BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 14, 2017)

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Volume VII, No. 124

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Tuesday | March 14, 2017

Business leaders welcome X X Briefly resumption of peace talks

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Industrial peace MALAYBALAY City -- The Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Office No. 10 (DOLE-10), through its Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO), spearheaded the monthly Board of Directors’ meeting of the Bukidnon Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (BTIPC) at the Sugar Workers Learning Training Center (SWLTC), DOLE-X Buk PFO Building, Capitol Compound, Malaybalay city.

Chairman of the Board and DOLE-X Buk PFO Head Raul L. Valmores said the meeting aimed to set goals and targets on the programs and projects of the Council for CY 2017.

“BTIPC’s regular meetings have also helped build relationships and improved communication lines among its members. The stronger relations between labor and management help both parties to understand each other’s position more objectively, thereby creating workplace harmony,” Valmores added.

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

D

AVAO City — The business leaders here said they welcome the revival of the peace negotiations between the government (GRP) and National Democratic Front (NDF) but called on the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the communists, to be more sincere and stop the extortion activities.

Ronald Go, President of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) told MindaNews

on Sunday that the peace has always been the backbone for the progress and development of this country.

“If we remain fractionalized, we will always get what we have gotten from many years of armed struggles: nothing,” he said.

He said the communists should show more sincerity to see to it that a long lasting peace agreement can finally be achieved.

“It is only then we can build a better society, a better future, and a better nation for us all,” he said. peace/PAGE 11

P5.5-B infra projects up for Mindanao under PRDP

By JAY M. ROSAS, Contributor

Agro-enterprise AIMING for the presentation of the Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP) of the Mt. Inayawan-Illana cluster, comprising the municipalities of Kapatagan, Sapad, Sultan Naga Dimaporo and Nunungan, to the local executives of the said towns and National Convergence Initiative (NCI), and subject for the approval of the Regional Development Council in April, this year, members of the technical working group of the local convergence agro-enterprise cluster have convened in a meeting for the refinement of the CADP. The Plan serves as a blueprint for the identification of interventions to be poured out by the implementing agencies (departments of Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources and Agrarian Reform) that would help manage and sustain the cluster’s watershed and ecosystems and further develop agribusiness potentials, at the same time, without adversely affecting them.

BACK TO PEACE TABLE. The peace process between government (GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) is now back on track following a successful backchannel talks on March 11 and 12, 2017 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Photo courtesy of OPAPP

STREET CHALK ART. Artist works on his entry during the Street Chalk Art competition at the parking area of SM Lanang in Davao City on Saturday night, 11 March 2017.

MINDANEWS PHOTO

Bangsa programs also benefit non-Moros in Mindanao--exec ZAMBOANGA City -- The socio-economic programs and projects under the Bangsamoro peace process are being implemented not only in Moro-dominated areas but also in

communities that hosts mixed population across Mindanao, an official said.

M o h a m m a d Yacob, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) director, said

BUTUAN City -- Around P5.5-billion worth of infrastructure subprojects are pipelined for Mindanao u n d e r DA’s P h i l ippi n e Rural Development Project (PRDP) aimed at improving agricultural productivity in the countryside.

According to PRDP’s February 2017 report, farmto-market roads (FMR) make up the bulk of the pipelined subprojects with a total of 46 subprojects amounting to P4.49 billion.

These subprojects are awaiting endorsement of the issuance of no objection

letter (NOL), which signals approval, while others are awaiting approval of the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB), or subprojects undergoing validation.

U n d e r g o i n g implement at ion are 62 FMR subprojects while 37 are under various stages of procurement.

“Under PRDP, we aim to build concreted road networks that will connect production areas and farms to markets which will hopefully translate to bigger incomes of farmers,” PRDP Mindanao infra/PAGE 11

on Friday that “this only shows that the current peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is benefit/PAGE 11

Eight decades after, Davao City soars high DAVAO City --Eighty years ago on March 1, 1937, Davao formally became a city in an inauguration attended by then Interior Secretary Elpidio Quirino at the now Quezon Park, a prominent landmark

located in front of the City Hall.

From the United States, the late President Manuel Quezon said the cityhood of Davao w as “ i mp or t ant i n international trade” as it “brings realization to

one of my long cherished plans of affording your city every opportunity to make great strides in its political, social, and economic development.”

Q u e z on’s v i s i on was to make Davao a soars/PAGE 11

READY TO FLY. Maj. Nancy Dacanay makes a final check of her MG520 attack helicopter before the start of the simulation exercise of the Joint Task Force Haribon showcasing its capability and readiness in Davao City. The task force is a composite unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police tasked to secure the Davao Region. MindaNews Photo

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Economy PH services exports to Tax reform ‘key link’ to breach USD30-B in 2016 redeeming PHL future

M

ANILA -- Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has underscored the importance of public diplomacy to win popular support for the Duterte administration’s proposed Comprehensive Ta x R e fo r m P r o g r a m (CTRP) by convincing ordinary Filipinos that an overhaul of the outdated tax is the “key link” to “redeeming the country’s future.”

“It is important for us to quickly conduct public diplomacy to win our citizens to the side of reform. We should be able to convince

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our people of the long-term benefits of renovating the architecture of our country’s revenue system,” Dominguez said “We need to convince our people the comprehensive tax reform package is the key link to a more inclusive economy further down the road.”

“This can be done only with the passage of the comprehensive tax reform program. This is the key link to redeeming our nation’s future,” said Dominguez in his remarks during Friday’s tax reform roadshow jointly conducted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (PCCI) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

PCCI-USAID tax reform roadshows have so far been held in the provinces of Pampanga, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Davao and Cagayan De Oro to inform the public of the benefits of the CTRP and gather their inputs on how to further finetune the proposed tax reform plan.

Dominguez thanked the PCCI, led by its president George Barcelon, and the USAID for proac tively supporting the CTRP and

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helping the Department of Finance (DOF) pitch its merits before the business sector and the international community. “ Than k you for t he support you offer in c on du c t i ng t h e pu bl i c diplomacy paving the way to revenue reforms. Yours are credible voices representing the business community and our development partners.

I assure you the support you extend is profoundly Reform/PAGE 10

MANILA – The country’s exports revenue for services in 2016 is seen to breach the USD30-billion mark, a trade official told reporters.

Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Executive Director Senen Perlada said services exports remain robust last year with a double-digit growth and an estimated revenue of over USD32 billion.

Perlada said information technology and business process management (ITBPM) sector accounts for 75 percent of services export, with health information manage me nt re cord i ng the highest growth in the

industry.

Services exports in 2015 posted a revenue of USD29.32 billion, according to the trade official.

In the Philippine Exports Development Plan (PEDP) 2015-2017, the countr y targets for 9 to 10 percent of services growth, with revenue ranging from USD29.89 billion to USD30.23 billion in 2016.

For this year, services revenue is projected at USD32.87 billion to USD33.86 billion.

Perlada noted that the st rong p er for mance in services will buoy the total exports/PAGE 11

SEC sees more investments in infrastructure bonds this year MANILA -- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) expects this year more companies engaged in infrastructure developments to issue project bonds to fund expansion, boosting t he count r y’s fo c us on improving infrastructure.

SEC chairperson Teresita He r b o s a s ai d t h e y are encouraging the issuance of long-term infrastructure bonds, as most listed companies have already availed of the SEC’s shelf registration program. “ We’r e g o i n g i n t o infrastructure bonds, these are long term, more than 10 years,” she told reporters.

He r b o s a a l s o h op e s that companies engaged in agriculture and manufacturing sectors will

also issue project bonds.

The issuance of infrastructure bonds is expected to boost infrastructure developments in the country.

The Duter te administ rat ion exp e c ts PHP8 trillion to PHP9 trillion in infrastructure investments from 2017 to 2022.

Meanwhile, Herb osa said the Commission is looking to enhance its shelf registration program.

“Well, now we have three years. But I don’t know if we can extend that. But three years look sufficient for t he i ssu e rs … ,” she said. “The market looks good plus I think maybe rather go to the bank, of course borrowing from

the banks have limitations, they (companies) will raise publicly.”

The SEC attributed the significant boost in corporate bond issuance to the enhanced shelf registration program under the 2015 Securities Regulation Code implementing rules and regulations.

Under t he shelf registration program, securities may be registered for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis, or in tranches, for a period not exceeding three years.

Capital raising can be done by issuers as they are needed and/or when market conditions are favorable for them. (PNA) LGI/LDV

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Opinion

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Cam’s reaction to criticisms pure hogwash

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How to be a good fighter!

Think a minute…A few ye ars ago Mi ke Ty s on fought Evander Holyfied for the world heavyweight championship title. During the fight, Tyson got so angry he actually bit off a part of Holyfield’s ear! Most of us know that it takes a much stronger man to control his own anger than to let it control him.

Many homes are not happy because the husband and wife haven’t learned to control their anger and fight by the rules. Of course, I don’t mean fist fighting, but rather arguing with words. There are 5 simple guidelines for fighting that would make a big difference in many marriages and homes.

The 1st one is smart timing. If you are still angry, then it’s usually better to wait until both of you are in a better mood. “Take time out before you take it out on each other!” As one lady who‘d been married over 35 years said: “I’ve learned never to tell my husband bad news on an empty stomach!”

The 2nd guideline is to allow the other person the right to say, “I’m angry.” Let them tell you how they feel.

If we don’t let others express their anger in a healthy way, then it will continue to build

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst up until we finally blow up!

Then we can deeply hurt each other with the angry, even hateful, things we say and do. Remember, our feelings are not right or wrong, but they’re still real; so we need to allow each other the freedom to say how we feel.

Number 3: Know exactly why you’re angry. Sometimes the thing that started us feeling so angry was only a small even silly thing. But behind it is the real problem which we need to talk about it.

The 4th guideline to fighting in marriage is to realize that your anger is the enemy, not your wife or husband. So stay on the same side and fight together against the anger that’s hurting your family.

Hurst/PAGE 11

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… I also want the women to dress modestly, with de cenc y and propr iet y, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess t o w o r s h i p G o d …” ( 1 Timothy 2:9-10, the Holy Bible).

-ooo CAM’S REACTION TO CRITICISMS IS PURE HOGWASH: The reaction of erstwhile whistleblower Sandra Cam to criticisms against her having berated an airport employee who did not allow her to use the VIP lounge at the facility if she did not pay the fee for such use---that those criticisms were part of a grand plan of the Liberal Party (LP) to destroy those close to President Duterte--is pure hogwash.

The point is that, if Cam did not display arrogance and pretense to power in the first place, there would be no criticisms against her. Those criticisms came in torrents because she app eared to have acted rudely, and pretended she was already a high Duterte government official when she clearly had no place yet in that government.

I have no love lost for the Liberal Party, which Cam is accusing to be behind the criticisms a g a i n s t h e r, b u t I c a n rightfully say that even if that party truly wanted

t o d e s t r oy t h o s e c l o s e to Duterte, as Cam is saying, it would not have any means of doing so if those close to Duterte are acting within the bounds of decency, and are not projecting themselves as kings and queens who are spoiled with power which they don’t even have.

-ooo RP TROUBLED BY ITS CITIZENS WHO “FEEL ENTITLED”: Indeed, the Phi lippines is t rouble d with citizens, native or other wise, who feel they are entitled to perks an d pr iv i l e ge s b e c au s e of t heir mone y, p ower, and inf luence. B e caus e many citizens have money, p o w e r, a n d i n f l u e n c e , they think ever ybody owes t hem resp e c t and deference, and for all others to give way to them.

We c a n s e e t h i s i n many situations. In our roads, for example, vehicles which can be bought only by the rich are driven recklessly and without regard to traffic r u l e s a n d r e g u l at i o n s , we aving lef t and r ig ht, and cutting other vehicles just to enable them to be ahead of ever yone. This kind of driving cre ates monstrous traffic jams, but the owners of expensive vehicles don’t care one bit.

In government offices and in places where people have to queue or l i n e up b e f ore t h e y can be attended to, the

r i c h a n d t h e p ow e r f u l d i s re g a rd t h e l i n e a n d demand that they are ser ved right away, never mind the other people who have patiently waited for their turn. And when they are faced with legal and judicial problems, they get their way around all the time through dubious machinations.

-ooo THE RICH AND POWERFUL PINOYS THINK THEY ARE NOT BOUND BY GOOD MA NNER S : We c an go on with this, but the truth is much evident for everyone to see: rich and powerful Filipinos, native or otherwise, believe they are not at all bound by rules of decency and good manners. They are of t h e p e rc e p t i on t h at on l y t h e p o or a n d t h e l ow l y mu s t o b e y t h e s e rules on decency and good manners, especially when face to face with the rich and the mighty.

T h i s i s p e r h ap s t h e reason why many of the poor and the lowly are now starting to wise up and have been doing similar mockeries of the law. “If the rich and the powerful can disregard the law, then the poor and the lowly could do the same thing,” seems to be the prevailing thought of everyone these days, as exemplified by t h e f orc i b l e s e i z u re of s o-c a l le d “urb an p o or” citizens of housing units in Pandi, Bulacan intended

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio for the militar y.

This display of arrogance and rudeness, and this feeling of being “entitled” in disregarding even the most basic rules on decency and good manners that seem to have engulfed Filipinos at this point in time could only lead to more chaos and more anarchy in our midst and, therefore, would produce more greatly difficult lives for all of us. I could only hope t h at p a r e nt s n ow a d ay s would strive to teach their children better manners, lest we all go to the dogs in the days to come.

-ooo PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible Exposition and prayer session online, could now be heard 24/7 (24 hours a day), in the Philippines and the world a t w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / ang tangingdaan. Phone: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058.

Em ai l : b ata sm aur i c i o @ yahoo.com.

Contemplatives are great lovers S o r r y, b u t I h a v e t o disagree with that naughty meme often seen on jeepneys and other public utility vehicles that say that drivers are great lovers. No, they are not, unless they learn to be contemplatives who can always think and see God and other loved ones in ever ything or whatever they may be doing.

When a person is truly in love he will always have his beloved in mind. He is driven with a passion to ser ve his beloved and to make the beloved happy.

It’s t ime to examine ou r s e lve s i f i n d e e d we are truly in love because we always think of God and of the others and are driven to make them happy by doing precisely those things that would make them happy.

Ve r y o f t e n , w e j u s t s ay we love G o d or we love this person or that.

But such affirmations remain only in intention and words. They are not actualized. They are not translated into deeds. In fact, soon after making t h o s e a f f i r m at i on s , w e forget our b elove d and pro c e e d t o pu r s u e ou r own interests.

That is why it is

important that we learn how to truly be contemplat ives. L oving is not just doing things without thinking of the beloved and without offering the things that we do for our b eloved.

Loving will always require an abiding spirit of contemplation.

Without this contemplative spirit, we often get lost, carried away by other forces and impulses. We end up doing things simply for our own good and not for that of the beloved.

Without this contemplative spirit, we will miss that crucial e l e m e nt of l ov i n g t h at involves a continuing renewal of our energies.

We end up feeling simply tired and exhausted, empty and used, and quite prone to looking for bad forms of self-compensations like drugs, sex, or simply wasting time, etc.

T h a t ’s w h y C h r i s t told us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his r i g ht e o u s n e s s , a n d a l l these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt 6,33) It’s w h e n w e h av e t h i s attitude and behavior that we can truly say we are both contemplatives

and lovers. In this way, we ke e p ou r s e lve s l i ke branches vitally attached to the vine from where we continue to receive the necessar y power to love.

Therefore it is important to encourage and train ever yone in the art of contemplation t h at i s d r i v e n by l ov e .

Especially for those couples who plan to enter into marriage, one of the basic and important things to check is whether they know how to be t r u e c ont e mpl at ive s i n all the circumstances of life. It’s an indispensable operation of ever y lover.

We should explode all the other myths and fables about love.

It should be obvious that all this effort to be t r u e c ont e mpl at ive s i n order to b e tr ue lovers would require constant effort and struggle. We s h o u l d n o t f o r g e t t h at we have to contend with tremendous enemies, fore mo st among w hom are our own selves.

In t h i s , w h at m i g ht be helpful is to make use of hu m a n d e v i c e s t h at would always remind us, encourage us and move us to love. No matter how l itt l e and i ns i g n i f i c ant

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala they seem, they actually are effective in starting and keeping alive the dynamics of love.

If our contemplative spirit is properly grounded and focused, that is, on God first before anything or anybody else, we can go beyond our material and temporal dimensions, our many worldly and human conditionings, and enter into the true and ultimate workings of love that has God as its source.

Whatever happens in the drama of our life of love, as long as we have G o d a s t h e s ou rc e an d end of our love, we would know how to react and behave, how to continue loving, even in the worst of scenarios. roycimagala@gmail. com

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Dr. Montero departs for Norfolk’s sister city in the Philippines

Combines medical mission with representing the MacArthur Foundation at 75th Anniversary event.

F

or Dr. Juan Montero, II, a history of extraordinary medical outreach and a shared history between his country of birth and his adopted home – the Philippines and the U.S. – all come together this coming week.

In the city of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines, March 13-17 will be General Douglas MacArthur Week commemorating the 75th anniversary of General MacArthur’s successful breakout from Corregidor to Australia during WWII. The city was where General MacArthur and his family arrived in PT boats, before being whisked to Manolo Fortich and boarding B-17 bombers en route to Australia.

“I learned that there were no representatives from the MacArthur Memorial, the Foundation or the Museum, so I thought, I have to do something about this,” said Dr. Montero. “So I volunteered at my own

expense, I said let’s do it.”

Dr. Montero, who sits on the Board of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation, helped broker the sistercity relationship between Norfolk and Cagayan de Oro in 2008. He will present a statement from the Foundation and provide remarks about General MacArthur and the heroes from both countries who fought together during WWII. In addition, Dr. Montero decided to quickly arrange a medical mission component to add to the celebration. Montero Medical Missions, which Dr. Montero founded in 2011, will bring screening equipment and provide examinations and prescription glasses for 300 people – many of them WWII veterans – who could otherwise not afford them.

“The impact for these people, being able to see well again, is tremendous. In many cases it allows them to work again, to be productive,” said Dr.

Dr. Juanny Montero (Virginia Pilot Photo)

Montero.

Montero Medical Missions takes a unique approach to medical outreach across the globe. The organization recruits expatriate physicians and allied healthcare professionals who live in the U.S. to lead medical missions back to their homelands with an emphasis on creating sustainable projects.

Eyesight 20/20 EyeCare – the kind being organized for this trip – is MMM’s flagship program, but they also do prosthesis and dental care, and will soon be adding diabetes and burn care. The charity

Dr Juanny Montero with former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos

also provides free health care to veterans in the U.S. through a semiannual health fair.

Dr. Montero says this trip is special because of many extraordinary connections. For example, he is looking forward to reuniting with Mrs. Ginger Hansen-Holmes from Falls Church, Virginia, who will also be attending. In 1942, at age seven, she was living in the Philippines in the evacuation area because her father was in the U.S. army serving there.

“I was born in the Philippines in 1942,” said Dr. Montero, “and so when I was growing up I heard all these stories about the Hansen family. Captain Hansen brought medicine for injured guerilla fighters resisting the Japanese, which included my uncle. Who would have thought that 75 years later we would be reunited like this?

Incredible!”

As Dr. Montero describes it, this medical mission will do a lot of good and create everlasting friendships here. “This is really what it’s all about, it’s what we do.”

DOF eyes Php 92 B in additional revenues from removal of VAT exemptions

By Joann Santiago, pna

MANILA -- The Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposal to remove non-basic sector’s exemption from paying Value Added Tax (VAT) will bring in additional Php 92 billion in revenues.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua told PNA that from the present number of exemptions, at around 143, about 100 will be removed. ”Only the basic necessities like food will be exempted.

This is cited in the tax code,” he said.

Some of the sectors that currently enjoy exemptions from paying VAT number to around 59 under the tax code while 84 others were given

exemptions under special laws.

Thes e s e c tors cover agriculture, schools, economic zones, power sector, housing sector, and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Among those whose exemptions will be removed are the Girl Scout of the Philippines, which have already signified its willingness to be removed from the list, and the large cooperatives.

Chua said cooperatives that fall below the proposed new threshold of Php 3 million, from the current Php 1.9 million, will still be

exempted from paying VAT. S e n i or c it i z e ns an d persons with disabilities (PWDs) will continue to be exempted from paying VAT. Chua said gains from the VAT exemption removal would be used to finance the additional infrastructure that the economy needed as well as offset the revenues spent to the bottom 50 percent of the economy who werte affected by the proposed increase in VAT as well as the excise tax on fuel.

Un d e r t h e F i n a n c e d e p ar t me nt’s prop os e d C o m p r e h e n s i v e Ta x Reform Program (CTRP), the government will extend Php 300 per month to the 10 million poor households in

the country for one year.

Chua said this benefit was unconditional and would be given on top of the cash transfer given to beneficiaries of the Pangtawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

He said DOF had studied the effect of higher VAT and those below the 50 percent of the population would not benefit from the proposed income tax reduction since their salaries were below the minimum wage level. ”They are the ones who will be affected by higher excise tax on fuel and the VAT so the Php 300 will lessen the impact of temporary increase in spending,” he added. (PNA) RMA/JSV/RSM

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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

PBCOM Tiano-HayesSt. Cdoc | 726519/8571558 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 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

Sports 6 Kasparov rapid chess tournament set March 26 T he K asparov Chess Foundation Asia Pacific (KCFAP) is organizing a rapid chess tournament for juniors on March 26 at the Alphaland City Center in Makati, KCFAP Director for Philippines Red Dumuk announced on Sunday.

Dumuk said the deadline of entry for players who wish to join the KCF Young Talents Rapid Chess Championships is set on March 24.

Only 300 of the 1,000 available slots in the tournament are available.

No entry will be accepted once the limit is reached.

The competition is open to boys and girls under 8 years old, 12 years old, 14 years old and 18 years old. Players may contact assistant tournament director Alex Dinoy by email at alexandinoy@yahoo.com and mobile no. 09183705750 for details. Entry fee is P100.

Meanwhile, the preregistration for the Chess in Education (CIE) Training for Teacher is still ongoing and will end on March 23.

The CIE training, which

will be held on March 27, is another undertaking of the KCFAP aimed at helping the grassroots program of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Chess teachers who are in and out of the school system may contact Dumuk (redumuk@ g m ai l. c om and mobi l e nos. Sun-09258092353, Sm ar t - 0 9 2 9 2 3 9 6 5 5 5 or Globe-09270534040).

Participants to the training is limited to 200. A entry fee of P1,000 can be paid at the training venue.

Participants of the two events are also requested to observe the dress code -- only shirts with collar, trousers (no shorts) and shoes (no sandals or slippers) are to be worn.

T h e D e p a r t m e nt of E d u c at i o n , N C F P a n d Alphaland C orporation are supporting the rapid chess tournament and the teachers’ training as part of t he Kasp arov C hess Foundation 15th anniversary celebration.

The Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia and

MANILA -- Swiss Ruedi Wild and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt on Sunday unleashed a big finishing kick to capture the honor as the new king and queen of the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 held in Subic Bay. In a release, Wild, a first-time campaigner in the Philippines, made a mighty effort in the last 10 kilometers of the run to steal the thunder from Aussie world champions Craig Alexander and Tim Reed and be the No. 1 in what’s largely considered a strong field in the premier triathlon event presented by Century Bangus, Department of Tourism, and Tourism Promotions Broad.

The 34-year-old two-time Olympian finished the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race in 3:48:24, dethroning the legendary Alexander (3:48:57) and reigning world titlist Reed (3:50:17) for the men’s pro diadem in the race organized and produced by Sunrise Events, Inc. Kahlefeldt forced a similar handover in the women’s side as she submitted a winning 4:22:13, a good three-minute and 43 seconds ahead of 2016 ruler Caroline Steffen of Sw it z erla nd . Di m it y Lee-Duke was a far third at 4:41:57.

August Benedicto and Jenny Guerrero shared the

limelig ht as t hey r u led the men’s Asian Elite and Filipina Elite, respectively.

The multi-titled Benedicto dished out top form in ruling his division in 4:25:42 while Guerrero stamped her class with a 5:14:23 effort.

In pursuit of the lead pack after the bike stage, Wild turned up the heat in the closing run event and caught up with pacesetting compatriot Sven Riederer at the 11K mark.

Keeping up his pace, Wild took the lead going to the last four kilometers and seized a 10-second gap

against the chasing Reed and Alexander.

“It took me a little while to get ready for the run, put the socks on and those guys were starting really fast in the first two kilometers. But I knew it wasn’t about the first two kilometers; it’s about the second half of the run,” said Wild, who admitted to being a slow starter.

“When I broke away, I just kept pushing without looking back, tried to stay as strong as possible. I was 100 meters or so ahead and I knew if I could keep the pace, I had a very good chance. I

did that and now I celebrate a great victory here against a strong field and I’m very happy,” he added.

Kahlefeldt and Steffen headed into the run together then the former cranked it up, gaining a 25-second lead as they approached the 7K mark.

“Basically I know the run will decide (the winner).

Last year, we swam and rode together but Caroline just disappeared in the run. This year, it was the opposite. I just ran and pushed all the way, knowing how strong ironman/PAGE 11

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Guam are the only countries w h i ch Kasp arov C he ss Foundation President Michael Khodarkovsky, KCFAP Director Ignatius

Leong and KCFAP projects manager Peter Long are visiting. (PNA) LGI/JEAN T. MALANUM/SSC

Wild, Kahlefeldt capture CT Ironman titles First SEA Games baton run envisions global example for one vision, one community

Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao conducts Basic Search and Rescue (SAR) to 39 National Service Training Program (NSTP) students of Misamis Institute of Technology (MIT) aims to familiarize students on SAR Operation techniques and approaches and in proper handling of small boats. (CGDNM)

By Primo P. Agatep

The dawning of new era for peace, progress and prosperity through sports.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Sunday rallied all nations that the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Rising Together-Baton run be “a global example that we can partner for one vision, many identities and one human community.”

Abella, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech before the start of the second leg of the historic SEAG baton run said: “today is a celebration of the growing strength and cooperation of our nations.”

The event marked the information drive and to drum beat the participation of Team Philippines in the biennial meet.

“We recognize our Malay root, Asean influences and differences,” said Abella, stressing that “together we are strong, and together we can grow.”

“Together we can make a difference and build a community of nations that many peoples are worthy of,” said Abella, appreciating Malaysia for staging the event

in support of the 29th SEA games and 9th Paragames which Malaysia is hosting in August for the sixth time.

The Games conceptualized in 1958 aims to promote sol ida r it y, cooperat ion, understa nding a mong countries in southeast asia.

The senior palace official further said: “we engage today not to compete , so much us to cooperate, we push our personal limits in order to put it at the service of others.”

“Today we go beyond our regional differences, to engage in our common humanity and to find out for ourselves that it is possible to achieve the greatest goal for all time is –unity of the human race.”

“It is possible to live together, support one another and prosper together.”

The Malacanang official, likewise spelled out that our relation to the ASEAN communit y is anchored on t h r e e pr i nc i p l e s – political security, economic community, and social – cultural which Abella pointed out the reason that brought games/PAGE 11

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General Douglas MacArthur Week:

VALOR: THE LEGACY OF COL. EMMANUEL V. DE OCAMPO

A 53-minute biopic documentary film of how an ordinary college student became one of the fiercest guerrilla leaders in the Philippines during World War II. It is the story how the Filipino youth achieved victory in one of the darkest eras in the nation’s history.

Emmanuel V. De Ocampo was only an 18 year old ROTC cadet when he joined the Hunters ROTC Guerrillas in the mountains of Antipolo during World War II. Together with his equally young and talented comrades, they stole firearms from the enemy and fought against the Imperial Japanese invaders through all of Southern Luzon.

De Ocampo himself stood out as a fierce combatant and an inspirational guerrilla leader in many of his battles and operations.

Eventually, De Ocampo

Modern meat-cutting plant inaugurated in Butuan City

By Noel B. Najarro, pna

B U T UA N C I T Y - - A modern meat-cutting plant was inaugurated Thursday morning in Butuan City.

The facility is a joint project of Pilmico Animal Nut r it i on C or p or at i on (Pilmico), the Butuan Citybased Happy Enterprises and Resources, Inc. and Winrock International Institute for Agricultural DevelopmentPhi lippine C old C hain P r o j e c t / Un i t e d S t a t e s Department of Agriculture.

The meat-cutting plant is “the first of its kind in the Caraga region.”

The inauguration was attended by Pilmico vice president and chief operations officer for feeds Tristian Aboitiz, Pilmico vice president for feed Sales Norie Bermudez, Happy Enterprises and Resources Inc. president Engr. Victorino Balibrea, a representative of Winrock International Chief of Party Remer Lane III and Dr. Claro Dennis P. Morante, from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

In his message, Pilmico VP-COO Tristian Aboitiz said: “Our aim to improve the swine industry in Caraga region is now clearly coming into fruition with the opening of the meat-cutting plant…

This meat-processing plant will provide local backyard farmers with a market for their livestock and simultaneously give the local community access to locally grown, fresh quality meat.”

With a common goal of improving the practices plant/PAGE 10

rose to the rank of Colonel and became the commander of the 47th Hunters ROTC Division.

He became responsible for liberating many of the towns and areas in Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Manila.

He defeated many of the strongest Japanese

forces in the Philippines, including the Japanese Imperial Marines in the Battle of Fort Mckinley and Nichols Field, and the Fuji Forces in the Battle of Mount Malepunyo.

After the war, Col. De Ocampo continued to serve the country by fighting for the welfare of

World War II veterans. He would continue to care for them until he passed away on December 26, 2015.

But even after his death, his legacy lives on, as his stories of valor continue to inspire future generations to emulate his unwavering courage and patriotism for the country and its people.

Enjoy the free screening of VALOR at the Ayala Centrio Cinemas on March 14-17, 2017 at 8AM and 10AM. This is a component program of the 75th Diamond Jubilee of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia (via Cagayan, Misamis and Dicklum, Tankulan, Manolo Fortich) Sponsored by Philippine Veterans Bank, Ayala Malls Cinemas, Centrio Mall, The Movie Snack Bar, Seda Centrio, Cebu Pacific Air, SPYRON AV and STEAG State Power Inc.

Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ victims in Antique get 64 fiber glass boats Poor fisherfolk families in Culasi town, Antique affected by super typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013 received 64 boats made of fiber glass on Friday to help them rebuild their lives.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, Erwin Ilaya, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquat ic Res ources (BFAR) provincial officer, a n d Ni c o l a s i t o “Ni c k” C a lawag, Of f ice of t he Prov i n c i a l Ag r i c u ltu re ( O PA ) c h i e f , l e d t h e distribution of the boats.

Allette Gayatin, a senior aquaculturist at the OPA, said in an interview that these boats were distributed to the fisherfolk in the coastal town of Culasi as part of the AHON program of BFAR. E ach f isherfolk w ho received the motorized

boat had been identified by the local government unit (LGU) as among the poorest in their sector.

As this developed, Calawag said that Agriculture Secretar y Emmanuel “Manny” Pinol will be in Antique on March 16 to again distribute 60 units of fiber glass boats to poor fisherfolk families reg istere d w it h BFAR’s Fish-R program.

The boats will be distributed also in Culasi town. Ten recipients will be from the town of Tibiao, five from Sebaste and 10 from Libertad. The rest of the boats will be given to Culasi fisherfolk.

Each boat will be shared by two recipient fisherfolk so that more poor fishermen could benefit.

Aside from the boats,

there will be two units of rainwater collectors that will be given to the fisherfolk association in Maningning, Culasi and four in Caluya island municipality.

Six f ish ag g regat ing devices or “payaos” will also be equally given to fishermen’s associations in Libertad, Anini-y and Tobias Fornier.

G ay at i n a d d e d t h at these fishing boats, rain water collectors, and fish aggregating devices would be released in response to the governor’s request to DA Assistant S ecretar y Hansel Didulo last March 3.

The DA official was among those who attended the meeting also graced by Senator Loren Legarda.

(PNA) LAP/BS/AJPETINGLAY/ KVB

When you’re in Davao City, Read:

HOTELS & RESORTS DIRECTORIES

VILLA MARGARITA HOTEL J. P Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City, Philippines Tel. No.: (082) 221-5674 / Fax No. (082) 226-2968 MICROTEL

By Wyndham Davao Damosa Gateway Complex Angliongto Rd., Lanang Davao City 8000, Philippines Tel +63 82 233 2333 / Mobile +63 917 795 3548 www.microtelphilippines.com PINNACLE HOTEL Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City.

No. (082) 300-5885 Telefax: 300-1881/ 221-3025 Website: www.thepinnaclehotel.com ALU HOTEL M. Roxas Avenue corner Padre Faura Street, Davao City.

Tel No (63 82) 221-5232 / Mobile (O943) 652 3927 Email: aluhoteldavao@yahoo.com info@alu-hotel.com / www.alu-hotel.com GRAND REGAL Km 7 Lanang, Davao City, Philippines Tel. 235-0888 / Fax 235-2335 email: grandregalhotelegmail.com

VIAJEROS ECONOMY HOTEL Patnubay St., Sandawa, Matina, D.C Tel. No. 297-5710 / Telefax (6382) 298-5134 Mobile: 0922.-8268425 Website: www.viajeroseconomyinn.com

ROYAL MANDAYA HOTEL J.Palma Gil St., Davao City 8000 Phils.

Tel. No. (082) 225-8888 / fax No. (082) 225-1885 info@theroyalrmandayahotel.com www.theroyalmandayahotel.com HOMITORI Bangoy Street corner Santa Ana Avenue, Davao City Tel. No. (082) 295-2969 & 295-2471 / Mobile: (0922) 8994646 Email: homitoridvo@gmail.com or Like us on www.facebook.com/pages/Homitori-Davao BIG APPLE HOTEL Brgy. Angliongto, Lanang, D.C. Hotline Nos.: (082) 234-8459 Facebook account: bigapplehotel@ymail.com Email: bigapple_hotel@ymail.com

THE PERIDOT SUITES Carmelite Drive, Lanang, Davao City Tel. no.: (082) 305-6530 / Fax no.: (082) 305-38I2 Email: theperidotsuiles@gmail.com AZIENDA MEO APARTELLE 11 Corner Pioneer and Doña Vicenta Village, Phase 1, Davao City Telefax. No: (082) 227-4119 & 284-6689 Cell Phone No. 09256652626 Website: www.aziendameo.com Email Add: aziendameo@yahoo.com.ph Big 8 Corporate Hotel Visayan Village, National Highway, Tagum City Mobile nos. 09173029063 & 09328539372 Tel. No.: (084)216-0888 Email: info@big8corporatehotel.com www.facebook.com/big8corporatehotel.com www.big8corporatehotel.com HOTEL ELENA Avenida Santos Ave., Nova Tierra Vill, Lanang, D.C Tel. Nos. (082) 233-1941 & 305.8799 / fax No. (082) 233-1887 PARADISE ISLAND Tel. No. (082) 233-0251 & 300-2343 / CP No.: 09209546780 E-mail: paradiseislanddavao@gmail.com MARCO POLO DAVAO C.M Recto St., Davao City davao@marcopolohotels.com www.marcopolohotels.com (63 82) 221-0888 HOTEL ESSE Brgy. 9-A F Torres Street, Davao City Hotline: No: 227-37-73 / Fax: 295-34-85 Website: www.hotelessedavao.com.ph Email Add: hotel_esse_davao@yahoo.com RUEMANGO APARTELLE & SUITES 516 Mangga St., Juna Subd., Matina, Davao City ruemangoapartelleandsuites@gmail.com www.ruemango.com Tel. Nos.: (082) 295-7175/ 295-7180

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and

P resent 3

Also Brought To You By:

rdNORTHERN MINDANAO

FINAL ROUNDS & AWARDING CEREMONY - March 30, 2017 at PHINMA-COC Auditorium, Carmen, Cag de Oro City Final Rounds starts at 9:00 a.m.

Awards Program - 3:00 p.m.

PARTIAL LIST OF FINALISTS: News Writing Sports Writing 1. Ysobelle B. Navales - Kauswagan NHS, Cag de Oro 1. Rico C. Libling, -Yumbing N. H S Camiguin 2. Jerome E. Cantong - Macabalan NHS, Cag. de Oro 2. Gerald G. Solidor - MOGCHS, Cag de Oro 3. Myrette Jeshielle P. Bandoy - BNSHI, Maramag, Bukidnon 3. Lenmark A. Monsanto, CMSU,Musuan, Bukidnon 4. Earl Joy B. Lopina - Yumbing NHS, Camiguin 4. Dave Clarion V. Daing - Bulua NHS, CDO 5. Cryschia Faye C. Tayong- CMU, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon 5. Michelle P. Balas- Tabllon Nat’l High Sch, CDO 6. Nerimer Grace V. Pornia- CMU, Musuan, Bukidnon 6. Ernesto B. Plaza Jr.- Macabalan NHS, Cag de Oro 7. Rowena T. Sabellita -Tablon NHS, Cag de Oro 7. Evans Jake C. Dacut- BNSHI, Maramag, Buk 8. Shane Erica Beniga - Bayanga NHS, Cag de Oro 8. Pamela C. Noveros - CMU, Maramag, Bukidnon 9. Jireh Faith B. Nino, BNHS, Malaybalay City 9. Jhanatoden M. Dipantar, MSU-IIT, Iligan City 10. Bruce Mico P. Gamad, BNHS, Malaybalay City 10. Faith Nicole Arquero - MSU-IIT 11. Ely Mae Dag-uman - MSU-IIT, Iligan City 11. Melbon B. Ganzan - St. Michael’s College 12. Jan Paolo M. Lumpaz - St. Michaels College, Iligan City 13. Jamaliah T. Nasrodin - St. Michaels College, Iligan City Sports Writing College: 14.Sophia Angel Lood, - St. Michaels College, Iligan City 15. Lanz Selwyn Lucmayon - MSU-IIT, Iligan City 1. Norwafa M. Daing - MSU-IIT

News Writing College: 1, Louise Francine Socillo - MSU-IIT Feature Writing Photo Journalism (H.S.) 1.Kristina Casandra L. Pava 1. John Homer C. Tabas - Central Mindana State University HS

- Kong Hua School 2. Ivy Joyce D. Naparan 2. Andre’ Socorro F. Doria - CMU High School, Musuan, Bukidnon - Yumbing NSH, Mambajao, Camiguin 3. Neil John J. Jomaya 3. Meybelle Rose R. Esid -Central Mindanao State UniversityHS - Lapasan National High School, CDO: 4.Jade Angeline B. Flores 4. Zarin Condes, CMULHS - BNSHI, Maramag, Bukidnon 5. Sofia Abigail Bonghanoy, CMU H.S., Musuan 5. Stephanie B. Lapuz, BNHS Malaybalay 6. Edward Agnes, Musuan, Bukidnon 6. Jacynthe Paz G. Tilanduca, BNHS Malaybalay 7. LeAnne J. Aribal, C MU Musuan, Bukidnon 7. Ashel Louisse C. Mulet, BNHS, Malaybalay 8. Alyssa Mariel C. Tagaan -BNSHI, Maramag, Bukidnon College: 9. Philipp Gabriel T. Casano - CMUHS, Musuan, Bukidnon 1. Junard J. Jumalon - MSU-IIT 10. Troy Valdehueza, - CMU High School, Musuan 2. Omongos Jena Joy - MSU-IIT 11. Megan Louse P. Tabique, MSU-IIT, Iligan City 12. Kyshann Mar C. Malubay, MSU-IIT Iligan City 13. Kassandra A. Buenafe, St. Michael’s, Iligan City 14. Erila M. Gatillo, MSU-IIT, Iligan City Feature Writng College 1. Juan Miguel Rodriguez - St. Michael College,Iligan 2. Audrey Dorothy Macas- St. Michael College,Iligan 3. Jamaila C. Bazer -St. Michael College,Iligan 4. Jorome Clark C. Maglajos - MSU-IIT 5. Abegale A. Cadorna - St. Michael College, Iligan

Science Reporting

1. Rico C. Libling, (YNHS) Camiguin 2. Nadine Cyra Valdehuesa, (CDONHS) Cag de Oro 3. Alysza Jewel V. Buna (Kong Hua) Cag de Oro 4. Julie Marie S. Bongaos, (Cugman NHS) Cag de Oro 5. Laurence M. Pabatao (BNSHI) Maramag, Bukidnon 6. Jhoris Mea Lamigo, BNSHI, Maramag. Bukidnon 7. Rheanelyn Arquilos, BNSHI, Maramag, Bukidnon 8. Israelbelle N. Ferolino, BNHS, Malaybalay City 9. Ryle Emmanuel M. Ocab, BNHS, Malaybalay City 10. Xybeen Lyndee B. Gresola - MSU-IIT, Iligan City 11. Al Fisher A. Coronado - MSU-IIT, Iligan City 12. Leila Claire A. Toribio - MSU-IIT, Iligan City Science Reporting College: 1. Elaiza Flor M. Arabiana - MSU-IIT 2. Dona Faith C. Jakosalem - MSU-IIT Business Reporting

1. Mark Palad, PIO, Camiguin 2. Francis Jose Luspo, Yumbing National High School 3. Jediah Jaira Ll Bualat, Kong Hua School, CDO 4. Justine G. Pamisa, BNSHI, Maramag, Bukidnon 5. Christy Flor D. Ecuacion, BNHS, Malaybalay City 6. Cees Mark G. Pranto, BNHS, Malaybalay City

Announcement:

The Regional Qualifying Rounds scheduled in other cities andprovinces, are still on-going.

Finalists will be published in addition to the list in this page.

For inquiry, pls call 09153190138.

- The Secretariat

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tuesday|March 14, 2017

75th Diamond Jubilee: General MacArthurs’s Breakout Celebrated

T

he local government units of Cagayan de Oro City and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon will unfold a week-long schedule of events celebrating the 75th Anniversary of General D o u g l a s M a c A r t h u r ’s Breakout from Corregidor to Australia.

“This marks the 75th anniversar y of General MacArthur’s breakout from Corregidor when he rode the PT Boat to Cagayan, Misamis and eventually reached Australia by B-17 bomber,” said Dr. Erlinda M. Burton, chairperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Historical & Cultural Commission (Hiscom) which is coordinating the event.

On March 11, 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, his family and general staff ran the Imperial Japanese Navy blockade and arrived in Macabalan Pier at Cagayan, Misamis at 7:00AM of March 13th. After sweating it out in Del Monte, Tankulan (present day Manolo Fortich) for four days waiting for their flight to Australia, the party finally boarded two B-17E bombers which brought them safely to Batchelor Field, Northern Territory in Australia.

On his way to Melbourne, MacArthur met journalists in Terowie, South Australia where he uttered what has probably become the most famous phrase to come out of World War II: “I Shall Return!”

To celebrate the 75th Diamond Jubilee of MacArthur’s Breakout, the Cagayan de Oro City Council officially declared March 1317, 2017 as “General Douglas MacArthur Week.”

A re-enactment of MacAr t hur’s ar r iva l in Macabalan Pier and Convoy to Del Monte, Tankulan (Manolo Fortich) kicks off the week-long festival.

Spectators will be treated to a spectacle of World War II vintage vehicles such as Willys MB jeeps ridden by reenactors dressed in military uniforms of the time (March 1942) and sporting replica vintage WWII weapons as the convoy winds its way along Julio Pacana Street and C.M. Recto Avenue and up to Sayre Highway to Dicklum, Tankulan (now Manolo Fortich) where a whole day activity has been planned by the LGU of Manolo Fortich as part of its Centennial celebration as a municipality.

On March 14-17, the movies “Unsurrendered 2” and “Valor: The Legacy of Col. Emmanuel V. De Ocampo” by the Film Production Company Spyron-AV Manila, will be screened for free every morning at 8AM and 10AM in all Centrio Ayala Cinemas.

These documentaries tell the stories of the forgotten Filipino Guerrillas who fought against the Japanese during WWII. Written and directed by Bani Logroño, a Kagay-anon.

The Hiscom is coordinating with the DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro to bring high school history students to watch the films. The Field Service Extension Office-Region X of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is also coordinating to bring WW2 veterans and their kin to the free screenings.

A symposium will be held after each screening with the film maker and WWII veterans to answer questions from the audience.

History students, teachers, researchers and World War II enthusiasts are invited to attend a series of symposiums on how it was in Mindanao during the time.

These include “Guerrilla Daughter” by Virginia Hansen Holmes on 10AM Tuesday, 14 March at the Centrio Activity Center.

M s . Ha n s e n i s t h e President of the American Guerrillas of Mindanao Descendants Group (AGOM) and will share her personal experience her family spent in Lanao, Misamis Oriental and Surigao from the late 1930s through WWII. Her Dad operated a sawmill in Lanao while her three older brothers attended Ateneo de Cagayan (present day Xavier University) while her sister attended Lourdes Academy (now Lourdes College).

The Hansen family later moved to northern Surigao where her father worked as Plant Superintendent of a gold mine. Her father and two elder brothers were guerrillas in Wendell Fertig’s group during WWII. Ms. Hansen will again lecture on “Wendell Fertig and his Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines” (Fighting the Japanese Occupation 19421945), a book written by her husband Kent Holmes the following day, Wednesday, 15 March at 10:30AM at the Centrio Mall Activity Center.

The book is an in-depth study of Col Wendell Fertig and the challenges he had to overcome while organizing and leading the 10th Military District in Mindanao and contains valuable research material for those interested in historical details about the guerrilla resistance movement in Mindanao during WWII -SPYRON submarine missions, radio communications, coast

watcher stations, etc.

Kent Holmes is a retired Central Intelligence Agency officer and a member of CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service. He served overseas for 15 years in six countries, including two years in Laos supervising paramilitary operations in northwest Laos.

He lives in Falls Church, Virginia and is married to Ms. Holmes.

Ms. Hansen’s presentation will be followed at 2PM of the same day at the same venue by Finding Our Heroes (The Brig. Gen. Francisco Licuanan, Jr. Memorial Collection Philippine Guerrilla Files from the US National Archives) to be presented by Marie Vallejo, Head Researcher.

Having worked with Intel, Ms. Vallejo has helped digitize extant records of Filipino soldiers during WWII. Through her extensive research, many Filipino veterans have qualified for more benefits from their service during the war. She

renders another lecture on the same topic on Thursday, 16 February at 10:30AM at the Liceo de Cagayan University Library.

Another interactive event awaits on Wednesday, 15 March with the launching of the MacArthur Breakout Exhibit at 10AM at the 3rd floor foyer of Centrio Mall.

The exhibit will feature pictures from the MacArthur Me m o r i a l o f No r f o l k , Virginia through the Cagayan de Oro City Committee of the Norfolk Sister Cities Association, the Cagayan de Oro City Historical & Cultural Heritage Commission and Cagayan de Oro MacArthur Memorial Core Group and relics from local collectors.

Visitors will get a firsthand look at pictures of MacArthur’s time in Del Monte while he was waiting for his B-17 ride to Australia, weapons, uniforms and other gear of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and Japanese Imperial Army.

Another exhibit will be opened on Thursday, 16 March at the Liceo de Cagayan University Library focusing on Mindanao Guerrillas especially local heroes like Col. Fidencio Laplap,Col. L eonardo Hernando, the Tiano Brothers, the Montalvan Brothers, Maj. Angeesl Limena, Pastor and Jake Ilogon , Salipada Pendatun and Busran Kalaw.

Not the least, an Eyesight 20/20 Optometric Mission will be conducted on March 15-16 at the J.R. B orja Memorial General Hospital from 8am-4PM daily. This is a free Eye Care Medical Mission led by Dr. Chris Buniel, president of the Optometric Association of the Philippines (OAP) for a maximum 300 patients.

Newly purchased reading and prescription eyeglasses will be dispensed to deserving indigent patients—MMM’s tribute of friendship to Kagay-anons. Sponsored

by Montero Medical Missions in coordination

with the Cagayan de Oro Eyesight Board, Optometric Association of the Philippines - CDO-Chapter, Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (Mother Club), J.R. Borja Memorial General Hospital, Cagayan de Oro Eyesight Board and PVAO FSEO-10 office.

The week’s events come to a close with a Thanksgiving Mass at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral to be officiated by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, S.J, and Fr. Daniel Coronel, SSJV. The week concludes with a Thanksgiving Program and 75th Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Dinner at Casa Real, VIP Hotel. The program will include the recognition of Mindanao Guerrillas and Veterans who fought the Japanese Occupation.

General Douglas MacArthur Week is a joint project of the Cagayan de Oro Historical & Cultural Commission, Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Council breakout/PAGE 10

Gen. Douglas MacArthur Week:

Veterans to benefit from Optometric Mission

W

orld War II veterans or their surviving spouses who have vision problems but cannot afford prescription eyeglasses stand to benefit from an incoming optometric mission.

Montero Medical Missions with its component program - EyeSight 20/20 will conduct an Eye Care and Optometric Mission at the J.R. Borja General Hospital in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City on March 15-16, 2017.

Dr. Juan M. Montero, II, M.D., FACS, president and chairman of MMM, said they are sponsoring the mission as a parallel event to "General Douglas MacArthur Week" which commemorates the 75tn

Diamond Jubilee of MacArthur's Breakout from Corregidor to Australia via Cagayan, Misamis and Dicklum, Tankulan (Manolo Fortich).

The bulk of the prescription spectacles will be given to WWII veterans or their surviving spouses.

It will also benefit 50 school children with vision problems under Mayor Oscar Moreno's "A Gift of Sight Program" being implemented by the Cagayan de Oro Eyesight Board headed by Dr. Carlo Romero.

Pre-screening of veterans will start Thursday, March 2 from 8am to 12 noon at the City Social Welfare Department at City Hall and 1-4pm at Room 20,

MMMs founder & lead physician, Dr. Juan Montero, is a board certified surgeon & founder of the Chesapeake Care Free Clinic who has been recognized for his philontraphy & Int’l outreach.

EyeCare Clinic at JR Borja General Hospital. It will be held daily from Monday to Friday till the actual mission dates on March 15-16.

The screening of veterans is being coordinated with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Field Services Extension Office Region 10 (FSEO-10) at Camp Evangelista and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines Region 10 through its regional

president Col. Jose Paler (ret).

The optometric mission team will be headed by Dr. Christopher Buniel, president of the Optometric Association of the Philippines (OAP) with the collaboration of OAP CDO Chapter led by Dr. Aurora Catajoy and Dr. Vic Cinco. They will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (Mother Club) headed

by Engr. Dufel Lagrosas, president. (RMB)

Montero Medical Missions is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Virginia, providing sustainable health services to underserved communities internationally and the community of veterans here at home.

10

Plant... from page 7

of backyard farmers in the Caraga region, Pilmico, Wi n ro c k Int e r n at i on a l and Happy Enter pris es transformed their current swine repopulation project into a more holistic and sustainable approach to address swine production challenges through the construction of the meatcutting plant.

The facility will cater to Butuanons and nearby provinces and more importantly, it gives the local community access to fresh quality meat and opportunity for local employment.

The construction of the meat-cutting plant started in May 2016. (PNA) LAP/BS/NBN/EDS

Breakout... from page 9

and Manolo Fortich Municipal Tourism Office, in coordination with General Douglas MacArthur Foundation (Norfolk, Virginia); Norfolk Sister City Association (NSCA, Norfolk, Virginia); Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Council, Cagayan de Oro City Tourism

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tuesday|March 14, 2017

& Cultural Affairs Office, Cagayan de Oro City Council Tourism Committee, Manolo Fortich Municipal Board Tourism Committee; Rotary Club of Northern Bukidnon, Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro, and Department of Education Cagayan de Oro City Division of City Schools.

The organizers would also like to recognize the contribution of the following sponsors and benefactors: Philippine Ports Authority, Montero Medical Missions, Philippine Veterans Bank, Centrio Mall, Ayala Mall C i n e m a s , 4 t h In f ant r y Division (Philippine Army), Naval Forces E aster n Mindanao (Philippine Navy), UC-1 Corporation, Parasat Cable TV, Philippine C o ast Gu ard Nor t he r n Mindanao, Cebu Pacific Air, Smart Communications, Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, Boy Scouts of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Council, Davies Paints Philippines, Seda Centrio, Liceo de Cagayan University, Gaisano Malls, Nature’s Spring Water, V.V. Security Agency, STEAG State Power Inc. and Ms. Gigi G. Go.

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

Reform... from page 2

appreciated,” he said.

Dominguez noted that previous secretaries and undersecretaries of the DOF have vigorously endorsed this tax reform package, along with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank.

The Philippines’ development partners, as well as several reform-oriented civil society groups have also expressed their support for the CTRP. A lt houg h t he CTRP has secured the support of an increasing number of institutions and organizations, Dominguez said, “It is the man-on-the-street we now need to win over. This manon-the-street is susceptible to populist and free-rider arguments put forward by groups that oppose any and all reforms in taxation.”

Dominguez said the popular proposals in the CTRP’s first package, such as the significant cuts in personal income tax (PIT) rates and estate taxes are “fairly easy to sell” to the public, but they should also be educated on the underlying reasons behind these reforms, which are to align tax rates with the rest of the region to make the Philippines a magnet for investments and to increase the purchasing power of compensation earners to further boost economic productivity.

The CTRP’s first package, introduced in the Congress

by Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua as House Bill No. 4774, also aims to lower donor taxes and provide revenue reform measures such as adjusting the excise taxes on automobiles and fuel and broadening the Value Added Tax (VAT) base but retaining exemptions for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Dominguez said the public needs to know why the government is reforming the system of collecting taxes, such as in the VAT. “The VAT is a stable source of income of revenues.

However, our system has been afflicted with too many exemptions inserted by law.

These exemptions render the VAT system very, very porous. This is why Thailand collects the same percentage of GDP from its VAT system even though it imposes a rate of only seven percent against our 12 percent,” he said.

“If we are able to close the loopholes, it should be possible in the future to contemplate lowering the VAT rate itself,” Dominguez said.

As far as the DOF can accomplish within the existing tax framework, Dominguez said administrative reforms in the Bureaus of Internal R e ve nu e ( BI R ) and of Customs (BOC) have already been “pushed” to the limit and produced “palpable results.

The BOC, for instance, has exceeded its target collections in the last quarter

of 2016, while the BIR has dramatically increased its revenue intake.

The BOC, for instance, has exceeded its target collections in the last quarter of 2016, while the BIR has dramatically increased its revenue intake. In 2016, the Bureau of Customs collections grew 8.2 percent year-on-year, while that of the Bureau of Internal Revenue grew 9.3 percent year-onyear, Dominguez noted.

“In fact, from January 1 to March 3 of this year, both the BIR and BOC have posted double-digit year-on-year growth in collections, at 13 percent and 15 percent respectively,” he said.

The finance chief said that newspaper headlines highlighting the plan to file charges against cigarette manufacturers involved in producing fake tax stamps “have shown that we are intent on going after tax-evaders, including sacred cows of the previous administration.”

He said the BIR and BOC estimate that the government can collect more than P5 billion in deficiency taxes and duties from seized cigarettes with fake tax stamps.

But Dominguez said “administrative reforms can only accomplish so much,” and accompanying reforms in tax policy are also needed make the system simpler, fairer and more efficient, especially for low- and middle-income earners.

“The reforms we propose seek to achieve these features.

While we yield revenues by

cutting income taxes, we seek to offset that by putting in tax policies that broaden the tax base,” he said.

Hence, he said, the CTRP is the key to accomplishing the Duterte administration’s goals of closing the infrastructure gap, developing the country’s human capital and shifting from a consumption to an investment-led economy in the near term.

The CTRP, he said, will sustain the pace of growth to 7 percent or better, bring down the poverty rate to 14 percent in the medium term and pave the way for the country to become a highincome economy by 2040.

Investing only half the GDP rate of other Asian countries in infrastructure has led to the poor state of the country’s ports, airports, rail systems, road networks and bridges. “We cannot expect our economy to run like a fine-tuned engine if our infra and logistics backbone is obsolete,” Dominguez said.

A weak infra backbone in an archipelagic country like the Philippines has kept transport and production costs high and hampered development in the countryside, forcing people to migrate to congested urban centers, he noted.

“The net result of poor investments in infra is highly exclusive growth and a domestic economy characterized by uneven w e a l t h d i s t r i b u t i o n ,” Dominguez said. (PNA) L G I / P R- N E X T G E N MULTIMEDIA/RSM

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Peace... from page 1

DCCCII chair Antonio Dela Cruz said he is grateful the peace process is back on track a month after both parties lifted their unilateral ceasefire.

He lauded Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza for a successful two-day backchannel talks in Utrecht, “for the achievement of a long lasting peace not only in Mindanao but all over the country.”

D e l a C r u z s ai d t h e President has been “very sincere (so) the other side must also show their sincerity.

We praise God/Allah for this,” he said.

Bonifacio Tan, former DCCCII President appealed to the NPA to stop the extortion activities as well as attacking the military and police forces, otherwise “it defeats the purpose of having peace talk between government and NDFP Sheena Duazo, secretary general of Bayan-Southern Mindanao, said the militants also welcome the new development in the peace negotiations and are hoping both the parties will successfully address the issues that deter the peace talks such as violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Hu man R i g ht s and International Humanitarian L aw (CAHRIHL), Joint Agreement on Safety and Im mu n i t y A g r e e m e nt ) and other previous signed agreements.

“Moreover, we are calling all peace living Filipino people to fervently assert our democratic rights and struggle, in all possible forms, against landlessness, foreign dominat ion, ne olib era l policies, job insecurity, and other socio-economic problems that remain to be the root causes of the armed conflict in our country,” she said.

She urged the public to remain vigilant at all times against the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s (AFP) war mongering and attempts to hamper the peace negotiations.

“We denounce these warmongers, the AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) who know nothing about genuine land reform, national industrialization and issues that truly address peace and development,” she added.

Dureza announced the resumption of the peace and the restoration of the unilateral ceasefire after their backchannel talks in Utrecht, The Netherlands on March 10 to 11.

The peace negotiations suffered a setback last month after both parties lifted the unilateral ceasefire they declared before the first round of formal peace talks in Oslo in August.

N PA s p o k e s p e r s o n Jorge Madlos announced on February 1 that they were terminating the unilateral ceasefire effective 11:59 p.m. on February 10 and President Rodrigo Duterte responded

by lifting the GRP’s unilateral ceasefire on February 3 after four soldiers were killed by the NPA in Bukidnon and Davao Oriental, just hours after Madlos’ February 1 announcement.

Both parties, in their joint statement released on Sunday, agreed the fourth round of peace talks would resume first week of April 2017 while the fifth round will be in June 2017 (see other story).

The unilateral ceasefire that both parties had agreed to restore will take effect “as soon as their respective forces shall have been informed.”

Infra... from page 1

cluster director Ricardo Oñate said.

He s aid t hat lo ca l government units have seen the importance of FMR projects in enhancing the productivity of their commodities and improving the connectivity of their areas, which is why he said LGUs have strongly lobbied for more road concreting projects.

“This is in line with the Project’s thrust in ensuring that reliable infrastructures are put up where it is needed,” Oñate added.

Aside from FMR projects, small infrastructure subprojects were also pipelined amounting to P151.09 million. These subprojects include construction of warehouses and solar dryers, as well as infrastructure support t o P R D P ’s e n t e r p r i s e development subprojects.

Meanwhile, there are also pipelined five FMR projects with bridge component, four irrigation subprojects and 2 potable water supply (PWS) systems subprojects.

Currently, 26 subprojects classified under small infrastructure are undergoing procurement process.

Under P R D P ’s infrastructure or I-BUILD component, proposals for infrastructure subprojects must be identified as critical intervention in the priority commodity investment plans (PCIP) of the provincial LGU. During the last I-BUILD coordination meeting, it was disclosed that pipelined subprojects total to P25 billion. Mindanao owns the largest percentage in cost for the whole portfolio with 30 percent.

“These pipelined subprojects will still be validated to ensure that it meets the requirements and standards set by the Project before they are elevated to the next level of approval,” Oñate said.

He added that the Project will also ensure that an Operation and Maintenance Audit System is installed to strengthen monitoring of the various subprojects’ i mp l e m e nt at i o n . ( P S O Mindanao/PIA-Caraga)

Benefit...

from page 1 inclusive.”

Yacob made the statement following the turn-over of P2 million water system

implemented under the B ang s amoro S ol i d ar it y Project in Barangay (village) Mucas, Salug, Zamboanga del Norte.

“The Bangsamoro Solidarity is really intended for communities with a mixed populace in line with our principle of inclusiveness, and also because we are operating in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, we are reaching out to communities even outside the proposed Bangsamoro core territories,” Yacob said.

BDA-Z amboanga Peninsula Regional Manager Ali Butongkay said the project will benefit at least 140 households in the village.

Butongkay said that the village of Mucas in Salug, Zamboanga del Norte has a p opu lat ion of 2,450, consisting of Moro, Christian and Indigenous Peoples.

The water system project was implemented by BDA under t he B angs amoro S o l i d a r i t y C o mp o n e nt of the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and D e v e l o pm e nt P ro g r a m (MTFRDP).

The BDA was established after the government and the MILF signed the Tripoli Agreement on June 22, 2001.

It is being run by the Bangsamoro Development Council and civil society organizations. Its funds are sourced from various donors such as the European Union, the government of Sweden, Australia, Canada, United States and New Zealand.

The World Bank serves as trust fund administrator and secretariat.

Ya c o b s a i d t h e Bangsamoro Solidarity is a program conceptualized in support to confidence building measures of the GPH-MILF as provided in the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB), which was signed in March 2014.

The s o cio-e conomic programs are also in response to the clamor of the communities for the implementation of basic services including livelihood opportunities, in conflictprone areas in Mindanao, Yacob said.

“This project demonstrates the continuing commitment of both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Philippines in pursuing peace and development in the Bangsamoro, and in Mindanao in general,” Yacob said.

“It also demonstrates the enduring support of donors in helping the BDA promote socio-economic recovery in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao,” Yacob added.

(PNA)

Soars... from page 1

“progressive and model urban center.”

Quirino administered the oath-taking of the first mayor of the city, Santiago Artiaga. The seven members of the first city council were also present.

The creation of the city was also seen as a reaction

to the increasing number of foreigners gaining control over the municipality of Davao, among them Japanese businessmen who were instrumental in the vast development of lands into abaca plantations.

It was a political decision indicating that the locals were independent and capable of running a government of their own.

Local historians say the triumph that the people felt with the newly-earned autonomy was shown by their excitement to participate in the events prepared by both the newly-born city government and the private organizations.

The announcement from the government was specific -- for the Dabawenyos to come out on the streets and join the inauguration “in their best attire to witness, join and perform in their assigned roles...”

Davao historian Ernesto Corcino wrote that a threehour civic parade was staged that day.

Another historian, 89-year-old Librada “Libby” Rufo, said the parade’s route was limited only in three major streets of the new city - Oyanguren Street, Claveria Street, and Hospital Avenue, now called J.P. Laurel Avenue.

The parade ended at the San Pedro Street, exactly in front of the City Hall, according to Rufo. It is the city’s oldest street, named after the equally oldest church in the city, San Pedro Church.

“There were only a few people then, and everyone knew each other,” she said.

There were only about 68,000 people in Davao the time it was declared a city. Most of the residents of downtown Davao were immigrants from Luzon.

“The language predominantly used in Davao then was Tagalog because the residents were immigrants from Luzon,” she said.

During the war in early the 1940s, it was said that the longest battle to liberate the country from occupation happened in Davao City -lasting for six months until the surrender of the Japanese in 1945.

“Davao’s destruction, followed by a swell of thousands of guerrillas who wanted to squat on former-Japanese owned plantations, together with a deluge of sickly refugees from the mountains, added to the physical and economic problems of the city,” an article on Davao history said.

The rebuilding of the city was aided by the deluge of war veterans and investors after the war. Davao gradually blossomed, its economic growth spurred by agriculture and trade - its lands becoming host to high-value crops that even these days, provided the people livelihood and employment.

“After the war, Bisaya became the lingua franca,” said Rufo.

Soaring high After eight decades, Davao City is now the center of trade and commerce in Mindanao.

Aside from durian, cavendish bananas, pineapples, cacao, and orchid and tropical plants, Davao is also bursting with real estate development, manufacturing, and others.

For many, it is the city of great opportunities and the potential endless - even despite the diversity of its people’s culture and tradition.

And it continues to soar high -- just like one of its icon, the Philippine Eagle.

Lemuel Ortonio, the chief of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, said the city grew higher in 2016 with 38, 526 total business application compared to the previous year’s 36,950.

He noted that Chinese, Japanese, and other foreign investors have expressed their intentions to pour capital and establish businesses in the city.

Davao City’s partnerships w it h ot her lo c a l cit ies continue -- even reaching across borders with pacts with cities in Japan, Hawaii, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan.

Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, has also been widely recognized for trailblazing people development and welfare, economic growth, security, environmental protection, good governance and many other legislations that are being emulated across the country.

It is one of the safest cities in the world, consistently on top of child-friendly cities in the Philippines, the most competitive city to do business, most genderresponsive LGU - and the list could go on.

Under the leadership of Mayor Inday Sara Duterte, the city government is focused on realizing her 10 priority sectors -- Poverty Alleviation, Infrastructure Development, Solid Waste Management, Education, Health, Agriculture, Tourism, Transportation Planning and Traffic Management, Peace and Order, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Mitigation.

Under ‘Byaheng DO30: Our Trip For the Next Three Years’, Mayor Sara intends to accomplish 30 projects and programs during her term.

Exports... from page 2

exports sector for this year, a rebound from flat growth in 2016 due to 4.4 percent contraction in merchandise exports.

He added with the recovery of exports of goods and continued performance of services, overall growth of exports at end-2017 is seen to improve up to 7.0 percent.

Latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that merchandise exports revenue in January 2017 jumped by 22.5 percent to USD5.1 billion.

The country recorded significant export receipts growth in markets of China, up by 26.3 percent; South Korea, up by 50.5 percent; ASEAN, up by 19.3 percent; European Union, up by 82.5 percent; and United States, up by 16.5 percent. (PNA) LGI/KMC

Hurst...

11

from page 4

The final guideline is you have to invite God to the fight.

You need to ask Jesus Christ to take control of your heart and marriage. Only He can give you the willpower, love and self-control you need to start winning your fight against your uncontrolled anger that will hurt, even destroy, your marriage and family. Just Think a Minute…

Games... from page 6

athletes, sports enthusiasts and sportsmen in the event.

After the short program, His Excellency Dato Razlan Abdul Rashid, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines passed the baton to Abella who in turn passed it to Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz who carried the baton and led the run in the first stage (Malacanang) of three stages. Other baton carriers are Josephine Medina-2016 Paralympics Bronze Medalist in table tennis; Olympians Marestella Torres-Sunang and Joy Tabal (athletics) and Gilas.

As the morning sun rises, Diaz, wearing a colorful sports gear (red-white and blue) emblematic of the Flag, begun the “historic baton run”, carried the baton with vigor and sportsmanshipconduct.

A long t he route, t he Zamboanga Olympian pride and together with countless runners joined by differently able d a nd memb ers of the armed forces wave to cheering fans and athletes who lined up in the 7.2 km route as early as 4 o’clock Sunday amid the “fiesta-like” atmosphere and the beating of drums reverberating that ended at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex. (PNA) BNB/PPA/SSC

Ironman... from page 6

Caroline is,” she said.

The event was sponsored by 2Go Express (official courier and logistics partner), Subic Bay Metropolita n Authority (venue partner), Acea Subic Bay (host hotel), Ma ni la Nor t h Tol lways Corp. (bike course partner), Gatorade (official sports drink), Saucony (official foot wea r a nd appa rel partner), and TYR (official swim cap partner).

Media partners were The Philippine Star, Hyper HD on Cignal, TriLife, Asiatri. com, and Finisher Pix. It is also supported by Alaska, David’s Salon, GU Energy Gels, Intercare, Prudential Guarantee, Premier Waer and Sante Barley and backed by marketing sponsors AlcoPlus, Cetaphil, Dalong, Froehlich Tours, Inc., Sanicare and Storck. (PNA) BNB/PRIMO P. AGATEP/ SSC

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Feature 12

Royal Vectors Eagles Club providing service with a heart www.businessweekmindanao.com

The Royal Vectors Eagles Club in partnership with the Northern Mindanao Pediatric Colo-Rectal Center successfully launch the “LIBRE OPERA NI KUYA” held February 10, 2017 at Maria Reyna, Xavier Hospital, Cagayan de Oro. Beneficiaries are thoroughly selected.. the five patients already undergone series of successful operation headed by the Pediatric Surgeons of Northern Mindanao Pediatric Colo-Rectal Center led by Dra. Dures Fe Tagayuna and Dra. Erika Gacus & anesthesiologist kuya Dr. Ferdinand Miranda, President of RVEC & Chairman of Health Care Program NMR1.

congratulations “ROYAL VECTORS EAGLES CLUB” for the job well done!

We are proud of YOU & all TFOE-PE from: kuya JunGOV Anjun Gomez GOVERNOR, NMR1 kuya Jimmy Eballe Caiña VICE GOV, NMR1

kuya Manny Suganob REGIONAL SECRETARY, NMR1 kuya Dario Rad Pantanosas REGIONAL AUDITOR, NMR1 kuya Yogi Hembrador REGIONAL TREASURER, NMR1 kuya Gualberto Cortez NATIONAL ASSEMBLYMAN, NMR1

kuya Sovereign Angel Melgar NATIONAL ASSEMBLYMAN, NMR1 kuya Dondon Cabasa Allorin NATIONAL ASSEMBLYMAN, NMR1 kuya Kokong Macas Quiblat CHAIRMAN of CLUB PRESIDENTS, NMR1 kuya Efren Camaro EMISSARY of the GOVERNOR, NMR1 kuya Dante M Sudaria REGIONAL PRESS, NMR1 kuya Shiankarl Torque EXECUTIVE REGIONAL INFO-PIO, NMR1

Tuesday | March 14, 2017