication, each Wakai footwear is infused with true Japanese inspiration resulting in innovative and stylish lifestyle products. Priding itself for remaking a classic, Wakai elevates the iconic espadrille by infusing innovative construction to ensure comfort and quality. Featuring a 4-part upper lid, Wakai espadrilles allow for flexibility while its anti-slip outsole makes it ideal for those who lead active

lifestyles. Taking things further, Wakai sets its footwear range apart as it offers a unique bamboo charcoal insole that allows for antibacterial properties which trap moisture within itself and absorb perspiration to keep one’s feet comfortable and dry. Plus, the insole features an anti-fatigue capability as it absorbs shock and minimizes footfall pressure. Another interesting feature of Wakai’s espadrilles is its cleverly constructed outsole designed to sustain the weight of its wearer for long walks and activities. Made with a combination of 70% rubber and 30% TPR, the outsoles guarantee flexibility and durability all the way. All these technologies and design qualities serve as strong foundations to Wakai’s range of highquality footwear but breathing life and soul to each product is its unique, artistic, and inspiring designs and silhouettes. Divided into different product categories, Wakai footwear comes in various silhouettes including canvas shoes, canvas boat shoes, and even ballerina flats and wedges for the ladies. As for its design range, Wakai offers three lines. The Classic collection

ライフスタイル

Vallarta Yellow P1790

Vallarta Green P1790

Vallarta Blue P1790

Mujeres Pink P1790

Koyo Brown P1990 includes footwear silhouettes in rich and solid colors and comes in one-tone, two-tone, or three-tone varieties. Made for those who enjoy patterns and prints, the Stamp collection offers footwear with kooky patterns and unique prints while the Fashion collection was made for the style savvy bunch as it infuses a more detailed variation to classic silhouettes with appliqués and mixed materials. Much recently, Wakai launched the Wakai Mexico collection for

Daichi Blue P1990 Spring/Summer 2015. The result is a highly covetable line that makes use of fun Mexican patterns and lovely ethnic prints to create unique and vibrant espadrilles. A lifestyle brand that seeks to enliven the humdrum spirits of urbanites, Wakai aims to shake things up and remind everyone to have a bit of fun. This season, step into the wonderful world of Wakai and experience a unique treat for your senses. Wakai, exclusively distributed by Primer

Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant, is available at Res|Toe|Run: Alabang Town Center, Ayala Abreeza Davao, Ayala Center Cebu, Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro, Embarcadero de Legazpi, Festival Mall, Fisher Mall, Gateway Mall, Glorietta 4, Lucky Chinatown Mall, NAIA Terminal 3, Nuvali Solenad 2, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Robinsons Place Manila, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza, Trinoma and in Bratpack: Greenbelt 5.

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Trade... from page 1

office, said while the agency recognizes the banana industry’s position, they are constrained by the rules of bilateral talks. “In a bilateral negotiation, only representatives of governments are allowed to interact,” Mr. Montenegro said. The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA), the organization of the country’s major banana players, said it would like more influence on the direction of the talks. “The industry wants a bigger voice in the discussions concerning its issues,” Stephen A. Antig, PBGEA executive director, told BusinessWeek Mindanao. Mr. Antig also reiterated the group’s call for the government not to “strangle (the industry) to death” with new local and national regulations that will affect the 47-year old banana export business. Among the regulatory issues that PBGEA and other industry players are currently battling involve local taxation, aerial spraying rules, and government control over contract farming. Meanwhile, the Davao regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced last week that some growers have started harvesting the new Cavendish banana variety that is resilient to Fusarium wilt, also known as the Panama disease, that has been affecting farms in the last five years. In a press statement, DA Region 12 said the growers have proven that the new variety not only thrives in areas previously infested with Fusarium wilt but that the fruits are sweeter and have higher starch levels. The DA has allocated P102 million to help the industry, particularly small banana growers, address Panama disease.

Budget... from page 1

the City’s Finance Committee would be able to raise the amount in December this year. At present, Cagayan De Oro City operates under a P2.08 billion 2015 budget after the City Council nixed Moreno’s P3.8 billion since the Finance Committee failed to justify the sources of revenue. Moreno said that part of the proposed budget would be to upgrade the health services of the city-run J. R. Borja Memorial Hospital here. He said he would want to see a city hospital with state-of-theart medical equipment and health services to the residents of Cagayan De Oro City. In his message, Moreno also boosted the many awards that his administration has attained in the local and international level. In April this year, Education Sec. Armin Luistro conferred the “Education Champion Award” to the city government for the construction of 383 classrooms for public elementary and secondary schools in the city. Moreno said that the Local School Board initiated the construction of the classrooms out of the city’s Special Education Fund (SEF) without getting any outside support. Moreno also said that in 2014, the UN Habit named Cagayan de Oro as one of the nine emerging cities of tomorrow worldwide. The National Competitiveness Council adjudged Cagayan De Oro City as the most competitive city outside Metro Manila and won the Livable Cities Design Challenge of the USAID. “Cagayan De Oro City is transitioning to a more transparent, responsive, empowering and efficient city government that respects and promotes our multicultural heritage not just as the metropolitan hub of Northern Mindanao but also as one of the emerging cities in the global arena,” Moreno said. Cagayan De Oro City became a chartered city on June 15, 1950 that the city celebrates every year. One

of the highlights of the celebration was the annual mayoral address, a report of the local chief executive’s accomplishments for the last 12 months and a glimpse of his plan in the near future.

Farmers... from page 1

tobacco farming because she can harvest the tobacco leaf two plants after transplanting tobacco. Also, “tobacco brings us a weekly income of not less than P1,000.” This town, the only landlocked municipality in Misamis Oriental, is the site of PMFTC’s continuous production operations as tobacco leaf is grown and harvested all year round. Farmers here plant the flue-cured variety which matches the excellent variety grown in the United States and Brazil. For farmers here, tobacco farming is way much better than growing other crops because they are assured of a market at fixed contracted price, farms inputs assistance, free of charge transportation for the leaf harvest to the buying station, full technical assistance from planting to growing and harvesting, and are trained to apply and observe good agricultural practices. But they are suffering from the onslaught of the El Niño phenomenon. Project Tabuk Because Sawitan took risks in planting tobacco despite the drought, PMFTC “rewarded” her, and other tobacco farmers who risked, with cash and grocery items under the Project Tabuk (crossover) of the company’s Farmers Assistance Program. Project Tabuk is a one-of-a-kind relief program of PMFTC, Inc. that aims to ease farmers’ burden of loss income due to the drought. It also aims to help tobacco farmers “crossover” from the prolonged dry spell to the rainy season. The project has two components, Cost Recovery Package and Food Package. The Cost Recovery Package allows farmers to recover their cost of production. To compensate for their losses because of the drought, PMFTC pays farmers for the difference between the total labor and machinery rental costs and the total value of tobacco purchases. Thus, not all tobacco farmers who took the risk of planting despite the drought got the same amount, said Ravi Lumunsad, operations manager of PMFTC Claveria. The Food Package, on the other hand, covers the margin of income the farmers would have earned under normal conditions. The amount of assistance is 50 percent of the estimated margin of earning of each farmer. Farmers who took the risks received P10,000 worth of food package assistance (P4,000 worth of rice and P6,000 worth of grocery items) for every hectare planted to tobacco. For tobacco farmers who did not plant because of the El Nino, they still receive food packages worth P1,500, said lawyer Wilma “Amy’ Eisma, PMFTC Public Affairs and Contributions manager. PMFTC also condoned the loans the farmers owed the company, Lumunsad said. Partners in development D i det D angui l an, P M F T C communications manager, said that based on their records, there are 221 “risk-taker” tobacco farmers in Claveria while those who did not take risk or planted other crops than tobacco or have stopped farming altogether because of the drought totaled 449. “All of them are the beneficiaries of Project Tabuk.” PMFTC are taking very good care of tobacco farmers here and in other parts of the country where it has an operation because the company considers them as “partners in development.” “Without these farmers, it will be very hard for us to continue in the business,” Danguilan said. Aside from tobacco farmers, the cigarette manufacturing giant will also be extending assistance to other farmers here, not just the tobacco farmers, said Eisma. “We will also be giving 50 cavans

of rice to other farmers here but these will be coursed through the local government unit under the Office of the Municipal Mayor,” she said, as she explained that farmers should be given assistance because “they feed us. Without them, we will all go hungry.” Lumunsad said that the Farmers Assistance Program was specifically designed to help the farmers. “As a company, we have to do our share in helping our farmers because they have been very good to us and have helped us grow big in our operation. We will never abandon them because they have not abandoned us during the drought.” Investing in the future PMFTC, Inc. — an affiliate of Philip Morris International and manufacturer of such brands as Marlboro, Philip Morris, Hope, Fortune, Champion, Jackpot, Westpoint, Bowling Gold, Miller and Stork — established its first Virginia tobacco experimental farm, covering 10 hectares, in Barangay Ane-I, Claveria, Misamis Oriental. The first batch of transplanting for the commercialization phase was conducted in November 2013. The pre-commercialization phase ended in October 2014 and thereafter it went into full commercialization. “Since we started operation in 2012, tobacco planting in Claveria has brought better income to the farmers, better than when they planted traditional crops where the cost of production was high and the profit margin was minimal,” Lumunsad said. Danguilan said that Claveria was chosen to grow Virginia tobacco because of its favorable weather with its even rainfall distribution and good soil which is of the clay loam type. “Tobacco planting has become a cash crop for the residents as they gained better income allowing them to send their children to college and improve their lives. It also provided employment opportunities to the community and nearby municipalities,” she added. PMFTC, Inc., which also exports brands Marlboro and L&M to Thailand since 2003, believes that Claveria holds the future of the company. It is investing more than US$50 million (over P2.2 billion) in the municipality over the next five to six years. “We have a lot of capital expenditures at the moment [that are] being used on several projects, particularly the one in Claveria. We are helping farmers there now… We’re starting a whole new operation because it is quite a unique project that we got going on there—it’s the only second place in the world where we grow tobacco twice a year,” PMFTC President Paul Riley said in a statement. He noted that tobacco could be grown only once a year in

the northern part of the country. Riley said the US$50 million investment would be used to build curing barns as well as provide seedling trays to farmers in the area. “We’re not going away, so we have to invest in the future,” he stressed. So “futuristic” is its Claveria operation — nursery, fresh leaf buying station, curing barns, etc. — that it now holds the distinction of being only the second tobacco facility globally and first in Asia to be fully automated.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG HEIRS WITH SALE Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late ANTONIO J. DAGALEA, who died in Cagayan de Oro City, on September 9, 1997, without any will; WHEREAS the said deceased, at the time of his death, left a certain real property co-owned by him and Felix C. Acebu, situated in Upper Agusan (formerly part of Barrio Balubal) Cagayan de Oro City, and more particularly described as follows: TCT NO. T-44398 “A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 52, Plsm-1098, Balubal Public Land Subdivision) situated in the BARRIO Balubal, City of Cagayan de Oro. Island of Mindanao. Containing an area of FIFTY SIX THOUSAND SIX HNDRED (56,600) square meters, more or less, which real property is covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-44398 of the Register of Deeds of Cagayan de Oro City; is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG HEIRS WITH SALE under the notary public of Atty. RECTO P. ACHAS, As per Doc. No.367; Page No.73; Book No. 151; Series of 2014.

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late FILOMENO JALAGAT, who died on November 18, 1990, in Initao Mis. Or. And DEMOCRITA BAGARES, who died on SEPTEMBER 20,2007 in Initao , Misamis Oriental ; That the said deceased, at the time of their death, left a parcel of land situated in Palong kamelon, Initao, Misamis Oriental and more particularly described as follows : TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION, ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. P-4019, LOT NO. 929, PLS-616-D. Containing an area of TWENTY THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TEN (23,310) SQUARE METERS ; LEAH JALAGAT CAVENAUGH, of legal age, Filipino citizen, married to RUSSELL EDWARD CAVENAUGH with residence and postal address at # 808 HAWLEY RD NORTH CAROLINA, 28334 U.S.A. hereinafter referred to as the BUYER/VENDEE; is the subject of EXTRA- JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND under the notary public of Atty. EMELITO J. MARQUIÑO, As per Doc. No. 340; Page No.68; Book No. XI; Series of 2015.

BWM: June 3, 10 & 17, 2015

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Evacuees... from page 2

military leaves the area and compensates the farmers for the possible destruction and damages on the tribal village. The fact-finding team reported on Monday that the military has left the farming village of Minkamansi and that there were no traces of damage and destruction to the tribal houses in the village. Provincial Attorney Cecilia Faelnar, who heads the factfinding team, said that except for the domesticated animals that freely roam the village, the team found out that the military left the place without traces of destruction and damages to the houses and properties of the tribal residents. Acosta said that the evacuees performed the traditional “send-off” ritual in the provincial capitol ground Tuesday morning as a gesture of gratitude toward provincial Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano of Misamis Oriental, for extending all necessary assistance to the evacuees.

like learning how to crack jokes, to make fun of oneself, to act like a comedian or jester for the others, but only as a consequence of an authentic relationship with Christ or at the instance of faith, hope and charity. I believe that this concern for learning how to smile, laugh and have fun is a real and urgent one that needs general attention. It might be a good idea if we can devise a way of monitoring the level of authentic joy and cheerfulness in the different levels of society. Things should start with oneself, then with the family and the neighbourhood. Schools and other forms of community life should be marked by a healthy brand of cheerfulness. Yes, we have to practice to smile and laugh and have clean fun. Parents should plan things so that everyone at home smiles and has a good time, in spite of whatever problems there may be. Let’s remember education starts at home, before it is sustained in the schools. Might be good to collect jokes and nice, edifying anecdotes for this purpose. roycimagala@gmail.com

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Batas... from page 4

and installed nine years ago (are) still brand new but non-operational,” Joson also declared. We will write more of this next issue, God willing. -ooo PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way), a Bible study and prayer session on radio, airs Mondays to Fridays, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at DWAD 1098 kHz on the AM band. For replays, go to www.facebook.com/angtangingdaan or www.facebook.com/ANDKNK and scroll for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts. Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0917 984 24 68. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo. com. -30-

Facilities... from page 7

is a way to introduce the region’s Agrarian Reform department and reintroduce CARP to the public. This year’s celebration will banner the theme, “Nurturing the Gains, Strengthening Partnerships, for Reform and Rural Development.” (BPI/APB/PIA-10)

Cimagala... from page 4

every moment. It comes and develops when we, like Christ, would overcome the fear of the cross, of any problem we can have in life, when we know how to react to anything in a supernatural way, with faith, hope and charity, much like how Christ behaved when his time to suffer and die came. It should be a constant intention in our prayer that we grow in identification with Christ, and then start to make adjustments in our attitudes and ways of seeing and doing things, to let the forces of faith, hope and charity to irrigate our thoughts, desires, plans, words, and general behaviour. Yes, we can avail of some finishing-school type of developing cheerfulness and sense of humor, EXTRA- JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND

BusinessWeek MINDANAO YOUR MINDANAO-WIDE BUSINESS PAPER WED-THURS | JUNE 17-18, 2015

2013 PPI’S BEST IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC REPORTING 2014 PPI’S BEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING

Motoring Section Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

THE

FOUR-WAY TEST

of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

PAGE 12

Nissan Unveils the all-new NV350 Urvan Since its inception in Japan in 1973, the Urvan has undergone five iterations ever since. Here in the Philippines, the Urvan made its presence felt, both for family use and in the public transport sector. “Shuttle operators preferred the Urvan for its proven reliability, passenger comfort and strong air-conditioning system, flexible loading and seating capacity for both cargo and passenger,” said Antonio Zara, President and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI). And now, NPI introduces the all-new NV350 Urvan. Designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, shuttle operators, and family users, the 5th generation NV350 Urvan is equipped with a 2.5-liter engine that is based on the NP300 Navara pick-up, boasting of 356 Nm of torque. Owners of the all-new NV350 Urvan will also get to enjoy a wide array of services and

privileges offered by the Nissan Customer Assistance Center (NCAC) that can be reached through its hotline 407-65-93. In addition, with the Alagang Nissan program, owners can avail of affordable parts servicing of their all-new NV350 Urvan in dedicated dealerships nationwide. Those who will use the all-new NV350 Urvan for utility purposes and will be registered as PUV will get to enjoy three years manufacturer’s warranty with no additional cost. “We’re proud to announce that this is a first in the local automotive industry, to provide warranty coverage for vans used for UV purposes,” Zara added. The all-new NV350 Urvan will be made available starting June 15, in the following configurations and pricing: 15-seater PhP 1.183M, 18-seater PhP 1.196M, and 3-seater cargo PhP 1.177M.

The Motion of Innovation – 2015 Yamaha International Motor Show

PASAY City - The SM Mall of Asia Atrium was packed with Yamaha fans as Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) officially opened the 2015 Yamaha International Motor Show. Dubbed as “the motion of innovation”, the event's highlight was the public introduction of their Blue Core technology. According to YMPH, the key concept of Blue Core is “more power, less fuel”, and they will initially introduce it to the market in two configurations: a 125 cc air-cooled engine and a 155 cc liquid-cooled engine. The first to be equipped with the former are the latest addition to Yamaha's automatic line-up, the Mio i 125 and the Mio Soul i 125. Both models will soon be available in Yamaha dealerships nationwide. YMPH also revealed the firm's intention to venture into the big bike segment before the end of the year. The event also served as the launch pad for Yamaha's Power Products line-up and Wave Runner series. Among those present to grace the occasion were YMPH executives headed by their president Toru Osugi, together with celebrity Robi Domingo.

Hyundai holds 2nd round of Lateral Drift Media Drift Challenge

Even the pouring rain did nothing to dampen spirits of select members of the Philippine motoring media as Hyundai and Lateral Drift Productions conducted the second round of the Lateral Drift Media Drift Challenge at the Megatent open grounds in Libis, Quezon City. “Together with Hyundai Asia Resouces Inc. (HARI), our goal is to give members of the media a firsthand experience on the joys and challenges of the sport of drifting” said Charlie Cruz, Lateral Drift Productions president. Participants received intructions from some of the country’s top drifters

and everyone had the opportunity to test their mettle on two different variants of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe: the 2.0L Turbo 6MT and the 3.8L V6 8AT.