BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 22, 2017)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

Volume VII, No. 128

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Wednesday | March 22, 2017

Improved port, expressway X X Briefly to boost Mindanao tourism D

Market Indicators

As of 4:00 pm March 21, 2017 (tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P50.145

7,316.57

0.9

cents

28.45 points

EU energy assistance

BUTUAN City -- Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi extended his gratitude to the European Union (EU) delegates and assured them that the Philippine government is working doubly hard to provide full access to electricity to Filipinos.

Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella delivered the Secretary’s message at the Philippine-EU Access to Sustainable Energy Program (ASEP) conference held on Thursday at Bonifacio Global City.

The ASEP is a joint undertaking of the DOE and the EU collectively espousing total electrification, energy security, efficiency and sustainability in the Philippines.

Australia backs ARMM DAVAO City -- The Australian government has launched its new flagship education initiative in Mindanao, The Education Pathways to Peace in Mindanao or PATHWAYS. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attended the launched at Marco Polo Davao today (March 17). Ernesto Penia, DirectorGeneral of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Executive Secretary Atty. Laisa Alamia also graced the launch.

PATHWAYS is a nine year (2017-2026) education program that focuses on priority education reform areas including contextualization of national curriculum on Bangsamoro issues and culture, improving teacher quality, improving data collection for policy making and stakeholder engagement in educational policy.

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

AVAO City – The city government will begin improvement works on the decades-old Sta. Ana wharf to boost the city’s bid as a premier tourism destination in Mindanao.

City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson told a press conference Monday that they have been clearing the port of debris in preparation for some rehabilitation works that will transform the wharf into a recreational area. tourism/PAGE 11

Pag-IBIG Fund to build more houses in M’danao

DAVAO City -- The Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG Fund will embark on more housing projects in Mindanao in partnership with the government and the private sector.

This was revealed by Acmad Rizaldy Moti, PAg-IBIG acting chief executive officer, who said they will continue building affordable housing units in unserved and underserved areas.

“What I have in mind is to target houses/PAGE 11

COGON AT NIGHT. The usually crowded Cogon market area along JR Borja St. in Cagayan de Oro City is sprawling with ambulant vendors during night time peddling their merchandises to bargainhunting customers. PHOTO BY Mark Doña Francisco

SM’s Downtown Premier eyes PEZA accreditation

By MARK Q. FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

BANANA FARMERS. A farmer couple in the mountains of Mibala, Iligan City load their freshly harvested bananas on a sled towed by a bull. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

THE Cagayan de Oro City C ou nc i l c om m itte e on ways and means chaired

by Councilor George S. Goking will convene today to discuss the application of SM Supermalls for PEZA accreditation of its BPO Tower at the SM CDO Downtown Premier located at CM Recto Avenue, this city.

In response to Motion 07-2017 of the committee,

the City Legal Office said if the City Council choose to favorably endorse the said request, the city government will only be entitled to collect real property taxes on land owned by developers.

It said the city shall also be entitled to collect a two-percent share of the establishments’ gross income in lieu of business taxes which sm/PAGE 11

Gov lauds more flights to MisOr MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano lauded Monday the additional flights of Cebu Pacific Air at the Laguindingan Airport in nearby Laguindingan town, Misamis Oriental.

Emano said that Cebu Pacific added two additional flights to Iloilo City in Panay and in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental effective Wednesday last week.

He said the additional flights would certainly bring flights/PAGE 11

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Economy Major crops production in Normin declined in 2016

T

HE production of palay and coconut in Northern Mindanao posted declines in 2016, according to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in the region.

Engr. Cecilio Clarete, chief economic development specialist of NEDA-X, said during the latest regional economic situationer media forum that palay production in 2016 was recorded at 711,284 metric tons in 2016, down by 1.91 percent compared to the 725,120 metric tons produced in 2015.

The second quarter was the worst period for palay pro duc t ion. Thoug h it recovered in the third quarter, it went down again in the fourth quarter, Clarete noted.

He said the decline is

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attributed to the changes in the planting calendar, delayed onset of rain, and delayed release of irrigation water.

Even with the decrease in the volume, Clarete said total value of production increased by 1.12 percent reaching P14.25 billion due to the three percent increase in the farm gate price.

Clarete also noted the decrease in rice inventory in 2016 ,particularly the huge dive in the rice holdings of the National Food Authority (NFA) due to higher prices offered by commercial traders.

However, the region did not experience shortage in rice supply during the period.

Coconut production also reduced by 2.66 percent during the year due to the drought.

With the decrease in

harvest, the production of copra went down by 6.19 percent while green nuts declined by 6.4 percent.

Clarete said it will require

CNN Philippines TV-9 Manila CNN Philippines TV-12 Baguio CNN Philippines TV-12 Dagupan CNN Philippines TV-26 Tarlac CNN Philippines TV-10 Iriga CNN Philippines TV-4 Iloilo

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US$584,814,646 or by almost 13 percent from its level in 2015.

Clarete said it is possible for the exports to go up

despite the decline in the harvest since some of the processed copra in the region are sourced from other areas.

(APB/PIA-10)

COMMEMORATING WORLD WATER DAY: Members of the STEAG State Power Inc (SPI) – Sectoral Monitoring Team (SMT) Team commemorate this year’s World Water Day with a clean-up drive along the Tagpayao Creek in Brgy. San Martin, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. The SMT serves as community-based social and environmental watch group that monitors the compliance of Steag’s 210 MW (net) Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant to the conditions of the DENR-issued Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). So far, SPI’s power plant which is located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental have been declared fully compliant with zero violation of any social and environmental regulations since start of its commercial operations in 2006. Aside from its monitoring function, the SMT also undertakes environmental protection advocacies that promote sound environmental conservation and development practices. photo supplied

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more than a year for coconut production to improve.

The value of coconut export commodities, on the other hand, rose to

DZBS 1368 Baguio DZRL 639 Batac DZTG 621 Tuguegarao DZKI 1332 Iriga DYKW 936 Binalbagan DYKB 1404 Bacolod DYKC 675 Cebu DXKO 1368 Cagayan de Oro DXKS 1080 Surigao DXKD 1053 Dipolog DXKP 1377 Pagadian DXXX 1008 Zamboanga DXKT 1071 Davao DXDX 693 General Santos

NEDA presents 6-yr reg’l investment program THE National Economic and Development Authority in Nor thern Mindanao ( N E DA- X ) p r e s e nt e d the 2017-2022 Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) to members of the media and government communicators in a forum held Thursday, March 16.

The 2017-2022 RDIP is a document that will guide the implementation of programs and projects in the region in the next six years.

“This document translate our Regional Development Plan into concrete and ac t iona l prog rams and projects in order for us to meet or achieve our development outcomes for the period,” said NEDA-X Assistant Regional Director Mae Ester T. Guiamadel.

Nestor Lisondra, chief e conomic de velopment specialist of NEDA-X who presented the highlights of the 2017-2022 RDIP, said the

six-year program is anchored on the national development agenda which is founded on three main pillars: Pagbabago, Malasakit, and Patuloy na Pag-Unlad.

“Under the RDIP, we need a total of P650 billion in order to fund the programs and projects of national line agencies and local government units in the region in the next six years,” Lisondra said. neda/PAGE 11

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

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Opinion

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A VOTE FOR EUROPE...

Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO

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Money Matters in Marriage Think a Minute…Do es money matter much in marriage? You bet it does!

Did you know that money problems cause some of the biggest problems between husbands and wives! Sadly, in some marriages it doesn’t take long for wedding bells to turn into wedding bills and debts. At the beginning o f s o m e r e l at i o n s h i p s opposites attract, but later opposites attack each other.

The husband and wife have different values, so they disagree on how to spend their money and what each thinks is a waste of money.

For example, the husband may like to spend money on beer, fishing equipment, or a television and stereo. But his wife thinks all that is a terrible waste of their money and income. She wants to buy new clothes and jewelry, or go out to eat at restaurants. That’s what she enjoys. But her husband cannot understand how anyone would want to waste money on things like that.

There’s a story about an old farmer who decided later in life that he wanted to get married. So he put this advertisement in the newspaper: “Lonely farmer looking for a wife. She must be in her 40’s and own a good

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst tractor. Please send photo of tractor.” To say the least, that old geezer was not very smooth. He didn’t even try to hide what was important to him.

So when a husband and wife have very different values on what’s important and what they should spend their money on, what should they do? They both need to compromise and cut back on their spending, before their debts get bigger. You see, the daily pressure and stress from big debts or loans, can divide and eventually destroy a marriage! Maybe you’ve heard the phrase: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch!” Sooner or later we have to pay! Self-centered, uncontrolled spending will not only cost you money, hurst/PAGE 9

... a vote against extremists!

Yes, European leaders breathe easier now!

With his first-place finish in the Netherlands’ elections, Mark Rutte has effectively halted the right-wing populist Geert Wilders. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is among the European leaders welcoming the result. Merkel, at this very moment (Friday, March 17,2017) meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, says Dutch election result sends pro-Europe signal.

Both the vote count tallies and the reactions poured in during the early hours of last Thursday morning as politicians and individuals across Europ e and the world took in the results of Wednesday’s parliamentary election in the Netherlands.

In what many considered to be a bellwether election for the European Union, the center-right Rutte clearly defeated Wilders in what

many saw as a symbolic victory against European populism.

With 54 percent of the vote counted, the projected results indicated Rutte scored a commanding victor y, earning 33 out of the Dutch parliament’s 150 seats.

Many European leaders of fe re d c ong r atu l ator y messages to the acting Dutch prime minister, who will now stay on in office for a third term. But just as many chose to highlight Wilders’ defeat, framing his party’s second place finish with 20 seats - far below the 30-odd seats he had been predicted to win - as a resounding success for the unity and democratic values of a European Union battered by populism from both within and outside the bloc.

The response from Berlin c ame quick ly. G er man Chancellor Angela Merkel phoned Rutte to offer her

congratulations as well as her readiness to work with him and his new government, which he will now have to form with parliamentary alliances.

Of course, Merkel faces her own electoral test in September this year when Germans will cast their votes for the national parliament.

The head of government from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) will seek to remain in office, though he r pr i mar y r iv a l and current coalition partner’s candidate Martin Schulz has been polling neck and neck with her. Schulz, a member of the Social Democratic Party, took to Twitter to celebrate Wilder’s defeat. “I am relieved,” the former EU parliamentarian wrote. “But we must continue to fight for an open and free Europe!”

For many the right-wing nightmare is everywhere.

Also Germany hosts its own

H ave M y Say

Klaus Doring

populist party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), whose success has been fed by the arrival of over a million refugees and migrants to Europe since 2015 and fears of terrorism linked to Islam.

However, the party has been struggling in recent polls due to internal divisions. And then: France is up next for national elections. Outgoing French President Francois Hollande welcomed Rutte’s victory as a triumph against extremism.

DOring/PAGE 11

De Lima’s SC dilemma: study some more LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…`But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’…” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, the Holy Bible).

-ooo DE LIMA’S SC DILEMMA: STUDY SOME MORE: The preliminary proceeding at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 where Justices Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martirez, and Noel Tijam propounded the first batch of questions to former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay in connection with the petition of Sen. Leila de Lima for the dismissal of the illegal drugs cases against her seem to indicate that de Lima will not get their favorable votes.

Jardeleza for one directly expressed his misgivings

about the inability of Hilbay’s arguments and submissions and the allegations in the petition that the other lawyers of De Lima submitted to the Supreme Court to overcome relevant provisions of the Rules of Court mandating that the issues she raised to the high tribunal should be returned to the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court for resolution.

Hi l b ay w a s tol d by Jardeleza in no uncertain terms to study further and more thoroughly the concept of Constitutional due process pertaining to criminal cases if he wanted the majority of the Supreme Court to support his submission that the trial judge---Juanita Ferry Guerrero—had the obligation to rule first on De Lima’s motion to dismiss the cases against her for lack of jurisdiction before the order to arrest the senator.

-ooo DID DE LIMA DOUBT THE PARTIALITY OF RTC

JUDGE? Martirez on the other hand pounded on the absence of any direct rule in the Rules on Criminal Procedure which would require a trial judge like Guerrero in a case like that of De Lima to rule first on a motion to quash based on an alleged lack of jurisdiction of that judge before any further action is taken on the case.

Declaring that he was a judge of a Regional Trial Court for five years before he got assigned to the Sandiganbayan and then ultimately to the Supreme Court at present, Martirez pointed out that the rules on how a criminal case is to proceed to trial are arranged in a manner that acknowledges the fact that when criminal cases are filed before the courts, the probable cause is already deemed established right away on the basis of the prosecutor’s findings.

On the other hand, Tijam--himself a Regional Trial

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio Court judge---zeroed in on the apparent lack of trust on the part of De Lima and his lawyers in the capacity of Judge Guerrero to resolve the cases before her with integrity and impartiality so that they immediately sought refuge from the highest court of the land.

-ooo A RAY OF HOPE FOR DE LIMA? All seemed not lost yet for Hilbay and his client, De Lima, however. The discourse of Justice Jardeleza batas/PAGE 9

Reaching out and the universal heart The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman by the well (cfr Jn 4,5-24) teaches us that we have to learn how to reach out to others, especially those in the peripheries, and live what Pope Francis calls as the culture of encounter.

This can only mean that we are having or, at least, are developing a universal heart, i.e., the heart of Christ.

We may have our own tastes and preferences, our own temperaments and p ers ona lit ies, our own views and opinions, our own charism and vocation, or whatever status we have, but we have the duty to reach out to everyone, especially those who are different from us or even are opposed to us.

They can even be opposed

to God. In this way, we would be imitating Christ who was willing to bear all our sins, as St. Paul said, to save all men. (cfr 1 Tim 2,4) This is the only purpose that can bring about the development of a universal heart. Short of this motive, the ideal of a universal heart that is proper to us is compromised.

Toward this end, we have to learn how to be patient, how to rise above our personal things and learn how to give our heart to God and to everybody else. This obviously will require of us a certain sportsmanship, a certain insensitivity that is of the kind that can welcome and accommodate the charity of God in our heart. We have to learn to listen and not just

hear others, to look and not just to see them.

We have to learn how to suffer with the others, how to be compassionate, how to make as our own the conditions of the others out of the love of God and souls.

God himself did all these.

He made himself man in Christ to save us. And Christ, according to St. Paul, made himself like sin without committing sin (cfr 2 Cor 5,21), just to be with us and lead us back to God, from whom we come and to whom we belong.

So, in our dealings with the others, we should always be motivated by love. We have to take the initiative to love them and not wait for them to give reasons for us to love them. Even when

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala they commit errors, all the more we should love them.

In the Psalms, we read that God “does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.”

(103,10) If that is how God looks at us, that should also be how we should look at the cimagala/PAGE 9

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Gov’t subsidies to GOCCs hit record high in 2016 THE national government posted a record spending on subsidies to state-owned and -controlled corporations last year at P103.19 billion, a record high since the Bureau of Treasury began compiling such data on its website in 1997.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that total subsidies released to government-run companies and financial institutions reached P103.19 billion last year, reflecting a significant 32 percent compared with P78.01 billion in the previous year.

The government’s actual subsidy disbursements last year was also more than the P70.7-billion target under the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing for 2016.

During the first sixmonths of the Duter te administration, the national government spent P66.59 billion for subsidies to stateowned firms, higher than former President Benigno S. Aquino III’s P36.6 billion spending in his final sixmonths in office.

In 2016, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) was the biggest recipient of government financial assistance with a total funding support of P43.77 billion.

The national government

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needs to provide financial support to PhilHealth to payoff the health insurance premiums of beneficiaries identified by the Department of S o c i a l We l f are an d Development’s (DSWD) as indigent individuals.

PhilHealth was followed by the National Irrigation Ad m i n i s t r at i o n ( N IA ) with P16.9 billion, while National Housing Authority (NHA), likewise, received a sizeable aid from the national government at P12.4 billion last year.

Running behind PhilHealth, NIA and NHA were the National Food Authority with P4.25 billion, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management with P3.36 billion, and National Electrification Administration with P3.14 billion. Other recipients of funding from the government were the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority with P1.93 billion, Philippine Economic Zone Authority with P1.8 billion, Social Housing Finance Corp. with P1.67 and Light Rail Transit System with P1.65 billion.

Likewise, the Philippine C ro p In s u r a n c e C or p.

(P1.6 billion), Philippine Coconut Authority (P1.25 billion), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (P1.16 billion) and Philippine record/PAGE 9

DOF hails ‘progressive’ Manila-Beijing cooperation D AVA O C i t y - Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said over the weekend the latest round of highlevel dialogue between the Philippines and China has paved the way to “a decisively progressive and productive” cooperation between the two countries as both sides formalized here a six-year development program on expanding their economic ties.

Philippine and Chinese officials also signed agreements on the conduct of preliminary studies for two proposed big-ticket infrastructure projects in the Visayas and Mindanao, during the visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang to President Duterte’s home city of Davao.

Vi c e Pre m i e r Wang met with the President and separately discussed with Cabinet officials led by Dominguez the progress of the cooperation between the two countries on implementing the Philippines’ large-scale inf rast r uc ture proj e c ts through Chinese grants and concessional loans.

Dominguez and China Commerce Vice Minister Fu Ziying, who is also China’s International Trade

Representative, formalized the agreement on the conduct of preliminary feasibility studies for the proposed Davao City Expressway and the Panay-GuimarasNegros Island Bridges Project through an exchange of letters after last Friday’s meeting between Philippine and Chinese officials at the Marco Polo Davao Hotel.

“The exchange of letters will enable the dispatch of Chinese experts to conduct preliminar y studies on t h e t wo proj e c t s . T h e grant assistance is aligned to the Memorandum o f Un d e r s t a n d i n g o n supporting the conduct of feasibility studies of major projects signed between the Department of Finance (DOF) and China’s Ministry of Commerce in October 2016,” the DOF said in a statement.

Secretary Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Minister Fu also signed the Six-Year D e v e l opm e nt Pro g r am (SYDP) that “aims to steer and promote the stable and orderly development of economic cooperation between the two countries.”

The SYDP also aims t o “e n l a r g e t h e s c o p e

and enhance the level of cooperation between, and drive sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development in, the two countries,” according to the DOF. In the high-level meeting with Chinese officials led

by Vice Premier Wang, Dominguez thanked China for its grant of assistance worth USD91 million, which include a USD1 million donation for the earthquakehit province of Surigao; a USD75 million grant for the construction of the BinondoIntramuros and the EstrellaPantaleon bridges across the Pasig river; and the ongoing million financing provided under the anti-illegal drugs and law enforcement security co op eration agreement signed last year between the two countries during President Duterte’s October state visit to China.

According to the DOF, the meeting focused on three major issues: bilateral cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, trade, investments, agriculture and fisheries, and tourism; updates on the proposed infra projects for Chinese funding and ways to further enhance financing cooperation between the

two countries; and regional concerns such as the Chinaled Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN this year.

In the meeting, Vice Premier Wang Yang noted that his visit to President Duterte’s home city is in “preparation for future highlevel visits and to ensure that past visits will result to successful outcomes.”

The Vice Premier said that prior to his visit, a large Chines e business delegation went to Manila on a procurement mission and committed to buy more than billion-worth of goods produced in the Philippines.

He also said increasing investments from China could encourage the establishment here of more industrial parks.

In t he me et ing , t he Chinese side also expressed its commitment to provide assistance to the Philippines in solving Metro Manila’s traffic woes by supporting the construction of bridges crossing the Pasig River and improving living conditions for informal settlers “by providing housing support,” the DOF said.

China is also eyeing the provinces of Davao dof/PAGE 9

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Feature

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Sikat ka Higala

By SHERYL MACALE

ROTARY CLUB WEST AND SMART DONATES 80 ROAD SIGNS TO RTA yesterday, March 21, at city hall. With atty Egay Uy Lain Pacs Erna Gamones Maagad

The Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro, headed by Pres.

Erna Maagad, in collaboration with Smart Communications, Inc. through Rtn. Bernie Deatras, donated to the City

Government, through the Roads and Traffic Administration, EIGHTY tarps with trafficrelated messages, for installation in various strategic locations in the City...

Smart also donated a cellular smart phone for use by the RTA 24-hour operator, in addition to the existing Globe line. With this, the hotline numbers of the RTA now include 0998-466-5876

and 0910-091-8888 in addition to the existing 0906-964-1092 and landline 858-2841.

The donation is in line with RC West’s Traffic Awareness Program.

PNB and Media Wise Communications/Muse Books win Gold Anvil The Philippine National B an k and Me di a Wis e Communications/Muse Books won the Gold Anvil at the 52nd Anvil Awards’ Gabi ng Parangal held at the ShangriLa in Makati on March 10,

2017.

The award was for One Hundred Years of Service Excellence, the coffee-table book co-published by the tandem to memorialize PNB’s centenary last year.

One Hundred Years of Service Excellence chronicles PNB’s historic rise from a small bank on Escolta in 1916 to the national financial

institution that it is today.

One Hundre d Ye ars captures in 300 pages 100 eventful years of PNB’s history supported by photos and images encapsulating milestone moments in the bank’s and the nation’s intertwined histories.

The book highlights the bank’s achievements as a financial organization as

well as its many successful programs to uplift the life of the Filipino.

The book tells how the bank stood for most of its fledgling years as the government’s lending arm for the ordinary Filipino in need, and how it served later as the chief financial resource for most Philippine enterprises from the war years to the present.

Left to right: Lorrica Anne Pantoja, Audrey Abundo-del Mundo, Christian Jerome Dobles, Rico Alfiler, Ramoncito Ocampo Cruz, Janette Y. Abad Santos, George Cabig, Maricris Lugtu, Elaine Diola

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Hurst...

Record...

but it can even cost you your marriage and family!

I f y o u’v e n o t b e e n responsible in your spending, and your marriage and family are suffering under the pressure and stress from your unpaid debts, then won’t you ask Jesus Christ to forgive you? Then ask Him to take control of your life and how you spend your money?

Jesus can give you the selfdiscipline and willpower you need to finally take control of your money problems, so they will not control you and your family. Just Think a Minute…

Children’s Medical Center (P1.03 billion) also received subsidies last year.

There were other 26 government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) that also received subsidies in 2016, data from the treasury showed.

from page 4

Batas... from page 4

while he was propounding his questions to the former solicitor general who, by the way, was Jardeleza’s understudy and fair-haired boy while they were still at the Office of the Solicitor General, afforded some ray of hope.

But, as Jardeleza repeatedly stated, Hilbay had to come up with a very good memorandum explaining why the ordinary rules on criminal proceedings would have to give way to the Constitutional guarantee of due process. Jardeleza managed to point out that under the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution, a person could not be accused of a crime if his right to due process was not observed.

Jardeleza’s point, using decisions of the US Supreme Court ,was that, even if there is no specific rule that requires a judge to refrain from issuing a warrant of arrest against an accused if that accused had filed a motion to quash or dismiss the charges against him or her, the due process clause of the Constitution is deemed to include such r i g ht s a s are n or m a l l y obser ved and practiced in a society that professes adherence to the rule of law and fair play.

-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. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

from page 5

DOF... from page 5

and Palawan as sites for its investments and cooperation with the Philippines in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries.

“The Chinese side will e n c ou r a g e w e l l - k n ow n ag r ic u ltura l comp anies in China to invest in and cooperate with the Philippines and possibly explore settingup of demonstration areas to showcase advance practices in agriculture, including investments in aquaculture,” the DOF said.

China also expressed enthusiasm on the growth potentials of the country’s tourism industry and has targeted one million tourist arrivals from mainland China to the Philippines to help realize the goals of the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism, which was launched in Manila last March 16.

(PNA)

Capitol holds Congratulations!!!

Korea-MisOr arts, Municipality painting exhibit of Talakag

CAPITOL COMPOUND, Misamis Oriental -- The Misamis Oriental Provincial Tourism Office (MOPTO) will organize on March 21-23, 2017, a KoreaMisOr Exchange of Cultures & Arts Exhibit to showcase the customs and traditions of Korea and the province of Misamis Oriental at the Provincial Capitol Kiosk in the Capitol grounds.

The exhibit starts at 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

MOPTO’s Kara Krizia T. Bahian

said on March 21 will be the launching of the occasion to be graced

by Governor Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano and Hong Joo Kim, chairman of the Korean Modern Women Arts Association.

Bahian also said the threeday event will enhance the relationship of Korea and the Philippines particularly in Misamis Oriental. She said 60 Korean paintings will be showcased in the said activity. (PIO MisOr)

Cimagala... from page 4

others. We ourselves ask God not judge us by our sins. We should therefore not judge others according to their sins.

Charity and mercy should precede, accompany and follow in all our dealings with the others. When we find this hard to do, as is understandable, we should beg God for more grace so that our heart can conform to God’s heart. In that way, we can echo Christ’s words: “Not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22,42) roycimagala@gmail.com.

BWM: Mar. 22, 2017

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ENGR. ESMERALDO REYES Asst.CENRO DENR Region 10 Talakag,Bukidnon

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Wednesday | March 22, 2017

10

Isuzu Philippines takes action-packed 4x4 playground to Cagayan de Oro

F

OLLOWING a highly successful and much soughtafter series of events, the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground on March 17, 2017 mounted its last and most exciting round at the Limketkai Mall parking lot in Cagayan de Oro. Organized by Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) in order to demonstrate the fourwheel driving capabilities of the Isuzu mu-X 4x4 LS-A A/T and Isuzu D-MAX 4x4 LS A/T 3.0-liter variants, the event allowed both offroad driving enthusiasts and mall goers a chance to check out in a fun and thrilling manner how Isuzu vehicles cope at traversing extreme obstacles. Serving as guests’ test-drive vehicles during the weekend event were five units of Isuzu mu-X 4x4 and two units of Isuzu D-MAX 4x4, which took to the specially prepared course that was meant to simulate the type of rugged terrain the vehicles are capable of tackling.

Assembled on this unique track were obstacles designed to test the limits of the vehicles, which included the slipper slope, articulation ramp and the 40-degree transverse-

angle ramp. Of course, the 20-foot Thrill Hill, which has proven to be the most popular obstacle in every staging of the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground, again served as the centerpiece of the track.

“While both the Isuzu mu-X and Isuzu D-MAX have sophisticated styling and premium interior features, the fact remains that, especially in their 4x4 specifications, these two models are highly capable off-road machines that are designed to traverse extremely rugged terrain.

This is the reason behind the Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground series — we want to communicate to consumers the capabilities of Isuzu models by letting them witness and experience these firsthand in a controlled environment,” said IPC President Hajime Koso during the event’s opening.

“But this year, we plan to further develop this event so the information may reach consumers more efficiently and enjoyably,” Koso added.

During the event, the mu-X 4x4 LS-A impressed guests with its combination of upscale features and offroad driving capabilities.

The model is equipped with Isuzu’s 4JJ1-TC (HI) 3.0-liter diesel engine

that has common rail direct injection, an intercooler and a Variable Geometry System (VGS) turbocharger, allowing it to produce 163Ps at 3,200rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1,800rpm to 2,200rpm. An available five-speed automatic transmission that boasts of a sequential shift function can be matched to this engine.

For its part, the D-MAX 4x4 LS A/T proved to event participants its rugged looks by ably tackling every obstacle on the track. Powered by the same robust and fuel-efficient engine and five-speed transmission that’s found in the mu-X 4x4 LS-A A/T, the pickup also shares the SUV’s 4WD Terrain Command Select Dial.

This proprietary system

by Isuzu allows drivers to switch from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive Low mode by simply turning a knob on the vehicle’s console. Drivers may also switch from two-wheel drive to fourwheel drive High mode even while the vehicle is traveling at speeds of up to 100kph. Both vehicles also have ideal approach and

departure angles, boosting their performance in all types of terrain.

“We at Isuzu Philippines would like to thank everybody who participated in the series of Isuzu 4x4 Action Playground events. Rest assured the next evolution of this experiential information drive will be more thrilling and relevant to consumers,” Koso said.

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wednesday|March 22, 2017

Tourism... from page 1

“You will see a difference

by May,” she said of the wharf that serves as a jump-off point for island hoppers.

She said the city wants to spruce it up by adding more facilities that will attract more tourists like a terminal for boat passengers, restaurants, stores and baywalk.

But she stressed that they are not pouring in more budget for the project because they want to invite volunteers to help in transforming the area and investors to establish businesses there.

“We are thinking about that but I cannot tell you kung ano ang maging (about the) mechanics. We want to put souvenir shops there, restaurants hindi lang yung (not just a) high-end park,” she said.

She added they already came out with an integrated plan for wharf development which she described as a continuous work until the end of term of presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

She said it was the mayor herself who ordered for the development of the rundown wharf during their last meeting.

The mayor wants the city to do “something doable immediately for the park”, she said.

No major overhaul will be done on the wharf ’s infrastructure component, she said.

Me anw hi le, t he city g ov e r n m e nt w e l c o m e d the agreement between the Philippines and China on t he conduc t of t he preliminary feasibility study for the proposed Davao City Expressway.

Davao City Investment Promotions Center head Lemuel Ortonio said the project will help the city improve connectivity and accessibility.

L ast Friday, Finance secretary Carlos G. D o m i n g u e z a n d Vi c e Minister Fu Ziying, China’s International Trade Representative, formalized an agreement on the conduct of preliminary feasibility studies for the proposed expressway and Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges projects.

Ortonio lauded China’s interest in Davao Region and Palawan as sites for its investments and cooperation with the Philippines in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries.

“This is another benefit for the city considering that we are a highly agricultural city. This will definitely help boost the agri and fisheries industries in the city,” he said.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ronald Go said he welcomes this new undertaking that will bring about opportunities for investment, trade and commerce and boost the local economy.

“We laud this declaration of support and hope that something concrete truly develops out of this,” he said.

In a press release the

Department of Finance said Philippines and Chinese officials signed the agreements during the visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang in the city.

It said Wang met with President Rodrigo R. Duterte and discussed with his cabinet officials the progress of the cooperation between the two countries on implementing the Philippines’ large-scale i n f r ast r u c tu re proj e c t s through Chinese grants and concessional loans.

Wang expressed China’s support for the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is commemorating its 50th anniversary this year.

The press release added that the Chinese official emphasized during that meeting last week here that China considers the ASEAN as a “diplomatic priority” and that the Philippines, as chair of the ASEAN this year, will “make a big contribution in regional cooperation.”

In that meeting, D omingue z share d t he Duterte administration’s opt imism on t he e arly conclusion of the talks on the China-led RCEP. “We look for ward to continue the discussions on the promotion of free trade partnership via the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership where China is also taking the lead. We are very much optimistic for its early conclusion which would help us further diversify our export markets,” the press release quoted Dominguez as saying.

Houses... from page 1

employees of universities and col leges, and a ls o public hospitals and local government units,” he said on Monday.

He said they have done this in Zambales where s h i p b u i l d i n g c o mp a ny Hanjin has built houses for its employees. Hanjin utilized its 30-hectare land where about 2,700 housing units were built. Units have either one bedroom at PHP400,00; two bedrooms at PHP500,000; and three bedrooms at PHP600,000.

We want to replicate this nationwide, he said.

“We have to keep on building what we have given the huge momentum on the part of the Fund. We will continuously generate what we currently call the Pag-IBIG-led projects for countryside development,” he said.

In Mindanao, Pag-IBIG Fund has already turned over some units in Polomolok for the Dole- Philippines Gawad Pag-IBIG project, with the package cost per unit at PHP450T. It is duplex-type unit with two bedrooms on a 30 to 35 square-meter floor area. The lot area is 70 square meters.

The Pag-IBIG in Davao also started a similar project with the Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators, Inc. (PADPAO) in Mintal.

“We want more of these projects because we have members in the millions who have yet to avail of the housing service of the Fund,” he said.

Under this project, the Fu nd w i l l pre - approve beneficiaries, who can look for contractor or developer to build the houses under an agreed design.

Moti said the developers get paid as soon as they complete the project.

The cost is lower because there is no more marketing e x p e ns e on t h e i r p ar t because Pag-IBIG Fund does it through its Business Development Office, he said.

For 2017, Moti said PagIBIG aims for five projects in Mindanao.(PNA)

SM...

from page 1

the city can collect under the Local Government Code and regulatory fees, which are not covered by the exemption for these are not taxes.

The legal office also proposed that a cost-benefit analysis be conducted by the City Council before it decides whether or not to endorse SM CDO Downtown Premiers’ application.

It a ls o re com me nds that the City Treasurer’s comment be solicited on the matter, specifically on the possible effects on the city government’s revenue generation efforts.

These, among others, will be the subject of discussions of invited guests which

include representatives of the City Legal Office, City Treasurer’s Office and SM CDO Downtown Premier.

Flights... from page 1

in more domestic tourists in Misamis Oriental that will perk up the local tourism industry.

“Accessibility is one of the requisites for a successful tourism package and the additional inter-island flights could fill up that requisite,” Emano said.

He said the inter-island flights would also bring people closer and provide them the opportunity to know more about the beautiful places in the neighboring islands and provinces.

According to Emano, he is inviting the Ilonggos to come and visit Misamis Oriental in order for them to appreciate the beautiful tourist spots in the province.

He said that with the additional direct flights, more tourists from Panay Island and Negros Occidental would come to Misamis Oriental.

(PNA)

NEDA... from page 2

Infrastructure development got the biggest chunk in the RDIP with P130 billion requirements followed by the programs and projects for building resiliency of the economy. “ This requirement is in line with the national agend a of accelerat ing

infrastructure infrastructure spending to trigger economic development,” he said.

Among the big ticket infrastructure projects are the Panguil Bay Bridge Project connecting Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and Tubod in Lanao del Norte; Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River; Bukidnon Airport Development Project in Don Carlos, Bukidnon; Laguindingan Airport Operations, Maintenance, and Development Project; and the establishment of Regional Government Center in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental.

“Out of the P650 billion total requirements, we will get a slice of P130 billion to support the 2018 Annual Investment Program (AIP).

This includes programs and projects that will be funded by the national gove r n me nt u nd e r t he General Appropriations Act,” he further said.

Lisondra said infrastructure development still got the bigget requirements in the 2018 AIP. Aside from the RDIP, NEDA-X also revealed the performance of the regional economy last year.

Guiamadel said the annual regional economic situation for 2016 will serve as basis for policy and decision making in the region.

The report will provide some directions, especially to investors and local government units in terms

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 18 Cagayan de Oro City HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND EJF FILE NO. 2017-105 Or PAG-IBIG FUND Mortgagee, -versus- FOR: EXTRA-JUDICIAL

FORECLOSURE OF REAL NEIL IAN C. CASTRO ESTATE MORTGAGE Mortgagor, x-----------------------------------------/ Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND or PAG-IBIG FUND, Mortgagee, with branch office at Pag-Ibig Fund Bldg., J.R. Borja St., Cagayan de Oro City, against NEIL IAN C. CASTRO, Mortgagor, with postal address at Cacao Lane, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 16, 2017, amounted to NINE HUNDRED NINETY THREE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT PESOS and 26/100 (Php 993,968.26) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges, the undersigned Sheriff will sell at public auction on April 12, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 18, Hall of Justice (City Tourism Hall), Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below including all existing improvements found thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-180440 A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 14, Block 24, Psd-104305-017450, being a portion of Lot 3017-B, Psd-10-000818), situated in the Barrio of Carmen and Pagatpat, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FORTY TWO (142) SQUARE METERS, more or less.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title herein above described and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, March 15, 2017.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

(SGD.) NIZA P. TACANDONG Sheriff IV

BWM: Mar. 22, 29 & Apr. 5, 2017

of planning for economic development in the region, she added. (APB/PIA-10)

Doring... from page 4

France is indeed the next country in Europe to confront its own right-wing populist movement in spring presidential elections.

Polls currently show the National Front’s Marine Le Pen winning the first-round of voting in April but falling short in the May run-off.

However, a seemingly neverending scandal that has engulfed conservative candidate Francois Fillon and a newly launched probe into travels undertaken by the political youngster Emmanuel Macron means the election’s course remains wide open.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Junker called Rutte to congratulate him on the win.

“A vote for Europe, a vote against extremists,” strong words of EU Commission President Jean-Claude Junker ... .

The Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni similarly framed Wilders defeat as a win for proEU forces, writing on Twitter “No Nexit. The anti-EU right has lost the elections in the Netherlands.”

Perhaps the most straightforward and succinct Tweet came from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. In response to Rutte’s victory and Wilders’ defeat, the leader of the Scottish National party simply tweeted “Good.” +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines. blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT AND EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF (HMDF) PAG-IBIG FUND EJF FILE No. 2017-126 Mortgagee,

-versus- For: Extra-Judicial Foreclosure

Of Real Estate Mortgage under

Act 3135, as amended by Act No. 4118 JOEL B. KIAMCO married to ELMA C. KIAMCO Mortgagor X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/ NOTICE OF EXTRA JUDICIAL SALE EJF FILE No. 2017-126 Upon extrajudicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by (HDMF) PAG-IBIG FUND, against JOEL B. KIAMCO married to ELMA C. KIAMCO, both of legal age Filipino citizen, with postal address Lot 32, Block 03, PCS-10-004225, PAG-IBIG CITI HOMES, PHASE 3, MALANANG, OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which amounts to FIVE HUNDRED FIVE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHT PESOS & 20/100 (P505.508.20), Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges as of FEBRUARY 24, 2017, the undersigned will sell at public auction on APRIL 17, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. AT THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, City Tourism Hall, Cagayan de Oro City to the highest bidder, for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below including all existing all existing and future improvements thereon, to wit: TCT NO. - 136-2015000222 LOT: LOT 32, BLOCK-3,PCS-10-004225 CONSOLIDATION-SUBD: LOT 6,PCS-10-003972 AND : LOT 1, BLOCK 24, PSD-10-059077 AS SURVEYED FOR: JOHNDORF VENTURES CORPORATION (PAG-IBIG CITI HOMES, PHASE-3) LAND USE: (RESIDENTIAL) LOCATION: MALANANG, OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL. CONTAINING AN AREA: NINTY FIVE (95) SQ. M. MORE OR LESS, BEARING : TRUE DESCRIPTION OF CORNER : ALL PTS. ARE PS. ORIGINAL DATE SURVEY : NOV. 1929-1933 SUBDIVISION DATE SURVEY : APRIL 12-18, 2009 DATE APPROVED: DEC. 8, 2009 GEODETIC ENGINEER: EDUARDO M. APALLA.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title herain-above described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, MARCH 17, 2017.

BWM: March 22, 29 & April 5, 2017

(Sgd.) EFREN G. MACABAYA Sheriff IV

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Wednesday | March 22, 2017

Dir. Butch Chan: Our hearts are aching but heaven is one star brighter W

By Gean T. Cesar

e are indeed in great sadness over the unimaginable loss of a visionary in the Tourism industry, a mentor, colleague and a friend to many. One of his beliefs in life was the importance of being authentic with people, saying what needs to be said and do what’s need to be done especially if it concerns his family and profession.

Director Butch and his beautiful spirit will live through the love of his life-his son, Aldrich. We are witnesses of the great love and bond this father and son share for the last 16 years.

His tourism programs and projects in the provinces he has served will speak of how great this man is. Our hearts are aching but heaven is one star brighter.

How do we describe the most self-less person we know?

How do we explain the multitude of ways he made us feel better of ourselves, or how he never missed the opportunity to encourage us? These are just words to magnify how great this man is….but these are real life experience of how he is greatly loved.

“Dir Butch Chan once wanted to unite the festivals in the region thru establishing the HIMAMAT/LUMAD FESTIVAL in Region 10.. It’s a festival where most if not all cities and provincial festivals in the region will show together in Pelaez sports center during national tourism week last year.. he makes all things possible with our publications BusinessWeek Mindanao as the lead organizer to handle the event.. we both coordinated the LGUs and even to the RDC/NEDA, making the

said festival a reality and even adopted as the official festival in the region.. but due to some considerations in dealing with the NCIP it was not realized...Dir. Chan is a man of Vision in tourism industry..

He is a true ICON of tourism! BusinessWeek , Mindanao Daily news and Cagayan de Oro Times salute you Sir Butch! We miss you!” DANTE SUDARIA, Publisher Businessweek Mindanao “With Sir Butch, I will surely miss our hilarious moments and unbashed laughters. He was not just a Tourism official that we highly respected, but he treated us like family…as real friends. “ JULES BARIL, Cagayan de Oro Travel and Tours Association President “…. A fun loving individual… easy to go along with who served the tourism industry throughout his adult life.” DOROTHY JEAN PABAYO, City Tourism Council Chairperson, Cagayan de Oro “Butch was a very active Trustee of promote CDO Foundation. There was never any dull moment with him during every board meeting, casual meetings or planning sessions. His support to

tribute

the activities of Promote CDO Foundation and Oro Chamber was always beyond the ordinary scheme of things. Goodbye Director Butch! We will surely miss your jokes and laughter”.

RUBEN VEGAFRIA, President Promote CDO Foundation “Director was a valuable partner in many of the City’s tourism related activities. We will surely miss his inputs and opinions on various concerns and issues related to the local tourism industry in the city and the region”.

EILEEN SAN JUAN, Kagay-an Festival Chairperson “I literally inherited the Miss CDO annual pageant from Dir. Butch. It was terrifying at first to accept the responsibility knowing how passionate he was in community events.

But he guided me along the way and allowed me to explore on my own. He was not just a mentor, but he was a genuine friend who will make you feel that you are important to him. GEAN CESAR, Miss CDO Production Head- City Tourism Council

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