BusinessWeek Mindanao (May 12, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO “We Grow Minds”

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Volume V, No. 163

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Briefly Brigada Eskwela MISAMIS Oriental -- The Department of Education (DepEd) shall conduct Brigada Eskwela 2015 otherwise known as the National Schools Maintenance Week on May 18-23 with Grand Province-Wide Fiesta Caravan as opening highlight.

Headed by Schools Division Superintendent Cherry Mae L. Limbaco, the caravan is set to take place on May 18, shall start at 7:30 a.m., and shall take off at the strategic place where participants will gather and tour the municipality with drum and lyre instruments, ambulance, fire truck and police patrol cars, tarpaulins, banners, and colorful buntings, among others.

In line with this event, DepEd encourages education stakeholders to engage in the caravan. These include Local Government Units (LGU), NonGovernment Organizations (NGO), academe, civil society organizations, private corporations, business sectors, religious organizations, individual volunteers, and alumni association.

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Tuesday | May 12, 2015

By Juzel L. Danganan, Philippine News Agency

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OWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) President Emmanuel Ledesma’s suspension will not affect the operations of the office, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla. ” It w i l l c ont i nu e, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was the only one suspended

and the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) has the same power as the President,” Petilla told steag/PAGE 11

BANGSAMORO WOMEN. Moro women join the pro-BBL rally in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, May 11. Nationwide rallies are staged in key cities urging the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to pass the BBL. mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

Rallies held in Mindanao as House body sets vote on BBL

Adopt a mangrove BUTUAN City -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 13 regional director Nonito M. Tamayo on Monday lauded the officials of Philsaga Mining Company (PMC) for initiating the “Adopt a Mangrove Project“in Wakat, Barobo, Surigao del Sur in support to the National Greening Program (NGP).

The firm’s effort is viewed as very timely at a season when the DENR is looking for appropriate sites for the implementation of its P400 million initial funds released by the Department of Budget and Management for the establishment of mangrove and beach forest plantations in four provinces particularly in areas affected by the killer typhoon Yolanda in the north eastern seaboard of Caraga Region.

“The initiative of the PMC to share its resources in NGP is considered beneficial and good to the community,” Director Tamayo said.

El Nino fund TANDAG City -- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) through the Provincial Irrigation Ma na g e m e n t Offi ce ( PIM O) here bared a total amount of P159,876,550 intended for the purchase and installation of 104 units of water pumps in order to cushion the impact of El Niño in Surigao del Sur.

Engr. Dexter Sablaon, PIMO chief, said this is contained in the “List of Projects for El Niño Funds” to be implemented province-wide.

A total of fourteen municipalities where various irrigation systems or projects are found have been identified for the installation of said units, it was learned.

By FROILAN GALLARDO, MindaNews

PEACE advo cates on Monday held rallies in key cities in Mindanao to drumbeat support for the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law which was scheduled for

voting at the House ad hoc committee on the BBL. In C agayan de Oro, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ, and parishioners took to the streets to urge

DOVES FOR PEACE. Leaders of the Citizens’ Assembly for the BBL with CDO Press Club President Jerry Orcullo releasing white doves as a symbol of the coming of peace in Mindanao once the BBL is signed into law. Taken during the CAB Peace Walk at the Misamis Oriental Press Freedom Monument yesterday.

Solon hopeful MILF to consider changes in BBL

By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

Get your BWM Loyalty Card NOW at any of our participating establishments for ONLY P350.00, and avail DISCOUNTS.

Luzon Grid gets more power from newest hydro plant

By BONG D. FABE Editor-at-Large

photo by mike baños

SENATOR Ferdinand R. (MILF) will consider changes Marcos Jr. has expressed in the proposed Bangsamoro the optimism that the Moro Basic Law (BBL).

Islamic Liberation Front bbl/PAGE 11

Congress to pass the bill.

“View the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) as partners. Internal security issues like the Abu Sayyaf, BIFF and the MNLF can be best handled by the Muslims rallies/PAGE 11

CLEANERGY. AboitizPower COO Antonio Moraza says new run-off river hydropower plant will deliver “Cleanergy.” photo by bong d . fabe

SABANGAN, Mt. Province — AboitizPower Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Hedcor, Inc. is all set to give an additional 55 gigawatts of “Cleanergy” to the Luzon Grid annually through is its first-ever run-off-river hydropower plant in the Mt. Province.

Hedcor Sabangan, Inc.’s P1.8 billion mini-hydropower plant here will deliver an additional 14 megawatt or a yearly output of 55 kilowatt hours of clean and renewable power to the grid.

Inaugurated last May 6 (Wednesday), the Sabangan plant harnesses the natural force of the mighty Chico River without the need of a water impounding dam. hydro/PAGE 11

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Comval bids as major player for investments in Davao Region

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ABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley -With the enactment of the Compostela Valley Investments and Incentives Code in 2013, this province is flexing its muscle to become a major investments player in Davao region.

Known as a land of gold, Compostela Valley maintains an estimated reser ve of 181,745 metric tons. In 2007 alone, the province’s gold production totaled more

than 166 kilograms worth PhP179 million nailing further its reputation as the top producer of the precious metal in Davao region and Mindanao.

“Except for gold, there is so much about Comval that is unknown to many people, particularly potential investors in Mindanao or Luzon … and we hope to change that,” Governor Arturo Uy said.

The province, which is

buffeted by Caraga Region in the north, Davao Oriental in the east, and Davao gulf in the south, is also a major producer of some fruits.

“In fact Compostela Valley is also the top producer of rubber, banana, rambutan, lanzones, sweet potato, eggplant, yam, and ginger in the region and second in the production of durian, calamansi, mangosteen, pineapple, carrots, cassava, chayote, peanut, pepper, and tomato production. Change will be a gradual process like a baby learning to take its first step,” Uy said.

The major processes

would include strengthening the newly created provincial i n v e s t m e n t s c e n t r e’s databank, firming up its operational system, and learning from the experiences and best practices of leading investments centers.

“The direction of the province is to de velop a business-friendly environment to encourage the entry of new enterprises and investors that will provide job opportunities and spur economic activities in communities. The ball is now on the side of our investment centre … with the full support of my office,”

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

Location: Patpat, Malaybalay, Bukidnon For details call Rory 09062282483

the governor clarified.

Last May 5-6, a team f r o m t h e i nv e s t m e nt s centers of the province and four municipalities in the province with investments codes, visited Davao del Sur, Sta. Cruz town in the same province, and Davao City to study and learn from their experiences.

And on May 12-15, the Provincial Government o f C o mp o s t e l a Va l l e y in cooperation with the provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industr y (DTI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will lead a 28-man delegation that will include local mayors to benchmark the successful investments and business permits and licensing experiences of Batangas City, General Trias of Cavite, Laguna, and Taguig City in Luzon.

On their first day the delegation will meet with B o a r d o f I nv e s t m e nt s Assistant Secretary Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes and DTI Regional Operations Group Under-Secretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya to discuss investments initiatives and other issues and concerns.

DTI-Compostela Valley chief Lucky Siegfred Balleque said the trip would be “very significant” to the participants by way of replication of the best practices of the centers and the municipalities to be visited.

B a l le que note d t hat Compostable Valley, is one of the fastest-growing provinces of Davao region with rich natural and mineral resources that contributed greatly to

its continuing economic growth. Moreover, he said the provincial leadership is “highly aware” of what investors need and, as a businessman himself, Governor Arturo Uy is confident that his province’s rich natural endowments and resources would be a magnet to them.

“These developments,” according to the DTI officer, “have made the provincial government determined to commit to providing a welcome environment for investors by enhancing the local government units’ permits and licensing system.

Our target municipalities for the visit are known to have successfully implemented business permit and licensing reforms and have ranked on the Top 3 most competitive units nationwide,” he added.

The province’s capital town, Nabunturan, ranked fifth overall most competitive municipality and fifth in the infrastructure category in the 2014 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of the National Competitive Council.

Under the province’s investments and incentives code, investors would be exempted for one year from the 35 percent share of the province of the real property tax on buildings, machinery, and other improvements and a 50 percent franchise tax cut for the same period.

From Butuan City, travel to Compostela Valley takes only three hours and one hour and 30 minutes from the capital Nabunturan to Davao City’s International Airport and Sasa wharf. (PNA)

DSWD pays half million to indigent senior citizens in Jasaan town

MISAMIS Oriental -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently handed in a total of P580,500 to 387 indigent senior citizens in Jasaan this province as their social dswd/PAGE 3

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AirAsia marks Manila-Hong Kong flight with special treats for Mother’s Day

WORKERS stack cases of beer at a warehouse. -- AFP

San Miguel beer unit boosts profit 20% SAN MIGUEL Brewery, Inc. (SMB) grew its net profit by a fifth in the first three months of 2015 as revenues picked up on higher domestic volumes despite the imposition of higher excise taxes.

In a statement, the beer unit of San Miguel Corp.

(SMC) said its consolidated net income climbed to P3.3 billion in the first quarter compared to P2.7 billion a year ago.

Bulk of the earnings were generated from its Philippine operations, which improved by 29% to P3.2 billion at endMarch.

The brewer bucked the imposition of higher excise taxes to post a 7% uptick in domestic volumes to 40.9 million cases, boosting revenues from its Philippine business by 17% to P16.2 billion against the P13.8 billion in 2014.

“In its Philippine operations, the company implemented new campaigns and consumer and trade programs to strengthen brand equity and increase consumption,” SMB said.

As a result, total consolidated revenues rose 8% year on year to P18.9 billion compared to the flat performance of P17.56 billion in the same period last year.

On Friday, SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang said the

DSWD... from page 2

pension for the last three months.

The Social Pension Program implemented by the DSWD is the national government’s response to the needs of the indgent senior citizens under Republic Act 9994.

Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo, regional director of the DSWD, says that indigent senior citizens are paid a monthly stipend of P500 for their daily needs such as medicine and food among others. “We believe that P500 is only very minimal as this has to do with our limited budget allocated for such program yet DSWD is still working with the legislative body on increasing the budget for such program to either increase the amount or decrease its age coverage,” Solamillo says.

Qualified beneficiaries for the social pension program are those senior citizens who are 65 years old and above, and who are also included in the Listahanan, also known as the National Household Targeting System of the DSWD, or those who do not have sources of income, and are not recipients of other pension programs.

diversified conglomerate would consider selling its stake in its “very stable” beer business should its Japanese partner Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. offer to buy its shares at a “ridiculously high price.”

“If you offer a ridiculously high price, San Miguel will sell it or might do something,” Mr. Ang said, noting that Kirin, however, has yet to make an offer for its shares in SMB. At the start of the year, Kirin had said it was ready to hike its holdings in the Philippine brewer.

AIRASIA Philippines, the Filipino Low Cost Carrier that flies hand in hand with AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for six consecutive years, continues to expand its international network with its newest flight connecting Manila to Hong Kong taking off at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Friday, (8 May).

Mothers on b oard AirAsia’s maiden flight to Hong Kong were honored with long stemmed roses and Smart Traveller SIM card as gifts to celebrate Mother’s Day. Monica Eleazar and her two kids, Santi and Maya, were among the lucky passengers who received free flights, three days and two nights stay at L’Hotel and Ocean Park tour in Hong Kong. airasia/PAGE 11

AirAsia Philippines CEO Joy Caneba and cabin crew with mothers on board the airline’s first Manila-Hong Kong flight last Friday. AirAsia gave flowers to all mothers on board flight Z21201 to celebrate Mother’s day.

Filinvest Land to tap bond market anew this year to fund higher budget FILINVEST Land, Inc. (FLI) is returning to the bond market this year to fund the development of projects that will further boost the Gotianun-led property firm’s recurring profit.

“We will probably [issue bonds] in the latter part [of the year],” FLI President and Chief Executive Officer Josephine Gotianun-Yap told reporters last Friday, but declined to provide a specific amount that will be raised from the debt issuance.

The real estate firm increased its capital expenditure budget to P24 billion this year from P15 billion in 2014. The company is targeting to triple its gross leasable area to 966,000

square meters by 2019 from 343,000 last year.

The last time FLI tapped the bond market was in November last year when it raised P7 billion from the issuance of seven-year fixed-rate bonds due 2021 and 2024.

The property developer s e e s re c u r r i ng i nc ome accounting for as much as 40% of the business by next year -- compared to 30% in 2014 -- when it starts to feel the impact of the commercial and office projects launched in previous years, Ms. Yap said.

IN THE PIPELINE This year, FLI plans to launch P16.2 billion worth of residential projects, including

a 20-hectare predominantly lots-only development along Daang Hari Road.

Average lot cuts for the project are pegged at 350 square meters and will be sold at a price of roughly P45,000 per square meter, generating between P2 billion and P2.5 billion in sales, Ms. Yap said.

Next year, FLI will start the construction of its mixeduse development in Cubao called Activa, which sits on a 1.3-hectare property at the junction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Line 2, two of the country’s busiest mass rail systems.

Activa will be home to two office towers serving business process outsourcing

firms, a residential building, a small office-home office development and a hotel under a new brand owned by the Filinvest group, Ms. Yap said.

Another project that will be launched next year is a project located at the site

of the former Philcomcen building in Ortigas.

“That’s primarily office,” Ms. Yap said.

FLI won the bidding held by state-run Government Service Insurance System for the Philcomcen property in December 2013.

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The European migration tragedy

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ince months, we all can witness the refugee tragedies. Just several hours ago, authorities say they have recovered ten bodies during rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, off the Libyan coast. Smugglers took advantage of calm seas to send boats crowded with refugees across the water.

Officials came to the aid of at least 16 boats packed full of migrants, after people smugglers took advantage of calm seas to send several overcrowded vessels across the Mediterranean Sea. A tug and a merchant ship also helped in the efforts.

The bodies were found in three separate operations, with Italian news agency “Ansa” reporting seven were found on board two dinghies, while three people died when they jumped into the sea, and attempted to swim to a nearby trawler. Italy, the most burdened European country, said it coordinated the rescue of more than 2,150 migrants on Sunday after announcing 3,427 had been saved earlier in the weekend.

Boats carrying another 220 migrants were accompanied

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Oro Chamber

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Give an Ear

hink a m i nute… A guy was complaining to h is f r ie nd ab out his wife’s nagging. He said: “All my wife does is talk, talk, talk, talk.” His friend asked: “Well what does she talk about?” He answered: “I don’t know, she don’t say!” You would think that with 2 ears and 1 mouth, we’d all be twice as good listeners as talkers! But not so. Research shows that we usually listen to only 20% of what others say to us. Yet good listening is one of the easiest, most important ways to be successful—whether it’s i n o u r j o b a n d c a r e e r, our mar r iage, wit h our children, or with our friends.

It’s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t e v e n t h o u g h w e c a n’t actually shut our ears, we somehow still manage to.

We listen only to what we want. But when we don’t listen closely to others, we not only hurt them, we hurt ourselves. There are 3 i mp or t ant t h i ng s we need to do when we listen to others. The first, is obser vation. Use your eyes and look at them. It’s just common courtesy and respect. Take your eyes off the T.V., newspaper, or whatever else, and give that person your attention.

The second part of listening is concentration.

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst Many of us are guilty of looking someone in the e y e , p r e t e n d i n g w e’r e listening, when our mind is actually miles away. Also, when someone’s talking to us, we shouldn’t interrupt them, or just be thinking about what WE want to say. Hear them out. Listen to everything they have to say before you respond.

The third and probably most imp or tant par t of listening, is consideration.

T h i s me ans u s i ng you r heart. Really care about what that person is feeling or going through. Don’t just hear the person’s words, but tr y to understand t he i r fe el i ng s . Pe opl e usually know if we’re really interested and care about what they’re saying. This means we’re even willing to change something about ourselves if it’s hurting them.

Think a Minute…

by naval vessels to the Italian island of Lampedusa. The Italian coast guard reported on Sunday evening that more than 5,800 migrants had been rescued throughout the weekend. Separately, the Greek Coast Guard said it had rescued another 530.

It comes a day after almost 3,700 migrants were rescued from smugglers’ boats, most of whom are still in the process of being transferred to Italian ports. It is one of the highest numbers of people ever rescued in a single day.

My dear readers, allow me to confront you with more dramatic figures: More than 1,200 people died last month attempting to make the treacherous sea crossing to Italy’s shores, with most setting out from Libya.The bulk of migrants making the trip come from countries with ongoing civil unrest, such as Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Yes, indeed the crisis has placed pressure on EU leaders, with some now seeking approval from the United Nations Security Council to launch military

action targeting smugglers in Libya. Too long the EU leaders have been waiting.

An emergency meeting saw members agree to triple funding for the Triton sea patrol mission, but indecision remains over what to do with refugees and asylum seekers.

In a newspaper interview, Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann raised the idea of introducing a quota system for EU countries, so that numbers of refugees were distributed more evenly.

His comments echoed those of EU Commission P re s i d e nt Je a n - C l au d e Juncker last month, who said front line countries such as Italy, and other nations like Germany and Sweden are taking in a disproportionately large number of migrants. And this is really true.

He called on member countries to “open the doors (to refugees) to make sure they don’t come through the windows.”

The idea is -of coursecontroversial, and faces heavy criticism from nations such as Great Britain and Hungary.

It also shows the European

H ave M y Say

Klaus Doring

leaders’ and governments’ helplessness.

Let me end this piece with this: the amount of people rescued at sea has increased by 277 percent between 2013 and 2014. According to the International Organization for Migration, 1,750 people have already died this year, trying to make the journey.

The journey away from war and persecution - into death and a total unknown future! +++ Email: dor ingklau s@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com .

LP: Grace Poe isn’t presidentiable yet

Member: Philippine Press Institute

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IFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God… Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:14, 17, the Holy Bible).

-ooo LP: GRACE POE CAN’T B E A P R E S I D E N T IA L C A N D I DAT E Y E T: As expected, the Liberal Party’s President Aquino is trying his bottom best to convince highly popular Sen. Grace Poe to play an active role in the presidential elections next year, 2016.

While t here is s ome attempt to still keep secret w hat he r u lt i mate rol e wou ld b e, it is a lre ady certain that she will be asked to run as the vice p re s i d e nt i a l c a n d i d at e of the LP, with Secretary Mar Roxas r unning for president. It couldn’t be otherwise---Mar is going to be the LP’s standard bearer, and not even the surging popularity of Grace could remove this right from him.

I was talking to Rep. Edgar Erice (LP, Caloocan City) last week, when we attended the wake of a relat ive of mine in t he city, and he confirmed that Grace is being convinced to run only for the vice presidency, the idea being that, while she maybe more popular now than Mar, she is still largely a neophyte,

still lacking in experience, still lacking in the necessary political machinery, which Roxas a lre ady have! In shor t, Grace can’t b e a presidential candidate yet!

-ooo GRACE IS BEING ASKED TO RUN ONLY AS VP BY LP: Too, Grace is being made to see that even with other political p ar t i e s w h i ch are n ow prep ar ing for t he 2016 presidential elections, there is no chance that she will be asked to run as their standard bearer, simply because those other parties already have their own presidential candidates.

The recently-accredited United Nationalist Alliance w i l l s u r e l y h a v e Vi c e President Jejomar Binay as its candidate for president.

The Nacionalista Party, if it wi l l b e minde d to field its own candidate, will choose from among its prominent members now, which include Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and even former Sen. Manuel Villa.

The same thing is true with the Nationalist People’s Coalition of businessman Eduado Cojuangco, or with t he Par t ido ng Mas ang Pilipino of Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada, whose loyal members are egging him to run as president once again. That being the case,

LP will appear to be doing Grace a favor by allowing her to run as Mar’s running mate.

-ooo GRACE POE IS STILL YO U N G T O B E C O M E P R E SI D E N T ? G r a c e i s also being told that she is still young anyway---and so she will have plenty of time if the desire to become pre s i d e nt s ome d ay has already been instilled in her heart by her victory as the number one senator in the 2013 elections. Right now, the best thing for her to do is allow herself to gain more political maturity and savvy, by being the countr y’s vice president for the next six years.

-ooo W HO SHOU L D W E VOTE FOR IN 2016? In the meantime, what is best for our people? It is for all of us Filipinos, between now and 2016, to learn how to choose the best candidate possible. And who could this be? The one in whom the Spirit of God dwells, or he or she who fears and loves God. We should strive to look for this candidate, because a candidate who has the Spirit of God will be the best official we could ever have.

An of f i ci a l w ho has t h e Spi r it of G o d w i l l not steal, will not cheat, and will not lie. He will discharge his duties and responsibilities according to the guidelines set forth

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio

by God in His Word, the Bible. He will love God above all else, and he will not do anything that would compromise the wellbeing of his countrymen, because he will be loving them as he loves himself. Let us vote for this candidate!

-ooo PLEASE LISTEN: DZEC1062 kHz Manila, 1080 kHz Dagupan City, 711 kHz Naga City, 1260 k Hz Luce na C it y, 1 2 2 4 kHz Davao City, and www. eaglenews.ph Mondays to Fr i d ay s , 6 a . m . ; DY KA 801 kHz Panay Island, Yes R adio 88.3 FM, Barobo City, Surigao del Sur, Yes Radio 93.9 FM, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m.; 92.7 Smile FM, San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur, Kiss 101.1 FM, Cabadbaran City, Agusan d el Nor te, Mond ay s to Fridays, 12 noon; 107.5 Win 107.5 FM, Roxas, Isabela, Saturday, 5:30 a.m., Sunday, 7 a.m.

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Reforms in the current personal income tax system urged

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lawmaker insists on the urgent need for government to reform the current personal income tax system to make it more practical, progressive and equitable.

Rep. Arthur C. Yap (3rd Dist., Bohol) is urging the passage of HB 4849 which w ou l d “c re at e a m ore equitable, progressive and just tax system, by adjusting the level of net taxable income and nominal tax rates of the individual income tax.”

The bill seeks to amend S e c t i on 2 4 ( A ) ( 1 ) of Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended

by Republic Act No. 9504.

“The proposed amendment will effectively lower the taxes on the low-income earners and allow them a higher net income, thus increasing their purchasing power,” the author stressed.

To illustrate his point, Yap noted that a minimum wage

earner in Metro Manila would earn around P145,392 per annum (P466 x 26 working days x 12 months). Under the old tax rates, said person is liable to pay taxes at the rate of P22,500 + 25% of the excess over P140,000. Now, under R.A. 9504, he is exempt from paying taxes.

“Now, if said person earns just a peso higher than the minimum, eg. P467 per day, his annual gross income would increase to P145,704.

However, his net take home

Crisis Centers for Street Children pushed E x pressing s e r i o u s concern about the growing number of pitiful street children, a lawmaker is urging the establishment of crisis centers for street children nationwide.

“Nat iona l and l o c a l government agencies, along with non-government organizations, work hand in hand to uplift the situation of Filipino street children. But there are numerous needs that have yet to be met,” Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Abante Mindanao Party-list Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. declared.

The two Mindanao lawmakers are authors of HB 1440, filed about two years ago, seeking the establishment of Crisis Centers for Street

Children in all cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region and in every highly urbanized city in the Philippines.

“The right and welfare of Filipino children are governed by several existing laws and policies on children but there is no specific law that addresses the special conditions and needs of the street children,” the authors noted.

T he s e e x ist i ng l aw s i n c lu d e : R e pu b l i c Ac t No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination; R.A. No. 9231, known as the Act Prohibiting Employment of children in Hazardous Areas and Presidential Decree No.

603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code.

The authors noted that in 2000 or fifteen years ago, the Council for the Welfare of Children reported that there were 45,000 street children nationwide – 75% of them stay on the streets most of the time; 20% practically live on the streets alone or with their families and/or friends; and the remaining 5% are children who have experienced abuse or have been abandoned and are engaged in illegal activities.

“That was fifteen years ago. What about today? We are all witness to the pitiful situations of street children roaming aimlessly, seeking alms for food along hazardous streets and highways,” they crisis/PAGE 10

The Philippines remains poor – UN Human Development Report The latest United Nations Human Development Report has ranked the Philippines as 117th in the list of 187 poor countries in the world.

This prompted Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro City) to file House Resolution 2010 urging the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation to determine why the Philippines is still included in the list despite government’s claim that the economy is improving.

Rodriguez said in the 2014 UN report on “Sustaining Human Progress, Reducing

Vulnerability and Building Resilience,” the Philippines was 117th in the list of 187 poor nations “and while the country moved up one notch, it is still ranked very low.”

R o dr igue z s aid t he P h i l ippi n e s i s r an ke d among Egypt, Paraguay, Gabon, Bolivia, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Syria, and Iraq which are in 100 to 120 levels, respectively.

The Philippines belongs to the medium human development bracket unlike the neighboring Malaysia

and Thailand, which at 62nd place and 89th place, respectively, are in high human development bracket, Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the report also cited the Philippines as one of the countries where the connection between social exclusion and conflict can be illustrated.

“It means that these are places where a significant part of the population become vulnerable due to conflict situations such as insurgencies, rebellions or separatist movements,” poor/PAGE 11

pay would drastically be reduced to P121,778 (P145.704 – P22,200 + 25% of 5,704). By earning an additional P312 per year, his net income or take home pay was reduced by P23,926,” Yap lamented.

“This absurdity negates any increase that would be granted to an employee. It effectively discourages an employee to ask for a salary that is only a little higher than the minimum,” he added.

Further, he surmised

that if there is a need for an incremental increase in the wages, it may even make the employee and employer prone to tax evasion since the increase in wages may just be hidden so that taxation can be evaded.

Yap pointed out that the “Constitution provides that the rule of taxation shall be uniform and equitable, and that Congress shall evolve a progressive system of taxation. Income taxation is progressive if people with

higher income pay more than people with lower incomes.”

More important, this scenario creates an unprogressive rate of taxation among income-e ar ning Filipinos. There becomes an inequitable distribution of wealth among the citizens that is not in accord with the above cited Constitutional mandate. This is because the highest rate for taxable income remained pegged at a very low amount of P500,000, reforms/PAGE 10

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F

BusinessWeek 10 eature 8 3rd Geeks On A Beach Summit in Boracay this August MINDANAO

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Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) surfs its way back to Boracay Island this August for its third year of gathering tech startups, technopreneurs, businessmen, and designers from all over the world.

“Also known as the International Summit for Tech, Startups and Design, GOAB 3 eyes to create productive discussions on building products that make a difference and enhancing the lives of everyday people with less hype but more action,” said Tina Amper, TechTalks.ph founder.

With the past two years’ massive success, GOAB returns with a triple splash this coming August 20-21 which means triple number of innovative minds, triple funding opportunities, and triple

dose of fun.

Amper confirmed the attendance of 17 tech champs so far to speak before an expected 600 to 1,000 participants from across the globe.

Some of the speakers include IdeaSpace President, Earl Valencia; Monk’s Hill Ventures Managing Director, Kuo-Yi Lim; Kickstart Ventures President, Minette Navarrete; Rappler CEO, Maria Ressa; SMART Communications Developer Evangelist, Paul Pajo; Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Office (DOSTICTO) Deputy Executive Director, Mon Ibrahim; and 500 Startups Managing Partner, Khailee Ng. “GOAB will be maintained as an

‘honest-to-goodness, no holdsbarred conference’ where people exchange their share of truths about startups, technology, and design—minus the long sleeves, coat and tie,” said David Overton, founder and CEO of Sym.ph CEO, and Chief Geek for GOAB. Two days are set aside exclusively for the main event but in a span of one week; all geeks are welcome to join the weeklong run of workshops, training sessions, networking opportunities, pitching events, and product demonstrations with or without their flip-flops on.

Boracay Island, being one of the best islands in the world, sets a relaxing background of what is usually thought as an intense and

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stressful conference.

OrganizersTechTalks.ph and the DOST-ICTO have partnered once again with Sym.ph, Happy Garaje, and PRWorks Vis-Min, with major sponsorships by SMART DevNet, IdeaSpace, Microsoft, and Monk’s Hill Ventures.

DOST-ICTO continues to teamup with TechTalks.ph to encourage Filipino startups to get mentoring and funding in the country instead of going abroad.

GOAB is open to anyone who is interested in the tech and startup industries in the Philippines - including those looking for tech and entrepreneurship learning events, business and investment opportunities, outsourcing partnerships, and connection with

SANUK

leaders in startups or "innovation driven enterprises" (IDE) in the Philippines as well as Southeast Asia.

Interested participants are invited to view event details or register at www.GeeksOnABeach. com. Early bird discount is up to 45% off and is valid until May 15 only. Potential sponsors are invited to contact GOAB at hello@ GeeksOnABeach.com TechTalks.ph, organizer of numerous startup gathering in the country including GOAB and Startup Weekend, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, supporting, and empowering Filipinos tech entrepreneurs and promoting the Philippine tech sector to the world.

from Page 12

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Feature

XU, XCCA celebrates

National Heritage Month

with KABUWADAN

X

avier University through its Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) celebrates the National Heritage Month through KABUWADAN 2015: transmissions of heritage from one generation to another on May 13 to 17, 2015 at the Centrio Mall.

Aligned with proclamation number 439 signed on August 11, 2003 declaring the month of May as the National Heritage Month, XU supports the efforts in fostering consciousness, awareness, appreciation, respect, love and pride of our Filipino culture, heritage and history.

KABUWADAN has three components: ANG ATONG KABILIN – a heritage exhibit from the collection of Museo de Oro; KABUWADAN Showcase

featuring the performing arts companies of our university and Museum Association of Mindanao Regional Summit.

KABUWADAN is under the Culture and Development Program of XCCA in support of the SocioCultural targets of Office of Mission and Ministry.

KABUWADAN Schedules: “Ang Atong Mga Kabilin”, Exhibit opens on May 13, 2015/ 4:00 pm at the ground floor, Centrio Mall, (Along Corrales Entrance, infront of Cotton On); Kabuwadan Showcase featuring Xavier University Dance Troupe, Dulaang Atenista, Xavier Philharmonia, The Xavier Stage, Xavier University Glee Club, and Murrielle Lomadilla on May 17, 2015 at 4:00 pm at the Activity Center, Centrio Mall; MAM Regional Summit on May 2730, 2015 Museo de Oro, Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan.

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10 For Your Leisure DAILY CROSSWORD tuesday|May 12, 2015

Education: Putting life into the lighted path

By Nidalyn T. Jumawan Teacher – I Lanao del Norte Comprehensive High School

“The direction in which education starts, a man will determine his future in life,” famous philosopher Plato said.

True, Education is like a pointing line that tells one where to go.

T h e i mp o r t a n c e of education has long been c on f i r m e d by v a r i ou s intellects. It is because once an individual attain knowledge, he is able to determine his strengths,

Reforms... from page 5

ACROSS 1) Quench 6) Beach locale 10) Issue a caveat to 14) Personnel director, often 15) Sometime today 16) Cookie brand 17) It might be jumpin’ 20) Lay waste to 21) When the expectant are expecting 22) Type of whale 23) Permitted 24) Certain beach bird 27) “____ will be done” 29) Taro root 33) St. kin 34) Chinese dysnasty (Var.) 36) Worthy of a medal 38) It’s not proof of future success 41) Parting words 42) Complain pettily 43) When you might come down 44) Transmit 45) Suffix for a world record 46) Expression of praise (Var.) 47) Personals, e.g.

49) Select carefully 52) Like some elephants 56) Scared, to a stereotypical hayseed 60) From Methuselah’s time 62) Connive 63) Common canine name 64) Garden bulb 65) About half of all deliveries 66) Addition column 67) All in DOWN 1) Certain herring 2) “That’s ____” 3) Music and dance are two 4) Continue 5) Baseball miscue 6) One who quarantines 7) Former French coin 8) Like an aristocrat 9) Follow afterward 10) Furniture material 11) La Scala solo 12) Cost of living?

13) School jotting 18) Soused one’s sound 19) Boeing 757, e.g.

24) Spanish finger foods

25) Avoid doing 26) Fir tree exudation 28) Angry fits 29) Good bit of history 30) Beneficiary 31) Pronouncements 32) Indian or Atlantic 34) PC “brain” 35) Spell 36) Many mins.

37) Pair of jammies?

39) One of the Kennedys 40) Shunned ones 45) Break out of jail 46) Emphasize the importance of 47) Consumed 48) Performed, in Shakespeare 50) Alien craft 51) Some boxing blows 52) Dangerous snakes 53) It holds plenty of fodder 54) Get ____ a good thing 55) Play divisions 57) Part in a sitcom 58) One of “The Waltons” 59) U.S. govt. subgroup 61) “Hither” partner

daily sudoku

the author noted.

Noting another scenario, Yap explained that a person, who may be a senior rank and file employee, a supervisor, low level manager, or even a micro entrepreneur, who merely earns P41,670 per mont h (O ver P500,000 per annum) would suffer the same taxation as the executive, senior manager, or the professional, or businessman who earns hundreds of thousands or even millions of pesos per month.

In December 2013, Yap added, inflation rate in the country accelerated to 4.1%, the highest rate since 2011, as all commodity prices recorded higher annual increases. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) indicated that a basket of goods worth P100.00 in 1998 was worth P200.00 by the end of 2013, almost doubling in a span of 15 years.

“On the other hand, wages always lagged behind.

Recently, the minimum wage rate in Metro Manila had been increased to P466.00 a day, which is a far cry from the minimum daily cost of living of P1,200 a day for a family of (6) six members.”

Yap also added that in other regions, although the cost of living does not really vary as compared to Metro Manila, the minimum wages are even much, much lower.

Looking deeper into the issue, Yap also acknowledged that while private enterprises have a social responsibility to ensure that their workers are

skills, talents and learnings and use these to improve what he is.

Through Education, one learns to take control over his intellect and actions, t o b o o s t h i s t h i n k i ng skills and further bring opp or tunit ies t hat are helpful in improving him in numerous aspects.

Mo r e o v e r, b e i n g schooled and having education either change or improve one’s paradigm

in viewing for his future life. In school, investing for the future is what a student perception is. It means that after school, there are ambitions and wishes that are waiting to be fulfilled. This is equal to success and better life.

Education is more than just a word. It is a series of learning about various fields, even ones that could be gained outside the four corners.

properly compensated, they also have to struggle with the financial requirements of their undertakings to remain afloat.

“It is very difficult to burden employers with higher State mandated floor wages,” Yap pointed out, adding that “the government is always faced with the dilemma of satisfying the growing demands of the labor sector while at the same time not pushing businesses, particularly the small and medium enterprises which comprise a larger portion of the economy, into bankruptcy,” he explained.

So as not to place the burden of increasing the net salary or take-home-pay of workers in the hands of the struggling businesses, Republic Act No. 9504 was enacted. Under R.A. 9504, minimum wage earners, or those with statutor y minimum wage as fixed by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board in their respective jurisdiction, are exempt from paying income tax.

One big issue, however, about R.A. 9504 is that it was not able to review and update the decades old income tax rates under Section 24 (A) (1) of the National Internal Revenue Code, Yap observed. “ This created a ver y absurd scenario wherein an employee, who graduates from earning minimum wage or earns on a little over said floor wage, jumps to paying a very high rate of tax payable which resulted to smaller take-home-pay or decrease in purchasing power,” Yap deplored.

Crisis... from page 5

added.

The crisis center, they said, shall have a comprehensive program that will provide various assistance, such a s : t e mp o r a r y s h e l t e r, emergency medical and feeding programs and basic education, which will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in close consultation with the local government units concerned.

“This proposed law will help provide street children the means to uplift their conditions and take them out of the streets through programs that will equip them with livelihood, technical and social skills, among others,” the authors pointed out.

Likewise, the bill authorizes the acceptance of donations and grants from local and international organizations by the implementing agency to supplement the appropriated funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of the street children crisis centers. “ These funds will be distributed accordingly to the various crisis centers within the city or municipality to ensure that a higher number of street children would be provided the necessary attention and assistance,” the authors concluded.

The measure has been re fe r re d t o t h e Hou s e Committee on the Welfare of Children chaired by Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur.

May 11, 2015 solutions: Crossword

Sudoku

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Steag... from page 1

reporters.

Despite normal operations of PSALM, the DOE head noted that auction by the Independent Power Producers Administrator (IPPA) of the 205-megawatt (MW) Mindanao coal fired power plant will be delayed. ”I gave a directive to delay the privatization of the IPPA in Mindanao,” he said.

The IPPA serves as the right of the generation company to decide on whom to sell the energy output of the power plant.

Before his resignation last April 30, Petilla ordered Ledesma to hold the privatization of the Mindanao IPPA contract until two plants are running by the second half of 2016, either Aboitiz’s 300 MW Therma South Inc. and Alsons’ Saranggani Energy Corporation’s 210 MW or Therma South Inc and 300 MW San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation’s Davao Power Project. ”The auction will be delayed until such time that the two units of Therma South Inc., and probably another plant either Alsons or San Miguel are running very soon, most likely 2016 first half,” he said.

The DOE secretary said he does not want another Mt. Apo geothermal auction which had increased customer bills by Php 2.50 per kilowatthour (kWh), due to electric cooperatives having no other choice for source of power.

Petilla emphasized the customers were forced to pay for the same capacity but with a higher rate.

He added the contract only lasted for one year, which gave the investor limited time to earn back his high bid for the IPPA contract.

PSALM started the bidding auction of Mindanao coal fired power plant’s energy output on April, with 12 companies qualifying for the next round.

The 12 qualified bidders are Conal Holdings Corporation, FDC Davao Del Norte Power Corporation, FirstGen Northern Power Corporation, GDF Suez Energy Philippines, Inc., Masinloc Power Partners Co. Ltd., Meralco Powergen Corporation, Nexif Pte Ltd., SMC Global Power Holdings Corporation, SPC Power Corporation, Team (Philippines) Energy Corporation, Therma Southern Mindanao, Inc. (TSMI) and Vivant Energy Corporation.

The Misamis Oriental-based coal plant was built in 2006, through a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) – Power Purchase Agreement Scheme which ends on 2031.

Steag State Power Inc. (SPI), a consortium of German-firm STEAG, Aboitiz Power Corporation and La Philippina Uygongo Corporation that owns and operates the power plant. (PNA)

Rallies... from page 1

themselves,” Ledesma said at the rally in Gaston Park.

The archbishop warned the House that the “alternative of scrapping the Bangsamoro Basic Law would be a return to square one a generation ago and may ensue in continuing violence and unrest in Mindanao.”

“The only ones who stand to gain are arms dealers and some politicians who attract attention by polarizing communities,” he said.

Ledesma said the BBL represents a reasonable, practical and carefully crafted settlement for attaining lasting peace and justice in Mindanao.

The House 75-member ad hoc committee headed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro) was set to end their deliberations and vote on the

BBL Monday afternoon or Tuesday.

Peace groups led by Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman staged a huge rally outside the House of Representatives complex in Quezon City urging the congressmen to pass the bill “in its entirety.”

Rallies were also held in the cities of Davao, Cotabato and Iligan on Monday.

Ledesma led some 500 of his parishioners and Maranaos from the Plaza Rotunda to Gaston Park where a brief rally was held Monday morning.

Muslim Youth Council chair Soriaya Ali reminded the lawmakers that the Moro youth will inherit “an island of peace” if they pass an “unadulterated” BBL. “Our people need a structural change to break the cycle of violence that is happening now,” Ali said.

Balay Mindanaw chair Charlito Manlupig appealed to Rodriguez and other representatives to think of the legacy they would leave behind.

“We ask you to bear in mind how your decisions can affect the peace process and impact the lives of millions of people in the conflictaffected areas in Mindanao. We ask you to think about the thousands of IDPs (internally displaced persons) who are still currently suffering in evacuation centers,” Manlupig said.

He said peace advocates see the BBL as the only viable, logical and constitutional answer that would end not only the armed conflict but also the years of underdevelopment, poverty and corruption.

BBL... from page 1

Marcos, who is the chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, said that over the past months, the MILF had softened up from their hardline stance to pursue the original BBL draft.

The senator from Ilocos Norte was in Cagayan De Oro City last Saturday as a guest of the annual conference of the Rotary International District 3870 where he talked about the prospect of the BBL approval in Congress.

“Everybody wants peace. We in Congress want peace. They, in the MILF, want peace. In order to all of these to work, we must agree at some point to all the terms in the final BBL draft,” Marcos said.

Marcos also admitted that various sectors are clamoring to change a lot of provision in the proposed BBL that the MILF has also lobbied for approval.

“As of now, they in Malacanang and the MILF are the only ones who totally agree with the original draft.

The rest of the country has proposed revisions. We, as legislators have the duty to listen to our constituents.

We in the Senate are not against BBL. We just have to hear out the people,” he said.

“This is consistent with my official mandate and a personal mission to pass a BBL that is not only thoroughly and conscientiously studied, but also one that is capable of successfully ending our quest for a just and lasting peace, stability and development in Muslim Mindanao,” he said.

“Reviewing and studying the proposed BBL is taxing on my part, since I am the only one in the Senate holding the deliberations, collating all the proposals and position papers of various sectors nationwide,” Marcos said.

“On the contrary, the Lower House in Congress has 75 congressmen attending to the BBL draft,” he said.

Marcos, however, credited the 137-person Citizens Peace Council for helping his committee in meeting the May 25 deadline by helping out in the deliberations and

collating all the recommendations.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Bai Sumndad Usman, Ambassador Howard Dee and conglomerate magnate Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala are the members of the Citizens” Peace Council, he said.

(PNA)

Hydro... from page 1

Hedcor, which has more than 30 years of experience and is the leading run-of-river developer in the Philippines, operates 22 runoff river hydropower plants with a total capacity of 185 MW in the provinces of Benguet, Davao, Ilocos Sur and Mt. Province.

The inauguration here of its first run-off river hydropower plant in the Mt. Province came just two weeks after the groundbreaking ceremony of Hedcor, Inc.’s largest project in Mindanao: the P12.5-B, 68.8 MW hydropower plants in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Antonio Moraza, AboitizPower chief operation officer and president, said that the Sabangan hydropower plant is a part of the fulfillment of the company’s vision of creating a “better future to our country and to our host communities.”

Moraza said that the hydropower plant here will add another “reliable, reasonable and responsible” power to the Luzon Grid that is hoped to energize the host community and its neighbors.

Like its other run-off river hydropower plants all over the country, Hedcor Sabangan’s hydropower “will provide communities with Cleanergy,” the AboitizPower’s brand of clean and renewable energy.

Run-of-river hydropower system is a design scheme for hydroelectric power generation that is least disruptive to the environment.

The scheme works by redirecting river water through a weir into conveyance pipes towards a penstock and feeding it downhill to the power station.

Run-of-river hydropower system works by (1) diverting into a pipeline through an intake weir a portion of the water from the upper reaches of the river; (2) this pipeline brings water to a forebay tank where the water flow is slowed down allowing sand and other particles to settle; (3) from the forebay, clear water passes through a pressure pipe or penstock to the turbine; (4) the natural force of gravity generates energy used to spin the turbine which is enclosed in a powerhouse together with the generator and control equipment; (5) the spinning turbine enables the generator to produce electricity; and (6) from the turbine, the water is discharged down a tailrace or canal back into the river.

Rene Ronquillo, Hedcor, Inc. president and chief operating officer, said in an interview that the Sabangan hydropower plant took two years to construct since its groundbreaking in June 2013 using “about 300 locally-hired workers.”

“We are hoping that we will go a good job here because we hope we will make a good example here for the rest of Mt. Province to look up to,” he told this paper in an interview.

In his acceptance speech, Sabangan Mayor Donato Danglose expressed gratefulness to Hedcor and to the Aboitiz family for investing in his “poor municipality.”

“Thank you to Hedcor for visiting Sabangan, thank you for investing in Sabangan and thank you because you are now our partners in development,” he said.

Danglose also thanked the local government units of the host barangays, municipality and province “for making this project

possible.”

Governor Leonard Mayaen said that the kind of development that Hedcor, Inc. is bringing to the province through its investment in the hydropower plant is the kind of development that he wants for Mt. Province: “no industrialization and no urbanization.”

“Mini-hydro is very environmentfriendly. There will be no pollution that will disturb the beauty of Mt. Province,” he said.

Mayaen disclosed that with Hedcor, Inc., development will finally come to Mt. Province but the kind of development that is unlike Metro Manila’s or even Baguio City.

“We will preserve Mt. Province…

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH To Hedcor and Aboitiz family, in P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., behalf of the people and officialdom Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) of Mt. province, I 856-1947 would like to BRANCH thanks extend to CAMIGUIN you our heartfelt B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel.Mt. # (088) 387-0491 for including Province in CORRALESprogram.

BRANCH your expansion [Your Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City investment here] will go a long DIVISORIA BRANCH long said. Bldg., #61 Don A. Atty.way,” Erasmo he B. Damasing Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Mayaen this paper in Tel. # told (088) 857-3631 a separate interview LAPASAN BRANCH that Mt. Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Province’s power need of 29 MW Tel. # (088) 231-6739 is currentlyCARMEN suppliedBRANCH by the National Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Power Corporation sourced from Tel. # (088) 231-2011 outside the province. And with the Sabangan run-off river hydropower plant, the province is assured of a continuous supply of power especially since the source of 14 MW of the Luzon Grid now comes from Sabangan.

“We have sufficient power supply now. We have not experienced any blackouts here.

And with this hydropower plant, we have more than enough power already,” he said.

0935-160-0668 HERMILINO VILLALON

22nd/31st Naza reth, Cagayan de O ro Cit y

CDO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947

DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631

CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491

LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739

CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City

CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10TH Judicial Region BRANCH 18 Cagayan de Oro City IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION SPEC. PROC. OF ENTRIES IN THE RESPECTIVE CASE NO. CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF R 2015-008 FRANCIS FERDINAND D. ESPINOSA AND FRANCIS JOSEPH D. ESPINOSA,

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FRANCIS FERDINAND D. ESPINOSA and FRANCIS JOSEPH D. ESPINOSA, Petitioners,

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- Versus – THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Respondent. x------------------------------------------------x

from page 3

Poor... from page 5

Rodriguez said.

“The report states that consumption is one of the drivers of Philippine economic expansion in terms of gross national product which slowed to 5.7 percent in 2014 compared to 6.3 and 7.7 percent in 2013,” Rodriguez added.

Rodriguez said the report pushes for wider access to basic social service like education, health care, water supply and sanitation and public safety, insurance, labor regulations, pension and welfare programs, employment, disaster risk reduction and responsive government institutions.

According to Rodriguez, the report, which highlights the needs in promoting the people’s choices and protecting human development achievement, takes the view that vulnerability threatens human development. “Unless it is systematically addressed by changing policies and social norms, progress will be neither equitable nor sustainable,” Rodriguez said citing the report.

It includes the human development index, which measures the average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development – a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.

11

ORDER This instant Petition filed by petitioners, Francis Ferdinand D. Espinosa and Francis Joseph D. Espinosa, seeks the correction of the entries in petitioners’ Certificate of Live Birth, to wit: Family Name : From “Dablo” to “Espinosa” Mother’s Name : From “ Rhona S. Dablo “ to

“Maria Zelda S. Dablo“ Date and Place of Marriage of Parents: From: No Marriage “

to “April 4, 1992“ Annotation on the From “Legitimated by Top right hand

subsequent marriage of Margin:

parent Mariano Francisco

M. Espinosa and Rhona S. Dablo on June 25, 1994 at Cagayan de Oro City “ to “ Legitimated by subsequent marriage of parents Francisco Mariano M. Espinosa and Maria Zelda S. Dablo on April 14, 1992 at Cagayan de Oro City Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, let the initial hearing of this case be set on May 26, 2015 at 2:00 in the afternoon before this Court. Let copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioners once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Cagayan de Oro City.

Respondent Local Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro and the National Statistics Office and any person having or claiming any interest on the entry whose correction is sought may within fifteen (15) days from notice of this ORDER or from the last date of publication thereof, file their opposition/comment and appear at the scheduled hearing.

Furnish copies of this Order, together with the Petition and its annexes, to the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro, the Office of the Solicitor General and the National Statistics, Manila.

SO ORDERED. April 20, 2015, Cagayan de Oro City.

(Sgd) Dennis Z. Alcantar Presiding Judge

BWM: April 28, May 5 & 12, 2015

BusinessWeek MINDANAO “We Grow Minds”

DISTRICT 3870 DISCON MAY 7-9, 2015 @ PRYCE PLAZA HOTEL

2013 PPI’S BEST IN BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC REPORTING

TUESDAY | MAY 12, 2015

S

anuk, debuts its Spring 2015 collection, which takes you beyond the beach and the Bar-B-Q with the introduction of trend-right footwear that is sure to excite shoe aficionados.

We’re taking Sanuk’s unique comfort beyond our sandals and patented Sidewalk Surfers, and introducing an entirely new category of contemporary shoes. Influenced by the spirit of the season, the collection is infused with uninhibited color and artful prints.

The shoes feature a tailored fit, are offered in half sizes and come boxed, unlike Sanuk’s traditional hanging footwear.

The collection features a variety of styles and silhouettes allowing anyone to experience the fun and function that is Sanuk and expressing personality through style.

editor: SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

PAGE 12

Sanuk’s Spring 2015 Footwear Collection Goes Beyond the Beach WOMEN’S YOGA BALLET COLLECTION Our Yoga Ballet offers a unique twist on the traditional ballet flat with the addition of our ultra comfortable yoga pod foot-bed.

With two “yoga pods” in the forefoot and heel these styles will have you looking “en pointe” without feeling a thing. Perfect for packing, this collection is sure to become the world’s most comfortable ballet.

Yoga Prima Description: This style is offered in a premium suede upper with a cool animal dot print. Fashionistas will don the look with a fedora and a moto jacket. The addition of the yoga pod footbed will make the Yoga Prima a go-to for cool and comfortable travel-wear.

Available Colors: Grey/Animal Dot, Brown/Animal Dot, Berry/Animal Dot Suggested Retail: P3,290

Yoga Glitz Description: Add a little rock and roll edge to your ballet with the Yoga Glitz. The faux snake synthetic leather upper is complemented by signature heel stud details. The yoga mat pod footbed will keep you comfortable and stylish at your favorite hot spots this season.

Available Colors: Black Snake, Mint Snake, Natural Snake Suggested Retail: P3,290

Yoga Ballet Description: This classic ballet flat features synthetic leather upper and a soft canvas contrast print liner. The bow detail, ballet wood floor inspired outsole and slightly scrunched heel make them the perfect companion to transition you from the workplace to the bar. Finally, the metallic colors propose a sleek sheen, which pairs beautifully with your Spring wardrobe essentials.

Available Colors: Gold, Rose Gold, Silver Suggested Retail: P2,990

The Night Stalker:

SANUK

Page 8

Italianni’s Summer Kids Chef Academy kicks off May 18

Italianni’s Restaurant, the leader in Italian Casual Dining Worldwide, starts its first ever Kiddie Chef Academy in Cagayan de Oro on May 18, 2015 at its Centrio Mall branch.

“The Kids Chef academy is a special event every summer designed for kids,” said Danna Espra, general manager. “It teaches them to learn and value the essence of teamwork, friendship and to be responsible at an early age. Exposing children to this kind of activity gives them the opportunity to build their self-esteem and mold their character.”

The academy is open to children 4 – 12 years old with a minimum of 5 and maximum 10 children per batch. They will have 7 days exposure, 3 hours daily from 9:00am to 12:00nn.

The seven days activities cover two days class orientation and restaurant tour and 5 days on the floor training.

“This workshop teaches participants how to greet, seat, introduce and serve guests,” said Kristina P. Spine, store supervisor. “They will also tour the kitchen, have food demonstrations and experience making their own pizza, pasta and more. This is a perfect combination of fun and learning activities that will provide them the best summer experience only here at Italianni’s Centrio.”

The enrollment fee of PhP 4,500 includes snacks for the duration of the academy, a certificate of completion, art supplies and graduation souvenirs, free Bistro Circle Premier Card, and exclusive Italiannis’ chef jacket, toque and apron.

At the end of the summer workshop, all the participants will gather for a graduation ceremony at Centrio’s Activity Center.

Kids are allowed to have guardians wait outside the premise of the restaurant for the duration, or at its function area, if available.

For details call tel 880-0435, mobile 0917-718-6538, email italcdo@bistro.com.ph or visit Italianni’s branch today at Ground Floor, Centrio Mall (near Centrio Garden), C.M. Recto cor. Corrales Avenues, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City.

Italianni’s Restaurant, the leader in Italian Casual Dining Worldwide., will be starting its first ever Kiddie Chef Academy in Cagayan de Oro on May 18, 2015 at its Centrio Mall branch. For details contact Tel 880-0435, mobile 0917-718-6538.