BusinessWeek Mindanao (November 18, 2013)

MINDANAO DAILY NEWS SECOND SECTION

Monday - November 18, 2013

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Briefly Freeze on prices ALL provincial of fices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 will be imposing a price freeze for the prices of basic goods as the country remains under a state of national calamity.

According to DTI 10 Lawyer Fel Lester Brillantes, their legal basis is the Republic Act. No. 7581 otherwise known as the Price Act and the recent Presidential Proclamation No. 682 declaring a State of National Calamity due to the severe damages brought by Typhoon Yolanda.

The price freeze aims to deter sellers from taking advantage of the situation by increasing the prices of their basic goods even if they were bought at a much lower price before the calamity.

Brillantes said, “We also expect the Department of Agriculture (DA) to set the freezing of the prices of vegetables and agricultural products within this week.”

SMEs boosts Z AMBOANGA Cit y - - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through a memorandum of agreement (MOA), is providing a boost to three micro-entrepreneur groups in Zamboanga del Norte province.

The MOA stipulates the DTI will provide three shared service facility (SSF) projects worth P1.89 million to three beneficiary organizations in the municipalities of Jose Dalman and Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The beneficiary-organizations are: Doña Josefa Seaweeds Farmers Association of Sindangan town; Poblacion United Seaweeds Planters Association of Jose Dalman; and, Sardines Savers Association also of Jose Dalman.

DTI-Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Director Noel Bazan said two of the three projects involve the construction of concrete stilt dryers and storage houses for harvested seaweeds which are expected to significantly improve the quality of dried seaweeds produced in the said areas.

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By DANIELLE VENZ, Contributor

HE Philippines and other ASEAN members shou ld continue and expand cooperation on off-grid and decentralized renewable energy systems in a bid to accelerate the elimination of energy poverty.

T h is sug gest ion wa s made by a study published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) aut hored by Adoracion M. Navarro, PIDS Senior Research Fellow; Maxensius Tri Sambodo, Researcher of Indonesian Institute of Sciences Economic Research Center; and Jessie L. Todoc,

Phi lippines Progra m Manager of SEA Energ y Access a nd A lter nat ive Energy, International Copper Association Southeast Asia.

“Off-grid systems that are fuelled by renewable energ y sources, whether decentralized stand-alone s y s t e m s or m ic ro a nd offset/PAGE B7

PESO FOR TYPHOON VICTIMS. An Alpha Phi Omega member asks a commuter to donate a peso for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in a relief drive launched in the streets of Butuan City on Friday. mindanews photo by erwin mascarinas

‘Yolanda’ may slowdown growth: NEDA THE fourth quarter 2013 economic grow t h cou ld slow down to 4.1 percent as t he negat ive i mpac t of the ty phoon Yolanda may linger in 2014 due to reduced production capacity, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said t he f u ll year gross domestic product (GDP) g row t h for 2013 cou ld be reduced by 0.3 to 0.8 percentage point, lowering grow th estimates to 6.5 percent to 7 percent.

Prior to the onset of

calamities, the domestic economy was expected to grow by 7.3 percent for 2013, after registering a 7.6 percent growth in the first half of the year.

“To ensure that we regain lost ground the soonest, we need to accelerate the yolanda/PAGE B7

Linemen from 33 electric cooperatives in Mindanao were sent Friday to typhoon-ravaged Leyte and Samar to help fix toppled lines and fast-tract the restoration of power that further slowed down recovery and relief operations in the area.

Good governance must address Linemen from M’danao deployed to climate change issues, says bishop help restore power in Leyte, Samar

By WALTER I. BALANE, MindaNews

M A L AY BA L AY Cit y -Good gover na nce must a l so add re s s is sue s on climate change, Malaybalay

Bishop Jose Cabantan told participants at the launching Thursday of Barog Bukidnon (Rise Bukidnon), a group

advocating for good governance in Bukidnon.

Cabantan, named to head the Bukidnon Watershed issues/PAGE B7

Mindanao Daily NEWS

By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

SURIGAO City – As they did last year after super typhoon Pa blo, t he 33 -me m b e r Association of Mindanao

Rural Electric Cooperatives ( A M R E C O) d e p l o y e d linemen and equipment to restore/PAGE B7

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

Expansion, acquisition boost Puregold’s Jan-Sept profit M A NILA -- Prof it of hypermarket chain Puregold Price Club Inc. grew by whopping 46.5 percent in the first three quarters on the back of its continuous strategic expansion including major acquisitions.

Its net income reached P2.6 billion from P1.8 billion

in January to September last year.

Puregold also booked consolidated net sales of P51.5 billion, an increase of 31.6 percent from P39.2 billion.

Its gross profit expanded 42.3 percent from P6.3 billion to puregold/PAGE B5

Economy

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PHL banks’ lending standards broadly unchanged in Q3 MANILA -- Banks’ lending standards remained steady in the third quarter of 2013, the eight consecutive quarter that standards were broadly steady since the second quarter of 2009.

However, the result of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey for the third quarter this year showed a net tightening of overall credit stands for loans to enterprises against the survey in the previous quarter.

Banks attributed the net tightening to enterprises to “deterioration in profitability and reduced liquidity” of their asset portfolio as well as the lower tolerance for risks.

T he B SP s a id s ome banks reported stricter loan

covenants for large, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and stricter requirements for micro enterprises.

More banks even use interest rate floors for loans to SMEs, the central bank said.

BSP said most banks continue to see broadly steady lending standards in the last quarter of 2012.

“However, the percentage of banks foreseeing a slight tightening of credit standards for loa ns to businesses (except large middle-market enter prises) was higher

compared to those expecting the opposite,” it said.

“A m o r e u n c e r t a i n economic outlook along with expectations of stricter financial system regulations and reduced tolerance for risk was cited by respondent banks as key reasons behind the expected tightening of credit standards,” it said.

On the other hand, the survey result showed a net easing of credit standards for loans to households.

It was attributed to the improved profitability of banks’ asset portfolio, more aggressive competition from banks and non-bank lenders, increased tolerance for risk, and improved profile of borrowers.

“In particular, banks reported less use of interest rate floors for housing loans along with unchanged loan covenants and loan maturities for all types of household loans,” the central bank said.

Net easing was noted on credit standards for housing, personal and salary, and auto loans while slight net easing was noted for credit card loans.

In terms of loan demand, banks continue to see robust g row t h f rom b ot h t he enterprises and households.

“The net increase in loan demand for both business and household loans were reflected in the robust bank lending growth during the quarter,” the BSP said. (PNA)

BSP gives banks in calamity-stricken areas regulatory reliefs MANILA -- Reg u lator y and rediscounting relief will be given to banks with head offices or branches in typhoon “Yolanda”-affected areas, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday.

T hese prov i nces a re Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Q u e z on , a nd R i z a l i n Region IV-A; Marinduque, Occidenta l Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan

and Romblon in Region IVB; Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon in Region V; Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental in Region VI; and Bohol, Cebu and Negros Oriental in Region VII. I n Reg ion V I I I, t he c ove re d prov i nc e s a re Bi liran, Eastern Sa mar,

Ley te, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte; and Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental in Region X. The prov inces of Compostela Va l ley a nd Davao Oriental are also included in the list as well as the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Nor te, a nd Surigao del Sur in Region XIII or CARAGA.

Aside from Yolanda-hit areas, the central bank is also giving the same relief to thrift, rural, and cooperative banks that are located in areas hit by typhoons “Labuyo” and “Santi,” and the southwest monsoon rains brought by typhoon “Maring” and the magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Bohol.

For t hrif t, rura l and cooperat ive ba n k s , t he bsp/PAGE B5

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AgriBusiness

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Agriculture grows 1.1% in Q3, rice production down 1.12% I N it s ove r a l l out put , agriculture grew 1.10 percent in the first nine months of the year.

Agriculture Secretary P ro c e s o A lc a la , at t he s i d e l i n e s o f t h e 2 013 Gawad Saka Awards held Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), said output ga i ns were recorded i n the livestock, poultry and fisheries subsectors during the reference period.

Alcala, however, said production in the crops subsector decreased, pa r t icu la rly in t he rice subsector.

The unfavorable weather conditions in Luzon, Visayas a nd pa r ts of Minda nao Region has reduced harvests of palay and several high value crops, he explained.

The crops subsector which contributed 50.57 percent of total agricultural production contracted by 0.85 percent during the period.

According to the data released by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), palay production for the period January-September 2013 has reached 11.36 million metric tons (MT) which is 1.12 percent lower

than last year’s level of 11.5 million MT. BAS sa id notable decreases in production and harvest areas in the third quarter were noted particularly in Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Bicol Region, Autonomous Region in muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Davao Region and Ilocos Region.

Pa lay produc t ion i n Cagayan Valley was adversely affected by moisture stress.

Palay farms suffered damages from Typhoons “Labuyo” in August and “Odette” in September. These pulled down palay yield in the

region.

In Western Visayas, BAS said low production was caused by delayed plantings due to late onset of rainfall.

T he re we re re p or t s of harvests sliding to the fourth quarter of the year, areas lef t in-fallow, late release of irrigation water and damages caused by Typhoons “Maring”, “Nando” and Habagat in August; and Typhoon “Odette” in September.

“These factors translated to decreased production and harvest areas in Bicol Region, ARMM, Ilocos Region and Davao Region,” it noted.

Corn production, on the other hand, recorded a 5.92 million MT which was 0.40 percent higher than previous year’s output in the first nine months.

This was attributed to the significant improvements in production, harvest area and yield in Northern Mindanao, S O C C S K S A RG E N a n d Western Visayas.

BAS sa id t he seed a s sist a nce prov ided by t he loc a l gover n ment units’ (LGUs) Agriculture P ro du c t ion A s s i s t a nc e Prog ra m i n Nor t hern Mindanao to corn farmers grows/PAGE B6

THE price of rice in the Catba loga n has a lready jumped from P2,000 per sack to P3,000 while fuel can be bought for P500 per liter as survivors of Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ scramble to seek shelter in the capital city of Samar.

C h r i s t i ne C a id ic of t he Sa ma r Prov incia l Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDR R MC) s a id s om e survivors from Leyte had to pay P500 per liter of gas just to be able to get out of

the miserable conditions in that province.

“The provincial government of Samar does not have any fuel left and that puts our search and relief efforts in jeopardy,” she said.

The provincial capitol has now run out of diesel to run its generator, which means communication would become spotty as cellular phones of rescue and relief staff run out of battery.

T h e A q u i n o administration has imposed

a price freeze nationwide but this has been rendered useless as supplies in Region 8 dwindle and immediate replenishment seemed to be almost impossible.

Matnog port in Sorsogon is a lready clogged w it h vehicles containing relief goods bound for Eastern Visayas due to the inadequate number of vessels that ferry passengers and goods to and from Allen, Northern Samar.

This means vital supplies of food and and fuel are still stuck in Bicol, which has now

added to the worries of the PDRRMC. The Philippine Por ts Authority has now restricted the use of the Matnog port to the transit of bottled water, rice, cup noodles, canned goods, medicine and other relief items.

Caidic said the Camarines Sur PDRRMC was able to get through the heavy traffic in Matnog and is expected to arrive in Catbalogan by 7 p.m. Friday night. The s a id PDR R MC u n it i s prices/PAGE B6

Rice, fuel prices skyrocket as survivors seek refuge in Samar

Agri biotechnology gets boost PRESIDENT Aquino recently reiterated the Philippine government’s support for the role of the country’s science community and modern agricultural biotechnology in the food security and sufficiency program.

Aquino made t he statement before to delegates to the 7th International Rice Genetics Symposium in Manila last week in a speech read for him by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

According to Aquino, “the Philippines recognizes the important role of scientific resea rch, pa r t icu la rly genetics, in ensuring the continued nourishment of

our people and in realizing our national goal of rice selfsufficiency”.

“As you strive to find ways to improve rice production, you have my government by your side, ready and determined to work with you,” Aquino told the gathering of more than 700 scientists and researchers on plant genetics.

The symposium, organized by the International Rice Research Institute, takes place every four years and is the world’s biggest and most important rice research conference.

“By strengthening our partnerships in international research and by working to

realize our shared vision of equitable access of nations to quality food supplies, we raise the standard of living not only of our respective nations but the very way we live as one global community,” Aquino said.

The President added that the Philippines “recognizes the invaluable contribution of scientists and experts in the development of rice and agricultural products.” He said these “redound to an improved capacity to feed our people and strengthen our national economy”.

He also explained that the safe and responsible use of biotechnology in food

production “ref lects our government’s commitment to the welfare of our people and our environment.”

The President’s expression of support for the role of science in food production followed an earlier statement

by Alcala that the agriculture department will not stop the field trials for a pest-resistant eggplant variety called Bt Talong.

According to Alcala, the government “does not find any problem in the testing of Bt Talong.”

He warned that if the field trials are prevented, “we’re stopping development for the future.

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As PAL mounts ‘mercy’ flights, losses balloon

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A S Ph i l ippi ne A i rl i ne s (PAL) mounts more “mercy” f lights to typhoon-ravaged areas, the operator of the f lag carrier today said its losses nearly doubled in the second quarter of its fiscal year ending March.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, PAL Holdings Inc said it incurred a P1.11 billion loss in the July to September period, up 80.3 percent f rom la st ye a r’s P616 .4 million.

This brought its ninemonth financial hemorrhage P2.19 billion from last year’s P121.8 million.

“The decrease was attributable mainly to the u nfavorable passenger revenue per forma nce du r i ng t he per iod a s a result of lower passenger yields as well as the drop in volume of traffic f lown,” PAL Holdings said.

Revenue of P18.04 billion in the second quarter fell f rom la st ye a r’s P18.07 bi l l ion. For its f irst si x months, revenues dropped

Puregold... from page B2

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P8.9 billion. “(This was) driven by strong sales grow th and higher level of suppliers’ support by way of rebates and conditional discounts granted during the period, in support of the Group’s strategic store expansion program,” Puregold said.

Early this year, the Parent C ompa ny acqu i red 10 0 percent of the outstanding capital stock of Company E Corp. which is similarly engaged in the business of trading goods such as supermarket products on retail and wholesale basis.

by 6.2 percent to P36.57 bi l l ion f rom la st yea r’s P38.86 billion.

Its passenger business earned P29.82 billion in the first half of the year, while cargo turned in P2.71 billion.

Expenses dropped by 0. 53 p erc ent to P38 .7 7 bi l l ion f rom la st yea r’s P 3 8 . 9 8 bi l l i on . F l y i n g operations expenses alone

increased by 0.4 percent to P23.09 billion from P22.99 billion in 2012.

“This was brought about m a i n ly by t he upw a rd movement in aircraft lease rentals and depreciation of f light equipment offset by lower fuel costs,” PAL Holdings said.

Fuel costs, which r e m a i n t h e a i r l i n e ’s biggest operating expense,

decreased by 4.1 percent over l a s t ye a r’s P16 . 35 billion. This was brought about by the decline in the average jet fuel prices per barrel from $129.70 in 2012 to $126.89 in 2013.

PAL has embarked on “mercy” flights to Tacloban to help in the relief and rehabilitation efforts amid the devastation caused by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

It also absorbed all stores operated by Gant Group and Puregold Jr. Supermarket.

Puregold said its operating expenses rose 40.7 percent to P6.8 billion due to manpower cost of the Group’s new stores as well as rent expenses.

(PNA)

Also, the central bank will not impose penalties on legal reserves deficiencies of these banks and will set a moratorium on the monthly payments of banks’ that have ongoing rehabilitation program.

The regulator y relief will also allow banks, upon BSP’s approval, to book a l lowa nce for probable losses on a staggered basis up to five years for all types of credits; and will not impose monetary penalties for delayed submission of supervisory reports.

For all the banks, they are allowed to provide financial assistance to their officers and employees, including

assistance that are not within the scope of BSP-approved Fringe Benefit Program.

For the rediscounting banks, they are given a 60day grace period to settle outstanding rediscounting obligations as of Nov. 8, 2013 with the BSP. They are also allowed to restructure with the central bank, on a case-to-case basis, the outstanding rediscounted loans of borrowers affected by the calamities.

“These measures will be in effect for a defined period and covered by additional specific and other prudential conditions,” the central bank clarified, but did not give specifics. (PNA)

BSP...

from page B2

reg u lator y relief entails the exclusion of the banks’ existing loans to borrowers in the computation of past due ratios if these are restored or given relief, and the reduction of the five percent general loan loss provision to one percent for restructured loans.

B6 Mindanao Daily NEWS

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Grows... from page B4

affected by Typhoon “Pablo” in 2011 encouraged farmers to plant.

In addition, high demand from piggery and poultry raisers, better market prices and presence of financiers and traders in t he area boosted production in the region, it said.

Higher production also in SOCCSKSARGEN was the result of higher usage of hybrid and genetically modified organism (GMO) seeds, increased fertilizer application and absence of pests and diseases during the period.

Better prices, availability

of seeds due to LGU intervention and presence of financiers were the reasons cited for t he i mproved produc t ion i n Wester n Visayas.

Among the crops that incurred production losses from January-September this year were Coconut by 2.16 percent to 11.35 million MT; coffee by 11.25 percent to 44,900 tons; sugarcane by 6.4 percent to 15.67 million tons; and peanut by 1.35 percent to 24,150 MT. Aside from bad weather, the BAS report attributed the decrease in coconut harvests to the outbreak of insect scale in Batangas and “brontispa longissima” in Southern Leyte, and the

shift in preference of farmers in Basilan to rubber.

In all, the crops subsector contracted a -0.85 percent in terms of volume, and 2.72 percent in terms of value, to P550.5 billion.

For the livestock subsector, which accounted 16 percent of the total agricultural output, grew by 1.89 percent as production of cattle and hogs all expanded on account of better prices that encouraged raisers to sell more animals for slaughtering.

In terms of value, the livestock subsector grew by 10.67 percent, from P150.74 million during the same period last year to P166.83 million.

Poultry was likewise in

the uptrend, surging by 4.31 percent on the back of higher output for chicken (4.97%), chicken egg (2.5%), and duck egg (3.22%).

Dairy production also rose by 5.16 percent due to increased milking efficiency and higher population of dairy animals.

Duck production, however, dropped by 1.1 percent as growers decided to keep their stocks for egg production in anticipation of the huge demand come Christmas season, among other factors.

Valued at P128.2 billion at current prices, poultry accounted for 15 percent of the country’s agriculture.

Meanwhile, the fisheries

subsector also sustained its recovery from several qua r ters of cont ract ion as it posted an impressive 3.38 percent growth, fueled by increased har vests of milkfish -- by 5.49 percent to 288,320 MT; and tilapia -- by 2.39 percent to 240,820 MT. This was attributed to the continuous dispersal by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of good quality fingerlings, as well as the expansion of several mariculture areas in Pangasinan.

However, har vests of tiger prawn shrank by 4.6 percent due to a host of factors, including insufficient supply of post lar vae in Zamboanga del Sur and occurrence of water pollution in Zamboanga City.

Tiger prawn production settled at 33,660 tons from 35,280 tons during the same period last year.

Seaweed out put a lso declined by 7.1 percent to 1.06 million tons from 1.15 million tons as a result of the occurrence of “ice-ice” disease in seaweed farms in Palawan and Zamboanga Peninsula.

Subdivided into municipal fishing and aquaculture, fisheries subsector accounted for 18.42 percent of the country’s total output in agriculture.

This subsector grossed P181.7 billion at current prices, up by 5.45 percent from last year’s record.

On the average, farmgate prices went up by 0.54 percent, with livestock prices inching up by 8.62 percent, poultry by 1.0 percent, and fisheries by 2.0 percent. Only crop prices posted a decline, falling by 1.9 percent.

A lca la t hanked a l l stakeholders and the DA’s development partners “who contributed to Philippine a g r ic u lt u re respec t able performance despite the huge challenges it confronted.”

“We express appreciation for everyone who made this g row t h possible. A lbeit slower, it means enhanced food security for the nation and higher incomes for our food producers. It will only strengthen our resolve to deepen our partnership with stakeholders, big or small players, as we in the DA family perform our part in implementing peoplec e nt e r e d p o l i c i e s a n d programs to boost food production and put more money in the pockets of our farmers and fishers,” he said.

(PNA)

Prices... from page B4

carrying medical equipment, med icines a nd por table clinics for the sur vivors of Ba se y a nd Ma r abut , t he s out her n tow n s of Samar t hat were leveled by ‘Yolanda’ a week ago.

Basey a nd Ma rabut are just across San Pedro and San Pablo Bay from Tacloban City and the towns of Pa lo and Tanauan in Leyte -- all of which were devestated by storm surges and strong winds brought by what is now considered the strongest typhoon on record.

“All of the aid workers are advised to bring their own provisions as our own supplies are running low,” Caidic said.

E v a c u e e s , t r a n s i e nt citizens The Samar PDR R MC information officer said that as of Friday, about 70 to 80 families have relocated to Catbalogan and have arrived eit her on foot or hitchhiked their way into the city. Some evacuees--who have come from Tacloban, Baybay and Ormoc in Leyte and other parts of Eastern Samar--are already housed at Samar State University and those with means have sought temporary shelters in the small inns dotting the capital.

“Dumadami na tao dito sa Catbalogan. Provincial government has a lready asked for additional rice allocation from the NFA [National Food Authority] to support this growing population and the distribution of relief goods,” Caidic said.

Mayors of municipalities t hat were less da maged by ‘Yolanda’ have met on Thursday and agreed to rationalize the distribution of basic commodities until such time aid and additional s up pl i e s a r r i ve i n t h e province.

Since Matnog port’s docks have become inoperable due to the inf lux of vehicles and passengers desperately looking for their loved ones in Samar and Ley te, the government and other aid organizations then must utilize the available gateways i nto t he reg ion. Ca id ic said the airport in Buri, Catbalogan and Calbayog City can be used by small airplanes while the city’s port can accomodate cargo vessels to transport goods.

“But still no one uses them,” Caidic said.

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Offset... from page B1

mini-grids, are the most economica l solutions to providing electricity access in still many cases (because of the non-viability of grid or line extension),” it said.

The study considered off-grid electrification a technical solution that can justify soft financing, as “this solution is usually for very remote rural areas.”

With this, it urged various ASEAN energy sector bodies and the relevant subsector networks to prioritize the adoption of regional and national standards on offg r id a nd decent ra l i z ed systems, including micro and mini grids, based on existing international standards, in their joint discussion.

For mini-grid electrification, higher energy expenditure households can be given electricit y connection mainly through government budgets and private sector financing, and secondarily through multilateral and bilateral guarantees.

Citing an International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook, it estimated add it iona l i nve st ment s between 2010 and 2030 in developing Asia totalling $2.41 billion.

Apart from this initiative, other actions pushed by the study to accelerate energy access in the region include estimating the direct and indirect impacts of energy prices subsidy reform on the poor, and disseminate and share knowledge and e x p e r i e nc e s on fo s s i lfuel subsidy reform and mitigating impacts.

Yolanda... from page B1

implementation of social and economic development projects, particularly in t he af fected prov inces,” Balisacan said.

Even as relief operations a r e o n g o i n g , N E DA is spearheading the development of a recovery and reconstruction plan to restore normalcy in regions hit by Typhoon Yolanda and help get the affected local economies back on their feet.

T h e Economic Development Cluster of the Cabinet formed has formed an interagency task force to craft the plan, focusing on immediate and near-term actions needed to rebuild faci lities, restore socia l services and revive economic activities.

The plan, which will be presented to the Pres.

Aquino in two to three weeks’ time, will be implemented immediately following relief operations in affected areas.

“It is important to quickly assess the damage and losses and to determine the right sequence of government actions,” said Balisacan.

He st ressed t hat t he recovery plan will address social and economic impact of the typhoon.

Balisacan said the Yolanda recovery and reconstruction

pla n a i ms to speed up government operations to enhance delivery of services in the affected areas, find and develop resettlement sites, and restore public utilities and facilities using upgraded standards.

“These actions must be completed in the shortest possible time, to restore people’s means of livelihood and revive economic and business activities,” Balisacan said.

The plan also aims to assist in t he socia l and psychological recovery of individuals and communities affected.

“It is easier to recover economic losses; it is the social cost that is harder and will take longer to reverse,” said Balisacan.

The task force will prepare a deta i led master pla n, indicating short-term and long-term actions.

Immediate actions i nc lu d e a s s e s s m e nt of damage to infrastructure and preparation of more resilient design standards for infrastructure projects.

T he s e w i l l b e u s e d i n t he re h a bi l it at ion a nd const r uct ion of crit ica l i n f r a s t r uc t u re suc h a s housing, roads and bridges, hospitals, provincial, city and municipal halls, seaports and airports, public markets, water supply and distribution systems, irrigation systems, power, telecommunications as well as other government offices and facilities.

Issues...

from page B1 and R iver Basin Forum in January 2012, stressed that climate change is not only about economics and politics but “it also boils down to stewardship of God’s creation.”

“It is about how responsible we are in fulf illing our duties as stewards. Let’s ask if we are upholding the universal distribution of earthly goods,” he said in his inspirational talk at the program’s launching.

Rorie Fajardo, national coordinator of the Citizens Action Network for Accou ntabi lit y (CA NA) and representatives from civil society organizations, government, media a nd indigenous peoples were among those who graced the launching.

C a b a nt a n s a id t h a t “solving an environmental problem requires organizing and educating people.”

He noted that climate change is a challenge for everyone, especially to the United Nations and t he countries that do not conform to the Kyoto Protocol, an internationa l agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Cha nge, which commits its parties by setting i nternat iona l ly bi nd i ng emission reduction targets.

Adopted on December 11, 1997 and became effective in 2005, the Kyoto Protocol recognizes that developed countries are “principally responsible for the current

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

high level of green house gas emissions in the atmosphere as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity.”

The Protocol places a heavier burden on developed nations under the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.”

But some countries like the United States, which signed the protocol in 1998, did not ratify it.

Describing it as a “big injustice,” Cabantan said people in the Philippines and other vulnerable countries bear the burden of calamities brought by decisions made by those in highly industrialized countries.

He affirmed Philippine climate envoy Naderev ‘Yeb’ Sano’s call to finally “stop this madness,” referring to climate change. Cabantan agreed that climate change is not a natural calamity e sp e c i a l ly w it h p e ople struggling to survive poverty.

Sano was t he lead delegate of the Philippines to the UN’s 19th Climate C h a nge C on ferenc e i n Warsaw, Poland who made an emotional appeal to end climate change and vowed to go on hunger strike in solidarity with the hunger of Filipinos in provinces hit by super typhoon “Yolanda.”

C a b a nt a n s a i d t h a t climate change is not separate f rom go o d gover na nc e because if people fulfill their responsibilities as stewards, then they don’t abuse the environment.

The bishop said t hat addressing climate change as part of good governance should be a task not just for the national government but a l so t he ba r a ngay, town or city and provincial governments.

“E ach level mu st be consistent in their work to

address climate change,” he added.

Caba nta n sa id t he lau nch i ng of t he good governance advocacy group Barog Bukidnon is consistent with the church’s focus on the “Year of Faith ” and its work on social justice.

Among the group’s focus is on environment, health and governance.

Restore... from page B1

fast-track the restoration of power lines in Leyte and Samar which were devastated

by Ty phoon Yolanda on November 8.

Engr. Sergio C. Dagooc, general manager of Dinagat Islands Electric Cooperative Inc., and Siargao Electric Cooperative and concurrent President of A MR ECO, said Mindanao’s 33 electric cooperatives have formed A M R E C O Ta s k F o r c e Kapatid which left Lipata Port here for Leyte and Samar Friday.

He said they were a bit delayed as they also had to attend to the needs of Yolanda-affected areas in Mindanao – in Dinagat Islands province, Siargao and Bucas Grande in Surigao del Norte.

But Dagooc added that while they were working to restore power in t he three islands, he was also busy communicating with AMRECO members to help Leyte and Samar.

L ast yea r, A M R ECO members from near and far were seen fixing power lines in Davao Oriental, C ompostela Va l ley a nd Agusan del Sur, after super typhoon Pablo toppled down power lines when it made landfall in Baganga, Davao Oriental on December 4, 2012.

Off-grid systems and renewable energy sources key to energy poverty elimination The Philippines and other ASEAN members should continue and expand cooperation on off-grid and decentralized renewable energ y systems in a bi d to accelerate the elimination of energy poverty.

This suggestion was made by a study published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) authored by Adoracion M. Navarro, PIDS Senior Research Fellow; Maxensius Tri Sambodo, Researcher of Indonesian Institute of Sciences Economic Research Center; and Jessie L. Todoc, Philippines Program Manager of SEA Energy Access and Alternative Energy, International Copper Association Southeast Asia.

“Off-grid systems that are fuelled by renewable energy sources, whether decentralized stand-alone systems or micro and mini-grids, are the most economical solutions to providing electricity access in still many cases (because of the nonviability of grid or line extension),” it said.

The study considered off-grid electrification a technical solution that can justify soft financing, as “this solution is usually for very remote rural areas.”

With this, it urged various ASEAN energy sector bodies and the relevant subsector networks to prioritize the adoption of regional and national standards on off-grid and decentralized systems, including micro and mini grids, based on existing international standards, in their joint discussion.

For mini-grid electrification, h i g h e r e n e r g y ex p e n d i t u r e households can be given electricity connection mainly through government budgets and private sector financing, and secondarily through multilateral and bilateral guarantees.

Citing an International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook, it estimated additional investments between 2010 and 2030 in developing Asia totalling $2.41 billion.

Apart from this initiative, other actions pushed by the study to accelerate energy access in the region include estimating the direct and indirect impacts of energy prices subsidy reform on the poor, and disseminate and share knowledge and experiences on fossil-fuel subsidy reform and mitigating impacts. -- Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT News and Features

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Multilateral dev’t banks deliver $27B in climate change financing MANILA -- Multilateral development banks (MDBs) provided almost US$ 27 billion worldwide in financing to address the challenges of climate change in 2012, according to the second joint MDB report on climate finance.

The report was released Friday, in line with the commitment by MDBs to enhance the transparency of their investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The report analyses the financial commitments by the institutions to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the information provided has been expanded since the first edition to include better sectoral and regional breakdowns of MDB financing.

Of the total USD 27 billion in climate finance, 78 percent or more than USD 21 billion was dedicated to mitigation, while 22 percent or nearly USD 6 billion was applied to adaptation. Of the total commitments, 8 percent or USD 2 billion came from external resources, such as bilateral or multilateral donors, including the Global Environment Facility and the Climate Investment Funds.

In terms of regional coverage,

Latin America and the Caribbean received the highest share of MDB climate finance (18 percent of total funds), while the EU-13 countries received 11 percent.

Sub-Saharan Africa received almost equal amounts of adaptation and mitigation finance (15 percent of total funds, representing 31 percent of total adaptation finance and 8 percent of total mitigation finance).

In regards to sector coverage, 36 percent of adaptation finance went to the infrastructure, energy and built environment sector, while 34 percent went towards increasing the agriculture sector’s resilience to climate change. Renewable energy took by far the largest share of mitigation finance, with 36 percent.

The discrepancy bet ween mitigation and adaptation finance is greatest in the EU-13 and other Euro p ean an d C e nt r al A s i an regions: 96 percent of total climate finance commitments were applied to mitigation measures in the EU13 countries; while 94 percent of the total funds were applied to mitigation in other European and Central Asian regions. (PNA)

Environment

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Soldiers from the Army 52nd Engineering Brigade carry their equipment in Camp Evangelista, Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 15. The soldiers along with others from Davao’s AFP Eastern Command are sent to Leyte to help in the disaster relief operations. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo

Feature

Bicol pili trees withstand super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ SORSOGON CITY -– The ever sturdy pili trees of Bicol once more have proven that the more they are whipped by typhoons, the more they become stronger.

Tree owners are also certain that from the intense beating made by super typhoon “Yolanda,” which battered the southern section of Sorsogon province with wind that packed more that 200 kilometers per hour strength, their pili would bloom more and bear much fruits later.

Pili, which is considered a “stress tree” and “another tree of life -- next to coconut,” is indeed the symbol of Bicolanos who are always ready to stand up after calamities and tragedies and wear smiles even in the face of trials.

Amado Gabito, a 67-year-old farmer in Irosin, Sorsogon -- which was among the province’s hard-hit towns, said all his 10 pili trees -- aged about half a century -- survived the beatings of Yolanda’s strong wind, one of the strongest experienced in his life.

“My coconuts were uprooted and most of my other trees suffered tremendous damages but all my pili trees remained standing with their branches intact but not most of the leaves and fruits. Later, in about two or three months, all these pili trees will bloom again and bear more fruits,” he told the PNA in local dialect.

Latest reports on damages on agriculture left by “Yolanda” received by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol listed the cost at around P175 million.

The list includes coconut and other fruit-bearing trees in some 5,000 hectares affected that were either felled or uprooted by the strong wind, flood and landslides.

No pili tree was mentioned in the damage reports.

Indeed, less known but just as versatile and hardy as the legendary coconut is the pili tree. Both plants grow profusely in Bicol where typhoons and volcanic eruptions are frequent.

Resistant to strong winds and hot weather conditions, the tree copes better with the adverse impact of climate change than most plants.

The pili tree is highly recommended

monday | November 18, 2013

for agro-forestry projects, especially in typhoon-frequented areas.

Not surprisingly, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region has been planting pili for the government’s National Greening Program (NGP), the Aquino administration’s premier reforestation program.

It is known to withstand typhoons and most pests and although it grows best where rainfall is almost evenly distributed throughout the year, it can grow in marginal lands and steep hillsides.

This, coupled with the fact that it does not shed its leaves, makes it a great tree to line avenues and highways, providing protection as well as a practical and efficient way to shade and add aesthetics to any town or city byway, Gonzales said.

An indigenous species (scientific name, Canarium ovatum) that grows up to 100 years old and up to 35 meters in height, the pili tree starts bearing fruit at around age six.

Upright with leaves and branches roundly spread, they are beautiful as shade trees lining up avenues or marking borders.

Pili is “tree of life” for Bicolanos as all its parts are useful. The hard shells of the nut are used for fuel, handicrafts and charcoal briquettes while the pulp is eaten boiled, pickled, sweetened or sautéed; the surplus, fed to the pigs.

Not only is the pili nut being processed into different kinds of delicacies, but is also seen as important as the proteins found in commercially important oil seeds that help fight cancer.

Studies made by scientists from the University of Guelph in Canada and the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST) recently reported proteins in pili are good for the heart, too.

Oil extracted from the pulps and kernels can be used as cooking oil, fuel oil for lamps and for making insect repellents, moisturizers and perfumes.

Pili oil is said to possess the high qualities of olive oil.

Spas offering facial and body treatments use lotions made from pili

nut, which is rich in moisture and Vitamin E. Also rich in phosphorous, calcium, protein and potassium, the pili nut is a good alternative to the expensive pine nut in pesto sauce and can be thrown into all kinds of breads, pastries and sautéed food.

Resin from the bark called Manila elemi is being exported to China and Europe for industrial uses such as transparent paper used as window panes and as additives to plastic, plaster, printer ink and various paint products.

Locally, the wood is used to caulk boats.

Others call pili “The Majestic Tree” due to its many economic uses. Every part of the tree -- from the roots, trunk, branches, leaves, sap and fruit -- is valuable.

According to Haribon Foundation, an international campaigner for the protection of natural resources, “Pili trees are the timeless, silent giants that have been protecting us without us even knowing, long before we began to expand our reach deeper and deeper into our forests.”

It has, however, been becoming an endangered tree species that today, people die by the thousands from landslides and flooding due to the decreasing population of pili, among other important forest trees.

Yes, pili trees survive typhoons throughout its existence on the planet; but it is the period after the typhoon that threatens the tree -- humans undergoing food insecurity in the wake of a typhoon cut them down for firewood, Haribon said.

“In order for us and the environments that make up the ‘home to our homes’ to thrive and survive off each other, we must constantly educate ourselves on these trees and plant more of their seedlings now and into the future.” it said.

“Join us on our road to a future where news headlines show decreasing death tolls and increasing reforestation projects. And just as importantly, more delicious nuts,” Haribon added. (PNA)

Int’l humanitarian organizations pool resources to support PHL TACLOBAN CITY -- More than 20 international humanitarian organizations have already coordinated with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in providing various support to victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

The UN OCHA is on top in making coordination to ensure that no resources is wasted and all affected communities are served, according to its spokesperson, Matthew Cochrane.

“The last thing we want is one community or one town to receive all of the assistance and others are not served,” he said.

The disaster that Eastern Visayas with Leyte and Samar as worst hit areas, has been categorized as level three during the visit of Ms. Valeria Amos, UN Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs here last week.

The grade talks focused not just on the severity of the disaster but the amount of assistance that the international community needs to provide to help, he explained.

“That’s the most critical level. For the UN and the humanitarian organizations, this means that we need to very quickly rally all our resources to support the government and support the people of the Philippines,” Cochrane pointed out.

As of Friday, 72 million dollars out of the 301 million US dollars requested for projects stipulated in the action plan relative to typhoon Haiyan, Yolanda in the Philippines has been received, according to OCHA’s financial tracking service (FTS).

Cochrane said that with the “complexity of the operations, more and international communities are getting aware.” This is not just a disaster that affected one geographic area but it covers a massive area,” he stated.

He said that their focus is on getting more assistance to respond to priority projects to include support for food, water, sanitation, health, and telecommunications, among others. They also were mulling extending emergency shelter assistance.

Cochrane also assured the continued presence of the United Nations, non-government organizations and humanitarian communities as long as assistance is needed.

“It is very important to tell the people that the international community has answered the call of the Philippine government.

We are keen to provide the support that we can and people don’t need to worry that we are going to leave,” he assured.

The OCHA spokesman likewise lauded the coordination efforts of the Philippine government, which is “one of the better prepared governments in the region and around the world.”

“Coordination has been very good, has been very strong,” he added.

Currently, inter-agency teams are doing assessment at the west and southwest of Tacloban City. The information they gather will be used for the “next wave of assistance.”

A report produced by OCHA Philippines as of November 15 placed the number of people affected at 12.9 million with over 1.9 million displaced from various regions in the country that were hit by super typhoon Yolanda. (PNA)