BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO (Nov 28-29, 2012)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

NOW

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Market Indicators FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.06

5,579.42 points

X X Briefly 2 cents

27.08 points

Pasalubong center

TAGUM City -- Small and medium enterprise (SME) exhibitors of Produkto DavNor Pasalubong Center are hopeful to gain wider access to markets now that the local product outlet is officially opened.

During the grand opening Monday (Nov. 26) of DavNor Pasalubong Center located at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao del Norte Provincial Office, some SMEs producers were optimistic to have more customers and even expand the product distribution beyond the local market.

About two years in her trade, Tagum Cit y-based Rowena Raymundo producer of Choco Spread, Banana Pancit Canton and Banana Stick Bread, looks at the Pasalubong Center as an avenue of selling more of her products.

Business permits

DAVAO City – The municipal government of San Isidro in Davao Oriental province has been cited by the Regional Office XI of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the leading local government unit (LGU) among the municipalities in the region to have satisfactorily complied with the business permit and licensing system (BPLS) standards.

Sarry L. Kinoc, DTI development specialist and BPLS focal person, said the San Isidro LGU has adopted the standards on trimming down the processing steps, number of signatories and time in the issuance of business permit.

The LGU has reduced the processing steps from four hours to 27 minutes with only one signatory to applicant who had already completed the prerequired documents.

Finance forum

MARAWI City -- Local government executives and representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) from the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur underwent a two-day seminar workshop on planning, budgeting, revenue generation, procurement, debt and accountability.

The event, aimed to enable both LGUs and CSOs to better understand the processes and intricacies of local public finance, was held in Davao City on November 24-25.

“Public finance is not as complex as it appears once stakeholders learn to analyze public finance records, track expenditures and find alternative ways to raise revenues for the LGUs,” retired UP Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

Wednesday-Thursday

November 28-29, 2012

P15.00

Critics slam DOE bias for coal-fired plants

Issue No. 132, Volume III • AS OF 5:57 PM NOV. 26, 2012 (Monday)

Cagayan de Oro City

every Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays

Aboitiz exec claims balanced energy mix needed for Mindanao

By BONG D. FABE, Correspondent

I

(2nd of Three Parts)

NSTEAD of protecting and advancing Mindanao’s competitive advantage by developing more hydropower plants, the Department of Energy (DOE) is showing bias for coal-fired power plants to address the island’s electricity shortfall, a renewable energy advocate said.

Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island group, is blessed with so much natural resources, especially water resources that can be tapped as renewable energy source for cheap electricity in the island.

“But Mindanao’s call for clean hydropower project developments has so far seem to remain unheeded

by the DOE, indicating a partiality towards approving fossil-fuel based coal plants such as the 300 megawatt Aboitiz thermal plant in Davao, the 200 megawatts of Conal Holdings in General Santos, and other coal plants from high-profile developers such as San Miguel and Ayala Group, among others,” said CRITICS/PAGE 9

Primavera Residences marks Home Owners Day on Nov. 30 PRIMAVERA Residences, recognized internationally as one of the best condominium developments in the country today, celebrates Home Owners Day on Friday, Nov. 30.

“Although November 30 is a holiday, our Primavera Sales Office will be open as we celebrate our ‘Home Owners Day,” said Anilyn B. Pajegal, administrative/

HR Manager of ItalPinas Euroasian Design and EcoDevelopment Corporation (ITPI), which designed and owns Primavera Residences.

“The event starts at 10:00AM of the inner courtyard at Primavera Residences Tower 1.”

“Lunch served by Barkadahan Grill, one of Primavera PRIMAVERA/PAGE 9

OFW AND FAMILY SUMMIT 2012: Sen. Manny Villar and Cynthia Villar—Chairman and Managing Director, respectively, of the Villar Foundation— joined by Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, GoNegosyo’s founding trustee Joey Concepcion, Executive Director Ramon Lopez and Dr. Enerico Sampang Jr. representing Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, grace the 2nd OFW and Family Summit 2012 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. advertorial

Record turnout at OFW Summit ON its second year, the OFW and Family Summit of the Villar Foundation and GoNegosyo once again attracted record number of

participants. Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) returnees as well as their families trooped to the World Trade Center in Pasay City for the

one-day summit that aims to provide information, opportunities and inspiration to attendees to embark on SUMMIT/PAGE 9

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

2

Wednesday - Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

Economy

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Supply hubs for furniture raw materials to be set-up nationwide FUR NITUR E industr y players are eyeing to establish supply hubs in commu nit ies nea r raw materials to better meet bu l k orders a nd lower costs.

“We are starting these hubs all over the country that are close to raw material base. Hopefully, it will provide less expensive raw materials for us,” said Nicolaas De Lange,

national president of the Cha mber of Fu rnit u re Industries of the Philippines, Inc. De Lange said the program has been piloted in Gumaca, Quezon which has vast plantations of wood timber.

He said they intend to build more supply hubs in some areas in Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Ilocos, Cagayan de Oro, Davao

and the Visayas region. “ I f w e c a n s e t- u p enough of t hese areas, t hen hop ef u l ly it w i l l help with sustainability of the supply chain. We hop e a l s o it w i l l help create more capacity to the industr y,” he noted.

De La nge sa id t he hubs of semi-processed and raw materials from local sources and other countries should be near

the manufacturing centers.

“I f we c a n u s e ou r factories as an assembly point and finishing point, it can increase our capacities, lower our costs and help the industry in the whole supply chain.

It i s re a l ly a w i n-w i n cycle,” he stressed.

To i m p r o v e p r o d uc t development , De L a nge s a id t he s e c tor

also intends to establish su s t a i n a ble a nd env ironmental friendly raw materials, and enhance innovation strategies to come up with new raw materials the whole year around. “(We hope to) discover entirely new and never been used raw materials a nd create cont i nuous sources,” he said.

Product development

i s a mon g t he s e c tor ’s focus areas to reach sustainable grow t h in t he next few years. Others include marketing, capacity building and advocacy.

De La nge sa id t he successful implementation of these strategies is targeted to double the sector’s export revenues in the next three years f rom t h i s ye a r’s $2 0 0 million sales target.

Davao Norte modern container terminal to open up next year

By BEN D. ARCHE, Correspondent

DAVAO City – The civil works of a P2.7 billion modern container terminal in nearby Panabo City in Davao del Norte are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

T he Aboit i z-ow ned Cebu-based Metaphil has already finished a 95 percent of the project, including the construction of the pier

and other infrastructure facilities.

Engr. Leo M. Tampos, project manager of the San Vicente Terminal and Brokerage Services, Inc. said two big cranes have already arrived to be used in the operation of the terminal.

Training of terminal workers will start early next year for the operations of the

terminal will start in March, Tampos said.

The building of the container yard undertaken by HR Construction will be completed on February.

The project, which sits on the 20-hectare property of the Floirendos is using precast technology, in which the materials are already fitted DAVAO NORTE/PAGE 7

NGO seeks support for Mindanao farmers’ post-harvest facilities

By BEN D. ARCHE Correspondent

0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

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

DAVAO City – The Agricultural Cooperative Development International/ Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDL/

VOCA), an American nongovernment organization has proposed to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend financial support to Mindanao farmers.

Nicolas Richards, NGO’s

chief of party urged the USDA to provide at least US$6 million for setting up of post-harvest facilities for cacao, rice and coconut farmers in Mindanao.

In a reply to the bid, USDA officials told that the final pronouncement on the request will be made known next year.

Phillip Shull, USDA foreign agriculture services counselor said his agency is currently evaluating the proposed projects specifically on which part that should be implemented and be provided with budget on 2013.

According to Richards, they intend to provide postharvest facilities to 15,000 farmers particularly in Regions 9 and 1, which will be an expansion of the existing Cocoa, Coconut and Palayamanan (Cocopal) project in Mindanao.

Cocopal, which will end next year, is a three-year project aiming to improve the production of the identified crops.

The project has really improved the cacao beans production by 20 percent or a total produce of 5,000 metric tons annually, Richards said.

R ichards added that Cocopal project will benefit some 25,000 farmers in Mindanao. It has already covered about 20,000 farmers with the USDA’s $5.4 million earlier funding.

The NGO, aside from Cocopal, is also providing assistance to 2,000 banana farmers who are members of the Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao as part of the NGO’s cacao-banana agri-enterprise development project.

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Motoring

Wednesday - Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

3

Auto industry in BMW sees more growth in China PH goes green KEY players in the automotive parts manufacturing industry in the Philippines have taken a bold step to go green after nine months of intensive planning and execution of in-plant programs to evolve into sustainable enterprises with greener, safer and more productive workplaces.

Eleven companies, mostly members of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), were involved in the first pilot project of the Greener Business Asia in the region jointly undertaken by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the government of Japan.

ECOP was their local partner in the project.

The nine-month intensive program culminated on Thursday with a simple program at the Asian Institute of Management where the ILO acknowledged the strides made by the companies involved.

Participants to the program included: the AGC Automotive Philippines Inc. that manufactures parts for Toyota cars, Daiwa Seiko Philippines, another Toyota supplier, Valerie Products Manufacturing, a truck assembler, Suburba Auto9motive Ventures; Torres Technology Center ,Totech Parts Manufacturing, Tri-R Allied Group, TRP Inc., YTM Components Inc., Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc., and Famous Secret Preci-

sion Machining Inc. Giving an assessment of what the local enterprises that embraced the idea of creating greener manufacturing practices including waste management, the ILO official on top of the project said that those companies did not only make action plans but they executed those plans for measurable results.

The project constituted inhouse training in the factories for both workers and managers that covered a wide range of subjects from environmental management to energy conservation and safety in the workplace.

Greener Business Asia explained that its approach in encouraging the local automotive industry into going green was based on the recognition that worker-employer cooperation is key to effective and lasting positive impact at the enterprise level, there are synergies in an enterprise that call for intergrated approach that goes beyond environmental practices and, ownership of the program by the enterprises themselves.

The ILO which revealed that the Philippine pilot project in the manufacturing sector was the first in the Asian region.

Another project in Thailand covered the hotel industry.

The global overseer of labor standards said that it hopes to replicate the program in other industries in the Philippines in succeeding years. -- Abe Belena,

BEIJING — German carmaker BMW sees continued double-digit sales gains in China next year as the luxury car market there, at 9-10 percent of overall sales, still lags the developed world, where the luxury segment accounts for 15 percent of the total.

T he G er ma n f i r m, which is building a second plant in northeast China to initially double its capacity to 200,000 vehicles, later rising to 300,000, expects to sell 1 million cars in China over the next three years, Duan Jianjun, deputy sales chief at BMW’s venture with the state-owned parent of Hong Kong-listed Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, told Internet portal Sohu.com at the Guangzhou auto show.

Ch i na’s lu x u r y c a r market has lost some of its steam after years of break-neck growth, though demand for high-end cars remains robust as personal wealth grows.

“We have sold 1 million cars in China so far. We will strive to sell another million in the next three years,” Duan said.

BM W ’s C h i n a c a r sales grew 35 percent in January-October from a year earlier, five times the grow th rate of the overall market, and top-

ping Audi’s 31.2 percent and Mercedes-Benz’s 8 percent growth.

Daniel Kirchert, senior vice president at BMW’s China venture, told Sohu. com separately that the venture was preparing to launch a China-only car. He did not elaborate. BMW and Brilliance plan to produce 200,000 4-cylinder, 2-litre petrol engines a year at an engine plant in Shenyang.

Meanwhile, Philippine

sales of BMWs reached a record high in June this year, the local importer a nd distributor of t he luxury car said.

Sales, which reached 106 units last month, were driven by the popularity of its BMW 3 Series, whose sixth generation model was introduced to the local market last May, Asian Carmakers Corp. (ACC) said in a statement.

Record sales also underscored its market share

that reached 41 percent for June, the ACC said, adding that the numbers only mirrored “the global trend that saw the BMW Group posting 8.1 percent increase year on year.”

The 3 Series “continued to be the leader in its segment with an exceptional 43 percent increase in month-on-month sales and a 67 percent increase on its month-to-date sales,” t he company said in a statement.

4

Wednesday - Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

Corporate . World

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Phoenix Petroleum president recognized in CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines President and CEO Dennis Uy, along with other business leaders in the region, was recognized in the prestigious 11th Asia Business Leaders Award (ABLA) by CNBC Asia held recently in Thailand.

Uy, a finalist to the Awards, was one of 44 executives in Asia recognized “for their continuing commitment to excellence, developing best practices and innovative strategies.” The award ceremony was held on November 16, 2012 at t he Sia m Kempinsk i Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

This is the second consecutive year Uy was recognized by ABLA. Uy was also recently a Finalist to the Entrepreneur of the Year 2012

Philippines.

The 11th annual CNBC Asia Business Leaders Awards recognizes leaders who have helped shape the Asian economy and those who will continue to impact the Asia story in the years ahead, said Satpal Brainch, president and managing director of CNBC International.

Business leaders from Thailand, India, South Korea, and Singapore won awards t his year. Dhanin Chearavanont, Chairman & CEO of Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

N Chandrasekaran, CEO & Managing Director of India-based Tata Consultancy Ser vices Ltd in India, won as Asia Business

Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar S. Moreno (2nd from right) led the unveiling of the Fifth State of the Philippine Population Report 5 (SPPR) on Thursday. The ceremonial launching was witnessed by (L-R) Rosalinda D. Marcelino (Popcom Deputy Executive Director), Tomas M. Osias (Popcom Executive Director) and Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro. The new SPPR series explores topics on population, health and environment interrelationships and the experience of the country in integrating the three variables in policies, programs and projects. (JCV-PIA10)

Leader of the Year. The Asia Talent Management Award went to Dr. Lee Suk-Chae, CEO of South Korea-based KT Corporation.

Choo Ch iau Beng , CEO of Keppel Cor porat ion in Singapore, won the Corporate Social Responsibility Award. Recognized as Asia Innovator of the Year was M S Unni k rishna n, Ma naging Director & CEO of Thermax Ltd, an energy and environment engineering company based in India.

Aswin Techajareonvikul, President & CEO of Berli Jucker PCL, was named Thailand Business Leader of the Year.

The A BL A is judged by a n independent panel of world-respected management strategists,

academics, corporate personalities and CNBC’s executives. Judging is t hree-phased, star ting from quantitative company data analysis to select the top performers from across Asia, followed by face-to-face interviews to assess candidates’ leadership qualities to the final phase of selecting the winners for the awards.

Candidates are evaluated based on a combination of criteria including the companies’ financial performance, creativity, innovation and social responsibility and their ability to create short-term advantage, long-term value and competitive edge.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines is t he leading independent oil

Dennis Uy company today with an expanding network of operations nationwide.

It is engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products and lubricants, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, shipping/ logistics and allied services.

Regulators urged to check impact of scam on small financial institutions FINANCIAL regulators wereurged to fully ascertain the possible impact of the P12-billion Aman Futures Group pyramiding scam in Mindanao on small financial institutions in that part of the country.

“We are not overly concerned about any potential effects the scam might have on formal financial institutions. Just the same, we are counting on regulators to be extra watchful,” said Rep. Arnel Ty, a member of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries.

The National Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Fraud Division has yet to establish whether those who pulled off the scam that blew up earlier this month channeled some of the funds to formal financial institutions.

However, based on initial

evidence, investors drawn to the rip-off were issued post-dated bank checks to cover their supposed lucrative interest earnings and returns of principal. However, the checks started bouncing when the scam collapsed.

“We sympathize with the victims of the scam. No effort should be spared in bringing to justice those responsible for defrauding and destroying the lives of thousands of small investors,” said Ty, congressional representative of sales professionals grouped under the LPG Marketers’ Association (LPG-MA).

Ty also supported Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas’s investigation of allegations that a number of local governments may have irregularly invested some public funds in Aman Futures.

This developed as the

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shuttered a five-unit rural bank in Mindanao, adding to the woes of small savers there.

Northern Mindanao’s Siam Bank (A Rural Bank) Inc., which last reported having 5,376 savers with P140.48 million in total deposits, was closed down by the BSP on Nov. 22.

Siam maintained a head office in Cagayan de Oro City and four branches -- one each in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Valencia City, Bukidnon; and in the municipalities of Lugait and Villanueva, both in Misamis Oriental.

The BSP also padlocked the Pasuquin, Ilocos Nortebased Ilocandia Community Bank Inc. the same day. The three-unit lender last reported having 1,533 savers with an aggregate of P39.44-million

in deposits.

The two lenders brought to 19 the number of banks put under receivership this year due to severe liquidity issues and their inability to service withdrawals.

Congress was challenged to create a new financial consumer watchdog to help safeguard the public against future investment scams.

“We may have to put in place an entity patterned after the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which the US established in 2010, in the aftermath of the US financial crisis, which also saw some of America’s biggest investment scams blowing up,” Ty said.

The US Congress established the bureau not only to fight home mortgage-related abuses that brought down the US housing market, but also to discourage scams.

2012 Special Awardee, MOST OUTSTANDING MINDANAO BUSINESS LEADER in Hotel & Restaurant Industry for N. Mindanao Tourism

Experience fine dining and living in the City of Golden Friendship at the Dynasty Court Hotel and Restaurant. One of the city’s premier hotels, it boasts of excellent service coupled with comfort, convenience and style. Inspired from the Chinese dynasties, you can feel the grandeur that was Old China but with the amenities of modern living. Your stay will surely be memorable.

Dynasty Court Hotel and Restaurant offers you a wide variety of choices. From the elegant rooms, ballroom, function rooms, or to the restaurant, you can be assured of a great experience. Business or pleasure, Dynasty Court Hotel and Restaurant provides your need for a comfortable, extra-ordinary visit.

Tech-savvy guests can avail the services and convenience of modern technology with its broadband internet access on the house.

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

Wednesday-Thursday Nov. 28-29, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Co-presented by

LEGACY SALES AND PRINTING PRESS, INC

The

CAGAYANTIMES DE ORO

5

6

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

Opinion

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by BusinessWeek Mindanao Advertising and Promotions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week 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. 2010-5698, TIN No. 946-396-807 – Non VAT. Tel. Nos.: (088)8578447, 74-5380, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424

Website: www.businessweekmindanao.com

E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com DANTE M. SUDARIA Publisher ROSE MARY D. SUDARIA Manager

allan mediante

NELSON CONSTANTINO Editor-in-Chief DOLLY PELONE Advertising

executive Editor

FELIX SANTILLAN RONALD B. MASTAIL Layout Artists

JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDA Uriel C. Quilinguing Editorial Consultants

RIZA O. ARES LIEZL A. DELOSO JOE PALABAO RENE MICHAEL BAÑOS

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

Marketing Consultants Legal Counsels

Doing the Damage THINK a Minute…

This is a true story about a young Jewish boy named Karl who grew up in Germany. Karl’s father was very religious and made sure his family went to the Jewish synagogue and studied the Torah or Jewish bible every day. When Karl was a teenager his family moved to another German town where all the important people were Christians not Jews.

Suddenly, Karl’s father changed religions—not because he learned the truth that Jesus Christ is the only true God, but because he wanted to be popular and liked by the important people in the community. Karl’s family was so surprised and confused. Young Karl especially became deeply disappointed

Speaking out

Member: -Philippine Press Institute -Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) -Misamis Oriental - Cagayan de Oro Association of Publishers (MOCAP), Inc.

Business is a test of love

Hintsandtraces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA DOING business can be a test of love. It actually is.

Remember that parable about a nobleman who went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then return? (cfr Lk 19,11-28) He first called his 10 servants and gave them a gold coin each, instructing them to trade with it until he returns.

The first earned 10 more with the coin given to him. Another earned 5 more. But a third one simply returned the coin without any earning.

The nobleman was very happy with the first two servants and rewarded them very generously. But he was mad at the third one. “Why did you not put my money in a bank,” he asked. “Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.”

The parable can have many interpretations and applications, but one lesson we can derive from it is that we have to make use of everything God has given us: our life, our intelligence and freedom, our rights and duties, our capacity to work, our talents, charisms and other natural endowments.

And we have to make use of them as fully as possible, exhausting their potentials to

the furthest extent possible, but doing this always in accordance to God’s will and designs, and not just ours.

And so, away with idleness, laziness, wasting time, or pursuing business purely on our own terms, with profit and other forms of self-interest as the driving force and God’s plans largely if not completely ignored.

The third servant also had reason why he just kept the coin without trading with it.

“I was afraid of you,” he told his master, “because you are a demanding man. You take up what you did not lay down, and you harvest what you did not plant.”

Like this third servant, we too will always have some excuses not to do what God wants of us, and instead just do our own will. This has to be avoided at all costs.

Of special interest to us now is the role of business in our life. For many, business is just a human affair, pursued for completely human purposes that actually also have their good side.

We have to make sure that this human activity, so important and common, is done with the proper intentions and means.

Business is indispensable in any society. It generates money, employ ment, services, progress and development. It fosters creativity and productivity as it incites entrepreneurial spirit among people. It gives able support to our other concerns—even in our intellectual and spiritual concerns.

It definitely deserves to be promoted and defended.

But it has to be done as an expression of love of God

IGNACIO BUNYE

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

The Bangko Sentral is considered “unique” as a public institution because of its exceptional collection of paintings spanning more than two centuries, accord-

THERE are the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

And there also are the accompanying serious and continuous objections raised against the over-all plan, programs and/or projects of the said economic entities. They may vary in their ideological persuasions but have the same vested interests. There are those who say – with ample reason and evidence – that the Philippine government is sadly on the side of neoliberal capitalism.

Liberation has certain economic advantage. But the Philippines being a “developing” Country – not to mention its long standing title as a “Third World Country” – it has but little economic leverage.

This reality has particular relevance with the International Monetary Fund “IMF”.

CIMAGALA/PAGE 7 It is not only difficult but

and angry at his father for being such a hypocrite. A few years later, Karl went to England to study and there he decided not to believe in God anymore.

You see, that young teenage boy who was deeply disappointed and embittered by his hypocrite father was Karl Marx—the father of atheistic socialism. It was Karl Marx who wrote the Communist Manifesto. So now for almost a hundred years, over a billion people have suffered under the hopeless rule of atheistic socialism which was started by that hurt and bitter young man, Karl Marx.

That’s the terrible damage and influence which resulted from Karl’s hypocrite father.

Our children are watching the way you and I live

every day! Our character and attitudes speak much louder than our words. Our kids aren’t stupid. They see the act we put on to look religious and good in front of other people. Then they see how we really are at home. They see when we’re not honest. They see when we’re two-faced and gossip about others. They see us when we lose our temper and self-control. They see when we won’t forgive someone who hurt and wronged us.

Our kids know whether or not we’re real Christians who live Jesus’ way every day.

But if we are hypocrites, it not only means we ourselves are in danger, it also does great damage to our children’s relationship with God and the kind of people they become

Think a minute

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

as adults. So won’t you ask Jesus to forgive you? Then ask Him to take charge of your heart so He can start helping you change. That’s the only way your kids can learn from you how to follow and become like Christ in their character and lifestyle.

Just think a minute…

Patron of the Arts ing to the Committee on BSP Artwork and Paintings (CBAP).

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

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

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

BSP Painting Collection” and “Tanaw: Catalog of the BSP Painting Collection.”

It was under the term of Tetangco that the BSP’s biennial art competition (“ Ta naw: t he BSP A r t Competition”) and its art acquisition program were launched.

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

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

Fernando Amorsolo leads the pack, with 28 of his paintings now with the BSP. Hernando R. Ocampo comes second, with 27 paintings.

The other National Artists with artworks included

Economics also somehow ridiculous to say that the so-called “First World Countries” are engaged in “leveling the playing field” when dealing with a “developing” country such as the Philippines.

There are at least three signal questions that come to fore: Can it be said with sincerity and candor that the Philippines – by and large engaged in agricultural economy – is treated fairly by developed countries specifically in conjunction with the trading of farm products in general? This is not asking for trading done in heaven but simply looking for equity not only in trading but also in agricultural production as well. The truth of the matter however is that even in the world of business and industry, international politics has a big say.

Has the rather hasty drive towards industrialization and the liberalized entry of foreign capital in this country in fact exacerbated rather than

ease the Philippine economic situation? To answer in the affirmative with honesty and sincerity would either belittle if not deny the OFW phenomenon of long standing. Such an exodus of Filipino workers not only denies national socioeconomic development but also destroys a good number of families.

Does the root cause of the present Philippine economic crisis – all declamations and panaceas respectively said and undertaken by the incumbent administration – go back to the year 1992 when the then government encouraged American dollar borrowings with but much speculative economic advantage? To answer to the contrary would be to deny the stark realty of the progressively lower exchange rate of the Philippine peso – courtesy of the IMF. Thus it is that in the Philippines, there are now not really few and timid voices heard here and there

in the BSP collection are: Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Guillermo Tolentino, Napoleon Abueva, Victoria Edades, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, J. Elizalde Navarro, Ang Kiukok, Jose Joya, Benedicto Cabrera, and Abdulmari Imao.

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

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

BUNYE/PAGE 7

Viewpoints

ARCH. OSCAR V. CRUZ (Ret)

literally shouting the following primary agenda for the economic sa lvations of the Filipinos: Stop paying for the meantime, the enormous debt of the Philippines to the IMF. Engage in local energy production rather than depend mainly on imported oil. And grow as much food as possible in accord with the attributes of the land and environ of the country.

Are these so hard to understand?

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Banking & Finance

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

7

Ayala hoping for BPI-PNB BFS reaches out to Balikatan account merger before yearend holders in GenSan AYALA Corp. hopes to conclude talks on the merger of its banking unit Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) with Lucio C. Tan’s Philippine National Bank (PNB) by the end of the year, an official said on Friday.

“There is no deadline.

Hopefully within the year,” Delfin C. Gonzales, Jr., Ayala Corp.’s chief finance officer, told reporters on Friday when asked when the two parties would wrap up merger discussions.

On Wednesday, BPI and PNB separately told the Philippine Stock Exchange they were talking about a possible merger.

Both listed banks, however, said they would make the “appropriate disclosures” once they “obtain necessary board approvals.”

On Friday, the two banks issued separate disclosures to the stock exchange to correct

Property... from page 12

and other back-office jobs to the Philippines, fuelling sustained growth in demand for office space.

But steady growth in demand from the traditional front office market such as banks, insurance firms, and representative offices is also fuelling the property boom.

CBRE’s Santos saw the Philippines, known as the world’s call centre capital, fast becoming Asia’s back office banking hub.

JP Morgan Chase, HSBC (HSBA.L), Bank of America (BAC.N), Citibank (C.N), ANZ (ANZ.AX), and Deutsche Bank have all transferred critical back office processes to Manila in the last five years, while Wells Fargo is among the more recent newcomers.

Rents are expected to stabilise in coming years as new office space totalling at least 1.3 million sqm become available in 2013 to 2015, according to Jones Lang, with little danger of property bubbles as supply is just keeping up with demand.

Outside Manila, a similar transformation is unfolding, with industrial parks, especially those close to the capital and devoted to manufacturing, drawing more foreign firms than ever before, despite cribs about the high price paid for power.

At least the increase in suppliers has meant the power outages that the Philippines was notorious for in the 1990s are now no more than a bad memory.

“What we are seeing now is the re-emergence of manufacturing, which is really good for the economy because manufacturing employs people that the BPO industry won’t employ,” Lindsay Orr, Jones Lang chief operating officer, said.

Two hours to the south,

news reports that said their boards had already approved the merger.

BPI, in its disclosure said, “[O]ther than the confirmed earlier discussions with the Lucio Tan Group, there is no other matter that would warrant disclosure as there has been no BPI board action

at this point in time.”

“With respect to PNB, please be informed that there has been no such proposal presented to or approved by its Board of Directors since there has been no formal agreement reached among the shareholders of the banks as of this time,” PNB said.

at First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP), in Batangas province, land prices have jumped up to 60 percent from two years ago, while lease and rent rates have climbed a modest 10-15 percent.

B/E Aerospace Iinc, the world’s top supplier of aircraft cabin interiors, opened its first Asian manufacturing plant there last month. Japanese firms led by Canon’s Philippine unit also moved in this year, and FPIP president Hector Dimacali expects revenue to double this year.

“We are seeing big growth that we have never seen in the past,” Dimacali said.— InterAksyon

triennial program that nurtures and promotes artistic excellence by recognizing progressive and innovative art.

(To be continued next week) My book “Central Banking for Every Juan and Maria” is now available at Fully Booked, Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Global City.

You may e-mail us at totingbunye2000@gmail.com.

Bunye... from page 6

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

“It was under the stewardship of Edades that UST became foremost in modern art, while the University of the Philippines remained the bastion of conservative art under Fernando Amorsolo,” the CBAP said.

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

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

At present, the CBAP explained that it has become a

Cimagala... from page 6

and others. It just cannot be reduced to a purely economic or technocratic activity. Rather its technical requirements and goals should be met and pursued as a function of love of God and others.

Because it is done out of love of God and others, we have to learn to view business as a form of prayer and offering to God. We have to learn to do business such that it becomes a living instrument of God’s abiding providence over us. We need to infuse theology into our business, our faith and charity inspiring our numbers and calculations.

It is this love of God and others that purifies the profit motive of business and enlarges it to serve the common good and not just a private interest. It is what considers the welfare of everyone, and pursues to build a culture of social justice.

It is this love of God and others that leads the players and agents to think of initiative, strategies and put up entities that fulfill the real needs of the people, seeing to it that these enjoy a certain stability and consistency so they can serve the people for as long as needed.

It is this love of God and others that encourages an increasingly participative character of business so as to effect greater solidarity in the pursuit of the common

“ T he y a re re v ie w i ng the terms right now, all the terms,” Mr. Gonzales said when asked about the status of the talks. He declined to elaborate.

A merger between BPI and PNB, which is in the process of completing its absorption of Allied Banking Corp., would create the country’s largest bank in terms of assets, supplanting BDO Unibank, Inc. In a separate disclosure on Friday, BDO denied it had made a counter-offer to PNB, correcting a news report that said it did.

“BDO has not made any offer and is not in discussion for any potential transaction with PNB,” it said.

Shares of BPI added 3.11% or P2.80 to finish P92.90 apiece on Friday, sustaining their upward momentum after the bank confirmed the merger talks. good. It discourages elitist or exclusivistic attitudes, as well as monopolies and other unfair and subtle forms of exploitation.

It is this love of God and others that shows a certain special sensitivity for the weak and disadvantaged. It puts life into the much vaunted Church slogan of preferential option for the poor. It also does business that is respectful of the ecology.

We need to examine ourselves regularly, from the personal level up to the global, to see if our business would pass the test of love.

Davao Norte... from page 2

before they are placed on the structure reducing the span of construction works from 18 months to 10 months.

Tampos said the project will help shipping companies in shortening their turn-around time as the trucks that will haul cargoes will have separate entry and exit points.

The terminal could accommodate big vessels or large vessels like the Panamax named after Panama Canal which have beams of 32 meters high, about 1,000 ft. long in length, 100 ft in width and 85 feet in depth, said Anthony Alexander N. Valoria, president of the Anflo Investment and Management Corporation.

Valoria added that the terminal will help in solving the delays experienced by big vessels. An international vessel that suffers a daylong delay has to pay about $12,000 to $22,000 in additional fees.

The facility is also expected to help both local exporters and importers.

PIONEER mortgage servicing company BFS continues to provide ways to reach Balikatan account holders throughout the country.

Si nce a ssu m i ng t he Balikatan portfolio of 52,000 delinquent accounts from the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) in 2005, BFS has been working to resolve these long-standing housing loan obligations.

BFS has regional coverage that relies on field coverage employing a strategy of periodic face-to-face visits conducted by qualified account specialists, bringing the BFS office to its clients, so to speak.

For its Mindanao outreach program, BFS account specialists recently conducted door-to-door visits in General Santos City to discuss resolution programs, pricing, and special offers including its Panalo Max campaign.

Panalo Max is BFS’ most recent offer of affordable settlement pricing to qualified borrowers including 100% waiver of penalties, up to 100% interest condonation, and in some instances, even settlement amounts below principal.

“Conduc t i ng t hese monthly field visits is strategic to us rather than just relying on our physical brickand-mortar presence and online coverage. Our accounts are widely dispersed throughout the country. We go to our borrowers and do not wait for them to come to us. Borrowers, in fact, appreciate this personal interaction at their door steps, because it is an opportunity

Brgy. Council of Barungis in Pikit, in North Cotabato; Biwang Inland Fisherfolks’ Association of Bagumbayan, Mapabangon IA of Palimbang and Kabalikat Women’s Organization of Sen. Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat Province; Bagong Buhay Producers’ Cooperative in General Santos City.

Turn-over of the machines were held last week at the DA-Research Outreach Station sa Bololmala, Tupi, South Cotabato.

S o c c s k s a r gen-A DP O program manager Engr.

Ginalyn Cachuela, explained the recipients underwent thorough evaluation they were granted the postharvest facilities.

At the turn-over ceremony, Tampakan mayor Leonardo Escobillo, in behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked DA for the aid.

These would surely help improve the operations and production of the benefifrom page 8 ciary farmer groups and Agrarian Reform Benefi- cooperatives, the local chief ciaries MPC, Anayo Farm- executive said. ers’s Association of Banisilan,

Farmers...

to ask questions about the status of their individual accounts and clarify options in the comfort of their own homes,” explains Ma. Louella Ilustre, BFS Head of Account Management Department.

“During our visits in General Santos City, we touched base with over 1,000 borrowers and continue to keep in touch with them to find ways to resolve their accounts,” she continues.

In our small way, we are helping make homeowners of these borrowers who would have otherwise never been able to own the properties.

It’s always a happy day at BFS when an account is resolved and we hand over a TCT, she said.

Amabel Serra no, a resident of Gensanville in General Santos City shares, “I availed of Panalo Max because it is a rare opportunity to be given the chance to resolve an outstanding housing loan at a discount.

I’m now on my way to finally owning my house after being delinquent all these years, thanks to BFS.” Panalo Max has been extended up to January 31, 2013 to enable qualified borrowers to avail of the benefits of the program. BFS also took into account the recent calamities which affected thousands of Filipino families, including Balikatan borrowers.

“Since assuming the Balikatan portfolio, we’ve helped more than 25,000 families resolve their housing loans,” shares Ilustre.

“Our outreach programs contributed significantly to pipelining these resolutions for the company.”

Zambo... from page 8

cooperatives in t he bar a n g ay s of C a b a lu ay, Culianan, Talabaan and Vit a l i, he sa id .

Fabia n sa id t he d istribution of the portable post-harvest equipment w i l l be a big boost to the farmers’ production since they can now mill t hei r ha r vested g ra i ns right at the harvest site.

Fa bi a n a d d e d t h a t it w i l l a l so boost t he ef f icienc y i n r ice a nd corn milling operations a nd w i l l be a major boost to ag ricu lture produci ng a reas i n his d ist r ic t .

Fabian’s district covers 61 of t he 98 ba ra ngays which a re located in this city’s east coast.

T he d ist r ibut ion of the post-harvest facility is done i n close coordination with Palacat’s of f ice si nce it is t he l a t t e r w h o i d e nt i f i e s the farmer cooperatives benef icia r ies.

8

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

Agri News

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Taiwan model eyed for banana center

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

restrictions.

Mr. Valoria also pushed the government to negotiate access with New Zealand in exchange for easier access for that country’s dairy products in order to make up for lost opportunities in Australia, which has maintained restrictions on Philippine bananas.

The United States had also been cited as an alternative, but banana exporters promptly shot down this idea, noting that high shipping and storage costs required due to the long voyage involved would automatically put Philippine bananas at a great disadvantage against competitors from Latin America.

Industry data show southern Mindanao’s banana sector produces about $700 million worth of fruits for export annually from roughly 70,000 hectares of commercial plantations.

Davao Region’s banana farming directly supports an estimated 140,000 employees as well as several thousand other workers in allied industries.

16 farmer groups, LGUs receive free farm facilities

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to sign an agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to prepare the country’s rice sector in the vagaries of climate change.

The signing is scheduled this December, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, who will sign the agreement with IRRI director general Robert Zeigler.

Under the agreement, both agencies will work together and renew their commitment toward reducing poverty and hunger, improving the health of both farmer and consumers, and ensure food and environmental

sustainability. Specific areas of cooperation will be on the production and distribution of high-quality and improved rice seeds that are adaptable to climate change.

Both agencies will prioritize the research and development of new and modern farming systems and technologies that would help expand current production areas with consideration to the ill-effects of the changing weather. In addition, best agricultural practices and other support tools will be disseminated, including skills-training for extension and field workers.

The DA and the IRRI will also strengthen alliance with public and private networks

to establish the Philippine rice’s competitiveness against those from the other riceproducing countries.

The DA has consistently collaborated with the rice research facility to address the food needs of the Filipino people and other mutual goals.

By end 2012, the government expects rice production to hit 17.8 million. First semester rice output was 4.5 percent higher to 7.89 million MT from 7.57 million MT in 2011. Production for July-December 2012 may reach 10.08 million MT, 10.7 percent higher than last year’s record of 9.11 million MT. The expected 6 percent

increase in yield may bring about the higher level of production during the second half of 2012.

Based on the rice sufficiency road map, the country will be sufficient in the staple by 2013, producing as much as 21.12 million MT.

The government will be needing as much will be needing as much as P84.2 billion to finance the rice sufficiency program until 2016—P31.11 billion in 2013, P22.73 billion in 2014, P17.54 billion in 2015 and P12.82 billion in 2016.

KORONADAL City -- At least 16 local government units and farmer groups have received free postharvest facilities in line with the Department of Agriculture’s bid to boost food staples selfsufficiency.

Jimmy Oliva, regional technical director for operations of DA 12 said they distributed 10 corn mills and 10 corn shellers from the DA’s AgriPinoy Corn Program and the Soccsksargen-Area Development Program Office (ADPO).

He said, the distribution was an indication of DA’s full support to help achieve the objectives of the Food Staples Self-sufficiency Program (FSSP).

Recipients of corn mills were Brgy. Council of Lambangan in T’boli, South Cotabato; Tampakan LGU; Tinagacan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative; Katangawan Sugarcane Farmers Irrigators’ Association (KASAFIA)- General Santos City; Tomado Free Farmers’ Association (TOFFCO); Ranzo Farmers’ Association (FA) ofCarmen, North Cotabato; Daluga FA of Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat; Kanulay P4MP Asociation of Bagumbayan, SK; Brgy Council of Lamsugod, Surallah, South Cotabato; and MCFRILA of Polomolok town, also in South Cotabato.

Corn shellers were also given to Brgy. Council ng Lambangan in T’boli, Tampakan LGU, and San Jose MPC in Banga, all in South Cotabato; Tinagacan AgrarFARMERS/PAGE 7

SHELLFISH from Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur and Murcialagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Oriental have tested positive for red tidecausing dinoflagellates way beyond the regulatory limit, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) warned Monday.

The Bureau also issued a similar warning for the coastal waters of Bolinao and Anda in Pangasinan, which have also tested positive for red tide.

A high concentration of dinof lagellates results in a toxic harmful algal bloom (HAB) k nown as red tide. And ingestion of shellfish from areas with red tide could lead to paralytic

shellfish poisoning (PSP).

According to t he US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), PSP could lead to “muscle paralysis and respiratory failure…and in these cases death may occur in 2 to 25 hours.”

BFAR advised that all types of shellfish and alamang (shrimp fry) gathered from the areas noted above are not safe for human consumption. However, fish, squid, shrimp and crab are safe, provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

The bureau says that the following areas continue to be toxin-free:

1. the coastal waters of Cavite, Las Piñas, Navotas, Bulacan, Parañaque and Bataan; 2. the coastal waters of Alaminos and Wawa, Bani in Pangasinan; 3. Masinloc Bay in Zambales; 4. the coastal waters of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Juag Lagoon in Matnog and Sorsogon bay in Sorsogon; 5. Honda and Puerto Bays in Puerto Princesa and Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay, Palawan; 6. the coastal waters of Panay, President Roxas, Roxas City, Pilar, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; 7. the coastal waters of E.B. Magalona, Pulupna-

dan, Valladolid, Pontevedra, Talisay City, Silay City, Bacolod City, Hinigiran, Cadiz, Victorias City, Bago City, Binalbagan and San Enrique in Negros Occidental; 8. Irong-Irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; 9. Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; 10 Ormoc, San Pedro, Cancabato, and Carigara Bays in Leyte; 11. the waters surrounding Biliran province; 12. Hinatuan, Bislig and Lianga Bays in Surigao del Sur; 13. Ba lite Bay, Mati Davao Oriental; and 14. Taguinis Lagoon in Benoni Mahinog, Camiguin Island.

ZAMBOANGA City -- Second district Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian in coordination with the Office of the City Agriculture is set to distribute portable combined rice and corn mills next week to farmer cooperatives in three barangays of this southern port city.

City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the distribution of the portable post-harvest equipment is in line with Fabian’s program to boost agricultural production with the aim of improving the food supply situation in this city.

Fabian’s agricultural productivity program dovetails with that of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secre-

tary Proceso Alcala’s aim of achieving grains self-sufficiency by the end of 2013, Palacat said.

Among those lined up to receive the portable combined rice and corn mills are the farmer cooperatives in the barangays of Buenavista, Latuan and Manicahan, according to Palacat.

The three portable combined rice and corn mills to be distributed next week are part of the 10 units post harvest equipment acquired through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Fabian, according to Palacat.

Four of the post-harvest equipment were already distributed earlier to the farmer ZAMBO/PAGE 7

DAVAO City -- The local banana industry has identified the Taiwan Banana Research Institute as a possible model for a similar facility planned in the country, a leader of the sector said in a recent interview.

A team that includes Rep. Anton F. Lagdameo of the 2nd district of Davao del Norte is set to visit Taiwan to be briefed on the institute’s operations, said Stephen A. Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA).

Mr. Lagdameo, grandson of banana plantation pioneer Antonio O. Floirendo, has sponsored a bill at the House of Representatives that seeks to create a similar center in the Philippines.

“There might be similarities in the diseases that aff lict their banana farms and ours,” Mr. Antig said, citing as an example the Fusarium Wilt fungal disease which has devastated farms

in Davao Region.

Some ba na na fa rms, mostly of independent growers, in the Davao Region have suffered extensive damage from Fusarium Wilt.

Black Sigatoka, another fungal disease, had also ravaged farms before Fusarium Wilt’s current onslaught.

The center will not only detect new diseases but also develop protocols, or stan-

dards, that will help the industry observe higher standards and, in turn, attract more buyers abroad.

New markets, Mr. Antig said, are necessary for the industry to grow especially since China, a major buyer, has continued to restrict entry of local bananas.

Such rest rict ion had been widely blamed on the regional giant’s simmering

territorial spat with the Philippines in parts of the South China Sea, although China has insisted that it tightened inspection procedures only after it detected last summer diseases among Philippine banana shipments.

Alexander N. Valoria, PBGEA president, cited Japan and South Korea as markets that can accommodate supply displaced by China’s

DA, IRRI to ink rice sufficiency pact in December

solon distributes Red tide warning issued for Zambo post-harvest equipment Mindanao, Pangasinan areas to farmer cooperatives

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Critics... from page 1

Greenergy Development Inc president Cerael C. Donggay.

A former National Power Corp vice president for Mindanao, Donggay said Greenergy and the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative initiated the P33 billion 300-MW Pulangi 5 Hydropower Project in 2008. It is located 40 kilometers downstream from the existing 255-MW Pulangi 4 in the southern part of Bukidnon covering the municipalities of Kitaotao, Dangcagan, Kibawe and Damulog. Its dam will be located in the municipality of President Roxas, North Cotabato.

State-owned Napocor proposed Pulangi 5 in 1991, but deferred implementation because of a power crisis and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. The company gave up on the project in 2001 with the passage of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).

In June 2011, the Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee of the Regional Development Council-X (RDC-10) endorsed the Pulangi 5 after finding it financially viable.

Greenergy and the Northern Mindanao Electric Cooperatives Association, which has as members 8 electric cooperatives in the region, initiated the 132-MW Bulanog-Batang Hydropower Project in 2005, also in Bukidnon.

Localize power generation These two projects are “moves to localize and make independent Mindanao’s generation of power,” said Donggay.

Hydroelectric power is a renewable energy, along with biomass, solar, wind and tidal because they are “naturally occurring inexhaustible sources of

energy,” he said.

But instead of developing clean renewable energy sources, the DOE instead prioritized the development of coal-fired power plants as solution to the Mindanao power crisis, he said.

In its Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2009-2030, the DOE gives priority to fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. Number one in the PEP 2009-2030’s policy thrust of energy security is to “accelerate the exploration and development of oil, gas and coal resources,” ahead of the “development and utilization of renewable and environment-friendly alternative energy resources/technologies.”

Many are opposing coal as source of energy because it is dirty and its ash fall toxic to the environment and human health.

Opposition has grown amid calamities spawned by global warming and climate change, to which coal contributes.

Energy sector experts are unanimous that Mindanao needs new power generation plants not only because of its aging workhorses - the Agus and Pulangi hydropower complexes in Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon provinces, respectively - but also because energy demand is increasing.

But clean renewable energy advocates point out that Mindanao has no need for expensive and dirty fossil fuel-based power plants because the island has vast renewable energy reserves with over a thousand megawatts from hydro, 400 megawatts from wind and the still unexplored potential of solar power.

They demand that DOE and the government help Mindanao protect its competitive advantage by tapping these vast reserves of renewable energy.

“Cheap hydropower remains

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 10th Judicial Region BRANCH 42 Medina, Misamis Oriental oOo IN RE: PETITION FOR LETTERS OF SP. PROC. CASE NO. 311-M ADMINISTRATION OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE OF THE LATE MARLON ANTHONY PANLILIO BAYHON, PEREGRINO BABIA BAYHON, Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------/ NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF THE INTESTATE ESTATE OF THE LATE MARLON ANTHONY PANLILIO BAYHON Letters of Joint Administration having been issued in the aboveentitled case in favor of PEREGRINO BABIA BAYHON and MAILA LIZA BAYHON BALABA. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that notice be, and the same is hereby given, requiring all persons having claims for money against decedent, MARLON ANTHONY PANLILIO BAYHON arising from contracts, express or implied, whether the same be due, not due, or contingent, for funeral expenses and expenses of the last sickness of the said decedent, and judgment for money against him, to file said claims with the undersigned at the REGIONAL TRIAL COURT - BRANCH 42, MEDINA, MISAMIS ORIENTAL on or before May 31, 2013, serving a copy of the claim to the appointed Joint Administrator at their address at Tup-on, Medina, Misamis Oriental.

SO ORDERED. Medina, Misamis Oriental, October 18, 2012.

(Sgd.) RAMONITO O. L. SALISE

Acting Branch Clerk of Court BWM: Nov. 21, 28 & Dec. 5, 2012

key to Mindanao’s development strategy as this remains our competitive advantage,” Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino, chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority, said during the Mindanao Power Summit held April 13 in Davao City.

Balanced energy mix However, various scenarios point to a balanced energy mix in Mindanao in order for the island to remain competitive as well as ensure reliability of supply and build a sustainable solution to its power crisis, said Manuel M. Orig, Aboitiz Power Corp first vice president for Mindanao affairs, during a presentation in the Davao Investment Conference held on November 17.

“We should pursue as much renewable energy sources as possible as long as it will not prohibitively expensive to consumers,” Orig said.

“At the same time, we must realize that renewable energy will not be enough to fill the present shortfall. So we must also utilize non-renewable power sources that use modern technology to ensure there are no adverse effects to the environment.”

Aboitiz Power, which is building a coal-fired power plant in Davao, said coal is not its only solution to the Mindanao power crisis.

Aside from coal-fired power plants, Aboitiz Power, through its unit Hydro Electric Development Corp (Hedcor), is building the P1.8 billion 7-MW Tudaya Hydropower Plant 2 in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. It is located downstream from Hedcor’s existing Sibulan Hydropower Plant B. Hedcor is also awaiting the go-signal for the construction of the 13-MW Tamugan Hydropower plant. It also has in the pipeline the construction of the 28.2-MW run-of-river hydroelectric projects that will harness Sita and Simod rivers in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

“Aboitiz Power believes in hydro. That is why Hedcor is building left and right. But Mindanao needs a balanced source of energy. We cannot be dependent on just one source. If we go all coal, we are dependent on world coal prices. If we go all diesel, it may be too expensive. If we go all hydro, we will be dependent on weather conditions. By balancing our sources, we get the security/

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte In re:

PETITION FOR CHANGE OF LAST SPL. PROC. NO. 272-07-2012 NAME IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF ORLANDO BUHISAN UNDER THE SPACE “NAME OF CHILD” WHICH HAS BEEN REGISTERED AS ORLANDO BUHISAN SOILO INSTEAD OF ORLANDO BUHISAN ZUELO UNDER THE SPACE “NAME OF FATHER” WHICH HAS BEEN REGISTERED AS FORTUNATO VALIOS SUELO INSTEAD OF FORTUNATO VALIOS ZUELO, UNDER THE SPACE “DATE OF BIRTH” WHICH HAS BEEN ENTERED AS SEPTEMBER 19, 1965 INSTEAD OF SEPTEMBER 19, 1963.

ORLANDO BUHISAN ZUELO, Petitioner.

- versus THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF SIQUIJOR, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Respondent.

X - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/ ORDER

A verified petition for Change of Name in the Certificate of Live Birth was filed before this Court on September 5, 2012 by the herein petitioner praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the Respondent to effect the change of his name in his Certificate of Live Birth.

Petitioner alleges that he is of legal age, married, and resident of Pualas, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines. Respondent is sued in his/her official capacity. Petitioner is the son of spouses FORTUNATO VALIOS ZUELO and MARTINA BUHISAN ZUELO who was born on September 19, 1963 at Tongo, Siquijor, Negros Oriental. That his birth was registered at the Respondent’s office, however, his “last name” was erroneously entered as SOILO instead of ZUELO. In the same Certificate of Live Birth under the space “Name of Father” the “last name” of his father was also entered as SUELO instead of ZUELO and his ‘date of birth’ was entered as September 19, 1965 instead of September 19, 1963. That the “last name’ of petitioner is ZUELO and that he was truly born on September 19, 1963 as evidenced by his Philippine National Police Identification Card bearing the name SPOI ORLANDO BUHISAN ZUELO and PSSLAI Membership Card. That there is a need to correct and change the entries in the Certificate of Live Birth under the space “date of birth”, his “last name” and the “last name” of father as found in his Certificate of Live Birth to avoid confusion and to confirm to his true date of birth, his last name, and the last name of his father. He has never been charged neither convicted of any offenses or infraction of laws.

That the sole purpose of filing the instant petition is to correct his birth record to conform to the true and correct “last name”, the “last name” of his father and his “date of birth”, and not to conceal any identity neither to evade any obligation from any person or entity.

Set the initial hearing of the case to January 13, 2013 at 8:30 in the morning before the sala of this Court. Any persons/s interested to the petition may come to Court on said date and time to show cause why said petition should not be granted. Furnish copy of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General at Makati City, Office of the Public Prosecutor in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, office of the Local Civil Registrar of Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Atty.

Florendo B. Opay, counsel for the petitioner, and to the petitioner, Orlando B. Zuelo whose address is at Pualas, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. Petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of the Order at Business Week Mindanao, a newspaper of general circulation for three (3) consecutive weeks, at his expense.

So Ordered.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

November 19, 2012.

(Sgd.) WENIDA M. PAPANDAYAN

Designate Presiding Judge BWM: Nov. 21, 28 & Dec. 5, 2012

reliability of coal and the pricing advantage of hydro. We get the best of both worlds,” said an Aboitiz Power official who sought anonymity.

“We have said over and over again that coal will never replace hydro. Hydro will still be the bread and butter power source of Mindanao. We just need to widen our fossil-based baseload portfolio so Mindanao will not be in the dark during summer months when power consumption goes up,” the source added.

Orig said only non-renewable energy sources like coal can fill the supply shortfall in Mindanao, while keeping the prices competitive for consumers and businesses.

As of November 19, Mindanao was short of 420 MW. The shortage is projected to increase to 484 MW by 2014, enough to cut power entirely from the cities of Davao, General Santos, Butuan, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. Orig said Aboitiz Power hopes the early completion of its coal and hydropower plants by early 2015 will help solve Mindanao’s crisis.

Primavera... from page 1

Residences commercial unit owners, follows at 12:30 pm at the Multi-Purpose Hall, 2nd f loor of the building.

We will have games, prizes and whole lot of fun for the entire family throughout the day,” she added.

Italpinas is also hoping to launch its Model Unit 910 on the same date. This is a joint undertaking of the company with service providers ACVargas Builders, Giardinni del Sole, Wellkraft, Moderner Sonnen, Alternative Global and Solidmark.

“We wish to give our unit owners the option of choosing an ‘Italian Ambience” to their units with select appointments provided by our partner service providers,” said Architect Romolo V. Nati, Italpinas Chairman and CEO. “This would be the perfect complement to their Italian designed unit with Italian interior design, furniture and fixtures.”

For further inquiries, please call (88) 310-8173 or mobile 0917-792-1078 or email gladys@italpinas.com or visit www.primaveraresidences.com.

Summit... from page 1

a business of their own.

Senator Ma nny Vi llar and Cynthia Villar— Chairman and Managing Director, respectively, of the Villar Foundation— joined by Las Piñas Cong.

Mark Villar, GoNegosyo’s founding trustee Joey Concepcion, Executive Director Ramon Lopez and Dr. Enerico Sampang Jr. led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Concepcion and Mrs. Villar led the lineup of

9

speakers and resource persons. The Former Las Pinas Representative emphasized the important role and contribution of OFWs in the country in her speech as she encouraged OFWs and their beneficiaries to handle their salaries and the remittance they receive.

“Gu s to n a m i n m aunawaan at tandaan ng ating mga OFWs at ng kanilang mga pamilya: ang pagiging masinop ay mahalaga upang hindi masayang ang pinagpaguran ninyo o ng inyong mga mahal sa buhay. Ang maganda sana ay kung inyong mapalago ang a nu ma ng k ini k ita mu la sa paghahanap-buhay sa ibang bansa [We want to remi nd OF Ws a nd help their families understand that handling their finances or salaries well is very important, so whatever they have worked hard for will not go to waste. It is even better if they can make their earnings from abroad grow through proper investment such as venturing into a business of their own,” cited Villar. “ Ta g u mp ay For u m”, which delves on the challenges a nd t riu mphs by OF Ws t u rned ent repreneurs, who have persevered, passionately believing they can succeed, was among the highlights of the event.

For mer OF Ws M i k e Casas, Annie Sitjar a nd Cherry Yack shared their experiences and the challenges they faced before becoming successful in their chosen businesses. Casas has embarked on bottled sardines while Sitjar and Yack ventured into a poultry business.

“Starting small, they’re now making good money while enjoy ing life with their loved ones in the country. And so, there’s no need for them to work abroad, and this is what the Villar Foundation together with GoNegosyo have been espousing, giving our OFWs and their families an option to earn a liv ing,” noted Villar.

She said the Villar Foundation and GoNegosyo will be behind them in their endeavour and struggle.

“We will help you to make it happen. We are committed to help you start it off,” assured Villar.

Henry Tenedero talked about entrepreneurial mindset dubbed as “ Ta ma ng Pananaw Para sa Negosyong Hataw”. Iv y Hayagan of Tindahan ni Aling Puring and Willing Camarillo of SUMMIT/PAGE 11

10

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

Lifestyle

LIFESTYLE page 10

Now Open: Xavier days

XU invites public to Xavier Days 2012

By LORENZE IBAÑEZ Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan is opening its gates to the public from Nov 29 to Dec 1 for the annual Xavier Festival Days celebration. having its annual Xavier Festival Days with the Theme Xavier Engage – Reinforcing Resilience.

This year’s Xavier Days is a call to social action. The fourday event festivities highlight the outstanding resilience of the Kagay-anon spirit and Xavier’s own advocacy on environmental protection and conservation. It is also a challenge for everyone to stand up and engage for the good of society, especially for the care of Mother Nature.

In remembrance of last year’s Sendong, the Xavier Engage Festival Night on opening night will be dedicated to the survivors. The I Move Concert happening right after will celebrate the faith and oneness shown by Kagayanons and people from across the country and the world in helping their fellow citizens.

Lanterns will be flown bearing messages of hope and resilience.

Apart from the Presentations, Events and Competitions, this year’s Xavier Engage calls for Social Action, with the Filipino trait of resiliency, everyone is thereby challenged to Stand up and Engage for the good of Society especially for the care of Mother Nature. Also, this year is the International Year

of Faith, where we are called to renew our spirit and deepen our relationship with the Lord, to live out every moment in faith, hope and love.

A salient feature of this year’s Xavier Days is the use of energy-saving LED light series and Compact Fluorescent Lights to decorate and light up the campus.

There will also be a Bike Caravan in the morning of Nov 29. The XU community will go around downtown CdeO on their bikes, trikes and rollerblades to promote the ecological benefits of using non-motorized transportation.

Other must-see events include performances from the different colleges and units, game shows, walk-in movies, ball games, theatrical plays, fireworks display and many other fun activities for family and friends.

A complete schedule of activities is posted on the XU Festival Days Facebook page.

Starts November 28th and will last until December 1st This year’s XUFD pays tribute to the Survivors of last year’s devastating Typhoon Sendong and the outstanding resiliency of the Kagay-anon Spirit.

This year’s theme is Xavier Engage: Reinforcing Resiliency remembering the tragedy that brought Cagayan de Oro to its knees and the year started with destruction, loss and trauma. Yet the nation banded together, in cooperation with different

groups especially Xavier University’s Tabang Sendong, the City showed to the nation and to the world how fast we rise up from the damage that Sendong brought to Cagayan de Oro. For 2012, Xavier Days alludes to water; the element we all could agree has been very significant recently. It showed us that it can take as much as it can give. But it also showed us how inextricably linked we all are – humans, plants, and animals, from the ridge to the river to the reef.

Apart from the Presentations, Events and Competitions, this year’s Xavier Engage calls for Social Action, with the Filipino trait of resiliency, everyone is thereby challenged to Stand up and Engage for the good of Society especially for the care of Mother Nature. Also, this year is the International Year of Faith, where we are called to renew our spirit and deepen our relationship with the Lord, to live out every moment in faith, hope and love.

The 4-day Event is a chance to witness the School’s showcase of talents, performances from the different Colleges and Other Units. Also, Must-go Walk-in-Movies, theatrical plays, Friendly Ball games, Competitions and other the Expositions such as academic exhibits, a plethora food and apparel stalls, and the classic crowd-gathering horror house await the XUFD goers.

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Talk N’ Text taps Liceo, MUST for SineGaling

By CHRISTINE H. CABIASA

T

o complement their campaign on hastening students’ skills on film making and film production in Northern Mindanao, Talk N’ Text tapped Liceo de Cagayan University and Mindanao University of Science and Technology as one of their partner schools for SineGaling thru an orientation seminar at AVR 3, Liceo U on November 16.

According to Bong Agustin, renowned director, SineGaling is a storyline, scriptwriting, short film production boot popularity in selected Talk N’ Text partner schools nationwide with aims to teach students the process of short film production and cultivate young talents in the field of film production through coaching from experienced professionals.

“Ang gagawin dito ay mentoring, in which we as mentors will share our ideas

na dala ng mga experiences namin sa field. Ngayon pa lang masimulan niyo na dito, malay niyo dito kayo madiscover at maging sikat”, Agustin expressed.

SineGaling is a project of TVJuan in which they maximize and hone students’ talents on film making, directing, and the art of acting also through mentorship programs. “That’s why we wanna set up it here because we want to share it to you”, Agustin added.

“Malay niyo ito na ang big break niyo diba at masasabayan niyo ang mga bigating artista sa industriya”, TJ Valderama, a product of TVJuan said.

For more information about the mechanics for SineGaling, visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/ tvjuansinegaling or visit Liceo U and MUST.

Thrive CDO FINDS NEW FRIENDS

Neighborhood Caroling, is it gone?

By DEBBIE CABAGUE

A

lthough I grew up in a private subdivision in the city, I still had the best Christmas seasons way back my younger years.

Every after past of December 16, together with my playmates we roam around the subdivision to make “caroling” on every house.

If I’m not mistaken there were more than five of us who did that to save up for our kids Christmas party in our block.

We would sing two – three songs from “Kasadya ning taknaa” – “We wish you a Merry Christmas”.

We enjoyed those days just singing our hearts out without even thoroughly understanding the lyrics of those songs we sang.

As I have observed the recent Christmas seasons, carolers are becoming less and less, more adults from other places are now singing, no longer kids in the neighborhood.

It makes me sad realizing the reality that technology has gone way too far in our lives, especially with kids.

I know for a fact that these kids are in internet cafés or facing their own laptops,

iPads, etc. gaming.

For this they do not only miss the fun but more importantly growing healthy socially.

In my wonder, if kids of today’s generation know about neighborhood Christmas caroling I found out that only few experienced it and my observation is right, they’re just too hooked up with online gaming.

Good for those who were able to do it, as feedback it’s one of the most unforgettable time during Christmas season because it’s fun singing with friends and to be ran after dogs is more fun due to adrenaline rush.

When I asked my batch mates, majority said the same thing, doing neighborhood Christmas caroling is natural fun and it’s memorable because of the presence of dear friends and unexpected experiences that made an impact to their lives.

Neighborhood Christmas caroling is not totally gone, somehow it’s covered up with superficial social activities.

It’s not only the kids that has gone crazy to this “techie world” we are living in, also

us the adults, remember they copy what they see in us.

Though we adults do not engaged into neighborhood Christmas caroling anymore somehow we should be able to impart our natural ways of enjoying each other’s presence and influencing them to more healthy social activities.

May I suggest for the local communities especially to the teens to organize “Christmas Caroling” within in your village/ subdivision wherein you will go around the community to sing, whether the home owners will give cash or goodies that will be fine, what’s important is the experience.

By doing this am sure it will be enjoyable for all plus the new generation will appreciate natural social activities rather than just doing Facebook most of the time.

So to all youngsters and feeling young people out there, time to close your laptops, spend time with your friends and love ones in the natural way. Happy neighborhood Christmas Caroling!

Atty. Sam Tan

E

stablished less than a year ago, Thrive CDO, a non-stock, non-profit organization aimed to raise awareness against breast cancer has had an increasing number of supporters all over the city.

From ordinary citizens to society bigwigs, Thrive CDO has found an ally.

One of the newfound friends of the advocacy group came in the form of a Doctor and a Lawyer, two seemingly distinct personalities working in two polar opposite worlds have found each other to work on one goal – to help raise funds to sustain the programs of Thrive CDO. Dr. Mavy De Leon, a fashion designer and resident doctor

http://www.businessweekmindanao.com/ | Advertising: 09177121424 |

Dr. Mavy De Leon of Sabal Hospital and Atty. Sam Tan, a lawyer, social figure and entrepreneur teamed up to perform in a night of music and laughter in a one night only engagement dubbed as Doctoring the Law at the Rodelsa Hall this coming December 15, 2012, 7:30 in the evening.

The duo together with other artists in Cagayan de Oro formed Friends of Thrive CDO, a support group to the organization that promises to mount events and programs geared in helping Thrive CDO become sustainable.

Heading the club is CDO Fashion Designer Benjie S. Manuel with members, Theater Director and artist Owen Jaen; writer and artist Arlyn Baqui; singer

and voice coach Kirt David Mercado and performing artist Ian Nuer.

They are hoping to gather more people to help them in this worthwhile cause and band together to fight the big C. Doctoring the Law, the comedy musical is the first of a series of ventures of Friends of Thrive CDO. The show is directed

by Owen Jaen and is written by Arlyn Baqui with special performances by Kirt David Mercado and Ian Nuer.

There are no tickets to the show but a minimum donation of P300 is appreciated.

To reserve a seat or to know more about the concert, please call Ms. Alma at 09178238500.

http://www.facebook.com/BusinessWeek.Mindanao

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

Congress watch

Bicameral conference committee finalizes Kasambahay Bill THE Congressional bicameral conference committee reconciled conflicting provisions of the Senate and House versions of the Kasambahay Bill, bringing the measure a step closer to being enacted into law.

“We are hopeful that this landmark piece of legislation for two million kasambahay can be signed into law by President Aquino before the year ends. This would be a perfect Christmas present to our hardworking helpers,” said Aurora Rep. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, one of the authors of House Bill No. 6144 or the Domestic Workers Act. Members of the bicameral meeting agreed to set the minimum wage of domestic workers at no less than P2,500 a month for those employed in the National Capital Region; P2,000 a month for those employed in chartered cities and first class municipalities; and P1,500 a month for those employed in other municipalities.

After one year from its effectivity, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards are mandated to review and adjust the minimum wage rates of domestic workers as needed.

Aside from pay standardization, domestic workers will be entitled to other socia l benef its provided under existing laws. They would become members of Social Security System, Philhealth, and Pag-Ibig Fund.

Premium payments will be shouldered by employers if the helpers receive a monthly salary below P5,000.

If salary is P5,000 and above, payment of SSS and Pag-ibig contributions will be shared by both the employer and helper, while Philhealth premiums will

still be paid in full by the employer. The reconciled bill also entitles domestic workers who have rendered at least one year of service an annual service incentive leave of five days with pay, as well as 13th month pay.

Furthermore, employers are prohibited from placing their helpers under debt bondage, as well as from hiring minors below 15 years. They must also allow their helpers to finish basic education and access higher education, technical and vocational training, or other alternative learning systems.

“We’ve agreed that employers should adjust the work schedule of the domestic worker to allow such access to education or training without hampering the services required by the employer,” noted Angara, Chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education. “This is a great way of opening up opportunities for helpers to finish schooling and explore other employment options,” he said.

Meanwhile, all labor-related disputes will be elevated to the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment, while ordinary crimes or offenses would be

filed with regular courts.

“This measure sends a strong message to employers: helpers have rights and they have recourse against abuse. Employers should think twice about maltreating their kasambahay,” Angara emphasized.

Apa r t f rom A nga ra , House conferees of the bicam committee were Northern Samar Rep. Emil Ong, Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment; Cagayan Province Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr.; Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez; Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello; Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo; Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin; Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman; and Zambales Rep. Ma. Milgaros Magsaysay.

Meanwhile, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla Jr., and Lito Lapid were the members of the Senate panel.

The legislators are looking forward to ratifying the reconciled version of the Senate and House Kasambahay Bills within this week or early next week, and forward the Congress-approved copy to Malacanang for the President’s signature.

Wednesday-Thursday Nov. 28-29, 2012

Summit... from page 9

Fi nd s C onven ience tackled spotting busine s s opp or t u n it ie s u nd er t he t heme “ Maghanap ng Negosyong Hot na Hot.” Dea n Pa x L apid and R ichie Cuna d iscussed f i na ncia l literacy and how to start a business. Raju

Ma nd hya n of Vista Land and Terso Sahilan of Tech Pacific Col lege discussed “Skills Up”. Speakers from other exhibitors a nd sponsors, such as Avon and Fern-C (food supplement), discussed other earning opportunities in dea lership or d istributorship.

11

Lucky participants also won raff le prizes i n c lu d i n g a h o u s e and lot from Camella Homes, motorcycles from Motortrade, sar i-s a r i s tore s f rom Puregold and Finds Convenience Store, Kettle Corn machines from RFM Corp. and dea lership k it from Fern-C.

WANTED: Marketing Executives

Qualifications: Female between 20-35 years old, with aggressive marketing and inter-personal skills preferably with pleasing personality, willing to be trained and can work under pressure, must be a college graduate, preferably of marketing or communications related courses.

Experience in sales and marketing is an advantage. Fresh graduates are encouraged to apply.

For interested applicants, submit your updated resume and application letter to:

THE PUBLISHER BusinessWeek Mindanao Advertising & Promotions, Door 3, Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa St., Cagayan de Oro City (near UCCP Church, going to Consolacion).

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

For inquiries, please contact

0917-716-6124 look for Dolly.

BusinessWeek Mindanao

MEDIA CENTER NOW accepts Political and Business Press Conferences with assured publications on four newspapers

Mindanao STAR Inadlaw’ng Kasayuran ug Kalingawan sa Masa

BALITA

“WE GROW MINDS”

Mindanao STAR Inadlaw’ng Kasayuran ug Kalingawan sa Masa

http://www.businessweekmindanao.com/ | Advertising: 09177121424 |

BALITA

http://www.facebook.com/BusinessWeek.Mindanao

12

Wednesday-Thursday I Nov. 28-29, 2012

Property

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER

www.businessweekmindanao.com

RISING IN MANILA:

Property and investor confidence MANILA’S changing skyline demonstrates a city com- Tower is just one of several tower blocks under construcing up in the world. tion. As his own workers The capital of the Phil- mid-1990s, building only got carried in sleek aluminium ippines is in the throes of a underway in earnest during rails, Reyes said the state of property boom described the last six years after Ayala the market was obvious to as the best in two decades, Land Inc took ownership. anyone who looked up.

“There are so many tower ref lecting the increasing Under the Spanish-Filipino confidence in an economy business clan that runs Ayala, cranes, a good indicator that only recently began construction is now going of the construction boom right now.” shedding its image as one at full tilt.

Located near Makati, of the region’s basket cases.

“Work here is 24 hours,” Nowhere is it more obvi- said Renel Reyes, an engi- the main business district ous than at Bonifacio Global neer and property manager that grew up in the 1970s, City, a commercial and resi- overseeing a 30-storey tower Bonifacio is a project in dential property development due to be completed by the progress, but rents at 800 peso per square metre ($19.5) on a portion of land carved year-end. out from Manila’s biggest Soon to be home for Nick- are already catching up with army base. el Asia Corp NAC.PS and its older, established, but Originally sold by a cash- local conglomerate Aboitiz saturated rival.

Though rents paid in strapped government in the Equity Ventures Inc, NAC

Manila skyline speaks for its property boom which is described as the best in the last 20 years.

Makati have recovered almost 30 percent in the last three years, they are still way below the peak of 1200 pesos/sqm ($29) paid before the global financial crisis hit in 2008, data from property manager and consultancy Jones Lang La Salle Leechiu (JLL) shows.

That makes renting in Manila’s business districts far cheaper than Hong Kong, Shanghai or Singapore. But then infrastructure remains a drawback, as anyone arriving at Manila’s tired, old airport quickly realises.

Vroom Still, as Bonifacio lures companies tired of Makati’s cramped spaces with its sprawling parks, luxury hotel chains and Italian supercar makers have followed the money.

Lamborghini opened its first Philippine showroom, side by side with Ferrari, in Bonifacio, while Hyatt and Shangri La hotels are opening there soon.

Office space in most new buildings are snapped long before completion. At the NAC Tower, for example, only six floors remain unlet, but Reyes said they have potential takers.

Take up of new office

space this year is set to hit a record 400,000 to 450,000 sqm, up as much as 25 percent from last year, according to Jones Lang and CBRE Philippines, another of the country’s biggest property manager and advisers.

“Pre-leasing is back,” said Rick Santos, chairman of CBRE. “We are now experiencing the best real estate market in the Philippines in the last 20 years.”

The primary driver of demand for office space comes from business process outsourcing (BPO) firms catering for European and American multinationals that want to cut costs.

With one of the region’s fastest growth rates, GDP grew 6.1 percent in the first half, the Philippines has shown resilience in the face of falling demand in the West and China, that other more export driven economies must envy.

Analysts say the Philippines could achieve its first investment grade sovereign debt credit rating in the next 12 months, about seven years after ending its debtor-nation status with the International Monetary Fund.

Strong private and public consumption has under-

pinned growth, while inflows of foreign capital have driven the stock market to new peaks and the peso to near five-year highs.

An anti-corruption drive launched soon after President Benigno Aquino came to power in 2010 has help the Philippines’ image in the eyes of foreign investors.

Low inflation, low interest rates, and a ready supply of reliable, English-proficient labour are strong draws for foreign businesses seeking to reduce costs by expanding in Southeast Asia.

Manila calling The vibrancy is evident in Bonifacio, where shops are open until midnight and fast-food chains and coffee shops cater round the clock, mainly for call centre employees.

The BPO sector accounts for 80 to 90 percent of office space take up in the country, and is a major source of employment for the country’s nearly half a million new college graduates annually.

The industry is forecast to double its current employee base of more than 600,000 by 2016 as western companies send more accounting, legal, data processing PROPERTY/PAGE 7