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BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

Volume VII, No. 151

Market Indicators As of 5:00 pm May 16, 2017 (tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P49.647

7,796.33

X X Briefly

cents

23.40 points

Robust agriculture

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THE Board of Investments (BoI) has approved the application for incentives of Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing Corp’s P391 million coconut processing plant in Davao City. In a Tuesday statement, the board noted the project falls under the production and manufacture of export products category of the current Investment Priorities Plan where non-traditional products are to be exported at a rate of at least 50% of its output, if Filipino-owned or at least 70%, if foreign-owned. The firm expects to export all its production to the United States, China and Europe.

Unregistered brokers DAVAO City – The continued transaction being entered into by unregistered real estate brokers is not good for the government and the real estate industry. This was raised by top officers of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Board (PAREB) and the Davao Board of Realtors Foundation Inc. (DBRFI) in a press conference here on Monday. DBRFI president Hardinado Patnugot, Jr. said their group continues to reach out to unregistered real estate brokers in the region. “Both the government and real estate owners are hurt by the transactions entered into by unlicensed brokers,” Patnugot said, noting that unregistered brokers don’t pay taxes to the government.

P15.00

Leni pushes mandatory representation of IPs www.businessweekmindanao.com

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THE country’s agriculture sector grew by more than 5 percent in the first three months of the year, with farm output’s value amounting to P408 billion, as the government saw an improvement in all subsectors, especially in crops. A data released by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday showed that agriculture sector has recovered with a high of 5.28 percent growth in the first quarter of 2017 after several quarters of declines. This, after all subsectors posted output increments with the crops subsector as the major growth driver during the period.

Davao coco plant

IN-DEPTH

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

AVAO City -- Vice President Leni Robredo said she wants a law version of the department order giving indigenous people (IP) a mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils issued by her late husband, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, in October 2010.

LUMAD REPRESENTATION. Vice President Leni Robredo delivers a message to participants of the National Indigenous Peoples (IP) Education Festival at the Pamulaan Center for IP Education, University of Southeastern Philippines, in Davao City on Monday. mindanews photo by manman dejeto

Banana farmers receive resistant-disease seeds

During “Leap V: 2017 National Indigenous Peoples Education Festival” at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Mintal Campus here Monday, Robredo told reporters that a measure must be passed in Congress to ensure the continuity, widen the IP’s participation in government, and provide equal opportunity to hold positions in government. She said the order issued by her

husband can be overturned with the change of administration. Robredo said that there is currently no law that mandates IP participation in local development and local legislative councils. RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) provides under Section 16 that the Lumads “have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making leni/PAGE 11

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

DAVAO City -- The regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has distributed banana seedlings resistant to Fusarium wilt, also known as Panama disease, to small farmers who have been affected by the infestation. DA-Davao, which has allocated P20 million to fight the disease, said it is planning to distribute about one million Giant Cavendish Tissue Culture Variance 218 and 219, two of the seedlings that have been tested to be Fusarium wilt-resistant. About 135,000 seedlings

have been given out so far to 289 small banana growers who control a total farm area of 90 hectares, covering 10% of the target 900 hectares. “ We s t a r t e d t h e distribution of the seedlings January this year after we have collaborated with the private sector, particularly the Lapanday (Foods) Corp.,” said Susan T. Razo, DA-Davao’s integrated laboratory chief. Lapanday, she explained, provided the laborator y where the cloning of the seedlings is being carried out. A contract was signed seeds/PAGE 11

MONETARY REPARATION. Mamerta Osorio, already in her 80s, receives monetary reparation from the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board in Davao City on Saturday for her late husband Amando, a human rights abuse victim under Martial Law. Members of the Philippine Constabulary illegally arrested and detained Amando, a farmer, in 1981 on charges that he was a rebel. While in detention, government agents burned down their house in Mudiang, Tibungco, Davao City. mindanews photo by manman dejeto

CARD eyes 2 more Mindanao branches By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO Correspondent

CARD Bank Inc. is planning to open more branches in Mindanao. -- CARDBANKPH.COM

DAVAO City -- CARD Bank Inc., the banking arm of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), is planning to set up two more branches in Mindanao within the next bank/PAGE 11

Rebels free captive Agusan mining trader By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN, Contributing Editor

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan d e l Su r- - - C om mu n i s t guerillas freed on Monday afternoon the small-scale gold mining operator two days after his captivity saying he was cleared from charges

and that he is not considered a “Prisoner of War” having been not involved in any anti-insurgency activity. Ka Amihan, spokesperson for New Peoples Army Front free/PAGE 11

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Economy

Tripartite Industrial Peace Council conducts social dialogue in Bukidnon

ALENCIA CIT Y, Bukidnon -- Some 148 workers from the prov ince’s private sector recently concluded the Bukidnon Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (BTIPC) special general a s s e m b l y o n 6 Ap r i l 2017 in Valencia city, in its mission, to promote tripartite industrial peace and institutionalization of social dialogues and tripartite consultations on policies and programs affecting labor, management and the government. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)Bukidnon chief Raul L. Valmores recounted that the BTIPC had come a long way from its creation way

back in the early 1990s, up to the present. “The council has always been active in its mission, to promote tripartite industrial peace and institutionalization of social dialogues and tripartite consultations on policies and programs affecting labor, management and the government,” Valmores added. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Phi lippines has robust tripartism, as well as its mechanisms and processes on social dialogue. Accordingly, the BTIPC has been recognized as one of the most sturdy and active TIPCs in Northern Mindanao, if not, far ahead than the

other provincial TIPCs in adopting and implementing its own programs, projects and activities consistent with the development objectives of the government. Resource speaker Junaliza S. Aragon of the National Conciliation and Mediation Board-X (NCMB-X), an attached agenc y of the Department, explained the concepts of productivity and innovation. Likewise, Republic Act No. 8525, otherwise known as “Adopt a School Program, Tax Incentives and Withholding Tax C omputation”, was discussed by Bureau of Internal Revenue-Bukidnon Revenue Officer Harly A. Macasling. Discussions continued

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DOLE holds labor code, wage consultation in MisOcc

on Campaign against Illegal Recruitment by Philippine O v e r s e a s E mp l o y m e nt Agency-X Attorney II Paul D. Sabud and the recently issued Department Order No. 174 on Contracting and Subcontracting. Valmores also reported that a new set of officers and council/PAGE 10

OZAMIZ City -- The Department of Labor and Employment (D OLE)10, through its Misamis Occidental Provincial Field Office has conducted an orientation on Labor Code Department Order (D. O.) No. 174, Series of 2017 or regulat ions governing contracting and subcontracting arrangements and Wage Consultation held

by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-10 in Ozamiz City recently. DOLE-Misamis Occidental chief Leonardo G. Rodrigo welcomed the participants comprising 70 employers and workers in the private sector here. Rodrigo reported that that was the first orientation dole/PAGE 11

AGRICULTURE Secretary E m m a n u e l F. P i n o l emphasized during the 20th Dairy Congress at the Provincial Convention Center of Mambajao, Camiguin province last May 3-5 that he will now allow corruption to ruin the programs and projects of the Department

of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Piñol said that “through DA’s commitments, we can hurdle the challenges in making food affordable and available to every Filipino.” Further, the secretary encouraged the participants to form a group or association in order for them to easily

avail of the programs and projects under the DA’s banner programs. In support of the dairy cooperatives in Misamis Oriental, 1-unit four-wheel drive tractor and 10 units milking machines worth P hp 3 . 0 1 4 m i l l i o n w a s dairy/PAGE 11

Dairy coop gets assistance from DA

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Opinion

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More (Global) Cyber Attacks

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Raise Your Standard Of Living Think a minute…You’ve heard of people who try to raise their standard of living at almost any cost. They’ll go without many things to get a higher education, hoping it will later get them a higherpaying job and career. Some even move their family to another country to raise their standard of living. Still others will only let their children marry someone whose standard of living is the same or higher than theirs. Many of us spend much of our life working to raise our standard of living in terms of money and status. Then when we finally reach the standard of living we want, we still have to work hard to make sure we stay there! But there are people whose standard of living never changes, whether they have a lot of money or not. They always enjoy a high standard of living in their own character and daily lifestyle. They’re always honest, loving, and kind. They’re quick to forgive others who wrong and hurt them. They’re in control of their physical desires for pleasure, so they always have great fun in life without hurting their own bodies or other people. They enjoy real happiness and closeness every day in their

THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst marriage and with their kids. You see, the kind of person we are inside is what gives us our real standard of living, not material things or status! So what kind of character and daily lifestyle do you have? What kind of marriage and family do you have? What kind of friends? There are many people who have heaps of money and status, but they have a low standard of living, because of the low level of their own personal character. They’re dishonest, greedy, competitive, and jealous of what other people have. They gossip and use people to get what they want. They don’t have much love and forgiveness in their heart for people who wrong and hurt them. There are heaps of rich people who do not hurst/PAGE 10

S e v e r a l w e e k s a g o, I mentioned in this corner that the German government plans cyber attack ‘hackback’ ahead of national elections in September. Indeed, there are many cyber attack fears ahead of it. How much more now! Latest example: several British NHS (National Health Sysyem) divisions reported problems with their computer systems on Friday afternoon local time (yesterday May 12, 2017 - while writing this piece!) - while hospitals i n L on d on , n or t hw e s t England and other parts of the country alerted patients to the temporary closures. “We are aware of a major IT secure system attack. All IT systems have been temporarily shut down,” Derbyshire Community Health Ser vices said on Twitter. NHS Merseyside in the north of England reassured its patients via

Twitter that it was working to solve the problem. Sure! The NHS later confirmed several hospitals’ computer systems had been hit by t h e Wa n n a D e c r y p t o r ransomware variant, but that patient data had not been accessed. “This attack was not specifically targeted at the NHS and is affecting organisations from across a range of sectors,” NHS Digital, a division of NHS England that handles information technology issues, said in a statement. R ans omware att acks are becoming more more frequent. British hospitals have been hit by ransomware attacks before, with hackers typically encrypting files and demanding a bitcoin bounty to unlock the files. The malware typically spreads through networks. In 2016 an NHS division canceled operations and

diverted major trauma cases when it was hit by a virus. Intel Security reported in 2016 that hospitals were increasingly being targeted by ransomware operations, with one operator earning almost US$121 million ( 1 1 1 m i l l i o n Eu r o ) .”A c ombi nat i on of l e g a c y systems with weak security, a lack of employee security awareness, a fragmented workforce, and the pressing need for immediate access to information has led the criminal underground to prey on hospitals,” the report said. In 2016 British leaders unveiled a multibillionpound national cybersecurity st r ate g y t hat i nclu d e d new police units to target organized online gangs and even retaliation for major attacks. Already 2016, hackers hold German hospital data

H ave M y Say

Klaus Doring

hostage. Several hospitals in Germany have come under att ack by r ans omware, a type of virus that locks files and demands cash to free data it maliciously encrypted. According to present knowledge, it was an attachment in an email that allowed the virus to enter the system. It will take weeks until all systems are up and running again. First thing, one might notice the system isn’t running smoothly doring/PAGE 10

Dismissal of impeachment complaint vs. Duterte lawful LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves…” (Isaiah 1:23, the Holy Bible). -ooo HOUSE COMMITTEE’S DISMISSAL OF I M P E AC H M E N T COMPLAINT VS. DUTERTE LEGALLY CORRECT: As expected, there was no other way for the Committee on Justice of the House of Representatives but to order the dismissal---as it indeed ordered the dismissal last Monday, May 15, 2017---of the impeachment complaint that Magdalo Party List Rep. Gary Alejano filed against President Duterte. I have always maintained even just after its filing that the accusations in the complaint of Alejano were not of his own personal knowledge and therefore could not be the basis of even a mere investigation against the President. To have agreed to entertain that impeachment complaint

further despite its evidently hearsay nature would have made our congressmen fools and, what could have been worse, egregious violators of the Constitution and existing laws on what constitutes evidence that could trigger an investigation. The Committee on Justice therefore acted according to law in the dismissal of the Alejano complaint. -ooo HOUSE MUST MAKE ALEJANO ANSWERABLE FOR PERJURY: But, there is something more important than ordering the dismissal of the Alejano complaint, and it involves the mockery of the impeachment process and of the integrity of the House of Representatives as a whole by no less than a member of the chamber. I am of the opinion that the House must make Alejano answerable for the obvious perjury he committed, so no one else will dare imitate him. I mean, even if Alejano

is not a lawyer or is not trained in the legalities of an impeachment process, he should have known or he ought to have known at the very least by virtue of his lofty position that acting as a complainant in an impeachment proceeding requires the complainant to have personal knowledge of what he is accusing the President with. Many members of the C om m i t t e e on Ju s t i c e were correct in pointing out that an impeachment complaint is not an ordinary complaint, especially because it is directed against the highest officer of the land. Prudence dictates that if anyone wanted to sue the President for impeachment, that someone should have personal knowledge of what he is talking about and, by his own admissions on Monday, May 15, 2017, Alejano did not have this personal knowledge. -ooo ALEJANO ONLY MEANT

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio TO DESTABILIZE AND OUST DUTERTE: This brings me back to what I wrote on March 17, 2017 in this column: “Impeaching President Duterte is an impossible mission at the moment, and… Alejano knew that. He was after all trained to always be discerning during his student days at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) where he graduated in 1995. So, why did he do it---file the impeachment complaint, that is---against batas/PAGE 10

Despite our sinfulness “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.” (Ps 18,6) These words should be carved deep and hard into our mind and heart, so we can always remain at peace and with great hope despite our weaknesses and sinfulness, and all the many other things that can cause us anguishdifficulties, trials, failures, setbacks, etc. We should not delay in going immediately to God asking for help whenever we find ourselves in situations of distress. God is our Father who will always listen to us, who will always show compassion to us, who will never fail us. We may fail him many times, but he will always be understanding to us. We should be careful not to be too overwhelmed by our

weaknesses and sinfulness as to fall into despair and run away from God. It’s precisely when we are down when God shows his greatest love for us. We should never doubt this truth which can be validated by the mere fact that God sent his Son to us, and Son became man and assumed all our sins by dying on the cross. We obviously should not abuse the goodness and mercy of God, though we also know that somehow we cannot avoid abusing it. What we can do is to learn as quickly as possible the many precious lessons our weaknesses and sinfulness can occasion in us. We have to remember that nothing happens in our life without the knowledge and at least the permission of God. So, if anything bad

comes to us, we should always ask God: Lord, what is the purpose of all this? We know that everything happens for a reason. And the ultimate reason can only be found in God. We have to be wary when our reaction to our errors, failures and sins would only be human, based simply on our feelings or some human consensus and other human estimation of things. These bases cannot capture the whole picture and can even distort things, aggravating things for us. We have to learn to pray and engage God in an intimate conversation which can always be done if we have the proper disposition, that is, if we have faith and are humble enough to admit that we need to go to God. God may be a mystery

HINTS

and

Traces

Fr. Roy Cimagala to us. His will, words and ways may not be immediately comprehensible to us. But if we show faith and humility, if we show genuine piety and sorrow for whatever weakness and sin we commit, God knows how to resolve things for us even beyond our perception. So, we have to spread cimagala/PAGE 10

CorporateWorld 5 Vista Land profit rises to P2.3B AboitizPower to expand reach on stronger leasing income of retail power supply business Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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ABOITIZ POWER Corp. is expanding the reach of its retail electricity supply business as it expects to forge contracts for around 800 megawatts (MW) by 2020 or a fifth of its target net sellable capacity of 4,000 MW by that year, company officials said. “Aside from selling to some of the utilities, we will pursue our goal of contracting to the contestable market,” said Erramon I. Aboitiz, chief executive officer of AboitizPower, in a press conference after t h e c o mp a ny ’s a n nu a l stockholders meeting on

Monday at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City. “That’s the strategy and hopefully that’s a sector that we will contract most of the capacity that is coming up,” he said. He said AboitizPower has at present around 500 MW of capacity contracted to contestable customers, or those consuming electricity within a threshold set by t he Energ y Regu lator y Commission (ERC). “We hope to be 700 (MW) by the end of the year,” said Luis Miguel O. Aboitiz, AboitizPower executive vicepresident and chief operating

officer for corporate services. AboitizPower’s licensed retail electricity suppliers (RES) are Advent Energy, Inc., Prism Energy, Inc. and Aboitiz Energy Solutions, Inc. Its partnership with Norway’s SN Power has a separate RES: SN Aboitiz Power -- Res, Inc. “We’d like to build it,” he said, referring to the company’s share of the contestable market or those with a monthly average consumption of 1 MW-hour for the past year that are required to buy electricity from a licensed RES. “Each additional customer

we get is smaller and smaller as the limit goes down and down,” he said, adding that the company was not stopping once it reached the 800-MW target. T h e r u l e s on re t ai l competition and open access (RCOA), which are meant to lower the threshold by midyear to those consuming an average of 750 kilowatt-hour to 999-kWh, are on hold after the Supreme Court granted a petition questioning the mandatory provisions of the regulations issued by the ERC and the Department of Energy. expand/PAGE 10

VISTA Land & Lifescapes, Inc., one of the country’s leading integrated property developers, posted an 11 percent growth in net income to P2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2017 from P2.1 billion in the same period last year. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said consolidated revenues for the quarter ended at P9.0 billion, 14 percent higher than the P7.9 billion in the comparable period a year ago. L e asing re venue for the quarter significantly increased by 50 percent to P1.44 billion from P961 million in the prior year period. The company also added about 70,000 sqm

of GFA in its investment properties from expansion of existing malls. Vista Land Chairman Manuel B. Villar, Jr. said “2017 promises to be another record year for Vista Land. We are pleased to have been able to achieve solid growth over the past years and should have no problem continuing the trend this year.” He added that, “our positive outlook for the year is due to the continued expansion of our commercial assets in addition to our core housing business on the back of sound Philippine macroeconomic fundamentals.” “We are als o s eeing improvement in our reservation sales growth as we income/PAGE 10

CEBU Pacific (CEB) has started daily flights from its Clark hub to and from Caticlan, Boracay and three times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) to and from Busuanga, via Cebgo, its wholly-owned subsidiary. Aside from these two routes, Cebgo will also offer direct flights between Cebu and Busuanga thrice weekly (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and flights to and from Cotabato City four times weekly (Tuesday,

Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) starting May 16, 2017. Wit h t h e l au n ch of these four new routes, the Cebu Pacific Air group is positive that its domestic route expansion will not only benefit locals in Boracay, Palawan, and Cotabato, but also residents outside Metro Manila. CEB intends to continue linking more islands in the archipelago to attract both leisure and business travelers and boost trade and tourism.

A l ong s i d e it s f l i g ht network expansion, Cebu Pacific will likewise extend t h e re a ch of it s c argo services to increase trade and investment along the way. CEB’s all-in one way year-round fare from Clark to Caticlan is priced at P2,030; Clark to Busuanga, P2,306; Cebu to Busuanga, P2,778 and C ebu to C otabato, P1,994. In addition to Cebu and Clark, CEB also operates routes/PAGE 10

CEB launches 4 new routes from Cebu, Clark

Banking&Finance Economists: Weaker peso has benefits for PH

HE government’s economic managers have said that the weaker peso should not worry Filipinos as this would even translate into higher tax revenue and additional monetar y b enefits for overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) and the country’s thriving business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said that even with a stronger dollar, imports of capital goods continue to increase which translates into higher revenue collections for the Bureau of Customs. He said that the main driver of the foreign exchange rate are speculations over the planned three-phase increase in interest rates by the US Federal Reser ve, which has prompted investors to migrate their dollars to the United States and resulted in a drop in demand for the Philippine peso. “Our imports have been increasing, and the reason they are increasing is mainly not for consumer goods but for capital goods. So there are more factories being set up and more equipment, especially electrical equipment, being imported,” Dominguez said

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at a recent hearing of the House ways and means committee on the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Bill (CTRP) bill of the Duterte administration. “The demand for those are quite high b ecaus e there are opportunities for providing more electricity, more fa c tor i es l o c a l ly. So although it will affect somehow the imports, the demand for the imported capital goods is still very strong,” he added. Dominguez said another beneficiar y of the peso depreciation is the BPO sector, which combined with OFW remittances, contribute about $50 billion a year to the Treasury. “So a one-peso depreciation means there is P50 billion more of potential demand. And as you know, this money goes into buying apartments, educating the kids, buying cars. So it’s actually beneficial to us, more beneficial I think than negative,” Dominguez said. But Dominguez assured lawmakers that the government’s fiscal managers are “looking at the peso depreciation carefully and are aware that the peso has depreciated over the last few months.”

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that at the macroeconomic level, a one-peso depreciation would yield a net gain of P7.2 billion for the state coffers because revenues will increase by P9.2 billion as a result of higher collections by the Bureau of Customs, while the foreign debt service will only have a corresponding increase of P2 billion. “So the net gain will be P9.2 billion in additional revenues minus P2 billion in higher debt service, (which gives us) P7.2 billion,” Diokno said. Dominguez also pointed out that as a percentage of GDP, the country’s debt s e r v i c e has b e e n on a downtrend, from a high of 90 percent of GDP to only 40 percent. “So we are in a very good position debt-wise,” he said. Diokno agreed, saying that “The traditional rule of thumb is that if you have a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60 percent or lower, you’re in good shape.” Diokno and Secretary Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that their projection is to bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio to only 35 percent by

Lehitimo, a band belonging to CIM or CDO Independent Musicians, performs at Smilez Foodhauz during their summer music jam last May 13 in Cagayan de Oro City. photo by mark francisco

2022, which they both said is attainable despite the deficit. D omingue z s aid t he country’s strong fiscal and debt-to-GDP position amid a peso depreciation has been recognized by international markets, which bought $2 billion worth of 25-year global bonds at a low interest rate of 3.7 percent issued by the Philippine government last January 20, the first fund-raising activity under the Duterte administration. “Even though interest rates had gone up worldwide already, we are still paying at a lower interest rate than other countries because they

recognize that our financial system is very strong and that our debt is very, very manageable,” Dominguez said. D i ok no s ai d a p e s o d e pre c i at i on wou l d b e advantageous to families of OFWs as they get to consume and spend more, and thus, would bring more money into the economy. “As the peso depreciates, the OFW families will have more money in their pockets, they will use that to consume. But part of that also will be recovered in terms of higher value-added tax (VAT) collection because

value-added tax is a tax on consumption. So it’s a net gain,” Diokno said. Dominguez said that while oil prices are likely to increase with a weaker peso, the international price of crude has not moved significantly to dramatically affect pump prices. “Internationally, crude oil (price) is going up and down also because of demand. There’s more crude in the market than there was in the past. So prices have been very moderate abroad. So there will be some increase but it’s not going to be that benefits/PAGE 10

LandBank to open up new branches in 2017

Newly-crowned Miss Kauswagan 2017 Souarthizae Aynouszcia Violon shines with her court after their coronation last May 13. Violon is also a candidate of the upcoming Mutya ng Pilipinas Northern Mindanao 2017. photo courtesy of mars chan

LAND Bank of the Philippines is set to open up 10 branches and extension offices this year, ending 2017 with a total of 380 branches. In a statement Monday, LandBank said it already opened new branches in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte and Caticlan, Aklan in March and will launch next extension offices in Binalonan, Pangasinan; San Ildefonso, Bulacan; Lopez, Quezon; Silang, Cavite; Balamban, Cebu; Koronadal and Tupi in South Cotabato; and Tubigon, Bohol. LandBank also eyes to close 2017 with a total of 1,784 ATM networks throughout

the country from the 1,646 ATMs in April 2017. The company is also looking at installing 25 CDMs, a lobby-type machine that accepts card-based and card-less cash deposits. It will add to the current 87 CDMs of the bank. “This is in keeping with our thrust to better serve L A N DBA N K’s g row i ng clientele and further expand our reach, especially to unbanked sectors in underserved areas,” LandBank President and CEO Alex Buenaventura said. Moreover, it targets to roll out more LandBank branches/PAGE 10

BusinessWeek MINDANAO CREDIBLE

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Ms. Medina Tourism 2017 Crowned www.businessweekmindanao.com

Wednesday | May 17, 2017

By Joe Palabao

ast May 14, 2017 twenty (20) lovely candidates coming from the different barangays, business sector, agencies and corporations of Medina, Misamis Oriental vyed for the most prestigious title as Miss Medina Tourism 2017. The most awaited search was sponsored the Tourism Development Council of Medina under the tutelage of the dynamic Chair Hon. Marriane L. Chan and the Local Government Unit of Medina with the active Hon. Mayor Donato ‘Dandan’ N. Chan

with the support of the different Barangays, corporations and Government agencies. The search was the culminating activity for the nine day Medina Kapistahan Cultural Festival 2017 which started May 5 to May 14, 2017 in honor of the Feast of San Isidro Labrador. The search is in line with Tourism Development Plans and Strategies to catapult the Municipality of Medina to be in the Tourism Map the Region and in the country are already in place to include

BB Medina Tourism 2017

Hon. Mayor Donato ‘Dandan’ N. Chan

the seven festivals being developed by the visionary leader Mayor Dandan N. Chan with the Tourism Development Council. The twenty candidates were

trimmed down to ten finalists and were made to answer the challenging question to the candidates ‘ personal advocacy on how to promote the emerging Tourism Industry of the Municipality of Medina. Before the final judgement different minor awards were given to the candidates. And incidentally in behalf of Publisher CEO President Dante Sudaria of Business Week Mindanao, VP for Marketing Joe Palabao presented the Darling of the Press Award to Candidate #14 Mary Jessa Mae A. Alim from Barangay Government of South Poblacion. Dianne B. Regis from Axelum Resources Corporation is crowned Bb. Medina Tourism 2017 with her court: 1st Runner Up

Hon. Marriane L. Chan - Chair Medina Tourism Development Council

Mary Jessa Mae A. Alim from Barangay Government of South Poblacion, 2nd Runner Up Princess Anisah Kaye F. Mangondato from Barangay Government of Tup.on, 3rd Runner up Jasmin B. Labial of Barangay Government of Mananum Bag.o, and 4th Runner Up Jhemeza A. Requiz from Barangay Government of Bulwa. Binibining Medina Tourism 2017 Candidates were the following: Cherry Joy Macapayad from Barangay Government of San Roque, Chelsea M. Balane from the Barangay Government of Maanas, Ma. Alexandria Q. Abao from Barangay Government of North Poblacion, Prinka M. Dalapag from Barangay Government of San Vicente, Marilyn M. Padero from the Barangay Government

of Gasa, Honeylett N. Cabelts from Barangay Government of Duka, Andriena C. Regis from Barangay Government of Dig.ayugan, Liera C. Apugan from Barangay Government of Pahindong, Josephine B. Castillo from Barangay Government of Tambagan, Jannica Marie Ebisa from Department of Education, Mirachel Mae Bitas from Barangay Government of Cabug, Angela Handayan from Barangay Government of Bang-bang, Angel Mae Acero from Business Sector, Judy Ann Labadan from Barangay Government of San Isidro, Kimberly Anne Suazo from Barangay Government of Portulin, Shiela Jane Tahoynon from Barangay Government of Mananum Daan. Congratulations!!

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wednesday|may 17, 2017

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wednesday|may 17, 2017

SSS, Private insurance companies, not competitors, Dooc says The Social Security System (SSS) on Monday urged private companies to design benefit programs that will meet their workers’ needs aside from the social protection provided by state-run pension funds. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that in these t i m e s of g l o b a l i z at i on and workforce mobility, c omp an i e s n e e d t o b e equally adept in designing benefit programs that meet

their workers’ needs and provide incentives for them to stay in the company, as well as attract valuable new talent. “Company-sponsored benefits serve these purposes and can adequately protect workers, if designed and funded correctly,” Dooc said during his presentation in the 17th Lockton Global B enefits Forum held in Makati City. Dooc, in his presentation, also stressed out that private

companies and state-run pension fund like the SSS are far from being each other’s competitors. “The private insurance industry and our institution are not in competition – far from it. We form two of the four pillars of social protection that keep the citizenry from falling into despair when hardships arise,” he said. Dooc said that the four pillars of social protection were social assistance, social

insurance, provident fund system and voluntary and privately-managed plans. These pillars, according to the SSS chief, were bound by two common goals: to provide emot iona l and financial security to insured clients or members in their time of need and through investment activities, to ass ist i n t he c ou nt r y ’s economic development. Dooc also discussed a report published by the United States Social Security

Administration in 2014 covering 177 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines. Based on the report, Australia gave the highest pension to its members that reaches to as high as P69,000 per month while Bangladesh gave the lowest pension at P168 pension per month. Philippines, meanwhile, lies along the countries with lower monthly pension at P1,200 per month before the additional P1,000 benefit for

pensioners was implemented in January 2017. “Why can’t the SSS give these levels of monthly pension? Again, I will have to remind you that the amount of our retirement pension is based upon, among other factors, the length of time and the declared monthly salar y credit that the employee has made throughout his or her active working life,” Dooc said. sss/PAGE 10

The Kapitan Toping Rodriguez Bonbon, Camiguin Basketball Cup 2017 will be held this Saturday, May 20, in barangay Bonbon, Catarman, Camiguin with three teams in play, the James Abucejo CDO All Stars, the team of Palaro NMRAA coach Carlomagno Dagalea and Jonas Molawan, the Andy Calingin Basketball team of coach Andy Calingin featuring players from Liceo de Cagayan University High School and Claveria Cowboys and the Camiguin All-Stars of Kagawad Maeng Quezon and manager Erwin Aranas. photos supplied

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wednesday|may 17, 2017

Council...

Hurst...

Board of Directors (BODs) for Calendar Year 20172019 were elected. “They are tasked to continue the programs, projects, and activities pioneered by the outgoing officers and BODs. It shall also be noted that the achievement of the goals and objectives of the TIPC will not be realized without the member’s commitment to pursue the unyielding drive to work together as a team and maintain the spirit of tripartism, continued efforts to attain industrial peace among labor, management and government entities which serves as an effective and efficient communication channel and mechanism for undertaking joint programs towards enhancing labormanagement relations,” he concluded. The attendees were very grateful to the BTIPC and to the DOLE for productive inputs and learnings during the assembly. (Jessamie M. Aliño/DOLE Bukidnon)

possess real love, peace, and satisfaction in their marriage and family! This is why our Maker is the only One Who can give us the power, honesty, and love we need to raise our standard of living by raising the level of our character. It’s only when we ask Jesus Christ to start changing us that we can start enjoying a truly high standard of living. So why not ask Jesus to take complete charge of your heart and way of living? It’s only then you can start climbing the ladder of REAL success and satisfaction for the rest of your life. Just Think a Minute…

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Doring... from page 4

anymore. Error messages are popping up, and the system is suspiciously slow. Hospitals have fallen victim to ransomware - a type of malware that makes data inaccessible to its rightful owner. Hackers then demand

ransom payments in exchange for a key that unlocks the files. Ransom payments happened also in Hollywood. Blackmailing hospitals into paying ransom has also been reported in other parts of the world, most notably in the US state of California where a Hollywood hospital paid about $17,000 (15,000 EURO) in the digital currency bitcoins to hackers this month. Import is to have regular backups, so that isn’t it a p r o b l e m . If t h e v i r u s encr ypted data is being backed up, one just restore the backup files. Fact is, each one of us and our surroundings are being watched by Big Brother... . A world of glass! +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me in Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com .

Batas... from page 4

the incumbent President? “ C l e a r l y, A l e j a n o and Magdalo (whose founder is coup le ader S e n . Anton i o Tr i l l ane s IV) filed the complaint as part of a sinister and dark movement---which is to oust Duterte from power---obviously cooked up by Filipinos, civilians and military, who are used to rebelling and rising up against duly-constituted authorities to attain their selfish ends and purposes. “In f a c t , it w a s n ot coincidental that as Alejano and Magdalo were filing

their complaint against the President, Liberal Party Vice President Maria Leonora Robredo on the other hand was sending a video footage t o t h e Un it e d Nat i on s C om m i s s i on on D r u g s in Geneva, Switzerland, attacking Duterte on his fierce campaign against illegal drugs in the country. Their motives were all the same---to please foreign masters who are pulling their strings!” -ooo WAT C H “A N G T A N G I N G D A A N ”, “KAKAMPI MO ANG BATAS”, AT FB LIVE: Please watch “Ang Tanging Daan”, a Bible Exposition and prayer session at www.facebook. com/angtangingdaan and “Kakampi Mo Ang Batas”, a legal counseling-news commentar y program at w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / kakampimoangbatas. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0 9 7 7 8 0 5 9 0 5 8 . E m ai l : batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Cimagala... from page 4

around those beautiful words of the Psalm: “In my distress, I call upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.”Let us give everybody the good news of God’s constant mercy and compassion for us, and lift their sagging hearts. Nowadays, in spite of the many material advantages and comforts people are enjoying, many are actually in anguish because they do not realize that God is always around, ever ready to give the joy and peace that the world cannot give. roycimagala@gmail.com.

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE File No. EJF-2017-185 Upon Extra-Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION, a government owned and controlled corporation created under P.D. No. 1267, with postal address at No. 104. Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, against PACIENCIA SUA SUAY, with residence and postal address at Block 3, Lot 29, Villa Candida Subd., National Highway, Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City or c/o MSP 10, Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of March 31, 2017, amounts to ONE MILLION THIRTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE PESOS & 25/100 (P1,013,725.25) Philippine Currency, as mortgagor’s principal and outstanding obligation inclusive of interest, penalties and other charges, exclusive of Attorney’s fees and other necessary fees and expenses of Extra-Judicial Foreclosure and Sale, the undersigned Sheriff-in-charge will SELL at Public Auction on JUNE 19, 2017 AT 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter, at the City Tourism Hall, Cagayan de Oro City, to the Highest Bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the real property mortgaged together with all existing and future improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-69392 Registered in the name of PACIENCIA SUA SUAY ‘’A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 29, Block 3, Psd-10-015484, being a portion of Lot 6221-C, Psd-10-012775). Situated in the Barrio of Bulua, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on the x x x. Beginning at x x x; containing an area of Sixty Four (64) Square meters, more or less’’ Prospective Buyers/Bidders may investigate for themselves the title herein above described and encumbrance thereof, if any there be. In case June 19, 2017 will be declared holiday or non-working day, the Public Auction Sale shall be held on June 23, 2017 without further notice, publication and posting. Cagayan de Oro City, May 10, 2017. FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF By: (Sgd.) JOSEPH C. MAAGAD Sheriff IV BWM: May 17, 24 & 31, 2017

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Routes...

AboitizPower is currently building more than 900 MW of capacity, which company officials said was progressing well and should come in on time and “more or less” within budget. This year, AboitizPower expects to finish the 68.8-MW Manolo Fortich hydro power plant in Bukidnon and the 8.5-MW Maris Canal hydro project in Isabela through its subsidiary SN AboitizPower. Together with partners, it is also completing the 340-MW Therma Visayas, Inc. baseload power plant in Toledo, Cebu and the 400-MW Pagbilao Energy Corp. plant expansion. It is commissioning an 8.8-MW biomass power plant in Lian, Batangas. Liza Luz T. Montelibano, AboitizPower chief financial officer, said of this year’s capital expenditure of P59 billion, up from P38 billion last year, the bulk will go to the Manolo Fortich, Therma Visayas and Pagbilao projects. “Pagbilao should come online by the end of this year. Manolo [Fortich], also around December,” she said, adding Therma Visayas should be completed by the late first quarter of 2018. With the expected start by yearend of the construction of the 600-MW coal-fired power plant under Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc. (RP Energy), a company led by Manila Electric Co, Ms. Montelibano said, “next year should be the full-year capex for RP Energy.” “Based on what we’re working on today it (capex) should come down next year... unless there is a surprise,” she said, adding that AboitizPower’s holdings in RP Energy is only around 25%. Last year, AboitizPower inaugurated the 300-MW Therma South, Inc. coal power plant in Davao and the 59-MW peak San Carlos Sun Power solar plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

flights out of four other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Davao, Kalibo, and Iloilo. The airline’s extensive network covers over 100 routes and 66 destinations, spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the USA.

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Income... from page 5

registered 12 percent growth from a year ago,” Villar noted. Vista also launched new projects totaling about P12 billion in the first quarter of 2017. Vista Land President Manuel Paolo Villar said “we have seen a continued significant growth in our le asing business as we continue to roll out our expansion programs to achieve our stated target of 1.3M sq.m. in GFA by the end of 2018.” As a result, Villar said “our leasing business now accounts for 28 percent of EBITDA and 22 percent of net income and we expect this to increase towards the end of the year.” Capital expenditures for 2017 are expected to reach P35.3 billion. “I remain confident about the prospects for our company,” said Manuel Paolo Villar.

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Benefits... from page 6

significant,” Dominguez said. Tr a d e S e c r e t a r y Ramon Lopez said a peso depreciation would act as a sort of protection for local industries and a boon for exporters. “As we have experienced in the manufacturing sector, as long as the depreciation is gradual, the depreciation is also benefiting and increasing consumption spending. It spurs economic activity, more purchases, as we’ve experienced a consumer spending uptrend whenever there is a depreciation,” Lopez said. Pernia said that the Philippines’ robust service exports has helped contribute to the country’s positive external current accounts. (DOF)

Branches... from page 6

Inclusive Banking Center (LIBC) this year in key cities and municipalities to make government transactions efficient. Early this month, LandBank established the first LIBC at the Land Transportation Franchising an d R e g u l at or y B o ard (LTFRB) main office in Quezon City, which helped in streamlining LTFRB processes. “The LIBC is an interconnected and interoperable facility with a point-of-sale (POS) terminal l i n ke d to t he age nc y ’s cashiering system, cash deposit machine (CDM), ATM, and pre-generated ATM cards for client-payors without ATM card to pay via the POS,” the bank said. (PNA)

SSS...

from page 9 “Having higher contributions will definitely bring up the pension amounts. Unfortunately, setting the optimum SSS contribution levels is out of our hands and often becomes a political issue. We s h are t h e m ove t o grant meaningful benefits to our members but we should provide the funding mechanism to support it w it h out i mp a i r i n g t h e viability of the fund.” he added.

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wednesday|may 17, 2017

Leni...

Seeds...

Free...

i n m at t e r s w h i c h m ay affect their rights, lives and destinies through pro ce dures deter mine d by t h e m a s w e l l a s t o maintain and develop their own indigenous political structures.” It also said the State shall ensure that the Lumads b e “g i v e n m a n d a t o r y representation in policymaking bodies and other local legislative councils.” “We are pushing for this because what we have is just the department order issued by my husband,” she added, referring to the memorandum circular 2010-119 signed on October 20, 2010`. The late Secretar y R o bre d o s e r v e d u n d e r former President Benigno S. Aquino III before he died in a plane crash on August 18, 2012 in the sea off Masbate after attending the Criminal Investigation a n d D e t e c t i o n G ro u p Community Investigative Support national summit in Cebu. The vice president said she wants this law to include provisions that would penalize government bodies that would fail to comply. “O ur p olicies are insuf f icient and t here’s no means for us to know that it is so unless they tell us,” VP Robredo said, referring to the IPs. “The very key to this is to give them the chance to draft for themselves the policies they think are necessary. It is not for us to dictate,” she added. By giving IPs more voice in the society, she believes it will give them more space to address the needs of their communities and contribute to their empowerment. “We want to advocate for the empowerment of the IPs. Empowerment, in a sense, to give them spaces where the IPs can participate in decision-making bodies in government as well as in policy-making. Wherever we go, there is still the same complaint,” she said. The vice president also saw the need to revisit the current IP laws, which she said are sometimes used to oppress them. But Robredo added it should the IPs themselves who will craft the laws to make them more aligned to their needs. She called for the expansion of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to allow more participation from the IPs in the programs. “We have to give them voice b ecause they feel they are misunderstood, so we have to address that feeling of being left behind,” Robredo said. She acknowledged t h at t h e r e a r e a l r e a d y government programs in place for the poor Filipinos, but the tribes complained these are not necessarily responsive to their needs.

between the company and the DA. Ms. Razo said a highst and ard l ab or ator y i s the critical point in the production of the seedlings, particularly the selection process of the tissues that are to be cultured. Maria Emilia Rita G. Fabregar, research group manager of Lapanday, said the impact of the disease on small banana growers affects the whole banana industry. “(Managing) Panama disease is critical to the industry. We cannot confine ourselves on our own, we are willing to share what we are capable of,” said Ms. Fabregar. Aside from the seedling distribution, the agency is also into implementing eradication, trichoderma application, and training farmers to mitigate the problem. Ms. Razo said the farmers from outside Davao City have themselves been picking up the planting materials. “This shows the interest of the farmers to avail themselves of the assistance and willingness to provide the logistics, particularly the vehicle, fuel, and the labor during hauling.”

14, told the INQUIRER in a phone interview that they find no sufficient evidence to investigate Carson Ceasar Lademora prompting the revolutionary movement to release him without going through the process of a third party facilitator done mostly to police and military captives. He was secretly turned over without media coverage to Rosario Mayor Jose Cuyos Sr. , wife Vice Mayor Juvy Cuyos and town councilor Belarmino Balagot in an undisclosed municipal road in neighboring Tagbina town in Surigao del Sur just before dusk. “He is OK now and back to work,” said Lademora’s wife Eufemia as she recalled she had not been sleeping for two nights of worrying about the fate of her husband. She said Carson Ceasar asked not to be interviewed by local media. Lademora and his aide,Leonardo Cacao, were held by the NPA rebels on Saturday after they raided his gold mining tunnels in the subvillage of Sinug-ang in Rosario town. Lademora operates a small-scale tunnels in the high-grade gold rusharea in Sinug-ang in the village of Bayugan 3 which his family has been claiming since the early 1980s. Amihan dismissed unconfirmed reports that there was ransom money involved for Lademora’s early release as she maintained they strictly adhere to the revolutionary movement’s principles not to be regarded as kidnap-for-ransom group. She however admitted Lademora was interrogated if he still had hidden cache of firearms but the captive victim swore that the 21 highpowered assorted firearms they confiscated during the raid were all that he got for his mining workers use to secure their tunnels. Amihan also explained that they could not hold Lademora any longer since he was only investigated if he continued the atrocities to poor residents living in the mining areas of which his late father was accused in the past. Lademora, who is in his 40s, is a son of the late Philippine Constabulary (PC) Col. Carlos Lademora, leader of the dreaded “Lost

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Bank... from page 1

few months, after opening its 11th branch in the southern island last week. “We already mapped are as to w here we wi l l expand our operations. These include the unbanked rural areas and island towns in the country,” Flordeliza L. Sarmiento, managing director of the bank, said in a statement following the opening of the branch in Malita, Davao Occidental. The planned branches would be located in Midsayap, North Cotabato and in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. Ms. Sarmiento said the expansion is part of the strategy to reach 40 million clients by 2020 from about eight million at present. Aside from regular deposits of as low as P100, the bank also offers a remittance facility and f i nanc i a l s e r v i c e s , p ar t i c u l arly l o ans t h at cover education, housing, businesses and calamity rehabilitation. Loans to businesses of as much as P300,000 can be processed without collateral. Aside from the CARD Bank, the CARD MRI g roup a ls o has sma l ler microfinance offices that cater to loans for members. C l ar it a G. Merc ado, Mindanao cluster head at the bank, said it has also partnered with other local remittance centers to give more options to members as CARD Bank’s remittance program could be tied up with the micro-insurance facility. “For only P20 a week, clients already have insurance together with a retirement savings fund,” said Ms. Mercado.

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Command,” whose reign in this town in the 1980s had sown terror on residents. “He did not have that kind of record, so we did not consider him a POW (prisoner of war)”, Amihan said.

DOLE... from page 2

on D.O. 174 in the region conducted by DOLE-10 Regional Director Joffrey Suyao himself. The D.O., which was signed by DOLE Secretary Sylvestre H. Bello III on 16 March 2017 and took effect on April 3, 2017, is the new rules implementing Articles 106-109 of the Labor Code or the regulations governing contracting and subcontracting arrangements. Director Suyao emphasized the salient feature of the D.O. on the absolute prohibition against labor-only contracting arrangements where contractors or subcontractors does not have substantial capital or investments (e.g. tools, equipment, machineries, supervision, work premises) and the employee’s recruited and placed are performing activities which are not directly related to the main business operation of the principal employers; or contracting arrangements w h e re i n t h e p r i n c i p a l employer exercises the power of control over the method and means to achieve the desired job or work. “D OL E w i l l st r i c t ly implement the new order, including all labor laws, rules and regulations to protect worker’s rights and promote their welfare particularly on general labor standards, occupational safety and health and social welfare benefits, security of tenure and due process, self-organization and collective bargaining,” he added. More ov e r, w it h t h e re v is ions of D. O. 174 , t he sub st ant i a l c apit a l requirement for corporations, partnerships and cooperatives is now P5M paid-up capital stock or a networth of PhP5M for single proprietorship. There is also an increase in registration fee from PhP 25,000.00 to PhP 100,000.00. In terms of the validity of the certificate of registration of contractors, it is now shortened from 3 years to 2 years. In succession, the minimum wage consultation that was done in the afternoon

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte IN THE PETITION FOR COMMISSION AS NOTARY PUBLIC IN AND FOR THE PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL NORTE AND THE CITY OF ILIGAN

Pet. for Not. Com No. 041-07-2017

MARK CHRISTOPHER A. BABOR, Petitioner. X---------------------------/ NOTICE OF HEARING NOTICE is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petition for notarial commission of Atty. Mark Christopher A. Babor shall be on JUNE 16, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning at RTC, Branch 07, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Any person who has any cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned before the date of the summary hearing. Done this 8th day of May, 2017 at Tubod, Lanao del Norte. BWM: May 10, 17 & 24, 2017

(Sgd.) DENNIS P. VICOY Acting Presiding Judge

was conducted to gather the opinions, issues and concerns of the management and industrial workers on the propriety and necessity of increase in the regional minimum wage. The consultation tackled, among others, the petition for minimum wage increase filed before the RTWPB-X. The petitioner Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is seeking for a PhP 168.00 across-the-board daily wage increase in Region X. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through Ms. Jane Marie L. Tabucan, presented the prices of basic commodities being monitored by DTI in the region, while the socio-economic status in Northern Mindanao was discussed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The wage consultation is conducted to ensure the broad participation of stakeholders

and other parties affected by wage adjustment. It also helps generate data on the views or position of stakeholders on petitions for wage increase. (Lorraine M. Roa/DOLE Mis Occ PFO)

Dairy...

from page 2 awarded to the Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives in Misamis Oriental to sustain their dairy activities. The congress was participated in by more than 500 dairy farmers from all over the country with the theme: “Gatas Pinoy Paunlarin, Tangkilikin, Palaganapin”. (DA-10)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OFCHILD SPL. PROC. NO. 327-07-2017 MINOR CHARLENE FELOMINA HIGYAWAN - for – BELEN B. ABANGAN, Petitioner. Adoption

x---------------------------------/ ORDER

A verified petition for adoption of minor child Charlene Felomina Higyawan was filed before this Court on March 31, 2017 by the herein petitioner praying, among others, that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued decreeing the adoption of Charlene Felomina Higyawan as the legitimate child of Petitioner. Petitioner alleged that she is of legal age, widow and a resident of Malingao, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. She has been married to Richard A. Abangan who died on February 18, 2017. The minor child Charlene Felomina Higyawan, who sought to be adopted by the petitioner was born on June 22, 2015 in Lying-in, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur and is currently living with the petitioner. Charlene Felomina Higyawan is now one (1) year and nine (9) months as of the filing of the petition. The petitioner further alleged that the biological mother of Charlene Felomina Higyawan is Renalyn A. Higyawan, of legal age, single and a resident of Davao St., Aluba, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City. Petitioner alleged that Renalyn has given her consent to the adoption as evidence by her Affidavit of Consent to Adoption attached in the herein petition. The petitioner and her late husband also registered the birth of the child as Charlene Felomina Bocala Abangan before the office of Local Civil Registrar of Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur. Petitioner alleged that she is in possession of full civil capacity and legal rights, of good moral character, has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude, physically, financially, emotionally and psychologically capable of caring for Charlene, at least sixteen (16) years older than Charlene; that the petitioner is capable to maintain, care for, educate and support Charlene in keeping with the means of the family and physically healthy. The petitioner alleged that she earns her income from their family business, a family store located at Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur, a motorcab operating at Malingao, Tubod, Lanao del Norte and owns several real properties located in Licapao, Malingao and Camp 5, all located in Municipality of Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Finally, the petitioner alleged that the present petition, if granted, will ultimately redound to the benefit of the best interest of the child Charlene Felomina Higyawan, not only for her best interest but also for her well-being, as well and thus, providing him a brighter future in times to come. Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the initial hearing of the case to June 16, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Let copies of this Order be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General at Makati City, Office of the Public Prosecutor at Pigcarangan, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Atty. Dorothea Saligan-Basalo at Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Belen B. Abangan at Malingao, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, Field Office, Region 10, Cagayan de Oro City is hereby directed to conduct a Home Study and Child Study Report upon the petitioner and the child subject of the case. He/she is directed to submit a report relative therewith, at least three (3) days before the scheduled hearing of the petition. Let copy of this Order be published in an accredited newspaper of general circulation in the province of Lanao del Norte in accordance with the rules on publication. SO ORDERED. May 5, 2017. Tubod, Lanao del Norte. BWM: May 10, 17 & 24, 2017

(Sgd) DENNIS P. VICOY Acting Presiding Judge

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wednesday|may 17, 2017