BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO (Nov 16-17 2012)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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Issue No. 127, Volume III •

Market Indicators

AS OF 5:58 PM NOV. 14, 2012 (Wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.12

5,451.09 points

4.83 points

Briefly

X

1 cents

X

Money scam

THE Department of Justice is probing allegations of a P12billion “pyramid scam” involving a Malaysian-owned company that supposedly duped 15,000 people in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The department is coordinating with the Commission on Audit to see if public funds were involved in an investment scheme supposedly run by Malaysian Manuel Amalilio’s company Amman Futures Group Phils Inc., Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters on Wednesday.

Reports have it that among those who were duped were local government officials who endorsed the investment scheme to other people, according to the Justice secretary.

Cagayan de Oro City

Friday-Saturday

Transparency

BUTUAN City -- The present administration of Butuan City has always been firm in maintaining and upholding the advocacy of good governance and transparency reiterating that all government institutions, political subdivisions, instrumentality as well as its agencies in Butuan City must show evident and indisputable proofs of transactions and credit operations undertaken.

To further sustain such endeavor and to realize the mandates of the constitution and other laws, Vice Mayor Law Fortun along with the earnest cooperation of the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, has approved a resolution regarding as a manifestation of support to this advocacy.

November 16-17, 2012

P15.00

Plan to pass on cost of Sendong damages hit Power providers seeking ERC approval, but a lawmaker vows to block move

A

By BWM NEWS BUREAU

LAWMAKER and members of civil society are dismayed over the petitions of various power utilities to pass on to consumers the cost of damages inflicted on their facilities by Tropical Storm Sendong last December 17, 2011.

In three separate petitions filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the Cagayan Electric Power and Light Company (CEPALCO), Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative-1 (MORESCO 1) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) are seeking the approval of ERC to pass on to consumers the portion of the damages to their respective facilities not covered by insurance.

PLAN/PAGE 9

Tourism boost

KORONADAL City -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) has teamed-up with a food conglomerate in the promotion of local tourism, an official here disclosed.

DOT 12 senior tourism officer Armin Hautea said a convergence effort with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corporation was formalized after president Jose Minana and DOT secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. signed a partnership agreement.

Here in SOCCSKSARGEN region, Hautea said, as an initial step DOT 12 will provide a general tourism training to Jollibee store front-liners in General Santos City’s KCC Mall on November 23, in an effort to boost tourism awareness and promote local tourist destinations.

every Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays

HOME, AT LAST. Former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar consoles returning Filipino Overseas Workers from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia who suffered different abuses from their respective employers upon their arrival last Monday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. advertorial

Villar Foundation repatriates 10 OFWs TEN distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), some of them endured maltreatment and other

forms of abuses from their employers, returned to the country on Monday from Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia, through the help of the Villar Foundation.

The OFWs, who arrived VILLAR/PAGE 9

NEW BRANCH. Colours Digital Foto opens its first branch in Mindanao at the Ayala Centrio in Cagayan de Oro. Owner Mr. Kelly Uy (2nd from right) leads the ceremonial cutting of ribbon during the outlet’s opening last Friday. photo by ronald mastail

Colours Digital Foto opens branch at Centrio Mall

By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA Reporter

“DO more with your pictures.”

The Colours Digital Foto launched its first store in Cagayan de Oro City in time FOTO/PAGE 10

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424

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Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

Economy

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Region 12 is 126% rice self-sufficient, agri official says

By DANILO E. DOGUILES, Contributor

KORONADAL City -- Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 has posted 126% rice self-sufficiency in 2011, regional executive director Amalia Jayag-Datukan of the Department of Agriculture 12 announced.

Citing data from the AgriPinoy Rice Program, Datukan said, the region recorded 1,244,148 metric tons (MT) in more than 345,000 hectares of rice production areas last year.

This is slightly higher compa red to 2010’s 1, 18 5 , 1 9 6 M T w h i c h contributes to the average yield of 3.62 MT per hectare.

Given the current total

rice production, Soccsksargen Region has a total supply of almost 585,844,410 kg which is 26% higher than the total demand of 466,201,780 kg for a population of 3,531,083.

Surplus was at 12 4 , 57 7, 871 k g w h ich summed up to 126% rice self-sufficiency level in the region.

Per province, Sultan Kudarat recorded 206% rice sufficiency, followed

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by South Cotabato at 125%, North Cotabato, 107% and Sarangani, 40%.

“Wit h t he rice sel fsufficiency level that we have at the present, no doubt that DA’s goal to be rice self-sufficient is a lready an inch of our reach,” Datukan said.

Su r plu s produc t ion was transported to supply requirements of other provinces.

Dat u k a n at t r ibuted

the positive turn-out to the continuous expansion of rice production in the region.

This ex pa nsion, she added, was in turn due to various agricultural interventions of the regional office such as distribution of farm machineries to different irrigators’ associations and season-long trainings that introduced modern farming technologies to the farmers as well

as construction of more irrigation systems t hat widened the region’s irrigated areas.

Besides DA 12, other sources of data include t he Nat iona l Stat ist ics Off ice (NSO), National Statistical Coordination Boa rd (NSCB) a nd t he Bureau of Agricultura l Statistics (BAS).

DA 12 estimates foresee better rice sufficiency level in Soccsksargen this year.

DTI bares suggested prices for noche buena products ILIGAN City -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection (BTRCP) has recently released the suggested retail prices (SRPs) for noche buena products as of October 22.

Noche Buena products include ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, sandwich spread, mayonnaise, keso de bola, pasta/ spaghetti, elbow and salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, creamer, and condensed and evaporated milk.

SRPs are the prices which manufacturer recommends that the retailers sell the products.

The intention is to standardize prices among locations.

And because approved SRPs are nationwide, selling the goods above the suggested retail price will be penalized.

PRICE MONITOR. The Department of Trade and Industry will regularly check the prevailing prices of food products commonly bought for Christmas dinner.

Over 1,000 vacancies offered in jobs fair in Davao City DAVAO City -- Over 1,000

local and overseas job vac a nc ie s w i l l be of fered during the first fair to be organized by one of the pioneering online job portals in the county on Nov. 22 at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada this city.

Hazel Grace V. Juson, assistant sales manager of Jobstreet.com Philippines Inc., an online job portal, said the one-day jobs fair will be staged in coordination with the regional offices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOL E) a nd Ph i l ippi ne Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) here.

T he fa i r w i l l feat u re white-collar jobs or those in the corporate sector.

Juson said at least 60 companies like banks, hospitals, schools, among others are set to participate.

She said interested applicants must be ready with all the required documents and credentials to avoid delays and application failure.

“It is i mpor ta nt t hat applicants must know the job they are applying for,” Juson said.

Documents like school credentia ls, most recent photos and other pertinent documents must be readily available during the interv iew for higher chances of being hired, she added.

(PNA)

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Award-winning Isuzu Alterra, Crosswind at Auto Focus show THE votes have been cast and counted, and the results revealed that the Isuzu Alterra and Crosswind are the best in their respective segments as determined by the motoring public and members of the automotive media.

In the 2012-2013 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards Night held on October 19 at the Valle Verde Country Club, the Isuzu Alterra was named Best Large SUV, while the Crosswind was elevated to the Hall of Fame for garnering more than five awards already. It was also deemed as having the Best On-board Entertainment System among AUVs in the awards’ Media’s Choice category.

To give the public more chances of taking a closer look at the multi-awarded Alterra and Crosswind, as well as other Isuzu models

Crosswind

like the D-Max pickup and the bestselling NHR lightduty truck, Isuzu Philippines Corp. will display these highly popular models at the Auto Focus Motor Show that will be held from November 8 to 11 at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. The motor show will also feature the other models that have won in the People’s Choice Awards.

Leading Isuzu’s display of durable, reliable and fuelefficient vehicles at the Auto Focus Motor Show is the 2013 Alterra Urban Cruiser X, which in the latest version of Isuzu’s f lagship model

Altera

has evolved into a perfect SUV for young executives.

Some of its newest features are black leather seats and trim cabin materials, smoked headlamps and taillights, an elegantly rugged front chin spoiler, European-inspired rear chin spoiler, high-mount LED stop lamps with clear lens, and a navigation-ready Kenwood multimedia entertainment system with truesurround Kenwood speakers and high-definition headrest-mounted LCD monitors.

Powering the Alterra Urban Cruiser X is Isuzu’s 4JJ1-TC iTEQ 3.0-liter, Common Rail Direct Injection, Euro 3-compliant diesel engine with a turbocharger and an intercooler.

To sit alongside the Alterra is the 2013 Crosswind Sportivo X multipurpose

vehicle, which in its latest evolution is equipped with 15-inch performance alloy wheels, fog lamps, chromeplated power side-view mirrors with integrated LED turn signal lamps, a stateof-the-art entertainment system, roof rails, a rear spoiler, a shark-fin antenna and a sporty spare tire cover. The Sportivo X ensures comfort through its dual air-conditioners, leat her seats, and Isuzu’s Flex Ride Move suspension. Under its muscular hood is Isuzu’s 4JA1 2.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injection, Euro 2-compliant diesel engine.

Streng thening Isuzu’s lineup at the show is the 2012 D-Max LS 4x4, which boasts si x-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels matched with all-terrain tires, a tough

Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

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Toyota recalls 2.77M cars over steering glitch TOKYO -- Toyota Motor Corp will recall about 2.77 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius hybrid car, due to problems with the steering mechanism and the hybrid system water pump.

Toyota will recall 13 models sold in Japan between August 2000 and January 2012, it said in a filing with Japan’s transport ministry. Some 1.5 million of the recalls are of cars sold in Japan.

The a nnouncement mesh radiator grille, comfortable leather seats and silver two-tone color, which gives it an outdoorsy image that is backed by the highest ground clearance in its segment. Isuzu’s 4JJ1-TC iTEQ 3.0-liter, Common Rail Direct Injection diesel engine that has a turbocharger and an intercooler guarantees power and torque. For a rugged yet comfortable ride, the D-Max’s suspension is composed of independent double wishbone with torsion bar springs and stabilizer bar in front, and Isuzu’s Flex Ride Move, semi-elliptical leaf springs with telescopic shock absorbers in the rear.

To complete its passenger vehicle offerings, Isuzu will also display its NHR cab with Flexi Truck body option that is built to the highest

comes a month after Toyota recalled more than 7.4 million vehicles worldwide for faulty power window switches that are a potential fire hazard, the biggest single recall since Ford pulled 8 million vehicles off the road in 1996. standards and rated with a two-ton payload, making the model ideal for transporting people and goods. It is powered by Isuzu’s 4JB1 2.8-liter turbocharged, direct injection with intercooler, Euro 2-compliant diesel engine. In the rear, the Flexi Truck can comfortably seat 14 adults.

Winners in the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards are determined through a nationwide public poll. Now on its eighth year, the awards for the first time incorporated unit sales as a factor in the vehicles’ selection process, carrying 60 percent of the overall result. Meanwhile, the votes garnered during a three-month online poll on Facebook made up 40 percent of the final score. This year, 147 different vehicle models were included in the voting.

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Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

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Adventure education center to open in 2013

Gen. Santos City

Globe, PLDT interconnect landlines in GenSan, SoCot Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom has completed its landline interconnection with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) in General Santos City and the whole province of South Cotabato over the weekend.

This follows the activation of their commercial wireline interconnection in Tarlac province barely two weeks ago.

Both firms are also working on similar arrangements in Pangasinan, Zambales, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte.

Aside from GenSan/ South Cotabato and

Tarlac, Globe and PLDT already have existing landline interconnection in Metro Manila, Cavite, Iloilo, Capiz, Maguindanao, Batangas, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, Davao City, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Laguna, Quezon, La Union, Nueva Ecija, and Benguet.

Interconnection allows subscribers of both firms to call each other locally within the same area.

In the past, a Globeline user calling a PLDT landline subscriber next door will be charged for long distance calls amounting to P6.50 per

minute since there was no direct connection between the two companies.

This time, Globelines customers can simply dial the seven-digit telephone number to connect with PLDT and vice versa.

“The ones who will benefit from this cooperation and healthy compet i t i on ar e t he Filipino consumers, both residential and commercial, as they can now realize substantial savings in their phone bills as well as gain greater access to telecommunications,” said Atty. Froilan M. Castelo, Head of Globe Corporate and Legal

Services Group.

The move is in compliance with the compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925 which aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.

“This only proves that even industry competitors can work together to serve public interest and spur the domestic economy with costeffective services,” he added.

The participation of microfinance institutions in the development of the country is being pushed so that there will be greater financial opportunities to the marginalized sectors.

Rep. Maria Evita Arago sought themeasure through House Bill 6655, saying microfinance can provide financial assistance and other services to the poor including, but not limited to, savings, insurance and loans.

Arago said microfinance as defined under the bill is a credit and saving mobilization program exclusively for the poor to improve the asset base of household and expand the access to saving the poor.

“It involves the use of viable alternative credit schemes and saving programs including the extension of small loans, simplified loan application procedures, group character loans, collateral-free arrangements, alternative loan repayments, minimum requirements for savings and

small denominated saver’s instruments and insurance schemes,” Arago explained.

Arago said the measure will provide the qualified microfinance NGOs with tax incentives that contribute to their institutional growth.

“It is crucial that microfinance institutions be accorded the policy support and framework that would provide them the encouragement to enhance their service to finance deserving individuals or groups,” Arago said.

Arago said it is the declared policy of the State to prioritize the alleviation of poverty in the country.

“It is vital that financial services be made accessible to the disadvantaged in our country. A liberalized and market oriented economy through entities such as non-government organizations play a significant role in alleviating poverty,” Arago stressed.

Under the proposed “Microfinance NGOs Development Act,” all nonstock, non-profit Bureau

of Internal Revenue (BIR) accredited non-government organizations (NGOs) or foundations engaged primarily in the provision of microfinance services are covered by this Act, provided that these NGOs or foundations are qualified to gain a donee institution status.

A donee institution as defined under the bill, is a non-stock, non-profit corporation or non-government organization, to which donations are wholly tax deductible from gross income of the donor or exempt from donor’s tax in accordance with Section 34(h) and 101 of Republic Act 8424 otherwise known as “Tax Reform Act of 1997.

Arago said to automatically be given a donee institution status, microfinance NGOs or foundation shall be first accredited by the Philippines Council on NGO Certification (PCNC) and the BIR. Under the bill, a general amnesty on all taxes past due and unremitted, including

penalties, as of the date of approval of this Act, shall be granted to non-stock, non-profit BIR accredited microfinance NGOs or foundations.

The Department of Finance (DOF) is mandated to set the guidelines for screening evaluation and approval of tax incentives

Development of microfinance NGO in the country pushed

CEBU CITY - Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. - Kool Adventure Camp (RAFI-KAC) will inaugurate the Philippines’ first fully dedicated adventure education center next year.

This initiative is to continue transforming the lives of the youth and professionals for leadership and team development through expeditions, kayaking, ropes courses, service learning, adventure camps, and backpacking challenges.

As of November 2012, the buildings and facilities in the center are close to completion.

Aside from the buildings, the center features 28 kinds of Challenge Ropes Course (CRC) High Elements.

CRC is an experiential adventure activity that offers groups and individuals the opportunity to participate in a series of activities involving mental, physical, and emotional risk taking.

This gives individuals the opportunity to increase their communication skills while becoming effective at group problem solving. Attempting and succeeding in this type of activity often gives one a feeling of accomplishment, self-worth, elation, and recognition that is quite possible in seemingly impossible situations.

“The center located in Balamban is a first for our country and a major initiative of RAFI. It is also a big responsibility we assume .There are other institutions in the Philippines involved in team building and adventure. Many also just for entertainment and leisure.

Kool Adventure Camp is a serious attempt to build leadership attributes in the Filipino youth,” explained Roberto E. Aboitiz, president of RAFI. Edvan Loh, KAC camp director, stressed that besides the technical equipment, training structures and facilities that have been built, the high level of quality and safety that has been designed into its curriculum, program and systems are what distinguishes the KAC centre.

“Our team of passionate and professional instructors are highly trained and competent in both outdoor leadership skills and facilitating learning through the outdoors,” added Loh. KAC has been offering adventure education programs for leadership and team development for youth and professionals for the last decade. It is one of the programs under RAFI’s Leadership & Citizenship focus area where future leaders are nurtured to prepare them to take an active role in affecting change. Other focus areas of RAFI are Integrated Development, Microfinance & Entrepreneurship, Culture & Heritage, and Education.

For more information on KAC and its services, please contact 418-7234 local 407 and look for Althea Santillan, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook. com/rafi.org.ph or e-mail at info.kac@rafi.org.ph.

for microfinance NGOs based on established industry standards for microfinance operations.

Likewise, the DOF shall determine performance criteria which serve as conditions for withdrawing the tax incentives as well as the donee institution status from microfinance NGOs.

House of Travel @ Centrio Opens

Furthermore, it may deputize private sector tertiary organization for assistance in carrying out its functions.

The BIR shall issue a certification of donee institution status, as well as a certificate of tax amnesty/exemption from liability as may be applicable to these NGOs or corporation arms. (lvc)

Together with Congressman Anton Lagdameo (left), Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Y. Emano, cuts the ribbon during the opening of the House of Travel, Inc. at the Ayala Centrio Mall, November 8, 2012. Present during the occasion are HTI Chairman of the Board Ambassador Antonio Lagdameo (2nd from left), his wife Ms. Maria Linda Floirendo Lagdameo (3rd from right), and Ma. Dulce Pelaez (rightmost). CIOPHOTO

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Banking & Finance

Typhoon-hit banks get reprieve from BSP THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is granting regulatory relief to banks affected by typhoon Gener so they, in turn, can extend assistance to their clients.

The relief measures were approved by the Monetary Board last week and can be enjoyed by banks located in the following areas: • National Capital Region (Makati City, Malabon City, Manila City, Marikina City, Muntinlupa City, Navotas City, Parañaque City, Quezon City, Taguig City and Valenzuela City); • Region I (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan); • Region II (Cagayan); • Region III (Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales); • Region IV-A (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal); • Revion IV-B (Occidental Mindoro and Oriental Mindoro); • Region V (Masbate and Sorsogon); • Region VI (Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Negros Occidental); • Region VII (Cebu); • Region IX (Zamboanga del Norte);

Typhoon Gener devastated many regions in the country in July this year. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is giving banks in the typhoon-hit areas some reliefs in order to assist the victims.

• Region X (Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental); • Region XI (Davao del Sur); • Region XII (Cotabato); and • Cordillera Administrative Region (Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province).

All banks will be allowed to provide financial assistance to officials and em-

ployees hit by typhoon Gener, even if this goes beyond the scope of their BSP-approved fringe benefit programs.

Thrift, rural and cooperative banks, meanwhile, can exclude the loans of hard-hit borrowers from the computation of their past due ratios, provided these loans are restructured or given relief.

Their general loan loss

provision is reduced to 1% from 5% for the restructured loans of borrowers in affected areas.

They will not be penalized if they will incur deficiencies in their reserves or are delayed in submitting their supervisory reports.

A moratorium is imposed on monthly payments due to the BSP from banks ongoing BANK/PAGE 7

Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

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Land Bank earns P7.6B from Jan-Sept 2012 THE Land Bank of the Philippines continued to post higher profits with net income reaching P7.6 billion for the first nine months of this year.

The seven percent growth from the P7.1 billion registered in the same period last year is due to the increase in income on loans and investments, foreign exchange profit, and slight decrease in expenses. The Land Bank attained a high return-onequity of 14.2 percent as of September 2012.

“Land Bank had a solid third quarter as we continued to focus on core businesses of the Bank, maintain prudent operations, and remain aggressive in expanding our loan portfolio, all geared towards better serving our

priority sectors,” Land Bank President and CEO Gilda E. Pico said in a statement.

The bank’s total assets expanded to P629.2 billion from P590.6 billion in September 2011. Deposits also increased to P489.5 billion from P459.6 billion, while capital expanded to P73 billion from P65.6 billion in the same period last year. Gross loan portfolio in turn grew to P241.9 billion from P237.5 billion.

The bank’s BASEL II CAR of 20.9 percent as of endSeptember 2012 remained much higher than the regulatory standard of 10 percent.

The strong capital ratios reflect the Bank’s capacity to aggressively expand its loan portfolio as the economic recovery further gains momentum.

PHILIPPINE banks have been registering net income expansion of about 15 percent in the past years.

But this is not the expectation now, given the impact of low interest rate environment in the country.

“The growth in net income of around 15 percent in recent years might not happen anymore because of the low interest rate situation in the country,“ Rizal Com-

mercial Banking Corporation Senior Vice President and Treasury Group head Raul Victor Tan told a news briefing Wednesday.

Interest rate in the country has been decelerating as the central bank continues to cut rate to help boost expansion of the domestic economy.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has slashed 100 INTEREST/PAGE 7

Low interest rate results to less income for banks

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Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

Opinion

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NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief DOLLY PELONE Advertising

The Sweat of Success THINK a minute…

Former Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill, became so famous for his speeches that he’s been called the greatest speaker of the century. He was also famous for his quick wit. Yet amazingly, he was not a naturally talented speaker. In fact, earlier in Churchill’s life he had such a bad speech problem that people made fun of the way he talked.

Do you k now how Churchill changed to become the greatest speaker of the 20th century?

He studied and wrote his speeches word-for-word on paper, and then he practiced them countless hours in front

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FELIX SANTILLAN RONALD B. MASTAIL Layout Artists

JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Uriel C. Quilinguing Editorial Consultants

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Speaking out

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI atty. roberto a. cantago jr.

Marketing Consultants Legal Counsels 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.

Freedom of information bill world.

Viewpoints civilized Precisely, communication

ARCH. OSCAR V. CRUZ (Ret)

“AN elephant trying to pass through a needle’s eye.” This can be readily considered as the picture of the plight of the FOI Bill before the Legislature presently under the command of the Executive Department.

These and those proposed legislation with the preferential option of the present administration infallibly carry the title “Priority Bill” – but not the “FOI”.

This is strange but true – considering that there are no less than at least three pertinent provisions of the 1986 Philippine Constitution in its favor!

There is the first provision on the inherent significance of information: “The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation building.”

(Art. II, State Policy, Section 24) Translation: A State that wants people to be blind dumb, has no place in the

is according of the communicative nature of man, in the same way that social information ultimately means social education.

There is the second provision on the relevance of public interest: “Subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law, the State adopts and implements a politic of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest.” (Art. II, State Policy, Section 28) Translation: A State that fears the disclosure of public transactions becomes untrustworthy. After all, restrictive conditions to the disclosure of public transactions are acceptable on condition that they are reasonable yet in accord with their constitutionally mandated “full” publication.

There is the third provision on the people’s right to information: “The right of the people to information on matters of public concern shall be recognized. Access to official records, and to documents, and papers, pertaining to official acts, transactions, or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for policy development, shall be afforded the citizens, subject to such limitations as may be provided by law.”

(Art. III, Bill of Rights, Section 7) Translation: The State has no right to for-

IGNACIO BUNYE

THE importance of rural banking in the Philippines cannot be overemphasized.

Rural banking, after all, seeks to expand the economy in the countryside by providing people living in the rural communities with basic financial services.

In our country, the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) was

IN biblical literature, the world can elicit two opposing reactions. One is hating it or at least be cautious of it, as in, “What shall it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” (Mk 8,36) Church Fathers have enlarged that line as typified by some words of St. Ignatius of Antioch: “No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth.

He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest.

He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. Do not talk about Jesus Christ as long as you love this world.”

The other reaction is loving it, because God himself loves it, as in, “For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” (Jn 3,16) I am sure that after stirring our mind a bit, we can see that both reactions can be made compatible if we consider the contexts in CRUZ/PAGE 7 which they are mentioned.

of a mirror. He worked at saying each word just the right way with just the right facial expressions. He also practiced pausing and pretending to struggle to find the right word, even though he knew exactly what he was going to say!

So although Winston Churchill was not a naturally good speaker, he disciplined himself and worked hard to become a great one!

You and I can never succeed in life without discipline and hard work. It takes sweat to succeed in our job and career, in school, in sports, in our marriage and family.

Even if you’re born into a rich family, or with an intelligent

mind and strong body, you still have to work hard to reach your full potential and truly succeed.

Most importantly, it takes work and discipline to develop the character we were born to have and enjoy. We must discipline and change our wrong attitudes, thinking, and way of living everyday.

It’s not natural or easy for us to quickly forgive someone who hurts us or our family.

It’s not natural or easy to always be honest no matter how much we can get away with or how much it costs us.

But you can start by asking Jesus Christ to forgive you for living your own way; and then ask Him to take

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

full charge of your heart and character. It’s only with Jesus’ character and power in you that you can start changing to become the best person you can be.

Just think a minute…

Rural Banking organized to foster goodwill and mutual understanding among rural bankers—enabling them, in turn, to promote the interests of and offer quality services to the communities wherein they operate.

The RBAP was founded in 1955 for the following reasons: to promote the general welfare and safeguard the common interests of rural bankers; to work for the proper and effective implementation of the laws and regulations on rural banks; to study and devise ways of making rural bank facilities more responsive to the needs of the people in rural areas; to act as a medium in the dissemination and operation of rural banks; and to initiate and develop a program of activities to stir up rural bank consciousness.

According to BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr., the RBAP and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas have a long history of cooperation in advancing the rural banking sector.

Tetangco emphasized that the rural banking industry plays a special role in accelerating economic growth while maintaining price and financial stability.

This role is highlighted in rural bankers’ deep involvement in the BSP’s financial inclusion efforts, which seek to expand access to financial services through multiple, innovative, and safe channels for more Filipinos— especially our previously “unbanked” countrymen.

The BSP has expanded the reach of microfinance services that can be offered to the rural banks’ target

market, in recognition of the varying needs of their clientbase in the countryside.

Aside from microenterprise loans, the BSP now recognizes micro-housing loans (Circular 678), microagri loans (Circular 680), micro-insurance (Circular 683), and micro-deposits (Circular 694).

The BSP also issued Circular 694 in October 2010, which allows any qualified bank to set up physical offices in areas where it may not be economically feasible to put up a full-blown branch.

Such scaled-down offices will enable the unbanked and underserved to access financial services such as loans, savings, remittances, electronic money conversion, bills payment, pay out services, and limited foreign exchange purchases.

The world we love-hate We have to hate the world insofar as it has absorbed our own sinfulness and has become a source of temptation and sin itself.

But we also have to love it because in the first place it is also a creation of God like ourselves, and therefore is good, at least in its original state until we have corrupted it. The world is also where God has placed us to work out our free choice of whether we want to be God’s image and likeness and children as he wants us to be, or not.

It’s important that we don’t get confused and lost in this very nuanced attitude we ought to have toward the world. We have to outgrow the simplistic all-or-nothing mindset that forces us to choose whether we are for the world or against it.

That mentality has produced a distorted culture that divides people into either worldly or other-worldly, without making the effort to relate this world and the ‘other world.’

We need to love the world the way God loves it. We just have to learn to purify it because of the anomalies

it has acquired due to our sins.

But we need to understand that the world has an inherent objective relation to God and to us that we need to discover, appreciate and enhance.

This is still a point hardly known and understood by many of us. The common attitude is that one is simply on his own as to what to make out of the world.

While it’s true that we can discover some natural laws governing the world, we fail to see how these laws come from God and are supposed to be oriented toward God. And so we feel quite free, in a licentious way, to do with it in any way that suits our purposes, but hardly connecting it with God’s plans and providence. This is the mentality that is quite embedded in us but which we have to reform drastically, since it does not conform to how we in our relation with the world should be.

We need to learn to see God in the world and to act the way God wants us to act in the world. Otherwise, we would just be at the mercy

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

of the blind forces of the world, and vulnerable to the maneuverings the more clever and powerful people around.

We have to start by reminding ourselves that everything that we see, touch, handle, and use comes from God. The very least thing that we can do is to thank God for all these things, and then try to discern what God wants us to do with them.

We can always presume that God has something grand for us to do every day.

He is love himself. His ways, his plans, his interventions in our life are of love. And CIMAGALA/PAGE 7

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Interest... from page 5

basis points off its policy rates since the start of the year.

To date, the overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase rate is at record-low 3.5 percent and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate is at 5.5 percent.

These were cut by 25 basis points in each rate setting meet of central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board in January, March, July and October.

“Next year will be challenging for Treasury people because of low rates,” Tan said, citing his expectations that “interest rate will remain low in the near term.“ The RCBC executive said the situation is “very serious”, thus, banks need to think of ways how to address the drop in interest income.

He explained that because of higher competition, banks have been waiving some fees on its transactions to the detriment of their income.

And because income are depressed by the low interest rate environment in the country, and the world in general, this has to be addressed, he said.

“Definitely banks need to look at low-cost funding, improve efficiency and introduce more innovative cash management products,” he added.

Similarly, EastWest Banking Corporation SVP and Treasurer Manuel Andres Goseco, during the same briefing, said that although interest income will negatively suffer from the current

low interest rate environment fee-based income is not the only rescuer of bank’s revenues.

“It is not necessarily feebased income but across the board,” he said. (PNA)

Bank... from page 5

rehabilitation.

Thrift, rural and cooperative banks will be likewise allowed to book their allowance for probable losses from loans on a staggered basis over a maximum of five years.

Rediscounting banks will be granted a 60-day grace period to settle outstanding obligations as of July 28 with the BSP. They will also be allowed to restructure the outstanding loans of borrowers affected by typhoon Gener.

These relief measures will be in effect only for a limited period of time -- no deadline has been issued yet -- and subject to other prudential conditions, the central bank said.

Typhoon Gener, which hit the country from July 28 to August 2, inundated the capital and other provinces.

According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, it cost an estimated P728.331 million in damage to infrastructure, agriculture and private property. It also affected 211,967 families or nearly a million people.

The BSP offered similar relief measures to banks affected by other calamities such as typhoons Sendong, Pedring, Mina and Juaning

last year and monsoon rains and typhoon Helen (Kai-tak) this year.

Cruz... from page 6

ignorance among its own citizens. It is not hard to understand that matters of public concern should be known precisely by the public – in the same way that private or privileged communications should remain such.

Notwithstanding all the above deliberately made and clearly expressed constitutional provisions, the following questions cannot but come to mind: Why is it that the FOI remains stagnant in the halls of Congress?

Why is it that the Executive Department does not want to certify it as a priority bill? What is it that the present administration does not want the public to know is acts and agenda? Why – considering that “reasonable conditions” are acceptable, especially so in conjunction with the intelligence work and security matters? Why oh why?

Cimagala... from page 6

love is always about being generous, heroic, making big things even out of small things.

This is something we need to be clear and be strongly convinced about. Otherwise, we would think our life is just a matter of coasting along and waiting for something big, in human terms, to happen.

If we have the right understanding of the world, we can always make beautiful

music out of the humdrum routine of our daily life, for we would know how to discover God who is love there.

Facility... from page 8

ganga Vice Mayor Isidro Castro thanked the interventions of major stakeholders and committed to sustain the local government unityowned facility that will cater to farmers’ needs from the different barangays and even the whole province of Davao Oriental.

Josefe Madanlu, one of the farmers, said he was able to send his children to college by engaging in vegetable production with the help of his wife.

He encouraged his fellow farmers to follow his lead in diverse agricultural production. (PNA)

Lanzones... from page 10

island last week, got the chance to visit the demo farm and eat as many lanzones they could gather straight from its branches.

For the tourist, nothing is more fun and exciting than picking and enjoying the fruit straight from the tree.

Inviting as it may, unfortunately, lanzones is a seasonal crop. It produces fruits only in late September to early November.

Advocates...

from page 11 who included lawyer Nepomuceno Malaluan from the Institute for Freedom of In-

formation, the co-convenor of the Right to Know Right Now! Coalition; as well as journalist Malou Mangahas from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ); and officers of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

The rest of the statement follows: “President Benigno S. Aquino III led the battery and assault on FOI, with his mindless “concerns” about the bill. In January 2012, at the height of the Corona impeachment trial, he all too suddenly endorsed the bill, albeit in a few perfunctory press statements only. But in the next eight months, nothing more was heard from him by way of real proof of endorsement of the bill.

“The President’s Liberal Party allies in the House, led

by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzalez III, did not move either. They neither pushed nor nudged the bill to fruition.

Evardone did not call committee hearings until today.

“The FOI bill is dead, actually murdered on its tracks.

Its butchers? The lackadaisical Evardone. The mindlessly perorating Antonino. The President and his flaccid support.

Belmonte, Gonzalez, and the Liberal Party leaders of the House, by propping and blessing Evardone’s duplicity on the FOI bill.

Other signatories were: Jenina Joy Chavez of Southeast Asia Monitor for Action; Clark Militante, Focus on the Global South; Mary Anne Manahan, Save Agrarian Reform Alliance; Atty. Eirene Aguila; Dr. Leah Paquiz, Ang Nars; Violeta Fernandez, Basic Education Sector Teachers Federation; Annie Enriquez Geron, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK); Jun Aguilar, Elso Cabangon of

the Filipino Migrant Workers Group; Joshua Mata, Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL); and Reylynne dela Paz, Access to Information Network.

Bill...

from page 11

Since the RH bill hurdled the period of interpellations or debates in August, it has barely moved in the House. Proponents said those against the measure were using privilege speeches as delaying tactics.

War? Cagayan de Oro Rep Rufus Rodriguez, an anti-RH lawmaker, said he will question the quorum every day, if that’s what it takes to postpone deliberations on it. If pro-RH bill lawmakers want the bill tackled, it’s their responsibility to come up with a quorum, he said.

Pro-RH bill representatives said they’re ready to declare war.

In a press conference last week, Cojuangco said: “If by next week nothing happens, you can be sure you will hear from us. I’m beyond patience already and ready to lose my temper. I’ll be the one to start the war.”

At the Senate, the RH bill is encountering the same obstacles.

The measure has reached a period of amendments, but no less than Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is taking his own sweet time in making known his own proposed amendments to the measure. Enrile is a staunch opponent of the bill.

Sen Pia Cayetano, principal author of the Senate version, asked Enrile on Tuesday, November 13, when he intended to allow the amendments to be tackled.

Enrile lost his cool, telling her: “I do not know, Madame Senator, when I’m ready.”

Cayetano has expressed her frustration with the delays in the RH bill in the Senate. Enrile has said that the measure is not a priority because the chamber is focused on passing the budget and the sin tax bill on time.-Rappler. com

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Agri News

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Del Monte puts up P567-M banana plantation in ARMM COTABATO City -- Residents of Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao have something to rejoice about nowadays as the Delinanas Development Corporation, a subsidiary of pineapple and banana fruit-producing and canning giant Del Monte Philippines, has embarked on a P569-million banana expansion program in the area that would initially employ 866 local villagers.

During the program’s launching on Tuesday, Costa Rican plantation manager Engr. Miguel Portuguez said that the program will initially cover 550 hectares of land and another 500 hectares for its second phase.

“We believe in the capacity of the people of ARMM. We ask for your full cooperation on this project,” said Almario Dacuna, land lease manager of Del Monte Philippines.

Sakiran Hajan, chairman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Board of Investments, gave assurance that security issues like extortion or kidnapping among the people involved in the program would not be a problem.

“There will be no security risks as this has been coordinated properly with the local people,” Hajan said.

ARMM caretaker Governor Mujiv Hataman affirmed such and noted that economic development is parallel to security.

Hataman also commended Del Monte Philippines for

investing in the region despite its negative image.

“I dare you to put up investments in other ARMM provinces like Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi,” he added.

Datu Sangki Municipal Vice Mayor Samsodhen Sangki lauded the Del Monte conglomerate for investing in their town as he assured to take care of the newly launched program.

“We are very happy that Del Monte chose to invest in our municipality as our constituents would no longer work in other nearby towns because of the jobs created by the opening of the banana plantation,” he stressed.

Hataman and Del Monte executives are set to meet soon to discuss the possible expansion of the program to other towns in Maguindanao that includes South Upi, North Upi, Datu Odin Sinsuat and Parang.

Delinanas products would be exported to the Middle East, America and South Korea. (PNA)

GENERAL Santos City -- In a bid to improve the productivity of local farmers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 12 has intensified the promotion of diversified farming systems in the region.

Amalia Jayag-Datukan, DA Region 12 director, said Tuesday that such campaign mainly focuses on the integration by palay or rice farmers in the region of other agricultural commodities within their production areas.

She said they recently introduced the Palayamanan Model Farm Project among farmers to showcase the diversified farming systems.

The project, which was a revival of the agency’s Bahay Kubo concept, is part of the major initiatives of the agency’s Agri-Pinoy Rice Program.

“Aside from rice production, the model farm is mixed with fruit-bearing trees, vegetables and inland fish production, livestock and poultry raising as well as biomass recycling,” Datukan said.

The official said DA-12 launched last week a Palayamanan model farm in San Gregorio, Barangay Blingkong in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat as part of the program.

She said the model farm, which is owned by farmercooperator Meldirico Prio, features rice production as the main commodity and is

supported by the production of various vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, okra, among others.

Completing Prio’s model farm are production areas for goats, ducks, chickens and tilapia.

Last month, DA-12 opened the first Palayamanan model farm owned by farmer-cooperator Ruperto Gonzales in Barangay Dansuli in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

Datukan said the Palayamanan program was launched by the agency to encourage farmers to engage in diversified farming in their respective areas.

“This program also contributes to the attainment of the Food Staples Selfsufficiency Program of DA,” she said.

The official said that DA

New investment is expected to generate employment and boost the economy of ARMM.

Military supports agricultural facility in Davao Oriental town BAGANGA, Davao Oriental -- The military has affirmed its support to an agricultural facility in Barangay San Alfonso, Baganga town here.

Lt. Colonel Krishna Murti Mortela, commanding officer of the 67th Infantry Battalion, said making the Ca-

DA pushes diversified farming system

12, through its Agri-Pinoy Rice Program, presently provides a grant of P100,000 to farmer-cooperators of the initiative.

Soraida Bangon, DA-12’s regional techno demo coordinator, said the main objective of the Palayamanan model farm project is “to develop an ecologically-sustainable and diversified farming system to increase small farmers’ productivity and income.”

Besides increasing agricultural productivity, the program also aimed at restoring the fertility of the soil to attain sustainable ecological balance.

“Through this program, sufficient supply of food sources is guaranteed when their profit from rice production is relatively low,” Bangon said. (PNA)

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

teel Agricultural Production Center (CAPC) operational manifests the commitment of the soldiers to peace as they strengthen partnership with the farmers.

“The soldiers of the 67th IB will be the solid partners of the farmers,” he said.

The CAPC is equipped with activity hall, worm bin house, farm equipment and vegetable nursery.

Corazon Losentes, officerin-charge of the Municipal Agriculture Office, said the CAPC serves as a techno demo farm, learning site,

research and development extension area and a point of convergence where various agricultural projects on crops, livestock, fisheries and recommended technologies will be showcased.

On the other hand, BanFACILITY/PAGE 7

Konsumanteng Kagayanon Inc invites you to join a briefing on CEPALCO’S ERC petition to pass on to consumers that portion of the P30 million damages caused

by Sendong not covered by insurance, 10 a.m.

Monday, November 19 at Cepalco conference room. T. Chaves Street, CDO.

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Plan... from page 1

In their respective petitions, CEPALCO declared P30, 190,606 in damages suffered from Sendong, MORESCO-1 around P10-million and the NGCP 727,088.64.

“This is unconscionable,” declared Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in a phone interview.

“We will oppose this at the ERC and Congress. How can they pass on these damages to the consumers who already suffered the floods of Sendong? There is no legal and moral basis for this claim and we will oppose this petition in every forum it is brought up.”

“Binuang naman na ila ipasa ang damyos sa Sendong sa ato. Na double dead man ta ana,” said a former director of the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) who preferred to remain anonymous. “Dawbe kadtong apektado ug namatyan sa Sendong? Pabayron pa giyod sa damage? Ka hayahay ba sad nila!”

“Consumers shouldn’t be made to suffer additional burden especially on disasters and natural calamities,” said former Oro Chamber President Elpidio M. Paras.

“Perhaps the most, utilities could ask for, is some tax relief from government. Maybe we just need to expand insurance coverage the next time.”` In their respective petitions, all three entities are asking ERC to declare a Force Majeure Event (FME) which would entitled them to charge their customers a Force Majeure Pass-through Amount for the costs their incurred for the restoration, rehabilitation and repair of their facilities damaged by Sendong. This would entitle them to recover the full amount not indemnified by their insurers from additional charges collected from their customers.

T he NG CP p e t it ion proposes to charge an additional 0.0331 per kilowatt hour (kWh) incurred by each customer starting Sept 2012, 0.0074 for 2013, 0.0073 (2014) and 0.0072 (2015) while CEPALCO proposes to bill an additional 0.0075 for 2013, 0.0079 for 2014 and 0.0074 for 2015.

MORESCO-1 which is covered by a different rate setting scheme, has instead opted to petition ERC to allow it to borrow P10,024,669.98 from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) at 7% per annum interest, payable in seven years. This will have a rate impact of 0.0228781 per kWh in 2013 to P0.0163454 per kWh in 2019.

“Absence of utility insurance should not be blamed on the power consumers who themselves are already the victims of being not covered by insurance wrought by fury of Sendong,” said Oro Chamber Trustee Cerael C. Donggay. “Obviously, not fair to the end Consumers and Juan de la Cruz.”

CEPALCO has scheduled a briefing for members of Konsumanteng Kagay-anon, Inc. (KKI) on Monday, November 19, 2012 starting 10:00AM at their conference room in Toribio Chaves St. to explain how their petitioned FME pass through amount will affect the customer’s electric bill.

KKI has made similar requests for briefings with NGCP and MORESCO-1.

The former has endorsed the request to its head office in Manila while there has been no response to date from MORESCO-1.

Villar... from page 1

rived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) 1 aboard Gulf Air 154 at 10:10 a.m., expressed their profound gratitude to the

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 44 Initao, Misamis Oriental IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION SPEC. PROC. NO. 2012-1124 FOR THE CORRECTION OF ENTRY IN THE RECORD OF BIRTH AT THE OFFICE OF THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR; CHANGING THE ENTRY FOR THE SEX OF THE PETITIONER FROM FEMALE TO MALE, LYN JHIE C. ACASO Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF LIBERTAD, MISAMIS ORIENTAL, Respondent. x------------------------------------------------------- / ORDER Let this case be heard on February 8, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, at this court sitting at the Hall of Justice, Poblacion, Initao, Misamis Oriental. The Civil Registrar concerned and any person having or claiming any interest under the certificate of live birth whose cancellation/correction is sought may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of the petition, file his or her opposition thereto.

At the expense of the petitioner, let a copy of this Order be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Misamis Oriental.

Further, let a copy of this Order and the petition be posted at the bulletin boards of the entrance door of this court, Hall of Justice, Initao, Misamis Oriental and Municipal Hall, Libertad, Misamis Oriental.

Finally, let a copy of the petition and this Order be furnished to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of the Civil Registrar concerned.

SO ORDERED. Initao, Misamis Oriental, October 19, 2012.

Villar Foundation led by its Managing Director, former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Villar personally met the OFWs and assured to help them and their relatives start a new life as part of her advocacies.

Since the Villar Foundation was established in 1992, it has endeavored on the repatriation of OFWs, particularly those who had encountered harrowing ordeal in the hands of their employers.

The Villar Foundation also provides medical assistance to ‘sick’ returning workers and help them be equipped with skills to find new employment.

The former congresswoman cited the need for the OFWs to have new skills to easily land a job and get them reintegrated in the society.

“In coordination with the Ople Center, we will teach them new skills for their livelihood,’ said Villar who is running for senator under the ruling Liberal Party and its coalition partners.”

“We also hold yearly OFW Summits – this year it is set on Nov. 22 at World Trade Center, Pasay- to uplift the lives of our OFWs through business opportunities, especially to those who have not been lucky in their bid to find greener pastures abroad. We want to give them another option other than being a worker abroad, that is, being an entrepreneur in our own country,” Villar said.

Stressing that OFW programs are among the advocacies closest to their hearts, Villar said they are happy that they are in a position to help our countrymen especially OFWs who endured leaving their families hoping they can uplift their economic situation but did not get good treatment from

their employers abroad.

“We cannot rescue them all so it is good that both the private sector and the government are extending similar help to OFWs,” she said.

The Villar Foundation has repatriated thousands of OFWs, with assistance from the Office of Sen. Manny Villar and other related government offices like the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (OWWA) as well as the Blas Ople Center and Migrante.

The repatriated OFWs are Roselyn Polo, Inopocan, Leyte; Sally Castillion, Cotabato City; Baingan Sumael, Sultan Matsura, Maguindanao; Elin Aidala, Jolo, Sulu; Merly Muay; Dalisay Ebio, Tanza, Cavite; Virginia Ocampo, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija; Evangeline Arcena, Davao City; Pilar Melendres, Lamita, Basilan and Charlita Mamporte, General Santos City.

They all fled from their employers and sought refuge at the Bahay Kalinga, a shelter for OFWS under Philippine Overseas Labor Office/OWWA in Riyadh while awaiting their repatriation to the Philippines.

Thirty-two year Polo, a domestic helper, was initially deployed in Kuwait, but her employer sent her to Riyadh on August 19, 2012. She escaped and asked help from POLO-OWWA on September 19, 2012. She was immediately admitted at the Bahay Kalinga where she underwent treatment for some psychological problems.

She was reported to have suffered from hallucinations due to unknown reasons.

Castillion, Sumael and Aidala who worked as domestic helpers were victims

Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012 of maltreatment.

Employed through Active Manpower Agency since December 31, 2008, Castillion ran away from her employer, and was endorsed in Bahay Kalinga on August 25, 2012. She was given an exit visa through the Saudi Social Welfare Administration (SSWA) on October 2, 2012.

Aside from the physical and emotional abuses incurred, Sumael who went to the Middle East country on June 20, 2009, also complained of delayed and unpaid salaries. She stayed at Bahay Kalinga since September 17, 2012 until she was sent back to the Philippines.

Aidala arrived in Riyadh on May 12, 2012 but was admitted in Bahay Kalinga four months later. Aside from maltreatment, she likewise had to withstand the poor working and living conditions in her employer’s house.

Muay also bore the fate of Aidala—the poor working and living conditions, but unlike the latter, she held on to her job.

Coming to Riyadh on March 11, 2012, she left her employers’ house without their permission after over a year. She escaped and went to Bahay Kalinga on August 18, 2012. She obtained her final exit visa through SSWA. On the other hand, the employers of Ebio, Ocampo and Arcena refused to give them their final exit visa which drove them to escape and begged for assistance from authorities.

Melendres objected to her contract substitution having arrived in Riyadh only on January 17, 2012. She ran away from her employer’s house and stayed at Bahay Kalinga since July 21. The SSWA gave her exit visa on September 19, 2012.

Mamporte finished her

9

one and half year contract on July 28, 2012 but her employer declined to send her back home.

The airfares of the OFWs were provided by the Villar Foundation through its Sagip-OFW helpline program. Likewise, the Villar Foundation also arranged for their trip back to their hometowns.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG ALL THE HEIRS OF THE CO-OWNERS WITH CONFIRMATION OF SALE IN FAVOR OF JOENA B. AYALA

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late BUENAVENTURA LABNAO, who died on November 4, 1994 in Cagayan de Oro City, without any will; left a parcel of Land, designated as Lot 1377, Cad 237, Cad-237, Cagayan Cadastre. Containing an area of (4,705) square meters situated in Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City and covered by Original Certificate of Title No. 6995 issued by the Office of the Registrar of Deeds for the City of Cagayan de Oro; is the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT AMONG ALL THE HEIRS OF THE CO-OWNERS WITH CONFIRMATION OF SALE IN FAVOR OF JOENA B. AYALA, made and entered into by and between; EFLEDA LABNAO BUHAWE, of legal age, married and resident of Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, herein referred to as HEIR; ENERIO LABNAO, of legal age, married and resident of P Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, herein referred to as Heir; FRANCIS LABNAO, of legal age, single and resident of P Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, herein referred to as Heir; EDNA LABNAO JUAREZ, of legal age, married and resident of P Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, herein referred to as Heir; and VIVIAN LABNAO, of legal age, married and resident of P Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City, herein referred to as Heir; For and in consideration of the sum of TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P200,000.00), Philippine Currency. Containing an area of (545) square meters, as per Doc. No. 129; Page No. 027; Book No. XXVII; Series of 2012 under notary public Atty. Samuel Arnado.

BWM: NOV. 2, 9, & 16, 2012

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City 2012-458 OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Cagayan de Oro City 2012-469 OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT SHERIFF

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE File No. 2012-301

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE File No. 2012-287

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act No. 3135 as amended, filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND (PAG-IBIG), Cagayan de Oro City, as mortgagee, against JOSEPHINE N. PEPITO married to NELSON P. PEPITO, with postal address at Block 8, Lot 3, Lourdesville Homes, Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City, or at Kinura, Kalilangan, Bukidnon, as mortgagor, which as of August 24, 2012 amounts to TWO HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR PESOS & 57/100 (Php 246,674.57) inclusive of interest, and penalty charges, but exclusive of attorney’s fees equivalent to ten (10%) percent of the total indebtedness plus the expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned will sell at public auction on November 29, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. or soon thereafter at the main entrance of the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Hall of Justice, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all the improvements found thereon, described as follows:

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act No. 3135 as amended

by Act No. 4118, filed by HDMF (PAG-IBIG), Cagayan de Oro Branch, as mortgagee, against JEFFREY M. SARADOR married to CRISTINE E. SARADOR, as mortgagors, Lot 3, Blk. 21, Pag-Ibig City, Malanang, Opol, Misamis Oriental, which as of August 24, 2012, amounts to THREE HUNDRED NINETEEN THOUSAND THIRTY SIX PESOS & 27/100 (Php 319,036.27) inclusive of interest, and penalty charges, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned will sell at public auction on December 6, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Room 110, Hall of Justice, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property described below with all the improvements found thereon, described as follows:

TCT No. 80034 “A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 3, Block 8, Psd-104305-017110, Being a portion of Lot 3045, Cad-237, Cagayan Cadastre) Situated in the Barrio of Carmen (now Balulang), City of Cagayan De Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of EIGHTY EIGHT (88) square meters, more or less”

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

In the event the auction sale falls on a holiday, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title hereinabove described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, October 21, 2012.

“A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 3, Blk. 21, Psd-10-057664, Being a portion of Lot 1, Pcs-10-003972. Location Malanang, Opol, Misamis Oriental. With an area of 120 sq. m., more or less.xxx

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF BY:

(Sgd.) ARTHUR L. ABUNDIENTE

Acting Presiding Judge

MA. TERESITA QUIBLAT-INSO Sheriff IV

BWM: NOV. 9, 16 & 23, 2012

BWM: NOV. 2, 9 & 16, 2012

TCT No. T-51162

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

In the event auction sale cannot take place for whatever legal reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the title hereinabove described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, October 23, 2012.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

BWM: NOV. 2, 9, & 16, 2012

ENRIQUE M. TALAG, JR. Sheriff IV

10

Tourism

Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

MisOc holds Pas’ Ungko festival

By RUTCHIE C. AGUHOB Contributor

OROQUIETA City -- Misamis Occidental celebrates the November month long Pas’ Ungko Festival with several activities lined up.

Now on its 3rd year, the festival whose name is derived from Pas’ Ungko, a Subanen word for “thanksgiving,” coincides with the celebration of the province’s 83rd anniversary, this year.

The festival engages all sectors of the province, to include the Indigenous Peoples (IP’s), persons with disabilities (PWD’s), sports buffs, professionals, church and religious groups, government workers, etc. to thank God for all the blessings received since the start of the year,” Governor Herminia M. Ramiro said.

These activ ities and their schedule include the following: the 1st GO HERMIE Fun Ride, involving a Big Boys Circuit Body Mass Index (BMI) Race, “Pahinayay” (Slowest) Contest and the Individual Short Trail Pursuit, Nov. 2.

Idol Ng Kabataan Season 2 Singing Competition and the 1st GO HERMIE Fun Run involving kids below 7 yrs. old, Senior Citizens, 1-km. tandem run for Father/Son and Mother/Daughter, 10 yrs. old below, Nov. 3.

Job Fa ir/Renewa l of Professional Regulations C om m ission (PRC) l icenses/Issuance of birth cer tif icates in securit y paper (SecPa) by the Nationa l Statistics Of f ice (NSO), Nov. 4.

Motorcade, R ibbon-

Cut t ing of Pas’ Ung ko Exposition, Praise a nd Workshop Festival, Fireworks Display and Christia n A lternative Music Explosion, Nov. 5.

Street Dancing, dance e x h i bit ion of Ta n g u b Cit y’s Sinandu loy Cu ltural Troupe, and dance showdown of the different contingents, Nov. 10.

Turn-over of agricultural projects, induction

of of f icers of fa r mers’ association and project visitation at the Paglaum Cooperative in Plaridel town, Nov. 14.

Basketball on Wheels by members of the Strategic Alliance for Networking on Disability (STAND), sponsored by the Misamis Occidental Provincial Medical Rehabilitation Center (MOPMRC), Nov. 17-18.

“Pa h i na” M i s a m i s

C oa st a l C le a n-up a nd Gre en i ng P rog r a m i n Barangay Lower Loboc, Oroquieta City, Nov. 19 and Agro-Industrial Skills and Individual Skills Competition, Nov. 19-20.

Employees’ Fun Day, Nov. 23, as well as Closing of Pas’ Ungko Festival and opening of the Light a Tree for Christmas at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, Nov. 29.

Foto...

owner of the Colours Digital Foto, that for 25 years, Colours has continued bringing color to the world of photographs and has afforded the people in Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete quality photo printing.

“And now we are bringing it here in Cagayan de Oro,” Mr. Uy said.

To supplement their name, the Colours DigItal Foto also caters services on quality photo printing, t-shirt prints

and photo mugs ensuring good photo prints to preserve captured moments.

Aside from that, we would like also to duplicate the success of our own Sony Centre in Cagayan de Oro which is located at the Limketkai Center, Mr. Uy added.

“People in Cagayan de Oro can now buy with confidence with Colours Digital Foto front lining with quality gadgets and quality photo printing services”, Uy said.

from page 1

with the Centrio’s opening on November 9.

Colours Digita l Foto houses various digital cameras including Digital Single Lens Ref lex (DSLR) and gadget accessories on trusted brands such as Canon, Sony, Samsung, Pentax, Nikon, EOS Digital, and Kodak Express.

According to Kelly Uy,

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF Tubod, Lanao del Norte

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF Tubod, Lanao del Norte NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF No.: 170-07-2012 Upon the Extra Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 / 1508, as amended, filed by the 1ST Valley Bank Inc., Baroy, Lanao del Norte against JOEL G. BUHISAN, Baroy, Lanao del Norte to satisfy the indebtedness which as of October 2, 2012 amounting to FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php 430,000.00) excluding penalties, changes, attorney’s fee and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on 27th day of December 2012 at 10:00 AM or soon thereafter at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 07, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all its improvements, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-16709 “A parcel of residential land known as Lot No. A-3-A, Psd-123503020279, situated in Upper Sagadan, Municipality of Baroy, Lanao del Norte, Island of Mindanao, Philippines, containing a total area of One Thousand One Hundred Ninety Eight (1,198) square meters, more or less including all improvements found thereof and particularly bounded as follows; Lot No. A-3-A, Psd-123503-020279 Bounded on the North, along line 2-3 by Lot-A-3-F, both of the subdivision plan, Psd-123503-020279 on the South East along line 3-4 by property of Bernardino Alvia. On the South West, along line 4-1 by Lot A-3-E of the subdivision plan. (Road Lot) “All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, this November 6, 2012.

BWM: NOV. 16, 23 & 30, 2012

For the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff CONRADO V. HINGCO, JR.

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE EJF No.: 171-07-2012 Upon the Extra Judicial Petition for Sale under Act 3135 / 1508, as amended, filed by the 1ST Valley Bank Inc., Baroy, Lanao del Norte against EDDIE A. AVILA, Bag-ong Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte to satisfy the indebtedness which as of August 2, 2012 amounting to ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php 1,500,000.00) excluding penalties, changes, attorney’s fee and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on 27th day of December 2012 at 10:00 AM or soon thereafter at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 07, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, to the highest bidder for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following property with all its improvements, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-22,930

“A parcel of residential lot situated at Bag-ong Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Containing an area of One Thousand Three Hundred Eighty (1,380) square meters, more or less including all improvements found thereon more particularly described and bounded as follows; Lot No. 986, Pls-13

Bounded on the NE, line 6-1 by Lot 1960-G, Csd-10-000091-D, SE., line 1-2 by Lot 6441-J-1, line 2-3 by Lot 6441-J-2, line 3-4 by Lot 6441-1-3 all of Psd-10-046241; SW., line 4-5 by Lot 644-1 Psd-12-015100; SW., Line 5-6 by Lot 6441-H Psd-12-015100.

TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. CLOA-11,306 “A parcel of Irrigated Riceland situated at Bag-ong Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Containing an area of Ten Thousand Two Hundred Thirteen (10,213) sqm. More or less including all the improvements found thereon more particularly described and bounded as follows; Lot No. 1960-G, Csd-10-00091

Bounded on the North along line 1-2 by Lot No. 1960-F, Csd-10-000091; on the East along line 2-3 by Lot No. 1957, Pls-13, on the South along line 3-4 by Lot No. 1960-H, Csd-10-000091 and on the West along line 4-1, by Lot No. 1960-E, Csd-10-00091.

“All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above stated time and date.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines, this November 6, 2012.

For the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff

CONRADO V. HINGCO, JR.

BWM: NOV. 16, 23 & 30, 2012

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Free concert for Kagay-anons

By VANESSA M. GORRA Contributor

RESIDENTS of Cagayan will have a rare treat when several choral groups will render a gamut of songs for free.

The Philippine Choral Directors Association with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Xavier University will be presenting a series of free concerts titled “A Choral Celebration: Northern Mindanao Heralds World Choral Day” on Nov 16-18.

Choral groups of various schools and organizations in Northern Mindanao will be rendering performances nightly starting 7:30 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Chapel, Xavier University.

T he Bu k id non St ate University Chorale, Caraga

State University Budjong Choral Ensemble, Liceo de Cagayan University G-Clef Society, MisOr Chorale and the Xavier University Glee Club will perform on Friday, Nov 16.

Lourdes College Chorale, Mindanao Mission Academy Teens Praise, Mindanao State University-Naawan Koro Kaayad Kaligaon and Mindanao State UniversityIligan Institute of Technology Octava Choral Society will render performances on Saturday, Nov 17.

Finally, the Capitol University Glee Club, Friends and Music, Iligan City Government Cultural Group Buhanginan Voices and Iligan City Seventh Day Adventist Central Church Youth Choir will present on Sunday, Nov 18.

A 14-year old child from Northern Mindanao won second place in the National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children.

Praise Joy Cabura of Barangay Palilan, Jimenez in Misamis Occidental province, bested other representatives from Regions 3, National Capital Region and Cordillera Autonomous Region.

A junior high school student of Jimenez Comprehensive High School, Cabura took home a plaque and cash prize of P20,000.

The National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children was launched by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and other partner agencies of the government to recognize the exemplary compliance of the beneficiaries to the conditionalities of the Pantawid Pamilya program.

The winners are 10 to 14 year-old beneficiaries who have set excellent examples at home, in school, and in

the community.

The awarding ceremony for the winners of the national search capped the National Children’s Congress (NCC) held last week in Manila.

The NCC, attended by 500 Pantawid Pamilya childrenbeneficiaries, aimed to imbibe on children a sense of nationalism, promote awareness, and make their voices heard on issues directly affecting them.

The activity was facilitated by different children ambassadors of non-governmental organizations and partner-organizations like the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Aside from Cabural, who represented the region and the province of Misamis Occidental, Northern Mindanao delegates also included Princess Grace Ducao of Lanao del Norte, Ailyn Negapatan of Misamis Oriental, Noven Villaber of Camiguin and Zacarah Lastimado of Bukidnon.

By JORIE C. VALCORZA Contributor

din Jesus M. Romualso said that for seven years, they had been doing studies to produce the camlong variety.

“We tried mixing both because locally grown lanzones fruits usually change its color four days after harvest, although its sweetness and taste remain superb,” Romualdo said.

With the new variety, the island now produces not only very sweet lanzones, but has longer shelf life as well.

The provincial government runs its own nursery and produces this variety in Mahinog town.

Guests and visitors in the recently concluded Buahanan Festival (Lanzones Festival) which was celebrated in the LANZONES/PAGE 7

Normin bags second in Pantawid Pamilya search

Camiguin markets new lanzones variety

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin -This island province is synonymous to sweet lanzones.

It’s October festivities center on this lucrative industry.

After years of study to better improve the shelf life of its renowned fruit, the island now starts introducing a new variety called “camlong” or the Camiguin longkong lanzones.

The camlong is a cross breed of the local variety and longkong - a variety usually grown in Thailand and Indonesia.

Longkong is described to be almost seedless and with a skin or peel that has almost no latex.

Camiguin Governor Jur-

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Congress watch

Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

11

FOI bill is dead in 15th Congress, advocates blame ‘conspiracy’ ADVOCATES pushing for the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill denounced Tuesday the virtual killing of the bill, over a decade in the legislative mill, by the simple failure of a congressional panel to have a report approved in Wednesday’s long-awaited hearing.

“BATTERY, ASSAULT, and MURDER” or “BAM” for short is “what happened to the FOI bill today at the hearing of the Committee on Public Information of the House of Representatives,” said the statement signed by advocates including journalists, press-freedom advocates, transparency and good governance champions, declaring that for all intents and purposes, “the FOI bill is dead in the 15th Congress.”

By ensu r i ng t hat no committee report will be approved in Monday’s hearing, said the statement, “the House Committee on Public Information has for all intents and purposes left no time for any FOI measure to get approved in the 15th Congress,” and it described committee Chairman Rep. Ben Evardone as “the biggest disappointment of all,”

FOI bill champions Vince Lazatin and lawyer Nepo Malaluan are seen in a press conference in July 2012, denouncing the half-hearted push in the House for the FOI bill. Their worst fears came true on Tuesday, Nov. 13, as a House panel failed to approve any report, dooming any hope to have the much-awaited measure passed in the 15th Congress.

one who displayed “a dismal failure of leadership.”

They blamed a political conspiracy to ensure the bill would never get passed, despite repeated avowals of support by leaders.

The g roup accused Evardone, a former journalist, of having enrolled the FOI bill as the last of eight items on the committee’s

agenda. “When the committee finally discussed the FOI bill, Evardone next allowed Rep. Rodolfo Antonino to hijack most of the proceedings and perorate endlessly on how Antonino’s right of reply bill was not considered by the committee’s Technical Working Group (TWG) led

by FOI proponent Rep. Erin Tanada.”

It added: “In the end the committee lost time to discuss any substantive issues on the FOI, particularly the contents of the bill.

“And when a motion was made and seconded to put the consolidated bill to a vote, Antonino, who used up most of the committee’s time to complain about the TWG, promptly moved to adjourn the committee hearing, citing a technicality which was sustained by the committee chairman,” the group’s statement lamented.

The signatories described the proceedings as “ just the final blow delivered by Evardone and Antonino, which left the rest of the committee members uncannily helpless to stop the slaughter

of the FOI.” During the hearing Tuesday, Akbayan partylist Rep. Walden Bello and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez moved for the approval of the consolidated bill, but Evardone said there were contentious matters that needed to be resolved before voting on it.

“The bill is not ripe for voting. We still have to hear from several congressmen what they have to say,” Evardone said in a phone interview.

‘Conspiracy to kill bill began much earlier’ By all indications, the conspiracy to kill the FOI bill had commenced much earlier, said the advocates, ADVOCATES/PAGE 7

“In effect,” said the statement, “Antonino made certain that the committee’s time was wasted on his redundant insistence on having his complaint heard. In truth, Antonino had already raised the very same issue at the last committee hearing in March.

In fact, Antonino’s complaint was already resolved in that last hearing.”

RH bill and disappearing lawmakers • Rep. Rufus Rodriguez vows to question the quorum everyday WHERE are our lawmakers?

For two days this week, the House of Representatives adjourned its session without tackling the controversial Reproductive Health bill. Last Monday, November 12, only 113 members were present at the Batasang Pambansa. On Tuesday, only 139 showed up. Trouble is, the House needs at least 144 to declare a quorum and proceed with legislative debates.

This is testing the patience of RH bill advocates in Congress, who wanted to

push for a plenary vote on proposed amendments this week.

On Tuesday night, November 13, an exasperated Pangasinan Rep Kimi Cojuangco posted on her Twitter account: “Both pro & anti #RHBill were present but still not enough for a quorum.

Let’s get to work my dear colleagues!”

A quorum is important since a technical working group has already come up with a compromise bill that addresses the concerns raised

by its opponents. The changes include the shift from “universal access” to RH services to “public access.” The new bill prioritizes poor households in the distribution of RH care services. It also stresses that the access must be to “medically safe, legal, accessible, affordable and effective” RH care services and supplies “which do not prevent implantation of a fertilized ovum” as determined by the Food and Drug Administration.

The window for passing

the bill is becoming narrow with time.

RH proponents want the bill approved on second reading before Congress goes on Christmas break on December 22.

A f ter t he Ch r ist mas break, session will resume for 3 weeks on January 21.

Lawmakers will again take a break on February 9 for the campaign period for the May 2013 polls and return only on June 3 to close the 15th Congress.

BILL/PAGE 7

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Friday-Saturday I Nov. 16-17, 2012

Property

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Property, banking, water units lift Ayala’s profit AYALA Corp on Tuesday reported that its earnings in the nine-month period ending September rose by nearly a fifth as the strong performance of its property, banking and water businesses offset the decline in equity earnings of its telecom unit.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the country’s oldest conglomerate said its consolidated net income increased 19 percent to P8.7 billion in the January to September period.

Core net income, which excludes the impact of the accelerated depreciation registered by its telecom unit and revaluation gains realized at its international property unit last year, went up 31 percent to P9.3 billion in the first nine months.

“We are pleased with the earnings performance of each of our core businesses and the continued improvement in profitability of our international units. Their combined performance todate keeps us on track with our year-end targets,” said Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala chairman and chief executive officer.

“The positive momentum in the domestic economy continues to present opportunities for us to build on the trajectory of our core businesses and aggressively

expand in these sectors. As our core businesses remain a steady source of earnings and cash flow, we also continue to optimize our portfolio to maximize value and actively invest in new sectors such as power and transport infrastructure to build a platform for long-term growth,” he said.

Equity earnings from its core and non-core businesses jumped 11 percent to P11.1 billion in the nine-month period ending September driven by its real estate, banking and water utility operations as well as the significant improvement in the contribution of its international businesses.

Property arm Ayala Land Inc posted a 27-percent jump in net income to P6.6 billion, buoyed by strong revenues across all business lines and margin improvements.

Bank of the Philippine Island’s net income grew by 37 percent to P13.2 billion on higher trading gains and the expansion in its lending business.

Higher billed volume lifted Manila Water Co Inc’s net income by 26 percent to P3.9 billion.

Globe Telecom Inc reported a 15-percent drop in its net earnings to P6.8 billion on higher operating expenses brought about by its network modernization program.

Aya la’s internat iona l businesses registered improvements despite lingering uncertainties in the global economy.

Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc’s net attributable net income surged 209 percent to $4.95 million as a result of acquisitions, better capacity utilization of its plants in China, and lower operating expenses.

Business process outsourcing unit LiveIt reduced its net loss primarily due to acquisition related charges and other non-operating items, as its share of revenues grew 8 percent year-on-year to $251 million on improved profitability at Stream, Integreon, and Affinity Express.

Ay a l a h a s d e ploye d roughly P4 billion to date in various development projects in power generation and transport infrastructure as well as in other projects of its existing business units.

Opening of new malls such as the recent debut of Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro boosts Ayala Land Corp. earnings early this year. photo by gerry l . gorit

Camella expands in Bicol CA M EL L A L ega z pi, a 20 -hectare communit y located 105-feet above sea level, is ready to welcome Bicolanos home!

Camella caters to the mid-market segment of Vista Land & Lifescapes, the country’s premier homebuilder. Camella Legazpi’s location will give future residents a 360-degree view of the bustling metropolis, the magnificent Bicol mountains in the west, Embarcadero de Legazpi in the south east, the Albay Gulf in the east, and the perfect cone of the country’s most beautiful volcano, Mount Mayon, as well as the cityscape, in the distant north.

“We are very particular about where we locate our communities,” said Jerylle Luz C. Quismundo, Camella president.

“We owe our future residents homes that will give them complete access to whatever they need – or would like to have – to live full and enjoyable lives. We believe our Camella Legazpi is possibly the best location a residential community in this city can ever have.”

A few minutes drive

Tips in buying home insurance MANY homeowners think that by purchasing property insurance, they have already gained enough financial protection for their homes and other valuable possessions. Only when an unfortunate event like a fire or major flooding causes irreparable damage to their property do they realize the inadequacies in their policy.

This could be because t hei r coverage is not enough, or their policy had already lapsed, causing their claim to be denied.

“The last thing you need when filing a claim is to find out you’re not covered,” said Malayan Insurance Retail Fire Underwriting Head Sharon Navarro. Malayan Insurance has built its reputation for promptly settling valid claims, and has been leading the non-life insurance industry every year since 1970.

First, keep in mind the level of protection you want so you can have a policy tailored to your needs. They need to realize that standard fire

policy covers only fire and lightning but additional coverage may be bought back such as Acts of Nature perils through an endorsement in their policy. These AONs may i nclude t y phoon a nd f lood, earthquake fire and shock, among others.

Second, insurance premiums are also affected based on several criteria such as location of the property and whether it is a residential, general, warehouse, or industrial facility. Buildings constructed of concrete with

sheet roofing or better may also be given premium discounts, among other considerations.

Third, homeowners must research the reputation of the company they will entrust their property to since this will have a direct impact in rebuilding their lives should the unfortunate happen. The insurer must have a proven track record for efficient service backed by sound and stable operations, with strong financial capability to be able to pay just and valid claims quickly.

from Camella’s gates is Legazpi’s popular commercial and entertainment hub, the Embarcadero de Legazpi, with its shops and restaurants, waterfront walk, delightful view of the harbor and Mayon, and its famous lighthouse.

For even more leisure and shopping options, the Gaisano Mall is also nearby, and not too far away are the LCC Mall and Savemore; and for the basics, the public market is an easy five-minute drive away.

St rateg ica l ly i n t he center of movement and traffic hubs, the development is bordered by some of the city’s main roadways and railways that traverse through the province and out to the rest of Luzon.

The property is also a 20-minute drive to Legazpi airport and less than 10 minutes to the Legazpi Port.

Top hospitals are nearby, as well as well-known schools like St. Agnes Academy and Divine World College.

More than the accessibility and convenience of its location, the project promises to be a secure haven for its residents with its guarded main gate and perimeter walls and 24/7 security. The roads will be wide and tree-lined.

Landscaping that will reach into pocket gardens, hidden cul de sacs and walking paths will be lush with the greenery endemic to the Bicol region. All these are designed to soothe the senses, eliminate stresses and create a feeling of peace and sanctuary.

Since health and wellness are crucial to the Camella way of life, the community will have a basketball court, a playground, a swimming pool, and open spaces perfect for letting off steam, building the body and just plain family and neighborly bonding. To further strengthen the community spirit, there will be a club-

house and a commercial/ retail center, creating a nearly self-contained community that responds to the lifestyle needs of its homeowners.

The homes in this new community offer a diverse selection of some of the most popular choices from the Lessandra, Camella, and Jewels series. The variety is to guarantee that the community offers homes perfect for every family in different stages of life and economic station, as well as to cater to varied tastes, needs, preferences, hopes, and dreams.

Named after the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Philippines – Miguel Lopez de Legazpi – the city of Legazpi has been recognized as one of the most competitive and fastest-growing cities in the country. It is the Bicol region’s economic and educational hub and is currently the center of a business boom, luring a new wave of entrepreneurs, residents and tourists to the bold and pioneering metropolis.

The developer manages and markets its developments through Communities Philippines. The group has been building houses and communities in the country’s provinces for the affordable, middle and upper middle income segments offering Lessandra, Camella and Jewels Series homes respectively.

In over 37 years, it has built a wide selection of high-quality homes and exquisitely themed communities and master planned “cities” across the islands – each one carrying with it Vista Land’s expertise in sustainable architecture located in accessible sites conveniently close to schools, business centers, transport hubs, and places of worship, entertainment, and culture.