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Mini-hydro plant
THE city council has endorsed a proposal to construct a mini-hydroelectric plant in anticipation of the projected power shortage in the next two years. Councilor Prexy Elipe, chair of the Committee on Energy, said the proposed mini-hydro plant would be located in Limbatangon, in the upper part of the Cagayan de Oro River, southwest of here. He said the Turbines Resource and Development Corporation (Turedeco) has submitted the proposed technical plan for the construction of the mini-hydro plant. The city council, through approved Resolution No. 7025–2005, endorsed Tudereco’s “Hydroelectric Generating Project,” Elipe said.
Camiguin investments
THE province of Camiguin reported good figures in capital investments for the year 2012, growing P236-million richer in the infrastructure and ser vices sector when compared to the investments that poured in 2011. The sector posted a total of P434-million investments last year while capital investments in trading, agriculture, consumer/manufacturing and servicing sectors likewise posted huge increases. Trading sector re flected a growth P130 million from P20 million in 2011 to P150 million in 2012, while agri-based investment grew to P18 million from the recorded capital investment of P10 million in 2011.
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• Napocor assures Agus 6 rehab wont affect Mindanao power supply
A
By ALLAN LEGASPI, Reporter
BOITIZPOWER subsidiary Therma South Inc., signed close to half of its capacity in a little over two months, underlining the need for a reliable baseload capacity in Mindanao to solve the island’s ongoing power crisis.
TSI, which is building its 300-MW clean coal power plant in Davao City, signed power supply contracts worth 141 MW with eight Mindanao electric cooperatives and distribution utilities between October 25 and December 18, 2012. The contracts, including the rates for the power supply, will be subject for review and approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). “We are greatly honoured by this trust of our customers
and we will continue to work hard to build a world-class power plant that the people of Mindanao will be proud of,” Therma South President and Chief Operating Officer Benjamin A. Cariaso Jr. said. “Most of these customers have already experienced the reliable and dependable service of AboitizPower through their existing contracts with Therma Marine. We, at Therma South, will live up to these very high expectations as befitting an aboitiz/PAGE 7
HOUSEWARMING PARTY INVITATION. This Typhoon Pablo survivor repairs what’s left of his house, not for any scheduled housewarming party with friends, but to have a shelter enough to shield him and his family from the elements in Barangay Ban-ao, Baganga, Davao Oriental. photo by bong d . fabe
Globe posts strong Mindanao IDP program hailed gains in quality test as model for relief and rehab By BUTCH D. ENERIO, Correspondent
THE two leading telecommunication companies in the country got passing marks after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) conducted the 4th quarter 2012 Quality of Service (QoS) Benchmarking Tests on the telco industry
networks in 16 cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region. According to the NTC, both Smart and Globe got passing marks in these tests conducted last December, involving postpaid subscribgains/PAGE 7
A PLACE CALLED HOME. A new home provides Kadiguia Zambaga’s family renewed hope for something better ahead after sharing a shelter with five other families for the past three years. M inDA
DAVAO City -- Top officials from international donor communities commended the Early Recovery and Rehabilitation for Central Mindanao (ERRCM) Programme for its successful facilitation of at least 65,000 internally-displaced people (IDP) in Central Mindanao, and hailed the program as a model for future relief and rehabilitation initiatives in the country. Toshihiro Tanaka, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Country Director for the Philippines describes the Program/PAGE 7
‘Pablo’ destroys P7-B worth of Banana farms
BAGANGA, Davao Oriental—At least P7 billion worth of banana plantations in Mindanao were destroyed by Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) farms/PAGE 7
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JV: Lower power supply to hurt Mindanao businesses
JV Estrada
SAN Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada warned that the reduction of power supply to areas in Mindanao could cripple manufacturers and other local business establishments in the region. Ejercito Estrada made the statement following reports that Zamboanga City will soon experience t hree-hour brownouts due to the decision of
state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) to reduce power supply in the city by 10 megawatts (MW). Other areas in Mindanao may soon suffer the same fate as power supply in the region was cut by 189 M W as of Jan. 10, according to the National Grid of Corp. of the Philippines. “Power outages will
lower t he produc t ivity of local businesses and harm Mindanao’s economy. These power outages are definitely an injustice to businessmen and consumers alike,” the young lawmaker said. Ejercito Estrada echoed the fear of Mindanao businessmen that the power situation in the entire region could get worse when sardines
manufacturers resume full operations in March following the lifting of a three-month ban on sardines fishing imposed by the government in the Zamboanga Peninsula. “M i nd a naoa n s a re now reeling f rom t he failure of the government to act on the power crisis two years ago, when the problem was easier to solve. The government
wasted precious time,” he said. The San Juan solon reiterated his call for the immediate rehabilitation of the Agus Pulangi facility which supplies more than half of Mindanao’s power supply. The two hydro dams are currently producing only 635 MW of its 982 MW capacity due to the heavily-silted rivers of the facility.
By BEN D. ARCHE, Contributor
the highest index with 0.626. Rosendo Aya-ay, NSCB-Xl acting regional director said Davao del Norte followed at 0.526 and Compostela Valley with 0.479 while Davao Oriental had the lowest HDI in the region with 0.370. But if compared to other areas in Mindanao, Davao del Sur only ranks third with the highest HDI next to South Cotabato with 0.636 and Misamis Oriental with 0.650. Throughout the country, Davao del Sur ranked 23 while Benguet has the highest
HDI at 0.883. Davao del Sur’s HDI is slightly lower than the national average of 0.633. HDI also showed that nine out of the bottom 10 provinces with the lowest HDI levels are from Mindanao including Davao Oriental. Davao Oriental ranked fifth out of the bottom 10 provinces next to Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, Masbate and Lanao Sur. Aya-ay explained that HDI is measured by taking the average of (1) life expecResidents/PAGE 4
Davao del Sur residents get ‘better quality of life’ DAVAO City – The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) showed that residents in Davao del Sur including Davao City have better quality of life compared to other provinces in Region Xl. Based on the results of the 2009 Human Development Index (HDI) released recently by the NSCB and Human Development Network (HDN), it showed that of the four provinces in the region, Davao del Sur posted
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CdO sets deadline for application of biz permits
CITY Mayor Vicente Emano on Friday urged businessmen to renew and to apply for new business permits here before the Monday deadline. “It would be better for business permit applicants to file their applications or renew their business permits earlier before the deadline to avoid the rush and fines,” Emano said. He said the city’s “Onestop Shop” that facilitates renewal and application of business permits would be opened on Saturday and Sunday to allow applicants meet the deadline this Jan. 21. The “One-stop Shop” counter is located at the City Hall. It is where an applicant could accomplish all requirements (sanitary, fire, and health clearances) needed for a business permit approval. Emano said the “Onestop Shop” center expects to process more than 20,000 business permits at the close of the deadline. (PNA)
Crosswind leads 20% hike in Isuzu sales last year THE Phi lippine unit of Japanese automaker Isuzu aims to sustain double-digit growth this year after 2012 sales grew by a fifth on the back of the strong showing of its Crosswind model. Isuzu Philippines Corp said it sold 11,759 vehicles last year, up 19.7 percent from the 9,820 in 2011. For this year, the company wants to jack up sales volume by a tenth. “The 20-percent growth of Isuzu Philippines Corp in 2012 is proof that the company continues to offer value-laden products that are appreciated by Filipinos. In 2013, Isuzu will be even more aggressive as we increase our brand equity and improve our dealer facilities and services, as we target to sell 13,000 vehicles,” its president Ryoji Yamazaki said. The Crosswind was last year’s top-seller, with 6,244 units sold to comprise half of the company’s sales and mak ing it among the 10 best-selling models in the Philippines. The model’s sales last year were almost a fourth higher than the 5,029 in 2011, bringing in its best performance since 2004. Demand for the Crosswind peaked in the final two months of 2012,
making it the second bestselling Asian utility vehicle in the two-month period. Sa les of the N-Series were the fastest since 1996, with 1,630 sold last year or over a third more than the 1,196 in 2011. The N-Series kept its position as the top light-duty commercial truck model in the country for 14 years in a row. The D-MA X saw last year’s sales inch up to 2,691 from 2,500 in 2011. A total of 838 Alterra units were also sold in 2012. Despite the “proliferation of used, imported trucks and buses in the market” that have been eating on sales of brand-new units, Isuzu Philippines said it delivered more mediumduty Forward trucks last
year—257, compared with 2011’s 193. Heavy-duty trucks and buses models sold a recordhigh of 99 units last year, more than double the 47 in 2011. Isuzu Philippines is third largest domestic manufacturer of commercial vehicles in terms of volume, next to the local units of co-Japanese carmakers Toyota and Mitsubishi. But Isuzu Philippines boasts of churning out up to 90 percent of the units it sells. The Crosswind, D-MAX, N-Series and medium- to heavy-duty trucks are being assembled at its Binan, Laguna plant. Only the Alterra sport utility vehicle gets imported from Thailand.
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tancy; (2) weighted average of functional literacy and combined elementary and secondary net enrollment rate; and (3)
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Normin Wood Processing declines following EO#23 The production of forestry and processed wood products in Northern Mindanao continues to decline following the national government’s continued inaction to issue specific guidelines for Executive Order 23. Data from the Department Environment and Natural Resources in Northern Mindanao (Region X) show saw log forest production in three (3) provinces dropped 63 percent (%) from 9,464 cubic meters (cu.m.) in the second quarter 2011 to 3,537 cu.m. for the same period in 2012. Misamis Oriental had the biggest decline with 81 % attributed to the closure of wood processing plants due to the non-renewal of permits in compliance with Executive Order (EO) #23 issued in 2011. Issued on February 01, 2011, EO 23 declared a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force. However it is Section 2, Sub Section 2.5 in particular which is responsible for the decline in production and exports in Region X which reads: “The DENR shall close and not allow to operate all sawmills, veneer plants and other wood processing plants who are unable to present proof of sustainable sources of legally cut logs for a period of at least five (5) years within one month from affectivity of EO 23.” During the January 10, 2011 induction of the new set of officers for 2013 of the Tree Planters and Wood Processors Federation, Inc., association president Prudencio T. Plaza, Jr. disclosed that from 154 players in 2010 with an annual log requirement of 634,621 cu.m., the number of wood processing firms dropped 43 percent to only 87 as of August 31, 2011 with the log requirement volume dropping 42 percent to 365,243 cu. m.. “Hardest hit with closures were mini sawmills which declined 47% in number from 129 in 2010 to only 68 as of August 31, 2011 and in volume by 57% from 318,802.46 in 2010 to only 136,189.44 for the latter period,” Mr. Plaza said. “I understand your dilemma but I am bound by law to comply with the marching order of the President to implement EO 23 and enforce logging moratorium in natural and residual forests,” said DENR Regional Executive Director Ruth M. Tawantawan in her keynote address. “I know the President and DENR Sec. Ramon Paje had conscientiously deliberated on whether to impose logging moratorium or not. They know this has a tremendous effect to our economy but our forests have to breathe and grow in order for us to continuously enjoy the valuable tangible benefits – fresh air, clean water, environment aesthetics – and to restore the flourishing wood
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industry decades back. We have to understand the noble intent of the law.” Private Tree Plantations In his acceptance speech, Mr. Plaza stressed federation members now exclusively source their raw materials of falcata, gmelina, acacia and West Indian Mahogany from private tree plantations which are exempted from raw material restrictions listed in EO 23. However, succeeding memoranda from DENR regarding said EO required mini sawmills who source from tree plantations to comply with the very stringent rules. Especially troublesome for most tree processors was DENR Memorandum issued October 11, 2011 where the 5-year contract should provide a 100% tree inventory by a professional forester with corresponding maps. Both federation and DENR-10 officials unsuccessfully sought clarifications on these matters. Most tree plantations in the region are small farm holdings with trees occupying only a portion of their areas like farm boundaries since they also plant other crops to meet daily needs. These small farmers cannot meet the minimum five year volume requirement of tree plantation processors, and just rely on traders who consolidate their production for processors. Thus tree plantation processors included in succeeding DENR memoranda find it extremely difficult to comply with the required 5-year contract since most do not directly engage with small farm holdings in order to reduce costs. Almost 90 percent of wood species processed in Northern Mindanao is Falcata (Albizia Falcataria), a fast growing tree which can be harvested within 3 to 5 years depending on the land suitability and climate. In many cases, the quality of falcata trees deteriorate once it grows beyond 5 years. And because of this, processors are also having a hard time complying with the DENR Memorandum issued on October 11, 2011 since they cannot produce a certified inventory of trees still at seedling stage. “Despite these issues, wood processors in Northern Mindanao sourcing from tree plantations have already submitted and complied with EO 23’s requirements since last year but their applications are still pending in Manila until now.” Mr. Plaza noted. The federation is asking the national government to revert the processing and approval of Wood Processing Permits (WPP) to the DENR regional offices since it is very expensive especially for micro and small enterprises to continue following up their permits in Manila where only very few personnel are detailed to process applications causing further delay.pallets for industries. real per capita income. Davao del Sur posted the highest HDI in the region because it has a good income index and education index. The income index of the province, for instance, registered at 0.360
Cheaper broadband rates pushed so more Pinoys could have home Internet access
House members yesterday urged telecommunication companies to cheapen their broadband service rates so more Filipinos can have Internet access at their homes to help them in their information needs for education, business and other personal uses. Reps. Janette Garin (1st District, Iloilo) and Gior-
gidi Aggabao (4th District, Isabela) made the call in light of a recent survey by US-based research institute Gallup showing about 79 percent of Filipinos have no internet access at home. Garin, a Senior Deputy Majority Leader, said cheaper broadband service rates would certainly allow more Filipinos to have home “Having internet access will be of big help to Filipinos especially those students who sometimes have to stay late at computer shops to research on their assignments online,” said Garin. She said lowering broadband service rates by at least 50 percent would be rational and allow more Filipinos to subscribe because of cheaper costs. The basic rate of telecommunication companies varies with some charging P999 for a monthly subscription of 1.5Mbps Internet
speed usage. Aggabao, a Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said making broadband service rates more affordable is necessary and justified to enable Filipinos more access to the information highway. “It’s ironic that while the Philippines has been considered a center for social media, majority of Filipinos have no Internet access at their very own homes. Because of the high cost of broadband subscription, Filipinos would rather spend on other essential items like food, transportation, water and electricity bills,” Aggabao said. Aggabao said home Internet connections would allow more Filipinos easy access to vital information like news and livelihood opportunities. “They can get all these important and helpful information anytime they want to at home. We
call on telecommunication companies to be more considerate by cutting their Internet service costs to help Filipinos still without home Internet access,” he said. According to pollster Gallup, “the more people have Internet access in their homes, the more likely they are to have easy access to news and information, and in some cases, to sell and buy products online.” It cited the relatively low home Internet penetration rate in the Philippines, which may be due to the fact that the country is among the world’s more highly populated nations. The other countries where home Internet coverage is low are Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Mexico according to Gallup. The Gallup survey complemented a United Nations report last September that cited 71 percent of Filipinos had no access to Internet through any means.
Phil Life Office Blessing
J a n . 18 R i b -
bon Cutting for New Philippine L i f e o f f i ce a t the 2nd floor of Grace Building in Mabulay Subdivision. Left to Right : Pres. Monico V. Jacob, OH – M r. Rene L. Noble, FVP /CFO – Ms. Michelle L. Amba g a n, E VP / COO – Mr. Enrique R. Alberto
(photo by : Mike Banos)
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compare to Davao del Norte (0.232), Compostela Valley (0.186) and Davao Oriental (0.090). The income index, Aya-ay added, represents the ability to access resources for a decent
standard of living. Davao Oriental gained the highest life expectancy index with 0.812 while Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley shared the lowest rank of 0.764. NSCB released the 2009
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HDI following the refinement of the global HDI methodology. The global human development report was first launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development
processes. The Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme produced the said global human development report.
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Stem cell therapy HUMAN nature has it that when there is something new, be it related to food, enhancements to one’s appearance, and even in one’s search for answers and treatments to an illness, one may be most willing to brave and enter that unknown territory. I had the privilege of meeting a very remarkable woman, diagnosed with the Big C of the liver, who, in her desire to prolong her days, agreed to go through stem cell therapy. In the course of our conversation, I realized that, patients must be given the correct information, and should be armed with the necessary knowledge of the treatment modalities, including success and failure rates, complications , cost and expectations. This applies not only to what is new, but, even in the most tested of treatment options, patients have the right to know and understand. Stem cell therapy is one breakthrough in the Medical Science. It shows a lot of promise and potential in treating diseases. Stem cell therapy is an intervention strategy where new adult stem cells are introduced into damaged or diseased tissues, in order to treat the disease or injury. These cells are present during the early stages of life and have the remarkable potential to develop into many different types of cells, and in many tissues, they serve as an internal repair system: they divide to replace and
Health in Focus
To Die For THINK a minute… This is a true story about an American teenager named Leo Carter. Leo was from the most dangerous part of the big city of Chicago. He was only 17 years old when he saw another teenager named Elijah shoot and kill a businessman. Elijah and his gang decided to kill Leo so he could not testify against them in court. One day they caught Leo, dragged him behind a building and shot him in the head. It was a miracle that Leo did not die. Yet even after that, Leo still had the courage to testify against Elijah for murdering that businessman. Elijah is now in prison, because Leo stood for what he knew was the truth no matter
what it cost him. There are many people who would rather stay alive than die for the truth. There’s a saying: “If you don’t have anything to die for, then you don’t have anything to live for.” Sometimes we pay a big price for being honest and standing up for the truth. We can make some real enemies, even lose our job or position of respect and power, just because we were honest and stood for the truth. The question is: Who are you more afraid of? People and what they think or can do to you? Or God, your Maker and Judge? Jesus Christ said that you and I must decide if we truly believe He is Who He said He is: the only true and living
God Who came to die for all our wrongs so He could forgive us. Since Jesus proved He’s God the Son by coming back to life from death, we must live His way everyday of our life. We can’t say we believe in Him and then keep living our own way instead of changing to live His way. That’s why Jesus said everyone must be born again. We must die to our past life of living our own way so we can start life all over again with His life and character changing us everyday to reach our potential He created in us. It’s kind of like being pregnant: either you have another person’s life in you or you don’t. You cannot be just a little pregnant. Neither can you have Jesus
Think a minute
JHAN TIAFAU HURST
living in you only part-time once or twice a week. So today, won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you and take full charge of your heart and lifestyle every day for the rest of your life? Jesus is both to die for and live for. Just think a minute…
How the exchange rate affects us 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 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. T h is is how t he 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
Speaking out
IGNACIO BUNYE
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.
Living stones DR. MARY JEAN LORECHE
replenish cells that have been diseased. Research directed to the benefits and usefulness of stem cells, when introduced to a given person with a given injury or illness like the Big C, Diabetes, baldness, leukemia, to name a few, has given rise to clinics and centers offering such services. There are just a few facts that I would like to touch before we get too excited to try it out: Our body use different types of tissue specific stem cells to fit a particular purpose. The bone marrow for example has the capacity to regenerate the blood cells. Stem cells directed to the brain or the pancreas or liver or any organ for that matter must be specific to that organ in order for it to become effective. It is very unlikely then to think that one needs JUST A SINGLE CELL TYPE to treat a multitude of unrelated diseases that involve different tissues Loreche/PAGE 8
I HAPPENED to be nearby when the dedication of the newly renovated cathedral of San Pablo City in Laguna took place recently. I immediately went there without being formally invited due to a number of personal reasons. I learned that the architect who designed the renovation was a close friend of mine who is really a first-class architect. He has designed many beautiful churches and chapels, and I wanted to see another marvel of his. Then, both the outgoing and incoming rectors of the cathedral were also friends of mine. They were seminarians in the seminary in Spain which was my first pastoral assignment after my ordination. A good number of the priests in that diocese are also alumni of the same seminary in Spain. So, I wanted to see them again after so many years. As if these were not enough, I discovered to my pleasant surprise that the main celebrant of the Mass was Cebu’s archbishop-emeritus, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal. So I felt very much at home even if this was only my second time to be in that city. Since the affair was about the dedication of a cathedral, the cardinal preached in his homily about what a church is.
As expected, he made reference to some passages in the first letter of St. Peter that talked about the church being made by living stones, that is, us, people. The relevant quotation is the following: “Be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (2,4) This letter of St. Peter also talks about Jesus as the corner stone that has been rejected but which in fact is the one that gives unity and cohesion to this building, the church that is made of living stones, that is, us. Up to now, I feel that people have to be reminded about this fundamental element in the definition of the church. While the church is, of course, a special place, a special building since it is a house of worship-we even refer to it as the house of God-it is much more than an edifice. The church is a communion of people with God and among themselves. It is much more than just a social and material community of people gathered together. That is already a lot, but not yet enough. A community which is an external phenomenon has to be animated inside by a living communion of life and love rooted on the love of God, shown
and given to us in full through Christ and transmitted to us through the Church that was founded by Christ on Peter. Unless this communion takes place, the vitality and unity of any community that we can see would be at best only apparent. It cannot last long. It cannot pass the test of time, not to mention, the many challenges that it is bound to encounter in life. There is a lot of theology involved here, something that we have to deepen ourselves in and master, because in the first place it is unavoidable. To relish the fullness of things, to reach the ultimate consequences of what we see, touch and feel and of what we understand, we need to enter into theology where we allow faith to play its crucial role in our effort to understand things. Theology, with its essential element of faith, allows us to penetrate into the spiritual and supernatural realities that are impenetrable to our senses and even to our reason alone. And given the complexities of our times, we cannot afford to be ignorant of theology anymore. We need to go serious with it, purifying it from the usual superstitions and other errors that also distort it. In this, we just have to help one another.
Hints and traces
FR. ROY CIMAGALA
I considered it as some stroke of providence that I finished that day of the dedication of the San Pablo Cathedral with a viewing of the movie, For greater glory, which is about the religious persecution in Mexico in the 1920s. It’s a terrible story that simply showed malice played out in the political life of that country, and the not-so-right effort to defend religious freedom that resorted also to forms of violence. My analysis is that these things happen when faith is excluded in public life and forced to survive in some clandestine manners that are also prone to irregularities. We have to be living stones that build up a true Church which is supposed to be the mystical body of Christ himself!
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Aboitiz... from page 1
AboitizPower company,” he added. With close to a thousand employees working on the project site and growing, Cariaso said Therma South is on track to complete the project by early 2015. The completion of the Therma South power plant is seen as the biggest, most immediate resolution of the crisis. Misamis Occidental First Electric Cooperative (Moelci I) board president Hurlito Paderanga said TSi is way ahead of the construction of its power plant and will provide solution to their power supply problems faster. “What our cooperative experienced with Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) is enough proof that Therma South, Inc. (TSI) can and will deliver on time, reliable and affordable power,” Paderanga said. Agusan Sur Electric Cooperative president Joel Jumonong also added that the economy of their franchise area is growing very rapidly and they need to secure their member’s long-term power needs. Therma South is part of the P35-billion plan of AboitizPower to provide additional capacity to solve the Mindanao power crisis. Aside from Therma South, run-of-river developer Hedcor is also building 13.6 MW from Tudaya 1 and 2 in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. Other cooperatives who wigned up for 25-year power supply contracts are Surigao del Sur Electric Cooperative II (Surseco II), Misamis Occidental 1 Electric Cooperative (Moelci 1), Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (Sukelco). Distribution utilities Davao Light & Power Company
(DLPC) and Cotabato Light & Power Company (CLPC) also signed long term deals. Meanwhile, the National Power Corp. (Napocor) has assured that the planned rehabilitation this year of Agus 6 hydroelectric power plant will have minimal effect on the electricity supply in Mindanao. “We’ll do it one a time to averse the effect to the [Mindanao] grid. Rest assured that the rehabilitation of each unit of the plant would not mean a decrease of 25-megawatts (MW) from the supply of electricity,” Napocor President Froilan A. Tampinco said. “We will do everything so that the reduction will not go up to 25 MW. We will get power from other sources to augment the supply,” he added. Tampinco said that possible alternative sources of power, like generators, will replace the capacity of the plant as it undergoes rehabilitation. “When the rehabilitation starts, we will not shut down the whole plant. It will be by sequence, so the impact to the [Mindanao] grid will not be as big. In the long run, we will have a better plant with an extended life,” Tampinco explained. Napocor is set to bid out the contract to upgrade and rehabilitate two 25-MW units of the said power plant in Lanao del Norte next month.—With wire reports
Gains... from page 1
ers. In a statement, Ernest Cu, Globe Telecom’s chief executive officer said that the gains of the network’s modernization are now being felt more than ever by Globe customers. “This is paramount for us and we are happy with this development. Through the last three quarters of the NTC-initiated tests, Globe has demonstrated enhanced
performance resulting in progressively improving scores.” Cu said. Citing the rapid advancement of the telco’s modernization program, now close to completion of the first phase at 84%, the Globe sees the full equipment replacement and systems overhaul will increasingly bring about greater and better-than-standards performance and along with it, a differentiating customer experience. The latest results already show that Globe is surpassing NTC benchmarks such as its 2% rating for Blocked Calls or Grade of Service, which more than met the less-than-4%performance-standard. In other categories, the dropped call rate of Globe at 1.2% is much better versus the lower-than-2%-standard. While its Average Receive Signal Level, referring to signal strength, at -71.78dBm, is better than the -85dBm standard, its Average Signal Quality, on the other hand, improved to 0.94, now much closer to the optimal 0 standard. Call Set-Up Time of Globe at 11.98 is better than the 14 second-standard for a called number to ring from the time a subscriber finished dialing the number. “Key cities nationwide are now enjoying our enhanced network with 3G and 4G HSPA+; but over and beyond NTC’s quarterly benchmarking, we at Globe keep personally checking and validating our network performance all over the country, do speed tests and get feedback from our customers,” Cu emphasized, adding that, “After all, committing to ensuring the quality of our service to the public as NTC exhorts the industry to do so, is our core mission in the first place.”
Farms...
from page 1 in December, reported an as-
sociation of banana growers and exporters yesterday. Pablo destroyed at least 14,186 hectares of banana plantations mostly located in Compostela Valley province, which is about a fifth of all standing bananas in Mindanao. 9,020 hectares of these were owned by small growers while the other 5,166 hectares were owned by corporate farms. PBGEA said most of the plantations were for Cavendish bananas. “It will take at least a year to rehabilitate,” the PBGEA report said. PBGEA estimated that potential revenue losses of the banana planters in terms of lost harvests for this year is P8 billion. Undelivered banana boxes because of the typhoon were estimated at close to 50 million valued at US$4 per box. The southern Philippine island of Mindanao is host to 80,000 hectares of banana plantations, making the crop one of the country’s top fruit export, second only to pineapple. Third largest is Philippine mango. The country’s export of bananas defied global trade slowdown last year, keeping the Philippines total exports on the growth path despite the decline of the country’s manufactured exports, the PhilExport said. Industry leaders doubted if the industry could recover fast enough to sustain double-digit growth this year. -- BONG D. FABE
Program... from page 1
program as “exemplary,” citing the full commitment of its project implementors. “The converged efforts of the program’s stakeholders resulted in the success of the ERRCM Programme, which facilitated the transition of the IDPs from early recovery to full rehabilita-
tion,” says Tanaka at a meeting held here Monday. The European Union (EU) also lauds the effective methodology of the program, which utilized the convergence approach in achieving its key results. The convergence approach employs inter-agency complementation efforts during the implementation phase of the project. Different agencies strategically match socio-economic initiatives to achieve targets and anticipated results. Caroline Maningo, EU Philippines Program Officer says EU is currently working with the Departments of Agriculture, Social Welfare and Development, and Environment and Natural Resources in expanding its ongoing project to ERRCM sites. “This will ensure sustainability of the ERRCM livelihood projects,” she adds. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional government also plans to adopt the same strategy in implementing various programs and projects in the region. “Our approach now is convergence, and we will try to adopt the learning experience of the ERRCM Programme,” says Mujiv Hataman, ARMM OIC Regional Governor. The ERRCM Programme formed part of government efforts to facilitate the resettlement and early recovery of populations displaced by armed conflict in 2008. Implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the ARMM regional government with funding support from EU and UNDP, the ERRCM Programme constructed 1,793 homes and equipped IDP resettlement areas with more than 120 water systems and sanitation facilities. Access to basic social services in the resettlement areas was enhanced through the construction of 28 barangay health stations, 30 Botika ng Barangay or village pharmacies and 30 classroom buildings.
7
ERRCM also helped build the capacities of host local governments in disaster risk reduction and management and in conflict resolution - key factors in ensuring coordinated response during disasters and recovery period. Kadiguia Zambaga, 37, a mother of four, expresses happiness for her family who now has a decent home after living with five other families at an evacuation site for the past three years in Brgy. Pamalian in Pikit, North Cotabato. “Life is a lot better now. At night we could sleep well and feel secure,” says Zambaga. “MinDA shall continue its efforts in making the government felt by the people especially in conflict-affected areas,” says Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, MinDA chairperson and ERRCM Programme National Director. She adds that MinDA in partnership with the ARMM regional government has been in the forefront of facilitating programs and projects designed for the early recovery and rehabilitation of conflict-affected communities in Mindanao since 2003. “The ERRCM Programme experience and similar other successful programs that pushed for sustainable peace in the island-region are manifestations that peace efforts in Mindanao are moving forward being reinforced by the signing of the Framework of Agreement on Bangsamoro,” adds Antonino. A Mindanao Development Forum aimed to provide platforms for dialogue and public discourse on priority issues and policy agenda on Mindanao will be held in Davao City on February 1. The event will also tackle the emerging and evolving issues in Mindanao and will enhance further the existing consultative processes designed to facilitate substantive policy dialogue among stakeholders of island-region’s development and peace-building agenda. MinDA
Aggie News 8 Research and development focus for agriculture, natural resources set Monday-Tuesday I Jan. 21-22, 2013
A UNIT of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) engaged in research and development (R&D) for the agriculture, aquatic and natural resource sectors has identified specific fields on which it will focus its efforts. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) said in a statement last Dec. 6 that it has adopted “industry strategic science and technology (S&T) plans” (ISPs) for 34 sectors. PCA A R R D sa id t his development supports the government’s thrust to develop these sectors in order to help hasten economic development. The sectors are divided into five groups, namely:
• inland aquatic resources, covering aquatic feeds, milkfish, mud crab, native catfish, shrimp/tiger prawn, and tilapia; • marine resources, consisting of abalone, blue swimming crab, ocean environmental concerns, sardines, sea cucumber, seaweeds, and tuna; • livestock, composed of broiler, dairy buffalo, duck, feed resources, goat, layer chicken and swine; • crops, covering abaca, banana, coconut, coffee,
By PERLITA D. CHANGCO Contributor
(ARMMIARC) in coordination with DA-Maguindanao Research Outreach Station and UAS, Abdullah said. During the harvest festival held on Thursday, at 20-kilo seedlings per hectare, Abdullah noted a high yield of the CLS-1 variety at 5.93 tons per hectare followed by PAR 370 with 4.70 tons/ha, while they have yet to receive a report on the yield of PAR 385 as harvest was set Jan 13. PAR 370 variety is due for harvest in 112 days while CLS-1 matures in 113 days from planting day. UAS assistant research and extension technical person Marlon Garrigues said, that production cost amounting to P30, 000 per hectare was spent for 14-14 fertilizer, urea, and vermicast for the three varieties while net income for CLS-1 alone was estimated at P62, 000 based on the prevailing price of P15.50 per kilo of palay. Abdullah said the DA, through the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), continues to strengthen research program initiatives aimed at boosting the agricultural sector particularly the rice farming communities.
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legumes (peanut and mung bean), mango, rice, root crops, rubber, sugarcane, tropical fruits (jackfruit, papaya, durian, pineapple) and vegetables; and • forestr y, consisting of bamboo, industrial tree plants, and inland environmental concerns (watershed, climate change, and biodiversity). The PCAARRD ISP site (http://www.pcaarrd.dost. gov.ph/home/isp) enumerates these sectors, with links to pages providing each one’s background, as well as issues and concerns, science and technology initiatives, promotion and technology transfer, capability-building, as well as partners per region.
Aromatic rice harvest festival boosts farmers in Maguindanao
COTABATO City -- Rice researchers and farmers in the autonomous region are delighted with the bountiful harvest of the Philippine longgrain aromatic rice planted in a three-hectare ricefield in North Upi, Maguindanao. The introduction and experiment on the viability and adaptability of this kind of rice or better known in India as Basmati rice is part of government efforts toward rice sufficiency under the Agri Pinoy program of the Department of Agriculture (DA). According to Dhigs Abdullah, chief of Agricultural Information Division of the Department of Agriculture in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAFARMM), three varieties of the aromatic rice such as the PAR 370, PAR 385, and CLS-1 have been planted in a three-hectare techno demo farm of the Upi Agricultural School (UAS), North Upi, Maguindanao. The undertaking was initiated by the ARMM Integrated Agricultural Research Center
Loreche... from page 6
or organs. Once, we understand this basic principle of how the stem cells work in the body, we are freed from the incorrect idea that stem cell therapy is a CURE ALL treatment modality. Patient testimonials are a good source of getting information. Up to a certain point ONLY and is not really a reliable standard for a patient to try it out on himself/herself. It is important at this stage to understand that
there is such a thing in medicine as a “PLACEBO EFFECT.” There are certain types of procedures or drugs that when administered to the patient, he/she will feel better. Where before a patient may feel pain on movement, when given the medicine, he/ she my feel that there is little or no more pain. Appetite and outlook becomes positive. Testimonials then must be viewed in an objective manner and is best analysed with an open discussion with the attending physician. (To be continued…)
Considering the encouraging results, demo farms on the Philippine long-grain aromatic rice will be replicated in many areas with suitable climatic condition similar that of North Upi, Abdullah said. Meanwhile, ARMM executive secretary Atty. Anwar Malang who represented OICRegional Governor Mujiv Hataman during the harvest festival urged residents to submit priority needs for assistance and has likewise local agriculture officials to prepare a Master Development Plan to include construction of training centers and upgrading of necessary facilities for funding allocation.
Photo shows Mayor Nelieta Q. Noval of Tubod, Lanao Del Norte signs the certificate of acceptance of the project which the latter turn-over to the Chair of the MCTI Board of Directors Fiscal Diosdado Cabrera (below photo). Also in the picture is Ms. Carlota Madriaga, MNCIADP coordinator and the members of MCTI board of directors. Attendees to the activity include the members of MCTI, MAO Francisco Suano and staff, barangay and municipal officials. photo by: mgb sta. elena
MCTI benefits MNCIADP project MORE than three hundred farmer members of the Mindanao Cooperative Trades and Industries (MCTI) at Barangay San Antonio, Tubod, Lanao del Norte benefited from the 420 sq.m Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement (MPDP)
worth P 170 thousand funded by DA’s Mindanao North Coast Integrated Area Development Project (MNCIADP). The project was materialized through a 90:10 cost sharing wherein DA funded the 90% (P150, 000) while the 10% (P20, 000) of the total
project cost was shouldered by MCTI. The MCTI accepts the full responsibility of the operation and maintenance of the project after the ceremonial turn-over was conducted on January 17, 2012 at the above stated barangay.
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Survivors: A review of Kagabhion sa Sendong, On the Night of Sendong THE moment of this – Narratives of Children Survivors By ARNOLD P. ALAMON
volume’s publication a year after Sendong and days after Pablo, both destructive typhoons that ravaged Cagayan de Oro City in the past year, brings to the fore both the academic and policy relevance of this work.
There is indeed a need to document these painful human experiences not just for posterity but more importantly to allow us fellow victims and scholars to sift through the nuances of the event in order to draw out its various dimensions, and cull lessons accordingly. This volume is particularly indispensable to this task as it provides us a rare opportunity to listen to the voices of the voiceless, the marginalized, as they struggle to come to terms with the experience of disaster. It is academically satisfying already that in this volume are the voices of a unique but often neglected demographic – the voices of children. However, this compilation of stories become even more crucial because they emanate
The CU Dance Troupe renders a number during the book launch.
from a sector that represents the future of this city or any other City in the developing world given their common political economic trajectory – the young urban poor. From the standpoint of a critical social science, some relevant questions are raised: how do the young and marginalized in these parts participate and construct their experience of disaster? What are their sources of strengths and weaknesses/sources of resilience and vulnerabilities? How do these all shape our shared future living in perilous and cramped urban centers in constant risk of disasters because of political economic conditions and/or climate change affecting rural-urban geographies? Such loaded academic concerns may not have been the objective of this project, but the narratives point out some preliminary answers to these important questions as well as surface even more questions. For instance, what is common among these children as the narratives bear are the important roles they play in the family. At the onset, these children already display strength as productive members of their respective families. With both parents working or taking on odd jobs at odd hours, they are assigned roles as surrogate parents to their siblings on top dealing with the demands of their education. Some of them participate in the economic reproduction of their families even at very young ages. Jessa Mae, 12 years old, from MaStudent Ela May Daling reads her contribution casandig, gathers plastic to be sold to to the book entitled “Hinay-hinay kawala sa junkshops to help in providing for the akong panan-aw si Papa’.
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needs of the family. At t he heig ht of t he f looding, many of these children played pivotal roles in keeping themselves and their family members safe. They were the ones who tore through the roofs and carried younger siblings to keep their family members safe. Gwendolyn, 8 years old, from Consolacion, probably saved the life of her father by pleading against his desire to help neighbors carried away by t he ra mpag i ng f loods. What these observations present to us is the inherent capacit y of children especia lly of t he underprivileged to assume greater responsibilities in times of disaster. Interventions in disaster preparedness should account for this vital role of children instead of treating them constantly as helpless victims. In this volume are complete narratives that also prove that the young are capable of making sense of their experience. They can recall, verbalize, and stress the important aspects of their experience making each of the 14 stories here poignant and unique. G r a e m m e , 10 , f r om Balulang, recalled that as he cried for help on the rooftop, he was not heard because the strong winds blew his cries away. Mary Rose, 11 years old from Ca la- Ca la, deta i led her ordeal being washed away from Macasandig to the open sea before being rescued by fishermen close to Camiguin while losing her mother and younger sibling along the way. T he s e you ng p e ople are also keenly aware of
the trauma they are going through. Romryn, 12 years old from Consolacion, points to “Sendong” as the entity/event that destroyed the family home, and took away his mother and siblings. He vows not to forget whi le he recognizes his personal loss by admitting that he misses them. Princess, 12 years old, shared that she could not stand seeing or hearing people cr y ing a nd feels panic every time it rains. Rey Mark, 8, from CalaCala, prefers to forget and vows to move on in order to achieve his dreams. All these point to a sensitivity that portrays strength and resilience. This strength is further proven by how these young minds tr y to wrap their heads around a senseless event. Mary Rose, after being rescued in the open sea and not seeing her mother and sibling with them on the boat, challenged God’s omniscience. “If God is indeed a ll powerful, why didn’t He/She let his mother and younger sibling survive,” she asked. A point she will later on take back. That is the same with Rona, 8 years old, from Macasandig who trusts that the “Lord has a better plan for all.” Or Jack Lord, 10, from Cala-Cala, who has a different take. According to him, God is not at fault but men “who throw garbage everywhere, cut trees” and ultimately fail in being good stewards of nature”. W hat t hese chi ld ren are actually doing in their attempt to make sense of their experience is choosing hope over despair.
Funds... from page 11
years 2011, 2012 and 2013 so Department of Budget and Management was unable to release the amount. Funding constraints jeopardized implementation of the five-year strategic plan MUST
In the narratives, they sha red t hei r hopes: for an education, a concrete house away from the river, a complete a nd hea lt hy family in the future -the very things that Sendong (and their underprivileged condition) tried to ta ke away from them. Thus, what these stories represent are narratives of hope over despair – an incontrovertible proof that these children, by all accounts, are and will continue to be survivors, Pablo[1] notwithstanding. By all indications, Sendong and Pablo won’t be t he last storms, neit her are these two the first two storms that victimized these children and their families. As members of the urban poor, they have long been survivors of an even more pervasive and treacherous storm – economic underdevelopment. These narratives lead us to contemplate upon a point made by a Marxist geographer about how we should view the political economy of disasters: “… the contours of disaster and the difference of who lives and who dies is to a greater or lesser extent a social calculus.” To p a r a p h r a s e Ne i l Smith, the contours of disaster and their varying conditions for survival is to a greater or lesser extent determined by their social and economic status. While we celebrate the bravery of these survivors as they hope against despair again and again, a serious question needs to be asked: Is it a sign of a healthy and progressive societ y if it demands from its young and underprivileged to be constant survivors? targeted pursuing to achieve excellence in its instruction, research, extension work and production. Rodriguez said Region 10’s Regional Development Council already reiterated its request for release of the target amount for construction and upgrading of MUST’s facilities and technologies. (PNA)
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Rufus seeks release of special MUST funds
Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada, with the employees and residents of Cauayan, Isabela. Ejercito Estrada, the eldest son of former President Joseph Estrada to Ms. Maita Gomez, is consistently within the top 5 among the senatoriables for this year’s midterm elections, survey results showed. A dvertorial
CAGAYAN De Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to act on the P50 million appropriation for Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) here. He said the amount’s release is due as Republic Act 9519 already converted the city’s Mindanao Polytechnic State College into MUST, a State university. Aside from the institution’s regular funding under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), he noted the target amount was approved for MUST operations for five years following the law’s ap-
proval on Jan. 7, 2009. MUST needs the funds particularly since it is among 14 Philippine State universities that already attained Level IV status. Level IV is the highest level a State university or college can attain. Learning institutions that attained such level are where future scientists and inventors train so they can help further move the country
forward. MUST is a university with two recognized Centers of Development covering the mathematics and electrical engineering fields. Rodriguez noted MUST also has seven Level 111 accredited programs. He said CHED hasn’t recommended GAA inclusion of the target additional MUST appropriation for the funds/PAGE 10
More lawmakers call for PH elephant’s release T WO more law ma kers have supported the call to release an elderly elephant from the Manila Zoo so it can be transferred to a sanctuary in Thailand. G a br i e l a p a r t y-l i s t Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus are urging the City of Manila, the Bureau of Animal Industry and the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau to facilitate the immediate transfer of Mali to Boon
Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES). In a statement , t he law ma kers sa id Ma li ’s solitary confinement has placed the elephant under stress, which lowered her reproductive function and increased her muscle breakdown. “Mali’s confinement in a concrete enclosure with very limited space restricts its movement, thus chronic pressure sores develop,
a nd its foot infections and arthritis continues to worsen, as concrete surfaces do not allow a variet y of sur faces for her to roam in, causing infections which lead to death among elephants,” Ilagan said. “All of these severely compromise the psychological and physical conditions of the elephant,” de Jesus added. Last year, Las Piñas
Rep. Mark Villar asked the House Committee on Natura l Resources and Ecology to review the standards and guidelines in operating zoos following the campaign to release Mali. Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodrig uez a nd Aba nte Mindanao party-list rep. Ma ximo Rodriguez recently urged government
agencies to facilitate the elderly elephant’s transfer to BLES. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has also added its voice to the growing list of concerned individuals and groups ca l ling for Mali’s release. Mali was featured in the 2012 Christmas ad of the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals which had the
caption “All I Want for Christmas Is My Freedom.” PETA noted that Mali has been suffering from foot ailments, which is said to be the leading cause of death in captive elephants. The group also said she is enduring loneliness, boredom and isolation in the Manila Zoo. Malacañang earlier said that it has instructed government agencies to look into Mali’s condition.
Last year, we honored Mindanao’s homegrown businesses... This year, let the Investors from outside the island who helped propel Mindanao’s economy for decades be recognized...thus,
present
RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT - This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Business Leaders Awards was undertaken last year to give due recognition to the achievements of various Mindanao business leaders and entrepreneurs in various categories of homegrown corporate and individual business leadership achievements. - This year’s search is aimed at giving honor and recognition of excellent business leaders in the investors’s category. - BusinessWeek Mindanao as a forerunner of information on economic leadership and entrepreneurial achievements of non-Mindanaoan corporations and businessmen, deems it a part of its social responsibility to trumpet the achievements of these pillars of Mindanao’s economy, for others to emulate and thus propel an awareness for the business potential that Mindanao offers in every economic and business investment plan, whether small or great. -We are helping Mindanao achieve sustainable development of its economy through these humble efforts.
MISSION & VISION OF THE AWARDS - The holding of BWM Awards annually serves as catalyst to the ongoing efforts of business leaders and entrepreneurs who seek greater heights and strive for success in the noble mission of propelling Mindanao and its people towards full economic growth and sustainable development.
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