BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 18, 2016)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

GOD IS GOOD

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YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Volume VI, No. 113

Market Indicators

As of 5:46 pm march 17, 2016 (thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P46.44

7,210.90

X X Briefly

38.5

145.51

cents

points

El Niño’s wrath

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P15.00

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THIS

THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES

ME STRENGTH

Beyond peace, infras key for investments to ARMM

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

B

USINESS groups in the Auton om ou s Re g i on i n Mu s l i m M i n d an a o (ARMM), in a meeting with Swiss officials led by Ambassador to the Philippines Andrea Reichlin last week, emphasized the need for infrastructure development alongside sustaining peace to attract more investment in the region.

THE El Niño phenomenon has damaged irrigation facilities in Northern Mindanao worth P36.4 million, irrigation officials said Thursday.

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Jimmy Apostol, the regional manager of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), said that the provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao Del Norte were the most affected areas of the long dry spell.

He said that 950 hectares of irrigated land area in Bukidnon were damaged, costing about P17.1 million.

RE investments

CONSTRUCTION BOOST. As dusk settles in, floodlights come alive as construction works continue during nighttime in high-rise buildings in downtown Cagayan de Oro City. PHOTO BY MARK FRANCISCO

THE Board of Investments (BOI) has approved a total of 144 renewable energy investment projects worth P170.947 billion from 2010 up to December 2015 with a total generating capacity of 3,861 megawatts.

“Our industry development programs are geared towards building sustainable and resilient communities, which includes achieving sustainable energy sources,” said Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo. He added that the development of renewable energy resources supports the country’s new industrial policy which includes the “greening” of industry roadmaps.

“Greening” a business refers to the adoption of practices and operational procedures to improve efficiency in the use of natural resources and power.

Renewable energy sources include biomass, solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and ocean energy.

CDO’s first resort-theme condo starts turnover of units Saturday SIXTY qualified owners will be the first occupants of the first resort-themed condominium development project in the City of Golden Friendship.

Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) will formally turn over 60 units of Filinvest One Oasis Cagayan de Oro Building 1 to their owners on Saturday (March 19), said Ara Solidum, FLI general manager for Northern Mindanao.

One Oasis Cagayan de Oro, FLI’s flagship development project in the city, is inspired by Asian-Balinese master-planned community. It occupies 2.7 hectares, 55 percent of which is open space which includes rejuvenating landscape and lush greenery, resort-theme amenities

The meeting, held at the ARMMRegional Board of Investments (RBOI) office in Cotabato City, was attended by representatives of the Metro Cotabato Chamber

of Commerce a n d I n d u s t r y, Muslim Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kutawato, and the Bangsamoro Business Club, led by the Promotion infras/PAGE 11

SOLUTION TO SOCIETAL ILLS. Kaloy Manlupig (L) stresses the importance of exercising one’s right to suffrage in order to help open doors to genuine change in government and society during his guesting at the MediaKonek hosted by veteran journalist Butch Enerio (R). Photo

by BONG D. FABE

Artist’s scale model of Filinvest One Oasis Cagayan de Oro City.

and wide road networks.

Foremost among these resortstyled amenities is the standalone, two-storey Clubhouse which houses the Multi-Purpose Hall which is open to use by unit owners for social and business functions. Also ready for the

first occupants is the Annex Building which houses the gym, two conference rooms good for twenty persons, and music room.

A nearby adults and kiddies swimming pool is ready for the enjoyment of the first unit owners turnovew/PAGE 11

Balay Mindanaw pioneer: Poll, one of the answers to ills in gov’t, society

By BONG D. FABE, Contributing Editor

THE pioneer of the peacebuilding and development, “small yet global” Galing Pook-awardee

n o n - g ov e r n m e nt organization B a l ay Mind anaw Foundation, Inc. poll/PAGE 11

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SOX food, fashion take center stage at Glorietta KORONADAL City -- SOX (short for SOCCSKSARGEN) Region’s food and fashion will be on spotlight in a fair at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City on April 14.

Nelly Nita Dillera, regional director of the Department of Tourism 12 said the SOX Food and Fashion Fair will be the culminating event of the Treasures of SOX: A Travel

and Trade Expo, which will start on April 11.

Food products that will be highlighted will include rice, corn, tuna, pineapple, coffee, muscovado, coconut oil, Cavendish banana, and aquaculture products.

“The production of these has evolved from the time these where traditionally grown and processed by the indigenous peoples living in sox/PAGE 10

Economy

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P4.8-M projects set for Implementation in AgNor B U T UA N C i t y - The provincial government of Agusan del Norte will implement various priority programs and projects amounting to P4,892,000.00 based on the endorsement by the Provincial Development Council (PDC) Executive Committee to the

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).

The SP recently approved the recommendation of the PDC considering the importance and significance of the projects for immediate implementation, which are essential in the delivery of basic services and facilities of the province.

These projects included: 1. Completion of the Provincial Veterinarian Quarantine Station P1,500,000.00 2. Provincial counterpart for the construction of Katugasan-Bayabas Bridge, Cabadbaran City (Payment of RROW and affected Improvements) -

P1,500,000.00 3. Purchase of lot for the resettlement site, Cahayagan, Carmen, Agusan del Norte - P1,000,000.00 4. Embankment of Navintalan-Talaganahaw FMR, Matabao, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte P350,000.00 projects/PAGE 11

Ship hits DANECO cable, blackouts Samal DAVAO City -- A bulk vessel hit earlier today the submarine cable of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO) connecting the Island Garden City of Samal in the electricity grid.

DANECO Manager Charles Bejod confirmed that the anchor of certain M/V Ecuador ship hit the cable in the shoreline of Caliclic, Brgy. Babak causing total blackout in the whole island,

Early childhood education completion. About 504 preschoolers from 10 Child Development Centers at barangay Tablon successfully complete their early childhood education on March 14 at the Tablon covered court. For the school year 2015-2016, almost 10,000 pre-schoolers from 196 Child Development Centers all over Cagayan de Oro city successfully completed from Day Care.(CIO/PIA10)

which started at 9:53 AM. Bejod stressed that it will take no more than two weeks to re-energize again the island.

“We are currently checking on the extent of the damage so that we could make the proper move right away and energize again the island,” he said.

Bejod added that they are now preparing a legal action against the owner of the vessel.

(PIA 11, Michael Uy)

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CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

CorporateWorld 3 Globe Telecom to avail P7-B loan from Landbank Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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GLOBE TELECOM, Inc. on Wednesday said it sealed a P7-billion loan with the Land Bank of the Philippines.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, Globe said the funds from the 10-year term loan will be used for capital expenditures.

Globe’s capex is around $700 million to $750 million this year -- higher than the $704 million spent last year. “[M]ajority of which

would be invested for datarelated projects, including LTE (long-term evolution) for mobile and @Home c ap a c it y an d c ove r a ge augmentation of 3G and HSPA+, modernization of fixed line data infrastructure and requirements for transmission facilities,” the telco said.

Globe’s full-year net income increased by 23% to P16.5 billion from P13.4

Resorts World operator nets P4B in 2015 TRAVELERS International Hotel Group, Inc. (TIHGI), owner and operator of Resorts World Mani l a (RWM), booked a 26.6-percent decline in profit in 2015, dragged down by the losses from foreign exchange.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, TIHGI said its net income declined to P4 billion last year from P5.45 billion in 2014 after unrealized foreign exchange losses reached PHP765 million.

Gaming revenues contributed P24.2 billion while Hotel, Food & Beverage (F&B) and other revenues increased to P3.5 billion or 9.9 percent higher compared to the previous year, as TIHGI continues to expand its

non-gaming facilities and offerings.

Hotel occupancy remains strong with all three hotels, Maxims Hotel, Remington Hotel and Marriott Hotel registering average occupancy rate of above 86 percent for the entire year.

“The local integrated resort industry continues to grow and evolve,” said TIHGI President and Chief Executive Officer Kingson Sian. “The Philippines is already an established tourism and entertainment destination, and we continue to see a lot of potential for further growth. Now that the Marriott Grand Ballroom is fully operational, the meetings, incentives, conferences and resorts/PAGE 11

billion in 2014.

Its core net income -which strips out the impact of non-recurring charges, including one-time gains and accelerated depreciation

charges, foreign exchange and mark-to-market charges -- inched up by 4% year on year to P15.1 billion from P14.5 billion in 2014.

The telco’s full-year

consolidated service revenues hit a record P113.7 billion, 15% higher than 2014’s P99 billion.

“Even excluding Bayan’s revenues in the second half

of 2015, Globe’s consolidated service revenues grew to P110.8 billion, up a solid 12% from the same period last year,” the company earlier said.

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The Truth Hurts Think a minute…Henri Latour was the greatest detective in France during the 19th century.

He was a mastermind at finding evidence and clues, then fitting it all together to find the criminal and bring him to justice. But mysteriously, this living legend’s career suddenly ended.

Detective Henri Latour was called to the scene of a horrible, violent crime. An old couple had been robbed and brutally murdered. The police had already arrested a suspect. But shortly after studying the crime scene and evidence, Latour’s instincts convinced him that the police had arrested the wrong man. He promised the police and the family that he would find the missing pieces of the puzzle and the murderer.

So began what many have called the most brilliant tracking of a criminal in the history of France. Henri Latour carefully gathered all the different pieces of evidence, one piece at a time, until he finally found his man and criminal. The newspapers praised Latour’s brilliant detective work and spread the news of his fame all over France.

Then suddenly, after solving that case, Latour retired and moved away. In fact, he lived alone for the remaining 25 years of his life. You see, it was only after he died that the true identity of the last criminal

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst Latour tracked down was made known to the public. In his last case, Latour had refused to back down from the truth, even when his investigation revealed and proved that the murderer was none other than Latour’s own son.

Sometimes the truth can be very painful. But sooner or later we each have to face it: we’ve done some things wrong in our life. And until we admit this fact to our Maker, we’ll never be free from our guilt. It’s then we realize that the price we pay of hurting our pride is nothing compared to losing our relationship with our Maker. And the only thing we have to do is ask Jesus Christ for His forgiveness and new life.

Then with Him in charge, we can start changing and living His way, which is the only way we’ll ever have peace of mind and be free. Just Think a Minute!

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How to Obtain Competitive Advantage In lieu of many designers and engineers, the Titanic still met its icy tragedy. Life has many Sisyphean tasks even with best strategists who seem confident with their playbook.

As Christians, however, live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7); they do not merely use the ordinary strategy playbook. They operate in the realm of the supernatural.

So how do faithe mp ow e re d s t r at e g i s t s operate in general? How do they attain a competitive advantage? Before I present Biblical insights, let us begin by defining competitive a d v a nt a g e : a b u s i n e s s concept which means that a company possesses assets or know-how that competitors cannot easily copy leading to its market dominance.

I refer to competitive advantage, in this context, as a characteristic Christians can possess if they exercise their faith: their propensity for success in their endeavours.

Premised on their access (1 John 5:14-15) to the Giver

of all things, the children of God should learn to ask their Father. But they must meet the condition: that the requests are not for selfgratification (James 4:3) or spring from wrong motives.

They must see to it that their faith in God will not be compromised through “foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:9).” Moreover, they should not forget showing kindness expecting nothing in return.

If Christians cherish sin, God will not hear their prayers (Psalms 66:18).

So constantly confessing their sins to the Father (1 John 1:9) is better than presuming nothing hinders the benefactor-recipient exchange.

Seeking God to powerfully participate in the affairs of believers is the ancient s t r at e g y an d p ow e r f u l weapon. Best expressed through prayer and fasting, its result is not only beyond comprehension—it is also marvellous.

We can see the ancient

secret unveiled in the battle between king Jehoshaphat, an d t h e Mo abit e s an d Ammonites (read 2 Chronicles 2). As Judah was surrounded by enemies, Jehoshaphat declared a prayer and fasting. As a result, he was divinely guided and followed the supernatural strateg y playbook; the enemies ended up killing one another. What a deliverance!

The contemporary times have some true stories of miraculous provisions and deliverance across Christian groups, though they are not recorded in the media.

My previous home church in Iloilo City (Full Gospel C enter Church) has an account of an ordinar y member (layman) whose relative was already clinically dead in the hospital. The church member requested the person-in-charge of the ICU at Iloilo Missions Hospital that the body would not yet be taken and he/she be allowed to stay in the ICU for a while because he wanted to seek God first. It took

lucell larawan eight hours until something happened: the dead came back. Faith worked. Who says that only extraordinary men and women can seek God effectively?

We can use the powerful weapon, too.

But an important note: the more-than-ordinar y playbook in the exercise of faith do es not shun away virtues such as work ethics. Men of faith should also be diligent (Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 12: 24) and trustworthy with earthly possessions (Luke 16:12).

Stewardship and the exercise of faith goes together.

‘Consummati in unum’ It means ‘that they may become perfectly one’ in Latin. The expression appears in the priestly prayer of Christ as narrated in the gospel of St. John. (cfr 17,23) It goes together with another famous expression, ‘ut unum sint’ (that they may be one), which has been used as title of one of the encyclicals of St. Pope John Paul II that talked about ecumenism.

It expresses Christ’s ardent desire that we be one with him, for that was his purpose for becoming man. The redemption undertaken by Christ was meant to make us one with Christ, living members of his mystical body which is now referred to as the Church.

The unity that Christ speaks of is not merely some natural kind of unity, achieved through social, cultural or political forces and laws, but a unity of spirit, of mind and

heart, much like the unity that exists between God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

This unity was already hinted about or prefigured in the Old Testament, like in the Book of Isaiah, where we hear the words: “This people have I formed for myself.

They shall show forth my praise.” (43,21) It is somehow referred to in the New Testament when Christ said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

(12,32) Of course, St. Paul said it even more clearly: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

(Rom 12,5) Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The Church is the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities and is made

real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly. She draws her life from the word and the Body of Christ and so herself becomes Christ’s Body.” (752) We need to be aware of this truth about ourselves.

Irrespective of our many differences and conflicts, we have to realize that we form one body, not in genetic, social, political or cultural terms, etc., but in the ultimate criterion of being creatures and children of God. We have been made in his image and likeness and redeemed by Christ after we messed up the state of original justice in which we were created in Adam and Eve. We need to cooperate in Christ’s desire that we be ‘consummati in unum,’ that we may become perfectly one with him, as he is one with his Father.

To be sure, the unity

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala sp oke n of he re is not uniformity. It is not about building up a monolithic, rigid uniformity. It can tolerate, even encourage, a great variety of views and opinions, for these can only enrich and strengthen the unity Christ wants for us.

We just have to learn how to handle this phenomenon that is somehow expressed in that American nation’s motto, ‘E cimagala/PAGE 10

Presidentiables must undergo spiritual counseling LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-4, the Holy Bible).

-ooo P R E S I D E N T IA B L E S BEING TUTORED AUGURS WELL FOR RP: It is encouraging to read in various social networking sites that some lawyers who have solid reputations on vital issues affecting the country and the nation are

advising some presidential candidates on how to answer questions during the second leg of the presidential debates being sponsored by the Commission on Elections and by media networks.

The fact alone that the presidential candidates concerned are showing willingness to be counseled to learn the deeper ramifications of these vital issues indicates their frank admission that they do lack the desired expertise in looking for solutions to peculiar problems, and their sincere desire as well to finally solve the problems affecting our country and the citizenry.

This is better, as far as

I am concerned, than the candidates who project an image that they know all the solutions and are capable of implementing those solutions when they are finally elected.

We already suffered so much, even as we continue to suffer much until now, because of these pretentious individuals, promising many things and subsequently failing to deliver because of their clear ineptitude and incapacity.

-ooo CONGRATULATIONS, SEN. GRACE POE: Indeed, it is about time that we install people who are not ashamed to admit their inadequacies especially on highly specialized matters like

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio global warming and climate change, but who demonstrate honest-to-goodness efforts at learning what constitutes the problem and what the possible solutions are. batas/PAGE 10

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A griBusiness 6 Kidapawan carries food-for-work program Germany, PH sign agreement on for El Nino-hit residents improving abaca farmers income 2013 ppi’S Best in Business and Economic Reporting

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KIDAPAWAN City -- To help mitigate the effects of long drought on its residents, the city government here has started implementing a food-for-work program.

Kidapawan City Information Office told Philippine Information Agency 12 that prioritized i n t h e fo o d - for- w or k program are indigent families who are either tenants or farm laborers.

Under the scheme, the city government hires the target beneficiaries – heads of family as laborers in projects such as clean up of canals, search and destroy of mosquito breeding places, campaign against pests

and rodents, and similar activities, many of which are in preparation for the rainy season.

For work accomplished, each beneficiary will be paid 15 kilograms of rice.

Mayor Evangelista assured that the city government allocated enough rice for 4,000 individuals from 12 barangays.

T h i s we e k , t h e c it y government implemented the food-for-work program with target with residents of Barangays Malinan, Patadon, Onica, Amas, Amazion, Macebolig, Sumbac, Junction, Kalaisan, Binoligan, Paco and Balindog. program/PAGE 10

T

HE German government and a leading rope manufacturing and export company will sign an agreement aimed at improving the income of abaca farmers in Panay Island through sustainable fiber production, management, and marketing.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the project will assist marginal farmers in protecting and rehabilitating degraded forest lands and their buffer zones through enrichment

planting, assisted natural regeneration, agro-forestry and upland agriculture to increase their incomes while mitigating climate change and conserving the area’s rich biodiversity.

The Manila Cordage C ompany (MANCO), a wholly-owned Filipino company manufacturing and exporting abaca rope and twine for over ninety years, has been supporting the expansion of abaca farms in the upland areas of Panay Island.

In 2013, the Philippines produced 85 percent of the world’s abaca fiber is projected to grow up to 5.7

percent until 2019.

In a statement on Wednesday, GIZ, Germany’s international development c o o p e r at i o n c o mp a ny, said the public-private partnership between Germany and MANCO “will promote the sustainable production, management and marketing of abaca with the goal of contributing and improving the socioeconomic conditions of upland farmers.”

It w i l l a l s o e n s u r e coordination of activities with relevant authorities, prov i d e t e c h n i c a l an d financial assistance to abaca farmers, and participate in

monitoring of project success, it added.

MANCO, on the other hand, will provide technical expertise and training, make high-quality planting materials available to farmers at cost, provide funding when applicable, and purchase abaca fibers that meet their requirements.

D r. K l a u s S c h m i t t , principal advisor of the Forest and Climate Protection Panay II Project of GIZ and MANCO chairman and president Roberto Fernandez will sign the agreement on March 22 at the MANCO office in Calamba, Laguna.

(PNA)

BSP okays agri value chain financing framework THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has approved the establishment of the agricultural value chain financing framework to uplift the agriculture and fisheries sector.

The central bank’s policy-

making Monetary Board approved the adoption of the framework during its meeting on February 24, 2016.

Citing the 10 percent contribution of the agriculture sector on the domestic economy’s annual

output and the employment of about 11.2 million Filipinos, the central bank said the framework will address the issue of lack of financing access among farmers and fisherfolks.

“In general, the sector

is considered a high risk market due to its inherent susceptibility to weather conditions, flooding, pest infestations, and man-made calamities, among others,” it said.

With the framework, farmers and fisherfolks will now have easy access to financing through the whole value chain, which includes

all the participants when the products are still on its raw stage until these is brought to the consumers.

“Participation in the value chain allows farmers to leverage on effective farming technologies and methods, access to formal financing, and sustainable market demand,” the BSP said.

The central bank said the framework has minimum prudential expectations that include the need for adequate policies and procedures on the analysis of the value chain, availability of appropriate products, utilization of innovative disbursement schemes, and adoption of anchor-firm triggered loan framework/PAGE 10

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BSP: No pressing need to change policy stance

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) does not see a “pressing need” to change its policy stance, same as that of the Federal Reser ve, which maintained its interest rate Thursday given the soft exports and fixed investments.

In a text message to

reporters, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the Fed’s decision to keep its key rates at 0.25-0.50 percent “was broadly expected.”

He explained that “the continued consideration of global developments reflects a recognition of the dynamics of potential spillovers and spillbacks

across economies.”

“A stronger currency and possible implications for growth plus accommodative policies abroad further lower the urgency to an upmove,” he said.

Some central banks have adjusted their policy rates to address domestic growth concerns vis-a-vis the impact

of external developments.

“In the Philippines, we continue to see no pressing need to change the stance of monetary policy at this time.

We nevertheless remain attentive to developments to see if there is a reason to adjust the policy stance,” Tetangco said.

The BSP’s overnight

borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) rate and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate have been kept at four percent and six percent, respectively.

These were last hiked by 25 basis points in September 2014.

That year, the key rates were increased by 50 basis

points to prevent inflation from surpassing the upper end of the government’s three to five percent target.

Since inflation has been on the downtrend and growth remains robust, monetary officials have maintained the key rates saying that policy stance remains supportive of growth. (PNA)

Remittances total Filipinos prefer cash over risky investment assets $2B in Jan., up 3.4% THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) yesterday said Januar y cash remittances from overseas Filipinos amounted to $2.02 billion, up 3.4 percent yearon-year.

Cash remittances – which are remitted through t he b anks – f rom b ot h land-based and sea-based workers increased by three percent and 4.6 percent year-on-year, to $1.6 billion for land-based and $447 million for sea-based, respectively.

The bulk of cash remitt ances came f rom the US, Saudi Arabia, the Un ite d A r ab E m i r ate s , Canada, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Qatar, and Japan.

The BSP reported that personal remittances from overseas Filipinos, on the other had, went up by 3.2 percent year-on-year to $2.2 billion.

These are mostly transfers from land-based overseas Filipino workers with work contracts of one year or more, amounting to $1.7 billion, as well as compensation of sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts (excluding their expenditures abroad), which reached $500 million.

“Remittance flows from overseas Filipinos remained resilient, underpinned by the sustained demand for skilled Filipino manpower overseas,” said the BSP.

MORE FILIPINOS are relying on cash as their “best-oft h e - w or s t” i nv e s t m e nt instrument in a volatile financial market, a biannual study showed, revealing a declining preference towards all asset classes on lingering concerns over current market conditions.

Manulife Investor Sentiment Index (MISI) -- which regularly tracks investor sentiment across eight markets in Asia -- found that Filipino investors have declining confidence in their investment prospects, seen with the “significant drop” in investor sentiment towards all asset classes from the previous survey results.

“The survey revealed a dramatic fall in sentiment towards all asset classes, due to concerns that market conditions are unlikely to

improve. Cash, however, has been the least affected, with many investors changing their investment strategy to increase their cash holdings,” the Canada-based insurer Manulife Financial Corp. said in a statement yesterday.

Manulife said sentiment tow ards f i xe d i nc ome, equities and mutual funds have all decreased since the second quarter of 2015, down to 60 from 81, 64 from 83, and 61 from 84 respectively.

Sentiment towards cash dropped less significantly, although it still fell more than 10 percentage points, to 76, the life insurer added.

T h e s u r v e y s h ow e d that this fall in sentiment can largely be attributed to concerns about market volatility and doubts that market conditions will improve.

Fewer people expect market conditions to improve, which may explain the fall in sentiment, Manulife explained.

As a result of this concern on persisting financial market rout, Manulife said one-fifth -- 20% -- of investors expect a 5% or less return on their investments, up from only 8% of investors since the last survey in the second quarter of 2015. In addition, only 12% expect a return of 10-

15% on their investments, a sharp fall from 28%.

“This may explain why cash remains the most favored asset class, with investors seeking investments they perceive to be less risky.

While investor sentiment towards cash fell, cash still ranks as the most preferred asset class,” it added, noting that Filipino investors are increasing their cash holdings to 34% of their total assets investment/PAGE 10

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Own a condo and benefit from solar power technology in Italpinas’ Primavera City

C

ertified green builder Italpinas Development Corp.

(IDC) will shortly launch a new condominium development, where buyers will not only own a topnotch home, but also enjoy the benefits of an innovative solar-power system.

IDC’s Primavera City in Cagayan de Oro City is designed with an onsite solar power plant component that should produce around 1.4 megawatt (MW) of power.

IDC President Jose “Jojo” D. Leviste III said that by investing in an economically sized solar-power system, the residents of Primavera City will enjoy a lowered cost of living as the system contributes solar power to the building’s various functions.

The building’s lessened dependence on expensive power from the grid makes it an innovation not just in aesthetics and design, but also in the economics of condominium living, he noted.

IDC Chairman and COO Romolo Valentino Nati, an Italian architect, said Primavera City’s solar plant component is consistent

with the company’s thrust of building only sustainable and ecologically sound condominium buildings.

“The company’s unique marketing proposition is to offer distinctive energy efficient, passive and active eco friendly green building concept wit h b eautiful c o nt e mp o r a r y It a l i a n F i l ipi n o d e s i g n , w h i l e continuously improving the quality and accessibility of its residential and commercial properties to satisfy the housing and business needs of the expanding Philippine population, and the desire of overseas Filipino workers, balikbayans and expats to secure properties in new emerging cities in the country, as well as the increasing sophistication of the market and its demand for style and comfort,” Nati emphasized.

Primavera City’s value prop osition, he added, revolves around the unique integration of renewable energ y with real-estate development. “Once the c ap a c it y to i mpl ement the Solar PV system for condominiums is refined, the power generated from s olar energ y may spin

off to another business ventures which targets other residential, office and commercial buildings.”

The publicly listed IDC made its mark in the realestate industry as the first Philippine company certified by the International Finance Corp. (IFC) - World Bank Group’s “Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies” (EDGE) program for its flagship project also in Cagayan de Oro City, the Primavera Residences.

It recently announced that the launch of Phase 1 of Primavera City has been set in the second quarter

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of the year. It involves the construction of two towers of integrated multifunctional buildings (commercial, office, residential) project with 11 floors each. Located at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro (near SM City Cagayan de Oro). Phase 1 of the project entails an investment of about P653 million for 2 towers. When fully complete, Primavera City is planned to consist of 7 green buildings including a high rise tower.

The two towers of Primavera City Phase 1 are designed to have 337 units, 57 of them commercial units;

231 are studio-type; 22 are one-bedroom units, and 27 are two-bedroom units and around 100 parking slots.

Their average sizes are 50 to 60 square meters (sqm) for commercial units, 28 sqm for studio-type units, 47 sqm for the single-bedroom units, and 70 sqm for the two-bedroom units.

IFC Global Green Building Specialist Prashant Kapoor, IFC World Bank Legal Advisor and IFC Philippines head of Green Building Program Tess Lacerna, and IFC Country Manager Jane Xu awarded the certificates to Primavera Residences

Tower A & B as the “First Completed Condominium Project in East Asia Certified

by EDGE.” EDGE is an accreditation body of the IFC - World Bank Group. It helps property developers build and meaningfully brand their properties as “green.” It is the highest and most desirable program in the international real estate industry. EDGE is supported by a software that encourages solutions to reduce energy, water and energy consumption by at least 20 percent, which is the standard for EDGE certification.

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Globe Media Excellence Awards 2016 launched

G

By MARK FRANCISCO

LOBE Telecom is pleased to announce that this year marks the fifth milestone year of the Globe Media Excellence Awards, thus a bigger, better and grander awards.

It can be recalled that the Globe Media Excellence Awards was first launched in 2012 in the cities of Cebu and Davao and has been a yearly media awards in these areas since. In 2015, the Globe

Media Excellence Awards expanded its coverage in the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod in the Visayas; and the cities of General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga in Mindanao.

The Globe Media Excellence Awards seeks to recognize journalists, broadcasters, bloggers and social media advocates in Visayas and Mindanao who have shown excellence in

More Pag-IBIG members upgrade their savings

Pag-IBIG Fund Chairman of the Board of Trustees Atty. Chito M. Cruz said recently that the amount collected from Pag-IBIG memb ers w ho opted to save more than that which i s m a n d at e d by l aw i s increasing.

Cruz reported that PagIBIG in 2015 collected a total of P4.2 billion from the upgraded savings program of Pag-IBIG members, up by 8% from the P3.9 billion collected in 2014. In 2013, the Fund collected P3.5 billion from the same program. “ Up g r a d e d s av i n g s” refers to t he volunt ar y contribution by Pag-IBIG members over and above the mandator y monthly contribution of P100.

“Pag-IBIG offered this upgraded savings option to encourage more Pag-IBIG members to save for their future. Aside from bigger savings upon retirement, Pag-IBIG members who opt to increase their savings a ls o ge t t he b e ne f it of higher dividend earnings – which are tax-free, and bigger loanable amounts in case they need to borrow,” Pag-IBIG President & CEO Darlene Berberabe said.

She pointed out that Pag-IBIG’s yearly dividend is significantly higher than the interest rates offered by other savings instrument, adding that in the last five years, Pag-IBIG’s dividend rate has not gone down below the 4% level.

“For 2015, we declared a total of P14.2 billion in dividends, with a rate of 4.8%, w hich w i l l b e proportionately distributed and credited to the accounts of Pag-IBIG memb ers,” Atty. Berberabe said.

S h e a d d e d t h at t h e upgraded savings program is beneficial to both the Fund and the Pag-IBIG members.

“C amp aig ning for upgraded savings has been our strategy to generate more f unds. Inste ad of increasing the mandatory monthly contribution, we decided that we will instead campaign for members to voluntarily upgrade their c ont r i but i ons . We h a d hoped that if members knew

that Pag-IBIG is managing their money well, and they feel the benefits of their membership, members will see the value of increasing their contributions, which are actually their savings, and then they will actually save more,” Beberabe said.

Pag-IBIG has the twin mandates of savings generation and provision of affordable housing for its members.

The information contained in this communication is privileged and confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the intende d re cipient you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately by return email and delete the document. Pag-IBIG Fund is neither liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information nor for any delay in its receipt. PagI B IG Fu n d a c c e pt s n o liability for any damage caused by this email or its attachments due to viruses, interference, interception, corruption or unauthorized access.

The information contained in this communication is privileged and confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the intende d re cipient you must not disclose or use the information contained in it. If you have received this email in error please notify us immediately by return email and delete the document. Pag-IBIG Fund is neither liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information nor for any delay in its receipt.

Pag-IBIG Fund accepts no liability for any damage caused by this email or its attachments due to viruses, interference, interception, corruption or unauthorized access.

their craft, commitment to their profession and have created positive impact to society.

This year, Globe Telecom has decided to anchor the awards to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Entries, therefore must delve on these four areas of concern – care for the environment, innate care for people, positive societal

impact and digitalization.

There are also additional categories for both t r a d it i ona l and d i g it a l media. All in all, the categories for this year are the following – Reporter of the Year for Print, Columnist of the Year, Photojournalist of the Year, Explanatory/ Investigative Story of the Year for Print, Reporter of the Year for Radio, Public

Affairs Story of the Year for Radio, Reporter of the Year for Television, Explanatory/ Investigative Story of the Year for Television, Blogger of the Year, Social Media Advocate of the Year, Social Media Campaign of the Year and Reporter of the Year for Online News Portal.

There will be cash prizes for reporter and corresponding editor/videographer.

Those who are interested to contend must fill out all the required items in the entry form. S/he must send the accomplished entry form together with a scanned copy (either in PDF or JPEG) of his/her ID and his/her entries and the respective requirements to globemea@ gmail.com. The subject of the email must be GMEA (Category).

Earth Hour Night Ride 2016 The Earth Hour Movement is a massive cause to unite everyone to help and protect the Earth from total deterioration. It aims to enlighten the community to be one with the goal to help the planet.

With its advocacy to promote a cleaner, sustainable environment, HABAGAT OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT has been enlightened to be one with the call for climate action.

Since 2009, Habagat, with its goal of striving for a CORPORATION WITH A CONSCIENCE, has been

hosting the annual Earth Hour Night Ride in Cagayan de Oro City as an entity actively participating in the Earth Hour Movement. Around 1,000 bikers from different walks of life gather every year for this momentous occasion to show their concern about climate change, reducing carbon footprint, aiming for cleaner air, and as a result, this event became nationwide.

This year, the Earth Hour Night Ride will be staged in 11 locations – Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, Davao, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Tarlac, Palompon,

Media partners:

Leyte, Ozamis and Zamboanga simultaneously.

This coming March 19, 8PM at CENTRIO, the Earth Hour Night Ride is all about getting the crowd to shine a light on climate action and help change climate change.

This event is a result from the unified desire and commitment for climate adaptation and improvement.

What started as a simple cause rippled into something bigger than expected.

Shine a light on climate action and let’s ride!

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friday|march 18, 2016

SOX... from page 2

the region to how these are processed now,” Dillera said in a press statement.

“The region’s current status as top exporter of a number of food products is an indication of a successful transition from traditional to modern production,” she added.

SOCCKSARGEN Region has six tuna exporting canning companies, and hosts the Dole pineapple processing plant and processing plants of other products such as Cavendish banana, rubber and oil palm.

It is also popular in the production and processing of coffee and muscovado as well as tropical fruits like pomelo, mangosteen, durian, passion fruit, solo papaya, guyabano, cacao and lanzones.

Among its most popular exports are black rice and pork-in-a box.

“SOCCSSKSARGEN is giving a fitting recognition to this evolution of food production and processing as it unfolds SOX Food and Fashion Fair on April 14,” Dillera said.

The event will start at 2:00 p.m.

Visitors, Dillera added, will be treated to a presentation of the Hinugyaw Cultural Troupe of Koronadal City that will trace back the processes of production in the olden times so closely entwined with their culture, way of life, arts and crafts and cuisine.

Among SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s indigenous peoples are Tbolis, Blaans, Manobos and Tedurays.

The show will then transition to a fashion show that will showcase avantgarde collections reflecting icons as well as the life and work of the indigenous cultures of SOX. Creations of Project Runway Season 4 1st Runner Up Jared Servano will be on center stage, Dillera said.

Runway judges described Servano as a “fashion rebel who emphasizes on the local culture with a modern take that reflects the tradition of his region and has the ability to transform them into modern silhouettes.”

He is a non-traditional designer of traditional cultural icons that “oozes with sophistication with a punch that only his signature style can deliver.”

Servano was also one of the acclaimed designers during the 2016 London Fashion week “who made a walking rose dress that looked like it was made of dried buds, but was in fact made from banana hemp” or abaca, the same material used by the Tbolis and Blaans in producing tnalak and tabih, respectively.

After the show, delectable food choices from traditional to modern will surely satisfy anyone’s palate, Dillera said.

The Treasures of SOX: A Travel and Trade Expo is mounted by various

government agencies converging to generate awareness and promote tourism, trade and investments of the region.

“Great and discounted tour packages are for grabs. SOX is famous for paragaliding, diving, living tradition communities, mountain climbing, ecotourism sites.”

Dillera sais.

The region registered 3.15 million tourist arrivals in 2015, higher than its 2.5 million tourist arrival in 2014.

Investments opportunities on tourism projects will also be matched with potential investors.

Business Matching with local producers and exporters shall also be arranged with institutional buyers and Sales Calls between Manilabased PhilTOA, PTAA, PATA and Asian Travel, and the SOCCSKSARGEN Tour Operators Association (STOA), the regional tourism chief noted.

“It would definitely be an exciting week of visiting simulated cultural areas and tourism sites as if you have actually visited SOCCSKSARGEN,” she said.

Dillera added that the food and fashion fair is SOCCSKSARGEN’s entry to the Flavors of the Philippines culinary program, which main and grand event is the international Madrid Fusion in Manila 2016.

(DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from DOT 12).

Cimagala... from page 4

pluribus unum,’ (one out of the many).

This concern for building up this ‘consummati in unum’ is one strong reason why we have to care for one another.

In other words, we have to cultivate a strong sense of apostolate. A Christian believer is by definition an apostle also. No one is actually exempted from this.

The apostolate can always be done even in the worst of conditions and situations, because it is first of all a matter of attitude, of spirit.

Everyone has to be concerned about the spiritual health of others more than anything else.

Or better said, our other worldly concerns should be subordinated to the ultimate spiritual and supernatural end that would comprise the unity that Christ has in mind.

We should be wary when we tend to put into conflict our mundane concerns with our spiritual and supernatural goal.

In whatever mundane concern we have, be it personal, family, professional, business or political, the apostolic dimension should be a salient feature. Ignoring this apostolic dimension can only mean that we are not handling our temporal affairs properly.

This apostolic concern should start and end in the personal level even as it has to extend to all aspects and

dimensions of our life. It cannot and should not be carried out institutionally if it is not first of all and always done personally.

There certainly is a great need to train everyone about apostolate. But it should always begin with personal friendship where confidence of people can be gained. It’s only then that we can aspire to contribute greatly to achieving this ‘consummati in unum.’

We have to learn to be mindful and thoughtful of everyone. To be realistic, we have to make daily apostolic plans.

with all our hearts, minds, souls, strength and that we should love others as we love ourselves.

-ooo PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible study and prayer session online could now be heard, 24 HOURS a day, in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook.com/ angtangingdaan or www. facebook.com/ANDKNK (and look for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts). Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Batas...

Program...

It is for this reason that I congratulate Sen. Grace Poe, the presidential candidate of the Partido Galing at Puso and of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), and her adviser, lawyer Tony Lavina, the erstwhile dean of the Ateneo De Manila University dean of the School of Good Government, for spending time together to discuss how the presidency of the Philippines can respond to our problems on environment in the most effective way possible.

How I wish other presidential candidates could imitate the courage of Sen. Poe in publicly displaying her acceptance of the tutorials of experts on specialized subject matters such as global warming and climate change. Truly, being tutored on a highly technical subject matter to find solutions is not a sign of weakness or mental deficiency. It is to me a display of sincerity and humility in an effort to uplift the lives of Filipinos.

-ooo P R E S I D E N T IA B L E S MUST UNDERGO SPIRITUAL COUNSELING: O ve r an d ab ove t h e s e considerations, however, is my desire to see Sen. Poe and the other presidential candidates running in the May 09, 2016 elections also wanting to be immersed on the spiritual dimensions of leadership, and what the Bible and other holy books of other faiths say about who are the real righteous and morally upright leaders and officials.

My view is that imbibing inspiration from the Bible and other spiritual materials about the kind of leaders and officials God desires for His p e ople around the world would lead to a truly “righteous path” in governance, one that does not simply mouth slogans and blame past presidents for failures in his administration but comply with spiritual rules on the leader being incorruptible and abusive.

I will repeat what I have been saying all along: a leader who has true fear and love of God will not cheat, lie, or steal, and will in fact carry out not only his powers and privileges but his duties and responsibilities as well according to the dictum that we should love God

These villages are the worst hit by the dry spell due to the El Nino phenomenon that started in November last year.

According to the City Information Office, the target villages for the food-forwork program should be reached on April 1.

The initiative is part of the emergency response efforts of the city government relates to its declaration of a state of calamity.

Drinking water are also being rationed to residents in a number of villages here. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from Kidapawan CIO)

from page 4

from page 6

Framework... from page 6

OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

BusinessWeek MINDANAO Best in Business and Economic Reporting

Philippine Press Institute Civic Journalism Community Press Awards 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

METRO BANK- GAISANO 8561720

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

CM Recto Ave. Lapasan, Cdoc, 8563991/727731

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK RER kauswagan,HW Cdoc 8573733 /722519 BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK Gaston Park Cdoc | 8801518 BPI – LAPASAN Cm Recto HW Lapasan Cdoc 724076/ 8524602 BPI- VELEZ Velez-JR Borja St.Cdoc 8564213/722406

release.

The Circular also allows banks to set up a disaster contingency mechanism that requires adoption of risk mitigants to lessen losses and provide relief for recovery among borrowers.

Incentives will be given to banks that will heed the regulatory expectations, the BSP said.

“The BSP hopes that the issuance will provide the necessary guidance for banks to be able to serve the needs of the agriculture and fisheries sector, specifically the small holders, in a manner that is viable and sustainable,” it added. (PNA)

BPI – CAPISTRANO Capistrano St. Cdoc 8574264/8574263

Investment...

D’ASIAN HILLS BANK Vamenta Carmen Sts. Cdoc | 8585366

from page 7

from 23% in the last survey.

“In addition, 40% of investors are looking to invest more in or start investing in cash in their local currency.”

The MISI is a survey conducted every six months to track investors’ views across Asian markets covering aspects of personal financial planning.

Some 500 middle-class to affluent residents based in Metro Manila and Cebu aged 25 and above were tapped as respondents via online interviews, who stand as primary decision maker for financial matters and are current holders of investment products.

Other economies covered are Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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

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

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Infras... from page 1

of Investment Sustainability Organization (PISO), which has members from the private sector as well as government representatives.

Edgar L. Bullecer, colead convenor of PISO, told BusinessWeek Mindanao it is about time that foreign companies took notice of the investment potentials of the region.

There are an estimated 60 Swiss companies operating in the Philippines, including food firm Nestlé. One of the three factories of Nestlé Philippines, Inc., a joint venture between Nestlé S.A. and San Miguel Corp., is located in Cagayan de Oro

City in Northern Mindanao.

“We just hope that the government will support the call of the business sector to ensure that the region is ready for investments by setting up necessar y infrastructure projects for its continued development,” said Mr. Bullecer, senior vice president of the Unifrutti Group of Companies, which is investing P3.7 billion to expand banana farms in Maguindanao province.

ARMM Governor Mujiv S. Hataman, for his part, said the regional government is continuously implementing priority projects that are i nte nd e d to b o o st t h e agriculture and fisheries sector.

A P10.1-billion budget for

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region BRANCH 18 Cagayan de Oro City Spec. Proc. Case No. 2016-016 In the matter of Settlement of the Intestate Estate of Marcelo Biaco and Consuelo Ramos Biaco Isabelo Z. Lagura, Sr.,

Petitioner X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x ORDER Before this Court is a Petition for Letters of Administration for the estate of Marcelo Biaco and Consuelo Ramos Biaco filed by Isabelo Z. Lagura, Sr., (hereafter petitioner) on February 10, 2016.

Pertinent portions of the instant Petition are as follows: 2. The decedent Marcelo Biaco died on March 2, 1985 in Cagayan de Oro City. He was a resident of Vamenta Boulevard, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City for more than five (5) years before his death. His wife, decedent Consuelo Ramos Biaco died on January 7, 1990 in Cagayan de Oro City. She was a resident of Vamenta Boulevard, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City for more than five (5) years before death; 6. At the time of decedent’s death, they were survived by their three (3) legitimate childrens: namely: Elda B. Lagura, Ronito R. Biaco and Ernesto R. Biaco who inherited the estate of their parents by legal succession; 7. The said three (3) legitimate children of the decedents all died intestate without leaving any debts and without having settled the estate of their parents except the one described in sub-paragraph 6 of paragraph 4 hereof; 8. The respective dates and places of deaths of decedents’ children are as follows Elda B. Lagura died on August 28, 2004 in Cagayan de Oro; Ronito R. Biaco died on Februray 18, 2006 in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental; and Ernesto R. Biaco died on September 28, 2005 in Cagayan de Oro; II. The Heirs of Elda Biaco-Lagura and the Heirs of Ernesto R. Biaco who constitute the majority of the heirs have agreed to assign petitioner Isabelo Z. Lagura as administrator of the estate of the decedents in this case; Finding herein Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby set for initial hearing on May 19, 2016 at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Let copy of this Order be published, at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Any person having or claiming an interest therein, may within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition or from the date of the last publication of this Order file their comment/ opposition thereto.

Petitioner is further directed to furnish copies of this Order, together with the petition and its annexes, to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and to prove compliance to the Court.

SO ORDERED. February 18, 2016, Cagayan de Oro City

(Sgd.) Dennis Z. Alcantara Presiding Judge

BWM: Mar. 18, 25 & Apr. 1, 2016

this year has been approved for roads, bridges, seaports and other infrastructure to ease the movement of agriculture products and other goods in the region. “ The region’s record of governance, plus its proximity and economic links to a number of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, makes the ARMM an ideal economic partner,” Mr. Hataman said.

He added that interest among foreign investors is a result of “the positive developments brought about by reforms in the region these past few years, especially given our commitment to peace and security.”

In 2015, the ARMMRBOI registered about P6.5 billion in new investment, the highest in the 25-year history of the region.

In January, a P1.3-billion oil palm plantation project in D atu O din Sinsu at, Maguindanao was registered

by Gintong Agri, Inc. Lawyer Ishak V. Mastura, RBOI chair and managing head, said the region and its people “are grateful to Switzerland for their active support to peace and development in the region,” particularly in sponsoring the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC).

The TJRC, created during t he p e ace negot i at ions between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), will release a report this month on the issues of “dealing with the past” in the region.

The ARMM would have DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE This DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE is made and executed this March 9, 2016 in the City of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, by and between: LOLITO SUMILE BALABAG JR. of legal age Filipino citizen, married, with residence and postal address at Poblacion, Talisayan Misamis Oriental hereinafter referred to as the VENDOR; and RUTH E. SALVAÑA of legal age Filipino citizen, single with residence and postal address at Talisayan, Misamis Oriental hereinafter referred to as the VENDEE; That the VENDOR is the absolute owner and legal possessor of a PARCEL OF LAND WITH ALL ITS IMPROVEMENTS FOUND THEREIN, which are more particularly described as follows: TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION Tax Declaration No. 08-030001-00907 A parcel of land, known as Lot 802, Cad-326-B, situated in Sitio La Verdad, Talisayan Misamis Oriental containing an area of .2194 Hectares declared in the name of VICTORIANO LLIDO is the subject of the DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Under Notary Public of EMELITO J. MARQUIÑO per Doc, No.189; Page No. 37; Book No. XII; Series of 2016.

BWM: Mar. 11, 18 & 25, 2016

served as the core area of the new Bangsamoro region had the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law been passed in Congress. The proposed legislation stems from the peace agreement formally signed by the MILF and the government in 2014.

Bilateral trade between Switzerland and the Philippines in 2014 was valued at $557 million.

The two countries recently concluded their 7th political consultations in B erne, the p olitical capital of Switzerland, in preparation for the 2nd Session of the Philippine-Switzerland Joint E conomic C ommission scheduled in April this year.

Poll...

from page 1

(BMFI) has urged peacemakers, peacebuilders and all peace-loving Filipinos of voting age to fully exercise their right to suffrage to help “open the doors” to justice, peace and equality in Mindanao.

Charlito Z. Manlupig, simply known as Kaloy, said that the synchronized elections on May 9 is one of the “many doors” available to everyone to fight unpeace, inequality, injustice and imp overishment in the southern Philippines.

“Ang eleksyon tubag ba sa kalisud? Dili siya ang nag-inusarang tubag ug dili usab siya ang capital letter nga tubag. Pero higayon siya para sa katawhan ug pangagamhanan nga matubag ang suliran o kalisdanan (Is election the answer to poverty? It is neither just the one answer nor the capital letter solution. But it is a chance for the people and government to find solutions to the problem),” he said.

Kaloy, a rural development worker and peacebuilder w it h ove r 3 2 ye ars of experience within both g ov e r n m e nt a n d n o n government organizations, talked about the role of civil society organizations in good governance and about the Citizens Electoral Council (CEC) during a guesting at the MediaKonek, the weekly radio-television show of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) hosted by veteran journalist Butch Enerio.

He urged every Filipino, especially those of voting age, to go beyond the legal dimension of suffrage and always look at the morality of such right, duty, responsibility and obligation since it is the moral dimension that gives the right to suffrage its power to open doors in instituting genuine change in government and in society.

This is why B alay Mindanaw accepted the call of Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., D.D. to serve as secretariat of the CEC, the multi-sectoral, interfaith, intercultural movement that is committed to the pursuit of clean, honest, accountable, meaningful and peaceful (CHAMP) elections and transparent and accountable governance.

“Kami sa Balay Mindanaw nagtoo nga ang eleksyon, kung tarungon pagpadagan, u s a k a i mp or t a nt e u g makusganong sakyanan towards genuine change (We in Balay Mindanaw believe that the election, if properly run, is an important and strong vehicle towards genuine change),” he said.

The CEC, organized by Ledesma, “seeks to help the voters to reach inspired and informed choices of candidates by facilitating the creation of spaces for electoral education called circles of discernment at the level of the basic local churches, parishes, barangays and other local organizations.”

“In short, the CEC is just creating spaces where people can discern, think and intelligently come up with inspired and informed decision across parties,” Kaloy explained.

Unlike in previous years when local movements and groups that called for reforms worked for partisan politics, the present CEC is working “across parties”, meaning it is transpartisan.

Its ultimate goal is to influence the decision of each voter to choose the right candidates to eventually control the reins of the city government towards the long-held aspiration of peace, development, equality, resilience and progress.

And the CEC is doing this by presenting to the voters the profile and platform of all the candidates, excluding t heir p ar t y af f i li at ions and by creating “circles of discernment” or discussion groups in the barangays.

Each circle of discernment, composed of residents of the barangay where the discernment circle is located, is encouraged to come up with a list of candidates, across parties, whom they believe will truly represent the voice of the people and will work for genuine change in the city.

This is being done because the CEC strongly believes that no one political party has all the answers to the ills of government and society.

And Balay Mindanaw believes that a truly inspire d and infor me d voter will exercise his/her right to suffrage in order to help answer the call for justice, peace and equality in Mindanao, starting in Cagayan de Oro City. (Bong D. Fabe)

Turnover...

from page 1 owners this summer break. A covered basketball court is all set, along with the Children’s Play Area.

For added safety and security, the entire One Oasis Cagayan de Oro complex is secured by a concrete perimeter fence, electronic gates and bollards, and 24hour security service and CCTV camera network.

“With all these amenities, every single day is a chance to indulge, relax and enjoy a vacation in the city,” Solidum

11

2014 ppi’S Best in ENVIRONMENTAL Reporting

said.

Located in the heart of downtown Cagayan de Oro, One Oasis has about 1,300 units in five medium-rise condominium buildings.

Each condominium building has seven to eight floors of residential units and a roof deck-cum-laundry area, two elevators for the residential floors and stairways that connect all levels.

Each 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom residential units come with a balcony and laundry cage for drying.

Parking slots for residents are available for sale on a first come, first served basis.

Owners and occupants have the world at their fingertips as One Oasis Cagayan de Oro is located at a very convenient distance from just about everything they will ever need: Limketkai Center, 0.45 km.; Puregold, 0.75 km.; Mindanao University of Science and Technology, 1 km.; Market City, 1.7 km.; Cogon Market, 1.4 km.; Agora Bus Station, 1.7 km.; Gaisano Mall, 1.9 km.; Capitol University, 2.1 km.

Solidum said that FLI has positioned the One Oasis Cagayan de Oro in such a way that offers the quickest return of investments to unit owners. Thus, the units’ timely delivery ensures earlier generation of steady income flow for investors.

“C ompletion and delivery dates are our top considerations,” she said.

This alone sets FLI’s flagship development project apart from the rest.

Projects... from page 2

5. Replacement of submersible pump, Barangay Pinanaan, Las Nieves P172,000.00 6. Improvement of Level II Water System, Purok 1, Barangay San Antonio, RTR - P166,000.00 7. Construction of Potable Drinking Water, Marcos Calo, Las Nieves - P150,000.00 8. Gravelling of Proposed Barangay Road, Purok 2, Barangay Basilisa, RTR P30,000.00 9. Purchase of 24 pieces toi l e t b ow ls , B ar ang ay Malapong, Buenavista P24,000.00 Provincial officials were hopeful that these various projects and programs will improve the welfare of the province and its constituents.

(Aimee B. Sienes, LGUAgusan del Norte/PIAAgusan del Norte)

Resorts... from page 3

exhibitions (MICE) market is a key differentiator.”

RWM’s Phase 2 expansion is almost complete with the Marriott West Wing, which will add 228 hotel rooms on track for operations in 2016.

Phase 3 of RWM is scheduled to go on-line by the end of 2017 consisting of three hotels – the Hilton Manila, the Sheraton Manila Hotel, and Maxims II. It also includes additional gaming areas, retail space and six basement parking decks. (PNA)

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YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

B1

Mayor Oscar Moreno poses with members of the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro after gracing the club's meeting last March 17 at Kagay-anon Restaurant in Cagayan de Oro City where he is the guest speaker. Photo by MIKE MENDOZA

Starting my herb garden EMPRESS M

by

Michelle Francisco

www.EmpressMichelleFrancisco.com

You can follow me at the following social media: https://www.facebook.com/ EmpressMCF https://instagram.com/ empressmichellefrancisco https://twitter.com/empressmcf

I

t’s been one of my dreams to have an herb garden at my very own backyard.

Whenever I watch my favorite cooking shows like Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa at Food Network, her beautiful herb garden inspires me to make my own.

I had been planning to start doing it for quite some time now but I never had the time to do it.

Last Saturday, there was an organic plants

bazaar at the mall and the opportunity presented itself to me. I checked out the herbs and I ended up buying some. And so I started small.

My husband, Elmer, decided to make a simple green house for me.

Everybody helped in building it, my son, the driver and the guards.

They actually had fun.

The green house is made of bamboo and green net. Visit my website for DIY instructions on how to build a simple green house.

I’m always excited to water them, see them, take care of them and use them for my cooking.

Here are some of what I bought: Chocolate Mint - you can add this to your cakes, cookies, ice cream, drinks and hot tea.

Peppermint - you can add this to your hot tea or make your own essential oil. It’s good for digestion and headache too.

Rosemary - tastes good with chicken drizzled with olive oil, salt and pepper then put into your Turbo Roaster and you’re good to go. Easy recipes are always the best!

Stevia - natural sweetener. It can sweeten food and beverages. It’s like honey. garden/PAGE B2

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B2

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Garden... from page B1

Dill - best when cooking fish like salmon and also good for dips.

Parsley - I combine chopped parsley with my baked vegetables like squash or carrots together

with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper.

Lettuce and Romaine - you can make a simple salad. Just add cucumber, tomatoes, red bell pepper, carrots, mozzarella or whatever you want. Season with salt and pepper.

Drizzle with olive oil and

a little balsamic vinegar.

Or, you could simply use a store-bought salad dressing.

Basil - it’s the most loved herb in the culinary industry. A simple recipe that’s famous in Italy: tomato slices topped with mozzarella cheese, basil, drizzle with olive oil,

season with salt and pepper.

Healthy and delicious!

It’s nice to have healthy herbs at your backyard that you could use for cooking.

Taking care of them helps you unwind, relieves stress because it relaxes the soul and they do smell so good.

Not to mention that you

could also save a lot of money. It’s also educational for the whole family because you will learn the health benefits of each of them. You could also experiment on different recipes using them.

Looking forward to making my herb garden

bigger. Start yours now!

“A garden feeds more than the table. It feeds the soul.” - Unknown For more photos and recipes, visit my website: www.

EmpressMichelleFrancisco. com.

AboitizPower partners with DOLE’s Assist WELL program for OFWs

PARTNERS in the Assist WELL program of the DOLE firm up plans for the OFWs during the MOU signing last March 10.

Flawless Beauty with Divine Lee, Women’s Sale at SM Lanang Premier In celebration of Women’s Month, SM Lanang Premier is giving ladies enticing treats on Wednesdays and selected dates in March.

The metro’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination, together with Flawless, the country’s preferred aesthetic beauty clinic for face, body and medical services, is bringing model and TV host Divine Lee for a talk on March 18, 4 pm at the mall Atrium.

Shoppers are invited to see Divine share her beauty and skin care tips and wellness regimens on Friday. Every P500 worth of product or service from Flawless-SM Lanang Premier branch from March 11 to 18 entitles a customer a chance to meet and greet the fashionable cover girl and

celebrity blogger.

On March 16, 23 and 30, women can enjoy Wednesday Sale and grab as much as 70% off on fab finds at The SM Store and all participating stores mall-wide.

Ladies can also catch the Mad for Make-up Fair at the Atrium on March 18-20 for great make-up deals on a wide range of cosmetic products.

Make-up artist Carinne Bacani will also give a talk on how to boost or enhance a woman’s beauty on March 20, 5pm at the same venue.

It’s all about ‘her’ this Women’s Month at SM Lanang Premier. For inquiries, contact 285-0943 or visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event updates and sale alerts.

LOCAL JOB opportunities in the Philippine power industry await Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) as AboitizPower signed up for the Assist WELL (Welfare, Employment, Legal and Livelihood) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

AboitizPower and DOLE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the PHILJOBNET media launch at the Hive Hotel and Convention Place in Quezon City last March 10.

DOLE’s Assist WELL program aims to help address the welfare, employment, legal and livelihood needs of Filipino workers.

It advocates ample local employment opportunities for Filipinos so that they do not have to work overseas.

“We believe in the Filipino talents and in nation-building. We are excited to partner with the Assist WELL program, to provide our OFWs an opportunity to go back to our country to work and live with their families,” said AboitizPower vice

president for Human Resources Cindy Rivera.

AboitizPower, through its subsidiaries and affiliates in power generation, ​d istribution, and retail electricity services across the country, seeks to provide opportunities, mostly in technical and engineering positions, to overseas Filipino workers to help them build a rewarding career in the country. ​In Mindanao, AboitizPower subsidiaries include power barge operator Therma Marine in Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley, as well as Davao baseload power plant Therma South.

At present, the AboitizPower group employs more than 3,000 Filipinos, helping create A Better Future for their families. With its business expansion, AboitizPower continuously scouts for more talents to become part of its growing community.

AboitizPower is committed to fulfill its goal to create sustainable impacts on its stakeholders and on the environment while providing reliable and reasonably priced power to the nation.

Get your BWM Loyalty Card NOW for only P350.00 valid for one year, and avail of discounts to more than 150 participating business establishments.

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Motoring Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

BMW redefines driving luxury with the All-New 7 series

T

he latest generation of BMW’s flagship automobile – the BMW 7 Series – is finally in the Philippines.

“Since 1977, BMW has been delivering ground-breaking innovations and setting new

standards with our flagship BMW 7 Series. From the electronic speedometer, to Park Distance Control, to the revolutionary iDrive operating system, all of which have become an industry benchmark for modern cars.

Today, this sixthgeneration BMW 7 Series has made yet another breakthrough by introducing new technologies such as carbon core that reduces overall weight by up to 130kg, and a full suite of innovations like

Touch Command, Gesture control, Sky Lounge with Panorama Glass Roof, just to name a few,” said ACC President Maricar Parco. “This allnew BMW 7 Series embodies our quest for modern mobility, the highest quality and

B4

absolute precision.

This is truly a masterpiece from BMW, and probably the best car we have ever built.”

The all-new BMW 740Li will be the main variant to be offered to the Philippine market, while only a handful of the range-topping BMW 750Li will be readily made available. The allnew BMW 740Li is powered by a six-cylinder in-line engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology which produces an output of 326 hp (+6 hp vs predecessor) and a maximum torque of up to 450 Nm from 1,380 to 5,000 rpm. It is able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 6.6 litres/100km (improved by 16% vs predecessor) and an average

CO2 emission of 154 g/km (improved by 16% vs predecessor) [as per average EU test cycle].

The all-new BMW 750Li, meanwhile, is powered by a V8 unit that has undergone extensive redevelopment, boasting a displacement of 4.4 litres and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, it produces an output of 450 hp and a maximum torque of up to 650 Nm from 1,800 to 4,500 rpm. It is able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds (improved by 0.1 second). It has an average fuel consumption of 8.0 litres/100km (improved by 8% vs predecessor) and an average CO2 emission of 187 g/ km (improved by 6% vs predecessor) [as per average EU test cycle].

Isuzu Cagayan De Oro bags 7th Dealer of the Year Award Isuzu Cagayan De Oro added another feather to its cap, after being hailed as the best Isuzu dealership in the country in the 2015 Isuzu Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA).

For more than a decade of giving this award, Isuzu Cagayan De Oro (CDO) has brought home this prestigious title seven times, besting 20 other dealerships based on

the sales and after sales figures as well as other customer related criteria that Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) has devised to measure the overall performance of its

dealerships.

Second and third places were awarded to Isuzu Cabanatuan and Isuzu Batangas respectively, who both excelled in different DOYA point categories.

Suzuki Boosts Presence in Cebu It is another promising year for Suzuki Philippines Inc. (SPH) as the only integrated automobile and motorcycle company in the country adds two branches to its long roster of newly-opened dealerships: the Suzuki Auto South Cebu, and the SM Seaside City Satellite, both in Cebu City. Last year’s rapid expansion of the automobile brand saw more than 10 new dealership launches, which the company hopes to top this 2016.

Both owned and managed

by Sakura Autoworld, the two new sites inaugurated on February 15, 2016 spreads the Suzuki Way of Life to more motorists in the booming city of Cebu. The opening rites were led by Suzuki Philippines President Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki, General Manager for Automobile Mr. Shuzo Hoshikura, Sakura Autoworld President Jose Daniel Borromeo and General Manager Marco Gabriel Borromeo.