BusinessWeek Mindanao (April 5-6, 2013 Issue)

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Issue No. 184, Volume III •

Market Indicators

As of 5:59 pm apr. 4, 2013 (Thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.15

6,783.72 points

X

6 cents

X

31.58 points

Briefly Forfeited vehicles

TWENTY-NINE imported vehicles confiscated by the Bureau of Customs from businessman Allan Bigcas in Bukidnon have been forfeited in favor of the government.

BOC-10 deputy collector Marvin Mison yesterday said that district collector Atty. Lourdes Mangaoang got the order from Commissioner Ruffy Biazon in this regard.

Mison, however, said that the bureau cannot as yet auction the vehicles because Bigcas still has the right to file for reconsideration of the decision.

The total value of the 29 vehicles is $396,667 with estimated duties, taxes and other charges for import totalling P17,387,410. (GLG)

Cagayan de Oro City

Friday-Saturday

Firms urged to enhance more workers resiliency

T

By CHRISTINE CABIASA, Reporter

HE People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) – Cagayan de Oro City Chapter calls on leaders and managers of business and service organizations to heighten their efforts in enhancing workers’ resiliency amidst rapid changes in the business climate brought about by advancements in technology, liberalization and the challenges of globalization.

PMAP CdO Chapter President Aida May de Guzman made this call during a recent one-day seminar –workshop entitled “Resiliency for Peak Performance in Work and Life” held at the Pryce Plaza Hotel, this city.

“For business and service organizations to stay competitive, workers must

be able to quick ly adapt to fast-changing business environments and be more attuned to new and emerging circumstances and opportunities” de Guzman said.

The workshop is the first of PMAP’s Professional Development Program for this year and is designed to enhance member-companies’

productivity by promoting a culture of continuous workplace and workforce improvement.

XU HR Director & PMAP Director for Professional Development Ma. Soledad Amir said that 72 participants from different companies attended the workshop, representing various companies in the region such as the A. Brown Group of Companies, Apex Mining Company Inc., Del Monte Philippines Inc., Minergy Inc., Philippine Sinter Corporation, Cagayan de Oro Polymedic Medical Group, PROIS International Christian School, Pryce Gases Inc., RI Chemical Corporation, Spruce Designer Network Inc., STEAG State Power enhance/PAGE 9

Caraga’s workforce

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Caraga today presented the region’s labor and employment status.

During the Sectoral Technical Working Group Meeting on Mainstreaming Labor and Employment in the Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2011-2016 Revision and Enhancing the Results Matrices held in one of the local establishments here, Melanie Maur of NEDA-Caraga said in comparing the key labor and employment indicators in 2010 and 2011 in the region, the labor force participation rate has increased from 65.38 percent to 65.73 percent.

Maur also said the region’s employment rate has also increased from 93.50 percent to 94.03 percent.

In terms of unemployment rate in the region, Maur said the region’s data has decreased from 6.48 percent in 2010 to 5.98 percent in 2011.

YOUNG SCAVENGERS. These kids come home to their shanty after a day of tending to their usual chores of buying and collecting recyclable garbage as merchandise and sell them to earn for their daily subsistence. photo by mio cade

SOON P15.00

April 5-6, 2013

BEATING THE SUMMER HEAT. A kid taking a plunge in a waterfalls to beat the scorching summer heat. photo by mio cade

Aboitiz sets refund for Zamcelco consumers

By NELSON V. CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief

ABOITIZPOWER subsidiary Therma Marine Inc. (TMI) on Wednesday said they will comply with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) recent order to refund Zamboanga Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco) the amount of P14.2 million.

The amount represents the excess of what Zamcelco had paid to TMI for their power purchased agreement in 2012 based on its provisional rate and the approved rate by ERC. ERC issued the order on Jan. 18, 2013 in which the TMI sought extension of compliance until Feb. 26, 2013.

And since the refund scheme has been finalized and the date of extension has already elapsed, TMI is deemed obliged to execute the order.

In their joint manifestation before the ERC, both the TMI and Zamcelco detail the proposed scheme on how to apply the refund amounting to P14.25 million (VAT inclusive) which is the difference between the final and the provisional rates approved by ERC covering

the period from April 2012 to December 2012.

Zamcelco contracts 18 MW of power from Therma Marine to augment supply from the National Power Corporation. Zamcelco’s monthly obligations to Therma Marine is more than P50 million.

State-owned NPC supplies majority of the power needs of Zamcelco and all distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in Mindanao.

Zamcelco’s peak demand is more than 85 MW while Mindanao’s current demand hovers around 1,100 MW a day. Most of this need is supplied by NPC, augmented by 200 MW of combined supply from Therma Marine barges moored in Nasipit in Agusan del Norte and Maco in Compostela Valley.

In the said manifestation, TMI may apply the refund amount to the outstanding obligations of Zamcelco.

The proposed scheme is now under ERC’s review and, once approved, TMI will fully comply with the ERC-approved timetable.

Since January 2013, TMI has already been billing the final rate approved by ERC. aboitiz/PAGE 9

PAL ordered to accommodate ‘must-ride status’ gov’t officials

By RUCHIE AGUHOB, Contributor

J.P. RIZAL - CRUZ TAAL STS., (NEAR SHANGHAI BAKERY) DIVISORIA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

WE’RE going

THE Commission on Election (Comeler) has ordered the country’s f lag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to give preferential accommodation to government officials with “must-ride status” for the May 13, 2013

national and local elections.

These include officials, employees and deputies of the Comelec travelling on official business.

Comelec Resolution No. 9598 promulgated on Dec. 18, 2012, entitled “Deputa-

tion of Certain Departments Under the Executive Branch, Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations and Financial Institutions in Connection with the May 13, 2013 Automated National and Local Elections” also PAL/PAGE 9

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NGCP seeks LGU’s help to solve ROW problems, maintain public safety

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) warns the public of the risks of planting trees under their transmission towers and breaching right-of-way (ROW) clearances, particularly in Lanao del Norte in Mindanao.

0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

AMENITIES : ZORBIT * ATV * TREE TOP ADVENTURE BUGGY * BUNGEE * PICNIC GROUNDS PLAYGROUND * CAFE * LUGE * MINI GOLF ROOM ACCOMODATIONS

In a recent interview, Atty.

Cynthia P. Alabanza, NGCP Spokesperson, emphasizing the importance of maintaining safety clearances, said that NGCP has its eyes on private landowners who intentionally and unintentionally plant trees under their transmission lines.

According to the Spokesperson, NGCP has been dealing with this problem since the privately-owned company took over the operations of the country’s electric transmission business. She acknowledges that NGCP has sought help from the local government.

NGCP recently requested for the support of the local government unit (LGU) of Balo-i, Lanao del Norte in curbing tree planting under and along transmission lines in the said municipality.

NGCP’s ROW problem in Balo-i has caused frequent line trippings or brownouts, not just in town, but also in the western region of Mindanao. To solve the problem, NGCP is pushing for the

Balo-i government to create a municipal ordinance prohibiting tree planting under and along transmission towers.

“NGCP is proactive in solving ROW issues. We do not want to wait for more trippings and accidents to happen. We are reaching out to LGU’s, specifically Balo-i local government, and enjoining their help so that we can work together in taking care of the power lines and ensuring the public’s safety,” explained Alabanza.

“As we all know, our lines carry very high voltage power.

Safety clearance violations are detrimental not just to NGCP’s operations but also to public safety. Three things can happen – electrocution, accidents, and line trippings or brownouts – which are all damaging to NGCP, the victims, and ultimately, the electricity consumers. We ask for the public’s cooperation in avoiding tree planting along our lines to help us lessen, if not eliminate, transmission lines-related accidents in the

future,” stated Alabanza.

In addition to coordinating with LGU’s, NGCP regularly conducts information campaign on transmission line safety and ROW clearances. “NGCP is going to the grassroots level to reach the intended audience, the barangays or communities hosting transmission facilities,” Alabanza added.

“NGCP believes that information dissemination is the best way to equip the public in avoiding transmission linerelated accidents. Right now, NGCP is also collaborating with national and local media agencies in sending its public advisories about transmission line safety,” said Alabanza.

NGCP also advises the public to refrain from engaging in activities that may cause damage to transmission lines, including tree planting, building structures and putting up antenna, kite-flying, and starting grass fires, along and under its transmission lines, towers, and substations.

Such activities conductive close to NGCP’s transmission facilities may cause electrocution due to induction and may lead to fatalities.

“Transmission line-related accidents usually occur durngcp/PAGE 9

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Japan’s Mitsubishi reports battery overheat problems

Motoring

Friday - Saturday I Apr. 5-6, 2013

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Asia: Hotspot for car industry FA S T- G R O W I N G Southeast Asian region makes mark on the auto global stage through the Bangkok motor show.

TOKYO — Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has asked 4,000 owners of its hybrid and electric cars to avoid charging their vehicles pending an investigation into overheating batteries.

The move follows the melting of a lithium battery pack in a hybrid Outlander that was due for sale earlier this month, as well as a fire triggered by an overheating unit in a factory which produces the MiEV electric vehicle.

No one was injured in either incident nor was there damage to facilities.

Nearly 4,000 units of the plug-in hybrid model have been sold since its launch in January, “and we asked its owners not to charge the batteries until the cause of the incident can be confirmed,” a company spokeswoman said.

The company has sold at least 68 units of its fully electric vehicle with the same

battery model.

“We suspect the two cases were caused by a change in the production line of the battery supplier,” the spokesman said, adding that the company had not received any similar complaints from owners of the two models.

The troubled batteries were made by a joint venture formed by Mitsubishi Motors, Mitsubishi Corp. and GS Yuasa.

GS Yuasa drew global attention over the worldwide grounding of Boeing’s next generation aircraft in January after a battery on a Japan Airlines 787 caught fire and forced an ANA flight to make an emergency landing.

GS Yuasa has the contract for all Dreamliner batteries.

Japanese authorities have said they had found no major problem on the company’s production line making batteries for Boeing’s Dreamliner.

With the frenzied pace at which car sales in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are rising, plus the promise held by those coming from Vietnam and the Philippines, Southeast Asia is definitely a hot spot these days, providing carmakers contrasting hope from the gloom in Europe.

A solid proof of this optimism comes courtesy of the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show, which has always been the region’s premier auto spectacle—no surprise there, really, considering that Thailand is billed as the “Detroit of the East.”

And in a good way at that.

In its 34th staging, how-

ever, the Bangkok show takes to new heights as it hosts a global premiere—that for the all-new Toyota Vios, no

less.

One of the bestselling cars on the planet, and in fact the leader in the Philippines

last year, the Vios bowing to the world stage in Bangkok truly declares that the East is far from being the least.

VEHICLE manufacturers in the Philippines said that the local automotive sector is still strong.

The pronouncement was made during the Seminar on Business Opportunities in the Philippine Manufacturing Sector—sponsored by the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry—that was held on

March 13.

At the meet, Toyota Motor Phils. (TMP) President Michinobu Sugata said that Japanese investors should shake off their apprehensions about the Philippines.

Sugata, who also stands as President of the Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council Inc.’s board of trust-

ees, said that a “rapid motorization growth” is impending in the Philippines. He added that the Philippines has far more exciting growth potentials than the more mature Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian markets, noting that the country has a vehicle-toperson ratio of 33 per 1,000.

Sugata also said that TMP

is eyeing to improve its current capacity of around 30,000 units to 50,000 units a year.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) First Vice President Dante Santos said that MMPC is planning to increase annual production capacity to 50,000 units in the next two years, and on to 100,000 by 2017, should there

be enough support from the government.

For his part, Pilipinas-Hino President Vicente Mills Jr. cited the need to re-fleet ageing vehicles currently running on the country’s roads.

He said that as of 2012, around 1.7 million of the 3.3 million registered vehicles locally are more than 12-years-

old.

Mills said that a scientific roadworthiness testing should be able to determine which of these old vehicles need to be replaced.

The removal of unworthy vehicles should then constitute a strong latent market for which locally manufactured vehicles can vie.

Toyota’s all-new Vios arrives on the global stage via the Bangkok auto spectacle.

New car appears it’s headed up-market.

Carmakers forecast strong PH growth

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Camella showcases market dominance in 2-day exhibit DAVAO City -– Housing brand Camella Homes,owned

by Senator Manuel Villar, will have its two-day exhibit starting on Saturday to showcase its expanding reach in Southern Mindanao.

The exhibit “A Showcase of Camella Lifestyle” will be held on April 6 to 7 at the SMX Convention Center Hall 3, SM Lanang Premier in Lanang here.

The exhibit will depict the charming and vibrant lifestyle of existing communities built by Camella such as Solariega, Toscana,

Camella Cerritos, Camella Tagum, Camella General Santos, and Camella Northpoint, as well as its upcoming developments in Communal in Davao City and in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

It will feature mockups of actual home designs for viewing and will offer packages with big discounts and easy financing terms. Reservation fee for home-buyers will also be reduced and exciting freebies await home-buyers.

All these will be highlighted by the grand launch of Camella’s latest development

in the city, Camella Davao, in a lavish program at 6:00 p.m. on April 6.

“True to our mission of dominating the industry, we are further broadening our reach with a new project in Davao that will be launched this Saturday evening, and yet another in South Cotabato very soon,” said Marlon B. Escalicas, Camella Southern Mindanao general manager.

Camella is a subsidiary of the largest homebuilder in the country, Vista Land & Lifescapes. (PNA)

GLOBE Telecom sponsored a survey of mobile and broadband subscribers and found that 49 percent dumped the subscriber identification modules or SIM of rival Smart Communication for the Globe brand.

This was bared in a statement sent by email by Yoly Crisanto, head of corporate communications at Globe, saying the telco successfully attracted this much number of previously Smart Communication SIM holders who disposed of their old

SIM for new.

The study, commissioned

by Globe and conducted independently by Nielsen Philippines from January 9 to December 2012 was among 12,937 respondents in randomly selected areas nationwide both from urban and rural areas, who currently own a SIM. It helped Globe determine the real impact of its rival’s switching campaigns which ran from July to December 2012,” Crisanto said.

She said that in the second

half of 2012, Globe postpaid segment added nearly 135,000 subscribers amidst competitors’ attractive offers and plan application discounts.

Its prepaid and TM segments acquired a combined 1.3 million subscriber base during the same period on the back of a strengthened product portfolio and valuefor-money promos.

Its broadband segment also gained close to 88,000 subscribers during the last six months of 2012 capitaltelcos/PAGE 9

Airliners are now setting everything for the eventual opening of the Laguindingan International Airport.

Cebu Pacific passengers Telcos dispute mobile and face cancelled, re-scheduled broadband survey results flights to, from Cag. de Oro CANCELLED flights, if not schedule changes, face 75,000 passengers of Cebu Pacific after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ordered all commercial and private carriers to move out of the Lumbia airport in Cagayan de Oro effective April 30.

CAAP is commissioning runway lights and given the airport’s sunrise/sunset limitations, flights can only operate during the day, Cebu Pacific said in a statement.

Because of this, the Gokongwei-owned carrier is compelled to cancel certain flights from April 30 until further notice, it said.

Cebu Pacific said its operations will be transferred to the new Laguindingan International Airport effective April 30.

The airline said it is getting in touch with, and reaccommodating more than 22,500 passengers affected by the flight cancellations and schedule changes.

Cebu Pacific is also sending out emails to more than 53,000 guests regarding the airport change. Passenger figures cover those scheduled to travel from April 30 to July 31, 2013 only.

Guests may also call the airline’s reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888 for details on their re-accommodation. Options of affected guests include rebooking or rerouting for travel within 30 days with no penalties, full travel fund or full refund.

The complete list of flight changes can be viewed here.-InterAksyon

PDIC to continue processing claims of Buenavista rural bank depositors THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) announced that it will continue to receive and process deposit insurance claims

from depositors of the closed Rural Bank of Buenavista (Agusan del Norte), Inc. at the PDIC Claims Counter, 4 th Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782

Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City.

Claims may also be filed through mail.

The state deposit insurer has already concluded the onsite claims settlement operations for RB Buenavista at its Head Office and San Francisco Branch last March 22, 2013.

PDIC sent notices of payment amounting to P3.34 mi l lion involv ing 1,223 accounts with balances of P15,000 and below where the filing of claims is waived

by PDIC. PDIC paid 488 claims during the onsite claims settlement operations involving 406 accounts for a total amount of P30.82 million worth of deposits.

As of March 22, 2013, PDIC has yet to receive deposit insurance claims for 793 accounts, or 55% of the total number of accounts of 1,439 that require the filing of claims. The total amount of deposits covered by these claims is P5.82 million.

Depositors who are below 18 years old should submit either a photocopy of their Birth Certificate issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement. Claimants who claims/PAGE 9

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The End of the World THINK a minute…

Recently the biggest-selling book in America was about the end of the world.

Sometimes watching the world’s news is like watching a horror movie, isn’t it?

You know that the 20th century had more people killed in wars than all the other centuries of history combined! Besides all the wars, we’re seeing an increase in many kinds of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes; plus totally new weather patterns that never existed before such as El Nino and La Nina.

Then, there are the terrible diseases, plagues, and new mystery viruses. AIDS, the worst disease in history, is killing millions of people worldwide with still no cure

world view bY : bAN KI-MOON A JOURNEY of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but starting this week we can march a thousand days forward into a new future.

On April 5th, the world will reach a vital moment in history’s largest and most successful anti-poverty push – the 1,000-day mark before the target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

These eight concrete goals were set in the year 2000, when more leaders than ever before gathered at the United Nations and agreed to cut global poverty and hunger by half, fight climate change and disease, tackle unsafe water and sanitation, expand education and open doors of opportunity for girls and women.

It was not the first time leaders had made lofty promises. Cynics expected the MDGs to be abandoned as too ambitious. Instead, the Goals have helped set global and national priorities, mobilize action, and achieve remarkable results.

In the last dozen years, 600 million people have risen from extreme poverty – a fifty per cent reduction. A record number of children are in primary school -- with an equal number of girls and boys for the first time. Mater-

nal and child mortality have dropped. Targeted investments in fighting malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have saved millions of lives.

Africa has cut AIDS-related deaths by one-third in just the past six years.

There are also Goals and targets where we need far more progress. Too many women still die in childbirth, when we have the means to save them. Too many communities still lack basic sanitation, making unsafe water a deadly threat. In many parts of the world, rich and poor alike, inequalities are growing. Too many are still being left behind.

To accelerate action, the international community should take four steps now.

First, scale up success through strategic and targeted investments that have a multiplier effect, boosting results in all other areas: one million community health workers in Africa to serve hard-to-reach areas and keep mothers and children from dying of easily preventable or treatable conditions; scaledup investments in sanitation; universal access to primary health services, including emergency obstetrical care; and adequate supplies to address HIV and malaria.

Ensuring equal access by women and girls to education, health care, nutrition and economic opportunities is one of the most powerful drivers of progress across JOURNEY/PAGE 9

the exact day of His return, so it will be sudden and here before we know it. But Jesus explained it’s because He loves us so much that He’s waited as long as He can for more of us to choose to receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life, before it’s too late!

But if you know the world’s Judge personally as your friend, then His return is good news because you’re going home with Him to live forever in paradise, just as He promised.

That morning of September 11, those people who went to work at the World Trade Center in New York had no idea they would never see their family again. And neither do we know if we’ll live to see tomorrow. Jesus made it clear that we all live

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

forever—either in heaven or hell. The choice is ours.

So why not ask Jesus to forgive you and take charge of your life every day? Then you’ll have absolutely nothing to fear—neither your sudden death, nor even the end of the world.

Just think a minute…

How the exchange rate affects us Speaking out

-Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) -Misamis Oriental - Cagayan de Oro Association of Publishers (MOCAP), Inc.

A thousand days to keep the millenium promise

in sight!

In Africa, entire towns have no adults because they’ve all died from AIDS, so just babies and children are left to survive alone.

According to a new United Nations report, we now have the worst world hunger and famine in history. Hundreds of millions are starving with countless thousands dying every day.

You know that Jesus Christ told us that all these things would happen and that they’re like labor pains just before a mother gives birth.

These terrible things are the sign that He’s getting ready to come back. Only this time, He’s coming to judge all this world’s evil and wrong.

Jesus said we can’t know

IGNACIO BUNYE

WITH the present peso appreciation, most Filipinos may wonder what forces are at play which affect the peso-dollar exchange rates.

The Department of Economic Research of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas explains that like most countries in today’s globalized environment, the Philippines follows

(Conclusion)

a market-determined foreign exchange policy.

This means that the BSP does not fix the exchange rate at a given level, but instead allows the interplay of supply and demand for currency to determine the exchange rate.

The BSP’s participation in the foreign exchange market (by either buying or selling dollars) is only to guarantee orderly conditions by preventing wild swings in the exchange rate.

As an illustration, if the supply of US dollars is much more than the demand, the value of the dollar will plunge in peso terms.

This happens, for instance, when overseas Filipino workers send more dollars to their families before Christmas.

Such a scenario also occurs when there is a slew of foreign portfolio investments (“hot

money”) coming into the Philippines.

These dollars are eventually exchanged for pesos. With more dollars chasing the same amount of pesos, the result is a more expensive peso.

On the other hand, if many corporations simultaneously buy dollars to pay for their imports, the value of the dollar will tend to rise as against the peso.

It is not the central monetary authority’s role to reverse the underlying trend of the peso, be it appreciating or depreciating. But the BSP does participate in the foreign exchange market to ensure order by mitigating wild swings in the exchange rate.

This is how the BSP “smoothens volatilities”: If there is a strong supply of dollars relative to the

demand in the market, thus causing the peso to appreciate fast, the BSP can soften the appreciation of the peso by buying dollars. (In a reverse situation, where the dollar becomes very scarce, thus causing the peso to depreciate, the BSP sells dollars).

BSP’s action, however, will definitely affect the pesos in circulation. In the first type of operation, the supply of pesos in circulation will increase – an inflationary situation.

Consistent with its mandate to keep the inflation rate low and steady, the BSP will now have to remove from circulation some of the pesos that it has earlier released.

This the BSP does by selling government securities or by luring these pesos into special deposit accounts.

All these, of course, the BSP does at a huge cost.

Poverty that enriches WE are, of course, more familiar with the poverty that truly impoverishes and dehumanizes us. And it’s right that we do everything, in the different levels of our life, from the personal to the social and global, to eliminate such poverty.

Hunger, illiteracy, ignorance, marginalization and isolation, unemployment, social injustice and inequality are some forms of this terrible kind of poverty. We need a concerted effort to tackle these problems present in all levels of society and aspects of our life.

But there’s another kind that we need to be more familiar with, because it is what is proper to us. This is the poverty that enriches us actually, because it precisely deprives us of things that we tend to accumulate but which separates us from our true and ultimate wealth, God himself.

This is the poverty spoken of in one of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of

heaven.” It’s a very strategic kind of poverty, so indispensable in the struggle for our salvation and perfection, given our wounded nature and the confused state the world is in.

We need to understand this kind of poverty not so much under the light of not having this or that, a matter of self-denial and privation, as under the light of being more in God and in love.

We need to see and live the organic connection between the depriving part and the enriching part. Otherwise, we will distort its true face and beauty.

This is the poverty taught and lived by Christ, as well as by the saints through the ages. It can have different manifestations, but the core essence is the same. It’s a matter of emptying our heart of earthly things and attachments to fill it solely with God. It’s not so much a question of having more or less as a matter of being more or less with God. While its usual practical

implications and measure lean more on the economic, financial and material, this Christian virtue of poverty now challenges us in more subtle, intangible categories.

Yes, we have to continue being wary with the rampaging waves of consumerism, commercialism and materialism afflicting our society today. But now, we have to give due attention to how we are developing and living this virtue in the way we use our time and other resources like energy, freedom, creativity, etc.

It’s in these areas where we have to check whether the self-denial and detachment involved in poverty actually leads us to get close to God and to others, whether it’s a poverty that makes us love God and others more.

Poverty is not purely a negative virtue. It is a very positive one, and of the type that needs to grow at the behest of love. It’s never idle or sterile. It’s a very fruitful kind of poverty, and exciting as well.

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA In the use of the Internet, for example, we need to see if such use makes us grow in love for God and others.

If the Internet, now with its many programs like the social networking systems, blunts rather than sharpens our life of prayer, our family life and our apostolic work, then obviously we would not be living poverty well in that area.

We have to realize that the Internet has the tendency to stimulate and absorb us.

It consumes a lot of our Cimagala/PAGE 9

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Enhance... from page 1

Inc., Thai Me Up, Toyota Cagayan de Oro Inc., Work Experts & Allied Services Inc., YSU Marketing Corp, Xavier University and Petronas Corporation.

Meanwhile, STEAG Human Resource Officer and PMAP Vice President Dr. Wilma Magdale said that PMAP CdO Chapter stays focused on strengthening its professional development programs and advocacies to include industrial relations, community relations (COMREL), business continuity and sustainability.

Minergy AVP for HR and PMAP Director for Membership Dr. Dulce Corazon Esperon also said that PMAP is actively pursuing membership expansion to include the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the academic sector.

Aboitiz... from page 1

TMI is and continues to be the cheapest oil-fired power plant in Mindanao.

Being oil-fired, the traditional role of peaking plants like Therma Marine is to provide back-up and anciliary power to the grid. But with no other capacity left to help the electric cooperatives, Therma Marine is now running almost like a baseload power plant supplying almost 24-hours of power to cooperatives like Zamcelco.

The growing population and economy of Mindanao has forced demand for power to outstrip supply. The summer months has also posed challenges to the hydroelectric power plants around Lake Lanao, which supply more than half of the power needs of the island.

PAL... from page 1

stipulates that PAL should direct its officials and employees to effect the immediate shipment, delivery and transmittal of Comelec cargo and other election matters and perform such other duties and functions which the Comelec may prescribe from time to time.

Mea nwhi le, Comelec Reso. 9598 has also designated the following government agencies under the Executive Branch as deputies in the forthcoming elections: Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Finance (DoF), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost), National Telecommunications (NTC) and Telecommunications Office (TelOf).

Department of Energy (DOE), Electric Cooperatives (EC), Civil Ser vice Commission (CSC), Commission on Audit (COA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine Information Agency

(PIA).

Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Food Authority (NFA), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Printing Office (NPO) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Also designated Comelec deputies are the following Government Financial Institutions (GFI’s) and GOCC’s: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System (SSS) and Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

The above-mentioned GFI’s and GOCC’s per Comelec Reso. 9598 have been asked to place at the disposal of the Comelec their land, air and water craft, such as airplanes and helicopters, trucks, jeeps, vans, cars, ships, launches, barges, and speedboats, and communication facilities, as the Comelec may need them from time to time.

Said vehicles shall be used to ferry the personnel of the Comelec and of its deputized agencies in the performance of their election duties, and to transport election forms, supplies and materials to their places of destination, particularly in areas with inadequate or without regular means of transportation.

NGCP... from page 2

ing summer season because this is when the public, specially the children, fly kites.

Grass fires also usually occur during summer. We are reminding the public engage in these activities away from our transmission lines to avoid accidents, particularly electrocution.”

Also part of NGCP’s safety campaign is distribution of safety information materials to local government units. As a supplementary safety measure, NGCP is also considering putting up additional danger signs on its transmission towers which will serve as visual warnings.

NGCP is a private owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. NGCP transmits highvoltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines and towers, substations and related assets. NGCP’s regular maintenance activities and expansion projects aim to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity delivered to customers.

Claims...

from page 4 are not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy of a notarized Special Power of Attorney of the depositor or parent of a minor depositor.

The procedures and re-

quirements for filing deposit insurance claims are posted in the PDIC website, www. pdic.gov.ph . The Claim Form, Claim Status Sheet, and format of the Special Power of Attorney may also be downloaded from the PDIC website.

In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the closed RB Buenavista is on March 4, 2015. After the said date, PDIC, as Deposit Insurer, shall no longer accept any deposit insurance claim.

Depositors may contact the Public Assistance Department at telephone numbers (02) 841-4630 to 31, or e-mail at pad@pdic.gov.ph .(PNA)

Telcos... from page 4

izing on innovative services that delivered the fastest internet speeds at home or while on-the-go.

The growth across all business segments’ subscriber bases has brought cumulative mobile subscribers to 33.1 million and broadband subscribers to 1.7 million by end-2012, up 10 percent and 18 percent from previous year respectively.

This paved the way for the company to close the year on a high note with consolidated service revenues soaring to an all-time high of P82.7 billion, 6 percent above previous year’s level of P77.8 billion.

Smart Communication spokesperson Mon Isberto, however, disputed the Globe sponsored findings, claiming that its broadband and mobile subscribers are the largest on record.

According to Isberto, this is best shown by Smart or PLDT broadband revenues of P23.7 billion in 2012 representing growth of 26 percent versus Globe broadband revenues of only P8.7 billion or growth of only 16 percent.

PLDT broadband subscribers number 3.26 million versus Globe subscribers of only 1.67 million.

PLDT mobile subscribers also number 69.9 million against 33.1 million of their Globe rival and PLDT mobile revenues of P117.4 billion versus Globe’s P67.2 billion.

Isberto said PLDT reported income totalling P35.5 billion during the year while Globe managed only P6.9 billion. (PNA)

Cimagala... from page 8

energy such that we can be completely exhausted to do other things that are even more important though less attractive to us.

Christian poverty can involve the way we resolve not only our lack of money and things but also our tiredness, our lack of time, our other weakness and difficulties that tend to put us down one way or another in life.

Do we manage with God’s grace and our effort to contend with these negative conditions, which are definitely other forms of privation, with heroism and greatness

of heart, with generosity in self-giving or do we buckle down to the sheer demands of our physical conditions even other more important concerns still need to be attended to?

We need to realize that this is also one clear area where we can develop and live Christian poverty. Do we manage to make ourselves more available to others, more flexible to the varying demands of the times when we find it hard to adapt to new and unfamiliar situations?

Are we prodded to be more magnificent in attitude when big challenges come our way?

This is where true Christian poverty comes in.

Journey...

from page 8 all the Goals.

Second, let us focus on the poorest and most vulnerable countries, home to some 1.5 billion people. Often dogged by famine, conflict, poor governance and large-scale organized criminal violence, these countries are finding it most difficult to make progress despite their best efforts. Many have not yet achieved a single MDG. By investing in regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia, we can promote a virtuous circle of economic development, human security, and peace building.

Third, we must keep financial promises. Budgets cannot be balanced on the backs of the poorest and most vulnerable. It is ethically unacceptable and it will help neither donor nor recipient.

Despite austere times, many countries have been exemplary in honouring pledges. New donors among the emerging economies are also stepping forward. We should applaud these efforts and encourage more.

Fourth, the 1,000-day mark should be a call to action to a global movement from governments to the grassroots who have been so critical to success.

We should also harness the full power of technology and social media – opportunities that were not available when the Goals were formulated at the turn of the century.

The MDGs have proven that focused global development objectives can make a profound difference. They can mobilize, unite and inspire.

They can spark innovation and change the world.

Success in the next 1,000 days will not only improve the lives of millions, it will add momentum as we plan for beyond 2015 and the challenges of sustainable development.

There will be much unfinished business. But, as we look to the next generation of sustainable development goals, we can find deep inspiration knowing that the MDGs have shown that, with political will, ending extreme poverty is achievable and within our grasp.

Let us make the most of the next 1,000 days and make good on our Millennium promise. *** Note: Ban Ki-moon is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

9

Fight vs corruption helped PHL achieve credit upgrade DAVAO City– House assistant majority leader Karlo Alexei Nograles said government transparency and the unrelenting fight against graft and corruption boosted investor confidence towards the Philippines, leading to an upgrade of the country’s international credit ratings.

With the credit ratings upgrade in the bag, Nograles, who is seeking reelection in Davao City’s first congressional district, said the next challenge is to make everyone enjoy its economic benefits.

As this developed, he vowed to introduce more livelihood opportunities in his district, his home base, for people to reap the fruits of the growing economy.

“Everything started with the government’s drive for transparent government,” Nograles pointed out, adding “now we all have to be part of a sustained cleansing process and win the war against graft and corruption in all levels of the bureaucracy.”

Nograles is one of the principal backers of a Freedom on Information (FOI) bill in the House of Representatives.

Nograles’s statement came after the Philippines achieved investment grade for the first time from Fitch Ratings late March. A respected international credit ratings agency, Fitch has upgraded the nation’s long-term foreign currency-denominated credit standing from BBB- to BB+,

or “investment grade.”

The outlook on the rating is “stable,” Fitch said. It is expected to boost capital inflows to the Philippines.

“Funds are already pouring into the Philippines and an investment grade is a further endorsement,” Eugene Leow, a Singapore-based economist at DBS Group Holdings Ltd. Nograles said the latest Fitch credit ratings upgrade should already end all skepticism on President Benigno Aquino’s ability to run the country’s economy and encourage the people, rich or poor, to rally behind his administration’s bid to defeat poverty through a sustained war against graft and corruption.Nograles urged vigilance to win the war against wrongdoings in government.

“We have to push government transparency to discourage graft and corruption,” he said.

Aside from fighting graft and corruption, Nograles said the people should bring out their entrepreneurial abilities to create more jobs.

For his part, Nograles promised to continue his college scholarship program, as well as host more job fairs.

Nograles also prodded budding entrepreneurs to be creative “such as reinventing themselves from mere seven-to-five employees to small and medium scale entrepreneurs.” (PNA)

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