BusinessDaily (June 20, 2013)

INSIDE LOOK

DTI set to boost pangasius industry through SSF program

Moreno gets backing of Oro business group

PHL to lag behind other ASEAN members

Nutrition Month to spotlight need to address hunger

BusinessDaily Economy

PAGE 2

Around Mindanao

PAGE 3

CREDIBLE

Volume III, No. 239

Market Indicators

As of 6:12 pm june 19, 2013 (Wednesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P43.23

6,513.20 points

12 cents

X

5.57 points

X

Briefly Rural banks loans AG R I C U LT U R E S e c r e t a r y Proceso J. Alcala urged the country’s rural banks to implement innovative financing programs to serve more small farmer s, fisher s and rural entrepreneurs.

“Kailangan nating seguraduhin na walang maiiwan at lahat ng ating kababayan, lalong-lalo na ang mayoryang nasa kanayunan, ay makakatikim ng biyaya ng paglago,” Secretary Alcala said during the recent 60th annual convention of the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP).

He urged the RBAP to partner with the DA to successfully implement the Agro-Industry M o d e r n iz at i o n Cr e d i t a n d Financing Program (AMCFP).

Last year, loan releases under the AMCFP through cooperative rural banks totaled P1.12 billion, more than double the P446 million lent in 2011.

This year, the DA has allotted an additional P1B under the AMCFP to be lent to small farmers, fishers and rural entrepreneurs.

ASEAN Watch

PAGE 4

RELIABLE

Cagayan de Oro City

Thursday

Lifestyle

PAGE 5

PAGE 8

IN-DEPTH

June 20, 2013

P15.00

ERC okays supply deals of 4 M’nao power coops

F

By IRINE DOMINGO, Reporter

OUR electric utilities in Mindanao finally have clearance from the Energy Regulatory Board (ERC) to source their electricity from the Alcantara-owned power plant based in Iligan City.

T h e E RC a p p r o v e d the supply deals between Mapalad Power Corp and Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc (Aselco), Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc (Aneco), South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc (Socoteco II) and Iligan Light and Power Inc (Ilpi).

Mapalad Power operates the Iligan diesel plant, which t he c omp a ny a c qu i re d from the Iligan City local government.

The compa ny is a subsidiar y of A lsons Consolidated Resources Inc,

the listed holding firm of the Alcantara Group.

Mapalad Power’s diesel plant operates on a limited capacity, but would increase to 98.5 megawatts after the company completes a P1.2 billion rehabilitation project before yearend.

Based on the company’s s uppl y d e a l s w it h t he cooperatives, the power plant will deliver 30 megawatts to Aselco, 15 megawatts to Aneco, 30 megawatts to Socoteco II, and 10 megawatts to Ilpi.

The three-year supply okays/PAGE 11

ALL IS WELL. Philippine Air Lines plane takes off from the newly-opened Laguindingan Airport in Laguindingan town, Misamis Oriental with Camiguin Islanld as backdrop.

No rice shortage GENERAL Santos City -- The National Food Authority (NFA)GenSan assured the public today that there is no shortage of NFA rice in all its accredited retail outlets in the city and in neighboring Sarangani province.

This assurance came in anticipation of the rainy season, and that the rice stock may come “lean” as June to August i s p l a nt i n g sea s o n i n t h e Philippines.

Rainy season, according to Phili p pi ne At m o s p her i c Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already begun early last week.

Ed e g a r y R o n c a l , N FA provincial manager here said that NFA will guarantee for the “availability and visibility” of NFA rice in all outlets in its area of responsibility.

News

A Band for Christ

mindanews photo by froilan gallardo

DOE explores ‘Modular nuclear’ option

By MYRNA M. VELASCO, Contributor

THE Philippines is exploring the “modular nuclear” option.

Energy Undersecretary Ramon Allan V. Oca told an audience at the Shell presentation of its “New Lens Scenarios” that “modular nuclear is currently being studied by the energy department.”

Modular nuclear could make use

of the smaller-scale installations of 100 megawatts or less compared to the capital-intensive developments which are a lso of ma mmot h capacity.

Up to this point though, Oca noted that the technology’s social acceptance “is being weighed on explores/PAGE 11

GENERAL Santos City (PNA) -The Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) is on track to start its commercial operation in September when brownouts are

expected to hit the island anew, officials said Wednesday.

Clares Jalocon, IMEM project manager, said t he electricit y start/PAGE 11

IMEM to start in Sept. as more brownouts expected BRISK BUSINESS. Ambulant vendors make good business selling 5-10 days old ducklings along sidewalks in downtown Cagayan de Oro City.

Duck eggs are made for ‘balut’, a Filipino delicacy which is known for its aphrodisiac quality. photo by gerry lee gorit

J.P. RIZAL - CRUZ TAAL STS., (NEAR SHANGHAI BAKERY) DIVISORIA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessDaily

2

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Economy

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Christine Cabiasa

DTI set to boost pangasius industry through SSF program MANILA– The Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) shared service facilities (SSF) program targets to grow the pangasius (river catfish) industry in the Philippines.

DTI announced that they will be providing SSF to pangasius industry from this year until 2016.

In t he SSF progra m, DTI f inds micro, sma l l and medium enterprises (MSM E s) i n wh ich t he department will provide them facilities for better productivity, technolog y upgrading, product development, promotion and marketing assistance,

financing facilitation and organizational development services.

DTI aims that through SSF program MSMEs will be more competitive in local and international markets.

The Department also partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to hold a convergence of pangasius stakeholders to discuss and plan the industry’s pursuit

to avail SSF. The convergence was at t end e d by p a nga siu s stakeholders, DTI, BFAR, Depa r t ment of Science and Technolog y (DOST) officials and development agency partner from the Deutsche Gesel lscha f t für Internationale Zu s a m mena rbeit (GI Z) or G er ma n Agenc y for International Cooperation.

Aside from considering the SSF program, they set the strategic objectives of the industry for 2013 to 2016, they also validated program/PAGE 11

Marina inspected the safety management system of the said shipping line to know if there were defects in safety policies. The crew also underwent questioning to check whether they know their tasks, especially under such sea accident.

“The two vessels were found to have major deficiencies which resulted in suspension,” he said, without elaborating the details.

He added that the result of the special inspection of Medallion’s f leet , may be used in the investigation of the Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo)

ship MV Lady of Carmel, which sank off Burias Island, Masbate, on June 14.

Mejia said they might see patterns on how the shipping company handle ship safety.

But, he wanted to give the ship owner Corazon Fulache, due process and shed light on the incident.

Mejia , b el ie ve s t hat grounding the entire fleet, may not resolve problems a nd may create new problems, arising from the inconvenience it will cause to passengers and cargo in those routes served by the said shipping line.

Mejia said; “Marina is here to promote your business.

The government wants you to make money. In that way you bring employment, and people get income. At the same time, we also have regulations for public welfare.

We don’t want to complicate you r bu si ne s s t h rou g h voluminous requirements that cause delays. That’s what I always tell the stakeholders in the maritime industry.”

Department of Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d Communications (DOTC) Secretar y Joseph Emilio Suspends/PAGE 11

7-yr T-bond rate declines Marina suspends Medallion’s two vessels The country’s fundamentals played a big role in the drop of the rate of government’s s e v e n -y e a r Tr e a s u r y bond (T-bond) Tuesday, a development in contrast to the rise of Treasury bills (T-bills) rates.

R ate of t he T-b ond averaged at 2.953 percent during an auction by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) Tuesday. This is lower than the 3.876 percent the same tenor fetch last January.

The auction committee awarded P30 billion worth of securities as offered even as total tenders reached P40.27

billion.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said most of the investors of five to seven-year T-bonds are local investors who are not worried on the fluctuation of rates unlike those who place their funds in the shorter-term Treasury bills. “ It ’s r e a l l y t h e fundamentals that really count. Rates (of T-bills) increase because they’re expecting rates to go up.

They’re saying that everyone w i l l t ra nsfer to dol la rdenominated assets,” she said. declines/PAGE 11

MANILA- The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) s u s p e nd e d t wo of t he eight remaining vessels of Medallion Shipping, after finding deficiencies.

Marina Administrator Ma x imo Mejia, Jr. sa id Marina’s Regional Office in Cebu issued the suspension orders to Meda l lion Shipping’s vessels-- M/V Lady of Miraculous Medal and M/V Lady of Angels.

“Immediately af ter the sea accident, Marina started the special inspection of Meda l lion’s f leet on Saturday,” he said.

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Nelson Constantino

BusinessDaily

AroundMindanao

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Moreno gets backing of Oro business group

3

By CHRISTINE CABIASA, Staff writer

CAGAYAN de Oro City––The influential Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (OroChamber) on Friday vowed to support the administration of Mayor Oscar Moreno.

During its second quarterly meeting on June 14 at the Marco Polo Hotel, OroChamber President Efren T. Uy said his group will strongly support the plans and programs of the newlyelected mayor of Cagayan de Oro. Uy added the business group is ready to support Moreno, who defeated Mayor Vicente Emano during the May 13 midterm elections,

especially on projects and programs that are beneficial to the business sectors.

For his part, Moreno has assured the OroChamber that he will do his best to bring in more investors.

Likewise, he vowed to develop and improve further the local business enterprises.

This as Moreno expressed optimism that businesses will further flourish under his administration.

Traffic jams greet airport passengers

By Froilan Gallardo of MindaNews

Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental––Twenty nine passenger planes took off and landed at the new Laguindingan Airport on Saturday but passengers complained of traffic jam and the presence of barkers soliciting passengers for taxi rides.

He said the first to land at the airport was a Cebu Pacific Airbus from Manila which arrived at 6:05 a.m.

The last plane to arrive was also, a Cebu Pacific ATR 7250 from Davao City, which later departed for Cebu City before 6 p.m.

In the old Lumbia airport which was equipped with navigational aids, flight frequency was 28 a day. However, on stormy days, most of the flights would be cancelled as visibility around the airport located near the mountains south of Cagayan de Oro, drops to zero.

It is this concern that made CAAP pursue the transfer from Lumbia to Laguindingan Airport which is located on a flat terrain near the shoreline in Misamis Oriental.

CAAP has implemented a “daylight operations only” — from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — for the operations of Laguindingan Airport because it still has no Instrument Landing System (ILS), a navigational aid for planes.

It promised to install the ILS, VHF Omnidirectional Range Navigation (VOR); Meteorological Observing System; and Precision Lighting System (PALS) by May 2014.

Local businessmen led by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Orochamber) feared they would incur huge financial losses because a limited daylight operations will result to fewer planes landing in Laguindingan Airport.

Orochamber president Efren Uy said they estimated only 14 planes will be able to land on the 12-hour opening in Laguindingan airport.

“All of the airlines managed to squeeze more flights

to handle the passenger traffic for Laguindingan. It was business that dictated them to manage their operations,” Rascal said.

The P7.8 billion airport built by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Constuction of Korea dazzled incoming and departing passengers who were used to worn-out facilities of the old Lumbia airport.

“This is definitely better than Lumbia,” said Dr. Paulo Cabreros who traveled all the way from Iligan City to catch his flight for Manila last Saturday.

“The terminal is very clean and very modern. I hope they can maintain its cleanliness because I am impressed,” said Cagayan de Oro business executive Bobby Letaba who came on a Philippine Air Lines flight from Manila.

Jen Besere Ocsana, editorin-chief of Super Balita tabloid who also came on the same plane liked the view of Macajalar Bay when they landed at the Laguindingan airport.

“The sea was so calm.

It was nice to see the sea instead of the usual view of the mountains when we land in Lumbia Airport, Ocsana said.

Cabreros and some of the passengers also pointed to some things that CAAP can improve on in the next few days.

He said the terminal is not wi-fi connected — a must if Northern Mindanao wants to attract foreign tourists.

“I know wi-fi is not important but tourists will be looking for it,” Cabreros said.

Randy Casino, 28, who works as a guide in the Cagayan de Oro white water adventure, noticed there were no trash bins at the terminal lobby and even outside the airport facility.

“They should put garbage bins because where will the people throw their trash?

They might also plant trees jams/PAGE 11

Outgoing Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno, now Cagayan de Oro mayor-elect, delivers his speech during the second quarterly meeting of the influential Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (OroChamber) held at the Marco Polo Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City on June 14. photo by arjay s . felicilda

Pangilinan announces power-gen investment in Northern Mindanao

By Cheng Ordonez Editor-in-Chief

MAKATI CITY —Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan has announced h i s b u s i n e s s g r o u p’s venture to provide power in Mindanao by eyeing investment in coal-powered plant operation in Northern Mindanao. “ To h e l p e a s e t h e island’s power problem,” said Pangilinan in a press conference held Friday, June 14, 2013, even as he said that there are already preliminary talks with a Mindanao-based power generation company for a joint venture in coalfired power plant.

“We’d like to be part of the solution with regard to the power situation in Mindanao,” Pangilinan told reporters shortly after the annual PLDT stockholders’ meeting.

Pangilinan said that the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), which he also chairs, is intereste d to invest in power generation in Mindanao. He noted that Meralco, the country’s largest electric distribution utility, is willing to place its money to help Mindanao achieve stable power supply in the coming years.

There are at least two c o a l p l a nt p ro j e c t s i n Mindanao currently under construction, one in Davao City by the Aboitiz Power C orp. and the other in Maasim, Sarangani by the Sarangani Energy Corp. of the Alcantara Group.

Steag State Power, Inc. in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental, operates the only existing coal-fired power plant in the island that has a capacity of 210 megawatts.

Another company, the FDC Utilities Inc., is also

Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) chairman of the board, announces his business group’s plan to help provide power in Mindanao, at the press conference after the PLDT annual stockholders’ meeting, Friday, June 14, 2013, at Makati Shangri-La. Looking on is lawyer Maria Jane C. Paredes, senior manager, VisMin Public Affairs, Smart Communications, Inc.

coming into play soon with a scheduled ground-breaking in July, this year, also in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental.

Pa n g i l i n a n d i d n o t identif y the Mindanaobased power generation c omp a ny h i s g ro u p i s c ur rent ly t a l king wit h.

H o w e v e r, M i n d a N e w s was able to confirm that Pangilinan’s group is talking with the Alcantara Group.

“We have received many offers both [from] local and foreign groups who are interested in taking an equity position in our power projects and in ACR (Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc.)…And yes, the MVP

group is one of them,” Alcantara said in a text message forwarded by one of his senior executives.

ACR is the publicly-listed company of the Alcantara Group of Companies while MVP is Pangilinan’s initials.

The Alcantara Group operates the 100-megawatt (MW) Western Mindanao Power Corp. in Zamboanga City, the 55-MW Southern Philippines Power Corp. in Alabel, Sarangani and the recently acquired 102-MW Mapalad Power Corp. in Iligan City. These are all fuel-fed plants.

On Saturday, Mindanao has a power supply surplus of 152 MW, according to

READ!

www.businessweekmindanao.com

the website of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippine.

NGCP, the private operator of the countr y’s p ower transmission system, placed the supply in the Mindanao grid at 1,373 MW with the peak load at 1,221 MW. Months prior to the May 13 elections, several parts of Mindanao suffered daily rotating brownouts lasting up to eight hours in some areas due to the reduced generation capacity of the hydroelectric plants op e r ate d by t he st ate ow ne d Nat iona l Power Corp. allegedly due to the dams’ declining water level.

(With a report from Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

BusinessDaily

4

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 19, 2013

AseanWatch

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Bong D. Fabe

How to make ASEAN community a success? Bridge social, economic gaps

By Koo Jin Shen, The Brunei Times

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN—There is an adorable short animation about the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) Community on YouTube.

Produced by the ASEANPublic Affairs Office in 2007, it talks about the 10 ASEAN member-states in bite-sized pieces of information, and what an ASEAN Community could mean for future generations.

Written with a young audience in mind, the clip centers around a group of children who are taken on a “special adventure” through the member-state countries before arriving at a place called the “ASEAN Community.”

Complicated: The reality of personifying an ASEAN Community, however, is obviously far more complicated. Urging 10 countries with unique social, political and economic identities to come together into one cohesive community would also be nothing short of an “adventure,” either.

A lot of work has already taken place in trying to realize this community. Exchanges on all levels of government and non-government organizations happen on a regular basis. Ideas and conversations are often shared, and there is a lot of economic activity going on, one way or another,

between the 10 ASEAN nations.

The truth is, with the clock ticking away, realizing the ASEAN Community before 2015 might be stretching it.

Some time ago, a member of an Indonesian nongovernment organization whose work focused on developing rural areas, shared his opinion on how the ASEAN Community was only something that could exist in their leader’s imagination.

100M people no electricity: He said in Indonesia, out of 60,000 villages, more how/PAGE 10

OECD report: PHL to lag behind other ASEAN members in economic growth

By ALITO L. MALINAO, Xinhua

MANILA—Despite its better than expected 6.6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth last year, the Philippines will lag behind other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the long-term if it does not adopt the needed improvements, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In its report entitled “Southeast Asian Economic Outlook 2013,” the Parisba s e d OECD s a id t hat i n ma ny economic a nd development indicators, the Philippines can even be overtaken by newer and less developed neighbors if corrective measures are not implemented.

The OEDC Development Center report showed that a Filipino worker accounted for US$10,000 worth of products valued in 2009 prices. This is barely above Indonesia’s level and below the ASEAN average, the OECD said.

The Philippines, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, are the founding members of ASEAN. The newer members of the regional grouping, formed in 1967, are Brunei Darussa lam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, all of which signed up in the 1990s.

Kensuke Tanaka, head of the Asia desk of the OECD think tank, said in a lecture delivered in Jakarta last week that among the five original founders, the Philippines ranked fourth in terms of labor productivity.

According to Tanaka, poverty incidence in the Philippines was the highest among the five with almost a quarter of the population living below the poverty

threshold. This was almost the same as that in Indonesia.

Philippine government officials have been candid in admitting that despite impressive economic growth, the problem of unemployment and poverty have persisted.

A report issued by the Integ rat ion Monitor i ng Of f ice of t he ASEA N Secretariat a lso showed that the Philippines has the lowest GDP per capita among the six oldest ASEAN members, including Brunei.

Each Filipino accounts for only US$2,300 a year, which is less than a quarter of the world average of US$10,000.

The OECD has projected that in the next five years or until 2017, the Philippines’ real GDP growth will be 5.5 percent yearly, which would be at par with the figure for the entire ASEAN. However, the four less developed members a re expected to surpass this level with Vietnam growing by 5.6 percent; Myanmar, 6.

3 percent; Cambodia, 6.9 percent and Laos, 7.4 percent.

Indonesia’s growth will outperform its neighbors, with a 6.4 percent annual rate of expansion from 2013 to 2017. Malaysia and Thailand will see annual expansion of about 5.1 percent, and Singapore may grow 3.1 percent a year. report/PAGE 10

The Metro Manila skyline shows a stark contrast between affluence and poverty. photo by jessica lara

Malaysia pushes joint dev’t to solve Asia sea disputes K UA L A LU M P U R— Malaysian Prime Minister Najib R a z a k c a l led for cla ima nts in t he Sout h China Sea to jointly develop resources to avoid conflict and prevent “extraregional st ate s” f rom becom i ng involved.

Na ji b c i t e d a j o i nt development zone in waters claimed by Thailand and Malaysia as a precedent that could be applied in the South China Sea. Vietnam and the Philippines reject China’s map as a basis for joint development in the waters, part of which are also claimed

by Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

“A g r e e i n g t o s h a r e prosperity, rather than let it divide us, is infinitely preferable to the alternative,” Najib said.

Competition for oil, gas and fish threatens to disrupt the estimated two-thirds of global trade that passes through the waters.

Ch i na favors joi nt development of resources, while the US, Japan and the Philippines advocate international arbitration.

Najib said a code of conduct for operating in the waters would be a “good

start” to prevent tensions from escalating.

He warned that involving unspecified “extraregional states” may “add yet another layer of complexity to the dispute.”

“For Asian nations, this problem is ours to solve,” Najib said. “Should we stray from the path of dialogue and cooperation, we may pave the way for other parties to take remedial action to protect the freedom of navigation and safe passage.”

Chinese patrols: At a recent meeting of defense officials in Singapore, disputes/PAGE 10

ASEAN strengthens efforts to combat drug trafficking BANDUNG, Indonesia—The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) d r u g l aw- e n f o r c e m e nt agency, along with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, is eager to strengthen cooper at ion combat i ng narcotics traf f ick ing in the region, it was revealed during the ASEAN+3 Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) Workshop here.

Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Com. Gen. Anang Iskandar, said the two-day meeting was aimed at strengthening airpor t interdiction cooperation among ASEAN, plus the three other countries (ASE A N+3), to prevent and cut off international trafficking of narcotics and narcotic precursors in the region.

“ASEAN leaders have a strong commitment to realize Drug Free ASEAN 2015, as stipulated in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Drug Free ASEAN 2015. As we all are aware, 2015 is only two years from now, therefore, we must work hard and put our maximum effort into realizing the said target,” Iskandar said.

The AITF was one of the important concrete actions to cut off trafficking in narcotics and narcotics precursors to and from ASEAN+3, said Iskandar.

“We are now entering a crucial phase to finalize the terms of reference of the AITF, which serves as a cooperation framework for airport interdiction among ASEAN+3. Therefore, I call upon the meeting to expedite the finalization of the terms of reference on the Airport Interdiction Task Force,” Iskandar added.

ASEAN/PAGE 10

Mindanao Star

When you’re in Zamboanga and Pagadian City, read...

Your Community Newspaper

Zamboanga Peninsula

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Christine Cabiasa

BusinessDaily

News

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Nutrition Month to spotlight need to address hunger

5

By RACHELLE M. NESSI, Contributor

CEBU CITY- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) is spotlighting hunger as a critical issue in causing undernutrition and malnutrition during this year’s observation of Nutrition Month in July.

NNC-7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita Mission said there continues to be a need to address hunger as part of the Philippines’ commitment to t he Un ited Nat ions Millennium Development Goals, particularly on the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

“Right now, we are moving forward beyond advocacy level and take active action to the issue of hunger,” said Mission in a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Cebu City.

She said hunger and malnutrition in the country are decreasing, but admitted that it is “at a slow pace.”

“This year, we are involving as many sectors as possible in our campaign, the private sector, business, academe,” she added.

NNC-7 has forged ties with the business sector through various chambers of commerce and industry in the region for them to take steps in addressing hunger.

Mission said businesses

can open up more work opportunities as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The council will also lobby for newly-elected government officials to take stronger political actions in tackling hunger.

“We hope they will make par t of t heir Executive Legislative Agenda actions to address hunger,” she said.

Records show that Central Visayas is among the areas in the country identified to have a high prevalence of hunger.

T he reg ion’s hu nger prevalence rate is around 75%, higher than the national average rate of 69.3%.

Hunger is caused by poverty, armed conf lict, natural disasters, environmental degradation, rapid population growth, lack of agricultural infrastructure, and food prices, according to a presentation by NNC-7 Nutrition Officer III Susan Orpilla.

Most at risk of hunger are the rural poor (smallholders, la nd less, laborers, a nd fisherfolk), women due to

their low status in some societies, and victims of politica l upheava ls a nd natural diseases.

Aside from malnutrition and undernutrition, hunger also leads to high infant mor ta lit y rates, poor hea lt h status, impa ired i mpa i re d phy sic a l a nd mental development, acute vulnerability in times of disaster, and hindrance to economic growth.

Japan builds school for remote Maguindanao village

By DANILO E. DOGUILES

K O R O N A DA L C I T YPupils in a secluded village i n Kabu nta la n tow n i n Maguindanao will soon have classrooms that are more conducive to learning.

Kabuntalan Mayor Datu Salaban Diocolano confirmed that the Japanese Government has allotted US$119,975 , approximately P4.8 million, for the construction of a six-classroom building at Gambar Elementary School remote/PAGE 10

Still there are children who suffers hunger due to insufficient nutrition.

photo courtesy of guardian . co . uk

Access to health services a priority with new provincial hospital

By MARCELO M. PEDALINO, Contributor

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte- A modern, state-ofthe-art health facility is set to open in Barangay Dongon next year.

Dr. Joselito Trumata said in an interview at the cable TV Action Center Kapihan sa PIA Wednesday that the new provincial hospital located some five kilometres from the city proper in an interior road will be able to house 450 beds, majority of which are for poor patients, as only 50 beds are for private rooms.

The number is a drastic increase compared with

the existing capacity in the present hospital located at Barangay Mantahan within the city proper which has only 100 beds, Trumata said.

At the new hospital, the management would see to it that all kinds of medicines needed by the patients will be available right in its pharmacy.

“From what I heard, the provincial government will be passing an ordinance restricting private drugstores to put up shops within a distance of one kilometer,” Trumata said.

He was optimistic all poor patients admitted there will already have their own Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cards, so any prescribed drugs by the attending physician will just be taken out from the in-house pharmacy.

“In fact, for quite some time now, any admission at the hospital of a poor patient who has no PhilHealth ID yet, the provincial government would automatically enrol him/her, until the allocation of 40,000 individuals of Gov. priority/PAGE 10

BusinessDaily

6

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Opinion

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Make someone happy

T

THINK

hink a minute…There were two very sick men who A Minute shared a room in a hospital.

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst The man whose bed was by the window was allowed to sit up for an hour each day to help drain the fluid from his lungs.

But the other man, who was not able to sit up, spent all his time laying flat on his back.

The two men talked for several hours each day. They talked about their wives and families, their jobs and life’s experiences.

Every day when the man by the window sat up on his bed for an hour, he told his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

He told him about the park with its lovely lake and gardens.

It made the other man so happy because he could not sit up to look out; so he looked forward to that one hour every day as he listened to his roommate talk about the people and beauty of the world outside their hospital window.

One night, the man by the window died in his sleep.

The other sick man who shared his room was very sad. He missed his roommate who had told him about the beautiful world through their hospital window.

Then one day he asked if his bed could be moved to the window where his friend had been.

He couldn’t wait to finally see the beautiful world outside.

But when he turned his head to look out the window, he was shocked to see nothing but a dirty blank wall!

When the man told the nurse all the things his roommate had seen through the window and told him about, the nurse said to him: “Your friend who sat by the window was blind! hurst/PAGE 7

BusinessDaily CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

DANTE M. SUDARIA Publisher ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA, Ph.D. Manager

NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief

BONG FABE

Executive Editor

Ruel Pelone Online editor

cris panganiban Regional Editor

Cris diaz mike baños butch enerio Sub-Editors JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA URIEL C. QUILINGUING Editorial Consultants

DOLLY PELONE Comptroller

ALLAN MEDIANTE Managing Editor Shaun yap uy Section Editor

CHRISTINE CABIASA Copy Editor

CLIFFORD SANTILLAN RONALD B. MASTAIL Layout Artists

Crystaline pino Advertising

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Cell No: 09352379999 (088) 857 3599

L

Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Member: Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) a publication of

BusinessWeek MINDANAO ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS

The challenge of balancing life

ife is a balancing act. Lacking a sense of balance in life is like losing control while driving at high speed on a very slippery freeway. It makes your hands sweat and your heart palpitate.

With a chronic sense of imbalance, you get a lot of anxiety, you frown a lot, you physically age faster and you easily get ill.

Psychologists say that happiness and success in life lies in maintaining a sense of balance. This balance is attained by paying significant attention to different aspects of wellness.

Several models of balanced wellness have been proposed.

These include the relatively more known six-dimension interdependent wellness model developed in 1976 by Dr. Bill Hettler of the National Wellness Institute. However, I find the more comprehensive seven-spoked wellness wheel that includes financial wellness most interesting. Evaluating your own level of balanced wellness by asking yourself these questions for each specific aspect might be a great eye-opener.

Your Physical health: How healthy is your body? Do you eat the right foods? Are you exercising regularly? Is your weight ideal? Would having money but not being able to enjoy much of it due to poor health suit you?

Your Mental/Intellectual health: What is your mental diet?

What information and entertainment do you feed your mind?

Do you seek to aspire for continuous and lifetime learning? Do you always welcome and explore new ideas?

Your Spiritual health: How do you find meaning and significance in your life? Do you find ways to study, meditate and connect to a higher power? Do you enjoy peace of mind and heart?

Your Family health: Do you share common and morally

F

A

upright values with your loved ones? Do you find time to share Financial D octor with your family? How closely

By Adonis Agcopra connected are you with your spouse and your children?

Your Career health: Do you love your work? Are your interests, skills and temperament well-suited for your chosen career? Is your work and advocacy reflective of your innermost values?

Your Social health: Are you comfortable interacting with other people? Do you welcome new friends and new situations? Are you capable of maintaining valuable friendships?

Your Financial health: Are you financially disciplined? Do you live within your means? Do you know how to earn, save, invest and protect your assets and yourself?

Living a well-balanced life is a continuous journey that can spell a big difference towards your happiness and success. Aim to be successful and happy. Revolutionize and start balancing your life now!

----(Dr. Adonis Agcopra, MBA, CIS, RFC® is with the IARFC and is portfolio director of AFIC Meridian Consultants. URL: www. aficfinancialconsultants.com. Email: aficfinancialconsultants@ outlook.com.)

THE

Patron of the arts

ROM rising painters, to trailblazing printmakers, to national artists — the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has served as a “great patron” to them all.

The Bangko Sentral is considered “unique” as a public institution because of its exceptional collection of paintings spanning more than two centuries, according to the Committee on BSP Artwork and Paintings (CBAP).

The BSP’s art collection started under the term of Governor Gregorio S. Licaros. Paintings were then acquired to adorn the former Central Bank of the Philippines’ new offices on Roxas Boulevard.

The collected works grew significantly under former Governor Jaime C. Laya, who expanded the Bank’s art collection to include decorative arts (pre-colonial gold and pottery).

The CBAP added that during the terms of former BSP Governor Rafael B. Buenaventura and present Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr., the Committee started the inventory of the BSP art collection and published the books “Tanaw: Perspectives on the BSP Painting Collection” and “Tanaw: Catalog of the BSP Painting Collection.”

It was under the term of Tetangco that the BSP’s biennial art competition (“Tanaw: the BSP Art Competition”) and its art acquisition program were launched.

“We believe that the BSP as an established storehouse of Philippine culture should continue to serve as its guardian,” the CBAP said.

The country’s 14 National Artists for visual arts (two for sculpture, 12 for painting) are represented in the BSP collection.

Fernando Amorsolo leads the pack, with 28 of his

Juni Law Office Cruz Taal St.,CDO Legal Counsel

The Business Daily is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Advertising and Promotions daily with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Certificate No. 00875701, and with Business Permit No. 2013-10946, TIN No. 946-396-807 – Non VAT. Tel. Nos.: (088)8578447, 745380, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

paintings now with the BSP. Hernando R. Ocampo comes O ut second, with 27 paintings.

By Ignacio Bunye The other National Artists with artworks included in the BSP collection are: Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Guillermo Tolentino, Napoleon Abueva, Victoria Edades, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi, A r t u ro Lu z , J. E l i z a lde Navarro, Ang Kiukok, Jose Joya, Benedicto Cabrera, and Abdulmari Imao.

The BSP also has 10 of the “Thirteen Moderns” in its collection. The “Thirteen Moderns,” spearheaded by Victorio Edades, was an attempt to form a cohesive unit of artists who were in search of a modern style.

Edades, who has eight of his works with the BSP, had helped organize the University of Santo Tomas Department of Architecture in 1930. He was appointed Director of the UST College of Architecture and Fine Arts in 1935.

Edades patterned the Fine Arts curriculum after American courses and included Western and Oriental art history, foreign languages, and optional science subjects such as zoology and botany (aside from the standard subjects such as drawing, painting and composition).

“It was under the stewardship of Edades that UST became foremost in modern art, while the University of bunye/PAGE 7

SPEAKING

Accidents do happen!

ccidents are what they are and most times there is nothing one can do about them which is why they are called accidents.

Unless there is intent, it is but an accident. But what do we do with human error and worst of all; incompetence?

In Europe after the fall of the financial systems, regulators were quick to penalize incompetence and human error which gave rise to multiple complaints towards human rights. And should these human rights not be addressed who in his right mind will accept responsibility towards issues one has no control over.

Wall Street in New York may have been at fault but it was a concerted effort that brought down the financial system worldwide.

To date few if none at all have been penalized for Wall Street’s carelessness treating the financial system as if a casino with the elusive derivatives trading which mind you were considered legal.

This brings us to the disasters we saw of Cebu Pacific in the Davao airport and the explosion of the Serendra Two building at the Bonifacio Global City.

Surely on both occasions we can call them accidents.

While human error is coming out to be the cause for the Cebu Pacific airplane, surely the seeming gas leak at the Serendra has to be some type of human error as well.

What is interesting is how all the players involved are all B randing towing the line as if a director

By Harry Tambuatco to a play or a conductor of an orchestra. Complaints are filed and possibly even a class suits.

Meanwhile dole outs by respondents are held in abeyance till such time these complaints are put into order or what we call courts.

From there let’s give it a decade if not two before resolutions are made. And by the time they are paid, values of monies to be paid out will no longer satisfy the same values today. Then there are the law firms and lawyers who are on a hay day to slug it out in court for the next twenty years.

The losers of course will be government, the local government, the airport, complainants of the law suits and even the insurance companies (or maybe not the insurance companies) who are all made to wait and to pay legal fees for the courts to resolve.

There is the infamous Ampatuan case, a criminal class suit tambuatco/PAGE 7

SUPER

BusinessDaily

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Hurst... from page 6

He could not even see that wall!

I think he just wanted to make your life happy.”

Jesus told us that the only way to be truly happy is to make others happy.

The only way to find your real, satisfying life is to give it away by loving others.

This is how God Himself lives.

He loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for all our wrongs and sins.

So today, you yourself can ask and receive His forgiveness and new life.

Jesus will give you the power to start changing into a new person who learns to love and make others happy just Jesus does.

Just Think a Minute…

Bunye... from page 6

the Philippines remained the bastion of conservative art under Fernando Amorsolo,” the CBAP said.

Artists from the “Thirteen Moderns” whose works are represented in the collection include Edades, Demetrio Diego, Carlos Francisco, Cesar Legaspi, Diosdado Lorenzo, Anita MagsaysayHo, Vicente Manansala, Galo B. Ocampo, Hernando R. Ocampo, and Ricarte Purugganan.

The Cultural Center of

the Philippines has honored this pioneering group by naming its art awards the “Thirteen Artists Award” — originally conceived to support experimental art in the Philippines.

At present, the CBAP explained that it has become a triennial program that nu r t u res a nd promotes a r t ist ic excel lence by recognizing progressive and innovative art.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has indeed become a “guardian” of Philippine culture with its breathtaking collection of artworks.

Former BSP Governor Rafael Buenaventura once said of the paintings in BSP’s possession: “The collection, spanning two centuries and numbering over a thousand pieces, serves as a mirror of ourselves as Filipinos: How we shaped our history, how we grew our sensibility, and how we handled our sensitivity.”

Aside from the works of Nationa l Ar tists and the “Thirteen Moderns” discussed in last week ’s column, conceptual art is also represented in the BSP collection.

According to the Committee on BSP A r t work a nd Pa i nt i ngs (CBAP), this ty pe of art is represented by Roberto “Chabet” Rodriguez—widely acknowledged as the father of Philippine conceptual art.

Chabet, one of the most

inf luential contemporary teachers and artists, was a professor at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Fine Arts for three decades.

Chabet, who is represented in the BSP collection with his early works, described his pieces as “creatures of memory” and himself as their “custodian.”

The great teacher nurtured students, later collectively known as “Chabet’s babies,” who have become recognized in their own right.

The BSP also possesses work s of t he so - c a l led “social realists.” During the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, a group of these more “politically inclined” artists veered away from non-representational imagery and began depicting everyday t hemes, current events, relationships, and “way of life” as subjects.

First generation social realists Pablo Baen Santos, Edgar Fernandez, Antipas Delotavo, Orlando Castillo, and Renato Habulan are represented in the Bangko Sentral’s gallery, according to the CBAP. The graphic ar ts are also featured in the BSP art collection. The works of first-generation printmakers such as Manuel Rodriguez Sr., Manuel Rodriguez Jr., Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Brenda Fajardo, and Adiel Arevalo are found at the BSP. It would be interesting to k now t hat t he elder Rodriguez has been called

the “Father of Philippine Printmaking” because of his role in promoting graphic arts in the country.

The BSP has likewise become a venue for several extremely talented, “up and coming” artists.

“Tanaw: the BSP Art Competition,” a biennial art competition launched in 2010, ta kes of f f rom established nationa l ar t competitions such as the Shel l A r t C ompet it ion, the Art Association of the Philippines Competition, t h e PL D T D i r e c t o r i e s Philippines Competition, and the Metrobank Art and Design Competition.

According to CBAP, only previous winners of these national art competitions and other recognized biennales and triennales are allowed to enter the BSP competition.

The top three winning entries automatically become part of the BSP Artwork and Painting Collections, the CBAP explained.

The 2010 winners of the “Tanaw” competition include Gary Custodio from Iloilo, Melvin Culaba of Baclaran, and Brave Singh of Ilocos Sur. L ast ly, t he BSP a lso features the works of Filipino artists who have trained abroad, including Juvenal Sanso, Nena Saguil and Macario Vitalis — all of whom have France their “destination of choice.”

“The wide array of art produced by Filipino artists is

(both) original and complex, and addresses issues and shows a mixture of several cultural inf luences,” the CBAP said.

Tambuatco... from page 6

suit that has stagnated now for some three years and counting.

Considering the worldwide exposure this case received it is a wonder how in the Philippines it goes

7

on and on like an energizer battery. And considering the high profile players like the Gonkonwei’s and the Zobel’s––will there be compensation due to whomever?

I seriously doubt!!! In court in this country nothing is resolved––it is called procrastination with legal procedures that make it acceptable. This is the freedom we enjoy and the game of the rich and of those with authority.

!

D A E R

www.businessweekmindanao.com

ADVERTISE NOW!!!

BusinessWeek Mindanao, Tanleh Bldg. , Abellanosa St. Cagayan de Oro City

BusinessDaily

A Band for Christ 8

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Lifestyle

By Roquesa Mae A. Bersabal, Liceo U MassComm Intern

SideCorner is one of the local bands in Cagayan de Oro City.

They play different genre of music; rock, RNB, pop, acoustic etc. As a normal teenager, they just considered music as a hobby and afterwards, they realized that music is their passion.

As days, months and years go by they found out that each one of them has talents in playing instruments like guitar, piano and drums. So they decided to form a band to make use of their hidden talents.

The band was formed in 2012. They got their band name from the place where they use to hang-out which is in the corner of their street.

Most of their leisure times were spent in their hang-out place to have what they called “sepra” which means to learn the chords of the music.

“Our band name has a big significance for us for the reason that it symbolizes our 4 years of friendship and where we first started as a band” Rodel said.

SideCorner band is composed of 7 members.

Shania Obidos, Janex Maghirang and Kim Perez on vocals, Kim Lumahang on lead guitar, Rodel Gonzales on rhythm guitar, Lance Bacalso on bass and Jerome Bautista on drums.

In a band, conflicts and misunderstandings are always present, they can’t avoid these problems since it’s where they distinguish each other’s personality.

As we all know, each one of us is unique in many ways.

However, this can make a band get stronger. “When our band member experienced conflict with the other member, we immediately find ways for them to be settled. We never let our misunderstandings last for several days, since we knew that we always depend with each other”. Lance said.

For almost a year, the SideCorner band always failed to get the title in every band competition they have joined. They usually end up into receiving consolation prizes.

“Being a member of a band can help us enhance our talents that God gave us.

We can express our feelings through music as well as to be a model to some teenagers who want to form their own band. By this it can give us satisfaction every time we receive achievements and compliments”.

~Janex

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor : Shaun Alejandrae Yap Uy

The Singer’s Medicine Chest

By DEBBIE CABAGUE

”After every competition, the result was always disappointing and that we think we never gave all our best but in fact we did. They see us as amateurs compared to the other bands and we never deny it since it’s true but every now and then we can’t deny the fact that we lose because the result was already made or ”luto na daan ang resulta” you can’t avoid this kind of bias in a band competition. All you have to do is to accept it, and you have no choice”. Kim Lumahang said.

The SideCorner band is not just an ordinary band.

They’re also a member of an organization called Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ is the youth ministry of Couples for Christ, a catholic charismatic community, which caters to the spiritual, emotional and social needs of young adults.

YFC is present in many school, parishes, and community all over the Philippines and even in 90 countries all over the world.

YFC holds conferences every year. The Chapter Youth Conference (CYC), Sectoral Youth Conference (SYC), Regional Youth Conference (RYC) and International Leaders Conference (ILC) from chapter to international.

This month, the International Leaders Conference titled “JesusExpo” was held at Marikina Sports Park, Manila last April 1-7, 2013 in celebration of YFC’S 20th glorious years. The SideCorner (also known as Mis. Or. Band, they use this band name to recognize what chapter they come from) was the representative of the Northern Mindanao sector, since they’re the champion among the 3 conferences.

“Before the ILC, we experience a lot of harassments. We thought that we will never make it to Manila because some of our members were busy and we have also struggled in searching some members who were capable in joining our band since majority of us has no money to pay for the registration and

transportation going to Manila. ” Kim Perez said.

In God’s grace the group was able to went to Manila but unable to complete the original members. They replace their members with another YFCs who can make it to Manila.

“Before our performance we couldn’t imagine ourselves that we made it this far. We feel very blessed that we made all the way to the top.

Even though we thought we wouldn’t be able to get the award, we still thank the Lord for giving us the chance to play in this once in a year event” Rodel says.

In the end, the SideCorner (Mis. Or Band) got the title as ILC 2013 Champion for band competition.

No one expected that they got the biggest award. “As the host announces the result of the band competition, we expected that we would get the 3rd or 2nd place because we knew that our performance wasn’t that good, since all of us got nervous. As he announced the 2nd winner, we were losing our hope that we would be the champion but as he calls our band name, we didn’t move because we’re in a middle of a surprise”. Janex said.

Running all the way through the stage the SideCorner band was overwhelmed. Many cried, stunned, as well as pleased for them to get the title.

“This once in a lifetime experience was very unforgettable for us, because in every competition we join, we always failed to win but by playing music for God everything is possible. He always knew the perfect timing. This molds us for what we are right now. We realize that this talent is not from us but from God so, it helps us to build our talents by giving music to everyone. But we’re not the ones whom people see but it’s Jesus Christ”. Shania said.

“The key to success is playing music by heart. Make it your passion .Trust God with all your heart, offer all your doubts to Him, and give Him your soul.

Because believing in God everything is possible”.

When you’re in Cagayan de Oro, read...

Maintaining Vocal Health comes in handy when we know what vitamins, minerals and herbs are beneficial to us singers so here’s a list that might help you for voice maintenance.

I have personally used these at some point to remedy my vocal enemies but since I am not an expert in this field, I still urge you to consult a physician before taking anything in this section.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ORGANIC) Apple Cider Vinegar boosts the immune system, purifies the cells of the body and acts as a natural antibiotic. It is rich in Vitamins and Minerals and amino acids. When used as a gargle, apple cider vinegar heals a sore throat by killing the viruses and bacteria that cause a sore throat.

1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar a day will keep the doctor away. Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar is highly recommended because it is pure and unfiltered organic, which contains all the beneficial nutrients. Other brands are strained of the essential nutrients. Pure organic apple cider vinegar will be cloudy, which means it is in an all natural source.

BEE HONEY Bee honey is naturally antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal and antibacterial. The antibacterial substances in honey will help soothe laryngitis and coughs. 1 tablespoon of pure honey should be diluted in half glass of warm water before going to bed or 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 Calamansi diluted in half glass warm water should be taken before going to bed to soothe the throat or for voice maintenance.

LEMON JUICE Lemon juice has its pros and cons. It is beneficial to a singer when used in moderation. Lemon juice will increase saliva production, which aids a dry throat, but it also contains citric acid, which is harsh on the vocal cords. A small amount of lemon juice is beneficial because it will help you salivate and help to clean out the mucus from the throat. Just learn your limits with lemon juice.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS All vitamins and minerals are necessary for healthy tissue growth and repair.

The following are some of the important vitamins and minerals that aid the singer’s body and promoting vocal health.

CALCIUM/MAGNESIUM Calcium and Magnesium maintain overall health. There is more calcium in the body than any other mineral but you lose calcium rapidly under stress. Calcium depletion can result to viral infection, so a daily dose of calcium is a must for cold prevention. Magnesium enhances the absorption of calcium in the body, reduces constriction of the bronchial tubes and strengthens the respiratory muscles.

POTASSIUM Potassium is the body’s main healing mineral. When combined with sodium, the body’s PH levels are maintained.

When this balance is upset, infection occurs.

SODIUM Salt is the best mineral for breaking up and flushing away excess mucus. When used as a solution for gargling, salt will clean and flush bacteria infested areas. When you develop a sore throat mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water for a gargle solution. Gargling salt will speed up the healing process.

VITAMIN B COMPLEX Vitamin B complex helps maintain a healthy nervous system and fights mental stress and depression. It is also known as the singer’s stress vitamin. Less mental stress means less tension in the throat area.

VITAMIN C It increases white blood cell count, which increases your ability to destroy viruses and bacteria, thus preventing infection.

ZINC It is an important mineral for resisting infection in the body. When zinc is taken in the form of lozenge, it will help relieve a sore throat as well as reduce inflammation of the vocal cords. Zinc should be taken with precautions because high dosage of zinc over a long period of time can be toxic affecting proper immune system function.

The

CAGAYANTIMES de Oro

Your Weekly Lifestyle Newspaper

Editorial: thecagayantimes@gmail.com | Advertising: cagayantimes@yahoo.com.ph Call 09177121424 | 09478935776

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

ClassifiedAds

BusinessDaily CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

9

ZAINZAID TRADING Direct Importer of All Kinds of Japanese Surplus QUALITY and AFFORDABLE PRICE

CDO Branch: National Highway, Zone 1, Igpit, Opol, Misamis Oriental

ROMEO “JAY” DELOS SANTOS Manager

Mobile Nos.: 09268423419(TM)

/ 09083873595

Davao Branch: Diversion Road km.7, Bangkal, Davao City

UMAR ASLAM - 09173254444

Gensan Branch: Brgy. Labangal, San Roque Makar, Gen. Santos City

ROBERT S. GUTIERREZ - 09103424549

KC COMMERCIAL Installer Water Refilling Station

Pryce Plaza Hotel

also available in Water accesories and water station needs

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

310-3605 0917-5099632

Tel. No. Mobile No.

Door#5 GOGO Bldg., Gaabucayan Corner Corrales Extn., Cag. de Oro, Misamis Oriental

---------------------------------

Heaven’s Cool Water

NEW DAWN PENSIONNE

Purified Drinking Water & Alkaline Ozonized Water

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

310-3605 0917-7033462

Tel. No. Mobile No.

Main Office: Door#6 YMCA Bldg., Julio Pacana St., Brgy 21. Cag. de Oro, Mis Or

Block 21 Lot 1 NHA Phase 2 Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City

Branch Address:

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

When your in Butuan City or in any part of Caraga region, read...

Mindanao Daily Your Mindanao-wide Newspaper

caraga

BusinessDaily

10

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Remote...

Priority...

in Barangay Gambar. A contract has been signed by the local government and Ambassador Toshinao Urabe.

The project, entitled “The Project for the Construction of Classrooms for Gambar Elementary School,” is being funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project of Japan (GGP).

The local chief executive said the project will definitely help improve the chances of children in the area to get better education.

G a mba r E lement a r y School is one of the oldest schools in Kabuntalan, a fourth class municipality in Mag uinda nao w it h population of about 7,000.

The school was built in 1972 but was burned down and closed during the Martial Law. It was revived in 1974 with makeshift classrooms, but was again forced to close because of the armed conflict between the government forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Since 20 05, classes gradually resumed but was later interrupted again due to clan wars in the area.

With the stabilization of the peace and order situation on the place, operations of Gambar Elementary School became normal since 2011.

However, t he school remained dilapidated and made out light materials to accommodate multi-grade pupi ls i n a ja m-packed classrooms, which are also lacking in chairs and desks.

The new school building i s ex pe c te d to prov ide more conducive learning env i ron ment w it h each grade level having its own classroom.

The project is part of t he Jap a n-B a n gs a moro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD).

J-BIR D was launched in 2006 to contribute to t he p e ac e pro c e s s a nd development in the ConflictAffected Areas in Mindanao and the surrounding areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Its objective is to enable the people and the communities in the target areas to enjoy the “dividends of peace” through the Japanese ODA on the basis of “Human Security” principles.

A s of May 2 013, 67 grassroots projects have been implemented under J-BIRD, w it h t he tot a l a mou nt of USD $ 5.7 million or approximately P290 million.

Damian Mercado were all filled up,” Trumata added.

Among the technologydriven features of the new hospital will be a built-in oxygen system in the walls so those needing the breathing apparatus can have it handy just by inserting the plug, computerized tomography (C T ) s c a n o p e r a t i o n s using the internet with an online physician who will read and send the results immediately and a water treatment facility as required by the Department of Health (DOH).

Trumata said the existing hospital will act as a satellite health center as stipulated

by DOH when it extended a financial assistance of P50 million for the construction of the Dongon hospital in a three-hectare area.

Project Engineer Pastor Maitem said the DOH grant formed part of the P260 million overall project cost of the new hospital which is now in its Phase 3 of construction since April this year until April of next year.

from page 5

from page 5

How... from page 4

30,000 are without electricity.

Most of these people without power often only concern themselves with their dayto-day survival, and have next-to-no room for thought on something as grand as an ASEAN Community.

Over a hundred million people in t he reg ion, approximately one-sixth of the ASEAN population, are living without electrical power, a nd it is l i kely those people are also more concerned about their own troubles, even rightfully so.

Focusing on a broader picture proves to be challenging when there are many loose ends still left untied. It is no secret that all 10 member-states have national issues of their own, some duly attended to while others, though glaringly obvious, are left alone for the sake of order and balance.

This is why the proposal of a regional volunteer corps, that should be established later on in t he yea r, is considered timely.

Three initial short-term projects are marked to be carried out in Cambodia, t he Phi lippines and Indonesia, and are aimed at bringing together many you ng profe s siona l s to these countries to make a difference.

As one senior government official remarked, “It is a

powerful image”—the image of a unified and strengthened ASEAN that would leave a powerful impression on the lives of people.

And this is the kind of image that communities living throughout ASEAN need to see: young people, working hand in hand to build bridges, teaching children, educating farmers or helping create local businesses and opportunities whilst outright ignoring the boundaries of ethnicity, race, religion or affiliation of nationality in order to make the quality of life, just generally better.

It is this kind of goodwill and trust that needs to be seeded among communities across ASEAN, to know that the borders that separate us are merely lines drawn on a map. Such goodwill is usually short in supply, perhaps not just in this region, maybe even throughout the world.

Come to fruition: The regional volunteer corps is a good idea, and the fact that nations are contributing only a small start-up fund ($10,000 per nation) is actually a good thing, because any thing beyond that is proof that it is a community that cares, through the contributions of its people.

For this vision to come to fruition, the people in positions of authority, with the necessary means must open their eyes and hearts to those who are in need of help.

Ultimately, it boils down to compassion and hope, ideas a nd w i l lpower, of these individuals that will determine the success of the ASEAN community of the future.

Report...

from page 4 Like the World Bank, t he OECD c a l led for a more inclusive growth in the Philippines and urged the government to focus on improving road and power infrastructure, provide access to quality education, and ensure jobs for all job seekers.

T he OECD repor t, however, has a generally optimistic outlook for the region in the years ahead.

It said that Southeast Asia’s growth will remain resilient over the next five years as stronger investment and private consumption re duc e d e p end enc e on exports for expansion.

The OECD said t hat Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and a slowdown in advanced economies have had a “limited” impact on Southeast Asian nations with

most of the effect experienced through trade.

Prospects for developing Asian nations contrast with the fiscal and demographic challenges faced by more advanced economies, as higher public spending and younger populations support domestic demand and lure investment even as global expansion weakens.

“A combination of cyclical factors, government policies, and longer-term shifts in economic structure that have supported consumption growth over the past several years are likely to continue to underpin its growth over the medium term in Southeast Asia, China and India,” the OECD said.

The repor t sa id t hat governments in Southeast Asia have loosened fiscal policies to spur growth, citing increased infrastructure spend ing by Phi lippine President Benigno Aquino III and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in their respective countries.

its first deep-water drilling rig to the region.

Last year China National Offshore Oil Corp. invited bids for exploration blocks that Vietnam had already awa rded to compa n ies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and OAO Gazprom.

Malaysia and Thailand in 1979 agreed to jointly develop oil and gas in a region of disputed waters about the size of New Jersey. Natural gas f rom t he a rea now makes up about 20 percent of T ha i la nd ’s domest ic production, according to Energy Ministry statistics.

“I n s t e a d of p a s s i n g on choppy waters to the next generation, we should endeavor to leave them a calmer sea,” Najib said. “We should seek the common g rou nd ne e d e d for a n amicable understanding a mong t he cla i ma nt s .”

(Bloomberg News)

ASEAN... from page 4

Iskandar aff irmed that Indonesia had strong support and commitment to st reng t hen ASEA N cooper at ion i n a i r por t interdiction. (BM)

Disputes...

from page 4 Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, said Chinese patrols in disputed waters off its coasts were “totally legitimate.”

He spoke after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said at the same meeting the US “stands firmly against any coercive attempts to alter the status quo” in the seas.

China’s so-called ninedash map of the region, first published in the 1940s, extends hundreds of miles south to equatorial waters off the Malaysian coast of Borneo.

Chinese Navy ships in March visited James Shoal off Malaysia, near where Royal Dutch Shell Plc. and Petroliam Nasional Bhd. have oil and gas operations.

China National Offshore Oil Corp. estimates the South China Sea may hold about five times more undiscovered natural gas than the country’s current proved reser ves, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

“It will be difficult for large reservoirs of muchneeded gas and oil to be found and extracted given the current tensions within the seas in Asia,” Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 2.

Overlapping claims: Since 2010, China has cut the cables of survey ships working for Vietnam, chased away an exploration vessel near the Philippines and sent

READ! www.businessweekmindanao.com

BusinessWeek Read the latest in business every Sunday,

MINDANAO

YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS PAPER

Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessDaily

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Program... from page 2

the pangasius value chain map, its constraints, needs, opportunities, and finalized the action plan and priority projects for the pangasius industry.

DTI and stakeholders with the cooperation of DOST is working on a fish processing and the SSF for fish growers.

They will also address the problem that processors have been controlling prices locally, thus they will resort to value added products from fish growers’ own yield.

Pangasius, which belongs to the catfish family, was introduced by BFAR in the country since 1981. It was known as an aquarium fish named “hammer head shark” yet an edible one.

Recently, DTI inaugurates a P35 million pangasius processing plant in Bulacan which has a capacit y of producing 80 metric tons processed pangasius per month and employed 70 personnel.

Through developing the pangasius industry and other aqua-marine products, DTI promotes the country as a viable investment for aquamarine and agri-business to local and foreign investors.

Mea nwh i le, SSF was already implemented last year but was formally introduced early of 2013.

F o r t h i s y e a r, t h e government has a budget of P700 million for SSF nationwide projects. (PNA)

Declines... from page 2

De Leon also cited that inf lation in the country re m a i n s b e n i g n , t hu s , domestic investors are not worried on possible rise of interest rates in the country in the near term.

“The economy remains to be solid and strong. It’s really more of speculation (interest rate movement),” she said.

Rate of price increases in the domestic economy averaged at three percent in the first five months of the year. This is the lower end of the three to five percent target for 2012-14.

Similarly, the economy registered t he strongest e x pa n sion i n t he f i r s t quarter in Asia to date at 7.8 percent boosted by higher government and consumer spending and investments.

The government’s growth target for this year is a range between six to seven percent.

Mea nwhi le, De Leon said the government bids to primarily source funding for 2014 from domestic creditors to maximize the low-interest rate environment and lessen foreign exchange risk.

She said a 85-15 ratio with bias on the domestic is a good ratio and stressed that a higher share for domestic debt is even better.

She, however, discounted a z ero p erc ent foreig n borrowing since part of the funds sourced abroad comes from official development

assista nce (ODA) being extended by multilaterals.

For this year, De Leon said the emerging borrowing mix is 90-10 with bias on domestic.

She said the preliminary level of possible dollar bond issuance is about US$ 1 billion.

In the past, the government borrows at least US$ 1.5 billion through the issuance of dol la r-denom iated Republic of the Philippines (ROP) bond in January.

The National Treasurer said future issuance of dollardenominated bonds depends on market conditions and opportunities.

“This is something that, again, we have to discuss with the central bank. We have to weigh in market developments and appetite, whether there would really be demand because from what we’re seeing off-shore dollar bonds are performing weak,” she said.

De Leon said issuance of dollar-denominated debt is among the options but pointed out that “we can always do away with it and can always substitute it for any government securities offering.” (PNA)

Suspends... from page 2

Aguinaldo Abaya ordered the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to work with the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) in finding the cause of the sea mishap.

“There’s always a separate and parallel investigation.

P C G ’s i nve s t i gat ion i s focused on how to prevent such occurrence and improve safety. Marina, on the other hand, investigate to know the liability whether criminal or civil, and who is liable,” he said adding that they also investigate whether or not to cancel the certificate of public convenience (CPC).

Mejia, who was previously assigned to PCG, prior to his career as a professor at World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden where he obtained his Master of Science in Maritime Safety Ad m i n i s t r at ion de g re e in 1994, pushes for t he establishment of MarinaPCG consultative forum to help each other attain their different purposes. He said this Marina-PCG forum can work on the marine inquiry and in developing further the country’s domestic shipping.

(PNA)

Jams... from page 3

around the facility to make this a green airport,” he said.

Going to Laguindingan Airport is a bit of a problem as the Department of Public Works and Highways in Northern Mindanao has yet to finish the widening of the highway from Cagayan de Oro. Repairs on a half-kilometer cement road have resulted to a kilometer –long pile up of vehicles between Alubijid and Laguindingan towns.

This resulted to a 30-min-

ute delay, much to the dismay of the passengers from Cagayan de Oro. who were used to the proximity of Lumbia Airport.

Fe Judith, a retired government employee, said they left their house in Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City a day earlier for fear they will miss their flight to Manila on Saturday.

Judith said they rode a bus from Bulua West Terminal last Friday and spent the night at the MORESCO dormitory in Laguindingan so they could be at the airport early Saturday morning.

She said they spent P250 per person for a bed at the Moresco dormitory.

Barkers, a permanent fixture in Lumbia airport, are also present in Laguindingan airport, victimizing passengers with exorbitant taxi rates.

Cabreros said he had to shell out P150 for a taxi from the highway in Laguindingan to the airport—a distance of four kilometers.

Staff members of Xavier University Crusader student publication who were doing a story on the airport paid P500 for a taxi in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro to bring them to Laguindingan. They also paid the same rate in returning to Cagayan de Oro. Mandangan Darimbang, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said this situation happened because many passengers are not aware that there are many buses and vans fielded to service them.

“I know this is a problem and we will really settle this problem to get rid of these barkers,” Darimban said.

Darimbang said authorized coasters and aircon vans can ask for a promo fare of P199 per passenger for June and the regular fare of P250 effective in July.

He said a public hearing on the rates will be held in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities next month.

Darimbang said there are eight yellow-colored coasters from the company, Super Six, that charges P250 person for their rides; ten Toyota Grandia vans of the Laguindingan Airport Express, also charging P250 ride; and vans from Magnum Express.

He said Super 5, a major bus liner plying the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan route also has aircon vans waiting at the junction of the highway to the Airport. These vans charge P25 per person for the four-kilometer ride to the airport.

One of the owners of the vans plying the route said he fears the competition offered by the barkers and colorum taxis will affect their business.

“We have invested money to buy these vans and we paid for our routes. LTFRB should be doing something to protect us,” the owners said. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Okays... from page 1

f rom Mapa lad Power will allow the electricity distributors to reduce the incidence of hours-long power outages i n t hei r respective service areas.

Based on their petition before the ERC, daily power interruptions in Aneco’s franchise area last two to t hree hours. In Aselco, outages last four to five hours, while in Socoteco II and Ilpi, seven hours and 13 hours, respectively.

Customers would have to shoulder an increase in their electricity rates by the following projected amounts: P2.27 per kilowatt-hour for Aselco, P1.23 per kilowatthour for Aneco, P0.93 per kilowatt-hour for Socoteco II and P1.24 per kilowatt-hour for Ilpi.

M i nd a n ao h a s b e en suffering from persistent power interruptions because of i nsu f f icient power generating capacity and its reliance on hydroelectric pplants for more than half of its electricity supply.

Though they offer the cheapest power source in the region, power from hydro plants are unstable since they depend on optimal weather and reservoir conditions.

The government expects Mindanao’s power woes to last until 2015 barring any delay in coal power projects in the pipeline.--Interaksyon

Start... from page 1

i n M i nda nao w i l l sta r t trial operations on August 26, with the commercial operation set on September 26, or a month-long trial period.

“We are expecting 150 to 200 megawatts (MW) to be made avai lable to the IMEM once it starts operation as per advice by the DOE (Department of Energy),” he told reporters.

Power generating companies shall provide such supply for the interim electricity spot market in excess of their contracted volume with the distribution utilities, Jalocon added.

He noted that the supply ex pected to be init ia l ly sold at the IMEM does not include potential voluntary load facilities, or commercial companies with their own generator sets, which have a combined volume of 183 MW. Jalocon said the DOE is also pushing the acquisition o f d i e s e l -f e d m o d u l a r generator sets by electric cooperatives as a not her i m me d i at e me a s u re to address Mindanao’s power problem.

Rome o Montene g ro, Minda nao Development Aut hor it y d i re c tor for investment promotion and public af fairs, said t hat brownouts will be back in parts of Mindanao starting August due to the scheduled prevent ive ma intena nce shutdown of power plants in the island.

“There will be supply shortage until December due to the scheduled preventive maintenance of the lone coal plant and oil-based and hydropower plants,” he said.

He said that the 208-MW Steag State Power Inc. is slated to shut down one of its two plants one after the other that would take away 104 MW at a time from the Mindanao grid.

Based on his presentation o n M i n d a n a o ’s p o w e r situation, Montenegro said that the island currently gets most of its supplies from the Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants operated by the state-owned National Power Corp. (NPC) at 710 MW and 445 MW at the most from diesel-fed sources when the Iligan Diesel Power Plant runs at full capacity in October.

Montenegro noted that there are immediate solutions to address the def icit in the coming months, among them the rehabilitation and uprating of the Agus and Pulangi plants by 50 to 100 MW, the Interruptible Load Program pushed by the DOE, the reopening of the 100MW Iligan Diesel Power Plant, and the acquisition of modular generator sets by the distribution utilities.

He urged distribution ut i l it ie s a nd t he lo c a l government units not to be complacent when the area does not suffer from interruptions, noting they should take actions to ensure that the situation would be sustained in a long-term basis.

The pending start of the IMEM will come even as some issues are still being threshed out regarding the participation of the Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants in t he electricit y market.

“These are the issues on the billing and settlement.

Although these are welldefined in the IMEM rules, there might be some problems that may crop up in the actual implementation. That is why the trial operation is ver y important,” said Thelma Ejercito, DOE power planning and development division chief.

Ejercito, also the DOE focal person for IMEM, said that the interim electricity market “shall augment the power supply in Mindanao and will provide correction to real-time power imbalances that will occur.”

In an email statement, she said that participation i n t he I M E M s h a l l b e mandatory for all generation

11

companies connected to the Mindanao grid and that the capacity shall be on top of the bilateral contracts of the generation companies and the distribution utilities in the island.

The Philippine Electricity Ma rke t C or p or at ion, a non-stock, non-prof it corporation, will operate the IMEM, which will hold office in Cagayan de Oro City. (PNA)

Explores... from page 1

accou nt of t he nuclea r power-related incidents (like Fukushima)” which triggered the stigma on embracing nuclear as an alternative in meeting a country’s energy needs.

The Philippines’ initial experiment on nuclear power technology was during the Ma rcos reg i me v ia t he mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Project (BNPP), which at that time commanded an investment of roughly $2 billion.

At 98-percent construction completion and already at commissioning phase, the facility was shelved by the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, justifying its move then that the BNPP was sitting on a fault line.

Recent studies, however, have been trying to disprove that. And despite calls for the BNPP to be repowered, it was already rendered to be a “dead option” by the current administration.

This reigning Aquino leadership, however, is not totally closing its doors on nuclear, but it specif ied that it will favor greenfield de velopment s v i s -a-v i s bringing back to operation the idled BNPP facility.

Onward to 2060, Dr. Cho-Oon Kong, Shell’s chief political analyst of the Shell Strategy and Scenarios, has emphasized that nuclear will emerge as a key player again in the energy mix – with the goal of many economies to significantly pare their carbon footprints.

In fact, it can be gleaned in the scenarios presented by the Dutch firm that renewables will likely dominate the energy mix.

T he Shel l e xe c ut ive portended that “king coal” will be trounced by solar in the next 30 to 40 years. He qualified though that the company has not been giving predictions or forecasts but was just laying down scenarios as to what could happen in the future energy landscape.

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

BusinessDaily

12

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

thursday - june 20, 2013

Billboard

Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

27 TVET Trainers in Region 10 trained on Entrepreneurship Development

Cagayan de Oro City – Twent y Seven T V ET Trainers in Region 10 were trained on Entrepreneurship Development held June 3-7, 2013 at Cagayan de Oro Bugo School of Arts and Trades (COBSAT), Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City organized by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The training dubbed as “Training of Trainers on Ent repreneu rship Development ” is a n i nt e r v e nt i o n m a d e t o increase the numbers of TESDA entrepreneurship trainers to train the bulk of graduating beneficiaries under t he Ha napbu hay or Self-employment tract

of C a s h for Tr a i n i n g Program (C4TP), a training program that responds to the government’s thrust to improve the plight and condition of the youth and empower them through skills training and assistance towards gainful employment a nd entrepreneuria l activities.

The one-week activity was focused on starting and improving business program which aims to contribute to economic development and the creation of new and better jobs. The following topics were discussed: developing a business growth plan, setting up a basic business management system, writing a simple business plan,

and generating a suitable business idea. Training facilitators are composed of entrepreneurship experts from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Master Tra i ner Ma r ia T heresa Tatlonghari-Mateo.

According to Engr. Edgar A. Sa les, OIC-Regiona l Director of TESDA 10, it is expected that after t his t ra i ni ng prog ra m, participants will conduct “multiplier training” in the region until such time that the required number of entrepreneurship trainers are made available to train the C4TP beneficiaries.

collaborates SingTel to help XU tops CARP Kickstart RP tech startups penetrate SEA market Quiz Bowl in R-10

By Editha R. Salvador

CAGAYAN DE ORO – As part of the celebration of the CARP Silver Anniversar y this month, the Department of Agrarian Reform-Region 10 held a CARP Quiz Bowl on June 16 at Centrio, an Ayala mall in the city.

Teams from seven schools participated in the contest that comprised 30 questions ranging from easy, medium and hard categories.

The schools were Central Mindanao University, Pilgrim Christian College, Mindanao University of S cience and Te chnolog y, L ice o de C agayan University, Cagayan de Oro College-PHINMA , Lourdes College and Xavier University.

To handle any concern during the contest, a panel of arbiters was created.

This was headed by DAR-10 Regional Director Felix Aguhob with Asst. RD for Operation Nicky Peralta and Atty. Stephanie Cabrera, Chief of the DAR-10 Legal Division, as members.

With three rounds of elimination, only four teams reached the final round.

The Xavier University team emerged as the champion and went home with P10,000 cash prize and a plaque for the school. The contingent from Lourdes College ranked 1st runner-up and received P7,500 and also a plaque for their school.

The Central Mindanao University delegation was the 2nd runner-up and got P5,000 as well as a plaque for the school.

The rest of the participating teams received P1,500 each as consolation award.

The winning team from XU composed of Camille Jo Soria, Jan Emmanuelle Casimillo and Tita Reina Sinogaya, is flanked by RD Felix Aguhob (left) ARDO Nicky Peralta, Atty. Stephanie Cabrera and Ms. Editha Langreo, XU team mentor. (Photo supplied)

I ncubation a n d venture capital companies operated by va rious members of the SingTel Group, have thrown their support behind Kickstart Ventures, Inc. to give local tech startups a better, faster way of penetrating the vibrant yet often disparate South East Asian market.

Kickstart is one of the new early startup initiatives under the SingTel Group t hat i nc lude s Si ngTel Innov8 (Singapore), AIS The Start-up (Thailand) and Optus-Innov8 Seed Program (Australia).

The col laborat ion faci litates access of Kickstart portfolio compa nies to Asia n markets, ideas and i n novat ion, t houg ht leadership, and information exchange.

Uniquely, the Group is implementing purposebu i lt prog ra ms t hat combine the investment exper tise, agi lit y of t he members w it h t he broad i n f r a s t r uc t u re , distribution strength and the scale of the SingTel Group wh ich has 4 68 million mobile customers across Asia Pacific and Africa.

Describing the startup scene in Southeast Asia, SingTel Innov8 CEO Edgar Hardless said: “Silicon Valley has been around for many years and has established an ecosystem that creates and supports innovative ideas. Here in Southeast Asia, things are not as developed. There are a lot of passionate people with great ideas who want to start businesses but struggle because they don’t have the necessary support

in the ecosystem. This is where SingTel Innov8 and other SingTel Group members can collaborate to nurture and create our own ecosystem in this part of the world.”

A c c o r d i n g t o M r.

Hardless, the Group is i nterested i n sta r t ups that make use of digital technology that will be able to resolve local or regional problems.

“We want the Kickstart por t folio compa nies to be successful in the Philippines, and help them expand into other parts of the region.

Kickstart, formed by Globe Telecom in March last year, is tasked to provide support and develop a d y n a m i c c o m mu n i t y of te c h nopreneu r s i n t he Ph i l ippi ne s . It i s commit ted to bui ld innovative businesses in cooperation with likeminded individuals and organizations by providing funding, mentorship and education.

M i net te Nava r rete, President of Kickstart, noted that the company is bui ld ing bridges to enable close and relevant engagement between the business community and t he st a r t up fou nders .

T hu s , work i ng w it h ot her i nc ubat ion a nd invest ment compa nies within the SingTel Group drives that goal forward, fostering collaboration and creating a startup com mu n it y t hat goe s beyond the Philippines’ borders.

This was demonstrated in the recently concluded Echelon 2013 organized b y e 2 7. F o u n d e r s o f

SingTel Innov8 CEO Edgar Hardless during a recent visit to the Philippines

seven Kickstart portfolio companies -- Apptivate, AVA, Ka l ibr r, Li febit, My Lega l W hiz, Work Inspire, ZAP -- f lew to Singapore to connect with other startup founders and investors and exhibit at the Kickstart space at the event, and Echelon Philippine Satellite winner My Legal Whiz pitched to a roomful of investors as one of the top 10 most promising startups in the region. Kalibrr founder Paul Rivera represented the Philippines in a panel discussion on "Startup ma rkets a round t he region."

Navarrete added: “What we do is empower the startup founders to give them a better chance for success. With the help of other companies within the SingTel Group, we are able to open the door for founders; the founders’ pitch, close t he de a l, execute, and hopefully win big. But getting the door to open is really hard

if you're unknown and don’t have an existing relationship, and getting business is tough if you can't demonstrate prior experience. It’s easier if you’re a big, successful compa ny. If you’re a sta r t up fou nder a nd you don’t have any track record, how can you find a nd e f f ic ie nt l y c ro s s the bridges between the communities, cities and countries? It can be done, of course; and we’re all working together to make it faster and easier.”

SingTel Innov8 is a corporate venture capital fund with its own set of decision-making, approval and funding processes.

It has an initial fund size of S$20 0 m i l l ion a nd focuses its investments on technolog ies a nd solut ions t hat lead to q u a nt u m c h a n g e s i n ne t work c ap a bi l it ie s , net generation devices, digital content services and enablers to enhance customer experience.