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Market Indicators

AS OF 5:24 P.M., DEC. 22, 2011 (Thursday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P43.63

4,370.46 points

; ; Briefly 1 cents

1.58 points

Solution to floods

COTABATO City -- Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Luwalhati Antonino has pushed for quick rehabilitation and reconstruction as well as finding long-term solution to recent flooding in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City.

She said there is a need for Mindanao leaders to come up with a proposal for effective management and development of watersheds and river basins in Mindanao to reduce the risk, if not avert the dangers of flashfloods.

Antonino, who joined the President and other Cabinet members in visiting the affected areas and the victims in the evacuation sites in Iligan and Cagayan de Oro, also stressed the need for an integrated and coordinated action on rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected communities.

Armm investment

COTABATO City -- The Regional Board of Investment in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Wednesday announced in its annual accomplishment report that, for the first time, ARMM private investments have exceeded the one-billion peso mark this year.

“The value of investments registered with the RBOI from January 2011 to December 2011 was P1.656 billion,” Lawyer Ishak Mastura, RBOI chair, said in a statement.

He said the P1.5 billion telecommunications project of EA Trilink Corp., a regional telecommunications company based in Marawi City with franchise from the ARMM Regional Assembly, was responsible for the single-biggest investment in the ARMM to date.

Their project was registered in the second quarter of 2011.

By RUEL PELONE, Online Editor

T

HE Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (Amreco) is planning to put up a 300-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant, Energy Undersecretary Josefina Asirit told reporters.

In a recent interview, the DOE official said Amreco wants to put up a base-load power plant.

Base-load power plants refer to those operating on a maximum electricity output at all times and at low cost. These plants can be coal, hydro, geothermal, combined cycle, among others.

Asirit said the Department of Energy is assisting them to make sure that they would be environmentally

compliant.

Asirit added that the electric cooperatives play a significant role in providing additional power in Mindanao.

“We are monitoring if we could maintain sufficient supply of power in the province since the AgusPulangi could not guarantee constant supply,” she added.

Asirit noted that demand is projected to grow by 4.56 percent next year, while the POWER/PAGE 7

NGOs, private orgs can join budget hearings

By ALLAN MEDIANTE, Executive Editor

ANY non-government group or private persons would soon be able to participate in deliberations on budgets of LGUs. They can even attend public hearings in Congress.

This, after the House of Representatives have decided to approve on second reading a bill assuring the participation of civil society or private groups in congressional public hearings and local government units’ (LGUs) budget deliberations upon resumption of sessions in January 2012.

House Bill 3773 shall be known as “An Act institutionalizing the participation of Bona Fide People’s Organizations (CSOs) in budget hearings and deliberations NGO/PAGE 7

This family suffers more devastation as their house was swept away by flood in Cagayan de Oro. Despite painting a rosy picture on Philippine economy this year, the country has only posted 3.2% growth, slower than the 4.5-5.5% target.

PHOTO BY ROLANDO SUDARIA

PH economy grows slower THE Philippine economy expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in the September quarter from the previous three months, weaker than expected, raising questions on whether the central bank will keep interest rates steady, as it recently indicated, at a policy meeting on Thursday.

The slower than expected growth in the third quarter prompted Socio-economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga to say that the Philippines will have difficulty hitting its fullyear 2011 growth target of 4.5 to 5.5%.

Paderanga told reporters a strong pick-up in public and private construction

was needed in the fourth quarter to pull up fullyear growth.

Annual growth in the third quarter was 3.2%, the economic planning agency said on Monday, lower than the market forecast of 4.3%, and slowing from annual growth of 3.4% in the ECONOMY/PAGE 7

SSS suspends loan payments THE Social Security System (SSS) announced on Thursday that it would implement what it calls a “calamity relief package” to its members and pensioners in areas devastated by storm “Sendong.”

For victims of the massive floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the state-run fund would be suspending their member loan payments for six months while a three-month advance payment would be given to pensioners. SSS will also

cut the interest rate for new loans filed under its housing loan program for repairs/improvements.

Members in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan with existing SSS loans — whether salary, housing or business loans — can apply for a six-month suspension of loan payments without penalties, with an extension of amortization term by six months.

For members with current salary loans, they can choose instead to avail of SSS/PAGE 7

2

Economy

Dec. 26-29, 2011

BusinessWeek

Power coop inks deal on unpaid taxes

G

ENERAL Santos City -- Power distribution utility South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative (Socoteco I) is set to sign an agreement with the provincial government of South Cotabato to facilitate the settlement of its unpaid real property tax payments that already piled up to P41.27 million.

South Cotabato board member Ervin Luntao, chair of the provincial board’s ways and means committee, said the Socoteco I management has finally agreed to pay its entire pending tax obligations to the local government through a compromise deal.

Citing a letter from Socoteco I, he said the distribution utility signified to settle its entire real property tax arrearages of P41,271,295 within 60 to 90 days as part of the proposed agreement.

“The details of the compro-

mise agreement are still being ironed out by our legal department but it will include some measures that will ensure the prompt payment of its future tax obligations,” Luntao said at a media forum in Koronadal City.

He said they expect the Provincial Legal Office to finalize the provisions of the proposed deal in time for the scheduled special session of the provincial board on December 27.

The official said his committee will work for the approval and

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endorsement of the draft deal for signing by early next month.

“We want this settled as soon as possible to expedite the one-time payment of Socoteco I’s arrearages within the first quarter of 2012,” he said.

Luntao noted that the settlement of Socoteco’s unpaid tax obligations will practically offset the P36 million cut on the province’s Internal Revenue Allotment or IRA share from the national government for next year.

POWER/PAGE 10

MINDANAO

DAR road project seen to boost local economy

By JOIE L. CEBALLOS Contributor

AGUSAN del Norte -- Jabonga Mayor Glicerio Monton expressed optimism that the road project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will boost the economy of Barangay Baleguian in Jabonga, this province.

“This is a rich barangay, with rice as the major crop, and will prosper with this road”, said Monton during the recently held turn over ceremony of the NRJ Baleguian – Bagang Farm-toMarket Road.

DAR-Regional Director Faisar Mambuay and Agusan Norte PARO Andre Atega handed pertinent documents to Mayor Monton during said activity.

Mambuay said that the 1.9 km road will benefit 250 agrarian reform beneficiaries and many other farmers and settlers in the barangay and its neighboring areas, and is expected to help them in their daily life.

For Barangay Kagawad Losantos Edilo, the project is an answer to a long dire dream and thanked DAR for its continuing effort of providing development for the farmers.

Also, Engr. Marybeth Burgos, representing Regional Director Danilo Versola of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), cited that the realization of the project speaks of the good relationship of the national and local government offices, DAR/PAGE 10

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Companies

Dec. 26-29, 2011

3

PH second in ads spending in Southeast Asia: Nielsen Thousands of Typhoon Sendong victims avail of the P1million worth of relief assistance from STEAG State Power Inc. during a recent relief operations conducted

by Steag employees at the West City Central School in Cagayan de Oro City.

Steag joins relief drive for Oro flood victims VILLANUEVA, Misamis Oriental – Energy firm STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI) joins the on-going relief efforts for the thousands of families affected by the flash flood that hit Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend.

SPI President and CEO Dr. Bodo Goerlich said he is deeply sad by the tragedy as he conveys his deepest condolences especially to families who have lost their loved ones.

“We’re deeply saddened by this calamity and we’d like to express our sympathy especially for those who have lost their loved ones” Dr. Goerlich

said.

SPI has mobilized its corporate volunteers and equipment to ease the burden of those that were affected. For several days now, SPI’s firetruck has been deployed to various evacuation centers for the much needed water supply. In-kind donations were also mobilized from SPI personnel to provide immediate relief to the victims.

The company has released P 1 million for the procurement of blankets, slippers, sleeping mats and medicines for distribution to the affected STEAG/PAGE 10

Despite sluggish economic growth in the past three quarters, advertising dollars spent in the Philippines was the second highest in Southeast Asia, according to Nielsen’s latest Southeast Asia Quarterly Advertising Index.

Nielsen’s data showed that advertising dollars spent in the country posted a 15-percent increase to $1.197 billion in the third quarter of this year. Advertising dollars spent was at $1.045 billion in the same period last year.

This placed the Philippines

second only to Indonesia which recorded a 24-percent growth to $2.113 billion in 2011 from $1.707 billion in 2010. The total advertising dollars spent in Southeast Asia increased by 16 percent to $5.034 billion this year from last year’s $4.353 billion.

“The growth in advertising spend coupled with strong consumer confidence within the region are promising signs for Southeast Asia,” Nielsen’s APMEA Region Managing Director of Advertising Solutions

David Webb said.

“Strong adver tising growth in Southeast Asia over the past year underlines the region’s resilience amid global economic uncertainty and increasing spend in markets such as Indonesia and the Philippines echoes sentiment within the region that local economies are still thriving and capable of withstanding external shocks.”

According to the Nielsen Index, growth in advertising spend across main media in the region was driven by

television and newspapers.

Data showed that television advertising spend posted a 5-percent increase in the third quarter and 17 percent compared to the third quarter 2010. Newspapers, which did not post a yearon-year growth in the third quarter, posted a 14-percent growth quarter-on-quarter.

Advertisements for haircare, telecommunications and government department categories were the major sectors that contributed to advertising spend across NIELSEN/PAGE 10

Cebu Pacific to fly to Xiamen next year BUDGET CARRIER Cebu Pacific will be mounting red eye flights to Xiamen, China, starting March 23 next year in line with plans to expand its presence in the East Asian market.

“It will be a thrice-weekly service, utilizing one of [our] brand-new Airbus jet aircraft,” Cebu Pacific said.

The Manila-Xiamen route is the carrier’s 18th international route, following the Manila-Hanoi route, which will start March 17 next year.

“We hope [Cebu Pacific’s] thrice weekly flights to Xia-

men will boost trade tremendously between China and the Philippines,” Candice A. Iyog, vice-president for marketing and distribution, said in the statement.

Flights for the new route are planned to leave Manila at 11:20 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and arrive in Xiamen at 1:35 a.m., Cebu Pacific said.

Return flights will depart at 2:25 a.m. from Xiamen every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrive in Manila at 4:40 a.m., the carrier said.

This will come on top of

the carrier’s thrice-weekly flights from Manila to Beijing and Guangzhou, and its daily flights between Maand Shanghai.

“We flew 30% more passengers to mainland China in the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period last year,” Ms. Iyog said in the statement.

Meanwhile, the total number of passengers Cebu Pacific has carried increased by 12% to 2.8 million in the third quarter from 2.5 million in the same period last year, amid low fares and continuous route expansion.

As such, the airline reported to have flown 8.7 million passengers as of end-September, keeping it on track of its target of flying 12 million passengers for 2011.

In June, Cebu Pacific announced a $3.8 billion worth of aircraft acquisition that will be delivered between 2015 and 2021.

The carrier said it will be acquiring 30 new 220-seater Airbus A321neo and seven 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.

The Airbus A321neo NIELSEN/PAGE 9

DEL MONTE VOLUNTEERS BRING AID TO SENDONG SURVIVORS

V

OLUNTEERS from Del Monte Philippines join many other groups who continue to bring aid and succor to survivors of Typhoon Sendong, many of whom lost their loved ones as well as their homes during one of the world’s worst typhoons this year.

The volunteers are employees from the company’s pineapple cannery in barangay Bugo, some 20 kilometers away from flooded areas of the city, and children of Del Monte employees who are on their school break.

As news on the extent of Sendong’s devastation began to spread, Del Monte volunteers were among the first to lend comfort and bring food to families in various affected areas on December 17.

Since the first day of the flood, four mobile teams of about 5-10 volunteers each, conduct daily relief missions in barangays Consolacion,

Nurses and doctors in makeshift tents provide relief to growing risk of disease at evacuation centers.

Macanhan, Carmen, Balulang, Kauswagan and Macasandig.

Among the team’s first beneficiaries were some 100 of its employees whose houses were destroyed in varying degrees by the floods. In addition to responding to the needs of affected areas, these mobile teams were tasked to seek out the company’s employees and ensure their safety and security. Several of these families were relocated to safer quarters; all received food packs, medicines, clothes

Del Monte volunteers distribute packed cooked food to an evacuation center.

and beddings.

Del Monte’s two fire crews deliver water as shortage affects half of the city’s 750,000 residents. A total of 29,500 liters per day are delivered to affected areas and this will continue for the next 30 days. To supplement delivery, the company has recently installed four water refilling points outside its plant gate for the public. A mobile medical team extends free treatment and medicines spread across the nine evacuation centers, while nurses go around homes with the mobile relief teams to identify people needing medical attention and refer them to its mobile medical team.

At Del Monte’s Cannery Headquarters, teams load relief goods for delivery. Another team collects donations from employees as others pack donated items for distribution. Volunteers from Del Monte’s agri-headquarters in Camp Phillips, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, have lent support to colleagues at the cannery. Clean up teams armed with brushes,

pails, and shovels travel to Cagayan de Oro every day to help affected residents clear mud and debris from their homes, making the houses ready for reoccupancy by Christmas Eve. Del Monte Philippines Mindanao Operations Group Head Manny Nisperos said: “We at Del Monte are one with the community in moving forward from this tragedy. The company as well as its volunteers are here to help.”

As the Company’s relief effort progresses, more volunteer teams have been organized to bring assistance to more survivors. Additional relief programs have also been lined up to respond to specific needs of affected communities and help the survivors move on.

Among these programs are: the conduct of more medical missions as the risk of disease increases at evacuation centers; feeding programs and provision of vitamin-rich juice drinks at evacuation centers; and sustained water delivery

Helping clean up our neighbors’ homes. Just in time for Christmas. in areas where water shortage remains critical. The company is further considering to partner with agencies to help survivors rebuild their homes.

Del Monte Philippines has a long tradition of helping the

Loading relief goods at the Bugo head office.

community not only during good times but more significantly during emergencies and calamities.

It has sent teams on rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of a major earthquake that hit Northern Luzon and Baguio City (1990), and during the deadly flashfloods in Ormoc (1991), Camiguin (2003) and Misamis Oriental (2010).

Del Monte Philippines, Inc. (DMPI) has operated in Bukidnon for the last 86 years and has contributed much to the development and upliftment of lives in the local communities where it operates. At present, there are more than 10,000 people that work in both the cannery and plantation of DMPI. Together with their dependents, there are at least 40 to 50 thousand people that depend on the Company.

Companies

4 Dec. 26-29, 2011

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

NEWS CAPS Jollibee buys stake in foreign firm

By Laurel Media

MEGAWORLD

Megaworld Corp., the flagship property unit of tycoon Andrew Tan, emerged as the top residential condominium developer in terms of the number of units completed as of 2010 and those to be completed from 2011 to 2016, according to the latest study by Colliers International.

Megaworld said that these projects account for 18 percent of the residential condominium market. In terms of total aggregate saleable area of those projects launched and to be completed in the same period, it represents 16 percent of the market with a total saleable area of about 1.15 million square meters.

PUREGOLD

Lucio Co-owned Puregold Price Club Inc., the country’s second largest supermarket chain, said that it was on track to meet its income target of P1.5 billion this year on the steady growth in consumer spending.

At the opening of its 100th store in Bgy. Tuktukan in Taguig City, Puregold president Leonardo Dayao said that the company will continue its aggressive expansion next year to build around 25 stores and further bolster its profitability. Another 25 branches are up for construction in 2013 as the grocery chain aims to further widen its presence across the country.

NAIA SALE PROPOSAL

The Makati Business Development Council (MBDC) has expressed its disapproval to the proposed sale of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Likewise, the group said the airport should not be transferred since its current site remains the most convenient location.

In a statement, MBDC said that it firmly objects to the sale of NAIA and advocates for the international airport to stay where it is now.

The group said that it believes that NAIA is still the most convenient site for an international airport, for businessmen/professionals/tourists, due to its proximity to Metro Manila, particularly Makati, the country’s center for business and commerce. It also expressed doubts on the feasibility of transferring NAIA to Clark, Pampanga due to its distance from the central business districts in Metro Manila.

NATIONAL SLUM UPGRADING STRATEGY

A project aimed at building a comprehensive database that will guide policy makers in the upgrading of slum areas in the Philippines was launched by key shelter agencies. The National Slum Upgrading Strategy will come up with a wide-ranging survey and assessment on the condition, issues, opportunities and risks from the ground up. This will then serve as a guide for local government units (LGUs) and national agencies in establishing a framework for improving living conditions of informal settlers nationwide.

Funding for the project will come from a $455,000 (about P20 million) grant from Cities Alliance, a coalition of developed cities, administered by the World Bank to be primarily implemented by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). Cecilia S. Alba, HUDCC secretary-general, said that the project is expected to be completed in 18 months with funding to be disbursed by the multilateral agency in several tranches.

PH STOCK EXCHANGE

Investors loaded up on blue chips, shrugging off the impending credit rating downgrades of euro zone economies, the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and the devastation wrought by Typhoon Sendong in Northern Mindanao. The Philippine Stock Exchange index rose by 0.31% or 13.18 points to close at 4,318.12, while the broader all-share index edged higher by 0.43% or 12.80 points to 2,997.82.

Turnover amounted to P5.132 billion, falling from P5.653 billion last Friday. Foreigners did not let up in their buying, posting a net buying totaling P580 million.

Decliners led advancers 78 to 62, while 55 stocks were unchanged.

Most subindices also closed higher and ended in positive territory, led by services that added 1.01% or 15.96 points to 1,594.98. Holding firms gained 0.39% or 12.84 points to 3,408.39, while mining and oil advanced by 0.36% or 86.52 points to 23,914.31. Property and industrial leaped by 0.24% or 3.55 points to 1,469.94 and 0.004% or 0.28 point to 7,066.84, respectively.

JOLLIBEE FOODS Corp. has moved to acquire a 50% stake in international restaurant operator SuperFoods Group for $25 million.

The acquisition implements an agreement made last May between Jollibee Foods and Viet Thai International Joint Stock Co., Jollibee Foods said in a disclsoure yesterday.

Jollibee Foods will be paying $25 million for 50% of SuperFoods business on top of releasing a $35-million loan to Viet Thai International.

SuperFoods Group, which has an annual sales of $30 million, owns and operates various brands including Highlands Coffee Shops in Vietnam, Highland Coffee Packaged Products and Hard Rock Café franchised stores in Macau, Hong Kong and Vietnam, the disclosure also said.

The Filipino-led firm said it has initiated the process of buying a 50% interest in SuperFoods through its subsidiary JSF Investments Pte Ltd., a unit of Jollibee Worldwide Pte Ltd.

Customers line up to order at an outlet operated by Jollibee Foods Corp.

“This will consist of a 49% share in SF Vung Tau Joint Stock Co. in Vietnam and a 60% share in Blue Sky Holdings Ltd. in Hong Kong,” Jollibee Foods said without elaborating.

Jollibee Foods had al-

ready advanced $5 million to the SuperFoods Group, the disclosure read.

Recently, the SuperFoods Group acquired Pho 24 brand and restaurants, which has operations in Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia

and Japan.

Last May, Jollibee Foods announced it was investing $60 million to acquire stakes in Vietnam and Hong Kong food chains, forging an agreement with Viet Thai International.

already opened a total of 40 stations, where about five stations are situated in Metro Manila.

Phoenix Petroleum said it earmarked P1.5 bil-

lion for capital projects in 2011, which covered the expansion program for retail network, depot facilities and supply operations.

Phoenix to build 103 gas stations by next year

L

ISTED Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. is looking at putting up about 103stations all over the country by next year, Assistant Vice President for external affairs and human resources Raymond Zorrilla said.

The Phoenix Petroleum official said they plan to open 43 stations in Luzon, and then 20 and 40 stations in Visayas and Mindanao, respectively.

“We have invested a lot in branding. We have a vision to be leading independent, cement our status as leading independent player both in terms of network share and market share,” he said.

Zorrilla said the expansion program could entail more than P500 million in investments, w hich will be sourced from a combination of internally

generated funds and loans.

He noted that they expect a 25-percent increase in retail volume with this expansion program as well as in commercial trade.

As result, Zorrilla said they are also building additional depots next year.

The company also plans to put up depots in Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cebu. It is also expanding its depot in Davao and in Batangas.

Zorrilla earlier said they plan to open at least 60 stations for the year to bring the total number of stations to 220 all over the country. The company has

Globe puts cap on postpaid data use GLOBE Telecom Inc. has become proactive in preventing customer bill shock by putting a cap on the data usage of all postpaid subscribers.

Company officials announced that its 1.5 million subscribers only have to subscribe to P999 a month to enjoy unlimited mobile surfing every month.

“This is offered not only for iPhone users but all those who have smartphones.

Our subscribers need not worry anymore that they will exceed their data plans or even those who don’t access mobile internet be-

cause of the thinking that it’s expensive. At Globe, we offer a ‘no-worry guarantee’ as all data usage is capped at P999 a month,” said Globe President Ernest Cu. Cu said Globe has taken this step so postpaid subscribers can fully enjoy their smartphones’ features.

Based on an internal study, Cu said Globe subscribers—particularly those using iPhone and BlackBerry devices—want no restriction on their data use.

“You can’t enjoy smartphones without data connection. These devices need constant connection to the

Internet, and that’s what we want to provide,” Cu said.

Globe recently launched the Apple iPhone 4S. “We at Globe understand that the iPhone 4S is a dataintensive smartphone, with users more prone to bill shock because of features such as Siri personal assistant and iCloud services.

With Globe plans giving users unlimited mobile Internet at fixed charges, our subscribers do not have to worry about unusually high charges on their bills because of mobile data, thus letting them enjoy their iPhone 4S their way,”

Globe consumer business senior advisor Peter Bithos said.

As the leader in postpaid, Globe pairs the newly launched device with postpaid plans, ranging from an all-unli plan, plan 299 to Platinum 10,000.

Globe said its unlimited data plan is unmatched.

“Globe’s advantage is our consumable plans with unlimited mobile surfing and customizable freebies. Smart’s iPhone plans do not have unlimited mobile surfing. Smart does not offer the iPhone at lower plans,” said Bithos.

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Dec. 26-29, 2011

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Dec. 26-29, 2011

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Opinion

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Christmas Everyday THINK a minute…

Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean we must stop giving things to others. In fact, we should enjoy Christmas day every day of the year! We could call these daily gifts “Our daily Christmas celebration.”

At least 1 a day will make a big difference in your life and in the lives of others around you. Here are a few suggestions.

Make peace with someone you quarreled with.

Find a forgotten friend.

Pay a long overdue debt.

Be gentle and patient with

an angry person. Make a child happy. Make or bake something for someone else - anonymously! Let go of a grudge. Make the time to listen to your child’s real feelings and interests.

Keep a promise. Forgiven an enemy. Express thanks to your wife, husband, or children for what they do every day. Break a bad habit and start a new, good one in its place.

Speak kindly to a stranger. Lower your demands and expectations of others. Be honest. Take your wife out on a date. Work harder at

your job and career. Show true compassion and put yourself in the other person’s place. Laugh and have fun with your family. Take the time to talk and listen to an older person. Offer to babysit for a tired mother. Buy someone a meal or an ice cream. Apologize if you’re wrong. Give your teacher a break and do your best.

Give your students a break and be realistic in your requirements.

Let’s make Christmas one life-long gift of ourselves to others. Oh yes, one more suggestion. Give your life to

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

Jesus Christ by loving Him and living His way every day. After all, He died to give His life to you.

Just think a minute…

Christmas is Christ with us JUST in case we forget, Christmas is about Christ born to us. The reminder has become necessary because proofs of the disfiguring of Christmas are increasing.

No less than the Pope reminded us not to be dazzled by the shopping lights of the season but to keep focused on the coming of Jesus Christ, the “true light of the world.”

In a town in the US, a controversy erupted because a group put street signs saying, “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Obviously when messages like that have to be put up in public, there must be something quite wrong in that place.

This was verified when another group precisely kicked up a fuss about it citing legal provisions. Instead, the group wanted their own banner to be hung in the streets, saying: “At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world.

Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

Ah, ok. No problem. We

have freedom of expression and of consciences. If atheists want their messages publicized, that’s just fine.

But let’s not deny believers their right also to show their faith in public, as long as public order is observed.

The legal basis of the group’s complaint is that the “Keep Christ in Christmas” signs were put on public property, which turned out to be false, since they were on private property. But that legal basis raises the questions like, should public property then be devoid of religious signs? Would religious signs already create public disorder?

I’ll leave the people concerned and their public authorities to resolve that issue, but I, frankly, just find the reasons behind the ban of religious signs on public property funny. To me, it’s taking the principle of Church-state separation to its ridiculous conclusions.

Truth is, for Christian believers, we need God, we need Christ, who is the second person of the Blessed Trinity, the Son of God who became man, to save us, to complete our creation, to give us a way to attain the

fullness and perfection of our human dignity.

God is our creator. We, and the universe around us, just did not come to exist on our own, quite spontaneously out of nothing, since from nothing, nothing comes. We are not our own creator.

In our case, since we are creatures of reason and will, our creation by God has to be corresponded to with our reason and will also. Paraphrasing St. Augustine, we can say that if God created us without us, he cannot complete that creation without us. We need to correspond to God’s creation of us. We need to cooperate and bring it to its completion.

In other words, our creation by God is still a work in progress. And our life here on earth is precisely where that “progress” has to take place, where the lifelong drama of our correspondence or non-correspondence to God’s work becomes the ultimate purpose of our life.

This is a truth of faith that is actually meant for everyone, but especially more for believers than for non-believers. For the

THE CORE

FR. ROY CIMAGALA latter, we need a different tack that uses reason and philosophy more than faith and theology. This piece is addressed more to believers.

We need to be reminded that as Christian believers, we need to be ‘alter Christus,’ if not ‘ipse Christus,’ another Christ if not Christ himself.

That’s because Christ is the very pattern of our humanity. We cannot live properly without him. Remember Christ saying, “I am the truth, the way, and the life…”

We become another Christ through God’s grace, but also through our cooperation, when we let our mind and heart, our intelligence and will to get engaged with CIMAGALA/PAGE 7

Christmas CHRISTMAS does not only forward sublime truths but also bear practical realities.

It is not only a propitious occasion for a big celebration but also a reason for serious reflection. This is not meant to take away the usual joys and delights brought about by Christmas – especially among the Filipinos. This is simply intended to call attention to the deeper significance of certain Christmas practices usually taken for granted by a good number of people – well meaning though they are.

Needless to say, Christmas being a most profound event with likewise most serious implications, quasi interminable as well as unfathomable facts can be readily invoked and ponder about in conjunction therewith. For one thing, it is the origin of a creed that a good portion of humanity subscribes to long since. It is also the mystical seed that launched the Church Herself that accompanied people for more than two thousand years

to date. For the moment, it would suffice to give attention to certain relatively simple symbolic Christmas observances among Christian Filipinos in particular.

There is that loud and repeated singing of different Christmas carols anytime of the day any place in the community. Why? The root reason of this common practice is the singular phenomenon narrated in the Good Book that no less than Angels themselves sand to herald the birth of Christ. In fact, it is said that there was “great rejoicing” in the heavens with the advent of Christmas.

Singing Christmas carols therefore is more profound that mere singing these and those secular songs.

There is that practice of hanging star lanterns by the windows of houses for people to see and enjoy. Why? The Good Book itself said that a star guided the Wise Men where to go – with the advisory that where the star

stops and hovers, is also the place where Christ can be found. A star wherefore pointed to those searching for Jesus where to find Him. When families thus hang star lanterns in their houses, they send the message that no less than Christ is found in their homes by the way their live properly and act correctly.

There is that common observance of old and young people exchanging Christmas gifts. There is also the usual practice of people sharing their blessing with those who practically have none.

Foods are sent to prisons.

Parties are held in orphanages. Why? The Good Book also said that upon finding the Baby Jesus, the Wise Men brought out their gifts for Him. Christmas gift giving thus has more meaning than the material value it carries.

By the way, those who vehemently protest and loudly denounce the observance of Christmas on 25 December are ridiculously correct. Rea-

son: There was yet no calendar then as we have it now – courtesy of Pope Gregory XIII who studied and composed the “Gregorian Calendar” in the 16th Century that is now observed practically the world over. The month of December is cold. Christ was born in Bethlehem during the cold season. Hence His Birthday was placed in the last week of the cold December.

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Views

The Sun Shines at Bislig Bay DEEP within a forest at the foot of Kumawas Mountain finally comes the captivating boulevard that stretches parabolic to Bislig Bay. The development gives new life to a community betrayed by financial and political events with tourism as the new center stage focusing on the natural attraction of Tinuy-an Falls and the eco-tourism of Hagonoy Island.

The story of once progressive resettlement community carved by the entrepreneurship of a Filipino American industrialist Don Andres Soriano, Sr. who founded Bislig Bay Lumber Company, Inc. or BBLCI has left a footprint of development bordering on the forest resources of Surigao del Sur up to Agusan Province.

The timber concessions stretches up to Bunawan extending further into the jungle towards Northern Davao Province of what is now called the Cospostela Valley.

Don Andres Soriano, Sr. has the vision to ex-

plore the natural resources sustainable with a forest management concept that includes reforestation in an industrial scale. Bislig Bay Lumber Company built the housing requirements of the Philippines after the 2nd World War when steel were known only to roofing materials and building of trucks, tanks and warships.

Twenty years later, BBLCI, evolved into a modern industrial venture of harvesting the second growth forests for the use of the corporate and newsprint for media business. The Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines or PICOP was later incorporated as a spinoff company.

Second generation of the Soriano family held various interests in Philippine business. From forests products, to newsprint for publishing and corrugated cardboard for industrial packaging.

The Philippine’s Herald and Radio Station DZRH were the media component.

Coca-Cola Philippines, San Miguel Beer and Philippine Airlines and American

Dec. 26-29, 2011

Traffic

Wires and Cables were once TRAVERSING THE THE reason we have traffic on our roads is simply owned by Andre Soriano Y CIA (Spanish for a Holding) TOURISM HI-WAY because the (traffic) police company of the family. are useless. There are so What has become of many uniformed men on the vision of Don Andres the road directing traffic Soriano, Sr. to Bislig and the to no avail. Many who industrialization of southdo not understand why ern Philippines? From his they are there in the first phrase of “something else place. The motorists are is possible”, it passes into a mindless of their presence magical shadow of once an so much so they break all industrial community back rules on the road in their to a fishing and agricultural presence. Here are some dependency. The smoke stacked chimney of the PED T. QUIAMJOT frustrating examples we mills pointing to the sky control the company? Or see everyday; stopped puffing the sooth was there a government *vehicles crossing the of the bunker plant, for lack intervention or the lack of opposite side of the road of fuel and materials. The it to underwrite debts owed to get ahead regardless once mighty and the biggest to state banks? head-on traffic paper mill in Asia ceased its Mismanagement could *veering extreme right operation. The industrial not be the reason as the famwhen on extreme left porworkforce of some 12,000 ily was into various successtions of the road to turn right employees was dicipatated ful businesses at that time *creating passenger tersending unemployment before a President named minals on main roads that and poverty to the once Ferdinand E. Marcos came are already congested industrial City. to power. Andres Soriano *pollution – do the public Was it a cause of mis- y Cia was a cornerstone of management and failure to the Philippine economy. utility drivers even care, met financial obligations to Majority of the stockholders when to begin with they pay the interests of matur- were loyal incorporators or are at the immediate receiving end ing loans and return the relatives who were actively principal? Were the original taking part in the manage- of the pollution they emit owners muscled by hostile *parking at no parking stock holders who want to QUIAMJOT/PAGE B4 zones *the yellow box with an “X” inside it means keep intersection open – most do not know what this means or better yet - do not care. *do you enjoy the excrumisfortune; and each in ciating bright head lights particular mourning his SPEAKING OUT at night private loss.” *how do you even see Bromberg said that the bikes and motorcycles withRoman sanctuaries did not out back lights or reflectors lend any money at all—and *on provincial roads this stood true from the they hold their parties on early Roman times to the the streets later stages of Roman eco*during the celebratory nomic development. seasons there is public exHe explained that the tortion on the road for doreason behind this was the nations notoriety of ancient Roman bankers. *wang wangs still exist IGNACIO BUNYE “We know that the bankwithout the siren replaced er of Roman antiquity was ing the money lenders out by blinking lights not so highly respected….. of the temple. *bus drivers always disIt would be interesting to In fact, the ancient financier appear after accidents they was a rather highly despised note that the modern word cause member of the economic “bank” originated from a *filthy is how I would decommunity by reason of simple Italian word, “banca,” scribe public utility vehicles which means bench. his usurious *can you tell a taxi from This etymology, as dispractices,” Bromberg a colorum communal taxi cussed in the Bangko Sentral said. called interestingly enough In short, usur y was ng Pilipinas’ “The General “FX” synonymous to the “mean Banking Law Annotated: *what is this monstrosity employment of banking” Book 2,” came from a curious that is unregister-able – the during the Roman times, Italian practice during the “kuliglig” middle ages. The practice Bromberg explained. *we also have bogus trafThis probably explains involved money changers fic enforcers not in uniform bringing actual benches why in the New Testament, with tin cans on-hand for all four evangelists reported to the marketplaces, and collections as you pass them BUNYE/PAGE B4 by causing even more traffic the incident of Jesus chas-

Were there banks during the time of Jesus?

YULETIDE is undeniably the busiest time of the year.

You know that ‘tis the season when the lines are unusually long at the banks and at the automated teller machines: People are extra generous with their earnings and buy gifts for their family, friends and colleagues in the spirit of Christmas.

This makes you wonder, were there banks during the time of Jesus?

According to Benjamin Bromberg, who wrote an article for The Economic History Review entitled “Temple Banking in Rome,” banking is one of the oldest institutions known to man.

“Its history is lost somewhere in remote antiquity,” Bromberg said. “But this much is definitely known: banking was born in the temples consecrated to the gods and goddesses of mythology in the Mesopotamian area thousands of years before the rise of Christianity.”

Bromberg explained that

this custom of “sanctuary depositories” eventually spread to the other ancient civilizations in Europe— including Ancient Rome, which at the time of Jesus was the most powerful empire on earth.

He added that there were about a thousand “religious sanctuaries” in Ancient Rome, and the larger ones served as repositories.

The historian Herodian, in his “History of His Own Times,” described the greatness of the banking Temple of Peace: “...it was made a public receptacle of treasures, and every one carried to it his most valuable effects, as to a depository of unquestioned security.”

Unfortunately, according to Herodian, a great fire broke out in this sanctuary in A.D. 191 and “... many who just before were exceedingly wealthy, were now reduced to poverty.

So that there was universal lamentation, all in general bewailing the public

something that in all probability would minimize one’s chances of staying alive.

Just as water is life saving, water too can be a harbinger of disease and death. And, at this time where calamity has struck our city, water is very scarce and difficult to come by. In the two days that I have joined my team of volunteers, going around the most badly hit areas, distributing arroz caldo, sotanghon and noodle soup, and goodies for the children, I see long lines of people trying to access water, and hear people asking for wa-

ter. Of course, the need for food, clothing , mats and blankets as well as medicine is likewise among the wish list of our kababayans.

Water borne diseases can either be protozoal ( classic example of which is amoebiasis ), parasitic ( schistosomiasis, ascariasis ), viral ( Hepatitis A, Acute Gastroenteritis ) and Bacterial ( cholera, typhoid fever, leptospirosis), to name a few. For now, I would like to focus on Acute Gastroenteritis, or sometimes called as Intestinal Flu. The most common causes would be vi-

ral or bacterial. If it is viral, just like most of the viral illnesses, it is self limiting and resolves by itself within three days from onset. The presentation though, is almost similar to that of a bacterial causation of the disease: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, feeling of overall weakness, loss of appetite and sometimes, bloody stools.

Acute Gastroenteritis ( AGE ) is due to drinking or eating of contaminated water and food. Hygiene and sanitary practices play a

SUPERBRANDING

HARRY TAMBUATCO *as for the explosion motorcycles on the road – what can I say as they weave in and out of traffic causing many to die on the road daily *overloading? Is this even against the law *hazard lights for every occasion *let us ride the horn, who cares about noise pollution *why register and pay road tax, just elude the law and pay slide money when detected *drivers on drugs ply the hi-ways *take a taxi and get robbed I am compelled to write these complaints because there is no longer any regulation on our streets. In fact it has taken for the worst with traffic increasing with new vehicles being added on to our roads. There is no regulation to expel vehicles that are no longer roadworthy.

Is this the fault of government? You bet it is!

We need competent road management and not just a lackey political appointee. If only we can hire professionals and if necessary import the regulators for our road.

The ability to see ten years ahead if not twenty or thirty years is what we need. We need visionaries who are competent at addressing these problems. But then again we may be asking too much of our leaders. The usual excuse is we have no funds and yet a quick look at them and they are seemingly disgustingly getting wealthier. As we approach another year of frustration all we can do is to endure all this and take it in stride.

“Pasencia na” is the attribute we Filipinos are made to bear. This has to e incorrect!

HEALTH IN FOCUS

Water: Life saving or Curse?

ONE week to be exact, when our very own City experienced a heavy downpour with matching howling winds. The devastation wrought by a signal number 2 SENDONG rendered hundreds and thousands of Cagay Anons homeless.

Water, it seems at the time of the deluge was viewed as a curse!

Water is a basic commodity. Without it, all forms of life would be gone. For centuries, people are known to have survived without electricity, and even food.

But, to be without water, is

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major role in its causation.

That is why, in the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health organization, AGE or diarrhea is said to account for 4% of all deaths worldwide and 5% of health disability. Thus, when people live in cramped rooms or places, with no access to safe drinking water, washing and bathing facilities and sanitation, it is not surprising to see a rise in the number of cases suffering from the disease.

This being the case among our kababayans housed in the evacuation centers

DR. MARY JEAN LORECHE-DIAO these trying times, it is a MUST then that, they be educated on proper hand washing ( provision for a place to do this ) , and the

DIAO/PAGE B4

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BusinessWeek

Dec. 26-29, 2011

MINDANAO

WFP supports Sendongaffected communities

World Boxing Pound for Pound king and Saranggani Congressman Manny Pacquiao recently visits the evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City to turnover relief goods and 1 Million cash donation for typhoon sendong victims. PHOTO BY ERCEL MAANDIG

TROPICAL Storm Washi (locally known as “Sendong”) which hit Northern Mindanao over the weekend, caused massive flooding, flashfloods and landslides, resulting in the death of over 1,000 people. Some 285,000 people have been displaced, many of whom are taking refuge with relatives or in makeshift structures. The World Food Programme (WFP) is responding to the Philippine Government’s request for international

support and is mobilizing to assist 220,000 of the most vulnerble persons, many of whom have limited access to nutritious food and clean drinking water. Augmenting government’s relief efforts,

WFP assistance, at the initial phase of the response, focuses on providing fortified ready-to-eat foods as well as logistics support to the Philippine government and humanitarian agencies.

Office of the Archbishop Archbishop’s House P.O. Box 113 Cagayan de Oro City 9000 Misamis Oriental, Philippines Tel Nos. (08822) 72-63-04; 72-23-75 (088) 857-1357 * Fax No. (08822) 72-63-04 E-mail address: acdo_chancery@yahoo.com

21 Dec. 2011 Pastoral Letter A Time to Grieve, A Time to Build Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro Christmas is a time of rejoicing. But this year in Cagayan de Oro we mourn and express our condolence for all those who have perished in the wake of Typhoon Sendong on Dec. 16-17. In some places entire families have been washed away by the rampaging waters of Cagayan de Oro River. Others died in their sleep trapped inside their homes by the sudden rise of flood waters that reached unprecedented levels past midnight.

There are accounts of how a mother clutching the hands of two children was able to escape from the floods, only to lose another child whose pleas for help could be heard receding in the darkness of the night.

Another family was able to hold on to an uprooted balete tree that floated out into Macajalar Bay and reached the shores of Camiguin Island. Floating bodies have been retrieved from the waters of nearby towns. The low-lying communities of Cala-Cala and Isla de Oro have been leveled by a tsunami-like river surge.

World Food Programme/Philippines’ National Ambassador Against Hunger, KC Concepcion, and WFP Country Director and Representative, Stephen Anderson visit communities affected by Tropical Storm Washi in Cagayan de Oro City. WFP, in partnership with the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development, is distributing fortified ready-to-eat food to highly affected families in evacuation centers. PHOTO BY: WFP/JOHN JAVELLANA/PHILIPPINES

Bunye...

from pageB-1 conducting their business on these benches.

From the temple banks of Ancient Rome, to the bancas in Italy during the Middle Ages, to the eventual establishment of the Bank of England (which is considered as the prototype of central banking), it is indeed remarkable how the concept of banking has evolved to the type of banking we know today.

Practically everyone in the city has lost some relatives or personal friends in this calamity. Schools have lost some students and staff; officemates have not reported because of the condition of their homes; and a number of unidentified bodies still await a dignified burial in a common resting place.

Diao...

In some of our churches, the Misa de Gallo could not be celebrated because the church became a refuge for families seeking higher ground. In one chapel, even pigs and other animals were brought in and tied at the foot of the altar. Lay ministers were scandalized until the parish priest reminded them that this must have been the same situation in the stable of that first Christmas night. We have also started to celebrate the Misa de Gallo in the evacuation centers.

of safe drinking water , would at least help contain the spread of AGE. Should the disease occur, oral rehydration therapy is the mainstay in treating patients with AGE. Replacing fluid loss and correcting electrolyte imbalance is very necessary. Sugary drinks like colas and sodas, as well as fruit juices are not recommended especially in children under the age of 5.

For those who are still being breastfed, it is most notable that breastfeeding should not in anyway be stopped, rather, it should be continued.

Antibiotics has no place in diarrheas or AGE, unless, the bacteria causing it is identified and is often given only in severe instances. One misconception that I would like to correct here , is , when a person is suffering from AGE / Diarrhea, he/ she should not eat. Eating small meals, particularly including in one’s diet, foods rich in potassium ( banana being available and cheap ) will surely help manage electrolyte imbalance and the feeling of weakness. Complications is mostly due to dehydration and is encountered in the very young, the old and those with other debilitating disorders.

Clean, safe, adequate water, is life saving.

Even as we grieve with those directly affected by this tragedy, the challenge for us now is to help re-build the lives and broken homes of the survivors. The evacuation centers are slowly being organized in the distribution of relief goods – in particular, water, food, medicine, mats, blankets, etc.

We are heartened to see many volunteers and organizations coming forward to share their time, energy and resources. Our affected parishes and social action workers have collaborated with government agencies in running these centers in the City Central School, West City Central School, Macasandig, Bulua, Kauswagan, Iponan, etc. The 14 centers have been providing shelter and basic needs to more than 7,000 families and 43,000 individuals. Meanwhile, the listed number of dead and missing has reached nearly 700 persons.

The longer-term challenge is to help these families re-build their present homes or re-locate to safer grounds. We are heartened by the visit of President Aquino and other public officials. His declaration of a state of national calamity and observation that families should not be allowed to return to extremely dangerous areas are welcome statements. Last January 2009, the city had already experienced severe flooding. Some old-time residents recalled that this phenomenom happens every forty years. But barely three years after that, Typhoon Sendong came with greater vengeance.

We have to cast a broader look at the entire river basin area of Cagayan de Oro River. This extends to the northwestern part of Bukidnon and surrounding areas. Illegal logging and irresponsible mining activities have contributed to the degradation of the environment and the siltation of the river bed. The erection of man-made structures may have also impeded the natural flow of the waters. (The continued hydraulic flush mining along Iponan River has likewise caused widespread flooding of the Canitoan-Iponan areas of the city.) It is for these reasons that we have to strengthen the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council, a multi-sectoral effort to protect and conserve our most precious natural resource after our human resources – the river system.

As we approach Christmas week and the coming of the new year, may I propose a Family-Adopt-aFamily program. Families unaffected by the flood can invite to their homes an evacuee family, especially those that have lost their homes or loved ones, for a few days or for a Christmas meal to share the spirit of the season.

May the new-born child in the manger fill us with the spirit of solidarity in moments of adversity and hope in the sharing of love and life with one another. “Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart” (Ps. 90). #

from pageB-1

Quiamjot... from pageB-1

ment and operation of the business.

The government under Marcos after extending its huge loan exposure was putting their own people as member of the board of Directors who later became part of the business.

Did Marcos attempt to take over the business of PICOP? From the composition of the Board of Directors, familiar names of cronies came up; the likes of Nietto, Poblador, Peña, Menzi and Zamora were listed. It must have been owned 50 % by Marcos that gives credence to the 5 members of the board handpicked by the former President.

In 1972, when Martial Law was declared, trouble at PICOP started. With increasing militancy of the labor front, a crippling strike paralyzed the operation. The sources of materials were also confronting insurgency with the rise of the New People’s Army demanding revolutionary taxes from the tree planters and log haulers. Transport of Albizia Falcata trees to the mill site eventually stopped.

Succeeding governments under Cory Aquino, Ramos, Estrada and GMA, failed to rehabilitate and infuse fresh capital to PICOP. It assigned a government agency called Presidential Commission on Good Government to look into the assests and protect government interests. PCGG, have gone sour to looters. The mothballed paper mills were stripped of machineries and steel components only to be sold as scraps in the junk shops of Davao and Butuan City.

BusinessWeek

Dec. 26-29, 2011

MINDANAO

7

ONE CDO: For the Benefit of Cagayan de Oro Typhoon SENDONG Victims ONE CDO is a Cagayan de Oro-based network of outdoor groups, environmental organizations, artists, musicians and individuals, organized last Dec.17, 2011 for the purpose of aiding hundreds of victims who have suffered the recent tragedy of Typhoon Sendong, which recently hit Cagayan de Oro City last December 16, 2011. ONE CDO is also a campaign to call for unity, harmony and action especially among the youth who desire to help but don’t have the support group to do so.

ONE CDO hopes to provide this opportunity for volunteerism and ability to share.

Sendong is the worst calamity ever to hit the city

Power...

from page 1 committed capacity is only 8 MW from Capulag.

Asirit said 20 MW of Minergy, the 100-MW coalfired power plant of Minergy, and the 50-MW Mount Apo geothermal power plant are expected to be operational by 2014, while the 100-MW Conal-2 coal-fired power plant is expected by 2015.

Asirit said the only concern for most investors in Mindanao is its inexpensive power rates. “The inexpensive rates in Mindanao turn off investors.”

Amreco earlier invited investors to supply 300 MW of baseload capacity to 21 electric cooperatives in Mindanao.

“We might bid. though we have not reviewed the terms yet,” Luis Miguel Aboitiz, AboitizPower executive vice president, told reporters.

He said they have yet to determine how many megawatts they plan to provide because they have not seen the terms of reference.

Amreco said interested parties must submit a letter of interest not later than Dec. 19 and should have technical capability for the past five years.

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said Mindanao should have at least 500 MW of nonhydro baseload power generation.

“I hope there will be more nonhydro baseload generation projects that will follow. Ideally we should have 500 MW of nonhydro base-load generation in Mindanao,” Almendras said.

He added that the reserves in Mindanao are too thin and is why there is a need to rush base-load plants.

Mindanao suffered as much as eight-hour power outages during the summer months last year during the El Niño weather phenomenon. The drought affected the ability

Cimagala... from page 6

engaged with Christ in the spirit.

In short, we need to assume the mind of Christ, following what St. Paul said that “we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2,16) We need to train ourselves for

in its entire history, leaving hundreds dead and missing, and thousands more displaced. With this horrific event, these groups and individuals have united to pool-in their resources to provide relief and rescue attention to the highly distressed areas in the most expeditious manner.

ONE CDO will not be limited to relief mission of the hydroelectric plants to deliver electricity. Mindanao relies more than 50 percent of its power needs from hydro plants.

The department succeeded in ending the power outages by authorizing the system operator to dispatch all available generation capacity to Mindanao and facilitated the signing of the power-supply contract between the electric cooperatives in Mindanao and Therma Marine Inc. owned by the AboitizPower

NGO...

from page 1 in Congress, in National Government Agencies (NGAs), and Local Government Units (LGUs).”

Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, principal author of the bill, said the proposed law would allow the exercise of the people’s right to participate in public decision-making and in the process, enhance accountability on the use of taxpayers’ money. “This will institutionalize people’s participation in budget deliberation in national and local levels of government,” Tañada said.

Key provisions of the bill mandate that the application for accreditation shall be filed at the Office of the Secretary of the Senate or the Secretary General of the House of Representatives or the Local Sanggunian of Local Government Units.

It authorizes the Secretaries of both chambers of Congress and the respective local sanggunians to cancel the certificate of accreditation of any people’s organization (PO) and non-government organization (NGO) which have been found guilty of having procured their certificates by fraud or deceit or through error.

Among the privileges granted to PO and NGO are the right to receive notices of hearings and consultations

this ideal, realizing that our thoughts should not just be our thoughts, but also those of Christ. The same with our will, our desires, our plans, etc.

Our life is always a shared life with Christ. It’s a reflective life driven by reason and faith, and not just a life animated by the senses and

alone. It will also conduct activities to help aid Cagayan de Oro for its full recovery and rehabilitation.

The activities include the following: 1. ONE CDO All-Day Donation Drive A gathering of CDO artists and performers in one production to showcase their talents and heartfelt expression of support in rebuilding the city. Donations will be accepted for the duration of the event and proceeds will go to the identified recipient institution for this specific event.

(NOTE: Panday Bulig and Rural Missionary of the Philippines – Northern Mindanao Region).

The event’s primary objective is: 1) to raise more funds for the relief of the typhoon victims 2) to gather Kagay-anons

in one venue to remember, mourn and say farewell to our loved ones; celebrate life for those who survived the ordeal and generate hope for those who are left behind 3) to campaign for unity amongst the Kagay-anons and create achievable programs to make CDO a better place to live in.

More than 40 local musicians and artists will perform on this event.

2. Limpyo Balay, Limpyo CDO A clean-up drive and assistance to various affected barangays and their residents, to speed up efforts in creating a cleaner and more livable environment.

On-going river clean-up is also being conducted by all river rafting companies in tandem with the clean-up in nearby communities.

This activity also includes body retrieval op-

erations as well as confined space, high angle and difficult access operations. The network is also composed of members with highly technical capabilities related to this effort. We are also closely working with the Philippine Army in this effort.

3. Recorida House-to-house relief collection and information dissemination regarding relief effort updates using a recorida vehicle.

ONE CDO is composed of the following groups as to date: Viajero Outdoor Centre, National Commission for Culture and the Arts- Committee on Visual Arts (NCCA-CVA), Dire Husi Initiatives, Inc., Nature Crusaders of the Philippines, Incorporated (NCPF), XU-AMS (Xavier University-Ateneo Mountaineering Society), Oro

Association of Rafters, Inc., (OAR), CUP, Inc., SPELEO Mindanao, CORE (Conservation and Restoration Exercise), DOME (De Oro Mountain Explorers), Nature Inc., NORMMS Ecological Foundation, XUHS (Xavier University High School) Batch 87, CCS (Corpus Christi School) Batch 2001, Giya Amihanang Mindanao Association-Northern Mindanao Tour Guides Association, Zero Grab Rock Climbing Communit, over 60 local bands and artist groups and with the hundreds of support from mountaineers, musicians, environmental groups and artist all over the Philippines through our network.

It is currently holding temporary office at Viajero Outdoor Centre, 137 Arch.

Hayes St., Cagayan de Oro City.

and/or call for written submissions; participate through duly authorized representatives in regular and consultative meetings or hearings concerning annual budget deliberations; submit its own alternative or position paper and alternative sources of financing on the projects, programs and activities; and present position papers or written proposals.

Likewise, they will be given access to copies of bills or budget proposals from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the local Sanggunian.

The measure directs Congress and LGUs to post on the World Wide Web and on their local bulletin boards pertinent documents of the proposed budget, as enumerated in the measure. It also imposes a jail term of three months and a fine of not more than P50,000 to violators.

slide in growth.

“The services sector, growing by 5.3%, was the main driver of the 3.2% growth recorded from June to September of this year. The agriculture sector continued growing with 1.8% expansion despite the typhoons that hit the country during the period,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a statement.

Consumer spending also contributed to growth but the construction sector suffered with the delayed implementation of the Public-Private Partnership program.

Purisima noted the government’s accelerated spending plan has helped growth. “It is worth noting that growth in this sector of the economy has been on increasing trend for the past three quarters: -17.2% in the first quarter, 4.5% in the second quarter and now 9.4%. We expect this to further accelerate toward the end of the year as we take advantage of our wide fiscal space to enhance disbursements in order to shield the economy from the threats of present global uncertainties,” he added.

Consumer spending also contributed to growth but the construction sector suffered with the delayed implementation of the Public-Private Partnership program.

Exports were also badly hit by the global crisis, causing a double-digit decline for the first time since the second quarter of 2009.

The second quarter GDP estimate was downwardly revised, which puts growth in the first 9 months of 2011 at 3.6%.

Virola noted this is “quite a distance even from the lower end of the whole year target of 4.5%.

“It’s really disappointing.

This should compel both the monetary and fiscal authorities to come up with faster more effective policies to neutralise the weakening impact of slower

exports,” said Jun Neri of the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

George Worthington, chief economist Asia-Pacific IFR Markets in Sydney, said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas may cut rates on Thursday.

“Slow growth, and the prospect for much weaker global growth in 2012, as well as the weakness in investment spending, may prompt the BSP to cut rates on Thursday as insurance, following Bank Indonesia’s lead,” he said.

The deteriorating global outlook saw the government cut growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012 last month to 4.5 and 5.5% and 5 to 6%, from 5 to 6% and 5.5 to 6.5% respectively.

Last week, central bank deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said monetary policy remained appropriate and indicators pointed to sustained growth in the fourth quarter, reinforcing market views that rates would be kept steady at its meeting on Thursday.

Analysts widely expect the central bank to leave interest rates unchanged at 4.5% for a fifth meeting in a row on Thursday, but a worsening global economic outlook will likely support the case for policy easing next year.

Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr., the applicable period of the loan payment suspension is November 2011 to April 2012, for loan payments falling due in December 2011 to May 2012. This payment suspension is applicable also to members who bought SSS acquired assets and are paying on installment. They can suspend payments for the next six months without incurring any penalties.

For the housing loan program, members can borrow up to P300,000 to repair or improve their homes that were damaged by Sendong and SSS will only charge an interest rate of 8 percent, down from the original 13 percent. Application period for this program will start on January 1 to June 30, 2012.

For pensioners in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the SSS will automatically advance their benefits for February to April 2012, the total amounts of which will be credited to their bank accounts by Januar y 2012. Pensioners in other affected areas may apply for advanced payment and present a certification from the barangay chairman that they are residents of the calamity-stricken area.

SSS has about 1.6 million registered members in Northern Mindanao alone and has 845 housing loan accounts and 48 acquired asset accounts located in the calamity-stricken areas.

About 122,000 salary loan borrowers are in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, while there are 43,802 SSS pensioners in the said region.

“Our priority areas are Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, which were the hardest hit by Sendong. Fortunately, our SSS offices there sustained only minimal typhoon damage and our employees will be ready to service our members in their time of great need,” de Quiros said.

Economy...

from page 1 April to June period.

Economists had forecast the Philippine economy would grow 1.3% in the September quarter from the previous quarter, faster than 0.6% in the June quarter, supported by strong domestic demand and services sector.

From a year earlier, quarter growth was forecast at 4.3%, the midpoint of the government’s 3.8 to 4.8% estimate.

‘Uninvigorating gov’t spending’ “The so called death spiral of debt that hounds our trading partners, the uninvigorating, albeit already expanded government spending, and the decline in fishing due to unfavorable weather and the high cost of fuel contributed to this relatively lethargic growth,” said National Statistical Coordination Board secretary-general Romulo A. Virola, in a statement.

The services sector remained a bright spot for the economy, preventing a further

reason alone.

For this, we need humility, otherwise we won’t allow faith to guide our reason. We need to study, develop virtues, so that Christ becomes alive in us, and true Christmas becomes a reality!

Email: roycimagala@ gmail.com

SSS...

from page 1 an early renewal of salary loans, with the balance of the existing loan to be deducted from the proceeds of their new loan.

Eligible members may file their applications for either loan payment suspension or early loan renewal with their nearest SSS branches.

B orrowers, however, can only choose one option so those who availed of the loan payment suspension will not be eligible for early loan renewal.

Application period is from January 2 to March 30, 2012.

According to SSS president and chief executive

8 Dec. 26-29, 2011

AggieNews

BusinessWeek

MINDANAO

Gov’t backs beekeeping

T

HE BUREAU of Agricultural Research (BAR) plans to unveil as early as next month a road map to support the country’s apiculture -- or beekeeping -- industry.

“There will be a meeting in January with the department to present the road map,” Evelyn H. Juanillo, BAR’s agribusiness coordinator, said in a telephone interview late last week.

She said the road map will include activities like training and other forms of capacity-building, as well as marketing of honey and related products.

She added that research on genetics of bees and training courses will be

conducted with partner state universities and colleges.

Ms. Juanillo said the Agriculture department believes this thrust will also help boost fruit production in the country.

“We want to promote beekeeping not only because it will allow us to reduce our imports of honey but also because of its role in pollination in fruit production,” she said, adding that studies support this expectation.

Bureau of Animal In-

dustry Director Efren C. Nuestro said in a separate telephone interview late last week that the country produces about 150 metric tons (MT) of honey each year and has to import 400 MT to cover domestic needs.

“We really want to have apiculture as one of the department’s programs to encourage its use in [sic] fruit production and to increase honey production in the country.”

Mr. Nuestro cited the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Visayas, Ilocos Region and Southern Tagalog as top producers of honey.

DA allocates P13-M for MisOcc irrigation projects THE Department of Agriculture is allotting P13 million to rehabilitate two communal irrigation systems (CIS) in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental to enable the province to attain 100 percent self-sufficiency in rice in the next two years from the current 84% level.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the two irrigation projects are the Labo and the Clarin CIS that serve a combined area of 160 hectares.

When completed, the Labo CIS will irrigate a total of 118 hectares, while Clarin will irrigate 42 hectares.

Initially, the two systems were allotted with P6.5 million, but Secretary Alcala doubled it to P13 million, upon knowing that the province currently

produces 84% of its total rice requirements. He challenged the local officials and farmers to attain 100 percent self-sufficiency in rice the soonest possible time, even before 2013, by doubling their irrigation budget.

In particular, he urged farmers to increase their average palay harvest to at least five tons per hectare by employing good agricultural practices – from land preparation to use of good quality certified seeds, proper fertilization, and adoption of postharvest practices.

The country’s current average harvest of palay (unmilled rice) is 3.7 tons (74 cavans of 50 kilos each) per hectare.

The National Irrigation

Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE FILE NO. 2011-497 Upon Extra-Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 as amended by Act No. 4118, filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (PAG-IBIG FUND), a government financial institution duly organized and existing under and by virtue of Republic Act No. 9679, with principal office at The Atrium of Makati, Makati Avenue, Makati City, and with branch office at Pag-IBIG Fund Bldg., J. R. Borja St., Cagayan de Oro City, against PEREGRINA B. NAVAREZ married to ALEXANDER F. NAVAREZ, with postal address at Sta. Cruz 1, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City and /or at Lot 16, Block 33, San Agustin Valley Homes, Canitoan, Cagayan de Oro City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of August 22, 2011 amounts to FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND THIRTEEN PESOS & 11/100 (P 455, 013.11), Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges, exclusive of attorney’s fees and other necessary fees and expenses of Extra-Judicial Foreclosure and Sale, the undersigned Sheriff will SELL at Public Auction on JANUARY 9, 2012 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the Court Room of Regional Trial Court, Branch 39, 2nd Floor, Hall of Justice Bldg., Arch. S. Hayes Street, Cagayan de Oro City, to the Highest Bidder, for CASH or Manager’s Check and in Philippine Currency, the real property mortgaged together with all improvements thereon to wit: TRANSFER CETIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-188354 Registered in the name of PEREGRINA B. NAVAREZ “A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 16, Block 33, Psd-10-039732, being a portion of Lot 1, Pcn-104305-00191), situated in the Barangay of Canitoan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao. Bounded on x x x. Beginning at x x x; containing an area of One Hundred Forty Thrtee (143) Square Meters, more or less.”

Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the title herein-above described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the abovestated date, time and place.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date for whatever reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 29, 2011

BWM: DECEMBER 12, 19, & 26, 2011

(Sgd.) JOSEPH C. MAAGAD Sheriff IV

Administration in Region X, through the Lanao-Misamis Occidental Irrigation Management Office under Regional Irrigation Manager Julius S. Maguiling, has achieved 52.71 percent irrigation development in the region.

The region has a total

agricultural area 193,830 hectares. Of these, 14,574 hectares have potential for irrigation. About one-half of these areas are already irrigated by the NIA, commercial or private irrigators, and small land owners.

The rest is for irrigation development.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region Branch 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte MARVE BERJAME ABAPO, Petitioner,

SPL. PROC. NO. 247-07-2011 (i) - for Correction of Entry -

- versus – LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BAROY, LANAO DEL NORTE, Respondent. x----------------------/ ORDER A verified petition for correction of entry in the Certificate of Live Birth of MARVE BERJAME ABAPO as to her gender/sex was filed before this Court on October 5, 2011, by the herein petitioner praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Respondent to effect the correction sought for.

Petitioner alleges that she is of legal age, Filipino, and resident of Salong, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. She was born on December 9, 1991 at Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Her birth was duly registered at the Respondent’s office, however, under the entry of her gender/sex, the one entered therein is ‘MALE’, instead of ‘FEMALE’, her true and correct sex/gender.

Such erroneously entry may have been inadvertently done by the one who entered the facts of her birth. She had never undergone sex organ transplant neither does she intends to submit for medical operation to change her sex. She filed the instant petition as pauper litigant under OCA Circular No. 121-2007.

Set the initial hearing of this case to December 6, 2011 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Any person/s interested to the petition may come to Court on said date and time to show cause why said petition should not be granted. Furnish copy of the Order to the Office of the Solicitor General at Makati City, Office of the Public Prosecutor, Office of the Local Civil Registrar, Public Attorney’s Office in Tubod, Lanao del Norte and to the petitioner, Marve B. Abapo at Salong, Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

The petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to BUSINESS WEEK, Mindanao, a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks, at her expense, to comply with the jurisdictional requirements of the Rules.

SO ORDERED. Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

October 7, 2011.

(Sgd.) ALAN L. FLORES Presiding Judge BWM: Dec. 12, 19 & 26, 2011

Light trap reduces chemical spraying AN ULTRAVIOLET (UV) ray-emitting trap for pests has cut the need for expensive, environmentally harmful chemical spraying among farmers in the Ilocos Region, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) said in a recent statement. “ This is ver y costeffective, and it’s good for the environment because it doesn’t dispose of any harmful residue,” the statement quoted Aida D. Solsoloy, a scientist of the Department of Agriculture’s Ilocos Region Integrated Agricultural Research Center (RIARC), as saying.

“Before, farmers thought this light trap is only for monitoring pests. But now they’re finding it effective for pest control.”

Besides being cited as a major cause of farmers’ illnesses, chemical sprays are also blamed for resurgence of pests which develop resistance or due to the eradication of their natural predators.

The light trap has been successful in raising yield in rice, corn, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, bell pepper, onion, pole sitao, ampalaya and garlic, BAR said, citing findings of its study.

Farmers’ inability to carr y out Insect Pest Management has been one of the reasons for low productivity in small farms.

“We have to keep on finding means to help farmers adopt a pest management system that they will find easy to implement and one that’s economically viable,” said BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar in the same statement. “ This will increase their yield and raise their

farms’ global competitiveness.”

Benefits Ju s t l i k e p o p u l a r household insect-killing lamps, the light trap also has an electric wire that kills insects as they hit it.

Despite killing insect pests, the Ilocos RIARC observed that the lamp does not attract their predators.

RIARC’s Ms. Solsoloy noted that the light trap used in areas growing rice, corn and vegetables “indicated extensive insect pest collection and a marked reduction in frequency of chemical spraying by 35%-100%.”

While the device is presently imported from China, it is possible to fabricate or assemble it locally, the BAR said.

The casing had once been fabricated locally under Ilocos RIARC’s supervision, while the bulb, which is patented for its lighting technology, was imported from China.

While there are fears of UV light’s harm to users themselves, the light trap’s use only at night time should help minimize such risk, the BAR said in its statement.

To help farmers acquire the device, which retails for about P9,500, the Agriculture department is considering providing farmers a loan or subsidy program for the trap, the BAR added.

This may not be affordable for an individual farmer who may have just 5,000 square meters to tend, hence, the program may be offered to farmers’ cooperatives.

The study funded by BAR from 2008 to 2010 involved 13 sites in Ilocos Norte; nine in Ilocos Sur; four in La Union, and five sites in Pangasinan.

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

Congress.Watch

Dec. 26-29, 2011

9

Bill seeks to fine hospitals charging fees on nurse trainees

T

HE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill prohibiting public and private hospitals from requiring payment of money from registered nurses who want to gain work experience.

House Bill 5445 seeks to prevent the exploitation of registered nurses who are serving as nurse volunteers in any public or private hospital.

The bill was endorsed for plenary approval by the House Committee on Health chaired

by Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (2nd district, Negros Occidental). It substituted House Bill 767 authored by Rep. Edgar San Luis (4th district, Laguna).

The bill is co-authored by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro City).

“With the decline of demands for nurses in the United States and the United Kingdom, more and more nursing graduates end up unemployed while many of them shifted to work in call centers, retail stores and other non-professional positions. Those who are lucky enough to obtain employment abroad usually end up as caregivers, dental assistants and nursing aides,” San Luis said.

San Luis said the lack of employment opportunities for nurses in the country makes them vulnerable to become victims of unscrupulous practices of some

hospitals which demand payment in exchange for the necessary work experience required working abroad.

“This is plain and simple exploitation. No matter how the hospital administrators call the pernicious practice, whether it is training, skills building, volunteer work or whatever, it is unfair to the nurses and their parents who toiled hard and spent money just so their children will become nurses,” San Luis stressed.

The bill penalizes violators with one year imprisonment and a fine of P500,000.

The measure mandates the Department of Health (DOH) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Nursing to assess all the training programs for registered nurses that are being implemented in hospitals.

The bill provides that only those programs accredited by the DOH and the PRC Board of Nursing shall be implemented and allowed to charge corresponding fees.

The bill further provides that any nurse volunteer who was required to pay the hospital shall be entitled to a refund of the full amount paid

to the hospital plus interests of six percent per annum until said amount is fully paid. In addition, a salary equivalent to Salary Grade 11 shall be paid by the hospital for services rendered.

The co-authors of the measure are Reps. Tomas Apacible (1st District, Batangas), Jane Castro (2nd District, Capiz), Erico Basilio Fabian (2nd District, Zamboanga City), Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava (Lone District, Guimaras), Loreto Leo Ocampos (2nd District, Misamis Occidental), Maria Jocelyn Bernos (Lone District, Abra), Randolph Ting (3rd District, Cagayan), Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District, Negros Occidental), Augusto “Boboy” Syjuco, Ph. D. (2nd District, Iloilo), Ma. Amelita CalimbasVillarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Mark Llandro Mendoza (4th District, Batangas), Florencio Flores, Jr. (2nd District, Bukidnon), Maximo Dalog (Lone District, Mt. Province), Mary Mitzi Cajayon (2nd District, Caloocan City), Emmi De Jesus (Party-list, Gabriela), Joseph Gilbert Violago (2nd District, Nueva Ecija), Susan Yap (2nd District, Tarlac), Tomas Osmeña (2nd District, Cebu City), Anthony Rolando Golez, Jr. (Lone District, Bacolod City), Eufranio Eriguel (2nd District, La Union), Jeci Lapus (3rd District, Tarlac), Monique Yasmin Lagdameo (1st District, Makati City), Godofredo Arquiza (Party-list, Senior Citizens), Herminia Roman (1st District, Bataan) and Daryl Grace Abayon (Party-list, Aangat Tayo).

Land Use Act enactment urged to mitigate impact of disasters CONGRESS has been urged to immediately approve the National Land Use Act (NLUA) which will designate areas for reforestation and will prohibit illegal land conversion into commercial areas that is usually blamed for disastrous flash floods as that in Cagayan de Oro. The Philippine Wood Processors Association (PWPA) has asserted its long-time position pushing for the passage of the proposed law under House Bill 1233, among others, already filed in Congress for a long time now.

“Some people want to convert rice lands that are prime properties into residential, commercial, or industrial areas. But these arbitrary conversions will not be allowed if we have the Land Use law,” said PWPA Executive Director Leonardo D. Angeles in a press briefing Tuesday.

A land use law will pro-

tect land that have to be conserved. It will also give a guarantee for investors in areas such as forest lands that such land will be available as investment area over a long period of time.

“Economic growth is as much a necessity as social and environmental development. To have an economy that can be sustained indefinitely, we have to make better use of our resources,” according to an NLUA primer.

“It is difficult to make long-term investments and business decisions when things are uncertain. The regulatory framework that NLUA provides will promote stability and predictability.”

The heavy rainfall reaching to 150 millimeters in a single day in Cagayan de Oro last December 18 that caused the death of at least 1,000 people must be the major culprit in this disaster. This rainfall level is

double that of the “Ondoy” in September 2009.

And yet, despite the fact that nature may be blamed for the Cagayan de Oro disaster, the government should now institutionalize NLUA and build capability on its enforcement so as to keep accountability in these disasters in the proper perspective.

PWPA claims to have earlier partnered with Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in a reforestation work along the Cagayan River.

Some 10,000 bamboo trees have been planted. PWPA claims it does not have any member-concessionare at all operating in Cagayan de Oro or Iligan City. Although some of its members have processing plants there, log supply comes from the Agusan and Surigao provinces.

The fact that there is no legal commercial logging existing in Cagayan DISASTERS/PAGE 11

Nielsen...

37 aircraft with an average age of less than 2.5 years.

Cebu Pacific added that between 2012 and 2014, Cebu Pacific will take on an additional 16 Airbus A320 aircraft.

Last week, Cebu Pacific said that together with its partner, Canada-based CAE, Inc., it will be investing up to $50 million for the establishment of a new aviation training center in Clark,

Pampanga.

The training center will provide training for aviation personnel of Cebu Pacific and other airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, the carrier previously said.

In the meantime, the carrier’s operator Cebu Air, Inc. has seen its nine-month comprehensive net income fall by 54% to P2.218 billion from year-ago levels.

from page 2

help the carrier expand flights to Australia, India and Northern Japan, the firm previously said.

Cebu Pacific currently operates with 10 Airbus A319, 15 Airbus A320 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft.

By the end of 2011, it expects its fleet to expand to

BusinessWeek

10 Dec. 26-29, 2011 Power...

Steag...

The IRA of local government units (LGUs) represent 40 percent of the national internal revenue taxes collected in the third fiscal year before the current fiscal year.

The IRA sources are income tax, estate and donors’ tax, value-added tax, other percentage taxes, excise taxes, documentary stamp taxes, and such other taxes that may be imposed and collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The provincial government has set some “belttightening” measures for next year following an official notice from the Department of Budget and Management that the province will only receive an IRA share of P751 million for 2012 or down by P36 million from this year’s P787.8-million allotment.

As a result, Provincial Treasurer Elvira Rafael said the local government decided to cut back on its maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) next year, specifically provisions for office supplies, gasoline, oil and lubricants, electricity and water consumptions, among others. (pna)

families.

“We are now working closely with the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the City Social Welfare Office for the distribution of these relief items” Steag spokesperson Jerome Soldevilla said in a statement.

Together with Xavier University’s Sustainable Sanitation Center, SPI is also putting up waterless toilets and urinals to address the looming sanitation problem in the major evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City.

The facility uses the Urine Dehydration Technology (developed in Germany) and is designed to address sanitation problems in water less communities. “ The UDDT toilets would certainly provide the solution to the looming sanitation problem especially at the West City Central School in Carmen where 2,500 families are currently evacuated” says Fr. Nathan Lerio of the Archdiocesan Social Action Center.

from page 2

from page 3

DAR... from page 2

particularly DAR and DPWH and the LGU-Jabonga.

The project is funded by the agrarian reform infrastructure support project phase 3 (ARISP-III) and is being implemented by the DPWH-Regional Office.

Nielsen... from page 3

the Southeast Asia region.

Nielsen said Unilever topped the list of the region’s highest spending advertisers in the third quarter this year.

Webb said that the growth in advertising in the region defied the odds as advertising budgets have been cut across a growing number of media. Television, however, remained unmatched in its ability to reach the masses and

MINDANAO

FEATURE STORY

Man survives 30 hours ordeal at sea INITAO, Misamis Oriental - Determination to see his family again enabled a 41-year-old construction worker to survive 30 hours of raging muddy waters, the battering waves at sea... and his own inability to swim.

“Ang akong gihuna-huna, makit-an pa nako’g balik akong pamilya (All I thought about was seeing family again),” Pedro Gallardo Jr. said while waiting to get an anti-tetanus shot at the provincial hospital here.

As the heavy rains and strong winds of tropical storm “Sendong” lashed at Iligan City, Gallardo told his wife Carmen to take their two children, aged 11 and 12, from their home in Barangay Santa Felomina, which lies on a low plain near the Mandulog River, and evacuate to the house of a friend near the national highway.

Gallardo stayed behind to look after their belongings.

It was 11 p.m. of Friday, December 16.

By then, the village was knee-deep in floodwater.

Gallardo did not expect it to go higher than his waist because this was as deep as floods rose, in his experience.

When the waters rose past his waist half an hour later, Gallardo decided to seek shelter at the two-storey home of a neighbor, where around 20 of his neighbors were already gathered.

Up on the roof, they all thought they were safe.

That is, until midnight, when the concrete foundations gave way to the raging waters.

As the house was swept towards the rampaging river, it ran smack into a tree.

Just before the impact, Gallardo’s friend, 38-year old Malven Moleno, bid the others goodbye “because I thought that would be the last time we would see each other.”

“Magbulag-bulag na gyud ta ani (We will be separated from each other now),” Moleño recalled tell-

ing them.

At the same time, “nabalaka gyud kaayo ko ni Jun (Gallardo), kabalo gud ko’ng dili siya kabalo molangoy (I really worried about Jun because I know he can’t swim),” he said.

As the hapless villagers were thrown into the muddy waters, they struggled to grab onto whatever they could from the uprooted house.

Moleno found an ironing board, Gallardo a piece of wood from the house’s wall.

As they were swept towards the mouth of the Mandulog River, they were battered by huge waves, some four meters high.

Moleno held dearly to his “lifeboat” but Gallardo lost his as they were separated by the roiling sea.

Twice Gallardo desper-

ately groped for something to hold on to. Just as he felt he was about to drown, he made a last attempt and found another piece of wood.

Reunion As day broke on Saturday, Moleno managed to steer the ironing board toward a pile of floating debris where he found some green bananas and young coconuts that he forced open.

He also found a wooden wall and a small stool that he fashioned into a raft, using a palm frond to paddle.

“I had to get out of the water because the wound on my left foot was hurting from the salty water.” He supposed the wound was caused by a floating sheet of iron roofing.

As for Gallardo, “Walay kaon-kaon, agwanta lang gyud (I had nothing to eat, I just had to bear it).”

As he drifted on his raft, Moleno found nine of the neighbors who were with him on the rooftop of the ill-fated house. Best of all, among them was his friend, Gallardo.

“Because I am physically weak, I made sure I got near Nong Boy (Basilio Lahoylahoy, another surviSURVIVES/PAGE 11

therefore, a bigger chunk of advertising dollars spent. “[Further] technological developments such as HDTV, IPTV, TV ondemand and time-shifted viewing are all contributing to the ongoing appeal of television,” Webb said. “As we look to the year ahead, the common challenge of allo-

cation of advertising spend will again be at the forefront of marketers’ minds and all media, traditional and emerging, must look for ways to maintain audiences and demonstrate ROI in order to earn their share of advertising dollars.”

Earlier, Nielsen data showed that Filipinos spend

only 13.3 hours every week watching television; 6.3 hours listening to the radio; and 3.6 hours reading newspapers, magazines, and other print media.

Compared to its neighbors, Filipinos are ranked third in terms of watching TV with Indonesians topping the list by spending as much as 20.3 hours every week while Vietnamese spend 16.6 hours every week placing it second in the region.

In terms of listening

to the radio, the country ranked third. Indonesians again topped the list by spending 8.3 hours every week listening to the radio which was closely followed

by Singaporeans who spend 7.5 hours every week. In consuming print media, the Philippines was the laggard in the region. The biggest consumers of print media in the region were Singaporeans who spend five hours every week reading newspapers, magazines and other print media.

FARM & HOUSE FOR SALE DANATAG, BAUNGON, BUKIDNON 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 Atty. 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

Department of Environment and Natural Resources CENRO Initao, Misamis Oriental

NOTICE

4.3 has. farmlot, fully fenced, 350 fully grown Mahogany trees, 2.5 has. fruit bearing Durian (600) Rambutan (22) Longkong (36) Pomelo (59) Avocado (5) & beautiful conc house.

See to appreciate. Direct buyers only

Contact Zaida 09273227787 / 722637 BWM Nov. 28, Dec. 2, 5, 9, 12 & 16, 2011

Department of Environment and Natural Resources CENRO Initao, Misamis Oriental

NOTICE

It is hereby announced that RAY G. MANIGSACA of Tabok, Opol, Misamis Oriental has applied in this office of the purchase, without public auction, under his/her Miscellaneous Sales Application No. 104321-113 for Commercial purpose of Lot No. 46320, Cad- 237 is identical to MSI-104321-113-D situated in Tabok, Opol, Misamis Oriental containing an area of 617 square meters in accordance with Republic Act No. 730 [as amended by PD 2004].

By virtue of the authority granted by the Secretary of Department f Environment and Natural Resources, this office will, without public auction , sell to the applicant, RAY G. MANIGSACA the parcel of land on ________________________ for Two Hundred Ninety Six Thousand One Hundred Sixty [P296,160.00] pesos for the whole tract, in accordance with the said Republic Act No. 730 [ as amended by PD 2004].

If there is any claim to this land, such claims must be filed at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, Malasag Heights, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City on or before the date of Sale, otherwise, the said claim shall forever be barred.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 9, 2011.

It is hereby announced that RAY G. MANIGSACA of Tabok, Opol, Misamis Oriental has applied in this office of the purchase, without public auction, under his/her Miscellaneous Sales Application No. 104321-113-A for Commercial purpose of Lot No. 37876, Cad- 237 is identical to Psu 10-001055 situated in Tabok, Opol, Misamis Oriental containing an area of 284 square meters in accordance with Republic Act No. 730 [as amended by PD 2004].

By virtue of the authority granted by the Secretary of Department f Environment and Natural Resources, this office will, without public auction , sell to the applicant, RAY G. MANIGSACA the parcel of land on ________________________ for One Hundred Thirty Six Thousand Three Hundred Twenty [P136,320.00] pesos for the whole tract, in accordance with the said Republic Act No. 730 [ as amended by PD 2004].

If there is any claim to this land, such claims must be filed at the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, Malasag Heights, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City on or before the date of Sale, otherwise, the said claim shall forever be barred.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 9, 2011.

(Sgd.) ALDRICH S. RESMA OIC, CENR Officer BWM Nov 21, 28 & Dec 5, 12, 19, 26, 2011

(Sgd.) ALDRICH S. RESMA OIC, CENR Officer BWM Nov 21, 28 & Dec 5, 12, 19, 26, 2011

NONOY LECHON SERVICES OFFERED OUT OF TOWN ORDER

Wedding • Anniversary Birthday • Party Located at 31-22 Brgy. Nazareth, CDO & Westfield Subdivision, Brgy. Iponan, Entrance Brgy. Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City For more details, contact Tel. No.: 309-5276 Manager: HERMILINO VILLALON

“ORDER NA OG LECHON”

EXTRA JUDICIAL PARTITION WITH WAIVER Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late DIONESIO O. RECOLITO who died on November 2, 1910 at Libertad, Misamis Oriental, died without leaving a will and left no debts; left parcels of land more particularly bounded and described as follows; “A parcel of land situated at Initao, Misamis Oriental, covered by ARP No. 21-0001-00282 Property Index No. 052-21-0001-009-04; Lot No. 175-P, declared under the name of RECOLITO, DIONESIO (HRS OF), containing an area of 270 SQUARE METERS, more or less, is the subject of EXTRA JUDICIAL PARTITION WITH WAIVER among LUCINA R. CABIGQUEZ, legal age, married, resident of Libertad, Misamis Oriental and DONATO RECOLITO, legal age, married, resident of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, are the legitimate surviving heirs, hereby waives our rights and participations of the above-described properties in favor to SACRIS O. RECOLETO under Notary Public of BUENAVENTURA E. SAGRADO as per Doc. No. 422; Page No. 85; Book No. 88; Series of 2011.

MDB: DECEMBER 19, 26, 2011 & JAN. 3, 2012

BusinessWeek

Dec. 26-29, 2011

MINDANAO

Chinese-Filipino community aids Sendong victims By: MIKE BAÑOS VARIOUS Filipino-Chinese Organizations in Cagayan de Oro and around the country have united to deliver a concerted relief effort for victims of the rampaging flashfloods which killed over 1,000 people at the height of Tropical Storm Sendong last December 17, 2011.

Roberto Ching, president of the Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MOFCCCII) said the local umbrella group under the CDO ChineseFilipino Community and five Manila-based organizations, namely the Philip-

pine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, World News Publication, Overseas Chinese Alumni Association and Philippine-Chinese Sin Lian Association, spearheaded the Operation Sendong Relief Campaign from the Chinese-Filipino Community in Cagayan de Oro. The group has initially distributed over 5,000 packs of relief goods directly to the flood victims of Barangays Kauswagan, Puntod, Macabalan, Tibasak, Pagatpat and Balulang since Dec. 19.

Currently, there are 6,000 more packs in the warehouse ready for distribution. As

more donations are coming in from Metro Manila, Angeles City, Cebu City, and Butuan City, the group expects to conduct regular packing with partner volunteers.

The Chinese-Filipino group also sent an initial truckload of relief goods intended for flood victims in Iligan City Thursday afternoon with 2,000 packs through Iligan City FilipinoChinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

One relief pack typically contains 5 kgs. rice, instant noodles, sardines, and other foodstuffs. He said the group is also preparing more truckloads of relief

goods, including towels, blankets, sleeping mats, plastic pails, plastic water dippers, children’s underwear, slippers, medicines and bottled water, much needed by the flood victims.

Speedy repacking was made possible with the help of volunteers from different institutions including Oro Christian Grace School, Kong Hua School, Cagayan Gospel Church and San Lorenzo Ruiz Filipino-Chinese Catholic Church.

Mr. Ching said the group will visit all major evacuation centers, as long as there is a need for relief goods in these areas. (with Amon Ching)

11

HOTELS RESTAURANTS Pryce Plaza Hotel

Carmen Hill, CDO, Tel. No.722791 to93/858-4537 E-mail:reservations@pryceplaza.ph

Hotel Koresco

Pueblo de Oro Golf Course,CDO, fax. No. [088] 858-9748

tel. Nos. 858-9748 to 54, E-mail:hotelkoresco@yahoo.com

Mallberry Suites

Limketkai Drive ,CDO, Tel. No. [088]854-3999 / 854-7999 E-mail:info@mallberrysuites.com

Dynasty Court Hotel

Tiano-Hayes Sts. CDO, Tel. No. 726876 / 726962 / 857-5410 E-mail:dynasty@philcom.ph

The Marigold Hotel Velez cor. Luna Sts, CDO Tel Nos. 856-4320, 726937

Marco Resort Tel. No. 732182 / 855-220

VIP Hotel

A.Velez St. CDO, Tel. No. 726080 / 726590 / 856-2505 E-mail: info@theviphotel.com.ph

Philtown Hotel

Makahambus-Velez St. CDO,Tel. No. 723089 / 856-1813

De Luxe Hotel

Capt. V. Roa St. CDO, Tel. No. 726527 /857-2144

Maxandrea Hotel

J.R. Borja St. CDO, Tel. No. 729943/ 857-2244 / 857-4154

Grand City Hotel

A.Velez- Sts. CDO Tel. No. 723551 / 723658 / 857-1900

Country Village Hotel

Carmen, Cag. de Oro Tel. No. 71-22-03, 71-22-01, 7122-05

Southwinds Hotel

Capt. V. Roa Sts.CDO,Tel. No. 727623 / 724803 / 856-2036 E-mail:i_agudo@hotmail.com

Apple Tree Resort and Hotel

Taboc, Opol, Misamis Oriental, Tel. Nos. 754525/ 754263/ 3091986, Fax No. (8822) 754497

Pearlmont Inn

Limketkai,Drive,CDO Tel. No. 729111 / 856-2654 / 729455

Red Palm Inn

EVChaves Building, Capistrano corner Cruz Taal Sts. Cagayan de Oro City Tel. No. 721197 and 8562671 Cell No. 0908-885-5643 Email: redpalm_inn07@yahoo.com

Chali Beach Resort

Cugman,CDO,Tel. No. 723929 / 855-2108 E-mail:chali_beach@yahoo.com

Nature Pensionne

Toribio Chavez Sts., CDO Tel. No. 723598 / 723718 / 857-2274 Members of The Filipino-Chinese Community help distribute relief goods in Tibasak, Bgy. Macasandig, L-R: Bgy Macasandig Kag Amor Sanchez, Tomas Sia, Robert Ching, Lorenzo Sancho, Albino Limketkai and Simon Ong, reporter, World News. (photo by MIke Banos, NPN)

Survives... from page 10

vor) who is a big person,” Moleni said.

They waved to passing ships and fishing boats but were too far to be seen.

And so they talked about their families and wondered about the fate of the 10 others who were with them on the roof.

But as the day wore on, the waves and sea currents again separated them.

Land Seeing the low moun-

Disaster... from page 9

apparently proves PWPA’s argument that commercial logging should not be blamed for tragic flash floods.

“We were surprised that they say there are big logs that hit some people and caused their death. But we don’t have members there.

tains of Misamis Oriental, Moleno figured he was not too far from shore and tried to paddle his way to land.

But he gave up because of the strong currents.

He was eventually found and rescued by fishermen who had joined the search for flood victims.

Meanwhile, Gallardo, the man who couldn’t swim, paddled with his feet and one hand, clinging to his precious piece of wood until he finally made it ashore in Initao.

“Ikaduha na gyud ni

nimo’ng kinabuhi (This is your second life),” Carmen told Gallardo as they were reunited at the provincial hospital, a 45-minute ride from Iligan. “Pagkaugma sa hitabo, nangita ko nimo sa tanan hospital ug punerarya sa Iligan paingon sa Laguindingan (The morning after the incident, I looked for you in all the hospitals and funeral parlors from Iligan to Laguindingan).”

Her hopes were kept alive

by Moleno’s wife, Olive, who told her again and again that their husbands would

be found alive.

Christmas gift Carmen is firm about looking for a new home elsewhere and starting life anew for her family.

“Bahala na og asa mi ani magtukod, basta dili na gyud didto (It doesn’t matter where we build our house, so long as it isn’t there),” she said.

But despite losing all their belongings, she added, “Madayon gyud kaayo ang Pasko para sa akong pamilya (Christmas will go on for my family).”--InterAksyon

And because of EO (executive order) 23, there has been no (legally-registered) commercial logging elsewhere.

There has been no operation in the last 10 months,” said Maila R. Vasquez, PWPA deputy director.

While EO 23 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have established an

illegal logging task force, this has not prevented the Cagayan de Oro disaster.

“An illegal logging task force should have already been there to arrest illegal loggers if there are any,” said Vasquez.

Angeles noted that logging ban has never been a solution to flash floods and disastrous typhoons.

In Thailand, they have had a total logging ban for a long time. Why did they still experience flooding?” he said.

And for as long as the EO is in place, responsible logging will never have the chance to systematically manage forest areas nor allow systematic reforestation in forest areas.

NEW DAWN PENSIONNE Velez-Macahambus Sts, CDO Tel Nos. 8571776, 721776 email : gchreservation@yahoo.com

Malasag Eco Tourism Villages Cugman, CDO Tel. No.855-6183 [088]309-3752

LOT FOR SALE BEACH HOUSE

Baloy, Cagayan de Oro City

By appointment only Tel. #: (088) 855 3898

12 Dec. 26-29, 2011

BusinessWeek