BusinessDaily Mindanao (May 28, 2013 Issue)

INSIDE LOOK

‘Smart cities to lure more tourists to PHL’

Davao’s SM Lanang is first pet friendly shopping center

SM CDO’s Grand Wear Sale

DENR promotes Baliangao

‘Banig’ weaving: Entwining tradition with art

BusinessDaily Economy

Corporate World

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Market Indicators

As of 5:57 pm may 27, 2013 (Monday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.61

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2 cents

X

171.40 points

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Briefly USAID projects Z A M B OA N G A C i t y - - U S Ambassador Harr y Thomas and United States Agency for Inter national Develo pment (U SA I D) M i s s i o n D i r e c t o r Gloria Steele are launching three new USAID projects here in Mindanao.

In a statement, the USAIDfunded Growth with Equity in M in d anao (GEM) s ai d t he projects are designed to strengthen local government units, improve youth access to education, and enhance the delivery of vital health services across conflict-affected areas of Mindanao.

The three new projects are scheduled to be launched by the two officials on Wednesday.

The projects to be launched as the following: Enhancing Governance, Accountability and Engagement (ENGAGE); Mindanao Youth for Development (M Y D ev); a n d , I n t e g r a t e d Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition/Family Planning Regional Project in Mindanao (MindanaoHealth).

Child labor THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Lanao del Norte provincial office is intensifying its advocacy on the eradication of child labor.

The DOLE-Lanao del Norte office forged an alliance with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to raise awareness among Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on the adverse effects of exposing their children to high-risk work environments.

A series of community-based anti-child labor advocacy and orientation on Republic Act 9231 providing for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working children and its implementing rules and regulations were held among 4Ps beneficiaries in the province recently.

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M’danao stakeholders push mix energy use

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By BONG D. FABE, Associate Editor

INDANAO power players and stakeholders yesterday strongly pushed for the diversification of the island’s energy mix with a very special bias on renewable energy (RE) sources.

Supported by the Mindanao Development A u t h o r i t y ( M i n DA) , t he Mindanao Congress of t he Advocates for Rene w able E nerg y a nd Rural Electrification and Development (MinCARED) reiterated efforts in seeking for a reliable, affordable and sustainable solution to the Mindanao power crisis through tapping the island vast RE potential.

“We need to be aggressive collectively in putting forth an RE roadmap to maintain a healthy mix of energ y sources for Minda nao,” MinDA Investment Relations and Public Affairs Director Romeo Montenegro told the BusinessDaily in an

interview at the sideline of t he 2nd Mi nCA R ED Congress, which started Monday.

Montenegro explained that Mindanao’s situation is very unique among other ASEAN member-nations.

“At present, our energy mix here in Mindanao is 60 percent RE and 40% fossil.

But by 2015, this will be reversed…Other ASEAN countries are moving toward an increase in t heir R E sources. That is why we need to prevent the continued decrease of our RE sources because that is our main competitive advantage over the rest of the Philippines — cheap energy,” he said.

Energy/PAGE 11

RE NEWABLE E NE RGY ADVOCATE S. M i nDA D i recto r Montenegro (R) accepts a token of appreciation from Siargao Electric Cooperative General Manager and MinCARED chair Sergio Dagooc and Dr. Ricardo Rotoras, president of the Mindanao University of Science and Technology and MinCARED co-chairman. photo by bong d . fabe

POWER CONGRESS: Keynote speaker Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Director Romeo Montenegro urges stakeholders to aggressively pursue an RE roadmap for Mindanao. photo by bong fabe

Alcantara group sets $1.35B for new plants C OM M I T T E D t o h e lp quench Mindanao’s thirst for power, the Alcantaraled Alsons Consolidated Resou rces, Inc. (ACR I) announced a $1.35 billion capital expenditure for the next five years to put up new power plants in the island.

In a press statement, Alsons Chairman Tomas I. Alcantara said the plan is to dramatically increase their capacity to 282 megawatts

by 2016 and further put up additional plants thereafter.

“Our projects already figure up to $450 million until 2016 or 2017. But if the Tampakan is in fact realized, then we will add it to the $450 million,” Alcantara said.

A lsons Power sa id additional capacity will come from the diesel plant once its output is ramped up to 98 megawatts by September PLants/PAGE 11

Normin workers to get new wage hike this year

By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN Contributor

MINIMUM wage earners in Northern Mindanao will receive a new round of wage increase this year.

Lawyer Johnson Cañete, regiona l director of t he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said Wage Order 17 will soon be i mplemented by t he Regional Tripartite Wages hike/PAGE 11

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

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‘Banig’ weaving: Entwining tradition with art

By RUBY LEONORA R. BALISTOY Contributor

BUKIDNON -- In Barangay Ca n-aya n, some f ive k i lometers nor t heast of Ma layba lay cit y proper, old women spend the day weaving “banig” or sleeping mats inside their huts while their husbands prepare the “tikog” materials they will use.

Ti k o g (Fi m br i s t y l i s utilis), belongs to the grass family. It has been popular as an excellent material for weaving quality mats which are abundant in most areas of Bukidnon. It is one of the indigenous materials also used in making handbags as alternative for plastic shopping bags.

With its lush colors and attractive designs, the mats made in Can-ayan is the most ubiquitous in town.

Enhancing weavers’ skills In order to help enhance weavers’ skills with new techniques, the National

Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Trade and Industry here conducted series of trainings in selected towns involving farmers’ cooperatives and women’s organizations.

Some of the beneficiaries are the Impasug-ong Women’s Organization, the Dahilayan Farmers’ Mu lti-purpose cooperat ive i n Ma nolo Fortich and the Pigtauranan Rural Improvement Club of Pangantucan.

The program follows through basic skills trainings, product development and marketing, dyeing techniques and product designs resulting to an improved product line tailored to the contemporary market trends.

Augmenting family income Many trained women are busy weaving mats that they would later sell in town to augment income of their spouses. Others sell their mats to entrepreneurs who would bring them to be sold in neighboring towns and provinces.

Designs of the ‘ banig’ feature irregular arrangements of geometric forms set off in different colors. But t he usua l designs are checkered and embroidered. The sizes also vary.

Indeed, the craft helped unwaged women in t he village learn the value of prudent saving as their home life centers around family.

Keeping the tradition alive ‘Banig’ weaving tradition handed down from generation to generation bind people to their past and connect them to their future.

The cra f t combine art/PAGE 11

Food Terminal proponents undergo simplified bookkeeping seminar THE Depa r t ment of Agricu lture t hrough its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (DAAMAD) held a two-day simplif ied book keeping seminar to food terminal (FT) project-proponents in the region.

“As leaders, we must be transparent in all of our transactions,” said OIC Division Chief Honey Gladys S. Valledor of DA-AMAD. Attended by nearly 60 project-recipients consisting of presidents, treasurers and barangay chairpersons

from several cooperatives, a s s o c i at ion s a nd lo c a l government units (LGUs), the activity is a response to the FT operators’ clamor to further develop their accounting and bookkeeping skills to successfully run FT projects awarded to them.

Emphasizing the need to learn the basic concepts in accounting and bookkeeping, Norman Amerol, accountant of the Philippine Federation of Cred it C ooperat ives (PFCCO), said while starting a business is relatively easily, maintaining the operations

of a business alive and healthy is more difficult.

He said all transactions must be fully documented and records must be maintained a nd up d at e d , w h e t h e r these will be done within a cooperative, association seminar/PAGE 11

CSWD to bring home natives turned beggars BU T UA N C it y - - T he City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office will take action to facilitate the return of the members of the indigenous Mamanua tribe seen roaming around the city, begging for their daily subsistence, to their place of origin.

The CSWD said it will coordinate with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) office, the provincial government and other concerned agencies to facilitate the return of the natives to the place where they came from.

The agency said it believed these natives known here as “Kongking” came from the municipalities of Kitcharao and Jabongga, and were remnants of those who had returned home after coming down from the mountains to join t he “Ba langhai ” festivities here in the city last week.

CSWD said they received reports that some of these natives, even the minors, are seen engaging in liquor drinking sprees and taking prohibited substances out of the alms given them.

One of the minors is even in detention at the Butuan City Police Station 2 for being CSWD/PAGE 11

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Megaworld launches new condo cluster in Cebu CEBU City -- Megaworld, developer of a P20billion new township in Lapu-Lapu City, has launched its third residential condominium cluster.

Megaworld officials said One Manchester Place, a three-tower condominium cluster, will have a direct access to a mall that will soon rise in the township.

The development is in addition to its two residential clusters 8 Newton Boulevard and One Pacific Residence at the Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City.

Officials said that unlike

their previous residential projects, One Manchester Pl a c e w i l l not h ave a business process outsourcing component. “ We s e e a g r ow i n g dema nd for resident ia l c o n d o m i n iu m s i n t h e island so we are aggressively expanding the residential component of our township,” Megaworld Cebu Properties, Inc. (MCPI) president Noli

Hernandez said.

“We have easily sold out the previous residential cluster during the past year, a clear indication of a strong, vibrant market for residential condominiums in the vicinity of Mactan,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said Cebu is key in Megaworld’s expansion i n t he cou nt r y out side Manila.

Megaworld st r ateg ic marketing and communications director Harold Geronimo said the company has seen a migration Megaworld/PAGE 7

Xstrata Glencore, Indophil plan to restructure Tampakan GENERAL Santos City -Australian firm Indophil Resources NL is in talks with Glencore Xstrata plc for the possible restructuring of their joint venture at the copper and gold mining project in Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Brian Phillips, Indophil chairman, said in a statement issued over the weekend as an offshoot of its annual general meeting on May 23 in Australia that the company is involved with several

significant events, foremost of which is a discussion with the new merger.

“The most important of these, from an Indophil shareholder perspective, is our discussions with the newlyformed Glencore Xstrata, including considering ways to restructure our joint venture on the Tampakan copper-gold project in the Philippines,” he said in a disclosure to the Australian Stock Exchange.

The Tampakan project

has been touted as Southeast A s i a ’s l a r g e s t k n o w n undeveloped copper-gold reserve.

“In the 21 days since the acquisition of Xstrata was completed, Glencore has demonstrated its willingness to act promptly and decisively. Glencore has a broad portfolio, and a considered butd r iven agenda,” Phillips added.

Glencore International plc announced on May 2 it

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SM City Lanang, Davao City

Davao’s SM Lanang is first pet friendly shopping center DAVAO City -- The SM Lanang Premier welcomes pet to the mall after it launched its Pet Project Runway.

Pet owners can now bring their pets with them inside the premier mall, the newest pet-friendly place

in Davao City.

The ma l l of f icia l ly launched the “Pets Are Welcome Here” campaign which allows pets like dogs or cats to enter the mall premises.

Redefining the concept of shopping convenience,

Aboitiz sets aside P750M for another coal plant in Cebu CEBU City -- The Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) is setting aside P750 million this year for the construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Toledo Cit y in

western Cebu, an official said.

AEV and AboitizPower (AP) president and chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz/PAGE 7

the mall will provide an establishment where all pets’ needs are met and ensu re a ple a su r able shopping experience for shoppers and their pets.

The Pet Project Runway t hat was launched on SM/PAGE 7

SMC to invest $10M in Cambodia Air SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Monday bared having invested $ 10 million as equity in Cambodia Airlines where it presently has a 49 percent minority stake. smc/PAGE 7

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Death toll reaches 23

Road accidents alarm authorities

By Allen V. Estabillo

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Authorities have raised alarm over the increasing number of deaths in the city due to vehicular accidents that already reached 23 cases since January.

Police Officer 3 Adolfo Yucampo, investigator of the city police’s traffic management unit (TMU), said Thursday their records showed that the death cases caused by vehicular road accidents have been continually rising in the last several months.

He said most of these cases were mainly caused by traffic-related problems and the “lack of discipline” among the involved drivers.

“The situation is quite alarming since our record shows that there has been an upward trend in terms of the death cases due to these accidents in the last three years,” Yucampo said.

For this month, the latest death case involved media worker Salvador “Buddy” Peñafiel, who died after his motorcycle collided head-on with a tricycle along the Fil-Am Road in Barangay Fatima

before noon last Monday.

Peñafiel, 48, is a reporter of radio station dxGSRadyo Filipino and served as media coordinator of incumbent Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio in her failed reelection bid in the May 13 elections.

Yu c a m p o s a i d t h e incident is still under investigation and they have yet to determine the identity of the tricycle driver, who immediately f led on fo ot after the incident.

In 2011, Yucampo said they recorded a total of 16 death cases due to vehicular accidents and the figure increased to 34 last year.

TMU records showed that the number of vehicular accidents in the city last year reached a total of 2,153 cases, with 1,070 or about half involving single motorcycles.

The other half involved

786 cases for automobiles, 107 for tricycles, 103 for trucks, 78 for passenger jeepneys and nine for buses.

Yucampo said some of the drivers involved in the recorded accidents have expired or not carrying driver’s licenses and were driving unregistered vehicles.

“A significant number of these accidents involved drunk drivers,” he said.

Yuc amp o remi nd e d vehicle owners and dr ivers in t he cit y to abide by the city’s traffic regulations, including the wearing of helmets and other protective gears for those who are driving motorcycles. “ They should also follow the proper road safety driving measures and observe road courtesy while driving,” Yucampo said.

He a d d e d t h at t h e TMU will continue with its mandate to educate local vehicle owners and drivers regarding traffic regulations and safety measures as well as the apprehension of traffic violators as a strategy to ensure road safety within the city. (Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews)

Technicians use candles to check their communication equipment after the local distribution utility cuts off the electricity of the National Telecommunications Commission office in Butuan City on Thursday, May 23, 2013, for non-payment of their bills. mindanews photo by erwin mascarinas

NGCP announces proposed major power transmission projects THE Cebu-Negros-Panay 230 KV Backbone in the Visayas is one of six major transmission backbone and interconnection projects in the country that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has proposed for an accelerated roll out in support to efforts

to meet the energy needs of the country.

This and the other projects are in line with the long-term development plan of the country, which is presently anchored on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

NGCP said in its in-house publication “Transmissions” that they are pushing for the accelerated implementation of the proposed projects in order to help address major challenges to the country’s main transmission grids.

T h i s i s i n v i e w of what NGCP called as the “aggressive construction timelines of new power plants, including those tapping Renewable Energy (RE) sources, which require grid reinforcements.”

The project will put in place a stronger transmission backbone and unified grid interconnected via the High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) system.

The other proposed transmission backbone and interconnection projects are the following: LaoagBangui and TuguegaraoMa g apit S e g m e nt s i n northern Luzon; HermosaCastillejos-Masinloc Line in the western Luzon backbone; Antipolo EHV, Pasay and Manila substations and

Hermosa-San Jose Line in metro Manila; BatangasMindoro Interconnection; and, Leyte-Mindanao Interconnection.

NGCP also took into account the 2012 Power Development Program Update of the Department of Energy (DOE) wherein an additional generation capacity of 9,603.5 megawatts (MW) is expected to go online during the period covering 2012-2021.

Of this additional capacity, 8312.5 MW will come from conventional plants while RE-based plants will account for 1,291.0 MW. In pushing for these projects, NGCP also took into account other considerations such as the heavy loading and space limitations in existing substations serving the main load centers, thus requiring the construction of new substations and transmission lines, as well as right-of-way acquisition.

The projects are part of NGCP’s Transmission Development Plan, which is aligned with the government’s energy program. These will be implemented by stages subject to the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). (PIA)

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Last year, we honored Mindanao’s homegrown businesses...

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A REVIEW OF OUR LAST YEAR’S AWARD

This year, let the Investors from outside the island who helped propel Mindanao’s economy for decades be recognized...thus, OUR AWARDEES in 2012

present

CORPORATE CATEGORY * Agri-Business * Banking & Finance

- LAPANDAY FOODS CORP. - ONE NETWORK BANK

* Health Food Production & Marketing * Housing & Realty Dev’t

- AMLEY FOOD CORP. - PUEBLO DE ORO DEV’T CORP.

* Hotel/Resorts & Tourism Dev’t

- DAKAK PARK BEACH RESORT - PEARL FARM RESORT

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY * Agri-Business - MT. KITANGLAD AGRI-VENTURES INC. * Banking & Finance - D’ ASIAN HILLS BANK * Hotel/Resorts & Tourism - DUKA BAY - EDEN NATURE’S PARK ENTREPRENEUERSHIP * Mega Entrepreneur - LIMKET KAI GROUP OF COMPANIES - ZEALEP GROUP OF COMPANIES RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT - This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Business Leaders Awards was undertaken last year to give due recognition to the achievements of various Mindanao business leaders and entrepreneurs in various categories of homegrown corporate and individual business leadership achievements.

- This year’s search is aimed at giving honor and recognition of excellent business leaders in the investors’s category.

- BusinessWeek Mindanao as a forerunner of information on economic leadership and entrepreneurial achievements of non-Mindanaoan corporations and businessmen, deems it a part of its social responsibility to trumpet the achievements of these pillars of Mindanao’s economy, for others to emulate and thus propel an awareness for the business potential that Mindanao offers in every economic and business investment plan, whether small or great.

* SME Entrepreneur - SLERS * Sports & Entertainment Industry - PARAS FAMILY * Broadcast Media Industry - RADIO MINDANAO NETWORK * Transport Industry Award - YANSON GROUP OF COMPANIES SPECIAL AWARDS: DIR. CATALINO CHAN, DOT 10 VIP HOTEL for promoting local tourism in Northern Mindanao DYNASTY HOTEL for promoting local tourism in Northern Mindanao Mimi Parrel Pimentel, - for Fashion I Industry Alma Mae Roa - for Fashion Industry

-We are helping Mindanao achieve sustainable development of its economy through these humble efforts.

MISSION & VISION OF THE AWARDS - The holding of BWM Awards annually serves as catalyst to the ongoing efforts of business leaders and entrepreneurs who seek greater heights and strive for success in the noble mission of propelling Mindanao and its people towards full economic growth and sustainable development.

MECHANICS OF THE SEARCH: Duration of the Search Awards Night

: :

January 15, 2013 to May 15, 2013 June 1, 2013 September 28, 2013

Entry Requirements: 1. Individual and Company/Establishment nominations shall be accompanied with Nomination Forms available on-line at the Sponsors Website, offices of sponsors, or in the printed page of Businessweek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily issues or may be mailed, if requested, by the Awards Secretariat 2. Nominees or candidates in various categories shall be nominated by BusinessWeek Mindanao and Mindanao Daily Bureaus; individuals, organization or groups not employed by or connected to any of the nominated person or firm .

3. Nominations shall be accompanied by the ff documents which can be mailed, or emailed to the awards secretariat - MINDANAO BUSINESS LEADERS AWARDS 2013 Secretariat, Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa St., Cagayan de Oro City,not later than May 15, 2013.

4. Brief Resume and History of the Nominee (Individual or Firm) - Photos (at least 3) ; Nomination Form ; Documentary evidence such as certificates, awards or citations

For INQUIRIES CONTACT:

(088)856-3344, (08822)74-53-80 or 09274795196 (Allan Mediante) businessweekmindanao@gmail.com

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More than rules

T

hink a minute…A hotel sign in Tokyo, Japan had A Minute this rule on it: “Is forbidden

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst to steal towels please.

If you are not person to do such is please not to read sign.”

Someone said that rules are like a fence around us. We need them to keep us inside so we won’t break out and hurt ourselves or others.

We have rules at home, at work, at school, in sports, and for driving on the road.

And if we move to another country and culture, we must learn to follow their rules.

Many people think Christians are a group of people who just try to follow strict, boring rules that are old fashioned and definitely not cool!

They think Christians can’t have any fun or freedom in life.

We can’t do this or that, can’t go here or there.

So they think being a Christian is like living inside a fence or prison wall that won’t let you out to have fun and enjoy life.

But that’s not true Christianity!

Jesus Christ Himself said He did not come to bring more rules to build a tighter fence around us so that we become prisoners.

It’s just the opposite! Jesus said He came to set people free, so we won’t need rules to keep us honest or force us to love and forgive others.

Jesus isn’t nearly as interested in rules as He’s interested in YOU. He knows that if you’ll just let Him take full charge of your heart and character every day, He can start changing your life. hurst/PAGE 7

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BusinessWeek MINDANAO ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS

Investment grade ratings

his May 2013 our country received its 2nd investment grade (IG) rating from Standard & Poor’s (S&P). S&P upgraded our credit rating to BBB- from BB+.

The Fitch ratings also upgraded our credit rating to BBB- from BB+. This upgrading will definitely have a positive effect in terms of investment flows.

After a country has been given its 1st IG rating, most of the foreign fund managers would usually wait for the 2nd upgrade before they take positive action.

These are the benefits of an upgrade in investment grade ratings. The first one is the increased access to credit.

The government is most likely eager to take full advantage of the recent upgrades by increasing its incursions into the international capital markets, in a strong bid to obtain fresh resources and pre-pay other debts coming due in the short and medium terms. The government is set to continue its policy of not increasing the stock of net external debt.

Other possible strategies would include the swapping of existing bonds for new debt that is cheaper and/or with a shorter maturity. In addition, the government will now be able to offer its bonds to institutional investors who are only allowed to invest their funds into bonds that carry investment grade.

The second advantage is inflation restraint. The investment grade will boost foreign capital inflows and to bolster the peso in the medium term.

A robust currency will help the central bank to restrain inflation. Lower inflation rates will mean more investments in the economy.

T

S

ECONOMIC

There are four areas of improvement in the Philippine B uttresses economy that is responsible

By Amparo Pamela Fabe for the investment grade rating. One area is the high level of international reserves stemming f rom robust remittance levels.

A not her factor is t he improved monetary/fiscal policy mix.

The current trademark of rconomic policy consistency paved the way for a reduction of inflation and interest rates, and attracted large capital inflows, despite turbulence in emerging markets.

The third area is the improved tax administration. Tax revenues for 2012 had increased as a result of a broader tax base, the passage of new tax laws and more efficient collection.

The government’s relentless campaign against high profile tax evaders has yielded more tax revenues.

The fourth area of improvement is greater transparency in government accounting. The administration had improved the transparency of the fiscal accounts by making known the the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR), a broad definition of the fiscal deficit which incorporates off-budget transactions.

Post-Election Facts 2013

he past election has determined what is now fact vis-à-vis what some may have perceived earlier to be our politics. While many seeming doomsayers have been criticized having a bleak outlook of the country and our politics – they have been redeemed somewhat with the outcome of this elections.

Without having to criticize the Comelec and its seeming inconsistencies and violations this election has for one; ratified the will of the people.

I may call this the tyranny of the masses but who am I to criticize the will of the majority, after all we have a democracy we cherish together with the freedoms that come with it.

Fact #1: Dynasties are acceptable and the majority of the people prefer these oligarchs in government to lead them. So there is a need to accept the fact that these dynasties will stay if not metastasize. Fiefdoms will be a sustaining platform for governance in the countryside as well as for the major cities that have now been penetrated. The absolute rule of one family and its titles will rule for decades if not centuries to come.

The absolute rule and authority given these families will bear heavily on the judiciary for violations. The financial advantage and business model created out of the governance will create

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more wealth for the few.

FACT #2: There is no Catholic B randing vote. The perceptions of many

By Harry Tambuatco whose advocacy was to adhere to the Church and its teachings are no longer relevant. The majority of the people are now independent when it comes to their politics negating the teachings of the Parish Priests who have become inutile other than the Sunday Mass and holy days. Soon it will be Happy Holidays and no longer Merry Christmas. The concept up held by the Church claiming the Philippines is predominantly Catholic no longer applies and has been splintered into diverse break away groups called born-again.

FACT #3: The RH Law is here to stay after all this is what the majority of the Filipinos decided. This election determined Tambuatco/PAGE 7

SUPER

What to think of success

OME seminarians, still fresh and green in seminary life, approached me the other day to ask about success.

When asked what in particular about success they wanted to know, they fumbled and just said, anything.

That’s when I realized they were just after fulfilling a class requirement by making some paper about a topic, something that I, of course, understood very well. I passed through that stage. I suppose everyone does.

But the query ignited vivid memories of childhood.

Back in my grade school and high school years, I thought success was having good grades, reaping honors right and left, having drop-dead looks that would seduce girls immediately, being versatile in talents, competent in work, becoming a millionaire and a powerful man in society.

There were many other fantastic ideas that passed through the mind and engaged me in some suspenseful episodes. But it took some time before reality would sink in properly. I suppose the youth are entitled somehow to some extravagant ideas.

Yes, reality has a way of making itself felt. In my case, it was when I stumbled over a biblical passage that said something like everything in life is vanity. At that moment, I was also experiencing all sorts of frustrations and disappointments, making me prone to give favorable attention to that passage.

I knew some of these disappointments were caused by my exaggerated expectations. But there were others which I thought I deserved rightfully but were denied to me. And so I fell into thinking seriously about what meaning life really has, what success in life would really consist.

It was only later when I could point the exact citation that really opened my mind and heart. A priest recited a line from the Book of Ecclesiastes that struck my attention, first of all, because of its poetic charm. Only later did I relish its significance.

The line was: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What and Traces does man gain by all the toil By Fr. Roy Cimagala at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains for ever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises...” (Ecc 1,2-5) And the passage continues in its rhythmic lyricism, pumping in more and more the realistic message that indeed everything in life is vanity, and that actually only one thing is necessary. And that is to be with God. It does not really matter whether we rise or fall in life in the many terms our life here can be measured and assessed—money, fame, looks, health, talents, etc. But it is only when we are with God can we truly say that we have succeeded in life.

It’s a truth reiterated and reinforced by Christ himself when he said: “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?” And also when he said in the episode of Martha and Mary that “only one thing is necessary, and Mary has chosen the best part.”

We need to be vigorously awake to this truth, because many now are the irresistible worldly decoys that divert us from it. That being with God is the only thing necessary never means that the things of this world are not important, that we can take a passive attitude toward them or that we just be mediocre about them.

Rather the contrary. Being with God would push us cimagala/PAGE 7

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Tambuatco... from page 6

with finality the majority of the people agree with a population control program for free abortifacients. Soon we will see heralding in; the abortion laws, samesex marriages and even possibly euthanasia. Media has already sailed successfully into the deep waters of the gender distortions with the acceptance of the masses with their new celebrities whose gay attitudes are now main stream. While the road has been paved for these attitudes, it won’t be long before values and morals are delivered outside the teachings of the Catholic faith.

FACT #4: Violations towards our laws have become a commonality soon a virtue and a discipline rather than the exception. Be it for the authorities today that are above the law or even the comelec as in this election where violations have become acceptable be it for poster size violations, over-spending, vote-buying or worst of all the re-qualification of convicts, murderers and the incompetence to enter the realm of national offices.

From here on in some are above the law especially those families who have settled well into government.

FACT #5: The AES Law is no longer applicable and is no longer worth the paper it is written into. The comelec has challenged the law towards safeguards that are no longer applicable as far as they are concerned. Forget the sourcecodes (that arrived late in the day), digital signatures, CF Cards that are writable,

and so on. As for the watchdogs who were born out to ensure the straight path for the comelec, they may as well dismantle as they are no longer relevant.

Hurst... from page 6

Then you and I won’t be like children who need a lot of rules to tell us what and what not to do.

For example, if you truly love your neighbor, then you don’t need a rule to stop you from stealing from him, since you never steal from someone you really love and care about.

W hen G o d t he S on cha nges ou r hea r t a nd c h a r a c t e r i n s id e , t he n every thing we do comes from the new person we’re becoming.

Jesus’ love and power starts to set us free from being a prisoner to our selfish greed and dishonesty.

So won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you for your wrong, self-centered heart? Then ask Him to start changing you, so you can enjoy the success and freedom of having Jesus’ character and life yourself, which is so much more than rules.

Just Think a Minute…

Cimagala... from page 6

the limit to make the most out of whatever we do or whatever happens to us in this life.

And that is to trust him, to love him, and because of that love, we have to love others the way God loves all of us.

Whatever happens here, whet her we rise or fa ll,

whether we win or lose, only has relative value. What is of absolute value is being with God. This is what true success is. This is how genuine success has to be assessed and measured.

Many times, we have to make a choice between God and us. St. Augustine precisely formulated the choice we have to make in the life in the most radical way by saying that it’s always a choice between God and us everytime we do something.

We have to make sure that we win the favor of God before we consider winning the favor of men. Let’s follow the example of St. Peter, and many other saints who articulated their choice by saying that they obey God first before they obey men.

True success lies there, and not in any other.

Megaworld... from page 3

of residential developments into Mactan.

He said the demand is driven by purchasing power and the good economy of the area.

Each One Manchester Place tower is 18-storey high with 157 units.

Av a i l a b l e u n it s a r e e xe c ut ive s t ud io, one bed room, t wo-bed room and three-bedroom of 42, 56, 70 and 92 square meters, respectively, inclusive of balcony.

Hernandez described the development as another highlight of The Mactan Newtown.

He said the first tower will be the most accessible to their exclusive township road network connected to

Punta Engano.

Megaworld has set aside P20 billion for development at The Mactan Newtown in the next five to seven years.

Officials said the Mactan project is Megaworld’s first master-planned mixed-use development in Centra l Visayas inspired by the “livework-play” concept which the company said it pioneered in the country.

The Mactan Newtown will house office towers, retail areas, commercial avenues, malls, a hotel as well as leisure and entertainment features.

(PNA)

Aboitiz... from page 3

Aboitiz said t his is t he company’s response to the energy department’s forecast of a zero power reserve for Cebu by 2016.

The new coal power plant in Toledo is expected to bring in an additional 300 megawatts (MW) capacity to support Cebu’s accelerated development, Aboitiz said.

The new plant is expected to come into operation by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

Aboitiz said this is part of AEV’s P59 billion allocation for capital expenditures this year, P27 billion of which is geared towards boosting its power business.

Aboitiz said the company will build new generating capacit y to suppor t t he country’s power demand amid a thriving economy.

He said the firm will be investing about P125 billion to build new power plants over the next five years to bring in an additional 3,500 megawatts (MW) of power, 50 percent more than the

existing capacity.

Aside from Cebu, AP is boosting the power capacity i n M i nda nao, w it h t he completion of the 300 MW project in Davao by 2014.

(PNA)

SM...

from page 3

at 5:30 p.m. at the Fountain Court of SM Lanang Premier is supported by One Fab Pooh, The Ark Veterinary Clinic, Pizza Hut and Hog’s Breath Cafe.

The event showcased pets groomed and styled with interesting outfits and joined by medium dogs ages six months and above with record of anti-rabies vaccinations.

The pro-pet campaign highlights how pets are part of people’s lives and promotes responsible pet ownership. It is a way of building healthy, lasting relationships between pets and pet owners.

Pet litter bins are set up outside the mall while pet owners are encouraged to put their canine friends on a leash at all times and keep small pets in carriers when inside the mall. (PNA)

SMC... from page 3

SMC bared this development in a regulatory f i ling at t he Phi lippine S t o c k E x c h a n ge (P SE) whose leadership wanted assurance the transaction would not materially affect t he economic, f inancia l and equity situation of the Philippines Airlines (PAL) where it also has a 49 percent equity participation.

The Lucio Tan Group of businesses remains firmly in control of the flag carrier

7

which recently partnered w it h Ca mbod ia’s Roya l Group of Companies to form the region’s newest airline called Cambodia Air. Prior to PAL’s acquisition of 49 percent of Cambodia Air, the airline was fully owned by Inter Logistics (Cambodia) Co. Ltd or ILC. According to SMC, its board of directors approved on April 25 this year the i ntent to pa r t ner w it h Cambodian businessman Neak Okhna Kith Meng who has majority ownership of the newly minted Cambodia Air. The conglomerate told regulators the $ 10 million investment allowed SMC to subscribe to 49 percent of total outstanding shares of the Cambodian flag carrier.

The executives of both SMC and Cambodia Air anticipate completing or closing the transaction by July 15 this year. Cambodian executives also said SMC’s $ 10 million investment will help establish Cambodia Air as that country’s f lag carrier and in position to contribute to Cambodia’s economic growth. (PNA)

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EcoBusiness

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

World faces ‘self-inflicted’ water shortages

SMART CITY. Hong Kong, one of the world’s smart cities, has an efficient transportation and communication infrastructure which the Philippines must emulate in order to lure more tourists and investors.

‘Smart cities to lure more tourists to PHL’ IN order to reach its goals of 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016, the Philippines must take advantage of its vast potential to develop smart cities.

According to a Londonbased architectural design company, the Philippines must ex tend its proven formula of development to building smart cities, most e spec ia l ly i n t he establishment of an efficient mode of transportation — public-private partnership (PPP) — because one of the feature of smart cities are

people’s mobility.

Smart cities involved massive urban developments across t he countr y t hat integrates information and communication technology i nto pl a n n i ng , de sig n, operations and management of urban areas in order to create a sustainable growth env ironment, explained Wadih Toni Barbara, chief

executive officer of Londonbased PTAH Architectural Design.

Barbara said some of the world’s smart cities are Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), London in the UK, and Hong Kong in China.

“One of t he big ge st challenges for the Philippines is inf rast r ucture. For instance, how can you move those 10 million foreign tou r ist s w it h e a se a nd comfort into many tourist destinations,” Barbara said.

He is, however, ver y

AusAID helps create PHL attains jobs for ‘Pablo’ victims EITI-candidate THE Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) in Manila recently signed a P37.8-million grant agreement with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Country Office for the Philippines to help create jobs and livelihood for the victims of Typhoon Pablo.

In a statement, AusAID said almost five months after the typhoon, disaster-affected families in the municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston still need help.

The AusAID-ILO partnership will help create jobs, improve earning opportunities and promote sustainable agricultural livelihoods using local resources.

“Responding to natural disasters is a priority of Australia’s aid program in the Philippines. Australia is committed to helping Filipino families affected by this disaster to get back on their feet, and through this project, we will help them to do so,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell said.

The project will assist over 1,000 families to have immediate income through emergency employment, and help them transition to longer-term and more sustainable jobs through further reconstruction work in the affected areas. The project will also take into account environmental protection and conservation to help prevent another Pablo in the future.

AusAID and the ILO will work with the Food and ausaid/PAGE 10

posit ive t hat g iven t he right amount of attention by bot h t he public a nd private sectors through the PPP, this challenge can be overcome especially since the Philippines has a lot of potential for infrastructure development “that should be given thorough planning and building.”

Smart cities promote a more sustainable and higher quality of urban life, said British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie.

Smart/PAGE 10

THE world will face “severe pressure on fresh water” within one or two generations that is entirely “selfinf licted and…entirely avoidable,” a coalition of 500 leading scientists has warned.

In a declaration in Bonn, Germany, the scientists blamed “mismanagement, overuse, and climate change” for driving fresh water systems across the planet into “a precarious state.”

Two-thirds of major river deltas are sinking due to groundwater and hydrocarbon pumping in low lying coastal areas, they warned, adding that damming and draining have damaged river basins irreparably in some cases.

“In the short span of one or two generations, the majority of the nine billion people on earth will be living under the handicap of severe pressure on fresh water, an absolutely essential natural resource for which there is no substitute,” the declaration read. “This handicap will be self-inflicted and is, we believe, entirely avoidable.”

They added: “Current increases in the use of water and impairment of the water system are on an unsustainable trajectory. However, current scientific knowledge cannot predict exactly how or precisely when a planetary-scale boundary will be breached. Such a tipping point could trigger irreversible change with potentially catastrophic consequences.”

The declaration comes in the same week UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon warned the world may run out of freshwater, as demands for water-intensive energy and agricultural production increases and weather patterns shift due to climate change.

It calls for scientists, public stakeholders, decisionmakers and the private sector to work together to tackle the issue through “ecosystem-based sustainable water management” rather than the traditional engineering solutions that it claims rarely consider long-term impacts on the environment.

Without a universal approach, the scientists warn the situation could deteriorate further.

“Stewardship requires balancing the needs of humankind and the needs of nature through the protection of ecosystems and the services that they provide,” they said. shortage/PAGE 10

country status

THE Phi lippines has attained candidacy status in the Extractive Industries Tra nspa renc y Init iat ive (EITI), a group working to increase transparency of payments made in the oil, gas and mining industries.

The Internationa l Ex tractive Industries Tra nspa renc y Init iat ive (EITI) Board approved the Philippines’ application for EITI candidate status at its meeting in Sydney last May 22.

“As an EITI Candidate country, the Philippines has to start disclosing payments from its extractives sector, and meet a ll t he requirements in the EITI standard within 2.5 years to become EITI Compliant,” phl/PAGE 10

ECO-TOURISM AREA. The Environment department is promoting the Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape as an eco-tourism area in Misamis Occidental. photo courtesy of denr -10

DENR promotes Baliangao as eco-tourism site THE regional office of the Department of Environment a nd Nat u ra l Resou rces (DENR) based in Cagayan de Oro Cit y ex pressed full support to the local gove r n me nt ’s move of promoting the Baliangao Protected Landscape and

Seascape (BPLS) as an ecotourism site.

In a report to DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje, OIC Regional Executive D i re c tor Rut h Taw a ntawan said that her office has embarked on a close pa r t nership w it h t he

mu n ic ip a l gove r n me nt of Baliangao in Misamis Occidental for the development of the protected area as an eco-tourism site.

Tawan-tawan said that the protected area, which covers around 300 hectares denr/PAGE 10

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DENR... from page 8

in barangays Tugas, Misom, Sinian and Landing, is home to 21 species of mangroves, with bakauan as the dominant species.

It a l s o b o a s t s of a 75-hectare marine sanctuary where 39 colorful fish species could be found, and serves as a research laborator y that offers educational and scientific values for marine researchers or related studies.

Among the eco-tourism activities allowed in the area include boating, snorkeling, s c uba d iv i ng a nd i sle t hopping.

Nat u re wa l k c a n be done in the boardwalk of the Baliangao Protected Landscape and Seascape.

The boardwalk, which was constructed beneath the mangrove forests, connects the islets from the mainland.

Proclamation No. 418, issued on November 22, 2000, declares the wetland areas of Baliangao as a protected area.

Pursuant to the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and its implementing rules and regulations, a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) was established to strengthen the conservation and protection efforts in the area.

Last year, the DENR, in cooperation with local stakeholders, initiated a t hree-hectare mangrove rehabilitation project in the protected area in support of the National Greening Program (NGP).

Other activities conducted in BPLS include managing the

protected area, implementing the Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) and the conduct of nature conser vation, education and extension in schools and communities.

Prior to its proclamation as a protected area, BPLS was originally known as the Misom Sea Sanctuary established by the local government of Baliangao, Misamis Occidental pursuant to Resolution No. 01, series of 1991.

The 74-hectare marine reserve at Barangay Misom was establ ished by t he PIPULI Foundation, Inc., a n env ironmenta l nongovernment organization.

(DENR)

Smart... from page 8

The Philippines has so much hig h ly competent engineers and sk illed workers which make the country an ideal place where to build smart cities, said RED Asia Design Manager Dorian Patrick.

Meanwhile, Dave Savage, director and senior vice president for Asia Pacific of Hong Kong-based Mediatech Design Group, advised the use of more sophisticated surveillance cameras with face-tracking de v ice t hat won’t sc a re people.

“There is a psychological impact when you see these h e av i l y a r m e d m e n i n uniform with bomb sniffing dogs… It tells a lot about the safety of the place,” he said, adding that information, communication, a nd technology infrastructure a re i nteg ra l to u rba n planning. (BF)

Shortage... from page 8

“Without such a design framework, we anticipate highly fragmented decisionmaking and the persistence of maladaptive approaches to water ma nagement .”

(Business Green)

AusAID...

from page 8 Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities for this project, together w it h t he Depar tment of Labor and Employment, the Department of Social Welfare a n d D e v e l o pm e nt , t h e Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Agrarian Reform, as wel l as w it h community groups in the Philippines.

T he proje c t e x tend s additional support to Pablo victims following AusAID’s e a r l i e r g r a nt of P12 . 6 million (A$300,000) to help provide livelihood-recovery initiatives in Baganga.

“This project comes at t he right moment when ongoing humanitarian aid is gradually transferred toward medium-term interventions that focuses on sustaining livelihoods. Workers who lost their income after the typhoon will have the chance to learn and to develop new skills while earning within a decent and safe working environment,” said Lawrence Jeff Johnson, director of the ILO Country Office for the Philippines.

AusAID also partnered w it h ILO to prov ide community-based emergency employment and

reconstruction support to areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities that were badly hit by Tropical Storm S endong (i nter nat iona l codename Washi) in 2011.

With Australian government support, the project has employed 1,600 workers and reached out to over 6,400 typhoon-affected fa m i l ies. Workers were trained and mentored by engineers on construction.

They were given starter kits such as tools, hammers and saws with their own safety gears.

These workers have now organized themselves into an association that enables them to enter into contracts to rebui lding activ ities, including slope and riverbank protection and prevention of environmental t hreats. The association ensures that workers get fair wage, under decent and safe working conditions.

T he projec t has a lso developed a database of affected families using computer systems applications to facilitate identification and prioritization of typhoonaffected victims. A study on liveli hood impact prepared by Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology guided the design of the livelihoodrecover y options a nd skills-training programs in Cagaya n de Oro a nd Iligan.

This support a lso contributed to standardizing approach on deliver y of com mu nit y-based emergency under the InterAgency Standing Committee cluster on livelihood. (BM)

PHL... from page 8

EITI said in a statement.

EITI noted the speech of Elisea “Bebet” G. Gozun, P r e s i d e nt i a l A s s i s t a nt for Climate Change and EITI national coordinator who was present in t he meet ing: “ The PH-EITI Mu lt ista keholder g roup would like to t hank t he EITI international Board for accept ing us as a c a n d i d a t e c ou nt r y for EITI. This is a major step forward in our effort to improve t ra nspa renc y and accountability in the extractive industries in the Philippines. This is in line with our President’s social contract with our people to promote good governance in order to fight corruption and to reduce poverty in our country.”

Also stated on the EITI report is the decision of the Board on the status of the Philippines in full: “The EITI Board admits the Philippines as an EITI Candidate country on 22 May 2013. In accordance with the EITI Rules, the Philippines is required to publish t heir f irst EITI Report within one year and six months of becoming a Candidate (by 22 November 2014) and to submit a final (MSG endorsed) Validation Report to the Board within two years and six months of becoming a Candidate (by 22 November 2015).

Failure to meet either of these deadlines will result in delisting.”

Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Bill Twedell,

congratulated the Philippines on achieving the candidacy status.

“B y a c h i e v i n g E I T I candidacy the Philippines ca n bui ld conf idence amongst communities and businesses in the extractive industries. This is a positive step towards developing the mining sector in the Ph i l ippi nes i n a n open a nd t r a n s p a r e nt w ay,” Ambassador Twedell stated in a press release.

“I’m proud that Australia was able to suppor t t he Philippines in its application to join EITI.” Ambassador Twedell added.

According to the press release from the Australian e m b a s s y , “A u s t r a l i a supported the Philippine Government’s candidature for the EITI as part of efforts to improve transparency and governance within the Philippines mining sector.

The Philippines EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group, wh ich t he Aust ra l ia n Agency for International Development (AusA ID) helped to establish, has been tasked to oversee the implementation of the global EITI transparency standards in the Philippines.” (PIA)

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Energy... from page 1

This Minda nao R E roadmap must be integrated into the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) of the Energy department, stressed Siargao Electric Cooperative General Manager Sergio Dagooc, president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperative (AMRECO) as well as MinCARED over-all chairman.”

Dagooc urged the Mindanao energ y sector stakeholders to “not wait” for the government to move to solve t he problem of Mindanao. “Instead, let us make our own Mindanao energy plan collectively that will be integrated in the government’s PEP.” He said that the two-day 2nd MinCARED Congress, which ends today, serves as a platform for discussion a nd i nte g r ate d ac t ions pushing for the acceleration of renewable energ y i n Mindanao.

He said that while the government and private sector are now addressing the Mindanao power shortage through the different coalfired power plants will be go online in 2015, “we should also start developing our renewable energy sources for a balance supply of different technology for Mindanao.” “ T he issue of power supply shortage in Mindanao that we are experiencing is not a simple issue of power supply only but rather it is a complex issue of economic, political, and peace and order because we know for our fact that our economy today is an energy-driven one,” he stressed.

Aside from addressing the long-term energy needs of M i nd a n ao, t he 2 nd MinCARED Congress also discussed the immediate and short-term solutions to the power crisis such as the DoE-proposed use of modular generator sets.

“The modular gensets is just band-aid solution to the problem,” he acknowledged.

Monteneg ro added: “We need to eliminate the brownouts” now gripping s ome u rba n c enters of Mindanao such as General Santos City which is suffering up to 12 hours of rotating brownouts daily.

Dagooc wa r ned t hat unless the Mindanao power crisis is solved, there is a great possibility that “investors in

Mindanao will relocate in Luzon and other areas of the country.”

M i n d a n a o ’s a n n u a l losses due to t he power crisis is P63 billion, said E ng r. C er ael Dong gay, former vice president of the National Power CorporationMindanao and trustee of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fou nd at ion, I nc . (O ro Chamber).

Plants... from page 1

t h i s y e a r. A d d i t i o n a l capacity would come from a 105-megawatt coal plant the company is developing in Saranggani, which is scheduled to operate in 2015; and another 105-megawatt coal plant that will rise in Zamboanga City by 2016.

Sagittarius Mines Inc (SMI), the private contractor of the $5.2-billion Tampakan copper-gold project, earlier signed up ACRI to build and run a 400-megawatt open-cycle gas turbine and coal-fired power plant by 2017.

The power plant, which is estimated to cost $900 million, will be used solely for the Tampakan mine.

“The mine itself is under technical development. They are still working on the mining site. But today we are working on the technical study for the power plant,” Alcantara said.

Besides the Tampakan plant, ACRI is also putting up a 105-megawatt coal plant and a 16.7-megawatt hydro plant in Sarangani, as well as a 105-megawatt coal plant in Zamboanga by 2016.

A l l of t he pla nned facilities be funded 60-70 percent through project financing or some other debt and 40-30 percent equity, “depending on the condition of the market and the appetite of the equities market for additional power projects,” Alcantara said.

A l l of ACR I’s power plants, which have a total power generating capacity of 253 megawatts, are in M i nd a nao. T he re g ion has been suffering from persistent power outages as a result of insufficient generating capacity.

ACRI’s power facilities include subsidiary Western Mindanao Power Corp’s 100-megawatt diesel plant in Zamboanga City, Southern Philippines Power Corp’s 55-megawatt diesel plant

i n Sa ra nga n i prov i nce, and Mapalad Power Corp’s 98-megawatt diesel plant in Iligan City.

“With two plants going up in Sarangani and Zamboanga, we are looking forward to generate an aggregate of 463 megawatts –- more than onefourth of the Department of Energy’s projected 2016 M i nd a n ao p e a k p ower demand of 1,829 megawatts,” Alcantara said.

Both coal plants have a prov ision for anot her 105-megawatt expansion; while the hydro plant, if successful, will open the door for similar projects for the company outside of Mindanao.

“We are earning our stripes there, so if we are able to do that we are looking at possible projects in Negros.

But that would be, I would say, three to four years from now,” Alcantara said.

Hike... from page 1

and Productiv it y Board (RTWPB).

He sa id t he RT W PB h a s a l re ady for w a rde d its recommendations to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (N W PC) a f ter it has deliberated on two wage petitions asking for a wage increase of P80 and P88. These petitions were submitted to them last March 2012 and April 2013, respectively.

He said the RTWPB was able to decide how much will be granted after it conducted provincial wage consultations and a region-wide public

hearing last month.

However, he refused to disclose the amount of the increase, pending the final recommendations of the NWPC. “We cannot divulge the amount yet pending the result of the NWPC en banc meeting, but for sure there will be another round of increase this year and we will be giving you the exact amount early in June,” he added.

Art...

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Seminar... from page 2

or LGU. A merol added that this way, members can conveniently know if they are getting a fair return of their investment and measure a FT management’s effectivity and efficiency.

While the government has poured out suppor t to different cooperatives, associations and LGUs in the form of FT projects, he urged them to be one with the former’s duty in creating and

providing more employment opportunities to the members of their respective localities.

Among the topics tackled include the basic principles in accounting and bookkeeping, the bookkeeping equation, t ria l ba la nce a nd t he preparation of worksheet and financial statements.

The FT is the brainchild of the DA-AMAD which ser ves a s a food depot and distribution system of reasonably-priced, safe, nutritious and quality food products. (Joanne L. Olson)

utilitarian role with aesthetic beaut y, ent w ining t heir makers to the community and their people.

For Teresita Sumagaysay, a ‘tikog’ mat weaver from San Jose village in San Fernando town, carrying on this art form is not just a way to connect with her family.

Sumagaysay explained that the craft is some sort of a magic charm pinned with hard work, determination, and patience.

“I saw that there were decre a si ng nu mbers of people interested in doing our tribal craft. But I love this work because this is one way in making use of the flourishing ‘tikog’ reeds we have in our forests and keep my traditional craft alive,” she said.

CSWD... from page 2

involved in an infraction of the law. According to the CSWD, they will assist the minor and usher him back to his home. (PNA)

When you’re in Butuan City, read...

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SM CDO’s Grand Wear Sale RODELSA HALL AND SAFER RIVER It is the perfect time to shop for back to school here at SM Store’s Grand Wears Sale.

Now until June 2 at Ground Floor Car Park Building, SM City Cagayan de Oro. Wide assortments of great finds up to 50% off from Men’s Wear, Ladies Wear and Children’s Wear items.

Featuring top brands For Men’s Wear Jag, Lee, Dickies, RRJ, Freego, Coach, Wrangler, Beverly Hills Polo Club, Fubu, No Fear, BNY, Arrow, Wallstreet, Hanes, Warren, Le Froge,Tribal,Ego, Paddocks, Wharton, Dansen, Michel Andre, GQ, Monsieur, Ultimo, Baleno, Men’s Club, Mainstreet, Sta. Barbara, Uberto Duranti, Exclusive, Bo Athletics, Markus and Character Brands For Ladies’ Wear Paperdolls, Xara, Krizia, Sakaya, Samlin, Unica Hija, Attitudes, Essenxa ,Additons, Extreme, Forever Icon, Substance, Chenchen, St. Jeans, Jag, Paddocks, Pazzo, Blutab,Wranco, Beverly Hills Polo Club, Hotkiss, Dickies, Next Jeans, Bunny, and RRJ

GEAR UP FOR BENEFIT CONCERTS Sou nd i ng t he clar ion ca l l for community action for the Cagayan de Oro River, Rodelsa Hall and Safer River Life Saver Foundation. Inc. team up to create a series of benefit concerts to raise community awareness and advocacy to financially support environmental projects of the Foundation. The twin institutions have been active in the rehabilitation of the Cagayan R iver and the communities along the riverbanks that require sustainable support.

Dubbed as “ENRICHED”, Rodelsa Hall’s series of cultural presentations comprising the Season for 2013, aims to gather resources to help sustain the projects of Safer River Foundation. They have invited top-caliber performers in classical music to take part in this endeavor. Artists for this series include Los Angeles, California-based tenor Sal Malaki, German flutist Ulrich Mueller Doppler, trumpet artist Raymond Deleon, Filipino tenor from Vienna Abdul Candao and young violinist Jimmy Tagala among others.

To get the chance to be part of this worthwhile venture, one may become a member of the Rodelsa Society. This is a select group of individuals who share the same vision of becoming partners for positive change. The Society aims to nurture culture in Cagayan de Oro and while promoting environmental efforts and scholarships for the underprivileged. This is a joint undertaking of Rodelsa Hall, Safer River life Saver Foundation, Inc., Liceo Office of Cultural Affairs and the Liceo Philanthropic Development Office.

For Children’s Wear Garfield, Moose Gear, Grizzly, Snoopy, Carter,Kid Jordan, Alli & Ella, Byloz, Betty Boop, St. Jeans, Minnies & Mimi, Barbie, Cotton Stuff, Pitcheco, and Pitterpat These items and a whole lot more! Happening only in SM Store’s Grand Wears Sale.

SAFER RIVER LOGO

For those who are interested in membership of the Rodelsa Society, please feel free to call (088) 8584093 to 95 local 109 or 09176366528.

Wireless Streaming Storage Glow in the dark iLuv iPhone 5 cases Buffalo’s MiniStation Air brings you the solution for the limited storage capacity on Smart Phones and Tablets. The MiniStation Air makes it possible to wirelessly read and even write files on smart phones and tablets.

Carry and enjoy your library

Upload your data such as photos and video on the portable Ministation Air while on the move. For transferring large amounts of data from desktop PC’s or laptops you can use the fast USB3.0 interface (up to 5Gb/s). The amount of data is no longer a problem, wherever you go it’s always available.

Multi-user connection

It’s even possible to stream media to three WiFi enabled devices at the same time.

This allows you to share files to streaming clients. Thanks to the integrated WiFi, superspeed USB (USB3.0) and a capacity of 500GB you have all your data with you, wherever you go. The battery is easily charged with AC adapter or via USB on the PC and has up to 4 hours battery life.

The WiFi setup connection is easily done with WPS or AOSS. MiniStation Air is capable of WPA2 wireless encryption for secure data transfer.

Key features: • • • • • • • •

Read and write files on Smart devices such as iPhones, iPads and more Allow internet access during WiFi connection by using “Internet mode” Battery charge anywhere with AC adapter or USB on PC (4 hours) Wireless and superspeed USB 3.0 dual interface Always together with Smart devices for additional storage Easy WiFi setup connection with WPS and AOSS Wireless connection with high security encryption (WPA2) Max simultaneous connection: 3 connections recommended

Buffalo MiniStation Air is distributed in the Philippines by MSI-ECS. For availability, pricing and complete specs, please email marketing@msi-ecs.com.ph.

Having troubles finding your phone at night? iLuv introduces cool and funky iPhone 5 Aurora cases that glow in the dark. Available in pink, black and white retro patterns, they do not only protect your phone against dings and bumps but also make your phone alive. It uses anti-static coating and high-quality silicone rubber to provide protection against impacts. Its screen provides full access to all iPhone 5 functions.

• Playful pattern illuminates at night or in a dark room • Silicone case provides snug fit and protection • Laser-etched so you can get a good grip on the case Also available are Mummy, Ninja, and Snoopy glow in the dark cases. iLuv lifestyle accessory products are distributed by MSIECS Phils. Inc. For product information and availability, please call 688-3180 or email mfangeles@msi-ecs.com.ph.