BusinessWeek Mindanao (November 3, 2017)

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume VIII, No. 63

Market Indicators

As of 5:57 pm November 2, 2017 (thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P51.686

8,516.02

X X Briefly

11.3

150.76

cents

points

Holcim expansion DAVAO City – Executives of the cement firm Holcim Philippines with representatives from the city government and other line government agencies held the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kalayaan Project on October 27, 2017.

The Kalayaan Project is an added facility that can provide more than four million bags of cement per day to support the Build, Build, Build projects in Mindanao.

Xavier Kennedy, Manager of the Holcim Philippines Davao Plant said the Kalayaan Project is a two prongedfacility for mechanized shipunloading and increasing the grinding capability.

He said that as the city grows and the demand for cement increases, Holcim Philippines keeps pace by adding its capacity.

“At this moment, we can dispatch close to four million bags of cement at its current capacity. We are going to add more to this capacity through this project,” Kennedy said.

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Mindanao biz leaders seek bulk of Jap’s aids www.businessweekmindanao.com

Friday | November 3, 2017

By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

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AVAO City – Business leaders in Mindanao are all praises after President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced he brought home some billions worth of Japanese assistance and investments from his two-day working visit in Japan but they are hoping he would a give a bigger chunk to his hometown, Davao City, and Mindanao.

President Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president Ronald Go told MindaNews Thursday

that he acknowledged the enormous contribution of Japan to development of the country as a strong trading

partner but he claimed most of the investments and development assistance in the past went to Manila and Cebu.

“It is sad to note that most of these investments are in Manila and Cebu. We hope that the President will be able to direct more of these investments to Davao and Mindanao,” he said.

D ute r te an n ou n c e d, upon his arrival from his two-day working visit in Japan Tuesday evening, that aids/PAGE 11

Australia’s GMO banana to be tested in Mindanao GENERAL Santos City – Australian researchers are planning to conduct field trials in Mindanao for a ge n e t i c a l ly e ng i n e e re d Cavendish banana that was developed to resist the highly destructive Fusarium wilt or Panama disease.

Colin Melvin, commercial ser vices director of the Q u e e nsl and Un ive rs it y of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, said Mindanao, including Region 12, is an ideal site for the field testing being the center banana/PAGE 11

COWD cannot grant bulk water price hike due to legal issues

Bangon Marawi PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte reorganized the composition of Task Force Bangon Marawi.

The President signed Administrative Order No. 9 last October 27 ordering the change in the structure of the Task Force as he saw the necessity of a full-blown reconstruction, following Marawi City’s liberation from the control of ISIS-backed terrorist groups.

Task Force Bangon Marawi is now headed by the Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), with the Secretary of Department of National Defense (DND), the former Task Force chairman, and the Secretary of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as Co-Vice Chairpersons.

P15.00

By MIKE BAÑOS, Editor-at-Large

MINIATURE BOATS. A boy sells these miniature boats crafted by local residents for P500 each in Catarman, Camiguin island. photo by gerry lee gorit

Camiguin levels up with 2 new hotels

By GERRY LEE GORIT, Reporter

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin -- This province is poised t o b e c om e on e of t h e Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) most sought-after tourist and event destinations as two companies are in the stage of expanding their hotel business here, Gov. Maria Luis Romualdo said over the weekend.

Romualdo said the building of hotels owned

by two prominent hoteliers in Cagayan de Oro will be putting up their facilities in the island-province’s two towns.

A hotel owned by

Limketkai will stand in Barangay Tupsan Pequeño, Mahinog town, while Mallberry will expand its hospit a lit y business in Barangay Bonbon in the municipality of Catarman.

In C agayan de Oro, Limketkai operates the 213room Luxe Hotel located within its mall complex.

Mallberry, owned by Roger Chiu, has its own Mallberry Business Suites Hotel within the Limketkai mall. hotels/PAGE 10

THE Cagayan de Oro City Water District has clarified that there are legal issues which constrain them from granting price adjustments to bulk water supplier Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc. “It is not an issue whether

or not COWD can afford a price increase in bulk supply, but rather it is a legal concern that restricts COWD to accommodate the price increase demand of RVWCI,” said COWD General Manager issues/PAGE 11

COWD GM Rachel Beja stresses a point during an SP Utilities Committee public consultation on the water supply situation in COWD’s west service area. (cio photo by nic anches)

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Economy Camiguin uncovers Duterte sees more infra new tourism ad projects after Japan visit Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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By RETCHIE T. PACULBA, Contributor

CAMIGUIN – To captivate more hearts to feel Camiguin, the tourism office here launched the new Camiguin tourism ad entitled, “No Words,” during the opening of the 38th Lanzones Festival on October 22 at the Congressman Pedro P. Romualdo Tourism and Sports Complex in Mambajao.

The video was simultaneously uploaded on the Facebook page of Camiguin Tourism Office to reach a greater number of viewers and encourage more tourists to visit the island.

“Commissioned by the provincial government and conceptualized by a team of creative millennials, the video encapsulates the provincial government’s #FeelCamiguin campaign and aims to invite and encourage people to come to Camiguin and explore the province for themselves,” Provincial Tourism Officer Candice Naome Dael said.

The team behind the video sought to bring a fresh approach to promote the island by showing how a trip to Camiguin, with all the wonderful experiences it offers, may leave one tourism/PAGE 10

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AVAO City – President Rodrigo Duterte sees more special infrastructure projects to come under the administration’s Build, Build. Build program after the Japanese government’s pledge an assistance of $9 billion.

Duterte also sealed business agreements with industry leaders valued at $6 billion. The President arrived in Davao City Tuesday night from a three-day visit to Japan, which he described as productive and engaging.

He vowed to work closely with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who committed to give flesh to Japan’s special assistance program, to ensure that projects have to proceed soonest and it will be “Done, Done, Done.”

The President said Japan’s vital support for the centerpiece projects especially the social infrastructure under the administration’s Build program was top of the agenda during their discussion.

Duterte highlighted the need for these social infra projects to sustain economic growth and improve the quality of life

of the Filipino people.

The agenda discussed with Prime Minister Abe, Duterte said, would even further intensify bilateral cooperation.

Among the other agenda were on defense and security cooperation to combat terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crimes.

“We will strive to make our waters free and open to our peoples so that they can enjoy our rich natural maritime resources,” he said.

During the press briefing after his speech, Duterte said one of the issues in defense and cooperation was the South China Sea. He said Japan

is one of the countries that is really interested in the freedom of navigation, especially coming in from the Indian Ocean.

“And there’s a lot of buildings there by China, and also some other countries are claiming some islands -- Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia. It could be, really, a messy thing not only in the Philippines. Pati sila (Also them) because each and every country has an economic zone and it is overlapping,” Duterte stressed.

He said China is not only claiming a majority of the area, but also in the Philippines, Malaysia and projects/PAGE 10

Personalized learning in K-12 education

By ALVIN A. SABAYANAN

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PERSONALIZED learning is an instruction that offers pedagogy, curriculum and learning environments to meet the individual student’s needs. The experience is t ai l ore d to l e ar n i ng preferences and the specific interests of different learners.

Personalized learning can be applied to K-12 education too here in the Philippines.

It tailors learning for each student’s strengths, needs and interests – including enabling student voice and choice in what, how, when and where they learn – to provide flexibility and

supports to ensure mastery of the highest standards possible.

Between the ages of five and 18, K-12 students are still underage but this doesn’t mean that they should not have a voice about their learning. That’s because they need to be prepared for what humans do best: reasoning, character, ethics and thinking through unexpected problems.

In a personalized learning environment, the learning objectives and content as well as the method and pace may all vary. Personalization also

encompasses differentiated instruction that supports student progress based on subject matter mastery. Its elements are the environment, intervention, supporting student ne e ds, student grouping, curriculum, quality teaching, goal setting and tracking and formative assessment.

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NTICIPATING increase in demand for the last quarter of the year, the country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) regained its strength in October after two months of almost flat growth.

IHS Markit Manufacturing PMI for the Philippines in October rose to 53.7 from 50.8 in September.

“After two months of marginal growth,

there was a flurry of activity in the Philippines manufacturing sector at the start of the fourth quarter. Demand for Filipino manufactured goods strengthened noticeably, with order book growth picking up to a five-month high,” IHS Markit Principal Economis Bernard Aw explained.

This also made the Philippines to top other ASEAN member states in the survey as Vietnam posted a production

PMI of 51.6; Singapore at 51.3; Myanmar at 51.1; Indonesia at 50.1; Thailand at 49.8; and Malaysia at 48.6.

The Philippines’ manufacturing score last month was also higher than the ASEAN average of 50.4.

The monthly report has also attributed the growth in manufacturing PMI to the availability of capital equipment which boosted production capacity of Philippine factories.

Moreover, higher employment was also recorded last month.

“Greater demand lifted production volumes, which in turn prompted firms to hire more workers,” Aw said.

The IHS Markit report added that business confidence in the Philippines remained elevated despite optimism fell to its lowest since the survey started in January 2016.

Among the concerns of companies include

shortage of raw materials and the inflationary pressures due to peso depreciation.

“Further weakening of the peso poses a problem for manufacturers, especially those that rely on imported inputs for production. Input cost inflation picked up sharply, which led firms to raise prices in order to preserve profit margins,” Aw said.

“Charges for Filipino goods increased at the fastest rate on record. This

signals that inflationary pressures are building in the Philippines, suggesting that consumer inflation may trend above BSP’s inflation expectations. That will compel the central bank to consider tightening monetary policy as early as this year,” he added.

But local companies are still optimistic about higher sales forecasts, marketing activity, new models and planned business expansions.

(PNA)

MULTIFLEX RNC Philippines, Inc. is planning to expand in the Visayas and Mindanao, as the maker of Uratex mattress celebrates it golden anniversary next year.

Multiflex Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Natividad Y. Cheng said the company will open new branches and a factory to meet growing demand for its products.

“We also have General Santos City [which opened in 2012], now we are planning our factory in Tacloban City,” said during

the 2017 Philippine EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards last Oct. 18 in Makati City.

Multiflex Corporate Services Division head Teodulo L. Manlubatan said the company will be opening a store in Butuan City within the next three months.

Aside from Butuan, the company is also planning to open a store in Shaw Boulevard, bringing its total branch network to 22 nationwide.

Mr. Manlubatan said there are also plans to build a foaming factory in

Iloilo to reduce logistics costs and to take advantage of the rapid growth in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We set out capacities well ahead of the demand to ensure good customer service levels,” he added.

At present, Uratex has six factories in Plaridel, Bulacan; Alabang; Naga City; Cebu City; Cagayan de Oro City; and Davao City, which Mr. Malubatan said produce an “equivalent of about 1.6 million cubic meters of foam” annually.

“Because the foaming factory has a big capacity

[so we don’t have to expand that much].

There’s some hurdles in the capacity to justify to putting out some foaming plants. We’re thinking of putting up a foaming plant in Iloilo. Since it reaches (full) capacity level, we [might] have to put up a plant [sooner or later],” he added.

Mr. Malubatan noted Uratex continues to dominate the Luzon market, but would like to broaden its reach in Visayas and Mindanao, Multiflex has been expanding since 2014,

with capital expenditures pegged at nearly P1 billion.

Ms. Cheng said the company is limiting its expansion to the Philippines only since foam is very bulky.

“Our products are very bulky so we need to keep ourselves in the Philippines first. The Philippines market is still big that we have yet to reach it,” Ms. Cheng said.

“This is also to increase employment since we are local manufacturers, not the importers. The ones who benefits from that are only a few sellers but if it’s

locally produced, then we give employment to the Filipinos, right,” she added.

To ensure quality of its products, Ms. Cheng said Uratex use machinery from Germany, Japan and Taiwan.

“We want to have a true Filipino brand that can compete with the imported products. That’s what’s important for us. Let’s save dollars, instead of buying mattresses from abroad, we have the best mattresses in the Philippines. We have the best machineries to produce our products,” Ms. Cheng said.

Uratex to expand in Visayas, Mindanao

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Opinion

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Hanjin out, Ansteel in

HOTLINE Businessweek Mindanao Corporation Publisher DANTE M. SUDARIA President/CEO

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Ruffy magbanua FOR the second time in a row, the integrity of the local government in Misamis Oriental is again tested with the entry of a giant steel manufacturer, this time, from China.

Back in 2008, a Korean steel firm, Hanjin Heavy Indust r ies, has st ar te d building up its $2 billion shipyard facility inside

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

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No greater love think a minute

jhan tiafau hurst Think a minute…A four year old girl was seriously hurt in a car accident. She had lost so much blood that she would probably die. Her only hope was for someone else to give her blood. But her blood type was very rare and the doctors did not know if they could find anyone in time with her same blood type who was also willing to give their blood. Then, they discovered that the girl’s 7 year old brother had the same blood type as hers. The doctor led her brother into his office to tell him that his baby sister was very sick and unless she received some blood, the angels would probably need to take her to heaven.

The brother’s eyes filled with tears. For a few moments, he tried to hold back his strong feelings of fear and

sadness, then he said softly to the doctor: “I’ll give my blood to my sister.”

Later, as the young boy watched his blood going through a tube into his sister, he became even more nervous and afraid. The doctor could see the little boy’s fear and told him: “It will be over very soon.” The boy started to cry and said: “So now is when I’m going to die.” From the very first time the doctor had asked this boy to give his blood for his sister, the young boy thought it meant he needed to give ALL of his blood and die so his sister could live.

Yet this little boy loved his sister that much, He was giving his life for her.

Did you know Jesus Christ did even more than that for you? Even though He is God Himself, He loves you and me so much He gave His perfectly innocent life so we could finally be forgiven and live forever with Him. God humiliated Himself by becoming a human being to die for all our wrongs.

Remember, He never did one wrong He needed to die for. So His perfect life and death paid the penalty for all our sins. Then after He was dead and buried for 3 love/PAGE 10

C h i ne s e i nve stor sha l l experience the same feat like Hanjin, it has no qualm in choosing Subic as its plant site.

MisOr Governor Bambi Emano had announced he had met with Ansteel representatives where the later expressed their intention to build a manufacturing plant that would produce shipbuilding plates, bulb steel and other steel products.

Earlier, the investors from China had conducted an ocular inspection in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental for a p o ss ibl e are a of investment for Ansteel.

The existing of facilities of Tagoloan like water, power, and the possible site had satisfied the Chinese investors for the planned steel plant.

The Chinese investment group is also eyeing to build a cement plant to maximize the use of industrial wastes produced by the steel plant.

If plan pushes through sans bureaucratic red tape, the plant could produce four million tons of ship hull and ocean engineering steel per year.

Newly-installed Phividec Administrator Franklin Quijano, former city mayor of Iligan had expressed his unwavering support to the project to materialize soonest possible time.

Born in Dansalan, now called the devastated Marawi, Quijano finished his elementar y as Class Va l e d i c t o r i a n , S e c o n d Honorable Mention in high school (La Salle-Iligan), and hotline/PAGE 10

Almun Rey Logronio’s Satire at Qube Gallery

Cell No: 09352379999

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Phividec only to be told later to pack up, and indeed, they packed up without notice and sent home their earthmoving equipment with a heavy heart.

Mindanao’s dream to host the biggest shipbuilding facility never materialized.

Hanjin had to transfer its shipbuilding facility in Subic, Zambales.

This time, Ansteel, one of China’s leading steel manufacturer of shipbuilding plates is eyeing a 300-hectare property inside the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva,Misamis Oriental.

Sans politicking, the giant steel plant of China will generate local employment to some 50,000 skilled workers.

However, like Hanjin, Ansteel had a second option in mind. Just in case this

Lucell larawan Almun Logronio (b. 1987), in a back-to-back solo art exhibit, uniquely plays the senses with wit on the buffoonery of society. His oeuvres will be seen starting November 9, 2017 at Qube Gallery, Crossroads, Banilad, Cebu City. The artist studied at the Nabuad Inabangga High School; later he finished his fine arts degree in the University of the Philippines Cebu.

Logronio, in his defecating

series made of polymer resin and metal armature on wood, intends to make a pun to the one who disturbed his call of necessity. The artist once came home to Bohol and found that comfort rooms were occupied by visitors.

When he could not use one, he went into the bushes, hid behind a big tree, and faced with a real dressing down: a girl saw him. ”I was very ashamed and ran as fast as I could, laughing”, he recalls.

Logronio wants to reminisce his experience by sculpting it—albeit, not himself, but the girl who saw him. The girl with a whole dress--rendered in a literal, figurative approach--sits with her buttocks open wiped with a leaf, mouth releasing breath for the coup de grace; moreover, a piece shows one biting the edge of her skirt doing the same. The artist even used a “manananggal”

symbol wearing high heels, wiping the dirt with a stick.

The artist gives variety to his presentation with another piece showing a group of girls conversing casually while doing their private ritual together with panties taken off.

The artist also presents teenage boys in a series doing the same: one holding a slingshot with slippers tucked on both arms, another pouring water on his exposed buttocks. The artworks relieve stress as they evoke fun about what is supposedly done in secret—but now made a public spectacle.

A significant piece abroad portrays the same theme that Logronio deals with, though it assaults by wit on the buffoonery of the aristocracy. It is Sam Mahon’s Ni c k S m it h s c u lptu re , h i g h l i g ht i n g a l a r g e rthan-life-size environment

minister of France defecating into a glass of drinking water.

Defending his work, Mahon argues with Marcel Duchamp that the creative act is completed with the spectators’ interpretation and reaction. He is referring to Environment Canterbury’s (Ecan) attempt to intercede by way of court injunction r unni ng to 1 3 0 p age s, amounting to an estimated legal expense of $30,000—a failed endeavor. Logronio may not elicit such legal warfare for his oeuvres; however, he can attract 500 peals of laughter.

Behind that laughter, though, the artworks indirectly mock society’s imbecility. An example is how the personalities cry “foul” or “EJK” to the way terrorists Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon in the battle of Marawi were killed—a Satire/PAGE 10

Halloween 2017: proof of devil’s control of mankind Kakampi mo ang batas

Batas Mauricio LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…” (1 Timothy 4:1, Holy Bible).

-ooo HALLOWEEN 2017: P R O O F O F D E V I L’ S CONTROL OF MANKIND: If we consider what came out of newspapers and in social media on All Saints’

Day, November 01, 2017, it wouldn’t be difficult to see that deceiving spirits and demon-taught ideas now control the minds of many people, something which was in reality prophesied to happen as the world nears its end.

Two of these news reports are the following: “Knee cap of dead people interred in a cemetery in Surigao City are being stolen allegedly because they are considered as amulets”; “Bones of a dead father brought home by his son, so son could talk to the dead father always”.

In Facebook, on the other hand, photographs were plastered all over the site, showing people including minor children who were dressed up like the devil, and as vampires, witches, elves, and even low-lifes, accompanied by greetings

of “Happy Ha l lowe en”.

Clearly, for these people, their commemoration of their dead loved ones consisted of giving honor to the enemy of God, the devil.

-ooo WHY IS HONORING THE DEVIL MORE IMPORTANT TO MANY PEOPLE NOW? The question to these people is simple: during Christmas, or the day where we remember the birth of Jesus, our God and Savior, do they dress up like Him, or do they at least think, speak, act, and appear like Jesus when He was still on this world? The clear answer is, no, they don’t.

To a large degree, the on ly t hings t hat many remember during Christmas are the gifts, the food binges, drinking sprees with wine and liquor, outing, visiting malls and the houses of

relatives and friends, with the sole objective of merrymaking. The fact is that, many do not even remember going to church anymore on Christmas day to give thanks for the coming of our God and Savior.

How did this happen, that many now are deeming it more important to honor the devil than to honor God? The reason is clear: it appears that not many Filipinos these days still understand the commands and teachings of God, arising from the fact that not many of us still read His Word, the Bible.

-ooo STRAYING AWAY FROM GOD BRINGS POVERTY, DISSENSION, FAILURES: This is the reason why many Filipinos are experiencing the curses promised by God, especially the curses proof/PAGE 10

DISCLAIMER: All articles and commentaries published in this section are construed to be the sole responsibility of the writers and do not in any manner reflect the stand of the newspaper, its publisher and editors -- The Editor in Chief

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friday|november 3, 2017

Sin tax take reaches P17.7B in September

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Bilateral Borrowing Arrangement with the Fund The Philippines, through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, is renewing its commitment to strengthen the global financial safety net with the extension of the bilateral borrowing arrangements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). First signed in 2013, the BSP extended a $1 billion loan facility with the IMF to support countries going through financial difficulties to minimize their adverse impact on the global community.

Said financial facility was never drawn and the agreement expired

in September 2017. This Octover, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, Jr. signed the Note Purchase Agreement with the Fund and renewed its $1 billion support through the loan facility. As a member of the global community, the BSP shares the responsibility to contribute to the stability of the international monetary system given its sound macroeconomic fundamentals and strong external position. In December 2006, the Philippines fully paid its loan with the IMF and became a net creditor in 2011.

Bank Lending Grows Faster in September Preliminary data show that outstanding loans of commercial banks, net of reverse repurchase (RRP) placements w ith the BSP, grew by 21.1 percent in September from 20.4 percent in August. Similarly, bank lending inclusive o f RRPs increased by 20.1 percent from 17.9 percent in the previous month.

On a m onth-on-m onth seasonally-adjusted basis, commercial bank lending fo r loans net o f RRPs and loans inclusive o f RRPs increased by 1.8 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively.

Loans fo r production activities—which comprised 88.8 percent o f banks’ aggregate loan portfolio, net of RRP — grew by 20.7 percent in September from 19.5 percent in August. The growth in production loans was driven prim arily by increased lending to the following sectors: real estate activities (16.8 percent); electricity, gas, steam and airconditioning supply (24.1 percent); wholesale and retail trade, repair o f m otor vehicles and motorcycles

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Banking&Finance

(16.7 percent); financial and insurance activities (20.4 percent); other com munity, social and personal activities (174.9 percent); manufacturing (10.3 percent); and, inform ation and communication (38.8 percent). Bank lending to other sectors also increased during the month except in public adm inistration, defense and compulsory social security, which declined by 0.8 percent.

Growth in loans for household consumption slowed down to 20.0 percent in September from 22.8 percent in August. The expansion in credit card loans was tem pered by the slower growth in m otor vehicle loans, salarybased general purpose loans and other types o f household loans.

Going forward, the BSP will continue to ensure that the expansion in domestic credit and liquidity conditions proceeds in line w ith overall economic growth while remaining consistent w ith the BSP’s price and financial stability objectives.

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) posted P17.7 billion sin tax collection in September 2017, up 12 percent from P16.67 billion a year ago.

Department of Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko told reporters the bulk of the revenues, amounting to P11.1 billion, was contributed by tobacco products while the balance of PHP6.6 billion came from alcohol products.

Tionko, who is also the head of the Revenue

Operations Group (ROG), said collections from tobacco products rose by 14 percent year-on-year.

Of the total tobacco product taxes, PHP4.6 billion was collected from JTI-Mighty, up 281 pecent from year-ago’s P1.2 billion, she said.

Cigarette maker Mighty Corp. is facing several tax evasion cases but has promised to pay its P25 billion tax liabilities.

Last July, it paid an initial PHP3.5 billion while the balance will be

paid by JT International Philippines (JTI), which has bought the local cigarette manufacturing company’s business for P45 billion.

Tionko is optimistic of the sustained growth of cigarette tax collections “because you have an international company that is eager to compete in this market.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III earlier said the P25 billion tax settlement by Mighty Corp. and JTI is seen to rise to P30 billion

New telco player could aid shift to e-payments THE ENTRY of a new telecommunications provider could spur a faster migration to electronic payments, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. said, with connectivity issues in the Philippines seen as a “pain point” for the financial sector.

“The BSP fully supports an initiative to open up the telco business so that there will be more competition and better service delivery which will benefit the whole financial system,” the central bank chief said during a recent speech before the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

“Personally, I see a lot of value in liberalizing that as well. It is a pain point for our approach of promoting digital delivery of financial services because of infrastructural issues.”

Mr. Espenilla has been actively pushing for the Nation Retail Payment System (NRPS), with the goal of shifting more cash-based transactions onto digital channels to fast-track access to money while also trimming the cost of fund transfers and remittances.

The BSP announced the NRPS project in 2015, with banks and e-money issuers now working to set up the PESO Net clearing house

for high-value electronic fund transfers by next month.

The automated clearing house will sprout from the existing Philippine Clearing House Corp., which will employ batch processing for digital payment instructions. The reform is eventually seen to replace paper checks.

Another clearing house called the InstaPay – which will process real-time credit for online settlements worth P50,000 or less within and across banks – is also in the works.

However, Mr. Espenilla said slow Internet speeds and connectivity issues telco/PAGE 10

once value added tax (VAT) is computed.

“This is the gift that keeps on giving,” he said.

The government plans to use proceeds of Mighty Corpo.’s tax liability payments to finance the rebuilding of Marawi City, which was devastated by five months of clashes between government troopers and ISIS-related Maute Group.

The DOF targets to collect P173.19 billion from sin taxes this year.

(PNA)

PSBank deposit system upgrade up on Nov 3-5 PHILIPPINE Savings Bank (PSBank) is encouraging account holders in several branches nationwide to transact ahead of the bank’s deposit system upgrade scheduled from 10 p.m. of Nov. 3 up to 5 a.m. of Nov. 6, 2017.

In a statement Monday, the thrift banking arm of Metrobank said affected account holders are those from Metro Manila branches as well as branches in PampangaGuagua; Batangas-Santo Tomas; Cebu-Carbon; and Davao-Monteverde.

Account holders from these branches will not be able to access their accounts through the automated teller machines (ATMs) of upgrade/PAGE 10

6 Urban planners’ convention up on November 8-9 The Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) will hold its 26th National Convention on November 8-9, 2017 at Seda Vertis North, Quezon City to raise awareness on the importance of environmental urban planning from local to national governance perspectives to a broader spectrum of decisionmakers, The two-day event carries the theme, “Sustainable Cities and Communities for the Urban Century”— highlighting the nation’s need for sound urban planning that balances considerations for socio-political, cultural, economic, and environmental issues contributing to a more

sustainable development.

About half of the country’s population lives in urban areas as a result of decades of real estate development.

However, concrete and steel infrastructure has distanced people from the natural world, causing problems related to health and sanitation, the threat of natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes remains a serious concern, while the worsening traffic situation, flooding, and garbage problems continue to escalate.

Building resilient cities require sustainable urban planning—the kind that envisions and promotes ample green space, multi-modal transport convention/PAGE 8

Environment

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World’s largest wildlife conference ends on high note for host country Philippines The 12th Meeting of Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS-COP12) ended on a high note for the host country, the Philippines, with the adoption of 11 resolutions it had drafted.

These include the five resolutions providing greater protection for the whale shark or butanding and four other migratory species frequenting the Philippines, and the resolution recognizing the role of migratory wildlife species in achieving global sustainable development goals, also known as the “Manila Declaration.”

Also adopted during the CMS-COP12,

held at the Philippine International Convention Center from October 23 to 28, were the Philippinedrafted resolutions on the Designation of the Whale Shark for Concerted Actions; Sustainable Tourism and Migratory Species; Promoting Conservation of Critical Intertidal and other Coastal Habitats for Migratory Species; Promoting Marine Protected Area Networks in the ASEAN Region, and Establishing a COP Presidency.

Director Theresa Mundita Lim of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) said the Philippine government, particularly

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will work towards the effective implementation of the country’s commitments under the CMS and its newly approved resolutions.

“We will put in place the necessary national measures, and we will engage all sectors of society in crafting these measures,” Lim said.

These measures, she said, include public education, expansion of protected areas and creation of critical habitats, if necessary, to ensure protection of threatened migratory species.

Lim noted that the

Philippines already has several laws that cover the adopted resolutions, including the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, the Fisheries Code, the National Integrated Protected Areas System or NIPAS Act, and the Ecotourism Development Act. In implementing all CMS-related activities, Lim said the DENR will consider inputs from various sectors of society including non-government organizations, civil society, local government units and indigenous peoples to ensure transparency, accountability and objectivity. conference/PAGE 10

Persistent threats fuel urgency to save migratory species

By Catherine Teves, PNA

An expert has raised the urgency for stronger international cooperation on conserving migratory species worldwide.

There must be better synergy on the matter as habitat destruction, pollution, live catching and other dangers continue to threaten the survival of these species, noted Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Executive Secretary Dr. Bradnee Chambers.

“This is critical for species that migrate through international borders,” he said at the CMS’ 12th Conference of the Parties (COP 12) in Metro Manila.

Further raising public

awareness on migratory species’ benefits and the threats they face will complement the international cooperation that countries are doing through CMS, Chambers said.

With increased public awareness and understanding of the matter, he said there’s more potential for people to help conserve migratory species.

Migratory species are animals that cyclically and predictably cross one or more national jurisdictional boundaries in response to seasons, availability of food or need to reproduce, said the Philippines’ Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB).

“Animal migration can be

found in all major animal groups,” BMB added.

Experts cited food, pollination and pest control as among migratory species’ benefits.

Such species also have potential as medicinal sources and eco-tourism draws, they said.

Countries must elevate conservation efforts through CMS to continue benefiting from services that migratory species provide, Dr. Chambers said.

CMS is an inter-governmental treaty under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) that provides the global platform for conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and save/PAGE 8

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BusinessWeek mOTORING

MINDANAO CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

IN-DEPTH

Friday | November 3, 2017

8

Caltex Havoline launches new range of motorcycle engine oils

C

altex Havoline, marketed

by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), launched its newest range of Caltex Havoline synthetic and mineral motorcycle engine oils during the “Ride Strong” event held at Valkyrie at the Palace, together with Caltex Ambassador Solenn Heussaff.

With rapid urbanization, higher fuel prices and the anticipated excise tax on cars, motorcycles sales in Philippines are expected to grow. Motorcycle riders can expect tougher urban riding with the influx of new riders. Caltex Havoline has developed its proprietary C.O.R.E. Technology to address their key concerns and deliver a more enjoyable

riding experience with enhanced engine performance. Also, exclusively available in Super 4T Semi-Synthetic and Mineral is Havoline’s very own ZOOMTECH additive technology.

The scooter engine oils range has been upgraded to meet the latest industry standard of API SN. The key benefit for scooter riders is that they can now enjoy the improved product performance of an API SN oil whether they purchase a semi-synthetic or mineral oil. All products are also compatible with most modern Japanese scooters as they carry the recommended JASO MB standard. A JASO MB oil, which is suitable for dryclutch gearboxes, ensures lower frictional properties to deliver maximum engine

Petron Introduces Pagani Automobili Hypercar Collection Do you want to be among the first owners of a Pagani Hypercar in the Philippines?

For its much-awaited year-end toy car promo, industry leader Petron Corporation’s 2017 offering will both surprise and delight avid motorsports enthusiasts and scale model collectors with its Petron Pagani Hypercar Collection.

As before, every Php 500 single or accumulated purchase of fuels (Petron Blaze 100 Euro 6, Petron XCS, Petron Xtra Advance, Petron Turbo Diesel, and Petron Diesel Max) as well as engine oils (Petron Ultron, Petron RevX, and Petron Sprint 4T) at a participating Petron

service station entitles the customer to buy one hypercar for only Php 300. The promo is available at 1,400 participating Petron stations nationwide, and will run from October 28 to November 11, 2017.

The Petron Pagani Automobili Hypercar collection features 1:32 scale models made from die cast metal. Pushing a button opens the doors; close the doors and the car accelerates and drifts.Three models, all specially licensed from Pagani, are included in this collection: The Pagani Zonda Revolucion, the Huayra and the Huayra BC.

efficiency.

“It has always been our pride to provide innovative solutions to our riders not just in enhancing their bike’s engine performance but also in making their experience more exciting and valuable. This is what motivates us to further develop and innovate in our creations for our riding community,” Mr. Lennard Kwek, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, Chevron Lubricants shared.

“Havoline has made my commute more enjoyable with its ZOOMTECH and C.O.R.E. Technology features. You’ll experience enhanced engine performance that will keep you strong and confident as you ride in the city,” said Solenn Heussaff, Caltex ambassador.

Convention... from page 6

system, and mixed-use development that protects cultural, historic, and biodiversity resources.

Sustainable urban planning ultimately creates a balance between manmade infrastructure and the natural environment.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista is set to deliver a keynote speech in line with “World Town Planning Day” which kicks off on November 8.

A l l E nv i r o n m e nt a l Planner members of PIEP are encouraged to join, as well as national and local government units, agencies, non-government org an i z at i ons , pr iv ate enterprises, developers, architects, contractors, educators, the academe, and all parties interested in creating sustainable cities and communities. (PR)

Save... from page 6

-their habitats.

Parties to CMS have agreed to p ro t e c t a n d c o n s e r v e migratory species, particularly those at high risk of extinction.

“We have a great deal to do before saying migratory species are thriving,” said Chambers, adding that he has not yet seen the return of some organisms’ population. “ Their future is our

future -- sustainable development for wildlife and people” is the CMS COP 12’s theme and highlights the link between migratory species’ conservation and sustainable development.

The COP 12, CMS’ first in Asia, began last October 23.

The Philippines is s e e k i n g i nt e r n at i o n a l collaboration on better protection for two migratory birds under threat that pass through this country while traveling along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

The population of the Christmas Island frigatebird (scientific name ‘Fregata andre wsi’) and Yellow bunting (scientific name ‘Emberiza sulphurata’) is declining due to habitat loss and other factors, said chief science research specialist Dr. Simplicia Pasicolan of the Philippine environment department’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau.

Both birds are among m i g r ator y sp e c i e s t he Philippines has proposed for inclusion in CMS’ appendices to boost their protection, she noted.

Pa s i c o l a n s a i d t h e Philippines aims to collaborate with Australia as well as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and other range countries where substantial numbers of Christmas Island frigatebird occur.

She noted the Philippines also aims to collaborate with Japan on a concerted action

plan to protect the Yellow bunting.

Yellow buntings breed in Japan and winter mainly in the Philippines, she said.

The Christmas Island frigatebird and Yellow bunting are already considered critically endangered and vulnerable, respectively, under the

International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

IUCN’s R e d L ist is recognized as the most comprehensive, objective global approach for evaluating the conservation status of plant and animal species. (PNA)

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9

10 Hotels... from page 1

With the completion of these two new hotels, Romualdo said Camiguin will be ready to accommodate any events, including those organized by the Asean.

“Camiguin will never back out [in] hosting any major event,” she said at the sidelines of the annual street dancing competition, one of the highlights of the 38th celebration of the Lanzones Festival, held Oct. 22-31.

The Lanzones Festival, an event feting the bountiful harvest of lanzones, which is abundant in the island, is among the major activities in Camiguin where the influx of local and foreign tourists is expected.

Last year, the Asean Center for Biodiversity declared the Camiguin’s Mts. Timpoong and Hibok-Hibok natural ranges Asean Heritage Parks, one of the few areas in the Philippines that is recognized as such. The declaration also put Camiguin on the Asean map.

With this recognition, Romualdo said, it won’t be long for citizens of Asean member-countries to visit Camiguin.

“We will never say no to anyone who would want to come and visit us. Yes, we are now ready for them,” she said, referring to the potential tourists from the Southeast Asian region.

Tourism... from page 2

speechless and without words.

The video tells the story of a chatty tourist who visits the island for the first time,

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friday|November 3, 2017

finds the place boring and gets a service from a mute local tour guide. Along the way, the loud tourist got to feel the beauty of Camiguin with its scenic beaches, springs, falls, friendly people and sweet lanzones.

Dael shared that #Feel C am i g u i n c amp ai g n is their way of convincing tourists that nothing beats the Camiguin experience.

(RTP/PIA10)

Projects... from page 2

Indonesia. “But always, we can resolve it by just talking.

“In the meantime that we are not really prepared, just about anything except to talk. And then let us just talk,” he added.

Duter te p ointed out that he cannot imagine the Philippines getting involved in a violent and almost a suicide action.

“You can read all the legal treaties there claiming this and claiming that. But the problem, I said, is I do not want to criticize the big powers now because it was really of their own making,” he said.

Duterte said that China has committed to the Philippines not to build anything near Pagasa/Scarborough.

“I hope that they would honor that commitment to us,” he said.

On economic cooperation, Duterte said, he has encouraged Japan to explore more opportunities to invest in the Philippines, including in steel manufacturing, agribusiness and IT and creative services.

He said the $6 billion signed business agreements

are “more than three times the amount of sealed businesses agreements during my first visit to Japan in 2016,” the referring to his first visit to Japan last year.

Me anw h i l e , D ut e r t e was impressed by how His Majesty, Emperor Akihito and Her Majesty Michiko lead simple lives. He said he was humbled to meet with them.

“I conveyed to His Majesty our nation’s and people’s deep appreciation, gratitude for Jap an’s c ont i nu i ng friendship and support for the Philippines’ peace and development goals,” he said.

The President underscored the Philippines relation with Japan as a friend closer than a brother.

“Jap a n t re at s u s a s a s ove re ig n e qu a l,” he emphasized.

He said the Philippines will work with Japan in building something special for our nations and peoples: We are building a golden age for our strategic partnership.

He said that whatever happened in the World War II are all “water under the bridge”. (Lilian C. Mellejor/ PNA)

Love... from page 4

days, He came back to life so we can share in His kind of life, both now and forever after we die. He is the only hope we have. So have you asked Jesus to forgive you and give you His new life today? He loves you more than any b o dy do es—s o much that He died to save you. Won’t you thank and love Him in return by living His right, successful way every day? Just Think a Minute…

Hotline... from page 4

Cum Laude in AB Economics at University of San Carlos in Cebu.

In 2002, he received “The Most Outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines, Local Government Leadership Award”. Quijano was Iligan City Mayor from 1998-2004.

Quijnao is currently the Regional Party Chairman of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-LABAN for Region 10.

During the 2016 Pre s i d e nt i a l E l e c t i ons , Quijano delivered winning votes for President Duterte.

He is a staunch advocate for the shift to Federalism, one of the priority political age nd a of t he D ute r te administration.

The call for transparency and accountability is at stake here. As lead convenor of Crusade for Clean Government, I am with Administrator Quijano and Governor Bambi to make this project a reality.(ruffy44_ ph2000@yahoo.com)

Satire... from page 4

fake news, but loaded with meaning as it satirizes how police operations in the drug war were demonized, even if they intended to cleanse the Augean stables and make

society safe for everyone.

Nevertheless, as Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the US now reportedly want to model the “Oplan Tokhang” strategy of the Philippine National Police per the report of the Philippine News Agency, the critics of the drug war now see that the helm’s fight against the menace really works effectively and has become a much-admired model of what a leader should do.

We begin to see what is real poppycock that becomes the object of satire that Logronio successfully presented in such context.

The viewer should correlate the artist’s sculptures with his decision to pursue a full-time art career. For Logronio, he had worked for companies, but did not last there. He later found satisfaction in sculpture more than monetary reward.

The artist shuns from news about calamity, politics, crimes and drugs in deciding his subjects. Instead, he focuses on alleviating humor.

In a jungle of choices--and having experimented with 3D painting, other materials and techniques in art making-he found gratification in sculpture that entertains.

“Ar t and s o ciet y go together,” the artist stressed.

Thus, if society mocks common sense or go the way of Balaam in the Old Testament, creative works ply with parody. That is why “Shit Matters” (title of exhibit).

Proof...

from page 4 of poverty, dissension and anarchy, and failures in everything they do. God has gone missing in our lives, so that His blessings, guidance, and protection, are no longer with us, too, leaving only His curses with us here in the Philippines.

This is truly unfortunate, because Filipinos have always been considered as the only Christian nation---or followers of Christ---in all of Asia. If we are the Christian nation in Asia, why are we poor, full of dissension, and are failures in the many things we do?

The time has come for us to change ourselves as believers of God. Let us set aside the teachings of the devil, endeavoring to instill in our minds and in our consciousness the teachings of God. We should read, meditate on, and obey the Bible every day, diligently attending masses or praise and worship sessions, and giving our tithes and gifts to the churches. We should be doers of the Word, not simply “mouthers”, if you know what I mean.

-ooo WATCH ANG TANGING DAAN” AT FACEBOOK: “Ang Tanging Daan” is a Bible exposition and prayer session for everyone, in English and Filipino, 24/7, worldwide, that can be viewed at w w w. f a c e b o ok . c om / angtangingdaan. Please see the video section. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Telco... from page 5

have been a constraint in promoting a wider use of electronic payment platforms in the country.

“The trust issue is partly founded on the matter of reliability of services. So even though there is capability, if it cannot be depended upon then people will hesitate to move to a different way of doing financial services,” the BSP chief added.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has vowed to open the telecommunications industry to new players to “promote competitiveness and improve quality of service.” Economic managers are looking to open up the sector by proposing changes in the foreign investment negative list, which is currently under review.

Currently, PLDT, Inc. and Globe Telecom, Inc. maintain a duopoly over the Philippine telco industry.

In his visit to Manila last week, Chinese billionaire and tech magnate Jack Ma said he is rooting for the Philippines’ transition to a “cashless society” – a feat largely in line with his vision for his company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. However, he lamented that Internet speeds in the country are currently “no good” to support wider e-commerce.

Upgrade... from page 5

both PSBank and other banks, the PSBank Mobile, PSBank Online, the corporate internet banking, electronic credit (E-Credit), and point-of-sale (POS) machines.

The bank said all the PSB an k Flexi Pers ona l Loan Accounts are also not accessible through any ATMs or POS. “Payment of propriety billers – PSBank Loan, Metrobank and PSBank Credit Cards, Maynila, PLDT, Smart & Sun, AXA, FAMI, Sumisho, etc. – is also NOT AVAILABLE,” it said.

PSBank said affected account holders may call the bank’s Customer Experience Hotline, 02-845-8888, and the chat service, PSBank LiveChat, through www. psbank.com.ph, for any inquiries. (PNA)

Conference... from page 6

Meanwhile, Lim said the BMB will propose to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to prioritize research on five migratory species that are subjects of the Philippine resolutions adopted during CMS-COP12.

“We have to generate baseline information where these species are found and the status of their population,” Lim said. “We also look forward that the Department will provide the necessary resources to implement the country’s commitments to the CMS.” Aside from the butanding (Rhincondon typus), the CMS-COP provided greater protection to the Christmas Island frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi), black noddy

(Anous minutus) subspecies worcesteri, yellow bunting (Emberiza sulphurata), and white-spotted wedgefish (Rhychobatus australiae).

Both the butanding and Christmas Island frigatebird will be listed on Appendix I of CMS, which covers migratory species that are considered endangered or with a high risk of extinction. The listing requires CMS party-states to protect these species by strictly prohibiting their capture, conserving and restoring their habitats, and removing obstacles to their migration.

The black noddy, yellow bunting and white-spotted wedgefish will be included in Appendix II, which requires international agreements to be drawn up for their conservation and management.

If the approval of 11 Philippine-drafted resolutions were an indication, Lim said the country’s hosting of the CMS-COP12 was a success.

“I believe that in terms of the CMS family, we can say that we have provided them with a different perspective of the Philippines,” Lim said.

She added: “We hope to receive international cooperation in terms of protection of the species. We can protect only those species within our territory. Beyond our territory, the other countries should also initiate measures to protect these species.”

Lim also said heightened conservation efforts are expected on our part particularly on the species we have named in the resolutions that were adopted by the CMS body.

“Additionally, with the recognition of the Philippines as a Champion for our whale shark conservation efforts, Secretary Cimatu has committed to implement measures to achieve the objectives of our concerted action plan.”

With the adoption of the resolution on COP presidency, the Philippines will remain as chair of the COP and extend its role as host country.

“We will continue our leadership role in all CMS activities, meetings and negotiations, intercessionally, between now and COP 13 in 2020,” Lim added.

The CMS-COP12 broke the CMS record in terms of attendance and participation with more than 1,000 delegates and observers from 94 countries.

The event marked the first time the CMS meeting was held in Asia. At least 31 proposals from 24 countries were debated in the conference aimed at strengthening global efforts to protect and conserve threatened migratory species and their habitats.

The CMS, adopted by 124 nations and is under the auspices of the UN Environment Program, is the only global environmental treaty established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.

The COP is its main decision-making body that meets every three years to adopt policies and laws, and propose new species under the framework.

11

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Aids... from page 1

he brought home business deals worth P309 billion with Japanese investors and a pledge of assistance from Japanese government worth P456 billion.

Duterte, mayor from 1988 to 1998, representative of the first district from 1998 to 2001 and mayor again from 2001 to 2010, served as vice mayor to his daughter-mayor from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, he was elected mayor for the seventh time with son Paolo as vice mayor.

Mindanao Business Council chair Vicente T. Lao said the business community was thankful to the President for highlighting “the need for additional investments in Mindanao most especially in the agriculture sector.”

Lao said he looks forward to more products coming from Mindanao making inroad to the Japanese market.

Lao, owner of Mindanaobased Maharlika AgroMarine Ventures Corp., is an exporter of pekin duck.

“The business community in Mindanao would like to congratulate the President for a very successful trip to Japan,” he said.

For his part, Davao City Investment and Promotions C enter (D CIPIC) he ad Lemuel Ortonio said the billions worth of business deals is an indication of a good investors’ confidence for the country.

“Of course, this will st rengt hen t he t rading partnership between the Philippines and Japan. And with this more and more foreign investors will see the viability of the country as an ideal investment location,” he said.

A 20-man team composed of city officials and representatives from the economic and tourism sector here went to Japan to participate in the Davao City Investment and Tourism Roadshow held October 1620 in Tokyo.

The delegates visited Osaka, Kyoto, Yokohama and Tokyo.

“We are hoping we have made a good impression and that Davao City will be their top-of-mind choice for future investments,” Ortonio said.

Upon his arrival from his two-day working visit in Japan, Duterte announced Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to “give flesh” to Japan’s assistance program worth P456 billion Publication Notice RA 10172

for the country in which “many more projects will be rolled off.” He vowed those projects would be implemented immediately.

During his business meeting with top Japanese business leaders in Tokyo, Duterte said business deals worth P309.6 billion were signed.

Duterte said they a l s o d i s c u s s e d Jap a n’s vital support in the key infrastructure projects under his administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program that will sustain the country’s economic growth and improve quality of life.

“I am committed to work closely with him to ensure projects proceed soonest and it will be done, done, done,” he said.

Duterte also thanked Japan for reaffirming its commitment in helping pursue just and lasting peace in Mindanao, as it vowed to work with the Philippine government in rebuilding Marawi as a “center of moderation and tolerance.”

The two leaders also discussed concrete, timebound and specific ways to further intensify the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, according to Duterte.

The President said this was more than three times the amount of business agreements sealed during his first Japan visit in October 2016.

He said he also encouraged t hem to ex pl ore ot her opportunities in the country, most especially in steel manufacturing, agribusiness, information technology and creative services. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

Banana... from page 1

of banana production in the country.

“There is an opportunity for leadership for Mindanao, particularly for the region, that relies heavily on the banana industry,” Melvin said in an interview over TV Patrol Socsksargen.

A team from the QUT led

by Dr. James Dale, the lead researcher on the transgenic banana, earlier visited the city to grace a regional banana congress.

Dale, director of QUT’s Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, said they have been testing the Fuasarium wilt-resistant bananas in the last three years.

He said they had bred out

Republic of the Philippines LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICE Baungon, Bukidnon

CCE-0030-2017 RA 10172

Date: November 30, 2017

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC In compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines in the Implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on RA 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that IKE R. QUIEM has filed with this Office a petition for correction of entry in SEX from FEMALE to MALE in the Certificate of Live Birth of IKE R. QUIEM, born on May 19, 1981 at Baungon, Bukidnon and whose parents are EDGARDO L. QUIEM and ABELINA T. RAMOSO.

Any person adversely affected by said petition may file a written opposition with this Office not later than 10 days.

BWM: November 3 & 10, 2017

(SGD.) EVANGELINE C. LIBAYNON Municipal Civil Registrar

a banana that is “something different from Cavendish” that is resistant to the disease.

The team also developed a breed of Cavendish banana that is highly resistant to Fusarium wilt, he said.

“We isolated a gene out of the 25,000 banana genes to develop a wild banana into Cavendish,” he said.

Dale said they have done field trials in Australia in the last three years in land or soil that were heavily-infested with Fusarium and the results have been promising.

He maintained that the genetically-modified bananas are very much safe for human consumption.

Fusarium wilt, now with tropical race 4 strain, is a soil borne fungus that attacks the roots of the banana plants and turns leaves into wilted yellow.

Its original strain, which first emerged in Panama, was highly that destructive and had wiped out banana plantations.

The disease has infested banana plantations in parts of Mindanao, with around 15,500 hectares accounted in the Davao region.

Dr. Remedios Flamiano, local banana grower, said the disease could eventually wipe out banana plantations in the region and even the entire country if it remained uncontrolled.

“We need to intervene now while the disease incidence is not yet extensive,” she said.

Region 12, which has more than 100 active banana

growers, hosts about 32,800 hectares of banana plantations that produce around one million metric tons of banana annually. (MindaNews)

Issues... from page 1

Rachel M. Beja in an email to this writer in response to Rio Verde’s notice of a price increase from P10.45 per cubic meter (m3) to P16.35/ m3 effective 01 November 2017.

The utility’s bulk water supplier earlier warned COWD it might be forced to shut down its operations should the water utility continue sitting on its requests for price adjustments made over the last 10 years.

Rio Verde Vice President Joffrey E. Hapitan argued in a follow up letter to their notice of price increase that COWD has publicly admitted it can afford to absorb the price adjustment petitioned by Rio Verde without passing it on to water consumers since it has increased its water tariffs during this period.

COWD has two notices of price increases covering the period 2011-2014 posted in its official website: The first dated Nov. 1, 2013 brought the minimum charge for the first 10 cu.m. of residential and government accounts from P168 to P184.80, while another dated May 1, 2014 increased the minimum charge further to P218.40 for COWD’s Main Service Area and to P238.40 for Youngsville Subdivision, Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The latter post further explained that this was the last tranche of the 30% rates

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region BRANCH 18 Cagayan de Oro City IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR JUDICIAL RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN JUDGEMENT/DECREE AND SPEC. PROC. NO. SP-ORD-2017-224 CANCELLATION/CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE CIVIL REGISTRY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO AS TO THE MARRIAGE STATUS OF LEILANY DEJAN IIMURA, LEILANY DEJAN IIMURA, Represented by her Attorney-In-Fact LORENA D. ANDALAN, Petitioner, -versusYOSHIHISA IIMURA and LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Respondents,

X-------------------------------------/ AMENDED ORDER On October 2, 2017, petitioner Leilany Dejan Iimura, represented by her Attorney-In-Fact Lorena D. Andalan (hereinafter, ‘’petitioner’’), filed a Petitioner for Judicial Recognition of Foreign Judgement/Decree and Cancellation/Correction of Entry in the Civil Registry of Cagayan de Oro as to the Marriage Status of Leilany Dejan Iimura with the prayer that the divorce judgement/decree obtained by the respondent Yoshihisa Iimura with his marriage with the petitioner be judicially recognized and that an order be issued directing the respondent Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City and Civil Registrar General to annotate the divorce/dissolution of status in the Marriage Certificate and/or to have the status of single of petitioner.

Petitioner averred that she is a Filipino citizen while respondent Yoshihisa Iimura is a Japanese citizen and that they they were married in a civil ceremony before the Presiding Judge Florencia D. Sealana-Abbu, Regional Trial Court, Branch 17, Cagayan de Oro City on August 08, 2007.

Petitioner also averred that she and respondent

adjustment approved June 17, 2011 per LWUA-BOT Resolution #84 effective May 1, 2014. The COWD assured its concessionaires lately it will not implement another round of rate increases during the next two years.

However, Beja clarifies that the price adjustments were long overdue and did not include a provision to accommodate price adjustments in the price of bulk water it was purchasing from Rio Verde.

“The water rate adjustments that were approved by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in 2011 but were only implemented in full by COWD last May 2014, were intended to cover the inflation rates since 2007 and to cover the rehabilitation cost for some of the aged pipelines and facilities of COWD,” Beja said in response.

“Such water rate adjustment did not take into consideration possible increases in the bulk water supply price, precisely because, legally, we knew we had to wait until the fraud audit report would be resolved.

COWD had made this clear during the consultations and public hearings conducted prior to LWUA approval,” she added.

The LWUA is the government agency charged with the regulation of the operations and water tariffs of all water districts in the country.

In fact, Beja said that despite receiving LWUA approval for two more tranches of rate adjustments in its water tariffs, COWD elected to defer these.

“Moreover, in that 2011

Yoshihisa Iimura lived together as husband and wife for almost ten (10) years and that they have two (2) children, namely: Shota Iimura and Ren Iimura.

Likewise, petitioner averred that her relationship with the respondent Yoshihisa Iimura turned sour due to irreconcilable differences, which was aggravated by the parents of the respondent Yoshihisa Iimura upon whom the respondent Yoshihisa Iimura often took side with. Petitioner further averred that the respondent Yoshihisa Iimura sought to divorce the petitioner which was approved and granted by the family court of Japan. Moreover, petitioner averred that the Japanese law allows divorce.

Finding the instant petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby set for initial hearing on before this Court on December 15, 2017 at 8:30 in the morning. Let a copy of this ORDER be published, at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Cagayan de Oro City and the Province of Misamis Oriental and be posted in the bulletin boards of the City Hall and Tourism Hall of Cagayan de Oro City, the City Hall of Dumaguete City, the City Hall of Cagayan de Oro City, the Hall of Justice Building of Cagayan de Oro City, for at least three weeks before the scheduled initial hearing.

Respondents Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City and respondent Yoshihisa Iimura, and any or all persons who may claim any interest on the instant petition may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of this Order or from the last date of publication thereof, file their opposition/ comment and appear at the scheduled hearing and show cause why the instant petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Order be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General, respondent Civil Registrar of Cagayan de Oro City and respondent Yoshihisa Iimura, petitioner Leilany Dejan Iimura and her counsel separately.

SO ORDERED. October 6, 2017, Cagayan de Oro City.

(SGD.) DENNIS Z. ALCANTAR Presiding Judge

BWM: Oct. 27, Nov. 3 & 10, 2017

LWUA-approved water rates adjustment, 2 more tranches of increases at 10% each were scheduled for implementation in 2014 and 2017, but COWD opted not to implement as scheduled,” Beja added.

In spite of this deferment, Beja affirmed that COWD remains financially stable even without implementing the last 2 tranches of increases.

She further explained that COWD water tariffs differ from COWD’s main service areas to those in Youngsville Subdivision in Opol, Misamis Oriental, due to additional costs incurred in serving that area.

“Systems similar to Youngsville where water needs intermediate boosting facility due to challenging elevation of the area are charged with an additional P2.00 per cubic meter of water consumption to cover pumping costs,” Beja explained.

EXTRAJUDICIAL PARTITION BETWEEN HEIRS WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of late LEONORA TUBO PAGARA who died on November 11, 2011 at Cagayan de Oro City, without leaving any known debt which has remain unpaid or unsettled up to the present, and all the obligations incurred during her death were all paid and/ or settled; That the said deceased at the time of her death, left real property situated at Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City; A PARCEL OF LAND, Lot No. 20419-A-2, Psd-10-05589, being a portion of Lot 20419-A, Psd10-028533; containing an area of THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY SIX (3,226) square meters, more or less and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-187184; LEONORA TUBO PAGARA is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL PARTITION BETWEEN HEIRS WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE; is made and entered into FERNANDO JAMISULA PAGARA (widower), BRANDO TUBO PAGARA, RONALDO TUBO PAGARA, ANITA PAGARA ERMITA, ANA PAGARA SABINAY, DELBANDO TUBO PAGARA, DALONDON TUBO PAGARA, ORLINDA PAGARA KATIPONAN AND CHARIZA TUBO PAGARA (SINGLE), all of legal age, all Filipinos, all married and all residents of Palalan, Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, herein after called as the HEIRS/VENDORS; CLARISA MUTIA LOQUILLANO, of legal age, Filipino, single and a resident of Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, herein after called as the VENDEE; That for and in consideration of THREE HUNDRED THRITY SIX THOUSAND PESOS (Php 336,000) Philippine Currency, that the HEIRS/VENDORS received in full SATISFACTION, HEREIN HEIRS/VENDORS do hereby absolutely and completely SELL, TRANSFER and CONVEY, as they actually SOLD, TRANSFERRED and CONVEYED the portion of the above-described parcel of land with an area of 224 square meters, more or less, unto and in favor of CLARISA MUTIA LOQUILLANO, of legal age, Filipino, single and a resident of Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, herein after called as the VENDEE, her heirs, interest, assignees, executors, administrators and/ or to any person acting legally in her behalf free from liens and encumbrances whatsoever nature and which portion is more particular; Under Notary Public of EMELITO J. MARQUINO; Per Doc. No. 302; Page No. 60; Book No. XIV; Series of 2017.

BWM: Nov. 3. 10 & 17, 2017

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friday|november 3, 2017