BusinessWeek Mindanao jan 16

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www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 40, Volume III • January 16-19, 2012 Editorial: 088-856-3344

Market Indicators AS OF 5:34 P.M., JAN. 13, 2012 (Friday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P43.75

4,613.73 points

34.28 points

;

; Briefly 31 cents

New college

PHINMA CORP. will be opening another school in Cagayan de Oro this school year in a bid to attract more students, a company official said.

The four-storey Cagayan de Oro College in Barangay Puerto is expected to serve as much as 3,000 students, Chito B. Salazar, Phinma Education president, said.

“The main reason we’re expanding ‘organically’ is because students are having a difficult time coming all the way into the city where our main campus is located because of the high cost of living. We’re bringing the school closer to them,” Mr. Salazar said.

Aside from the area outside Cagayan de Oro City proper, the new Puerto campus is also seen to target students from some parts of neighboring Agusan and Bukidnon provinces.

Nasipit port

BUTUAN City -- Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Butuan CityAgusan del Norte Port Manager Renato Tolinero on Thursday said he is optimistic that shipping lines will continue their operation in Nasipit Port despite of the less volume of passengers these days.

Tolinero admitted that ship passengers are getting lesser these past few days compared to the previous years because of the access of air line companies in Caraga Region especially here in the city.

However, the official said Shipping Lines are not dependent on the volume of passengers they will have. He added the cargoes are among their transactions where shipping line managements can get more of its income.

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CdO gives tax reliefs to storm-hit MSMEs

By MIKE BANOS, Correspondent

T

HE city government of Cagayan de Oro has agreed to grant businesses adversely affected by the Tropical Storm Sendong disaster immediate relief from unpaid real property penalties and surcharges.

A delegation from the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) met in a series of meetings with the City Finance Committee to follow up its Jan. 11, 2012 letter request to Mayor Vicente Y. Emano coursed through Councilor Simeon V. Licayan as chairman of the city council’s ways and means committee requesting relief for its member companies affected by the flash floods.

Among the measures requested by the chamber through its president Ma. Teresa R. Alegrio were the deferment of new assessment fees provided in the new Revenue Code of Cagayan de Oro pertaining to the renewal of business permits for a year, and instead use the old assessment rates for those directly affected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); condonation of penalties on all unpaid real estate taxes since the global crisis of 2007 up to the present; and the extension of the processing of business permits renewal for another month.

“We had a successful final meeting with the City Finance Committee and essentially, all our requests were granted except for the extension of the business renewal period to February,” said Oro Chamber Executive Director Lordilie RELIEFS/PAGE 7

Solar power champion Ramon Chavez-Abaya, 68

By MIKE BAÑOS, Correspondent

ADVOCATES of solar power mourned the passing of Ramon Chavez-Abaya, Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co. (CEPALCO) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer last January 9, 2012 in Manila at the age of 68.

“He was the one who provided the drive, the guidance, and the financial support for the solar PV advocacy that we in CEPALCO have been carrying

out since August 2011,” said Engr. David A. Tauli, senior vice president for engineering in an email to members of the Mindanao Coalition of Power Consumers. “His death provides greater impetus for us to carry on with our advocacy until a thousand solar PV power plants will bloom and flourish all over Mindanao, in fulfillment of his vision, which we have taken as our own.”

POWER/PAGE 10

NERVE OF STEEL: Two street kids take advantage of the slow traffic to steal some valuable spare parts of a truck in broad daylight. Recent study reveals the Philippines’ expanding population can help lift the country’s economy and grow 15 times by 2050 outpacing even oil-rich countries in the Middle East.

PHOTO BY MIO CADE

Study: PH could be world’s biggest economy by 2050 HSBC said the Philippine economy may become the 16th largest in the world by 2050, dwarfing neighbors Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Power coops seek renewable energy

By BUTCH D. ENERIO, Contributor

POWER distributors in Mindanao is advocating for renewable energy as power source for the island’s grid; rural electrification and development in a three-day congress here.

The Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) said that the upcoming congress, which will be on January 25-27 at the Grand Caprice, would be attended by more than COOPS/PAGE 5

The British banking giant workers - or the Netherlands, said the Philippines could even which is home to a number of outgrow oil-producing Saudi multinational companies.

Arabia - host to the biggest conThe forecast is contained centration of overseas Filipino PH/PAGE 4

Gov’t nixes environmental permit for Tampakan project

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO Correspondent with Wire Reports

SAGITTARIUS Mines, Inc. (SMI) has been dealt another setback with the government last week denying the firm an environmental permit for its Tampakan mining project, described as the largest undeveloped copper-gold deposit in Southeast Asia.

SMI -- already hampered by a local government ban on open pit

mining -- on Friday announced that it would appeal the rejection of its application for an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

The decision was not unexpected, having been telegraphed by Environment Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje just before last year ended. “[W]e are returning herewith the application documents with instruction to deny the same, without prejudice to resubmission, PERMIT/PAGE 9

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Economy

January 16-19, 2012

BusinessWeek

LGUs urged to support free trade agreements

By RUTCHIE CABAHUG-AGUHOB, Contributor

O

ZAMIZ City – The Regional Development Council of Northern Mindanao (RDC-X) is urging local government units (LGUs) in the region to actively participate and support the briefings conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regarding free trade and free trade areas.

It also urges the regional line agencies, the local chapters of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and other stakeholders to do the same.

This is because the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and a number of ASEAN Regional FTAs, namely: ASEAN-China,

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ASEAN-Japan, ASEAN-Korea and ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTAs have entered into force and are now being implemented.

“These FTAs bring a number of trade benefits, primarily tariff elimination or reduction which will make the country’s export products more competitive,” Engr. Leon M. Dacanay Jr., regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), region 10, and chairperson of RDC 10, said.

To increase awareness and foster appreciation for the benefits

under these FTA’s, DTI has organized an information campaign for exporters, distributors, traders, customs, brokers, freight forwarders, members of the academ,e and other government agencies.

The session will discuss market opportunities with focus on products with zero or reduced tariffs under existing FTAs, as well as procedures of their availment. Dacanay said DTI, through its Bureau of Export Trade and Promotion (BETP) and the Bureau of Customs will bring the sessions to region 10 in the near future.

MINDANAO

Davao City exceeds tax goals in 2011

By MAI GEVERA-MACAPAGAT Contributor

DAVAO City -- The city government of Davao exceeded its tax collection target of more than P200 million for the year 2011.

City Treasurer Rodrigo Riola said that since he was seated as treasurer, this is the first time for the city to collect this much from the different collection departments in Davao.

The actual tax collection reached P4.5 billion as it maintains to have the bulk of the collection coming from business taxes.

Business taxes collected for 2011 reached P766 million, a target accomplishment rate of 111 percent.

“We hope to surpass or even duplicate this amount for 2012 because the city needs money to implement some projects,” he said.

Meanwhile, Business Bureau head Atty. Tristan Dwight Domingo reported that the office has accommodated 16,553 applicants for business permit renewals as of yesterday.

In the previous years, the said office received up to 22,000 applications in the given period.

However, with the number of applicants that renewed more than a week before the January 20 deadline, the official projects more than applicants this year that could even reach up to 25,000.

“We are still halfway before the deadline, but we have already been receiving this plenty,” he said.

TAX/PAGE 10

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

January 16-19, 2012

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4 January 16-19, 2012

NEWS CAPS

By Laurel Media

PCCI STATEMENT ON POWER COST AND RED TAPE Filipino businessmen expect the economy to withstand external shocks and perform better this year as long as the government adopts more flexible policies responsive to the needs of investors and help them rise through challenges. They cited the high cost of power and red tape.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s biggest business association consisting of more than 35,000 enterprises, said that the government must be more supportive of business to cushion the domino effect of the European debts crisis and sluggish growth in the American economy.

EASTERN PETROLEUM EXPANSION Eastern Petroleum Corp. (EPC), one of the most aggressive independent oil players in the country, will spend about P500 million to build 15 new retail stations in 2012. EPC chairman and CEO Fernando Martinez said that as of end-2011, the company has 35 stations and the additional stations will bring its total retail network to 50 by yearend. He said the company is also studying the possibility of putting up two more oil depots next year in Cebu and Mindanao.

SPEX WITHDRAWAL FROM PALAWAN VENTURE The Department of Energy (DOE) is not worried by the decision of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) to pull out its investment in Service Contract 54B in northwest Palawan. “We understand that SPEX’s withdrawal from SC 54B is part of its risk management strategy given Shell’s current portfolio of acreages under service contacts with the DOE and its proactive search and participation in Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR) 4 for petroleum,” he said.

The energy official pointed out that SPEX may have other plans for its oil and gas exploration business in the country. “Shell is consolidating its exploration plans and pooling financial and technical resources for development of oil and gas in the Philippines,” he said. According to Layug, SPEX has assured the DOE that it would continue its businesses in the country and, in fact, will join the PECR 4.

NEW WORLD BANK VP COX Pamela Cox, a development professional with more than 30 years experience, has been appointed as the World Bank’s Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific, effective this week.

The appointment, by World Bank Group president Robert B. Zoellick, will see Cox lead the Bank’s advisory and lending operations in the region and oversee strategic engagement with middle income country partners.

Cox previously worked as Vice President for the Latin America and Caribbean Region of the World Bank, playing a leading role in supporting inclusive growth in emerging economies and providing innovative and practical financial and knowledge services to meet developing country needs. In the past, she has also worked as Chief of Country Operations in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea.

PH STOCK EXCHANGE Market confidence, buoyed by upbeat US and German economic data, kept Philippine stocks on a roll. The main index Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) rose for the fourth straight session yesterday, adding 1.48% or 65.55 points to close at 4,487.77. The broader all-share index, on the other hand, inched down by 0.34% or 10.34 points to 3,071.62.

Turnover climbed to P5.83 billion versus P4.87 billion. Foreign traders continued to snap up local stocks as net foreign buying summed up to P933.87 million. Advancers outnumbered decliners 119 to 49, while 39 stocks were unchanged. All subindices closed in positive territory, led by services that surged by 2.20% or 36.12 points to 1,676.91.

Companies

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MINDANAO

SSS releases pensions to typhoon victim members STATE-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has released, as part of its relief efforts, pension benefits for the months of February to April to members residing in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City who were affected by tropical storm Sendong.

In a statement, the pension fund for private sector employees said it had released some P260 million that “represents the pensions for February to April of about 29,000 pensioners [residing] in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City.”

Other SSS members have until March 30 to ask the fund to release their pensions early.

“The early release of pensions is part of SSS’ calamity relief package for members in areas affected by

Sendong. The package also offers a six-month suspension of loan payments, early loan renewal and a 5% cut in the interest rate of house repair loans,” SSS President and Chief Executive Of-

ficer Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. was quoted as saying in the statement.

SSS has slashed the interest rate on house repair loans to 8% from 13% per annum. The maximum

amount that can be borrowed is P300,000, payable in 20 years.

A six-month moratorium, which began in December, the month when the storm struck, is in place covering monthly salary and housing loan payments.

Members may also avail of the pension fund’s Salary Loan Early Renewal Program (SLERP) wherein they can borrow up to P24,000.

Members who avail of the loan payment suspension will no longer be eligible for the SLERP and vice versa, however.

There are around 1.6 million registered SSS memb ers in Nor t her n Mindanao. A total of 845 housing loan accounts and 48 acquired asset accounts are active in the calamityhit areas.

PAL buys simulator for pilot training CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) has purchased a multimillion-dollar flight simulator to train new and existing pilots.

PAL president Jaime Bautista said the flag carrier bought last year a brand-new Airbus A320 full flight simulator that costs “around $14 [million] to $15 million.

“It is in our Nichols property and this is being used now by our pilots, [both] old and new ones,” said Bautista.

PAL pilots, including

experienced ones, are required to undergo training to “refresh their skills so they would know what to do when they encounter situations which they are trained to handle.

“That’s why I am not worried when there are reports of emergency landings because I know for a fact that our pilots are trained for things like that,” said the PAL president.

He said the airline currently has more than 200 well-trained pilots.

PAL maintains training

facilities both for its pilots and other crew. This is composed of both the PAL Aviation School, the PAL Technical Center and the PAL Learning Center.

Rival Cebu Pacific said last year that it is putting up a $50-million aviation school in Clark, Pampanga in partnership with Canada-based CAE Inc. CAE (formerly Canadian Aviation Electronics) is a provider of simulation technologies, modeling technologies and integrated training services to airlines,

aircraft manufacturers, and defens e c ustomers worldwide. The company has manufacturing operations and training facilities in 20 countries on five continents and has sold over 900 simulators and training devices to more than 100 airlines, aircraft manufacturers and training centers. It licenses its simulation software to various market segments and has a professional services division assisting customers with a wide range of simulation-based needs.

Globe expands its customer service network GLOBE Telecom Inc. said on Thursday it opened more customer service channels, assuring subscribers of faster response time.

The cellular firm also launched new online channels to provide subscribers a variety of options where they can easily ask for aftersales support wherever they are and whatever time of the day. Subscribers can get real-time feedback from customer service representatives (CSR) who are on duty 24/7 through the chat function available on the Globe website.

Globe also launched *143#, a quick-service menu that allows subscribers to know about the latest Globe promos at the touch of a button. Both prepaid and postpaid subscribers using this service can quickly access billing and load details, as well as call, text and surfing promos, conduct GCash transactions, download related services, and share prepaid load to Globe and TM users without having to memorize registration codes and access numbers.

The new customer touchpoints are on top of the

existing channels available for Globe subscribers such as the Talk2Globe Hotline via 730-1000 or 211 via handsets, official Talk2Globe social networking accounts in Facebook and Twitter, and the Talk2Globe e-mail account.

Joe Caliro, Head of Customer Experience, said in a statement the new channels feature faster response time to a specific customer inquiry, as well as uninterrupted and seamless service with a conversation tracking feature.

Globe also set up an exclusive Visayan interactive

voice response system and deployed Visayan-speaking CSR agents based in Cebu to serve sales, after-sales, and technical concerns on broadband and landline services in the Visayas and Mindanao regions. The company partnered with Aegis People Support and Tech Mahindra for this service.

“This is a milestone not only for Globe but for our Visayan-speaking subscribers because they will find that when they talk to Globe, we are more responsive and there are no language barriers,” said Caliro.

PH...

development and the factors that will determine whether it has the potential to catch up with more developed nations.

These fundamentals include current income per capita, rule of law, democracy, education levels and demographic change, allowing us to project forward the gross domestic product (GDP) forward,” HSBC said.

It said the Philippines’ likely improvement would owe more to an expanding population than to any improvement in individual wealth.

The Philippines joins a group of 26 countries that are expected to register the fastest growth

through 2050 at five percent a year on average.

Countries in this group “share a very low level of development but have made great progress in improving fundamentals. As they open themselves to the technology available elsewhere, they should enjoy many years of ‘copy and paste’ growth ahead,” HSBC said.

Other members of the group are China, India, Egypt, Malaysia, Peru, Bangladesh, Algeria, Ukraine, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Tanzania and Kazakhstan, among others.

A second group of countries

whose growth would average from three to five percent includes Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Russia, Indonesia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and New Zealand.

Cellar-dwellers include developed economies such as the US, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Autralia, the Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, South Africa, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Singapore, Israel, Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, Norway, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Cuba, Qatar, Uruguay, Luxemburg and Slovenia.

from page 1 a study projecting the size of a hundred economies 40 years hence. HSBC expanded the report from the original 30-country review published in 2011.

HSBC said the Philippine economy would likely expand 15 times from $112 billion today to $1.69 trillion in 2050. The forecast sends the Philippines 27 notches above its current ranking of 47 in the original group of 50 economies reviewed.

“Our ranking is based on an economy’s current level of

BusinessWeek

January 16-19, 2012

MINDANAO

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Davao reg’l hospital upgrades facilities for cancer patients

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

T

AGUM, Davao del Norte – The opening of the cancer center of the Davao Regional Hospital here has signalled the readiness of the government hospital to accommodate cancer patients in its state-ofthe-art facility.

Assistant Secretary Romulo A. Busuego, hospital chief, said the cancer center, or the Nuclear and Radiotherapy Center, was built on the concept of providing better a better facility to people not only of the Davao Region, but also of the entire Mindanao.

“We in the department hope that with this cancer center, our people will realize that we in Mindanao can avail of better healthcare services from government,” DOH Sec. Enrique Ona delivers his message during the Busuego said.

He added there is a need inauguration ceremony held on Jan. 8 of Mindanao’s first cancer center named as the Nuclear and Radiotherapy for the people of Mindanao Center at the Davao Regional Hospital, Tagum City. to realize that they have gov-

ernment facilities which are either at par or even better than those run by private companies. “The need to inform them is necessary for them to avail of services we are offering,” he said.

The good thing about the center, said Carlito U. Pillerin, is that indigent patients do not need to worry about expenses in availing of the services of the center for as long as they are members of the government-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

“We already computed that (expenses). They must now become Philhealth

Cebu Pacific posts 14% hike in 2011 passenger volume CEBU PACIFIC narrowly missed its target of carrying 12 million passengers in 2011, but nevertheless ended the year with growth of more than a tenth.

The budget carrier yesterday said its passenger volume grew by 14% to 11.94 million in 2011 from 10.5 million in 2010. The growth was attributed to the rise in the volume of passengers on international flights as the carrier added routes last year. “[Cebu Pacific’s] passenger growth was mainly driven by a 22% increase in international passengers, which numbered over 2.72 million in 2011,” the carrier said. “[Cebu Pacific] added flights to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Brunei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul and Bangkok since the start of 2011 to meet travel demand,” the carrier said.

For passenger volume on domestic flights, the firm saw a moderate increase in 2011, which it attributed to additional routes in 2011 coupled with promo fares. “[The] airline flew 9.22 million domestic passen-

gers, up by 12% from 8.23 million in 2010,” Cebu Pacific said. “[Cebu Pacific] attributes [this]... to additions to key destinations, lower fares due to the unbundling of baggage allowance, and the arrival of five brandnew Airbus A320 aircraft in 2011,” it said.

The arrival of new aircraft in 2011 allowed the carrier to increase seat capacity in flights within the Philippines and to neighboring countries in Asia. “[Cebu Pacific] was able to add 13% more seat capacity in 2011 [over 2010 levels], and this translates to more flights for passengers and the continuous expansion of the airline within the Philippines and Asia,” Candice A. Iyog, vice-president for marketing and distribution, said in the statement.

The carrier noted its domestic load factor, or occupancy rates on flights, grew to 88% in 2011 from 86% in 2010.

Moreover, Cebu Pacific said its average load factor in 2011 for domestic and international flights was

86%, up from 85% in 2010.

For this year, Ms. Iyog said the carrier is hoping to fly 14 million passengers, as Cebu Pacific continues to add routes.

The carrier will be operating flights between Manila and Hanoi starting March 17. Cebu Pacific will also be operating flights between Manila and Xiamen, China, and Kalibo and Hong Kong starting March 23.

Aside from new international routes, the carrier will be operating new domestic routes: Cebu to Kalibo starting Feb. 24, and Iloilo to Cagayan de

Oro starting Feb. 8.

Cebu Pacific currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 19 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR72 500 aircraft. The firm ended 2011 with a fleet of 37 aircraft with an average age of 3.6 years.

The carrier will be taking in additional 23 Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft between 2012 and 2021.

Cebu Air saw its ninemonth net income retreat by 54% to P2.22 billion in January to September 2011 from yearago levels as the increase in revenues was not enough to cover the rise in expenses.

PLDT poised to corner up to 88% of Digitel after capital increase SUN CELLULAR operator Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) has bagged regulators’ approval to nearly triple its capital stock, paving the way for Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to take on an even

larger stake in telco via convertible bonds.

“This is to certify that the increase in capital stock of [Digitel] from P9 billion to P25 billion divided into 25 billion shares at a par value of P1 each, approved by the majority of

the board of directors on Nov. 25, 2011,” the certification signed by Benito A. Cataran, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) company registration and monitoring department director.

With this approval, PLDT

is poised to eventually control a larger stake in Digitel if it converts the zero-coupon, convertible bonds acquired in the P69.2-billion takeover deal into an equivalent of 18.6 billion shares.

The bonds are due in PLDT/PAGE 10

members so they can avail of services without worrying where to get the money,” said Pillerin, pointing out that the center can serve about 40 patients a day.

The center is only one of the few medical facilities in the country, especially in government, that have a digital linear accelerator, a state-of-the-art facility used to control the spread of the cancer to healthy tissues.

The accelerator is a precise instrument that it only hits the affected area without damaging the health part of the body.

The hospital was able to acquire the digital linear accelerator, a pricey facility at P134 million, when the available fund to construct the center was just at P200 million. Although the construction of the building had a budget of P120 million, Pillerin said the hospital

only used P23 million to build it even when it is a “bunker” as its wall has a thickness of about 1.5 meters, a requirement for cancer facilities.

On the center opening on January 8, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, in a speech read for him

by Health Secretary Enrique Ona, said the center is an indication that the government is looking at expanding health services especially for the indigents.

Magpapalawak ito sa serbisyong medikal, hindi lamang mula sa Davao, kundi maging sa buong Mindanao (this will expand the medical services, not only for Davao, but for the entire Mindanao),” Mr. Aquino said as he pointed out that based on the statistics from the health department, there are about 200,000 Filipinos DAVAO/PAGE 10

San Miguel to trim stake in BanCom SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday that it was in talks with the CIMB Group of Malaysia for the sale of the diversifying food and beverage conglomerate’s stake in Bank of Commerce.

The CIMB Group is the second largest financial services provider in Malaysia and has operations across eight Asean countries.

In October last year, the Malaysian group confirmed discussions with SMC for the possible sale

Coops... from page 1

300 stakeholders coming from the different electric cooperatives (EC).

Clint Django Pacana, Amreco executive director said the expected participants will come from the organization’s 33 member cooperatives who have committed to join the “Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy, Rural Electrification and Development.”

Amreco’s 33 member cooperatives account for 1,941, 554 residential consumers in Mindanao, where 27 of the member coops are hooked up with the island’s transmission grid while another six operate in the off-grid islands surrounding the mainland.

“We are advocating for rural electrification as the way to address Mindanao’s chronic power shortage,”Pacana said in an interview.

During the congress the participants in grouping would tackle issues on good governance; knowledge products; finance & investments; and the role of civic organizations.

Sen. Teofisto D. Guingona III, co-chair of the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) has been invited to give the keynote address to set the tone for the congress.

Presentations on Good Governance kicks off the working sessions on the second day with topics such as “Sitio Energization” by National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Edita S. Bueno, Transparency of Distribution

by Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)

by Chairperson Zenaida G. Ducut and “Politics in Electric Cooperatives” by JCPC Member Rep. Lorenzo R. Tanada III. Following a brief reaction from a

of BanCom were at an early stage.

SMC, through its units San Miguel Properties Inc. and San Miguel Retirement Fund, owns 58.2 percent of BanCom, which is the Philippines’ 16th largest lender with assets of P90.7 billion.

SMC recently sold its diesel-fired power plant in Bataan as demand for power dwindled in 2011.

It tied up with Citra Group of Indonesia to acquire controlling stakes in several toll roads in Southern Luzon.

3-man panel of LGU and EC officials, public discussions on Knowledge Products follow with “Research and Study Grants for the Mindanao Power Sector” by USAID-CENERGY. “The Upcoming 84 days a year Brownout by Prof. Rowaldo del Mundo of the UP-National Engineering Center; “A Model Outfit for Mindanao Power Sector” by Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and PASSUC. More discuaaios will follow on “Climate Change and Power” by Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villain, S.J. president of Ateneo de Manila University and a certified climatologist; and a reaction from another 3-man panel Dr. Dionel Albina, Dr. Roberto Padua and Dr. Hilly Ann R. Quiaoit.

The congress will be concluded with public discussions on Finance and Investment including “Resources of Renewable Energy (Dr. Ambrosio Cultura); Aggregation – A Business Model for Mindanao Electric Cooperatives (Mr. Edgardo R. Masongsong); Development of Renewable Energy Power Plants by the Electric Cooperatives (Engr.David A. Tauli) and Power Saving Innovations (Dept. of Energy); and the Role of Civil Society that will be led by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro; and Herbie Gomez of Mindanao Gold Star Daily.

A manifesto would be signed by the participants at closing of the congress.

Other speakers are also expected to attend the congress, such as Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Lualhati Antonino, chair Mindanao Development Authority, and Arnulfo Go, chair House Committee on Mindanao Affairs.

6 January 16-19, 2012

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BUREAUS/AGENTS CEBU CITYͳ RAUL CARDONAͳ 0927ͳ2251300 ACCOUNT MANAGERS/AGENTS

DAVAO CITY ͳ JESSIE PALABAOͳ 0910ͳ6681733 BUTUAN CITYJUN ͳ OBET SAMONTEͳ 0905ͳ7495220 MANILAͳ ESCUADROͳ0917ͳ5111724 BUKIDNON ANN O. NOBLE ͳ 0916ͳ7276618 CAGAYAN DEͳ MARY ORO ͳ RIZA ARESͳ 0922-8708374 VALENCIA CITYͳ ED BAUL ͳ 0920ͳ9019294 CEBU CITYͳ RAUL CARDONAͳ 0927ͳ2251300 OZAMIZDAVAO CITYͳ ATTY. CANTAGO JR. ͳ 0918ͳ8070707 CITY ͳROBERTO JESSIE PALABAOͳ 0910ͳ6681733 MIS. OCC. ͳ MARISA M.ͳMANLAPIGͳ 0928ͳ9538828 BUTUAN CITY ͳ ARJAY FELICILDA ͳ 0949ͳ328ͳ4099 GINGOOGCITY CITYͳ OBET ͳ WILLY RAMOSͳ 0926ͳ1691016 BUTUAN SAMONTEͳ 0905ͳ7495220 WEST MIS. OR. ͳ JUN FELICILDAͳ0906ͳ7389130 BUKIDNON ͳ MARY ANN NOBLE ͳ 0916ͳ7276618 EAST MIS. OR.CITYͳ ͳ JESSIE DAHAY ͳ 0935ͳ9058038 VALENCIA ED BAUL ͳ 0920ͳ9019294 LUCRESIA JERUSALEMͳPUERTO,CDO OZAMIZ CITYͳ ATTY. ROBERTO CANTAGO JR. ͳ 0918ͳ8070707 ARMM REGION ͳ SONY SUDARIAͳ ͳ 0917ͳ3247258 MIS. OCC. ͳ MARISA M.ͳMANLAPIGͳ 0928ͳ9538828 ILIGAN CITY ͳ LENNETH V. GULAͳ 0918ͳ2986719 WEST MIS. OR. ͳ JUN FELICILDAͳ0906ͳ7389130 ILIGAN CITY ͳ ROLLY ARMM REGION ͳ SONYTOMAWISͳ063ͳ223ͳ8366 SUDARIAͳ ͳ 0917ͳ3247258 MARAWI CITY ͳ MADALEͳ ͳ 0916ͳ1590131 ILIGAN CITY/LANAO ASA ͳ JEFFREY OPONDA ͳ 0935ͳ2796817 LANAO DELͳ SUR SAHRIA MARUHOM MARAWI CITY ASA ͳMADALEͳ ͳ 0916ͳ1590131 MARANDING ͳ ELEANOR TAPITANͳ 0926ͳ1888871 PAGADIAN CITYͳ AL FRANCISCO ͳ 0912ͳ8484037 ZAMBO CITY CAMCER ORDOÑEZͳ 0908ͳ7804348 CAGAYAN DEͳ ORO ͳ JOEI.PALABAO ͳ 0905ͳ1569709 PAGADIAN CITYͳ AL FRANCISCO ͳ 0912ͳ8484037 CLAVERIA ͳ DAVID SUDARIAͳ 0926ͳ1096831 IPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY ͳALBERTO ALCORIZA AGUSAN SUR ͳ MANUEL EGAY ͳ 0925ͳ213ͳ1640 CAGAYAN DE ORO ͳ JOE PALABAO ͳ 0905ͳ1569709 Member: PUERTO, CDO ͳ VICTOR ALCOVERͳ 0926ͳ9778513 CLAVERIA ͳ DAVID SUDARIAͳ 0926ͳ1096831 MANOLO FORTICH, BUK. ͳ ALFONSO LEDESMA -Philippine Press Institute

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

IS the world of finance too complex for the young mind to fathom? Think again.

A student from Valenzuela City Science High School won the first Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) – Department of Education (Dep-Ed) “On the Spot” Essay Writing Contest last month, besting 15 other finalists in discussing the contest’s theme: “Kaalaman sa Piso, Susi sa Pag-asenso.”

Mae Cristie D. Fajiculay, a high school senior, received a gold medal and P10,000 in cash from the BSP and the DepEd National Educators Academy of the Philippines.

Second placer Ar-ar T. Penaflor of Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales in Mandaluyong City received a silver medal and R7,500, while third placer Mary Agnes Gabrielle Ro-

mulo of Carlos L. Albert High School in Quezon City brought home a bronze medal and P5,000.

The top three contestants’ trainers also won cash prizes while their schools were given plaques of recognition.

The finalists of the BSPDepEd Essay Writing Contest were initially selected from the DepEd divisions of Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan, Valenzuela, and Taguig-Pateros.

The BSP-DepEd endeavor was aimed at providing students with the opportunity to express their ideas through writing; promoting awareness and instilling the significance of managing personal finance; and

Opinion

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Balancing Act THINK a minute…

You remember the first time you tried to ride a bike?

It can be quite tricky. The bike shakes and wobbles everywhere until you finally learn how to balance your weight. Balance is important in everything. So eating only fattening snack food every day is not a balanced diet.

Being active in sports and exercise is good for us, but we can even overdo that too, if we don’t balance it with work, rest, and other activities.

In raising our children, we parents must be fair in the things we expect from our kids. Our children need balance in their life. So if

you and I expect our kids every day just to study and work, then we’re not giving them a healthy, happy childhood. Our kids also need to play and just be kids. We know that the stress and pressures of school work and adult life will hit them soon enough.

If you work too much, you may be admired and respected by some people for being strong, successful and hardworking. But are you successful in your marriage and family? Is your wife or husband and children happy while with you’re gone from them working so many hours everyday? And even when

you are home, are you usually tired, cranky and hard to live with?

Our Creator made our bodies, minds and feelings so that we live and work best only when our life is balanced. Consequently, any time we do too much of one thing and too little of another, we get out of balance and in trouble. Our marriage ends in divorce.

Our children are not close to us. Our bodies get sick, tired and worn out.

Today, if you realize that your life is out of balance, you can ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for living your own wrong way, and God the Son will show you all

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

the things you need to do differently to change. It’s only with Jesus’ wisdom and help in your life every day, you can finally start enjoying a balanced, happy life.

Just think a minute…

More economics and diplomacy for tourism THE spending pattern last Christmas creates a cycle of accelerated price increases.

Fuel and gasoline prices threatened to go up. Temporary seasonal demands for goods and services during the long holidays cut short by a disaster drives supply less and becomes a New Year’s nightmare and as we move fast forward into the recovery period of 2012, inflation looms with prices of basic commodities rising.

The banking sector must scope up cash liquidity in the financial system. That’s how the national economy behaves. So much cash and liquidity in the Philippine economy in the last 30 days was inflationary that could lead to increase in prices and interest rates. Good for the depositors to the banks but bad for borrowers and investors who source their funding from the banking sector. Who would borrow from the financial sector when interests are high?

It also follows that when there is less investment coming into the first quarter, recession follows. There is an average of 21% among investors who borrows for capital expenditures.

Take out that 21% from the mainstream of shrinking investment markets, it could bring down an emerging economy. The Philippine Central Bank should do more balancing acts to hold on to the interest’s rates?

The reported liquidity problem in Europe which was discussed all over the financial and business news last December scares us knowing it has not tapered off with the reported refusal of some European countries to extend loans to their distressed neighbors. Accordingly, Great Britain and France are not joining the bail out plans for distressed economies of the west.

What is the extend of our financial relationship to the European Union?

Travel and Trade pumped some USD 810 Million from January to August of 2011 to the Philippine economy in a form of Foreign Direct Investments. But according to a published Philippine Daily Inquirer report last December written by Michelle Remo, “there was a decline of investments in the same period compared to last year”. Her report was based on statistical figures

obtained from BOI. Government acknowledges the decline as uncertainties in the global economy particularly from the European Union that reduced appetite for travel and investments. The PNoy government has still to acknowledge that several cancellations of investments contracts signed before the previous PGMA government and a Belgian Company that should have dredged the Laguna Lake was scuttled by the new government.

New Cabinet officials of the Aquino government have also cancelled and replaced the contract for the NAIA 1 Air Navigational Equipment upgrade from UK with a Korean supplier.

A Philippine opposition, Senator Jingoy Estrada, made an expose over this fiasco in a privilege speech in the Senate sometimes early 2011. Technical specifications and reliability of the equipment were compared but the real question was honoring a contracted commitment.

But again, the way it was happening, the previous DOTC Secretary and the Solicitor General has to review

further a contract signed by the previous government for obvious reasons. Relative to this development, the claims of Fraporth, the German Aviation company who built the NAIA 3, has not been also resolved and the contractor compensated for their work as ruled by the International Arbitration Courts. There was indeed a house on fire with officials not knowing what to do?

The new DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas, as he prepares to call himself the “water boy” was summoned in place and only then that a semblance of organization appeared in the PNoy government.

Government likewise has not acknowledged the QUIAMJOT/PAGE 7

Spreading benefits of financial learning uplifting Filipino values by encouraging thrift and savings among Filipinos.

BSP Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr. was truly right when he said: “While we grown-ups guide the young in the world of finance, we can also learn from them.”

One would truly marvel at these young writers’ mastery of the Filipino language!

Contest first placer Mae Cristie, in her winning piece, captured the importance of financial learning: “Sa matuling pag-inog ng mundo, unti-unting nalilipat sa mga pribadong sektor at indibidwal ang atas ng responsibilidad at pag-iingat sa iba’t-ibang transaksiyong pananalapi.

Sa patuloy na paglawig ng merkadong tagpuan ng mga prodyuser at konsyumer, tumataas din ang bilang ng mga gampanin at panganib na maari nilang kaharapin.

Sa gayon, nararapat na matutunan ng mga konsyumer ang biyahe ng piso.”

Tetangco explained that the BSP-DepEd undertaking is part of the BSP’s commitment in exploring various ways for the Filipino people to have better access to the wide array of financial products and services.

The Essay Writing Contest is a component of the BSP’s integrated Economic and Financial Learning Program (EFLP), which brings together the economic and financial learning initiatives of various departments and units in the BSP — and in special instances, with the BSP’s external partners.

Tetangco pointed out the importance of achieving an inclusive financial system in the Philippines because of the inherent fragmentation of the country’s archipelago.

“The financial market must not be limited to the urban areas, but to serve even the Filipinos in the countryside — thus attending to the needs of every Juan,” he said.

The BSP governor further highlighted the indispensable role young Filipinos play in accomplishing this goal.

“The youth are an active player in nation-building, and through them, we hope to spread the benefits of financial learning to homes and communities,” he stressed.

As Mae Cristie wrote in all her youthful eloquence: “Umaasa na sa kaniyang pagtapak sa unang munting derik ng karunungan sa piso na magpapasinaya sa pagbuo ng huling malaking bantayog na simbolo sa mahusay niyang partisipasyon

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE sa sopistikadong merkado — siya, si Juan dela Cruz — nilinang ng tahanan at paaralan, pinayabong ng edukasyon at karanasan, pinagtibay ng kasaysayan at kasalukuyan — ay papaimbabaw sa mga naturang silahis at makababanaag sa kabuuan ang ringal at rikit ng pagpupunyagi at tagumpay ng kaniyang sinisintang Perlas ng Silangan.”

BusinessWeek

January 16-19, 2012

MINDANAO

That unsightly neck mass?

Incarnation of Integrity

HEALTH IN FOCUS

HAVE you ever taken the time to look at the mirror and while putting on your make up, or necklace, or even the mere swallowing , saw that, something seem to be the matter with your neck?

On close inspection, there should be no bulges or masses in that area, except for the Adam’s apple in some.

In my nearly fifteen years of practice as a Medical Specialist, more often than not, patients referred to me for Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the thyroid gland, I get to elicit the history of the patient telling me, that, they never did notice anything and usually somebody else would point the enlargement out to them.

And, sometimes, it is but an incidental finding: meaning, seeking out consultation for some other medical condition and upon a thorough physical examination, the thyroid gland is seen to be enlarged.

Another reason for finding the abnormality is, when, the patient gets bothered by the experience of difficulty either in swallowing or breathing.

The thyroid gland is that butterfly shaped organ located at the base of the neck, which produces the hormones Thyroxine and Tri-iodothyronine (T3).

These hormones play a very important role in the regulation of one’s metabolism, and control of body temperature.

This explains why, when there is an abnormality in the hormonal secretion and function of the thyroid gland, symptoms related to its functions is felt by the patient. Thus, the more common presentation (depending on whether there

is over secretion or under secretion) would be that affecting body temperature, weight gain or loss, palpitations, increase or decrease heart rate.

Other signs and symptoms may include a feeling of tightness or hoarseness, and swelling or the presence of a mass. It is when the mass becomes noticeable and attain huge sizes that aesthetic as well as the presence of obstructive symptoms may cause alarm to the patient.

The most common of the problems affecting the thyroid gland is GOITER, which can either be Toxic or Non Toxic. Problem with Goiter is that, it can affect anyone and occur at any age. Thus, it is not surprising at all to find Goiter even among children!

In 90% of cases, lack of dietary Iodine is the cause of the Goiter. Just being female, presence of a medical history of having family members with the disease, and the intake of certain medications like lithium for psychiatric treatment can predispose one to have that unsightly mass on the neck.

It is not uncommon too to hear from patients claiming that the occurrence of the mass happened during pregnancy or at times would comment that its size increased markedly after the pregnancy. Exposure to radiation is likewise a known risk factor.

Once you feel that mass on the neck area, or when you feel any of the above manifestations, it is most wise to seek consultation with our friendly Clinicians, either the ENT or Endocrinologists. You would then be advised to undergo a series of tests, in order to determine whether that

unsightly bulge is Goiter or is something else.

Most common tests that may be requested , would include Blood tests for Thyroid Hormones and thyroid Antibody.

A thyroid Ultrasound or Scan is part of the work up.

I have encountered patients who are afraid of a fine needle aspiration biopsy.

There maybe a slight discomfort, but as a whole, the procedure is minimally invasive and when sampling size is adequate and the area of the mass that is hit is representative of what is truly going on inside the thyroid gland, then, the FNAB can be an aid in the management and treatment of the patient. Remember that not all thyroid masses are Goiter!

Treatment will depend on what caused the Goiter and it is worth mentioning that for those that are caused by Iodine deficiency, intake of hormone inhibiting foods like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower should at least be kept to a minimum. And for those who have not the disease as yet?

The use of Iodized salt or the inclusion of Iodine rich foods in the diet will surely go a long way, in preventing that unsightly bulge!

Quiamjot...

sponse. But naught, there was neither a Jess Robredo, the former Alberto Lim nor an Albert Del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs to mend ways with Hongkong. In short, we have disappointed the international tourist community and potential foreign tourism investors.

E arly this year, the Philippine’s Department of Tourism came out with a new slogan of “It’s more fun in the Philippines”. But as of this writing, ten days

after its launching, there has been no clear cut directive on how we proceed with our marketing plan. The Tourism Council which was created under Republic Act 9593 otherwise known as the Tourism Act of 2009 was only convened last November 2011, to elect the officers and the Board of Directors and nothing more. It was not tasked for policy formulations as the governing body of the country’s tourism industry. Maybe a tourism

from page 6

poor Police response to the hostage taking incident in 2010 at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila that took the lives of 8 Hongkong tourists by refusing to apologize to China over the botched incident.

The hostage drama captured worldwide attention and the international tourism sector was watching the development and waiting for the government re-

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Misamis Oriental CITY OF EL SALVADOR In the Matter of the Change of Name in the certificate of Live Birth of “ GEDION YAMARO ABCEDE”

Petition No. CFN 2011 – 0006

DR. MARY JEAN LORECHE-DIAO

SOMEONE who vows to get rid of graft and corrupt practices especially in the government sector, who claims that there is no room during his governance for liars and cheats especially in public offices all over the land, who is obsessed with putting in jail those who undermine truth and the justice it brings about – there justly and proudly stands someone who is nothing less than the blessed incarnation of integrity itself. Not only downright criminality but also utter falsity is taboo.

The “Matuwid na Daan” – monumental symbol of righteousness and honesty – has simply no space for such human inequities.

So great a figure of ethical probity and sublime example of moral rectitude may not but correct what is wrong, resolve what is questionable, uphold what is right and true. At the way things are going in the Country, electoral fraud appears to demand concentrated and even obsessive executive attention for fast judicial resolution – however the way, whatever the means. It is even said that as far as the seating Chief Executive is concerned, whoever is held account-

able for fraudulent election is presumed guilty until proven innocent.

And here is the rub.

Neither two nor two but less than three private entities are asking: Who did the People of the Philippines really vote for as their President? Who is truly the President-elect of the Filipino people? Who is, not only in fact but also in truth, the President of the Republic as provided and demanded by law? Preposterous questions? Foolish doubts? Are they simply ignorant fools and trouble maker who dare make such silly inquiries? Have they nothing better to do? Have no one else supposedly more eminent and admirable to defame – while hiding under the mantle of freedom of speech?

There is “CenPEG” – Center for People Empowerment in Governance. There is “AES” – Automated Election System watch. There is “Tan Dem” – Tanggulang Demokrasya. There are three different, separate, and independent private associations. Yet, interesting enough, they have the following marked commonalities. One, they are all primarily concerned with

the last computerized presidential election. Two, they are all principally headed by acknowledged experts in Information Technology.

Three, they all have the same substantive finding, viz., there are standing and verifiable evidences that the election of the sitting President remains doubtful and questionable.

Now, would the incarnation of integrity care to have the doubt resolved, to have the question answered? Or would the same rather simple ignore the big problem of his legitimacy?

Any response from his alteregos? Any action from his Office?

Reliefs... tor Lordilie C.S. Enjambre in a memorandum to the Board of Trustees. “Hence, payment of outstanding real property taxes from 20072011 can now be done less interests and surcharges until April 30, 2012 while the old business permit assessment rates will be applied to directly affected MSMEs.” Partial results of quick survey conducted recently by the Oro Chamber

revealed that 57 member MSMEs were directly affected by Tropical Storm Sendong with damages to equipment and structures amounting to P129.5-million while equipment losses in the manufacturing sector totaled P224-million.

Member companies in the hotel and restaurant sector also reported a 60 percent drop in income due to canceled functions and bookings, personnel and client fatalities, and the shortage of electricity and water.

“The business sector is doing its best to provide relief assistance to all affected families including its own employees and workers. The road to economic recovery however may take some time and for this reason the Oro Chamber is appealing for your consideration on the subject requests,” read the chamber’s letter to the Mayor.

The City Treasurer’s Office has requested the Chamber to submit its list of affected MSMES by January 16, 2012 as its basis for collection.

summit could follow early this year before the onset of the spring season in the western hemisphere. Summer which comes after the spring season is vacation months and its more fun in the Philippines during summer. But have we invited the foreign tourist through Fam Tours?

Planning a tour will take a minimum of three months.

Employed tourists have to take an approved leave, make airlines reservations and booked a hotel room

in advance.

DOT, must seized the opportunities. It has not called the tour operators; it has not sounded property investors that maybe the Philippines should add more hotel rooms? That government banking conduits must come into the picture ready to lend the funds and pump prime the economies of tourism with more infrastructures.

On the lighter side, let us put our hats off to our neighbors in Cebu repre-

sented by Gov. Gwen Garcia who went out of their way to invite our Asian neighbors and the Filipino communities in the US and Canada to join them for their Sinulog Festival this Sunday, January 15, 2012.

Pet Señor, the more than 4,000 hotel rooms in Cebu City and Mactan are enjoying full house occupancies since Friday. That could bring them in more than P100 million tourist receipts for Cebu for the weekend festival. Congratulations!

from page 1

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Misamis Oriental CITY OF EL SALVADOR In the Matter of the Change of Name in the certificate of Live Birth of “RANULFO ANG” (JOSEPH O. ANG)

Petition No. CFN 2011 – 0007

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION

The public is hereby noticed that ROSA A. GABULE (PETITIONER) has filed with this office a Petition for Change of Name from GEDEON, JR. to “GEDION” in the certificate of Live Birth GEDION Y. ABCEDE Born on March 08, 1951 from PARENTS NATALIO ABCEDE AND FELECIDAD YAMARO. At the expense of the Petitioner, Let a copy of this Petition be published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Cagayan de Oro and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Any person having knowledge and/or claiming interest or may be adversely affected by said Petition may, within ten (10) calendar days file her written opposition with this office.

In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that EMILIE ANG AMOS has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First Name from ___”RANULFO”___ to “JOSEPH” in the Certificate of Live Birth of RANULFO ANG who was born on May 27, 1955 at Tuburan, El Salvador, Mis. Or from parents FAVIO ANG and FELISA OCO. At the expense of the Petitioner, Let a copy of this Petition be published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Cagayan de Oro and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Any person having knowledge and/or claiming interest or may be adversely affected by said Petition may, within ten (10) calendar days file her written opposition with this office.

BWM: JAN. 9 & 16, 2012

7

(Sgd.) OLIVIA E. LABIS City Civil Registrar BWM: JAN. 9 & 16, 2012

(Sgd.) OLIVIA E. LABIS City Civil Registrar

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Misamis Oriental CITY OF EL SALVADOR Petition No. CFN 2011 – 0008 In the Matter of the Change of Name in the certificate of Live Birth of “ ANITA JUANITA MAGALLANES” NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that ANITA MAGALLANES – GALIGAO has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First Name from “ANITA JUANITA” to “ANITA” in the Certificate of Live Birth of ANITA JUANITA MAGALLANES who was born on SEPTEMBER 27, 1955 at EL Salvador, Misamis Oriental from parents RAMON MAGALLANES and CERILA Y. GAYLA. At the expense of the Petitioner, Let a copy of this Petition be published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Cagayan de Oro and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Any person having knowledge and/or claiming interest or may be adversely affected by said Petition may, with in ten (10) calendar days file her written opposition with this office.

BWM: JAN. 9 & 16, 2012

(Sgd.) OLIVIA E. LABIS City Civil Registrar

8 January 16-19, 2012

MisOr Today

MisOr health providers extend assistance to Sendong victims ponent cities of the province, which targets the health and general well-being of its human resources directed to a progressive community.

Further, it practically brings the medical/health services of the province to the grassroots level and to the doorways of the people, with a focused intervention for the indigents and less privileged constituents as it boasts of its distinct province-wide secondary health care parallel referral system that, to date, has operated on 1,425 patients cataract operation, hemiorrhapy, hydrocelectomy, orchidectomy, cheilosplasty, myoma, thyroidectomy, hydrocephalus, cholelithomy, breast cancer, among others.

Meanwhile, Gov. Moreno recently deployed Capitol’s heavy equipment to Brgy. 40 to help in the land preparation of the relocation site developed by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro for the Sendong survivors. (pia-10)

By ELAINE O. RATUNIL Contributor

MISAMIS Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno lauded doctors, nurses, and staff from the seven provincial hospitals in the province who assisted in the ‘Tabang Medico’ for Sendong victims.

He sent the medical team to the various evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro to provide medical help especially to the flood survivors.

Tabang Medico is a regular medical mission of the provincial government conducted monthly in the different towns of the Misamis Oriental.

Further, Gov. Moreno considers, “The ship of a dynamic society is propelled by robustly healthy and able constituents and will lose the way in the ocean of infirmities if manned by a sick crew.”

Hence, the creation of Tabang Medico program for MORENO the 23 towns and two com-

Power... from page 1

Mr. Abaya had an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the Kennedy School of Harvard University. He completed Master of Science in Financial Economics from the University of London and had been active in the power industry for over 25 years.

He was a member of the National Advisory Council for Energy Efficient Lighting (NACEEL) and a founding member of the Philippine Electric Plant Owners Association (PEPOA). However, it is most probably as a champion of solar power in Mindanao that history will best remember him.

“Mon willingly acceded to organize the Philippine Solar Power Alliance when I approached him in the beginning of 2010 to organize a vehicle for solar advocacy,” said Ma.Theresa “Techi” Cruz Capellan, president of the Philippines Solar Power

Alliance (PSPA).

“He agreed it was time to give the solar industry a voice and face in the renewable energy space. He selflessly volunteered CEPALCO to be the PSPA base, providing the alliance the support it needed to start up the organization and carry its daily work. He generously shared whatever knowledge and experience there was about solar, providing information and insights on the how solar benefitted Mindanao. Mon gave us valuable data that may be applicable and practical in applying solar solutions to the energy needs of the Filipino people especially in Mindanao.”

In a necrological service held last week at the Mt. Carmel Shrine Chapel in Broadway St., Quezon City, Mr. Abaya’s friends and colleagues from his various networks in the energy sector like PSPA, WEDAP, Biomass, Hydro, PEPOA, DOE, NREB and ERC, including his classmates in Harvard and Wharton paid tribute to his contributions

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF REAL ESTATE WITH DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE NOTICE is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late SANTIAGO NOGALIZA SR., who died at Burgos, SURIGAO del Norte, Philippines ; that the said deceased left a parcel of coco land with an area of TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN (211) square meters, including the 35 s.m.foreshore lot, situated at BRGY.1, Poblacion, Burgos, surigao del Norte, Philippines, declared under Real Property Tax Declaretion No. 0100247 .Lot No. 255-B,still registered in the name of the late ANECTO CAGAS, and more particularly described as follows; north; Lot no. 255- A EAST: SeaShore/Pacific Ocean South Seashore/Pacific Ocean west:Lot No.256, That pursuant to Rule 74, Section 1 of the Revised Rules of Court of the Philippines, and all parties being with full capacity to contract, we do hereby adjudicated unto ourselves the land described above,in equal shares; that for and in consideration of the sum of TWO HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND PESOS (246,000.00) philipine Currency, receipt of which is in full and in cash as the full and complete satisfaction of thes instrument, the VENDORS hereby SELL, CEDE, TRANSFER and CONVEY all our rights and interest over the above-describe parcel of beach lot in a manner ABSOLUTE AND IRREVOCABLE, in favor of herein VENDEE, her heirs .successors and assigns: that the VENDORS hereby warrant that this land is free from all liens and encumbrances, and that forever defend the same unto the said VENDEE , her heirs, successors and assigns agains the unlawful claims that may arise in the future by any person or person whomsoever; under notary public Atty.JOSE E .

VILLACES Doc No.104 482 Page no.133 Book no.II Series of 2010, BWM: Jan. 2, 9 & 16, 2012

to the energy sector and to humanity.

“Notwithstanding that he who was the pillar of support in our solar PV advocacy has departed this life, I am taking his death in stride, and will resume work on the solar PV campaign after a pause to honor his passing,” Mr. Tauli said.

“Death comes to all of us at one time or another, and even though it is our chief who has now bitten the dust, it only means for me and those of us in CEPALCO still standing that we must exert greater effort and exercise stronger determination to attain victory in the battle for solar PV that he had been leading.”

“Mon always treated PSPA members as peers - never pulling rank, attentive and sensitive to our views, and following the majority of the Board and members,” Ms. Capellan recalls. “ I will miss you my friend, classmate, and fellow advocate. We will carry on the advocacy with greater determination and commitment.”

Tony La Vina, dean of the Ateneo de School of Government, nephew and

fellow advocate of renewable energy, vowed to carry on the struggle to earn RE its rightful place in the coutry’s energy sector “as a tribute to this wonderful man, this good person, an ethical businessman, a great boss and employer, a man ahead of his time with his advocacy of renewable energy, especially his belief in the potential of the sun to fuel industry and society, and his concern for climate change, above all son and brother and uncle to his family.

“Tito Monching, as you pass on to eternal life, I promise that we will continue on with the work to address climate change and advocate renewable energy; we will not stop until this country sees the light!”

His remains were brought to Cagayan de Oro City on January 14, 2012 and a Requiem Mass celebrated at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral at 4:00PM, followed by a brief wake and viewing of his ashes at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes. The remains were brought back to Manila Sunday, January 15 for the interment there.

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BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

BUKIDNON UPDATES

3 rebels yield, get livelihood support

By ANN NOBLE Bukidnon Bureau Chief

MALAYBALAY City -Three more alleged members of the New People’s Army got back to the fold of the law surrendering their firearms to the government with hope that local officials will back them up in mainstreaming back to society.

Turning over their firearms to Bukidnon Governor Alex P. Calingasan on Tuesday, January 10, Nelio Padao 27, his brother Judy Padao 22 and their comrade Tinoy Saboan, the three surrenderees officially cut their ties to the movement that according to Nelio, promised them a good life through armed struggle, Nelio Padao disclosed he joined the communist movement in 2003 and was among its combatants on its offensives in San Fernando town of this province and its nearby areas.

Another comrade, Junrey Manggatawan, was allegedly killed during their escape from the NPA camp.

The three claimed to belong to the communist movement’s Ernesto Buyboy Roa Command, Guerrilla Front Six operating in North Central Mindanao region.

Governor Alex Calingasan said the local gov-

ernment’s effort of curbing insurgency in the province in diplomatic way is now bearing fruits as more who are in armed struggle against the government are getting back to the folds of the law.

The governor said, his administration is intent on its com mit ment of helping the former rebels mainstream, the provincial government already giving livelihood projects to the surrenderees.

An initial P30 thousand for the surrenderee and an additional P15 thousand for each firearm surrendered will be given by the local government through its local integration program.

The three’s surrender was facilitated by former communist leader Benjamin aka Nonong Salusad who used to be a platon commander of the guerrilla front six operating in Bukidnon.

The three initially surrendered on January 6 to LTC. Jose Maria R. Cuerpo of the Philippine Army’s 8thIB, the headquarters of which are located in Maramag Bukidnon.

The returnees will get additional benefits and priveleges from the government’s OPAPP after a thorough scrutiny from the joint validation and authentication committee.

Zubiri says Bukidnon reforestation effort a failure, wants it stopped MALAYBALAY City -The reforestation efforts of the Bukidnon Forest Inc. (previously the Bukidnon Industrial Tree Plantation Project or BIPP) was allegedly unsuccessful, so its operations have to be stopped, Bukidnon Vice Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. said Zubiri said at the Monday convocation program of the provincial government Monday that BFI must be asked to stop operating ahead of the expiration of its 25-year industrial forest management agreement (IFMA) in 2016.

BFI is a governmentowned and controlled corporation (GOCC) under the National Resources Development Corporation.

As BIPP, it was funded by the national government of New Zealand until it was terminated as a foreignassisted project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 1998.

Zubiri said the 38,000-hectare industrial tree plantation project’s area should instead be given to the indigenous people who have applied for Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title

over it.

He cited BFI in his speech during the program where he reacted to accusations that massive deforestation in Bukidnon should be blamed for the flashfloods brought by tropical storm Sendong that hit Cagayan de Oro in December.

“It hurts me to hear that they are blaming Bukidnon.

We are not at fault,” he stressed.

Zubiri cited that there are no illegal loggers in the province. But he said instead there is “legal logging” with BFI allegedly as the biggest operator. He said the firm is cutting more trees than it is planting.

He added in an interview that only one portion of the 38,000 hectares had been reforested, referring to only 6,000 hectares in Manolo Fortich.

He wanted the government to cut the IFMA by four years because the BFI, in his opinion, was unsuccessful.

Reynaldo Abordo, BFI general manager, admitted to MindaNews that they were able to reforest only 7,000 hectares, not 6,000 as Zubiri said. But he denied ZUBIRI/PAGE 9

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Congress.Watch

9 Rufus wants congressional districts to get slot for one cadet at PMA

A

LAWMAKER has filed a bill mandating the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to reserve a slot for one cadet each for every congressional district in the country every year to comprise its incoming class.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro) filed House Bill 5632, which provides a chance for aspiring cadets even from far-flung areas to fulfill dreams of becoming officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“As it is, majority of the cadets entering the PMA come from areas near the location of the camp, which is within Baguio City. It is high time that we ensure a

RODRIGUEZ

Permit... from page 1

sion, until the issues and concerns on the use of open pit mining method shall have been clarified and resolved by the company with the provincial government of South Cotabato,” Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) officer-in-charge Miguel T. Cuna said in a Jan. 9 letter to SMI President Peter Forrestal. “[Y]ou are hereby advised to refrain from undertaking any development activity in the areas mentioned in the application for ECC until the same is issued in your favor...” the letter concludes.

Mr. Paje, Mr. Cuna wrote, had ordered the rejection of the ECC application in a Jan. 3 memorandum. Last Dec. 29, Mr. Paje told reporters it would be difficult to grant the ECC given the provincial government’s existing ban on open pit mining.

Mr. Forrestal, in a statement, said SMI was disappointed and planned to immediately file an appeal.

SMI communications director John B. Arnaldo said the petition would be submitted in the next 15 days.

“The decision to deny SMI’s ECC application on the basis that the open pit ban in South Cotabato must be resolved before the national government can issue an ECC is inconsistent with the DENR’s (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) established procedures for the processing of ECC applications,” Mr. Forrestal claimed.

He added that the firm had addressed all questions and concerns raised during the application’s 40-day review period, and warned that the government’s policy inconsistency could discourage investments.

“It also hampers the project’s potential to make what would be a significant contribution to the economic and social development of Southern Mindanao and the Philippines,” Mr. Forrestal said.

An ECC certifies that the project under consideration will not lead to unacceptable environmental impacts. It is one of the requirements

needed to secure a permit to operate a mine. At the time Mr. Paje made his initial announcement, Australia’s Indophil Resources NL -- an SMI shareholder -- said it was still waiting for the ECC after having been told it would be issued in December.

Indophil, in a disclosure to the Australian Stock Exchange on Friday, said it had been notified of the ECC application’s rejection.

“We believe that this delay can be overcome in the near term with the support of our Philippine corporate shareholders, and a committed and aligned response from Xstrata and Indophil,” Indophil CEO Richard Laufman said.

Indophil has a 37.5% interest in SMI, with the remaining 62.5% held by Xstrata Copper, a unit of Swiss-based Xstrata Plc. The Tampakan project, estimated to require an investment of $5.9 billion, has been targeted to start commercial operations in 2016.

The South Cotabato provincial government threw a spanner into the works in June 2010 when it approved an environmental code calling for a ban on open pit mining, the method SMI would be using to develop Tampakan. The code took effect in October that year and the national government initially took the position that national policy, which does not forbid open pit mining, should take precedence over local ordinances.

Weighing in on the issue, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines on Friday said the denial of the ECC emphasized the need for a national policy that would resolve the conflicts between the national and local governments.

“Unless a clear-cut policy on mining is immediately formulated, local ordinances such as that in South Cotabato which bans the open-pit mining method will be a recurring issue that would hinder efforts to revitalize mining and deprive the Filipino people the economic benefits that can be derived from its world-class mineral resources,” said Rocky G. Dimaculangan, the chamber’s vice-president for communications.

more balanced composition of every Class that emanates from the PMA,” Rodriguez said.

The measure, co-authored by Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), mandates the PMA to select one cadet each from every congressional district every year in order to ensure that every class that graduates from the time of the effectivity of the measure be

January 16-19, 2012

comprised of cadets made up of Filipinos from all over the country.

“The PMA is the training ground of cadets and it is where they can realize their dream of becoming part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and fight for and defend the country,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the PMA was established in order to instruct, train and develop cadets that each graduate shall possess the character and military skills essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career as a values-centered leader in the selfless services to

the AFP and the nation.

Under the bill, each cadet will still have to pass and comply with all the current admission requirements of the PMA. “Only upon determination that there is no qualified applicant from a certain legislative district will said slot be given to another qualified applicant respective of their domicile,” Rodriguez said.

The bill also mandates the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and PMA to promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the proposed act.

Bill professionalizing BoC filed A MEASURE seeking to professionalize the Bureau of Customs was filed in the House of Representatives.

House Bill 5631, principally authored by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro), amends Republic Act No. 9280 also known as the Customs Brokers Act of 2004.

Rodriguez and co-author Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Partylist, Abante Mindanao) moved to professionalize the BoC to enable the Philippines to comply with its commitment to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures otherwise known as the Revised Kyoto Convention.

They also sought to make customs brokers more aware

of their responsibility and accountability as professionals.

In filing the bill, Rodriguez noted that “Section 6 of RA 9280, which covers the scope of practice of customs, the broker profession in its present form does not consider employment in government as practice of profession unlike other regulatory laws on accountancy or mechanical engineering, among others.”

They proposed to amend Section 6 to make exclusive the Customs Broker Licensure examination (CBLE) and BAR Examination converted into professional level civil service eligibility under Republic Act 1080 for second level positions requiring expertise in customs and tariff administration.

“Currently, there are not a few customs Operations Officers (COO) whose educational and professional background did not prepare them to discharge their positions technically and professionally,” Rodriguez noted.

Section 16 of RA 9280 provides that graduates of the two-year Master of Customs Administration (MCA) were qualified to take the Customs Broker Licensure Examinations (CBLE) for a period of five years from effectivity of the law in 2004.

“To encourage current customs employees occupying positions in the first and second level to take up MCA to qualify for the licensure examination for promotions purposes, the bill proposes to extend the

five year period under the law by another eight years,” Rodriguez said.

The bill also seeks to amend Section 32 to inculcate in the minds of customs brokers that their primary function as professionals is the collection of rightful revenue due the government and not the pecuniary interest of their clients when making import and export declarations and representing them before the BoC. “The proposed amendments seek to professionalize the Bureau of Customs, safeguard government revenue while complying with international treaty commitments and put emphasis on professional and social responsibilities of customs brokers,” Rodriguez said.

Zubiri...

NRDC. He said this is one reason their operations in the past have lagged compared to their targets.

Of t he P20 0 -m i l l ion target sales in 2011, they were able to earn P40 million, he added.

But he sa id t hey a re optimistic they can recover with the help of the DENR and the prospects of buyers this year.

Abordo said they will definitely apply for renewal of the 25-year IFMA in 2016.

“This is the government’s only showcase of industrial t ree pla ntat ion. We a re confident of the interest of the government to renew it,” he added.

He said t hey will include in their negotiation the share and role of the indigenous peoples claiming

the plantation area as their ancestral domain. But an officer at the NCIP Bukidnon said BFI would need to obtain a free and prior consent with the indigenous cultural communities in the area, which they were not able to do back in 1989 when the project was started during the administration of President Corazon Aquino.

(Courtesy of MindaNews)

from page 8

they were unsuccessful in reforestation.

Edw in Ok it, BFI operations chief, said only 18,000 hectares of the area can be reforested and they were able to reforest 13,000 hectares since the 1990s.

But he blamed an interplay of factors, including forest fires, that their output to 7,000 hectares.

Abordo also denied they were cutting more trees.

He added they were able to reforest 70 0 hectares in 2011 but logged only 150 hectares, or equivalent of 30,000 cubic meters of lumber.

He said t he DENR is extending about P16 million this year, the first time since 1998, to augment funds for reforestation. He said it will be used to reforest 1,000 hectares with a different forest tree species and additional 1,000 hectares for coffee plantation with the indigenous peoples.

He also admitted that BFI was not prepared with complete equipment to operate in the long run when it was transferred under the

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BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Mindanao produces 70% of country’s coffee

Z

AMBOANGA City -- Coffee drinkers, cil, Sen. Ninoy Aquino Coffee Arabica, which serves as the do you know which region and province Industry Development Coun- base of specialty coffee for cil, provincial government of higher-end buyers, as well as a produce most of what you consume?

Mindanao produces more than 70 percent of the country’s annual coffee output of about 98,000 metric tons, with Sultan Kudarat Province alone producing more than 19,000 metric tons (MT) last year, according to data compiled by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The island’s main coffee production areas are in Central Mindanao, Davao City, and Compostela Valley, as well as in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Coffee is an important

global commodity and the Philippines is a coffee-drinking nation, with local demand growing about three percent annually.

Nikki M.Meru, USAID Media Liaison Officer wrote: “The industry has the potential for increasing livelihood opportunities for Mindanao’s farmers, including smallhold growers in conflict-affected areas.”

To boost the competitiveness of Mindanao’s coffee industry and to strengthen alliances between producers, processors and institutional buyers, Sultan Kudarat hosted the 1st Region 12 Coffee Congress last November, at the Provincial Capitol in Isulan.

The event was a collaborative effort of the SK Coffee Industry Development Coun-

PLDT... from page 5

Award winning director and Independent Film Producer Khaven dela Cruz of Kamias Road Films Manila with local artist Paul Magasine gives instruction for the final scene on location at Tibasak and Kalakala, Cagayan de Oro City badly hit by typhoon Sendong of a movie to be premiered here by the end of February 2012. Business Week Mindanao and Mindanao Daily Publisher Dante M. Sudaria sponsor the film in cooperation with Deri Jose, Dept. of Tourism 10, TIEZA, Viajero, One CDO and Ohana Adventures.

2013 and 2014.

“The first round of conversion will bring PLDT’s shareholdings to around 70%,” PLDT spokesperson Ramon S. Isberto told BusinessWorld in telephone interview yesterday.

“At the end of the process, [PLDT’s shares] will be around 87-88%,” Mr. Isberto added.

This compares against the 51.26% stake PLDT currently controls in Digitel.

Sought for comment, Lea Lumianog-Sy, the lawyer of the four Digitel minority shareholders who earlier filed complaint, said: “This would further weaken the stake of the minority shareholders because their shares

Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Misamis Oriental CITY OF EL SALVADOR In the Matter of the Change of Name in the certificate of Live Birth of “ MARCELO COLANSE”

Petition No. CFN 2011 – 0009

Sultan Kudarat, and Region 12 offices of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and Technical Education Skills Development Authority, with support from USAID’s GEM Program.

USAID provides support to selected producer associations and other business support organizations in holding seminars, trade fairs, and other events that serve to strengthen Mindanao’s agricultural competitiveness and raise awareness of investment opportunities in the region, she said.

According to industry analysts, Robusta remains the dominant coffee variety in the Philippine market, accounting for 75 percent of total output.

There is, however, an increasingly strong demand for

growing appreciation of other varieties such as Liberica and Excelsa.

The country’s coffee output, however, has declined in recent years, due to outdated production practices, diversification into other crops, as well as a lack of post-harvest production and processing facilities, among other factors.

Since 2006, the Philippines has had to import at least 20,000 metric tons of coffee beans annually, mainly from Vietnam and Indonesia.

Among the initiatives proposed at the congress in Isulan were the establishment of additional coffee clonal gardens and nurseries to produce planting materials of good quality, and the intensified promotion of good coffeegrowing practices to improve productivity.

will be diluted to around 12%.”

The four, namely Dioceldo S. Sy, Edmund C. Sia, Gary Lim, and Arsenio G. Tan had also complained that PLDT, which is mandated to make an offer for the rest of the Digitel shares, will only buy the shares at P1.60 apiece versus the P21.12 per share the telco is assumed to have paid to JG Summit Holdings, Inc. The SEC is currently probing the tender offer, which will run until Jan. 16.

PLDT’s acquisition of JG Summit Holdings’ majority stake in Digitel gave the dominant telco some 70% of the domestic mobile market, leaving Ayala-led

Globe Telecom, Inc. to about 30% of the market.

In a separate development, PLDT yesterday released a schedule for the redemption of preferred stock Series A to FF in the Pangilinan-led telco, which the firm will buy back effective Jan. 19.

Subscribers may claim their checks starting Jan. 19, but will have to call in first to schedule processing at the PLDT’s redemption center at the RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.) Stock Transfer department in RCBC’s office in Makati City.

PLDT had moved to redeem such preferred shares in order to make voting for equity amendments more manageable.

Davao...

“Everyone is welcome here.

The income that the center will earn will help us sustain its operations,” he added.

He said the hospital still needs about P200 million to complete the facilities needed in the center.

from page 5

suffering from the disease every year.

Pillerin said the center is not only for those who cannot afford to pay the services.

NOTICE OF PUBLICATION In compliance with Section 5 of R.A. No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that JUAN G. COLANSE has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First Name from “MARCELO” to “JUAN” in the Certificate of Live Birth of “MARCELO COLANSE” who was born on JANUARY 31, 1950 at EL Salvador, Misamis Oriental from parents ROSENDO PAYLA COLANSE and EMILIA ABOG GALOLA. At the expense of the Petitioner, Let a copy of this Petition be published at least once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Cagayan de Oro and the Province of Misamis Oriental. Any person having knowledge and/or claiming interest or may be adversely affected by said Petition may, with in ten (10) calendar days file her written opposition with this office.

BWM: JAN. 9 & 16, 2012

(Sgd.) OLIVIA E. LABIS City Civil Registrar

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The Business Bureau continues to urge business owners to renew their permits as early as possible so as to avoid penalties and congestion of applicants in designated paying station.

Applicants for business renewals may proceed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Office from 8 to 5 pm and up to 12 midnight on the last day of renewal.

The of f ice has also opened a one-stop-shop for this particular transaction at the NCCC Mall, Maa. Riola on the other hand, expressed desire to have the renewal process in the district level. “ This way, we could decongest traffic and also beneficial to business owners who need not travel far just to reach the Business Bureau office and pay the necessary renewal fee.

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BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Tourism

‘Bourne’ director Stillman helps typhoon victims

By JOE PALABAO Correspondent

HOLLYWOOD film director Dan Stillman of the Universal Film Studio recently recounted what he described as a horrible scene when he visited Cagayan de Oro few days after typhoon Sendong devastated the city and other parts of northern Mindanao which left more than a thousand dead and destroyed lives and properties of an unimaginable magnitude.

Stillman, who is the assistant film director and production manager of the Hollywood movie Bourne Legacy which is now being shot in Manila, was also in Cagayan de Oro on December 23-26, 2011 to distribute goods and Christmas gifts to about 300 children whose families were victims of the calamity.

The film director, accompanied by Ohana Adventures operator Dr. Rachito Chi Abellanosa with wife Maite and daughter Tichina Maradona and Philippine Pediatric Society members Jessamine Mae C. Sereno, May Salvana and Kai Alaba, visited evacuation centers at West City Central School in Brgy. Carmen and have witnessed how lives were shattered by the typhoon.

Stillman spent his Christmas days making rounds to the different evacuation centers in Kauswagan and Macasandig and went to see hardly-hit Brgy. Tibasak, Kalakala and Manggang Putol.

The acclaimed American film director has described the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong as worst than the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

Before he left for Manila on December 27, Stillman

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Bourne Legacy film director Dan Stillman with Maite Abellonosa of Ohana Adventures during the relief distribution to Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro.

vowed continue to get help from the United States to restore the lives of the victims.

Director Louie Domingo of the Emergency Research Center also joined the group and helped in the relief distribution and conducted assessments on the extent of the damage.

The distribution was facilitated by the Abellanosa

couple with donated goods from friends from Abu Dhabi. They also facilitated the medical mission conducted by the Philippine Coastguard headed by Dr. Ted Esquerra.

Stillman, on the other hand, is on the final stage of finishing the shooting of Bourne Legacy which stars Jeremy Lee Renner and Rachel Weisz with some Filipino

actors and actresses.

The movie is the fourth instalment of the smash-hit Robert Ludlum’s suspense thriller Bourne Identity, starting with The Bourne Identity in 2002, The Bourne Supremacy in 2004, and The Bourne Ultimatum in 2009.

The Bourne Identity series is originally starred by Matt Damon.

KAAMULAN 2012 kicks off on Feb. 16

By ANN NOBLE Bukidnon Bureau Chief

MALAYBALAY City -- The country’s only authentic ethnic festival softly opens its activities on February 16, signaling a month-long series of activities that will culminate on March 10, Bukidnon’s foundation day.

Kaamulan 2012 will kick off on the said date with Pamukalag ha pamuhat ta Kaamulan, a tribal ritual that will be held at the Capitol grounds. The ritual to be led by native elders aims to appease the spirits and to pray to the indigenous peoples “Magbabaya” (Supreme God or the Ruler of all) for a successful Kaamulan celebration.

Various enterprises adding glitter to the celebration such as the garden show, food fest, agri-fair, the Kaamulan bazaar and the livestock will officially open to the public showcasing the province’s bounties in agriculture and craftsmanship.

This year’s celebration will highlight the native peoples economic and art potentials as the provincial government made effort to showcase products that are truly Bukidnon made.

Provincial tourism chief

January 16-19, 2012

Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan wearing an indigenous outfit is keen on making Kaamulan 2012 a truly ethnic festival.

PHOTO BY ANN NOBLE

May Flor B. Intong said, it’s a way of bringing out the best of the province’s native inhabitants through their handicrafts which they have learned from their ancestors.

Highlighting the Kaamulan 2012 are the ethnic street dancing on March 3, the photo exhibit that will be participated

by Bukidnon artists showcasing the best of Bukidnon photos, the seven ethnic groups’ convention on February 26, the tribal

wedding on February 28, Bb. Bukidnon on March 8 and a night of Bukidnon music on February 29 featuring Bukidnon artists.

The festival retains the crowddrawers of its previous celebrations such as the rodeo, HTB mountain bike competition, off-road competition, moto trail challenge and the Kaamulan jam.

Giving credence to Governor Alex Calingasan’s drive for a green Bukidnon, various

environmentally-inspired activities were also included in the festival’s month-long celebration.

The 2nd Kaamulan Kitanglad International Rugged Mountain Race will surely blaze the trail of foreign and local hikers as they trek the terrains of Mt. Kitanglad on February 26.

The Kaamulan 2012 will have its grand opening on February 24.

Kaamulan is a yearly gathering of the province’s seven ethnic tribes namely; Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Bukidnon, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon.

The said tribes are Bukidnon’s original inhabitants and Kaamulan is derived from the native word “amul” which means a gathering for a purpose – a peace pact, wedding, thanksgiving and any activity that makes this people get together.

The annual Kaamulan festival is celebrated to gather together Bukidnon’s indigenous peoples and give them due recognition through a series of activities that could let them relive their past while at the same time, giving guests and spectators insights on the province’s rich cultural heritage.

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12 January 16-19, 2012

My|Phone’s Annual Media Appreciation Day a huge success!

Held last December 9-11, 2011 at My|Phone’s Rancho Elena in Canlubang Laguna. The Annual Event is My|Phone’s was of showing its appreciation towards the Philippine Media Community which has continuously supported the company.

3 Days of non-stop games, food, drinks and bonding to the max made the event a much anticipated activity among the participating Media Partners.

The event was attended by representatives from more than 35 Media Outlets from Print, TV, Radio and Online

BusinessWeek