BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 15-16, 2013 Issue)

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Market Indicators

As of 5:54 pm mar. 13, 2013 (Wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P40.58

6,776.56 points

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X Briefly 3 cents

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Power forum

ZAMBOANGA City -– All is set for the holding of the “Zamboanga City Power Forum” today in this southern city.

The holding of the power forum is a collaboration efforts of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Energy (DoE) and the city government of Zamboanga aimed to address the power crisis.

To be discussed during the forum is the current overview of the Mindanao power situation and updates on government’s effor ts to address the power crisis, said MinDA Secretary Luwalhati Antonino.

The forum would also seek solutions to the current power shortage and brownouts in this city, Antonino added.

Price control

GENERAL Santos City -- Price control measures are being put in place in the island-province of Tawi-Tawi in the aftermath of the Sabah crisis that triggered an increase in prices of basic commodities in the area due to dwindling supplies, an official said Wednesday.

Hadja Pombaen KaronKader, assistant secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said the crisis committee composed of acting ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman and Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali convened Tuesday to discuss price control regulations in the area.

“There’s a noted increase par ticularly in the prices of diesel and gasoline which the crisis committee wants to cap,” she said in a telephone interview.

P15.00

New projects propel power firm’s growth

Issue No. 176, Volume III •

Cagayan de Oro City

Friday-Saturday

March 15-16, 2013

AboitizPower closes 2012 with P24. 4-b net income

Villar ranks 4th in latest survey TEAM PNoy senatorial candidate, former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar Ranks No. 4 in the latest Pulse Asia survey covering the period of February 24 to February 28, 2013.

The three-time cong resswoma n, who has gained the moniker “Misis Hanep Buhay” due to her programs giving jobs to poor Filipinos through her livelihood projects, was also No. 4 in the SWS survey last February 15 to 17.

Villar obtained 44.0 percent of votes in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

She thanked the Filipino people for their continuous support and trust and confidence in her programs survey/PAGE 7

MRS ‘Hanepbuhay’ Cynthia Villar shakes hand with Cagayan de Oro residents. Mrs. Villar, Team P-Noy’s senatorial candidate, attributed her high standing in the latest Pulse Asia survey to the continued support and trust of the Filipino people in her advocacy. advertorial

Japan coping with triple disaster two years after devastation

By BONG D. FABE

(First of 2 Parts) ISHINOMAKI—“It’s morphin’ time!”

As Japanese commemorated Monday the second anniversary of what came to be known as the Japanese Triple Disaster—earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown—Gen X’ers and Gen Y’ers wished the Power

Rangers and Ultraman were alive to protect them from the devastation of March 11, 2011.

“Billy said, ’We’re teleporting again.’ ‘Where are we going?’ asked Trini, to which Jason replied ‘we’re going to save the world’,” said Hiroyuki Takeuchi,

quoting the famous lines of the Morphin Power Rangers, the famous spin-off of the original Power Rangers television series that was mainly based on Super Sentai, the long-running Japanese superhero team show created for TV Asahi by Miyagi Prefecture’s most famous son, Shotaro Ishinomori.

Takeuchi, managing dicoping/PAGE 7

A

By ROSE MARY SUDARIA

BOITIZPOWER Corporation ended 2012 with a consolidated net income of P24.4 billion up by 13 percent compared to 2011, Erramon Aboitiz, AboitizPower President CEO said.

He said the revenue increase was propelled by a vibrant Philippine economy, which pushed upwards the demand for electricity in the country.

Aboitiz said the company’s growth would be ploughed back into new projects which would improve the power supply situation, particularly in Mindanao, while improving services of the power distribution companies like Davao Light and Cotabato Light.

The year 2012 was another good year for AboitizPower where both distribution and generation segments experiencing strong electricity growth on the back of a vibrant economy, Aboitiz said.

He said that the AboitizPower subsidiaries Therma South and Hedcor were set to add 313 MW of power next year and projects/PAGE 7

Kunio Suno, president of the Ishinomaki Fish Market shows the laboratory test for nuclear radiation on sample fishes. 11,500 tons of low-level radioactive water were dumped into the sea on April 2012 contaminating fish catch that outraged Japanese fishermen. photo by bong d . fabe

AMRECO lashes at movers out to privatize hydro-power plants

By CHENG ORDONEZ, Associate Editor

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

ASSOCIATION of Mindanao Electric Cooperative (AMRECO) President Sergio Dagooc has lambasted the

people behind the move to privatize the hydro power plants, saying it will result to increase in power rates,

even as he asked stakeholders to, instead, rally behind the bill creating the Mindanao Power Corporation to oplashes/PAGE 7

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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Iligan City diesel plant rehab to start soon GENERAL Santos City -- The Alcantara Group is due to rehabilitate the 102-megawatt (MW) Iligan-diesel plant after ownership issues with the city government has been resolved, a company executive said Tuesday.

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Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said that mobilization for the rehabilitation of the Iligan plant “will begin this week.” ”Some relief from the brownouts can be expected before the end of summer,” he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Contreras said official transfer of the plant to the Mapalad Power Corp. (MPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of publicly-listed Alsons Consolidated Resources (ACR), will be this week pending some final documentary formalities with the Iligan city government.

Mapalad, a wholly-owned subsidiary of publicly-listed A lsons Consolidated Resources, Inc., has signed a 30MW supply deal with the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc., he said.

Socoteco II serves this city, which is suffering from a four-hour daily rotational brownout in the last few weeks.

The distribution utility, which also serves Sarangani province and parts of South Cotabato, said in an advisory on Monday that the lack of power supply in the city was due to the generation deficiency in the Mindanao grid.

Rodolfo Ocat, Socoteco II manager, said the deal with MPC, which was signed last

month, would raise the power supply in its service areas from 82 MW to 112 MW once the Iligan plant would go on stream.

Socoteco II’s supply from the state-owned National Power Corp was earlier reduced from 72 MW to 52 MW. The supply cut from Napocor prompted Socoteco II to seek 30 MW from Therma Marine, Inc. that brings the cooperative’s current supply at 82 MW. On Tuesday, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines placed the supply shortfall in the Mindanao grid at 254 MW. Demand for the day was expected to peak at 1,139 MW against the capacity of only 885 MW. Aside from Socoteco II, the MPC also signed a supply deal with two other electric cooperatives in Mindanao so far, Contreras said. (PNA)

Davao region’s robust mining industry faces sluggish growth DAVAO City -- Davao region’s mining industry continues to face a sluggish growth due to some lingering problems.

NEDA 11 regional director Maria Lourdes Lim in an interview said the mining industry in Davao Region is a big potential specifically the gold rush site of Mt. Diwalwal.

Nevertheless such potential has yet to be maximized in the wake of the issues confronting two government agencies, tasked to spearhead the government’s initiative to develop the 8,100 Diwalwal Mineral Reservation in Mt. Diwata, Compostela Valley, she said.

It was learned that there are numerous biddings already conducted for operations in the gold rush site,

but there were no awardings made due to the issues confronting the Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC) and the Natural Resources Mining Development Corporation (NRMDC), the two government agencies overseeing Mt. Diwalwal. The confusion stemmed after NRMDC’s name was changed to PMDC. Lim, however, said mining application processing backlogs are gradually reduced after the system was streamlined under the administration of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Secretary Ramon Paje, which eventually shortened the then 8-10 years of mining application processing.

Informal channel or black market is another issue that

contributes to the sluggish performance of the mining industry in the region in terms of revenues, Lim said.

This particularly refers to small scale miners who opted to sell their mineral yields to the black market at a higher price.

Lim said revenues from mining started to decrease in 2009 because of this practice.

She also said environmental concerns tend to hamper the industry.

The mining industry however is expected to gradually improve with the issuance of Executive Order No. 79 that lays down very clearly the road map on mining sector reforms, including guidelines on environmental protection and responsible mining and the new revenue sharing, she said.(PNA)

GENERAL Santos City -Foreign-backed firm Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) has commenced the detailed design and engineering studies for a proposed US$ 806 million coal-fired power plant that would supply the needs of its controversial Tampakan copper-gold project in South Cotabato province.

Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, revealed that Alsons Energy Development Corp. (AEDC) is already undertaking the preliminary development work for the proposed 400 megawatts (MW) power plant.

“They have conducted

public scoping and will be holding a public consultation within the year,” he said on Tuesday.

Contreras said that AEDC and SMI have reached an agreement for the construction of a new power plant dedicated solely for the planned mining operation of the latter.

Under the agreement, it shall be SMI that will secure the necessary community, government and shareholders approvals for the Tampakan power project, he said.

T he A lsons g roup, through Sarangani Energy Corp., is currently constructing a 210 MW coal-fired power plant that will serve the needs of consumers in

this city, Sarangani province and neighboring areas.

The project is located in a world-class diving spot and is staunchly opposed by the local Catholic Church and environment group Greenpeace on concerns over human health and the environment.

The Alsons Group has a stake at the Tampakan copper-gold project through the Australian firm Indophil Resources NL, where the Filipino conglomerate holds a 19.99 percent percent stake.

Indophil owns 37.5 percent of the 40 percent controlling equity at SMI, whose majority equity holder is Xstrata Copper (62.5 percent), the world ’s fourth study/PAGE 7

Study on for South Cotabato miner’s planned power plant

Kia wins four ‘red dot’ awards for compact models KIA’S design team has won four prestigious ‘red dot’ design awards, including a ‘Best of the Best’ distinction for the new Kia pro_cee’d in the product design category.

The Kia cee’d five-door, cee’d Sportswagon and Carens compact MPV models collected ‘Winner’ awards.

Along with the iF product design award in November 2012, this is the second prize won by the Kia pro_cee’d before the new model goes on sale later this month. The four 2013 awards bring the total number of Kia’s red dot wins to 10 since 2009.

Kia’s Soul, Venga, Sportage compact SUV and D-segment Kia Optima sedan – the latter was awarded the coveted ‘Best of the Best’ prize – were followed last year by awards for the five-door Kia Rio B-segment hatch and the

A-segment Kia Picanto.

“We are very proud of the ‘red dots’ that have been awarded to all of the cee’d family, along with the new Carens. And we are especially enthusiastic about the ‘Best of the Best’ award for

the Kia pro_cee’d because, after the Kia Optima, yet another of our vehicles has received the highest honours from the jury,” says Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Kia Motors Corporation.

“The fact that our most important compact models have won four prizes is a great acknowledgement of the work of our international design teams. Our cars have now been winning for five years in a row, which once

again confirms that we are on the right path with our consistent design strategy.”

The Design Centre of North R hine-Westphalia founded the red dot awards programme in 1955, and it is now one of the most prestigious design contests in the world. The internationally acclaimed seal of quality features ‘product design’, ‘communication design’ and ‘design concepts and prototypes’ categories. This year, 1,865 manufacturers from 54 countries submitted 4,662 products. A 37-strong jury judged the products according to nine criteria, including degree of innovation, clarity of function, formal quality and sustainability. The award presentation will be held at the Aalto-Musiktheater in Essen on 1 July 2013.

The cee’d family first

CAR SALES of Ford Philippines surged in February posting its strongest performance yet as demand for its models grows, the firm said in a statement on Thursday.

Ford Philippines saw a 108% growth in February to 865 units from 415 units in the same period last year.

The Ford Ranger led sales

for the month selling 251 units. The Everest was able to sell 191 units, while the Explorer had sold 64 units.

The Focus, on the other hand, sold 87 vehicles.

Ford’s Mustang sold 13 units in February.

“We’re off to a very strong start to the year, as customers continue to respond posi-

tively to our full lineup of Ford vehicles,” said Randy Krieger, president of Ford Philippines, in the statement.

“So many new-to-Ford customers are appreciating our focus on the fuel efficiency, smart technology, quality and safety of our vehicles, which we’re supporting with an ongoing

launched in Europe in 2007 and is now well-established in the C-segment. The winner of the 2013 red dot ‘Best of the Best’ award, the threedoor Kia pro_cee’d, sports a new athletic look that sets it apart from the five-door cee’d model. It is exceptionally well-specified with a high level of equipment as standard and is offered with two diesel (1.4-litre and 1.6-litre) and two gasoline (1.4-litre and 1.6-litre) engines, with up to 135 bhp and CO2 emissions from under 100 g/km.

The Kia Carens is a new family-friendly compact MPV that builds on the already excellent functionality and f lexibility of its predecessor with a new sleek elegance. In both its five and seven-seater configurations, the new Carens offers kia/PAGE 7

commitment to providing the very best Ford customer experience,” he added.

On a month-to-month basis, Ford’s sales went up 5.48% over January’s record of 820 units.

The company said it hopes its sales will continue to grow since it will launch the Ford ford/PAGE 7

Ford sales up in February

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Friday - Saturday I Mar. 15-16, 2013

Corporate . World

Government warns public against money scams

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MSI-ECS bags 2 major Acer Distributor Awards

THE DTI alerts the public against the fraudu- or SEC registered securities, lent activities of a group which offers various the consumer should inquire more information such as online financial services and products.

In an investor alert sent by the Securities and Exchange and Commission (SEC) to DTI, a group of people, company or firm operating under the name Professional Forex Union Limited (Proforex) was reported offering various financial services such as fiduciary management of shares, assets, securities, and monetary funds, trade and advice on foreign exchange, and assortment of investment products through its website https://proforexunion.com.

The said firm also represented itself to be a Philippine corporation based on the scanned copies of alleged registration documents such as Certificate of Incorporation, with SEC Registration NO. CN200429167 and a Certificate of incumbency uploaded on its website.

However, the SEC found out that the said company was not a duly-registered corporation in the Philippines and has not submitted any applications for registration, reports or filings to the SEC. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), likewise reported that Professional Forex Union Limited is not a registered entity with the Central Bank.

SEC and BSP cautioned the public to be vigilant in engaging the services of and investing their money in the products offered by such groups and to protect themselves from various fraudulent activities.

The authorities strongly advised the consumers to

verify with the BSP and SEC the registration and license of entities before entering into online financial transactions.

If a consumer happened to receive an investment offer through phone, e-mail, f lyers, newspaper ads, or personally by any person, the SEC advises to get information such as the name of the person and the company, its address, phone numbers, particularly landline, and SEC Registration number, and quasi-banking (QB) licenses and SEC-registered securities.

If the person or company refuses to provide any of the information or have not revealed their SEC registration or appropriate licenses to engage in investment and financial activities, SEC strongly recommends the public not to deal with such company and report them to authorities.

Moreover, SEC reminds the public that even though a company presents a SEC Company Registration, it does not automatically grant authority to sell investment instruments such as securities, bonds, or commercial papers, among others.

Only investment houses and financing companies with quasi-banking (QB) license and with SEC registered securities, and only SEC-registered persons such as brokers, dealers, salesman etc., may offer to sell such to more than 19 investors.

When a person or company claims to have a QB license

the number of investors, minimum placement, rate of return, etc. The consumer should also verify the name of company from the list of companies that offer investment products as posted in the SEC and BSP websites.

Consumers may contact the following government agencies to report investment scam activities or to know more information about licensed and registered investment firms: 1. SEC- Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Dept.

(CED)- (02)724-7650/(02)7272267 2. SEC- Corporate Finance Department - (02) 727-2950 3. SEC- Market Regulation Department – (02) 725-8176 4. BSP- http://www.bsp. gov.ph/banking/directories. asp.

5. DTI Direct Hotline – (02) 751-3330. (PNA)

During the 6th Annual Acer ePinnacle Awards held last February 19, 2013 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City, MSI-ECS has again demonstrated its leadership when it clinched 2 major distributor awards from Acer, namely Distributor of the Year Award for Acer Notebook, Consumer Market and Distributor of the Year Award for Acer Projector, Consumer Market for FY 2012.

Photo shows (L-R) Wilhem Uy, senior sales manager, Consumer Cccounts, Acer Philippines; Diogenes Vasquez, product management head, Acer Philippines; Heman Syki, product manager, Acer Consumer, Notebooks and Projectors, MSI-ECS Phils, Inc. who was also accorded the Product Manager of the Year Award; Princess Chua, general manager, MSI-ECS Phils, Inc.; Joanne Mañalac, AVP sales & marketing PC & server B, MSI-ECS Phils, Inc.; Manuel Wong, country general manager, Acer Philippines and Agnes Neria-Espino, sales and marketing director, Acer Philippines.

Airphil Express is now PAL Express SAY goodbye to Airphil Express. The low-cost carrier will now be known as PAL Express, as it strengthens its alliance with Philippine Airlines.

St a r t i ng Ma rch 15, Airphil Express will be rebranded as PAL Express.

All Airphil Express planes will now be using the familiar “sunriser” PAL livery and logo on its tail and fuselage.

PAL’s budget airline was also named PAL Express, operating from 2008 to 2009. It eventually transferred all services to Airphil Express.

W hile it follows the low-cost carrier model in managing its costs, PAL president Ramon S. Ang sa id PA L E x press w i l l maintain the same service standards as PAL, a full service carrier.

“It’s not just a name change, but an alignment of two standards into one.

With this rebranding, PAL

and PAL Express will be f ull ser v ice carriers in terms of service, but LCC in terms of managing costs,” Ang said in a statement.

Unlike the “no-frills” approach of budget airlines, PAL Express will now offer complimentary snacks, drinks and reading materials on board and other amenities to its passengers. Passen-

gers can also earn miles through their Mabuhay Miles membership.

After its transformation, PAL Express will have the same service standards as PAL. However, the two airlines will remain distinct and independent airline companies.

A ll PAL f lights w ill be manned by PAL pilots

and cabin crew, while PAL Express f lights will be operated by Airphil Express pilots and flight attendants.

The two airlines will continue to have separate websites – www.philipineairlines.com and w w w. f ly pa lex press.com as well as hotline numbers (02)8558888 for PAL and (02)8559000 for PAL Express.

Globe signs a USD 75M term loan facility LEADING telecommunication company Globe Telecom signed a USD 75 million term loan facility with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (Singapore branch) as lender.

Proceeds of the loan will

be used to finance 2013 capital expenditures, of which USD 450 million to USD 500 million has been earmarked for the Company’s ongoing network modernization and transformation program, and investments in fixed line,

international cable facilities, and IT infrastructure.

For 2012, Globe Telecom reported record consolidated service revenues of P 82.7 Billion, 6% above previous year’s level of P77.8 billion, as the mobile and broadband

segments delivered service revenues of P 67.2 Billion and P 8.7 Billion, respectively, both record highs as well.

Core net income for 2012 rose to P 10.3 Billion, an increase of 2% from P 10.0 billion last year.

Pepsi-Cola gets P1-B loan to fund expansion plans LISTED beverage maker Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) has secured a P1-billion loan from a local bank to fund expansion plans this year.

It has just entered into a

seven-year term loan agreement with Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company.

“This loan further affirms the confidence by a major Philippine bank, one of the largest in the coun-

try, on the strong outlook/ prospects, performance and financial stability of PCPPI,” the company said in a disclosure.

In 2012, the company’s net income almost tripled

to P844 million.

“We have carried the momentum in 2013 and expect a good year supported by favorable economic macros (economic outlook) and elections,” it said.

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Banking & Finance

BPI pushes for agribusiness devt in Luzon, Mindanao

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is betting heavily on agriculture this year and increasing its involvement in the sector by launching a loan program designed to benefit livestock raisers in Central Luzon, as well as expanding business corridors in Mindanao like the cities of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental province, General Santos in South Cotabato province and Davao.

Through its BPI Agribusiness Solutions, the bank has created a program that would support poultry raisers, hog farmers and entrepreneurs and small companies engaged in cattle fattening.

For starters, BPI was to launch BPI Agribusiness Solutions at the Holiday Inn Clark hotel in Pampanga province’s Clark ecozone on Thursday, with BPI Executive Vice President and Corporate Banking Group head Alfonso Salcedo Jr. expected to hold a media briefing and present an overview of the program, along with BPI Senior Vice President Budong SL. Castro and BPI Assistant Vice President Pearl Padilla.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Antonio Fleta was also expected to deliver a message on behalf of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Andrew Bateson of Genus Pig Improvement Co. (Genus PIC) was to present a paper titled “Genus PIC: Helping Nourish the World” followed

by Vincent Borromeo, who was scheduled to discuss “World-class Pig Production in the Philippines.”

The bank was also set to tackle “BPI Sustainable Energy Finance,” which was expected to show that agribusiness companies could use farm waste as an energy source and thus reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

BPI Vice President JM Sangco, also head of North Luzon Provincial Lending, was to deliver the closing remarks.

Technical lectures on livestock production and poultry management would cap the event.

Highly important “THE agriculture sector is highly important for the Philippines as it promotes food security. Agriculture promises to be the key to alleviate poverty among millions of Filipinos who depend on farming and livestock-raising. A stronger agriculture sector is needed to sustain growth and food sufficiency,” BPI said.

The bank stressed that a strong participation in agribusiness development is part of its corporate social responsibility.

What compelled BPI to launch its agribusiness campaign this year is its strong

belief that the Philippines will be a big player in the livestock industry in Southeast Asia. The bank noted that the country is free of the food-and-mouth disease that has been the bane of cattle raisers in the region.

Moreover, the Philippine poultry industry has been free from the bird-flu virus that has decimated the stocks of chicken and duck raisers in mainland Asia.

BPI also said agriculture has contributed 12.3 percent or P11.9 billion of the country’s gross domestic product in 2011. The labor force in agriculture is 13 million, or 35 percent out of the total labor force of 37 million.

“BPI Agribusiness Solutions currently lends to piggery, poultry and other agri-related businesses like fish production, fruits, vegetable and crop production, post-harvest operations and food processing, agricultural trading and sustainable/ renewable-energy financing,” the bank said.

“Considering that both pork and poultry products are top staple foods after rice and fish, there is a projected 10-percent increase

PDIC still processing claims of Capitol City Bank depositors THE Philippine Deposit I nsu ra nce C or porat ion (PDIC) announced that it will continue to receive and process deposit insurance claims from depositors of the closed Capitol City Bank (A Rural Bank), Inc. at the PDIC Claims Counter, 4 th Floor, SSS Bldg., 6782 Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City. Claims may also be filed through mail.

The state deposit insurer has already concluded the onsite claims settlement operations at Capitol City Bank’s Head Office, General Trias Branch and Alabang Branch on February 15, 2013.

PDIC sent notices of payment amounting to P4.97 million involving 5,177 accounts with balances of P15,000 and below where the filing of claims is waived

by PDIC. During the onsite claims settlement operations at the bank’s premises, PDIC paid 776 claims involving

636 accounts for a total amount of P187.2 million worth of deposits.

As of February 18, 2013, PDIC has yet to receive deposit insurance claims for 630 accounts, or 44 percent of the total number of accounts of 1,448 that require filing of claims. The total amount of deposits covered by these claims is P76.66 million.

When filing deposit insurance claims, depositors are advised to personally present their duly accomplished Claim Forms and Claim Status Sheets, original evidence of deposit, and two (2) original valid photobearing IDs with signature of the depositor. Depositors may also file their claims through mail and enclose the same set of document requirements.

Depositors who are below 18 years old should submit either a photocopy of their Birth Certificate issued by

the National Statistics Office (NSO) or a duly certified copy issued by the Local Civil Registrar as an additional requirement. Claimants who are not the signatories in the bank records are required to submit an original copy of a notarized Special Power of Attorney of the depositor or parent of a minor depositor.

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

In accordance with the provisions of the PDIC Charter, the last day for filing deposit insurance claims in the closed Capitol City Bank is on January 26, 2015.

After the said date, PDIC, as Deposit Insurer, shall no longer accept any deposit insurance claim. (PNA)

in demand for pork and about a 4-percent increase for chicken in 2013,” it added.

“Currently, imports supply 153,000 metric tons [MT] of pork [6.82 percent of total consumption] and 179,000 MT for chicken [10.86 percent of total consumption]. It is in these two big windows of opportunity that BPI has decided to go big in 2013,” the lender said.

Two agriproducts FOR this year, BPI will unveil two agriproducts.

The first, “BPI Agribusiness Solutions Commercial Hog Breeding and Fattening,” involves the partnership between BPI and the Pig Improvement Co. (PIC) as the technology provider and breed supplier for prospective clients. The PIC targets to expand its sow level from 120,000 to 180,000, a 60,000 sow-level increase representing a 30-percent share of the total sow level population.

The second, “BPI Agribusiness Solutions Poultry Contract Growing/Commercial Broiler Operations,” entails financing qualified/ prospective poultry contract growers of San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI), which is bidding pushes/PAGE 7

Friday-Saturday Mar. 15-16, 2013

5

Maybank to open 25 branches in 2013

By Gloria H. Grejalde

MAYBANK Philippines, Inc. announced on Thursday its 2013 plan of opening 25 branches nationwide and 25 more thereafter until it reaches 200.

“We want to scale up our reach to as many customer as possible, to cover new grounds,” Maybank President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Herminio M. Famatigan, Jr. said during the Maybank Economic Briefing held at the Taps Genting Club, Maxims Hotel, Resorts World Manila. ”We are committed to be relevant as possible to the market we serve, be there where you needed us and accessible to as much as many customers as possible,” Famatigan enthused.

Delivering the opening remarks, Famatigan also stressed that “it is the good time to be in the Philippines right now. It is very clear; there is a palpable level of excitement right now.”

With the growing confidence on the country’s economics of good governance and the series of upgrades from credit rating bodies, Maybank economic managers speaking during the event also expressed their confidence that the country is the best performing economy in Asia.

“It is the first time that I can say this, the Philippines is the best performing equity market in Asia, from 2011 to 2012.

Prospects are very good for the Philippines,” Prasenjit Kumar “PK” Basu, Maybank Regional Head of Research and Economics said.

Meanwhile, Maybank ATR Kim Eng Investment Director Phillip Frederick S. Hagedorn lauded the significant improvement on the country’s economic fundamentals saying “they have attracted a lot of investors to our shores.”

He said “the country is on the right direction, the stock market is already right there, but this performance is not enough to get us to the next stage.”

Hagedorn said more structural reforms are needed to stimulate higher growth rates among which; a more vigorous revenue collection, higher government spending on infrastructure and social areas and easing up foreign investment to gain attract more foreign direct investments (FDI).

Maybank Philippines Incorporated belongs to the Maybank Group, the biggest banking group in Malaysia. With assets of more than USD100 billion, it is currently the fourth largest bank in Asia and among the top financial institution in the world.(PNA)

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Give to Live THINK a minute…

You may have heard the saying, “Joy shared is joy doubled.” Giving isn’t a sacrifice, it’s an investment. We actually get back much more than we give. So don’t give until it hurts, give until it feels good.

The American President, Calvin Coolidge, said: “No person was ever rewarded or honored for what he received. Honor is always the reward to people who give.”

What you and I do just for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others lives on even after we die. So it’s smart to invest in the success of others.

“It’s when you help someone else up a mountain that you yourself end up closer to the top.”

Speaking out

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

Cost and Effect

CRISPIN DANNUG JR.

THE election fever coming to a pitch, we wonder who are the front-runners in the Senatorial race. Talk to taxi drivers and the common tao, for pulse taking, and you’ll be surprised at a variety of answers. They have their own line-up and they can give reason for their choices.

Obviously, they think beyond the slogans, which they believe aren’t platform-based, insensitive to the needs of the poor sectors, and indicative of a lack of strategy to win over the more educated.

Students, of course, would be much interested on the educationa l background of the candidates. And the inquisitive ones would be asking about their stock performance in office. These two factors, mainly, brought Senator Miriam into limelight when she ran for the highest national office.

At this point, the role of social media would lend support to the essential need for added information or

even dis-information on the candidates. The internet generation 18 years old and above, will play a big role in the selective process that precedes the actual voting.

This bears watching.

We believe the cost of running their candidacy can be greatly reduced by social media. This can also affect the bandwagon strategy that the candidates employ towards the end of the campaign.

Undoubtedly, the cost of traditional media in terms of print,television and radio advertisements, fixed under Comelec standards, would require campaign strategists to project far better info on their candidates.

Face and name recall may suffice. But the more meaningful approach would be the classic platform of the individual candidate that can capture the imagination of the voters. Who among the candidates can tackle economic issues like unemployment and industrial development, for example?

The challenges are: How to improve the incomes among the 41 million people in the labor force? What to do with 3 million unemployed and the 7 million underemployed?

In addition, what can be done to increase the prospect for employment by 1.1 million entrants to the labor force every year? The World Bank, in its latest data, showed that there are 500,000 college graduates, dannug/PAGE 8

“You will be remembered for two things: the problems you solve and the problems you cause.” Each of us is created to be an answer and help to someone else’s life. A famous man put it this way: “You cannot live a successful day until you’ve done something for someone else who cannot pay you back.”

The Jewish people have an important holiday every year which celebrates the giving of gifts. Everyone, including the poor, must find someone poorer than himself and give him a gift.

You see, “If God can give gifts THROUGH you, He will give them TO you.” In fact, God loves us so much that He gave His own perfect life to pay for our wrongs, just

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

so He could share His life with us.

So why not give your life to Jesus Christ today? Then you can start enjoying His successful way of giving and living every day, for the rest of your life.

Just think a minute…

Dollars: The Problem of Plenty

Marketing Consultants

Beyond sloganeering

The principle of giving is simply a law of life that works. Just like money can only get good things for you when it is used and circulated.

But if you do not use your money or give it away, you can’t get any enjoyment or thing of value out of it. It’s only when you give out that you make more room inside to receive.

You know that the Dead Sea is dead because it only receives and never gives. It does not flow out or give to other bodies of water, so it just dies. In the same way, when we don’t give to others we plug up the natural flow of life in us. This is why selfish, stingy people are never really happy, and seldom healthy.

A successful man said:

IGNACIO BUNYE

TOO little or too much of anything can be bad.

Exposure to too little sun can cause vitamin D deficiency. But too much sun can cause skin cancer. Too little water will kill plants.

But too much water (as in floods) can kill not only the plants but also the people and

(First of a series) the animals in the affected areas.

In a way, this is also true with dollars in relation to the pesos that we hold. Too little dollars, and we will not be able to pay for our imports. We will also have a difficult time paying for our dollar-denominated loans.

Too much dollars in relation to the pesos that we hold is also bad. Remember that both dollars and pesos are commodities and their relative values are affected by supply.

So if we have more dollars in relation to pesos, the dollars will lose value while the pesos will increase in value.

To put it another way, the dollars will weaken while the pesos will strengthen.

Is this good or bad?

It depends. For dollar

earners (like our millions of OFWs), our exporters and the Business Process Outsourcing industry, this will be bad news. Our OFWs will have to send more dollars to compensate for the dollar’s loss in value.

Our exporters’ products will be more expensive and, therefore, less competitive.

With these developments, our BPOs expect to lose market share.

For importers, however, the weakening of the dollar (and the strengthening of the peso) will be good news.

Our imports of oil will be less expensive. Eventually, the lower cost of oil imports will also translate into lower electricity cost. Companies with dollar loans are just too glad because they can pay for their dollar obligations

more cheaply.

Among my classmates, who are in the export business, I usually get nudged to persuade the Bangko Sentral Monetary Board to “do something about the weak dollar.”

Others (and I suspect that they are importers), however, are all praises for the BSP for making the peso “one of the best performing currencies in the region.”

Caught between these two diametrically opposed demands, from the dollar earners and the dollar spenders, what does the BSP do?

Remember that the primary mandate of the BSP is monetary stability and this includes exchange stability.

With this as a mandate, the BSP does not target any Bunye/PAGE 8

Exercising parental authority EXERCISING authority is always both a delicate and rewarding duty. This is especially so when done toward growing children.

That’s where one’s integrity and the authenticity of his love, with its usual demand for sacrifice, can be shown, as well as developed.

That’s because it’s in the home, living with the children 24/7, where the battlefront of this exercise is located. In other aspects of our life, as in our profession, social or political life, the exercise of authority can be intermittent and can easily be delegated to others.

Not quite so in the family, with children still growing up.

We, of course, know that the power and authority we may have over the others is always a participation of the authority of God. And such authority should be exercised with God’s will always in mind.

That’s what St. Paul clarified. In his letter to the Romans, he said, “There is no power but from God, and

those that are, are ordained of God.” (13,1) We need to be clear about this, because many times we can feel that the authority we wield is simply ours.

Or that our authority comes from us individually or personally, or from among ourselves through some consensus, and that it can be used to pursue solely our own goals and designs.

This point has to be brought out because big sectors in society today, especially those influenced by leftist and Godless ideologies, consider authority as simply originating from them.

They confuse the divine beginning and end of authority with the mechanics of who to assign it among ourselves, what its coverage is, how to exercise it, etc., all of which can be decided among ourselves.

Of course, in the context of the family, parental authority is easily recognized by the children. No need to figure it out through some election or other screening processes. What is to be kept

in mind more is that this parental authority be maintained and done properly.

But how can we do this?

I suppose that first of all we have to be reminded that power and authority has to be used as an expression of love, shown in deeds of service, and not regarded as an entitlement to some privilege or advantage over the others.

Christ himself warned his disciples about this. He said: “You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and they that are greater exercise power upon them.

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister, and he that will be first among you, shall be your servant, even as the Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve...” (Mt 20,25-27) In the context of the family, the parental authority can be done well if it is exercised to give the children the basic equipment to become better persons and ultimately, better

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA children of God. This can happen if the parents can show by consistent example to their children that they are happy with their own lives that are dedicated in pursuit of the love of God in all aspects of their lives.

Besides that, they should exercise their authority with due respect and an unconditional love for their children, treating them as they are but slowly molding them to be good persons and children of God. This is how the parents can gain their children’s Cimagala/PAGE 10

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

Friday-Saturday I Mar. 15-16, 2013

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Projects... from page 1

2015.

Completion of Hedcor’s Tudaya 1 and 2 run-of-river hydro projects would be in 2014, while the 24 / 7 baseload coal power plant of the Therma South in 2015, Aboitiz added. According to Aboitiz, the two facilities would contribute to the long term resolution of the power crisis in Mindanao.

The power generation business accounted for 89% of earnings contributions from AboitizPower’s business segments, recording an income share of P22.8 Bonn for the year in an 11-percent growth compared to 2011.

AboitizPower’s attributable capacity had a marginal increase of 2,353 MW nationwide as of the end of 2012.

The partial completion of the rehabilitation of the Binga (2 of 4 units) hydropower plant and the commercial operation of the 4-MW Irisan greenfield hydropower plant were the main contributing factors to this growth.

The power distribution group registered a 16 percent year-on-year growth on the back of increased electricity sales and improved average gross margin. (PNA)

Survey... from page 1

and advocacies that she wants to bring on a national scope.

The results of various election surveys where she consistently belonged to the Top 12, Villar said, inspires her to work harder to convey her message to the people.

“Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat, una-unang sa ating Panginoon sa patuloy na paggabay sa akin at sa lahat ng sumusuporta upang manatili ako sa Magic 12. Makaaasa po kayong lalo kong pagsusumikapang maiparating ang aking mensahe sa buong kapuluan,” stressed Villar who disclosed she feels very happy with the survey results.

Villar is also the managing director of the Villar Foundation which has been addressing the concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for the past 20 years.

The wife of former House Speaker and Senate President, Senator Manny Villar, assured to diligently do her ‘mandated’ duties if she becomes senator while strictly adhering to President Noynoy Aquino’s righteous path.

Coping... from page 1

rector for Editorial of the Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun, a local evening daily, talked with this reporter with an interpreter/translator and narrated that he grew up hardly missing a series of ishinomori’s Kramen Rider, Gorenger, J.A.K.Q. and other manga franchise.

“And like other Japanese, I wished all his [Ishinomori’s] heroes were alive when the disasters struck us to protect us,” he said with a hint of a smile forming on the sides

of his mouth.

Handwritten newspaper: Takeuchi, who was catapulted to the world stage for his “sacrificial reportage” of the disasters by producing the now-famous “handwritten newspapers” during the days following the devastation, said that like Ishinomori, he was just doing his job and responsibility of “giving hope to my people.”

The “handwritten newspaper”—produced by the Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun for 6 days—is just a one-page manila paper-sized poster containing basic information and posting them in places where people gathered—local evacuation centers where survivors sheltered after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent nine-meterhigh tsunami struck this small fishing city.

These “posters” are now framed and displayed in the modest gallery of the Resilience Bar and Museum in downtown Ishinomaki as reminders to local journalists’ resilience to continue doing what they do best when all else that run on electricity fails. They also serve as reminders for journalists that in times of disasters, giving hope is as important as getting the news out.

“As journalists, it is our responsibility to give hope to people especially during times of disasters. We decided to produced what came to be known as the handwritten newspapers because we believed it was the only way to let our people know what is happening about the disasters. We started hand writing the newspapers on March 12, a day after the earthquake and tsunami struck Ishinomaki and other parts of Japan,” he said.

Takeuchi realized that as a journalist, getting the hard facts out about the disasters—those that his staff can gather amidst the ruins and somber moods of the residents—will do not help anyone.

“That is why we change our editorial policy and started to also report on volunteers working in disaster areas to give hope to the residents. Of course we did not neglect the extent of the damage but these stories are relegated to the lower portion of the paper,” he said.

“At that time, we were not just being journalists but we were also being locals,” he added.

Two years since the disasters, Police and Maritime Safety Agency personnel conduct search for missing victims in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures on Monday. Authorities, acting on the request of families of the missing, conduct search operations in many hard-hit areas every 11th day of the month.

The National Police Agency said that 2,698 people remained unaccounted for in Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures as of February 6, 2013.

The official death toll stands at 15,880. (To be continued)

Lashes... from page 1

erate the hydro plants for Mindanaons alone.

The bill has been authored

by Second District Representative Rufus Rodriguez and is now pending in Congress.

Dagooc blamed the passing of Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (R.A. 9136) also known as EPIRA Law for the energy trouble besetting Mindanao, and said that it should be amended so that the provision allowing the privatization of the Pulangi and Agus hydro power plants can be rescinded.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9136 on June 8, 2001, culminating the more than seven years of public hearings and floor deliberations on various versions of the said measure in Congress. EPIR A was designed to bring down electricity rates and to improve the delivery of power supply to end-users by encouraging greater competition and efficiency in the electricity industry.

But Dagooc said this is the same law that will privatize the Pulangi and Agus hydroelectric power plants, because it was stated in that law that the said hydro-power plants will be privatize 10 years after its signing into law.

Dagooc said this is the reason that efforts at privatizing the hydro plants have re-surfaced, because in 2011, the decree that allows the privatization of the Pulangi and Agus hydro power plants has already matured.

Dagooc said the only way to stop the privatization of the hydro plants is by making an amendment to the EPIRA Law, “otherwise, we lose them, and while it will be rehabilitated by private investors who will operate them, they will service Mindanao consumers with higher power rates,” he said.

Dagooc lashed at the National Power Corporation for saying the government cannot maintain the hydro power plants and rehabilitating it is costly. He said the problem is not with the facilities, but with the officials who have personal interest in the privatization scheme.

He revealed that the only thing that holds government from privatizing Agus is because of the nature of its structure. “Agus is cascading; so, they have difficulty in allowing private investors from operating it piece by piece because the lower portions of the river (Agus II, Agus III) will be affected by the operation in the higher Agus portion.”

He said a bill is pending in Congress that will create and allow a new entity, Mindanao Power Corporation, to operate the Pulangi and Agus hydro power plants and separate them from the burdening cost of operations of the power sources being tapped to provide electricity to other parts of the country, but affect Mindanao consumers as well.

Dagooc said a 300 to 330 megawatts power plant will soon be constructed to help provide the needed electricity in Mindanao. “In fact, 20 of AMARECO members have already been contracted out for their power needs when the plant is completed either in late 2016 or early 2017, at Lanao del Norte,” Dagooc said.

“We opt not to drumbeat the Lanao Norte project because there are groups who want to manipulate it to make sure that their interests are not affected,” Dagooc said.

Unlike private entities that are entitled to a 12% interest, Dagooc said, they dictated the price for the energy sourced out from the Lanao Norte plant and it will be at P3 per kilowatt hour.

Meanwhile, at least, four major entities and key-players in the energy industry and education sector in Mindanao have inked a memorandum of agreement, forming themselves into pillars that will study the feasibility of recommendations to address the power situation in Mindanao.

Done on March 12, 2013, at the Mindanao University for Science and Technology campus, the signatories to the MOA were the Association of Mindanao Electric Cooperative (AMRECO), Mindanao Universit y of Science and Technolog y (MUST), Institute of Power Sector Economics (IPSEc) and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the following officials: AMRECO President Dagooc, MUST President Ricardo Rotoras, AMRECO Executive Director Clint Django G. Pacana, MinDA Investment Relations and Public Affairs Director Romeo Montenegro, and IPSEc Executive Officer Stanley B. Uriarte.

Following the MOA signing is the holding of the annual Mindanao Congress of the Power Advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development, to be held at the Mindanao University for Science and Technology campus, in Cagayan de Oro City.

The Congress will provide opportunity for the Mindanao power advocates to discuss deeper the Mindanao power agenda and the ways and means to increase the visibility of the industry in multilateral negotiations.

Kia...

from page 3

an impressive specification as standard, including air conditioning, audio system, multifunctional steering wheel, cruise control and LED daytime running lights.

The Carens is available with a choice of two gasoline engines (1.6-litre and 2.0-litre) and a 1.7-litre turbodiesel, with performance spanning 135 to 166 bhp and CO2 emissions from 124 g/km.

Every new Kia in Europe – including the pro_cee’d, cee’d, cee’d Sportswagon, and Carens – benefits from

the brand’s unique 7-Year, 150,000 km warranty.

Ford... from page 3

Ranger Wildtrak next month at the Manila International Auto Show.

“By offering customers the widest range of Ford vehicles ever in the Philippines -- which now covers a full lineup of segment-leading cars, sport utility vehicles and trucks -- our brand is connecting with, and appealing to, a much wider variety of lives and lifestyles,” said Mr. Krieger.

Ford Philippines said it is on track to expand its retail network to 35 outlets by the middle of the year. The company will be opening new dealerships in Bohol, General Santos, Laoag, Zamboanga, Manila Bay and Baguio.

Study... from page 2

largest copper producer.

Indophil’s share in the Tampakan project is its flagship asset under its portfolio.

The Tampakan project was given a conditional environmental compliance certificate last month by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) despite the open-pit mining ban imposed by the South Cotabato provincial government.

Among the conditions cited in the ECC were the settlement of the question on social acceptability, protection of the rights of indigenous people, land access under the Department of Agrarian Reform and the willingness to assume continuing liability over any environmental damage.

Last year, the DENR thrashed the ECC application of SMI, as well as its ensuing appeal, on the basis of the provincial open-pit mining ban.

In an undated announcement at the website of Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. the publicly-listed company of the Alcantara Group, Contreras said that SMI’s power plant project will be undertaken A/S Power Development, Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of ACR. “The power station complex will have an area of around 35.4 hectares within the Kamanga Agro-Industrial Economic Zone administered by the Kamanga Agro-Industrial Ecozone Development Corp.

(KAIEDC),” he said.

KAIEDC, another corporation of the Alcantara Group, aims to attract locators from

7

various industries and sectors This will galvanize the local and regional economy, provide jobs, and significantly boost livelihood opportunities in Sarangani Province, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and the rest of South Central Mindanao.

Prospective locators include key players engaged in steelfabrication, ship repair, and other light-industrial and manufacturing concerns, he said.

Contreras said that construction of the power plant for SMI’s Tampakan project may commence in the second half of 2014. (PNA)

Pushes... from page 5

to increase its bird population by 5 million in 2013. Other integrators such as Bounty Fresh and other commercial poultry integrators will also be tapped, depending on their expansion plans.

BPI said it is venturing into agriculture in consonance with the Agri-Agra Law, which mandates banks to apportion 20 percent of its total loan portfolio for agri-agra loans.

“If banks are unable to meet this ratio, they will be penalized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. BPI, like all other major banks, gets penalized every now and then. BPI would therefore like to ensure full compliance to this law from 2013 onward through the BPI Agribusiness Solutions,” the bank said.

BPI Agribusiness Solutions is concentrating on farm-growth corridors in Central Luzon and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao, and supporting existing clients of integrators like the PIC, the SMC, Bounty Fresh and locals who want to expand their businesses, whether they are BPI clients or not.

Middle-market companies, or those valued between P15 million and P100 million, are also qualified to benefit from BPI Agribusiness Solutions, along with clients not engaged in agribusiness but are willing to venture into it.

Existing BPI Preferred or High Value clients engaged in the agri/agra or related businesses like piggery, poultry, feed mill, slaughter house, chicken dressing, meat shop, rice mill, corn mill, fisheries, fruit, vegetable and crop production, and agricultural trading are welcome to join, according to the bank.

8

Friday-Saturday I Mar. 15-16, 2013

Agrinews

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February rice stocks good enough for 2-mos THE Philippines has enough rice for the next two months, with additional stocks ready to replenish the grain consumed before the onset of the lean season in June, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) reported on Monday.

The BAS said the country’s total rice stock inventory was estimated at 2.02 million metric tons (MMT) as of February, 13.2 percent lower than the 2.33 MMT recorded in the same month in 2012.

The figure is also 19.8 percent lower than the previous month’s 2.52 MMT. “The inventory would be enough for 59 days,” the BAS said. It added that household stocks are good for 26 days, while stocks in commercial warehouses are enough for 16 days and those in National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses would last for 17 days.

Of the current stocks, about 4 4 percent are in households, 27.5 percent in commercial warehouses and 28.5 percent in NFA depositories. About 28 percent of NFA stocks are imported.

BAS said earlier it expects palay (unhusked-rice) production to reach 7.90 MMT in the first half of 2013, or 0.1 percent higher than the 7 MMT posted in the same period the year before.

Based on standing crop, production for t he f irst three months of 2013 is forecast at 4.27 MMT, 7.1 percent higher than last year’s 3.99 MMT.

The bureau noted that the forecasts for the second quarter of 2013, based on farmers’ planting intentions, show reductions in pa lay production by 6.9 percent, har vest area by 4.1 percent and yield by 3 percent.

For corn, the country’s total stock inventory was peg ged at 150, 50 0 M T, 6.7 percent more than last month’s record of 161,300 MT and 16 percent higher than last year’s 129,800 MT. Compared to last month’s inventory, household stocks increased by 1.3 percent.

However, stocks in commercial warehouses slid by 11.6 percent and those in NFA depositories dropped by 9.1 percent.

Compared to last year’s levels, stocks in households grew by 6.7 percent and

those in commercial warehouses by 23.5 percent.

The stocks in NFA depositories were the same as last year’s inventory.

Of total corn stocks this month, about 41 percent are in households and 58 percent are in commercial depositories, with the NFA accounting for the balance.

The BAS had said it ex-

pected production to reach 3.19 MMT from January to June 2013, 7.9-percent lower than the 3.47 MMT the year before, with harvest areas expected to go down to 1.06 million hectares or 5 percent lower than the 1.11 million hectares in 2012.

Yield per hectare may drop from 3.12 MT in 2012 to 3.02 MT this year.

In Ja nuar y to March 2013, corn production may reach 2.20 MMT, 9.1 percent higher than the output of 2.02 MMT in 2012.

The April to June 2013 forecasts, based on farmers’ planting intentions, indicate reductions in production by 31.7 percent, harvest area by 23 percent and yield by 11.3 percent.

DA, DepEd team up to boost Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries, agriculture-fishery education Selecta growing ‘ube’

PAGADIAN City -- Starting school year 2013 to 2014, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) will jointly explore appropriate measures to improve the delivery of agriculture and fishery education to 136 agrifishery technical-vocational (tech-voc) schools in the country.

The venture, designed to further strengthen the DepEd’s current offerings and provide students with more options to earn a living after they graduate, was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed recently by Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

The MOU stipulated that

the two departments will share resources so that the schools can better serve students who choose to work in agriculture and fisheries.

Luistro said the MOU is aligned with the Kindergarten to Grade 12 Basic Education Program, in which one of its objectives is to develop the skills of students enrolled in tech-voc courses.

“Dapat baguhin natin ang imahe ng agri-fishery schools. Dapat alam natin kung saan dadalhin ang ating curriculum [at] kung paano ito magiging attractive sa mga mag-aaral. Dapat nakatutok sa local development [We should change the image of agri-fishery schools.

We should know where our curriculum is being brought to [and] how it will be attrac-

tive to students. It should focus on local development],” Luistro said.

For its part, the DA will extend technical assistance and know-how by providing resource persons in training tech-voc teachers in agriculture and fishery education.

Alcala said his department will also provide seedlings, fingerlings, fertilizer and other production inputs for the development of demonstration farms, nurseries and breeding stations.

The DA also agreed to offer scholarships to deserving graduating high-school students, as well as masteraldegree programs for techvoc instructors and officials on agriculture-specific and fishery-oriented courses at boost/PAGE 10

DA-PRDP logo contest is on A major program or a commercial product needs a trademark or a logo. It should be simple and could be easily ‘recalled.’

The DA’s forthcoming Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) is no different.

It needs a logo that would capture its essence, its objectives and goals.

The DA is thus inviting everyone to join the PRDP logo design-making contest.

The winner will take home P20,000 cash, and he or she will be part of the DA’s legacy to the Filipino people.

Four other finalists will be honored and will each receive P5,000 cash, and a certificate.

The logo should reflect the PRDP’s goal to create a modern, climate-smart or

resilient, and value chainoriented agriculture and fishery sector.

The PRDP is considered one of the DA’s biggest foreign-assisted projects, worth $670 million or P27.5 billion, funded by the World Bank. It will run for six years, and targeted to start third quarter this year.

The PRDP will complement current major programs of initiatives of the DA, aimed at attaining sufficiency in rice and major staples.

All DA family employees and non-employees are invited to join the contest, as long as they are Filipinos, 18 years old and above.

Contestants should submit original, digitally-created entries with resolution of at least 300 dpi and the

width and the height of the logo must have a resolution of at least 700 pixels.

Each entry must have color settings for both RGB and CMYK modes and should predominantly use the colors green and blue with white, golden yellow or black as trimmings, strokes or highlights.

Contestants are required to include a description of the logo-design and colors, not more than 350 words.

E nt r i e s s h o u l d b e emailed to prdplogodesign@gmail.com, on or before April 20, 2013, with the accomplished information sheet and rationale.

The winners will be announced on May 15, 2013.

For more information visit w w w.da.gov.ph or www.damrdp.net

DAVAO City -- The beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga here have embarked on a project with Selecta Unilever RFM Ice Cream, Inc. of growing “ube” (purple yam), an ingredient used by the company in producing ice cream.

Valente Turtur, acting city agriculturist, said about 20 farmer-beneficiaries are involved in the project of growing a special variety of the ube plant in a 10-hectare property owned by the Habanas in Catigan, Toril, this city.

Turtur said this is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program even as he said that the company, aside from other buying their produce, provided other forms of support like ground

preparation and inputs.

Selecta would need about 300 tons for its production of ube ice cream and Turtur said Davao farmers were given a 50-ton quota per cropping as the company has other projects in different parts of the country.

With the current area that they occupied, he said they can only produce 20 tons that is why they are expanding to meet the required volume.

“The contract started in 2012 and their production is good where one fruit for instance weighs about three kilos,” he said.

He said all the farmers’ produce will be bought by the company at P18 per kilo as specified in the agreement.

As this developed, Turtur

said the city government has extended support by allowing the farmers’ group the use of tractor.

The city he said has been a recipient of farm equipment from the Department of Agriculture lately consisting of four tractors that were deployed in the different districts of the city.

He said the farmers may use the equipment through the association where they are members and provide the necessary fuel for the operations.

He said a system had already been designed for usage of the farm equipment and schedules are made based on requests and farmers must follow the “first come first served basis” rule. (PNA)

Bunye...

realities?

One, OFW dollar remittances continue to rise.

Two, interest rates abroad are down and much lower than interest rates in the Philippines. Foreign capital seeking higher yields continue to come in.

Three, good economic fundamentals of the Philippines are expected to prevail for 2013. This makes Philippine stocks also more

attractive. Half of the trade volume in the stock market, which has risen to an all time high, is now funded by foreign money.

Four, the Philippines is on the cusp of investment grade.

Given the above-stated conditions, we expect more dollars to come in. The BSP will have to deal with its “problem of plenty.” (To be continued next week)

live in the rural areas and the urban slums.

To be sure, current efforts of government that aim to improve the situation, such as the conditional cash transfer for the poor, public-private partnership in new investments and a two-tiered wage system - innovative as they are--can see further improvements.

The task of the new set of Senators is to support and impel new programs that would solve the recurrent problems of unemployment and narrowing the income gaps between the rich and the poor.

Growth without development is a smashing success in the countryside, like a soap opera or telenovela with a huge following. But consumerism that fired the growth isn’t enough over the next medium term.

Sustained development is the key. The elections can address this. Local candidates must also accept the challenge. Slogans are costly, but a platform for reforms can come in handy and more effective.

Re-Quote: “The Godly work with integrity; blessed are their children after them.” (Proverbs 20:7)

from page 6

specific exchange rate. Rather, the BSP allows the dollarpeso exchange rate to seek its own level as determined by market forces. The BSP, however, will try to achieve exchange rate stability by preventing wild and abrupt fluctuations in the exchange rate.

What are the present

Dannug... from page 6

of which 52,000 can be employed in business process outsourcing, and 20,000 in manufacturing.

Further, 200,000 can find jobs abroad.Still around 60,000 will be either unemployed or exit the labor force.

The balance of 600,000 new entrants to the labor force are high school graduates (50%), while the rest are not able to finish high school. They enter low-skill, low-pay jobs in agriculture and services; they

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Grilled delights in first Dabaw Sinugba Festival

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama

MINDANAO GETS READY FOR SUMMER PEACE FEST 2013 GOOD Karma Productions, Muni Productions and Ministry of Mushrooms, Inc. spearhead a week-long collaborative festival and sow first seeds of peace in Northern and Western Mindanao.

Peace has remained elusive in Mindanao. For decades, repeated appeals and numerous efforts to bring peace to the region have yielded little results. With war, violence and corruption dominating coverage about Mindanao in the mainstream media, it is no wonder the island is off-limits to the average Filipino.

In 2013, a group of young individuals with roots in Mindanao wants to change the perception of the region and support efforts to foster peace in the region.

From April 26 to May 1 (Labor Day), the southern island will host TWO events, dubbed collectively SUMMER PEACE FESTIVAL 2013 (SPF13). Taking place in Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga City, the event will bring together local tradition and contemporary art in the name of peace, in harmony with nature, in celebration of its diverse culture and people.

THE VISION: To keep the festival as non-commercial as possible and true to its DNA of keeping it intimate and personal while maintaining high publicity to spread the message of peace.

THE OBJECTIVE: To be the change we wish to see in the world, to spread peace, to promote Mindanao’s art, culture and eco-tourism, to support the local community through jobs during the festival season, to promote good food and good music, to support the local artists and musicians, to get better and better every year.

SPF13, as its main advocacies, hopes to promote: 1.

Peace among men. The festival encourages participants to look beyond race, religion, social status and other labels that may divide them through art, music and fun.

2.

Peace between Man and Nature. Only 3 percent of the country’s original forest cover remains. With its activities and talks, SPF13 will provide easy solutions that every individual can practice every day. With the collaboration of the Hineleban Foundation and the LBC Foundation, our other local partners will tackle sustainable reforestation, coastal clean-ups, and mangrove reforestation.

This year, SPF13 will focus on rehabilitating parts of Mt. Kitanglad, which provides us with 90 percent of drinking water in Mindanao. This year, SPF13 tied up with Hineleban Foundation for a soft launching of its Sip & Reforest campaign. During the festival, SPF13 will also launch “WHY REFOREST VIDEO & HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED” videos.

3.

Peace with oneself. Without inner peace, it is difficult for people to spread towards their families and communities. SPF13 will offer ways to achieve that through food and activities designed to bring inner calmness and raise creativity and compassion.

THE FESTIVAL OFFERS:

• Art – Installations and artworks decorate the festival. The artists have worked hard to make this possible.

Admiration and possibly an investment in one of their pieces will go a long way in helping them continue their process of creation.

• Music – Selected musicians will perform their hearts out as they support the advocacy. The artists were chosen for their skills and talent rather than their popularity. The line-up was carefully curated to offer diversity and sustainable good vibes.

• Tourism – We have ecotourism partners who respect the environment and help develop sustainability for both the local community and nature without compromising on the fun. These ‘tours’ are easy to do from the festival grounds and our partner hotels and cost no more than it would on any other day.

• Community – When this much talent and creativity is brought into one place the exchange of ideas and creativity flows. This will uplift the consciousness of everyone who attends the festival.

• Workshops – Flow workshops, drumming, poi, seminars, etc. meant to get your own creative juices flowing. When intent is balanced with fun, learning becomes pure joy. A lot of this year’s contributors come from Cagayan de Oro themselves.

• Food – Healthier but not boring food stalls offer their interpretations of festival food. Just to be able to experience something new is enough joy for many.

WEBSITE: http://www.summerpeacefestival.com

First Leg (Cagayan de Oro)

Luna Musikalawaig; April 26-28

LUNA: because the festival begins

on a full moon, the force that allows for life on this planet and lights up the dark night.

MUSIKA: because music is the great communicator that breaks barriers of language, ethnicity and religion.

KALAWAIG: The name of the river that runs through the venue. In Higaonon, the tribal language of the region, the word means ‘water for the thirsty.’ It has been tradition to always pay tribute to the river as it is both the giver of life and the force that takes it away.

HISTORY: On its 2nd year, the festival first took place on May 5, 2012.

It was was a one-day, one-night event that attracted more than 400 people and participated in by 14 bands, including internationally acclaimed artist Waway Saway and the rest of the Talaandig artists, Foc Fashion from Cebu (now one of the most sought after bands in the Visayas), Nyco Maca, The Mush Project (currently making waves in the underground electronica scene), as well as CDO’s mainstay bands WIZ, The Superflirts and high octane funk rockers Gasulina.

The artists who graced the event included the Talaandig artists who installed permanent sculptures that functioned as chairs and benches. Local artist Ryan Carreon drew a colorful masterpiece on one of the mushroom toilets built by Rene Kiefer. Internationally recognized sculptor Agnes Arellano unveiled an installation of her own during a ritual acted by performance artist Billy Bonnevie.

Last year, the event was able to bring attention to the rehabilitation of the Kalawaig riverbanks, which were badly damaged during typhoon Sendong. Participants planted giant bamboo seedlings donated by the Hineleban Foundation.

BAND LINE-UP FOR 2013 (More to be announced soon): Siri Svegler (Sweden) / Isa Tabasuares & Thomas Walter (Berlin) / Sinyma (Nyko Maca’s new band) (Manila) / Purple Kush (Cebu) / The Mush Project (Barcelona)/ Ruska (Cagayan de Oro) / Crowns Down (Butuan City)/ The Mo (Malaybalay)/ Datu Alimuwan (Bukidnon) / KBC (Cagayan de Oro) and more!

PARTICPATING ARTISTS (More to be announced soon): Talaandig Tribe Installation, Agnes Arellano, Rene Kiefer, Kit Gresos, Rhyan Casino, Fadi Ismail, and Mike Bacol.

WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS & TEENS (More to be announced soon): Outdoor photography conducted by ONE HAPPY STORY, knot tying by Guru Gym, outdoor survival skills by Viajero Outdoor Team, tie dyeing by Piaget Martelino, Filipino native games workshops, Flow Camp, hula hoop, poi, fire dancing, cosplay by Cause Play, and recycling workshops

ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE: White water rafting, Spelunking, Trek to waterfall, Tree Planting

2012 POST EVENT VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1S Fh2cFVmg&feature=youtu.be

THE STORY: Luna Musikalawaig was born out of the imagination of one family with big dreams and awesome friends who wanted a break from the 9-5 corporate life. The dream was to really make a change in Mindanao in their own little way. It just so happened that their common interest was music and festival culture, which was foreign to CDO and quite new in the country in general. With little funds and some donations from friends and family, Luna Musikalawaig was born and exceeded expectations as the guests already clamored for a sequel before the organizers could even announce one.

The new team, which was carefully formed a few months after the first Luna Musikalawaig, now includes a highly talented veteran in events, Jeminah Ferrer (MUNI PRODUCTIONS), who joins the original remaining members of GOOD KARMA PRODUCTIONS, producers of another festival in November in Tagaytay.

THE VENUE: Ki Bathala Gardens in Sitio Balaon, Barangay San Isidro in Talakag. The venue is a private permaculture farm beside the Kalawaig river.

Over the last 20 years, the farm has literally grown a jungle, which protects all plants, trees and animals that choose to call it home. Development is limited to a few patches of land and boasts of architecture that is not only sustainable but also blends into the environment. The festival area is agricultural land that will again become a field for planting crops after the summer ends. The Ki Bathala Gardens is 100% organic.

THE WEBSITE: http://www.Lunamusikafest.com

TICKET SALES: Feb 18 to March 1 (P 500) / March 2 to April 1 (P 750) / April 2 to April 26 (P 1,000)

DAVAO City -- Highlighting the grilled specialties for which Davao City is known for, a private group is holding the first ever Dabaw Sinugba (grilled) Festival.

The event will be held this March 14-17 at the Tienda del Mercado in Juna Subdivision this city.

The Sinugba Festival will bring together the city’s local and international barbeque and grill businesses from pork, chicken barbeque, grilled sea food, kababs and designer burgers for four nights.

The Festival will also serve to engage and educate Dabawenyos and visitors alike of the various barbeque and grill cuisines of the city. Much of the city’s bustling and emerging food

establishments are barbeque and grill businesses.

The much anticipated festival involves an Eat-All-You-Can

sinugba buffet, where for a ticket worth P200, one can have an unlimited taste of the varied grilled and barbecue offerings

International Tunog-tugan Festival:

in the festival. It will also have burger and barbeque-eating contests, cooking demonstrations and grilled culinary competitions plus nightly acoustic music entertainment.

Set-up by the private group Mocha Productions, the 1st Dabaw Sinugba Festival is part of the group’s support to the City’s Life is Here tourism branding campaign and the Department of Tourism’s It’s More Fun in the Philippines, it also provides another culinary attraction for visitors and residents celebrating the 76th Araw ng Dabaw Celebrations held on March 16.

The Festival hopes to push Davao City as a destination for the best barbeque and grill cuisines not just in Mindanao but also in the entire country.

Dipolog’s centennial showpiece

By Alfonso T. Ruda

DIPOLOG City -- Dipolog City will host the Tunog-Tugan: 1st International Gongs and Bamboo Music Festival last February 16-22 in celebration of its 100th year.

The city government has planned an exciting array of activities for the grandiose affair to feature gongs and bamboo instruments.

The Tunog-tugan Festival is a one week celebration, with galas and concerts to be held throughout the city where several groups of musical artists will exhibit their talent. Guests and dignitaries from several parts of the world will attend the festival.

“I am very thankful that our city is chosen to host this outstanding event. This is a pride to the whole Dipolognons to hold this prestigious festival. This would invite more tourists to venture in our city thereby elevating our tourism industry,” said Mayor Evelyn T. Uy during the Tunog-Tugan press conference.

The centennial anniversary of the city is a one-year event filled with music, merrymaking and activities which was formally launched last July 1. The residents watched on as the historic centennial marker was unveiled and as the digital centennial countdown system was switched on. Gen. Pershing’s proclamation of Dipolog as a municipality was also

re-enacted.

For almost a century, Dipolog climbed its way to the top. It values principles of good governance which dwell on transparency in all its transactions and the active participation of the public, garnering accolades in sports, culture, arts, academe, music and other competitions in regional and national levels.

The city is home to indigenous group called Subanons who excel and stand out with their musical tradition using gongs.

Dipolog scored in the international arena of musical artistry after its participation in the international music festival held in Tagum City last year and in the 2nd International Rondalla Festival held in Dumaguete City in 2007. The city’s young musicians have also garnered awards in national music competitions by the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA).

Tracing the roots Dipolog City is known as the “Gateway to Western Mindanao” through the Western Nautical Highway. It is also dubbed as the “Bottled Sardines Capital of the Philippines” for its Spanish style sardines and the “Orchid City” because of its native orchid called Pangadlaw.

One can smell the fragrance

Cimagala...

How parents react to the different events and circumstances of life, both good and bad, happy and sad, is also how the children will learn to react in similar events and circumstances.

That’s why parents really have to spend time with the children. They should see to it that they organize their life, especially in the aspect of their profession and other social obligations, such that the quality time with the children is not compromised.

T hey have to cu lt ivate healthy family practices and traditions to foster family

from page 6

trust and confidence in an increasingly meaningful way.

Children are usually observant of their parents and tend to imitate them even automatically.

If they see their parents praying and how that prayer is helping their parents, making them happy and at the same time able to cope with all the challenges of life, then the children will just develop a love for prayer and the a love for cultivating a life of faith and hope.

of blossoming orchids at the City Rotonda, the fresh scent of pine trees at Plaza Magsaysay and feel the cool blast of air in Dipolog City Boulevard.

One can come here to satisfy their craving for the mouth-watering Spanish style sardines of the city and its sweet and luscious fruits.

July 1, 1913 marks the centenary of Dipolog as a municipality as carved out of Dapitan with Pascual Martinez as its first municipal mayor appointed

by Gen. John J. Pershing, governor general of Mindanao.

On June 6, 1952, the Philippines Congress enacted Republic Act 711 creating Dipolog Municipality as the capital town of Zamboanga del Norte.

On June 21, 1969, Former Pres.

Ferdinand E. Marcos signed into law the Dipolog City Charter pursuant to Rep. Act 5520.

Get Involved Tunog-tugan is the first international gongs and bamboo festival organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) National Committee on Music (NCM) under the NCCA’s Subcommission on the Arts in celebration with the Philippine Arts Festival (PAF) as part of the National Arts Month (NAM).

Tunog-tugan comes from two

Filipino words: tunog which means sound and tugtugan which means the act of creating music. This implies the sound and resonance of gongs and bamboo music in the world.

Prof. Felipe De Leon Jr., NCCA chairman, said during the press conference that Dipolog was chosen to hold the week-long opening of the affair because of its serene environment, peaceful and loving populace and the presence of indigenous people praiseworthy to be recognized as part of the society and to safeguard their culture as part of the country’s history.

Local and foreign gongs and bamboo ensembles will gather together for performances, lectures and workshops in the festival. Exhibiting innovative and skillful local artists and featuring interaction with international musicians, it aims to enhance and recognize the social and spiritual significance of gongs and bamboo music as well as the tradition behind these musical instruments.

The project is a manifestation of the country’s continuing pursuit of excellence and undying efforts to promote and preserve the tradition of using the gongs and bamboos in musical composition.

life, and to exercise parental authority effectively, and even with the children not noticing it.

renewal, based on the positive outcome of the venture.

He explained t hat t he DepEd’s Strengthened Technical-Vocational Education Program primarily aims to equip high-school graduates with Technical Education Skills and Development Authority-certifiable tech-voc skills that would allow them to venture into entrepreneurship or start businesses, which is a priority program of the Aquino administration “to better link schooling to community growth and development.”

Boost... from page 8

the University of the Philippines in Laguna province’s Los Banos town, Mindanao State University in Lanao del Sur province’s Marawi City and Central Luzon State University in Nueva Ecija province’s Muñoz City, among others.

According to Luistro, the MOU will be effective for two school years and subject to

ea

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DOLE-10 Camiguin launches Patunob squid drying and catching AFestival: way to renew vows, celebrate good health

By Mildred R. Enerio-Dablio, Labor Communications Officer

T

h e s qu i d d r y i n g a n d catching of the Balite 2 S E A K Wo m e n’s Consumers Cooperative (BSWC C) of Balite, Sagay, C amiguin Prov ince is now operating for business since the 2nd week of January 2013.

Mr. Jose Errol Natividad, OIC-Provincial Head of the Department of L abor and E mp l oy m e nt - 1 0 , C am i g u i n Provincial Field announced its launching of the project. “With the approval from our DOLE Regional Director Johnson G. Cañete last 5 November 2012, the DOLE has released to BSWCC a livelihood financial assistance under its DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) amounting to PhP 298,000.00,” Mr. Natividad

mentioned.

The DILP is a government program that engages unemployed workers in livelihood undertaking to make them productive, and the rank and file wage workers in collective enterprise/undertakings to augment their income.

This endeavor is the aim of DOLE through the financial assistance to purchase weighing scale, freezer, 5 units of pump boats, squid flashers, jiggers, flashlights, knives, Styrofoam and big-sized cellophanes, fishing nets, containers, and the starting capital in buying fresh squid.

Further, in its initial operation, the group has already employed ten (10) women-members for the squid drying, earning PhP 20.00 for every 100 pieces of

Recthie T. Paculba PIA-10

fresh squids. Accordingly, the husbands of the women-members will operate the 5 pump boats in catching squids and will then receive two-thirds (2/3) of its earnings.

A month from its operation, the group has already harvested 500 kilos of fresh squid sold at PhP 35.00 per kilo to the womenmemb ers. Af ter t he dr y ing process, the 500 kilos is reduced to approximately 65 kilos which will then be sold at PhP 500.00 per kilo to the local market of the entire province.

Currently, Sagay municipality is the only major producer of dried squid for the province.

Ms. Adelina Fabela, BSWCC Project Manager, is thankful to note that from its gross income

of PhP 32,500.00, the cooperative has already earned a net income of PhP 14,900.00 or a total profit approximately 45.84% from its expenses of PhP 17,500 for the labor and capital. For its daily operation, Ms. Fabela shared that they have adopted the bayanihan system. “We meet regularly every month to resolve issues and concerns,” she added.

Further, BSWCC President, Mrs. Maricel S. Uayan thanked Director Cañete for the livelihood and employment opportunities they have generated from the assistance.

The Department of Agriculture with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) provided te ch n i c a l a ss i st anc e to t he members.

Art in Focus NEXT @ RODELSA HALL: INTERNATIONAL PRIZEWINNING GUITARIST

R

odelsa Hall continues its mission to bring worldclass talents closer to the people of Cagayan de Oro City.

This coming March 15, 2013, the premiere performance hall of Mindanao 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 University, Manila where he is also a member of the guitar faculty.

Monching, as he is 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 master

classes with world renowned guitarists such as Jorge Luis Zamora (Cuba), 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 of Safer River Life Saver Foundation and Rodolfo N. Pelaez Foundation. Pledges and cash donations are accepted upon entrance.

Father Ricardo A. Dancela, SSJV- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Priest, leads the fluvial float of Birhen sa Lourdes during the Patunob sa Birhen celebration at Binuangan, Misamis Oriental on February 12, 2013. (PIA 10)

To know more about this benefit concert, please feel free to reach the Liceo de Cagayan University Office of Cultural Affairs at (088) 8584093 to 95 local 109 or call 09176366528 for more details.

R10 reforests 13,000 hectares in 2012

By Peri Madridano, PIA-10

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 10 reported that in 2012 the region planted 13,855 hectares (ha) of public lands to include mangrove forests, riverbank rehabilitation, and urban greening.

The National Greening Program (NGP) of the Aquino administration is a vehicle of government to enhance the country’s forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide largely blamed for global warming.

This massive forest rehabilitation program seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide from 2011 to 2016, said Ruth Tawantawan, DENR 10 regional executive director.

He added that government agencies and institutions

including local government units have provided support to the program not only in tree planting but also in the production of quality seedlings, mobilization of employees including students from Grade 5 to college level.

“Our people’s organizations, particularly those from largely Community-Based Forest Management areas, are responsible in taking care of the seedlings planted by other participants since they are living in these areas.

In a way, NGP has provided alternative livelihood activities for these marginalized upland and lowland households through seedling production and maintenance of newly-planted trees.

In turn they are included in the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of the Department

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, March 4 - Residents and visitors of Binuangan, Misamis Oriental observe a traditional yet sacred way of celebrating faith, life and good health through the Patunob Festival held every first week of February.

To honor their patron saint - Our Lady of Lourdes, people from Binuangan hold several activities which include a parade, cultural show, trade fair, fluvial float and boat race.

Binuangan Municipal Planning Officer Manuel L. Saligumba, over-all chairman of the 2013 festivity, said for this year, eight barangays participated in the cultural show and fluvial float. These are Poblacion, Mosangot, Mabini, Dampias, Valdeconcha, Kitamban, Kitambis and Nabataan.

“We traditionally celebrate the Patunob Festival on February 10 to 12. On the third day of celebration, our parish priest Rev. Ricardo A. Dancela, SSJV, leads the fluvial float accompanied by Binuangan fisher folks and devotees,” Saligumba said.

of Social Welfare and Development,” Tawantawan said.

The reforestation and tree growing in 2012 covered 13,855 hectares entailed almost seven million of forest and fruit tree seedlings, disclosed Agustilo Obsioma, regional technical director of the Forest Management Services.

Obsioma added that this regional accomplishment was made possible by 31,234 volunteers coming from all sectors who wanted to pitch in the restoration of our dwindling forest cover.

He clarified that as part of the convergence initiative of the departments of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, half of the tree planted constituted forest tree species intended for timber production and protection

while the remaining half was composed of agroforestry species.

It can be recalled that on February 24, 2011 President Benigno Aquino issued Executive Order No. 26 declaring the implementation of the National Greening Program as a government priority program to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability and biodiversity conservation and enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Areas eligible for rehabilitation under the program include all lands of the public domain. Specifically, these include forest lands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservation, urban greening areas, inactive and abandoned mine sites and other suitable lands.

During the fluvial float, devotees say their prayers and sing songs of love to their patron saint. The parish priest also gives his prayers for the safety, good health and bountiful blessings of the fishermen.

The boats, which are part of the fluvial float contest, accompany the Our Lady of Lourdes float and are decorated with flowers and colorful streamers. The criteria in choosing the winners of the said contest depends on the creativity, relevance to the celebration and visual effect to the viewers.

After the fluvial float, Rev. Dancela puts on the Our Lady of Lourdes apparition on the head and shoulders of the devotees.

“Such act is a way to show that we are seeking for good health from the Birhen sa Lourdes and it is also a manifestation of faith renewal, and submission to the Blessed Virgin Mary,” Saligumba explained.

Saligumba said about 5,000 visitors arrive annually for the festival and to seek healing from illnesses. He said the water that flows out from the feet of the Birhen sa Lourdes apparition situated beside the church is said to be miraculous and many residents and even visitors attest to its healing power.

Our Lady of Lourdes is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary which was invoked by the Roman Catholics to honor the Marian apparitions which are said to have taken place before various individuals on separate occasions around Lourdes, France.

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Email: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com Praises, Accolades for Sajahatra Bangsamoro

BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon is an hour-and-a-half long program with Awith a weekly recurring and unique feature segments.

It comes to fore with special media PROVIDING our dear readers news conference that tackles different issues in Northern Mindanao and elsewhere with a program that is coverage, primarily by the four major newspapers in the Team, plus other media inquisitive, upbeat and intervening about a variety of topics of vital imporentities invited to join in the news conference for their regular coverage. tance to kagay-anons and the rest. week after President Benigno Aquino and Muslim rebel chieftain Murad Ebrahim led the launching of a socio-economic initiatives for Muslim communities in Mindanao, the historic event continues to draw accolades and praises from various civil groups and Moro residents.

Aquino was accompa- ers,” Mark Navales, bureau nied by his Cabinet offi- chief for the regional cials led by Presidential newspaper Mindanao Expeace adviser Teresita aminer, said.

He said the Sajahatra Deles to the town of Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao Bangsamoro, which litermeans “Peace province, a stronghold of ally Moro Islamic Liberation Bangsamoro,” is also Front rebels now negotiat- aimed at uplifting the ing peace with the govern- health and education of MILF communities in the ment.

Security was tight Muslim autonomous rethroughout the launching gion which comprises of “Sajahatra Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Bangsamoro” with army Maguindanao and Lanao soldiers and rebels guard- del Sur province, including the site where the ing the cities of Marawi event was held. Hundreds and Lamitan.

During his visit, of Muslim villagers flocked to the area to wit- Aquino distributed health ness the historic event, insurance, college scholone journalist was cover- arships and technical vocation training, including ing Aquino’s visit said.

“It was really a historic education assistance to Isvisit and everybody was so lamic schools, among happy that finally the gov- other government proernment is now putting at- grams for the poor. tention and efforts to upAquino said his goal is lift the condition of Mus- to accelerate the transition lims in this part of the of MILF communities, country. I saw rebels and steeped in armed struggle, soldiers guarding the to a productive citizenry venue and there is this at- that buys into the national mosphere of camaraderie agenda, and contributes and brotherhood and to shared goal of equitable imagine from former foes, progress. He said the now they are peace broth- peace negotiations is

moving forward unhindered by secrecy and manipulation, and propelled by solidarity towards the shared goal of empowering every Filipino in the Muslim autonomous region. Aquino’s visit was the first of any Philippine president to a rebel stronghold to launch peace and development projects.

In October, Aquino invited Ebrahim to the Presidential Palace to witness the signing of the Framework on the Bangsamoro Agreement which shall replace the current Muslim autonomous region. Under the accord, the government and the rebel group would intensify development efforts for rehabilitation, reconstruction of poverty-stricken Muslim communities and institute programs to address the needs of MILF combatants and war refugees, according to Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

“Even before a peace agreement is signed, you will see that it’s about providing the social services to the MILF and to the Moros in Mindanao because of the Framework Agreement. It shows also the sincerity of both sides as a

BusinessWeek is anconduit, hour-and-a-half long program withto Ultimately, BWMMindanao NewsCon,NewsCon as a weekly will help people find ways recurring and unique feature segments.

It comes to fore with special media answering essential questions and learning from prevailing responses that experts coverage, primarily by the four major newspapers in the Team, plus other will share as guests in the newsinconference. media entities invited to join the news conference for their regular coverage.

Publisher

BusinessWeek Mindanao Mindanao Daily News Mindanao Star The Cagayan Times

Mindanao Daily

Feb. 18-24, 2013

CHENG ORDOÑEZ NewsCon Director

BWM Media Center

Associate Editor

BusinessWeek Mindanao

ALLAN MEDIANTE Editor-in-Chief

Mindanao Daily News

Training Director

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NELSON CONSTANTINO

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BusinessWeek Mindanao

JOSE FELICILDA Mindanao Star

Print Journalism

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CRIS DIAZ

SHAUN ALEJANDRAE UY

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President Aquino and MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim during the launching of the 'Sajahatra Bangsamoro' in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Mark Navales)

continuity to talk and to finalize the annexes in the Framework Agreement,” Valte said.

Mike Pasigan, the MILF spokesman for Sajahatra Bangsamoro program, told the Philippine Information Agency that the head of their peace panel Mohagher Iqbal has also

affirmed the partnership of the parties in Sajahatra Bangsamoro.

“Both sides have been working together in identifying and designing the projects that will address the immediate needs of Bangsamoro communities.

The program will further strengthen the collabora-

tion between the government and the MILF as we build on the gains of the peace process. We believe that Sajahatra Bangsamoro is a step towards long-term development that will benefit not only the Bangsamoro people but all Filipinos,” Iqbal said.

(Mindanao Examiner)

COTABATO CITY – Mahigpit ang pagbabantay ng mga netizens sa pangasiwaan ng Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao na kung saan ay tila wala pa rin humpay ang mga sumbong ukol sa ibatibang anomalya sa pamahalaan.

Sa Facebook account ng grupong “ARMM WATCH” ay samut-sari ang batikos na tinatanggap ng ibatibang mga opisyal. Mga bintang ng pangungurakot mula sa mga ahensya hanggang sa luklukan ng kataastaasang tanggapan at kung anu-ano pa.

Nagsisilbing mga mata at tainga ang naturang social-media watchdog sa mga kaganapan sa ARMM at iba't-ibang isyu ang binabantayan mula sa mga ghost teachers, nepotism at ang gastusin sa pondo ng ARMM. Isang miyembro nito ang nagsabing: "SO THE PUBLIC MAY KNOW. I have a reason to believe that there are still remaining "ghost teachers" in the ARMM who are receving salaries without really teaching or reporting for work for

the simple reason that they do not have the knowhow to perform the job.

What they do is they pay other persons to do the dirty work while they do nothing at all. They are hard to find because they hide behind the veils of their protectors in the ARMM who are pretending to be champions of change and development.

(Nota bene: Pasintabi po sa mga taong totoong maganda talaga ang hangarin sa ARMM)."

Ilang beses na napaulat na maraming ghost teachers ang natanggal sa ARMM ng umupo si dating congressman Mujiv Hataman bilang officer-in-charge, at pinuri pa ito ng Pangulong Benigno Aquino at binansagan pa itong "ghost buster."

Ngunit sa katotohanan ay wala pang 80 diumano ang nadiskubreng ghost teachers sa mga paaralan sa buong ARMM na kumukulekta ng sahod, ayon sa Department of Education. Wala rin balita kung may nasampahan ng kaso ukol sa mga anomalya at hanggang ngayon ay blanko pa rin ang publiko sa isyung ito.

Nagsisilbi rin sum-

bungan ng mga mamamayan ang ARMM WATCH ukol sa kanilang mga napupuna at nakikita sa kapaligiran.

Isang halimbawa ang pagbisita ni Pangulong Aquino kamakailan lamang sa Maguindanao, na bahagi ng ARMM, upang ilunsad ang “Sajahatra Bangsamoro” na kung saan ay namudmod ito ng mga Philhealth cards sa maraming mamamayan.

Ngunit ito naman ang naging tugon ng isang mambabasa sa ARMM WATCH: “PNOY, magpatayo ka muna ng Hospitals, Schools, colleges at Universities sa ARMM para sa Bangsamoro people para sa ganun magamit nila yung mga pinamimigay mo na na mga Philhealth cards at scholars sa Bangsamoro... Useless kung itoy nakatago lang sa WALLET ng bawat Bangsamoro....hanggang sa itoy masira na lang at di nagamit...Aanhin mo pa yan kung di mo naman magamit...ilagay na lang ba sa frame at isabit sa Wall Street, NYC.” (Mindanao Examiner)

Ultimately, BWM NewsCon, as a weekly conduit, willthat helpthe people findpeople ways BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon’s Team believes earlier bantay-sarado sa ‘ARMM WATCH’ to answering essential questions and learning from prevailingARMM responses understand theshare challenges andinthe solutions, the better off we willthat all experts will as guests theprobable news conference.

RUEL PELONE be in the long run.

BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon’s Team believes that the earlier people understand the challenges and the probable solutions, the better off we will Welcome to the BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon! all be in the long run.

Welcome to the BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon!

DANTE SUDARIA

Executive Editor

Mindanao Daily News

Online Editor

businessweekmindanao.com

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Mindanao Daily News

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The Cagayan Times

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MIKE BAÑOS

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0917-7121424 / 0947-8935776 (Dante) or 0949-5449724 / 0906-4670148 (Cheng) Poverty, aside from corruption, remains the biggest problem in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)