APRIL 30,2012 BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO

BusinessWeek

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 70, Volume III • April 30-May 3, 2012

Editorial: 088-856-3344 • Advertising: 0917-7121424

P15.00

Market Indicators

AS OF 5:45 P.M., APR. 28, 2012 (Saturday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P42.37

5,169.05 points

49.92 points

;

; Briefly 14.5 cents

New wage hike

DAVAO City -- By May 1, minimum wage earners in Davao Region will get a P10 increase in their Cost of Living Allowance (COLA).

The additional P10 in the worker’s COLA will increase the minimum wage of the region from the P260- P291 to P270-P301.

This is the second tranche of the P15 COLA increase set under Wage Order No. RB XI-17 issued last December 2011. The first tranche of P5 was implemented in January 1 of this year.

Tobacco advocacy

BUTUAN City -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Caraga, is strengthening its advocacy campaign on Republic Act 9211, otherwise known as the Tobacco Act of 2003.

According to Elmer Natad, DTI-Caraga Arbitration Officer, they will inform the public especially the youth on the provisions of the law.

He says the law points out that smoking shall be absolutely prohibited in public places such as centers of youth activity such as playschools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for persons under 18 years old.

Investment forum

OZAMIZ City -- An investment forum is being conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 10 for new players in aquaculture production in Misamis Occidental today, April 26 in Oroquieta City.

The forum is in line with the government’s goal of developing new areas for aquaculture of rearing fish in an enclosure of a water environment to increase fish productivity.

Regional Director Visa TanDimerin of BFAR-10 said the activity is envisioned to consequently generate job for coastal communities and in support of the existing Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental Mariculture Park.

By RUDOLF IAN G. ALAMA, Contributor

D

AVAO City -- The President is earnest in looking for a solution to the Mindanao power crisis, according to Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Secretary Luwalhati Antonino during an interview with the Davao media last April 20.

Antonino said that the President contacted her shortly after the power summit to discuss the power problem.

Among the recommendations pushed by Mindanao stakeholders during the power summit held last April 13 at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao was the non-privatization of the Agus and Pulangi power plants, which supplies about 50 percent of Mindanao power requirements.

Antonino said among the proposal was the setting up of a governmentPOWER/PAGE 8

Filinvest Land eyes residential projects in Cag. de Oro, Iloilo

By MELANIE RIVERA, Reporter

KEEPING its eye on high-growth centers outside Metro Manila and Cebu, Filinvest Land, Inc. is expanding its medium-rise residential projects in Northern Mindanao and Iloilo City in the Visayas region.

“We have actually acquired land in new locations. We bought land in Cagayan de Oro City and Iloilo, and we will be doing projects there starting next year,” Joseph M. Yap, Filinvest Land president and chief executive, told reporters following the firm’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

“They will be medium-rise residential projects on lots that measure FILINVEST/PAGE 8

P500-M INVESTMENT. Villanueva town mayor Juliette Uy is flanked by Yan Yan Int’l Phils. branch manager Nenita Giron and company president Melito Chua in the shoveling rites during the groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s P500 million plant at Brgy. Katipunan. . PHOTO BY GERRY L. GORIT

Food manufacturer breaks ground Villanueva plant

By GERRY L. GORIT, Reporter

VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental – This town keeps up to

its billing as the region’s most industrialized municipality with more and more investments coming in.

The latest among them is a major food manufacturing company which groundbreaks FOOD/PAGE 8

Cotabato spared from power woes COTABATO City -- While power consumers in North Cotabato, Maguindanao and elsewhere in the island have been experiencing excruciatingly long hours of power outages, this city and its immediate environs are spared

from the power woes.

Thanks to the standby power plant of the Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Colight).

Chrisente Ferolino, Colight vice president and resident manager,

said a good contract demand, a standby power plant and the merging of Colight with Davao Light have helped spare this city from power shortage.

Colight covers the whole of COTABATO/PAGE 8

Coco exports in Normin up coconut exports, consisting of 17 commodities of Region 10, last year.

This was actually higher A TOTAL freight-on-board (FOB) value of $ 528.59 mil- by 26.56 percent compared lion had been noted on the COCO/PAGE 10

By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Contributor

ADVERTISING CORPORATION Upper Apitong, Macanhan Road, Carmen-Ilaya, Cagayan de Oro City (088)856-9995 • (08822) 72-99-99 email: bansqual@ultracraftadvertising.com

BusinessWeek Economy 2 Customs collection in Region 10, increases by 28.70% April 30-May 3, 2012

By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB, Contributor

A TOTAL of P5.15 billion was collected by the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Region 10, last year, higher by 28.70 percent, over the customs collection of P4.003 billion in the previous year.

The increase in collection could be due to BOC-10’s drive on antismuggling through the Run After Smugglers program, as the agency was recently cited one of the seven ports nationwide that attained

their collection target, Atty.

Anjunereo C. Castigador, District Collector, BOC-10, said.

He said the highest collection of P3.87 billion or 75.14 percent was posted by the Mindanao Contain-

MINDANAO

er Port Terminal (MCPT) based in Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental.

Next was the Port of C agayan de Oro City (CDOC) with P969.13 million or 18.81 percent, Port of Iligan City with P314.27 million or 6.09 percent and Port of Ozamiz City with P3.14 million or 0.06 percent.

In terms of growth of collections, however, the highest increase of 51.30 percent was posted by the Port of CDOC, which had

a collection of P640.63 million in the previous year.

Again, this was followed

by MCPT whose collections increased by 25.30 percent, compared to its previous collection of P3.08 billion and the Port of Iligan City, which also grew by 18.70 percent compared to its previous collection of P264.69 million.

But collections for the year in the Port of Ozamiz City dropped from P13.51 million to P3.14 million or

P-Noy allocates livelihood fund to Sendong survivors

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN Contributor

PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has awarded livelihood assistance checks totaling P975,000 to 10 associations in the city whose members are mostly Sendong survivors.

The president, assisted by Social Welfare and Development Sec. Corazon Soliman, distributed the checks on Friday at the Calaanan Permanent Resettlement Site in Barangay Canitoan, this city.

The checks were received by the respective presidents and treasurers of the 10 Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) associations.

These SEA-K associations are the Sendong Pagasa, Sendong Survivor, and

Aquino

San Miguel, who received P125,000 each; X-Factor Group, Sang Guco Survivor, and Lucky Team with P100,000 each; as well as, Fortunate, Community Team, Fatima, and Calaanan Uno associations who got P75,000 each.

The livelihood assistance was given in line

with the SEA-K program of DSWD, a livelihood and capacity building program aimed at enhancing the socio-economic skills of poor families towards establishing, and managing sustained community based credit organizations for entrepreneurial development.

Local cooperative promotes savings TAGUM City -- Homegrown billionaire Tagum Cooperative is intensifying efforts to promote savings consciousness among its members.

Guesting in the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors chairperson Norma Pereyras explained savings has enabled the cooperative to widely extend its services.

The cooperative puts

together members’ deposits and investments so it can extend services such as loans, insurances and health care services to members, Pereyras said.

Pereyras said that Tagum Cooperative has been able to viably provide the needed services of its members, especially loans, because total savings have surpassed loan portfolio.

She revealed that Tagum

Cooperative as of March 2012 kept P743.2 million savings deposits and P496.25 million share capital that had a combined total of more than P1.2 billion.

“That’s the trust that our members invest in Tagum Cooperative,” she said.

The P1.2 billion total savings deposits and share capital was more than the P1.17 billion loan portfolio registered in the same period this year. During its 45th General Assembly, they reported that the combined figure of deposits and share capital was more than the loan portfolio.

Tagum Cooperative as of December, 2011 accumulated a total of P455.04 million share capital and P708.20 million deposits that totaled more than P1.163 billion that was more than the P1.097 billion loan portfolio registered in the same period last year.

In the same occasion, Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors vice chairperson Monica Salido who sits at the Education Committee, said that Tagum Cooperative integrates financial literacy which emphasizes budgeting during its orientation seminar.

Salido also revealed that COOPERATIVE/PAGE 8

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Companies

Aboitiz-Amore partnership brings solar power to small villages ABOITIZ Foundation has forged a partnership with AMORE3-Winrock International to energize 400 households in remote rural villages in Davao through the use of portable solar power units.

In a signing ceremony last 21 March, Jon Ramon Aboitiz for Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. and Bill Howley, Environment Group VP for Winrock International committed to bring the convenience of electricity to far-flung communities in Toril district, Davao City and Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur which are not reached by power lines.

Mr. Aboitiz said the corporate foundation of the Aboitiz Group together with the different business units in Mindanao, for many years, have been pouring resources and energy to fund community projects in the areas of education, public health, infrastructure as well as environmental protection and rehabilitation.

In fact, the rural electrification project with Amore is not new. In 2004, Amore and AboitizPower subsidiary Davao Light and Power Co. established a solar charging station and installed street lights in Marilog District in Davao City.

This new set of projects will be implemented

by Amore through Davao Light, the power distribution company servicing Davao City and surrounding towns and cities-- and Therma South Inc. (TSI), which is building a 300-MW clean coal power plant in southern

Davao City.

Benjie Cariaso, Chief Operating Officer of TSI, said that while the company aims to provide, reliable, efficient and responsible power to the customers in the Mindanao grid, isolated off-grid communities especially in Davao City and Davao del Sur, must also be supported.

“AboitizPower and Therma South see the success of our project not only in terms of the business we generate but the changes we inspired in our host and surrounding communities,” he said.

Cariaso added the portability and convenience of solar power makes it an ideal source of energy for isolated rural and off grid communities.

“We are one of the country’s biggest producers of renewable energy. AboitizPower will always pursue renewable energy as long as they are available and feasible. In this case, the relatively smaller capacity of solar energy is ideal in providing the basic electricity needs for small and rural communities,” he said.

Distribution of some 170 stand alone PV solar home systems and 256 solar lanterns will channeled through Barangay Rural Energy and Community Development

A community solar charging station in Marilog district, courtesy of Davao Light and Winrock-Amore. Small and lightweight, solar PVs are ideal for off-grid communities with very basic power needs.

Association (BRECDA), while AMORE3-Winrock will work on preparing the community in operating and taking care of the project.

According to Art Milan, Chief Operating Officer of Davao Light, solar electricity will power lights will make the communities safer especially at night. Students can now study at night while creating livelihood capacity through micro-entrepre-

neurship. It will also pave way for income generation for BRECDA. “Solar electrification is part of the sustainability advocacy of the Aboitiz Group that seeks to promote and advocate the use of renewable energy. The solar technology will light up communities and improve their general wellbeing and in consequence achieve a balance of people, profit and planet,” Milan said.

BDO eyeing Export Bank rehab BANCO de Oro Unibank Inc. (BDO) is keeping its doors open to the possibility of helping in the rehabilitation of Export and Industry Bank.

Negotiations between BDO and Export Bank began as early as 2009, but that petered out despite obtaining regulators’ approval last year.

“Our acquisition of Export Bank was conditional on the settlement of certain legal issues that to this date remain outstanding,” said BDO President Nestor Tan. “Should we be invited, we are willing to help in the rehabilitation of the bank,” he added.

Export Bank has been having financial woes for years after buying failed Urban Bank in 2001.

Export Bank declared a bank holiday on Friday,

a day after it informed the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that it was unable to meet its maturing obligations.

Also on Friday, BSP

deputy governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said in an interview with ANC that the bank has been having problems for some time now.

He also explained in a text message to ANC why the negotiations for a rescue package from BDO Unibank did not push through.

“BDO informed us they no longer wished to pursue the transaction because of unresolved legal issues involving EIB (Export & Industry Bank) which they didn’t wish to get dragged into plus the fact that delays caused further financial deterioration in EIB that made it unattractive for them to continue,” Espenilla said.

Petron set to implement fuel price rollback today MOTORISTS and commuters may get some more relief from high fuel prices after at least one fuel firm said it will roll back prices of its products today.

Petron, in an entry on its Twitter account Sunday, said it is implementing the rollback effective 12:01 a.m.

Monday.

“This is to reflect movements in the international market,” it said.

Petron said it will roll back prices

of regular gas by 60 centavos per liter; and premium and unleaded gas by 30 centavos per liter.

It did not cite price adjustments for diesel and kerosene.

On Saturday, Flying V similarly rolled back prices of some of its fuel products, but left diesel and kerosene untouched.

Flying V rolled back premium and lead-free gas by 30 centavos/liter; and regular gas by 25 centavos/liter.

April 30-May 3, 2012

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April 30-May 3, 2012

Companies

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

SMC to invest $750-M in PAL SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) is investing $750 million in Philippine Airlines (PAL) and affiliate Air Philippines Corp. to help finance a $1-billion refleeting plan for the flag carrier.

SMC and soon to be PAL president Ramon S. Ang said they plan to order at least 100 new planes for PAL and Air Philippines.

The 100 new planes, including single-aisle and twin-aisle models, will be divided across PAL and Air Philippines. Ang didn’t say how many aircraft the carriers would retire.

Ang also disclosed that they will be doing more business with Boeing Co. PAL also plans to resume flights to Europe and bolster services to the United States, although the latter will have to wait until after US federal aviation authorities return the Philippines to Category I from its current Category 2 status.

PAL’s long-haul expansion plans depend on the

Philippines improving safety standards, Ang said. The country is blacklisted by the European Union and has a Category 2 rating from the US Federal Aviation Administration, meaning it does not meet international regulations.

PAL will “immediately” resume flights to Europe once Philippine carriers are allowed in, Ang said, listing Paris, London and Spain as possible destinations. In the U.S., the carrier is looking at New York, Chicago and Florida, he said. It already flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Vancouver in North America.

SMC and PAL majority owner Lucio Tan earlier signed investment agreements that will result in the issuance of new shares to the former for a minority stake in PAL and low-cost partner Air Phil.

Under the agreement, Trustmark Holdings Corp. and Zuma Holdings and Management Corp., the

holding companies of PAL and Air Phil will issue new shares to San Miguel Equity Investments Inc., a whollyowned subsidiary of SMC. Trustmark and Zuma are majority owned by Tan. The agreement will result in SMC owning more than 40 percent of PAL. During the interview, Ang revealed that the carrier’s two main owners will provide $1 billion to help fund the fleet plan. SMC will inject $750 million in PAL and AirPhil, including a $500-million stake purchase, while Tan will deliver the rest, he said.

“PAL will institute more improvement, offer a better service and fly newer planes, PAL is a good company -despite the problems, it’s always been above water,” Ang said.

The carrier wants to join a global alliance, Ang added, to spread its international reach and to help compete with Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Emirates Airline on

long-haul routes. SMC may also build an airport near Manila to help the airline improve services and to extend its own push away from a traditional focus on food and beverages, Ang said.

PAL has 37 aircraft. The fleet includes seven Boeing jets and 30 made by Airbus SAS. SMC started looking at an investment in PAL, then controlled by Tan, about a year ago, Ang said.

The 71-year-old carrier was seeking new funds after losing market share to budget airline Cebu Pacific. PAL reported losses in the first three quarters of the fiscal year that started April 2011.

The carrier, which cut 2,400 jobs when it outsourced catering and other ground services, will add workers as it expands, Ang said. PAL may also hand domestic and short regional flights to AirPhil, while it focuses on long-haul, fullSMC/PAGE 8

Globe launches Nokia Lumia 800 with unlimited mobile surfing for a worry-free experience. Globe Telecom recently unveiled the Nokia Lumia 800, Nokia’s latest smartphone device that runs on the Windows platform, featuring Internet Explorer 9, free maps and voice-guided navigation services, and free image and file storage. Globe Postpaid subscribers can get the ultimate social media phone for free at Unli Surf Combo Plan 1799 with unlimited mobile surfing, P800 consumable for call and text services, and 3 freebies. Subscribers can also get the Nokia Lumia 800 for as low as P1,311/monthly under Plan 499, with a P499 consumable plan, 50mb surfing (P99), 2 freebies, and cashout amortized at 0% over 24 months for Citibank cardholders. The Globe Guarantee of no billshock and 24/7 exclusive access to its expanded customer service channels also assures users of a worry-free experience.

Phoenix Petroleum records 3% earnings hike in Q1 DAVAO-based fuel retailer Phoenix Petroleum Corp. saw its net income grow 3% to P190.6 million in the first quarter from yearago levels on the back of higher revenues, the firm said in a statement Friday.

Phoenix said revenues

rose by 35% to P8.3 billion from P6.1 billion.

“The growth comes from the expansion of the company’s retail and commercial/industry accounts,” the company said, noting sales volume rose by 23% in the first quarter.

Its expenses rose to P7.97 billion from P5.8 billion in the same period last year.

Phoenix Petroleum said the number of its retail stations increased to 240 from 220 at the end of 2011.

Majority of its stations remain in Mindanao with

165 located there. Phoenix Petroleum has 12 station in the Visayas and 63 in Luzon.

“Based on its first quarter performance, the company is confident of hitting its target of additional 100 stations for the year. This PHOENIX/PAGE 8

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Opinion

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

The Human Machine THINK a minute…

Can you imagine life without machines? If we didn’t have cars, buses, telephones or radios, we’d be lost without these basic machines we use every day.

But a machine only helps your life if you know how to use it.

It reminds me of the old chief from the jungle who came to town because he was asked to make a speech on the radio.

The old guy had never been in a radio studio or seen modern gadgets like a microphone before.

So when the radio host gave him the microphone, this jungle chief grabbed it and put it up to his EAR to give his speech! Machines and gadgets are great—if you know how to use them correctly.

Do you know the most sophisticated, advanced machine ever invented? It’s you and me! The human machine. In fact, the more that scientists and doctors discover about the human body and brain, the more they learn what an amazing computer and machine we human beings are.

Our mind, body, emotions, and will make up the total person that we are.

You see, the only one who knows everything about how the human machine works correctly is the One Who designed and invented us.

God made us differently from all the other animals which have no ability to choose in their lives.

They do everything simply by instinct. But we are free to think with our mind and conscience to make our

own choices how we live.

God did not make us robots that He controls and forces to live the right way.

Sadly, since we’ve all chosen to be stubborn and self-centered, we’ve used our freedom wrongly. We even think we know better than our Maker and Inventor what will make us happy.

We’ve all chosen to live our own way, instead of using our bodies and minds the way God designed us to enjoy life—the right way that works.

God’s commands are not to stop us from having fun. It’s just the opposite! The Bible is simply the manual and instruction book for the human machine, so we can keep enjoying life without hurting ourselves and breaking down.

Jesus our Designer shows us His blueprint for success and

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST satisfaction that lasts.

But it’s never too late to get your life fixed and working correctly again. So why not ask Jesus Christ to forgive you for living your own way? Then ask Him to take charge so you can start living His right, successful way. It’s the only way you’ll ever enjoy your life fully the way it was meant to work.

Just think a minute…

Creating new Heroes out of Crisis THE POWER crisis is now on the second month which continues to cripple business and industries in Mindanao. It is an economic catastrophe in the sense that we are facing rotating brown outs of 6 to 8 hours and the manufacturing and business sectors are now accumulating losses. Residential consumers in Central Mindanao and North Cotabato are manifesting dissatisfaction to the government for in-action and offering slow solutions. The dry season is picking up and most of the hydro powered electric generating plants are producing below their rated capacities. Since last year, a warning was raised

by NGCP of the looming power shortage. The DOE Secretary, Mr. Jose Rene Almendras even came to Cagayan de Oro and Davao City to confer with the industry stakeholders.

Debate on the pros and

cons of augmenting the power shortage through the deployment of Power Barges which generates electricity through diesel powered generators and coal power plants have been raging on for the last 13 months.

Some Electric Cooperatives oppose the initiatives for power barges as expensive for the reason that it will shoot up electricity billing in the entire Mindanao area as the highest in Asia. While Environmentalist group and the local government units were forwarding signal on the harmful effect of coal power plants to the atmosphere and as early as February 2011 Mindanao electric cooperatives were giving suggestions that Agus Polangi hydro electric sources of water be dredged to remove dam siltation to be able to store more volume of water to drive the turbines of the generating sets deliver their rated capacities.

Government functionaries close to Malacañang were singing different tune and on the other hand have suggested privatizing the hydro electric plants by proposing sale to the private sectors for two reasons, first, that it is “expensive to maintain aging power plants” and second, to serve as compliance to the privatization laws enacted by Congress.

Both reasoning’s do not come from a real salesman but from agents of commissions. How would they sell those Hydro Electric Power plants with a good price advantageous to the government if that is their premise?

Nevertheless, it was only after 14 months that the President of this country called a summit meeting last April 15, 2012 in Davao City as reported by the leading national newspapers and on televisions with regard to the power shortage in the island.

Pawnshop Regulation (First of Two Parts) PAWNSHOPS have proliferated in the country. Have you ever wondered if they are supervised by any government agency to protect financial consumers?

According to the Integrated Supervision Division II (ISD II) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the financial system is composed of two groups: Banks and non-financial intermediaries (investment houses, savings and loan associations, brokerage, etc.).

Pawnshops, which are considered non-financial intermediaries, are small in terms of required capitalization. As an industry, they represent a very minimal portion of the Philippine financial system.

The Bangko Sentral’s ISD II, headed by Deputy Director Ma. Belinda G. Caraan,

said the total pawnshop industry resources make up just 0.30% (R26.403 billion) of the total Philippine financial system as of 31 December 2010.

Nonethless, pawnshops still play a key role in the economy by lending to people who would otherwise fail to qualify for loans from banks.

Pawnshops easily appeal to those in quick need of money because loans are granted without the need for a credit investigation—the collateral or the pawned item is the sole basis for granting the loan.

As I mentioned earlier, pawnshops can be found everywhere, from supermalls to public markets, to urbanized cities and the rural countryside.

While the pawnshop industry’s total resources pale in comparison to other financial institutions, the

Bangko Sentral notes that the industry’s strength can be drawn from the sheer number of its operating units which dominate the financial system.

As of September 30, 2011, BSP-registered pawnshops totaled 15,596, consisting of 6,367 head offices and 9,229 branches. On the other hand, banks and other financial institutions that are under the supervision and regulation of the Bangko Sentral totaled only 8,913, consisting of 766 head offices and 8,147 branches.

Since 2005, the number of pawnshops has grown by 6,368 units (61.4%) — or an average of 900 units per year.

So what are the laws and regulations covering the Philippine pawnshop industry? The late President Ferdinand Marcos signed into law Presidential Decree No. 114, the “Pawnshop

TRAVERSING THE TOURISM HI-WAY

PED T. QUIAMJOT During the summit with energy officials, stakeholders and the local government units of the affected areas, the President reiterated his pronouncement that the people of Mindanao must be prepared to pay more for electricity that will be augmented by the power barges.

The logic comes either from the corporate cupboard of Aboitez Power which operates Therma Marine that generates electricity through QUIAMJOT/PAGE 7

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE Regulation Act,” on January 29, 1973.

PD No. 114 gave the Bangko Sentral’s predecessor, the Central Bank of the Philippines, the task to regulate and supervise the registration and operation of pawnshops in the Philippines.

The Bangko Sentral, for its part, has the Manual of Regulations for Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries-P Regulations, which contains the rules and regulations governing pawnshops.

BUNYE/PAGE 7

BusinessWeek

April 30-May 3, 2012

MINDANAO

Quiamjot... from page 6

through the power barges or straight from the comic magazines creating Spiderman. Power comes with higher costs of electricity if that is what the President mean?

It appeared that big and small industry stake holders and the residential consumers are pawns to the power brokers. We know that crude oil fires the turbines of the power barges which generates the standby electricity for the low power grid areas.

Government has higher tax revenue forecast. It will definitely encourage and support more consumption of crude oil and buying of carbon generated energy to raise taxes. The same line of reasoning as it refuses to lower the VAT of imported oil or else the government programs for social services will be impaired?

From a c ons u m e r’s economic point of view, Mindanao with its natural resources and abundant supply of water should p e r h ap s p u r s u e m o re hydro electric technology in augmenting its power capacity. More upstream sources of water are found in Mindanao from streams and small rivers, hundreds of small hydro electric power plants can be built.

Bohol succeeded as one province next to Isabela with hydro power sufficiency from their Tontonan Hydro Electric Plant which

draws its water from the Sevilla and Loboc River.

The province do not have those big forest lands as water sheds compared to Mindanao but has planted more trees in the last 30 years to green their interior towns and balding mountains.

The OIC- Governor of ARMM, Mujieb Hataman has made public pronouncement of his stand and campaign to stop illegal logging in the entire Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte regions which comprises the sources of water for the 2 Hydro Electric Power Plants in Iligan City. Leaders that have this vision deserve support from all people of Mindanao. If he succeeds, the whole island will benefit through forests conservations where we draw our sources of water to power our industries.

Bunye... from page 6

The central monetary authority also issues circulars and memoranda to strengthen its supervision over the pawnshop industry. Among its more recent issuances were Circulars No. 711 and 656 dated January 28, 2011, and June 2, 2009, respectively. Both of the circulars significantly updated the country’s pawnshop regulations.

Hig h lig hts of t hes e regulations are the following: • Requirements in the application of new pawn-

shop and new branch.

• Application of the “fit and proper” rule to the board of directors and officers of corporate pawnshops.

• Requirement to maintain a prudential capital ratio based on the amount of loans, i.e., 50% or R1.5million capital for the first R3-million loans; additional 30% for loans in excess of R3 million.

• Explicit provisions on Know-Your-Pawner procedures to address AntiMoney Laundering Act (AMLA) requirements as well as Anti-Fencing Law concerns; • Submission of Audited Financial Statements by the top pawnshops (those with assets of R50 million and above); • Provisions on collateral business such as remittance, money changing and bills payment; • Transferring and closing of a pawnshop head office or branch.

• Reports to be submitted i.e. Consolidated Statement of Condition and Consolidated Statement of Income and Expenses.

It should be mentioned that pawnshops are considered as “covered institutions” and are required to abide by Republic Act No. 9160, or the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), as amended by RA No. 9194. (To be concluded next week) You may e-mail us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com.

7

Are You Forgetting Something?

(Second of Two Parts) LAST week, I introduced the topic of Dementia.

And I mentioned that the most common cause is Alzheimer’s Disease, or AD. AD accounts for 5080% of Dementia cases.

Most cases of AD has no known cause.

In Medical science, AD is said to be caused by plaques and tangles (abnormal proteins) affecting certain brain functions.

Symptoms occur after the age of 60, which means, that the disease is quite uncommon for the younger age group.

It is progressive, with no hope whatsoever that, if one were to manifest the symptoms, that, it can be reversed.

It is kind of sad to see an AD patient. Where before they are independent and active, once, they have the disease, you get to see the changes happen right before your eyes.

In the early stages, there may be mild memory loss.

Like, they may forget a name, a place, time, or misplace things.

Later on, even the ability to communicate gets affected. Once, while I was visiting my Dentist Friend, I saw a familiar face: an acquaintance’s mother.

She could not remember me, but, more than the problem of recognition, is, the deterioration of

even the basic functions.

A caregiver has to be with her during her waking moments, in order to do what she cannot do on her own, including brushing her teeth, bathing, and feeding. Thus, it is worth stressing that: AD or Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but the risk for it increases with age.

Whenever one is afflicted with the disease, what can be worrisome is the great risk for developing complications . Due to the inability to feed one’s self, inadequate nutrition may result from it.

There may be loss of muscle control thus, the ability to chew and swallow is hampered. Personal hygiene may suffer. One’s emot ional and ment al health will deteriorate.

And, eventually, even one’s personal safety may be compromised. Thus, the need for a caregiver to be with the patient, during his/ her waking moments.

There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

Treating the symptoms as they arise is available.

But the end point and objective of the treatment is not cure, but focus is centered on improving the quality of life for these type of patients.

Finding a balance between care giving and the needs of the caregiver is something that must never

be overlooked.

It is often said that, the care of the patient should not overpower the care of the caregivers. Once this is accomplished, the care becomes more meaningful both for the patient and the one giving it. Hope is not so much for the patient for this particular illness, rather, hope is for the caregivers and family, that, they will be able to give the best care there is available to make the remaining days of AD patients as comfortable and meaningful.

Quality of Life may have different meanings , depending on one’s view of what living a life may mean to him or her. What matters is: making a difference not just for self but for others. Giving care to the one in need, when performed in light of love and compassion, will always be like a ray of light, that will bring a smile on one’s face...

8

April 30-May 3, 2012

Corp.Board

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Business profile: Alrose Foods Corporation THE core business of ALROSE GRoup OF COMPANIES is Agri-business and Finance.

Agri-business is led by Alrose Farms. Financial Services are led by Alrose Financial (Pagadian & Molave), Golden Financials (CDO, Cebu, Iligan) and Evergreen Lending ( Cebu, Valencia, Butuan and Surigao).

In 1999, Jollibee and Greenwich franchise was offered to ALROSE and opened on September 18,

While we will be realistic in setting goals and expectations, ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES will also be aggressive in reaching its objectives.

1999 at Iligan City.

F ive ye ars af te r, i n 2004, another Jollib ee branch was op ened in Tibanga.

Tw o m o r e Jo l l i b e e stores opened at Gaisano Mall Iligan last November 2008 and at Georgetown Cybermall, Cagayan de Oro last May 2010.

The group also fran-

chised other brands such as Greenwich––one is in Gaisano Mall Iligan and the other near Xavier University, Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City.

Lastly, the other brand is Red Ribbon - one in Gaisano Mall iligan and the other near MSU-IIT Tibanga, Iligan City.

People who come to

ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES want to work here because we have created an environment that encourages creativity and achievement.

ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES aims to become a leader in the field that we operate in.

The mainstay of our strategy will be to offer a

level of client focus that is superior to that offered by our competitors.

To help achieve this objective, ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES seeks to attract highly motivated individuals that want to work as a team and share in the commitment, responsibility, risk taking and discipline required to achieve our vision.

Part of attracting these special individuals will be to build a culture that promotes both unique-

Power...

operate the hydropower plants.

The President asked the group to complete their homework, particularly the legislation, in creating the power company and also to study other options.

Antonino also said that they had found a loophole EPIRA Law that would decide against privatization.

The provisions limit the investor to only 30% of the entire generational capacity in the grid. She said that Agus and Pulangi, which shares the same headwaters in Bukidnon, cannot be sold separately, and if they are sold as one it would be more than 50 percent of the power generation for the Mindanao Grid.

The Agus-Pulangi power plants produces about 646 megawatts or about 53 percent of the requirements for the Mindanao grid, which is about 1200 megawatts.

Other measures of addressing the situation included the creation of the One-Stop shop for power companies willing to put up power plants. The shop, which MinDA will be able to assist in regarding the lengthy processes in power

investments, is intended for those willing to invest in small power plants.

Another initiative is the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee, which is a multisectoral group composed of representatives from the electric cooperatives, the Mindanao Business Council, civil society, consumer sectors, and other stakeholders.

Aside from monitoring power rate increases, it aims to check the data from the power companies supplying Mindanao’s power so that the industry becomes more transparent. It also has oversight functions for the Agus-Pulangi power plants and can make necessary recommendations to the government.

The committee is handled by the MinDA and a memorandum of understanding is slated to be signed with the Department of Energy.

“First quarter sales will be better than last year. For this year, we are still aiming for 15-20% growth for sales and net income. Our strategy will be to focus on our core businesses, rather than be distracted with other types of projects,” Mr. Yap said.

Filinvest Land will also be aiming to increase its land bank in order to boost its middle-income portfolio.

“We’re still looking at doing land acquisitions.

Most of the land that we’re acquiring now are really more in urban areas, which make them immediately developable into projects.

We’re looking mostly at land for medium-rise buildings, which is within a certain middle-income price range,” Mr. Yap said.

As of end-2011, the company had a land bank of 2,288 hectares, 84% of which were located in areas of Mega Manila, including the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region and Bulacan province, said Annabelle D. Arceo, Filinvest Land investor relations head.

For the year, Filinvest Land will launch 12,100 units in 14 new projects, with nearly 40% of which intended for socialized housing. This compares against just 6,500 units from 11 projects launched in 2011, Ms. Arceo said.

The Gotianun-led developer said it earned P2.94 billion in net profits in 2011, 0.34% down from P2.95 billion booked in 2010, mainly due to an increase

in total costs and expenses for the construction and that rose by 18.43% to P6.17 operation of the plant. billion from P5.21 billion The company’s corporate year-on-year. social responsibility has already started with the promise of the company to from page 1 build an 8-classroom buildits P500-million factory ing in the host community at Brgy. Katipunan here as their initial project.

Gary de la Cruz, sales Thursday last week.

Yan Yan Int’l Phils, a head of the company, added manufacturer of snacks that the spacious location and other food products, is “very good to us” as they will begin construction of expand their operations in its 7.3-hectare facility in manufacturing snacks and May and is expected to start other food products.

Mayor Uy, Mr. Chua and operation by January next Mr. De la Cruz were joined year.

Municipal Mayor Juliette by Vice Mayor WindeliUy has expressed optimism ndo Nalagon Sr., barangay at the economic prospects chairman Carmelo Floresca of the latest investment in and other local government officials and company her municipality Uy said this new develop- executives in leading the ment follows in the heels of groundbreaking ceremony.

The plans of the plant and another huge investment in the town, the construction of newspapers were included a feeds manufacturing plant in the time capsule that was which broke ground last lowered at the site.

March, and that these two occasions will make 2012 a big year for Villanueva. from page 1 She expressed her full Cotabato City as its fransupport for the harmonious chise area and parts of Datu relationship of the company Odin Sinsuat and Sultan and the local government Kudarat, both in Maguinand assured investors of danao.

Since power deficiency fruitful partnership for destarted in early February velopment.

Yan Yan Int’l Phils presi- due to limited and curdent Melito Chua said the tailed power supply from location they chose for their the National Grid Corp. new plant is very good and of the Philippines, power that they have cultivated a supply in the city remained good relationship with the uninterrupted.

According to Ferolino, local government unit.

Chua said the plant the April power demand to be constructed will be in its franchise area has dropped from what was environment-friendly.

He added that they will COTABATO/PAGE 10 be hiring a minimum of 800 workers from the locality

San Miguel may pitch plans for the new four-runway airport to the government in the “near future,” Ang said. Construction of the facility, able to handle 100 million passengers annually, could begin this year, he said.

The company, founded as a brewery more than a century ago, is already set to open a new airport on the resort island of Boracay within two years, Ang said.

San Miguel has also invested in railways, roads and energy companies to bolster margins.

from page 4

egies are the Save a Lot Advocacy (SalaD) and the Pabilisang Savings Para sa mga Drivers Advocacy (PASADA).

It also launched last year the Aflatoun Program in seven public schools in Tagum City to build the leadership skills of pupils as well as promote the value of savings.

Among the schools that adopted the Aflatoun last year were the elementary

schools in Magugpo, Rizal, Mankilam, Laureta, La Filipina, Catalan and Apokon, all in Tagum City.

To encourage members to build up their share capital, Tagum Cooperative launched last year the “Go for Gold” campaign in recognition of members who had put in a capital share of P50,000 and more.

Giving high annual interest rates of seven percent to time deposits, forms

part of its strategy to entice more investments from its members.

Meanwhile, Pereyras said that Tagum Cooperative makes it possible that members can benefit more by investing more as it grants them to use their time deposits and share capital, in availing loans.

“If you need money, you can get 90 percent loan from your time deposit or share capital,” she said.

from page 1

owned and controlled corporation tentatively called Mindanao Power Corporation or MinPow to handle the plants.

“His concerns are that we will lose money if we run it ourselves,” said Antonino.

The MinDA chief says that the solution could be to isolate the Agus Pulangi from the National Power Corporation, and what is left of the plants and engineers, will be managed by a company run by a multisectoral group. The set-up will free the power plants from political interventions, which has been the problem of many government corporations.

She bared that a house bill has already been filed

by Zamboanga First-District Representative Maria Isabelle Climaco for the creation of the Mindanao Power Company.

According to Climaco’s bill the MinPow will be run by a multi-sectoral board, which would operate AgusPulangi power plants. The idea of the bill is to have Mindanaoans themselves

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10th Judicial Region Branch 3 Hall of Justice, Libertad Butuan City IN RE: PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRIES OF THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF MINOR CORINA PRINCESS CADAY WITH LCR NO. 2003-8283

SP. PROC. NO. 4350

SPS. RODITHA CADAY XU AND WENZHONG CAI XU. Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BUTUAN CITY, Respondent.

X- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/

from page 1

around one hectare each,” Mr. Yap said, noting that the developments will be the company’s first projects in those areas.

“We have been looking for land in Iloilo for a long time because demographically, we deem Iloilo as very high-growth. The province has good income levels, and its population base is relatively big. The same goes for CDO in northern Mindanao...” Mr. Yap added.

He went on to hint at improved performance in the first quarter versus yearago levels.

SMC... from page 4

ORDER This is a verified petition filed on March 26, 2012 and raffled to this Court on March 29, 2012.Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course. Set the case for hearing on June 1, 2012 at 8:30 in the morning. Let a copy of this Order be published at petitioner’s expense once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte entire Caraga Region. The Local Civil Registrar of Butuan City and any person having or claiming interest under the entries whose correction is sought may, within fifteen (5) days from notice of the petition, or from the last date of publication of such petition, file their opposition thereto.

Let a copy of this Order be posted also at petitioner’s expense, in the bulletin boards of the Hall of Justice, of the Provincial Capitol and of the City Hall of Butuan City and that copy of said Order together with the petition and the annexes thereto, be served upon the Honorable Solicitor General, the Honorable City Prosecutor and the Local Civil Registrar of Butuan City. Serve also a copy of the Order upon the petitioners and their counsel Atty. Yvette H. Samper.

SO ORDERED. Done in Chambers this 10th day of April, 2012 at Butuan City, Philippines.

(SGD.) FRANCISCO F. MACLANG Presiding Judge BWM: Apr 30, May 7 & 14, 2012

Filinvest...

service trips, Ang said.

“Today in Manila, you are competing with low-cost carriers,” he said. ‘Therefore, you should also be a low-cost carrier to compete.’’

Phoenix.. from page 2

Tagum Cooperative requires its officers, management staff and personnel to support the cooperative by way of saving.

Aside from inculcating the value of savings, Tagum Cooperative also designs ways of encouraging members to invest more.

Among its savings strat-

ness and a bias for action.

While we will be realistic in setting goals and expectations, ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES will also be aggressive in reaching its objectives.

This success will in turn enable ALROSE GROUP OF COMPANIES to give its employees above average compensation and innovative benefits or rewards, key elements in helping us maintain our leadership position in the worldwide marketplace.

Food...

Cotabato...

Phoenix...

will bring the total number of retail stations of Phoenix to 320 all over the country,” the company said.

Shares of Phoenix Petroleum closed at P28.50, down 13.6% from its previous close of P33 a piece.

BusinessWeek

April 30-May 3, 2012

MINDANAO

9

Food manufacturer breaks ground for Villanueva plant PHOTOS BY: GERRY L. GORIT

Villanueva Mayor Juliette Uy showcases the food products of Yan Yan Int’l Phils. which will put up a new plant in the town. The mayor welcomed the investment of the company worth more than P500-million and expressed optimism over the impending hiring of local workers in the hundreds for the construction of the plant and its eventual operation.

Yan Yan Int’l Phils. branch manager Nenita Giron, the company’s sales head Gary de la Cruz, and its president Melito Chua join Villanueva Mayor Juliette Uy for a souvenir pose the site of the groundbreaking for the food manufacturing plant at barangay Katipunan. The executives and local officials later led the capsule laying ceremony for the occasion.

Yan Yan Int’l Phils. president Melito Chua and Villanueva Mayor Juliette Uy take a break from the groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s plant at barangay Katipunan. The two expressed mutual support for the community as the new investment changes the economic landscape of the locality in the years to come.

Executives of Yan Yan Int’l Phils. and government officials of Villanueva are joined by executives of other companies located in Villanueva during the groundbreaking ceremony of the food manufacturing plant. The Yan Yan Int’l Phils. manufactures snacks and other food products for consumption in the country.

10

April 30-May 3, 2012

Congress.Watch

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Mindanao lawmakers seek cleansing of ARMM electoral process Secretary Jesse Robredo has called on the Commission on Elections to institute reforms in the ARMM to ensure clean and credible elections in 2013.

“First, there is need to purge the existing voters’ list and start a new registration of voters in the ARMM,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the Comelec should also identify critical areas in other parts of the country that need cleansing and reforms.

“The Comelec must reassign or even dismiss from office election officers involved in manipulating past election results,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez proposed the use of biometrics for all ARMM registered voters and

the interface of biometrics with the use of appropriate technology that would only allow actual voting of real and physically present voters which the Comelec believes it can do given the appropriate budget to acquire new technology.

Rodriguez said voters should also be required to physically present their valid government issued identification cards before they are allowed to register to ensure the true identity of the voters.

“There is need to immediately implement reforms because time is running out as the Comelec and the ARMM have barely one year to prepare for the synchronized mid-term elections in May next year,” Rodriguez said.

6,500 more houses for CDO ‘Sendong’ victims

Cotabato...

SOME 6,500 more houses will be built for victims of tropical storm “Sendong” that struck Northern Mindanao last December and displaced thousands of people, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said on Friday.

“This was the promise President Aquino made on Friday when he turned over an initial 1,500 housing units. We thank PNoy and members of the Cabinet for helping our people,” he said.

Rodriguez said several agencies, including the National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and private corporations like San Miguel Corp. joined hands in building the ini-

expected, making the contracted power supply from the NGCP enough to cover up the power shortage.

He said the power requirements for Cotabato City and its environs is between 21 to 22 megawatts a day.

Ferolino said Colight has received a red notice from NGCP in October last year, informing them of the impending power supply deficiency in 2012.

Throughout Mindanao, all 27 rural electric cooperatives have been receiving curtailed power supply due to the reduction of power generation by Agus and Pulangi hydroelectric plants in Lanao provinces and Bukidnon.

Dohjie Vertouso, Colilght information officer, said when power supply deficiency in Colight arises, the Davao

Light can provide additional supply because the Aboitizowned power firm distribute excess supply to its members.

In Cotabato City, the peak demand goes 21 megawatts a day but any shortage can be covered up by the Colight’s diesel-fed power plant.

“We do not experience power outages because we have good back-up power plant,” Ferolino said.

He added Colight can provide one-third of the franchise’s demand.

Next month, the Pulangi hydroplant will undergo rehabilitation and repair which would simply means the more power shortage will take place.

Ferolino said there will come a time that the city will also experience rotational brownout because the back-up power is an engine that needs maintenance and repair. (PNA)

THERE’S a need to change public perception that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is the electoral cheating capital of the Philippines, according to two Mindanao lawmakers.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao) filed House Resolution 2252 directing the House Committee on Suff rage and Electoral Reforms to conduct an inquiry on the possible electoral reforms that should be made in the ARMM. “The ARMM is perceived by many to be the electoral cheating capital of the country with reports of ghost voters, ghost precincts and prefabricated results that include the manufactured

Rodriguez

Coco... from page 1

to the FOB value or transport cost shouldered by the country of destination of $417.66 million for these export commodities in the previous year, Regional Manager Luis G. Cruz of the Philippine Coconut Authority, Region 10, said.

Topping the list of these exports, in terms of FOB value, was coconut chemicals with $228.99 million, followed by coconut oil with $222.066 million, and desiccated coconut, $28.76 million.

The rest of the commodities and their FOB values were coconut shell charcoal, $13.35 million; copra cake/meal, $12.25 million; coconut water with $10.01 million; coconut milk powder, $4.795 million; activated carbon, $3.36 million; and coconut cream, $3.27 million; reduced fat coconut, $915,758; sweetened coconut, $379,610; palm oil fatty acid, $235.36; coconut shell, US$130,196.96; coconut vinegar (“sukang pinakurat”), $24,269; and coconut coir fiber, $6,500.

No exportation was done of fresh coconuts and fresh coconut fruit shells in 2010, but in 2011 they posted FOB values of $25,671 and $4,044, respectively, Cruz said.

In terms of growth in FOB, coconut water posted the highest increase of 1,326.01 percent compared to its previous year’s FOB value of only $702,212.

This was followed by coconut

tial housing units.

“We hope they will continue to do so to complete a total of 8,000 houses by July or August,” he said.

He added that aside from helping build houses, the DPWH is in charge of constructing roads in the permanent resettlement sites, while the DSWD assists those displaced in relocating and continues vinegar, which posted an increase in FOB of 341.90 percent; coconut shell, 156.87 percent; reduced fat coconut, 146.16 percent; coconut cream, 108.25 percent; coconut shell charcoal, 96.15 percent; desiccated coconut, 91.88 percent; coconut milk powder, 77.36 percent; activated carbon, 65.09 percent; coconut oil, 22.58 percent; coconut chemicals, 21.26 percent.

But declines in the FOB values of the following commodities were noted: coconut coir fiber, down by 90.52 percent and copra cake/ meal, 32.71 percent.

Meanwhile, in terms of production, coconut oil posted the biggest volume of 135,641.70 metric tons (MT), followed by coconut chemicals with 88.782.69 MT; copra cake/meal, 68,514.32 MT; coconut shell charcoal, 19,689.96MT; desiccated coconut, 12,953.86MT; and coconut water, 11,321.1 MT. In terms of growth in production, coconut water posted the biggest increase of 1,087.81 percent, followed by activated carbon, 199.68 percent, coconut cream, 52.18 percent, coconut shell, 42.08 percent, coconut milk powder, 41 percent, reduced fat coconut, 39.44 percent, coconut vinegar, 12.40 percent, coconut shell charcoal, 11.14 percent, and desiccated coconut, 8.49 percent.

Cruz said a downtrend in production was noted on coconut chemicals, down by 18.79 percent, coconut coir fiber, down by 86.91 percent and coconut oil, down by 33.21 percent.

to provide relief goods to those in temporary shelters.

He said the city government provided the land for the permanent resettlement sites so that people would not go back to areas near the Cagayan de Oro River, where they would again be exposed to danger.

The President led the turnover of 1,500 housing

certificates of canvass,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said this issue is one of the reasons why the 2011 ARM elections was cancelled and scheduled to be held together with the mid-term national elections in 2013.

“The fraud allegedly committed during the ARMM elections affect not only the region but the entire country because the number of votes in the area could change the results of national elections,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said even Interior and Local Government

units built at the Calaanan permanent resettlement site in Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City the other day.

Aquino recalled that when he visited the city shortly after it was flooded in December, he told residents that he would help them recover from the tragedy and rebuild their lives.

He said he was back in less than four months to fulfill his promise. Rodriguez and other Northern Mindanao officials have blamed the flooding last December on logging operations, both legal and illegal.

Rodriguez said the flashfloods killed nearly a thousand residents and more than a thousand are still missing and presumed dead.

from page 8

Workshop... from page 11

of our general membership were hit by typhoon Sendong with estimated losses amounting to Php 158.5M for MSMEs,” said Acting Vice President Efren T. Uy of the Trade and Commerce sector.

This is a good opportunity for them to avail of the much

needed assistance he added.

“TNA is one of the prerequisites of availing the grant facility through DOST’s SETUP Program,” said Ms. Miriam dela Plaza— DOST Camiguin Science and Technology Director. She reiterated that the TNA Plan will serve as one of the basis of evaluating the project proposals of potential MSME grantees.

PANEDOTTE PASTRIES

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

PANEDOTTE PASTRIES are available at Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, just in front of the Senior Citizens Center in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental with Tel Nos. (08822) 740-211, (088) 856-2419; Cell Phone Nos. 0917-706-2247 and 0917706-1516, or visit them at 162 M.H. del Pilar –Velez Sts., Cagayan de Oro City Available at GAISANO SUPERMART and at LUMBIA AIRPORT PRE DEPARTURE AREA

Metro CDO

MINDANAO

BusinessWeek

April 30-May 3, 2012

11

Cagayan de Oro prelate thumbs down casino THE leader of the Roman Catholic church community and for the in this city vowed to oppose any attempts by families” of the city.

Ledesma said the church foreign investors to establish casinos here.

Last week, Mayor Vicente Emano announced that casino operators from China, Israel and Malaysia approached him with their proposals to build and operate the gambling centers.

Although Emano acknowledged he supports the idea, he said he told the foreign investors to get the church’s approval first.

“Unless they can conPresident Aquino speaks during the turn-over ceremony of the permanent shelters for Sendong survivors. vince the church then I am not allowing any ca-

PNoy cites efforts on disaster management PRESIDENT Aquino cites the undertakings of the government with the objective of mitigating the effects of disasters and in accurately predicting typhoons and other natural calamities in the country.

The President announced this during his visit in the city yesterday, April 27, at the Calanaan Relocation Site in Barangay Canito-an, this city, to turn-over some 700 newly completed shelter units to families left homeless by tropical storm Sendong.

He said that every Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) field office have been allotted around P500,000 standby funding for disaster response, which can

be immediately used by the local government in facilitating faster disaster response.

“Alongside other agencies of the government, we are pushing for reforms and are strengthening our readiness against calamities, and to mitigate its effects. The Department of Science and Technology has launched Project NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, a flood warning system wherein 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level or river sensors will be placed in 80 major river systems and watersheds in the country,” the President said in Tagalog in his speech.

President Aquino also called on

the public to cooperate in this undertaking, especially to those people still living in these danger areas, adding that the people should not wait for the disaster to strike before acting on it, emphasizing that the country is a typhoon-frequented spot.

The President asked for cooperation from the citizens in protecting the gauges and sensors, and apprehending those who have stolen these, noting that some of these installed apparatus have been stolen and were sold as iron per kilo.

“With these equipment, we will be more accurate and timely of the forecasts and the monitoring of rains and floods in the whole country,” the President said.

sino to operate in the city,” Emano said. “There is no such thing as the separation of the church and the state. Actually, we have been careful about that.

Although there is such a doctrine, but certainly we know that it is the government that works with the church.”

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma’s immediate reaction was to say casinos “will not be good for the

has a long history of opposing gambling.

Emano said he would stand by the church’s decision.

“The church did not approve of the proposal.

So, there will never be a casino here,” he said.

Archdiocesan Social Action Center director Fr. Nathaniel Lerio stressed that the church was not alone in its opposition to the casino. -- Cong B. Corrales, InterAksyon.com

Cagayan de Oro City Councilors Alex Dacer and Emmanuel Abejuela try to pacify residents of sitio Little Bohol in Agora following a demolition order from the court served

by Sheriff Sander Halasan last week. Some 96 families have made their houses on the 6,000-square meter lot reportedly owned by Osamundo Waga Jr. The demolition has been put on hold following a near fight among the people. PHOTO BY GERRY L. GORIT

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