BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 2, 2018)

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

CREDIBLE

Volume VIII, No. 119

Market Indicators FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P51.92

8,465.77

X Briefly

cents

9.52

X

points

Mindanao railway CONSTRUCTION of the Mindanao Rail Project (MRP) is expected to start by the third quarter this year.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) said in a statement that Phase 1, expected to reduce travel time from Davao del Norte to Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours, is targeted for completion by 2021.

Phase 1 which cost P35.26 billion via general appropriations, is a 105-km line and will have eight stations: Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos.

Phase 1 of MRP forms part of the entire 1,530-km circumferential and spur rail lines that will connect the Davao provinces, Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, and Zamboanga.

Zambo’s infra projects ZAMBOANGA Peninsula will be receiving P23 billion worth of infrastructure projects this year, with the government looking to transfer Zamboanga City airport to a new site, the Department of Finance (DoF) said.

In a statement, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the region will be receiving additional funding for infrastructure this year as part of the government’s push to develop road networks in Mindanao.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has lined up 754 road construction and improvement projects for the region. Zamboanga City alone will receive 102 of these projects worth P1.16 billion, including a 36-kilometer (km) bypass road expected to be completed within the year.

IN-DEPTH

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More subsidy for PUJ operators in Davao pushed

By MARK FRANCISCO Staff Writer

N

ORTHERN Mindanao’s rice and corn production experienced growth last year, thanks to the government’s effort to promote the use of high-yield seeds among local farmers.

Rice and corn production grew at 3.57 percent and 4.01 percent, respectively, in 2017, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its Commodity output/PAGE 11

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV MindaNews

SUMMER SUNSET. A boatman prepares to leave White Island as the sun sets in Camiguin. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

DAVAO City – The head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) here is set to meet with officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in Manila on Friday to negotiate for a higher government subsidy for jeepney operators who will be affected once the implementation of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) goes full throttle.

Ivan Cortez said in an interview on Tuesday that the city will try to ask if the subsidy/PAGE 11

Cebu airport sees more passengers from M’nao

By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

THE management of Mactan International Airport in Cebu is bracing for an influx of passengers from Mindanao

with the opening of a new passenger terminal this June.

Av i g a e l M a n i n g o , sp okesp erson for C ebu

Airport Corporation that manages the facility, said they were targeting some 11.7 million passengers for this year, or an increase of 1.8 airport/PAGE 11

Davao City updates development plan

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

IMPROVISED BOAT. An improvised boat ferries a passenger on a flooded street in Barangay Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City during the recent typhoon last Jan. 20. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

DAVAO City -- Three years shor t before ending in 2021, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) is almost complete with the

review of the 1996-2021 Comprehensive Development Plan this year.

CPDO head Ivan Cortez said in an inter view on

Tuesday that his office is waiting for the comments and suggestions from various sectors it consulted to further improve the draft of the CDP that will guide the updates/PAGE 11

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Study Now, Pay Later Program:

Economy

Improving lives of Lanao Norte deserving individuals

L

ANAO del Norte -A 2-day screening, orientation and final interview of the 2nd Batch for the “Study Now Pay Later Program” held at the Macapagal Training Center, Provincial Capitol, Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

Out of 82 applicants, 17 have passed while 30 were considered conditional passers.

How the program started?

Lanao del Norte 2nd District Representative Abdullah ‘Bobby’ D. Dimaporo continues to

find ways in improving the lives of deserving individuals in the province by building sustainable relationship with various National Government Agencies and with private entities in delivering essential programs for the people and the communities.

The program started when he requested the Phil-Nippon Technical College (PNTC) to open their doors and accept applicants from Lanao del Norte which PNTC responded positively.

PNTC sees the good

intention of the lawmaker and assures that those who will qualify will get better and quality training during the entire course that could possibly reached a year to complete.

PNTC is one of the leading schools in the country that is teaching industrial skills that are highly developed and complimentary in the Japanese Industry.

These industrial skills are Automotive, Electronics, Welding, Forklift, Crane Operation, Metal Press, Plastic Molding, Machining,

Painting, and Brazing.

Program proper For the first four months, trainees will be brought to Davao campus for the Language Skills Training and for another six months or more they will fly to Laguna campus for the Industrial Skills Training.

Qualified individuals will be trained with quality skills that meet the needs of the industry and guide them to develop their full potential. It also aims to help update their skills, knowledge and expertise to be competitive in the industry. improving/PAGE 11

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Govt pours P298M ‘peace roads’ to Gingoog GINGOOG City -- The national government has downloaded P298 million worth of four major infrastructure projects dubbed as ‘peace roads’ to various barangays.

Funded under Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (Pamana) program, the multimillion projects are intended for subprojects including concreting of MinsapinitMaribucao-Talon road (P88million), concreting of Brgy. 24A-MurallonTinulongan road (P87million), concreting of Kalipay-SangalanEureka road (P73million), and concreting of Alagatan to Kalagonoy via Sitio Santa Cruz (P50million).

Mayor Marie

Guingona lauded fellow Mindanaoan, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza for regarding these pro-poor projects that target the clamor of the poor and tailor fit to the needs of the people inhabiting in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) wherein socioeconomic projects and programs from the government are rarely felt by the folks in the outskirts and far-flung areas.

“In paving way for a hope of progress in the hinterlands, OPAPP has brought additional change to our city that longs for roads/PAGE 11

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Officers and members of NBI SIO Region 10 led by president Ferdinand Bernasor pose for a group picture after their induction last Saturday. Also in photo is guest of honor Councilor Lordan Suan (seated leftmost). larawan studio

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ONGLOMERATE SM Investments Corp. (SM) on Wednesday said its net profit surged by 6 percent in 2017, led by robust earnings of its property and banking businesses.

SM told the local bourse its net income reached P32.9 billion last year from P31.2 billion the previous year.

Consolidated revenues rose 9 percent to P396.1 billion from P363.4 billion last year.

“Our core businesses continued to deliver strong results in 2017 with recurring net income growth of 9 percent, driven by overall growth in the economy and our nationwide expansion plans. Our property and specialty retail businesses

Philex nets P1.66-B net income in 2017 LISTED Philex Mining Corp. booked a 6-percent increase in net income in 2017 as lower operating expenses managed to offset a fall in revenue.

In a disclosure to the local bourse Wednesday, the miner said its net income reached P1.66 billion last year from P1.57 billion in 2016.

Its operating revenues amounted to P9.98 billion in 2017, slightly 2.79 percent lower from P10.27 billion the previous year, income/PAGE 10

delivered particularly strong results,” said SM President Frederic C. DyBuncio.

Property accounted for 40 percent of total earnings, with banks comprising 38 percent and retail 22 percent.

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., SM’s property holding firm, posted a recurring net income growth of 16 percent last year to P27.6 billion from P23.8 billion of prior year, driven by the increase in rental revenue from malls as well as the strong sales take-up of housing units.

At yearend, SM Prime has 67 shopping malls in the Philippines and seven in China.

The residential group, led by SM Development Corp. (SMDC), posted consolidated revenues of

P30 billion, up 18 percent from P25.4 billion in 2016.

The rest of SM Prime’s businesses registered revenue growth of 32 percent to P7.9 billion from PHP6 billion.

BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) posted a net income of P28.1 billion in 2017 from P26.1 billion the previous year on strong growth across all business segments.

China Banking Corporation (China Bank), meanwhile, reported net income growth of 15 percent to P7.4 billion from P6.45 billion, on the back of sustained growth in core and fee-based businesses.

“During the year, SM made substantial investments in its banks and in new business

opportunities, which we expect to contribute to higher earnings growth in future years,” said DyBuncio.

SM said operations under SM Retail Inc., which consist of nonfood (THE SM STORE and specialty stores) and food stores (SM Markets), reported net income of P10.4 billion from P10.6 billion.

At end-December 2017, SM Retail had a total of 2,032 outlets, comprising 59 THE SM STORES, 1,299 specialty retail outlets, 52 SM Supermarkets, 47 SM Hypermarkets, and 181 Savemore, 46 WalterMart and 348 Alfamart stores.

A total of 341 outlets were added in 2017 across the retail business portfolio. (PNA)

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the decision on what to do with Omidyar Network Fund LLC’s donation of its Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) to online news site Rappler.com will now depend on the Court of Appeals (CA), as the case is currently pending in court.

“That will depend on the CA where the appeal is pending,” SEC Chairperson Teresita J.

Herbosa said in a text message.

“Supervening events during appeal whether it is a ground for withdrawal, dismissal, rendering moot and academic, or continuance, of appeal is for CA to pass upon. As party appellee, SEC will respond or give its position on such development as may be ordered by the CA,” she added.

This is in response to Omidyar Network’s donation of its PDRs to

14 of Rappler’s Filipino managers on Wednesday.

Rappler reported that Omidyar Network made the donation to address the ruling served by the SEC on the news site last January.

The SEC had rescinded the incorporation papers of the company that operates the news site, Rappler, Inc., as well as its parent Rappler Holdings Corp. after failing to meet the constitutional limits on donation/PAGE 11

SEC says Omidyar donation to Rappler depends on CA

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Opinion

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Why can’t we just do it?

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

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Switching price tags think a minute

jhan tiafau hurst Think a minute…Imagine you are in a store and you see a big new television for only $1. You look at a t-shirt and the price on it is $1,000. Next to it is a brand new motorbike that costs only $3. Wouldn’t you wonder if someone had sneaked into the store and changed all the price tags?

What you thought was very valuable is now not very valuable at all.

Have you e ve r gone t h rou g h a p ai n f u l l o ss or frightening crisis that turned ever ything in your life upside down?

Maybe the doctor told you that you have a serious, life-threatening illness.

Someone you love died in an accident. Suddenly almost everything in your life was reshuffled and changed.

Those things that seemed

important and took much of your time before now meant nothing to you. And the things that you took for granted and hardly even noticed now became the most important things to you. It was like someone came and switched all the price tags in your life.

S a d ly, t h e s e p ai n f u l loss es and problems in life are sometimes the only things that wake us up to see what’s truly important in life. Unfortunately for many of us, it’s only when the problem and storm hits that we begin to understand there are only 2 things that really matter : our Maker and people. Life is short. Often shorter than we expect! And hopefully before it’s over we learn how valuable every day is.

Each day is just one more gift from God. So we need to start spending what little time we have left on getting close to Him and the people He’s given to us to share our lives with. That is the only way we can have no fears or regrets when we die. Some of us are scared and don’t want to think of dying because we’re not sure if we’re ready to face our Maker and Judge.

Think a Minute…

Ruffy magbanua WE always raise this question as to why we, Filipinos, can’t simply do our jobs without talking too much on everything and anything.

Gossiping is a contagious national pastime, more popular than basketball, texting or even taking shabu.

Aside from drug addiction, malling and spreading rumors (read: false news) these days

are the two most effective way of wasting one’s free time.

Anyone can join, it’s free, no skills needed, only a big mouth and sharp tongue needed, and that’s it – your language, be it ala Duterte, Mocha or Trillanes, or worse, De Lima, makes your day complete, and well, satisfied of spreading something, be it good or bad.

And almost everyone eagerly does the spreading of the word so to speak, throwing in their two cents worth of information at hand, be it true or false, in any and every conversation.

Gossiping therefore is the best pastime for us, an effective tool to ward off boredom and even hunger.

To some, rumor mongering is their way of keeping their

sanity intact.

You hear these loose talks just anywhere and anytime– in the neighborhood, in malls, in offices or even in jeepney rides.

To the haters and losers, it’s the best weapon to combat envy and hatred.

And to those who are already addicted to spreading rumors, it seems that they won’t last a day without gossip.

People who are into rumor mongering would surely say that without gossip, they may not know what to do with their time.

Life would be so drab that, in the quest of excitement and the sheer need to break routine, spreading rumors come easy and free.

We want this country to move on and become the tiger economy that we aim

for so long a time, yet the crab mentality and other bad traits among us persevere, and drags us further down the road to perdition.

We keep on talking about everything. Who’s sleeping with whom? Who’s girlfriend or boyfriend of this? Why can’t we just do our jobs, and behave like the honorable people that we are? Why do we have to talk about them?

Perhaps topics like what are we gonna do about how to improve the economy, about how to uplift the lives of the Marawi IDPs, what are our priorities for 2018? are most welcome and wholesome as it were.

Are our jobs okay? Is the peso going to fall down against the dollar? Are we giving our young people the hotline/PAGE 10

Sereno’s quitting is not to be her own decision alone Kakampi mo ang batas

Batas Mauricio LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…”

(Galatians 6:7, the Holy Bible).

-ooo INCOMPETENCE AT D OTr, TUGADE MUST RESIGN NOW: It would appear that under the Duterte government, incompetence and inefficienc y have become a debilitating fad or a shameless passion, particularly at the Department of Transportation. Indeed, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade has been in power at the department for two years now, more or less, but the take-off and landing of

commercial planes at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have remained in shambles and a source of dismay and discomfort to many.

Yet again, I experienced waiting for one full one hour, sitting inside the plane that was to take me to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, unable to fly because we have not been permitted to take-off by airport authorities. I had to go to Puerto Princesa City on that day to attend a court hearing at the Regional Trial Court there, in connection with land disputes over big estates in Coron, Palawan.

I had to wake up at 2 in the morning, got a private vehicle from the Internet to ferry me to the airport, and started waiting to fly about 4 in the morning. Boarding time was supposed to be 4:30 a.m. yet but at 4 a.m., we were already asked to board the plane. Well, it was wait, wait, and wait inside the plane that the plane’s passengers and I had to endure. Sec. Tugade, can

you please just have some shame over the trust given to you by President Duterte?

If you cannot do your job, can you please just resign!

-ooo STORY OF PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, STORY TAKEN FROM THE BIBLE: The stor y of the Philippine economy and rise to financial heights of many because of businesses is a story directly taken from the verses of the Bible. For example, this is what the Bible, in its Deuteronomy 2815, 43-44 says: if people no longer listen to God, nor obey His commands, He will curse them with the curse of foreigners getting richer and richer while the natives go poorer and poorer.

Look at news reports on February 28, 2018 about the P33 billion 2017 income of a giant company owned

by Chinese-Filipinos who control shopping malls n the Philippines. While the company earns billions of pesos ever y year, native Filipinos meanwhile continue to be paid only about P600 a day as workers.

Filipinos should wake up, and learn the true road to riches!

-ooo DINGDONG-MARIAN FAMILY MUST BE PRAYED OVER FOR STRONGER U N ION : Pr aye rs for a stronger and more united family was what immediately came to my mind when I saw the sexy photos of two prominent showbiz personalities who got mar r i e d to e a ch ot he r recently, while they were romping off joyfully in a beach resort. The reason is that, for couples like them, the rule had always been short-lived unions, with separation coming as fast as their being united in marriage.

Perhaps, the time has come for all our countrymen to learn how to pray for faithfulness and unity among husbands and wives to enable them to have strong family ties. We should insist on showering each and every Filipino couple, whether from the showbiz or not, with prayers for a more sanctified quitting/PAGE 10

Prowling for the ruin of souls hints and traces

roy cimagala The warning is actually meant for everyone, but I believe it is meant especially for priests who carry the most delicate task of ministering the people of God so that Christ, not the priests, would always be shown to them, and that Christ’s words, not the priests’ words, opinions, theories, etc., are what the people hear.

The warning comes from

the first letter of St. Peter: “Be alert and of sober mind.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We, priests, should take these words very seriously.

It cannot be denied that a certain worldly culture, so prevalent these days, can easily lend credence to the subject of this warning.

Priests are the best target of the devils because when they fall, they don’t fall alone but bring many others with them. The devils are shrewd and they know about the socalled “economy of scale.”

And we have to understand that when we get closer to God because of our work of sanctification and our position in the Church and society, the devil works double-time to trick and

trap us. He will use very subtle means, coming up with many good-looking and sweet-tasting ploys that are injected with his venom.

We should always be most discerning. We cannot let our guard down at any time, because the devil does not take vacation until he succeeds with his plots against us.

We, priests, should know how to do spiritual combats with the devil. We ought to know the art of offense and defense. And this can only happen if we try our best to keep our spiritual and supernatural bearing.

We should be the first one to heed what St. Paul said: “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done

everything, to stand” (Eph 6:13).

We, priests, should take our life of prayer and sacrifice seriously. We should be the first to wage continuing interior struggle, never falling into complacency in this regard. Doing all these does not alienate us from the people, but rather would attract them to us properly.

We have to overcome the myth that by being serious with our spiritual and supernatural identity, we end up acting strange and weird, unable to relate ourselves with the realities on the ground. Hardly anything can be farther from the truth.

By being close to Christ, we in fact would know how to act with total naturalness, knowing how to blend with anyone and anything, without prowling/PAGE 10

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Innovation and sustainability collide at WORLDBEX Seminars 2018 For the past decade, builders, designers, and creators alike have been faced with a dilemma.

How do we innovate and push towards progress without all the damage?

Seeking to address this conundrum, the Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition, or simply WORLDBEX 2018, is intent on opening up a much-needed dialogue among practitioners of the construction and design community at this year’s WORLDBEX Seminars.

Happening on March 15 to 18, from 9am to 5pm at the SMX Convention Center as a key event highlight of WORLDBEX 2018, this year’s WORLDBEX Seminars aims to explore the ways in which the industry can work together in “Shaping

Innovations Toward Sustainability”.

Like its previous installments, this year’s series will feature an impressive roster of guest speakers both local and foreign. With only four seminars scheduled per day, attendees can expect a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the most recent building and design breakthroughs in sustainability and beyond.

On the first day, the seminars will kick-off with a talk on global safety issues with Engr. Bayani Bueser. This will be followed by Hong Kong-based Archt.

Ian Milne’s case study presentation on sustainable casino design; Engr. Ernesto De Castro’s enlightening discussion on the value of adopting the Building

Information Modeling or BIM process in construction; and Archt. Jose Pedro “Bong” Recio’s refreshing perspective on architecture.

It’s never too early to discuss logistics in design, building, and real estate that keep up with the changing times as Archt.

Cathy Saldana leads the line-up of speakers on day two. The rest of the highly-anticipated seminars include IDr. Ma. Carlota Hilvano’s unique perspective on how to design for citizens in their golden years; Malaysiabased Archt. Azim Aziz’s presentation on sustainable design in the context of tropical countries such as Malaysia; and IDr. Lilia de Jesus’ campaign towards a more inclusive and democratic

IDr. Lilia de Jesus

Engr. Bayani Bueser

IDr. Carlota Hilvano

approach towards interior design.

On the last day, safety comes first as Engr. Abner Pahilanga imparts innovative strategies for fire suppression and maintenance.

His lecture will be followed

by Singaporebased Archt.

Raymond Hoe’s reflections on usercentered learning environments; Archt.

Susan AquinoOng’s discussion on the value of incorporating nature in design; and lastly, Engr. Eugene

Araullo’s informative talk on the adoption of renewable energy technologies in the Philippines.

In exploring the possibilities of incorporating sustainability in various disciplines of building and design, this year’s WORLDBEX Seminars hopes to achieve its goal of exemplifying WORLDBEX 2018’s main thrust. Now on its 23th edition, WORLDBEX 2018 – the biggest construction exposition with three mega venues – is

happening on March 14 to 18, from 10am to 8pm at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), and the SMX Convention Center.

A package deal for the WORLDBEX Seminars 2018 is priced at P7,000/3 days while the daily rate is priced at P3,000/day. Both rates are inclusive of lunch and snacks.

For more information, contact Mel Mapoy at 6569239 loc. 137 or email mel.worldbex@ gmail.com.

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friday|March 2, 2018

The SM Store CDO Downtown Premier team shared over 500 toys to the students of Corrales Elementary School last February 26, 2018 for the Share A Toy Campaign of The SM Store.

Xavier Ateneo welcomes home DOST Balik Scientist Awardee Dr Noel Peter Tan

Xavier Ateneo welcomes the homecoming of one of its prized alumni, Dr Noel Peter B Tan of the Environmental Technologies, Nano and Advanced Materials Institute and the 2018 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist Awardee for Environmental Applications of Nanoscience.

Tan is an awardwinning research

scientist, engineer, and academic with over seven years of experience in nanotechnology and advanced materials market-driven research to develop and commercialize new technologies.

He is currently to the Philippines for a shortterm Balik Scientist visit to his alma mater Xavier Ateneo. He will serve as co-adviser to undergraduate chemical engineering students

and assist them in their capstone researches on the synthesis of nanofibers.

One objective of the Balik Scientist Program of DOST is to bring Filipino scientists residing abroad back in the Philippines “to contribute to the progress and development of the nation.” DOST acknowledges that with their expertise in the field of science and

technology, the Balik Scientist Awardees could help address some of the major problems that our country faces and to inspire the next generation of Filipino scientists.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of “extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and

engineering,” according to the US National Nanotechnology Initiative.

Tan has published book chapters and international peerreviewed journals on the central theme towards green nanotechnologies focusing on both synthesis and applications. He has patents on selfhealing concrete and time-temperature scientist/PAGE 10

A Wing It! staff serves flavored wings at its Cagayan de Oro branch located at the cinema of the Centrio Mall. Wing It! has introduced 3 new flavors - Garlic Parmesan Hickory BBQ, and Wild Buffalo - to its customers. photo by gerry lee gorit

Wing It’s spicy buffalo wings a hit among Cagayanons YOUR top three favorite chicken wings flavors are here in Cagayan de Oro. Wing It! Flavored Wings has taken the trend into passion.

It’s usually the other way around but the small homegrown kiosk has now taken an in- demand dish into something that Cagayanons surely have and linger paired with premium saucy flavors.

The bare industrial inspired kiosk ser vices

chicken wings that have been rounded up into three sauce flavors known to be popular around the world. – the Italian garlic parmesan, NYC wild buffalo and Texas hickor y BBQ. As Wing It! Flavored Wings is strong in quality over quantity.

Majority of ingredients have been brought in from other countries so you can enjoy not just lip -smacking wings bnut saucy favorites the way others around the world do!

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

environment

RELIABLE

www.businessweekmindanao.com

IN-DEPTH

Friday | March 2, 2018

7

Cimatu to Bora businesses: Comply with environmental laws or face sanctions E nvironment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said that there could be cease and desist orders and other actions issued to erring businesses in Boracay very soon.

“We are fast tracking our processes, and we’ll probably see sanctions handed out before the end of March to businesses that fail to roll out remedial measures to their notices of violation (NOVs),” Cimatu said.

The secretary is currently in Boracay overseeing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) mission team aiming to restore and rehabilitate the island, which is facing issues of overcrowding, inadequate sewerage and solid waste management facilities, and forestland and wetlands encroachment.

As of February 24, the DENR said that it has issued 181 NOVs to 161 establishments found violating environmental laws and

have already surveyed 562 establishments. Some of these establishments, which included resorts, hotels, spas and restaurants, were already repeat offenders.

Of the 181 NOVs issued, 92 were for violations of the Clean Water Act (expired discharge permits/no discharge permit), 78 were for violations of the Clean Air Act (no permit to operate), 4 were for violations of both the Clean Water and Clean Air acts, and 7

were for violations of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (no environmental compliance certificate).

The DENR’s mission team is looking for violations of environmental laws, such as failure to connect to the island’s sewage system, wastewater with excessive effluents, failure to secure or update their environmental compliance certificates (ECCs), and illegal constructions in

forestlands and wetlands, among others.

Cimatu ensured that they will follow due process throughout their operations.

“Even if we are fast tracking our investigation processes, we will still follow the rules and will call those with NOVs to a technical conference, where they will need to present their remedial measures,” he said.

The businesses will then be given ample time to implement the remedial measures they

have agreed upon.

“If they fail to comply after that time, they could face closure, fines, or a cease and desist order, once we elevate their case to the Pollution Adjudication Board,” the secretary added.

Cimatu clarified that the DENR is not against business, but is rather looking after the interests of the environment and the real residents of Boracay.

“To be fair, there are businesses that have successfully complied

and rectified their violations. The point here is they have to comply with environmental laws.

If they can’t comply, they have no business having business there,” he said.

The secretary said the DENR is bent on completing on time President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to clean up and rejuvenate Boracay in six months.

Keeping businesses and residents in line with environmental laws is just one of the DENR’s measures in this regard.

Aside from this, the department is calling for a moratorium on tourist arrivals, reclamation of wetlands and forestlands in the island, and the completion of solid waste disposal and sewerage infrastructure, among others.

“We are committed to restoring and rehabilitating Boracay, and these are some of the things we can do now to give Boracay a chance to thrive and flourish as paradise again for us and for future generations,” Cimatu said.

MANILA - World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines is set to kick off the country's 2018 Earth Hour celebration next month, focusing on protecting biodiversity from climate change.

Earth Hour, an annual global grassroots movement of WWF Philippines' mother organization WWF, hopes to inspire and empower individuals, organizations and governments on taking tangible action for Earth.

The kick-off will mainly focus on WWF's new global campaign #Connect2Earth, which targets promoting discussions on biodiversity.

"Earth Hour’s new theme moves us to respond collectively and #Connect2Earth, as we help strengthen awareness on biodiversity and

climate action," WWF said.

For this year, WWF said the Philippines' Earth Hour celebration would start at 7 p.m. on Saturday (March 24) at Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) grounds.

The country's actual main lights-out event, marking Earth Hour, would be from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the same day there, WWF said.

Plunging into darkness for one hour targets helping raise awareness about need for action to protect biodiversity from climate change's impacts, noted WWF. Experts already cited increasing onslaught of extreme weather events as well as sea level and temperature rise as climate change's impacts on the Philippines.

According to

WWF, the Philippines' participation in Earth Hour over the years yielded several results.

WWF cited actions beyond the annual lights-out event, which included deployment of portable solar lamps to replace dangerous and dirty kerosene lamps in Palawan and Mindoro provinces.

There were also sharing of best community practices and dissemination of climate change solutions, WWF added.

Commencing in 2007 as a symbolic event in Sydney, WWF said Earth Hour emerged to become the world's largest grassroots environmental movement.

Over 7,000 cities as well as 180 countries and territories already participated in Earth Hour, WWF said.

(Catherine Teves/PNA)

Cavite’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) reported an increased citizen participation in protecting the number of “pawikan” (sea turtle) hatchlings during the town's 7th “Pawikan Festival” at Labac Beachfront on Friday.

PENRO Information Officer and Focal Person of Manila Bay Coordinating Office Judaline Fabro said that in terms of egg emergence and percentage of returning sea turtles to Naic’s coastlines , from 300-700 since they started the campaign 7 years ago, “it (the number) increased to thousands, the highest so far is 1,900.”

Sea turtles, referred to as Ambassadors of the sea, are one of the indicators of a clean ecosystem.

Although, the chances of hatchlings’ survival is at the minimum 1%, Fabro is still positive that with the increased population, “we are also increasing the

number of surviving sea turtles.”

Since the advocacy’s launching in 2011, Fabro boasts that more coast line patrollers are in place, manning the coastlines for free, with just minimal assistance like coffee, patrol gears (boots, jacket as they patrol during wee hours), and head light from the provincial and municipal ENRO. Also, “the community here, even the children, now know what to do or who to call when they see returning sea turtles and its eggs.”

Fabro disclosed that even Cavite’s other coastal cities/towns like Bacoor, Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta and Tanza “now know what to do when they spot a hatching sea turtle and what to do with its hatchlings.”

The town of Naic, where 10 of its barangays are located in coastal area, annually celebrates it “Pawikan Festival” to drumbeat PENRO’s information campaign to

save the sea turtles which are now in its vulnerable stage to be endangered due to irresponsible killing for meat and illegal trade of its shell and other body parts.

Friday’s event also meant to echo the importance of cleaning Manila Bay, “so that creatures like sea turtles can live and multiply,” added Fabro.

The activity culminates with the release of 88 hatchlings at sundown.

The 5:00 p.m. release was to protect them, as sea turtles are known to raise their heads to breathe, predators like birds won’t easily spot them at this time.

It’s heartwarming to hear from those present their send-off wishes to the hatchlings, that may all of them survive, and that they hope to see them again in 25-30 years, where sea turtles are believed to go back where they were hatched to lay their eggs. (Gladys Pino/ PNA)

2018 Earth Hour to highlight Sea turtle conservation, coastal clean-up drive gain grounds biodiversity protection

8

Banking&Finance

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friday|March 2, 2018

OROBANKERS DIRECTORIES CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

A PUBLIC SERVICE BY:

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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

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PBCOM Tiano-HayesSt. Cdoc | 726519/8571558 PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK

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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

mangyayari dyan (what happens) they would default and take away their asset. That is not relationship. In BanKo it is relationship based on cash flow and collateral to us is just a symbol,” Gotuaco said.

According to Rodolfo Mabiasen Jr., vice president and head of Micro-Enterprise Loans Group of BPI Direct BanKo, the interest rate depends on the amount of the loan.

The interest rate would start from two percent up to 2.3 percent. He said the maximum amount that a client could loan is P300,000 and minimum of P25,000.

BanKO does not require a collateral for loans from P25,000 to P100,000. But the bank requires a collateral for loans from P150,000 to P300,000.

Mabiasen said customers could apply for a BPI Direct BanKo’s Negosyo Ko loan that

could be released within seven banking days upon submission of requirements.

Based on the bank’s briefer distributed to media, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up 99.67 of the country’s total number of business establishments.

Of the total number, 20 percent or 166,769 are micro-enterprises in Mindanao.

The micro-enterprises is BanKo’s targeted clients as it aims to address access to credit to this segment.

Jerome Minglana, President of BPI Direct BanKo, said BanKo’s operating model and products address SEMEs unique needs.

He said BanKO goes to its clientele’s places of business and engages them through their financial advisers or loan officers known as Bankomares or Bankopares. (Maya Padillo/PNA)

BSP projects February inflation to hit 4-4.8%

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

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SECURITY BANK- LKK Limketkai | 8801258/8801625

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

LBP – VELEZ LunaVelez St. | 723549/8563198

V

By MAYA PADILLO, PNA

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BPI opens 100th BanKo in Valencia

RURAL BANK OF CABADBARAN, Inc.

PNB CDO– LAPASAN LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564732 / 723992

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

FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK CM Recto Ave., Cor.Agudo Road Cdoc 8565360/2316678

photo by mark francisco

ALENCIA, Bukidnon – The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) opened Tuesday its 100th Direct BanKO, the bank’s microfinance arm in Valencia, Bukidnon.

Direct BanKo in Valencia is the 20th branch in Mindanao.

“What you are seeing today is the 100th branch and frankly this is something that BPI is thinking about 10 to 15 years already. For a bank that says our responsibility is not just to make profit and also to understand our customers and participate fully in the broadest aspect of the Philippine growth,” said Joseph Albert Gotuaco, chair of BPI Direct BanKo Inc (BanKo) and executive vice president and head of BPI Retail Banking.

Gotuaco said BPI wanted to be part of the country’s growth especially in the provincial

PNB CDO– DIVISORIA Tiano Bros.Cruz Taal St., Cdoc 722861 /722816

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

ENTERPRISE BANK INC. Centro Mariano Bldg Osmeña St. Cdoc 723869/ 3093395

Grupong Laya fronts Dong Abay during the latter's concert at 99 Ranch last Monday in Cagayan de Oro City.

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

Capistrano Corner CruzTaal St. CDO 8524099/722695

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

PHILIPPINE monetary officials forecast domestic rate of price increases to range between 4 and 4.8 percent in February 2018.

“Higher electricity rates and food prices, along with the full passthrough of higher excise taxes on petroleum products and sugar sweetened beverages, could lead to upward price pressures for the month of February, “ the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), citing its Department of Economic Research (DER), said in a statement Thursday.

In the first month this year, inflation rose to 4 percent from monthago’s 3.3 percent due to

areas where non-formal markets grow.

BPI Direct BanKo has already served over 10,000 self-employed microentrepreneurs (SEMEs) nationwide and released a total of P550 million in loans. It is targeting to expand up to 200 branches nationwide this year to serve 20,000 more SEMEs. BPI will be opening 14 branches more this year.

At the newly-opened BanKo branch, BPI is offering a relationship based on cash flow.

“BanKo is all about relationship. Yung nakakaintindi kayo ng. customers (The one that can understand customers). You have to understand their business and the cash flow and what you want to do is lend based on the cash flow,” Gotuaco said.

“If you are lending based on collateral only if you don’t understand the cash flow of the clients ang

faster rise of the heavilyweighted food and nonalcoholic beverages to 4.5 percent from the previous month’s 3.5 percent and the double-digit rate of the alcoholic beverages and tobacco index to 12.3 percent from 6.4 percent last December.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and oil, registered at 3.9 percent, faster than the 3 percent last December and 2.5 percent in January last year.

With the inflation uptick last January, central bank’s policymaking Monetary Board revised upwards its average inflation forecast for this year to 4.34

percent from 3.4 percent last December.

The 2019 forecast was hiked to 3.49 percent from 3.23 percent last December.

Earlier, BSP Monetary Policy Sub-Sector (MPSS) Managing Director Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said the adjustment in the central bank’s average inflation forecasts for the two-year period was made after the Board included the impact of the implementation of the first package of tax reform starting January 1 this year.

“In the December 14 meeting (of the MB), the impact of tax reform was not included in the

baseline forecast. Now that TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) law has been passed, the baseline assessment includes the TRAIN impact,” he said.

He added that the MB, in his policy meeting last December, considered the impact of the proposed tax reform program as an upside risk to the rate of price increases.

TRAIN’s first package cut workers’ income tax rate but its impact on state revenues will be countered by the increase and introduction of excise taxes for fuel and sugar-sweetened beverages, among others.

(PNA)

9

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friday|March 2, 2018

PHILEXPORT opposes classifying VAT exemption as a tax incentive The zero value added tax (VAT) exemption and VAT refunds should not be categorized as tax incentives under Package Two of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), as this will make our exports uncompetitive, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) said.

PHILEXPORT, in a letter to the Department of Finance, expressed reservations over the incentives reform portion of the draft “Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act,” the second phase of the Philippine tax reform program.

Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., PHILEXPORT president, and Oscar A. Barrera, PHILEXPORT trustee and chairman of the EDC committee on legislative

Advocacy, emphasized that zero input VAT and VAT refunds must not be included in the section of Tax Incentives.

“VAT refunds are not fiscal incentives, but just a necessary operation of the Cross Border Doctrine internationally recognized which states that ‘NO VAT shall form part of the cost of goods and services destined for consumption outside of the terminal territory of the taxing authority,’” the position paper explained.

The paper, submitted to Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, said this doctrine is followed by economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Unburdened by input taxes, other ASEAN exporters

Business groups oppose measures seeking more holidays The business community is opposing measures seeking to increase the number of holidays in the country, saying these will have critical impact on labor productivity and cost on doing business.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed high concern over various holiday bills pending before the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, which is chaired by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

The business groups bewailed particularly Senate Bill Nos. 304, 404 and 865 declaring July 27 of every year a special non-working holiday to commemorate the founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo.

“It is understood that the said bills are wellintentioned. However, it raises the issue on necessity as well as their heavy impact on labor productivity and cost of production inasmuch as they serve to further

increase the number of non-working days already provided by law,” they said in a letter to Escudero.

The Senate has recently approved Senate Bill No. 1270 declaring the last Monday of January as National Bible Day, a special working holiday, The groups pointed out that the country already enjoys 15 national nonworking days, apart from  other paid leaves provided for by existing special laws, such as solo parent leave, maternity leave, among others.

Moreover, the law also grants the President discretionary power to proclaim additional regular and special days pursuant to Republic Act 9492 seeking to rationalize the celebration of national holidays in the country.

The groups noted these national non-working days do not include local nonworking holidays celebrated by local government units.

They also cited the intermittent declarations of work suspension due to typhoons, flooding and other calamities.

will thus have lower export prices compared to Philippine exporters, who will have to pay additional VAT under the proposed corporate tax law.

“The additional VAT will make our products and services more expensive than they already are,” said the paper.

Ortiz-Luis Jr. and Barrera, joint signatories of the paper, recommended instead that “any and all exports are to be given zero VAT exemption on their export products and services, and be given input VAT refunds when [the] new refund system is in place.”

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Act, an enhanced VAT refund system must be established to grant refunds of

creditable input tax within 90 days of VAT refund application.

If the VAT refund is removed, the competitiveness of exporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) will be compromised, which “may lead to loss of jobs and livelihoods particularly in the countryside,” the position paper warned.

PHILEXPORT likewise underscored that incentives should be provided on “a need basis to improve performance rather than for a reward for good performance.”

“We therefore object to the proposal to classify exporters to whether they have a performance record of three years and having exported 90% over past three years,” they said.

This “is anti-development,

anti-MSMEs, as it rewards those who already succeeded in competition to grow even bigger, exacerbating the growing gap between rich and poor sectors of the economy.”

Moreover, the proposal disqualifies new startups from being assisted by incentives which they badly need, they said.

Finally, the two trade leaders pressed for automation and electronic reporting to ensure transparency and fast-track processing of VAT applications.

“Our research shows that Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia have provisions for electronic filing of VAT applications for exporters,” who get their refunds between 15 and 30 days, they said.

E-commerce in Southeast Asia booming, says paper A new report on e-commerce in Southeast Asia (SEA) has released a number of key findings on the region, including those on mobile traffic, conversion rate, basket size, and payment methods.

2017 has been a vital year for e-commerce in Southeast Asia, with gross merchandise value of firsthand goods surpassing US$10 billion in 2017, up from $5.5 billion in 2015, with a stunning 41% compound annual growth rate over the past couple

of years, according to a new white paper from iPrice, an online shopping aggregator based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“Among other major events, 2017 in SEA eCommerce has seen Amazon’s long awaited entrance in one of SEA’s market, the fast rise of Shopee’s Mobile-First platform, the $250M record-breaking Sales by Lazada’s Online Revolution Campaign and the increasing capital deployed

by Chinese’s bitter enemies Alibaba and Tencent, in

an attempt to ‘win’ the market,” said the paper entitled “The State of eCommerce in Southeast Asia 2017.”

The report leveraged iPrice’s proprietary data to shed light on some of the most important e-commerce metrics in the six largest Southeast Asian markets, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

On mobile traffic, the study said its rise in SEA’s e-commerce “appears unstoppable.” In the past

12 months, mobile has grown on average 19%, now accounting for 72% of the overall e-commerce web traffic, said the report.

“SEA eCommerce is a mobile-first economy, leapfrogging all the Western economies when it comes to the importance of Mobile commerce in the traffic generated by each eCommerce operator.”

The increase was steepest in Vietnam (+26%), and slowest in the Philippines (+15%).

Meanwhile, leading the booming/PAGE 10

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu has encouraged citizen participation in government initiatives toward environmental protection and sustainable development.

“I must emphasize the need for the people’s support. The DENR cannot be everywhere all of the time, particularly in

environmentally critical areas,” he said Tuesday in an environmental summit held in Cebu City.

Cimatu underscored the importance of direct and mass participation of the citizenry in accelerating reforestation, in coastal cleanups, in conserving energy, as well as in popularizing lifestyles that will enable the country to reduce its carbon footprint and

enhance resilience.

He pointed out that the 429 forest protection officers the department hired last year will “clearly not be enough” to cover every hectare of forest.

The environment chief said each protected area thus has its own protected area management board so resident stakeholders can provide monitoring and regulatory services continuously.

In places that are not declared as protected areas, such as metropolitan or urbanized centers, Cimatu further said the DENR is also banking on the local government units (LGUs) at all levels to be more vigilant against violators of environmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances.

“But judging from the volume of plastic and protection/PAGE 10

Citizen participation in environmental protection urged

Celebrating its 40th anniversary last February 22, the Liceo de Cagayan University Folkloric Dance troupe ensures that dances of the indigenous peoples are still enjoyed by the population of today. photo by mark francisco

10

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friday|March 2, 2018

Income... from page 3

as metal output declined due to bouldery ore, lower ore grades and other productionrelated issues.

Philex said metal output declined last year despite an improvement in tonnage during the last four months of the year brought about by engineering interventions and additional manpower.

Despite lower metal output, copper revenue rose from PHP3.98 billion to P4.48 billion on higher average price.

However, revenue from gold declined to P5.43 billion from P6.21 billion despite improved prices; while earnings from silver reached P77.2 million from P86.5 million.

Philex said its consolidated costs and expenses last year declined to P6.78 billion last year from P6.90 billion in 2016.

Foreign exchange losses due to the depreciation of the Philippine peso against the US dollar also narrowed from P145.2 million to P39.5 million. (PNA)

Hotline... from page 4

right education so that we can get them to be productive for the next 10 or so years?

Is our economy on a steady climb to seven, eight or nine percent?

Sadly and admittedly, all these traits redound to Pinoy bad habits. These are crab mentality, ningascogon, procrastination, Filipino time, being onionskinned, and utter disregard for existing ground rules.

Undoubtedly, we are an awesome and amazing people, but sad to note that these bad traits have continued to pull us down as a nation. Sigh. (ruffy44_ph2000@yahoo. com)

Quitting... from page 4

married life. This would redound to the benefit of all Filipinos, in the face of earnest efforts by some sectors to destroy family life in the country.

-ooo SERENO QUIT TING THE SC IS NOT HER OWN DECISION TO MAKE: There are two ways of looking at the indefinite leave taken by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno. One, this was a brilliant tactical strategy to really enable her to fully prepare for the forthcoming trial of the impeachment case against her at the Senate. It would be good for her to focus on her defense, so she can quench the accusations against her, once and for all.

Second, this could be taken to mean as an outright admission of the lowest depths that her position as the chief of the Supreme Court has descended to.

This means that, she is now indeed affected by what is happening around her, and because even her own colleagues at the high court themselves have become her rabid enemies, she is now

feeling the pangs of isolation.

Well, if she would be doing this now, it would have been a lot better if she cut clean earlier.

What is pathetic in all these is that, the decision to quit her post is not a personal decision that Sereno alone can make. I am sure those who installed her as justice, and later as Chief Justice, of the Supreme Court, had, in one way or another, been pressuring her not to quit.

Indeed, from the looks of it, the reason why she decided to go on an indefinite leave only after the 32nd EDSA was t hat, t he exp e c te d replacement of Duterte by Vice President Robredo did not happen!

Prowling... from page 4

compromising the essential.

Let us follow Christ’s advice to deny ourselves and carry the cross with him. That is how we can keep ourselves safe from the deceptive tricks of the devil. That is also how we can effectively show Christ to one and all in an abiding manner, and not just intermittently.

Let us just focus on what we are supposed to do, and give our all there. We are promised that what we give will actually return to us a hundredfold. It’s the best deal that we can have.

One good prayer that we can say everyday in this regard is that addressed to St. Michael: “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do you, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

Scientist... from page 6

indicators (TTI) and was recent ly i nvolved in t he application of green nanotechnologies, e s p e c i a l l y i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l na noremediat ion.

Tan is set to help develop a postgraduate curriculum on Environmental Nanotechnolog y and conduc t lec t u res i n t he same area at Xavier Ateneo, to be sponsored by the XU Col lege of Eng ineering, XU Kinaadman University Research Of f ice, and t he Cagaya n de Oro chapter of the Philippine Institute of C he m ic a l E n g i ne e r s (PIChE).

Ta n received his BSc in Chemical Engineering f rom X av ier Un iversit y - Ateneo de Cagaya n in 20 01, MSc i n Chem ic a l Engineering from X i a m e n Un i v e r s i t y i n China in 2010, a nd PhD in Applied Chemistr y from Hong Kong Poly t e c h n ic Un i ver sit y i n 2 014 w i t h i n c lu s i v e st ud ies at Hel m holt zZentrum Berlin (HZB) für Materia lien und Energie GmbH in Berlin, Germany.

Protection... from page 9

other wastes that end up in our rivers, lakes and seas, we have not done enough. And so perhaps we must also consider enacting laws that will make manufacturers pay at least part of the cost of cleaning up the non-biodegradable packaging that they use,” he added.

Cimatu, in the same event, also highlighted the department’s major accomplishments last year, noting it surpassed targets in some priority programs, particularly in solid waste management and the management and protection of protected areas and ecotourism development.

In its flagship National Greening Program (NGP), Cimatu said the DENR had planted 1.86 million hectares from year 2011 to 2017, or 113 percent of the target of 1.63 million hectares.

He said the NGP has also generated about four million jobs during the last seven years.

Booming... from page 9

pack is Indonesia, which now has a staggering 87% share of mobile traffic.

O n t h e ot h e r h an d , Vietnam merchants are leading the way in average conversion rate in SEA, with a conversion rate 30% higher than the average.

Conversion rate is defined as the percentage of website v i s it s t h at tu r n i nt o a product purchase.

Singapore displays the second highest conversion r at e , c l o s e l y t i e d w it h Indonesia.

On orders per time of the day, the numb er of orders is highest between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., when people are traditionally at work or school, except for Singaporeans, who seem to enjoy evening shopping, peaking at 10 p.m.

C onsistently across countries, there is a dip between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.,

w he re p e opl e t y pi c a l ly commute and have dinner, before getting back into online shopping until 11 p.m.

E-commerce merchants suffer a dip of up to 30% of their conversion rate over the weekend, consistently across the region.

“The main factor contributing to the dip in conversion rate on the weekend is, not surprisingly, the large increase in the percentage of mobile usage,” said the report.

Another consistent trend is t he p e a k conve rsi on rate on We dnes d ay, up on average between 4% and 15% from the average weekly conversion rate.

Anot her ke y met r ic, basket size measures the average total amount spent for every order made by a customer over a defined period of time.

Basket size results appear to be tied very closely to each countr y’s GDP per capita, said iPrice. It is lowest in Vietnam ($23) and highest in Singapore ($91).

As for payment methods, due to low credit card penetration in the region (except Singapore), e-commerce players have had to come up with a much more diverse range of payment solutions.

Cash on delivery is being offered by more than 80% of merchants in Vietnam and Philippines, and less than 20% in Singapore and Malaysia.

Bank transfer is another v e r y p o p u l a r p ay m e nt method across SEA, with 9 4 % , 8 6 % , and 7 9 % of merchants in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, respectively, offering it.

In Thailand and Vietnam, almost 50% of merchants of fer of f line point of sales.

Payment by installment proves to be very popular in both Vietnam (47% of merchants) and Indonesia (42%). -- www.portcalls. com

11

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Output... from page 1

Production Performance Assessment for 2017 released recently, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-10) attributed the production growth to the increase in harvested area and yield through the use of high-yield variety seeds.

Sufficient water supply and favorable weather condition last year also contributed to the growth, the agency added.

C arlene C. C ol lado, DA-10 director, said the department’s promotion of the use of hybrid rice seeds would help the government attain its sufficiency goal by 2020.

But Collado said the promotion of hybrid rice seeds was juts one of the agency’s strategies to increase rice output. She said DA was also helping farmers by opening up access to loan facilitiess, trainings on effective marketing, and the provision of postharvest facilities.

In the livestock subsector, DA-10 said hog had the highest growth rate at 6.07 percent in 2017 compared to the previous year, followed by carabao at 1.64 percent. For poultry subsector, chicken egg has the highest growth rate at 6.10 percent, chicken at 4.11 percent and duck egg at 1.74 percent.

Among the major crops, banana posted the highest percent change on the volume of production at 4.30 percent, followed by calamansi and pineapple at 2.90 and 1.92 percents, respectively for the period of January to September 2017.

For major and priority non-food and industrial crops, sugarcane’s percent change on the volume of production surges at 60.12 percent followed by tobacco, rubber, abaca and coffee.

Meanwhile, for priority non-crops, palm fruit has the highest percent change on the volume of production at 9.65 percent, cacao (dried beans with pulp) at 5.99 percent.

The fishery sector has mostly negative growth rate production, except for marine cage under the aquaculture subsector at 14.79 percent increase.

Subsidy... from page 1

DOTr can work on increasing the subsidy to P110,000 from P80,000 per unit turned over for the “scrappage” program since the City Government will not avail of the national g o v e r n m e n t ’s j e e p n e y modernization program.

T h e D O Tr a g r e e d to exclude the city government from the jeepney modernization and back its plan to push through with the bus system project instead, Cortez said.

“The DOTr likes the plan of Mayor [Sara Duterte].

They just want to straighten out the s o cial package program because what we are proposing does not fit to what they offer,” he said.

If parties would agree on the social package scheme,

Cortez said the DOTr would make a recommendation to the National Economic Development AuthorityInvestment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) that would process the loan package for the HPBS from the Asian Development Bank.

“Given the directive to hasten the infrastructure projects, I don’t think they (DOTr) will delay it. For as long as all papers are ready for evaluation, they will take action,” he said.

Once t he ADB loan is approved, Cortez said t he y exp e c t t he init ia l implementation phase to commence by 2019. This will include acquisition of roadright-of-way; construction of bus stops, bus depots, and terminals; and retrofitting of intersections.

The full implementation of HPBS may take place by 2020 or 2021, he said.

Cortez said the HPBS requires three to six operators and local bus operators are welcome to bid for as long as they meet the specifications of the bus system, including the number of fleet.

He said they plan to build three bus terminals at the city’s three entry-exit points – Toril, Panacan, and one along Bukidnon-Davao Highway – so that passengers entering the city will ride the bus system to lessen the number of vehicles plying within the city.

He said the operators may not opt to turn over their jeepneys to government and may still choose to continue using their units as private vehicles but they must ensure to comply with the AntiSmoke Belching Ordinance of the city.

Cortez said a separate assistance will be provided to drivers to cushion the impact of the bus system on them, “but nothing is definite, the legal team of national agencies involved will look into ways how it will be legally possible to extend assistance to affected stakeholders.”

He said the city estimated 10,000 workers would be employed in the HPBS, a number more than enough to absorb all 7,000 drivers who risk losing their livelihood.

However, he said drivers who want to be employed as bus drivers must undergo and pass the training to be conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

“Others may find it hard to drive a bus,” he said, adding they are working on including TESDA in the program.

Airport...

from page 1 million from the 2017 figure of 9.97 million passengers.

The new terminal, constructed over a threeyear period, is 65,000 square meters wide or double the size of the old one.

It w i l l c at e r t o 2 3 international airlines with destinations around the world, six of which are new: Air Juan, Juneyao Air, OK Air, Lucky Air and Pan Pacific

Airlines.

For the past two years, Maningo said that passenger t r a f f i c at Ma c t a n h a s consistently increased.

With the opening of Terminal 2, Maningo said they were looking at passengers from provincial hubs such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Tagoloan to fill in their target.

China, meanwhile, is the airport’s target for inbound destinations.

Maningo said more flights had opened for Beijing, Chongquing, Fuzhou, Kunming and Xian.

“We are l o ok i ng to promote the Philippines to other untapped markets and this includes other provinces in China. We want to bring the high-spending Chinese market to the country,” she said.

Updates...

from page 1 city government in crafting development and investment policies and projects from 2018 to 2022.

He said they needed to update the 1996-2021 CDP, the basis for choosing projects, because “we are overtaken by events already,” rendering some of the projects listed in the plan obsolete while other necessary projects may not have been in the plan yet.

Five priority sectors consulted were infrastructure, economics, environment, governance, and social sector that provide inputs what programs and projects they want the City Government to focus on, Cortez said. “ The suggestions on prog rams and proj e c ts do not come f rom t he city government. We just facilitated the discussions and consultations so that when there are projects that are not included in the CDP, they can’t blame 100 percent the government because they were consulted,” he said.

The CDP is the basis for the crafting of the Local Development Investment Plan, effective within the three-year term of Mayor Sara Duterte.

Among the biggest infrastructure projects in the 1996-2021 CDP that have been taking shape recently are the UP Mindanao Sports Complex and P34.5-billion Coastal Road Project, Cortez said.

He added that they would contemplate on the visions of the old CDP and work on improving its gaps in the implementation of the new CDP. In the 194-page draft CDP, the city is envisioned as the “premier socio-economic, investment, tourism center in Mindanao, East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) and the Asia-Pacific Region propelled by enlightened leaders and empowered citizenry and committed to sustainable social growth and development, and economic growth without compromising the environment under the guidance of Divine Providence.”

While its mission statement is to “transform

Davao City into a modern, vibrant, and a well-planned settlement and investment center in Mindanao and the Asia-Pacific region, propelled by socially enlightened leaders and empowered citizenry, spiritually committed to attain sustainable growth and optimum development within the context of balance ecology.”

Improving... from page 2

The program is free from placement fee, processing fee, and airfare fee. Students will not pay tuition fee while at PNTC. Payment is made once they are employed in Japan to which PNTC will seek employment for them. The applicants will be taught N5 and N4 level of Japanese Language as well as the Japanese Industrial Standard Language.

For the 1st Batch, they are scheduled to sign their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with their guardians in Cagayan de Oro on March 14, 2018 and will proceed to Davao campus on the following day.

The “Study Now, Pay Later Program” is part of the Inclusive Growth Plan of the government leaders’ Initiative w h e re it c ont i nu o u s l y innovate programs that promote and protect the welfare and interest of the people of Lanao del Norte.

(PIO-LDN/ PIA-10 LDN)

Roads... from page 2

a sustainable impact to the marginalized sector by allocating millions of pesos for these ‘peace roads’ which expect positive upshot to be inherited as ‘pamana’ by the next generation of this component city of Misamis Oriental,” said the lady chief executive. (Boboy Pabia/ Gingoog Media Bureau)

Donation... from page 3

foreign ownership.

The decision of t he country’s corporate regulator revolved around PDRs sold to Omidyar Network, which allegedly violated to foreign ownership limit on mass media companies. PDRs are securities which grant the holder the right to the delivery of sale of the underlying share.

The commission has already voided the PDRs held

by Omidyar Network, as per Section 71.2 of the Securities Regulation Code for being a fraudulent transaction.

“The restriction of foreign equity prevents any scheme to transfer rights attached to equity — even in the guise of an equity derivative. The (Omidyar) PDR requirement of ‘prior discussion’ and ‘approval of 2/3’ was a grant of more than 0% control to foreigners; control no less than 100% reserved to Filipinos,” the SEC said.

The SEC had earlier stated that Rappler may withdraw its case at the CA, reorganize and file for new incorporation p ap e rs , g ive n t hat t he company will no longer have foreign ownership.

Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 12TH Judicial Region, Branch 21 Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF MINOR CHILD NAMED, IABELLA GULA, 1 Month old, Residing at Pikinit, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte

SPL. PROC. NO. 21-542

SPS. RAMELITO A. ARNOCO AND RUTCHEL B. ARNOCO, Petitioners.

- versus THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, Respondent.

------------------------------------/ ORDER

Before this Court is a petition for adoption filed by petitioners Sps. Ramelito A. Arnoco and Rutchel B. Arnoco on February 9, 2018. The petition alleges, that: “1. That petitioners are husband and wife, 38 and 40 years old respectively, Filipino, and residents of Pikinit, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, Philippines and presently working as member of Philippine Army and Public School Teacher respectively, copy of their marriage contract is attached as Annex “A”; 2. That the respondent is a government official mandated by law to have control and custody of all records pertaining to live births and other registrable documents and as such he/she is being sued in his/ her official capacity whose office address is located at Municipal Hall, Sultan Naga Dimaporo where he/she may be served with summons and other court processes; 3. That petitioners desire to legally adopt as their child, one ISABELLA GULA, a minor, 1 month of age, born out of wedlock in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, copy of her birth certificate is attached as Annex “B”; 4. That the biological mother of said minor is a relative of the petitioners, not affluent in life, she got pregnant without telling her parents about her pregnancy, jobless and was abandoned by her boyfriend right after the latter learned about her pregnancy; 5. Hence, few days after she gave birth to her child, she decided to surrender and relinguish the parental custody of the child to herein petitioners, copy of parents' consent is attached and made integral part hereof as Annex “C”; 6. Petitioners are childless despite having been married for about 10 years already and have taken cared of said minor since the latter was only few days old, and petitioners have given said minor the attention and love of a true and real parents; 7. That petitioners do not fall under the disqualifications of adoption as provided for by law and they are morally fit as well as physically and financially capable of giving the child a bright future, copy of petitioners' barangay clearance, police clearance and medical certificate are attached and made integral part hereof as Annex “D” to “F”; 8. That this adoption will certainly serve the best interests and wellbeing of the child; 9. Petitioners desire that if and when the instant petition is granted, the child shall be named ISABELLA B. ARNOCO. Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby set for initial hearing to MAY 29, 2018 at 8:30 o'clock in the morning at the session hall of this Court, RTC, Branch 21, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

Let copy of this order be posted on the bulletin board Brgy. Pikinit, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, on the bulletin board of the Municipal hall of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte and on the bulletin board of this court. Further, Let this order be published before the hearing at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Lanao del Norte at the expense of the petitioners.

The Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte is directed to conduct a Home Study Report on the Adopting parents and the biological parent of the adoptee, and a Child Study Report on the Adoptee. The said reports relative thereto shall be submitted to this court within sixty (60) days from receipt of this Order or on/or before the scheduled initial date of hearing.

Any interested party is hereby directed to come to Court on the hearing of the petition and bring proof why the same should be denied.

Furnish copy of this Order to the office of Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; the Local Civil Registrar of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; the Office of the Honorable Solicitor General, Makati City; the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Lanao del Norte, the National Statistics Office, East Avenue, Quezon City; the petitioners and the biological mother of “ISABELLA GULA”.

SO ORDERED. Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, Philippines.

February 22, 2018.

(SGD.) ALBERTO P. QUINTO Acting Presiding Judge

APQ/epp The Office of the Solicitor General 134 Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village Makati City The Department of Social Welfare and Development Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte The Provincial Prosecutor Tubod, Lanao del Norte Atty. Eleuterio M. Obial, Jr. Poblacion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte The Local Civil Registrar Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Sps. Ramelito A. Arnoco and Rutchel B. Arnoco Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Merly Gula BCDA, Taguig City Philippines National Statistics Office East Avenue, Quezon City MDN: March 2, 9 & 16, 2018

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Friday | March 2, 2018

TESDA Director General Secretary Guiling Mamondiong

TESDA Regional Director Rafael Abrogar II

TESDA Region 12 National TVET Enrollment Day and Jobs Bridging: “A Tremendous Success” T

By Joe Palabao

en thousand six hundred two (10,602) enrollees, one hundred nineteen (119) were hired on the spot and hundreds applications are still processed during the two days TESDA National TVET Enrollment Day and Jobs Bridging from February 27 - 28, 2018 at the different enrollment sites of TESDA Region 12 under the tutelage of the ever dynamic, young and Millenial Regional Director Rafael Abrogar 11 and is considered a tremendous success.

The program National TVET Enrollment Day and Jobs Bridging which is under the mandate of new TESDA Director General Secretary Guiling Mamondiong, and being implemented by all the Regional Directors of the country, the different TESDA Provincial Directors, staff in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and TVIs all over the country. This is being supported by the Local Government Units, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and support groups of TESDA. In Region 12, the event was held at Robinsons Place for TESDA Sarangani Gensan under PD Richard Amparo, TESDA South Cotabato

at City Mall under PD Talib R. Bayabao, TESDA North Cotabato at City Central Elementary School of Kidapawan under PD El Cid Castillo and TESDA Sultan Kudarat at Tacurong Gymnasium with the presence of the Hon. City Mayor Lina Montilla under PD Amir M. Ampao.

The young and Millenial TESDA Regional Director Rafael Abrogar 11 told the media that TESDA through the event is continuing its mission to continually empower the human resource and capital of the nation our people. He further said that the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority through the National TVET Enrollment Day and Jobs Bridging is to bring its scholarships closer to those who want to avail of free skills training and even help its graduates in finding jobs.

RD Raffy is a business and Industry Integrator by bridging the manpower needs of the Region’s business Communities by providing the skilled workers in different TESDA short term courses.

TESDA is helping the nation by providing skilled workers in different fields for employment here and abroad with their National Skilled Certificates.

Congratulations TESDA Region 12. More power!

TESDA South Cotabato PD Talib R. Bayabao with RD Rafael Abrogar II at City Mall Koronadal City

The cutting of Ceremonial Ribbon by TESDA Regional Director Rafael Abrogar 11, assisted by Hon. City Councilor Shandee Llido Pestaño, General Santos City, Nurhasan Juanday Supervising PESO Manager, Provincial Director Richard M. Amparo TESDA Sargen and Fe Beberlina G.Miranda Vocational Instruction Supervisor at the Robinsons Atrium, Robinsons Place General Santos

TESDA North Cotabato PD El Cid Castillo with RD Rafael Abrogar II

Hon. City Mayor Lina Montilla of Tacurongwith RD Rafael Abrogar 11 and PD Amir M. Ampao at TESDA Sultan Kudarat