CDOTIMES February 5-11, 2018

The

CAGAYANLifestyle TIMES Weekly de Oro

Volume 5 | No. 26 | Cagayan de Oro City | February 5-11, 2018

XU’s Amir takes up PMAP CDO Mantle

Tapping the Power of the Past as a Force of the Future

T

Text and photos by Mike Baños

he new leadership of the Cagayan de Oro Chapter of the People Management Association of the Philippines has adopted “Power of the Past-Force of the Future” as this year’s theme.

“I am using the power of the past, the foundations that were established by past Boards to build a stronger PMAP-CDO home, a force that people will have to reckon with for the future,” said Ma. Soledad dela FuenteAmir, PMAP Cagayan de Oro Chapter President during the formal induction of new officers,

members of the board of trustees and new members held Feb.2nd at the Sinamay Function Room of Seda Centrio.

“We are moving towards the future with our baon: a healthy bank account, well-organized operations, and a new set of PMAP-passionate Board of Trustees,” she added. “Hence, our 2018 theme: “Power of the Past

– Force of the Future” “PMAP-CDO is a nine-time Chapter of the Year awardee and most recently, a Presidential Awardee,” Ms. Amir noted. “We have a proud past and an exciting future.”

Present during the well attended event were PMAP National President Michelle Garcia, 2017 Chapter President Vivien Lawansa, Past PMAPCDO Presidents, Vice President Josette Cellona, Members of the BOT, Committee Chairs, Guests, Ms. Amir’s HR partners in Xavier Ateneo, fellow PMAPers and the eight new Inductee-Members.

Induction of PMAP-CDO Officers by PMAP National President Michelle Garcia

In referring to the Chapter’s proud past, Ms. Amir cited IPP Lawansa’s achievements, notably, the establishment of the Council of Past Presidents, their baby chapter PMAPZamboanga del Norte and tie-ups with the Asian Institute of Human Resource Management and Xavier University for the Diploma on Human Resource Management (DHRM). Another project is the PMAP store under VP Josette Cellona which will showcase products of interested members and HR books by local authors such as Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez.

She also cited the legacy left by the chapter’s past presidents who now compose the Council of Past Presidents: Dulce Esperon, Precy Capitan, Joy Gogo, Jojo Ortiz, May Bergado, Josephine Go, and Liezl Deloso who are now in the Council of Past Presidents.

“We are aligned with Pres. Michelle’s direction to level-up through collaboration, innovation, and sustainability,” Ms. Amir said, referring to the force/PAGE 11

PMAP-CDO Chapter 2018 Pres Sol Amir with husband Moshe

First Business-to-Business Event

1st TravelXThe B2B Event

By Mike Baños

Travel and tourism stakeholders from several regions from Mindanao and the Visayas will converge in Cagayan de Oro City on February 21 and 22 for a travel dialogue and business session dubbed TravelX. Hosted by the Department of Tourism Region 10 office and organized by tourism consultants and event management company, Selrahco, the two-day event will bring in around close to 100 representatives from the hotel and resort sectors, local tourism offices, event organizers,

tour operators, large and medium sized corporations and social and civic clubs.

Cagayan de Oro was selected to host TravelX - The B2B Event after it lauched direct flight links with several cities and top tourist destinations such as Boracay, Clark, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga and 10 other points across the archipelago.

"We are inviting travel agents, tour operators, organizations, associations and event and meeting organizers from Cagayan de Oro event/PAGE 11

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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

February 5-11, 2018

BIMWAM to build local water assessment capacities in 2 MisOr coastal towns Water resources and quality One of the project’s avier University - Ateneo de targets is to encourage Cagayan, University of St La water stakeholders (water distributor coops, LGUs, Salle, Université de Namur, and communities) to Catholique Université de Louvain, improve their strategies and Université de Mons of Belgium and make sound policies on sustainable water have joined forces in the research management through project, Building up an Integrated the implementation of Methodology for Water Resources a dedicated decisionAssessment and Management in making tool.

Dr Vincent Hallet of Urban Coastal Areas (BIMWAM).

Université de Namur, in The project was will address local issues his presentation, shared officially launched on our water resources. the scientific side of Wednesday, January It’s important that we the project, including 24, at the Xavier have the solid science, Geographic Information Ateneo downtown analysis, and rigorous System (GIS)-generated campus, attended by work to come up with maps and instruments to scientists from the a methodology to be be used to measure water Philippine and Belgian applied to solve the quality of groundwater universities, leaders of problems that affect our and intrusion of water cooperatives of communities,” he added. saltwater, among other Misamis Oriental, and Fr Roberto Ezequiel factors. representatives from Rivera SJ, former director Hallet said that due local government units of XU - Southeast Asia to the high probability and public offices.

Rural Social Leadership of the intrusion of BIMWAM aims to Institute (SEARSOLIN) salt water, it is harder develop a methodology and now the president to access potable to assess the water of Ateneo de Naga groundwater in coastal resources, potential, and University, agreed with areas. One of the quality in urban coastal Yap. challenges of this project areas, particularly in the “The BIMWAM is to locate and map municipalities of Opol project cuts across [the out water sources in the and Medina (both are university’s] thematic two municipalities and parts of the Northern research areas. Water is determine their quality.

Mindanao region), by one of the crucial issues He added that reinforcing the local of the 21st century,” BIMWAM could scientific capacities and Rivera said, “The serve as a prototype expertise. impact is already being of a standardized “We are grateful for felt in Mindanao, such methodology for water this partnership and as during typhoons resource assessment for coming together Sendong and Vinta.” that could be replicated to collaborate on this Besides the leaders in Cagayan de Oro important project,” of the universities, and other coastal Xavier Ateneo president representatives from communities in Fr Roberto C Yap SJ said the Medina Rural Mindanao. in his message.

Waterworks and Change in behavior “We do not just do Sanitation Cooperative For Dr Ignace Adant, research for research’s (MERWASCO), Cagayan senior researcher of the sake. We are a university de Oro City Mayor Oscar Earth and Life Institute in a developing country; Moreno, and Embassy of Université Catholique therefore, what we of Kingdom of Belgium de Louvain, to achieve do should have social (Manila) counsellor sustainable water relevance and impact.

Xavier LeBlanc were management there has to BIMWAM is in line with present at the signing be a behavioral change our mission as a Jesuit of the memorandum of among the stakeholders. university, wherein this agreement.

He said that in the

X Dr Vincent Hallet, BIMWAM Project Coordinator for the North and Professor at the Départment de Géologie of Université de Namur

Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno

Dr Ignace Adant, Senior Researcher at the Earth and Life Institute of the Université Catholique de Louvain

Dr Ana Rosa Carmona, Professor at the University of St La Salle

By Stephen J Pedroza

Philippines, although water resources are abundant (per capita water availability is twice as much as the rest of Asia), water needs are not met due to the inadequate support for service providers and the lack of sector planning and reliable information, to name a few of the problems he identified.

“Unsafe water causes economic losses, diarrheal diseases, malnutrition,” Adant noted during his presentation on the socio-economic implications of the monopolization of water supply and price.

For Adant, this is where BIMWAM comes in in the picture of local development. He said there has to be a scientific knowledge (layers of information) and integrated impact assessment methodology to support policymaking on water management.

The Bacolod experience Xavier Ateneo can also learn from the successful undertaking of a similar project funded by the Académie de Recherche et d’enseignement or ARES (formerly the Commission of Universities for Development or CUD) in Bacolod City.

Dr Ana Rosa Carmona of USLS, whose master of science degree was under the CUD scholarship, imparted their research experiences and lessons in conducting water resources mapping in the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental.

For her, it is necessary to take a look at the bimwam/PAGE 11

Dr Guadalupe Calalang, BIMWAM Project Coordinator for the South and Professor at the Agricultural Engineering Department of Xavier Ateneo

Mr Xavier LeBlanc, Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium (Manila)

BIMWAM PROJECT. Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan, University of St La Salle, Université de Namur, Catholique Université de Louvain, and Université de Mons of Belgium have joined forces in the research project, “Building up an Integrated Methodology for Water Resources Assessment and Management in Urban Coastal Areas” or BIMWAM. supplied photo .

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February 5-11, 2018

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Fall in love with Vivo’s Love Month Special this February

On February 17, 2018, at 7pm, V-Day CDO will stage a one-night only benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s award winning and groundbreaking play The Vagina Monologues at the VIP Hotel Mandana Hall. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the V-Day global movement.

Over the past two decades, tens of thousands of communities and college campuses have staged V-Day benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues

– and other artistic works, campaigns & risings– in over 200 countries and territories.

V-Day volunteers have raised consciousness, changed laws to protect women and girls, funded rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters (often times these much needed funds kept them from closing), educated their communities, and raised well over $100 million in urgently needed funds for groups doing the essential work of ending run/PAGE 10

Love is in the air, and so is the appetite to shop!

Vivo, the 5thlargest smart phone brand globally, is offering an exclusive promo this Valentine season: Vivo’s Love Month Special. For a You can win exciting giveaways like movie passes and limited time only, one can Vivo premium items such as Vivo little V doll, a Vivo avail of the 24 MP clearer tumbler, or a Vivo keychain selfie, all-screen display Vivo V7 for only Php 12,990.

To be offered only for the whole month of February, this limited offering also entitles one to win special Vivo freebies.

For every purchase of one Vivo V7 or any other two or more Vivo smart phone in any participating malls, entitles a customer to spin the V7 love Roulette for a chance to win an exclusive Valentine gift from Vivo.

You can win movie passes for you and your date or any of the other exciting giveaways such as a Bluetooth headset or Vivo items such as the Vivolittle V doll, a Vivo tumbler, or a Vivo keychain.

Participate in Vivo’s

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has affirmed its support to the Duterte administration’s initiative for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) by allowing the free use of its dark fiber network.

NGCP runs a network of dark fiber cables inherent to its transmission grid communication system.

The fiber optic system runs along its power transmission backbone which stretches all over the country’s three main islands.

“Contrary to some reports, NGCP has always been willing and eager to participate in the government’s efforts to develop a national broadband network, and we are willing to let government use these facilities at no cost,” NGCP said.

“Any arrangement with a private entity will, of course, be subject to commercial negotiations.”

“Under the EPIRA, a portion of the revenue from the use of transmission assets

by NGCP for purposes other than transmission must go into lowering transmission rates,” the

company explained. “But if it is for government’s direct use and operation, we will give it for free.

Either way, whether we partner with government or a private entity, there will be great benefit for the public. We give government priority in development.”

As early as May 2017, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and NGCP began talks to discuss the use of NGCP’s existing dark fiber network, and how it could potentially support the NBP. “We’ve already invited DICT representatives to visit several of our facilities in Cavite and Quezon City, to give them an idea of how our system can help,” NGCP stated.

Since the NBP is a priority project of the government, NGCP hopes that a bilateral

agreement for the inspection and use of the transmission related fiber optic facilities would be signed in time for the 2017 State of the Nation Address.

Negotiations between the two parties stalled when the state-owned National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) insisted on being part of the negotiations.

“There is no authority for their involvement.

When government privatized the transmission network, all rights over the assets, except title, were turned over to NGCP as concessionaire. There is really nothing they can contribute to this apart from delay,” the company explained. “Their attempts to be part of all this just muddles issues from a legal, technical, and practical point of view. And when you’re ngcp/PAGE 11

V Monologues stages CDO run Photo by MARK FRANCISCO

sweet seasonal offer this love month at any of the participating malls and venues: SM Megamall, SMDC Lightmall, Cherry Shaw, SM Marikina, Ayala Feliz, SM Masinag, SM North, Cloverleaf, SM Novaliches, Robinsons Novaliches, SM Cubao, Farmers Cubao, Gateway Cubao, SM Fairview, SM Manila, SM Valenzuela, SM San Lazaro, SM Southmall, SM Bicutan, SM Sucat, SM Muntinlupa, SM BF Homes, Metropoint Pasay, and SM Mall of Asia.

Go to the nearest participating malls for more details and mechanics of the promo.

Vivo’s Lo ve Month Special will run from February 1 to 28, 2018.

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at www.vivo.com/ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook. com/VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram. com/vivophil/), and Twitter (https://twitter. com/vivo_phil) accounts.

NGCP to ink bilateral deal with DICT for NBP at no cost

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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

February 5-11, 2018

Property Developer to Launch 11 Projects in 2 Years

H

omegrown real estate developer Priland is launching 11 projects in two years, way ahead of its 3-year projected timeline.

Priland president Ramon Carlo Yap

said the property firm’s aggressive land acquisitions has given the company the needed boost to push the launch of its projects earlier than planned.

“As Priland aims to build aspirations to

The

CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

CAGAYAN TIMES Publisher PINKY DOMINGO Marketing Manager MIKE BAÑOS JOE PALABAO CHENG ORDOÑEZ MARK FRANCISCO Board of Editors MARK FRANCISCO Lifestyle Editor CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Art Director ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Legal Counsel

The CAGAYAN de ORO TIMES newspaper is published weekly at Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa Street, Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City.

It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 10 with Certificate No. 01801884, and with Business Registration Plane No. 17211 with Business License Certificate 2014-00691.

TIN No. 311-982-549-000 Tele/Fax #: (088) 856-3344 Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ CagayandeOroTIMES email us at thecagayantimes@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber)

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life, it has continued to explore key areas to develop to answer to the great demand for housing in Cebu,” he said.

This year, the real estate company is set to launch five horizontal projects, mostly

located in Mactan, and two vertical projects located in Metro Cebu. An inventory of almost 2,000 units will be opened. This is in connection with the company’s target revenue of Php 2 billion for 2018.

Yap said that based on the Colliers Outlook for the country in 2018, Cebu remains to be the most visited destination in the country and one of the most feasible industrial locations outside Metro Manila because of its strategic location and skilled manpower.

“With our projects, Priland aims to keep up with the evergrowing demand for housing in the community. 2018 is going to be a busy and exciting year for the company,” he added.

Last year, as the

company aims to answer to the different real estate needs of its clients, Priland announced the three major brands under its umbrella – Priland Prime, Priland Homes and Priland Residences.

Priland Homes provide low to midrange horizontal property developments.

Currently, there are 2 projects under this brand – Breeza Palms in Subabasbas, Mactan and Belize North in Nangka, Consolacion with a total inventory of almost 400 units for both projects.

The property firm’s answer to its clientele’s vertical property needs is the Priland Residences, which recently launched its first project last December, the Northwoods Place in

Canduman, Mandaue.

Priland also has a 5.2 hectare socialized housing project in Balamban, the Verona.

Established in 2013, the company’s first project is now under its premium brand, Priland Prime, it features an upscale high-end 1.2 hectare subdivision Northwoods Residences located in Canduman, Mandaue City.

Through the years, Priland has continued to fill the growing need for quality properties in Metro Cebu. It is owned by the Cebuano family behind manufacturing, distribution and retail brands Prifood Corporation, Da Vinci’s Pizza, Conceptology, Pricon and formerly Three Sixty Pharmacy.

Solar slowdown?

In my opinion: solar is the best. But, even living in the Philippines since 19 years now, it seems to be so difficult to get solar panels installed. One thing is - of course - the question of price and the terrible price gaps.

Just now, the United States, the European Union and India are all slapping tariffs on Chinese solar panels, accusing Beijing of dumping. Does this trade war risk killing the nascent solar power industry?

The global solar industry is reeling this week following the Trump administration’s announcement that it will impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels, mainly from China.

The US Solar Industries Association said this will result in the delay or cancellation of billions of dollars in solar investments, and the loss of 23,000 US jobs this year.

Despite the dramatic predictions, the solar industry likely knew the announcement was coming.

The European Union has set roughly equivalent tariffs on imported Chinese panels, which were renewed in September 2017.

Another indication was how earlier this week, India set a whopping 70 percent import duty on Chinese and Malaysian solar panels.

Brussels, Delhi and Washington all allege that China has been “dumping” the panels on their markets — selling them at artificially low prices and taking a loss in the short term in order to kill competitors in rival markets.

Indeed, China’s solar industry has benefited from export. But when consumers, like you and me, get even a small breath of chance of benefits?

That’s how we stand today: SolarWorld Americas, the largest US solar panel manufacturer, first called for the US to impose such tariffs three years ago.

The move fits with US President Donald Trump’s protectionist promises.

But other parts of the US solar industry have been pleading with the administration to not follow Europe’s lead, saying it would cripple their young but

fast-growing businesses.

Have My Say They convinced a bipartisan group of 16 US Senators and 53 House members to write to Trump last year asking him not to impose the tariffs.

The US has set such tariffs before, in 2014, but ran afoul of World Trade Klaus Doring Organization rules. South Korea has said in will likely challenge these new tariffs with the WTO. Are we experiencing a global solar slowdown? I am afraid, yes. Heaven forbid!

While US and European solar panel manufacturers have said the tariffs are necessary to make a level playing field, solar installers, generators and users say thanks to the tariffs, those manufacturers may not have any customers left.

“While tariffs in this case will not create adequate cell or module manufacturing to meet US demand, or keep foreign-owned Suniva and SolarWorld afloat, they will create a crisis in a part of our economy that has been thriving,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Industries Association. This “will ultimately cost tens of thousands of hardworking, blue-collar Americans their jobs,” she added.

She predicted that the tariffs could cut forecast solar installations this year by nearly 20 percent, to 9 gigawatts from 11 gigawatts. “It’s just basic economics: If you raise the price of a product, it’s going to decrease demand for that product.”

US solar companies have pointed to the experience of their counterparts in Europe, where anti-dumping duties have been in place on Chinese solar panels since 2013. The industry association SolarPower Europe has said the EU tariffs have added at least solar/PAGE 11

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XU ROTC female cadet joins Guam student exchange program ROTC Cadet Major Audrey Yu of Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan was one of Filipino delegates to the Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) program in Guam in 2017.

“It’s a great privilege to represent the Philippines during the ROTC-CULP in Guam,USA” Yu said.

“Among hundreds of cadets from the Philippine Army, Air Force, and Navy, vying for this opportunity, I was selected to be one of the 22 outstanding ROTC cadets who were sent for training abroad from November 13 to 19.”

For Yu, an Industrial Engineering student at Xavier Ateneo, the most striking experience in the CULP program was the Field Training Exercise (FTX), a series of rigid simulations in

which actual combat tools and forces are used in the training of cadets in basic, intermediate, and advanced-level warfare skills.

“I could clearly identify the distinction between the Field Training Exercise executed abroad and here in our country, and it amazed me because, despite the differences, the Filipino cadets were able to adjust and survive in that kind of environment,” she shared.

The group paid a courtesy call to Philippine Consul General to Guam, Marciano De Borja, who tackled the importance of the mandatory ROTC in our economy and security.

Yu said that as cadets, “the backbone of Reserve Officers' Training Corps,” their functions include reinstituting the

importance of the concept of military service.

“ROTC cadets are trained to become fully equipped reservists so that in times of need, they will be able to respond immediately and effectively. As an advance cadet officer, my responsibilities are to impart my knowledge and to inspire other college students to pursue service for the country through military education,” she said.

Besides the strategic training and planning sessions, the CULP program was aimed at nurturing the cultural awareness and leadership skills of the participants, as part of strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, through the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Military.

“Apart from the opportunity given to me by the AFP, I am thankful for [having this sense of] responsibility to contribute to the modernization of our Armed Forces,” Yu said.

She met with Xavier Ateneo president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ in January and shared her experiences from the CULP program.

In the same meeting, Yap also met the AFPROTC Cadet of Year C/Col Elvin John M Baal ICL (who is also the Air Force Reserve Command Cadet of the Year). Yap congratulated both Baal and Yu for their respective achievements as well as the university's NSTP unit and the PAF-ROTC. This is the third time that a Xavier Atenean was chosen to be part of the Philippine delegation for the CULP program. Jan Rogie G Macandili and Danielle

PRRD’s suki barbershop opens CDO branches

Feature

Ayson participated in the said program in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

Yu has some advice to those who are interested to join the ROTC as their National Training Service Program (NSTP) in college.

“Never be afraid to try something

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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

February 5-11, 2018

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new. Explore every opportunity you will encounter because that is part of growing.

ROTC brings more than just military education, it instills discipline, resilience, nationalism, and most importantly, it sparks the passion of the youth for service.” PR

SSS Automated Tellering Systems ready to accept contribution payments using PRN

voluntary and OFW The Social Security members are required System (SSS) has to have their PRN when announced that its Story by MARK FRANCISCO paying to enable real Automated Tellering time posting of their Systems in 94 branches contributions (RTPC).

Rocky’s Barbershop nationwide are ready THERE’s not one but “Individual members was established in to accept contribution two branches of Rocky’s 1996 at Victoria Plaza payments from employers who have registered their Barbershop in Cagayan mobile numbers with the and individually-paying de Oro. One is located at Mall in Davao City SSS receive their PRN members under the SM City Cagayan de Oro, by entrepreneur Tom through SMS. Those Gempesaw, the first Enhanced Contribution the other at Centrio. who have registered Collection System using Not many Cagayanons barbershop to open an in our My.SSS facility outlet in a shopping mall. generated Payment may know it but Rocky’s at the SSS website can Barbershop’s main outlet At the time, only women Reference Numbers access their Statement enjoyed pampering in (PRNs). at JP Laurel Ave. in of Account with the mall-based salons.

Since January 16, Davao City is home to Jun Acub. The name may suki/PAGE 10 2018, self-employed, sss/PAGE 10 not ring a bell because he’s not a celebrity yet Mr. Acub has been the presidential barber since 2016.

That’s because Mr. Acub has been grooming President Duterte’s hair since he was still the mayor of Davao City!

When Duterte was elevated to the position of President, Mr. Acub’s stature was automatically promoted – he now distinctly holds the position as presidential barber.

That’s because the President never allows anyone in Malacañang or in Manila for that matter to groom his hair. He makes it a point to always return to his hometown Pane e Dolci inks an agreement with Vineyard Polytechnic College as its industry of Davao City to have a partner and curriculum provider for the one-month course leading to an NC-II haircut appointment with for Barista. Signing in behalf of Pane e Dolci are Ruben Castor (right) and Mark Lacuesta (left). Signing in behalf of Vineyard Polytechnic College is president where else? At Rocky’s Anton Padilla. photo supplied Barbershop.

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ARTS & CULTURE | HEALTH | EVENTS | TRAVEL & TOURISM | PEOPLE

CAGAYANTIMES Motoring de Oro

Editor: GILBERT Y. CHAO

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February 5-11, 2018

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Suzuki Philippines celebrates milestones with growing Team Suzuki PH

P

ioneer compact car distributor Suzuki Philippines (SPH) celebrates another successful year packed with strong sales performance and back-to-back recognitions and ushers in another exciting year with a gathering of its growing Team Suzuki Philippines (TSP) family.

The event, held January 20 at the House Manila, Remington Hotel in Pasay City, brought together SPH executives and Suzuki car club members to celebrate the milestones the company achieved last year and welcome the opportunities 2018

brings. It was also SPH’s way of showing its gratitude for the support and loyalty of the growing TSP family, which now exceeds 4,100 active members. Suzuki’s accredited car clubs consist of Team Alto Pilipinas, Team Celerio Philippines, Swift 1.2

Philippines, Club Ertiga Philippines, Vitara Club of the Philippines, Team Ciaz Philippines and Suzuki Jimny 4x4 Club Philippines.

More than 100 TSP Car Club members joined the thanksgiving celebration, which consisted of games,

raffles and other activities aimed to strengthen the bond among car club members.

SPH supported a number of the car clubs’ activities last year.

These activities included relationship-building and outreach programs that milestones/PAGE 10

One Suzuki for Marawi launched at the Raider R150 Summit 2018 Photos by Kit Pilla

Over 10,200 Suzuki riders filled the World Trade Center Manila on January 28, 2018 at the annual gathering of the legendary Raider R150. A new story of supremacy unfolds as the whole Team Suzuki Family come together to help in the fast rehabilitation of Marawi for the One Suzuki for Marawi donation drive in partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya, Inc. (ALKFI).

Year on year Suzuki, through the Raider R150 Summit, is committing itself to do an advocacy campaign as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. In 2017, Suzuki

focused in underscoring the importance of road safety awareness to its riders through a road safety lesson which has inked the country in the Guinness World Records as the host for the Largest road safety lesson with over 4200 participants. This year, the brand and Suzuki Foundation Inc. (SFI) focused in rebuilding Marawi. Everybody is well aware of what happened in Marawi and Suzuki Philippines understands that they need the biggest aid. The damage to property and the people, needless to say the trauma is huge that the rehabilitation will certainly take long.

Suzuki Philippines, together with its riders, dealers, trade partners and employees joined together as one family to fast track rebuilding Marawi. Suzuki and ALKFI placed a donation station during the Raider R150 Summit wherein members of Team Suzuki family were encouraged to place their cash donations. The brand alongside its thousands of riders, dealers, trade partners and employees were able to pull together a total of over 2.6M pesos during the event. Proceeds of these donations will be used in ALKFI's Sagip Kapamilya operations which will be summit/PAGE 10

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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

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CAGAYANTIMES Lifestyle Weekly de Oro

February 5-11, 2018

DOST-IX Rubber Testing Lab receives Philippine’s first ISO 17025:2005 Accreditation

By Shadam E. Suganob & John Apolinario

DOST-IX’s Raw and Natural Rubber Testing Laboratory has been recently conferred the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB).

The conferment of the said accreditation on January 08, 2018 makes DOST-IX’s laboratory, the 1st and only accredited testing facility for raw and natural rubber in the country. The facility is located at the DOST-IX Regional Office in Pettit Barracks, Zamboanga City The Rubber Lab Team hurdled the thorough assessment of its Quality Management System, testing procedures and laboratory staff competencies conducted by the accreditation bureau on August 10-11, 2017.

PAB recognized the facility for complying with the requirement mandated by international standards and issued the Certificate of Accreditation for a defined scope in Chemical and Mechanical Testing fields.

Registered Chemical Technician, Mr. Ruben M. Lim, Jr. and Registered Chemist, Mr. Shadam E. Suganob, were also approved as signatories for the following testing parameters: Dirt, Ash, Nitrogen, Mooney Viscosity, Volatile Matter, Initial Plasticity, Plasticity Retention Index and Color.

ISO/IEC 17025:2005

is one of the highest standards that a testing laboratory can obtain.

It is also the standard that laboratories must be accredited with in order to be considered technically competent to carry out tests and/or calibrations including sampling, using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratorydeveloped methods in the specified and listed test scope. Laboratories use ISO/IEC 17025 to implement a quality system aimed at improving their ability to consistently produce valid results.

The Natural Rubber Testing Laboratory was set-up through the DOST’s National Rubber R&D Agenda to address the need of a rubber testing facility in the country. DOST, through its GrantIn-Aids program, provided funds to set-up and operate a Natural Rubber Testing laboratory under the project, “Upgrading and Accreditation of Laboratories to Include Rubber Analyses in Strategic Areas in Mindanao”.

As such the laboratory aims to assist Rubber Processors in ensuring that the Standard Philippine Rubber (SPR) specifications are complied with the provision of the laboratory testing services. Laboratory testing provides objective evidence on the state and quality of rubber and rubber products in compliance to industry

regulations and market requirements.

Meanwhile, the Chemical/Physical and Microbiological

Laboratory also retained its ISO 17025 accreditation until 2023.

For further details,

please call Ms. Bernadette Belamide at (062) 991-1024 or email at dost9ordsecretariat@ gmail.com. You may

also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/DOSTRegion9 (DOST Region IX, S&T Media Service)

A first in the Philippines: Netizens choose next Cebu Pacific destination The country’s leading airline, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE: CEB) announces the top ten picks among millions of netizens who participated in the #CEBFlyMeTo campaign.

The breakthrough campaign utilized crowdsourcing to find out from netizens which destinations in the Philippines they would want Cebu Pacific to fly

next. #CEBFlyMeTo also aimed to bring communities together to voice out their thoughts and push for their hometowns to become one of CEB’s destinations. Since the campaign was launched in late-2017, over two million netizens watched, shared, reacted, and commented with

their #CEBFlyMeTo votes.

The top ten mostrequested destinations were announced via the CEB Facebook page last Thursday (http://bit. ly/2nwqBr7). These are are: Daet (Camarines Norte), Mati (Davao Oriental), Bantayan Island (Cebu), San Vicente (Palawan), Siquijor, Lal-Lo

One of the possible future CEB destinations, Bantayan Island is a hidden gem in Cebu which boasts of beautiful white sand beaches.

Photo by Joash Maramara.

(Cagayan), Marinduque, Maasin (Southern Leyte), Basco (Batanes), and Bislig (Surigao Del Sur). These destinations are currently being checked for feasibility of mounting commercial flights, using criteria like market readiness, state of airport and related infrastructure, as well as safety and security in the area.

This means that CEB could soon be flying to any of these breathtaking destinations. Cebu Pacific has several brand-new aircraft set to be delivered over the coming months.

From 2018 to 2022, CEB expects delivery of seven brand-new Airbus A321ceo, 32 Airbus A321neo, and eight ATR 72-600 aircraft.

“We want to engage with Filipino travelers and give them the opportunity to be part of our planning process as we continue to connect the Philippine netizens/PAGE 10 Newly-crowned Miss MSE Cagayan de Oro Wilgelyn Cortez (left of inset) and her runner-up Neeveah Sweden Kay Canino (right of inset) shine during the event which also pitted other candidates (from left in main picture) Rheame Ama, Rhena Mae Mopal, Princess Jacel Bautista, Roxan Estrada and Tia Marie Bayo towards each other in the event held Sunday at Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City. photo by mark francisco

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violence and serving survivors and their families.

For its 20th anniversary, V-Day is focusing on the timely issue of sexual harassment.

What are The Vagina Monologues?

The New York Times describes The Vagina Monologues as "funny" and "poignant", and by the Daily News as "intelligent" and "courageous". The play - first performed Off-Broadway and in locations around the world by Ms. Ensler dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage, and excitement in women’s experiences. V–Day grew out of the play that exploded onto the scene in 1998, breaking taboos about women’s sexuality and shattering silence around violence done to women and girls.

V-Day CDO is a local effort within the worldwide context of the 20th Anniversary V-Day Campaign.

V-Day CDO and The Vagina Monologues 2018 V-Day CDO’s The Vagina Monologues gathers some of Cagayan de Oro’s most talented artists and advocates.

These performers – men, women, and the LGBTQ - have volunteered their time and talent to help achieve the goal of reaching out and helping Kagay-anons realize that violence of all forms on all genders is real.

What makes this year’s show special is the fact that seven original pieces written

by Kagay-anons will be delivered by the artists.

In addition, some of the monologues were also translated to Binisaya.

This, the group believes, is the best way to help the audience understand the message of The Vagina Monologues.

The show also includes pieces lifted from A Memory A Monologue A Rant and A Prayer, which is a collection of monologues by world-renowned authors and playwrights like Maya Angelou and Edward Albee. MMRP features diverse voices of characters who break open, expose, and examine violence at all levels and types. The pieces create a realistic portrait of how violence against women (and the LGBTQ & men) affect every one of us.

V-Day CDO’s male artists perform the pieces from MMRP. Presented by Oro

Teatro Bulawanon, the same group that staged the Palanca awardwinning play Reyna Elena last November 2016, this year’s TVM also focuses on sensitive (and often misunderstood) issues such as bullying, rape, and sexual harassment.

Throughout the show, audiences will experience a roller coaster of emotions: joy, excitement, confidence, fear, confusion, disbelief, realization, and ultimately, fulfillment.

The goal of this year’s show is to make everyone realize that to move forward and find a solution for the problem of violence, we must work together regardless of gender. This is why the production has men and the LGBTQ working with and performing alongside women from all walks of life.

Benefit Show The Vagina Monologues is a benefit show. Proceeds will be used for programs and projects for women. The group will be working and coordinating with a civic organization in CDO to create these programs. Additionally, 10% of the total earnings will be given as spotlight donation to the V-Day movement.

Donation Tickets & T-Shirts Donation tickets for the show are available at Php150 for professionals and Php100 for students.

Reservations can be made by calling or sending a message to 0917-8708792.

To raise more funds for the VDay campaign, the TVM group is also selling personalized t-shirts with the print “Ang Bilat Dili Pamalikas”. The shirts are available in different sizes at Vjandep Bulua and Tiano, Aruga/ Amuma at SM CDO Downtown Premier, as well as at the Limketkai bazaar scheduled for Feb 8 to 14 at the LKK Rotunda area (center of the mall). Donation tickets will also be sold during the bazaar.

Join the campaign against violence of all forms, on all genders.

Watch The Vagina Monologues on February 17 at the VIP Hotel. It’s going to be an experience you won’t forget for a long time! PR

SSS... from page 5

corresponding PRN. On the other hand, members who have not yet registered in the My.SSS facility will be redirected to the SSS Branch's e-Center or the Member Services

Section for assistance,” said SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc.

Dooc also said that a special lane in all SSS branches was created so members can personally access their My.SSS account to check and edit their SSS records.

The PRN-based system will address delays in the posting of contribution payments that result in ineligibility to SSS benefits and loans and delays in the processing of claims.

The SSS receives thousands of requests for manual verification and correction of contribution records monthly. Most of the time, these are caused by errors in the contribution collection reports submitted by the employers and delayed or non-submission of such reports.

Aside from the My.SSS facility, individuallypaying members can also get their PRN by calling the PRN Helpline at 920-6446 to 55 or the Toll-Free Hotline 1-80010-225, which is open 24 hours, Mondays to Fridays. Members can also send their PRN queries and requests via email through PRNHelpline@sss.gov.ph. ”Other options in getting a PRN have been made available since some of our members don’t have internet access while others have difficulty logging in to our website due to the influx of users alongside ongoing system enhancements,” Dooc added.

Members are advised to have their PRN ready when paying so as to avoid delays. However, in case they forgot their PRN, SSS tellers have the capability to retrieve their PRN upon presentation of their UMID or SSS ID. For those who do not have their UMID or SSS ID, the SSS number and Date of Birth are required in order to retrieve the PRN. “Once a PRN is generated, they can proceed to our tellering section,” Dooc explained.

In related news, SSS collection partners are now working on their system enhancements in order to accept contribution payments using PRN and allow real time posting of contributions.

“SSS collection partners are required to enhance their systems to be PRN-based and RTPC-ready. We have been informed that some of them are already testing their enhanced

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systems in time for the deadlines set for them to comply. The accreditation of other collection partners who will not be able to comply will have to be suspended until they have completed their system enhancements,” Dooc clarified.

RTPC-compliant collection partners include Bayad Center Inc. SkyFreight, Bank of Commerce, Security Bank Corporation, i-Remit, Asia United Bank, Ventaja Inc. and Unionbank of the Philippines.

Hundred Islands in Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Members of the Suzuki Jimny 4X4 Club Philippines organized a Mt. Balabag Trail Day for newbie off-roaders. They joined the prestigious Rainforest Challenge Philippines 2017 as Official Marshalls.

They also donated 23 personal computers and a generator to the Sitio Cuccong Elementary School in partnership with Teletech.

Meanwhile, Swift 1.2 Philippines joined last year’s JSK Fun Run and held outreach programs, including one in partnership with No One from page 5 In Need organization.

Rocky’s Barbershop The Vitara Club was so popular that they organized several day eventually branched out trips and overnight in General Santos. In campings at the Jungle 2016, it was Cagayan de Base, Mt. Balabag, Oro’s turn – first opening Manipo Falls and up shop at SM City Treasure Mountain, all Cagayan de Oro and later in Rizal, for its members at Centrio. and their families. The At Rocky’s, the team’s activities also barbers are very reliable included a 4x4 clinic, 4x4 and experienced in the outdoor challenges, tree craft like Mr. Acub. planting and an outreach Every time a new styling Christmas party for the technique comes up, kids of Sitio Maysawa, barbers readily avail Tanay, Rizal. themselves of the Team Suzuki training.

Philippines, established Gempesaw envisions in 2015, is a non-profit Rocky’s Barbershop to organization that aims the be the premier male to foster camaraderie grooming destination and support among in Mindanao. With owners of the different branches popping Suzuki vehicles and up everywhere, he is SPH executives. Welldefinitely living closer to represented by different that dream. groups, it now consists of seven car clubs.

SPH lauds the from page 6 unceasing support aimed to strengthen the given by the car clubs relationship between as contributing to the SPH and car club successes the company members. achieved last year, Team Alto Pilipinas noting in particular how organized membership feedback from members gatherings and outreach helps in improving programs, one for the products and services.

Aeta community and At the same time, SPH a feeding program in reiterates its continued Binangonan, Rizal. Team support to the different Celerio Philippines’ car clubs and their annual tree planting activities for the year. went hand-in-hand “United in one with its Aeta Livelihood team, one spirit, one Program and Christmas- goal, our continued in-a-Box project. strong partnership with Team Ciaz the Suzuki car clubs, Philippines’ activities collectively called Team last year included grand Suzuki Philippines, membership EBs and is one of our major a fun run. The team’s achievements this past fun run in Mt. Samat in year. The support and March 2017 allowed Ciaz loyalty of the car clubs owners to enjoy the long to the Suzuki brand drive and experience the motivates each and every f lexibility and reliability one of us to work harder,” of the fuel-efficient said Assistant General subcompact sedan.

Manager for Automobile In addition to Cecil Capacete. the regular member Shuzo Hoshikura, meetings, Club Ertiga General Manager for Philippines, Inc. Automobile, said: (CEPI) held its annual “We look forward to summer family getfurther growing Team together last June and Suzuki Philippines tapped Cottolengo this year and reaffirm Filipino Orphanage as our commitment to beneficiary. CEPI also supporting all their had an outreach program activities. As we gear up last December at the for an even more fruitful

Suki...

Milestones...

2018, we are excited to further act on our mission to transform the automotive industry by delivering only quality products and services to better serve the Filipino people and bring to them the Suzuki Way of Life.”

Summit... from page 6

dedicated this time in the long-term rehabilitation in Marawi. The donation was turned over by SPH executives led by its President Hiroshi Suzuki, SFI President and SPH Managing Director Norminio Mojica and SPH Motorcycle Sales and Marketing General Manager Mr. Jun Bulot.

Accepting the pledge were ALKFI's Managing Director Susan Afan and Marketing's Rino Ramos and Sheryl Gabuya. Kapamilya stars and Team Suzuki's Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil were also present in the gathering.

Special guest and calendar girl Myrtle Sarroza was also present and gave a song and dance number to the delight of the audience.

Completing the pool of guests were LTO Director for Law Enforcement Service Francis Rey Almora and Suzuki Philippines Marketing Manager Mr. Monch Bontogon.

Netizens... from page 8

islands and offer the lowest fares. We are now in the process of reviewing the operational viability of flying to these destinations.” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution at Cebu Pacific.

The #CEBFlyMeTo campaign was inspired by an online petition spearheaded by residents and the local government of Masbate to mount commercial flights to the island-province in 2016. After feasibility and technical checks, Cebu Pacific launched commercial flights between Manila and Masbate in February 2017.

Today, Cebu Pacific has 18 flights weekly between Manila and Masbate. The online campaign has allowed Masbateños to contribute to the economic growth of the province by helping open doors of opportunities for business and tourism.

Aside from Masbate, Cebu Pacific was the first to mount commercial flights to destinations that are now up-andcoming tourist areas such as Siargao, Camiguin and Virac.

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Force...

create new things,” Ms. Amir noted. from page 1 PMAP-CDO will update its Mission/ National PMAP. “So Vision to bring into while we continue to fruition the best practices build on our strengths, learned during their we take on new benchmarking with the directions in addition Hong Kong Institute to our regular meetings, of Human Resources trainings, anniversary, Management. fellowship, CSR and Branding PMAP-CDO X’mas Party.”

To raise public Collaboration awareness and recall, To build a stronger the chapter will actively network, Ms. Amir promote brand awareness said the chapter aims and recognition by to promote synergy projecting a uniform look by grouping members when communicating according to their respective sectors during meetings, seminars, and programs, so when meetings to promote Kagay-anons think internal collaboration of HR, they would and networking. In automatically think of addition, all meetings PMAP-CDO. would have a Help In addition, PP Jojo Desk to assist members Ortiz will fine tune the with their queries and content of the chapter’s concerns. mission/vision for its new “Collaboration with website: PMAP-CDO. your fellow PMAPers org. The website would will increase since we eventually become the will have 4 members preferred interface for per committee so that PMAPers and the public will be 4 members x who seek information 7committees=28 plus about PMAP, its 10 officers & Board members, and the latest Members + 8 CoPP on HR. members = 46,” she Revisiting committees explained. “With 90 Not the least, PMAPmembers, this means, CDO has renamed half of you will be the Professional actively collaborating.

This will also train more Development Committee as Leadership & of you for future PMAP Development to expand leadership roles.” its activities and provide On top of synergy opportunities to increase among members of the same industry sector, the members’ personal and chapter will also set up a professional competence and knowledge. L&D Benchmarking Platform designed to exchange best Comm will handle both mentoring and practices. Three local benchmarking programs benchmarking events in addition to the regular have been scheduled for trainings/seminars.

2018 by Trustee Bambie An Information Espiritu.

Communication Externally, the new Council of Presidents will Technologies Committee has also been created to handle collaborations help modernize chapter with TESDA, Go operations, handle the Negosyo, DOLE Safety, website, and actively help and schools for JPMAP. members embrace the To sustain these digital disruption. initiatives, the chapter “Your chapter will will reactivate the literally embrace digital Mentoring Program set disruption and automate up in 2016 by PP Jojo day-to-day operational Ortiz. processes. Your trustees “The mentoring will will innovate, will be more structured and work smarter, but not will culminate with necessarily harder,” Ms. certificate awarding Amir explained. “For during our X’mas instance, our Treasurer Party,” Ms. Amir said. is now using an app to “Mentors in the 5 areas manage our finances.” of HR are now available: Trustees and Talent Acquisition, Committee Chairs will Industrial Relations share a joint PMAPwith Union & without CDO email account to Union; Performance be on the same page Management, instantly and be able to Occupational Safety work without the hassle & Standards. This is of texting, calling, and gratis, a free service for going the extra mile you.” to coordinate work.

Another project is Trustees with also share the PMAP store under access to an online VP Josette Cellon which directory of members for will showcase products easy eblasting. of interested members The chapter is and HR books by local also moving to a new authors such as JBJ. “As per Pres. Michelle: office address at Uno Bldg, Apolinar Velez We are thought leaders, St., three blocks from bring new ideas. and

Seda Centrio, our 2018 meeting venue.

Giving Back In line with PMAP National President Michelle Garcia’s mandate to give back to members and the community, PMAP-CDO will give back through its well-curated HR Insider e-newsletter that will feature HR News, market info, and trends and not just mere chapter event updates. Members will also enjoy the benefit of a Q&A e-forum on Industrial Relations to be handled by IPP Vivien Lawansa.

“We want to provide CPD units to those attending our trainings and seminars and hence we will apply for CPD accreditation with PRC this year. Not the least, we will give back to the community and help PMAP’s AIHRM (Asian Institute of Human Resource Management) and Xavier Ateneo by recruiting lecturers as well as students.”

“I absolutely believe in the big role that PMAP plays in our careers,” Ms. Amir stressed. “I will serve PMAP-CDO and do what I can to ensure that the same opportunities are made available to you in the same way they were made available to me thousands of years ago when I was working in Marketing.”

She also committed to continue programs that strengthen professionalism – through education, training, opportunities, assistance and other resources.

“However, I cannot succeed unless I have your support and cooperation,” she said.

“Please get involved, join the committees for PMAP-CDO to have a positive impactful influence in your careers.

“In closing, I would like to thank Grace Maniquiz, my HR partner in Xavier Ateneo, she heads HR operations, and my hunk of a husband Moshe Amir, who graciously lets me devote a lot of time to PMAP.

Event... from page 1

and Northern Mindanao who plan to organize tours or conferences in places like Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Zamboanga, Bohol and Boracay to attend the one day business session on February 22," said Charles Lim, the organizer of the event.

Lim said TravelX will provide a perfect networking platform for travel stakeholders and at

the same time, promote increased awareness about the beautiful tourist attractions of the featured destinations evn as he urged the travel community in the region to take advantage of it.

Some of the prestigious establishments which have already signed up for TravelX are Radissons Blu, Park Inn, Bellevue Resort, Be Resort, Almont Resort, Savoy Hotel, Belmont Hotel, Marco Polo, Almont Hotel, San Remegio Beach Club, Quest Hotel,Dakak Resort and properties, Be Resorts, Bohol Beach Club, Bai Hotel and Cagayan de Oro-based hotels like Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort, and Seda Centrio.

Other entities participating include the Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office, Lite Shipping, Cebu Pacific Air, Asiatic Adventure Tours, Enchanted Kingdom, itravel tourist lane, 4 bros and i events and travel, getGo. Registration is open on a first come first served basis to corporate clients. travel agents, civic clubs and accredited event organizers from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental for free. Interested parties can call Apollo Santos at +639273173737 or email him a apollo.selrahco@ gmail.com.

TravelX -The B2B Event is supported by the Department of Tourism regional offices of regions 7, 9, 11 and 10 with Limketkai Luxe Hotel and Cebu Pacific as main sponsors and Quest Hotel and Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort as featured event sponsors. Media partners are Business Week Mindanao, CDO Bloggers, KBP Cagayan de Oro Chapter and CDODev.com.

BIMWAM... from page 2

present water situation in the area and to conduct studies on how barangays (or puroks) utilize (supply and demand) and manage their water resources.

“Critical to this is the need for good information that describes the condition, trend, spatial location, and variability of water resources,” she said.

Carmona’s team, at the end of their project, was able to share a Water Resources Inventory and Mapping to the local governments across their research area to guide community stakeholders in their future water

management decisions.

For Mindanao The BIMWAM project with Xavier Ateneo as the local lead partner is also funded by the Académie de Recherche et d’enseignement (ARES) and will run for five years.

The project also features a call for applications for two PhD scholarships (PhD in Hydrogeology and PhD in Economics) to be conferred by the Belgian universities.

Dr Guadalupe Calalang, BIMWAM Project Coordinator for the South and professor at the Agricultural Engineering Department of Xavier Ateneo, said that the panel has already interviewed six PhD applicants to date.

Calalang also expressed her gratitude to the partners of the project, which she described as a “noble cause for the sustainable water resource development and management in Mindanao.” (XU Communications Office)

Solar...

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from page 4

€500 ($622) to the cost of a household installation.

“These policies have been tried in many parts of the world, and in not one case have the measures lead to more jobs, more manufacturing and more value,” said James Watson, SolarPower Europe’s CEO. “In essence, trade measures are a blunt tool with many unforeseen consequences on solar manufacturers of other crucial elements of the value chain.”

Let’s face this: solar power has been massively expanded in the US over the past several years. How about in the Philippines?

The US is the world’s fourth-largest solar market after China, Japan and Germany. Zvi Schreiber, CEO of online freight marketplace Freightos, noted that the tariff is going to cause disruption in global trade patterns for these products — which could have the effect of shutting down new solar projects around the world. from page 3 “There will be shifts dealing with 20,000 in demand,” he said in circuit kilometers of an interview. “It’s not cables and over 200 just the solar panels substations scattered themselves — today across the three main any product they islands, we can’t afford to manufacture includes be mired in dealing with dozens if not hundreds of unnecessary parties.” materials.”

“We’ve been following Even if the playing this up with the DICT field isn’t level at the for the last nine months. moment, Schreiber But since the TransCo questions whether involvement, we haven’t Washington and Brussels really gotten anywhere,” are cutting off their nose NGCP stressed. to spite their face, risking As the country’s sole killing off an industry power transmission that does environmental operator, NGCP was good in the name of free granted an exclusive trade — and risking a 50-year franchise to trade war with China in operate, maintain and the process. expand the nation’s “Of course, the big transmission network, loser is the environment,” which carries with it he said. “If China is thousands of circuit willing to subsidize solar kilometers of existing panels, we should all say fiber optic cables that run ‘thank you very much,’ across Luzon, Visayas, because that’s going to and Mindanao. These help our planet — which facilities are currently is more important than being used for purely whether it’s fair.” internal communication That’s something that purposes. benefits all of us.

NGCP is a Filipino+++ led, privately owned Email: doringklaus@ company in charge of gmail.com or follow me operating, maintaining, in Facebook, Twitter or and developing the LinkedIn or visit my www. country’s power grid, led germanexpatinthephilipby majority shareholders pines.blogspot.com or Henry Sy, Jr. and Robert www.klausdoringsclassiCoyiuto, Jr. calmusic.blogspot,com .

NGCP...

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