BusinessDaily Mindanao (May 29, 2013 Issue)

INSIDE LOOK

Davao City still on top in list of Next Wave City

Rodriguez urges DOTC Tuition hike bid of 16 schools in R-12 endorsed

Globe Telecom leads industry in revenue growth

Security Bank eyes margin boost from expansions

BusinessDaily Economy

News

PAGE 2

PAGE 4

CREDIBLE

Volume III, No. 223

Market Indicators

As of 6:05 pm may 28, 2013 (Tuesday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.80

7,029.20 points

4.5 cents

X

68.31 points

X

Briefly Tribal dressmaking DAVAO del Norte – The provincial government of Davao del Norte has given the Indigenous women of Barangay Macgum in New Corella town, this province, the opportunity to revive the dying art of traditional dressmaking and beadworks.

Realizing that the craf t of making native clothing is fast becoming a lost art, the province conducted a livelihood training that taught mothers belonging to the the Dibabawon tribe the esential skill in making indigenous garments and beadings.

The workshop was among a series of livelihood trainings organized by the province for the enrollees of the Indigenous People-Basic Literacy Program (IP-BLP) under the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education.

Rosita Vistal, 53, was happy that the team from the Livelihood M anagement Develo pment Division of the province came to provide the two-day seminar.

Congress Watch

PAGE 5

RELIABLE

Cagayan de Oro City

PAGE 8

Billboard

PAGE 12

IN-DEPTH

Wednesday

P15.00

May 29, 2013

One-Stop-Shop pushed for RE projects in M’nao

By BONG FABE Associate Editor

Villar seeks review of laws on agri, electric power

N

OTING the c ha l lenge s t h at investors and proponents of renewable energy have to hurdle just to get their projects off the drawing boards, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Mindanao Congress of t he Advo c ate s for Renewable Energ y and Rural Electrification and Development (MinCARED) are strongly pushing for the establishment of a onestop-shop to shorten the application process of RE projects.

Pushed/PAGE 11

ONE-STOP-SHOP. The 2nd Mindanao Congress of the Advocates for Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification and Development (MinCARED) has pushed for the establishment of a one-stop-shop to shorten the application process of RE projects.

MinDA: Mindanawons to face ASEAN integration positively

Taiwan flight out CEBU Pacific yesterday announced that it would defer its maiden flight to Taipei from Cebu after bookings “flattened out” because of the red travel advisory issued by the Taiwan government.

In an advisory posted on its Facebook account, Cebu Air Inc (CEB) said it will postpone the launch of its twice a week service until further notice.

“We will defer the start date of said flights due to the ‘red’ travel alert issued by Taiwan on the Philippines. The service was previously set to launch on July 5, 2013,” Cebu Pacific said.

Asked about the airline’s bookings for the route, CEB vice president for marketing Candice Iyog said that, “Yes there are bookings but it was affected by red alert. Bookings flattened out.”

Banking & Finance

By BONG FABE, Associate Editor

MONTENEGRO: Let’s seize the opportunity

M I N DA NAWONS mu st s ei z e t he opportunity amply given by the government to define the future of Mindanao power to enable Mindanawons to face the vast opportunity offered by the economic integration of ASEAN in 2015.

Instead of facing the inevitable economic integration of ASEAN two years hence with fear, Mindanawons must seize the opportunity and face it positively, stressed Romeo Montenegro, minda/PAGE 11

‘Oil palm hub’ plan ‘threat’ to M’nao coco industry KORONADAL City (MindaNews) — Turning Mindanao into an “oil palm hub” poses a threat to the coconut industry, a research institution said in a statement Monday.

T h e D a v a o C i t y- b a s e d Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao (AFRIM) cited a

plan to convert thousands of hectares of lands into oil palm plantations, mostly in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Caraga region.

AFRIM cautioned that the plan threatens the coconut industry, one of the island’s major sources threat/PAGE 11

AS she prepares for legislation aimed at creating jobs, senator-elect Cynthia Villar set eyes on possible review of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act and Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

“There are many laws t hat a re not properly implemented. Maybe there is something wrong in them— either in the law itself or in the one implementing it.

So we need to review and amend if necessary,” Villar, a former congresswoman of Las Pinas, said Monday.

“As I said many times, I rise and fall to (sic) my advo c ac y of prov id i ng jobs and livelihood to our countrymen. Poverty is still the biggest problem of the country and one of the root causes of which is the lack of sources of livelihood and job opportunities. So that will be my key legislative agenda,” she added.

According to Villar, there is a need to review the present villar/PAGE 11

The island’s coconut industry is seen to take the brunt in the event expansions of oil palm plantation in Mindanao take full-swing.

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

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

E conomy 2 Vis-Min agribusiness Davao City still on top in gets loan from BPI list of Next Wave City CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

DAVAO City -- The City of Davao retained its number one spot in the list of Next Wave Cities in the country for 2013.

Bert Barriga, president of the ICT Davao, an umbrella g roup of Informat ion Communication Technology stakeholders in the City said, the Next Wave Cities are areas in the country which are able to accommodate big BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) a nd IT companies and at the same time provide an environment which can nurture start-ups.

He said the cities are scored on infrastructure, supply and quality of workforce, business environment and risk management. The cities are chosen by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the

DAVAO City -- The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has increased its focus on agriculture this year through a loan program designed to benefit livestock and poultry raisers in Luzon and in the expanding business corridors in Visayas and Mindanao like Cebu, Panay, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Davao and General Santos.

Through its BPI Agribusiness Solutions, the bank formally launched BPI Agribusiness Solutions on May 24 in Davao City with Executive Vice President and Corporate Banking Group Head Alfonso Salcedo, Jr. A media briefing and presenting an overview of the program was held along

Davao City bright skyline at night.

Philippines (IBPAP).

Though these cities do not receive any monetary incentives, they however are given marketing priority for ICT-BPO investors wanting to invest in the country.

Davao City was named as

the top Next Wave City in 2010 and the list is updated every two years.

Present ly, the top 10 Next Wave Cities aside from Davao included Baguio City, Dumaguete City, Iloilo City, Lipa City, Metro Bulacan,

Metro Cavite, Metro Laguna, Metro Naga and Metro Rizal.

“The recognition should not stop us from pushing for more opportunities,” said Barriga.

Among these initiatives davao/PAGE 11

JICA rehabilitation project for COWD takes off THE typhoon-hit facilities of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District shall soon undergo rehabilitation with the P40million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The said grant, according to COWD’s Public Relations/ Information Division, is in the form of provision of materials and equipment, which procurement processes has just been completed, Fac i l it ie s covere d by

this rehabilitation project include 11 booster pumps, 6 production wells, 5 generator sets, chlorinating set, controllers and transformer cables. It will also cover replacement of the biosafety cabinet (laboratory

equipment) and damaged water meters.

Some 5,562 units of water meters were already delivered last week and the project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of the year.

with Senior Vice President and Prov incia l Lending Head Reymundo Castro, and assistant vice president and Agribusiness Unit Head Perlina Padilla.

The program has been earlier launched in Clark, Pampanga on March 8 for the Luzon area.

“The agriculture sector is highly important for the Philippines as it promotes food security. Agriculture promises to be the key to alleviate poverty among millions of Filipinos who depend on farming and livestock raising. A stronger agri sector is needed to sustain growth and food sufficiency,” the BPI statement said. loan/PAGE 11

Preschoolers benefit from free nutri food packs

By JORIE C. VALCORZA, Contributor

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin -- Fifty pre-schoolers here got a 120-day free supply of nutri-food packs fortified with vitamin A and iron.

Provincial nutritionist and dietician Telesfora G. Madelo said it is important to address malnutrition among children, especially during their formative years or from 0 to 5 years old.

These kids were listed under the severely underweight children in the province.

For 120 days they will be given food packs to serve as their afternoon snack which comes in severa l f lavors like champorado (chocolate porridge) and monggo (mung bean). benefit/PAGE 11

0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

AMENITIES : ZORBIT * ATV * TREE TOP ADVENTURE BUGGY * BUNGEE * PICNIC GROUNDS PLAYGROUND * CAFE * LUGE * MINI GOLF ROOM ACCOMODATIONS

BusinessDaily

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

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

3

“Nanuri means Sharing”

Taguanao, Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. Nos. 309-3000, 309-3002

Emphasis on Academic Excellence Environment-friendly Community & Civic Involvement School Organization Observance of religious practices International linkages of exchange scholars.

FOR TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COME TO NIS

NURTURE -

the wholesome development of a person, provide quality and relevant basic education for the improvement of life.

NTEGRITY - training students to live a Christian life worthy of emulation.

ERVICE - the willingness to share and serve the depressed disadvantage, and underserved (DDU) brethren in the community.

I S

10 Reasons Why you should enrol in NIS 1. INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES with China, Japan, Korea and USA for Student exchange Scholarship Program.

2. INTENSIVE LEARNING which specialized in Conversational English.

3. EXCELLENT PROGRAM that builds a community of scholars who value the pursuit of knowledge with the perspective of Christian ideals and values.

4. The school endeavours to train NIS achievers for academic excellence and discipline.

ENROLMENT IS NOW GOING ON Kindergarten . Elementary . High School Affordable Tuition Fees

5. It is the only officially accredited International School in Northern Mindanao.

6. The location is conducive for learning. It is located on a hillside overlooking a spectacular

view of meandering hills, free from noise and pollutions.

7. Offers full or partial fees for scholarship program intended to poor but deserving elementary and freshman student who have been screened and selected by NIS school board based on specific criteria.

8. High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian who have passed entrance examination are automatically awarded academic scholarship/ full tuition and fees.

9. NIS provides a well-rounded quality education; implement a comprehensive student development program, and cocurricular activities.

10. Teachers are competent in their field of specialization.

They teach not only knowledge but also by example.

WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS

CLASSES START ON JUNE 3, 2013

We are currently looking for people who could fill in the vacancy either part time or full time (LET Passer is required) * PHYSICS *SOCIAL STUDIES * ELEMENTARY MATH * MUSIC TEACHER *ENGLISH TEACHER FOR ELEMENTARY & HIGH SCHOOL

Tel. Nos. 309-3000, 309-3002

BusinessDaily

4

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

News

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

Tuition hike bid of 16 schools in R-12 endorsed

By Allen V. Estabillo

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Region 12 has endorsed for approval by its central office the application of 16 private colleges and universities in the region to increase their tuition and other fees this school year.

Jocely n Sa ntoceldes, CHED Region 12 education supervisor, said Monday they issued the endorsement based on the results of the initial evaluation conducted by the regional office on the documentary requirements submitted by the concerned i n s t it ut i on s a n d t h e i r compliance with various conditions set for the fee increases.

She clarified that CHED regional offices only receive and evaluate the application for the tuition fee increases and the final decision on the matter is made by the commission en banc.

“We’re still waiting for the (commission en banc’s) decision. Until that comes out, all these applications a re not yet considered a s approve d ,” she told MindaNews.

CHED centra l of f ice repor ted last week t hat 451 private colleges and

universities in the country have applied for another round of increases in tuition and other fees for this school year.

T he reg iona l of f ices initially recommended the approval of the petitions of 344 institutions and denied those of 107 others.

C H E D C h a i r p e r s on Patricia Licuanan said the five-man commission en banc will deliberate and make a final decision on all applications on Monday (May 27).

In Region 12, the CHED regional office said 16 private colleges and universities in the area have applied for the fee increases.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato as well as the cities of General Santos, K o r o n a d a l , Ta c u r o n g , Kidapawan and Cotabato.

In this city, the colleges and universities that applied for tuition fee increases were the Notre Dame of D a d i a n g a s Un i v e r s i t y, Holy Trinity College, AMA Computer Learning Center and the AMA Computer College.

They were joined by Notre Dame Siena College in

Polomolok, South Cotabato; Not re Da me of Ma rbel University in Koronadal City; Notre Dame of Tacurong College in Tacurong City and Notre Dame of Salaman College in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; I Link College of Science and Technolog y, AMA Computer College and Dr. P. Ocampo Colleges in Cotabato City; Southern Ph i l ip pi n e s Me t ho d i s t College, Central Mindanao Colleges and Notre Dame of K id a p aw a n C o l l e ge in Kidapawan City; and, Southern Christian College and Notre Dame of Midsayap College in Midasayap, North Cotabato.

Tuition/PAGE 10

Teachers conduct their classes inside tents in Baganga Central Elementary School in Baganga town in this file photo taken after typhoon Pablo destroyed most of the schools in Davao Oriental. At least, 16 schools in Region 12 bid for tuition hike this opening of classes. mindanews photo

Over 100 distressed OFWs in Jordan returning home soon Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz announced Tuesday that most of the 114 distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) living in Filipino Workers’ Resource Center (FWRC) of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Amman, Jordan are expected to return home soon.

Baldoz made the statement amidst reports that the distressed OFWs are being neglected by the government, thus causing

delay in their repatriation.

Citing a report from P OL O -Jo r d a n We l f a r e Of f icer Mario Antonio, Labor secretary said OFWs

may soon be home since they already got plane tickets.

“Only 31 of the 114 OFWs are here (in FWRC) since 2012. Twenty-two of the 31 have already approved airline tickets but could not be repatriated yet because the Jordanian immigration did not allow them to use merely travel documents for their scheduled exit last December,” Baldoz said.

Based on the reports of POLO, out of the 114 OFWs

being housed at the FWRC, only 18 have no approved repatriation tickets.

A s of now, t he ex it documents of 67 of the 114 OFWs are being processed, while the rest who have been in Jordan for less than a year needs further negotiations.

“They are the subject of negotiations because under Jordanian law, foreign workers whose employers have violated their contracts ofws/PAGE 10

ITCZ brings rains in some parts of Mindanao Some parts of Mindanao will experience light rains Tuesday due to an intertropical convergence zone(ITCZ) near the area, according to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

An ITCZ is a merger of winds from different directions, which is also a breeding ground for low pressure areas (LPA).

In its advisory, PAGASA said that Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the western section.

Weather forecaster Fernando Cada said there is a high chance of rain in the afternoon and evening due to local convection or thunderstorms or rains in places where clouds have been formed due to the heating of the earth’s surface.

“Umaga hanggang tanghali, almost good weather.

Then ang chances of thunderstorms sa hapon at gabi mas mataas,”Cada explained. itcz/PAGE 10

Mindanao Star When you’re in Zamboanga City, read...

Email: mindanaostarbalita@gmail.com, businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Zamboanga Peninsula

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

BusinessDaily

Banking&Finance

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

5

Philippine banks run by ‘lazy brokers’, Monetary Board member says A FORMER University of the Philippines economics professor who sits on the Monetary Board today lectured banks on how they should run their business.

On the sidelines of the BSP-UP Professorial Chair lectures, Board member Felipe Medalla described the country’s biggest banks as “lazy brokers,” citing the dearth of innovative products they could have offered their clients who had opted for the safety of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ special deposit accounts (SDAs).

He s a id more t h a n half of the $1.9 trillion in funds parked in the central bank ’s SDAs were retail accounts under investment m a n a gement a c t i v it ie s (IMAs).

B a n k s a r e “a l r e a d y turning us almost into a

regular bank. A lot of these [funds] are of this nature already. It would not be so bad if it’s a little amount,” Medalla said.

“Pool the money naman.

Isn’t it the function of a bank to pool money? It’s not a broker,” he said. “ T h e r e ’s n o t h i n g pre vent i ng t hem f rom pooling money and telling their depositors, ‘This UITF [unit investment trust fund] is X [invested] in SDAs, Y in shares. Nothing prevents them from creating new products,” he added.

Earlier, the BSP issued a memorandum that restricted retail investors’ access to the

SDAs. This was aimed at making SDAs deal directly with the trust units of the banks.

Meda l la sa id hav i ng retail investors’ money in the central bank ’s SDAs runs counter to its role as a regulator, adding that the BSP ceases to be a central bank once it accepts deposits from the public.

Regular deposit products have become less attractive to the public because these earn next to nothing, prompting banks to offer special deposit products, which can provide yields higher than what can be had from Treasury bills

and bonds, the rates of which have plummeted to record lows.

Medalla said the BSP’s additional restrictions on its SDAs should turn away portfolio investors, thus easing the upward pressure on the peso.

“If that kind of money leaves the country, then good riddance. We may use that opportunity to shrink our balance sheet. Our exchange rate goes up a little bit,” he said.

BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr told reporters that streamlining the SDAs is meant to keep the original

Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla.

photo from bpiassetmanagement. com

intent of using this as a monetary policy tool and not as an avenue for investments.

“What’s going to happen

is there may be some shifts in funds from investment management agreements to banks/PAGE 10

Security Bank eyes margin boost from expansion of consumer loan business SECU R I T Y Ba n k C or p plans to expand its lending business by 10-15 percent this year as it moves to increase its share of the consumer loan segment.

On the sidelines of the lender’s annual stockholders meeting, Securit y Bank executive vice president Edua rdo M. Olbes told reporters that this year’s loan growth guidance is at a similar range as other banks’ projections.

“The issue is not the loan demand [which] has been quite strong. The issue is that the [interest] rates have gone down quite a bit,” Olbes said.

He said loans grew by about a fifth in the first quarter, whereas it was flat last year.

Olbes said the bank is looking to grow its consumer l o a n s s e g m e nt , w h i c h comprised only seven percent

of the pie in the first three months.

“Our portfolio is heavily skewed towards wholesale-corporate, commercial and SMEs [small and medium enterprises],” he said.

“Yields are challenging in wholesale. We want to sustain our net interest margin, therefore we see the consumer business as avenue for that,” said Maria Cristina A. Tingson, Security Bank senior vice president and retail banking segment head.

In line with growing the consumer business, Security Bank aims to expand its network to 250 branches by yearend from 208 last year, with half of the new branches in Metro Manila, she said.

T h e b a n k h a s 31 9 automated teller machines (ATMs) and aims to reach a ratio of two ATMs per branch, Tingson said.

After merger, PNB-Allied pursues organic growth AFTER its merger w it h A llied Bank, Philippine National Bank (PNB) said it would focus on organic growth in the next 4 years and recover its leadership in the remittance business.

I n a br i e f i n g , PN B president Omar Byron Mier said management would focus on improving profitability of the merged Lucio Tan-owned

lenders, eyeing a return on equity of 13-15 percent in the next three years.

“The full integration of the two banks will be completed in two years at an integration cost of about P1.5 billion. Even with this inevitable cost, and with the revenue enhancements arising from the merger growth/PAGE 10

BRANCHES:

MAIN OFFICE:

Capt. Vicente Roa St. Cogon, Cagayan de Oro City Tel No. (0882) 857-4930

Visit our website at www.panasonic.com.ph

002 DESMARK CORP. G LAVINIA ST VALENCIA CITY 8709 003 DESMARK CORP. 0004 SAYRE HIGHWAY DON CARLOS SUR DON CARLOS BUKIDNON 8712 004 DESMARK CORP. NATL HIWAY TAGLATAWAN BAYUGAN CITY AGUSAN DEL SUR 8502 005 DESMARK CORP. CARISMA BLDG. GEN SANTOS DRIVE ZONE II KORONADAL CITY 9506 006 DESMARK CORP. BELISARIO BLDG. J.P. LAUREL AVE. BAJADA DAVAO CITY 8000 007 DESMARK CORP. SAN PEDRO COR ILUSTRE STS DAVAO CITY 8000 008 DESMARK CORP. A VELEZ ST. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY MIS ORIENTAL 9000 009 DESMARK CORP. MONTILLA BLVD. COR. ANDAYA ST. FORT POYOHON BUTUAN CITY AGUSAN DEL NORTE 8600

(088) 828-2051 08822-62594 (085) 830-2128 (083) 228-2058 (082) 224-6423 (082) 227-6438 (088) 857-2456 (085) 816-0933

010 DESMARK CORP. ROXAS AVENUE VILLA VERDE ILIGAN CITY 9200 011 DESMARK CORP. MAGSAYSAY AVE CORNER ROSAS ST GEN. SANTOS CITY COTABATO 9500 012 DESMARK CORP. QUEZON AVENUE EXT. PALA-O ILIGAN CITY LANAO DEL NORTE 9200 014 DESMARK CORP. TOWNSVILLE PAVILLION ATEGA ST BRGY 11 CABADBARAN AGUSAN DEL NORTE 8605 015 DESMARK CORP. VELEZ-CRUZTAAL STS CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 9000 016 DESMARK CORP. PUROK 3 SAYRE HIGHWAY POBLACION VALENCIA CITY 8709 017 DESMARK CORP. SAAVEDRA ST. TORIL DAVAO CITY 8000 018 DESMARK CORP. DALISAY GANTE ROAD MAGUGPO WEST TAGUM CITY DAVAO DEL NORTE 8100 019 DESMARK CORP. COR. QUEZON AND OSMENA ST., MAGUGPO CENTRAL TAGUM CITY DAVAO DEL NORTE 8100

(063) 223-3442 (083) 552-2123 (063) 223-8666 (085) 818-118844 (088) 857-2924 (088) 828-2051 (082) 291-4722 (084) 400-3305 (084) 400-3305

020 DESMARK CORP. 020 DESMARK CORP. J C AQUINO AVE TANDANG SORA BUTUAN CITY 8600 021 DESMARK CORP. AQUINO STREET ZONE II KORONADAL CITY 9506 022 DESMARK CORP. J CATOLICO SR AVE LAGAO GEN SANTOS CITY 9500 023 DESMARK CORP. MAGSAYSAY AVE GEN SANTOS CITY 9500 024 DESMARK CORP. DUPOINT BLDG., P-17 CALINAN DAVAO CITY 025 DESMARK CORP. MC ARTHUR HIGHWAY MATINA DAVAO CITY 8000 026 DESMARK CORP. BALANGAY 3 SAYRE HIGHWHAY QUEZON BUKIDNON 8715 027 DESMARK CORP. NATL HI-WAY BGY 17 GINGOOG CITY 9014 028 DESMARK CORP. QUEZON ST BRGY. 2 SAN FRANCISCO AGUSAN DEL SUR 8501 029 DESMARK CORP. MARKETSITE POBLACION KALILANGAN BUKIDNON 8718 030 DESMARK CORP. ESPIRITU ST. MANGAGOY BISLIG CITY 8311 031 DESMARK CORP. NATIONAL HIGHWAY BRGY.17 GINGOOG CITY 9014 032 DESMARK CORP. SAN PEDRO STREET BARANGAY 3-A DAVAO CITY 8000 033 DESMARK CORP. CHIPECO BLDG., RIZAL ST., CALAMBA CITY LAGUNA 4027 034 DESMARK CORP. DUPOINT BLDG., JR BORJA ST., BRGY 37, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 035 DESMARK CORP. # 6618 SAN ANTONIO LOS BAÑOS LAGUNA 036 DESMARK CORP. SOUTH TIMBERLAND BLDG. KM 50 NATIONAL HIGHWAY BRGY. SAN CRISTOBAL CALAMBA CITY LAGUNA

(085) 341-5116 (083) 228-4856 (083) 552-1421 (083) 551-2123 (082) 295-0247 (082) 303-1010 (088) 222-5392 (088) 861-4130 (085) 839-0318 (088)-222-5392 (086) 853-2255 (088) 861-4130 (082) 227-4849 (049) 834-3795 (088) 852-1072 (049) 827-0502 (049) 834-6336

037 DESMARK CORP. A REGIDOR ST POBLACION V SANTA CRUZ LAGUNA 038 DESMARK CORP. DUPOINT BLDG. PUROK 17 NATIONAL HIGHWAY CALINAN DAVAO CITY 039 DESMARK CORP. BRGY. NEW SOCIETY J.C. AQUINO, BUTUAN CITY 040 DESMARK CORP. BRGY. NUEVA, SAN PEDRO LAGUNA 041 DESMARK CORP. UNIT 1, 2 & 3 G/F CONSOLACION BLDG., NATIONAL ROAD, BRGY. DILA SANTA ROSA CITY LAGUNA 4026

(082) 295-0247

042 DESMARK CORP. J.P. LAUREL CORNER CARANDANG ST., BARANGAY 2, TANAUAN CITY, BATANGAS 043 DESMARK CORP. LEVEL 3, SPACE 3020 & 3021 CENTRIO CM RECTO AVE. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 044 DESMARK CORP. LEVEL 3, SPACE 3093 & 3094 CENTRIO CM RECTO AVE. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 045 DESMARK CORP. P. GUEVARRA ST. POB II SANTA CRUZ LAGUNA 046 DESMARK CORP. #25 J.P. RIZAL STREET BAGONG ILOG PASIG CITY

(085) 815-5478

323-1018 323-1018

BusinessDaily

6 T

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

Opinion

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

The unlocked door THINK

hink a minute…This is a true story about a young A Minute lady who got so tired of living By Jhan Tiafau Hurst with her strict parents that she ran away from home.

But she soon found out that life was not easy on her own.

She couldn’t find a job, and it didn’t take long for her friends to get sick of her living off of their kindness so they kicked her out.

Well, this young 19-yearold girl got so desperate she decided to start making money by becoming a prostitute.

Years passed. Her father died. Her mother grew older.

And the daughter’s life just got worse and terribly unhappy.

But she still would not write or go home to see her mother.

One day the mother heard that her daughter was seen in a certain part of town, so she went there looking for her daughter.

She went to every store and cheap hotel asking to put a picture on their walls.

It was a picture of herself, now a gray-haired woman.

Beside her picture was this message to her daughter which simply said: “I still love you! Please come home!”

Months went by and nothing happened.

Then one day the daughter who was now very skinny and sick wandered into one of those hotels.

You can imagine how shocked she was to see her mother’s picture on the wall of that dirty, cheap hotel.

As she read her mother’s message to her she began to cry.

That night she started walking the many miles back to her home.

It was early in the morning when she finally arrived at the front door of her parent’s house.

She began to knock but the door was already open. hurst/PAGE 7

BusinessDaily CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

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

NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief

CHENG ORDOÑEZ Executive Editor

BONG FABE

Associate Editor

ALLAN MEDIANTE Managing Editor Shaun yap uy Section Editor

Ruel Pelone

CHRISTINE CABIASA

cris panganiban

CLIFFORD SANTILLAN RONALD B. MASTAIL

Online editor

Regional Editor

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

DOLLY PELONE Comptroller

T

Crystaline pino Advertising

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNI Cell No: 09352379999 09177198787

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

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

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.

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.

A fair warning to wayward bankers

A

former president of a closed rural bank learned this well-known legal adage the hard way after the Supreme Court declared his earlier conviction for estafa through falsification “final and executory.”

Hilario P. Soriano, former Chairman/President of the closed Rural Bank of San Miguel (Bulacan), had been convicted of estafa through falsification— in a case filed by his own brother Antonio—before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Instead of applying for probation, Soriano appealed his conviction before the CA, which affirmed the conviction.

When said conviction was appealed before the Supreme Court, the conviction was again reaffirmed. The SC decision became final and executory on September 17, 2012.

Soriano is now imprisoned at the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City, where he is serving a term of four months to four years. He was also ordered to pay a fine of P5,000.

But his woes won’t end there. Soriano is actually facing a slew of estafa cases filed by the Bangko Sentral ng

Copy Editor

Layout Artists

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

S

SPEAKING

Pilipinas. The criminal cases stemmed from his “fraudulent O ut misappropriation” of t he

By Ignacio Bunye proceeds of the Rural Bank of San Miguel’s emergency loans from the BSP—prior to the bank’s declaration of a bank holiday.

Investigation conducted by the BSP’s Office of Special Investigation, headed by Atty.

Gene Penaco, revealed that part of the emergency loan proceeds eventually ended up in Soriano’s Valle Verde residence.

In a decision dated April 3, 2007, the Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 11 convicted Soriano on all four counts of estafa filed by the BSP. He was sentenced to suffer imprisonment of 10 to bunye/PAGE 7

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

HINTS

BusinessDaily

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

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

Hurst... from page 6

Afraid that someone had broken into her parent’s house, she ran inside and woke up the sleeping old lady and told her she had finally come home.

Mother and daughter began to cry as they held each other. The daughter said: “I thought someone had broken open the door!” But the mother shook her head and answered gently: “My dear, from the day you left I’ve kept the door unlocked.”

You know, it does not matter to Jesus Christ what wrong things you’ve done or how badly you’ve lived.

The moment you decide to turn to Him and ask His forgiveness, He will always accept you and give you another chance. Jesus is the One Who will enable you to start a new life all over again, but this time living His way with Him in charge.

He said that’s the only way you’ll ever have real love, peace of mind, and satisfaction that lasts.

Just Think a Minute…

Bunye... from page 6

for each count, and to pay the BSP and co-complainant Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation an approximate amount of P33.6 million.

T he fol low i n g ye a r, another Malolos RTC branch convicted Soriano of one count of estafa.

The Malolos RTC Branch 15 sentenced the former r ura l ba n k president to imprisonment of 10 to 12 years. He was also ordered to pay the BSP the amount of P360,000.

Soriano then appealed bot h conv ictions before the Court of Appeals (CA).

However the appellate court affirmed both convictions.

The CA also modified the judgment of the earlier conviction: Soriano was sentenced to suf fer imprisonment of four to 20 years -- instead of 10 to 14 years -- for each count.

Soria no has elevated both convictions before the Supreme Court, which has yet to resolve both appeals.

In the meantime, the BSP had filed six more criminal cases of the same nature against Soriano.

The estafa cases, filed in 2000, are now pending before the RTC-Ma lolos Branches 17 and 83.

This should serve as fair warning to wayward bank officers who violate their fiduciary responsibility that requires high standards of integrity and performance.

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.

READ!

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

www.businessweekmindanao.com

7

Statement from the Office of the Republic of the Philippines

On the 2013 midterm elections The Filipino people in great numbers undertook their civic duty to determine who would receive a mandate in the legislature and in local governments across the country.

Overall, our fellow citizens undertook this exercise and the right of suffrage with tenacity and good cheer.

By all accounts, this second automated election has proceeded in a satisfactory manner, with the system and the vast majority of machines working as they were intended.

While there were isolated incidents of violence and equally isolated hitches in the voting process, our institutions—from the COMELEC to its deputized agencies—volunteers for poll-watching, media, and the public came together and did their utmost to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.

The President led the administration into what he himself has described as a referendum on this administration—one that will determine whether there will be a continuation and acceleration of reform, or a regression to the old, selfish ways that had harmed our country.

As the counting is completed and the official proclamations take place, it seems clear that our countrymen have spoken overwhelmingly to confirm and expand the mandate for reform and change that they first granted in 2010 to President Aquino.

The work is cut out for all of us: first, to respect the will of the majority; second, to witness the baton of leadership being handed over from one set of leaders to the next on the basis of the people’s will; and third, to stay on the path that the Filipino people have determined by virtue of their vote for change.

The victory of Team PNoy is a renewed mandate for tuwid na daan, and a vote of confidence for good governance, the continuity of reforms, and a brighter future to come.

We thank the Filipino people for the support they have shown President Aquino’s agenda of reform and positive change, and we also thank them for doing their part and contributing to the success of these elections.

As we in government continue to fulfill the mandate entrusted to us by our Bosses, the Filipino people, it is our hope that the next three years will see our country taking even greater strides along the straight path towards equitable progress, peace, and stability for all.

Your tri-weekly business paper now becomes...

BusinessDaily CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

Coming out from Monday to Friday

E-mail : businessdailymindanao@gmail.com Contact Nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessDaily

8

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

CongressWatch

Rodriguez urges DOTC to make TDDs available to deaf, mute

By BONG D. FABE

REPRESENTATIVE Rufus B. Rodriguez ye s t e r d ay u r ge d t he D e p a r t me nt of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to make telecommunications system available to the hearing- and speech-impaired, noting that being deaf and mute should never be a hindrance for them to communicate with other people especially since special communication facilities are available.

“It is the policy of the state to provide handicapped persons protect ion a nd assistance to hasten their integration into the mainstream of society,” he stressed.

Rodriguez said t h at a lt hou g h mo der n technolog y spawned the creation of devices that cater to the special needs of handicapped persons, they still need assistance with communications facilities.

Which is why he, along with his younger brother

Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of the Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) partylist, will refile in the 16th Congress House Bi l l 1681 wh ich mandates t he DOTC to establish a relay system for users of Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD).

TDD, Rodrig uez explained, is a machine t hat employs g raphic communicat ions in t he transmission of coded signals through the nationwide telecommunications system.

House Bill 1681 a lso

mandates t he DOTC to issue the necessary rules and regulations to assure that the national telecommunications system is fully accessible to hearing-impaired and speechimpaired.

The DOTC is also tasked

to assemble, publish and maintain a directory of TDD and other devices used by national agencies to comply with such regulations and publish in national agency directories, access numbers of TDDs and such other devices.

Solons from PHL’s 3rd poorest region are multi-millionaires

Lagman blames Kiko for Aquino veto of centenarians’ bill

CATBALOGAN CITY—All the 14 members of the House of Representatives from Eastern Visayas, the third poorest region in the country, are multi-millionaires, according to their 2012 Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networths (SALNs).

In their 2012 SALN, it was bared that Leyte 1st district Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is the richest while Samar’s Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento is the poorest.

Romualdez, who ranks 6th based on the summary report of the SALNs filed by 278 members of the House, is the richest among solons in Eastern Visayas, with a net worth of P474,181,702.59.

The region’s 2nd richest solon is celebrity-turnedpolitician Leyte 4th district Rep. Lucy Marie TorresGomez, whose 2012 SALN shows a net worth of P179,603, 299.40. She is said to be the 13th wealthiest in the Lower House.

Southern Leyte lone district Rep. Roger Mercado, who is the 77th richest congressman in the country, was listed third in the region with a net worth of P46,700,000.00.

Rep. Sergio Apostol of Leyte’s 2nd district had a net

Romualdez

worth of P45,134,950.00, the region’s fourth richest solon and the country’s 81st.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone (lone district) reported his net worth as P40,213,610.00. He’s the 88th wealthiest member of the House and the region’s 5th.

In 6th place is Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Raul Daza with his P37, 848, 590.00 net worth while Samar political dynasty’s matriarch Rep. Milagrosa Tan (2nd district) has a net worth of P32,406,720.00, making her the 7th richest in the region.

Tan is 107th richest House member nationwide.

A n Wa r a y p a r t y list Representatives Neil B ene d ic t Mont e jo a nd Florencio Noel emerged as the region’s 8th and 9th richest congressmen with a net worth of P17,790,000.00 and

P15,005,000.00, respectively.

Montejo ranks 167th in the overall list while Noel lands in the 186th place.

Leyte 3rd district Rep. Andres Salvacion had a net worth P14, 300,000.00, the region’s ninth richest solon and the country’s 195th.

The 10th richest, Rep. Emil Ong (Northern Samar 2nd), reported a net worth of P12,260,250.25, making him the country’s 203rd richest solon. Following the Northern Samar’s political kingpin is Rep. Jose Carlos Cari with a net worth of P11,921,420.00. He is the region’s 11th and the country’s 208t richest among House members.

The reg ion’s poorest cong re s sma n i s a l s o a millionaire. Samar 1st district Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento had a net worth P3,000,741.84. He ranks 264th of the 278 solons who filed their 2012 SALNs. Notably, Gomez was recorded as t he highest net worth gainer when she managed to increase her net worth from P160,214,222.89 in 2011 to P179,603,299.40 in 2012 while the biggest net worth loser is Rep. Jose Carlos Cari down by P5,698.580.

(PNA)

M A N IL A—A lbay Representative Edcel Lagman on Tuesday took a swipe at Senator Francis Pangilinan for inserting a provision that caused President Benigno Aquino III to veto a bill that would have granted benefits to centenarians.

T h e “Ac t Hon or i n g and Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Filipino Centenarians” was vetoed on May 15 because of Pangilinan’s amendment to the House version, which Lagman had authored, which increased the discount to be given to centenarians on the sale of goods and services to 75 percent.

In his veto message, Aquino acknowledged the intent of the measure but said that, “the 75% discount exceeds the usual markup rate of most businesses and will obliterate profit margins and result in capital loss” because “the proposed measure (as amended by the Senate) does not provide for a tax deduction to recover the said discount.”

Because of t he veto, L ag ma n sa id t he 7,0 0 0 blames/PAGE 10

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

‘CDP, the future of PHL democracy’

By BONG D. FABE

“WE are the future of democracy in the Philippines.”

Thus said Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez in describing the recent election showing of his party, the newest “kid on the political block”—the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP)—of which he is president.

Rodriguez said that the just-concluded midterm election was a defining moment for CDP and Philippine democracy in that it clearly showed that people really hunger for political change, a change that is espoused by every Centrist all over the world.

And at its heart is the core value of human dignity.

It is this value that defines every action of every Centrist in dealing with his fellows — treating others with respect, accepting him/her as an equal who must have equal access to the basic services of government in order for him/her to live a decent life.

Change. For the best.

That is the battlecry of the CDP during the May 13 elections. A cry that echoed from deep within the soul of every Filipino who have seen and experienced how traditional politics and traditional politicians (regardless of age, color and affiliation) have, to borrow the words of one former Filipino diplomat who is also now espousing political change from the grassroots, “privatized government and appropriated its resources and services for personal and family aggrandizement and vainglorious ambition.”

“We are the future of the democracy in the Philippines.

We will fight for a modern, participative and honest political party system in our country. And I am sure that now, after we have entered the political arena, many will join us in the municipalities, cities and in Congress.

Because many citizens and politicians are longing for a new system — a system without patronage and huge vote buying. And our party has proven it now: it is possible! We can win!” Rodriguez stressed.

Elected as national president of the CDP on September 30, 2012, Rodriguez ably steered the party towards the lengthy and laborious accreditation process at the Comelec to the fielding of candidates for various elective offices for the 2013 midterm elections. And many of these candidates successfully hurdled the challenges and won!

Rodriguez himself won a landslide victory over his rival by more than 80%.

But the 2013 midterm election was just a “test” for the CDP. And what a test it was.

From the moment the Comelec accredited the CDP just days before the deadline of the filing of certificates of candidacies, many have thumbed down and sneered at the CDP because of its inexperience in the bout that is called Philippine politics. Since then, it was an uphill climb for the party.

But it competed valiantly, humbly and within the budget of each candidate it fielded — without resorting to vote buying and expensive dole-outs that characterized the campaign style of other political parties (including partylists) despite their fully advanced and well-oiled political machineries in place.

“We only had our message that politics have to be based on values and principles, that we are a role model of a real democratic political party, owned by dues-paying members and not a patron, with internal democratic structures and a detailed and meaningful political platform, built on the core value of human dignity, oriented on the Christian and Muslim social teachings. And we had our committed members and volunteers who spread this message to the voters,” eloquently explained CDP Vice President (Visayas) Rey Padit of Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

While the CDP received a flogging from rival political parties in some areas in the Philippines, in others it led to palpable changes, such as in Cagayan de Oro City.

Although outgoing Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno had a fighting against the incumbent, it was only when the CDP’s Rodriguez announced his

BusinessWeek

When you’re in Davao City, read...

CDP/PAGE 10

MINDANAO

YOUR NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN MINDANAO BUSINESS PAPER Editorial and advertising email : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number :

w

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

ClassifiedAds

BusinessDaily CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

9

ABELLANOSA Lechon House Corner Magsaysay Abellanosa St., Cag. de Oro City MANAGED BY :

KUYA ABS CDO EAGLES CLUB WE ACCEPT ORDERS: LECHON, HALANG-HALANG or SAMPAINA

FREE DELIVERY WITHIN CITY PROPER Contact:

09353742908 / 09265949729 / 0883091150

HIRING at FARMACIA NI DOK 2 Pharmacy Àssistant A. Qualification: Female- atleast 22-26 years old -with 1 year experience related to Pharmacy B. Requirements:

Resume w/ 2x2 picture, TOR and COE

Submit Personally at FARMACIA ni DOK-Cogon

Market Complex,Cagayan de Oro City Look for RUEL ALMEO-cell no. 094959755493

KC COMMERCIAL Installer Water Refilling Station also available in Water accesories and water station needs

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 Purified Drinking Water & Alkaline Ozonized Water

310-3605 0917-7033462

Tel. No. Mobile No.

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

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

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

Branch Address:

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

CHANANTHON BED & BREAKFAST CDO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947

DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631

CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491

LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739

CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City

CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

CM Recto Avenue, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. #: 856-81-89 / 309-3095 / 231-2103 Email ad : chananthonbb@yahoo.com Room @ P800.00

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

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

For lifestyle and events updates in the City, read...

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

BusinessDaily

10

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

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

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

Globe Telecom leads industry in revenue growth as Q1 topline advances 6% Globe Telecom sustained its revenue growth trajectory driven by strong subscriber acquisitions and key product differentiation and continued opt i m ism for t he loca l economy.

Globe service revenues in the first quarter of 2013 improved 6% to PHP21.4 bi l l ion compa red w it h PHP20.2billion in the first quarter of last year. Growth in service revenues lifted core net profit to PHP3.1 billion, a 13% jump from PHP2.7 billion in the year earlier. Against the previous

quarter, core net income more than doubled, due to stable revenues from a seasonally strong fourth quarter coupled with lower operating expenses.

“We are pleased with our financial performance in the first quarter of the year. In terms of revenue growth, Globe is actually leading the industry,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, noting that the company’s revenue growth of 6% in the first quarter outpaced industry growth of low single digit.

Blames...

objectionable provision that caused its veto. (Interaksyon)

from page 8

Fi l ipi no centena r ia ns would not be able to enjoy the legislated benefits due them, including a P100,000 cash gift from the national government.

“More centenarians will be gone without getting the legislated benefits,” he rued.

Speaker Feliciano B e l m ont e Jr. s a i d t h e President ia l L eg islat ive L i a i s on O f f ic e s hou l d coordinate more closely with Malacanang on the bills being passed in Congress “to reduce the (number of) vetoed bills.”

The Centenarian bill was among several measures vetoed by Aquino, which also included the Magna Carta for the Poor and the bill removing the height requirement for policemen.

Lagman hit Pangilinan, t he ma in aut hor of t he counter par t measure in the Senate, for “copying” his version of the bill and substituting the 75 percent discount for the original 50 percent.

“Bill grabbers are somet i mes t he ba ne of legislation because instead of assuring the enactment of a measure into law, they prejudice the final approval of a bill by the President,” Lagman said. “ The orig ina l House bill provided for only 50% discount as an ‘exception from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable,’ and as an amendment to the various Senior Citizens Acts but without removing the tax credit or deduction in favor of concerned establishments so that they will not incur business loses,” Lagman said.

Pangilinan’s version was approved by the Senate shorty before the adjournment of Congress for the campaign period.

Since there was no more t i me to ha r mon i z e t he difference between the House and Senate bills through a bicameral conference, the House of Representatives was constrained to concur with the Senate amendment, Lagman said.

His son, Representativeelec t E dcel B. L a g ma n Jr., vowed to re-f ile the centenarian bill without the

CDP... from page 8

to Moreno’s candidacy that the political tide of the city began to turn. For the best.

And the votes confirmed it.

Proving once again that “a child is a family’s future.” Or in this case, the political child that is the CDP is the future of Philippine democracy.”

Banks... from page 5

trust funds such as UITFs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that there would be a significant deduction in the amount,” he said.

Tetangco said some may migrate back to regular bank deposits, which banks can use for their lending business.

B e side s t he e x pl ic it restrictions, the BSP also has reduced the rates on its SDAs by a combined 150 basis points since the start of the year, bringing them to a record low of two percent across all tenors.

Medalla said the BSP shou ld put of f f u r t her reduction of rates until such time it sees the impact of earlier cuts.

“Too many changes have happened. There are too many moving parts---maybe we should see [first] what is happening in the system,” he said.

Among the things that monetary authorities must look into are how much money will f ly abroad, how much w i l l go into time deposits, and how much will go into UITFs and other investment channels, he added.

No need to offer new products Un i on B a n k o f t h e Philippines president Victor B. Valdepenas however said there is no need to offer new trust products to clients because “there is not much” to be invested in.

He said retail savers have limited access to investment instruments such as the equity markets and real economic investments such as setting up t heir own businesses.

With tighter access to SDAs, some of these retail savers may return to regular bank deposits, he said.

“Our underlying business remains strong as early gains of our network transformation program is being felt with increased capacity, giving us room to do various product offers and offer customization benefits to subscribers,” Cu said.

Globe’s subscriber base

reached a record high in the first quarter, ending t he period w it h a tota l mobile subscriber base of 35.1 million, a 13% jump f rom a ye a r e a rl ier a s the number of postpaid subscribers grew 21% to 1.9 million, while total prepaid subscribers rose 13% to 33.3

Valdepenas said Union Bank ’s placements in the SDAs are equally divided between the IMAs and trust accounts.

“At the end of the day, the money would still be in the system. It’s just a matter of instrumentation. Will it impact liquidity? No, it has already been there,” he said.

18 percent. It has expanded its remittance outlets in Hong Kong by tying up with convenience stores such as 7-11, Vanguard, VanGo and Circle-K. Remittance beneficiaries generated a daily average deposit balance of P19.8 billion with PNB. This year, the bank has P10.5-billion worth of Tier 2 capital maturing and to refinance this, it will raise P5 bi l l ion t h roug h t he issuance of five-year longterm negotiable certificates of deposits (LTNCDs).

Horacio E. Cebrero III, PNB executive vice president for treasury, said LTNCDs wou ld be at t r ac t ive to depositors who would be shun out of the special deposit accounts (SDAs) as a result of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ restrictions.

PNB has 653 domestic branches, 157 ATMs and has the largest overseas network among local banks at 87 offshore branches, offices and subsidiaries across Asia, Europe, Middle East and North America.

Growth... from page 5

synergies and the recently crafted five-year strategic plan for the merged bank,” Mier told stockholders during PNB’s annual meeting on Monday.

That can be done by growing PNB’s loan portfolio by 18 percent per annum in the next five years, he said, adding t hat prof it could increase by 15 percent annually.

With the improvement in profitability, PNB expects its price-to-book ratio to climb to a range of 1.8-2:1. Only then can the bank entertain any talk of mergers, Mier said.

“PNB’s price-to-book ratio is quite low if you compare that with BPI. If our stock price picks up to P200, then we are more comparable with the other banks,” Mier said.

That said, PNB would remain the fourth biggest bank, he said, since it would be difficult to penetrate the top three ranking as Banco de Oro Unibank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co and BPI are pursuing both organic growth and acquisitions.

To g row it s lend i ng business, PNB will increase its consumer, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a nd gover n ment loa n portfolios. About 70 percent of the bank’s lending is for large corporates, but Mier said it plans to shrink this to 50 percent and expand credit to government to 15 percent of the total.

The bank also plans to expand its lending to SMEs and consumers to 17-18 percent each, tapping the expertise of Allied Bank for the latter.

Although PNB cannot grab the number one spot again in terms of assets, it intends to be the biggest player in the remittance market by cornering a quarter of the pie from its present

Tuition... from page 4

Dr. Z oh r a hayd a h Panawidan, CHED Region 12 assistant director, earlier said the 16 institutions, which were seeking 5- to 10-percent increases in tuition and other fees, have fully complied with the requirements set by the commission by the April 15 deadline.

Three other applications filed by the deadline last March 31 were denied by the regional office due to lack of requirements and for failing to meet the deadlines.

Pa n aw id a n s a id t he requ i rements i nclude consultations with students, parents and other concerned groups about the proposed tuition hikes.

CH ED requ i res t hat 70 percent of the applied i ncrease i n t u it ion a nd other school fees should be allocated to the upgrading of teachers’ a nd school personnel’s benefits, salaries and allowances while the remaining 30 percent should go to improvements in school facilities and equipment.

Panawidan said they carefully evaluated t he applications and

million when compared to prepaid subscriber base at the end of last year’s first quarter. Acquisition of new subscribers reached a record high in the first quarter, with over 7 million new subscribers choosing to be on the Globe network.

He added expectations of continuing growth in the local economy following a recent upgrade of the country’s investment rating

by Standard & Poor’s provide additional boost to optimism in the telecommunications industry. documentary requirements submitted to their office and specifically checked whether they implemented “illegal fees.”

“Colleges or universities found imposing illegal fees are immediately disqualified from applying for tuition fee increase,” she said.

Meantime, Santoceldes cla r i f ied t hat once t he applicants get their final approval from the CHED central office, the increase in tuition and other fees will only be applied to all their incoming first year students.

She those in second year level and above are not covered by the fee increases and will be charged based on their college or university’s old rates.

Region 12 has a total of 92 colleges and universities, 87 of which are owned and operated by private groups, companies and individuals.

Last year, 13 of the 222 colleges and universities nationwide that were granted aut hor it y by CH E D to implement tuition and school fee increases were from the region. (Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews)

OFWs... from page 4

have the right to terminate these contracts,” Baldoz explained.

DOLE chief also cited t h at t he I nt e r n at ion a l Organization for Migration is helping the POLO negotiate with Jordanian authorities to

In the first quarter, mobile revenues reached PHP17.1 billion, a 3% improvement from PHP16.6 billion in the year earlier despite intense competition and subscribers’ continued preference for value offerings.

Revenues f rom its broadband business soared 23% to PHP2 . 5 bi l l ion compa red w it h PHP2 .0 bi l l ion a ye a r e a rl ie r.

Sustained momentum in revenue growth stemmed from sustained demand for nomadic and at-home internet access.

facilitate the exit clearances of the OFWs. Further, an emergency committee has been established by Jordanian aut hor it i e s t o a d d re s s migrant workers’ pleas for repatriation.

T h e P OL O -Jo rd a n’s efforts are in compliance w it h t he DOLE’s policy enunciated by Secretar y Baldoz to reducing, through case settlement, negotiation, and repatriation, the number of OFWs, sheltered at the FWRCs. “Effectively reducing the number of distressed Filipino workers at our FWRCs will enable the Centers to focus on more productive endeavors for distressed HSWs,” she said. (PNA)

ITCZ... from page 4

He also cited more signs that the rainy season is almost here - four PAGASA stations had registered 25mm of rain in one week.

At least f ive stations should register 25 mm of rain in one week to declare the start of the rainy season, he said .

PAGASA also said that light to moderate winds from the southeast to south will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the east to northeast over Mindanao.

The coasta l waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate.

(PNA)

BusinessDaily

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

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

Pushed... from page 1

Rome o Montene g ro, MinDA Investment Relations and Public Affairs director, said that they have already started consultations with relevant government agencies for the establishment of this one-stop-shop for RE projects. “[This will] accelerate pending R E projects in Mindanao,” he said.

Montenegro said that after the enactment of the renewable energ y law in 2008 (R.A. 9513), there were more than 200 applications for various R E projects, particularly mini or small hydro plants, all over the country. But only about 50 of them were approved and given service contracts.

“But none of these 50 have actually been constructed after all these years. We are trying to figure out which of these have encountered bottleneck at what level,” he said.

RE projects investors and proponents have identified many challenges that deter them, despite the law, from implementing their projects.

Foremost of these are “policy bottlenecks at the national level” and “bottlenecks at the local government level.”

Just to get approved, an RE project proponent/investor have “to go through layers” of different government agencies “that will take as much as seven years.”

“That is what we are trying to address with this one-stopshop facilitation because we want to cut down the number of required signatures [to approve an RE project],” he said, adding: “We are not lacking in proposals for RE, there are so much proposals.”

“It is easier to breeze through approval if you develop a coal or diesel projects. But if you apply for renewable energy projects, you have to go through layers of approval that will take as much as seven years,” lamented Montenegro.

Five yea rs si nce t he passage of R.A 9513, the Department of Energy (DoE) have approved fossil projects left and right to the detriment of the RE sector.

“This is very unfortunate.

The stark truth is the RE i s u nable to enjoy t he sa me benef its t hat coa l does since the policy isn’t being implemented a nd the agency mandated to

do it, i.e, DoE, is delaying this and instead making way for the proliferation of coal in the country,” Anna Abad, Greenpeace Southeast Asia climate and energ y campaigner, told the Business Mirror.

Greenpeace has been advocating for an energy revolution scenario for the Philippines, where a massive shif t to R E a nd energ y efficiency measures would wean the country away from the rising costs of fossil fuels.

But five years since the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, RE has yet to be fully harnessed and mainstreamed.

Greenpeace has noted that of the 48 solar energy contracts currently up for review, the DoE has only awarded just one solar energy service contract for predevelopment.

In Green is Gold report released in January, Greenpeace stressed that the Mindanao grid can be R E-powered by as much as 57.16% if measures are quickly implemented, rising to as much as 77.34% by 2020.

MinDA... from page 1

Investment Relations and Public Affairs director for the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Montenegro reminded t he p a r t ic ip a nt s of t he 2nd Mi nda nao Cong ress of t he Advocates for Renewable Energ y a nd Rura l Electrif ication and Development (MinCARED) Congress that the ASEAN Integ rat ion i n 2015 w i l l “mean a drastic increase in the demand for power.”

“Is Mindanao ready to face the opportunity of ASEAN by 2015?” he asked in his keynote address during Monday’s opening program of the 2nd MinCARED Congress.

By 2015, there will be one ASEAN economic community (AEC), he said, which gives the Philippines, especially Mindanao, vast opportunities.

A nd Mi nda nawons must seize these opportunities by building a reliable, affordable and sustainable energy mix ideal for development.

The AEC will be cha r ac ter i z ed by a (A) single market and production base, (B) highly competitive economic region, (C) region of equitable economic development, and (D) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

The AEC areas of cooperation, as identified by the ASEAN website, include but not limited to human

resources development and capacity building; recognition of professional qualifications; closer consu ltat ion on macroeconomic and f i na ncia l pol icies; t rade financing measures; en ha nced i n f ra st r uc t u re and communications connectivity; development of electronic transactions through e-ASEAN; integrating industries across the region to promote regional sourcing; and enhancing private sector involvement for the building of the AEC. “In short, the AEC will transform ASEAN into a region with free movement of goods, services, investment, skilled labour, and freer flow of capital,” the article in its website said.

And for Mindanao, which is the Philippines’ food basket, this economic integration is an opportunity that will further boost the island’s vast potentials for development.

But the so-called Mindanao power crisis will hamper this development.

Thus, the need for the i mplement at ion of t he Mindanao Power Agenda now being strongly pushed by the MinCARED, backed by the MinDA. MinCAR ED chairman S e r g io D a go o c , ge ne r a l ma na ger of t he Sia rgao Electric Cooperative as well as president of the Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperative (AMRECO), said that Mindanao energy players and stakeholders should “not wait” for the government to move to solve the problem of Mindanao. “Instead, let us make our own Mindanao energy plan collectively that w ill be integrated in t he government’s PEP (Philippine Energy Plan).”

“It is [an] essential [part that] we need to approach and define by ourselves the future of Mindanao power,” Montenegro said.

And part of this “approach” is the ideal energy mix that is in favour of renewable energy.

“We need to be aggressive collectively in putting forth an RE roadmap to maintain a healthy mix of energy sources for Mindanao,” he said in an interview.

Villar...

from page 1 EPIRA law considering that the purpose of the law has not been achieved— to lower the cost of electricity.

Reports even cite that the Philippines has the highest cost of electricity in Asia and some parts of our country are experiencing power shortage and outages, according to the wife of outgoing Sen. Manny Villar.

To hasten the creation of more jobs for Filipinos,

Villar also wants to review government’s incentives to businesses particularly to small micro and medium enterprises as well as ta x incentives to labor-intensive industries that generate more employment to Filipinos such as manufacturing, where the Philippines has a competitive edge.

“We are an agricultural cou nt r y a nd majorit y of our people are involved in agriculture-related jobs and businesses. Going around the countr y, farmers and fishermen have sought my help.

So I want to study and review why the implementation of AFMA seems slow,” said Villar.

According to Villar, she will file bills that will really make a direct impact and difference in the lives of Filipinos.

She also said that being a leg islator or a senator is not merely about filing bills or legislation, but also making sure that the laws are implemented effectively.

“I cannot understand why you have legislation that will not have any effect on people.

You make legislation to help people. So you should see to it that these legislations are implemented to help people because I find it useless to have too many legislations and yet no impact to the people,” said Villar. (PNA)

Threat...

from page 1 of export revenues and on which the country’s three million coconut farmers, majorit y of whom are in Mindanao rely.

“A F R I M e x p r e s s e s apprehension on the targeted thousands of hectares of lands to be planted with oil palm [in Mindanao], the Davao City-based think tank said in a statement.

On May 21, the Mindanao D e ve lopme nt Aut hor it y (MinDA) revealed that out of the almost 900,000 hectares of land identified to be suitable for oil palm plantation, 177,000 hectares of it are already under negotiation for palm oil development.

“This calls for a better and stronger participation of our private sector, and more facilitative policies a nd prog r a m s f rom t he gover n ment ’s end ,” sa id M i n DA cha i r Luwa l hat i Antonino.

Under MinDA’s investment program, various businessm atc h i ng s e s sion s were conducted with potential palm oil investors, in partnership with the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which may translate into actual investment projects in a span of two years.

“Severa l internationa l

players in the palm oil industry are actually very interested in the vast lands that Mindanao has to offer, we just have to continue facilitating the actual i mplementat ion of t hese investments,” said Antonino.

AFRIM cited that “in a parallel move, businessman Ma nuel Pa ng i li na n of First Pacif ic Oil Co. Ltd. is considering developing 30,000 hectares of land in Davao Oriental for oil palm production and processing.”

Davao Oriental, which suffered Ty phoon Pablo’s wrath in December 2012, especially the east coast where majority of coconut farmers are, has been the top producer of coconut for years, producing 1,046,224 metric tons last 2011, it added.

Instead of making a new investment plan, AFR IM urged the government to shift its focus on maximizing the potential of the existing coconut industry in the island.

Providing adequate support to coconut fa r mers (i.e. capacity building on planting food crops, product value adding) that they will not rely solely on copra will result to increased income for the benefit of small farmers. Also, recent figures show that the global demand for coconut oil, although fluctuating at times, overall has remained constant.

In the case of the Philippines, however, coconut production has been decreasing for the past five years, AFRIM said.

Citing its years of research on M i nda nao’s oi l pa l m industry, the group stressed t hat a side f rom adverse environmental impacts (i.e. loss of biodiversity, changes in land, forest and water resources), social problems and conflicts can arise within and among communities, especia l ly in a ncest ra l domains, between investors and small farmers “due to onerous contracts that can result to massive debts and land dispossession on the part of the farmers.”

“Fa r mers a re u su a l ly enticed to the short-term financial returns offered by big plantation companies due to limited income sources and economic opportunities in the rural areas,” AFRIM said.

It also said that that the coconut industry has long been neglected in terms of support services, budget allocation and policy support to revitalize this so-called “sunset industry.”

“Diversification of coconut products and not solely relying on coconut oil for exports can ma ximize its market potential,” AFRIM said.

“At the community level, AFRIM knows that this is possible since its coconutproducing partner people’s organization in Davao Oriental has already started to produce

energy drink and wine from coconut,” it added.

AFRIM said that while it welcomes investments to Mindanao’s poor provinces, the government should “bring out the best of the coconut industry.”

It a d d e d t h e P a b l o devastated coconut provinces should not be converted into oi l pa lm pla ntat ions but replanted with new coconut trees and provided seedlings for inter-cropping to revive Mindanao’s coconut industry.

(MindaNews)

Davao... from page 2

include the putting up of training centers to produce b e t ter E ng l i sh-sp e a k i ng agents, better programmers and better customer support personnel.

He said they would want the City to be upgraded to cities considered as Centers of Excellence among the league of Metro Manila, Cebu City and Bacolod.

“Hopefully we can be the center of excellence when they release the list again,” Barriga said.

Davao City’s burgeoning I C T- B P O i n d u s t r y i s employing close to 16,000 workers and by the next year an estimated 3,000 more jobs will be available with the entry of two big call center companies in the city. (PNA)

Loan... from page 2

BPI st ressed t hat a s t r on g p a r t ic ip at ion i n agribusiness development is part of its contribution to the government’s effort aimed at inclusive growth through its BPI Agribusiness Solutions.

BPI said Philippines will be a big player in the livestock industry in Southeast Asia, noting that the country is free of the dreaded food-andmouth disease (FMD) that has been the bane of the cattle raisers in the region. (PNA)

Benefit... from page 2

Other underweight children in the province enrolled in the government’s day care program were also covered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s feeding program, while the government is also regularly providing for the micronutrient supplementation, vitamin A, iron and deworming needs of the children.

The malnutrition rate in the island shows a decreasing trend over the years. It dropped to 7.14 percent in 2012 from the recorded 7.33 percent in 2011.

When you’re in Butuan City, read...

NEWS CARAGA

11

Email: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com, businessweekmindanao@gmail.com • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

BusinessDaily

12

CREDIBLE

RELIABLE

IN-DEPTH

wednesday - may 29, 2013

HANGING ORNAMENTS. A Lumad vendor sells handcrafted hanging ornaments beside a mountain resort in Marilog District bordering the province of Bukidnon and Davao City Sunday May 19.

MindaNews photo by Jasper Llanderal

A step in her shoes:

What Mothers Do To Keep The family Nourished Managi ng the constant juggling act between career, friends, and family takes a lot out of a person. Mothers, in particular, can best relate to this dilemma especially when it comes to putting the time and effort in maintaining the health and wellbeing of their family.

Balancing responsibilities between work and home has been increasingly tough for today’s moms. With many things going on at the same time, it’s hard to keep an eye on the welfare of the family, let alone keep tabs on their daily diet.

Studies have shown that nutrition plays a big part in the proper growth and development of children as well as maintaining the performance of other individuals within the family. Which is why providing healthy meals on a daily basis is one of the more important tasks mothers undertake.

“Once children are healthy, you can expect na madali silang makapag-absorb ng itinuturo sa kanila,” says Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto. “I’m talking about children at the formative age, which means kids aged three to ten years old. Naging adbokasiya ko bilang isang ina at Governor na bigyan prioridad ang kalusugan.”

Governor Vi’s pursuit of good health for her community stems from how she manages the health and wellbeing of her own family as a mother. “I get the inspiration from my own children,” she says. “My first priority is my family. As a mother, I see to it that my children are healthy. And as a mother also to a bigger family for the Province of Batangas, I see to it that the main priority program really concentrates on the health of the province.”

Planning and preparing a consistent and healthy menu is very challenging because of factors like time, budget, food variety, and the different nutritional needs of each member of the family. But by establishing a system that follows the entire process of acquiring ingredients, meal scheduling, and food preparation, managing the family’s health and nutrition can easily be achieved.

A good system starts with a good plan, and when it comes to ensuring quality meals for the family, coming up with the right menu is the first step. Having a list of seven to ten meals is enough to get through weeks without boring the kids with their food options. This makes meal planning easier and also eases the pressure of coming up with new dishes all the time.

Once the menu is all set, the next step would be purchasing the ingredients. This is the most crucial part of the preparation process because nutrition depends on what kind of meat, produce, and staples are in the pantry. Shopping for the right mix of meat, vegetables, and staples like rice, pasta, and bread is the start of a healthy diet.

While variety in foodstuff provides enough nutrition, it doesn’t ensure that the family, children in particular, would get the recommended daily amount of nutrients they should be getting. This is precisely the reason why complimentary food, enriched with different essential nutrients, should be part of a family’s daily diet.

BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink provides mothers with the perfect option possible to ensure that their children get the right amount of nutrients they need. BEAR BRAND Powdered Milk Drink is fortified with Tibay Resistensya nut rients Iron, Zinc, and Vitamin C—elements that help maintain the proper growth and development of children.

“Children need to be healthy, and many of us know that ang isang masustansiyang inumin sa mga bata, para mas maging matibay ang katawan at utak, ay ang paginom ng gatas,” says Governor Vi. “Parents should know that a growing child needs Iron para hindi matamlay ang katawan, at Zinc at Vitamin C para matibay ang kanilang resistensiya laban sa sakit.”

Mothers are always willing to go the extra mile for their husbands and children.

Whether it’s to provide something as serious as emotional support or as simple as a morning meal, mothers will do anything to ensure the health and wellbeing of the family.