BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 18-19, 2013 Issue)

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Issue No. 165, Volume III •

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‘Green’ City

BUTUAN City -- The local government here is aiming to transform Butuan into a green city where Butuanons live peacefully in resilient communities by 2020.

This is what Mr. Pierre Anthony Joven of the city’s Economic Development Cluster said during Monday’s launching of “Kukabildo,” a regular press forum where different clusters organized by the city government are featured as the cluster team members will give their report to the city government and the local media on their accomplishments, as well as their plans and programs.

In his presentation, Mr. Joven said in order to develop human capital, infrastructure and competitiveness, as well as to generate employment, increase household income, and ensures environmental sustainability, there is a need for the city government to institutionalize economic fundamentals by developing transportation, infrastructures, policies, and ease of doing business.

Samal project

DAVAO City -- The Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) will be allocated at least P245-million worth of infrastructure projects for 2013 mostly to be used in the upgrading of its road network.

Department of Public Works and Highways Davao del Norte District Engineer Fernando Ongkingco Jr. said the allocation will be used to fund the improvement and upgrading of the city’s circumferential road.

The development of the road is identified as an infrastructure project support to IGaCoS being one of the tourist destinations in the country. The project identification and budget allocation is based on the provisions of Republic Act 9593 (Tourism Act of 2009) which identifies infrastructure requirements in tourism areas to be accorded priority status in funding and implementation of said program.

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Govt confident M’danao power crisis over soon T

By MELLEZA VILLARIZA, Staff Member

HE Department of Energy (DOE) is confident that power shortage in Mindanao will be addressed by the interruptible load program (ILP).

SOUVENIR FOR THE BISHOP. United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) leading senatorial candidate San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada gave Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma a souvenir campaign t-shirt during his recent courtesy call to The Most Reverend at the Archbishop’s Palace in Cebu City. advertorial

JV says millions of house-helpers protected with Batas Kasambahay

By ALEX IRASGA

SAN Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada said the newly-

enacted Domestic Workers’ Act or “Batas Kasambahay” was welcomed by many sec-

tors because it protects the rights of 2 million houseprotected/PAGE 7

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla said 12 entities have received Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approval and pointed out that the approved ILP participants “can even run now.”

He said nine other ILP participants have pending ERC approval.

“Hopefully they will get the approval before the elections,” he said.

Under ILP, private companies that have power generators need not tap electric distribution utilities (DUs) for their need but instead use their own facilities.

In turn, they will be paid by the DUs based on the fuel and oil used in running the generators and on the depreciation of the equipment.

The 21 ILP participants are projected to unload 160 megawatt capacity from DUs in the area.

Petilla said the power shortage in Mindanao will also be addressed once the 300-megawatt power plant of Aboitiz Power in Davao opens within the first quarter of 2015.

“From now until 2015, that’s the question - what do we do,” he quipped.

Another solution eyed to address power shortage in Mindanao is the Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM).

Under this system, big entities that own generators can be tapped to provide electricity to power cooperatives.

Petilla said the funds for the IMEM program is already with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) but PEMC cannot start the program due to lack of ERC approval. power/PAGE 7

BPI grants Italpinas loan for Green Condo Tower 2 THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) recently granted a P 180-million green development loan to Italpinas EuroAsian Design and Eco-Development Corporation to partially finance the construction of its Primavera

Residences Tower 2.

“BPI advances its Sustainable Energy Finance (SEF) by continuing to support the energy investments of its clients,” BPI said in a statement. “In collaboraitalpinas/PAGE 7

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

PROCLAMATION RALLY. Liberal Party senatorial bet Mrs. Hanep Buhay Cynthia Villar during the proclamation rally of Team PNoy at Plaza Miranda. President Benigno Aquino, the party head, describes the former representative from Las Piñas as a ‘motherly’ person that provides livelihood to her children. advertorial

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Economy

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Davao’s investment promo, financing facilitation generate P9.4-B investments DAVAO City -- The investment promotion and financing facilitation initiatives of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region bolstered its investment generation in 2012.

The preliminary annual report of the agency revealed that these inter ventions pushed the investments to hit P9.455 billion, 13 percent higher than its annual target of P8.4 billion.

The financing facilitation services rendered by DTI-Davao Region brought

in P43.826 million investments, generated through approved loans and grants for income-generating projects of 141 firms throughout the region.

Meanwhile, business consultancy services through the Board of Investments (BOI), City and Provincial

Invest ments Promot ion Centers, and five offices of the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) generated total investments of P4.815 billion, including the top 10 investments last year.

Last year’s top 10 investments include the Southcrest Hotel Ventures, Incorporated (Kukum Davao), 8990 Housing Development Corporation (mass housing), Filinvest Land, Inc. (mass housing),

two different projects of Communities Davao, Inc. (mass housing), Lorenzo Shipping Corp. (container sh ippi ng), DMC-Urba n Property Developers, Inc. (mass housing), SM Hotels and Convention Corp. (Park Inn Hotel), Igloo Supply Chain Philippines, Inc. (cold

storage facility), and Franklin Baker Company, Philippines (processing plant for coconut specialty products.

DTI-Davao regional director Marizon Loreto said that for this year, DTI, with the help of BOI, its investment arm, and the investment promotion centers of

all local government units (LGUs), is keen on cornering more investments.

“We will further strengthen our investment promotion so that we can entice more investors to locate here. We all know for a fact that investments bring jobs,” she said. (PNA)

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Feb. 14 (PNA)-- The provincial treasurer of Davao del Norte has urged local officials to monitor quarrying operations in their respective areas to further improve revenue collection.

Regina Ricafort also asked officials to continue strict implementation and ensure collection of taxes and other fees on the extraction and transport of sand and gravel as well as stamp out illegal quarrying activities in the province.

Davao del Norte collected a total of P12,208,560 in taxes, fees and charges in quarrying operations last year, up 127 percent from P5.378 million in 2011, Ricafort said.

“Local officials play a big role in ensuring proper imposition of fees and charges,” she said.

Ricafort said local governments would also benefit following the improvement of collections as they are entitled to receive a share from quarrying revenues.

She said municipalities and cities get 30% while the concerned villages are entitled to a 40% share.

Ricafort also reminded the quarry operators and permit carriers to toe the line by securing the necessary license and paying the right amount of taxes to concerned local collecting entities.

She said the growth in revenues is vital to funding

more projects of the province.

Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr. reiterated the province’s enduring policy of ecological integrity and preservation in exploiting natural resources.

Suaybaguio also urged licensed quarry operators to ensure their operations are being carried out in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable manner.

He said the rapid growth of the province, which results to consumption of large quantities of sand and gravel, calls for rational and sustainable ways of extracting since quarry resources are limited and could no longer be replenished if depleted.

(PNA)

By OLIVER BADEL INODEO Contributor

from P5,000 to P10,00 for their livelihood projects, Atty.

Araceli F. Solamillo, DSWD Field Office 10 Regional Director, said.

These loans, which are community-based that do not bear any interest and do not need any collateral, are payable in one year so that others can also borrow under the same set of arrangements, Solamillo said.

In Kapatagan town, the 57 SKAs with 1,035 members received P5,772,000 while the 41 SKAs with 865 members in Lala were granted P4,442,000.

The Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of the interior municipalities ofNunungan, Salvador, and Sapad received

P400,000; P1,330,000, and P875,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, Sultan Naga Dimaporo town beneficiaries with 50 SKAs have P5,704,000 for their seed capital loan.

These beneficiaries, according to their project proposal, will be engaging in different types of livelihood projects such as handicraft making, hog fattening, cooking, buy-and-sell, among others.

The SKA members are all Pantawid Pamilya Set 1 grantees.

Aside from the 4P beneficiaries, qualified to borrow are those listed in the National Housing Targeting System (NHTS), Solamillo added.

To ensure the success of the SLP, a five-component program that starts with a partnership-building with the community, local government units have been developed by DSWD. Included in the process is the social preparation involving a Participatory Livelihood Issue Analysis and Value Chain Analysis, as well as Financial Literacy and Self-Awareness for the beneficiaries.

Capacity-building, including a Business Development Service and three to five-day trainings for the beneficiaries follow, after which the funding for the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) comes about.

For sustainability of the program, DSWD-10 extends technical assistance and equips the beneficiaries with a management tool which the beneficiaries themselves implement.

Davao del Norte posts 127% growth in quarry fee in 2012

4P beneficiaries get P18.5M seed capital 0917-7154399 088-856-8562/63

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A TOTAL of P18,523,000 seed capital from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been released to 3,435 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries in Lanao del Norte province recently.

These beneficiaries come from 181 Self-Employment Assistance sa Kaunlaran Areas (SKAs) in the province organized by Project Development Officers of SLP, in coordination with Pantawid Pamilya field workers.

Under the livelihood program, beneficiaries are allowed to get loans ranging

Hyundai car sales up 32% in January HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) on Monday said sales in January increased by 32 percent compared to December 2012 on the back of strong turnover in passenger cars.

January reached 1,922 vehicles, up by 417 from 1,505 last December, HARI noted.

Passenger car models performed well, posting a 65-increase to 1,236 units from 751 month-on-month, led by Grand Starex, Genesis Coupe, and the subcompact models Accent and Eon. Light commercial vehicles accounted for 756 units from 754 in December.

“We will continue to

be bold and game-changing in our efforts to keep our customers satisfied and ultimately become the most beloved brand in the country,” Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI president and chief executive, noted in a statement.

“2013 promises to be yet another strong year, mindful that the automotive industry will continue to grow and contribute to the goal of long-term economic sustainability,” she said.

Local auto industry eyes for 11% growth in 2013 AN executive of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of t he Phi l ippi nes (CA MPI) said that the automotive industry of the Philippines is bullish on the economy and projects an 11 percent growth for 2013.

S p e a k i n g at t he mont hly Usapa n sa AAP forum on Thursday, February 7, Rommel Gutierrez, CAMPI president attributed the possible increase from the expected sustained growth of the

economy, where the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita could reach $2,500.

In addition, the cont i nued remit ta nces from Overseas Filipino workers (OFW), the upcoming election

spending, including increased government spending are also expected to help the industry.

“The figure is conservative, it may go beyond that,” Gutierrez said.

Lexus leads as auto industry quality better than ever: survey DETROIT — Toyota Motor Corp’s luxury brand Lexus topped a U.S. vehicle dependability study of owners of 3-year-old cars and trucks as model-year 2010 vehicles improved to record-high quality levels.

T he i ndust r y ’s ca rs, introduced in 2009 when the sector was hitting a 28-

year sales low during the recession, saw a 5 percent improvement in quality, falling to 126 problems per 100 vehicles from 132 last year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates survey released on Wednesday.

Lexus led with a score of 71 problems per 100 vehicles.

“The continuous im-

provement in long-term dependability means consumers should have more confidence in three-year-old vehicles, whether they are keeping their current vehicle or shopping for a used car,” David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power, said in a statement.

Vehicle dependability

is important to automakers because fewer problems translates into more loyal customers. J.D. Power said that 54 percent of owners who don’t experience any problems with their vehicles stay with that brand for their next purchase. That loyalty rate slips to 41 percent when three or more problems are

experienced.

Twenty-one of the 31 brands measured improved their scores in the survey, with U.S. domestic nameplates improving at a slightly greater rate than imports.

The domestics narrowed their scoring gap with imports to 10 problems per 100 vehicles with an overall

average of 133, from a gap of 13 last year.

In 2009, U.S. auto sales hit their lowest level since World War Two when, adjusted for population, and both Chrysler and General Motors Co underwent governmentsponsored bankruptcies and Ford Motor Co borrowed lexus/PAGE 7

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Monday - Tuesday I Feb. 18-19, 2013

that can handle their ever yday needs w it h ease and efficiency.

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DOMESTIC air travel rose by nearly a tenth in 2012, but the airlines’ load factor fell sharply mostly because of additional seat capacity.

Data from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) showed that the number of domestic passengers rose by 9.6 percent to 20.56 million last year from 18.77 million in 2011.

Six major carriers reported that seat capacity went up by 16.14 percent to 28.27 million last year from 24.34 million in 2011.

Domestic load factor, which measures the number of seats occupied during a flight, averaged 64.85 percent last year, down from the 75.69 percent in 2011.

Cebu Pacific remained the country’s leading domestic carrier, with 9.48 million passengers, up 11.8 percent from 8.47 million in 2011. Its load factor, however, fell to 77.22 percent last year from 80.68 percent the previous year.

Philippine Airlines (PAL), jointly owned by San Miguel Corp and Lucio Tan, flew 4.09 million passengers, down by 4.9 percent from 4.31 million in 2011. The flag carrier’s load factor also dropped to 71.76 percent from 74.52 percent.

PAL budget unit Airphil Express f lew 4.45 million passengers, higher than the 3.69 million in 2011. Its load

factor however dropped to 71 .26 percent from 74.17 percent.

Zest Airways carried 2.06 million passengers, down from 2.15 million passengers in 2011. Its load factor fell to 65.64 percent from 74.26 percent.

Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair0 f lew 317,897 this year from 124,468 in 2011.

Its load factor likewise went down to 58.80 percent from 74.85 percent in 2011.

Air Asia Philippines carried 1585,519 passengers last year with a load factor of 44.48 percent.

C a nd ice Iyog , C ebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution, blamed the lower load factor

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a.m. Return flights will leave 11:20 a.m. and will arrive in Manila at 12:05 p.m.

The Manila-Busuanga flight is expected to boost the number of tourists in Coron, the largest island in the Calamian Group in Palawan, which is located halfway between the islands of Mindoro and the province.

Coron is just a boat ride away from the Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary in Calauit Island and Concepcion Falls, located 17 kilometers away from the town proper, where buses

to the new domestic routes that the airline offered last year, which take longer to develop.

“So, loads may be lower for the new routes,” she said.

Across the industry, there were “capacity increases out of Clark by other airlines as well,” she added.

The Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) earlier said there are “too many” budget airlines in the Philippines, with the “over-capacity and irrational competition” resulting in losses for budget airlines other than Cebu Pacific for 2011.

The Philippines’ penetration rate of 84 percent is higher than Thailand’s 58 percent, Indonesia’s 57

percent, Malaysia’s 49 percent and Vietnam’s 29 percent, CAPA said in a report.

Porvenir Porciuncula, CAB deputy executive director had said demand did not respond correspondingly to the higher number of seats offered by airlines partly because of the bad weather conditions in the third quarter.

As for domestic cargo last year, the volume flown grew by 11.6 percent to 204.64 million kilograms from 183.31 million in 2011.

PAL carried 59.39 million kilograms; Cebu Pacific, 99.55 million; Airphil, 25.45 million; Seair, 99,005; Air Asia, 324,535; and Zest Air, 19.83 million.

Globe dared to file complaint before NTC T H E Ph i l i p p i n e L o n g Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) urged officials of Globe Telecom on Thursday to formally file before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) whatever interconnection complaints they might have to prove their point.

Lawyer and PLDT Director Rey Espinosa said in an interview that Smart Communication and Sun Cellular, both units of PLDT, have observed in full the

terms of the NTC-mandated interconnection directives despite claims to the contrary.

“If they believe they have cause of action, they should sue us at the NTC and then we will prove to everyone that we are not delaying anything,” Espinosa, also the president of TV5, said.

This pertains to claims and counterclaims made by Globe and Smart on alleged delays in text messages passing through PLDT.

Skyjet Airline mounts maiden flight to Busuanga, to fly to unserved routes A NEW Philippine carrier has mounted its maiden flight on Friday, vowing to f ly to unserved routes to promote cultural tourism in the country.

Skyjet Airlines f lew to Busuanga on Friday, its very first of its thrice-week ly f lights to Busuanga and Coron, Pa lawa n. T hese flights will be mounted every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 4 at 9:20 in the morning and is expected to arrive at 10:00

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O

Domestic air traffic up but airlines’ load factor down

SunCel launches new Android smartphones SUN Cellular launches its new set of Android smartphones with 25% bigger displays, more user-friendly features a nd t he s a me g reat performance available under its best-selling postpaid plan – Sun Plan 350!

With the Android world moving fast and new phones coming in, Sun Cellular remains steadfast in its commitment of delivering the “must-have Android gadgets of the moment” to millions of Filipinos who are after the latest deals and coolest mobile phones.

The Android smartphones offered free at Sun Plan 350 features 3.5-inch touchscreens – big enough to play videos, display e-mail messages and show Google results without having to squint or zoom in the page. The wider display is nicely complemented with the latest Android OS, inarguably the most popular mobile platform today t hat run on a broad selection of mobile devices from a wide selection of manufacturers.

Thanks to Sun Cellular’s affordable postpaid plans and hassle-free application, everyone can now own and choose an Android smartphone

Corporate . World

and jeepneys ply between Busuanga and Coron everyday.

“With the introduction today of Skyjet Airlines, we enter today’s growing leisure travel market on a truly competitive basis, call it boutique or leisure premium airline, a cross between a low-cost carrier and a legacy carrier,” said Skyjet CEO Dr. Joel Mendoza.

He noted a big demand for a full service carrier with affordable fares that offers additional seating comfort, space, and enhanced meal,

beverage, in-flight entertainment and full staff service.

Skyjet offers no hidden charges, no additional charges for seats, free snacks for a short haul trip, affordable rates, and more cargo space with free five kilos on hand carried luggage and 10 kilos for accompanied luggage.

The airlines has an initial f leet of two 94-seater, 4-engine BAE 146-200 jets.

Designed for short landings and takeoffs, these planes are expected to fly from and land on unpaved runways, Mounts/PAGE 10

Globe claimed the delays were caused in part by the alleged PLDT failure to interconnect the two systems in a manner that promotes the free flow of text messages and other services between the networks.

Espinosa said their rivals discuss the issues involved as if these were a simple case of plug and play and all the cited problems go away quickly.

He acknowledged that of the 32 provinces around

the country that have been scheduled for interconnection, only 11 have actually been pursued in full.

But he stressed full interconnection has not been achieved around the country because at each point, there are particular interconnection issues that have to be resolved first.

He urged Globe management to take action against them before regulators if they believe they have a legitimate issue in their hands.

Napocor sets negotiations for off-grid fuel requirements STATE-ow ned Nat iona l Power Corp (Napocor) has scheduled negotiations with oil companies for the fuel supply of power generating facilities in off-grid areas.

Based on documents, Napocor set aside nearly P1 billion for the fuel requirements of the company’s Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) for March-May. The amount will be used to purchase 20,955 kiloliters of diesel and 2,829 kiloliters of fuel oil for SPUG’s power plants and barges across the country.

In line with this, the power firm set a pre-negotiation conference on February 20 with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp, Phoenix

Petroleum Philippines Inc, Filpride Resources Inc and PTT Philippines Corp. Submission of bids will follow on March 5.

Napocor previously solicited offers for the fuel supply but failed to ink a contract with suppliers, thus the government’s resort to negotiations.

SPUG operates 290 relatively small power plants in off-grid areas with a combined capacity of about 278 megawatts.

Off-grid areas are islands and remote areas that are not connected to the country’s power transmission highway, which delivers electricity from major generating plants to distribution utilities.

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The Art of Graceful Aging RECENTLY, I attended the silver jubilee celebration of my class at the UERMMMC. It was great to be seeing classmates and friends after 25 years. Most of us stayed the same in terms of physique, appearance and being kikay and magulo.

But, what was amazing during the 1 week celebration were our golden Jubilarians.

They were our mentors then and are still active in their practices as well as in teaching the new generation of upcoming doctors.

It brings that nostalgic feeling and that gratitude of how they were able to impact our lives as students and as practitioners. To hear them sing, dance and have fun, belies their chronological ages.

They have aged gracefully I should say. Knowing that our golden Jubilarians must be in their 70’sand may even be approaching 80”s, they have reached that fabulous period of their lives.

There is no way that we can stop the changes of time.

As one embarks this period in one’s life, the challenges are likewise great. This is the time when one is faced with health issues and financial concerns.

The most common age related diseases include the Big C (lungs, breast, colorectal to name a few), chronic ailments like hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, arthritis and Osteoporosis. Brain and neural problems manifesting as Dementia, Alzheimers , or

Health in Focus

Make excuses or make money THINK a minute…

A very successful business has this as their motto: “You can make excuses, or you can make money, but you can’t do both!”

It’s true. Many times we make excuses because we’re afraid. We’re afraid to fail, and of what people might think. We’re afraid to change and do something new and different.

Or, we’re afraid that we don’t have what it takes to be successful. We think we’re not smart enough. But it’s only after you push past these fears and excuses that you can be

confident to go for it! That’s the only way to start being successful in your life.

You see, successful people are human just like you and me. They have to face the same fears and excuses we all do.

But the difference is in what they do with their fears and excuses. Even though they feel afraid just like us, they simply discipline and force themselves to go for it anyway. That’s the only way any new successful career or business got started.

Remember, successful people were also unsuccess-

ful, until they chose to exchange their habit of making excuses for the better habit of making the most of their abilities.

It just makes sense it’s the One Who made you Who knows all of your abilities and potential He gave you.

So, if you ask Him to be your personal life manager, He’ll help you become all that He planned for you to be. And the first thing He’ll do is get you to stop making excuses and to start being a success by being your best.

So why not ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and to take

Parkinsons are real concerns.

Not forgetting Heart attacks, stroke and even depression. Add to the short list of possible health issues that the aging person may have, is the fear of being alone and losing one’s independence.

If one were to focus on these, then, entering that golden period in one’s life, would truly look bleak and frightening.

But, there is what we do call as the art of aging in a graceful manner. I am not talking of one’s capacity to stay looking young.

Though it is quite of a compliment to be hearing comments on how one has maintained that youthful look! Which must be why these days people have taken in the hype on keeping one’s appearance as youthful as it can get.

One’s attitude is a determining factor on how one would embrace this new loreche/PAGE 7

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

charge of your life today?

Then, you can get started down your road to success.

Just think a minute…

Compulsory ‘exit’ to Iran’s Kish Island: Crossroads to success or failure in UAE (First of a series)

NO OVERSEAS Filipino worker can ever claim success in the search for work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the compulsory exit for the change of status -- either from visit visa to work visa or from one work visa into another.

And for Filipinos, the most frequently used country for this obligatory exit is Kish Island in Iran.

Why? First, because of its proximity to the UAE – 25 to 30-minute airplane ride from Dubai International Airport and only cost more or less 600 dirhams (P6,600) for a round-trip ticket.

Second, the government of Iran is not strict in terms of documents. As long as one has a passport, he can fly to Kish Island. However, a woman – Muslim or nonMuslim alike, has to use hijab (a veil which covers the head particularly worn by Muslim

women) accompanied by a long dress that covers the legs entirely, as soon as they set foot at the Kish airport.

Third, it is hard for Filipinos to come home to the Philippines for an “exit” with an expiring visit visa.

There is 50-50 chance the Immigration agency will allow him or her to go back to the UAE minus a work visa; and if one has a work visa, the requirements set forth by the Philippine government could take an OFW a month to accomplish. By the time an OFW have completed them, the job offered him or her could have already been given to another applicant.

Now, back to the famous yet cursed-by-some island in the Persian Gulf. Why is “exit” to Kish Island considered crossroads to success or failure in the search for a job in the UAE? There two common rea-

sons why a person exits from the UAE to Kish Island. One reason is that the person entered UAE with a visit or tourist visa and his visa has already expired (a tourist visa expires after a month of stay in the UAE and allowed another month of extension).

Another reason is that the person is transferring from one company to another.

Now, back to why is it a crossroad. When I made my exit to Kish Island, I considered it as a vacation because I was temporarily relieved of my routinely newspaper editing; but I must admit that despite the assurance given me by my employer that my visa will come in a few days’ time, I was still worried at the thought of these possibilities: “What happens if I’m not issued a work visa during the period I’m supposed to have it? What happens if my Boss changed

The Pope’s swan song DR. MARY JEAN LORECHE

Think a minute

SOME years ago, in one of my initial forays into opinionwriting, I wrote that a pope cannot resign from his post.

My only argument, without consulting my Canon Law and Church history, was: to whom should a pope tender his resignation? He is already the highest authority on earth.

This was the time when Pope John Paul II was already seriously ill, his face frozen, his hands trembling, and saliva dripping from his mouth. Some people asked him to consider resigning.

But he said no. And for that, my love for him even grew.

Of course, a priest-friend promptly corrected me, and I learned my precious lessons. He pointed to me the provision in Canon Law and the similar cases recorded in history. And it was this thought that immediately sprang to mind when I first read about Pope Benedict’s renunciation of his Petrine ministry some days ago.

But I cannot deny that like many others, I was shocked in disbelief at first. I thought the breaking news was a prank. My thoughts went

wild, since the first report I read did not mention the reason for the resignation.

So, I scrambled to investigate.

I began to be pacified when I finally read the statement of the Pope himself. It was his failing health, and I took note that he said he arrived at that decision after examining his conscience thoroughly before God, that he did it freely without any pressure from outside, and that things will just be all right.

I immediately took his words at face value. I find no serious reason to doubt them.

The only thing I thought I read between the lines was that the Pope was being humble to acknowledge his failing health, prudent to avoid compromising the effectiveness of his office due to his health, and courageous to make that decision.

Though I would have wanted him to do a Pope John Paul, I know it is very unfair to compare Popes. Each one is different, and each one has a special charism that will always redound to the good of the Church and the world.

We just have to be satisfied

with this truth of faith even as we rein in our personal curiosities and views.

This is something that we have to grapple with seriously at this time. In any issue, even one that is purely mundane, we should not ignore the spiritual and supernatural considerations offered by our faith. We would be distorting our appreciation of things if the inputs of our faith are shut out.

We have to go back to what Christ told Peter, the impulsive head of the apostles: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

(Mt 16,18) These words have to be accepted by faith. They will sound funny outside of that context.

And so, we just have to hold our horses, and instead pray for Benedict XVI, for the next Pope and for the Church. No use speculating and worrying. Of course, we cannot deny that the news acted like the sword Simeon spoke about to Mary-how it would pierce her heart to reveal the thoughts of many.

OFW Odyssey

CHENG ORDOÑEZ

his mind and will no longer pursue getting me a work visa? For how long will I stay in Kish if there’s delay in the processing of my visa?”

Without a visa coming to get a waiting person at Kish, what could be an overnight stay in Kish can actually transform into a very long unwanted vacation; and without enough resources for a long stay, the simple “exit” OrdoÑez/PAGE 7

Hints and traces

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

(cf Lk 2, 35) Some people started to spin a conspiracy theory.

Others talked about some arcane prophesies that seem to be fulfilled. There was one person who lamented that the Pope seemed to be fleeing from his responsibility.

Another one claimed it was a bad precedent.

But mostly, the reaction was one that expressed dismay and sadness at the beginning, then turned to hope soon after. In this regard, we have to thank our Church leaders who set the proper tone as to how to receive this news.

But one thing Pope Benecimagala/PAGE 7

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Power... from page 1

“I’m quite sure they’re (ERC) also aware of the problem of Mindanao and they are even assuring PEMC that they will prioritize the approval of the budget. The money is already there, what we’re asking is a go signal to touch it,” he said.

The DOE chief said ERC has set a hearing for the IMEM budget on February 20, 2013.

“We will push for the approval (of the budget) within the same day if it’s possible,” he added. (PNA)

Protected... from page 1

tion with International Finance Corporation (IFC), the four-year old innovative financing approach funds various efficient and renewable technologies all over the country.”

The loan agreement was signed last month at the BPI Head Office by Architect Romolo Nati, Chairman and CEO, and Atty. Jose D. Leviste III, President, in behalf of Italpinas and by Mr. Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., Executive Vice President and Group Head, Corporate Banking Division and Mr. Mario B. Palou, Senior Vice President for BPI. BPI is the third ranked universal bank in the country with over 809 branches (inclusive of 105 Kiosks and five branches abroad) and 2,542 automated teller machines (ATMs) which together form Expressnet, the largest combined network of branches/kiosk units and ATMs, servicing the largest number of bank customers, including over one million overseas Filipinos.

International publications like Asiamoney, BusinessWeek, Euromoney, Far Eastern Economic Review, Finance Asia, Global Finance, The Asian Banker, The Asset and The Banker as well as ratings agencies have consistently recognized BPI as one of the best banks in Asia.

Similarly, Italpinas’ has been “Highly Commended” internationally in the Best Condo Development (Philippines)” category by the prestigious South East Asia Property Awards (SEAPA 2011) awards based in Singapore.

Earlier, its business plan for Primavera Residences was cited as one of the most promising clean energy investment opportunities in the Philippines during the CTI-PFAN Philippines Clean Energy Investor Forum held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Manila on June 21, 2010.

The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) is a multilateral, public-private partnership initiated by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) in cooperation with the UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer. PFAN operates to bridge the gap between investments and clean energy businesses.

CTI-PFAN noted that Primavera Residences eco-friendly

design has a remarkable degree of social and environmental stewardship, with a high potential to scale-up, an excellent management team and cutting edge technology.

For 2013, CTI-PFAN again cited Italpinas’ new project as the only finalist from the Philippines for this year’s selection which covered 38 eco-friendly projects all over Asia.

Primavera Residences is the first green building in Cagayan de Oro City which integrated into its design eco-friendly features such as generating part of its electricity with rooftop solar panels and reducing power usage by maximizing natural light and wind ventilation.

Located at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park in Uptown Cagayan de Oro City within the master-planned 360 hectare Pueblo de Oro Township, Primavera Residences is a P450-million 10 storey twin-tower condominium designed by award-winning Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati and developed by Italpinas, a Sustaining Corporate Member of the Philippines Green Building Council.

The Primavera Residences Tower 2 will provide 167 residential units to serve young urban professionals, families of Overseas Filipino Workers, Balikbayans, expatriates and everyone yearning for a better quality of life. Construction is in full swing and is scheduled for completion by June, 2013.

Italpinas... from page 1

International Finance Corporation (IFC), the four-year old innovative financing approach funds various efficient and renewable technologies all over the country.”

The loan agreement was signed last month at the BPI Head Office by Architect Romolo Nati, Chairman and CEO, and Atty. Jose D. Leviste III, President, in behalf of Italpinas and by Mr. Alfonso L. Salcedo, Jr., Executive Vice President and Group Head, Corporate Banking Division and Mr. Mario B. Palou, Senior Vice President for BPI. BPI is the third ranked universal bank in the country with over 809 branches (inclusive of 105 Kiosks and five branches abroad) and 2,542 automated teller machines (ATMs) which together form Expressnet, the largest combined network of branches/kiosk units and ATMs, servicing the largest number of bank customers, including over one million overseas Filipinos.

International publications like Asiamoney, BusinessWeek, Euromoney, Far Eastern Economic Review, Finance Asia, Global Finance, The Asian Banker, The Asset and The Banker as well as ratings agencies have consistently recognized BPI as one of the best banks in Asia.

Similarly, Italpinas’ has been “Highly Commended” internationally in the Best Condo Development (Philippines)” category by the

prestigious South East Asia Property Awards (SEAPA 2011) awards based in Singapore.

Earlier, its business plan for Primavera Residences was cited as one of the most promising clean energy investment opportunities in the Philippines during the CTI-PFAN Philippines Clean Energy Investor Forum held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Manila on June 21, 2010.

The Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) is a multilateral, public-private partnership initiated by the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) in cooperation with the UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer. PFAN operates to bridge the gap between investments and clean energy businesses.

CTI-PFAN noted that Primavera Residences eco-friendly design has a remarkable degree of social and environmental stewardship, with a high potential to scale-up, an excellent management team and cutting edge technology.

For 2013, CTI-PFAN again cited Italpinas’ new project as the only finalist from the Philippines for this year’s selection which covered 38 eco-friendly projects all over Asia.

Primavera Residences is the first green building in Cagayan de Oro City which integrated into its design eco-friendly features such as generating part of its electricity with rooftop solar panels and reducing power usage by maximizing natural light and wind ventilation.

Located at the Pueblo de Oro Business Park in Uptown Cagayan de Oro City within the master-planned 360 hectare Pueblo de Oro Township, Primavera Residences is a P450-million 10 storey twin-tower condominium designed by award-winning Italian Architect Romolo V. Nati and developed by Italpinas, a Sustaining Corporate Member of the Philippines Green Building Council.

The Primavera Residences Tower 2 will provide 167 residential units to serve young urban professionals, families of Overseas Filipino Workers, Balikbayans, expatriates and everyone yearning for a better quality of life. Construction is in full swing and is scheduled for completion by June, 2013.

Lexus... from page 3

heavily to avoid the same fate. Chrysler Group is now controlled by Fiat.

Following Lexus, which led for a second year in a row, were Porsche (94 problems per 100 vehicles), Ford’s luxury Lincoln brand and Toyota, Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz brand and GM’s Buick. Lincoln was the top ranked brand in the 2011 study.

Rounding out the top 10 were Honda Motor Co’s namesake and luxury Acura brands, and Chrysler’s Ram pickup truck and Suzuki.

Mazda and GM’s Chevrolet brand also scored lower than the industry average at 124 and 125, respectively.

The bottom five scoring brands in the survey were Volkswagen, Chrysler’s Jeep brand and Mitsubishi, Chrysler’s Dodge and Tata Motors Ltd’s Land Rover brand.

Among individual models, the Lexus RX had the highest dependability in the industry with just 57 problems per 100 vehicles, marking the first time in the survey a crossover or SUV topped the list, J.D. Power said. Chrysler’s Ram scored the biggest improvement, cutting its problems by 52.

Toyota, through its namesake and Lexus brands, saw its vehicles earn seven segment awards, while GM had four and Honda, and its Acura brand, led in two segments.

Ordoñez... from page 6

can turn into a nightmare – no food, no money to pay hotel bills; and with no one to turn to in Kish Island, there’s reason why Filipinos curse the island.

Some women turn to prostitution to survive there; some fall into drug-dealers’ prey.

The rather lucky ones find jobs in the hotels they were staying; and still some more enter into relationships – some with the hotel manager; some with own Kababayans; some with Iranians or other nationalities they met there or in the UAE and asked for support.

But some of them cannot take all that I mentioned and ended their lives in Kish Island.

At Kish, anything can happen. Some were robbed.

Some were raped. Some were held-upped; and there were those who were killed, according to Kababayans I met there and who stayed long enough until they got their visas to enter UAE again.

The lucky ones, stayed

in Kish overnight because their visas came out fast.

Some for a month or so; some were there for as long as they don’t have the visa to re-enter UAE. I got mine in three days’ time and hurried back to Dubai with happy and sad, mostly sad, stories about the fate of Filipinos over there in Kish Island.

When UAE implemented the law extending the “exit” of people holding visit or tourist visas and going back again with the same visas to, at least, one month out of UAE before they are allowed re-entry, more and more Filipinos languish in Kish Island.

And so, stories of the odyssey of Filipinos to Kish continue up to this time. (To be continued) Email : cheng.ordonez@ gmail.com *** (The writer was a former overseas Filipino worker himself. He was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Kabayan Weekly, a newspaper being published in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and circulated in nearly all the seven Emirates. His encounters with the Filipinos in the UAE and Persian Gulf gave him startling observations of the situations Filipinos are experiencing in those parts of the world – including Filipinos victimizing their own kababayans or in cahoots with foreign employers. His column, OFW Odyssey, is a revelation of the many struggles of OFWs that even the Philippine Embassy and the Consulate, in their comforts, may hardly have real glimpse. Let the journey continue).

Cimagala... from page 6

dict is showing us with his resignation is that no one, no matter what power he yields in the world and especially in the Church, is indispensable.

We are all instruments of God. We try to be the best instrument, but time will come

7

when our usefulness expires, and we just have to be ready to be discarded at any time and in any manner that may fit at the moment. We need to be game in this life.

As far as I know of the Pope, he will retire hidden in silence and prayer. And so we just have to join him now in his sweet swan song, and thank him profusely for what he has accomplished. But we need to get used to Popes resigning. *** Email: roycimagala@gmail. com

Loreche... from page 6

period in one’s life. Knowing that you are not alone, and that not everyone is even blest to have entered this period should keep you upbeat and optimistic. By accepting the inevitable, you now learn to find meaningful activities. Find that which excites you, be it learning something new like playing the f lute or the piano, gardening, reading or baking, or taking that much deserved travel that you kept postponing.

It is to one’s advantage, that, instead of going into retirement , one finds something to do or work on, as this keeps you alive and upbeat each day.

Since to age well is not just about looking young, one’s goal then should be to have that optimum health.

To achieve this, one must start with the essentials like eating well. Nutrition is very important in keeping one’s bodily functions as well as help in the prevention of age related diseases.

One’s dietary choices will impact on how fast or how delayed the onset of aging can be. The earlier you start in your choice of healthy diet the greater the benefit you will have. Exercise is as important as diet.

By keeping active, the muscles are strengthened, thereby improving balance, and it also improves the cardiovascular health. Since it is never true that one’s mental ability decreases with growing old, it is to your advantage as you age, to keep the mind active and sharp. Like our muscles, our brain will also shrink with misuse! And, yes, always try to look well: the signs of aging should not disturb nor make you less conscious on how you look.

One’s attitude and outlook determines one’s response to a given circumstance. To enter the golden years is to be viewed with optimism: for one has so much wisdom and maturity to share to the younger generation.

8

Lifestyle

Monday-Tuesday I Feb. 18-19, 2013

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Young Cebuano conductor leads Classical Concert at Rodelsa Hall T his coming February, classical music lovers will be privileged to hear wellloved pieces performed live under the baton of one young Cebuano conductor – Professor Reynaldo Abellana.

Professor Abellana was one of the first scholars of the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation Incorporated (SPSFI).

Under the aegis of SPSFI, he had the rare opportunity to be trained in Japan on Suzuki Method.

He later became a part of the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra Development Program (which eventually became the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra) as a violinist.

He studied under the tutelage of Professor Rodelio Flores.

In May 1999, he had his Solo Recital in the Pilar B. Sala Hall.

In 2001, he graduated from the University of Southern Philippines with a degree in Bachelor of Arts Major in Music.

Later that year, he joined the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra. He also became a member of Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.

While in Manila, he continued his violin lessons under Professor Gonzalo Estrada and Eliazar Bautista.

In 2002, he resigned from SMPO and pursued a career as a violinist in Cruise Ships under Rosario Strings.

After nine years with Rosario Strings, he completed his last contract and decided to establish a land-based career back in Cebu.

He opened up the Classic Orchestra Music Studio in May with the desire to bring quality teaching and to continue the music legacy of the Battig Music School where he

started.

He initiated the formation of the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the Orchestra Director.

In December 2012, he conducted the CPO Christmas Concert at SM Northwing Atrium with Guest Pianist Dr. Ingrid Sala Santamaria.

And this month, February 16 at 7:30 in the evening, Prof. Abellana will conduct the Cebu Philharmonic Orchestra together with Unites the World Project of Japan in assisting international pianist Rudolf Golez, soloist for the benefit of Safer River Life Saver Foundation.

To reserve your seats please call (088) 8584093 to 95 local 109 or call/text 09176366528. Tickets are at P500, P700 and P1000.

Season of Musical Co-LOVE-orations S

ocial networking sites flood with posts and tweets about love because the love month has finally come.

The ones who are in love would excitedly prepare for an extra special date while those who are not often create an anti-valentine’s day antic.

Whether in love or not, people always create a buzz about the special day.

In Cagayan de Oro, one of the more interesting things happening on the love month is a series of collaborations of local artists.

One particular collaboration event is “Two Voices”, which is a pre-valentine concert featuring two local performers, namely: Ian Nuer and David Mercado.

Aside from the two crooners, many other artists will be joining them onstage for a full entertainment

By Kirt David B. Mercado, Contributor

show. Artists expected to perform are soloists, namely: Aizel Ruga, Jophil Cece and Lovely Belisario. The Make It Happen (M.I.N.) and Baby Shake Bombeats dancers will also be joining them as well as the ballerina, Cianne Seranno.

Belladonna, the beautiful trio belters, will also grace the show. “Two Voices” will be held at SMCity Atrium on the 13th of February at 4:30 in the afternoon.

Another collaborative event to watch out for is “Tunes of the Heart”, a post-valentine concert featuring CDO’s elite circle of performers: The Dreamboard Artists.

The show will showcase a long list of high-caliber singers performing songs that emulate the different faces of love. Artists expected to perform include the singing groups: Emeno Trio, belladonna, CZSTAH

and VoizXtreme; the soloists: David Mercado, Kristine Delapena, Andy Go, Qoqo Marconi, Kate Diana and Ritz Amora. The show will be hosted by the online TV show, Gwapo Dadtow, hosts Vince Orejudos, Kimsoy Paasa, Mike Abejo and reigning Ms. Kagay-an 2012, Greanne Mendoza.

“Tunes of the Heart” will be held at SM City on the 16th of February at 5:00 in the afternoon.

Many other shows and events are brewing in the city. It doesn’t matter if you are in love or not.

Anybody can celebrate love!

Take your pick from the many shows that are lined up in February and enjoy the season of love through the music of some of the best artists in Cagayan de Oro!

A child stands infront of the ongoing construction of a health center in Barangay Siloy, Calamba, Misamis Occidental. The health center is a project of DSWD through the Community SubProject of KALAHI-CIDSS, where the people is empowered to select the best priority subproject that will benefit the whole community.

Photo by SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY

Qoqo Marconi

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Mindanao coffee growers to boost production DAVAO City -- Coffee industry stakeholders in Southern Mindanao are confident that the industry will be able to overcome issues and concerns so it could increase its production volume to meet domestic and export demand.

Growers, producers and processors of coffee in Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Sulu, Basilan and General Santos are aiming for the global market as its ultimate goal.

Most of their coffee produce go to local traders who supply the needs of coffee manufacturers in Manila.

Arnulfo Mempin, member of Sarangani Federation of

Coffee Growers, said they would like to adopt some new technology in production and processing to boost the production of coffee beans.

“There are a lot of new things to learn in the growing and processing of coffee.

We’ve not been producing enough coffee, we want to produce more and earn more,” Mempin said.

Problems they have to contend with include the high cost of farm inputs and growing competition from local beverages that are used as substitutes for coffee by consumers. Some of these competing beverages taking the place of coffee include tea, cocoa, juices, fruit shakes and others.

Meanwhile, SOCCSKSARGEN, which stands for South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos, is still the top coffee producing region in the country.

Link ing up w it h t he

ARMM region will further strengthen the ultimate goal of Mindanao to export its coffee to the world’s markets, according to regional director Ibrahim Guiamadel of the Department of Trade and Industry 12.

Guiamadel, who also heads the Satellite Project Management Office as director for the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP) in Mindanao, said both regions could dominate coffee production in the country under the industry cluster concept.

The concept is being shared

by Japanese consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a joint partner of DTI under the NIC-

CEP which started nationwide last year under the long term Philippine Development Plan.

(PNA)

ARMM adopts industry clusters, sees growth in rubber, oil palm DAVAO City -- Pilot industry projects under the highly successful Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) are now being replicated in selected pilot industries of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

These industries include rubber, abaca, coco coir, coffee, livestock, oil palm and seaweeds which underwent extensive planning seminars and workshops under the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP), according to regional director Ibrahim Guiamadel of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 12) in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

Guiamadel, who acts as director of the Satellite Project Management Office (SPMO) for Mindanao, said the first NICCEP workshop module was held last November 1920 and 27 in General Santos City which prepared the re-

gions for the industry cluster concept of development that was introduced by Japanese industry consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“We’re happy all the stakeholders in these industries are committed to this project,” Guiamadel said.

Guiamadel said the stakeholders came all the way from Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Basilan, all eager to learn the industry cluster concept to develop their provinces for growth and development.

DTI-ARMM Assistant Secretary Abubakar Datumanong said they are taking advantage of this NICCEP project and the strong support given by the Makati-based DTI regional operations and development group (RODG) to the region.

“This will help us a lot in the growth and development of ARMM economy in the years to come,” Datumanong said. (PNA)

BETTER ROAD. Farmers and the commuting public in Kibawe, Bukidnon now has safer and faster travel as MRDP completed the rehabilitation of the four-kilometer Kikipot-Natulongan FMR that serves at least 500 hectares of farmland mostly planted to corn. photo by sherwin b . manual

DA-MRDP builds more roads, opportunities in Mindanao There are more road networks now in Mindanao, driving more economic opportunities for the rural people especially farmers.

Lealyn A. Ramos, Program director of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) said the program has completed a total of 489.10 kilometer farm-to-market (FMR) roads amounting to P995.23 million, among other projects under the rural in-

frastructure (RI) component.

“As the completed FMR measuring a total length of close to 500 kilometers and constructing over 800 kilometers more we are not just creating a network of community linkages but also generating jobs and other opportunities in many rural areas,” Ramos said.

In the program’s report during the recently conducted World Bank review mission in Davao, the rural infrastruc-

Mounts...

every Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays which is the backdoor to Caramoan, the top tourism destination in Camarines Sur.

By June, Mendoza said that they will start accepting charter accommodations from Batanes to Taiwan especially to Kaoshiung, which is only around 150 nautical miles from Batanes, and Orchid Island, where the native people in the area resemble and and even speak the local Ivatan (Batanes) language.

from page 4

allowing it to use smaller airports.

“We focus on safety,” Mendoza said. “Our aircraft can operate in the most challenging runways and weather conditions in the Philippines as certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)”.

Starting April 2, 2013 it will mount thrice weekly flights to Virac, Catanduanes

ture component reflected that 71% of its 495 subprojects were FMRs; while communal irrigation projects account for 14%; potable water systems, 8%; bridges, 6%; and postharvest facilities mostly solar dryers and warehouses only 1%.

“These roads stimulates agricultural production by providing access to markets. It also facilitates in the transition from subsistence farming to market-oriented production, which we expect as we scale-up famers in the value-chain of various commodities,” said Ramos, who is also the regional executive director of DA office in Northern Mindanao.

Roads, Ramos added, also increase rural non-farm enterprise and even creates off-farm income thus providing further economic even employment opportunities.

She said that for a long time, Mindanao badly needs roads that link communities especially the remote places to town centers, and the partnership of the local government

units and the program has created impressive impact to respond this problem.

Ramos added the infrastructure projects have benefitted over 400,000 farmers who for the longest time had to endure bad road conditions and inaccessibility.

“Despite all these, we understand more still needs to be done. The output of our partnership with the local government units and the DA regional field units as forefront of implementation are a little achievement for the bigger need of better and more road networks,” she said.

These roads have also improved the rapid and easy access of the residents to hospitals, increased attendance of children at school and enhanced the LGUs delivery of social services.

“Some LGUs testified that with better roads they could actually conduct office caravans in remote areas where all the divisions of the LGU go from barangay to barangay,” Ramos said.(Sherwin B. Manual/DAMRDP)

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Congress • Watch

Monday-Tuesday I Feb. 18-19, 2013

11

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

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

present

CDP WORKSHOP. Cagayan de Oro (1st district) Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez delivers his speech before the candidates and campaign managers of the Centrist Democratic Party in Mindanao during the group’s workshop at the N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro espousing a clean and responsible campaign in the May 2013 elections.

Lower House approves bill modernizing BurCor THE House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill providing for the modernization, professionalization and restructuring of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

House Bill 6887, which substituted House Bills 197, 712, 2880, 4619, 4766, 5546, 5741, 5926 and House Resolution 1327 as contained in Committee Report 2675, was sponsored in plenary by the Committees on Justice and Appropriations chaired by Rep. Niel Tupas, Jr. (5th District, Iloilo) and Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental), respectively.

However, a conference committee has decided to consider its Senate counterpart and is now awaiting enrollment stage.

Rep. Roilo Golez (2nd District, Parañaque City), principal author, said the bill will promote the general welfare and safeguard the basic rights of every prisoner incarcerated in the national penitentiary.

“By upgrading its facilities, increasing the number of personnel, upgrading the level of qualifications of personnel and standardizing base pay, retirement and other benefits, BuCor will be at par with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP),” Golez said.

Golez said the measure also seeks to strengthen government capability to institutionalize highly efficient and competent correctional services in order to improve the criminal justice

system.

According to Golez, one of the key provisions of the bill is mandating the BuCor to be in charge of safekeeping and instituting reformation programs for national inmates sentenced to more than three years.

Golez said the reformation programs to be instituted by BuCor will center on moral and spiritual programs; education and training; work and livelihood; sports and recreation; health and welfare and behavior modification program to include therapeutic community.

“If our present prison system should carry out effectively its purpose to dispense punishment, deterrence, reformation and rehabilitation, as well as the protection of society, it is imperative that the physical facilities to implement these purposes must be upgraded not only for the better treatment of the prisoners but also comply with our international human rights obligations. Thus, this reform is a must,” Golez stressed.

Under the measure to be known as “The Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013,” BuCor shall operate under a directorial structure under the Directorate for Reception and Diagnostics (DRD), which shall undertake reception of inmates .

Among the co-authors of the bill are Reps. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (Party-list, Bagong Henerasyon), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Rodolfo Biazon (Lone

District, Mandaluyong City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Partylist, Abante Mindanao), Joseph Victor Ejercito (Lone District, San Juan City), Danilo Suarez (3rd District, Quezon), Ranulfo Canonigo (Party-list, KAKUSA), Christopher Co (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Leopoldo Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay), Jose Aquino (1st District, Agusan del Norte), Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol), Catalina Bagasina (Party-list, ALE), Marc Douglas Cagas IV (1st District, Davao del Sur), Simeon Datumanong (2nd District, Maguindanao), Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales), Reena Concepcion Obillo (Party-list, Una ang Pamilya), Carlos Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman (1st District, Lanao del Sur), Philip Pichay (1st District, Surigao del Sur), Elmer Panotes (2nd District, Camarines Norte), Ma. Amelita Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), George Arnaiz (2nd District, Negros Oriental), Emmeline Aglipay (Party-list, DIWA), David Kho (Party-list, Senior Citizens), Jocelyn Limkaichong (1st District, Negros Oriental), Lani MercadoRevilla ( 2nd District, Cavite), Emi Calixto-Rubiano (Lone District, Pasay City), Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st District, Western Samar), Cresente Paez (Party-List, COOPNATCCO) and Rodolfo Albano (1st District, Isabela). (PNA)

National ID system hurdles second reading in Congress A PROPOSED law requiring all Filipinos to secure individual identification cards has been approved on second reading by the the House of Representatives.

House Bill 6895, authored by Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, will require all Filipinos here and abroad to secure non-transferable IDs from at the Local Civil Registrars Office of the town or city they live.

The ID, which will be valid for at least 10 years and subject to renewal, will bear the photo, name, birth date, date of issue, signature of the owner, individual serial number issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO), and biometric data of the cardholder.

It will be initially given free but renewals will be charged to

the cardholder.

The proposed “Filipino Identification System Act” aims to reduce red tape in government, Bichara said.

“The bill will reduce costs and lessen the financial burden on both the government and the public brought about by the use of multiple ID cards and maintenance of redundant databases containing the same or related information,” he added.

“It ensures greater convenience for those transacting business with government,” he said.

Under the proposed law, violators who will give false data in applying for the issuance of the ID or use the card to commit fraud or crime will face a P500,000 fine or imprisonment

of not more than 2 years or both at the discretion of the court.

Other authors of the bill are Reps. Christopher Co (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Pedro Romualdo (Lone District, Camiguin), Amelita Calimbas-Villarosa (Lone District, Occidental Mindoro), Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (Partylist, Abante Mindanao), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Alfredo Garbin, Jr. (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Eduardo Gullas (1st District, Cebu), Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), Angelo Palmones (Party-list, AGHAM) and Marlyn Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan).

RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT - This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Business Leaders Awards was undertaken last year to give due recognition to the achievements of various Mindanao business leaders and entrepreneurs in various categories of homegrown corporate and individual business leadership achievements.

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

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

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

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

MECHANICS OF THE SEARCH: Duration of the Search Awards Night

: :

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

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

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

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

For INQUIRIES CONTACT:

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

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