BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 6-7, 2013 Issue)

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Waste to work art

BUTUAN City – City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. led on Monday the launching of the project dubbed “Ang Pagbutwa Hong Balangay” or From Waste to Work of Art with 10 young artists from Butuan and Caraga region competing in the making of miniature 3D balangay or boats, held at the old SP building, city hall compound here.

Said project is spearheaded by the local government of Butuan and the Local Youth Development Council.

Various recyclable materials will be used by the artists in making their own balangay. Starting Monday up to Thursday, the public can see them making their craft at the old SP building.

The winners will receive cash prizes: first prize is P7,000; second prize P5,000; third prize - P3,000; and consolation prizes of P2,000.

Stable prices

THE prices of basic commodities and services in Region 12, or the Soccsksargen Region, have remained stable in the last several weeks despite the “modest increase” in the area’s average inflation rate as of the end of January.

Herlita Caraan, National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Region 12 director, said Monday the region inflation rate increased to 3 percent in January or 0.4 percent higher than 2.6 percent average inflation in December.

But she said the January inflation figure was lower by 0.5 percent when compared to the same month last year.

The inflation rate measures the year-on-year rate of increase in the prices of basic commodities. An inflation of 3 percent means that prices of commodities and services in January increased at a rate of 3 percent, on the average, than their prices a year ago.

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Oro businessmen still want Lumbia airport

Issue No. 172, Volume III •

Market Indicators

Now

Cagayan de Oro City

Wednesday-Thursday

March 6-7-28, 2013

Chamber of Industries fears ‘great loss impact’ on businesses

B

By CHENG ORDONEZ Associate Editor

USINESS leaders in Cagayan de Oro City have strongly demanded for the continued operation of the old Lumbia airport should the new Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental pushes through with its scheduled opening in April, this year, even without the needed navigation equipment and other amenities needed for normal operation.

T h is c a me a f ter t he Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Industries (COCI) learned that almost 70 percent of the existing f lights to and from Lumbia airport here will be suspended when the new international standard airport starts with its limited time of operation due to the absence of the Air Navigation Support Services Facilities (ANSSF).

COCI President Bienvenido Valdez said business-

men in Cagayan de Oro are left with no option but to demand for the continued operation of the Lumbia airport to avert incurring business losses brought about by the suspension of flights.

The operation of the new Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental even without the commissioning of the ANSSF yet, will cancel 70 percent of existing flights, because aircrafts are airport/PAGE 8

Anti-dynasty movement launched in Mindanao

Cynthia Villar says sorry for remarks on Filipino nurses SWAMPED by an avalanche of protests on social media over her remarks that seemed to belittle the expectations of Filipino nurses, Team PNoy senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar apologized on Twitter to the nurses, nursing students and their families.

She said she had no intention of hurting anyone.

“Taos puso po akong humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nurse at kani-kanilang mga pamilya na labis na nasaktan sa aking kasagutan sa tanong na ibinato sa akin ng isang programa sa TV [I apologize most sincerely to all the nurses and their fami-

VILLAR

lies who were deeply hurt by my reply to a query in a TV program],” Villar said.

She continued, “Alam ko po ang sakripisyo at hirap na pinagdadanan ng mga nurse, mga nursing students at kanilang mga magulang at pamilya upang maitaguyod ang kanilang pag-aaral at

propesyon. Hindi rin po lingid sa akin ang malaking tulong ng mga nurse dito sa Pilipinas at sa ibang bansa na nagta-trabaho nang lubos upang makatulong sa kanilang pamilya.”

Then she begged for understanding, insisting she bore no malice in her remarks: “Humihingi po ako ng pang-unawa sa lahat ng mga nasaktan sa aking sinabi. Wala po akong intensyong maliitin ang mga Filipino nurses [I plead for understanding from all concerned. I had no intention to demean our Filipino nurses].”

Villar said that lack of villar/PAGE 8

By MIKE BANOS, Correspondent

THE people’s initiative aimed at compelling Congress to pass an enabling law for the Constitutional provision banning political dynasties continues to gain ground with the recent launching of the Movement Against Dynasties (MAD) in Cagayan de Oro City last Sunday,

March 3, 2013.

Leaders of the movement said the initiative was launched in three of Cagayan de Oro City’s largest Catholic churches: The Church of the Black Nazarene, the St. Augustine Metropolitan Church and the Our Lady launched/PAGE 8

MAD: A Movement Against Dynasties (MAD) was launched at the Nazareno Church and the St. Augustine Cathedral in Cagayan de Oro City with Archbishop Antonio Ledesma. MAD leaders from Manila led the signing of a petition that calls for only one candidate from one family. The signing of the petition was done at the church doors where the public were invited to be part of the movement. photo by : gerry lee gorit

P12/kwh cap for Mindanao market

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

THE initially-estimated pricing cap for interruptible loads to be channeled through the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) has been set at P12.00 per kilowatt hour (kwh), based on simulations presented by the Energ y Regulatory Commission.

Referencing on that cost range, the blended rate for

Mindanao grid will inch higher by P0.6389 per kwh to P4.3327 per kwh from the most recent pass-through generation charge of P3.6938 per kwh.

Under a scenario wherein interruptible loads will supply lower volume, the generation charge could just climb by P0.2689 per kwh

to P3.9627 per kwh.

But since the P12.00 per kwh is initially eyed as the price cap, it was noted that the selling price for IMEMunderpinned generation may go lower than that.

The calculated rate for capacities expected to be sold through the IMEM will be a market/PAGE 8

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Economy

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World Bank hails Philippines transparency effort DAVAO City -- Billed as the Philippines efficient and cost-effective project management tool, the World Bank (WB) recently cited the government’s use of geo-tagging technology in its effort for a transparent and corrupt-free government.

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An article bannered in their Washing ton-based website (www.worldbank. org), said that the use of geo-tagging technology in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) second Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP2) has made project monitoring in far-flung places become more transparent and easier to access with the help of a new technology that allows pictures and videos to be geo-tagged.

“The geo-tagging process involves attaching locationspecific information such as geographical coordinates to pictures, videos, and even SMS messages. Users would need a GPS-enabled phone

and internet connection to upload multimedia to a web-based application such as Google, which provides the platform to geo-tag at no cost,” the article said.

MRDP is long-term poverty alleviation initiative in Mindanao with a total funding of $127 million coming from the $83.752 million loan from the WB and the equity share of the national government and its 225 covered municipalities.

“As we implement projects in the six regions of Mindanao, we constantly faced challenges of accessibility, manpower, resources and security concerns,” said the WB article quoting deputy

program director Arnel V. De Mesa.

“With the use of technology our project team and even country officials and donors agency can validate, monitor and evaluate actual progress on the ground without having to travel to hard-to-access locations and areas with high security risk,” De Mesa said.

“The learning curve of geo-tagging is not that long, and the beauty of it is anyone can learn the ropes. Even the young ones who are exposed to smartphones nowadays can easily do it,” he added.

Mea nwhi le, Progra m Director Lealyn A. Ramos said that the department is proud that WB has given recognition to their efforts of heeding the challenge of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s tuwid na daan (straight path) and inclusive growth hails/PAGE 8

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN Contributor

ing. It started its operation in January, this year.

In its initial operation, the group has already employed ten women-members for the squid drying, earning P20 for every 100 pieces of fresh squids. The husbands of the women-members operate the five pump boats in catching squids and receive two-thirds (2/3) of its earnings.

After a month of operation, the group has harvested 500 kilos of fresh squid sold at P35 per kilo to the womenmembers. After the drying process, the squid were sold to the local market in the entire province at P500 per kilo.

BSWCC Project Manager Adelina Fabela is happy to note that the cooperative has

already earned a net income of P14,900 or a total profit approximately 45.84 percent from its expenses of P17,500 for the labor and capital.

Sagay municipality is currently the only major producer of dried squid in the province.

BSWCC President Maricel S. Uayan thanked DOLE-10 for the livelihood and employment opportunities they can generate from the assistance.

Through the financial assistance, the cooperative can purchase weighing scale, freezer, five units of pump boats, squid flashers, jiggers, flashlights, knives, styrofoam and big-sized cellophanes, fishing nets, containers, and starting capital in buying fresh squid.

Camiguin women’s coop gets livelihood assistance

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 10 has released a livelihood financial assistance of P298,000 to Balite 2 SEAK Women’s Consumers Cooperative (BSWCC) under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

The DILP is DOLE’s contribution to the Aquino administration’s agenda of reducing poverty through the promotion of livelihood and entrepreneurship and transforming them into community enterprises through convergence of services.

The BSWCC is a women’s cooperative in Sagay, Camiguin province engaged in squid drying and catch-

Oro dads OKs free patent of lot for poor residents THE City Council has approved a resolution for the issuance of free patent to 80 poor families occupying a 5,750-square meter lot in Migkawa, Barangay Tablon here.

Vice Mayor Ian Acenas, presiding officer of the City Council, said the local legislative body interposes

no objection to the free patent application for the titling of the parcel of land occupied by members of the Migkawa Landless Association in Tablon here for over 20 years now.

Councilor Ramon Tabor, member of the committee on urban and rural poor, said actual inspection was

conducted together with technical persons from concerned departments.

The legislation was reviewed and favorably endorsed by the committees on urban and rural poor and on laws and rules respectively chaired by Councilors Alexander Dacer and Ramon Tabor.

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Wednesday - Thursday I Mar. 6-7, 2013

Filinvest allots P11B for 6 medium-term projects this year FILINVEST Land Inc (FLI) is hiking the estimated value of its project launches this year, more than half of which will be new mid-rise building (MRB) projects.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Gotianun-led property developer said it will launch six new mid-rise projects nationwide with an estimated sales value of P11 billion.

These MRB projects form part of the P20 billion worth of new projects FLI plans to launch this year, 38 percent more than the value of projects that FLI planned to roll out in 2012.

FLI plans to bring its portfolio of “Oasis” projects – considered as “stylish and modern havens within the urban jungle” – in Tagaytay, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro. The real estate firm has existing “Oasis” developments in Ortigas, Pasig City, Manila, Paranaque City, Cebu and Davao.

Following the success of the first “Spatial” development in Pasig last year, FLI will also launch the second MRB project under the said brand in Davao City this year.

Projects under this brand offer customers the “Oasis” lifestyle at more affordable

prices, the company said.

FLI also plans to launch The Signature, its first MRB project in Quezon City targeting start-up and growing families. Rising along A. Bonifacio Avenue, the onehectare property will house three buildings with a total of 348 units, ranging from two- to three-bedroom units with sizes between 75-105 square meters.

The property developer will allot 800 square meters of gross leasable area for a commercial center to cater to the day-to-day needs of its residents. The Signature is close to the commercial districts of Banawe in Quezon City and Grace Park in Caloocan City.

Another MRB project in the pipeline is Fortune Hill, a two-building project located on the site of the former head office of Filinvest along P. Gomez Street in San Juan.

The development will offer a total of 92 units, with sizes ranging from 94-150 square meters. Each unit comes with two parking slots in the threelevel basement parking.

FLI grew its net income by 18 percent to P1.967 billion at end-September from P1.661 billion in 2011 on the back of higher sales.

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Cebu Pacific prepares for A330 operations GOKONGWEI-LED Cebu Pacific has tapped Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (HAECO) for the maintenance of the local carrier’s long-haul planes, the budget airline said in a statement.

“The HAECO group will provide Inventory Technical Management (ITM) and Fleet Technical Management (FTM) services for Cebu Pacific’s wide-body f leet of A330-300 aircraft,” the statement read.

“The services include detailed planning of regular comprehensive maintenance checks, pool management of components, management of component repairs and overhauls, as well as 24/7 AOG (aircraft on ground) support.”

Cebu Pacific, however, said “it was not at liberty to disclose the value and terms of contract with HAECO.” Cebu Pacific’s two A330300 aircraft, which will be used for the firm’s long-haul

operations, will arrive in June and September, the airline’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Lance Y. Gokongwei, had said in January. The company will start its first long-haul flights to Dubai on Oct. 7.

“When we launch longhaul operations, we intend to serve destinations where a large number of Filipinos reside, such as the Middle East and Australia,” Mr. Gokongwei was quoted in the statement as saying.

“In choosing HAECO,

Cebu Pacific can tap into the expertise that HAECO has built up with the A330.

The efficiencies resulting from the sharing of parts inventories and HAECO’s strong technical capabilities will assist the airline in providing low fares on long-haul routes.”

HAECO Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang said in the same statement that his company was “supporting the airline in the next phase of its growth.”

“We are conf ident of

delivering great value and operational reliability to the customer, by means of our technical expertise and operational scale of the A330 aircraft, geographical proximity between our Hong Kong hub and Manila, as well as our heritage of operational excellence.”

Listed Cebu Air, Inc., which operates Cebu Pacific, hiked its net income by 2.25% to P2.27 billion in January to September last year from P2.22 billion in the same period the year before.

Prices of gasoline, kerosene go down LESS than five days after reducing fuel prices, Seaoil Philippines, Inc. again rolled back the prices of other petroleum products, citing price movements in the international petroleum market.

Seaoil said it will bring down the price of regular gasoline by P0.95 per liter and kerosene by P1.35 per liter starting 12:01 a.m. of March 6.

The reduction comes four days after Seaoil rolled back the prices of its premium and

CAGAYAN DE ORO Main Branch P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers – Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN Branch B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES Branch Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA Branch Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN Branch Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739a

unleaded gasoline as well as diesel by P1.10 a liter.

Seaoil’s price cut also follows similar adjustments implemented by Petron Corp, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp and Chevron Philippines Inc last Sunday.

Petron, Shell and Chevron brought down the price of their premium and unleaded gasoline by P1.20 per liter and that of their diesel by P1.15 per liter, respectively.

Oil companies import 90 percent of the country’s fuel requirements.

McDonald’s to open 50 stores THE LOCAL UNIT of fastfood chain McDonald’s Corp. plans to open up to 50 more branches this year, with most outlets to be located outside Metro Manila to reach more customers.

The country’s strong economy has prompted the local unit of fastfood giant McDonald’s to open more branches this year.

“This year, we should open around 40-50 more outlets nationwide,” said Kenneth S. Yang, president and chief executive officer of Golden Arches Development Corp., in an interview at the sidelines of the Arangkada Philippines Forum in Makati City last Feb. 26.

Golden Arches Development Corp. is the local franchiser of McDonald’s.

Meryl Adiel M. Timbol, Golden Arches Development public relations and communications manager, in the same interview said: “The expansion will mostly be outside Metro Manila.”

“We are seeing more opportunities outside Metro Manila as we are confronted with more demand in the provinces,” she added.

McDonald’s currently has 376 fastfood outlets nationwide after it added 49 branches last year.

Mr. Yang said the company’s optimism to grow its operations in the country is on the back of a “strong economy and the

strong demand from the private sector.”

He noted that McDonald’s new branches will be a mix of company-owned and franchised outlets.

“Of t he new bra nches, around 60% will be company-owned and 40% will be franchised,” Mr. Yang said.

The investment cost for a franchised store is around P35 million-P40 million. With

the increase in the number of branches is the rise in the number of employees, Ms. Timbol noted. “We have around 27,000 employees at present and each branch would entail some 30 employees,” she said.

The hamburger chain, Mr. Yang said, is continuing to renovate its branches to create a more “homey feeling” for customers.

Moreover, Mr. Yang said, the firm is looking at implementing a slight price increase this year. “There would be some price increase to match the higher price of goods and the increasing operating cost in relation to the increase in prices of utility,” he said.

“We would see around 3-5% price increase,” he added.

Ms. Timbol said the price increase will take effect in the fourth quarter. “To cushion the increased prices of some products, we will still be offering McSavers meals, which is priced around P50,” she added.

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AN OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR VICENTE Y. EMANO & THE CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY COUNCIL Dear Mayor Emano and Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Cagayan de Oro: Greetings from the water consumers of Cagayan de Oro! Most residents of the city are acutely aware of the growing shortage in potable water supply in many of the barangays where some have running water only from 9 to 12 hours a day.

What is ironic is that this shortage is happening not because water supply is insufficient to meet water demand but because the COA (Commission on Audit) has disallowed Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) from issuing purchase orders for additional volume of treated water which are readily available from its bulk water supplier, Rio Verde Water Consortium, Inc. We are aware that Rio Verde can easily provide an additional volume of at least 40,000 cubic meters of treated water a day to COWD which would instantly resolve the water crisis but is prevented from doing so because of the COA disallowance.

However, we, the long-suffering consumers of the affected water-short areas, believe that the Local Government Code of 1991 has empowered the City Chief Executive and City Council with sufficient authority to resolve the legal impasse without need of going through a protracted legal process.

We appeal to the City’s Chief Executive and the City Council to take the necessary measures provided under the Local Government Code to allow the consumers to access this available water without prejudice to whatever future judgment the courts may render on the legal constraints imposed on COWD by COA. Water is a human right and not a privilege. We, the water consumers of Cagayan de Oro, need our leaders to come together to find a way around the legal obstacle preventing the water from flowing to our households, and deliver a free flowing supply 24/7 that the system is technically capable of doing right away despite the COA disallowance.

We trust this matter merits your soonest and immediate attention. Water is life. Give us today what’s rightfully ours.

For and behalf the water consumers of Cagayan de Oro: KONSUMANTENG KAGAY-ANON, INC. Ad donated by the Friends of KKI

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Legal Counsels Member: -Philippine Press Institute

It’s our birthright to be rich! money can buy yet still The Financial that bring happiness on their own merit. Seeking balance can make us both physically and Doctor spiritually happy.

HAVE you ever dreamed of becoming financially secure someday? Would you like to become financially secure in your lifetime? How serious are you in attaining this?

I have previously quoted Zig Ziglar saying: “Money is not the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen!” Oxygen is the air that we breathe, and money is like oxygen! For without it our lives could be in peril. For as you can see, there are things in life that could bring us happiness and money can buy. But there are also other important things in life that could make us happy but which money cannot buy. Love and respect – these are things we have to strive hard to earn!

Perhaps the most ideal scenario would be to attain a balance of both – having the important things that money cannot buy on one hand, and on the other having those material things

THINK a minute…

Bees and buzzards are very different in their eating habits. Buzzards fly and circle above looking for animals that are either hurt or dead. Then when they see one, they swoop down to tear and feast on it until it’s gone. But honeybees are the exact opposite.

Honeybees only look for the good sweet nectar, as they f ly from f lower to f lower.

Buzzards only produce fear, pain, and death in their feeding. But honeybees produce honeycombs full of honey, which gives health and enjoyment to others.

You see, buzzards and bees always find what they’re

I initially started out in my professional career as a medical doctor. I fix brains and nerves. But sad to say, there are some brains that are just difficult to fix! I eventually became an international financial consultant as well and friends started asking me why?

As a doctor, I have come to realize perhaps one of the most poignant realities there is in life – many patients die earlier than they are supposed to because of one lingering reason: the lack of money! For how could you expect to sustain a prolonged stay in intensive care if the patient really has not much money to spare? Contrast that with a family having ample financial resources and who could make the decision much easier whether or not to let their patient undergo much needed neurosurgery simply because they are not financially constrained?

We all have the individual birthright to succeed and become financially free! We simply have to accept it as a personal responsibility to seek for that goal. For our lives are governed by the universal laws, the greatest of which is the law of cause and effect. We are now what we are because of what we have done with our lives AGCOPRA/PAGE 8

looking for. Just like a wife can usually find what she’s looking for in her husband.

She’ll see what she chooses to see: the good or the bad.

So if we’ll focus on our husband’s faults and mistakes, we’ll find them. And the more fault we find in our husband, the less we’ll respect him. So then when our husband feels that we don’t respect him, maybe even see him as a loser and failure, guess who’s the last person he will want to be with? His wife! Since he feels he can never please her or be good enough for her.

But rather, if we try to look for the good qualities in our husband, and focus on those, we can grow to

respect even admire him.

Then when our husband feels this respect from us, because we stop cutting him down and criticizing him, our marriage and relationship will be much happier.

As a wise person said: “To your husband’s qualities and good points, be very kind; and to his faults and mistakes—a little blind.”

Fortunately, there is a big difference between us and buzzards and bees. Animals cannot choose their instincts and behavior. But God made us human beings the highest of all His creation, so we can choose what we think, say, and do.

So if you’ve not been the kind, loving wife you know

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

you should be, won’t you ask Jesus Christ to forgive you? Right now ask Him to take charge of your heart and nature, so you can start changing to become the wife your husband needs.

Just think a minute …

Less travelled road to Lake Pinamaloy

Traversing the tourism hi-way

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Bees and Buzzards

PED T. QUIAMJOT

CARVED from the f latlands surrounded with high mountainous rain forests that provides natural feed of spring water to a foot shaped inland body is Lake Pinamaloy in Don Carlos, Bukidnon.

More than 60 hectares in size with a deep of 10 meters at the center and 3 meters in the edge. It is home to some freshwater aquatic life that supports a bio-system.

The lake has an estimated displacement of 6 million

gallons per day that could sustain the water requirements of up to 1 million people daily.

Looking for a local destination this summer? Visit Don Carlos, Bukidnon for the best scenic vistas so captivating that any movie producer will be interested to shoot a location.

Young professionals who were born and have grown up in this place but have moved elsewhere in pursuits of career or occupation have the yearly homeward bound feelings to return.

The childhood memories frolicking in the corn fields catching the sun rising and the cold breeze at night watching sparkling fireflies top of trees brings nostalgia to travel back in time to Lake Pinamaloy, one of the few remaining eco-systems in Central Mindanao that has welcomed and now saturated by multinational agro industries planting Pineapple, Bananas and other

fruit bearing orchards for export overseas.

Soon if not regulated, would damage the natural woodland habitat inviting disaster. Trees and soil conservation have been affected by the massive agricultural plantations in the Province now showing its effect on flooding and land erosion.

Huge public lands and many existing farmlands in Bukidnon are leased to Dole Agricultural subsidiaries and Del Monte Philippines for their various export business expansions. Cane plantation by many land owners feed the sugar mills with the needed raw materials that propel the province to the top producer of the commodity needed in the confectionary, soft drinks and energy juice industries.

The province host Busco Sugar Refinery and the Crystal Sugar Industries and another one under construction.

The local government of the Municipality of Don

Carlos has formed the Lake Pinamaloy Development Council tasked in the cross road on how the development of the lake matters to tourism and preservation of natural attraction? Aside from the supply of water to the local community, it also serves as a tourism site that maintained the ecological balance of the flora and fauna.

Preserving the lake in its serenity or developing its potential for commercial wake boarding undertaking could propel the Province of Bukidnon to the number one eco-tourism destination in the country with a high cost to the environment?

Don Carlos, as the name suggests must have been named after the great son of the Province, Don Carlos Fortich who belongs to the early settlers and rise to become a rancher com sugar planter whose family carved a name in business and politics. quiamjot/PAGE 8

Gearing up for the future challenges

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

WE have just been reminded about the parable of the barren fig tree (Lk 13,1-9). The obvious lesson to derive is that we should never waste time and that we should try our best to be as productive and fruitful as possible.

This might already sound like a trite reminder, but then again, given our culture of self-indulgence and complacency, the warning actually continues to be current and urgent.

That’s because our ten-

dency to take things for granted is simply limitless, especially when we are in our comfort zones, like when we are at home, or alone, or simply pursuing personal hobbies and interests.

We obviously need to know when to be serious and when to relax, but the latter should not be taken to mean that we can forget the more serious concerns of our life.

If ever there’s any value to our rest and recreation, it is to refresh us so we can go back to our weighty concerns and challenges in life.

Otherwise, our rest and recreation can be harmful to us, as they can only give us means of escapism, thereby nurturing our dissipation and intemperance.

We should be wary of our tendency to break the link between our work and rest, our business and recreation, just as we should avoid breaking the connection between our work and prayer, our temporal affairs and our

spiritual activities.

We only have one life, though with many aspects and needs. We have to learn how to integrate and blend them well to strengthen the unity of our life. And this task can be challenging, since these aspects and needs can compete with each other. We have to learn the necessary skills and competence for this.

That is why, even as we pursue with our rest, recreation and fun, we should never forget that their purpose is to make us more able to face the serious matters of life. And these days, the challenges can be daunting.

The developments all over the world have become fast-paced and complicated, leaving in their trail a lot of questions to answer, issues to resolve, and new skills to acquire. We should avoid being blind to these concerns, otherwise we will just find ourselves in a deeper mess in the future.

Just the same, we should never forget that the way to tackle the future challenges is to strengthen and not to weaken, much less, neglect, the basic structures of our life-our own personal spiritual and moral life, our family, our work, and the responsibilities we now have due to our current state and condition in life, etc.

With respect to our spiritual life, we need to fortify our faith in God. Especially these days when ideologies with their corresponding lifestyles are questioning the validity of faith, the existence and providence of God, etc., it’s important that our faith should stand firm, strong and fruitful.

That’s why, we really have to make our prayer real prayer, not just mumbling of words or a surge of sweet religious feelings, but one where we engage God in a serious father-and-son conversation where we bring Cimagala/PAGE 8

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Higher rice harvest boost government’s self-sufficiency goal FIELD reports on higher rice yields have further bolstered the Aquino administration’s campaign to achieve selfsufficiency in the staple, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima said on Monday.

In an interview, Delima said these reports emboldened the Department of Agriculture (DA) to do more in achieving food security.

He added that the reported yields, in effect, made little sense the 30-year-old suggestion of the United States Agency for International Development and the National Economic and Development Authority to abolish the National Food Authority (NFA).

The NFA was established in 1972 to ensure adequate rice supply for Filipino consumers.

Delima said rice harvests have started, noting that a bigger picture and more accurate data on rice production will be available by March 15, particularly from regions that had set higher targets for palay (unhusked

Palay output is expected to increase in the first quarter.

rice) output.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, on the other hand, will issue its report on rice output by April.

“The harvest area for rice has grown to 4.6 million metric tons [MMT], with Central Luzon still leading the list of regions that expanded their production areas,” Delima said.

“There are also substantial [gains] in Oriental Mindoro and Leyte [provinces], and the reason for the surprising performance in Leyte is the fact that Ormoc had

subsidized hybrid seeds for farmers,” he added.

Also expected to record improved yields for the year are South Cotabato, Nueva Ecija, Isabela and Iloilo provinces.

For 2013 the DA has set 21 MMT of palay as its target figure, Delima said, adding that “the bigger situation will be clearer by the third quarter, when all the figures are in.”

He attributed the increase in palay output to the use of two Philippine hybrid-rice Boost/PAGE 8

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Launched... from page 1

of Fatima Parish Church in Barangay Camama-an.

“Our opening salvo in Mindanao aims to make voters aware of the proliferation of political dynasties and convince them not to vote for members of political dynasties in the coming elections,” said Quintin San Diego, MAD Chairman. “We are asking church goers to sign the petition proposing the enactment of an enabling law that will make the provision of the 1987 Philippine Constitution against political dynasties operational and penalize violators.

M A D i s a nat ionw ide non-partisan organization of volunteers from socio, civic, and religious organizations, non-government organizations, cause -oriented advocates and university and college students mobilized under the aegis of Sec. 5 of Republic Act 6735, the Initiative and Referendum Act. “This provides the people to exercise the power of people’s initiative or referendum by getting at least 10 percent of registered voters, represented by at least three percent of registered voters in every legislative district of the entire country, to sign a petition that will be presented to the COMELEC to call for a referendum to enact and pass an enabling law on Section 26,” San Diego added.

Section 26 of the Constitution states that “The state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

“After 26 years, congress has not acted on the proposed enabling law because 70 percent of legislators belong to political dynasties,” Danilo O. Olivares, MAD co-chairman, told local media covering the launch. “Neither the Supreme Court nor COMELEC can be expected to act on petitions to prohibit dynastic candidates from running for the simple nor convenient reason that the Constitution does not provide an enabling law.”

Olivares said however that they realize that the signature campaign may go beyond 2013 and well into the 2016 election.

However, he stresses that by doing the signature campaign all over the country now, they will be able to inform the people that political dynasties are prohibited by law, are wrong and are harmful to the country and as such it is up to the people who not to vote come election day.

MAD’s position is that there should be ONLY ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL per family up to the 2nd degree by affinity or consanguinity.

In his homily during the noontime high mass Sunday at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma cited recent studies presented by the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and other institutions which tend to show a correlation between corruption, poverty and violence.

“Political dynasties are corelated with corruption because there are no longer checks and balances when people from the same families are in office and helping one another,” Bishop Ledesma noted. “Another correlation that these studies have borne out is that political dynasties are co-related with poverty itself. The more the larger the political dynasties in government, the more poverty seems to persist in our economy.”

The prelate also cited how another study showed that 70 percent of public officials today belong to political dynasties.

“It is, I think, a sad commentary that our leadership cannot be more widely spread among people who are perhaps

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more competent, more conscientious and more committed than members of political dynasties,” he noted.

MAD was launched last February 17 at the historic Baclaran Church where MAD volunteers got hundreds of church goers to sign the petition. Baclaran is the site of the successful signature campaigns in 1985 and in 2009 which convinced Cory Aquino and later, Nonoy Aquino to accept the people’s draft for them to run for president.

“I am happy that MAD has finally come at last. It really took time in coming,” said Rev. Fr. Rey Montanto, parish priest of the Nazareno church. “This is enshrined in our constitution but no lawmaker took it up to author an enabling law probably because it will work against the interest of his/her own family. It is therefore high time that the people themselves through an initiative force the next congress to take this constitutional provision seriously.

Political dynasties work mainly for the interest of the families in power and don’t give chances to poorer and lesser known individuals with leadership potential.”

Market... from page 1

a lot higher than the charges of the oil-fired power barges of Therma Marine Inc. which has been selling at average P7.3136 per kwh, according to data provided by the power industry regulator.

ERC executive director Francis Saturnino Juan explained that the blended rate for Mindanao grid comprises of the dominantly hydro-based power supplied by state-run National Power Corporation at P2.9693 per kwh and that of the TMI’s generation cost.

As he laid down the costimpact estimates, Juan emphasized that the Mindanao power crisis has short-term solutions, but consumers must be properly apprised that these will have corresponding costs.

The IMEM, he said, “provides and immediate venue for transparent and efficient utilization of additional capacities to address Mindanao energy supply shortfall.” Juan added that “those with available capacity or who can be curtailed can sell/offer to be curtailed at market prices.”

Villar... from page 1

of time and the complexity of the issue concerning a closure order issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) several years ago prevented her from answering the question in a clear and concise manner.

Villar also noted that as early as May 2012, she was already advocating for a ladderized system of curriculum that would give academic credits and the appropriate skills certificates for nursing students who due to financial constraints were unable to complete their nursing degree and pass the board examinations.

The candidate also known as “Misis Hanepbuhay” underscored her commitment to fight for better wages for government nurses based on a law passed in 2002 that was principally authored by her husband, Senator Manny Villar.

“During the First Davao del Sur Congress of the Philippine Nurses Association- Davao del Sur Chapter in November of last year, I spoke in favor of the immediate implementation of Republic Act No. 9173 also known as the Nursing Act of 2002 that increases the minimum salary of government nurses to around Php 24,000 or

Salary Grade 15 instead of the present Php 18,000 equivalent to only Salary Grade 11.”

“That this law passed way back in 2002 remains unimplemented speaks volumes about the sad plight of your sector.

No wonder so many Filipino nurses are compelled to leave the country for economic reasons,” Villar said in her letter to the PNA, adding that prices of basic commodities have risen sharply since 2002 thus making the Php24,000 minimum wage threshhold obsolete.

The lady legislator also appealed to Filipino nurses and nursing students not to judge her based on a comment made under extreme time pressure.

“Ma h i r ap p o t a la ga ng pagkasyahin sa loob ng isang minuto at kalahati ang lahat ng gusto kong sabihin tungkol sa mga naging problema ng mga mag-aaral ng nursing noon at hanggang ngayon. Napakalaki ng aking paghanga sa mga nars, saan man sila naglilingkod kaya’t nalulungkot ako dahil nagkulang ang aking pagpapaliwanag.”

At the end of her two-page letter, the former congresswoman from Las Pinas City said that the controversy arising from her remarks made her even more zealous about promoting the rights and welfare of Filipino nurses.

“I sincerely want to learn more about the cha llenges confronting Filipino nurses here and abroad. Perhaps, at the appropriate time and with the help of the PNA and your chapters worldwide, we could start a dialogue on a common agenda to help our nurses and improve services and facilities for public health care,” she said.

Airport... from page 1

only allowed to land and f ly between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

“I don’t have the figures for the losses it will incur on businesses as of now, but it will definitely have great impact on all businesses that use the airport, particularly those that have transactions that need their officials to travel from Manila or elewhere, including those that need technicians to come for their business operations,” Valdez told the BusinessWeek Mindanao over the phone yesterday.

“So that it will not hamper our operations, we have to demand the continued operation of the old (Lumbia) airport until such time that the new (Laguindingan) airport operation normalizes,” Valdez, also the department head of Asia Brewery, said.

Valdez said COCI is a cosignatory of the position paper opposing the operation of the new airport on April, this year, citing lack of facility and poor road condition among the factors that will affect their business operations.

Hails... from page 2

when the latter commenced his administration in 2010.

“We take pride in this effort as this involve majority of the people of Mindanao, local chief executives of our LGU partners and even community folk who support the advocacy on transparent government and accountable stakeholders in the project implementation,” Ramos said.

Cost-efficient and transparent The WB article described the technology as cost-efficient since it saves risky travel to high-risk and hard-to-reach areas; it has easy reference as donors, implementing agencies, contractors and other partners are provided with useful information about its sub-projects such as exact locations, dates of

operation, land areas, distance covered and where they are situated in relation to other landmarks in the area as seen in www.damrdp.net, the website of MRDP2.

Further, it is transparent as it allows citizens to better monitor the bidding and procurement process and other information like invitations to bid for projects, it is also available on the maps for the benefit of prospective bidders.

The WB cited MRDP’s innovative use of the technology as the first among government agencies in the Philippines, and among the pioneers in the East Asia and the Pacific region being ser ved by the Bank. As the pioneering group in the country, MRDP team is leading efforts to train their co-workers within the agency and outside the department on the use of geo-tagging for project management.

Award winning program The Philippine National Economic and Development Authority through its “Good Practice Award” recently hailed MRDP for applying geo-tagging technology in “resolving recurrent issues in project implementation.”

“We really wanted to show that we’re doing something for good governance and transparency,” De Mesa said.

Quiamjot... from page 6

Don Carlos is accessible from Cagayan de Oro City with a paved road network passing through the Sayre Highway. It takes 3 hours and 40 minutes by a private vehicle and 4 hours by public transportation to reach the destination stopping first at the Peak of Mangima Mountain to view the breathtaking Canyon formations of Bukidnon.

The Cagayan de Oro Travel and Tours Association (COTTA) and the Cagayan de Oro Hotels and Restaurants Association (COHARA) are two of the many tourism stakeholders in Mindanao who are actively selling the eco-tourism destinations in the Province of Bukidnon.

Popular tourist attractions like the Dahilayan Zip Line, the Kaamulan Festival and a visit to the Monastery of Transfiguration in Malaybalay City can be scheduled anytime of the year.

The local tour handlers are also promoting trips to the vegetable plantations in Lantapan and dairy farms in Maramag with side itinerary to the mountain resorts in Impasugong which have huge multi tier swimming pools with abundant natural running water from spring sources.

The most famous destination of course in Bukidnon which has been drawing thousands of local and foreign Golfers a year is the historical Del Monte Golf and Country Club in Manolo Fortich, the venue of many national golf events in years and the source of pride of Bukidnon serving the succulent pineapple grain feed Del Monte Beef which is available in generous portions at their Club House.

Visit Lake Pinamaloy in Bukidnon and witness the early sunrise as the lake ref lects the sunlight. Stay overnight and camped out as firef lies from tree tops engulf the night with magical sparkles.

Cimagala... from page 6

up and sort out our concerns with him.

God is everything to us. We should never forget that. We should rather trust in him and in his ways, even if sacrifices and inconveniences are involved, rather than get taken in by the allurements of some quick-fix philosophies not founded on

God but rather on our human estimations of things alone.

As to the family, we need to see to it that the family is bright, cheerful and vibrant, with the interrelationships within it functional. Parents have the grave duty to form their children well humanly, spiritually, morally, doctrinally, etc.

The parents should be quick to recognize the problems and issues affecting every member of the family, and to start resolving them. That’s why the parents also need to be strong and always abreast with the developments of the times.

Subsidiary entities, like schools, parishes, clubs, etc., should be established and enhanced, and their relation with the families and individuals, especially the children and weaker members of society, should be clearly defined and strengthened.

I feel this is the way to brace for the future challenges. No matter how complicated they are, these challenges can always be manageable if we take care of the basic and fundamental aspects of our life.

We would be in a better condition to face these challenges.

tors in January 2013, registering a double-digit growth of 19.55% from the same period last year.

In 2012, a total of 40,987 Thai tourists (or 10.9% of the visitor volume from ASEAN region) came to the Philippines.

DSWD... from page 11

in the past. Similarly, we become who we will be as an outcome of what we are currently doing with our lives in the present.

Bill Gates once said: “If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it’s your mistake!” Let us not make that sad mistake in the end! Let us all claim our individual birthrights to succeed and become who we are destined to be in our lives. Let us all act now!

----(Dr. Adonis Agcopra is a registered international financial strategic consultant with IARFC and is portfolio director of AFIC Meridian Consultants. URL: www.aficfinancialconsultants. com. Email: aficfinancialconsultants@outlook.com.)

order said.

The order of DILG 10 Regiona l Director came af ter Lawyer Araceli F. Solamillo, Regional Director of DSWD Field Office 10, wrote a letter to Burdeos asking for assistance in the information campaign of the agency that aims to insulate the Pantawid Pamilya and other programs of the DSWD during the election campaign period.

The Bawal ang Epal Dito campaign also aims to intensify communication efforts ensuring that beneficiaries are accurately informed of the selection and delisting processes.

It focuses on the message that only the DSWD can delist a beneficiary if he or she is not following the conditionalities of the program.

Bawal ang Epal Dito confronts the issues of external pressures and eliminates the misconception of the beneficiaries about the control of politicians or parties over Pantawid Pamilya and other programs of DSWD. More importantly, it seeks to empower the beneficiaries to know their rights and to be vigilant of individuals and/ or groups who plan to use the program to push for their personal agenda.

With the upcoming midterm elections, some politicians may use the program to gain leverage. Through the Department’s Grievance Redress System (GRS), beneficiaries are encouraged to continuously give feedback if they find some politicians who are allegedly claiming to have the authority to enlist and delist them from the program.

Over the past years, the DSWD has been consistent in performing its functions within the tenets of accountability and transparency.

from page 7

Offers...

Agcopra... from page 6

Boost...

varieties—NSIC 19 and NSIC 20—that the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) had developed.

“There are three commercial hybrid varieties in the market, along with the two PhilRice strains that more farmers are using now,” Delima said.

He also said these hybrid varieties are enjoying wider acceptance since these are cheaper than commercial varieties by P1,000 per sack.

Another incentive for farmers to increase rice production is the “plant now, pay later” program, which allows farmers using hybrid-rice varieties to secure loans.

This program, which targets 50,000 hectares, has been implemented in 25,000 hectares, with the DA lending P400 million to farmers.

Farmers cultivating hybrid rice will get as much as P50,000 per hectare, with the limit set at 5 hectares, and the money borrowed carries an interest of 15 percent per annum.

To assure that the output will be bought, Delima said farmers also have a purchase agreement with the NFA as a last-resort buyer.

Tops... from page 11

topmost and crucial job for the next three years. We have definitely managed to hit the ground running in Thailand with this winning feat,” Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. enthused.

Considered a new opportunity market for the Philippines, Thailand produced 3,736 visi-

from page 11

Plan 350,” says Ricky Peña, Senior Vice President for Postpaid, Broadband & New Business of Sun Cellular.

“After getting their new MyPhone mobile phones, all they have to do is to visit The Sun Shop and present a valid ID, along with their MyPhone purchase receipt and promo voucher,” he explains.

Offered in two subscription types, availing MyPhone users get a Sun Postpaid SIM with unlimited Sun calls and texts and 250 texts to other networks, as well as extra 100 texts and 5 minutes of ca lls to other networks for the Call & Text Profile or 10 hours of mobile internet should they decide to choose the Surf Profile of the plan.

“We have also incorporated value-added features to let these users maximize all the more their new MyPhone mobile phones – for calling and texting their contacts or even for internet surfing,” adds Peña.

Now on its 10th year in the business, the country’s youngest major telecommunications firm is set to sustain its rapid growth in subscriber and network base through the introduction of more groundbreaking service innovations and heightened accessibility of its offerings.

“We are all the more driven to introduce innovations that will significantly excite the market and truly address the communication needs of the most value-seeking Filipinos of today,” Peña concludes.

Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDT Group.

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Disabled persons trained under SM Program fins livelihood THE papaya fruits of Rosales, Pangasinan are not just rich in nutrients – they also tell heartwarming stories. The ones being sold along the covered walk leading to the main entrance of SM Rosales are fruits of inspired labor by Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) who have been given training in proper farming through the SM Program on Disability Affairs.

One of the PWD farmers is Donald Carpo, who is also a member of the janitorial personnel of the mall. A native of Rosales, Donald was fortunate enough to be given free training on how to grow papaya and sell his harvest through SM for his

own profit.

Prior to working at SM, his main source of livelihood was selling tupig to motorists along the highway. Today, he has all three sources of living to sustain his family: a job at SM, growing and selling papaya, and

vending tupig at night.

More farmers are being trained in various parts of the country where SM is located. In Rosales, an SM Program on Disability Affairs team works closely with the local community to assist PWD farmers in agriculture and earn additional income for their families.

Through this program, PWD farmers are given the freedom to use and manage undeveloped portions of SM City Rosales’ property for planting vegetables and other crops. Upon harvest,

the farmers are allowed to sell their produce to SM customers in a space provided within the mall premises through the Farm-to-Market project.

Giving the PWDs convenient access and priority to everything are SM’s way of caring for PWDs. All these initiatives allow the mall to turn its business environment into a community of opportunities for PWDs to show their abilities above their disabilities through environment friendly, entrepreneurial and livelihood programs.

linary experts yearly, some of them found their way in the tuna industry here and began creating some of the best tuna recipes you could find.

Jake’s platoon of culinary experts are turning out things like tuna burger, tuna ham, tuna siomai, tuna tucino, tuna

longganisa, tuna embutido, tuna fillet, tuna belly, tuna cubes, tuna crazy cuts, and even turning out cooked tuna meals like bicol express, tuna mechado, tuna adobo, tuna caldereta, etc, all packed in world-class packages that can compete with the world’s best. (PNA)

Is there tuna at the Davao Gulf?

By AURELIO A. PENA, Contributor

DAVAO City– One could not tell whether it was said in jest or giving away a secret, but chairman emeritus Jake Lu of Citra Mina Seafood Group sounded serious enough when he revealed to us that most of the tuna they used to catch at Celebes Sea are either hiding or roaming in the waters of Davao Gulf.

I was travelling with a group of Japanese consultants working for Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently and given a whole day tour of the tuna industry in General Santos City by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Asked whether the recently-lifted global tuna ban helped boost the population of this highly-sought fish in the “tuna highways” of Mindanao, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, Lu brightened up and grinned widely,“ They’re all there at the Davao Gulf !”

As a long-time Davao resident who spends weekends at the beaches of nearby Samal island which sits right smack in the middle of the Gulf, the thought of big schools of tuna swimming beneath the choppy waves as the vehicleladen ferry boat goes to the island--- never crossed my

mind.

“You-you mean, the gulf in Davao?”

“Yes, your Davao Gulf !”

Wild thoughts of so many fishermen in little bancas with long nylon lines at Davao Gulf waiting for a tuna to bite the fish bait, crossed my mind though, but I imagine the coast guard chasing those fishermen away once our local Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources put up its own local ban if this bit of tuna news hits the national and local papers.

I don’t know if Jake is also eyeing the next tuna fishing ground in Davao Gulf, but from our day tour of the tuna industry in General Santos

and all the hundreds of fresh tuna we saw arriving from the tuna boats in a single morning there, I think he got enough supply for his tuna processing plant at Tambler near the huge, world-class tuna fish port.

For a big tuna processor like Jake and perhaps many other smaller processors here, the business of tuna doesn’t just stop at exporting the fresh and frozen tuna to Japan, US and Europe. It certainly doesn’t stop at just turning them into flakes and chunks and sealing them in cans.

Because this country these days have so many culinary schools churning out thousands of new chefs and cu-

When Pinoys want to get rich quickly

By AURELIO A. PENA, Contributor

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

DAVAO City– People are easi ly carried away by tempting claims of certain banks with high interest rates for savings deposits.

They’re also easily attracted to promises of better educational plan to cover college tuition--only to find out later that the bank was ordered closed by the government and the college plan wiped out when the issuing company run out of funds.

We’ve also run across recent stories of financing scams by legitimate firms that promises to “double your money” in less than a year or even a month. To make it so convincing, you get an advance check for your “investment” in their Ponzi scheme so you can spread the word around and attract more “investors” to the money pyramid they’re trying to build.

“Whenever it comes to making money, we often get caught in the trap of wanting to get rich quickly, either through need, greed or ignorance, making us easy prey for scams,” says Riza Mantaring, president of Sun Life Financial Group of Companies in the Philippines in a recent report.

Mantaring said Filipinos need to plan for the “expected” such as old age and retirement, as well as for the “unexpected” such as sudden death and sickness. “The sad fact is, only about two percent of Filipinos are independent at retirement. Most will be dependent on their relatives or charity and will be forced to continue working,” she stressed.

When sickness strikes, many Pinoys will end using up all their savings or going into debt after paying all their bills, according to the Sun Life top financial executive who was named one of the country’s top 12 Most Inf luential People in Persona l Finance in 2011 by the Money Sense magazine.

Mantaring said there are a number of investments well suited for Pinoys out there and will depend on their goals, timeline, appetite for risk, age, income, and experience in making investments. “The younger you are, the longer your timeline before you need the money back and the more stomach you have for the changing values of your investment,” she

pointed out in the report.

Investing in stock s, according to Mantaring, would be a good investment in which to put one’s savings. “Stocks generally give you better returns over a long period if you can tolerate the ups and downs of the stock market and the value of your investment,” she said.

One needs to have a fa irly la rge a mount of money to invest since the key to successful investing, according to Mantaring, is “diversification” or having a “basket of stocks”, maybe ten stocks or more, to lessen the risk of losses. “ Investments giving you higher returns also have higher risks, but you need to spread your money in several stocks to spread your risks,” she said.

Mantaring urged Pinoys to put their money in “professionally managed fund” and take advantage of fund managers’ expertise in making money from stocks, corporate bonds, or government securities.

Investing in a basket of around 30 strong, growing stocks in a typical mutual fund investment can be a better option than investing directing in the stock market, especially when

one lacks enough experience in stock investing.

“Investing in a mutual fund allows you to invest as little as P5,000 simply by buying shares of a fund which pools together the money of all investors and managed by fund managers who are experts in the stock market,” Mantaring said.

In a typical mutual fund, Pinoy investors may want to invest in stocks thru its Equity Fund, invest in corporate bonds thru its Bond Fund or invest in a Balanced Fund, a mix of stocks and bonds depending on the appetite for risk by the investor.

Since there are a number of financial products to choose from, Mantaring said a good “financial advisor” can help anyone to choose the right fund and draw up a “financial plan” for the Pinoy investor.

“A good financial advisor will sit with you and discuss your needs, find out your tolerance for risk, and explain each of the products of a mutual fund, make you understand the risks of each product before you buy---- instead of simply trying to sell you a product,” Mantaring said.

(PNA)

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Wednesday-Thursday I Mar. 6-7, 2013

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DILG, DSWD: Safeguard Pantawid Pamilya from Epals

By OLIVER BADEL INODEO

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 10 here has found a new ally in its intensive information campaign to insulate Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) from partisan politics.

This after Lawyer Rene K. Burdeos, Regional Director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 10, issued a memorandum order asking provincial and city directors and municipal local government operations officers in Northern Mindanao to assist DSWD Field Office 10 in safeguarding and preserving the program against any political party or candidate who wants to take advantage on the program for their political agenda.

In his two-page memorandum dated February 26, 2013, Director Burdeos said the authority and implementation of which is solely within the powers and responsibilities of the DSWD, shall not be, in any manner, used as a tool nor avenue for

the perpetration of Epal acts and activities.

“You are therefore ordered to zealously assist in the information campaign and communication drive of the DSWD pertaining to the nature as well as its proper implementation, within your territorial areas of responsibilities and concerns, of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and coordinate with your respective local government units in the furtherance of the same.

“Furthermore, you are ordered to keenly assist in safeguarding and preserving the implementation of the program in the course thereof from and against the commission and perpetration of the (prohibited) acts prescribed in the Bawa ang Epal Dito campaign, especially during the election/ campaign periods where a political party or candidate uses, for its/his insidious political agenda and undue advantage, the Pantawid Pamilya to deviously foster its/his political agenda,” the DSWD/PAGE 8

PH ‘More Fun’ tops Thailand International Travel Fair 2013 THE Department of Tourism (DOT) won the Best Booth Display during the Thai International Travel Fair held on 14 – 17 February 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand, extending the Philippine tourism’s winning streak in the global stage. The Philippine booth bested fourteen other National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), marking the country’s debut in the said travel fair.

Organized by Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), an association of Thai Outbound Tour Operators, the three-day fair held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok drew almost 600,000 visitors and close to a thousand booths from 14 NTOs, 3 embassies, 19 airlines, 132 travel agents, and other travel-related suppliers. The

Thai Minister of Culture, Mr. Sontaya Kunplone, was among those who graced the official opening ceremony.

This maiden Philippine participation led by DOT’s Marketing Representative for Malaysia and Thailand, Datin Melissa Ong, was able to book Manila, Cebu, Bohol, and Palawan with a sizeable number of Thai tourists.

Cebu Pacific cabin crew also provided on-site entertainment and fun games throughout the fair.

“There is no stopping the country from riding high on a wave of global attention. This is certainly another feather in our cap.

As the world’s perception of the Philippines begins to improve, all the more should the groundwork begin on market development –our tops/PAGE 8

Sun Cellular offers postpaid support for MyPhone users SUN Cellular continues to enhance the accessibility of its services after having announced its newest tie-up with mobile phone brand MyPhone which seeks to offer postpaid carrier support to newly-availed MyPhone units.

Under this exclusive partnership, consumers purchasing new units of any MyPhone mobile phone at

any accredited MyPhone Concept Store or kiosk until April 30, 2013 will get special vouchers to easily avail the Sun Postpaid Plan 350 SIMonly offering.

“We aim to instantly complete the MyPhone experience of every user with the convenience and reliability of our most preferred unlimited postpaid offering – the Sun offers/PAGE 8

PODC Project Implementation Manager Arnold Santos (left) and Acting Product Manager (FVH) Mierro Castrillo (right) cut the ribbon at the Twin Homes. Looking on are Fr. Harold Parilla and Product Manager Voltaire Flores.

Forest View Homes launches three new model houses

THE three model units of Forest View Homes (FVH) were recently blessed in simple ceremonies on February 16, 2013. Fr. Harold Anthony Parilla, JCL led the service.

Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation (PODC) Product Manager Volt Flores also introduced Township Relations Manager Mierro Castrillo as the Acting Product Manager for Forest View Homes.

T he u n it s t hat were blessed were: Jessica, Erika and Twin Homes with f loor areas of 60, 77 and 65 sq.m., respectively. Jessica and Erika are two-storey single attached homes while Twin Homes is a duplex unit.

The three model houses are located in FVH Phase 3 along the village’s main road, Forest View Drive.

Jessica model

Set against the magnificent Pueblo de Oro Urban Rainforest, Forest View Homes is a peaceful enclave of tasteful homes amid natural beauty. Like Pueblo de Oro’s other subdivisions, Forest View Homes will include such amenities as a landscaped entrance gate and guardhouse, multi-purpose hall, concrete tablet fence,

Erika model

24/7 security, and parks and playground. A shuttle service also plies the route between the village, SM and other areas of the Pueblo de Oro Township.

FVH is easily accessible

by PN Roa Avenue (Macapagal Drive), which connects Bulua and the Calaanan Valley to Masterson Avenue.

With its panoramic view of

the Pueblo Urban Rainforest, FVH offers residents a feeling of countr yside living while being mere minutes away from urban conveniences such as SM City Mall, top schools like Xavier University and Corpus Christi, the domestic airport, and the upcoming St. Francis Xavier Parish Church.

NEXT @ RODELSA HALL: INT’L PRIZEWINNING GUITARIST RODELSA Hall continues its mission to This coming March master classes with world bring world-class talents closer to the people 15, the premiere perfor- renowned guitarists such as mance hall of Mindanao Jorge Luis Zamora (Cuba), of Cagayan de Oro City. will showcase one of the country’s most talented classical guitarists, Mr. Ramoncito Carpio.

He earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, under the tutelage of Prof. Lester Demetillo.

He finished his Master of Music degree under the guidance of Prof. Benchito Carino, at the Philippine Women’s Universit y, Ma ni la where he is also a member of the guitar faculty.

Monching, as heis fondly known to the music circuit has already played numerous concerts throughout the Philippines and has performed in several guitar festivals abroad. Aside from teaching and performing, he also writes music for the guitar, stage plays and short films.

He took lessons and

Aniello Desiderio (Italy), Berta Rojas (Paraguay), Elena Papendreou (Greece), Roman Viazovsky (Ukraine) and Shin-Ichi Fukuda (Japan). He also takes special lessons with German guitarist Carsten Linck.

Carpio has represented the Philippines in several competitions in the country and around Asia and has consistently brought awards such as 3rd place in the Bangkok International Guitar Competition (2010), Grand Prize winner of the 2011 Philippine International Guitar Competition and Grand Prize Winner of 2012 Asia International Guitar Competition in Thailand.

This special concert at the Rodelsa Hall is for the philanthropic activities of Liceo de Cagayan University and will help sustain the programs and projects guitarist/PAGE 8

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Wenesday-Thursday March 6-7, 2012

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Cynthia Villar gets studes, parents, teachers’ support

SENATORIAL candidate Cynthia Villar (fourth from right) receives the resolution and statement of support from the faculty members, parents’ organization, and students from the Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) during her short visit in Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday morning.

Mrs. Villar, a three-termer member of the House of the Representatives, won

the support of the students, parents, and teachers of MUST for her effort in making the transforming the school in a university leavel.

In her speech, she encourages the students to give education their top-most priorities. She also shared to students how Las Piñas managed to make money out of waste materials.

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Enrile back in campaign trail, vows to end hunger AFTER having skipped his party’s campaign trail for two weeks, United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) senatorial candidate Jack Enrile is back on track and vowed to bring down the high incidence of poverty in the country by pushing legislations that would lower the prices of basic commodities, particularly food items.

In his comeback trail in UNA’s campaign sortie in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday, the Cagayan solon said there is a need to improve our present structure and it requires appropriate legislations to ensure that foods are not only available but also affordable for every Filipino.

“Twenty-one million Filipinos are experiencing hunger once every week and 45% of our households have no sufficient foods to eat everyday.

A big percentage of family expenditure goes to foods,” Enrile pointed out.

In an ambush interview,

Enrile said that if elected as senator in the 16th congress he will prioritize the crafting of laws that would uplift the lives of the marginalized sector particularly the farmers and fisherfolks.

“We need to have a true and comprehensive true land-use policy in this country so that we could meet our goals for agricultural development,” he said.

After the Cagayan de Oro leg, UNA moves to Iligan City last night with former Joseph Estrada and Vice President Jejomar Binay leading the team.

Enrile told reporters he skipped two weeks of UNA events because he fell ill with and had prior commitments.

He said he campaigned on his own in Quezon City and Davao before heading to Cagayan de Oro. “We don’t have activities this week and now we are fully concentrated for the

next two months to join the UNA sorties,” Enrile said.

Enrile said he has also been busy shooting new ads.

Asked if his absence had anything to do with the dip in his survey ratings, he said, “’Di naman po, ‘yun lang ang plinano namin at ngayon natutuwa ako bilang kandidato sa lalabas na ads.”

Enrile’s ads come as his numbers dip in the surveys.

In the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll, his rank went down to 13 in February from 8-9 a month earlier. “[T here’s no con nection] whatsoever. I believe the warmth of the reception they showed us in UNA, in my sorties in Quezon City shows how much they welcome Jack Enrile and UNA. In our view, the LP will just be shocked.”

“The survey is a snapshot in one moment in time. The basis is the last survey on election day,” Enrile said in Filipino. (NVC)

Jack Enrile re-joins UNA bets in Iligan City after missing the campaign for two weeks.