BusinessWeek Mindanao (May 23, 2018)

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume VIII, No. 148 As of 6:00 pm May 22, 2018 (tuesday)

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EU assistance THE European Union (EU) is exploring ways to channel its assistance to Marawi City, mulling a scheme that does not involve transacting with the national government whose chief executive has rejected EU aid.

“Just because the government rejects aid from government to government doesn’t mean we have to do this government to government. There are several programs that we do around as private entity, we channel those funds through private institutions,” European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President Guenter Taus said during a press briefing in line with the group’s 40th anniversary as celebrated Thursday night in Pasay City.

He added that working with governments, in general, “is not easy.”

“But if we put our wills and minds together, we can make this work. We are here to stay, not only as the EU chamber but also as the EU so we do find ways and means,” Mr. Taus added.

IN-DEPTH

Wednesday|May 23, 2018

Lapasan Highway, Cagayan de Oro City

P15.00

Capitol team stakes claim to unaccounted properties

By LESLIE GATPOLINTAN

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HEgovernment is confident about securing funding to implement the rehabilitation and reconstruction of war-torn Marawi City and other devastated areas nearby, which reportedly requires a budget of P53.42 billion over the next five years.

Ad or a c i on Nav ar ro, Undersecretary for Regional Development of the National Economic and development Authority (NEDA), said some P26.16 billion is needed for this year; and P27.25 billion from 2019 to 2022. rehab/PAGE 11

By MARK FRANCISCO Staff Writer

MEDICAL OUTREACH. Members of the media and their families have availed of the free medical and eye checkups held in line with 36th Press Freedom Week celebration at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) office. The medical outreach program was sponsored

by Bukidnon 1st District Rep. Ma. Lourdes “Malou” Acosta-Alba. photo by gerry lee gorit

Unified grid DAVAO City -- The government’s goal of interconnecting the nation’s three major power grids into a single national grid will be realized in 2020, a ranking official of the Department of Energy (DOE) announced.

Patrick Aquino, director of Energy Policy and Planning Bureau said once the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao i n t e rc onnec tio n p ro je c t is completed by December of 2020, the proposed single grid will allow the country’s three island groups to share power reserves with each other.

“There can be exports or imports of electric power between or among the main islands in the country,” Aquino said.

Cagayan de Oro

P53.42-B needed for Marawi rehab: NEDA www.businessweekmindanao.com

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THE provincial government of Misamis Oriental has “discovered” 33 more properties all over the province and in Cagayan de Oro City that were previously unaccounted.

Provincial administrator Jocelyn Mateo revealed yesterday that the Provincial Inventor y C ommittee formed by Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano last March had stumbled upon dozens of documents proving that Capitol indeed owned these estates. claim/PAGE 11

Group drums up awareness vs AIDS

By MARK FRANCISCO Staff Writer

SCENIC STREET FOOD STRIP. Street food lovers in Iligan City now have a new go-to place: at Barangay Ubaldo Laya along the new Circumferential Road 3 (C3), situated in the mountain overlooking part of downtown. It offers a beautiful view of the sunset at Iligan Bay. mindanews photo by bobby timonera

THERE’S a new alarming trend in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Northern Mindanao – couples whose husbands and boyfriends are initiating discreet sex with male partners.

Speaking during the annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial last Sunday, Misamis OrientalC agayan de Oro AIDS Network (MOCAN) president Fritzie Estoque said that awareness/PAGE 11

AIDS AWARENESS. Anti-AIDS advocates light candles during the simultaneous International AIDS Candlelight Memorial last Sunday at Kiosko Kagawasan in Cagayan de Oro City. The activity was held worldwide to drum up awareness about HIV and AIDS. photo by mark francisco

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NTC exec backs measure to register SIM cards DAVAO City -- A law mandating the registration of prepaid Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards will help the regional office here of National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) deal with complaints about text messaging scams, according to the NTC regional head.

This was the reason cited by NTC Regional Director Nelson T. Cañete for his support for House Bill 7233 or the “Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act” which was approved on third and final reading on March 16.

The bill requires the registration of all users of SIM cards.

Cañete said registering SIM cards will help in reducing crime perpetrated through cell phones using unregistered SIM cards, It will deter crimes such as text messaging scams in which cell phone owners receive bogus, unsolicited text messages that inform them that they won a house, car or cash, or that trick them into sending cell phone credits to strangers masquerading as relatives, he added.

According to Cañete, the NTC regional office receives about 80 to 100 complaints a month involving SIM cards.

The proposed law requires telecoms or Register/PAGE 11

LocalNews

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P180-M seen to uplift lives of abaca farmers in AgNorte

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UTUAN City -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Agusan del Norte, through the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE) funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), proposed a total of P180 million funding to support the Abaca Value-Chain Project in Tubay, Jabonga, Kitcharao and Santiago in this province.

The project aims to increase profitability of agrarian reform beneficiaries, small holder farmers, Indigenous Communities and women groups involving the San Isidro Upland Farmers MultiPurpose Cooperative (SIUFMULCO) and other 20 participating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs).

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Andre B. Atega, CESO V, disclosed that most of the projects are funded by a loan from the IFAD with counterpart funding from DAR, Local Government Units

(LGUs) and farmerbeneficiaries.

According to ConVERGE Project Coordinator Annelyn R. Chan of DAR Agusan del Norte, the Project ConVERGE was approved in October 2015 and took off in the last quarter of CY 2016.

For Agusan del Norte, from 2016 to the first quarter of 2018, a total of P55.6 million or 31 percent was released out of the proposed P180 million allocated up to 2021.

With the very active participation of all project stakeholders and partner-implementers, Team ConVERGE in

DAR-Agusan del Norte was able to deliver the two-year target in a span of one year.

The project conducted 80 classes with 13 types of capability Enhancement Trainings to 21 farmergroups; provided 12 mobile Abaca Stripping Machines; one-unit 10-wheeler Hauling Truck; provided planting materials and other farm inputs covering 300 hectares distributed to ten ARBOs; and rehabilitation of farmto-market road to be implemented within 2018. (Gil E. Miranda, DAR-Agusan del Norte/ PIA-Agusan del Norte)

How programming skills improve teaching performance

By RICHARD RYAN A. DAGUIT, Teacher I Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School

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

AS we evolve into the Information Age, while it is increasingly becoming more and more important that teachers know how to access and apply technology in the classroom, multiple research studies have indicated that not enough attention has focused on the education of classroom teachers in how to utilize and integrate technology into their curricula.

He re a re 2 0 b a s i c te chnolog y ski l ls t hat all teachers must now

have: word processing, spre adsheet, databas e, electronic presentation, web navigation, website design, email management and digital cameras.

During the last 15 years, we in education have moved at a light speed in the area of educational technology.

Today, not only do we use computers but we also have laptops and tablets.

In addition, we have the worldwide web, social media and smartphones. And most

educators use a variety of tools including video, email, desktop conferencing and online programs such as Blackboard to teach. Thus, it is no longer acceptable for educators to be technologyilliterate.

To preserve financial investments in technology infrastructure and to prepare students for the new economy of the 21st century, school administrators must look to teacher training and technology standards.

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Wednesday|May 23, 2018

Jeers and cheers

Speaking out Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO

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ignacio bunye Expectedly, both jeers and cheers greeted the decision of the Supreme Court ousting Chief Justice Sereno by a vote of 8-6. And the noise is not expected to die down anytime soon.

Latest to join the fray in bashing the ouster decision was former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. who

Kakampi mo ang batas

Batas Mauricio

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… `Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which Member: I commanded them to keep.

They have taken some of the Philippine Press Institute devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they Oro Chamber have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies’…” (Joshua 7:11-12, the Holy Bible).

-ooo TOURISM FUND MESS: a better mood.

“Take time think a minute out before you take it out PROSECUTE AND PUNISH on each other!” As one lady THE GUILTY, BUT CLEAR who‘d been married over 35 years said: “I’ve learned never to tell my husband bad news on an empty stomach!”

The 2nd guideline is to hints and traces allow the other person the right to say, “I’m angry.” Let them tell you how they feel.

If we don’t let others express jhan tiafau hurst their anger in a healthy way, then it will continue to build Think a minute…A few up until we finally blow y e ar s a go M i ke Ty s on up! Then we can deeply fought Evander Holyfied hurt each other with the for the world heavyweight angry, even hateful, things championship title. During we say and do. Remember, roy cimagala the fight, Tyson got so angry our feelings are not right he actually bit off a part of or wrong, but they’re still Holyfield’s ear! Most of us real; so we need to allow WE have to strongly and know that it takes a much each other the freedom to frequently remind ourselves stronger man to control say how we feel. that we are supposed to be his own anger than to let it Number 3: Know exactly another Christ, who as the control him. why you’re angry. Sometimes Son of God, the perfect image Many homes are not the thing that started us that God has of himself, is happy because the husband feeling so angry was only a the pattern of our humanity, and wife haven’t learned to small even silly thing. But and who as the God-madecontrol their anger and fight behind it is the real problem man, is the redeemer of our by the rules. Of course, I which we need to talk about damaged humanity. don’t mean fist fighting, but it.

We have to do everything rather arguing with words. The 4th guideline to to achieve that goal, that ideal, There are 5 simple guidelines fighting in marriage is to for which Christ has already for fighting that would make realize that your anger is given us everything. In fact, a big difference in many the enemy, not your wife he has given his own self, and marriages and homes. or husband. So stay on the not just some means.

The 1st one is smart same side and fight together We need to be truly timing. If you are still angry, against the anger that’s Christian, going beyond then it’s usually better to hurting your family. just being Christian by wait until both of you are in Hurst/PAGE 11 name, nor even just being

Be a good figther!

first to acknowledge this. In so many words, Drilon says that the Senate has already expressed its sentiment on the matter. But if the majority of the Supreme Court ignores the Senate, there is nothing more the Senate can do.

As to the possibility of the Quo Warranto 8 being impeached, it is clear as day that any group contemplating this move would not even get to first base with the House Committee on Justice.

Sereno’s penultimate card is to file a motion for reconsideration as she and her counsel have previously announced. But this, I believe, will only be pro forma.

At the back of her own mind, Sereno feels that the fight at the Supreme Court is already lost.

The battle lines have been so clearly drawn that to expect any justice (who voted against Sereno) to reconsider his/her vote would be a stretch.

Sereno’s last card? She is now exploring a different platform where she will try to seek vindication.

This early, she is beginning to sound like Candidate Sereno (a publicist projected her as “Serene Sereno”) who is playing the underdog card.

Potential Bar question I am almost sure that the land mark Quo Warranto case will be one of the questions in Political Law during the forthcoming Bar Exams later this year. Bar reviewees would do well to really study this case.

If I were an examinee, I bunye/PAGE 11

Tourism fund mess: prosecute, punish the guilty...

manila office: 9th Floor, Unit 918, CityLand Herrera VA Rufino Cor. Valero St., Salcedo Village, Makati City Tel. # : 5555392,Cell No.: 0977-152-8860 lani vallido-Marketing Manager

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Corporation every Monday to Friday with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City.

It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Company Registration No. CS201531633 with BIR Certificate of Registration No. 2RC0000831068, TIN No. 463-826-272-000 – VAT. Reg., and with Business Permit No. 2017-02942. Tel. Nos.: (088)856-3344, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424 Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

said that the justices who voted against Sereno may be impeached. A majority of the Senate also passed a resolution urging the Supreme Court to review its decision. Sereno herself has asked President Duterte to resign for engineering the move to oust her.

Those who support the Quo Warranto 8, on the other hand, just as noisily proclaim that Sereno got her just dessert.

As in a basketball, the noise from the gallery will not add one point more to alter the outcome of the game.

The final result will really depend on the individual players – in this case, the 14 justices - who are actually on the court.

Senator Frank Drilon is

THE INNOCENT: If the alleged findings that are coming the way of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat at this point which say that hundreds and hundreds of millions of pesos in tourism funds have been used for projects that were not in any way related to tourism are true, there is nothing else that the Duterte government can now do but truly prosecute and punish those who will be found guilty of any wrongdoing.

We know how close President Duterte is with Wanda Tulfo Teo, the former secretary of the Department of Tourism, and with her siblings as well. But it would no longer be just for the benefit of better governance and w is er hand ling of government money that an investigation and appropriate pro s e c ut i on shou l d b e directed by the President posthaste. This would enable

Wanda to clear her name and her honor, too, should it turn out that the charges against her are not true.

Indeed, if investigations will show that the government did not derive any benefit from the hundreds and hundreds of millions which the Department of Tourism spent under the leadership of Wanda, she should be appropriately penalized, including those who acted in concert with her. However, if the evidence will show that the charges against her are not true, her name and honor, and that of her family, should be appropriately cleared.

-ooo STONING TO DEATH, AND BURNING OF REMAINS, ARE GOD’S PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE W HO ST E A L P U B L IC FUNDS: What should be frightening in charges of corruption like this is the warning from the Bible

against those who keep for themselves and their families the money or riches intended for the benefit of the public as a whole. This warning can be found in the case of Achan (whose story can be read at Joshua 7 of the Bible), where he and his family members, including their animals, were all stoned to death.

What is t r u ly more fearsome here is that the deaths of Achan and his household did not quench the fierce anger that their fellow Israelites felt against them.

After making sure that Achan and his family members were already dead, their remains were even burned by the Israelites. Now, it maybe asked: what gave rise to this burning anger of the Israelites against Achan? It was the act of Achan in appropriating for himself a small part of the loot they amassed from Jericho. punish/PAGE 11

Not just Christian performers, actors, scholars a C h r ist i an p e r for me r or actor or scholar, quite active in church activities and knowledgeable about Christian doctrine. Much less should we be contented with being a Christian caricature.

We have to have the mind and heart of Christ, his very own spirit which is given to us this time in the Holy Spirit, such that while we can say that we are so-and-so as our personal, individual identity, we can also say with conviction that we are another Christ.

Our human identity, let us remember, is not complete unless it is merged with the identity of Christ. And this is possible and achievable because in the first place Christ wants it that way. “You are mine,” we read in the Book of Isaiah (43,1), underlining the fact that as a creature of God, we cannot be without our Creator and Savior.

That is why God continues to beg us to be with him. “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,” we read in the Book

of Proverbs. (23,26) Are we aware of this divine plea and are we doing something about it?

We should try our best to exercise our faith to the hilt, the faith that God himself gives us. We have to be guided by our faith more than anything else so that we can have not only an encounter with God through Christ in the Holy Spirit, but also to enter into vital union with him, such that God and us become one.

This is no pipe dream. It’s true, of course, that while this ideal will only be definitively achieved in heaven, it is also true that it has to be pursued earnestly, without let-up, while here on earth. It can be done. It should be done, what with all the resources Christ has made available for this purpose.

When we have the mind and heart of Christ, we would know how to understand everyone and everything, and would be willing, like Christ, to bear whatever burden there is in our relation with others.

We would know how to be patient, compassionate and merciful. Anger, envy and pride would be far from us.

We would prefer to suffer and even die than to compromise our charity.

That would the real mark of one who is truly identified with Christ. We would be full of charity. We may have defects and still commit some mistakes, but our charity stays and is lived abidingly.

Everyday let us craft a plan or strategy to keep our vital identification with Christ a reality. This is not falling into some kind of psychological complex, since if we truly try to be another Christ, Christ himself will be the first one to make us humanly simple and humble.

We need to feel at home with this basic truth of our faith that our very consciousness should have Christ as its essential constituent. We have to learn to live this identity with naturalness, one that includes the eminently spiritual and supernatural character of our life.

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Smart backs ecotourism initiatives in Normin

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Tourism officers play an online game that required them to answer a series of questions pertaining to ecotourism during the workshop in Cagayan de Oro City.

Aboitiz Land to launch 3 residential projects ABOITIZ Land Inc., the property development unit of Aboitiz Group is solidifying its entry into Luzon’s midmarket segment with the launch three residential projects saying that it has earmarked some PHP5 billion this year on capital spending.

Aboitiz Land First Vice President of Operations Rafael de Mesa told reporters Monday these projects are located in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Lipa, Batangas.

De Mesa noted majority of its new project launches are in Luzon even as the company continues to strengthen its foothold in Cebu.

“In the markets that we are focusing in the mid-market house and lot, the demand continues to be strong especially in the provincial locations as the metro gets more saturated,” he said.

De Mesa said this

year’s spending budget will be earmarked mainly for projects that have been launched, ongoing construction projects, as well as those that will be launched and begin construction this year.

“We have residential (projects) in Cebu mostly and then we have one in Luzon called Seafront.

And then the commercial project in Lipa, we’re expanding the Lima Technology Center Industrial Park,” he said.

De Mesa further said the company aims to open The Outlets at Lipa, a commercial retail development, this year.

Aboitiz Land reported a net income of P744.2 million last year, an increase of 295 percent from 2016. The significant increase was due to exceptional business performance of its units and recognized fair valuation gains on investment properties.

(PNA)

Cebu Pacific flies record 65,000 passengers in 1 day CEBU PACIFIC Air on Sunday said it flew 65,298 passengers on May 7, breaking its own record for the most number of passengers flown in a one day.

In a statement, the Gokongwei-led budget carrier said the passengers were ferried in 395 flights on May 7. Majority of the passengers were flown on 302 Cebu Pacific flights, while the rest were on 93 Cebgo flights.

Cebu Pacific said its previous record stood at 64,684 passengers flown on Dec. 27, 2016.

“As summer peak season reaches full swing, we are seeing more tourists going on vacation. The growth in the Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector is also driving passenger traffic,” Cebu Pacific Vice President for Corporate

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CorporateWorld

Affairs Paterno S. Mantaring, Jr. was quoted as saying.

The budget carrier operates flights out of seven hubs, namely Manila, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro (Laguindingan) and Davao.

Cebu Air, Inc., the listed operator of Cebu Pacific, reported its net income grew 12% to P1.437 billion during the first three months of 2018 due to an increase in passenger revenues.

Cebu Pacific flew 4.9 million passengers during the January to March period, 1.3% higher than the same period last year.

“The launch of direct service from Manila to Siargao and Batanes contributed to the sustained growth in CEB (Cebu Pacific) record/PAGE 11

OURISM and planning officers from local government units in Northern Mindanao recently joined an ecotourism workshop initiated by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications in partnership with the Department of Tourism– Region 10.

The two-day training was designed to enhance ecotourism knowledge among local stakeholders and equip them for the

preparation of their tourism plans.

Facilitated by Mr. Joselito “Boboi” Costas, Cebu provincial tourism officer and founder of Grassroots Travel, a community-based tourism organization, the workshop focused on community participation, protection of natural resources, and ecotourism as business.

“Mindanao holds many opportunities for ecotourism development to help local communities,

with its mountain ranges, underwater coral gardens, and endemic animal species,” shared Costas, who organized the Bojo Aloguinsan Ecotourism Association in Cebu.

“In Aloguinsan, the locals themselves became empowered to protect the environment once we raised their awareness on environmental protection,” Costas added.

The association bagged several international accolades, including the smart/PAGE 11

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Wednesday|May 23, 2018

TFS presents the new Toyota Rush

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By MARK FRANCISCO

HE new Toyota Rush 2018 was unveiled and presented by Toyota Financial Services at Toyota Cagayan de Oro last Wednesday.

According to TFS Mindanao team head Bennie Amboayan, there will be ten percent downpayment for all orders of the new Toyota Rush 2018 till the 31st of this month of May. The promo covers dealerships under Toyota Cagayan de Oro – Toyota Butuan, Toyota Zamboanga, Toyota Valencia and Toyota Iligan under the indefatigable leadership of assistant general manager Allen Rey Rodriguez and vehicle sales manager Tina Yap. The all new Toyota Rush 2018 comes in three variants: the Toyota Rush G1.5 Auto and the Toyota Rush E1.3 Auto and Manual.

It is a small SUV with a ground clearance of 220 mm featuring seven airbags

for the safety not just of the front-seated riders but as well as folks at the back.

Its 17” rim tires can be steered using the rear wheel drive and the Toyota Rush has an added feature – a push start keyless entry.

Toyota Rush also comes with upswept LED headlamps, a four-slat grille, capacitive touchscreen audio system, Oplitron meter gauge with MID, dual air conditioning, spacious luiggage compartment, front fog lamps and LED head lamps. In particular, the Toyota Rush G1.5 comes with roof rails, tilt-adjusted steering and reverse parking camera.

Toyota Rush colors come in Bordeaux, dark red, white, silver, bleak and bronze.

Toyota Rush – break away from the everyday.

Toyota Financial Services is the inhouse financing arm of Toyota Motor Philippines.

SSS seeks EO, charter amendment to give other P1,000 pension The state-run Social Security System (SSS) on Tuesday said it seeks the issuance of an Executive Order (EO) or the enactment of the proposed amendment of Republic Act 8282 or Social Security

Law of 1997 to fulfill the promise of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to give additional benefit to SSS pensioners.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc issued the statement amidst

clamor from pensioners to release another P1,000 additional benefit next year. Dooc stressed that the second tranche of the additional benefit could only be granted either through the issuance of an EO from Malacañang or the approval of the proposed bill that will amend the SS Charter.

“We do not have the power to give an additional P1,000 benefit by next year. The SSC

does not have the power to adjust the contribution rate or amount of monthly pension, only the President of the Republic and Congress have the power to approve a pension increase,” Dooc said in response to the call from pensioners to implement the second tranche of additional pension by 2019.

“Just like what I have said earlier, our goal here sss/PAGE 9

Computer Literacy: Helping Students in the Modern World JULIUS L. SUMILE JR. Teacher I Baungon National High School

Technology is a powerful tool that gave birth to computers which are now helping 21st centur y learners. They are now equipped with faster and easier ways to learn whenever they want and wherever they are.

Computers have also given every student the ability to access an infinite amount of information through the internet. But, is this enough for them to reach their goals and dreams?

Well, it’s not. Computer literacy is not enough to secure the future of any learner. Because, just like any other advancement in history, computers also have a disadvantage. For example, it can derail a student’s learning capacity by distracting them with g am e s an d v i d e o s or take their curiosity in discovering important subjects with the enticing entertainment given by social media platforms.

This is where the K to 12 Curriculum of DepEd and its teachers come in.

With the goal to inform and guide learners, the K to 12 Curriculum and its educators are empowering students to learn computer technology skills at an earlier grade than the past generation, while informing them of the risks that it entail. They are now giving each student the equal ability to finish any project or task with various computer programs that will help them in the present and in the future.

However, this can only do so much, a student’s success or failure will still rely on the teachers’ and the parents’ guidance.

All in all, computer literacy is an amazing gift, it can either be a tool for triumph but without the proper counsel of parents and teachers it will never be enough.

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Banking&Finance Inflation is ‘manageable’ even with TRAIN: DOF Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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

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

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

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

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

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

METRO BANK- GAISANO 8561720

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

CM Recto Ave. Lapasan, Cdoc, 8563991/727731

BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK RER kauswagan,HW Cdoc 8573733 /722519 BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK Gaston Park Cdoc | 8801518 BPI – LAPASAN Cm Recto HW Lapasan Cdoc 724076/ 8524602 BPI- VELEZ Velez-JR Borja St.Cdoc 8564213/722406 BPI – CAPISTRANO Capistrano St. Cdoc 8574264/8574263 BPI- COGON Osmeña St. Cdoc 8571297/8571298 CHINA BANK –GAISANO 745887/745880 CHINA BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc 8572212/8573274 CHINA BANK- LAPASAN CM Recto Lapasan HW Cdoc 8561325 /722240 CHINA BANK – CARMEN Max Suniel, Cor. Yakal St. Cdoc 8583903/723091 CHINA BANK – DIVISORIA RN Abejuela St. Divosoria Cdoc 8575759/722641 CITY SAVINGS BANK TS Fashion Ave.Justo Ramonal Corner St.Cdoc 2316060/ 2316059 CHINATRUST Suite U&5 G/LGateway Tower Lapasan Lkk Cdoc 8521846/8521844 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK HW. Lapasan Cdoc | 8564201/ 8564201 D’ASIAN HILLS BANK Vamenta Carmen Sts. Cdoc | 8585366 DBP – CORRALES Corrales Ave., St. Cdoc | 8572087/722649 DBP – CAPISTRANO JR Borja Capistrano St. Cdoc 8567776/722819

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

Tiano Bros St. Cdoc | 727083 /727082 PHILTRUST BANK Ramonal OsmeñaSt. CDO 8807234/2316694/2316695 PNB- CORRALES Corrales Avenue Cdoc | 729500 / 729723

PNB- LKK MALL NORTH CONCOURSE

LKK Mall N.Concourse Cdoc 8574149/8575682

PNB- CARMEN Elipe Bldg.Carmen, Cdoc | 8583158/ 8584203 PNB- LKK LKK Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564347/722872 PNB CDO– DIVISORIA Tiano Bros.Cruz Taal St., Cdoc 722861 /722816 PNB CDO– LAPASAN LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc | 8564732 / 723992 PNB CDO– COGON LKK Center Lapasan, Cdoc 8571991/ 723992 PHILIPPINE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK, INC. bels_domingo@yahoo.com.ph Rizal Chavez Cdoc 8572194/725438 PS BANK Velez Corner A. Mabini St., Cdoc 8574183/725184 PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK Tiano-Abejuela St. Cdoc 722644/8573386 QUEEN CITY DEVELOPMENT BANK, INC. Sacred Heart Mont. Cm RectoAve., Cdoc 8562390 RCBC- VELEZ Velez-Borja St. Cdoc | 8564982/8568888 RCBC- COGON Simplex Bldg. Osmeña St. Cdoc 8562888/725863/8521329 RCBC- LAPASAN Cm. Recto Lapasan HW. Cdoc 8561888/722449 RCBC- LKK Gateway, Tower 1 LkkCenter, Cdoc 8563707/722449 RCBC SAVINGS- CARMEN Walingwaling St.,Carmen St. Cdoc 8585793/ 8586248 RCBC SAVINGS- VELEZ Velez St. Cdoc | 729083/8562460 RCBC SAVINGS- AGORA 8807891/8807892 RURAL BANK OF CABADBARAN, Inc.

#58 Tiano FernandezSt.CDO 727215/ 8563552 *805

SECURITY BANK- OSMEÑA Osmeña St. Cdoc | 8563965/ 723411/728774 SECURITY BANK- LKK Limketkai | 8801258/8801625

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

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

EAST WEST BANK Cogon De Oro Constraction Bldg. LKK Drive 8500339/8500331

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

ENTERPRISE BANK INC. Centro Mariano Bldg Osmeña St. Cdoc 723869/ 3093395 FIRST CONSOLIDATED BANK CM Recto Ave., Cor.Agudo Road Cdoc 8565360/2316678 LBP – CAPISTRANO Capsitrano St. Cdoc | 8565515/727678 LBP – VELEZ LunaVelez St. | 723549/8563198 LBP – PUERTO Puerto Cdoc | 8558858 MAYBANK JR Borja Tiano Cor. Bldg. Cdoc 8574439/726060 METRO BANK- DIVISORIA Pabayo Abejuela St. Divisoria Park, Cdoc 724783/8576999 METRO BANK- VELEZ A. Velez St. Cdoc | 8561724/726054 METRO BANK- JR BORJA JR Borja St. Cdoc | 8572999/724415

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

Capistrano Corner CruzTaal St. CDO 8524099/722695

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

T

HE Department of Finance (DOF) called the uptick in inflation that immediately followed the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, “moderate” or at “manageable” levels.

According to a statement issued Friday, finance undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said the tax reform law would support funding for the government’s massive infrastructure program and social services, which are meant to keep inflation in check in the future.

“The current spike in inflation is only temporary. All these programs we are implementing, which are made possible because of the additional revenues

poor and low-income earners amounting to P2,400 for 2018 and P3,600 for 2019 and 2020.

Beltran warned that suspending the TRAIN law might affect the increased government spending on health, which will reach P107.3 billion this year, along with education, P672.4 billion; social protection, P141.4 billion; infrastructure, P704.2 billion; the 100 percent hike in the salaries of the military, which is equivalent to P62.8 billion; and spending for the free college tuition program, P51.4 billion.

Based on DOF data, TRAIN’s effect only made a direct impact on the prices of certain goods, such as non-alcoholic beverages, tobacco, electricity, gas, and other fuels, and transportation.

TRAIN also pushed

up inflation by only 0.4 percentage point, which is comparably lower than DOF estimates of 0.7 percentage point. Other factors, such as the rise in global oil prices and the better collection of cigarette excise taxes, drove inflation to 4.5 percent in April this year.

Beltran pointed out that while inflation reached 4.5 percent in April, month-to-month inflation, however, declined from 1 percent in January to only 0.5 percent in April. Yearto-date inflation was recorded at 4.1 percent by the DOF. “This suggests a potential easing of inflation moving forward.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expects inflation to temper and settle to 3.9 percent in 2018 and decelerate further to the midpoint of the target inflation/PAGE 9

PH banking sector forms 1st blockchain group

PH BOP position posts $270-M deficit in April

THE country’s banking sector is set to spawn its first blockchainrelated organization, the Blockchain Association of the Philippines (BAP) next week.

The BAP will be led

by Union Bank of the Philippines, one of the first enterprises in the country to integrate the blockchain system in its business operation. UnionBank Chairman Justo Ortiz will also chair the BAP. The BAP will be launched during the Blockchain Applications and Economics Forum 2018 from May 28 to 30, which aims to educate Filipinos on blockchain application and

from TRAIN, are meant precisely to prevent prices from rising further in the future,” Beltran said.

“TRAIN is a longterm measure that would push the economy to a much higher development path, create more jobs and improve the living conditions for our people,” he added.

The chief economist said the effect of inflation is cushioned by lower tax rates and cash grants for the short term, as well as health, education, social protection, and infrastructure programs for the long term. The TRAIN law, which lowers the personal income tax of salary earners, led to higher disposable income averaging at a 15-percent increase.

The law also grants unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) to the

opportunities.

Blockchain is a digital ledger with large network of entities where data is stored in “blocks” -- not in any single location -- that are continuously updated and are secured using cryptography.

This technology is commonly associated with bitcoin, but it has many applications and can be used by different industries.

In a press conference Monday, Ortiz said there is a huge opportunities for blockchain technology in the country. He noted that educating Filipinos is critical for the growth of blockchain in the Philippines. UnionBank

aims to have 25,000 blockchain programmers over the next two years, he said. Currently, the bank has 30 only blockchain programmers.

In the same event, UnionBank’s Fintech Business Group Head Ramon Vicente de Vera announced the bank’s Project i2i, which initial project is to involve rural banks in blockchain technology of UnionBank in order to promote financial inclusion.

De Vera said rural banks have strong presence in remote communities, which universal banks cannot reach.

Through the Project banking/PAGE 9

THE country’s overall balance of payments (BOP) position in April 2018 posted a deficit of $270 million, a very notable reversal from the USD917 million BOP surplus recorded in the same month last year.

Outflows in April 2018 stemmed mainly from payments made by the National Government (NG) for its maturing foreign exchange obligations and foreign exchange operations of the BSP. These were partially offset, however, by income from the BSP’s investments abroad and deficit/PAGE 9

2018 School - Based Summer Reading Camp

By Sarah Lood Cabug-os San Miguel Elementary School Manolo Fortich I District

One of the biggest and widest program that DepEd has been implemented to promote and ensure good quality of education is the Summer Reading Camp. It is an annual program that aims at enhancing every child’s reading capabilities.

Its purpose is to assist the pupils especially the nonreaders and slow readers or under frustration levels.

Our school, San Miguel Elementary School has been actively participated the 2018 School-Based Summer Reading Camp held last May 7-11, 2018. The summer activity is in support of the K to 12 Basic Education

Program and in line with the 10 Point Agenda of the president.

Reading is the most powerful means to promote understanding and comprehension skills among pupils in school.

As a matter of fact, poor reading capability leads to poor academic performances of the learners. Indeed, Summer Reading Camp is s o b enef icia l among learners and teachers. This

would address not only the existing problems on reading difficulties of the learners but further nurture and hone the individual’s love on reading. It is one way to encourage children to spend more time in reading, de velop re ading habits and boost their academic performances by exposing campers to various learning opportunities where reading skills will be enhanced through play, fun games,

oral interpretations, videos, puppet show, storytelling and other enjoyable activities.

Indeed, the 2018 SchoolBased Summer Reading Camp was successfully done.

It was very memorable and remarkable to all the campers because they learned a lot and all their efforts were given recognition and appreciated at the same time they had fun and enjoyed the various activities given and presented to them.

9

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SSS...

from page 6

in SSS is to see to it that we are able to release the second tranche [of pension] still within the term of President Duterte, which can be approved in 2022 during his last year in office,” Docc added.

President Duterte in January 2017 announced the approval of the P2,000 additional pension and granted the first P1,000 on the same year while the remaining P1,000 will be released by 2022 coupled with a financial mechanism that will sustain the viability of the pension fund.

Dooc said the pension f und shelled out s ome P33 billion in 2017 for the implementation of the first P1,000 additional pension.

The amount needed for the implementation of the second tranche of the pension increase will be slightly higher as the number of pensioners increase every year by an average of 100,000.

He further explained that the pension fund performed well in its duty to increase contribution collection to suffice the growing benefit disbursement of SSS. He noted that the pension fund contribution collection in 2017 increased by 10.6 percent from P144 billion in 2016.

“We recorded P159 billion in contribution collection in 2017. This shows that our efforts to collect from

employers and individual memb ers have b e c ome effective. For 2018, we aim to improve collection further by around 18 to 20 percent over last year,” Dooc said.

He a l s o m e nt i o n e d that to strongly support the implementation of the second tranche of pension increase, there should be approval of either an increase in contribution rate or adjustment in the minimum and maximum monthly salary credits in SSS. Dooc said that SSS could generate some P7 billion in the last quarter of 2018 should the proposal of 1.5 percent increase in contribution rate, adjustment of the minimum salary credit from P1,000 to P4,000, and maximum salary credit from P16,000 to P20,000 be implemented

by October.

The SSS President said the proposal to increase the contribution rate is vital for the pension fund, its pensioners and its current contributing members. “This is important to support the viability of the pension fund and to assure our current me mb e rs t h at t he S S S will still be there in their times of contingencies para mapanatag ang kalooban ng mga kasalukuyang miyembro (to appease our current members)” After implementing the first tranche of the additional benefit in 2017, the SSS' fund life dropped from 2042 to 2032 last year. Should the second tranche of additional

pension be implemented in 2019 without any funding mechanism, its fund life is projected to last for seven years or until 2026.

Inflation... from page 8

range (of 2 percent to 4 percent) in 2019,” Beltran said.

Me a n w h i l e , s e v e r a l lawmakers from both chambers of Congress have pushed for either a review or suspension of the tax reform law amid the current surge in inflation.

A bill has also been f i l e d at t h e Ho u s e o f Representatives seeking to repeal certain “regressive” and “anti-poor” provisions in the law.

The seven-member Makabayan bloc filed House Bill 7653, which seeks to repeal regressive taxes, including additional excise tax on petroleum, excise tax on sugar sweetened beverages, and expansion of the coverage of the valueadded tax. (PNA)

Banking... from page 8

i 2 i , Un i on B a n k w i l l interconnect five rural banks to national and international payment networks, allowing their customers to access fund transfer, remittances, and other payment systems through these rural banks.

This pilot project will be online by next month, de Vera said.

“We are just starting with

The beautiful and intelligent Berjayneth Chee- Miss Balingasag, Miss Kuyamis 2018 of the enchanting Province of Misamis Oriental is the newly crowned Miss Earth Philippines 2018 during the Coronation Night May 19 at the Mall of Asia.

Congratulations! photo by glenn palacio

rural banks. We will tech them up and help them bring to life,” he said, noting that from 3,000 rural banks, the country now has less than 500 rural banks. (PNA)

Deficit...

from page 8 net foreign currency deposits of the NG during the month. For the period Januar y-April 2018, the cumulative BOP position yielded a higher deficit of $1.497 billion compared to the $78 million BOP deficit recorded in the comparable period in 2017.

The higher cumulative BOP deficit for the first four months of the year may be attributed partly to the widening merchandise t rade def icit (b as e d on Philippine Statistics Authority data) for the first quarter of the year that was brought about by the sustained rise in imports to support domestic economic expansion.

The reported BOP position is consistent with the final GIR level of $79.609 billion as of endApril 2018. At this level, the GIR represents more than ample liquidity buffer and is equivalent to 7.8 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income. It is also equivalent to 5.4 times the country’s short-term exter na l debt b as e d on original maturity and 4.0 times based on residual maturity. (PR)

Computer Replacing Teaching Force JULIUS L. SUMILE JR. Teacher I Baungon National High School

The 21st century teacher uses computer aided technology which presents lesson to the learners in order to achieve higher participation and understanding to happen.

Multimedia presentations enable the students to be more proactive and engaged in every lesson discussed or introduced by teachers.

With this scenario is it possible in the near future that computer may replace the teaching force?

Today’s generation of learners are more exposed w it h t e ch n ol o g y t h at becomes a part of their daily routine. In school, TV monitors were used for film viewing and power point presentations that were informative as well

a s e nt e r t ai n i ng . T h i s monitor is also used to show downloaded online contents such as video tutorials, documentaries and valuable resources related to the lesson of the teacher. Does this mean that the teaching force can be replaced with artificial intelligence on the near future. Robots will be the one teaching our young generation with plenty of ways to make students more knowledgeable. This may not be impossible but one thing is for sure, whoever may be in the teaching force it is the person receiving the information and used it for its improvement and progress of the community matters most.

10

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salutes its sister publication: Finalist in the 2017 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards as:

* Best Edited Community Newspaper (Weekly Category) * Best in Business and Economic Reporting (Weekly Category)

Congratulations!

11

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Wednesday|May 23, 2018

Rehab...

Claim...

N a v a r r o , h o w e v e r, explained that these are only estimated f i gu re s for t he B angon Marawi C omprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (BMCRRP), and they may still change as vetting is ongoing.

“I believe that gove r n me nt , e sp e c i a l ly the agencies headed by the economic managers are confident that we will be able to fund the requirement for this year. The private sector and ODA (official development assistance) partners actually they are very much committed,” she said in a press briefing on Monday.

For 2018, Navarro said PHP10 billion will come from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fu n d ( N D R R M F ) , a n d provisional PHP5 billion under the unprogrammed appropriations in this year’s General Appropriations Act (GAA).

She noted ODA partners Japan pledged 2 billion yen (P970 million), while China, 150 million yuan (P1.23 billion).

“Australia has ongoing humanitarian and recovery assistance in the amount of 24.02 million Australian dollars. There is an underdetermined amount of technical support from the World Bank,” she added.

Navarro said other fund sources for 892 programs, proj e c t s a n d a c t i v it i e s ( P PA s ) a r e n a t i o n a l government agencies and Autonomous Region i n Musl i m Mi nd ana o (ARMM) budgets in the annual GAA and internal revenue allotment of local government units.

“Donations from the private sector and nongovernment agencies and other non-profit o r g a n i z at i o n s a r e a l s o fund sources. There are PPAs which are funded by them particularly those for permanent housing, livelihood assistance and prov is i on of e du c at i on facilities,” she added.

T h e N E DA o f f i c i a l further said physical infrastructure sector will require a budget of P26.15 billion, or less than half of the total P53.42 billion.

Navarro said 252 PPAs for physical infrastructure sector include rehabilitation/construction of transportation infrastructure and utilities, social infrastructure, liveli ho o d and tour ism s up p o r t f a c i l it i e s , a n d government facilities.

O t h e r ke y P PAs are housing settlement, with investment requirement of P10.38 billion; livelihood and business development, P7.77 billion; social s er v ices, P5.87 bi l lion; land resource management, P2 billion; and local governance and peace building, P1.25 billion, she added. (PNA)

Mateo said these lands could be found as far as the municipalities of Magsaysay to the east and Manticao to the west and even in certain parts of Cagayan de Oro City.

Mateo even said that some of these properties in Cagayan de Oro City already have structures erected in them while others are occupied by squatters.

“For instance, that site occupied by a Graphic billboard at Corrales-Luna junction, we discovered that that property is ours. There’s also a vacant lot beside BPI in Capistrano near the Amphitheater that is ours too,” she pointed out.

Mateo added that there’s even a big piece of land in barangay Lumbia that the provincial government is claiming.

Capitol’s new revelations have already taken a strain in its relationship with the Philippine Red Cross.

The provincial government is currently locked in an ongoing court battle with the Red Cross involving a disputed property now occupied by the said civic organization across the main capitol building.

The move of the Emano administration comes at a time when it has received a proposal from the Ayala conglomerate to develop the capitol complex in Cagayan de Oro City into a public-private partnership.

This, even as Capitol officials are contemplating to transfer seat in Alubijid and Initao municipalities.

from page 1

from page 1

Awareness... from page 1

based from her experience as counselor, there have been many instances in the past years of people living with HIVs who are couples.

“There are men who are now receiving treatment who are married yet they acquired HIV through anal sex with a male partner. There are also women – wives and girlfriends – who are also PLHIV w hom we have reached out,” Estoque said.

(PLHIV is jargon for people living with HIV; antiAIDS advocates from both the government and the civic sector do not use the term people affected with HIV and are encouraging media not to use it too.)

But Estoque said she could not give specific figures of the number of couples who are living with HIV because the Department of Health (DOH) doesn’t keep track of that demographic.

“The official records will still show that majority of PLHIV in Cagayan de Oro are still men having sex with men, which is of course true. But to me this is tricky because it emphasizes a biased outreach to the GBT community,” she continued, referring to the local gay community who have been active partners to curb the rise of HIV here.

“I would like to stress that the general population must also be aware that HIV is not just present in the GBT community, it can be present everywhere including your

typical family next door,” Estoque went on saying.

As of December 2017, there were 300 HIV cases in Cagayan de Oro. That data has yet to be updated.

Register... from page 2

direct-sellers of phones or sim cards to ask for valid identification from the buyers or end-users of the card. The end-users will be asked to register in the SIM registration form, filling out their full name, date of birth, gender and address.

Cañete allayed fears that the registration would amount to invasion of privacy, saying the process is just the same when one applies for a telephone landline connection in which he is required to fill out details in the application form.

It is estimated that 130 million cellular phones and about 300 million SIM cards are being used in the country.

(PIA/RGA)

Hurst... from page 4

The final guideline is you have to invite God to the fight. You need to ask Jesus Christ to take control of your heart and marriage.

Only He can give you the willpower, love and selfcontrol you need to start winning your fight against your uncontrolled anger that will hurt, even destroy, your marriage and family. Just Think a Minute…

Bunye... from page 4

would quote the dissenting opinion of Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio. I believe it is the correct way of deciding the Sereno case.

Carpio maintains that Sereno is guilty of not filing her SALNs for which she should be held accountable.

But Sereno can only be removed via impeachment, not via a legal shortcut.

It is just too bad for Sereno that she failed to get the numbers to back her.

The importance of SALNs Now we better appreciate how important it is for public servants – high and low – to file SALNs. Failure to do so can have dire consequences.

So it has become a yearly ritual for government to publish the SALNs of high profile public figures.

Last week, we learned who were the “richest” and the “poorest” legislators.

My only question: who checks the figures reported by the SALN filers? I don’t know.

But I have a suspicion that most SALNs are understated.

And to me, the filing of an inaccurate SALN is no better than failure to do so.

Barangay/SK election results in Muntinlupa City For t hos e fol l ow ing political developments in Muntinlupa City, here are the Barangay and SK election results.

District 1 Tu n a s a n : B a r a n g a y Chairman – Walter Ambayec Arcilla SK Chairman – Seth Lance Sy Laureta

Poblacion: B arangay Chairman – Allen Fresnedi Ampaya SK Chairman –Angelo Narciso Espeleta Putatan: Barangay Chairman – Danilo Rosca Teves SK Chairman – Dhynia Mae Sarmiento Arciaga Bayanan: Barangay Chairman – Adorado Placido San Pedro SK Chairman - Lorenz Emmanuel Hinon De Mesa District 2 Ayala Alabang - Barangay Chairman: Ruben Palomar Baes SK Chairman: Jarmaine Salvador (The winners ran unopposed.)

Alabang – B arangay Chairman: Christine May Acuba Abas SK Chairman: Jan Nhette Ahya C. Dancel Cup ang – B ar ang ay Chairman: Rainier Emmanuelle Bulos SK Chairman: Kenichi De Los Ama Takagi, Jr. Buli – Barangay Chairman: Ronaldo L. Loresca SK Chairman: Guian Carlos P. Cole Sucat – Barangay Chairman: Rafael Talplacido Sevilla SK Chairman: Ramon Paolo Sarmiento Tolentino The election of incumbent Muntinlupa City Councilors Christine May Acuba Abas (Alabang) and Rafael Talplacido Sevilla (Sucat) will create two vacancies in Muntinlupa’s City Council.

The vacancies are expected to be filled up by the DILG from nominees submitted by the political parties under which Abas and Sevilla ran for city councilor.

Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com. You may also “like” us on Facebook at Speaking Out.

Punish...

from page 4 T h e p e opl e l e ar n e d of Ac h a n’s c or r u p t i on when the Israelite troops suffered a shameful defeat courtesy of a much lesser number of enemies. Joshua prostrated himself before God, expressing dismay that God allowed His people to be defeated by a force which was much smaller in size. It was then that God told him that someone stole the funds intended for the people, and the defeat of the Israelites by a much inferior force was a punishment for all of them for that corruption.

-ooo A N D K N K OF F E R S FREE BIBLE STUDIES AND PRAYER MEETINGS: This is something that many who are now in government seem not to understand. In appropriating for themselves the funds or goods belonging to the government for their own personal or family benefit, they are no longer just committing corruption against the country. They are in fact grievously sinning against God. What is more, the curses arising from their having stolen government money or go o d s wou l d c au s e punishment not only for themselves or their families, but for the entire nation as

well. This is the reason why there is a continuing curse of poverty afflicting a great number of our people at present. The corrupt act of just a few is making life very cumbersome for the country.

That is why, in Biblical times, the corrupt are not simply killed. They are also burned and turned to ashes right away!

This is the reason why the Children of God Blood Kin of the Christ Church (AND KNK, the Simbahang Anak ng Diyos Kadugo Kristo) is furiously striving to share, through free Bible Studies and Prayer Meetings, the commands of God from the Bible. The people should know the punishment that awaits them when they disobey God, so that they could do something to avoid this disobedience and the punishment that comes with it. To those who are interested to join our Bible studies, please get in touch with me at the email address and phone numbers listed below.

-ooo FOR QUESTIONS, REACTIONS: If anyone would like to ask me any question about what the burning issues of the day mean, or what we have discussed here, or to consult on any problem, whatever it maybe, please call 0917 984 24 68, or email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com, or post your concerns at www.facebook.com/attybatas.

Promise, I will answer right away. Thank God in the Name of Jesus, Amen!

Record... from page 5

passenger volume, coupled with double-digit growth in CEB short-haul international routes, particularly Bali, Nagoya, Narita, Incheon, Xiamen and Bangkok,” the company said.

It aims to fly a total of 22 million passengers by the end of the year.

Smart... from page 5

Asean Tourism Award, for its efforts in community tourism.

The intensive two-day workshop showed the tourism

officers the importance of cultural mapping, and their role in conservation and community education.

Apart from the lectures, the participants also learned a lot from an ecotourism game, where they brainstormed with group mates on what decisions would lead their ecotourism development to success.

At t h e e n d o f t h e workshop, representatives of each of the five provinces in the region presented their ecotourism plans, which they would later present to their local chief executives.

“This effort is very useful and timely for our tourism ac t iv it i e s,” s ai d A lb e r t Medina, Misamis Occidental tourism officer. One of the major ecotourism projects of the province is to develop the Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park, which was declared an Asean Heritage Park in 2012.

He said the provincial tourism office would replicate the workshop to provide decision makers and legislators with a better understanding of ecotourism.

“Northern Mindanao h a s r i c h p ot e nt i a l f or ecotourism, with the cultural heritage of Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental, and the vast wealth of natural resources in the region.

We hope that through this workshop, we can help our local partners with their efforts in conservation and community empowerment,” said Maria Jane Paredes, Smart Visayas-Mindanao public affairs head.

In collaboration with the public sector, Smart aims to enhance tourism efforts in the regions through capacity-building and digital innovations.

Among Smart’s tourism projects is the recently unveiled KulToura app in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). The app is part of a digital tourism program launched by Smart and InnoPub Media in 2012. The program aims to harness mobile technology to promote tourism and the preservation of cultural and heritage sites.

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LifeStyle IDC represents at the 51st ADB annual meeting Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Wednesday|May 23, 2018

I

(R-L IDC Chairman/CEO Arch. Romolo V. Nati attended the event with Development Bank of the Philippines Chairman/CEO Cecelia C. Borromeo and Mr. Joey Leviste Jr.)

talpinas Development Corporation Chairman Arch.

Romolo V. Nati was invited by the Development Bank of the Philippines for the 51st ADB Annual Meeting held in Edsa Shangri-La hotel last May 3, 2018.

The event was in association with Development Bank of the Philippines and Daiwa Securities Group Inc., a company that primarily operates as a securities broker-dealer not only in Japan but also internationally.

The event was also attended by several leaders of Philippine’s top business

community.

ADB was established in the early 1960s as a financial institution that fosters economic growth and cooperation in the poorest regions in Asia.

DBP on the other hand, is the country's most progressive development banking institution. Through the years, DBP has been a key player in nation-building by assisting critical industries and sectors, promoting entrepreneurship particularly in the countryside, helping build more productive communities, advancing environmental protection and contributing to the improvement of lives of the Filipinos across the nation.

DBP and Italpinas forged its partnership in relation to IDC’s newest sustainable development, Primavera City, which is strategically situated in the prime location of Uptown Cagayan de Oro City. DBP and IDC have a similar vision in nation-building and it is exhibited thru IDC’s developments. While many developers avoid emerging cities and focus on highly urbanized area, IDC, instead, choose emerging cities in the country for its developments.

Built-in with green strategies, Primavera City will harness the best principles of passive cooling technology: shadow and sunlight control, wind cooling and shape performance. It will feature renewable energy that will be produced from semi-transparent photovoltaic panels found on the roof, covering the amenities deck, and on the external, east-side walls. The project will also have water recycling and rain harvesting systems.

All these green features will make Primavera City unit and building maintenance very cost effective. The project is also designed to be ‘disasterproof’, able to withstand strong typhoons and earthquakes.

Primavera City, recently launched its remaining inventories last May 16, 2018, for its 4th, 5th and 6th floors and now has a total 86% sold units for Tower A and 55% sold units for Tower B. Primavera City was awarded as the “Best Mixed Use Condominium” at the Asian Property Award Competition and it is also in the process to be rated as a “Green Building”

by EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency ) the green building rating system developed by IFC (International Finance Corporation) which is part of the World Bank.

To date, IDC has successfully developed two (2) structures that are internationally recognized and EDGE Certified (Excellence In Design For Greater Excellence) and also awarded by the Asian Property Award.

With these architectural solutions, IDC ensures its contribution to progressive and sustainable development and nation building.