BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO OCT. 8,2012

BusinessWeek

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www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 114, Volume III • Oct. 8-11, 2012

Market Indicators AS OF 5:53 PM OCT. 4, 2012

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.59

5,375.52

; ; Briefly 5 cents

26.84 points

Iligan biz month

ILIGAN City -- Different activities have been lined up for this year’s celebration of the Iligan Business Month in October.

The business sector and stakeholders joined the program of its kick-off on October 1. A motorcade went around the city after the program in the city’s thoroughfares and converged at the Gaisano Mall for another program and press conference.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod, in Resolution No. 11-715, declared month of October as Iligan Business Month dubbed, “Asenso Iliganon” where all the local stakeholders and business sectors can participate in the different projects and programs in partnership with the local government of Iligan and other governmental agencies, said City Councilor Frederick W. Siao of the SP in his opening remarks.

Investment promotion

CARMEN, Davao del Norte -- The local government of Carmen is intensifying its investment promotion to entice more investors to locate their businesses and pour investments into the municipality.

Municipal Mayor Marcelino Perandos said the Municipal Council last year passed the Local Tax Incentives Code granting tax exemptions to investors, and that the Business Bureau of the municipal government had streamlined the processes of approving business permits.

“Our business bureau facilitates business permit processing to make it fast,” he said. “This is in addition to the fact that we have the lowest business fees and charges in the entire Davao del Norte,” he added.

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PH laws hinder foreign investments: US envoy

By BUTCH D. ENERIO, Correspondent

P

HILIPPINE law that restricts foreign ownership of land is one of the several reasons why American investors shy away from doing business in the country, said Us Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr.

Although that there are a number of American investors coming in, but their investment is insignificant compared to other Asian countries where US investments considerably helped their economies.

Amb. Thomas said that the American investors who would be doing business here are keen on renewable energy particularly in Mndanao.

Earlier, The Board of Investment disclosed that 95 percent of investments in the country are domestically sourced and only five CONTRASTING FATE. These children seemed to be going in different directions, literally. With the midterm percent are foreign. election fast approaching, the main issue is eradication of poverty which affects primarily the future of LAWS/PAGE 6 children of the less privileged. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Amid rotating brownouts, Mindanao warned of higher electricity bills

By IRENE DOMINO, Reporter with Wire Reports

ASIDE from experiencing another rounds of rotating, Mindanao consumers will have to brace for higher electricity bills as the maintenance shutdown of the region’s biggest coal plant would force utilities to tap costlier diesel-fed facilities to ensure ample power supply, industry sources said.

According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, Mindanao BILLS/PAGE 6

Compensation for IP communities for protecting CDO watershed pushed

By BONG FABE, Correspondent

(Part 1) THE environmentalist who predicted twenty years ago a Sendong-like devastation to happen in the city if nothing is done to rehabilitate its watershed area is proposing a full-scale plan to strengthen the resilience of the Cagayan de Oro river basin ecosystems to prevent loss of lives and properties if an-

other storm visits the city.

Raoul Geollegue, technical team leader of the Relief Philippines-affiliate Enterprise Works Worldwide/Philippines (EWW/P), said that there is an urgent need to rehabilitate the Cagayan de Oro river basin so that it will provide the basin’s drainage areas with life-giving water instead of death due to floods.

He said that if implemented, the plan will make the Cagayan

de Oro river basin “resilient to adverse climatic disturbances” by “[restoring] the integrity of the Cagayan de Oro Watershed as a life support system providing water at the right quality and quantity over time within its confines and beyond.”

Geollegue, former regional executive director of the Environment department in Northern Mindanao, said the objectives of COMPENSATION/PAGE 6

BOC to exceed collection this year

By GERRY L. GORIT, Reporter

THE Bureau of Customs here is set to exceed its collection target for the month of August 2012.

Customs collector Anju Nerio Castigador said they have already collected more than P400-million and will exceed the P500-million target when the expected payment

of P100-milllion from a petroleum company is on hand.

Castigador added that they expect to continue the same performance in the remaining months of the year with the coming increase in collection from importations for the Christmas season.

He said this will make them reach COLLECTION/PAGE 6

2

October 8-11, 2012

Economy

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RDC-12 pushes inter-agency study to address BPO manpower mismatch GENERAL Santos City -The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 12 or the Soccsksargen Region has called for an interagency study to address the mismatch between the available manpower supply and the requirements of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in the region.

In a resolution, the council said that a number of BPO players have moved and expanded their operations in the region in the last several years, but the industry’s growth was

hampered by the lack of available skilled manpower.

“While there is a significant number of tertiary education graduates in the region annually, the available manpower supply could not satisfy the requirements or qualification standards set by the BPO firms,” said RDC-12 chairperson City Mayor Darlene AntoninoCustodio.

Region 12 covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koro-

nadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

The RDC-12 has adopted information and communication technology (ICT)BPO as one of the region’s priority industry clusters that would be promoted to enhance the generation of investments and employment opportunities for the area.

As cited in the regional development plan for 20112016, such move involves the development of ICT-BPO micro, small and medium enterprises.

Citing an initial study made by the RDC-12’s economic development committee (EDC), Custodio said the mismatch was mainly due to the lack of institutionalized courses or training programs in the region that complements with the needs of the BPO industry.

She specifically noted the manpower requirements of call centers and transcription companies that are currently based in the city.

To address the problem, Custodio said the EDC recommended the conduct of a

comprehensive inter-agency study that will involve the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education, Department of Labor and Employment and Department of Trade and Industry.

“The committee also recommended that the curricula of higher education institutions and the course offerings of TESDA-accredited schools in the region should be aligned with or be made relevant to the

needs of local industries, especially with the ICTBPO,” she said.

Ibrahim Guiamadel, DTI Region 12 director, said the region presently hosts eight software development companies, seven medical transcription centers, three call centers, two BPO accounting companies and an animation venture.

So far, he said only 10 of the 71 higher educational institutions in the region offer Integrated contact or call center certification MANPOWER/PAGE 6

Catfish industry in Davao City fully recovers - city agri office DAVAO City -- An officer of the City Agriculture Office welcomed the full recovery of the catfish industry in Barangay Los Amigos, Davao City a few years after several fishponds in the area were destroyed due to a flash flood in 2009.

City agriculturist Leonardo Avila III said the fishponds in the area have an average yield of one ton per day, more than enough for domestic consumption and supply to other markets in Mindanao.

He projected a 360-ton yield in 2012, far more than the total yield in 2011 at only 250 tons.

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“We are happy to report that the local catfish industry in the city has finally revived,” Avila said.

Angelo Santander, chair of Barangay Los Amigos, said many catfish producers had the opportunity to enhance their knowhow in catfish raising and production because of the programs of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

He said producers should adapt to the changing water levels of the Talomo River and the reappearance of fungi which has an impact on the growth of catfishes.

The river supplies water to

several catfish ponds in Los Amigos.

Fatima Idris, director of the BFAR in Davao Region, assured industry players of the continued support of their agency to the catfish industry not only in Davao City but also the whole of Region 11.

She said catfish production is easy to manage as long as the producer knows the proper technology.

Los Amigos culminated the two-day Pantatan Festival Thursday by selling a kilo of catfish at P100 only, cheaper by P45 compared to its regular price per kilo at P145.

DA 12, contractors meet to harmonize procurement process KORONADAL City -- Soccsksargen Region’s Department of Agriculture (DA-12) met with representatives of companies that have contracts with the agency to clarify issues regarding procurement process.

At the Management and Bidder’s Forum held in AJ Hi-Time Hotel in Kidapawan City, DA 12 Executive Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the DA strictly complies with Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as The Government Procurement Reform Act

of the Philippines.

“We are here to give you a clearer picture on the procurement process employed by the government which is strictly followed by the DA now,” she told the participants at the start of the forum.

“This forum will cater to your concerns and feedbacks that our Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) may use to further enhance the existing bidding process and may correct their inefficiencies if there are any,” she added.

In attendance were at

least 35 contractors from all over the country including suppliers of agriculturalindustrial machinery and agricultural-veterinar y supplies as well as seed companies and concrete products centers.

Dianita Lazaro, state auditor of the Commission on Audit (COA-12) explained the provisions of RA 9184, emphasizing how bidding and procurement processes should be done.

“Through proper bidding process, we expect that we deliver better services such as high quality farm machinery and agricultural inputs to the farmers,” Datukan said.

“DA is batting for good quality farm machinery at reasonable prices,” she explained. Doing such, she added, would satisfy recipients of DA 12’s projects, consequently motivating the beneficiaries to work harder for better agricultural production.

“It doesn’t mean that when you have the lowest bid, the contract is automatically awarded to you.

Post qualifications check and evaluation are done based on the agency’s desired specifications,” she clarified.

Datukan also announced that DA-12 BAC has been reconstituted to include private sector representaCONTRACTORS/PAGE 6

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Opinion

October 8-11, 2012

BusinessWeek Your local online business paper

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

That Which Is Not Visible to the Naked Eye THERE are certain findings that may not be appreciated using the naked eye. That which is visible to the eyes may be alarming by itself. But, if one’s result is positive only after a microscopic examination, the alarm bells may even be higher. Thus, it comes as no surprise that a very good friend of mine, came to see me, bringing with her , her urinalysis result, worried and anxious. I saw that everything was normal except for the presence of red cells in her urine. Hmmm... of course, in the absence of a menstrual period , the presence of those red cells is quite suspect. It took quite an explanation and a visit to her Nephrologist friend for her to have peace of mind.

Microscopic hematuria, is a term used when red blood cells are seen in the urine, but grossly the urine is clear. If one were to see one’s urine color as reddish, to pinkish to smoky or tea colored, then that is what we call as gross hematuria.

Whether gross or microscopic, the very presence of hematuria is never normal.

Its presence warrants further investigation or work up.

A properly collected sample is as important as the reader. The ideal sample should be collected mid stream, making sure that it doesn’t get contaminated.

A first morning sample is the best specimen since the red cells are best preserved with the urine being concen-

trated. Once the sample is collected, it must be brought to the Laboratory within the hour for examination, otherwise, there will be bacterial multiplication, making the ph acidic and causing disintegration of the red cells and casts ( if there are ). Should there be a delay in the transport, the urine may be refrigerated. The sample container should be clean and wide mouthed.

Once a result for microscopic hematuria is released, it would be best to have the examination repeated twice.

Simply means, have the test repeated again, with a newly collected first morning or mid stream clean catch urine, for examination. If the red cells are persistent, then, a visit to our Nephrologist friends is to the best interest of the patient. During the visit, a history of drug intake, ingestion of certain foods containing nitrites and food coloring, will be asked. Other information DIAO/PAGE 6

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Plan in Hand THINK a minute…

Can you imagine an engineer building a tall skyscraper without a plan?

Someone said: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

Success is no accident! It doesn’t just magically happen. You have to plan for it to happen. As one guy put it: “You must plan for a great future. After all, you have to spend the rest of your life there.” We must have some kind of plan of what we want and how we’ll get it.

You see, if you shoot for nothing you’ll hit it every time! A wise person said: “If you’ve accomplished everything you’ve planned

in life, then you’ve probably not planned enough. You’re getting too old when all your dreams are reruns.”

The very successful head of the Chrysler Automobile Corporation, Lee Iacocca, used to ask his workers: “What do you want to do?

What do you want to be?

What do you want to have?

Where do you want to go?

How do you plan to get there? Write it down. Now go do it. It doesn’t get any simpler or better than that.”

So why not start living your life on purpose? First dream it, then do it. They say that 1 hour of planning will save you 3 hours

THINK A MINUTE of wasted time and work.

With a plan, your work is working for you!

Your plan will keep you in control of your life, moving ahead toward your goal of success and happiness.

But after you plan your work, you have to work your plan.

Discipline is what brings your dreams into real life.

A dream with no discipline will just remain a dream, and a plan without work will be a plan that won’t work.

So today, why not ask the One Who designed the plan for your success to take full charge of your life. Jesus also

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

has the power you need to make that plan start working for you. With His plan in hand, you’ll go all the way to the life He wants you and your family to enjoy.

Just think a minute…

Faith, hope, charity

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BusinessWeek

THESE are called theological virtues. As the Catechism describes them, they “adapt man’s faculties for participation in the divine nature.”

(1812) Yes, we are meant for this purpose, we have been designed and wired for this end.

Even in the depths of our heart, as long as it is not hijacked and hamstrung by some worldly value, we can detect a longing, a yearning for an eternal bliss that can only signify we are naturally drawn to God. “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you,” St. Augustine exclaims.

It’s truly good and necessary that we understand the nature, character and purpose of these virtues, for our Christian life depends on how we live them. The human virtues, the ones that we cultivate ourselves and that we need to be able to live as persons, get their sustenance from these theological virtues.

Again, the Catechism

gives us more information about them. They are called theological virtues because they relate directly to God. “They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object.” (1812) In other words, these virtues come from God to direct us to him in whose image and likeness we have been created. We have to understand then that our life is not simply our life.

That would be an anomaly.

Our life also has to be a life with God and in God. But we also need to realize that these theological virtues have God also as the motive and object, the reason and energy to motivate and push us to go to God, to let us participate in his divine life.

We cannot attain that life with God just by our own power. God has to enable us to have that life with him, sending us first of all these theological virtues. These

virtues are God’s way of allowing us to share his life.

As to the part we play in this system, we only have to be receptive and cooperative, as actively as possible.

Thus, Christ, the God with us, the Son of God who became man to redeem us, tells us that he is the vine, we are the branches. We need to be attached to him, for without him, we cannot live.

We have to learn to translate this basic truth about the theological virtues in our life from the world of ideas, doctrine and intentions to that of action and concrete reality that should involve our thoughts and desires, our feelings and passions, our work and the myriad tasks, projects and endeavors we have in life.

This is a very crucial task, because we always tend to get distracted, to get intoxicated with our own power. In the Bible, there are many references of how the Israelites, the chosen people of God, the

HINTS AND TRACES

FR. ROY CIMAGALA prototype of how we ought to be, became unfaithful in spite of the abundant goodness of God. One image used to illustrate this situation is that of how they reportedly made use of the milk and wool of the sheep but neglecting to take care of the sheep. Other images are used like that of King Saul not completely destroying the Amelekites, but saving some of their ‘useful’ things that later on would tempt them away from God, etc.

CIMAGALAPAGE 6

Dismissal of criminal and administrative complaints BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has scored a legal victory with the dismissal of criminal and administrative complaints filed against three of its officials by representatives of a closed bank.

In a Resolution dated June 29, 2012, the Office of the Ombudsman found no probable cause to indict Bangko Sentral Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr, and Deputy Governors Nestor Espenilla, Jr. and Juan d. De Zuniga, Jr. for alleged violation of Republic Act 7653 (New Central Bank Act) and Republic Act 3019 (Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act).

The charges were filed by lawyer Perfecto Yasay, Jr. and Maxy S. Abad. Yasay and Abad represented Banco Filipino, which was closed down by the BSP in early 2011 due to insolvency and other deficiencies.

The Office of the Ombudsman also dismissed the administrative complaint filed against the BSP of-

ficials for alleged violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Ombudman did not find any convincing and sufficient evidence as basis to indict the BSP officials.

Yasay and Abad had accused the BSP, through the respondent BSP officials, of violating its solemn duty not to reveal information relating to the condition or business of any institution.

They alleged that the BSP had issued a press release, entitled “Banco Filipino operates ‘without safety’— BSP.” The complainants charged that the supposed press release, which was used as the banner story of a major broadsheet (The Manila Standard) in December 2010, “was obviously designed to make its depositors withdraw their deposits from Banco Filipino, if not cause a bank run.”

The BSP officials denied issuing any such press release. BSP’s claim was sub-

stantiated by the newspaper which bannered the story.

Former Manila Standard Editorial Board Chairman Victor C. Agustin, in a sworn affidavit, stated that the newspaper “secured relevant court documents” and “based on allegations and argument raised by both parties in the court documents, we (meaning Manila Standard) published the article”.

Agustin further declared that “we did not interview any officer, directors or representatives of Bangko Sentral or Banco Filipino.”

In its June 29, 2012 Decision and Resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman declared that the “complainants’ imputation is x x x squarely controverted and disproved by respondents.”

“In contrast, apart from complainants’ bare allegation, no pertinent or convincing evidence is presented to substantiate and establish the occurrence of the act complained of,” the Office of the Ombudsman

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE concluded.

When one comes to think about it, the BSP officials had no reason or motivation whatsoever to do the acts complained of.

On the contrary, the BSP officials did whatever was necessary and legally possible to still save Banco Filipino despite its mounting financial and operational problems. In an effort to stabilize the operations of Banco Filipino, BSP had extended a series of emergency assistance by way of Overnight Clearing Lines BUNYE/PAGE 6

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BusinessWeek

October 8-11, 2012

Compensation... from page 1

Protection Fund, and for other related purposes.”

The ordinance imposes a P0.75 centavo for every cubic meter of water used, the proceeds went to the Watershed Development and Environmental Protection Fund, which supports the Master Development Plan of the city.

Everyone in San Carlos City pay the special water levy and the City Waterworks Department automatically deducts the environmental fee and places this into the special account for disbursement to any projects and programs specifically designed to protect and rehabilitate the Baticulan Watershed.

The key actor to this scheme is the upland community living within the Baticulan Watershed, who are mostly migrants who are cultivating the land. They are tapped to be “watershed laborers” in the watershed rehabilitation programs and projects of the city. And they are paid by the city government, from the special environmental fund, for their services.

Because of this scheme, San Carlos City was conferred the Galing Pook Award for Local Governance in 2007.

The Water Levy for Watershed Development scheme in San Carlos City was patterned after the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) approach of Costa Rica, which is a formal country-wide program of payments charge to the users of environmental services for the services they receive.

Costa Rica’s PES, Geollegue said, is one of the most innovative instruments to promote sustainable development. The PES was born out of the idea that the ecosystem resources can be better protected if landowners receive a financial payment for taking environmentally-friendly actions on their lands.

“It is just fair to financially charge people who are reaping the benefits so that those who help protect the environment also benefit from their effort,” he said.

“Actions need to protect our ecosystems are costly. But it is more costly to be a victim of our own indifference and inaction,” he added.

the plan is (1) to increase forest cover; (2) to conserve biodiversity; (3) to improve water quality, quantity over time; (4) to enhance the socio-economic well-being of dependent communities; and (5) to strengthen local communities’ capacity in watershed conservation and management.

His “integrated Ecosystem Rehabilitation Management Framework” calls for a comprehensive approach to solve the devastating floods due to extreme weather events and watershed resource degradation towards sustainable development. It also presents seven guiding principles that answers the five objectives of the plan.

Compensation for environmental services: One of the strategies proposed by Geollegue is a compensation scheme for indigenous peoples and upland communities who take care of the watershed. “The local communities and indigenous people assume center stage in sustaining the initiatives and gains of rehabilitation and their services must be justly compensated,” he said.

Geollegue explained that the production and consumption of water have an inherent negative impact on the environment, thus it is just proper and just that prices of water should include the cost of externalities to address the negative impacts on the environment.

“If you are a water service company, if you are a power generating company using water, if you are using water for irrigation, if you are drinking water, then it is just but fair that you pay for the services and the resources that you are using from the watershed,” he stressed.

In Mt. Kitanglad, one of the towering mountain ranges where the headwaters of the Cagayan de Oro River is found, the Talaandig tribe continue to suffer the lack of clean and safe drinking water.

“We who are guarding the forests, we who are living near streams of water have no potable drinking water,” said Adolino “Datu Makapukaw” Saway, supreme chieftain of the Talaandig tribe in Lantapan, from page 1 Bukidnon.

Amb. Thomas said US inSaway said that they have to go through cliffs and gullies vestments in Asian countries and walk through the mountain accounts for $150 billion where range’s rugged terrain just to get potable water from creeks $100 billion is in Singapore and rivers deep in the Lantapan and the rest are in Japan and forests.

South Korea.

The Talaandig tribe are He said that despite the living on the elevated portions of the mountains while the lack of foreign investment in water sources are located in the the PH, the US has considerlower parts of the mountain. ably helped the country in They don’t have any indoor terms of grants, which created plumbing.

In 1996, the Environment employment. department tapped the Ta“It’s now up to the Philiplaandig tribe to protect Mt. pine legislators on how they Kitanglad -- a protected area by virtue of Republic Act 8978 would make the PH an invest(Mt. Kitanglad Range Range ment destination. And once Protected Area Act of 2000) the investment climate has approved on November 9, 2000 changed, the country would as well as an ASEAN Heritage have a high satisfaction ratPark declared in 2009.

Geollegue, under whose ing that would draw foreign watch at the DENR-10 that investors, particularly from the department started using the Talaandig tribe as the US,” he sad. forest guards, said it is high time that compensation for environmental services fotr from page 1 the tribe and other upland communities protecting the now suffer from 2-4 hours forests be institutionalized.

“If you don’t want to pay of rotating brownouts startthem for their services, then ing Saturday, Oct. 6, as Steag you turn from being benefi- State Power Inc. begins the ciaries to victims,” he said. maintenance shutdown of San Carlos City Model: Geollegue stressed that its 201-megawatt coal-fed while this idea is rather plant on Saturday. groundbreaking, this is not Even before Steag began new because San Carlos City the maintenance work on has implemented this for years already, starting in 2005, a year its power plant, Mindaafter City Ordinance No 37, no already has to endure series of 2004 or An Ordinance 1-2 hour outages amid an Regulating the Operation of the City Waterworks of the 81-megawatt supply shortCity of San Carlos, Negros fall, as the 1,232-megaOccidental and Creating the watt demand outstrips the Watershed Development and

Laws...

Bills...

1,151-megawatt available

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capacity.

Considered as the most modern and the biggest in Mindanao on a per unit capacity, STEAG coal-fired power plant has so far delivered more than 8.3 billion kWh of electricity and currently accounts for 20 percent of the Mindanao grid.

“So bale 1-2 hours now.

That will increase to 2-4 hours,” said NGCP spokesperson Cynthia Alabanza.

She said the power situation in Mindanao would return to the critical level seen earlier this year.

“At the end of the day we are still in a deficiency situation,” she said.

While it downplayed the potential impact of the scheduled shutdown of Steag’s coal plant, the Department of Energ y warned residents to brace for a possible uptick in their electricity bills as utilities turn to more expensive generating facilities.

The newly created Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC), on the other hand, has urged the public to brace for possible outages in some Mindanao areas due to this latest development.

In a meeting convened by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Energ y (DOE), and agencies comprising the committee, the MPMC moved to take on immediate and mediumterm steps to stabilize the power situation in Mindanao.

“Better coordination among agencies concerned and engaging the Mindanao stakeholders should characterize our efforts to address the power problem,” said Secretary Luwalhati Antonino in a statement.

Antonino said making the public fully aware of the situation can strengthen power conservation measures and sustain consumer education to help ease up demand pressure.

Undersecretary Josefina Patricia M. Asirit said the upcoming maintenance shutdown of Steag’s plant in Misamis Oriental would be tempered by other generating facilities in the region, as well as the projected low demand for electricity for the duration of the supply disruption.

“We have several distribution utilities and electric cooperatives who either have embedded generation capacities. Tapos may sarili silang power generation plants na pwede nilang pagkunan. [Also] most if not all of these utilities with bilateral contracts will be utilizing capacity from barges,” she said.

However, these generating facilities are primarily run on diesel, which is more expensive than coal, and thus could result in higher electricity rates.

Asirit said areas in Mindanao with such back-up supply would be spared from possible power outages once the Steag plant

shuts down, but not from “higher electricity costs.”

Those areas in Mindanao whose electricity distributors do not have similar contracts would suffer from power outages should forecast demand rise higher than the region’s available generating capacity.

Asirit said the maintenance shutdown of SPI’s coal plant coincides with holidays - All Saints Day and All Souls Day - and the semestral break among schools.

As such, the forecast demand during this period will help mitigate the loss of power generation from SPI’s coal plant, she said.

The coal plant’s two 105-megawatt generating units will be disconnected from the grid separately from October 6 to November 4 ,and from October 29 to November 10 to make way for maintenance works after six years of operations.

“Hinde natin pwede hinde bigyan ng preventive maintenance ang mga planta... Parang kotse kumbaga pa tune-up, kahit anong makina meron panahon na kailangan mo siyang pagpahingahin at tignan ano ang mga pangangailangan niya para mas tumagal pa o mas maging efficient ang gamit sa kanya,” Asirit said.--InterAksyon

Collection... from page 1

their assigned collection target of P5,729,154,000.

As of last week, their actual collection stands at P3,856,437,799.16.

The current actual collection, Castigador said, is already in excess of about P120-million for the period and that compared to last year for the same period they have already registered an excess of some P507-million.

“We will continue our efforts towards improving collection on a day to day basis,” he said, as he attributed the good performance to the proper duties and taxes imposed since he came here.

In 2011, Castigador said, the customs office never exceeded a monthly target but this year for the first time they reported an excess since he introduced reforms and put in place a collection system that worked.

“There are still rooms for improvement,” he said.

He added that they are constantly looking at their procedures for improvement.

An improvement in personal and professional conduct has been noted and that “little by little” differences are solved among the personnel and “now we have good working relationships,” Castigador said.

“In 2011 there was a lot of divisiveness in the courts, so I tried to bridge the gap,” he said.

Two months ago a team building activity for the entire district office held at an outdoor facility helped.

“It was an enriching experience,” Castigador said,

“and we are enjoying the fruits of the activity.”

He added that the old and dilapidated customs building at the Port of Cagayan de Oro is now undergoing a facelift as he allocated P4.5million for its renovation.

The building will get a new paint color – yellow – which “brings good vibes,” Castigador said.

The renovation work will finish by end of October.

Manpower... from page 2

programs while 11 technical institutions offer medical transcription training courses.

Two technical schools in the area currently offer software development training courses, he said.

The local BPO industry generated around P35 million last year in fresh investments with the upgrading of 10 ICT firms in North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City, a DTI report said.

In August last year, the city unveiled its first Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered information technology or IT Park, which is now being developed as the region’s BPO hub and “landmark forIT and IT-enabled business and services.”

The 2.8-hectare Mabuhay IT Park, which was developed and operated by local firm MabuhayOne Corporation, was envisioned as “a one-stop facility capable of carrying voice, video and data services that will deliver a superior, reliable and secured network communications andback-up power supply to assure of clean and uninterruptible power.”

It presently hosts a call center facility of top BPO player Sutherland Global Services and several other IT companies.(PNA)

Contractors... from page 2

tives.

She identified the new members of DA 12’s BAC as Jamie Junsay from a non-government organization; Dionesio Bautista, chairman of Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) and Ritchie Lyndon Magtulis from a civil society organization and a representative for infra development.

“Members of the BAC were properly trained and selected,” she assured.

In fact, she said, these BAC members underwent rigid orientation given by the Commission on Audit (COA) and Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao.

Being a new member of the committee, RAFC chair Bautista said, he was amazed at how the bidding process is being done by DA 12. He then pledged fairness and equality in undertaking the bidding process.

“We in the private sector, are one with you in taking the Matuwid na Daan,” he said.

“It is for the first time that DA has organized this kind of forum. We do understand your side particularly in safeguarding the welfare of the farmers. Congratulations,” Jimmy Fongfar of HG Agri-industrial Machinery based in Davao City said in

response as a representative of the contractors.

Cimagala.. from page 4

In our earthly life, these theological virtues always go together. Not one of them could function well if another is missing. Their dynamic mutual relation cannot be broken. It’s either all or nothing. Only when we reach our final destination in heaven will charity alone reign, doing away with faith and hope.

So while these theological virtues are freely given to us by God, we have to realize that we have the grave duty and task to receive them, to keep and develop them to their fullness.

But, alas, how many people really know about this responsibility? How many realize that their life has to be a life of faith, hope and charity? These theological virtues, in a manner of speaking, are the ultimate parameters with which we have to develop our life here on earth.

What we see nowadays are a great majority of people living mainly under worldly criteria— identifying success and victory with wealth, power, fame, etc.

God is really not in the picture, though some formalistic references are made just to fulfil certain social conventions.

There’s a crying need to resurrect a massive doctrinal campaign for this purpose, plus the pertinent ascetical plan to effect the desired change of attitude and lifestyle.

Bunye.

from page 4 (OCL) to prevent the latter’s checks from bouncing.

These Overnight Clearing Lines were extended to Banco Filipino in the amounts and on the dates indicated as follows: P500 million on January 30, 2009, P185 million on February 5, 2009, P320 million on February 12, 2009, P273 (later increased to P305 million) on February 26, 2009, P500 million on March 4, 2009, P600 million on March 11, 2009, P600 million on March 18, 2009, and P1 billion on March 26, 2009.

Much earlier, on December 4, 2002, the BSP extended to Banco Filipino a 180-day special liquidity facility amounting to P3.5 billion. Of this amount, P2.65 billion is past due.

Without BSP’s emergency assistance, Banco Filipino would have collapsed much much sooner.

Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail.com.

Past articles may be viewed at http://speakingout.ph/speakingout.php

Diao

from page 4 the history taking and physical examination. There are quite a number of tests thay may also be requested for, as part of urologic evaluation, such as the Intravenous Pyelography, Ultrasound and even cystoscopy.

These diagnostic tests will try to visualize and evaluate the urinary system. The reasons for having microscopic hematuria range from the benign and self limited exercise induced to the more common urinary tract infection , presence of stones and to the more fearsome presence of tumors.

A balance between being overly anxious and disregard will keep you informed on your health condition. Nothing beats a visit to your friendly Attending Physician, for it always pays to know and understand what is going on inside your body ......

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Corpboard

October 8-11, 2012

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Cebu Pacific receives offer to invest in Zest Air THE operator of Cebu Pacific on Thursday said it received an offer to invest in rival Zest Airways Inc. “Please be advised that Cebu Air Inc. has been approached to indicate its

interest in this opportunity.

However, any interest which the Company may have at this point is at best indicative and non-binding. The Company is presently not doing any due diligence on

Zest Air,” the Gokongweiled airline said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Lance Gokongwei, president and chief execuive of Cebu Pacific, told reporters

that the company was not holding talks with Zest Air. “We will look at other opportunities if it makes sense with the company and shareholders. I said we are not in discussion with

Zest Air,” Gokongwei said.

Both Cebu Pacific and Zest Air operate in the lowcost carrier space.

Earlier, Alfredo Yao, Zest Air president and chief operating officer, said the

company was selling up to 40 percent of the airline Zest Air was in talks with Hainan Air and other two other Asian carriers to take up at least a 40 percent stake in the Philippine airline.

AgriNurture trains sights on more foreign markets Telecom infrastructure LISTED AgriNurture, Inc. territories.” Other details urture’s chief executive of- abroad. project gets incentives According to the official, has gained board approval were not immediately avail- ficer, said in an interview for the incorporation of new units in seven countries and territories, the company said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange last week.

The firm said its board of directors had given it authority in a meeting on Wednesday to form of new business arms through any of its subsidiaries.

The territories and countries cited as targets for this expansion were Australia, China, Europe, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan and the United States.

AgriNurture said that the new entities “would undertake the company’s primary purpose in said

able.

The agribusiness firm, which grows fruits and vegetables, among others, has several subsidiaries and brands under its farming, production, distribution and retail and franchise divisions.

The company already exports products to customers in China, Europe, Japan, Middle East, South Korea and the US. At home, AgriNurture has been expanding its retail business through acquisitions. Last year, the firm acquired The Big Chill, Inc. to serve as its food and beverage retail arm.

Antonio L. Tiu, AgriN-

in August that the company aims to acquire more assets, especially outside the country, within the year.

In July, it bared plans to form a unit based in Hong Kong, called AgriNurture HK Holdings Ltd., as its wholly owned subsidiary for the acquisition of companies in Australia, China, Europe, Hong Kong, and the US which it plans to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Mr. Tiu had also said last March that the company plans to open over a thousand branches under its The Big Chill brand over the next five years, particularly in markets

AgriNurture has allotted P1 billion for its capital expenditures this year to fund its expansion plans.

In August, the firm reported that its net income dipped 6.69% to P101.38 million in the first half from the P108.65 million recorded in the same six months last year.

The company attributed the decrease to higher costs and expenses, which offset an increase in revenues.

Its earnings in 2011 had reached a record P216.10 million, more than double the P93.6 million it posted in 2010 primarily because of increased revenues from its exports of fresh produce.

Consortium formed to proceed with PPP venture BUILDERS Megawide Construction Corp. and Citicore Holdings Investment, Inc. have moved to form a joint venture firm in order to proceed with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP) they bagged in August, the former said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Following a special board meeting on Wednesday, Megawide’s board authorized the establishment of Citicore-Megawide Consortium, Inc., as well as the signing and execution of a shareholder’s agreement for the terms and conditions on the new firm’s establishment, operation, and management, the disclosure read.

“The joint-venture company will be formed for [the] purposes of undertaking the construction of, maintenance, and leasing

of school buildings under the PSIP of the government through the Department of Education, as provided in the ‘Build-Lease-Transfer Agreements PPP for School Infrastructure Contract Packages B and C’ for Regions III [Central Luzon] and IV-A [Calabarzon], respectively,” the disclosure added.

Sought for comment on the nature of the joint venture firm, Manuel Louie B. Ferrer, Megawide vicepresident for marketing and chief information officer, said in a text message yesterday: “Role of Megawide is purely construction. It (Citicore-Megawide Consortium) is a strategy to spread out our balance sheet.”

Last Aug. 16, Megawide, in partnership with Citicore, was one of two groups -- the other being the BF Corp.-Riverbanks Development Corp. consortium -- that were awarded the

contract for the PSIP, the second PPP project to be successfully rolled out by the government after the $46.6-million Daang HariSouth Luzon Expressway Link Road Project which Ayala Corp. will undertake under a build-transferoperate scheme.

The PSIP, estimated to cost more than P16 billion, calls for the construction over 10 years of around 9,300 one- and two-storey public school classrooms -- including furniture and fixtures -- in various sites in regions I (Ilocos Region), III, and IV-A, according to information posted on the PPP Center Web site.

“This venture is seen to contribute to the objective of the government to accelerate the increase in the number of classrooms in public schools, and cut its current shortage of around 66,800 classroom units

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nationwide,” Megawide noted in its disclosure.

“The corporation is proud to be able to contribute to our country’s development through its participation in this project,” the company added.

For the PSIP, BF-Riverbanks had set annual lease payments at P344.59 billion for 2,157 classrooms in Ilocos region, while Citicore-Megawide pegged these at P522.898 billion and P760.490 billion for 2,885 classrooms in Central Luzon and 4,259 in the Cavite-Laguna-BatangasRizal-Quezon (Calabarzon) region.

Megawide, first incorporated in 2004, is primarily engaged in site development, earthworks, structural and civil works, masonry works, architectural finishes, electrical works, plumbing and sanitary works, fire protection works, and mechanical works. The company holds an AAA construction license issued by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, making the firm eligible to participate in big-ticket private infrastructure projects, according to the company’s Web site.

Megawide more than doubled its net income to P474.35 million in the first half from P209.66 million the previous year, buoyed by improved revenues from ongoing and completed projects. Contract revenues increased 30.94% to P3.64 billion from P2.78 billion in the same comparative periods, while contract costs expanded by 26.25% to P3.03 billion versus P2.40 billion, year on year.

THE BOARD of Investments (BoI) has approved a P890-million telecommunications infrastructure project seen to support government’s efforts to upgrade its network, the agency said in a statement.

As a result, the project, which will be undertaken

by Converge Information and Communication Technology Solutions, Inc., will get incentives provided under the 2012 Investment Priorities Plan (IPP). Such perks include a four-year income tax holiday.

The project will use pioneer technology to install, to operate and to maintain a nationwide wired and wireless broadband network.

“This nationwide project will be implemented nationwide in three phases,” BoI explained in its statement.

“Phase 1 of the project will cover the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Olongapo, Clark, Tarlac, and Pampanga. Phases 2 and

3 rollout will be implemented within the next three to five years, covering other areas in the rest of the country,” it added.

“Culmination of Phase 1 is expected by December 2012.”

The project will employ about 278 workers. More information on the company was not immediately available.

The country’s existing telecommunications network is currently capable of handling data volume of up to 250 gigabits per second.

Converge’s project, which is supposed to speed this up by 100 million bits per second, is targeted especially at meeting the needs of businesses.

The firm has projected a subscriber base of around 40,000 for a fiveyear period.

It was granted a franchise by the Congress in 2008.

Infrastructure development, including for telecommunications, is part of the 2012 IPP.

Coke, Samsung pull site advertisements in Vietnam HANOI, Vietnam—CocaCola and Samsung have pulled their advertising from a popular Vietnamese website notorious for providing unlicensed downloads of Western and local songs, in a rare victory against online piracy in a country where it has grown unchecked.

The companies abandoned Zing.vn after The Associated Press alerted them to local and international concerns about the website, which is the sixthmost visited in the nation of 87 million people.

Zing’s audience of young, tech-savvy web users has made it attractive to companies wanting to promote their products in a fastgrowing Asian market where some 30 million people are online. It was unclear if the companies were ignorant of the content of the site or chose to ignore it.

Besides Coca-Cola Co. and South Korea’s Samsung, other multinationals that have advertised on Zing include Canon, Yamaha, Intel and Colgate Palmolive.

Zing said in a statement it couldn’t comment.

The presence of international advertising added to the legitimacy of Zing, causing particular anger among Vietnamese artists who felt the site was profiting from their work without compensating them. After being contacted by The AP, Samsung and Coca-Cola said in separate statements they had withdrawn their ads.

“We highly respect and value intellectual property rights, and stand against acts of infringement, such as the unauthorized copying and distribution of copyrighted material,” Samsung, which was advertising its Galaxy tablet on Zing, said in a statement. “Accordingly, our advertisements on Zing.vn have been withdrawn.”

8

October 8-11, 2012

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Senator Manny Villar with the Tangub beauties during the just held Dalit Festival while former Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar gives her festival message in Honor of Sr. San Miguel during in a media interview. Mrs. Cynthia Villar recently filed her COC as Senator under LP party.

PHOTOS BY PJAMES TREMEDAL AND NEP BATOLENO

DR. LORIE CARRASCO, Education Program Supervisor, Division of Cagayan de Oro City sharing her expertise on the Rules of Effective Writing during the October 6, 2012 Seminar on Basic Journalism at the BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO MEDIA CENTER, which was attended by more than 60 pupils from various schools in Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.

PHOTO BY ARJAY FELICILDA

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October 8-11, 2012

Editor: Allan Mediante

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

Agri Secretary Alcala graces NOMIARC Farmers’ Field Days Farmers receive farm animals, implements, inputs Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala gave a huddle of agricultural support to farmers during his visit at the Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (NOMIARC) on the occasion of the recently-concluded 19th NOMIARC Farmers’ Field Days and Technology Forum in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City.

Secretary Alcala felt the needs of farmers for agricultural support - the provision of farm implements and quality planting materials and livestock breeds which they will highly cherish.

Thus, he led the giving of farm animals, implements and planting materials to the event audience.

It was the first time the NOMIARC Field Days became a venue of generous sharing of farm materials support to the participants of the event. Secretary Alcala ordered the provision of these agri giveaways to the

participants thru allocation from the DA-Agripinoy Programs for Rice, Corn, High Value Crops Development and Livestock.

Farm implements and planting materials given to the field day participants were 2 units hermetic storage (P65,000 each), 4 units collapsible dryer (P27,000 each), 10 units knapsack sprayer (P2,500 each), 30 units drum seeder (P9,250 each), 30 units sickle (P165 each), 30 units rotary weeder (P3,900 each), 50 bags OPV white corn seeds (P460.00/ bag), vegetable seeds, coffee seedlings, handbags with information materials, tshirts, among others. Meanwhile, 4 carabaos (P10,000 each), 4 heads cattle (P12,000 each) were also given to livestock farmers. All these totalled to more than a million worth of material support apportioned by the Secretary to respective rice, corn and high value crops farmers

PH export industry has lowest survival rate in ASEAN - World Bank In terms of exports survival, the Philippines scores the lowest among comparable ASEAN countries.

This grim scenario was the conclusion made by the World Bank in the selected special focus section of the latest issue of the Philippine Quar-

terly Update, its quarterly magazine devoted to the latest economic and social trends in the country.

In arriving to that conclusion, the WB pointed out that despite being an open economy, the Philippines’ openness to trade is lower than its neighbors and its exports have been

growing slower than its gross national product.

On the brighter side, it observed that export diversification has improved in terms of market destination. It now exports more to China and other emerging economies and sells less to the US, its largest traditional

market.

The diversification, however, did not happen in terms of product lines sold.

“The global market share of its main export, semiconductors, has continued to decline,” the bank said. Adverse external environment and changing technology which the Philippines is yet to adopt, plus stagnant physical capital per worker were cited as the primary reasons behind

the decline.

The WB gave as example in the failure to adjust to cutting edge technology the country’s missing the boat in the manufacture of a new generation of gadgets like tablet computers and smart phones.

The bank suggested that improving the country’s business environment especially outside of PEZA areas, will be essential to boost physical investments, encourage

innovation and promote investments in human capital so that the country can better internalize and harness advanced technologies and business know-how imbedded in foreign direct investments.

In terms of services exports, the WB recommended a more efficient regulatory system to improve productivity and competitiveness. -- Abe P. Belena, PHILEXPORT News and Features

Panasonic Scholarship: a continuing commitment to nation building

Panasonic scholars all set for Japan. Another batch of deserving Filipino professionals were nominated to receive scholarship grants for research and master’s course in Japan during the 2013 Panasonic Scholarship awarding ceremony held recently. The nominees, who were chosen after passing series of tests, interviews and assessment of their over-all performance as students in their respective universities are (seated from left to right): Mr. John Jewish A. Dominguez from Pangasinan; Miss Fatima Joy C. Cruz from Cavite; and Miss Aliya Mari D. Adefuin from Laguna. Gracing the event are (standing from left to right): Panasonic Scholarship (Philippines) chairman and Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation president Naoya Nishiwaki; Panasonic Scholarship Co. Ltd. of Japan president Kazuhiro Kawano; Japan Information and Cultural Center of the Embassy of Japan director Kiyoshi Takeuchi; Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commissioner Nenalyn P. Defensor, Ed.D.; CHED commissioner Nona S. Ricafort, Ph.D.; and CHED executive director IV Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo.

The Panasonic Scholarship Co. Ltd. of Japan, together with the Panasonic Group of companies in the Philippines continues to contribute to nation building through quality education as another batch of deserving Filipino professionals were nominated to receive scholarship grants during the 2013 Panasonic Scholarship awarding ceremony held recently.

During the event, the certificates were presented to the nominees by the Commission on Higher Education executive director IV Atty. Julito D. Vitriolo, Japan Information and Cultural Center of the

Embassy of Japan director Kiyoshi Takeuchi, Panasonic Scholarship Co. Ltd. of Japan president Kazuhiro Kawano, and Panasonic Scholarship (Philippines) chairman & Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation president Naoya Nishiwaki.

The nominees, who were chosen after passing series of tests, interviews, and assessment of their over-all performance as students or professionals in their respective schools or work are: Aliya Mari D. Adefuin from Laguna; Fatima Joy C. Cruz from Cavite; and John Jewish A. Dominguez from Pangasinan. The three will have the chance to do

research and complete master’s degrees in top universities in Japan.

Miss Adefuin, who graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños with a bachelor’s degree in Biology will focus her study on biomedical research, stem cell biology, and neurobiology.

Miss Cruz, on the other hand, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Philippines – Manila.

She is top 6 in the 2010 Chemists Licensure Exam.

She intends to enroll in a master’s program focusing on Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry.

10

October 8-11, 2012

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HIV-positive OFWs top 2,000-mark Philhealth urges affected members to seek treatment, assures subsidy & privacy The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) has urged members and dependents, including registered overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), to have themselves tested if they suspect they may have acquired the highly infectious human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

“We are reassuring HIVpositive members and dependents, including those working overseas, that we will help them through our Outpatient HIV/AIDS Treatment Package, which provides a substantial allowance for annual reimbursements under our case benefit payment scheme,” said Dr. Eduardo Banzon, Philhealth president and chief executive officer.

Banzon made the statement as the number of OFWs known to have been found HIV-positive reached 2,010, with the addition of 25 new cases in August.

OFWs now comprise some 20 percent of the 10,514 cases in the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry.

“We will respect every member’s absolute right to privacy and protect the confidentiality of their claims for treatment expenses incurred.

In fact, all their claims are put in specially marked sealed envelopes,” Banzon said.

Registered OFWs, even while they are abroad, may file their claims via authorized representatives here, and Philhealth may still reimburse them as long as they submit the required supporting papers, according to Banzon.

He said members living with HIV here at home may seek therapy in any of the 16 hospitals identified by the Department of Health as special treatment hubs.

These are, in Luzon: the Baguio General Hospital

and Medical Center, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, Cagayan Valley Medical Center, Jose B. Lingad Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Makati Medical Center, The Medical City, and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital.

In the Visayas, these are: the Western Visayas Medical Center, Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, and the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital.

In Mindanao, these are: the Zamboanga City Medical Center and the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

HIV causes the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. W hile the disease does not have any known cure, the World Health Organization (WHO) says “huge reductions have been seen in rates of death

and suffering when use is made of a potent antiretroviral regimen, particularly in early stages.”

“Expanded access to AntiRetroviral Therapy (ART) can also reduce the HIV transmission at population level, impact orphan hood and preserve families,” the WHO added.

The standard ART consists of the combination of at least three antiretroviral drugs to maximally suppress the HIV and stop the progression of the disease.

“Philhealth’s protection for HIV-positive members is our way of giving more meaning to the right to health of every Filipino and complying with the mandate of the AIDS Prevention and Control Law,” Banzon said.

Section 22 of 1989 law states: “Hospital-based services – Persons with HIV/ AIDS shall be afforded basic health services in all government hospitals, without prejudice to optimum

medical care which may be provided by special AIDS wards and hospitals.”

According to the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry, some 97 percent of HIV-positive OFWs, or 1,948 cases, acquired the virus as a result of sexual contact.

The rest were infected due to the transfusion of con-

taminated blood products, needle prick injury, drug use with tainted needles, or had no data available as to mode of transmission.

Around 78 percent of HIV-positive OFWs, or 1,561 cases, were males with the median age of 35 years.

When they were first diagnosed HIV-positive, some

85 percent of the affected OFWs (1,712 cases) did not show any symptoms, while 15 percent (298 cases) already had full-blown AIDS. Up to 46,000 Filipinos could be diagnosed with HIV by 2015, unless the spread of the highly contagious disease is controlled, the Phil Natl AIDS Council has warned.

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Congress Watch

October 8-11, 2012

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Congress okays bill vs toxic chemicals in children’s toys MANILA - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill which would keep children safe from toxic chemicals and hazardous substances.

House Bill 6552 seeks to regulate the importation, manufacture, sale and distribution of children’s toys, school supplies, childcare articles and other related products containing toxic chemicals.

Rep. Anthony G. Del Rosario (1st District, Davao del Norte), one of the authors of the bill, said the inadequate labeling and the inability of the consumers to tell whether a particular toy or child article contains toxic and hazardous substances poses a danger to the consumers, more so to children.

“Such exposure can cause adverse health effects ranging from asthma and allergy symptoms, acute poisoning, neurological disorders, lowered intelligence performance, kidney and skin problems and even cancer among others,” Del Rosario

said.

Under the bill, chemicals and substances deemed most harmful and toxic to children and commonly used in the manufacture and production of children’s products include but not limited to toxic metals such as Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead and Mercury; Phthalates; and Bisphenol-A (Bpa).

The measure directs the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prepare a list of chemicals and substances used in children’s products which cause or may cause harm, injury, or death to children; identify banned or prohibited substances and chemicals used in the manufacture, production, and preparation of children’s products and identify maximum levels and limits and reference values for certain chemicals used for the same.

To ensure the health safety of consumers relative to the use of products covered in this Act, the bill designates the Department of Health

(DoH) to formulate policies, rules and regulations on food, drugs cosmetics, devices and substances.

Another agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mandated to regulate, control, restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, handling, use, transport and disposal of chemical substances mixtures under Republic Act No. 6969, “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990”, among others.

The Department of Finance (DoF), on the other hand, is responsible under the bill to monitor the entry of imported products covered under this Act as well as review and conduct examination of documentary requirements of imported products pursuant to the guidelines of the DTI The Department of Trade and Industry has the duty to enforce policies and regulate the importation, manufac-

Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez leads the lowering of the time capsule in the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a Slope Protection at the Alae River along Butuan-CDO-Iligan Road worth P12 million. Also in photo are Barangay Chair Raul Aleria, DPWH District Engineer Allan Borromeo, Assistant District Engineer Cesar Hipona and Barangay Kagawads Edwin Aban, Jesus Morial and Alan Igot.

ture, distribution and sale of educational kits or school supplies, ensure that covered products comply with the Philippine National Standards on the Safety of Toys set by the Bureau of Product

Standards and monitor and conduct market inspections on covered products.

The bill creates a Children Product Safety Council to engage in studies and researches on harmful and tox-

ic chemicals and substances; conducts consultations with stakeholders, information campaigns; undertakes activities to improve policies and rules and regulations on the subject.

services sector, a key ARISP Takes Off in Laguindingan Competitive to sustaining economic growth

By EDITHA R. SALVADOR

CAGAYAN DE ORO – The Department of Agrarian Reform in Region 10 led the groundbreaking ceremony for two road concreting projects in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental held on Oct. 2 this year together with the LGU officials and staff from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Funded under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) sponsored by Japan Interna-

tional Cooperation Agency and the Government of the Philippines, the projects consist of the concreting of the junctions of the provincial road traversing the Poblacion, Aromahon, Lapad and Sinai (PALS) Agrarian Reform Community.

One project will cover the junction from barangay Benigwayan to Purok 2 in barangay Lapad with a total length of 4.37 km. costing about Php 30.3 M. The other project will cover the junction from barangay Aromahon to

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL SUR 12TH Judicial Region Branch 9 – Marawi City IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH,

SPL. PROC. CASE NO. 2099-12

NORMINA REGARO ALONTO, Petitioner, -VersusLOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF MARANTAO, LANAO DEL SUR, Respondent. x------------------------------------------------------x ORDER Before this Court is a petition for correction of date of birth of Normina Regaro Alonto October 10, 1947 as appearing in the Certificate of Live Birth of the petitioner.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing of this petition on November 28, 2012 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning. Furnish copies of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City; the Local Civil Registrar of Marantao, Lanao del Sur and the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Lanao del Sur. Let copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Iligan City or Marawi City once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioner.

SO ORDERED. Marawi City, October 4, 2012 (Sgd.)SIBANAH E. USMAN Acting Presiding Judge

BWM: OCT. 8, 15, & 22, 2012

barangay Sinai with a total length of 1.5 km at a cost of about PhP 10.1 M. DAR-10 Regional Director Felix Aguhob and Misamis Oriental PARO Zoraida Macadindang led the DAR officials and staff who attended the event. RD Aguhob lauded the Laguindingan LGU for the support and cooperation it has extended for the realization of the project.

Mayor Oliver Ubaub meanwhile expressed his gratitude to the DAR of-

ficials for the above-mentioned infrastructure projects that are expected to boost the economic status of the covered communities. Other municipal LGU and barangay officials also witnessed the occasion.

The municipality of Laguindingan hosts the Laguindingan Airport, a state-of-the-art structure that will soon cater to the increasing air travel demands of the riding public in the booming Cagayan-Iligan corridor.

Cybercrime law covers text and calls as well networks and other devices connected to the Internet."

Section 6 f ur t her broadens the laws coverage to include "all crimes defined and penalized by the Revised Penal Code, as amended, and special laws, if committed by, through and with the use of information and communications technologies..."

“This practically means that communications and data on any type of phone or ICT device are covered by this very repressive law,” said Casiño.

"This means if I text my friends that a certain candidate is a 'cheap, secondrate, trying hard copycat,' that person can haul me to court for violating the Cybercrime Law and have me locked up for 10 years," he said.

"True, the case may eventually be dismissed but the

mere possibility that one can be charged for online libel is enough to silence ordinary people and stop them from expressing critical ideas," Casiño added.

“This law is straight out of George Orwell’s novel ‘1984’ and it seems to be a reaction of repressive governments against the almost instantaneous transmission of critical information like what happened in the so-called Arab Spring,” he added.

“Para talagang pangMartial law ang batas na ito at binubusalan tayo sa mga gusto nating sabihin sa pamamagitan ng internet at telepono. May kinalaman kaya ito sa nalalapit na eleksyon para di mabanatan ang mga kandidato?” asked the progressive solon.

“In effect, the Cybercrime Law wants to regulate our conversations and even how we think,” Casiño said

Asian countries need to develop a competitive services sector in a bid to sustain economic growth, even in the midst of uncertain prospects in key export markets.

The Asian Development Bank’s newly launched Asian Development Outlook 2012 Update said that the global financial crisis affecting growth of advanced economies has undercut Asia’s growth prospects.

This, as advanced economies are still the main markets for the region’s manufactured exports.

“Revving the services engine to offset stalling demand for merchandise exports can maintain Asia’s growth momentum and make it more balanced, as services tend to be more geared toward domestic demand,” it noted.

The report said developing the services sector can diversify the production base, which will enhance the resilience of the economy.

Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, already account for a large share of this trade, but greater openness can support a more competitive and productive service sector, it pointed out.

“Lowering barriers and opening up to international trade will force Asian service providers to raise their game to cope with stiffer competition. As they become more competitive and efficient, they will sharpen their ability to capture a larger share of the global trade in services,” said the report.

It added that as manufacturing sees wages rise and labor intensity fall,

Asia will look even more to services to create jobs for the millions who join the workforce every year.

To foster a more competitive service sector, the report suggested the need for Asian countries to implement regulatory reform.

“International experience shows that regulatory reform can catalyze competition and deliver significant economic benefits. It must be a top priority for policy makers,” it said.

Moreover, the report underscored the importance of easing constraints on infrastructure for services, and training workers in the skills demanded by modern services. “(These) will provide the means to move to modern high-productivity services.

A more competitive, dynamic service industry can boost overall productivity to support the region’s future growth,” it said.

Governments also need to invest more in infrastructure for services.

The report cited as an example the Philippine service industries in information communications technology (ICT) and outsourced business processes that benefited from such investments.

“While Asia has invested in ICT infrastructure at a furious pace, it still lags advanced economies,” it added.

Apart from strengthening the service sector, the report said that developing Asia should sell more products at home and expand intraregional trade in a bid to sustain growth. -- Danielle Venz, PHILEXPORT News and Features.

12

October 8-11, 2012

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