Mark 12:30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
July 20 - 26, 2014 Volume II • Issue No. 74 Php 12.00
Iloilo Metropolitan Times
METROPOLITAN
ILOILO
BIZ PULSE
the first business newspaper in metro iloilo
Many over65 Ilonggos still working
TIMES
developmental news | critical views
@Ilo2MetroTimes
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD
www.iloilometropolitantimes.com
The age of 65 is no assurance that one will retire. A rapidly growing number of Ilonggos continue to work beyond the retirement age to provide financial aid to their families. They a have inability to save for retirement. Iloilo Metropolitan Times were greeted a number of them in markets and ports. Majority were married and have to take care their grandchildren while their sons and daughters left their homes. Many over /p10 HISTORICAL EXCHANGE RATE Weekly MIDPOINT Rates - July 11-17 , 2014
USD/PHP
43.6500 43.6087
43.6000
43.6258
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BRANCHES:
Sarabia Manor Hotel & Convention Center Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City Viosil’s Arcade M.H. Del Pilar St., Tel No. 396-1542 Molo Iloilo City, Philippines St. Anne Building Luna St., Tel. No. 338-2898 Lapaz, Iloilo City Philippines Tel. No. 320-1155 Iloilo Grand Hotel Lobby Area, Ground Flr. Iznart St., Iloilo City New Iloilo Airport 2nd Flr., Predeparture Area Cabatuan, Iloilo Philippines Tel. No. 333-0029
43.5000
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43.4500 43.4000
43.5018
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43.3804
43.3500 July 11, 2014
July 13, 2014
July 15, 2014
July 17, 2014
‘MISMATCH’ ALARMS BIZMEN
UNDER THE RAIN. Filipino elementary students walk home from school in the rain. Photo from OnlineBulliten
IMT launches book drive
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD
It shows that there’s little income inequality here in Iloilo as observed by the Iloilo Business Club (IBC). “I would suppose that there’s still income inequality because you can still see incidences of begging and sleeping on the sidewalks, but compared to other cities, not so much with us,” said Ma. Lea Victoria E. Lara, executive director of IBC. “There’s a phenomenon where ga
high ang aton unemployment rate kay damu ta schools, so compared to other provinces and cities, ga produce ta damu nga graduates annually,” she added Moreover, Lara stated that one manifestation of income inequality here is the job mismatch among the citizens. “We manifest on, like say, a nurse, ga work as cashier sa department stores or maybe going to call centers instead of being employed on a hospital for which gin train gid siya,” she said.
“But again, it is an influence of opportunities nga ari diri, that’s why damu ta exodus sang mga graduates going out, because they feel nga mas damu pa opportunities sa sagwa like in Manila, Cebu, or abroad, Lara said. Additionally, she remarked that there’s no gender discrimination here that manifests income inequality by stating that a lot of women now are occupying high-end managerial positions, supervisory, “mas empowered Mismatch alarms /p11
RPT hike vital for city
BY MONTESA GRIÑO CAOYONAN
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD With the aim of eradicating illiteracy, different communities will benefit from the book donation event by Metropolitan Global PH Communications Co., the publisher of Iloilo Metropolitan Times. The company plans to collect IMT launches /p11
DTIDTI PRICE PRICEMONITORING MONITORING Prime Commodities (April 2014) Prime Commodities (April 2014)
CANNED SARDINES Current Price INSTANT NOODLES Current Price
Paradiso (155g) Young’s Town Bonus (155g) Lucky 7 (155g)
12.15 Lucky Me! (55g) 13.25 Payless (50g) 13.75
PROCESSED MILK Current Price
BREAD
Alaska Sweetened Filled 51.30 Milk - Condensed 300 mL Pinoy Tasty (400g) Alaska Filled Milk 37.00 Pinoy Pandesal Evaporated 370 mL Angel Filled Milk Evaporated 410 mL
7.10 6.30 Current Price
37.00
(pack of 10 pieces) 22.50 36.80
It is the 2015 annual budget of the Iloilo City Government that will suffer once there will be no increase in the real property tax (RPT), according to City Assessor Nelson Parreno Parreno said there is a need to implement the increase of RPT since the city government needs also to fund other projects to meet the fast growing development of the city. Parreno further said the increase will be used to help sustain several programs in the city especially that more than P 60-million Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shared from RPT hike /p11
DA PRICE MONITORING Processed and Manufactured Commodities (April 2014) Processed and Manufactured Commodities (April 2014)
Commercial Rice Regular Milled Well Milled Premium Special (Fancy) Sugar Refined Washed Brown Sugar Cooking Oil Lapad (bottle)
Current Price 38.00/kg 40.00/kg 42.00/kg 50.00/kg 46.00/kg 42.00/kg 40.00/kg
27.00
Meat & Poultry Pork Liempo Pigue (Ham) Beef Rump Brisket Chicken Fully Dressed Egg (Medium) Fish Bangus
Current Price
190.00/kg 180.00/kg
260.00/kg 200.00/kg 130.00/kg 4.50/pc
Current Price 120.00/kg
AERIAL SHOT OF ILOILO CITY. Iloilo is set host two high-level and major Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in 2015. Photo credits to Kenny D. Celestial.
BUSINESS
Mabilog sees LRT in Panay 3
OPINION Networking 6
SPORTS
“Uncaged Australian Invasion” features Ilonggo-Australian boxers’ bout 11
TOURISM
Lagaw-Lagaw sa Miagao 9
Mila’s Hill
NEGROS
Negros wind farm by 2015 BY REYMAR LATOZA The Department of Energy said the 50-megawatt (MW) wind power project in Negros Occidental is almost 50 percent completed and is expected to be done in 2015. The ongoing construction of wind farm of First Maxpower International Corp in the municipality of Pulupandan is scheduled for testing and commissioning in November next year. It costs $124.475 million, which will be funded through 70% debt and 30% equity. It was in September last year,when First Maxpower received the go-signal to go on with the construction. The electricity generated by the plant will be applied under the Wind farm /p10 Mini Hotel
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M/V MILAGROSA-J TRES PORT
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WESTERN VISAYAS
the first business newspaper in metro iloilo
2
July 13 - 19, 2014
METROPOLITAN
developmental news | critical views
aklan BY KAREN BERMEJO More international airlines seek to capitalize on the growing number of tourists travelling to Aklan, especially for its famous Boracay Island. Recently, two international routes kicked off its maiden flights to Kalibo International Airport. Budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air inaugurated its maiden flight from Guangzhou, China on Saturday, July 12 with 194 passengers while Asiana Airlines from Incheon, South Korea arrived on Monday, July 7 with 144 passengers. The new Cebu Pacific route will cater twice weekly flight from Guangzhou or Canton, the capital of Guangdong province, which is also the third biggest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Meanwhile, Asiana, a five-star South Korean airline will cater direct flights from Incheon to Kalibo four times a week. Aside from China, Cebu Pacific
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More International Airlines Cater Kalibo Route also caters international flights from Kalibo airport to Hong Kong and Singapore. Meanwhile, the Kalibo route is Asian airlines fourth destination in the Philippines, following Manila, Cebu and Clark. The new service also made Asiana as the first Star Alliance carrier to operate a Kalibo route. Department of Tourism officerin-charge Tim Ticar said the opening of new flights will help boost the island’s chance to achieve the 1.5 million tourist arrival target for this year. “This will make Aklan and Boracay more accessible to the international market,” he added. Based on the DOT record, a total of 845,299 tourists visited the island from January to June this year. Informer
antique
San Jose PNP warns defiant computer shops The San Jose Municipal Police Station warned six (6) internet shops here for violating a Municipal Ordinance which prohibits students from entering computer/internet shops during regulated hours. “Parents can now be assured that their children are studying in their school and not wasting time playing games in internet shops because we are intensifying our monitoring and inspections of these shops to make sure that the operators are following the Municipal Ordinance No. 2009-04, regulating the operation of Computer shops in the Municipality,” PSupt Jose Roy Torrechilla aid. The said Municipal Ordinance prevents students/pupils from going to internet shops from 7:15 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Torrechilla said that earlier, the officials of the Antique National School gathered the operators of internet shops for a conference regarding the
Municipal Ordinance. “Out of 55 registered computer shops in San Jose, only 15 have attended the meeting,” Torrechilla said as he lamented the poor attendance of the internet operators, “that is why we are serious in monitoring the internet shops in order to protect the future of our children.” During the inspections conducted by the San Jose policemen, six were found to have defied the ordinance and they were warned. Torrechilla said that if found to have violated the ordinance for the second time, the operator will charged P2,500; and for the third offenserevocation of Mayor’s/Business Permit. The San Jose PNP chief also called on the parents to remind their children that the police is now keeping tab of all internet shops, and as parents they should guide and motivate their children to religiously attend their classes.PIA-6
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL
Boracay is Asia’s 24/7 island
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has branded Boracay as “Asia’s 24/7 island” as part of the series of advertisements of the new phase of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines Campaign”. In a DOT press release, the television commercial (TVC) captured the island as a vibrant destination with activities from one sunrise to the next. The TVC speaks to travelers looking for value for money destinations due to the unending variety of activities available in one place, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The DOT-produced Boracay TVC is one of the four 30-second destination specific commercials which also include Davao, Manila and Cebu. The TVCs are shared over social media and aired over international TV channels such as CNN (including CNN US Airport feed), Asian Food Channel, BBC, Fox Sports, EuroNews, and EuroSport in various countries from USA, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and parts
of Europe. The print ad versions have appeared in German publications, the UK Sunday Times Travel, Action Dive publication for Southeast Asian distribution, and also displayed as outof-home (OOH) ads in select Korea subway stations. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said that this year, there is a shift of focus of the promotional campaigns and marketing efforts towards specific destinations worthy of
CAPIZ
Lifestyle check, nutrition necessary for good health National Nutrition Council (NNC) – 6 director Nona B. Tad-y is pushing for the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) which calls for a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition thru regular exercise and keeping away from tobacco and alcoholic beverages. This was conveyed by the region’s top nutritionist during the launching of Tapaz town’s various nutritionbased activities in view of the 2014 Nutrition Month celebration last July 7 at Tapaz Civic Center. Tad-y said proper nutrition intake must be observed daily. A big nutrition tarpaulin for the for the celebration was unveiled by
Tad-y and Tapaz mayor Rosemarie Gardose during the launching program which was conducted simultaneously with a poster making contest among pupils from various schools in the municipality. For her part, Gardose said that the celebration intends to increase awareness among the school children, teachers and other sectors in the community that nutrition plays an important role in everyone’s life. She also acknowledged the support of the Department of Health, National Nutrition Council, Department of Education and barangay officials in the local campaign against malnutrition. The municipality will also stage
BY EASTER ANNE D. DOZA
Operational Lease Transfer from 25 landholdings. DAR also recognized 10 of its scholars who graduated Magna Cum Laude and Cum Laude’s this year through its Programang Agraryong Iskolar (PAI). Magna Cum Laude graduates were Joan Granda, Gerald Bello and Daisy Dalguntas while Cum Laude graduates were Jeannie Dimasuay, Gemma Valenzuela, June Rey Manaog, Glennamhae Tambora, Jyrene Marie Alipio, Chrismie Ching and Jason Jungco. These scholars took up bachelor courses at the different campuses of the Central Philippine State University and graduated in April this year. Since 2005 to date, the PAI was able to produce a total of 133 graduates.PIA-6
a nutri-jingle contest and “biggest gainer” contest among others, during the month. The biggest gainer is designed among toddlers provided with nutritional packs as a supplement on their daily food consumption to achieve the highest gained weight and height in a period of time. The awarding of the various contests winners will be on July 31. The celebration with the theme “Kalamidad paghandaan: Gutom at malnutrisyon agapan!” is embodied in Presidential Decree No. 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines which specified the month of July of every year as Nutrition Month nationwide. PIA-6
Capiz gets 40,000 bags of cement to address shortage
DAR support services continue N E G R O S OCCIDENTAL, July 15 (PIA6) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gave out loans, certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) and citations to program beneficiaries as part of their support services during the 26th anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program here. More than P35 million worth of loans as part of the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) were turned over to 10 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) while seven ARBOs are awaiting release of another P30-million worth of loan. Meanwhile, 13 ARBOs fully paid their APCP loans for Crop Year 20132014 worth P29,607,387. APCP is a joint DA-DAR-LBP five year credit and capacity development program designed to respond to the credit needs of ARB organizations. During the celebration, DAR also distributed CLOAs to 319 farmer beneficiaries sharing a total 302 hectares of land acquired by DAR either through Voluntary Offer to Sell, Compulsory Acquisition or
becoming a brand of their own. He said this is done not only because of their wide variety of product offerings, but because of the unique experiences that these destinations could offer. On one hand, the number of tourist arrivals in Boracay has increased by 8.3 percent this year, as per DOT-6 record from January to June 2014. The number of tourist arrivals in the island rose from 774,781 last year to 845,299 this year.PIA-6
About 40,000 bags of Mabuhay brand cement were initially shipped to Capiz by a new Mindanao – based supplier to address shortage of the construction commodity in the
province. Department of Trade and Industry – Capiz Business Regulation and Consumer Welfare Division head Angelita Colmo said that the
new supplier was finalized in a recent meeting of cement suppliers and retailers. Mabuhay cement will be in addition to existing brands like Excel, Premium, Portland and Republic. “These cement brands are supplied to four big cement retailers here. Small retailers get their supply from the big four,” Colmo noted. The province’ average cement requirement is estimated at 325,000 bags every month due to the various supertyphoon Yolanda rehabilitation projects. The figure is about 50 percent higher than the regular cement need provincewide. Each bag of cement ranges from P240.00 – P245.00 from the big four retailers. PIA-6
Marañon backs PNoy on DAP Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has openly supported the position of President Benigno Aquino III on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). “We should thank the President that there was surplus in the budget unlike his predecessor,” Marañon said Tuesday, reacting to Mr. Aquino’s speech Monday explaining the use of the DAP.
The President appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision declaring unconstitutional some provisions of the DAP, saying that its implementation is an efficient way of spending the budget. Mr. Aquino added that it follows the law and adheres to the mandate granted to the Executive Branch. Marañon said he agrees with the President as he pointed out that the funds under the DAP did not go to
Mr. Aquino’s pockets but to projects that benefited the people. “The previous administrations have their own versions of the DAP,” the governor said. He added that administration critics are expected to believe that whatever the Aquino administration does is wrong. “What is clear is that under Aquino, the economy improved,” Marañon said. PNA
July 13 - 19, 2014
METRO BUSINESS
3
Mabilog sees LRT in Panay BY MONTESA GRIÑO CAOYONAN Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is optimistic that his request for a feasibility study for the proposed Light Railway Transport (LRT) in Panay Island will be acted upon soon by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). This, after Mabilog sought the help of DOTC in conducting a feasibility study on the said proposal as advised by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in response to the letter sent to them by the mayor last July 7. “We aim that Panay Island particularly from Iloilo City to Boracay Island in Kalibo, Aklan will be accessible to everyone especially to our tourist passengers,” he said. Mabilog added the LRT system
will help boost the local tourism industry of the entire island and once completed, the travel time from Iloilo City to Aklan province will be shortened and will take only two hours, unlike the present six hours. “This is just a proposal. If it is feasible, we will look for a possible investor who could invest for this project. I am sure there will be more investors who will take interest with this”, he said. Last week, the Iloilo City Council has unanimously voted to give endorsement to the request of Mabilog for a feasibility study on the proposal. On the other hand, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. amenable to the propsed project, saying that it is “too ambitious”. According to him, such a project
would cost billions of pesos. Meanwhile, the new proposed LTR project is different from the proposed rehabilitation of Panay Railway Incorporated (PRI) five years ago, as confirmed by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) assistant director Atty. Raul Anlocotan.
In fact, the feasibility study reviving the 117 kilometers length of Panay Railway System from Iloilo to Roxas City which cost around P32 billion was already approved by the Regional Development Council (RDC). Anlocotan said the project was not yet implemented because there was no interested investor.IMT
Bank lending standards in Q2 unchanged
The municipality of Miagao received a P2.5-million grant from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region VI for the road rehabilitation and construction of its farm-to-market road (FMR) project. DA-6 Regional Technical Director Joyce S. Wendam said that the FMR project will hugely benefit farmers, fisherfolk and local residents of the town. The construction and rehabilitation will take place in Brgy. Sitio Gines Palaca- Tugura-ao road, Brgy. Igbugo- Cawayanan road, and Brgy. Pungtod Monteclaro- Sibucao road sections. The said amount came from the DA’s Grassroots Participatory Budgeting.
Wendam said that more towns in the province will benefit infrastructure projects through the DA-Philippine Rural Development Program. She also stressed the need for the local government units and farmers to organize registered associations and to submit feasible project proposals. Mayor Macario Napulan said that the only way for this municipality to progress is through agriculture. “We are enjoining the farmers to be adoptive to the agricultural technologies and to organize themselves into associations which will give them access to different programs of the DA,” he said. Wendam also encouraged Miagao town farmers to convert at least five percent of their area into organic agriculture sites.IMT
Thousands of drug cases pending
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD The Bangko ng Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) released the result of the Q2 2014 Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) which unveiled most banking institutions maintaining their credit standards for loans to both enterprises and households based on the modal approach since 2009. About 85.7 percent of the surveyed banks indicated that credit standards for loans to enterprises were kept steady during the quarter using the modal approach as banks’ tolerance for risk remained steady. “Their outlook on the domestic economy as well as specific industries, such as real estate, renting and business activities, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, financial intermediation, and utilities likewise remained unchanged,” stated by the BSP. Credit standards for top corporations were unchanged for the fourth consecutive quarter based on
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD
the diffusion index approach. Meanwhile, “credit standards for large middle-market enterprises showed a net tightening for the fourth consecutive quarter, while credit standards for loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro enterprises have eased based on the DI approach.” For the next quarter, most of the respondent banks still expect credit standards for loans to enterprises to remain unchanged, it said. Percentage of banks foreseeing little easing of credit standards for loans to businesses was higher compared to those expecting the opposite. “A more favorable outlook on the domestic economy, expected improvements in the profitability and liquidity of banks’ asset portfolios, and anticipated improvement in borrowers’ profile were among the reasons behind the expected net easing of credit standards of respondent banks,” explained BSP. IMT
Television sales in the Philippines boomed 4.8 percent up from January to May this year as showed in a survey conducted by leading global market researcher GfK. In the retail audit of TV sales, a total of 518,200 sets were sold in the Philippines from January to May this year compared to 493,400 sets in the same period last year. The month of May had the highest monthly sales volume; about 98,300 TV sets were sold compared to an average of 94,200 sets for the months of February, March and April. Retail sales tracking by the leading global market research company revealed that more TV sets are being sold in every single market across the Southeast Asia region in the month prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Reports showed than in May, demand surged significantly, by 15% more than the average sales volume achieved in the non-peak months of February, March and April for all markets in the range of 4-31%. Thailand showed the greatest spike, followed by 19% in Vietnam and 16% in Singapore. It was notable that the 232,000 TV sets snapped up in Thailand in May was the highest monthly sales achieved by the market in 2014 so far. The retail audit of TV sales for May also reported nearly 957,000 units sold for the combined markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. Overall TV sales in the region have slowed down after several years of rapid growth in developing markets where large number of households were upgrading to flat panel TV from the traditional CRT. IMT
well-established private firms, is the dominant form of social protection. Social assistance systems are underdeveloped and are usually dwarfed by social insurance on spending. Moderately poor people—and people living just above the poverty line—do not benefit from existing social protection schemes. Active labor market programs receive little attention as a form of social protection. Women, who tend to work in the informal labor market, enjoy less access to social insurance, social assistance, and labor market programs. Evidence suggests that there is ample room to scale up social protection expenditures in Southeast
Asia. “In the Philippines, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides cash grants to extremely poor households to improve the health, nutrition, and education levels of children aged 0–14. This poverty reduction and social development program by the government aims to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty through investments in human capital. Approximately $3 billion has been allocated to the program to date,” the report stated. In addition, it stated that skills development and training programs in the country account for almost three percent of all social protection expenditures and about six percent of all beneficiaries. IMT
destinations for conventions and other indoor activities to tourists, we are also encouraging our local retailers to conduct sales. If there are summer sales there should have also rainy season sales for us to become attractive during both seasons,” Catalabas said. In fact, Catalbas shared that they will convene local retailers in the region to formally present this proposal to them. “We will encourage them nga
magsale sang ila products, locally produced man or halin sa iban nga lugar,” Catalbas said In terms of services, Catalbas said that they already talked to hotel owners in the region about offering at least discounted rates for their stranded costumers. “Kon indi free stay for one to two days, at least makahatag sila discounted rates sa ila costumers nga stranded,” Catalbas said. IMT
Miagao receives P2.5M for farm-to-market roads BY REYMAR LATOZA
TV sales up 4.8% in PH due to World Cup
Social protection resources in PH inadequate
BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD
BY ELYROSE S. NAORBE The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) Region VI admitted that they have problems with regards to the speed of the resolution of the cases they have filed against various drug personalities due to limited drug courts and small number of prosecutors and prosecution attorneys in the region. There are still 3,852 cases remained pending in the court until now, Regional Director Paul Ledesma of the PDEA-6 disclosed during the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting held recently in Iloilo City. “Cases run for about five to seven years until the cases could be finally resolved,” Ledesma said. He placed on average their previous yearly cases filed into 500, but that only for the first six months of this year they have already 311 rate of filing from their operations. In response, Regional State Prosecutor Domingo Laurea said that the prosecutors are working to the best of their abilities despite their lack in
number. Laurea added that they have already sent requests for additional prosecutors and prosecution attorneys to the Department of Justice and Malacanang. The RPOC, according to him, passed a resolution last week to be submitted to Pres. Benigno Aquino III through Interior Sec. Mar Roxas to fast track the appointments of additional prosecutors and prosecution attorneys would really be a big help. Meantime, Ledesma said that PDEA is taking the right direction and winning the war against illegal drugs “PDEA operations have scored major drug personalities or high value targets in the region like Hilario Talde who is an illegal drug group leader in Cavite but comes home now and then in Pandan, Antique where he was apprehended,” stressed Ledesma. “Aside from Talde, there were other illegal drug personalities including a policeman and barangay captain who were also arrested lately by PDEA,” he added.IMT
While Southeast Asia has a high per capita gross domestic product (GDP) compared to other regions in Asia and the Pacific, the estimates reveal that the countries are spending only 2.6 percent of GDP on average for social protection programs, this includes the Philippines based on an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study. “Given their levels of per capita income, the social protection resources available in the eight sample countries, particularly the middle-income ones, appear inadequate,” stated the report. Social insurance, which benefits salaried employees in public and
DOT-6 wants local retailers to hold ‘rainy season sales’
BY REYMAR LATOZA
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Region VI urged business operators especially local retailers in Western Visayas to hold sales of their products and services during rainy season. DOT-6 Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas said that holding rainy season sales would help make the region remain attractive to tourists. “Aside from pushing our
METRO NEWS
4
METRO
on the road
PALACE Malacanang has declared July 29, 2014 as a regular holiday in the Philippines in observance of Eid’l Fitr or the Feast of Ramadan. President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation 826 on July 10, 2014 based on Republic Act No. 9177 providing that Eid’l Fitr be celebrated as a regular holiday throughout the country.
CAPITOL President Benigno S. Aquino III has approved the appointment of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. as the new Chairperson of the Western Visayas Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC). The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VI revealed in a press report that Governor Defensor is replacing the outgoing head of the Council, Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
NHA The National Housing Authority said that community facilities will be constructed in the Iloilo River Plains Subdivision Phase 1 in Brgy. Lanit, Jaro district,Iloilo City. NHA General Manager Atty. Chito M. Cruz said that these community facilities include a multi-purpose center/covered court, school building, health center, and a day care center that will be provided by the local government unit.
DFA In view of the growing threats to security posed by the IsraelHamas conflict to Filipinos in the Gaza Strip, the Department of Foreign Affairs has raised Alert Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation) in the Gaza Strip.The Philippine Embassies in Cairo, Tel Aviv, and Amman are ready to assist those who wish to leave Gaza. These Embassies continue to be in close contact with Filipinos in Gaza.
P650-M in DAP funds went to Iloilo BY REYMAR LATOZA
Over half billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund went to various infrastructures projects in the province and city of Iloilo. The list of DAP-identified projects released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as of July 14, showed that Iloilo benefited from DAP with a total of P550-million worth of projects. These projects are the National Housing Authority (NHA) Relocation Sites for Informal Settlers along Iloilo River and its Tributaries in Iloilo City with P100 million from the 2011 DAP and the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in the province with P450 million. The fund allocation for JRMP II covers the first-year requirement for the Philippine government counterpart to finance the investment requirement including the engineering design and
other initial works for the project. Prior to the release of the DBM’s list of DAP-funded projects, Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon has declared that the P100-million he received from the DAP was used as an additional funding for the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center in the city of Iloilo. “The funds I received were not misused, nor were they channeled to a bogus non-government organization,” Drilon claimed. It was in October 2011 when the DAP was implemented but it was stopped in December 2013, three months after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada revealed that senators, who voted for the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, received P50 million from the DAP. On June 30, the Supreme Court (SC) has declared unconstitutional the implementation of DAP by President Benigno S. Aquino III. IMT
PSR in Iloilo City a boost to WV economy, tourism BY REYMAR LATOZA The upcoming 5th RDC Private Sector Representatives’ (PSRs) National Convention is expected to boost the economic activity of Western Visayas and will showcase the Ilonggo cuisines, attractions and the recent public and private infrastructure developments in Iloilo City, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region VI. RDC-6 is set to host the said convention on August 13-15, 2014 at the Diversion21 Hotel, Benigno Aquino Drive in Mandurriao district. This year’s theme is “PSRs: RDCs’ Crucial Partners in the Pursuit of Inclusive Growth and Job Creation.” The Convention aims to strengthen the role of the PSRs in the RDC particularly in getting their full support and cooperation in the implementation of the Updated Philippine Development Plan, and the
Updated Regional Development Plan, 2011-2016. NEDA Deputy Director General Margarita R. Songco, DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo Pecision Boncato, Jr., Jones Lang LaSalle’s Country Director David Leechiu, and NATTCO Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya will be among the delegates to share ideas about economic and tourism developments. Pursuant to Executive Order 325, the private sector representatives (PSRs) comprise one-fourth of the membership of the fully constituted Regional Development Council (RDC). Given the important role of the private sector in regional development, EO 325 specifically promotes their active participation in regional planning, investment programming, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.IMT
Restored old Capitol building to open in August
POEA Secretary of Labor and Employment Rosalinda DimapilisBaldoz yesterday announced that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Governing Board (GB) has ordered a total ban on the processing and deployment of all returning/vacationing overseas Filipino workers bound for Afghanistan, following the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) issuance of Crisis Alert Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation Phase) for Afghanistan, which has been experiencing tension following the conduct of the Presidential Elections held last 14 June 2014.
PDRRMC The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in Western Visayas is now taking the airwaves to further heighten awareness of the public on the hazards of natural disasters and how they can be avoided or their impacts be minimized. The council on Wednesday launched radio plugs containing precautionary measures against flood, typhoon, earthquake, landslide and tsunami before a press conference held in this city as part of the activities lined up for this year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month observance in the region.
July 13 - 19, 2014
“Be proud in speaking Kinaray-a” BY GLORIA CONCEPCION MORALIDAD “It happens because we allow them to do that to us, and it shouldn’t be. That’s why we have this book, Padya Dungug Kinaray-a. The language meaning indi sa mga sulugu-on, sa mga Emmy L.Masola. Photo by Noel Galon sagada, sa mga imol. Kami mga tao, mga dunganon. sa Kinaray-a pareho kang tuigan nga paindis-indis sa deklamasyon, (We are honorable).” That’s what Emmy L.Masola, pagsugidanun, pagkanta kag pagdayaw, treasurer of Dungug Kinaray-a (DK) she said. “Mabuligay kita, mag-ugyon kag said upon the launching of their book Padya Dungug Kanaray-a 7, Antolohiya mag-iririmaw para pasanyugon ang atun duna nga linggwahe. Umpisahon kang mga Sugidanun Pambata. “We can speak Tagalog if we want natun sa mga kabataan hay bahul ang to, if we want other people to understand andang papel sa pagpaugwad kang atun us. The point is we have to be proud in linggwahe kag pagpapag-un kang atun kultura para indi mabuntol kang mga speaking Kinaray-a.” she added. Other books they have is “Sa Kilid impluwensya kang pangayaw,” Masola kang Banglid: Tatlo ka mga Dula sa stated. Kinaray-a” by Ma. Milagros GeremiaDK also launched a contest to be Lachica; Kinyintos: Mga Bugu nga included in Padya Dungug Kinaray-a 8. Istorya sa Kinaray-a; Hiwit by Ritchie D. The categories are: Short Story, Children’s Pagunsan; and, fourth, Padya Dungug Story and Poetry. The winning entry Kinaray-a 8, a yearly anthology. for each category will receive P10,000; “Ang DK nagaumpisa run himo second place, P7,000; and third place kang mga materyales para maggiya sa P5,000. mga maistro kag maistra nga nagatudlo Entries will be sent through email at kang “Mother Tongue” sa eskwelahan,” admin@dungugkinaray-a.com. Deadline Masola noted. will be on September 30. Visit their Nagasponsor man kami kang website www.dungugkinaray-a.com for mga kompetisyon pambata nga angut more information.IMT
Social media blamed for higher teenage pregnancy cases in Iloilo BY MONTESA GRIÑO CAOYONAN The Iloilo Population Office revealed that there is an increase in average of teenage pregnancy cases in the province. The Provincial Population Office Head Ramon Yee said based on its 2013 population monitoring record, the teenage pregnancy cases in Iloilo range to 9.7 percent or 9-10 mothers are teenagers for every 100 delivered children. In 2012, teenage pregnancy cases range to 8.7 percent or 7-8 teenage mothers for every 100 delivered children while in 2011, they have recorded 8.11 percent or 8-9 teenage mothers for every 100 delivered children. Yee said poverty and unguided use of technology and social media are some factors that influenced the behavior of these minors. “Poverty closes opportunity to some
teenagers that’s why they married early or engaged in premarital sex,”he said. Also, he stressed non- sexual activities like illegal drugs and peers could also lead to sexual behavior. Yee added the establishment of teen centers in different towns in the province is one of the strategic ways to counter this menace. “Through this teen center, students were being advised on how to avoid or getting out from the bad situation. It also highlighted to them that they should learn how to say ‘No’ to prevent premarital sex,” he said. Yee also said students and even out of school-youth are being taught on how to choose their peers and devote their time on productive undertakings. Presently, there are 15 teen centers in the province while 14 more are up for construction. IMT
Mabilog warns boarding house owners vs. cybercrimes
BY MONTESA GRIÑO CAOYONAN Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. announced that the Old Capitol building will be opened to public upon completion of the present restoration of Phase II (interior design) on August 29. Defensor said Phase II includes interior designs, function room or ceremonial hall that could be rented for small gatherings like wedding and birthday parties to generate additional fund for the provincial government. Also, part of the Phase II is a bridge connecting from the new building of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol to the old building. Upon completion of Phase II, the governor added that several departments from the new capitol building will also transfer to the old building to hold regular office so that they have enough space to for their clients. Defensor said they are eyeing
BY MONTESA GRIÑO CAOYONAN Phase III for the interior planning and finishing of several rooms that will serve as function or conference rooms. He said the budget will depend on the additional needs and assured the public that proper bidding procedure will be observed. To recall, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved a fund of Php 15 million for the restoration of Phase II and Php 20 million for Phase I (exterior design). Phase I of the project, which covers the exterior of the old Iloilo Provincial Capitol, includes the demolition of the front canopy and the side offices constructed during the 1960s. Defensor stressed only few have been changed outside and even inside the building to preserve its heritage structures. The old capitol has been used as a military garrison by the Japanese Imperial Forces during World War II in the 1940s. IMT
Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog urged operators of boarding houses in the city to become vigilant to avoid being charged under the country’s cybercrime law by choosing their boarders well so these renters can’t use the facilities as cybersex dens. “I ask the help of everybody, especially all boarding house owners and ‘barangay’ officials, to cooperate and report to PNP any suspicious activity inside boarding houses,” he said. He made the call after policemen raided last week a cybersex den in Brgy. Sinikway, La Paz district here and arrested four women including a 16year–old college student. Mabilog acknowledged boarders’ activities inside their rented rooms are already personal. He stressed owners concerned must still be vigilant in monitoring activities in their respective boarding houses
particularly if what’s happening is already suspicious. The mayor said he already tasked the Boarding House Commission to monitor all boarding houses operating in the city. There are around 1, 208 boarding houses in the city. As of 2014’s second quarter, however, only 612 boarding houses were able to renew respective business permits. Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit already filed charges against three women and boarding house owner Helen Delotavo for violating RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012). Delotavo denied involvement in cybersex activities there, saying she wasn’t aware of the suspects’ illegal activities. The suspects rented her boarding house over a month ago, she noted. Delotavo was able to secure temporary liberty after posting bail. IMT
July 13 - 19, 2014
METRO HEALTH
5
Workplace exposure, pollution cause lung cancer Yes, even non-smokers can get lung cancer. Such is the case with Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who on recently introduced herself at a televised press conference as “the only senator who has been diagnosed with lung cancer.” Santiago, who neither smokes nor drinks, revealed to reporters that she has Stage Four cancer of the left lung, found after she underwent a biopsy last June 21. “It is not spreading,” she told reporters, adding that she hopes to be cured in six weeks through medication called molecular targeting, or chemotherapy “reduced to a tablet.” The numbers of recorded deaths from lung cancer in the past years, however, are bleak. Data from the World Health Organization shows that lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in the world, accounting for 1.59 million deaths in 2012. In the Philippines, it is the leading cause of death among men and the third in women, next to breast and cervical
Among these pollutions is secondhand smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, exposure to such can lead to a variety of health problems, lung cancer included. Ladreda also said there’s a chance that this can also spring from previous diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), or if there is a history of cancer in the family.
Extreme obesity cuts lifespan more than smoking
cancers, an Unang Hirit report on Wednesday said. Other factors According to Dr. Guia Elena Imelda Ladreda, pulmonologist and oncologist at the Lung Center of the Philippines, about 90 percent of patients with lung cancer got it by smoking. However, she revealed in an interview with Unang Hirit that other
factors, such as the nature of work and the environment, are causes for this type of cancer in a minority of cases. “’Yung sampung porsiyento, puwede itong nakuha sa occupation, sa trabaho. ‘Yung halimbawa, exposure sa asbestos [among construction workers], ‘yung mga minero na naka-expose sa radon gas,” Ladreda said. “Puwede din po, ‘yung sa maliit na porsiyento, one percent, dahil sa pollution.”
Test vaccine for dengue seen as promising
PARIS - A prototype vaccine for dengue that two years ago yielded lukewarm results has proved more effective after wider trials and is a potential arm against the disease, researchers said Friday. Devised by the French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, the so-called CYD-TDV vaccine provided only 30 percent protection against the dangerous fever when first tested among children in Thailand. Widened to trials in four other Asian countries, where disease conditions vary greatly, the vaccine’s protection has been shown to be significantly higher, at 56.5 percent overall, the scientists said.
“May teorya po na ‘yung dating pagkakaroon ng tuberculosis, ‘yun pong nagkapeklat sa baga, meron pong maliit na porsiyento [ng mga pasyente] na kapag finallow-up mo ‘yung dating scar daw ng TB, nagiging bukol siya,” she said. “At siyempre, ‘wag nating kalimutan ‘yung namamana.” GMANews
The result falls short of the benchmark set by classic vaccines such as those for polio and measles, which can be more than 99 percent effective. One reason for this is that CYDTDV performed poorly against one of the four strains of dengue virus, the investigators reported in The Lancet. These strains, or serotypes, circulate simultaneously, which means a vaccine should ideally protect against all of them. Even so, the prototype was safe and well tolerated and its shield, if only partial, means it should be enlisted in the fight against dengue, they argued. “Our results suggest that
vaccination with CYD-TDV can reduce the incidence of symptomatic dengue infection by more than half and importantly reduced severe disease and hospitalisations,” said Maria Rosario Capeding from the Philippines’ Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. “This candidate vaccine has the potential to have a significant impact on public health in view of the high disease burden in endemic countries.” Dengue is a potentially fatal fever, caused by a virus transmitted by a mosquito when it takes its blood meal, and is especially dangerous for children. Agence France-Presse
By SHARON BEGLEY NEW YORK That obesity can cut life short by causing strokes and other illnesses comes as no surprise, but a study reported on Tuesday quantifies the toll: The most extreme cases cut a person’s lifespan more than cigarettes. The analysis, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, is the largestever study of the effect of extreme obesity on mortality. It found that people who are extremely obese -- for someone of average height, carrying an extra 100 lb (45 kg) or more -- die 6.5 to 13.7 years earlier than peers with ahealthy weight. The study, based on data from 20 large studies of people in the United States, Sweden and Australia, comes as rates of obesity have soared. Worldwide, nearly 30 percent of people, or 2.1 billion, are either obese or overweight. “Overweight” is defined as having a body mass index, or weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, of 25.0 to 29.9. At the low end, that is 150 lb (68 kg) for someone 5 feet 5
inches (1.65 meters) tall. “Obesity” means a BMI of 30 or higher (180 lb at 5 feet 5 inches). “Extreme obesity” is a BMI of 40 or higher, or 241 lb at that height. The study included data on 9,564 adults with extreme obesity and 304,011 of normal weight. The overall risk of dying at any given time rose continuously with increasing BMI within the extremely obese group, mostly due to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. People with a BMI of 40 to 44.9 lost an average of 6.5 years of life. Those with a BMI of 45 to 49.9 lost 8.9 years, while BMIs of 50 to 54.9 cut 9.8 years and 55 to 59.9 cut 13.7 years. Among people with a healthy weight, those who smoked lost about 8.9 years.Reuters
T E C H N O L O G Y
P50-M fine pushed for erring Internet service providers
An administrative fine of up to P50 million is being pushed for telecommunication companies that fail to comply with directives to improve Internet services. According to House Deputy Minority Leader and LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty, they are pushing for a new legislation that will significantly increase financial punishment for telcos that are unable to provide the mandatory quality of service standards. This, following widespread consumer complaints about slow “highspeed” Internet services provided by telcos. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) currently imposes a fine of only up to P200 per day on telcos that do not meet quality benchmarks. This amount is based on the Public Service Act of 1936. In a statement released on Sunday, Ty said broadband and high-speed Internet access should now be classified as a “basic service,” similar to voice calls and text messaging.
Pentax releases DSLR camera PH flag
“We are pushing for universal broadband service. Government’s goal should be to ensure that all citizens have access to high-speed Internet service at a fair price,” he said. At present, broadband is considered a value-added service, with its speed and price dictated by the free market. Ty previously filed House Resolution 186 calling for a congressional inquiry
into the deteriorating services of telcos. He said the degrading services might be caused by “extreme congestion” in the telcos’ networks. “It would appear that telcos have been taking on an incremental number of subscribers every quarter, without building up their networks fast enough, their huge earnings notwithstanding,” Ty said.ABS-CBNNews.com
Samsung PH launches newest premium tablet Galaxy Tab S Samsung Electronics Philippines, Corp (SEPCO) has officially launched in the local market their newest and most premium tablet to date, the Galaxy Tab S. “It is our slimmest and lightest tablet beautifully crafted and designed with architectural aesthetics for an ultra-modern and sleek look,” Coco Domingo, Sepco product marketing head for mobile, said. Domingo added that what sets the device apart from the competition is “the use of Super AMOLED display,” which is a new type of display technology that delivers more poignant colors in rich visuals and consumes less power than
conventional LCD. T h e specifications of the Galaxy Tab S are: - 3 GB RAM - 16 GB storage expandable up to 128 GB with MicroSD - Android 4.4 Kitkat LTE connectivity - 8 MP rear camera, 2.1 MP front camera - 7,900 mAh - 247.3 x 177.3 x 6.6 mm, 467 g
- 2.3 GHz quad-core Snadragon 800 processor. The 8.4 inch variant retails for P24,990, while the 10.5 inch goes for P29,990.Interaksyon.com
Pentax Philippines has officially released the special local edition of its K-50 weatherproof DSLR camera sporting the bright colors of the country’s flag. Dubbed “Filipino Pride,” the Philippine edition of the company’s mid-range camera is uniquely colored in a combination of blue, red, yellow and white. Other than the colors, though, the camera is no different from the regular K-50. But that is certainly not a bad thing in terms of specs. The camera still boasts a stabilized 16 MP CMOS sensor and weather
resistant and dust-proof body -- perfect for the current unpredictability of the country’s weather. It still features the high-speed continuous shooting at around six frames per second, high-sensitivity shooting can still reach ISO 51200, and its auto-focus can “accurately” capture moving objects. It also can record full HD (1080p) and battery problems can easily be resolved using regular AA-size batteries. In terms of price, both the regular edition and the special Philippine edition start at P32,990 and come with a 18-55 lens. ABS-CBNNews.com
6
METRO OPINION
EDITORIAL
Networking
S
hould there be competition between small enterprises and big businesses? Perhaps not necessarily. Perhaps the word betwixt them is networking. It sounds cliché and elementary as it is to say that they have to aid or aspire from one another. Too elementary. As inclusive growth necessary for economic development, businesses should bear in mind how to attain it. The inclusive growth style seizes a longerterm perspective, as the emphasis is on productive employment as an instrument of increasing the incomes of the marginalized and excluded groups and nurturing their standards of living. If Iloilo’s intention is to achieve inclusive growth, development of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should be taken into attention as they account ample role in employment generation and, probably, poverty reduction of the city. Small and medium enterprises should be able to improve new products and services in order to survive. They should network with local government units (LGUs) and big businesses that cater to innovation and development. Huge businesses should aspire to make customer service personal like MSMEs. It is also about concentrating in productivity growth which leads to returns to capital, land and other assets matter to their income potential which will lead then to growth – inclusive growth. Networking with SMEs is a vital contribution that large corporations can make to economic development. They create a positive local impact and mayhap can lessen supplier costs and can be an imperative source of innovation to cultivate new products and extend to new consumers. After all, all large businesses were once small.
July 13 - 19, 2014
Of Disrupters, Traitors And Manipulators
U
n t i l Enrile and Gigi Reyes were issued with arrest warrants, this writer refrained from tackling the issue on arrests of the honorable Senators involved in the PDAF Scam. I have been waiting for the vicious cycle to come full circle on Enrile until I put ink on paper. Alyas Pogi and Sexy were already in detention and already started their artistic flair in prison to raise sympathy from among the vulnerable masa, if not of the whole population. Now, the rest of the main characters of this zarzuela is being rounded up, amid allegations of a blooming political persecution. And blood pressures started to rise. The perennial political survivor that is Enrile has been quiet and confident up to the eve of the ‘political persecution’.
At the center of unfolding Philippine history for more than five decades, Enrile is not new to the farce that is Philippine politics. Adept in political maneuvering and putting sacrificial goats from among his minions, Enrile is and will always be the ugly truth of how susceptible the Philippine political landscape to manipulations of the few. The sad part is that these few who can hold the reins of events in Philippine history do not have the values and ethics of men who fear God and value their fellow countrymen, despite of what they show in their public faces. These men, like Enrile, are the basest and sordid of the type that epitomize the very picture of greed and selfinterest while wearing barongs or coats and ties. Sacrificial goats like Reyes is part of the strategy of survival of Enrile. He was even willing
to set himself for ambush just to kickstart the martial rule he designed, and eventually enjoyed. Despite 25 years of loyalty and giving it all for “the Boss”, Enrile can still stomach to sacrifice Reyes, his rumored paramour, to survive the latest and perhaps last of the political upheaval of his storied political career. Or so it seems. Despite the lamentations and quiet grief shown by Reyes when she learned of the modest accommodations of her detention, one cannot stop from wondering the kind of strategy the ‘couple’ has cooked up to survive this. After all, 25 years is a long time for a relationship to just waste in a single political obstacle that Enrile is so used to. Remember it is his third ‘arrest’, the last time being in the Senate floor after the series of coups he masterminded to satisfy his lust for power. The EDSA
the Philippines in the next FIFA World Cup in 2018. If he were a Filipino, Mario would be a shoo-in for senator under the pork barrel’s Liberal Party. Filipinos love sports superstars like they love their childhood super heroes. And they won’t hesitate to elect them into public office like what they did to former senators Ambrosio Padilla, Freddie Webb, and Robert Jaworski. Two years from now, a boxing champion will also be called as “Senator Manny Pacquiao.” Glenda, the name of a mysterious college student who borrowed from me P3,000 cash and disappeared like a comet several years ago, is now remembered as a storm that terrorized Luzon last July 15 and 16. RAMPAGE Glenda’s murderous rampage left scores of deaths and sent some 200,000 families packing to evacuation centers. Glenda lashed Metro Manila and flooded the main highways and avenues. She brought only monsoon rains in Iloilo, but most parts of the region were also affected in one way or the other.
Hell hath no fury like a typhoon named after a woman. Glenda came, saw and conquered. Like Yolanda, Glenda represented sadness, mayhem and death. Weather forecasters coined the names of incoming typhoons based on alphabetical order, so let’s not feel bad if Glenda happens to be the name of our mother, sister, wife, girlfriend, or debtor. Benigno is the leader of the 90 million Filipinos now up in arms against the “pork barrel” fund deodorized as Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). The Supreme Court has declared DAP as unconstitutional and asked Benigno’s lawmaker allies who have availed of the controversial appropriations, to return the taxpayers money worth P137.3 billion to the national treasury. But the funds are reportedly nowhere to be found now. All of a sudden, no one has come forward to defend Bengino except himself. No one has volunteered to make a gallant sacrifice for the king. When the going gets tough, it’s only Benigno now defending the forth in the attic. Lawmakers and their local government partners claimed
It was broad daylight and she clearly knew about it because my friend’s car was dislodged from the parking space by more than a meter. Yet she did not have the nerve to get down and check the damage she had caused. I thought that maybe there was an emergency and maybe someone was dying and needed the medicines she bought right away to get back to dear life. But she did not move about as if she was in a hurry. Only after she had dragged my friend’s car did she make a rush out of the parking lot. It was clearly a case of hit and run. How can she be so irresponsible as to hit someone else’s car and just leave as if nothing happened? The least she could have done was own up to it and be responsible about her mistake. What if she hit a child? Are we becoming a generation of irresponsible people? How can we cause
damage to someone else’s property and just casually go as if nothing happened? I was wondering what kind of a mother she is. If she is indeed one, how can she be so irresponsible as to just leave without even checking the damage she had caused? As a mother, I fear for such kind of people. I am afraid that such irresponsibility and unaccountability will be radiated to her children and to her grandchildren and make them a breed of irresponsible individuals who do not care about others. As the definition above shows, accountability is willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions. In the video footage shown by my friend, it was clear that she is the only one who had hit the car. Was she expecting someone else to make up for it? If she is indeed a mother, is she also the same with her children? Or even just as a daughter or sister, is she also irresponsible with her parents, siblings and
Mario, Glenda, Benigno
“F
orgive your enemies, but never forget their names.” John F. Kennedy During moments of euphoria, sadness, tragedy, defeat and victory, we remember not only events but names. We remember three names that are currently synonymous to heroism, destruction and stubbornness: Mario, Glenda, and Benigno. Mario is now the toast of the soccer community when he sank that lone goal for Germany’s fourth FIFA World Cup in the recent championship match against Argentina at the Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last July 14. Because of that comefrom-behind date with fame in Rio, a mere mention of Mario Gotze’s name evokes sweet moments of heroism and victory. The 2014 FIFA World Cup produced not only a soccer hero, but also a new inspiration for Filipinos who are pinning their football hopes only on the overfed and over fancied Azkals XI, a team not even rated among the top 100 in the world and can never represent
Accountability A
ccountability i s defined as the quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions. A recent incident that happened to a friend sparked the issue of accountability in my mind. My friend parked her car outside a business establishment. Beside her car was an SUV driven by another woman who was buying medicine inside that establishment. She then went back to her car and started backing up but halfway through the process she hit my friend’s car. It was strong so much so that my friend’s car was dragged from where it was parked to almost halfway of the parking lot. And you know what the woman did? Nothing!
People Power Revolution might not have been successful without Enrile taking the side of Cardinal Sin, Ramos and the rallying masses in EDSA, but his intentions was for the power grab with his RAM boys. Spurned by the massing people called by Cardinal Sin, Enrile choose to go with the flow and ended being one of the heroes of EDSA, despite being itchy to grab power from his former boss. Whoever the architect of the PDAF Scam is, one thing is for sure Enrile never entered the burning building without his eye on the fire exit. After five decades of deceiving the people and tainting the fabric of Philippine history, it is time for Enrile and his minions to go down and, for the last time, place them in their rightful place in Philippine history, not as heroes but as disrupters, manipulators and traitors. they spent the money “wisely” to finance infrastructure and public works projects in their respective cities and provinces.
SUSPICIOUS But people were suspicious that a bulk of the funds may have gone to the pockets of corrupt politicians allied with Benigno in the form of kickbacks via fake nongovernment organizations, the same trick that sent P10billion pork barrel scam accused Janet Lim-Napoles to the calaboose. Benigno’s popularity suffered a sharp decline since 2010 according to the recent Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia surveys. The negative impact on Benigno’s popularity must have something to do with his refusal to let go of Harvard-educated budget secretary Butch Abad, DAP’s chief collaborator, and for defending the DAP and engaging the Supreme Court in a power play that could provoke a constitutional crisis. Because of this, the once supremely popular president and son of the late former President Cory and the late brave Marcos opposition leader Ninoy, has earned the reputation as a “stubborn” president. other family members? I believe that as mothers, we were given our children because God knows we are responsible stewards of His creation. We were given the task of bringing another life into the world and making sure that our children grow up to be responsible citizens. I feel sorry for my friend who has no idea who to blame for the damage of her car. It’s a good thing that the establishment had a CCTV camera but the problem is far from being solved. The real problem is not the damage to my friend’s car. The real damage is that woman’s irresponsibility to own up to her mistake and be accountable for it. Let us not allow this kind of attitude to permeate our society. Let us teach our children that accountability and responsibility makes us good children of God. We must be accountable for each other because in the end we are all brothers and sisters. Have a great week ahead!
July 13 - 19, 2014
METRO OPINION
Presidential Standoff
N
early two w e e k s after the July 9 presidential election in Indonesia, the results remain uncertain as both candidates, Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi) and Prabowo Subianto proclaimed themselves as winners based on quick count surveys. In accordance with law, the real winner will be proclaimed by Pemilihan Komisi Umum (KPU) or Indonesian Elections Commission on July 22, 2014. Together with Goducate Indonesia country coordinator Thomos Sihombing, I witnessed how the Indonesians came in droves to cast their ballots at one polling station in Bandung. Voting is done by punching a hole into the appropriate box detailing the assigned number to the opposing candidates - 1 for Prabowo-Hatta and 2 for the Widodo-Kalla tandems - the political parties, and
the photos of the candidates. Counting is still manual with the election officer reading the chosen number on the cast ballot one after the other while another person records the vote on a printed tally sheet. Witnesses from the opposing parties observe the process and take notes on the tabulated results. Both then affix their signatures on C1 which is the official tabulation form. Hatta Rajasa and Jusuf Kalla are the vice presidential running mates of Prabowo and Jokowi, respectively. Unlike in Philippines, it’s winner-take-all under the Republic of Indonesia presidential election system because the vote for the president is also a vote for his running mate. In spite of on-going tensions, no serious violence has taken place so far, unlike the high death toll that occurred when strongman Suharto was ousted from power in 1998 after three decades of autocratic rule. Indonesia became independent in
realistically impossible since the assigned witnesses at each precinct all claimed that they voted for Jokowi. Although KPU had brushes with graft scandals in the past, spokespersons of Asia Foundation Indonesia and Transparency International Indonesia are confident that KPU will not subvert the counting process. Meanwhile, outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudyuhono has appealed to both candidates to restrain their supporters. Even when KPU shall have come out with the declaration of the winning tandem, the losing side is given 72 hours to challenge the announcement in the Constitutional Court. The court itself was in bad spotlight recently when its last head, Chief Justice Mahfud MD, was sentenced to life imprisonment for corruption. The court’s new chief justice, Hamdan Zoelva, assured however, that if the matter is brought to the court, “We will be impartial and
aim for a unanimous decision but can also settle for a majority ruling.” The panel of nine judges has 14 days to reach a decision which cannot be appealed. One silver lining for the Jokowi-Kalla team, however, is the latest posting of results in the KPU website (pilpres2014.kpu.go.id) as well as in an independent website (kawalpemilu.org) which show that the tandem is winning with 52.8 percent out of 90 percent of the counted votes, a margin of about 7 million over Prabowo-Hatta’s. Many supporters now believe that the huge lead is difficult to overcome and that the Jokowi victory will have a deeper historical resonance with his business rather than military background. But one can never tell what Prabowo and his political allies have up their sleeves. Meanwhile, the Indonesians are in the countdown mode towards their day of reckoning. Whatever is the outcome will indicate the depth of democracy in the largest Muslim populated country in the world.
brush up, I read about the place or attraction the night before. I mean, that’s what Google is for. Haha! Of course, it’s different when you are traveling with kids. My sister from California brought her daughters aged 12 and 14. We are joined by my brother from Silver Spring, and his three kids aged nine, seven, and two. So, it’s a perfect time for me to play the great and wonderful uncle. I can spoil my nieces and nephews to their heart’s delight, and leave to their parents all the tasks of disciplining them. Haha. You want a soda with your cotton candy? Uncle Peter will get it for you, if your mommy or daddy says you can have one. Haha. How cool is that?
me. I am just adorable that way. I remember kids who are shy with me in the beginning, then, after they warm up to me, they think I’m their greatest friend so they cry a river when I finally go. I often have that experience with my seldom seen godchildren, or even children of my colleagues. In fact, when I was in L.A., my coworkers who are moms always want me to go with them to the theme parks because I can mind the children for them. Haha! I am a child whisperer. I calm children down. If I can’t quiet an unruly child throwing tantrums in public, say in a bus, or the trains, or in restaurants, or in church, I give them the evil eye until they are hushed and muted. Haha. However I do it, I am the incredible child whisperer.
Do you like kids? It is truer to say that kids like
What kids’ age group do you like most?
I can deal with the terrible two year olds up to the unruly fours. That’s why I am a blessing to most moms. I still have the agility to run after them, and I often play planes or horsey with them. They like piggyback rides and physical comedy a lot. I tickle them to death, and they love it. Peek-aboo is fine with me. I also attend to infants, and I have no qualms about changing diapers. I also like children six to seven because that’s when they start to pick up cues, and really start to listen. I talk smart with kids aged nine to twelve. For kids older than thirteen, I let them know I’m not a techie, I’m a klutz, and they need to teach me about gadgets and stuff. They enjoy talking to me about anime, or their gizmos, and the newest fad in young adult literature. I really don’t have a favorite. I deal with all kinds of kids.
1945 and this presidential election was only the third through direct voting. Seven credible pollsters had released their quick count results which favored Jokowi by about five points against Prabowo but the former military general would not concede. Prabowo’s team says that its own count puts Prabowo quite ahead. Roughly 130 million Indonesians cast their votes in what was seen as a generally peaceful process but tainted with allegations of ballot tampering and “dagdagbawas” schemes. In areas where the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) had conducted election monitoring activities, it found out that votecounting manipulation might have occurred. Concerned citizens earlier called foul the outcome in 17 polling stations where Jokowi obtained zero votes. This was
THE CHILD WHISPERER
H
ave you gone on any trips lately aside from your planned Philippine vacation next month? You’d think that I’d be traveling more now that I’m retired, but settling in our new home (old house, Maryland address) took a while. Truth be told, I haven’t even totally unpacked. We moved in April so the original plan was for a quick visit to friends and family in California this July. I didn’t want them to feel that I’ve truly left for good, even if I did. Haha! Instead, my family from California decided to visit the East Coast for the first time this July so I’m playing host. Where are you taking them? In addition to introducing
them to Baltimore, and the rest of Maryland, I’m taking them to New York, and of course, to Washington DC. My sister has a childhood classmate who is now in Delaware, so we drove up there this week. If we have more time, I’d really like to hook up with relatives who are in New Jersey, but we’ll see how things go. As with most vacations, there are always too many things to do, but so little time. Also, sometimes, the working relatives are too busy to meet us, and I don’t want to impose. Do you like playing host and tour guide? Surprisingly, I do. I am so natural at it that it feels like I was a tour guide in some past life. Because I have a photographic memory, I just babble everything I heard and read from my past tours. To
Trick or treat: MIWD Privatization (2)
W
ith water end-users complaining of scarce water while paying monthly average charge for 15 cubic meter in spite being unutilized, the water concern become a hot electoral issue on the road to the elections in 2010. Candidates for councilor under the Mabilog ticket took up the matter in the campaign with promises publicly issued that it will be immediately acted upon after their oath-taking as elected officials of the city. This is partly one of the reason why the different sectors of society in Iloilo City supported Mabilog in his bid to mayoralty. But another elections had come and go and Iloilo City remains waterless. By the time Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog assumed as chief executive of Iloilo City, internal squabble between the top management officials and the members of the Board of Directors at the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) was at the boiling point with both parties throwing threats of legal suit, suspension and dismissal against each other. The infighting within MIWD was taken by the public as an internal problem that affected MIWD operations. It was misunderstood. The infighting was a manifestation of the privatization plan at work. It was a fight with outside players and influential politicians. All the moves
by the Board of Directors was not at all about adopting proper policies or implementing reforms that will benefit water end-users; but, rather an assertion in the form of policy support to justify decisions geared towards privatizing MIWD. Many people had visualized that the privatization of MIWD will have a face of a corporate entity literally marching towards MIWD and take-over the water district. It is not always the case especially on corporate take-over or buy-out. Privatization could take a face of bulk water contracting which can be operated by a separate entity like what MIWD currently have with Flo Water of the Florete Group. What is unfolding in the water industry is a replica of what we have in the country’s power industry which likewise underwent the same privatization process. The water district will eventually fall under the same setup with the power industry. In Iloilo City, for instance, generation of power is operated by Metrobank’s Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC), and Panay Power Corp. (PPC). The distribution of electricity is operated by the dreaded Panay Electric Co. (PECO). In the case of MIWD, the generation of water for supply to MIWD is being operated by the Florete Group - Flo Water. The water generated by Flo Water is dispatched through a transmission facility going to MIWD. While
7
generation and supply of water to MIWD is a private venture, we must understand that MIWD as an institution remains a GovernmentOwned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC). In all of these, the cost of generating water for supply plays an influential consideration. The cost alone of water per cubic meter to be offered for contract had pushed MIWD Board to a gripping conflict with the Technical Working Group of the Bids and Awards Committee. The MIWD Board had preferred for a uniformed Approved Budget for the Contract of P15.00 per cubic meter. In contrast, the TWG only recommended P9.00 to P12.00 per cubic meter. In fact, whispers within MIWD circulated then that the big boys at the Board (Trenas group) were even pushing for higher cost at P18.00 per cubic meter. The cost are measured per cubic meter on water while it is per kilowatt-hour on electricity. Every centavo counts in both of these cases and when collected altogether could reach millions of pesos in profit. This is the reason why the call of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to take-over MIWD in order to improve the management did not only raised suspicion on the real intention behind the move, but it is being treated as a voice behind a separate group who is interested to somehow become like the “Cacho” of the water distribution in Iloilo City.
In essence and in substance what Mayor Mabilog is espousing is to make MIWD a PECO, a privately operated entity. It claimed that a private entity can better run the affairs of the water district and will eventually improve service delivery. This is a contradictory position considering that both power and water are essential services that did not merited attention of the city government in the exercise of its oversight and regulatory responsibility. If you look at how PECO operates and factor in all its abusive practices, you will be jolted by Mabilog’s dangerous proposition. Many times over, the City Government under his administration had stressed (disappointedly) why it cannot act on the problems confronted by the city involving PECO. It consistently suggested that PECO is a privately-owned and protected by a congressional franchise if compared to MIWD which is a GOCC. This is the reason why it cannot intervene in the affairs of PECO. So why make MIWD in similar set-up with PECO when it is difficult to intervene? Moreover, the Mabilog proposition of take-over MIWD by the city government brings into the fore of public concern the management and financial capacity and technical competency of the city government to operate a water district. It does not have a long
technical experience of operating institutions delivering essential services. It is likewise a cause for concern why the call was only made today and why only on MIWD. In a separate case involving PECO, Mabilog did not support a citizen’s-led call to take-over PECO six years ago after a case was won against PECO and the Energy Regulatory Commission directed PECO to return to power end-users of Iloilo City the amount it overcharged totaling to P631million. The circumstances had a complete legal recipe for the city government to exercise powers to take-over provided to LGU’s by the Local Government Code by using the refundable amount as leverage to institute real reforms in the distribution company from management to its ownership structure. To take all these concerns into account, there might be some basis to conspiracy theories drew out from the move to take-over MIWD that the City Government is nothing but a go-between. By the city government take-over, it will be convenient for a private firm to come in for there are many ways to arrange it using the powers given to the LGU. Of course, at the back of everybody’s mind the move would mean money. Why money? Because there are four numbers in the mind of city politicians who will benefit from the move – the numbers 2-0-1-6. ###
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METRO TOURISM
July 13 - 19, 2014
9
Lagaw-Lagaw sa Miagao BY BOMBETTE
MARIN
For some visitors a trip to Miagao is the highlight of their visit to Iloilo. The town is a beautiful rural retreat about 45 minutes south from the city by jeepney. The town is partly coastal and partly mountainous. The poblacion is located in a hill overlooking the sea. It is bounded by the town of Igbaras in the northeast, in the east is Guimbal; the town of San Joaquin in the west; and in the northwest by the town of Sibalom, Province of Antique. The progressive municipality is endowed with numerous historical and cultural relics. Vast fields and seas gave birth to many beautiful mountains and riverways. This was an old and rich country sending an air of mystery. Not only is Miagao of significant historical and religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the town is simply breathtaking.
Discover the delights of the mountains
Pine-clad area
The Sinuhotan Cave in Barangay Unop
The Gi-ub ni Tidoy
UNESCO World Heritage Church. St. Thomas de Villanova of Miagao, Iloilo
Not known to many, but there are also a lot of interesting walks through the mountains where visitors, especially those who are adventurous in spirit can choose a number of different walks, all with amazing views. Visitors will also experience some of the unusual rock formations in the area. Whether you are in search of a small group guided trekking holiday led by one of our locally based and experienced walk leaders, or prefer to set off on your own and discover the delights of the mountains. There is something here for everyone; from gentle walks through the countryside to strenuous days to satisfy the serious hikers and hill walkers. From the poblacion, one can take a 12-kilometer jeepney ride to Barangay Tigmalapad for a P50 transportation fee to reach Barangay Ongyod. Visitors can also take a tricycle ride from the town proper to Barangay La Consolacion and a take a moderate trek to reach the base of Barangay Ongyod. Barangay Ongyod offers visitors access to its rich ecosystem characterizing the higher portions of the town. The roads take visitors through lowland meadows and along swift-flowing river tributaries and up through populated mountain barangays. Visitors may park here to access their first hiking trail. The hike offers a dramatic experience on trekking routes, with enough climbing. The crisp mountain air of early summer morning provides an amazing long range view of its pine-clad area. This scenic area and natural reserve is covered by Benguet pine trees planted by DENR sometime in the early 1970s as part of its reforestation program. The area offers wide shades of thick pine trees where visitors can rest before proceeding to the next attraction. The Gi-ub ni Tidoy is a dome-like coral rock formation situated in the middle of a rice field surrounded by picturesque rice terraces and lush forest trees. This rock formation is as big as a 3-storey building where visitors can climb to its topmost portion and enjoy the view of the area. The Sinuhotan Cave in Barangay Unop is for the physically fit. Hikers will come across cave openings with grated entries. Like any other caves, Sinuhotan is wet though not that muddy. The coolness inside is a welcome relief from the warm summer heat. Some of the passage ways have wooden stairways that lead into the interior. Inside there are varying degrees of access, with some level and some uneven walkways and narrow passageways. One attraction of the cave is an area almost near to its exit that is illuminated by the sunlight streaming through a hole in the roof of the cave. Another feature in the darker portions of the cave is this tiny spring water channels underground where explorers can drink. Visitors will need flashlights to explore more passage ways. It is a 45-minute tour from its main entrance to its exit. Miagao is truly a haven for those seeking outdoor adventure, healing and relaxation, a romantic getaway or family vacation. The town headed by its very dynamic tourism-oriented municipal Mayor, Hon. Macario Napulan is dedicated to promote the beauty, fun, and excitement of its mountain getaways. Come join us on the journey to a town of mystery and adventure, of beauty and peace. The trip will guide you and your family through charming attractions, friendly people, and some of the most breathtaking views in Iloilo. Pack picnic basket, a blanket with your family or friends and explore Miagao’s beautiful backyard. A trip to Miagao is highly recommended and if you intend to take a few of the mountain walks it is a good idea to schedule at least one day for your visit. Miagao is one of the seven towns comprising the First District of the Province of Iloilo. It is situated 40.5 kilometers southwest of Iloilo City and 58 kilometers from San Jose, province of Antique. It has a land area of 13, 286 hectares subdivided into 119 barangays, of which 22 are in the urban area of the town and the rest are rural. Its coastline stretches 16 kilometers and covers 22 barangays. Its town fiesta in honor of St. Thomas de Villanova is annually celebrated every September 22. Market day is every Saturday. For more information, please contact the municipality of Miagao at (033) 3152145 or 3158050 loc. 101.
METRO SPORTS
10
July 13 - 19, 2014
I AM ILONGGO , DUCATI BY CHOICE, IMT BY NEWS BY FATHER JOSE ELMER CAJILIG To be there is expensive but to be with the owners of establishments, politicians, artists ,and big personalities is more than enough to what you spent going to Ducati Cup 2014 at The Clark International Speedway in Pampanga. Riders from all over the country participated in to this national circuit competition on June 28-29. “It is really fun to ride and to participate in the cup,” Alvin Aguilar, a solo beginner , said. Mr. Toti Alberto, owner of Ducati Philippines gave a warm welcome to all the participants and guests. He was glad and surprised upon knowing that there is a solo Ilonggo Ducati rider who came to join the competition. Darby Villaruz, an ilonggo and manager of Ducati Alabang Branch, Leeds Trompeta, also an Ilonggo , general manager of Discovery Suites in Ortigas, jointly pronounced “I am Ilonggo, Ducati by Choice, Iloilo
Many over...from page 1
Agnes, 65, and her husband, Toni, 67, have their little store at Jaro Market to sell candies in order to support their grandchild in high school. Cande, 68, a vegetable vendor, stressed how little she only has in her keep and it would be quite productive if she could sell vegetables to find money for the table. In addition, she has a couple of mouths to feed back at home. Cande’s comrade, Aling Verna, 66, agreed with her friend and lamented, “Kung wala ubra, wala pagkaon.” “Kung wala ubra, wala pagkaon,”
Metropolitan Times by News”. When Aguilar joined the national competition against all pro, he hit the time of five seconds among other contenders where other riders congratulated him for
giving his best despite being a neophyte on this circuit race. Although he released his throttle at the speed of 245 km/h on the stretch,
echoed Abet, 65, a fish vendor at Central Market. “Wala man may gina hatag ang gobyerno sa amon, kami pa gani ang ga hatag sa gobyerno!” he cried. Another is Ophelia,65, saying, “Para may pagkaon sa balay kag may pang baon sa apo ko.” Meanwhile, Mang Eugelio, 67, a trisikad driver, grieved that his children do not have work, so he’s the one to look for food and support his two grandchildren in school – one in Grade 5 and one in High School. Cha Remedios, was the oldest,
one to have been surveyed. A laundrywoman at 80 years old, she has a grandchild, Starlight, in college to take care of. Sometimes, she would tag along with Medios to help wash clothes. Starlight’s mother got married again and went on her way. Tinkering watches, Bebot, 65, a repairman has to work to look after his grandchild who’s in first year high school. Lola Alicia, 79, stood, selling lotto in a small outlet at Central Market. She claimed that working makes her productive and healthy at her age. IMT
sad to add that he still needs more practice and experience on the curves. He also appreciated the provisions of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog for allowing the city’s tagline to appear in the sticker and t-shirts used by the group. The prayers of our fellow riders
Wind farm...from page 1
government’s feed-in tariff program, under which it will be dispatched to the grid at a rate of P8.53 per kilowatthour for a period of 20 years. First Maxpower, according to its Web site, is a local company established in 2009 to engage
and friends in Iloilo led us back better and great thanks also to our pit man, Ronald the great. We hope to participate again to the next competition in October this year at Clark International Speedway, Pampanga. More power to Iloilo Metropolitan Times for the support. IMT
in power generation, particularly from renewable energy resources. The company has two other proposed wind projects in the municipalities of Sanchez Mira and Claveria, both located in Cagayan province. –BusinessWorld/IMT
IMT Fun Time
ARIES:
You like obstacles. Obstacles give you something to work around. They give you something to do. At least that’s your viewpoint at the outset of the week. Absolute force may not be the best way forward; sheer charm may be a lot more potent. Wednesday and Thursday, when all the barriers before you suddenly lift, you and your comrades march toward victory in a shower of confetti. You have no time to celebrate on Friday and Saturday, what with your family’s demands on your time, but Sunday is all yours. Call your friends. A small party is in order.
TAURUS:
LIBRA:
A diplomatic tete-a-tete may be necessary to smooth things over between you and an important (if volatile) ally early this week. Maybe bake some cookies and bring them along to the occasion. If you two have been at each other’s throats lately, it may be because you have so much in common; find something to laugh about. Midweek, you and your friends are laughing nonstop about an inside joke, but on Friday there’s really not much time to do anything except work. Find a way to appreciate beauty and harmony while getting things done. You’ll have all of Sunday to be social. The push and pull at the start of the week isn’t a fight per se, it’s just several people trying to establish interpersonal boundaries. Take a stand and be upfront, but if a compromise here or there will make things easier, you can handle that. You’ll need as many people on your side as possible on Wednesday and Thursday, when stressful money matters require immediate attention, but Friday is all about foreign restaurants, ocean journeys and long cerebral conversations. On Saturday you get what you want without even having to ask for it. On Sunday, take it easy.
GEMINI:
SAGITTARIUS:
You have more strength than you realize, and you’re a lot farther ahead than you think. If a spreadsheet has you cross-eyed on Monday or Tuesday, don’t panic, just ask a math-minded friend for help. Wednesday and Thursday will have you seeing things more clearly than you have in a while. You will also meet more new friends in the span of a few hours than you’ve met over the last few months. The tide is finally going your way -- if only some cash would float by. Friday and Saturday might be thwarted by infighting among friends, but Sunday is pure love and peace and laughter.
On Monday, think small. Don’t be so concerned with how you’re going to harvest apples from a tree you haven’t planted yet. Get the tree planted and worry about how to make apple pie after you’re surrounded by buckets of apples. Worrying in advance isn’t a good use of your time, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, when you already won’t have enough time to get done all the things you need to. On Friday, you’d like to rely on the help of your friends but your energies are mismatched. You may have to go this one alone. Some good news: Sunday is a lucky day.
There was a time when most people thought Columbus was nuts. The lesson: The wildest notions are sometimes also the wisest. Not that you have any broad theories about the Earth to impart on Monday or Tuesday. (Although you do feel a bit like the captain of a ship.) Wednesday finds you overwhelmed and irritable, but you don’t have to let anyone else know that. It’s all about how you come across. Put your best foot forward on Thursday: Be alert and communicate clearly. Emotions are running high at the end of the week, but so is your energy. You are indefatigable. You have the energy of an early explorer.
If you have nothing else to do on Monday or Tuesday, spending some time in nature would be a swell idea. Indulge in several hours of doing nothing at all. By Wednesday, you won’t have a spare second to yourself -- friends are talking your ear off, strangers are introducing themselves to you. Thursday promises to be zany, too. Energy levels surge on Friday, and by Saturday, all the havoc in the rest of your world seeps into your home life. On Sunday, if you feel like throwing a blanket over your head and turning off the phone, everyone will understand.
You are a success. You are almost a legend among your coworkers. But enough about what they think: How do you feel about what you’re doing? That’s the big question on Monday and Tuesday, and it stays in the back of your mind all week. When someone asks casually about your life goals on Wednesday or Thursday, don’t be shy. Modesty and pride are major themes on Friday -- as personal qualities go, they are not as contradictory as they seem -- and Saturday finds you feeling happy and in control. Sunday is one of those top-ofthe-mountain days. Get out your diary, because it’s a day you’ll want to remember.
An unexpected phone call gets you thinking about someone you haven’t thought of in years. The start of the week is defined by strange discoveries made in strange places, and the middle of the week is defined by -- lucky you -- love. A sizzling affair: strawberries, whipped cream, the works. Wednesday is pure bliss and Thursday is the sequel. It only follows that Friday will be something of a letdown. Try not to let it drag your entire weekend down. Your emotionality is not in charge; you’re in charge. Organize your feelings and get plenty of sleep. Sunday is an energized day.
LEO:
VIRGO:
It’s healthy to have the jitters before traveling; the prospect of unfamiliar territory provokes that response in many people. An open, philosophical approach -- rather than a strictly practical approach -- is the way to go during the first half of this week. You are the master of your destiny. Thursday in particular has the potential to be a great or terrible day, depending, in large measure, on you. On Friday, if your energy is flagging, ask your friends to rile you up (they’ll be happy to oblige). Saturday’s a good day to spend around others as well, although Sunday’s a stay-at-home sort of day.
KU
SCORPIO:
You wake up on Monday feeling like a character in a romance novel. Your entire life seems oriented toward the prospect of love. (Or perhaps you’re already in love -lucky you.) Flattery and sex appeal figure strongly on Tuesday as well. Wednesday you’re too busy thinking about your wallet to spend much time thinking about your heart, and Thursday finds you crippled with indecision about your work life. But worry not: The weekend returns you to the realm of red roses and boxes of chocolate. If you’re single, Saturday’s your chance to do something about that.
CANCER:
S U DO
MEDIUM
Answer for July 13-19, 2014
The rule of the game are simple: You simply fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3x3 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9 without repeats or omissions.
CAPRICORN:
AQUARIUS:
PISCES:
It’s a cold, hard world sometimes. Thankfully, there are blankets. Monday and Tuesday are cozy days -- hot dinners, soft music, maybe some poetry -- and Wednesday is a fairly dreamy day, too. On Thursday, try your hand at being creative, but don’t be too specific about what you do. Clarity of thought isn’t as important as fullness of feeling. Friday is a romantic day -- again, poetry figures strongly -- and the mystery of this other person in your life is endlessly thrilling. Saturday puts you in a creative mood again, but Sunday is a day for practicalities.
Across 1 Insufficient (6) 4 Flock (5) 7 Shock (6) 8 Behind (6) 9 Use needles (4) 10 Jock (8) 12 Tropical tree (7,4) 17 Detested person or thing (8) 19 Schlock (4) 20 Something of small importance (6) 21 From Kolkata, perhaps (6) 22 Stock (5) 23 Block (6)
Answer for July 13-19, 2014 Down 1 Mindless (7) 2 Living in water (7) 3 Driver’s good judgment (4,5) 4 From Zagreb, perhaps (5) 5 Best (7) 6 Spotted piece used in a table game (6) 11 Banishment (9) 13 Speech (7) 14 Decree (7) 15 Picture created from a number of images (7) 16 Of Cambridge University (6) 18 Describing meat butchered according to Islamic law (5)
July 13 - 19, 2014
METRO SPORTS
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“Uncaged Australian Invasion” features Ilonggo-Australian boxers’ bout BY ELYROSE S. NAORBE The Cage Iloilo Management Team in partnership with the Global Amateur Boxing Association Inc. of Australia showed off some intense and concentrated match-ups in the recently concluded “Uncaged Australian Invasion” boxing competition at San Rafael Mandurriao Gym. This first Ilonggo-Australian amateur boxing event in Iloilo showcased 22 kick off matches which was participated in by several boxing aspirants who battled it out for cash prizes and trophies. The last three fights among three local amateur boxers against three Australian experienced boxers highlighted the event. Local boxers Harry Camacho and Cage trainee Fritz Estrella successfully overpowered Australians Marco Kent, 13, and William Kwong, 15, respectively.
IMT launches...from page 1
at least 200 new or gently-used story books or academic books and donate them to charity. The objective in forming a book donation event for the benefit of communities is to tap in kids and children who don’t have enough
Mismatch alarm...from page 1 na ang aton women locally,” she said As for the immigration of the rural to urban in income inequality, Lara said that, “It has not properly managed by our local government units, we would be duplicating what will happen sa mga urban areas na sa iban nga countries nga people flock to the city to look for jobs.”
the tournament around for the athletes to see parts of the country. They are planning to hold an international boxing event by January next year in line with the Dinagyang 2015 and will bring more fighters to bout with Ilonggo boxers. The proceeds of the event will be used to fund trainings of underprivileged young Ilonggos who are into boxing. The trainings will be also
Meanwhile,experienced boxer Bradly Saunders able to lift up the Australians after knocking down Jahnrie Solis. According to event organizer Mr. Achilles Tan, the event was a little step for the big future. “We want to introduce Martial Arts, especially boxing here in Iloilo as
a good sport aside from football and basketball. This boxing competition can somehow boost our tourism since there are international investors from Australia who are willing to support the event,” added Tan. Moreover, Global Amateur Boxing Association Inc. Asst. Sec. Roy Saunders said that they like to move
financial assistance to education and a little adventure in books. You can drop off new or gently used books until Aug. 23 at Suite 1, 3rd Flr., Cristina Colonnade, Cor. Huervana-Rizal Sts., Lapaz, Iloilo City. For more information, you can
call us at 0927-9252-734 // 508-5051. Books should be appropriate for children up to age 18. Donated books should provide positive, uplifting themes, as many of the children are facing difficult challenges in their lives. IMT
The challenge is to come up an economic spread where in the city will serve as market and all production production will be done in the province “kay didto gid ang agriculuture like food and maybe later value adding proceeses will take place outskirts para mahatagan livelihood ang mga tao.” “If you keep the economic spread as wide as possible, na ma connect mo
siguro sa activities sa rural to urban indi ta ma experience ang influx sa mga tao to really look for opportunities. Nami sya nga time subong to advocate for this initiative na masulod ang marginalized sector sa industry value chains. if it’s in tourism the communities will be able to provide vegetables, souvenirs and crafts to keep them didto than to come here and to put presure in finding jobs.” IMT
RPT hike...from page 1 the National Government was slashed after the creation of 16 new cities in the country in 2012. Among the affected programs are the education, peace and order and other basic assistance given to 180 villages. Of the total budget, Parreno said 70 percent goes to the city government; one percent is for special education while the 30 percent is being shared to villages for their projects like construction of buildings, maintenance, financial assistance and other improvements. Meanwhile, the City Council through the request of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog is consistent
supported by trainees who can afford to pay. The trainees are also gym’s scholars who provide young Ilonggo fighters the chance to finish their education while pursuing their boxing dream. Cage Iloilo Gym which was opened prior to the event has already registered a total of 30 members ages 9 years and old to 40-50 years old. Tan disclosed that almost 60 percent of them were women. IMT
to implement the 100 percent RPT increase despite objections from different local business groups. The business sector is asking a gradual or staggered payment of RPT upon its full implementation next year. Parreno noted that starting the last schedule of market values in 2006, the city government did not revise or set new market values up to the present because of the biggest damages brought by Typhoon Frank that hit Iloilo City in 2008. He said the 2006 schedule of market values was implemented only until 2011 which is supposedly amendable every three years as mandated by the law. IMT
12
METRO BACOLOD
July 13 - 19, 2014
SM Foundation taps DSB for “Grow a Million Trees”
BY VERMI C. ESMALLA
The SM Foundation with Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSSD), Department of Interior and Local Government, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Don Salvador Benedicto Agro Forest Farmers Association (DSBAFFA) planted seedlings of hard wood and fruit trees at the mountainous area of SPAR 20, Barangay Bunga, Don Salvador Benedicto. Prior to the tree planting, SM Foundation AVP Vice President Cristie Angeles led the signing of the memorandum of agreement along with the government agencies’ heads and representatives and people’s organization led by DSB AFFA President Rodger Rebatado. Angeles said that this is in connection with SM Foundation’s tree-planting program dubbed as “Grow a Million Trees” is in support of the national greening program of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources. It was launched last year in June and they continued it this year to include the Department of Social Welfare and Development for capacity building and social entrepreneurship. The objective of the tree-planting program is also to create a livelihood opportunity for them, whether lumber or by being responsible in planting fruit-bearing trees, in the hope that three to four years from now the people in the community will have something to spend and be able to send their children to school. Last year, we were able to start “My own bag” program in the supermarkets and they were able to plant 50,000 and the whole SM group has done treeplanting in other areas. Today, we have planted about 300,000 in the first year nationwide. Aside from planting trees, the SM group also volunteer to help other local government units in their tree-planting activities. “Grow a Million Trees” is not only planting but also advocating for others to follow. The more people involved planting trees, the better. This is a three-year program
and they want to ensure the plant’s survival. So in the next three months, there will be someone coming over to visit Salvador Benedicto to see if the 10,000 trees allocated in this area have been planted.
In other areas like Benguet, they have planted coffee and pine trees because these blend well together. This depends on what the lgu (or po) want to plant. The seedlings they planted yesterday in Salvador Benedicto are
hard wood and they will also fruit trees. They are also waiting for other people’s organization. She further encouraged people to get down to planting and understand fully well the need to plant trees.IMT
Insp. Roberto Fajardo, newlyinstalled chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Negros Occidental, said they will assist the National Food Authority (NFA) in its campaign against rice hoarders in the province. “We will conduct inspections of warehouses. “We will be ready to apprehend businessmen who take advantage of the current situation where there is a rise in the prices of prime commodities,” Fajardo said. Earlier, Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante said that it has come to the attention of the provincial government that some rice dealers are mixing NFA rice with commercial rice and selling it at a much higher price. Fajardo said he has already met
with NFA provincial manager Procopio Trabajo II to consolidate their efforts against abusive rice traders. For his part, Gov. Alfredo Maranon
Jr. said he believes that rice prices are high in the province because of rice traders are either keeping their supplies or mixing it with NFA rice.PNA
CIDG to assist NFA against rice hoarders