BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO AUGUST 20,2012 by BusinessWeek Mindanao

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Briefly Permit processing

DAVAO City -- Twenty seven local governments in this region are cutting processes for business permit application, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a recent statement. Sarry L. Kinoc Jr., the DTI regional office’s person in charge of the program, said in the statement that participating local governments shorten application period to five to 10 days, requiring no more than five steps and a maximum of two signatories, before they are deemed “compliant”. DTI noted the cumbersome process of renewing permits was “the primary reason for enterprises to remain in the underground economy and evade taxes.”

Trade policy hub

GENERAL Santos City -- Business stakeholders will launch here next week the Mindanao Trade Policy Center (MTPC) in a bid to further push the business sector’s agenda in helping shape the economic growth in the southern Philippines. MeAnne Lunasco, project officer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Mindanao (PCCI-Mindanao), said the center’s launching next Friday would be the highlight of the forum on the ASEAN Regional Integration, which is expected to materialize in 2015. “The MTPC will serve as the policy center for Mindanao business chambers. It will facilitate the advocacy programs that the Mindanao chambers are channeling to the government for possible intervention,” she said.

By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter

USINESS and political leaders in Mindanao welcomed the signing of Executive Order No. 81 by President Benigno Aquino III creating the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC).

The Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) said the creation of the committee will make way for the review of policies and processes to accelerate private investments for additional generating capacities to the Mindanao grid. “This is a welcome development and we expect greater collaboration between the government and the Mindanao business sector in addressing the Mindanao power situation,” said Vicente Lao, MinBC and Mindanao Electric Power STILL HOMELESS. The remaining evacuees temporarily housed at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol Alliance (MEPA) chair. Grounds are now asking for permanent relocation site to start their lives anew. PHOTO BY GERRY L . GORIT LEADERS/PAGE 10

Investment in oil industry reaches P38.91B in 2011 By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Contributor

OZAMIZ City – A total investment of P38.91 billion have been poured into the country’s downstream oil industry (DOI), as of December 2011. These investments came from a total of 1,194 players in the industry, Dr. Zenaida

A. Monsada, Director of the Oil Management Bureau, Department of Energy (OMB-DOE) said, during a recent multi-sectoral advocacy campaign on the DOI, held in the city. In terms of amount, P14.99 billion or 38.52 percent came from the liquid bulk fuel bunkering, followed by P9.26 billion or

23.80 percent, from the fuel retail marketing. About P7.38 billion or 18.97 percent, came from the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bulk marketing, P4.67 billion or 12 percent, from terminalling and P2.61 billion or 6.71 percent, from bunkering, Monsada said. In terms of the number OIL/PAGE 10

POOREST TOWN. The mountain town of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte is the country’s poorest with its 79.9 percent poverty incidence index.

Mindanao has most number of poor towns DESPITE pronounced efforts by the government in making life easier for Mindanao, the fact remains that the island is still home to the coun-

try’s many poor municipalities. In a report released by National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) on 2009 City and Municipal Level Poverty Estimates, it revealed that 17 of the 20 poorest municipaliTOWNS/PAGE 10

August 20-23, 2012

Economy

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Tangub City releases P26M for eco-tourism site development By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB, Contributors

TANGUB City -- The local government of Tangub has released P26 million for the development of the Eco-Tourism Model Site of the Mt. Malindang Ranges Natural Park (RNP) in Barangay Hoyohoy, this city. The project aims to establish a visitors’ center, viewing deck, camping site facilities and a botanical garden to showcase the unique and rare species of flora found inside the Mt. Malindang RNP, Mayor

Philip Tan, who led its recent ground-breaking and capsule laying ceremony, said. Barangay Hoyohoy is one of the upland barangays in the protected area of Mt. Malindang RNP that sig-

nificantly possesses natural beauty and grandeur, which becomes an avenue for ecotourism adventure facilities. Situated in the open area at the foot of the Mt. Malindang RNP, the site faces the south peak and located 850 meters above sea level (asl), in the highlands of Tangub and only about 700 meters below Mt. Ampiro, the lowest peak of the mountain ranges of Mt. Malindang. Its view spans to the other six ranges with summits

from 1,700 m-2,400 m asl and the areas in the towns of Kolambugan, Tubod and Maigo in Lanao del Norte across Panguil Bay and those of the neighboring city of Ozamiz, and the municipalities of Clarin and Tudela in the east and Bonifacio and Don Victoriano in the south. Tan said the sustainable financing project through the development of ecotourism model site inside the Mt. Malindang is for the protection and management of the park for its perpetual existence. An inventory of plant species in the Mt. Malindang RNP in 2004 said that there are 1,284 species, 472 genera and 187 families. Of these, 873 were considered as angiosperms, 20 as gymnosperms, 280 as pterodophytes, 85 as byrophytes and 25 species as lechens.

Likewise, of the pterodophytes, the number of species recorded represented about 44 percent of 632 species found in Mindanao. The identification of the site is a laudable strategy to sustainably manage its abundant resources, which is envisioned to greatly boost the protection activities in the park and Mt. Malindang’s environs. “It will invite tourists from all walks of life to experience nature that leads to sustainable management,” the mayor said. Located at the southern curve of the D-shape province of Misamis Occidental, in the island of Mindanao, Tangub City is bounded by Mt. Malindang in the north, Ozamiz City in the east, Paguil Bay in the south and the municipality of Bonifacio in the west. It can be reached by plane in one hour and 20

minutes from Manila, onenight travel by boat from Cebu City and three hours and 30 minutes ride by bus from Cagayan de Oro City. The ground-breaking was attended by the representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Centre for Bio-Diversity (ACB), which awarded the “Plaque Recognizing Mt. Malindang RNP as an Asean Heritage Park in the Philippines,” and the ACB-German Organization (GIZ) which handed over its certificate of approval to Governor Herminia M. Ramiro of Misamis Occidental. After the ground-breaking, Tan also led the tree planting of some 200 trees of the Igem and Almaciga species in the area, together with the participants of the second National Asean Heritage Park Conference, held in the province.

Pinoy Muslims to mark Eid’l Fitr on Monday By BEN CAL

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OVER five million Filipino Muslims will join the entire Muslim world in the observance of Eid’l Ftir on Monday, ending their month-long fasting. President Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Proclamation No. 455 declaring August 20, the Feast of Ramadan, as a regular holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr, which is celebrated by Muslims for three days after the end of their 30 days of fasting. In his proclamation, the President said the celebration of Eid’l Fitr is “to promote cultural understanding and integration,” adding that “the entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid’l

Fitr.” “In order to bring the religious and cultural significance of the Eid’l Fitr to the fore of national consciousness, it is necessary to declare Monday, 20 August 2012, as a regular holiday throughout the country,” the President stressed. On Monday, Filipino Muslims in Metro Manila and other parts of the country will gather for an early morning prayer to celebrate Eid’l Fitr. They will also listen to sermons in various Muslim mosques in the country, including those in Metro Manila. The end of the Ramadan marks the beginning of the Eid’l Fitr. The Muslims believe that “Eid” occurs on the first day of the Shawwal which is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. “According to the his-

tory of Islam and traditions on the last day of Ramadan after sunset, people start sighting the crescent moon. As soon as the moon (hilal) is spotted, the celebration for Eid’l Fitr begins for all the Muslims. Ramadan is said to be the holy month of Muslims. It is believed that the holy book Quran was revealed to prophet Muhammad during this month. It is also believed that during this month, the “gates of hell are closed and the gates of heaven are open,” according to Muslim tradition and history. It is also believed that Ramadan is Allah’s own month. Another event which took place during the month of Ramadan was the battle of Badr between the inhabitants of Mecca and Medina. “It’s the month to thank Allah for what he has given to human beings, thereby saying no to food, drink, smoking and sexual activities during daylight and all the Muslims devote themselves to pray to Allah. Once the crescent moon is sighted, it’s the time to break the fast and get over with the Ramadan month and celebrate Eid’l Fitr,” it says. Islam, which is predominant in the Middle East and in the Horn of Africa, is the world’s second largest religion with over 1.6 billion followers after Christianity, according to the Pew Research Center based in Washington. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, followed by Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

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August 20-23, 2012

Companies

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Mitsubishi expects new sales record this year FULL-year sales of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. are poised to exceed the record set a year before the Asian financial crisis struck, a company official told InterAksyon.com. Froilan Dytianquin, MMPC vice president for marketing, said the company can sell up to 39,000 vehicles by yearend. It attained its highest sales to date in 1996, with about 36,500 units sold, Dytianquin said. Last year, MMPC bucked the trend as it sold a mere 181 vehicles more than the previ-

ous year’s 32,422 units. Most of the other car companies saw their sales decline last year because of the vehicle supply disruption caused by disasters in car-producing Japan and Thailand. “2011 sales could have been higher if not for supply constraints,” Dytianquin said on the sidelines of the 4th Philippine International

Motor Show. Dytianquin said the lack of supply had continued to impact on MMPC until the first quarter of this year, during which sales shrank 3 percent year-on-year. But at end-July, yearto-date sales had gone up 5 percent. “We will recover in the second half,” Dytianquin said. MMPC also expects a sales boost from the Mirage, a new model that will be launched in November, he said.

SEAIR offers P1 fares to Davao SOUTH East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is offering one-way piso fares to Davao as it launches its inaugural flight from Manila to Davao. The budget airline said the special rate will be available only on Saturday, August 18, from 12:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Travel must be undertaken between September 1 to 30,

2012. Those who want to avail of the P1 fares must log on to www.flyseair.com or www. tigerairways.com. Davao, located in central Mindanao, is home to a prime beach resort, Pearl Farm, in Samal island. Other activities for Davao visitors are spelunking, whitewater rafting, skimboarding,

ziplining, and diving. Mt. Apo, the Philippines’ highest peak at 10,311 feet, is in Davao City. SEAIR said Davao City also has “rich cultural diversity through heritage sites such as the T’Boli Weaving Center, which showcases the intricate ‘tinalak’ fabric loomed by hand, and the Davao Museum, which fea-

tures tribal art.” The airline said it will use its new new A319 and A320 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 180 passengers, for the Manila-Davao-Manila flights. SEAIR uses the Manila Domestic Airport, also known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4.

Cebu hotel hopes to capture a niche in EU, US tourism mart

The Techno mart and Dell Company they are helping each other to promote their product here in Cagayan de Oro, Ms. Marion Hazel B. Du Operation Manager of Techno mart Company they are operated more than 8 years here in Cagayan de Oro, with the cooperation of Mr. Vincent Polido (Product Manager), Jonna May M. Hernandez (City manager) of Dell company they are trying to build new outlet here in the city of Cagayan de Oro.(ASF/JDL)

CEBU City -- The House of Cebu, a new hotel in Banilad, Cebu City, hopes to get a chunk of Cebu’s hospitality industry, especially long-staying tourists. To achieve the goal, May and Detlef Ernst poured millions of pesos to make The House of Cebu unique and interesting. One interesting feature is the hotel’s bar, which is called “Scrapyard,” because it is furnished with items from junkyards. Detlef described the hotel’s design as contemporary industrial and the first of its kind in Cebu. He said the hotel, located along the Ma. Luisa Road in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City, would redefine the way tourists think about travel. Design hotels, he said, captured a new niche market, particularly long-stay-

ing tourists opting for a more interesting stay. He said Cebu was ready for this type of development given its exposure to various travel markets. “The design and items you see from the lobby, to bars and restaurants, and to individual hotel rooms will differentiate us from other hotels here,” May said. “Each room was carefully thought of all because we want to offer a unique accommodation to tourists coming to Cebu,” May said. The concept of the hotel was also inspired by the couple’s travels abroad. May and Detlef lived in Shanghai, China before deciding to move to Cebu. May was a restaurant operator and Detlef was in the steel bar business. The couple said it took them a year to finalize the

Cebu Pacific opens more routes in Mindanao cities DAVAO City -- Flying 10 destinations in Mindanao to Manila and Cebu, Cebu Pacific is opening new routes to service different areas in the island. Cebu Pacific area manager for Mindanao sales, Dina A. Garcia, said starting Oct. 5, the airline would pioneer direct services between Davao and Butuan and Davao-Dipolog and Zamboanga-Cagayan de Oro flights on Oct. 20.

Cebu Pacific will also launch direct Cagayan de Oro-Bacolod and General Santos-Iloilo flights in November. Garcia, during the opening of the Mindanao Travel and Tours Expo (MinTTE) that runs from Aug. 17 to 19 at SM City Davao, said their Davao hub connected Davao and the surrounding areas to nine destinations, including Puerto Princesa, Boracay,

Dipolog and Butuan. Garcia said that the airline started in 1996 with a couple of domestic flights to Cebu and Davao. “But it is indeed more fun to be a travel and tourism player in Mindanao and with your support Cebu Pacific will continue to provide lower fares, direct access for foreign and local tourists,” she said. She said connectivity was their concern now and even

offer more travel opportunities for everyone. At present, she said they operate flights to 19 international and 32 domestic destinations or a total of 91 routes system-wide. “With CEB’s fleet expansion plans in the next five years or so, we are confident that the airline will be in strong position to be of service to more and more travelers in Asia and beyond,” she said.

design of the hotel since they wanted to integrate the elements of the cultures they were exposed to during their trips abroad. The House of Cebu has 38 rooms with different designs, two of which are suites. Detlef said they hope to attract Europeans and Americans, as well as corporate clients from Manila. The couple invested more than P50 million for the designs and furnishings.

The Ernsts contacted Signal Properties Corp. to construct the hotel. The House of Cebu also has a restaurant called Paseo One. Detlef also allotted space on the second floor for art exhibits. To ensure a steady flow of guests, the couple said they would partner with travel agencies. They are also looking for resort partners with dive sites, like Moalboal, Malapascua and Bantayan.

Pump prices may go up by P3/liter this week OIL companies are set to raise pump prices of gasoline by more than P3 per liter this week. This comes after oil companies put off raising prices in calamity-hit areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces this week. “Tataas yan next week, di naman talagang bawi kasi meron na silang lost opportunity,” Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said. Prices of imported petroleum continued to increase this week. From Monday to Thursday, there was a P1.40/liter increase in gasoline, and P1.30/liter increase in diesel. Since oil companies put off increasing gasoline prices by P1.80 last week in Metro Manila, this means prices will likely increase by more than P3. For diesel, prices are expected to increase by P2.80. Transport groups were dismayed by the looming oil price hike, since this will bring diesel prices to more than P44/liter. “Wala na kaming choice kundi ipilit ang P10 pasahe sa jeep,” Pasang Masda president Roberto Martin said.

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Banking / Finance

Network Bank net profit surges 93% in first half By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO Correspondent

DAVAO City -- The country’s biggest rural bank, Mindanaobased One Network Bank (ONB), nearly doubled its net income in the first seven months of the year amid high growth in its lending business. In a statement last week, ONB said it booked a profit of P336 million as of July, 93% higher than the P174 million realized in the same period in 2011. “If annualized, (this) translates to a 41% return on average private equity and 4% return on average assets, indicating a powerful core performance,” said Alex V. Buenaventura, bank president. The increase in income also boosted its capital, which rose to P2.77 billion by the end of last month, already higher than the P2.4 billion minimum capital requirement for commercial banks. Mr. Buenaventura, however, said the bank would not convert itself into a commercial bank. “We will maintain our status (as a rural bank) because this is where we

are good at. Being a rural bank, we are able to provide our clients with products that commercial banks are also offering,” he told BusinessWorld. The increase in net income this year was due to more loans and receivables. ONB’s loan portfolio grew by 70% to P5 billion as deposits rose by 40% to P14 billion during the period. Mr. Buenaventura said the bank

would continue to perform better as it opened its branch in Makati City, its 83rd. It had also opened its second branch in Butuan City, as well as new branches in Balingasag in Misamis Oriental and in Sangali in Zamboanga City. ONB is also waiting for regulators’ approval of its merger with the six-branch Rural Bank of San Enrique in Iloilo City.

Another rural bank collapses; PDIC appointed as receiver THE Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has placed the Rural Bank of Balete, Inc. under receivership, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) said on Friday. In a statement, PDIC said it took over the Aklan-based rural bank on Aug. 17 after the central bank ordered the bank’s closure through Monetary Board Resolution No. 1335 dated Aug. 16. The Monetary Board places banks under receivership if they have insufficient liquid assets to meet liabilities. All assets of the rural bank will now be managed by PDIC. Rural Bank of Balete has two offices: its head office in Poblacion, Balete in Aklan and its branch in Kalibo, Aklan.

As of end-June, it had 5,716 bank accounts with total deposit liabilities amounting to P65.8 million. Bank depositors with balances of up to P10,000 and with no outstanding obligations do not need to file deposit insurance claims. “PDIC targets to start mailing payments to the depositors with small balances to their last known addresses recorded in the bank by the third week of Oct. 2012,” the state-deposit insurer said. Those with more than P10,000 in their accounts and have outstanding obligations should file their deposit insurance claims. PDIC will hold depositors’ forums on Aug. 24. The schedule and venue of the forums will be posted on the agency’s Web site (www.pdic.gov.ph) and at the

bank’s offices. Rural Bank of Balete is the 14th bank shuttered by the central bank this year. The others were First Provincial Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank) in Tarlac; Rural Bank of Gigaquit in Surigao del Norte; Rural Bank of Luna, Inc. in La Union; Cooperative Bank of Iloilo, Inc. in Iloilo; Rural Bank of Nasugbu, Inc. in Batangas; Export and Industry Bank, Inc.; Rural Bank of Tagkawayan, Inc. in Quezon; Millennium Bank, Inc. in Cabanatuan; Rural Bank of Banayoyo, Inc. in Ilocos Sur; Banco Batangan, Inc. (A Rural Bank) in Batangas; Rural Bank of Naguilian, Inc. in La Union; Rural Bank of Badiangan, Inc. in Iloilo; and Rural Bank of Victoria, Inc. in Oriental Mindoro.

Flood-affected banks to get regulatory relief:BSP THE central bank is extending relief to banks hit by the flooding spawned by non-stop monsoon rains last week so they, in turn, can provide assistance to their clients. Banks eligible for the relief measures are those located in the National Capital Region; and in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan in Region I; Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales in Region III; Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal in Region IV-A; Occidental Mindoro, and Oriental Mindoro in Region IV-B; and Iloilo in Region VI. Monsoon rains battered Metro Manila and nearby provinces last week, triggering floods, killing at least 92 and displacing more than two million people.

Under the relief measures approved by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Monetary Board on Aug. 16, affected thrift banks, rural banks and cooperative banks may exclude the loans of borrowers affected by the floods from computation of past due ratios as long as these loans are restructured. Banks’ general loan loss provision for restructured loans has been reduced to 1% from 5%. Those with head offices and/or branches in affected areas will not be charged any penalties on reserve deficiencies, while those undergoing rehabilitation will enjoy a moratorium on their monthly payments to the BSP. They may also book allowances for probable losses for all types of

credit on a staggered basis over a maximum of five years, and will not be slapped monetary penalties for late submission of supervisory reports. For all types of banks, the central bank said they may extend financial assistance to their employees and officers, including assistance not within the scope of existing fringe benefit programs. All rediscounting banks will enjoy a 60-day grace period to settle rediscounting obligations as of Aug. 6. They may also restructure with the central bank the rediscounted loans of affected borrowers. The BSP last year extended similar relief measures to banks affected by typhoons Mina and Pedring, and by tropical storms Juaning and Sendong.

August 20-23, 2012

Opinion

August 20-23, 2012

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“A Good Infection” THINK a minute… Imagine you are walking through your town or village. Suddenly, you notice how red everyone’s eyes are and that many people are wearing sunglasses—indoors! You don’t have to be a genius to know that a bad eye infection is spreading, infecting people who in turn infect other people. You and I can catch many different kinds of infections from other people, especially from those with whom we spend a lot of time, such as our mate and close friends. And we do not just catch physical infections of our bodies. We catch other people’s attitudes,

priorities, way of thinking and living. This is the meaning of the well-known saying: “People are known by the company they keep.” That’s why we should choose the person we marry and our close friends very carefully. Like it or not, sooner or later we’re definitely going to be infected and influenced by their way of thinking and living. We will become like them in varying degrees. Imagine there was someone whom you wanted to influence you with the best character, thinking and lifestyle. Someone you could be with all day every day. A person who understood and

accepted you, yet who also challenged and helped you improve daily in every area of your life. Soon everything about you started to change: your attitudes and character, your job and career success, your relationships, lifestyle and habits. All because of this one successful, exciting person you spent time with every day. Well, Jesus Christ came to do just that. He came to infect and start changing you with His character so you can start enjoying real satisfaction and success everyday. So why not ask Him to forgive you for your wrong heart, relationships and lifestyle?

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

Then ask Him to take charge of your character and way of living. Only then can you catch His divine infection that will change your life permanently. Just think a minute…

Remembering Senator Blas F. Ople COMPANIES doing business are into various cost cutting schemes when the economy of sales can no longer support the operating expense. Business bottom line has shrunk as revenue projections plunged below profitability level. Among the easily targeted areas by management are the manpower and labor compliments, the contractual or non permanent job holders are the most susceptible. Second are the capital and energy expense which remains volatile to the periodic price increases dictated by the world market. Last are the controllable such as travel and transportation allowances and supplies. Labor is a painful alternative to cost cutting as families dependent on income from wages are dislocated. Schools, food and household rentals are painful casual-

Mindanao’s economy humming IT could be better but no one is complaining. The economy of Mindanao has not been better for some time now. Previously Mindanao depended heavily on the price of corn. This has been good at about P12 a kilo. The shortage of corn from American Midwest because of diversion to ethanol production has prodded corn importing nations like South Korea to look for sources elsewhere. And a logical source is the Philippines. Right now a number of Korean firms are looking for large tracts of land to plant corn. But corn has been supplanted by other cash crops like sugar. The price of sugar is fairly good but it will still be next month that the milling season will start. But in the agriculture sector the real bright spots are the export products like banana, pineapple, and rubber. The price of rubber which was 5 centavos cup lump kilo a few years ago rose to 95 centavos. In this situation a couple of trees would be able to support a family. The potential is big for rubber plantations and

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the gov- VIEWS & COMMENTS ergy big ernment By EMETERIO BARCELON compais doing nies have all it can. gone in to power production The danger is that prices and should bear effect in a can drop but this is unlikely couple of years. We should since many of our rubber have adequate power in producing neighbours have a couple of years which shifted to even more lucra- will improve productivity tive products like palm oil. considerably. There are We have a number of Ko- even small BPOs and IPOs rean firms looking for land operating in some cities of for palm oil. Exotic fruits Mindanao. In contrast to like durian, mangosteen, the European unemploylansones, dragon fruit, and ment, there is always a job meaty varieties of macopa, for anyone who wants to rambutan and others are all work in Mindanao. doing well. Another bright potential One of the causes of is the operation of mining Mindanao prosperity is companies. We have the the removal of the negative potential of the largest copfactor of fighting. There are per mine in the world in still some hot heads like Tampacan. It still has a long Kato and some NPAs but way to go but it is getting they are now operating in there. The three faults that very limited areas. With pass through the Philippines peace the poor people of all pass through Mindanao. Mindanao can go ahead with Right now only the eastern their livelihood. (Our small fault and to some extent micro finance operation, the western fault is being Milamdec, is lending over accessed. The middle fault P400 million this year.) has hardly been touched. A good number of former There is a lot of potential NPAs have moved to trying in Mindanao mining but we to make a living, like raising have to see to it that more of cat fish and planting corn. people share in its bonanza. We have had a minimum We really have not been of brown outs and with the able to regulate small scale FIT price of renewable enBARCELON/PAGE 7

ties to labor and human resources retrenchments. Business losses are realities and retrenchments are management tools to stay afloat. In the context of industrial labor, many progressive nations in the west have provided insurance to their workers as hedge to unemployment. How the insurance premiums are paid becomes a joint investment between the employer and the employee. As one of the rising economy in Asia, our Congress needs a study to amend the Labor Code where employment can be more protected. Nation building is made stronger when a broad spectrum of human resources is employed and the workers rights are protected. There are talks to end contractualization yet these persist only when Labor Day is about to be celebrated. After May 1

each year, the subject matter disappears in the newspaper pages only to appear again during election years. The brilliance of the late Senator Blas F. Ople who authored the first Labor Code and who presided later on several amendments during his stint in the Senate before his retirement to the DFA is missed in the labor front. None among the Senators now and the young Legislators have taken his stand and advance the interests of the workers acceptable to the industry and the business communities. At the prime of his lifetime, I have met the late Senator on several 5-star hotel bar lounge when he was still the Marcos Administration Secretary of Labor and Employment grasping his favorite Scotch Glass. He likes a certain brand that must have fired his intelligence.

TRAVERSING THE TOURISM HI-WAY

PED T. QUIAMJOT His thick eyelids and round eyes have a diminishing look that scares someone who is not familiar with him. But those who have rubbed elbows and served him enjoy his loud jokes and company. Senator Blas F. Ople died December 13, 2003. His landmark legislation on labor remains unmatched in Philippine jurisprudence and to think that he was not even a lawyer.

Knowing your consumer rights IN the past few years, I have received numerous complaints from Filipino consumers regarding a myriad of issues—most of them concerning credit cards. Without most of us knowing about it, there is a way to protect ourselves from frauds and “predators” in the business and trade industry. According to the Department of Trade Industry (DTI), the key to better consumer protection is knowing the Consumer Act of the Philippines. The Consumer Act of the Philippines, or Republic Act No. 7394, took effect on July 15, 1992. It promotes the State’s policy “to protect the interest of the consumer, promote his general welfare and to establish standards of conduct for business and industry.” The Act aims to protect consumers against hazards to health and safety, and against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices. It also seeks to give information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of

consumer rights, and to provide adequate rights and means of redress. Lastly, it aims to involve consumer representatives in the formulation of social and economic policies. C onsumer products or services are defined as “goods, service and credits, debts or obligations which are primarily for personal, family, household or agricultural purpose, which shall include, but not limited to food, drugs, cosmetics and devices.” The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is among the government agencies that implement the Consumer Act. It concerns itself with consumer credit transactions extended by banks and other financial intermediaries. Here is a list of the other government agencies implementing the Consumer Act and their areas of concern: • Department of Trade and Industry: consumer product quality and safety; deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; weights and measures (metrication); consumer products and service warranties; price

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE tag; labeling and packaging; liability for products and services; service and repair shops; and advertising and sales promotion. • Department of Agriculture: agricultural products (quality and safety, and labeling and packaging) • Department of Education: consumer education and information • Department of Health: food, drugs, cosmetics and devices and hazardous substances (quality and safety; labeling and packaging; advertising and sales promotion; and price tag) • Securities and Exchange Commission: credit facilities extended to consumers by financing companies. BUNYE/PAGE 7

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The DTI, in a primer, said the consumer should follow this process if he or she has a complaint before the abovementioned government agencies: • Identify the problem. Identify the problem and what you believe would be a fair settlement. Do you want your money back (Refund)? Would you like the product

repaired (Repair)? Will exchange do (Replace)? • Gather documents. Gather documentation regarding your complaint. Sales receipts, repair orders, warranties, cancelled checks, or contract which will substantiate the complaint and help the company solve your problem. • Go back to where you made the purchase. Contact the person who sold you the item or performed the ser-

vice. Calmly and accurately explain the problem and what action you would like to be taken. If that person is not helpful, ask for the supervisor or manager and repeat your complaint. A large percentage of consumer problems are resolved at this level. • Write a formal letter of complaint. If you are not satisfied with the company’s response, write a formal letter of complaint to the consumer protection agency concerned.

CCdeO deeO bback ack on our feet, and m ovinng forward… and moving ““AA CCi City itity inin BBloom, loloooom om, m, inin Blossom, Blolososssoom Bl om, m, an and nd inin Boom” nd BBooooom om”

MESSAGE Though all of us are still grieving over the untimely loss of our loved ones who perished in the ‘Sendong’ tragedy, Cagayan de Oro City, thank God, has definitely risen back on its feet… and moving on after the catastrophe. I fervently hope and pray that all of us would positively look forward to start with a new lease in life, and ultimately leave behind the agony, anguish and great pain caused by the tragedy. As we pay homage and honor to our Patro Patron Saint ine, may we regain n newfound newfound strength and cou Augustine, courage to err and splendor of our… bring back the glory, luster our…”City in Boom””. Bloom, in Blossom, and in Boom”.

VIVA! VIV VA! SEÑ SEÑOR ÑOR R SAN SAN AGUSTIN!!! AGUST TIN!!!

VICENTE Y. EMANO City Mayor

State your name and address; the name and address of the establishment against whom you are complaining; the circumstances regarding the complaint including names, dates, places, etc. Also, enclose supporting documents such as official receipts, deed of sale and the like, and you should be prepared to make an appearance when called, especially during the mediation conference. For BSP-related concerns,

Date Aug. 13-31

Art Tsada

Aug. 15 1PM Aug. 16 8AM

Agro Fair, Rodeo & Horse Show Opening Agro Industrial Fair-Booth Display Agro Industrial Fair-P4MP Day

Aug. 17, 8AM Aug. 18, 6AM 4PM 6PM 6PM 7PM

Agro Industrial Fair H-4 Day Family Fun Run Ms. Kagay-an Swimsuit Competition Search for Barangay Gwapo Search for Tropang Astig sa Brgy. Ms. Kagay-an Sponsors’ Night

Aug. 18-28

Kasadya sa Pueblo Horseback Riding, Housing Festival & Weekend Night Market Kagay-an Festival Marathon 21st Combat Mountain Bike Fiesta Skate Jam Motorcycle Show Buhagay sa Fighter Wine Agro Industrial Fair- RIC Day Livestock Show Opening/Motorcade Kasadya sa Pueblo 3-on-3 Street Basketball Soccer Fiesta Tournament Airsoft IPSC Challenge Agro Industrial Fair-Fisherfolk Day Agro Industrial Fair-Livestock Show Dancesports Competition Agro Industrial Fair-CAFCO Day Livestock Show-Goat Event Kagay-an Festival Mass Celebration Ms. Kagay-an Casual & Long Gown Agro Industrial Fair-CFACO Day Product Presentation/Contests

Aug. 19, 3AM 6AM 8AM 6PM Aug. 20 8AM Aug. 20-25

Aug. 21 8AM 1PM Aug. 22 8AM 5:30PM 7PM Aug. 23 8AM Aug. 24,6AM 10AM 2PM 6PM 6PM 6PM 6:30PM -

Activity

Venue Tourism Showhouse Macapagal Drive

Macapagal Drive Macapagal Drive Pueblo Park Kiosko Divisoria Koresco Hotel

Regatta Square Regatta Square Rodelsa Circle

you may contact: The Head Financial Consumer Affairs Group Super vision and Examination Sector, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, A. Mabini St., Malate, Manila 1004 E-mail: consumeraffairs@ bsp.gov.ph; Tel. No. (02) 7087087 Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com.

Aug. 25-26

1st Mayor Dongkoy Emano Dart Tournament Kahimunan Trade Fair 21st Combat Mountain Bike Kagay-an Cultural Street Dancing Competition Livestock Show Tapok Bol-anon Tibook Cdeo ug MisOr Horse Show Awarding Ms. Kagay-an Coronation Night Kagay-an Festival Parade Civic-Military/Golden Float Agro-Industrial Fair Awarding Kalo Festival Christian Bautista RMN Variety Show TM Astigfest Concert Kagay-an Pyro Festival 2nd Mayor Dongkoy Emano Fiesta Chess Tournament VIVA SR. SAN AGUSTIN!!! Diana by the 4th ID Fluvial Procession RMN Street Kids Party Kapuso Mall Show Kagay-an Festival Revelry Bombo Radyo Free Concert TM Fiesta Caravan

Tourism Hall

First Boat Racing

Macabalan

Macapagal Drive

Aug. 25-31 Aug. 26 7AM

Pueblo

8AM 1PM

Macapagal Drive

Business Park Macapagal Drive Macapagal Drive LKKS Macapagal Drive Macapagal Drive Cathedral Church

Rodelsa Hall

Macapagal Drive

Livestock Show-Cattle & Carabao Event

Macapagal Drive

Rodeo Show Opening Kapuso Baranggayan Kapuso Campus Tour GMA Kapuso Night Rodeo Night Search for Tropang Astig RMN Pa-Fiesta Concert Kagay-an Street Party

Macapagal Drive Indahag Capito Univ. SM City Macapagal Drive Kiosko Sports Center

6PM 8PM Aug. 27 7AM 8AM 4PM 5PM 5PM 6PM 8PM Aug. 27-28 9AM-7PM Aug. 28 4AM 7AM 1PM 4PM 5PM -

Dolores-Velez

Aug. 29-30 Published by the City Information Office of Cagayan de Oro

from page 6 small scale mining. But this is not only a local problem. It also is a worldwide problem. How to help the small miners and at the same time make sure they follow environmentally necessary rules. Agriculture especially export agriculture has been good to Mindanao. Mining is potential. Power will soon be sufficient. The next is development of industrial clout. Then Mindanao can be of help to the rest of the country.

Activity 1st Mayor Emano & Cong. Benaldo Folk & Country Music Horse Show Opening PE Rhythmic Dance Competition CMOFA Football Festival Oro Lechoneros Encuentro RMN Medical Mission Year 3 Kapuso Baranggayan w/ Stars Dancesport Competition Kapamilya Fiesta Caravan Rodeo Show Awarding Cowboy’s Night Search for Tropang Astig Manila Artist- Coco Martin Dog Show & Dog Fun Run Pulse Bikini Bash

Pueblo Park Kiosko Divisoria

Barcelon...

Date Aug. 24-25 7PM Aug. 25, 6AM 7AM 8AM 8AM 8AM 10AM 1PM 4PM 5PM 6PM 6PM 7PM 9PM

Gaston Park Amphitheater

Venue Night Café (Rizal Street) Macapagal Drive Sports Center Canitoan Macapagal Drive Capitol Grounds Calaanan LKKS SM City Macapagal Drive Macapagal Drive Kiosko SM City Pueblo Park Pulse

SM City Gaston Park Rodelsa-Sports Center Macapagal Drive Tourism Hall

Macapagal Drive Atrium, LKKS

Rodelsa-LKKS Macapagal Drive SM City SM City Capitol Grounds LKKS Parking SM City SM City Carpark Bldg.

CdeO River Capitol Grounds LKKS Mall SM City Sports Center

August 20-23, 2012

Congress.Watch

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Fit all buses with ‘speed limiters’, solons propose LAWMAKERS are looking to require the installation of “speed limiters” in all public buses in Metro Manila, in hopes of reducing accidents involving the over-speeding – and often racing – vehicular behemoths. House Bill 6395, filed by Cagayan De Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. of Abante Mindanao, proceeds from a study by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. The LTFRB says that in 2011, there were 395 victims of bus accidents, resulting in 74 deaths, 300 injuries and 20 cases of damage to property.

Reps Max and Rufus Rodriguez

“All these accidents happen because these public utility buses drive all over the country as if they are in a race, always speeding

and changing lanes without any concern for their fellow motorists,” he said. There are mechanical and electronic speed limiters.

The device the congressmen want installed will limit the maximum speed of public utility buses plying Metro Manila to 40 kph; the limit will be 60 kph for those travelling to provincial routes. Should it become law, the proposal will put the burden of purchasing and installing the speed limiting devices to bus owners and operators. The buses will be subjected to a regular inspection by the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). The registration, renewal and approval of franchises of the buses will only be allowed when speed limiters will have been installed.

PH eyes legal options on Panatag Shoal THE country is finally eyeing legal remedies before international forums to resolve its territorial dispute with China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said. “We can tell you that we are now exploring with great initiative the legal option,” he told the House committee on appropriations, which conducted a hearing on the 2013 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “We can’t reveal the details of our move in public, but we can provide them to you in a closed-door session,” he said. Del Rosario made the statement in response to questions raised by Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who said the government should now bring the Panatag Shoal issue to international bodies such as the United Nations for “compulsory arbitra-

tion.” “I think we should do that because diplomatic and political efforts to resolve it have failed due to China’s intransigence,” he said. Rodriguez said the disputed area is clearly within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the UN on the Law of the Sea. The shoal is just 124 miles off Zambales, and more than 400 miles from the nearest Chinese territory. He lamented that for the first time in decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed in its recent meeting in Cambodia to come up with a joint communiqué containing its common stand on the problem in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “That was because of China’s influence over Cambodia. A Cambodian diplomat even had the gall

to turn off the microphone while you were speaking, Mr. Secretary,” Rodriguez told Del Rosario. The DFA chief also said China appears to be taking its own sweet time in considering an ASEAN proposal for a Code of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea. “China has taken a position that it would consider discussing the proposed Code of Conduct with ASEAN when the time is right. We don’t know when that would be. The proposed code would be binding on all parties,” he said. He said the Philippines has suggested “some fundamental elements” that have been incorporated in the code. Del Rosario agreed with some members of the appropriations committee that only the DFA should speak for the country when it comes to foreign rela-

tions-related issues like the conflict over Panatag Shoal. “That should be the appropriate protocol. But there are officials who have been asked about this issue and they have responded in their own way. I think the protocol should be restated,” he said. Manila Rep. Zenaida Angping, who presided over the hearing as head of a subcommittee in charge of the DFA budget, said even lawmakers should avoid making statements on the country’s territorial dispute with China. Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said President Aquino’s spokespersons Edwin Lacierda, Ricky Carandang and Abigail Valte have issued statements “that further incensed China.” “As a result, they retaliated by banning the entry of Philippine bananas in their territory,” she said.

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House leaders urged not to tolerate filibustering on RH Bill LAWMAKERS against the Reproductive Health Bill may have succeeded in halting developments on the proposed measure but those pushing for it urged the leaders of the House of Representatives on Friday to no longer tolerate such actions. Asked to comment on Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez’s statement that it was not the privilege speeches of anti-RH lawmakers which prevented the bill from being opened to amendments but the low attendance of pro-RH legislators on the floor, House deputy majority leader Janette Garin reiterated “palusot lang nila yan. We were just being polite first to Congressman (Dennis) Socrates then (Congressman) Rufus (Rodriguez) then the rest.” It was Socrates, who represented Palawan in the House of Representatives, who insisted on Tuesday that he be granted the time for a privilege speech on the sudden change in the schedule of voting for the termination of House Bill 4244 debates. He said that it was unfair to many lawmakers who prepared to cast their votes on August 7 only to learn that it was moved to August 6. Members of the House who voted through viva

voce vote were split on allowing him to speak or not. The Palawan lawmaker’s request for a nominal voting, after failing to secure enough “aye” or yes votes through viva voce, was left hanging when session was adjourned. “The next day we made it clear on the record that anti-responsible parenthood congressmen are filibustering, conveying to the leadership that this should not be tolerated anymore in the coming session days,” added Garin, one of the proponents of the bill. She believes that lawmakers working in opposition to HB 4244 have stepped up their efforts to prevent amendments from being tackled because they “presumably got a ‘scolding’ from a powerful sector for allowing the debate to end.”

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers – Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH AƩy. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739a

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August 20-23, 2012

Gov’t bares feats for MisOr thru convergence ABOUT P183,087.38 million of funds was utilized for the year 2011 to extend aid to farmers and fisherfolks to the 1st district of Misamis Oriental after a year it has been formally launched as a local convergence agro-enterprise cluster (LCAEC) in Northern Mindanao by the government triad – Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

REGIONAL CONVERGENCE CONSULTATIVE MEETING. In order to bring considerable impact to poor rural farming communities in Misamis Oriental, DA-DENR-DAR and DILG, the latest addition in the CI program, have discussed important platforms to realize a ‘seamless convergence’ in the succeeding years. The right photo shows DA-10 RTD for Operations Engr. Roxana H. Hojas facilitating the said consultation, wherein she urged the Program stakeholders in the provincial and municipal levels to formally create a technical working group to fortify the Program’s efforts. Meanwhile, left photo shows Municipal Agriculturist – Gingoog City Edgardo G. Sanchez verifying the prioritization of projects within his area of responsibility from the DAR’s end.

NOMIARC showcases value-added products THE Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit No. 10, through the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (NOMIARC) and satellite research stations was among the 126 exhibitors to showcase valueadded products during a recently-concluded national convergence of Research and Development products exhibition for agriculture and fisheries. The event, dubbed as the Agriculture and Fisheries National Technology Commercialization Forum and Product Exhibition is sponsored by the Bureau of Agricultural Research, the country’s coordinating agency for agriculture and fisheries research and development (R&D). The forum ran on August 9-12, 2012 at the MegaTrade Halls 1 and 2, SM MegaMall, Mandaluyong City. “This (national event) is an opportunity for us to showcase Region 10’s commodity champions and the technologies we have generated from our research and development stations,” said Director Lester Jaducana, DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Development. The DA-10 booth displayed mature technologies and value-added products generated by NOMIARC, Claveria Experiment Station (CES) and Malaybalay Stock Farm (MSF). Hundreds of

visitors and stakeholders from all over the country flocked at the booth and witnessed the products and technologies DA-10 has to offer. At the exhibit, walk-in visitors caught interest on value-added products and innovations generated by DA-10’s research stations. Product lines displayed were in the form of crunch, chips and confectioneries. Meanwhile, NOMIARC, CES, and MSF-produced wine products made of adlai, sweet potato, black rice, sweet sorghum, yacon, marang and tomato also held interest from exhibition goers. “These food innovations have transformed our ordinary crops into valueadded products which invite potential entrepreneurs into future agribusiness ventures,” NOMIARC Center Manager Juanita Salvani said. While production and

processing of these valueadded products are an ongoing activity, NOMIARC and the research centers are gauged into perfecting product packaging and marketability. Aside from tossing up the region’s R&D products and services, the DA-10 staff also accommodated walk-in clients in terms of crop production solutions and business matching. Commodity production guides in leaflets and flyers were also distributed to interested clients. Production and promotion of value-added products are made possible through the funding support of the Bureau of Agricultural Research to showcase the government’s efforts in helping the country’s small and medium agri-fishery enterprises cope with an increasingly competitive global environment

In a recent consultative meeting, the CI Program Secretariat revealed that of the total commitments that the three agencies have pledged amounting to nearly P 131 million last year, DADENR-DAR has financially allocated some P 322,747.38 million for the period. As the CI program seeks ‘to expand economic opportunities by increasing agricultural productivity, diversifying agricultural production, and maintaining ecological balance across ecosystems’, the government triad has poured support to the said province, particularly the Mt. Balatukan Range LCAEC which covers the municipalities of Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay, Binuangan, Sugbongcogon, Kinoguitan, Balingoan, Talisayan, Medina, Magsaysay and the city of Gingoog. Of which include production support, post harvest facilities assistance, market development services, regulatory services,

irrigation support, education support and training services, natural resources management, infrastructure development and among others. In her message, DARegional Field Office 10 (DA-10) Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Engr. Roxana H. Hojas expressed that DA is looking forward to implement a ‘seamless convergence’ in the succeeding years. She explained that the three rural agencies of the government would take the lead in crafting suitable interventions that would convey impact to poor farming and fishing rural communities. She added that the consultation is crucial to assess the Program’s performance for the previous year and to also validate submitted reports, especially at the municipal level. Furthermore, she stressed the need to reactivate the participation of the involved government agencies through soliciting

additional commitments for the current year 2012. Accordingly, the CI Program Secretariat also reported the preliminary commitments from the government triad with an estimated overall budget allocation amounting to P 80.5 million: DA – P66, 366,738.92, DENR – 11,764,000 and DAR – 2,456,000. The local government units (LGUs), on the other hand, who’ve proven as the staunch allies of DA-DENRDAR have counterparted funds and played an integral role in identifying which projects should be realized in their respective areas for the past year, have likewise showed continued support through initially dedicating a budget for the Program totaling to P10, 874,677.23. To strengthen initiatives under the Program, RTD Engr. Hojas underscored the formalization of having technical working groups in the provincial and municipal levels. Nevertheless, it was recognized by the body that the urgency of creating such committees would advance, if and when, a Joint Administrative Order will be formally issued to the Department of Interior and Local Governance (DILG), which is now regarded as one of the prime movers of the Program. FEATS/PAGE 10

BusinessWeek

August 20-23, 2012

Leaders... from page 1

Lao said that Mindanao needs to put up at least 1,000 megawatts of new capacities in the next 10 years and another 1,500 MW from 2021-2030 to support its growing economy. The committee, which shall be headed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), chaired by Sec. Luwalhati Antonino, is tasked to put forward and coordinate the efforts of national, regional and local governments, and power industry stakeholders to improve the power situation in Mindanao. “I am thankful that the President approved the creation of MPMC which will monitor, harmonize, and integrate measures to address the island-region’s power situation,” said Antonino, who represented President Aquino at the closing of the 21st Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) recently in Butuan City. MinBizCon is the largest annual gathering of business leaders in Mindanao. Antonino said MPMC shall lay the ground for the setting up of a One-StopShop Processing Center (OSSPC) for mini hydro power plant applications in Mindanao, with support from the Department of Energy (DOE). MPMC is composed of MinDA, DoE, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Power Corporation (NPC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) and representatives from MEPA and the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO). It is set to convene a Technical Working Group Meeting this week. Antonino stressed that as early as January this year, MinDA had initiated series of advocacies to push for measures and policies aimed at bringing to an end the recurring power problem Mindanao. At the height of the power problem in April, MinDA, in collaboration with the DOE, convened the Mindanao Power Summit in Davao City and rallied the Mindanao stakeholders around short and long-term solutions to the problem. “The committee will be working on the recommendations presented by the Mindanao power stakeholders to President Aquino during the summit,” said Antonino in a separate statement. She said President Aquino has been earnest in his desire to address the power situation in Mindanao. She said that MPMC shall also ensure the establishment of a power monitoring mechanism that regularly generates information on Mindanao power generation and distribution, including status of efforts to add new generating capacities to the

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grid. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) puts the islandregion’s system capacity at only 1027 megawatts (MW) in its latest weekly power outlook bulletin, 133 MW short of the Mindanao grid’s 1160 MW system load. Antonino als o s aid MPMC shall study the power summit proposals such as the creation of a Mindanao Power Corporation, which shall take on the operation and maintenance of the Agus and Pulangi hydro power complexes. Such proposal is now gaining ground in Congress with the filing of House Bill No. 6308, proposing for the creation of a Mindanao Power Corporation, authored by House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, Rep. Ma. Isabel Climaco of Zamboanga City. Representative Arnulfo Go of Sultan Kudarat’s second congressional district, was among those who hailed the creation of the monitoring body. Go, chair of the Special House Committee on Mindanao Affairs, said his committee will be working closely with the Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization and the Committee on Energy on the proposed measure. “I believe that the creation of MPMC will ensure a dynamic and efficient performance of all electric cooperatives and power alliances in Mindanao,” said Go in a press statement. He added that the creation of a monitoring body will help bolster a more effective generation and delivery of power in the island-region. “Together with the Mindanao lawmakers bloc in Congress, I will support measures that will address the energy needs of Mindanao,” Go, whose district is suffering from one to two-hour daily power curtailment, said.

Towns... from page 1

the country were in this island, and most of them are in Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte and Davao del Sur. These were the same provinces where a separate NSCB survey on selected food items showed that beef and chicken meat were sold cheaper there or in their adjacent areas than anywhere else in the rest of the country. The NSCB report tagged the town of Siayan, an interior mountain municipality of Zamboanga del Norte, as the Philippines poorest with a poverty incidence of 79.9 percent. That would roughly translate into four of every five residents unable to meet the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. Six other Zamboanga del Norte towns of Baliguian (75.3 percent), Godod (71.1), Gutalac (70.4), Manukan (68.2), Sibuco (68.2) and Jose Dalman

(68) were on the list. Others in the tailend were: Bucloc (77.2) and Lacub (67.2) in Abra; Kibungan (67.9) in Benguet; Jose Abad Santos (72.3) and Sarangani (72.1) in Davao del Sur; Panda (70.1), Guindulungan (67.7) and Gen. SK Pendatun (67.1) in Maguindanao; Mabuhay (68.9) in Zamboanga Sibugay; Tagoloan (70.1), Nunungan (67.9), Munai (67.5) and Tangkal (67.4) in Lanao del Norte. On average, Zamboanga del Norte has a lower poverty incidence on its households despite hosting seven of the country’s poorest towns. Even then, its 55-percent average poverty incidence would mean half of its population are needing welfare assistance. Maguindanao, with three of the poorest towns, was in the company of Zamboanga del Norte, with a 55.64-average poverty incidence. A bright spot would be flashed by Sulu island, once a perennial member of the country’s poorest provinces, but which has since shown a leap of faith in itself, with an average poverty incidence of 49.37 percent. Seven years earlier, in 2000, it had an incidence of poverty of 63.2 percent. Sulu shone brightest when the NSCB survey on selected food items lauded its selling of the country’s cheapest rice, much cheaper than those in Central Luzon, the country’s rice granary, and in the Cotabato provinces, the country’s rice bowl. The survey used the small area estimates of poverty among their population. Estrella R. Turingan, NSCB regional head for the Davao region, said the survey uses income figures of the localities and computed per capita. The 2009 survey “combined the latest data available such as the merged 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey [FIES]Labor Force Survey [LFS], and 2007 Census of Population [PopCen],” the NSCB said in its web site posting. Meanwhile, reporters in Davao City grilled the NSCB here over the methods used in estimating the poverty of the municipalities, warning that the method of using per capita distribution would not reflect what international lending and ratings firms have seen as the widening income disparity in the country. Some reports suggested to government statistical agencies to conduct field validations. The independent survey group, Ibon Philippines, has said that the latest government poverty surveys have “excluded the poor from the poverty count.” “Halfway into the Aquino administration’s second year in office until today, the 2011 poverty methodology comes under fire for reducing the number of poor by sheer term and method redefinition and

not by employing substantial programs and policies that would physically and strategically address the causes of poverty,” Ibon said in its July 31 posting. It said the “third revision to date [the first being in 1992, the second in 2003], the 2011 methodology yielded a lower increase in the number of poor by 970,000 or from 22.17 in 2006 to 23.14 in 2009.” “The new count also reduced the number of hungry Filipinos by 58,000 families, or around 290,000 individuals. As a result, the Philippines was deemed closer to reaching the Millennium Development Goal [MDG] of reducing poverty by half by 2015 than if the old poverty methodology were used,” it said. At the very least, it added, “this makes the country’s economy appear to be improving, which is supposed to be good news for businesses here and abroad.”

Industry Regulation Act of 1998 or RA 8479 ensures a truly competitive market under a regime of fair prices, adequate and continuous supply of environmentally-clean and high quality petroleum products and encourages competition and the entry of new players in the oil market, Monsada also said.

Feats... from page 9

In response, Mr. Alexander M. Miego of DILG assured the enlistment of more members from the agency to partake in the Program as soon as the order will be forwarded to their office. He

also guaranteed the body to get updates relative to the issuing of an order to the LGUs in the establishment of technical working groups, both in the provincial and municipal ranks. The Convergence Program adopts the ‘ridge-toreef ’ approach: a holistic, collaborative, multiple-use, and sustainable management of natural resources in attaining poverty reduction and sustainable rural development by ensuring food security, enhanced access to lands and selfreliance of constituencies and increase resilience in communities. # (Joanne L. Olson, DA-10)

Oil...

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ber of players, however, those from fuel retail marketing, registered the most number of 1,019 players or 85.34 percent which already included the independent players of auto LPG stations. This was followed by liquid bulk fuel marketing with 136 players or 11.39 percent, bunkering with 19 players or 1.59 percent, LPG bulk marketing, 11 players or 0.9 percent and terminalling, nine (9) players or 0.7 percent. As to the number of gas stations, a total of 4,490 gas stations were noted to have been in operation throughout the country, as of the end of 2011, of which 758 or 16.88 percent were new players, already including the 261 independent players. Of this number, 3,021 gas stations 67.28 percent are stationed in Luzon, 669 or 14.90 percent, are stationed in the Visayas and 800 or 17.82 percent are stationed in Mindanao. Monsada said there were only 3,658 gas stations in the country in 1996. In 2006, the number of gasoline stations was reduced to 3,472 or -5.08 percent, but increased to 4,490 or 29.32 percent, this year. Likewise, of the 758 new players in 2011, the most number of 261 were independent players, followed by Flying V, 175 stations, Seaoil, 144, Total Phils, 118, , Phoenix, 96 Jetti, 49, PTT/SBDI, 39, Unioil, 30, Eastern, 28, Filoil Gas Co., Inc., 27, Metro Oil Subic, 13, Uno Fuel, 12, City Oil, 11, Nation Petroleum, eight (8), and USA 88, seven (7). Monsada said the implementation of Republic Act No. 8479, “An Act Deregulating the Downstream Oil Industry, and for other Purposes,” has paved the way for more new players, who are in current operation of the industry. The Downstream Oil

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August 20-23, 2012

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