Mindanao Daily NorthMin (December 1, 2013)

Mindanao Daily NEWS

Volume II, No. 142

web portal: www.businessweekmindanao.com

Sunday

December 1, 2013

P15.00

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Hard-hit areas in Leyte to get P5m from Oro govt

T

By RUEL VILLANUEVA PELONE, Managing Editor

HE city government of Cagayan de Oro has formally turned over the amount of P5 million to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 10 (DSWD-10) as financial assistance to the victims of super typhoon “Yolanda” in the province of Leyte.

Manuel Borres, DSWD10 division chief for administration and support services, official received the donation in the form of check––in behalf of the victims of Yolanda––from City Social Welfare Department (CSWD) Officer Teddy Sabugaa and Atty. Beda Joy Elot, the city accountant.

“The horrific typhoon Yolanda has brought havoc to the Visayas and some parts of Luzon and Mind-

anao,” said Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno in his one-page letter addressed to DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman.

“The massive destruction to the lives of thousands of people and the devastation to properties that left millions of our countrymen homeless have prompted the city government of Cagayan DONATION. City Social Welfare Department (CSWD) Officer Teddy Sabugaa (Standing left) of Cagayan de Oro de Oro to heed the needs of and Manuel Borres (right), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) division chief for administration the Yolanda victims,” and support services of Region 10, witness the signing of donation intended for the victims of typhoon Yolanda in See AREAS, page A11

the hard-hit areas of the province of Leyte.

Photo coutesy of the City Information Office of Cagayan de Oro

PrimeNews

‘Tribute to heroes’ slated in Zambo on Monday

Bogus social media accounts

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle warned the public against several social networking pages using his name, noting that they are bogus sites being used for fake cash solicitations.

By Felino M. Santos of PNA

See BOGUS, page A11

dress this problem because there is a possibility that the bottled water sold in the market is not of superior quality as claimed,” Rodriguez said.

The measure, to be known as the “Safe Bottled Water Act of 2013,”

ZAMBOANGA City––The local government will hold on Monday, December 2, a solemn ceremony honoring the fallen and living heroes of the September standoff here.

The event will be held at 8 a.m. at City Hall right after Monday’s flag raising ceremony.

Dubbed as “Tribute to Heroes,” the activity is meant to remember in a special way those who have risked their lives in defense of this city against infamy perpetrated by some misguided elements affiliated with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding-chair Nurulaji Misuari.

City Hall Information Officer Sheila Covarrubias said the “the event seeks to put a closure to the

See WATER, page A11

See HEROES, page A11

Government not singling out Manny THE Palace on Friday maintained that it is not singling out Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao in going after his tax deficiencies.

See MANNY, page A11

Still no hope for ‘Yolanda’ victims Youth group Anakbayan, together with Tindog, a network of Yolanda survivors, family and supporters, held an “Interfaith Rally for Relief and Justice” in Mendiola, Manila Friday to press the Aquino government to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation support for the people affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

See no hope, page A11

SCOUTING EVENT. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the second district of Cagayan de Oro City gives the Boy Scout

hand salute to scouts of a school in barangay Agusan. The congressman was asked by the school officials to join the scouting event Thursday during his visit to the barangay. Mindanao Daily News photo by Gerry Lee Gorit

Bill to regulate bottled water business

By Lorelei V. Castillo

A bill regulating the bottled water business has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and his brother

Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) authored House Bill 1974 to address the increasing number of unregulated bottled water businesses which are operating in many parts of the country.

“There is an urgent need to ad-

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A2 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

EDITOR: RUEL PELONE, ruel_pelone2002@yahoo.com

Council committee to look into ownership of lot in Gusa in Oro CAGAYAN de Oro Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas referred to the City Council committee on economic enterprises chaired by Councilor Dometilo Acenas Jr. the concern regarding ownership of the lot used as the eastbound terminal and public market in Barangay Gusa.

This is in response to the special report of Councilor President D. Elipe during the regular session Monday that this has yet to be

determined.

He maintained the need to clarify the matter saying it may adversely affect vendors doing business at the eastbound terminal.

“Kinahanglan masuta ang kahimtang sa maong kaso ug matino kinsa ang tinuod nga nanag-iya sa lote sa dili pa ang kagamhanan sa dakbayan mohimo og mga lakang nga posibleng maghatag og alanganin sa mga mamaligyaay sa merkado,” he added.

Two NGOs accredited

BY virtue of Resolution No. 11516-2013, the 17th City Council during its regular session last Monday presided over by Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Caesar Ian E. Acenas accredited/ re-accredited two more civil society organizations in the city’s Local Special Bodies. This after, the legislative body received the endorsement from barangays and from the City Planning and Development Office for the accreditation of the Global Mindanao Polytechnic, Inc. and Philippine Island Kids International Foundation, Inc. The legislation was favorably acted upon by the committees on education chaired by Councilor Adrian Barba, on social services chaired by Councilor Enrico Salcedo and on laws and rules chaired by Councilor Ramon G. Tabor.

METRO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY l MISAMIS ORIENTAL

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Body to look into concern of subdivision homeowners THE City Council Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chaired

by Councilor Zaldy Ocon on Wednesday addressed the complaint of a homeowner of Morning Mist Village – Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro City against a neighbor who owns four dogs.

According to the complainant the pets emit foul odor and cause noise disturbance in the neighborhood.

At the meeting, and after the inspection conducted by the sanitary inspectors of the City Health Office, the owner agreed to transfer his pets to his shop outside the village.

Ocon stressed that health should be everyone’s concern.

He lauded the MMV Homeowners Association led by Mr. Albert Lim for their efforts to help solve the issue by initiating measures

WATER PUMP.

The City Local Environment and Natural Resources (CLENRO) Chief Edwin Dael of Cagayan de Oro and Norman S. Rosal, monitoring team head, score anew against illegal mining operation in the hinterland sitio Araw-Araw in Barangay Pagalungan when they confiscate a Honda water pump on November 27.

Photo coutesy of the City Information Office of Cagayan de Oro

in the village.

According to Lim homeowners had been advised to use fabric conditioners in cleaning the areas where dogs urinate and to throw their wastes at the drainage

provided by the subdivision.

To prevent the same problem in other subdivisions, Councilor Lourdes Candy Darimbang, member of the committee, advised pet lovers to provide sepa-

rate septic tanks for the wastes of their animals.

The lady councilor said, residents who are dog owners should consider their moral responsibility to their neighborhood. (ELB)

Urban poor committee to study proposed amendment of ‘piso-piso’

THE proposed amendment of Ordinance No. 9888-2005, establishing the comprehensive socialized housing program of the underprivileged homeless citizens of Cagayan de Oro (Piso-Piso Program) will soon be tackled by the City Council committee on urban and rural poor chaired by Councilor Leon Gan. The proposal was submitted

by Mayor Oscar Moreno, saying this is in consonance with the city government’s priority to provide decent houses for the constituents thru real ownership of the lots they have occupied under the govern-

ment’s socialized housing program and to fast track the issuance of the titles for those deserving and qualified beneficiaries.

P u rsu ant to t he ord i nanc e, emancipation of underprivileged and homeless people thru ownership of decent housing is a basic human right and people empowering.

Section 5 of the ordinance states that lots awarded, including any fixed improvements therein, shall not be transferable, except thru hereditary succession, within seven years from the execution of Deed of Sale in favor of said beneficiary.

Final transfer of ownership shall be made upon execution of a Deed of Sale with one peso (P1.00) consideration plus the payment of the acquisition cost corresponding to the awarded area, pursuant to the ordinance.

Mayor Moreno proposed that in the case of donated land, the purchase value/cost shall be determined by the City Appraisal Committee, which shall take into account the allocable development cost of the land concern, which shall be added to Section 5.

JBD

sunday | DECember 1, 2013

Mindanao Daily A3 NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao -wide Community Newspaper

A4 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

News In Focus

Seda celebrates 1st year anniversary with Christmas Holidays room packages The Night Stalker

Anti-corruption measures vital for relief efforts: Ibon

RESEARCH group Ibon Foundation warned that if anticorruption measures are not put in place, the sudden large flow of resources into relief and rehabilitation for Yolanda-stricken areas are vulnerable to abuse.

“Unresolved pre-disaster corruption in government agencies was already a problem before the recent super typhoon,” Ibon executive director Sonny Africa said, adding that controls must be put in place to ensure that resources for post-Yolanda efforts are not wasted and, instead, go to their most effective uses.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the most recent estimated total cost of damages is P12.2 billion, while that of rebuilding can range from US$5.8-15 billion.

The lives and livelihoods of some 2.2 million families with 10.0 million Filipinos are in varying states of

Cagayan de Oro’s selfstyled Urban Lifestyle Hotel is celebrating the Yuletide Holidays with four unique room packages as a yearend treat to its loyal guests and patrons.

“We have a Daily Holiday Rate for our regular guests, Weekend Holiday Rate for our weekend patrons, Christmas Package for those who wish to spend an unforgettable Christmas with us, and a New Year’s Eve package for those who wish to greet the New Year in style,” said Lorenzo Tang, hotel manager.

The all-inclusive Daily Holiday Rate of P4,300 nett for a Deluxe Room booked any day from

See RELIEF, p.A11

DENR 10, POs to reforest Oro uplands

See packages, p.A11

Fun run alang sa mga biktima sa kalamidad sa Visayas ihigayon Ipahigayon sa buhatan sa Departamento sa Agrikultura ang usa ka fun run for a cause sa umalabot nga Disyembre 6, 2013 adlaw nga Domingo, alas singko sa buntag didto sa SM Compound ning siyudad.

Ang “Run for Rice: Run to be RICEponsible” kalabot sa kasaulugan sa National Rice Awareness Month sa bulan sa Nobyembre ug nagtinguha

SUNday | december 1, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

nga makatabang sa mga naapektuhan sa linog ug sa bagyong Yolanda sa Visayas.

Kalabot niini giaghat ang tanan sa pagsalmot sa maong kalihukan alang sa pakighiusa sa tumong sa kasaulugan nga mao ang responsableng pagkunsumo sa bugas ug kan-on nga usa sa mga paagi aron makab-ot ang tinguha nga mapaigo

ang gidaghanong bugas sa nasud.

Mamahimong magparehistro sa DA-10 Office of the Regional Executive Director sa dalan Antonio Luna, siyudad sa Cagayan de Oro sugod karong Nobyembre 28 hangtod Disyembre 5 o sa SM Cagayan de Oro karong Disyembre 2-5 ning tuiga. Ang maong fun run adunay duha

ka kategorya nga mao ang five-kilometer run nga adunay registration fee nga P250 ug dunay libre nga jersey; u gang 2-kilometer run nga adunay registration fee nga P150. Alang sa dugang kasayuran mahimong motawag sa numero sa buhatan sa DA, 856-2753 hangtod 55. # (VANESSA MAE S. SIANO, DA-RAFID 10)

THE Department of Environment and Natural R e s ou rc es, R e g i on 1 0 (DENR-10) through the initiative of Congressman Rufus Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City launched the 3,000 hectares reforestation project on November 29, 2013 at Barangay Dansolihon, Cagayan de Oro City.

Congressman Rodriguez said that the reforestation project has P37 million allotment from the national budget through the See UPLANDS, p.A11

TAWANTAWAN

sunday | december 1, 2013 Editor: JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Asst editor: ARJAY S. FELICILDA Email: mindanaodailycaraga@gmail.com

NorthMin News

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Malaybalay wants clearer ECC terms for agri firms M ALAYBALAY CITY — The city council is eyeing an ordinance that will make it easier to monitor the adherence of agricultural companies to the terms of the environmental compliance certificates (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a hearing on Tuesday, Vice Mayor Roland Deticio said the current ECCs does not quantify the provisions on silt traps, tree plantations and other measures that would mitigate the impact of an agricultural company’s operations.

The hearing, which was attended by officials of Del Monte Philippines Inc. and Lapanday Diversified Products Corp. aimed to draw out measures that will ensure environmental protection.

Deticio clarified the city

government does not intend to duplicate the DENR’s function of issuing ECCs. He told MindaNews the firm’s ECCs have vague provisions, which pose problems to enforcing measures related to proper soil management and flood control.

The vice mayor cited, for instance, that the ECCs simply provides that trees should be planted in the buffer zone but doesn’t specify how many trees should be planted per hectare.

Del Monte and Lapanday presented the measures they have done to mitigate soil erosion and flooding.

Dole Skyland, Sumifru Philippines Inc. and Nature’s Fresh were scheduled to attend the hearing next week.

After the hearings, Deticio said, they will pass an ordinance to address flooding in the area.

But he stressed that the upcoming ordinance would not affect the city’s moratorium on the expansion of plantations approved last year.

In September, the Bukidnon Multipartite Monitoring Team cited the need to quantify provisions of the ECCs for easier enforcement.

At least 360 families or over 500 individuals were affected after floods hit the adjoining barangays of Aglayan and Cabangahan on October 5.

The barangay chairmen of the two villages blamed the floods on Lapanday, and called on the firm to stop operations in certain areas But Lapanday officials maintained during the hearing that they had complied with mitigation measures. They said the volume of water was really big that flooding was unavoidable.

Deticio countered that no flooding occurred in these areas before the plantations came.

Ma. Anita Fernandez, chief of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, told the hearing that flood and soil erosion control measures should start during land preparation.

In her report to the city council on October 22, Fernandez recommended the establishment of “specific guidelines/standards for instituting mitigating measures /environmental conservation to be strictly followed by the company”.

Her report recommended allotting 10 percent of a plantation’s land area as buffer zone, along with a specific number of silt traps per hectare depending on slope and elevation, imposition of slope or elevation limit, among others.

Fernandez said a company may be allowed to use an area with a slope of 12 percent and above if it can present a “comprehensive soil erosion mitigation plan… prepared and applied with the close monitoring of the city multipartite monitoring team and the barangay concerned.”

“Expansion of plantations in the upper portion of Aglayan and other barangays, in areas with high elevation and critical slopes, should be strictly regulated,” her report said.

It added the firms should install silt traps, check dams and catchment basins.

Fernandez also recommended designing a viable land-use program and eco-friendly farming practices to discourage landowners from leasing their lands to agricultural firms.(Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

DOLE-X awards 12 private companies with Tripartite City councilor calls for Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards convening of traffic board Cagayan de Oro City --- Department of Labor and Employment-X (DOLE-X) Regional Director, Alan M. Macaraya, awards some twelve (12) private companies of the region with the Tripartite Certificate of Compliance with Labor Standards (TCCLS) first level, under the Incentivizing Compliance Program, on 26 November 2013 at the DOLE-X Conference Room, 3F Monte Carlo Building, RER Subdivision Phase I, Kauswagan National Highway, Cagayan de Oro City.

TCCLS is an award given to an establishment that has been verified by the Tripartite Certification Committee (TCC), composed of DOLE, Management, and Workers sectors representatives, as compliant with Labor Standards, Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Assessment includes no violation on General Labor Standards for the past three (3) years and there is no fatal accident or serious occupational illness within one (1) year.

This recognition program is in line with the development approach in the enforcement activities of the Department. The principle is to do away with Government interference in the internal operation of the company and allow management to self-assess its compliance to standards. Government will only intercede if there are requests for assistance. DOLE-X Regional Director Alan M. Macaraya explaining the develIn his message Director Macaraya, high- opmental approach on labor standards of the Department through (photo: MED/DOLE-X IMSD) lighted that the TCCLS will motivate, not TCCLS. only the awardees but other establishments who signify their intentions to participate, to voluntarily comply with Labor Standards and other statutory standards to promote partnership, thus, preventing labor disputes and advance workplace productivity.

Aside from the TCCLS award, the Regional Office is now pushing the 12 companies to aspire for the Secretary’s award and the Seal of Excellence of the President of the Republic.

The following companies received with recognition the said TCCLS award: (1) Bonne Business Corporation (N-Hotel), Kauswagan Highway, Cagayan de Oro City; (2) Del Monte Philippines, Inc., Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City; (3) Nestle Phils. Inc., Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City; (4) Rural Transit (Mindanao) Inc. – Bulua, Bulua Highway, Cagayan de Oro City; (5) Pilipinas Kao, Inc., Luz Banzon, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental; (6) Bagong Lipunan Transit, Inc., Poblacion, Gingoog City; (7) Busco Sugar Milling Co. Inc., Butong, Quezon, Bukidnon; (8) Dole Phils. Inc. – South Skyland Zone, Lumbo, Valencia City, Bukidnon; (9) Super 5 Transport, Integrated Bus Terminal, Tambo, Iligan City; (10) Elim Agricultural Supply, Lam-an, Ozamiz City; (11) Medina College, Inc. (General Hospital), Gov. Angel Medina Ave., Carmen Annex-Ozamiz City; and (12) Risa Traders Marketing Corporation, Gallardo St., Ozamiz City. (By: Mildred E. Dablio, Labor Communications Officer with additional reporting from Atheneus A. Vasallo, OIC – Legal Service Unit Officer)

C AG AYA N DE ORO CITY – A city councilor on Thursday called for the convening of the local traffic management board to resolve the worsening traffic problem in this seaport capital of 800,000 people.

Councilor Candy Darimbang urged Mayor Oscar Moreno to immediately convene the TMB so that the worsening traffic problem could be resolved immediately.

Darimbang cited the various street corners here where traffic congestion is at its worst during peak hours of the day because of what she considered as traffic mismanagement.

She said that the city council has already passed Resolution No. 11486–2013 last October, allowing the city mayor to convene and appoint members of the local traffic management board.

Mayor Moreno has

not acted on the resolution while the people of Cagayan de Oro continue to suffer the menace of the traffic mess, Darimbang noted.

She said that the resolution states that the traffic problems and issues in the city should be resolved in a rational manner, guided by facts, and should be shaped through consultation.

"The TMB serves as the advisory body to the city mayor regarding the formulation of traffic plans and programs for the city," Darimbang said.

She added that the traffic plans and programs should be submitted for approval by the City Council as mandated under Ordinance No. 10551-2007.

Darimbang said the traffic problems that the city experiences every day need immediate attention and action by the traffic management board. (PNA)

A6 Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE, Email: amediante@yahoo.com

Opinion

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Rustan’s Shopwise Hypermaket makes its Mindanao Daily NEWS northmin . westmin . caraga . davao Your Mindanao-wide Community Newspaper

The Mindanao Daily nORTHMIN, Mindanao Daily CARAGA , mindanao daily westmin and , Mindanao Daily DAVAO newspapers are published daily by MINDANAO DAILY NEWS at Door 2, Tanleh Building, Abellanosa St., Brgy. Consolacion, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Certififcate No. 01791042, and with Business Permit No. 201313231, TIN No. 209-980-927, Tel. Nos: (088) 856-3344, (08822)72-33-44, 0917-7121424, 0947-8935776 E-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com, mindanaodailynews@gmail.com Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com

Mindanao debut in LKKS Cagayan de Oro

MINDANAO DAILY NEWS Publisher ALLAN M. MEDIANTE Editor-in-Chief Nelson v. constantino Executive Editor- Business ruel pelone Managing Editor cheng ordoÑez Associate Editor CRIS DIAZ Executive Editors Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy Lifestyle Editor glenn palacio Lifestyle Photographer Arjay Felicilda Assistant Editor felix santillan RONALD MASTAIL CLIFFORD SANTILLAN Layout Artists Rene Michael BaÑos Regional Editor-Northmin PAT SAMONTE CHRIS PANGANIBAN Regional Editors-Caraga AL JACINTO Regional Editor-WestMin irene dayo Reporter-NorthMin gerry lee gorit Photo Journalist ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI NOTARY PUBLIC- JUNI LAW OFFICE CELL NO: 09352379999/ (088) 8573595 CRUZ TAAL ST., CAG. DE ORO CITY Legal Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------

ADMINISTRATION

ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, Ph.D. General Manager MER SUDARIA HR Manager DOLLY PELONE Comptroller melanie rivera shIela GOSANES lovely mae casenas SWEETIE CASENAS MERCY PECONADA Advertising orlan bulotamo Circulation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

MARKETING staff

JOHN DEL BANDO gracelle mae beber candy macabale - 09161326483 LIEZL A. DELOSO - 0905-2123718 JOE PALABAO - 0905-1569709 ED MAINIT - 0915-6590273 RIZA O. ARES - 0915-9753277/0920-9600223 North Buk. - DAHLIA S. BENEMERITO-0926-858-2013

SOUTH Bukidnon-MILDRED BORBON TORREJAS

KIBAWE, BUKIDNON - ROSEMARY GENON Iligan City - JEFFREY OPONDA-0936-1174378 tubod - louie bukod-0948-1323348 OROQUIETA CITY - PJ TREMEDAL-0919-3452375 ARMM - Sony Sudaria-0947-4810371 cotabato - ANALISA ESPAÑOLA-0916-9351714 davao - MARLON GAYOG-09276314995 davao - tom a. caballero-09105783126 davao - JOY MONTEZA-09479662790 butuan - PAT SAMONTE-0912-8091093 san frans - CRIS PANGANIBAN-09277974193 San Francisco - deding PANGANBAN-0927-7974193 Tandag City - GEN CANTOR-0929-5817116 Pagadian City - GRACE FRANCISCO Pagadian City - CRISMON LLANOS Member: ORO CHAMBER Philippine Press Institute

We salute the Rustan Group, of Companies for its various investments in Mindanao, which translates into making a robust economy for the island, and an enticing haven of dependable investors.

- Mindanao Daily News, November 28, 2013 -

CONGRATUL ATIONS TO THE homemakers. Shopwise Cagayan de Rustan’s Group of Companies for Oro joins other Shopwise branches spreading good business to Mindanao located in Alabang, Makati, Libis, with the establishment and operation Araneta Center, Antipolo, Harrison of the first Hypermarket in Cagayan Plaza, and Sucat in Paranaque. de Oro City.

A hypermarket is a superstore that This is good news to all shoppers and combines a supermarket and a departbulk merchants who prefer to buy ment store. The combination results goods in hypermarkets, Shopwise, into an expansive retail facility housthe country’s pioneering hypermarket ing a wide range of products under chain, had the grand opening Shop- one roof, including full groceries lines wise Cagayan de Oro, on November and general merchandise. In theory, 16, this year. hypermarkets allow customers to satThe City’s strategic location was isfy all their routine shopping needs primarily considered for in one-stop-shop visit.

Editorial Shopwise’s 12th branch of Hypermarkets, like other Shopwise in Cagayan de Oro big-box stores, typically have City. Rustan’s Supercenters Inc. (RSI), business models focusing on highwhich operates Shopwise, says Cagayan volume, low-margin sales. They gende Oro is a strategic location as it is erally have more different brands of now considered the gateway to other merchandise available at any one time. cities and provinces in Mindanao Because of their large footprints, many Shopwise Hypermarket is located at hypermarkets choose suburban or the newly built building of the East out-of-town locations that are easily Wing of the Limketkai Center. accessible by transportation.

Shopwise Hypermarket was founded We salute the Rustan Group, of by the owners of Rustan’s in November Companies for its various invest1998, and is considered the pioneer ments in Mindanao, which translates in hypermarket operations in the into making a robust economy for Philippines. It aims to target middle- the island, and an enticing haven of income families and budget-conscious dependable investors.

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Community

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Editor: ALLAN M. MEDIANTE, Email: amediante@yahoo.com

Lighting up hope in communities affected by typhoon Yolanda La Paz, Bogo City, Cebu–– In the wake of devastation left behind by super-typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda), the small farming community of Bliss on the outskirts of Bogo City in Cebu province has started to see their first glimmer of hope.

After days of darkness and despair, with relief efforts being hampered by the disruption to transportation links, communication channels and the power supply, some aid has started to reach the 56 households here.

At nightfall, the villagers have been able to take their first-steps towards rebuilding their lives thanks to solar-powered light bulbs brought in by Project H.E.A.R.T. – a regional community movement recently launched by Maybank, one of Southeast Asia’s largest financial groups.

“We’ve already brought in the first shipment of solarpowered lights to Bliss, and we’re planning to expand this to other communities affected by the typhoon,” said Eric Montelibano, vice president for Corporate Affairs and spokesperson for Maybank Project H.E.A.R.T. “We are calling for donations and support from the general public, our customers and our partners from around Asia. The more donations we receive through Project H.E.A.R.T., the more communities we’ll be able to help,” he explained.

Project H.E.A.R.T – which stands for Helping Every Asian Rise Together – was conceived as a regional movement of people across Asia to help empower and improve the living conditions of communities across the region.

“This is really about Asians coming together and supporting each other to create a brighter future for the whole region. As news and images of typhoon Yolanda’s destruction started to come through, we immediately set to work mobilising and directing Project H.E.A.R.T.’s resources towards helping affected communities,” explained Montelibano.

Merla, a resident of Bliss and a recipient of one of the solar lights, remarked that “as power is no longer available and it is likely to take months to reconnect back to the grid, these light bulbs will come as a small, but deeply appreciated, relief to the families in Bliss, particularly the children and the elderly, as we try to rebuild our lives.”

Rebuilding the community will undoubtedly be an uphill effort as most of the crops on which they depend have also been destroyed.

“Despite their situation, we were heartened to see the people of Bliss so positive on bouncing back. Everyone came together and many shared stories of the ty-

phoon when the Maybank team arrived to distribute the light bulbs,” observed Montelibano.

Maybank started Project H.E.A.R.T as a platform to allow people from across Asia to come together to make a real difference.

“Being at the heart of the communities we serve and sharing in the challenges that these communities face has always been one of Maybank’s core values,” explained Montelibano.

“With the support of our customers, partners and friends around Asia and the world, we can do our part in helping the people of the Philippines through this, and to help affected communities rise up even stronger than before,” he added.

Members of the public can make a donation to a special account set up for Project H.E.A.R.T (Maybank Peso Savings Account 01-088-00-14250 or Maybank USD Savings Account 01-788-000151-6) or by writing out a cheque to “Maybank Project HEART”. They can also help by spreading the word about Project H.E.A.R.T. through their social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google+ “Every donation will give the families here another glimmer of hope. The real ‘light’ that we are bringing to the people of the Philippines is that they are not facing this alone,” said Montelibano.

Last week, Maybank donated RM 1 million (Php13.7 million) through the Philippine Red Cross in aid of relief efforts for victims of super typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda). Its Philippine office has likewise announced that it will forego its Christmas Party celebration this year and instead donate Php1.0 million to ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya’s relief efforts.

Maybank employees have also pledged their sick leave credits to aid colleagues and their families who have been affected by the disaster. Maybank has 70 branches in the Philippines, including operations in affected areas of Tacloban, Roxas, Iloilo and Cebu.

For more information on how to be part of Project H.E.A.R.T., please log on to www.maybankprojectheart.com ••

Maybank is a regional financial services leader with presence in 20 countries worldwide, including 10 in the Asean region. Named

the 13th Strongest Bank in the World by Bloomberg Markets for 2012, Maybank is backed by assets of over USD160 billion, and an in-

ternational network of over 2,200 offices serving more than 22 million customers worldwide.

Recently, Maybank has

made it to the list of the world’s top 100 banks, ranked 95th by The Banker in its top 1000 banks 2013 list.

Mariwasa adds new warehouse in Tarlac TA R L AC C I T Y – Mariwasa, the country’s leading ceramic tile manufacturer recently inaugurates its warehouse facility in Tarlac City. The new warehouse can accommodate at least 100,000 sqm of ceramic tile products and sanitary fixtures and will be serving central and northern Luzon markets.

“As we continue our commitment in customer satisfaction, we are opening this warehouse to reinforce our service especially in catering to our Northern and Central Luzon dealers. This 100,000 sqm facility is operational in extended hours to in order to serve our customers‘order the fastest way. They don’t have to wait a little longer and travel a little farther anymore as they were used to.

As we are now closer to them, this means taking away logistical costs such as gas, toll fees and overhead expenses which gives them a lot of savings.

This is the least that we can do for our valuable business partners.” said Mr. Anukul Kongrit, President of Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc. and SCG Philippines Country Director.

The Mariwasa Tarlac Warehouse is the second warehouse facility the company is operating outside its headquarters in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The other one is in Cebu City which was inaugurated just last year.

MARIWASA TARLAC WAREHOUSE INAUGURATION. Mr. Jakkrit Suwansilp and Mr. Anukul Kongrit

MARIWASA INAUGURATES TARLAC WAREHOUSE. (from left to right) Jude Johannes Co & Arch. Paul Co of Dagupan Filco Merchandising, Ms. Emilie Maramag, VP-Finance & Administration, Fr. Raymond Cruz of Archdiocese of Tarlac, Mr. Anukul Kongrit, President and SCG Philippines Country Director, Mr. JakkritSuwansilp, VP-Sales & Marketing, Ms. Elizabeth Ebio, Sales Manager and Mr. Vergel Calupitan, Asst. Finished Goods Warehouse Manager

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Week of Peace 2013 reels off in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY - The city will once again celebrate the annual Week of Peace for the 19th year with a “Solidarity Prayer” to be held at Paseo del Mar at 6:30 a.m. last Thursday, November 28.

The prayer rally deviates from the celebration’s usually massively-participated opening parade, which the sponsor Interreligious Solidarity for Peace (ISP) decided to forego due to the continuing adverse repercussions of the September 9 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) siege, ISP lead convenor Claretian priest Fr. Angel Calvo said in a statement.

“This year’s 19th annual Week of Peace celebration from November 28 to December 5, 2013 comes with extraordinary relevance, urgency and meaningfulness.

The people of our beloved City of Zamboanga are still gripped in the emotional and social trauma, anger

and disbelief brought about by the September 9, 2013 attack on our city by Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels,” ISP said in a statement released earlier.

Calvo invited city residents to join the rally to show their support for the quick recovery of peace and security here.

He said public demonstration will motivate government agencies and other sectors to hasten all efforts to bring back normalcy in the city.

The ISP has said the challenges to peace and security has “become as colossal as it is now, though far from being insurmountable. For the truly courageous of heart, this challenge but presents an opportunity to start a new beginning and journey for a new Zamboanga Hermosa.”

The Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA), an non-

government organization (NGO) which Calvo heads, earlier organized several local civil society groups into a task force called RE-UNIDOS to harmonize their efforts to assist victims of the conflict.

The ISP in its statement had urged government “to immediately rehabilitate the thousands of destituted, displaced and generally neglected families especially those whose houses were burned (and) for all sectors of local society involved in the rehabilitation and healing of affected residents and their communities to harmonize their efforts to achieve efficiency and speed.”

Aside from the “Solidarity Prayer,” the Week’s celebration will include a “8th Anniversary Celebration of National Sama-Badjao Movement” (Nov. 28), “Youth Peace Assembly” (Nov. 29), “Historical Journey to Mariki” (Nov. 30), “In solidarity-Journey of

Prayers and Healing” to Taluksangay and “Peace Forum: Peace in Mindanao” (Dec. 2), celebrations in schools and barangays (Dec. 3) and culminating with “Regatta de Paz” and “Cultural Peace Festival” (Dec. 4).

“We urge schools, communities and organizations to initiate and conduct their own Week of Peace activities to stimulate and sustain our multi-track journeys to peace and security. Let this year’s celebration shed much-needed light on the indispensability of peace, to grant us the strength to triumph over the crisis and for God to hear our plea: “Lord, Heal Our Land!,” the ISP has also said.

The celebration of this year’s Week of Peace and themed: “Lord, Heal Our Land.”

The event is also be celebrated throughout Mindanao, Fr. Calvo said. (PNA)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Zamboanga City Water District has began a P5-million potable water system that would benefit thousands of people in three villages here.

Dolly Galvan, a spokeswoman for the Zamboanga

City Water District, said the project will benefit the villages of Culianan, Pasobolong and Guisao.

“The Zamboanga City Water District aims to extend its service to deliver potable water to consumers

in the service areas through the numerous pipe-laying projects. This is to improve the hydraulic system in the areas,” she said.

She said the project involves the supply and laying of 3,950 meters of 100mm

PVC pipeline in the villages.

The project, she said, is expected to be completed

by January next year.

She said at least 70 workers were hired by the water utility firm for the project.

(Mindanao Examiner)

Water project to benefit 3 more villages in Zamboanga City

DepEd-9 conducts IP education forum

By FRANKLIN P. GUMAPON

PAGADIAN CITY – To engender a meaningful education for indigenous peoples (IPs) in the region, the Department of Education (DepEd)-9 has conducted here recently a forum on Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd) with school superintendents, education supervisors, representatives from the different government agencies and private organizations as participants.

The forum tackled the national IPEd policy framework in pursuance of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 otherwise known as RA 8371, which seeks to design a curriculum appropriate for the IPs. With an “indigenized curriculum,” the subjects are discussed from IP perspective in relation to their cultural heritage, customary laws, traditions, beliefs and practices.

DepEd also aims to come up with an IPEd curriculum that reflects and integrates indigenous knowledge, system

and practices.

Engr. Aphli Dave I. Lampayan, a full-blooded Subanen working for the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Zamboanga del Sur, said a total of 110 ethno-linguistic groups are found in the different parts of the country and most of these tribes are in Mindanao. He, however, lamented that these IPs remain the poorest sector in the society.

Based on the 2010 census, the IPs in the country accounted for 14 million.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, the dominant IP group is Subanen. This tribe can be traced in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Z amb o anga Sibugay and even in Misamis Occidental of region 10.

Other ethnic groups liv ing in t he reg ion are Badjaos, Yakans, Kalibugan,Tausugs and Samals.

The forum was capped by a declaration of commitment among stakeholders for IPEd. (FPG/PIA9)