BusinessWeek Mindanao (November 13, 2013)

INSIDE LOOK

Actress Sharon leads donors to Aboitiz’ Yolanda relief drive Corporate World

‘Yolanda’ wreaks havoc to Visayas’s sugar industry PAGE 15

Agri-Business

Security Bank’s 9-mo income contracts on lower trading gains

PAGE 16

Banking & Finance

PAGE 17

Aquino declares ‘state of national calamity’ Environment

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IN-DEPTH

EU gives more X X Briefly funds for M’nao peace process

PAGE 24

Wednesday - November 13, 2013

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Market Indicators

As of 6:21 pm Nov. 12, 2013 (Tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P43.78

6,324.17 points

19 cents

58.94 points

Financial aid

THE Cagayan de Oro Cit y Council has enacted an ordinance appropriating the sum of P5million from any available sources of funds as pinpointed to by the Local Finance Committee to be made available as financial assistance to the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Albay, Masbate, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Leyte, Samar, Eastern and Nothern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Southern Leyte and Biliran, which were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

The ordinance authorizes Mayor Oscar Moreno to deliver or turnover the said assistance.

Councilor President D. Elipe, author of the ordinance, said the amount to be given to each LGU will be the prerogative of the mayor. He can also seek additional appropriation to the City Council, Elipe added.

P

RESIDENTIAL Adviser on the Peace Process secretary Teresita Deles on Monday welcomed the allotment of additional 8 million Euros by the European Union (UN) for the Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Programme (MTF-RDP) in support to the peace process.

Deles and EU Commissioner for Development A ndris Piebalgs led the ceremonial signing of the contribution a g re ement he ld at t he Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) at Ortigas Center in Pasig City.

Also present during the signing were Dr. Saffrulah Dipatuan, Chairman of the Bangsamoro Development A g e n c y ( B DA), E U Ambassador Guy Ledoux and Motoo Konishi, Country Director of the World Bank. ”Our event this morning shows another area where

t he Eu rop e a n Un ion continues to partner with the Philippine government and provide development assistance in the Mindanao peace process,” said Deles. ” The agreement... formalizes the expansion of EU’s contribution to the MTF-RDP. As I understand, the additional funds will be used to suppor t t he Sajahatra Bangsamoro, the joint development program of the government of the Philippines and the MLIF as well as the Bangsamoro Development Planning,” said Deles. funds/PAGE 23

Dev’t projects MATI City -- In a bid to foster peace in the countryside, projects for socio-economic development have been set for implementation here in the province, says the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP).

During their courtesy call to Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon and City Mayor Carlo Rabat on Friday, the OPAPP team bared aligned projects being brewed to be implemented under the Sajaharta Bangsamoro Program (SBP).

Among these projects are the constructions of a fish landing, rural health center, daycare center, and implementation of skills development program.

KRISPY KREME IN CDO. Krispy Kreme, popular US brand is known worldwide for its delicious, sweet and crisp doughnut, is set to open its first store in Mindanao on November 15 at the Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City. The Cagayan de Oro branch is Krispy Kreme’s first stand-alone store in Asia with a drive thru for travellers.

Yolanda seen to curb PH economic growth THE growth of the Philippine economy will be curbed by Typhoon Yolanda, perhaps the strongest typhoon to make landfall in recorded history, after it devastated provinces in the country’s central regions.

Gross domestic product (GDP) g row t h for 2013 may be shaved by roughly 1 percent after Ty phoon Yolanda barrelled through Central Philippine region, said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Real Estate Investment Summit Tuesday.

C ent r a l Ph i l ippi ne s , which accounts for 12.5 percent of the country’s GDP, could decline by as much as 10 percent for the year, he added.

The Philippines’ burgeoning economy increased by over 7 percent for four consecutive quarters, and registered the fastest growth in Southeast Asia at 7.6 percent in the first half.

T h e A q u i n o administration targets GDP to rise by 6 to 7 percent this year. yolanda/PAGE 23

AirAsia Zest, Tune Hotels offer free flights, rooms to volunteer aid workers

GOOD HARVEST. Farmers use a rice thresher to separate the rice grains from the stalks and husks in Barangay Alubijid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, Saturday afternoon. mindanews photo by erwin mascarinas

Mindanao Daily NEWS

AIR ASIA Zest and Tune Hotels have started a donation and relief campaign, To Philippines With Love, for survivors of super typhoon Yola ndo in t he Visayas region.

To Philippines With Love involves free airlift of goods and transport for accredited

rescue, humanitarian and medical workers.

Donations are accepted at AirAsia Zest cargo office in Manila and will soon be extended to all AirAsia and AirAsia X regional network in ASEAN countries including China and Australia. free/PAGE 23

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14 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Editor : Cheng Ordoñez , e-mail- cheng.ordonez@gmail.com

Gov’t to use fiscal space for rehab projects: Purisima

Economy

during the Asia-Pacific Real Estate Investment Summit Tuesday that the country has not yet reached t he rehab/PAGE 22

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Peso weakens further vs. U.S. dollar

MANILA -- Impact of the strong employment data in the United States continues to haunt MANILA – The Department assets. of Finance has pledged to Finance Secretary Cesar the Philippine peso, which further depreciated use fiscal space this year for Purisima said in an interview against the dollar Tuesday. rehabilitation projects after the country experienced a succession of calamities which damaged a significant portion of the country’s

wednesday | november 13, 2013

The peso shed P0.19 after finishing Tuesday at P43.78 from the previous

day’s P43.59 finish.

“This is mainly due to short covering by investors

Malampaya Fund eyed for power restoration works in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas MACTAN ISLAND, Cebu -- Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla is considering to tap the Malampaya Fund to finance power restoration works in areas hit by super typhoon “Yolanda.”

He declined to give any figures on possible expenses since they are still assessing the extent of the damage brought about by the cyclone, which put the entire Region 8, part of Region 7, and a big part of Cebu still without power.

“We are in assessment mode right now,” he told reporters here on Tuesday.

To d at e , re m a i n i n g royalties received by the national government from the Malampaya oil field gas project at offshore Palawan a mou nts to about P137 billion.

The royalties are exclusive for the use of power-related projects of the government.

Un d e r t h e t e r m o f President Benig no S. Aqu i no I I I, s ome P4 .4

billion was allocated from the Malampaya Fund to be loaned to Mindanao-based fund/PAGE 21

still because of the stronger U.S. data,” a trader told the Philippines News Agency in an interview.

T he U. S . L abor Department reported last Friday the 204,000 increase in jobs last October, higher than market’s expectations of 120,000 as well as the 148,000 jobs created last September.

Because of this development, some analysts are open to the possibility of the tapering of the Federal Reserve’s US$ 85-billion

monthly bond-buying by December.

Thus, the local currency started the day at P43.60, we a ker t ha n Mond ay ’s P43.35.

It traded between P43.80 and P43.56, bringing the average for the day at P43.67.

Volume of trade reached US$ 779.3 million, lower than the US$ 784.9 million the previous day.

For Wed ne sd ay, t he currency pair is expected to trade between P43.60 and P43.90. (PNA)

After the storm, Antiquenos are back on their feet to earn a living. A scenario at San Jose Trade town, Dalipe on Monday Nov. 11/13. Office of the Provincial Agriculturist noted a stable supply and prices of meat and vegetables in the said market while supply of fish is expected to decline as fisherfolks are restricted to sail due to bad weather. (MLG/PSM/PIA6 Antique)

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CorporateWorld

15

Higher real estate revenues boost Vista Land’s 3Q profit

The Aboitiz Group gets immediately response from actress Sharon Cuneta who pledged P5 million to help victims of typhoon Yolanda.

Actress Sharon leads donors to Aboitiz’ Yolanda relief drive

MEGASTAR Sharon Cuneta is leading the list of donors to the Aboitiz Foundation in its effort to raise money to help victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

Aboitiz Foundation, the social development arm of the Aboitiz Group, has also already raised P30 million, thanks to pledges of support from bot h interna l and external sources.

C u n e t a p l e d g e d P5 million via Twitter to the foundation, while Union Bank of the Philippines, the group’s banking arm, has also pledged P25 million.

In her tweet the actress said she is giving P5 million to Ab oit i z Fou nd at ion and anot her P5 million to Alagang Kapatid, ABC Channel 5’s foundation.

“This is how much I believe in you both. God bless Visayas,” she said.

Aboitiz Foundation has recently distributed more than 5,000 bags of relief goods in the aftermath of the fighting in Zamboanga City. It has also raised more than P20 million for the victims of the 7.6-magnitude

earthquake in Bohol.

The P 30 million worth of total pledges for the Yolanda victims’ relief efforts supports Aboitiz Foundation’s current relief efforts in the Visayas for victims of super typhoon Yolanda, where it has set up a command center.

The foundation is currently conducting an assessment of the needs i n L ey te wh i le a l ready transporting relief packs and hygiene kits to 6,500 families in the hardest hit areas in Northern Cebu.

How you can help: Please send cash donations to the Aboitiz Foundation through the following: Aboitiz Foundation’s UShare portal http://ushare. unionbankph.com/aboitiz/ Un ion B a n k of t h e Philippines Account No. 10026-1070944 Cit y Sav ings Ba n k Account No. 200-20031301 Or v isit w w w. aboitizfoundation.org and click the “Donate” button.

For up d ate s on t he rel ief op er at ion s , v i sit the Aboitiz Foundation’s Facebook page. (Facebook.

ROBINSONS Retail Holdings Inc slumped on its stock market debut Monday amid a selloff in the broader market.

Sha res i n Robi nsons Retail, the country’s second biggest multi-format retailer, opened at P56 per share, down 3.45 percent from its listing price of P58.

The stock traded at a peak of P57.30 apiece and a low of P53.60 each before settling at P56.50, or 2.59 percent lower than the offer price.

“Robinsons Retail was pu l led dow n by genera l weakness of the market,” said April Lynn Lee-Tan, head of research at COL Financial Group Inc. Earnings of SM Retail may have also aided the drop in the Gokongwei-owned Robinsons Retail shares.

The Henry Sy-owned SM Retail had reported a 1.3 percent decline in earnings to P4 billion in the first nine months of the year on lower margins.

“I think some investors may be concer ned t hat

R o bi n s o n s R e t a i l m ay come out with the same performance,” Tan said.

“We don’t expect our RRHI to be bucking the trend when the whole market’s down so we’re not surprised with the price coming down a little bit. We’re here for the long haul. We expect the stock price to improve as the company grows,” Robinsons Retail chief strategist Bach Johan Sebastian said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index plunged 1.42 percent to close at 6,265.23 as investors gauged the impact of Typhoon “Yolanda” on the economy.

R o b i n s o n s R e t a i l ’s d e p a r t m e nt s t o r e a n d super ma rket loc ated at Robinsons Land Corp’s mall in Tacloban are the only stores that have yet to reopen following the onslaught of ‘Yolanda’, Sebastian said.

A l l ot her Robi nsons Retail stores in the Visayas are “secure” and have opened a day af ter the t y phoon battered the region on Friday. robinsons/PAGE 21

Robinsons slumps on stock market debut

com/AboitizFoundation) or follow on @AboitizFDN on Twitter.

VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc expects to hit its financial t a rge t s t h i s ye a r a f ter earnings grew by double digits in the third quarter on the strength of its affordable housing brand Camella.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the property company owned by former senator Manuel B. Villar said its net income rose 15 percent to P1.22 billion in the July to September period, from P1.06 billion in the same three months of last year.

T h i s brou g ht prof it of t he countr y’s biggest

homebuilder to P3.8 billion in the first nine months of the year, or 17 percent higher than the P3.2 billion in 2012.

Real estate revenues rose by a quarter year-on-year to P5.13 billion in the third vista/PAGE 21

16 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

AgriBusiness

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‘Yolanda’ wreaks havoc to Visayas’s sugar industry SUPERTYPHOON Yolanda has severely damaged sugarca ne pla ntations in t he Visayas, including sugar mills, seriously undermining the country’s capacity to achieve its target this year.

Some 100,000 to 120,000 metric tons of sugar may have been lost as Yolanda ravaged the Visayas, according to t he Sugar Reg u lator y Administration.

“Sugar-cane crops still in plantation in the Visayas, which accounts for more than half the nation’s plantations, estimated to produce more than 100,000 tons of sugar, were destroyed,” SRA chief Regina Bautista-Martin said in a phone interview.

Between 20,000 to 30,000 hectares of sugar in the whole region are affected and losses may rise, Martin said, adding the data is just preliminary and feared to increase.

She added that milling infrastructure sustained significant damage across northern Negros, Panay and Leyte islands.

In Ormoc about 8,500 hectares of sugar cane were destroyed, representing 30 percent of areas planted to sugar cane in the province.

Martin said about 7,000 hectares in Capiz were also

da maged a nd t he sa me number of hectares was damaged in Pasi, Iloilo.

Ormoc was the worst affected by the super typhoon, according to the official, because two of the sugar mills in the area were also destroyed.

There are 18 sugar mills in the whole of the Visayas.

“Rooftops of the milling structures in Ormoc, Roxas Cit y, a nd C api z , were damaged.”

Martin said these mills would need “major repairs.”

“This will require a huge budget. Also for the farmers affected by the typhoon.”

The entire Visayas is planted to 266,000 hectares of sugar cane. With 25,000 hectares damaged by the typhoon, it is expected that about 20 percent of the production will be lost.

The bulk of the country’s sugar-cane production comes from the Visayas. It accounts for more than half of the total production area, according to the SRA. Negros represents 55

percent of the country’s cane output, Panay about 6 percent and Leyte about 2 percent.

Based on the 2012-2013 crop year, sugar and its byproducts contribute some P76 billion annua lly to the national economy. Byproducts include raw sugar, molasses and bio-ethanol.

In Apri l t he SR A announced that it is increasing its sugar-production target for the year to 2.434 million metric tons from the initial projection of 2.356 million metric tons.

BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur -- The Depar t ment of Ag ricu ltu re (DA) in partnership with the local government has provided a boost in farming technique to some 80 farmers in this town.

This, as the DA and the local government have jointly conducted over the weekend a training on basic organic agriculture.

Mayor Leonardo Babasa, Jr. said Tuesday the training is in line with his dreams to make this town known as

the “organic municipality” when it comes to agriculture.

Babasa said the training is of great help to local farmers to be able to earn more since they will spend less on inputs in organic farming.

Babasa said the products on organic farming are also healthier and safer to consume compared to farming by using synthetic pesticides.

The DA regional organic farming focal person Priscilla Hover and her staff have provided the local farmers

with input on the advantages of organic farming practices like the use of vermicast.

Vermicast is an organic or natural fertilizer that is created by using composting earthworms. These earthworms are placed in a container which is filled with compost.

The worms make their way through the food and excrete, which is called the vermicast.

Ve r m i c a s t e n r i c h e s the soil and ensures that plants receive all the needed

nutrients as it grow.

Meanwhile, Babasa, in partnership with DA, intends to conduct a workshop for the farmers in vermi-casting in the coming days.

The practice of organic farming is in line w it h Republic Act 10068 otherwise k now n a s t he Orga n ic Agriculture Act of 2010 that seeks to promote the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically v i a ble a nd te c h n ic a l ly feasible production of food and fibers.

Despite t he Cou r t of Appeals’s (CA) issuance of a writ of kalikasan, which stopped the field testing of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, farmers remain hopeful that the government will approve its release in the local market.

Farmers’ groups made t he statement a f ter t he Bangladesh Nationa l Committee on Biosafety approved the commercial release of Bt brinjal, or genetically modified (GM) eggplant in the last week of October.

“We env y farmers in Bangladesh. Our farmers

have b e en w a it i ng for Bt eggplant. Farmers in Pangasinan and even those in the Ilocos region are ready to plant it,” Rosalie Ellasus, farmer-cooperator of the San Jacinto Kasakalikasan Multipurpose Cooperative, said in a statement.

Ellasus is engaged in the production of Bt corn, which makes use of virtually the same technology as that used in Bt eggplant. She said she has already prepared a plot where she could plant Bt eggplant.

“Planting eggplant is profitable and I intend to plant Bt eggplant once it is

approved and made available for commercial production,” she said.

Rey na ldo Caba nao, president of Asian Farmers Regiona l Net work, said farmers in Mindanao are also awaiting the approval the commercial release of Bt eggplant.

“Farmers are just waiting for Bt eggplant to commercialize. They’re ready to adopt it,” Cabanao said.

A survey conducted by Dr. Cesar Quicoy of the University of the Philippines L os B a ños , C ol le ge of Economics-revealed that farmers could never grow

egg pla nt w it hout usi ng pesticides.

In Quezon 100 percent of eggplant farmers spray their crops. Pangasinan farmers, 96 percent; and Batangas farmers, 97 percent, admitted to using chemical spray to grow eggplant.

Spraying accounts for 30 percent of production cost equivalent to P28,000 per hectare, per season. Labor cost for pesticide application ranges from P2,000 and P16,000 per hectare.

Farmers use 5 liters to as much as 115 liters per hectare, per eggplant season. These Farmers/PAGE 22

Zambo farmers get training on organic farming technique

Farmers seeks govt approval of Bt eggplant cultivation

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Banking&Finance

17

Ayala, Singaporean firm buy DBS’ remaining stake in BPI

Security Bank’s 9-mo income contracts on lower trading gains A DROP in trading gains p u l l e d d ow n S e c u r i t y Banking Corp’s net income in the first nine months of the year.

In a statement, Security Bank said its earnings its third-quarter profit climbed 112 percent to P2.5 billion this year from P1.18 billion l a s t ye a r. D e s pit e t h e improvement in the third quarter, the lender’s earnings fell 32 percent to P4.2 billion in the January to September period from P6.18 billion a year ago.

Ne t i ntere st i ncome -- which pertains to gains from its lending business -- increased three percent to P6.2 billion in the first nine months of the year. But this was not enough to make up

for the 47 percent decline in non-interest income to P3.4 billion this year from P5 billion in 2012.

Non-i nterest i ncome includes gains from trading and other fee-based businesses. “ The ba n k is wel l positioned to support the long-term economic growth of our country,” Security Bank president Alberto S. Villarosa said.

“We will continue to focus on improving our core businesses in terms of volumes and margins even as we keep our balance sheet solid,” he said.

The bank’s loans grew by 34 percent year-on-year to P145 billion, funding various income/PAGE 21

AYA LA Cor p (AC) a nd Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund have purchased the remaining stake of DBS Bank Ltd in Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), marking the Singaporean lender’s exit from the local lender.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, AC said the conglomerate and GIC Private Ltd bought DBS’ 9.9 percent indirect ownership interest in BPI through Ayala DBS Holdings Inc (ADHI) for P29.6 billion.

Through the transaction, GIC and AC will effectively acquire 5.6 percent and 4.3 percent of BPI, respectively.

This will raise Ayala’s total ownership in the Philippine lender from 44 percent to 48.3 percent.

“DBS has been a strategic investor in BPI since 1999.

This divestment is in line with DBS’ focus on its core markets. We are pleased to have been part of BPI’s growth in the Philippines over the last decade and have a productive relationship with the Ayala group. We believe that the transaction will have a positive outcome for all parties,” said DBS chief executive officer Piyush Gupta.

“We thank DBS for the 14 years of par t nership

and support in BPI, which undoubtedly contributed to BPI’s continued position as the premier financial institution in the Philippines,” said AC chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala.

DBS’ divestment started in October 2012 when AC acquired its 10 percent stake in BPI for P25.6 billion.

“Moving forward, we are delighted to have GIC as part of the shareholder group of BPI. GIC and Ayala bot h have a solid track

record for making longterm investments and this partnership speaks to an alignment of values and goals as shareholders. The entry of GIC also ensures the continuity of a stable and committed shareholder base for BPI,” Zobel de Ayala said.

A m on g t h e wor l d ’s largest fund management companies, Singapore-based GIC has over $100 billion in assets under management. It has investments across 40

countries and in assets such as equities, fixed income, real estate and private equity.

It has been investing in emerging markets for over 20 years.

“The acquisition is both a value and earnings accretive investment for Ayala. BPI has been a significant growth driver for Ayala over the years and we believe its earnings grow t h momentum w ill continue in step with the expansion of the Philippine stake/PAGE 21

18 Mindanao Daily NEWS

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CAGAYANTIMES de Oro

Editor : Shaun Uy, E-mail: shaun_alejandrae_uy@yahoo.com

ARTS & CULTURE

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Philippine Quill Awards 2013 reveals nominees for top honors

MANILA - Anticipation from the business sector is set to reach a new high with the announcement of frontrunners for the top honors in The Philippine Quill Awards 2013, the country’s highest and most comprehensive awards in business communication.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines has announced the nominees for the Top Division Awards and the Special Awards ahead of the awards night on November 11. The awards night will be aired on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel at a later date.

For the Top Award in Communication Management,

X

avier Philharmonia opens the 2nd semester with Ruby Passion for music as they present "Music to Remember: A Recital on Strings and Keys" on Nov.

the nominees are "Accredited Meralco Contractors Program: Institutionalizing Change" (Meralco), "Typhoon Pablo Power Restoration" (Meralco), "Vision Petron 2013: Lakbay Tagumpay" (Petron Corporation), "Serbisyong PRU-bliko--Todo na to! Pru Life UK Employee Welfare Committee 2013 Initiatives" (Pru Life UK), and "Jump In Campaign" (Smart Communications).

Battling it out for the Top Award in Communication Skills are "Rescue 5 Activity Book" (ABC Development Corporation/TV5), "Women on Top: Meralco Pioneers Linewomen Training in PH" (Meralco), "Jesuits in Mindanao: The Mission" (Media Wise Communication

16, Saturday, 3-5 pm at the Little Theater.

The recital will showcase the talents of XU students on instruments such as piano, guitar, violin, cello, and more.

The solo and ensemble performances will include classical as well as film music, and will feature guest artists from the XU Glee Club.

ADMISSION is FREE.

Inc/Muse Books), "Dispatch--Explore. Teach. Inspire."

(Primer Group of Companies), and "Adobo: Project Reinvention" (Sanserif Inc.).

For Company of the Year, the nominees are ABSCBN Corporation, Energy Development Corporation, Manila Electric Company, Metrobank Foundation, and last year’s winner SMART Communications, Inc. Communication agencies Campaigns and Grey PR Inc., DDB Philippines, Stratworks, Studio 5 Designs Inc., and 2012 winner Ogilvy Public Relations Manila are leading the pack in the race for Agency of the Year.

These awards will go to the company and the agency with the most excellence awards this year.

The Philippine Quill Awards 2013 will also feature the 2nd Philippine Student Quill Awards, the junior version of the Quill that recognizes outstanding communication work by undergraduate college students from different provinces and regions in the archipelago.

Nominees for Top Award in the Student Quill are "Kapa: The Guilds Literary Folio 2012-2013" (Bataan Peninsula State University); "Bawas-Bisyo Bill: Taas Presyo, Bawas Bisyo" (University of the PhilippinesDiliman), "Balik USTe" (University of Santo Tomas), "Biodiversity: One Community, One Country" (University of Santo Tomas), and "Kultura Republika" (University of Santo Tomas).

Vying for School of the Year are Bataan Peninsula State University, Holy Angel University, University of the Philippines-Manila, University of Santo Tomas, and last year’s winner Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila.

Aside from these awards, almost 200 outstanding entries will be awarded with awards of excellence and merit covering communication research management, communication management, communication skills, and communication training and education across 42 categories in this year’s staging of the prestigious annual awards program, according to Philippine Quill Awards 2013 Chair and IABC Philippines Vice President Kane Errol Choa.

“The Quill has reached a record-high in terms of number of entries. It is a testament of the business community's trust and confidence in the Philippine Quill Awards as a symbol of excellence in business communication,” Choa explained in a press release.

He added that entries for the Student Quill also increased by 40 percent this year with entries coming from different parts of the country and not just Metro Manila.

This is the 12th year that the IABC Philippines, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary, is staging the Philippine Quill Awards, known in industry circles for its high and international standards and stringent judging procedure with entries evaluated by the country’s most respected communication professionals, practitioners, and field experts.

The Philippine Quill is the local counterpart of IABC’s Gold Quill Awards, joined in by the world’s biggest corporations and agencies and regarded as the highest standard in business communication. Earlier this year, the Philippines brought home seven Gold Quill Awards.

IABC Philippines President and IABC International Executive Board Director and IABC Foundation Trustee Ritzi Villarico Ronquillo said that local companies and organizations have been joining the Quill Awards not only for the prestige that goes along with the trophy, but most especially for the learning experience they get by participating.

“The IABC Philippines is serious and determined in setting the standard in the practice of communication in the country. We go beyond giving awards by giving feedback to our entrants on how they can improve and strengthen their communication efforts. Many of our past winners have told us how the Quill’s emphasis on strategic planning, efficiency, and results has helped them improve how they do things in their respective organizations. We want our impact to be lasting and developmental,” she shared.

The credibility of the Quill Awards and the IABC Philippines shows in the overwhelming support from the business sector. Gold sponsors for the Philippine Quill Awards 2013 include ABS-CBN Corporation, Air Asia Zest, Pru Life UK, SMART Communications, and San Miguel Corporation. Silver sponsors are Energy Development Corporation, Manila Electric Company, and Security Bank. Bronze sponsors are PAGCOR, PAGIBIG, Petron Corporation, and Unilever Philippines.

Reyes Tacandong & Co. is the official tabulator.

The media partners are Adobo magazine, ANC (ABSCBN News Channel), BusinessWorld, DZMM TeleRadyo, Manila Bulletin, and The Philippine Star, while the media intelligence partner is iSENTIA and the online registration partner is STI. Talk about the awards and the nominees on Twitter using the hashtag #PhilQuill2013.

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CAGAYANTIMES

Sun Broadband helps boost PH ‘Net penetration with easy, affordable offers

M

ore Filipinos can now have access to the wealth of information and opportunities provided by the Internet as wireless provider Sun Cellular brings easy and affordable broadband services into the hands of more users, thanks to its recently expanded mobile broadband coverage that now covers almost the entire Philippines.

According to estimates from the United Nations agency International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in its recent World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database (WTID), 36% of the Philippine population already use the Internet as of end-2012, constituting a more than six-fold increase from figures recorded more than a decade ago.

“This recent data from the ITU only shows that more Filipinos are turning to the Internet to nourish relationships and build networks, get vital information for their work, and enrich their lives with useful content they find online,” said Charles A. Lim, Executive Vice President and Head of Wireless Consumer Business Group at Sun Cellular. “But the work for us is just beginning, as high-speed, quality broadband Internet remains out of reach for majority of Filipinos.”

To bring quality broadband connection to the rest of the population, Sun Broadband recently doubled its broadband coverage to cover more areas in the country, including the likes of Maguindanao, Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur in Mindanao; Samar and Masbate in the Visayas; and Abra, Ilocos Sur, and Kalinga in Luzon.

Sun Broadband has also made it easier for Filipinos to get connected to the Internet through its innovative Easy Broadband 799 plan, which offers unlimited broadband connection without a holding period and requires only a valid ID upon application.

Aside from this, Sun Broadband also offers one of the most affordable Internet plans in the country today through consumable plans such as Power Plan 250 and Power Plan 450 that offer a very affordable surfing rate of just P1.47 per 15 minutes.

Power Plan 250 comes with 10 bonus hours of Internet time, which means it can give users as much as 52 broadband hours every month, while Power Plan 450—with its 25 bonus hours—offers as much as 101 surfing hours on a monthly basis.

These offers can be further enhanced by applying load “boosters” that extend the value of the consumable amount.

Subscribers can avail, for example, of Weekend Booster 75 which will give them an entire weekend of unlimited Internet, or use the amount to subscribe to the SBW 250 load to get an entire week of consistent, fast, and reliable unlimited broadband connection.

“We have lowered the barrier of entry so that every Filipino can conveniently and affordably get the best-value broadband Internet experience that Sun Broadband can offer. With our expanded coverage across the nation, we expect more Filipinos to enjoy the many benefits that the World Wide Web can offer,” Lim added.

For more information on these offers and about Sun Broadband, please visit The Sun Shop nearest you or check http://www.suncellular.com.ph online Sun Cellular is the mobile brand of Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc., a member of the PLDT Group.

de Oro

BILLBOARD

Mindanao Daily 19 NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Editor : Shaun Uy, E-mail: shaun_alejandrae_uy@yahoo.com

TABANG VISAYAS AN APPEAL TO THE XU COMMUNITY, ALUMNI, PARENTS, FRIENDS AND CONCERNED KAGAYANONS Super Typhoon Yolanda (International Code Haiyan) has wrought extensive damage and disorder along its storm path, especially in the Visayas. The latest death toll is estimated to be about 10,000 and still expected to increase.

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes to evacuation centers. The number of houses destroyed is overwhelming. Many survivors are in dire need of our prayers, compassion and support.

In response to the cries for help, Xavier University is conducting TABANG VISAYAS Relief Operations.

XU through the Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) shall be accepting relief goods prioritizing the following: - Rice - Canned goods - Water - Noodles - Clothes - Toiletries - Needs of children/women - Sleeping materials You can deliver any donations in kind to the Main Campus of XU at Corrales Avenue. The drop-off centers are located at the Peace Park.

You can also make monetary donations either through the University Finance Office or a Bank Account of XU with Banco de Oro: 

XU Finance Office Window 12 Account Name: XU Tabang Visayas XU Account Number: 5101-9984



Banco De Oro - Velez Branch, Cagayan de Oro City Account Name: Xavier University Account Number: 2840156225 Swift Code: BNORPHMM

Donors are kindly asked to scan the corresponding deposit slip/receipt and send to KKP through krisjvp25@yahoo.com for acknowledgement and confirmation.

We are appealing for your generous support. May all your kind efforts contribute relief assistance to our suffering brothers and sisters who are in a state of national calamity. Let us endeavor to be instruments of the God who is always near.

Roberto C Yap SJ University President

20 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Editor : Cheng Ordonez, E-mail: cheng.ordonez@gmail.com

Environment

wednesday | november 13, 2013 Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Aquino declares ‘state of national calamity’ MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III declared Monday evening a “state of national calamity” to speed up the relief and rehabilitation efforts in “Yolanda”-stricken areas in Eastern Visayas.

President Benigno S. Aquino III checks the condition of the families displaced by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) T the evacuation center during his visit to the province of Leyte to assess the extent of damage in the area on Sunday (November 10, 2013). Typhoon Yolanda, the world’s most powerful typhoon in 2013, made its landfall in Central Visayas Friday morning. (Photo by:Ryan Lim / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

Groups ink deals vs.

ODS, GHG emissions MANILA –- Five private groups joined the environment department’s bid to eradicate ozonedepleting substances (ODS) nationwide and mitigate cli mate cha nge-causing g reen hou se ga s (GHG) emissions while realizing energy efficiency.

On Tuesday (Nov. 12), Trinoma Mall as well as Waterfront Manila Pavilion, New World Hotel, BPI Buendia Center and BA L epa nto C ondom i n iu m Corporation inked with the department’s Environmental Managemenet Bureau (EMB) agreements covering each group’s participation in the Philippine Chillers Energy Efficiency Project (PCEEP). ”PCEEP promotes use of non-ODS chillers and aims helping mitigate GHG emissions,” EMB Dir. Juan Miguel Cuna said at the signing ceremony in Metro Manila.

The environment depa r t ment noted t hat PCEEP is expected to realize a 5,700-kg reduction in ozonedepleting potential, generate at least nearly 125 gigawatthours of electricity savings and achieve a 62,400-ton reduction in GHG emissions.

T h r o u g h P C E E P, qualified companies can avail of grants for replacing respective chillers containing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) an ODS - with environmentfriendly and more efficient ones.

Authorities noted such chiller replacement and management will increase energy efficiency and help eliminate need for CFC. ”High cost of electricity should be enough to make a

case for energy efficiency,” e nv i r on m e nt a s s i s t a nt secretary Rommel Abesamis said at the event.

The environment depar tment earlier said PCEEP is backed by USD2.6 million and USD1 million f unding from Globa l Environment Facility and t he Mu lt i later a l Fu nd , respectively.

Such funding is projected to cover replacement of at least 53 inefficient chiller units in the country, noted the department.

The Montreal Protocol aims to eliminate ODS to help curb depletion of the ozone layer which protects Earth from the sun’s harmful ultra-violet rays.

T he Phi l ippi nes is among the countries that are signatory to the Protocol. ”PCEEP was conceived as a strategy for the Philippines to comply with the Montreal Protocol and contribute to m it i gat ion of GHG emissions,” said Abesamis.

I n J u l y t h i s y e a r, environment chief Ramon Paje spearheaded in Metro Manila ceremonial turn-over of a check for the PhP1.3 million grant to five-star hotel The Peninsula Manila.

That hotel applied for, and became the first recipient of, the PCEEP subsidy for facilitating the shift to more efficient chillers.

Cuna said such shif t enabled the hotel to improve its energy efficiency and contribute to reduction of bot h ODS a nd GHG emissions. ”That success story is something we can share with the chiller sector,” he said.

(PNA)

“Mahalaga rin ito, hindi lamang para panatilihing kontrolado ang mga presyo ng mga pangunahing produkto at serbisyo na kakailanganin ng ating mga kakabayan, kundi upang maiwasan din ang overpricing at hoarding ng mga mahahalagang bilihin (This is needed, not only to control prices of primary goods and services needed by our people, but also to avoid overpricing and hoarding of other important items),” Aquino said in a televised address.

He also said some P1.1 billion was added to the quick response funds of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

President Aquino also ordered all departments and other concerned government

agencies to impìement and execute rescue, recovery, relief, and rehabilitatìon work in accordance with pertinent operational plans and directives.

“All departments and other concerned government agencies are also hereby directed to coordinate with, and provide or augment the basic services and facilities of affected local government units,” he said.

Law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are also directed to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas, as may be necessary.

Super typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) w r e a k e d h av o c a c r o s s provinces in the Eastern Visayas reg ion, leav ing hundreds dead. (PNA)

Typhoon Haiyan hitting N. Vietnam, leaving 13 dead HANOI-- At least 13 Vietnamese people were killed and 81 others injured as Typhoon Haiyan, packing winds about 117 km per hour, ripped through Vietnam’s north-central and northern provinces late Sunday and early Monday.

Of the victims, four were in Quang Nam, two in Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Ngai each, and one in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh each, and the remaining three in other localities. Most of the victims were reinforcing their houses or trimmed trees before or while Haiyan hit their locations, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue on Monday.

Specifically, after running along Vietnam’s central region, Haiyan slammed the northern Quang Ninh and Hai Phong region, with its center on Quang Ninh province, at about 5 a.m., local time on Monday (2200 GMT on Sunday), packing winds as strong as 88 kph and gusts up to 117 kph, the Vietnam National Center for HydroMeteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) reported.

The t y phoon had forced t he

evacuation of 500,000 locals in central provinces.

As of Monday morning, many streets in Quang Ninh province’s Ha Long City have been submerged in 0.5 meter of floodwater due to the rise of the sea level caused by the storm. An antenna tower of the Uong Bi City Broadcasting and Television Station was knocked down by the storm. Many trees were uprooted, and many houses damaged in Ha Long and Uong Bi cities and across the province.

In Van Don District, even anchored ships have been slashed by powerful winds and sank. The typhoon also slammed the province’s Mong Cai town, which borders China, with winds of 62-88 kph.

Initial report by Quang Ninh authority said house damages caused a loss of at least 50 billion VND (2.4 million U.S. dollars) .

Six out of eight districts in the province had power cutoff due to strong winds or power pole falling. Local power sector is trying to fix up the power grid.

In northern Hai Phong City, the storm also knocked down many trees,

blew off house roofs and caused other damages. In particular, many sections of local sea dykes were broken, such as in Vu Lang, Vu Binh, thuy Dung and Nhan Thanh districts. More than 34,100 hectares of crops were destroyed by the typhoon, local authorities reported Monday.

The typhoon caused heavy rains in northeastern provinces, with rainfalls measuring 370 millimeters in Mau Son (Lang Son province), 161 mm in Quang Ha (Quang Ninh Province) and 149 mm in Bach Long Vi (Hai Phong City).

Haiyan crossed over northern Nam Dinh province at a time when the sea tide was low, hence its impacts to the local sea dykes were not big. However, in Hai Hau District, most of forest trees preventing fields from the sea water were flooded.

In capital Hanoi, 12 power lines were broken on Sunday night, but were repaired on Monday morning.

The Electricity of Vietnam on Monday said it will mobilize all of its human resources to repair the power grid in the typhoon-hit areas as soon as possible.

(PNA/Xinhua)

More partners join DENR’s water clean-up bid MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources further gained partners for its bid to clean up water bodies nationwide through the Adopt-an-Estero program.

Data from the department’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) show that as of Oct. 31, this year, a total of 469 agreements with various local government units and private partners have been signed already for the cleanup undertaking since the program commenced in 2010.

The agreements cover 258 water bodies nationwide, EMB noted, adding that these include “esteros,” creeks and rivers stretching a total of 440 kilometers.

Through the Adopt-anEstero program, public and private stakeholders choose which water bodies or parts of these to voluntarily clean up, using their respective resources.

The Env ironment department complements such initiatives by conducting, in areas near the water bodies, an information

and education campaign on solid waste management and the dangers of improper garbage disposal.

Among such dangers cited by experts are polluting the environment and facilitating spread of diseases.

Disposing garbage into water bodies also reduce water-carrying capacity and restrict water f low there, re nd e r i n g t he s e prone to overf lows t hat f lood surrounding areas.

Data show that in Metro Manila, the country’s top denr/PAGE 22

Asia-Europe meeting expresses condolences to PHL typhoon victims NEW DELHI -- The 11th AsiaEurope meeting ( ASEM) started its two-day session here Monday by expressing deep condolences to the victims of the devastating typhoon in the Philippines, which killed over 10,000 last week.

Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshid said in his opening remarks that all the attendant countries are victims/PAGE 22

Mindanao Daily 21 NEWS

wednesday | november 13, 2013 Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Vista... from page 15

quarter, bringing the total to P14.8 billion in the ninemonth period, up 22 percent from P12.2 billion a year ago.

Camella and Communities Philippines accounted for a combined 74 percent of the company’s revenues.

Communities Philippines develops projects outside Mega Manila mostly under the Camella brand.

Sales hit P35.5 billion in the January to September period, 18 percent higher t ha n t he P3 0.1 bi l l ion reported a year ago.

“We are averaging at almost P12 billion in sales every quarter and we should be able to hit a record P46 billion in sales for 2013,” said Villar.

Manuel Paolo Villar, Vista Land chief executive officer and son of the former senator, said the property developer is confident it will meet its targets this year. For the entire 2013, the company’s profit and revenues are projected to increase by 15 percent from P4.38 billion and P16.33 billion, respectively.

“Most of our sales have been coming from our core product which is housing, both in Metro Manila and in the provincial areas. We fully expect to see continued strong sales performance in t he coming yea rs as demand for house and lots, particularly in the mid to low end segment of the market, continues to be extremely robust,” the former senator said.

At end-September, Vista Land has launched 27 projects with an estimated total sales value of P19.4 billion. This includes 18 subdivisions projec t s out side Met ro Manila such as Capiz, Aklan, Koronadal and Bataan.

The company will roll out nearly P6 billion worth of projects in the fourth quarter to bring the value of full-year project launches at P25 billion.

Vista Land is preparing for the prospects of higher interest rates, but this is not expected to dampen demand for real estate products.

“There will be no major impact on demand if interest rate increases by 100 basis points. If it’s much higher, it will have an impact on investment-driven products.

We’re mostly serving the end users so we’re less affected.

Demand will just shift to lower priced products,” the younger Villar said.

The Vista Land CEO said t he company’s t wo Camella projects in Leyte were “slightly” affected by the strong winds caused by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” last week, but the damage was limited to fallen electrical posts as well as damaged landscapes and gates.

With a land bank of 1,930 hectares, Vista Land has the broadest presence in the Philippines among all the major property developers.

Vista Land is the holding company of five business

u n it s , Br it t a ny, Crow n A si a , C a me l l a Home s , Communities Philippines and Vista Residences.

Robinsons... from page 15

“We have unconfirmed reports that our stores have been looted. These things cannot be helped. These are very desperate times for very desperate people. Not that this is an excuse to loot but it cannot be helped,” Sebastian said.

Sebastian said it would be diff icult to speculate on the typhoon’s impact on the company, adding that the Gokongwei group’s top priority is to secure its employees. A team from the Visayas will be back tonight to g ive a more def inite assessment on conditions in the region.

“We have a distribution network of stores and I’m sure t hose will come in handy in helping out with t he relief ef for ts. Lance Gokong wei has issued a directive for us to cooperate with the government and local authorities to help out as much as we can in the relief efforts,” said Sebastian, referring to the company’s chairman.

Robinsons Retail raised $620 million, considered as the country’s biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history, from the sale of 461.90 million primary offer shares.

Proceeds from the record share sale will primarily bankroll the expansion of its store network to 1,400 by end-2014 from 940 at endJune through its six business segments -- supermarkets, depa r t ment stores , doit-yourself (DIY) stores, convenience stores, drug stores and specialty stores.

The compa ny is a lso vent u ri ng i nto home furniture, sporting goods, school and office supplies and coffee shops as well as building small neighborhood centers.

Sebastian said there is no plan to fold Robinsons Retail into listed JG Summit Holdings Inc, which holds the Gokongwei family’s food and beverage, real estate, airlines, petrochemicals and banking businesses.

“When you fold a holding company under a holding c omp a ny, it w i l l on l y discount its value. It does not make sense,” he said.

Income... from page 17

industries such as power, utilities, tollways and ports, as well as wholesale and retail trade, food and agriculture, consumer goods and other vital sectors of the economy.

Despite the increase in lending, Security Bank ’s non-performing loan (NPL) ratio eased to 0.53 percent in the third quarter from 0.59 percent in the second quarter and 0.8 percent a year ago.

Its NPL reserve cover stood at 259 percent, down from 266 percent a quarter ago and 236 percent a year ago.

northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

T h e b a n k ’s c a p i t a l a d e q u a c y r a t i o (C A R) increased to 19.5 percent from 18 percent a quarter ago and 18.2 percent a year ago.

Tier 1 CAR also increased to 17.6 percent from 16.2 percent a quarter ago and 16.2 percent a year ago.

This was on the back of a nine percent increase in total assets to P276 billion.

Security Bank opened 11 bra nches during t he third quarter, bringing its network to 229 branches at end-September.

“The bulk of our investment spending for branch expansion is done, thus our operating expense g row t h yea r-on-yea r is decelerating, at 14 percent for the first nine months of 2013, coming from 16 percent in first half 2013 and 36 percent a year ago,” Security Bank chief financial officer Joselito E. Mape said.

T he lender decla red a regular semestral cash dividend of P0.50 per share and a special cash dividend of P0.50 per share on the outstanding capital stock of the bank.

The record date and p a y m e nt d a t e w i l l b e determined after receipt of regulatory approval on the cash dividend declaration.

This will bring the total cash dividend for the year to P2 per share.

Stake... from page 17

economy,” said AC president and chief operating officer Fernando Zobel De Ayala.

In the first nine months, BPI grew its profit by 19 percent to P15.8 billion from P13.3 billion a year ago.

AC and GIC, through ADHI, said it would support BPI’s planned stock rights of fe r i n g of up to P 2 5 billion that will strengthen the bank’s capital base to pre-emptively address any potential additional capital requirements under the new Basel 3 regime.

Aya la recent ly made a for ay i nto t r a n s p or t infrastructure and power generation with a plan to invest around $1 billion over the next five years in green field and acquisition opportunities in its new businesses.

The Philippines’ oldest conglomerate, Ayala has businesses in real estate d e v e l o pm e nt , b a n k i n g a nd f i na ncia l ser v ices , telecommunications, water distribution, automotive dea lerships, elec t ronics manufacturing ser vices, business process outsourcing, among others.

Fund... from page 14

electric cooperatives for the acquisition of generation sets.

This particular program was put in place to address the power crisis in the country’s second largest island group.

The loans will be administered through the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

Similarly, Petilla stressed that immediate power restoration is a major responsibility of the NEA as well as the electric cooperatives,

distribution utilities and power generation companies.

“We’re asking NEA basically to conduct an immediate assessment on the situation of distribution lines and investigate if there is a need to put generating capacity in the form of large gensets,” he said.

Petilla, who was Leyte governor for three consecutive terms from 2004 to 2012, is personally doing ocular inspections in the affected areas.

He noted that although Tacloban City in Leyte is in the spotlight right now, the other municipalities, namely Dulag, Tolosa, and Tanauan as well as Palo are hit harder.

One of the solutions the Energy secretary is mulling is the rental of generation sets to each of the towns affected by the typhoon.

For Leyte alone, Petilla said a 1-megawatt generator can be rented out to the municipalities, which can be paid either by the local governments or the national government from their calamity funds.

He said renting these out is cheaper for the municipalities rather than having these purchased since power will be back after a few months anyway.

He is optimistic that President Aquino will allow the Energy department to use the Malampaya Fund if the plan for this purpose has been firmed up.

The Philippine government has declared a state of national calamity.

Under this situation, Petilla said power supply, if there is, in the typhoon Yolanda-hit areas will be used primarily for vital installations like municipal offices, hospitals, and water and power utilities.

He said over 100 towers of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) were extremely destroyed, especially in the Panay area.

He said power will be restored not in less than two months and can be as long as a year depending on the number of people working CAGAYAN ORO MAIN BRANCH on this and DEthe measures being P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers put in place.

Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * “Everybody must help out if Telefax # (088) 856-1947 we have to rehabilitate,” he said.

CAMIGUIN BRANCH After a St., calamity an area, B. Aranas Poblacion, hit Mambajao, Camiguin # (088) 387-0491to be power is theTel.first facility CORRALES BRANCHsecretary restored but the Energy Ave., Cagayan de Oro City said Corrales it will be different this time.

BRANCH Atty.“ItErasmo willDIVISORIA be longer than all other B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. outages that experience Velez St.,we Cagayan de Oro Citysimply Tel. # (088) 857-3631 because of the magnitude of what LAPASANhe BRANCH we experience,” said.

Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City PetillaTel.said government # (088)the 231-6739 continuesCARMEN to fix the power lines BRANCH Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City and Vamenta are doing inventories of its # (088) 231-2011 supply toTel. check on where to get the needed equipment as soon as possible.

He said some areas devastated by the typhoon have not been visited yet but technical teams will be sent out to these areas to assess the damage.

In a related development, the Energy secretary said fuel prices in the Visayas remain stable but there is a problem on the supply just because the oil companies’ delivery trucks cannot go to the typhoon-affected areas because these cannot pass the roads.

He said current fuel supply in the Visayas is enough until the next two to three days.

He, however, disclosed that tankers of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. are now on the way to the Visayas from Sorsogon to provide supply.

He said Petron Corp. has also assured him that they plan to bring out supplies from their oil depots in Ormoc City and Tacloban within a week to help augment oil supply in the Visayas.

“We will also try to see if we can ask the gas stations not to fill up containers (brought by customers) and just fill-up cars to ensure that there will be no hoarding,” he added. (PNA)

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Fun Page

22 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Editor : Clifford Santillan, E-mail: santillan.clifford@yahoo.com

Rehab... from page 14

deficit ceiling set by the national government for this year, thus this can be used to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure projects. ”We do have a fiscal space.

As you know, our situation as of now, we’re quite within our program set for,” he said.

The national government has set a P144.5-billion deficit program for January to September 2013. The country’s deficit for the first three quarters posted only at P101.2 billion. This left the national government a P43.3-billion fiscal space for the first nine months. ”We will make sure that we use the fiscal space to

the benefit of the country,” he said, noting that the government’s focus after ty phoon “Yolanda” is to deliver relief goods, recovery efforts and the provisions of basic services in affected areas.

Despite the demand of rehabilitation for shelters, the Finance chief is firm that the government will stick to the 20-25 percent allotted housing budget for the next three years.

Mea nwhi le, da mages brought about by calamities that hit the country may re s u lt to 8 -10 p e rc e nt downturn of GDP (gross domestic product), or one percent drop on GDP growth for 2013, according to the DOF secretary.

clifford’s

Daily HOROSCOPE AQUARIUS (January 20 – February 18) - You need a bit more karma to really get you over the top -- so dip into your well of compassion and see what you can find. Things are really good, but you might not see it until later on.

PISCES (February 19 – March 20) - It’s okay to spend extra on yourself today -- you deserve it!

Your birthday is a long way off, so give yourself something sweet to tide you over until then. Spread the joy around, too!

ARIES (March 21 – April 19) - It’s a good day to help out around the office or at home -- you are better off assisting others than tackling your own projects. Things are just about to change, though, so don’t get in too deep!

TAURUS (April 20 – May 20) - Your intuition is especially active right now, and you might be able to get your friends or family to see things your way if you open up. A new understanding helps you to make sense of it all.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21) - You have to be as clear as you can be -- it’s not easy, but the good news is that this foggy phase should only last for another day or so. All should make sense by tomorrow, and then you can act.

CANCER (June 22 – July 22) - See if you can just hang out with friends or family today -- try to put off any obligations for a while longer.

Your energy is too great to be wasted on plans and projects that aren’t personally meaningful.

”But we have to remember that during the past many years, the estimate of the World Bank on our growth is always dragged by typhoons which extend 8-10 percent of the GDP. It’s been built into the growth already,” Purisima said. (PNA)

Farmers... from page 16

cost farmers between P1,250 and P57,500 per hectare.

Using Bt eggplant, farmers w i l l earn a n additiona l P50,0 0 0 per hec ta re as they no longer have to buy pesticides.

Prior to market release, Bt eggplant is expected to go through local government reg u lators’ st ringent evaluation of field trials,

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nutrient analysis and foodsafety tests of toxicity and allergenicity. Eggplant is the most consumed vegetable in the Philippines.

In 2009 the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics said t he cou nt r y ’s e g g pla nt production reached 200,942 me t r ic ton s , v a lue d at P3.13 billion. Farmers in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Cebu and Quezon planted the crop.

DENR... from page 20

urban center, 25 agreements with various partners have been signed already, covering the clean-up of 17 water bodies with a total length of 39 kms.

Ac ros s t he cou nt r y,

however, the most number of partnerships sealed so far was in Region II, with 63 agreements on clean-up of nine water bodies totaling 36 kms. in length.

Other areas and partnerships sealed are in Regions I (30 agreements), III (15 agreements), IV-A (35), IV-B (23), V (14), VI (34), VII (14), VIII (35), IX (40), X (32), XI (36), and XII (30) as well as Caraga (35) and Cordillera Administrative Region (8).

I n S e pt e mb e r 2 0 0 9, Laguna de Bay overflowed during the onslaught of storm “Ondoy.”

Authorities reported that Laguna de Bay has lower water- carrying capacity as garbage dumped there

already reduced that lake’s average depth from about 12 meters to only around 2.5 meters.

Clean-up in t he la ke continues. (PNA)

Victims... from page 20

concerned with the situation in the Philippines in wake of the disaster.

Ty p h o o n “ H a i y a n ” rampaged through central Philippines last weekend, k i lling over 10,000 and destroying cities, towns and villages in the central parts of the island nation. (PNA/ Xinhua)

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HERO REVIEW Atropos the Bane Elemental, also known simply as Bane, is a ranged intelligence Hero, possessing dark and nightmarish abilities that give him strong disabling, ganking, and nuking prowess.

Mostly played as a support, he has some of the highest starting stats of any hero, yet is unique in the sense that all his attributes and stat growths are equivalent.

In addition, he possesses four highly potent single-target spells, which if used properly can more than make up for his complete lack of area of effect presence and pushing power. Enfeeble reduces the target's attack damage by a tremendous amou nt, which can highly reduce an attack-reliant enemy hero's effectiveness from as early as the laning stage all the way to the endgame. Brain Sap is a nuke that deals hefty pure damage to the target, healing himself for the same amount as well. Nightmare puts a unit to sleep, completely disabling for several seconds and dealing minor damage per second. If

Ranged - Disabler - Nuker Support

the slept target is physically attacked, it wakes up and the spell transfers to the attacker (spells will also wake the target up, but will not transfer the effect to the caster). Finally, Bane's Fiend's Grip is a channeling spell that completely disables the target for several seconds, dealing heav y damage per second and giving Bane some mana back as well. Bane's debilitating lockdown abilities are what make him an invaluable support to allies, and a feared one for enemies.

SUDOKU How to play the game?

Fill in completely every rows, columns and diagonals of each puzzle without repitition

Yesterday’s Answer

of the same digit.

LEO (July 23 – August 22) - Today’s big problem calls for a creative solution, so make sure that you’re dealing with it in a creative way. That could mean passing the buck or jumping ship into an entirely new situation.

VIRGO (August 23 – September 22) - You feel somewhat lost today, because you’re confused by details that made sense to you just a few days or weeks ago. Try not to make a big deal out of it, as you just have to go along to get along.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 22) - Your flexible nature is the key to your success today -- so make sure that you’re showing the world that you can adapt to its every whim. That may get a bit weird after a while, but you can make it work.

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CAPRICORN (December 22 – January 19) - It’s a really good day to connect with other people and try to make sure that you’re all on the same page. Your social energy is just right for getting others to see what’s in your collective best interest.

Amazing Facts!

Did you KNOW?? ..

There are more living organisms on the skin of each human than there are humans on the surface of the earth.

CROSSWORD puzzle

across 38. Musical tone 1. Changes 39. Religious image 7. Units 41. Not ecclesiastical 11. Actress Villaroel 43. Milby or Concepcion 13. Bravo 45. Hoffman film 14. Three (comb, form) 47. Quizon or Clapton 15. North or South 48. Preliminary con 17. Actinium symbol tests 18. _Kapital DOWN 20. Scold 1. Deed 23. Mom’s partner 2. White fat 25. Exercised political fran- 3. Trinity chise 4. Letter m 26. _Shaddai 5. __ Van Winkle 28. Restrict 6. Elitist 29. _Colores 8. Nobelium symbol 30. Ecclesiastical agent 9. Gladdened 32. Pen point 10. Withdraws 34. Glossy paint 12. Young fish 36. Head covering 16. Lusty

19.

21.

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24.

27.

31.

33.

35.

37.

40.

42.

44.

46.

Seasoned sausage Preposition Invert Straightforward Straight Calcium symbol Small craft Plunder Bucket And not Affirmative reply Musical tone Musical tone Yesterday’s Answer

Mindanao Daily 23 NEWS

wednesday | november 13, 2013 Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Henry Sy lone Filipino in Bloomberg’s list of world’s 100 richest people MALL t ycoon Henr y Sy has cemented his position as the Philippines’ richest man af ter he landed on Bloomberg Markets magazine’s ranking of the world’s wealthiest men and women -- the only Filipino to make it to the list.

In a statement, Bloomberg Markets magazine said Sy -- whose empire spans the

retail business, banking, propert y and resort development -- landed on the 72nd spot with a net worth of $13.3 billion, ahead of the likes of Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who ranked 86th, and South Korea’s Lee Kun Hee of tech giant Samsung, who placed 99th.

Top pi n g t h e l i s t of

Funds...

Yolanda, latest data show.

Emi lio Neri Jr., lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, said the bank’s initial assessment on the impact of the typhoon is that GDP will be curbed in the coming months, before any reconstruction provides a boost.

“We really want to see more solid numbers from the ground to make a credible assessment,” he said in a telephone inter view. For now, BPI is sticking with its 6.9 percent GDP growth forecast for the year.

The United Nations ranks the Philippines as third most vulnerable country to natural hazards, following the South Pacific island states of Vanuatu and Tonga.

I n t he pa st , nat u ra l disasters collectively cut as much as 1 percent to P h i l i p p i n e G D P, s a i d Purisima.

Fu nds for relief a nd reconstruction The government, meanwhile, is mobilizing f unds for relief and reconstruction in typhoonhit areas.

“From a fiscal standpoint, we do have fiscal space to spend for reconstruction,” said Purisima. “But t he focus right now is that we have to make sure that relief goods, recovery efforts and provision of basic services will be delivered in affected areas.”

In a statement, the Budget Department said the balances of P6.4 billion President’s Social Fund, P16.6 billion in government savings, P1.08 billion in Quick Relief Funds are now being mobilized to facilitate aid.

“We wish to assure the public that we’re already moving funds to address the urgent need for disaster relief in all typhoon-stricken areas,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said in the statement.

Moreover, the government has P1.28 billion in Calamity Funds and another P824 mi l lion in Contingenc y Funds at its disposal.

Foreign aid Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief aid has also been pouring in from the international community at the wake of Ty phoon Yolanda.

The European Union has earmarked €10 million (P586 million) in aid, its Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs announced

from page 13

”The additional contribution will make EU the biggest contributor of MTF todate. As co-chair of the MTF, OPAPP extends aga i n ou r t ha n k s ,” she added.

For his part, Piebalgs vowed EU’s cont i nuous support to the Philippines, particularly in the peace process. ” These additiona l f u nd s a re t he t a ng ible manifestation of the EU’s long-term commitment for the Mindanao peace process both at the political level and with the people living in this area,” said Piebalgs.

The new funds will be cha nnel led t hrough t he M i nd a nao Tr u st Fu ndReconstruction and D e ve l o pm e nt P r o g r a m (MTF-R DP) and will be programmed for projects in support of promoting conf idence-building, peace and demand-driven governance. ”This additional funding brings the total EU cont r ibut ion to t he Mindanao Trust Fund to 13.5 million Euros, more than 50 percent of the total trust fund and making the European Union its biggest donor,” said Piebalgs.

T h e M T F -R DP i s a mechanism through which development partners pool a nd coord i nate of f icia l development a ssista nce i n con f l ic t-a f fec ted communities in Mindanao.

So far, MTF-RDP has implemented at least 141 projec t s , 70 percent of which was funded by EU, benefitting some 300,000 people in Mindanao areas.

Dipatuan, for his part, cited the GPH and the EU for their seriousness in the peace process with the MILF as he assured the EU that their contribution will be used for the benefit of the Bangsamoro people. ”We assure you (EU) that your contribution will not go to waste,” said Dipatuan.

(PNA)

Yolanda... from page 13

“The damage is quite substantial. And in the next months and years, we have to work together to rebuild it,” said Purisima.

The agriculture sector alone sustained damage of P3.7 billion from Typhoon

t he world ’s bi l liona ires is Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who has a net worth of $72.9 billion, followed

by Mexican telecom czar Carlos Slim ($65.5 billion), Amancio Ortega of Spanish re t a i le r I nd it e x ($ 61.9 bi l l ion) a nd le gend a r y i nvestor Wa r ren Bu f fet ($58.2 billion).

Sy also topped Forbes Tuesday.

A s i a n D e v e l o pm e nt B a n k (A DB) pre s id e nt Takehiko Nakao also said Monday that the multilateral lender “pledged... fullest suppor t, bot h in t he immediate af termat h of t he disaster a nd in t he subsequent rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.”

Other countries that have made offers of assistance and aid include: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

I nter nat iona l organizations like UNICEF, Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam have also pledged their assistance. — BM, GMA News

Free...

from page 13

AirAsia Zest is freeing up cargo space on its domestic and international flights for delivery of relief goods.

For those who are keen to help, includ ing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), civic groups, aid

m a g a z i n e ’s l i s t of t h e Philippines’ billionaires. He founded SM, the country’s largest chain of shopping malls, and the biggest bank, Banco De Oro. Recently, the Sy familly consolidated their property businesses under SM Prime Holdings Inc, the company responsible for building and operating the malls. and humanitarian agencies as well as members of the public, please send in your requests to paa _cargo@ airasia.com.

Instructions on delivery and cargo requirements will be provided after evaluation of the request. For additional information, please ca ll +632-851-1801 or 851-1803.

In the spirit of solidarity a nd to a s si s t i n muc h needed relief ef for ts, Tune Hotels will also be extending complimentary hotel accommodations to accredited aid workers and individuals Tune Hotels has six hotels in operation in the Philippines including three in Metro Manila – Quezon City, Makati and Ermita; Angeles, Pampanga; Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao; and Cebu City.

Requests will be handled centrally via the AirAsia Zest operation centre.

AirAsia Zest has been operating humanitarian f lights to Cebu and Kalibo since November 9, carrying uniformed policemen, relief goods, medical and rescue workers in coordination with various government agencies, local and international aid organizations and NonGovernment Organizations (NGOs).

Tagum City farmers shift to sweet corn farming

TAGUM City -- About 30 farmers in this city have shifted to planting sweet corn from their long time vegetable growing that has not been giving them good results.

City agriculture office (CAGRO) chief Engr. Harold S. Dawa said the farmers started growing sweet corn in May this year which gave significant increase in their income.

He said their office is helping the farmers grow sweet corn in Barangay Madaum even as he said they will expand the program in barangays Mankilam and Pagsabangan.

“There is a big demand for sweet corn here and also in the neighboring provinces that is why they already have a captive market,” he said.

He said they will assist the farmers in looking for other planting sites, in farm inputs and in marketing.

The sweet corn production was launched here in May 2013 when the city agriculture office was looking for an alternative on vegetable farming where production was low.

According to one grower, Bonifacio Montilla who is also president of the Madaum Vegetable and Sweet Corn Farmers Association, a 1,300 square-meter lot planted to one kilo of sweet corn seedlings generates an income of P25,000 in 72 days.

Louie Lapat of the city information office said this program is in line with the revitalized goal of Mayor Allan Rellon on food security.

Lapat said the city government will be acquiring the ten-hectare lot next year that the farmers used as planting site for their use. (PNA)

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24 EDITOR: Shaun Uy , e-mail: shaun_alejandrae_uy@yahoo.com

TravelFeature

Buahanan Festival:

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Celebrating the Tale of Diwatas’ Bounty MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN – Dances and chants fill the island once more as Camiguingnons offer their yearly thanksgiving for the continued harvests of its delectable lanzones fruit- unbeaten for its sweetness and remains to be desired by many.

Beautiful “diwatas” (fairies), bats, tribal kings and queens come alive to portray the legend of the fruit in colorful music and dance extravaganzas.

It talks about a tribe who decided to settle down in the island realizing how rich the land is, they lost no time in clearing the area and started to plant.

As they went around the island to hunt, they came upon a tree laden with golden

fruits. They quickly informed the others about their discovery and called the fruit ‘buahan’ (a corruption of the word bulahan, which means blessing), as they regarded the fruit as blessings from the good fairies.

But the fruit turned out to be poisonous, the people fell sick and so they implored the help of the fairies who magically transformed the fruit not only as a cure, but to forever satisfy the hunger of the townsfolk.

In thanksgiving for the blessing, the people celebrated and praised the diwatas for the gift, as the fruit indeed become a buahan or a blessing to them, even to this day.

Every third week of October, the province preps up for a week-long festivity.

The recently concluded 34th Lanzones Festival staged various traditional dances such as the Musicand Kabog (Bats) Showdown,Kalanrakas (CharivariStreet Dancing), Tableau Presentation, Street Dancing Competition, and the Festival King and Queen, and Diwata showdowns.

Array of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as, good quality gift items and souvenirs at the AgroIndustrial Trade and Tourism Fair (UGMAD) likewise served as a treat to both locals and visitors alike.

Meanwhile, Columbia St. Michael’s Parish High School of Mahinog town dominated the win for both tableau and street-dancing competition for five consecutive years. It bested seven other contingents in the province with their liveliest, wondrous play of colors and dance moves.

Fatima College of Camiguin, representing the local government of Mambajao also grabbed the second spot for the same category, while Yumbing National High School placed third for the street dancing and fourth in the tableau.

Best in head dress and costume award was also given to Guinsiliban town contingents. (JCV/PIA)