BusinessWeek Mindanao (May 17, 2013 Issue)

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As of 5:56 pm may 16, 2013 (Thursday)

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Briefly NGCP honors linemen THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showcased their linemen’s expertise during the 1st Lineman’s Skills Competition held at their Lineman’s Academy in Maria Cristina, Iligan City last April 23 to 25.

Nicknamed “Lineman’s R o d e o ”, t h e eve n t wa s conceived as an alternative training approach and institutionalized as a venue for knowledge-sharing and skills enhancement.

It was designed to display the unique skills and talent of linemen that are rarely seen by the public.

The competition was also an opportunity for NGCP customers and stakeholders to bet ter appreciate the intr i c ac ies and r i sks of transmission line operations and maintenance.

Accreditation THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded contractors accredited with the Philippines Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) to renew their accreditation to avoid delays in processing and penalties imposed on late registrants.

Starting last February 1, the PCAB has been accepting renewal applications for c o n t r a c t i n g f i s c a l ye a r (CFY) 2013-2014 under the following schedules: those with licenses ending in 0 to 1, February; those ending in 2 to 3, March; 4 to 5, April; 6 to 7, May, and 8 to 9, June.

DTI Regional Director Nazrullah Manzur on T h ur s d ay s a i d t h at t h e new applications approved between January to June this year are included among those who are required to renew in June.

Manzur said that renewal applications of late filers shall be segregated from regular filers and will be imposed with corresponding penalties.

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Group bewails okay of mining firm operation May 17, 2013

By BONG D. FABE, Associate Editor

A

N anti-mining group yesterday questioned the Mines and Geosciences Bureau’s (MGB) decision to allow Siana Mines to continue operation in Surigao del Norte despite historical reports of mine floodings and underground fire.

The Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) said such approval shows the MGB’s carelessness. “ This is ver y terrible t hat t he government has been very careless in its issuances to mining companies.

Unfortunately, as in the earlier years of mines, the DENR and MGB seem to have forgotten their role to ensure that the environment is secure in balancing this destructive and exploitative industry,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM national coordinator.

Garganera also said that it is very alarming that MGB is silent about recent reports of land instability in Siana Mines since April.

Reports gat hered by ATM said that Red5 Limited, owner of Siana Mines, suspended last month its milling operation because of the instability of the tailings dam.

ATM said t hat Siana Mines in Surigao del Norte is an abandoned mine previously operated by Surigao Consolidated Mining Co., Inc. which was first opened in the 1940s. However, it closed down during World War II mining/PAGE 11

Siana River, which flows directly to Mainit Lake, has been the site of gold mining operations in the past decades.

More power coops to buy gensets MORE and more electric cooperatives are up to buy generator sets to beef up their power supply.

In Davao, t hree local utilities are ready

t o a c q u i r e m o du l a r generating sets (gensets) to provide additional supply of power to their franchise areas, an official from the Energy department said

Klarex to continue scholarship program

By BONG D. FABE, Associate Editor

Newly-proclaimed representative of Cagayande Oro’s second district Klarex Uy (R) with Mayor-elect Oscar Moreno vows to continue schalarsip programs. photo by bong d . fabe

NEWLY-proclaimed Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy (1st District, LP) yesterday said he will continue “educating our young people” through his scholarship program, which was discontinued by dethroned Rep. Jose Benjamin Benaldo in 2010, thereby depriving thousands of “Klarex scholars” of the opportunity to chart a bright future.

“We will have a new batch of scholars beginning this school-year,” he told the Mindanao Business Daily.

Uy said that although he will begin serving again as the first congressional district’s program/PAGE 11

late Tuesday.

Irma C . E xconde, Department of Energy (DoE) assistant director for E lec t r ic Power Industry Management Bureau, said that the t hree ident i f ied ECs a lready submitted board resolutions to the department indicating their interest to acquire modular gensets.

“Our basis is the board

resolution of the ECs. Three of them already submitted but we expect more of them to submit within the month,” Ms. Exconde told reporters in an interview in Quezon City.

The Energy official identif ied the ECs as Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Davao del Sur Electric gensets/PAGE 11

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DTI, DBP and Bancnet sign MOA to simplify business registration THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues its objective of encouraging firms, especially the smalland-medium enterprises (SMEs), to be registered by making the transaction of registering more convenient.

Wednesday afternoon, DTI, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), and Bancnet signed t he Memorandum of Agreement for e -p ay me nt for t he Enhanced Business Name Registration System (ENBRS) that will implement a webbased registering and paying system.

The MOA was signed by DTI Consumer Welfare and Business Regulation Group (CWBRG) Undersecretary Z ena id a Ma g laya , DBP President a nd CEO Gi l Buenavent u r a , Ba ncnet President Robert Blas, and Ba ncnet Executive Vice President Aristeo Zafra Jr. DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo was also present to witness the signing of the agreement.

ENBRS is a webbased system designed for entrepreneurs to do the name registration or renewal and payment of their business online.

With this new facility,

ow ners do not need to physically visit a DTI office since they can now transact business through web portal.

However, they need to visit DTI off ice within three months for ID verification.

The new facility also reduced the data to be filled up in registering.

Almost 300,000 firms are registering in DTI for the whole year, mostly walkins or those who physically visit the office, while only less than five percent is registering online.

DTI Secretary Domingo explained the low number of online business registration they have for now is because e-payment is not yet available.

But with the e-payment for ENBRS, Domingo expected more SMEs will now register their business and online registration will climb to 15 percent within the year.

Domingo added that this drive to expand e-payment in the government is aligned to the objective of transparency a nd go o d gove r n a nc e .

This will also ensure the acceleration of trade and commerce in the country.

This undertaking includes transactions with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for MOA/PAGE 11

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DOE tells utilities to submit, publish supply contracts THE ENERGY department has directed power generators, suppliers and distributors to submit their detailed power supply contracts in preparation for the commercial operations of retail competition and open access (RCOA) this coming June.

Under the RCOA, endusers who have an average monthly peak consumption of one-megawatt can choose their own electricity suppliers.

Likewise, electricity suppliers can provide tailored supply packages based on their customer’s consumption and preferences.

In a circular dated May 6 and published yesterday, the Department of Energy (DoE) obliged all generation companies, distribution utilities, suppliers and local suppliers to submit details of their supply contracts.

Specifically, generation companies were instructed to submit on a regular basis, all power supply contracts entered into with distribution utilities and suppliers.

“The report shall, among others, indicate the contract price, contract levels and duration, and any valueadded services,” the circular read.

Meanwhile, suppliers were directed to “submit

p e r t i n e nt i n for m a t i on for t he monitoring and evaluation of the progress of RCOA implementation, including but not limited to, supply por tfolio, list of CCs (contestable customers), contract levels and duration, price ranges and ot her documentar y requirements...”

The distribution utilities were instructed by t h e d e p a r t m e nt t o submit a quarterly report, in t he “ development of contestability within its franchise area.”

It was also tasked to submit quarterly operational repor t, detailing t he segregated sales to captive and contestable customers within its franchise area.

Power generation companies, distribution utilities and suppliers were all directed to identify one focal person to communicate with the department, the Energy Regulator y Commission ( E RC) a n d Ph i l ip pi n e

Electricity Market Corp.

(PEMC) “on matters relating to the implementation of RCOA. MARKETING TEAM Mylene C. Capongcol, DoE Director for Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said that participants usually have a “marketing team” that coordinates with the ERC, DoE and PEMC. “ We w a nt on ly one focal and contact person because before, there’s only a marketing group. So in order to facilitate more organized and easier communication, we wa nt one par ticu lar person to coordinate with us,” she said in a telephone interview yesterday.

Last month, ERC likewise i nst r uc ted d ist r ibut ion utilities and retail electricity suppliers to disclose their e ne r g y a l lo c at ion s for RCOA. Specif ica lly, t he ERC asked the participants to submit data pertaining to the contracted capacity and available capacity, as well as the number of their contestable customers.

T he c i rc u l a r of t he Energy department, however, prov ides more deta i led information compared to the requirement of the ERC. “The DoE and ERC agreed to share information. The DoE’s reporting requirement is more detailed so ERC DOE/PAGE 11

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Volkswagen plans new China car plant GERMAN auto giant Volkswagen (VW) will build a plant in central China, a spokesman said Tuesday, as it battles US rival General Motors to be the top foreign automaker in the world’s biggest car market.

Chrysler recalls 469,000 SUVs for electrical fix CHRYSLER is reca l ling 469,000 older model sportutility vehicles worldwide to fix an electrical problem that could allow the SUV to unintentionally roll away.

The US automa ker announced over the weekend the recall of certain Jeep Commanders, model years 2 0 0 6 -2 010, a nd Gr a nd Cherokees, model years 2005-2010, for a software update to correct the fault.

The company said it had discovered a problem in some circuit boards that transmit signals that result in the vehicle shifting into neutral.

“If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away

increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury,” Chrysler said in a filing to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The c ompa ny ’s i nve st igat ion b e ga n i n January 2012 after a customer complained that a 2007 Grand Cherokee shifted to neutral and began to roll after a remote start.

The recall affects about 295,000 vehicles in the United States; 28,500 in Canada; 4,200 in Mexico; 141,000 elsewhere, the company said.

The recall is expected to begin in June, and the sof tware update will be performed free of charge, it said.

The plant in the city of Cha ngsha w i l l st a r t production in early 2016 with an annual output capacity of 300,000 vehicles, a Beijingbased spokesman for VW told AFP. “We are quite close to an official announcement.

I think it will come this week,” the spokesman said, but declined to give an investment figure.

The move comes as VW

battles US auto giant GM for dominance in the huge Chinese market, despite worries about over-capacity.

VW delivered 2.81 million vehicles in the country last year while GM sold 2.84 million, making them its biggest foreign automakers.

GM said this month it would build a $1.3 billion Cadillac plant in Shanghai after the Chinese government approved the project, as it

seeks more lu xur y auto sales — which at present are dominated by German brands.

“The production expa nsion of foreign c a r m a k e r s s how s t he y see growth opportunities in China’s car market,” Jia Xinguang, managing director of industry group the China Automobile Dealers Association, told AFP. China’s annual auto sales rose only 4.3 percent year-onyear to 19.31 million units in 2012, hit by limits on numbers imposed by some cities to ease traffic congestion and tackle pollution.

But management consulting firm McKinsey last year predicted China’s passenger car market alone will grow an average eight percent annually to 2020.

VW currently has 12 vehicle and component plants in China, and the Changsha plant is a joint venture with Shanghai-based SAIC Motor, one of its existing Chinese partners.

“The location of Changsha may be a result of Volkswagen’s strategy to move production inland to central and western China and its consideration of local car/PAGE 7

Three US automakers to skip Tokyo Motor Show TOKYO — Dozens of car, truck and motorcycle makers will be in attendance at the Tokyo Motor Show later this year, organizers said Monday, but the Big Three US automakers will be skipping it again.

The 43rd edition of the event, which is held every two years, is scheduled for November 22 to December 1.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler will not be attending for the third-straight time, said Atsushi Fujimaki, a spokesman for the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

The trio did not attend the show’s 2009 and 2011 editions.

“Honestly, we don’t know why,” he said.

“As a matter of course, we wanted them to take part and we asked them to do so as we have in the past.”

Among the Japanese and foreign brands taking part are Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, Germany’s BMW, France’s Renault and Sweden’s Volvo.

Two years ago, the show was held months after Japan’s quake-tsunami disaster, which crippled production for Japanese automakers and dented their financial results.

BRANCHES:

Coupe sports car worth P20 million in 2007. [See Lamborghini commemorates 50th year anniversary] This even though he declared a g ross income of on ly P225,078.60 for that year, according to BIR records.

The bureau’s investigators found that Villapando failed to file any income tax return for the years 1992-2002 and 2005, declaring a combined income of P718,575.78 in 2003-2004, 2006 and 2007.

The BIR said his income for those years were withheld and remitted by his employer, indicating that Villapando earned only compensation tax/PAGE 7

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Lamborghini-driving Ayala resident sued for tax evasion THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) today sued a L a mborg h i n i-d r iv i ng resident of posh Aya la Alabang for tax evasion.

In a statement, the BIR said it filed criminal charges before t he Depa r t ment of Justice (DOJ) against Napoleon Segui Villapando “for willful attempt to evade or defeat” tax payments for the year 2007 -- a violation of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

A resident of 301 San Juanico St in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Villapando bought from his employer, Norsophil Metal Resources Inc, a Lamborghini 2-door

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Investments, Consider a Time Deposit

When Thinking of

W

hen people think about investments, several things come to mind – stocks, bonds, treasury bills, real estate, and others. But another form of investment that seldom comes just as easily as the aforementioned ones is a time deposit.

A time deposit, especially with a reputable and stable bank, is one sure way to reap a future financial windfall.

While time deposits or TD’s are indeed deposit products, unlike regular savings deposits, a TD often has a higher interest rate.

The rates differ according the type of time deposit and the norm is the longer the deposit stays with the bank, the better the interest rate. This is the downside though of a TD: it cannot be withdrawn just as easily as that of a regular savings deposit. It has to stay with the bank for an agreed period or “term”. After the term, the principal amount can be withdrawn with the accrued interest, or, if the depositor chooses, it can be held for another term. In addition, interest rates may also be driven by market factors.

However, unlike investing in the stock market, or worse, gambling

EVP Jesus Vicente Garcia, veterans bank your money away at the casino or betting on horses, a time deposit in a reputable bank is probably the safest way for an individual to save and grow his or her money.

However, before rushing off to save your hard-earned money in a TD, there are several factors to consider first.

Mr. Jesus Vicente Garcia, Executive Vice-President and Branch Banking Group Head of Philippine Veterans Bank advises individuals to look beyond the interest rate when shopping for time deposit products. Individuals should also consider the bank’s reputation and understand that not all time deposit products are alike.

They should also read the fine print and understand all the terms and conditions of the time deposit product before signing the dotted line, so to speak.

Maximized Returns on a Long-Term TD Investment Philippine Veterans Bank, a commercial bank with a network of 60 branches nationwide, offers time deposit products with terms of 30 to 360 days. But for the past couple of years, it has also been offering individuals a long-term time deposit product that will deliver a financial

windfall at the end of five years: Maxi-Return Time Deposit.

“Our Maxi-Return Time Deposit is one of three long-term TD products currently offered by the bank that offers maximized return on your investment,” said Mr. Garcia. “And this is because of the 5% interest rate we can give you.”

Veterans Bank Maxi-Return Time Deposit promises a generous return on the deposit amount an individual makes at the start of the term. A P500,000 deposit today will earn an estimated interest of P141,855.79 at the end of the term.

“Our Maxi-Return TD is quite affordable,” said Mr. Garcia. “For as little as P100,000, you can already open a 5-year TD with Veterans Bank. You get all benefits especially the high interest rate of 5% that is monthly compounding.”

Mr. Garcia is also proud to say that all of Veterans Bank’s time deposit products come with free insurance incentive. Every time deposit opened guarantees the depositor with an accident insurance coverage worth the deposit amount or up to P5 million.

“Our insurance incentive for Maxi-Return is more special because aside from the accident insurance, it also has a In-Hospital

Income Benefit whereby if the individual gets hospitalized for at least a day, he or she can receive a cash benefit equivalent to 0.10% of his or her deposit amount,” added Mr. Garcia.

“That makes the product even more attractive. You’re not only saving for your future but you’re also insuring yourself and your family.”

Long-Term Time Deposits Still Attractive Investment Option Since Veterans Bank launched its long-term time deposit products two years ago, the market response has been overwhelming. According to Mr. Garcia, the bank achieved its target of hitting Php 2 billion for its long-term time deposit products last year.

This year, despite the economic slowdown globally, Mr. Garcia still believes that TD products will still be an attractive investment given that the Philippine market has experienced an uptick of late.

“People, especially those looking for long-term financial rewards, will still look at time deposit products that will be offered by banks,” said Mr. Garcia. “And I still believe that with 5% interest and free accident insurance incentive, our Maxi-Return TD will still be foremost in their minds.”

Indeed time deposit products will be a success mainly because people will always want to secure their future and are always looking for a safe yet enriching investment.

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F

Was the election in Cag. de Oro rig?

IVE days after the euphoria of the midterm election, ris iaz more questions than answers cropped up.

Many suspect the votes that mayoralty candidate Oscar Moreno (LP) got.

Residents in Cagayan de Oro City could hardly believe that Moreno would get a vote higher than the usual pattern of votes casted in favor of the Liberal Party and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bets.

For instance, Moreno’s vote was higher than his vice mayoral and the city council bets. Residents said that the votes casted in favor of incumbent Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Emano’s ticket and the LP bets minus Moreno were credible. In other words, the vote for Moreno was unbelievable if one examines the pattern of the votes.

Whether the observation has basis, the independent National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) must have seen the discrepancy.

A NAMFREL coordinator said their group has discovered some disturbing data while processing the number of votes in some precincts in Cagayan de Oro City.

NAMFREL has reportedly discovered inconsistency of the number of votes casted as against the number of registered voters in some precincts.

Based on the NAMFREL’s revelation, there are now questions on how widespread the “statistically improbable” cases of votes casted in favor of a candidate in Cagayan de Oro are.

At any rate, this is just a suspicion unless proven with incontrovertible evidences in court.

If ever, it is also the prerogative of Mayor Vicente Emano’s group to file a case of disqualification against Oscar Moreno. Emano has a battery of lawyers who know how to expose the alleged rigging of election in Cagayan de Oro. Knowing Emano as a great political leader, he knows that humility in times of defeat is a priceless value that DIAZ/PAGE 11

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hink a minute…If you made a list of your most important priorities, all the people and things that mean the most to you, what would be on your list?

You would probably have things like your family, job, schooling, friends and fun.

Now look at your life.

Are you living your list?

How are you spending most of your time?

Do you really practice your priorities?

Someone said: “If we don’t actually practice our priorities, then they’re not really our priorities.”

Our actions and lifestyle speak much louder than our words. If we don’t live it, we don’t believe it.

How we spend our time shows what we love and care about.

We almost always find the time to do the things we really want to.

Unfortunately, our jobs, personal hobbies and pleasures can become more important to us than they should.

Soon these pleasures and our profession can replace our most important priorities.

They end up controlling how we live and what we do in our free time during the evenings and weekends.

Maybe you realize today that you’re not really living

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your list.

You’re not spending most A Minute of your time on your most

By Jhan Tiafau Hurst important priorities in life.

Yo u’r e n o t s p e n d i n g enough time on your marriage and children, other people, as well as your own personal character growth.

Most importantly, you’re not spending enough time on the most important person and priority in life: your own Creator Who has a great plan for your life.

But you can start changing that today by asking Jesus Christ to forgive you for not putting Him first in your life.

Jesus promises that if you will put Him first in every relationship and area of your life, He will give you everything you need for the successful, satisfying life He created you to enjoy.

So it’s actually quite simple: Jesus IS your list.

Just Think a Minute…

THINK

Poverty and Internal migration

T

he recent poverty statistics which showed that the poverty figures are unchanged reflects the hard data on the ground.

Given the phenomenon of internal migration in the different cities such as Cagayan de Oro, the burden of inequity remains.

However, some positive trends have emerged.

There are several factors that trigger migration.

The first factor is food shortage in the outlying regions.

The drop in agricultural production in the key staples like rice and corn brings this about.

Climate change issues has severely affected the rice and corn harvest.

The second factor is the unemployment dilemma that is characterized by the absence of job vacancies in the provinces.

Since most of the businesses located there are familyowned, the available jobs are offered only to relatives.

This situation leads to long-term unemployment, e.g., people are out of job for a period of one or two years.

The third factor is the situation of weak and domestic markets; in the provinces there are few buyers of products and services.

The fourth factor is the unstable family income.

Since the production of agricultural crops is uncertain and the job market is almost nil except for government employment, the family income is subject to severe fluctuations.

Hence, family members have to forego even the basic three square meals a day and bear constant hunger. The fifth factor is the limited educational facilities for the children.

There are few public schools in the province.

The sixth factor is the inflationary pressures in the province. The high cost of freight and the state of bad

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Layout Artists

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W

ECONOMIC

roads in the barangay level make it more expensive to B uttresses transport food and other

By Amparo Pamela Fabe items to the rural areas.

All these factors converge and influence the family to move in Cagayan de Oro City in search of solutions to solve their dilemma.

The migrant families have access to a new set of services.

First, they have a constant access to ample food supply.

The public markets offer a variety of food commodities.

Second, the family has a constant access to regular employment even if majority of these are in the form of non-formal employment. The father and the mother work and, in very few cases, the children also work.

Third, the family enjoys a new setting and a new environment. They have access to video games, movie houses, computer games and internet service.

Fourth, they have a stable family income. Local ordinance imposes a minimum wage condition on business employing workers. The compensation in non-formal work is equivalent to two-thirds of the minimum wage, which can already support a minimum lifestyle. Those engaged in selling, since they face a bigger consumer market, have a higher income.

Fifth, the children of migrants families are able to go to school since there are many public schools in the city.

Sixth, the low inflation rate in the city enables families to plan their family expenditure well, and to buy things as they need these.

The treasure inside of us

e are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.

- Buddha I have always been fascinated by the idea that a treasure lies buried deep within us. There is truth to this belief.

This truth is proven by nature; a giant tree lies buried in the seed, and a majestic eagle lies dormant in the egg.

What Alladin’s cave of riches lie hidden inside of us?

The money-grubber will be disappointed, but the wisdomseeker will be captivated.

Our treasure chest contains this ineffable knowledge: that everything we need to be happy, to live in contentment and peace, is already inside of us! Isn’t this realization worth its weight in gold?

But buried treasure is useless unless we find it. The mountain of books I have perused sketches a map that could lead us to this elusive cache of valuables.

We are familiar with the statements, “What a man thinketh so he is,” or “Thoughts make the man”.

Our mind is the master, and beautiful feelings are the essential character of our natural state of mind. We are born with happy, loving thoughts. Observe a baby or a toddler. Aren’t they spontaneously laughing and hugging, trusting and loving? That’s our natural, pure state of being.

But as we travel through life, the bumps and detours we hurdle on the road is our initiation to stress, insecurity

a nd pa in. We develop a he usiness thought system that stores O f H appiness these painful memories and

By Girlie Gualberto-Suan perceptions. It’s similar to a program in a computer where we store accumulated data. In our personally programmed thought system, we record our experiences, and what other people teach us about life. Most of what we keep are the harmful, unfavourable lessons which produce gloomy emotions. They block out the good feelings and inspiration that come from our natural state of mind.

Our emotions are created by our thoughts. The next time you feel miserable or angry or fearful, observe where your thoughts are coming from. They are produced by a programmed thought system which you create, based on your negative observations. To allow them a foothold is like allowing misery to become a part of your family.

Quickly replace them with optimistic, cheerful thoughts that bring happy feelings.

Thinking is an ability of the intellect, and not our reality. This truth is so liberating, it can save us many SUAN/PAGE 11

T

B

BusinessWeek 7

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MINDANAO CREDIBLE

Tax...

from page 3

income and thus had no capacity to acquire the luxury sports car.

“Thus, his acquisition must have been made possible by income he earned from other sources aside from his compensation as an employee,” the agency said.

Based on its computation, the BIR said Villapando failed to report P19.77 million in income, thus representing an under-declaration of 8,786 percent of income.

Under Section 248 of the Tax Code, under-declaration of taxable income by more than 30 percent constitutes a prima facie case of fraud

tantamount to tax evasion.

According to the BIR, Vi l lapa ndo owed t he government P15.84 million in taxes, inclusive of surcharges and interests.

This is the bureau’s 165th case under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) Program filed under the leadership of Commissioner Kim JacintoHenares.

Car...

from page 3

policies, which might offer tax incentives to support the investment,” Jia said.

A n env ironmenta l assessment report conducted last year by t he Huna n Resea rch Academy of Environmental Sciences and

posted on its website put the investment at 12.1 billion yuan ($2.0 billion).

VW’s head for China, Jochem Heizmann, told reporters last month the company was negotiating with Changsha authorities over the factory, part of its scheme to build seven new plants in the country, Dow Jones Newswires reported.

VW produced 2.6 million vehicles in China last year, with the rest of sales coming from imports, according to the group’s annual report.

It delivered nearly 770,000 vehicles in China in the first quarter of 2013, up more than 21 percent from the same period last year, according to an earlier statement.

Suan... from page 6

years of tears. Our thoughts live in our mind. They have no existence in real life. How foolish we are, if we take our negative thoughts seriously and suffer them to mess up our lives. Yet we do it all the time.

W hen our par tner is unaccountably late, is not ou r mind screa ming of inf idelity or injur y? At DXRU Radio Ultra, a woman came to us asking for help with her hospital bill. She was violently beaten by her husband, simply because he saw her talking to another man.

Didn’t the young UP student commit suicide when

PLDT denies ‘weak signals’ causing delays in election returns’ transmission MANILA – With respect to press reports that “weak signals” had caused delays in the transmission of election returns, we wish to state that the fixed and mobile networks of PLDT, Smart and Sun Cellular were f u l ly f u nc t ion a l throughout the electoral exercise. Transmissions actually sent through our

networks were promptly delivered to the COMELEC and PPCRV ser vers in Manila.

I n fac t , COM EL EC Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., in a press brief ing Wednesday (May 15), said weak signals were not the major reason for the slow transmission of election returns.

He said that: “Yung mga walang signals do affect the transmission through the province or the city to dito sa amin – pero di masyado problema yun. A major problem in the transmission of PCOC and the City COC is really the disputes and the ‘incomplete’.”

It is worth pointing out that in the May 2010

elections, nearly 80% of the election results were successfully transmitted to the central data servers of the COMELEC and the PPCRV 12 hours after the polling precincts were closed.

From a purely telecoms standpoint, there is no reason why a similar, if not better, result should have been achieved in 2013.

FIBECO Board of Directors’ Accomplishment Report of 2012 THE Board of Directors of FIBECO, Inc. takes upon good governance yielding toward sustainability of electric service to each and every member consumer within the franchise area. In fulfillment thereof, the Board is mindful of its inherent power to decide cooperative policies subject to the oversight review of the National Electrification Administration (NEA); thus, has set the directional perspective of the organization intertwined with the Board’s functional responsibilities.

On policy directions, the board has achieved the following: (1) Adopting the e.ICPM ( Enhanced-Integrated Computerized Planning Model) of the Cooperative for the year 2012-2016 and approving the annual work plan for 2021; (2) Requesting NEA for technical assistant in the preparation for the organizational reconstructing in FIBECO, Inc.; (3)Creating the Plantilla positions of Asssistant General Manager, Assistant Area Manager, Executive Assistant and Executive Technical Assistant appropriating funds therefor and for other purposes; and (4) Adopting the retirement plan rules and regulations of Fibeco based on the scheme promulgated by NEA. Furthermore on the legal responsibility vis-a-vis power supply plan, the following are there achievements: (1) Authority to enter power Sales Agreement for the mini Hydro Power Plant projects of FIBECO; (2) Authority to sign the renewable Energy Service Contract entered into by FIBECO and the Department of Energy for the development of the Maramag and Muleta Mini Hydro Power Plants; (3) Authority to file with the energy Regulatory Commission on the Sale for Resale Agreement with BUSECO for the Available electric power of FIBECO computed as excess and appropriating funds for the purpose; (4) Authority to enter into an energy Power Purchase Agreement/Power Supply Agreement with Filinvest Development Corporation Utilities Inc. for the 15 MW power supply for and in behalf of FIBECO; (5) Approving the organization of Project Companies and to form a joint stock corporation therewith for the development and operation of mini hydro and Bio-energy power plant project s of FIBECO; (6) Authority to sign the application for registration with the securities and exchange Commission(SEC) on the project companies formed and organized by FIBECO; (7) Authority to enter into contract with USAID for the conduct of Biomass Resource Assessment in Mindanao to be undertaken by FIBECO ; (8) Acquisition of the 69 KV line in consortium with BUSECO; (9) Formation

of the BECO Foundation for the CSR of FIBECO and BUSECO; (10) Authorizing power supply agreement with king Energy Generation Inc. and Crystal Sugar Company , Inc.; and (11) Approving the buying out of PULANGIIV hydro power plant with stakeholders.

Also, on their internal control operations, it includes: (1) Approving the budget of 30th AGMA of FIBECO; (2) Adopting the 2011 Audited Financial Statement of FIBECO; (3) Granting cash incentive benefits to the officers and employees for garnering the best Achievement Awards from NEA; (4) Appropriating the needed amount for the development and operation of project companies of FIBECO subject to reimbursement from their respective investors; and (5) Increasing the budget for Renewable Energy investment from 3M to 10Mretroactive April 2012.

FIBECO also provides employees and officers benefits to: (1) Granting the Anniversary Bonus to the Officers and Employees at P10, 000 each and P2, 000 each to Probationary, Outsourced and Security Guards and appropriating P2, 864,000 for the purpose; (2) Granting cash incentive benefits to the officers and employees in the amount of P 25,000 per officer/employee and P5, 000 per probationary, casual & outsourced employees for garnering the best Achievement Awards from NEA; (3) Approving the grant of benefits for December 2012 in the amount of Fourteen Million One hundred Thirty five thousand two hundred forty Six pesos ( P14,135,246) intended for the officers, employees, and other personnel of FIBECO and appropriating funds for the purpose; and (4) Submitting to NEA for approval the allowances due the FIBECO Board of Directors as proposed by the management and appropriating funds for the purpose.

Aside from the employees, the consumers also acquired advantages: (1) Authorizing the release of funds for the 3rd MSEAC Congress; (2) Authorizing the release of funds for BAPA capability building and training; (3) Organization of FIBECO Barangay Member Consumer Electrification Committee; (4) Authorizing the release funds for the holding of forum on different barangays which are identified as SEP beneficiary prior to implementation; and (5) Authorizing the mobilization and the release of funds for the member Consumer Empowerment and Leadership Program (MCELP).

Now, FIBECO abides to do more for this year for the common good.

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her parents couldn’t pay her tuition fee? In her mind she saw her future as a wretched purgatory, beyond the reach of even a glimmer of hope.

She believed her thoughts to be her reality, and in despair, she gave up on life.

Until we decipher the primordial message, that we are the master of our mind, we will continue to act rashly and tragically.

W hen I catch myself feeling stressed or depressed, I become conscious that I’m thinking through my d istor ted , prog ra m med thought system. It’s like wearing extremely dark glasses and looking at the world with gloom. I know I should look at life through a peaceful, natural state of

mind, but sometimes it’s not that easy to take those dark glasses off.

K n ow i n g t h e t r u t h about our thoughts give us the understanding to deal with what is happening. It somehow lightens the burden of worry which deplete our energy and serenity.

Our buried treasure are the beautiful thoughts that spring from the mastery of our mind, from whence f low the cool, clear waters of w i s dom , p e a c e a nd happiness.

(Catch my program “Kalipay Nga Molahutay” at its new timeslot 7:00-8:00PM MonThurs @ DXRU Radio Ultra 1188AM Band.)

Saints are sinners who just keep trying.

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‘Hybrid rice will ensure food security worldwide’

By PAUL M. ICAMINA

“WASTING rice is a crime.

Farmers work very hard to produce rice,” Professor Yuan Longping, the keynote speaker at the 1st National Hybrid Rice Congress at the Philippine Rice Research I n s t it ute (Ph i l R ic e) i n Munoz, Nueva Ecija, said.

Considered as China’s Na t i on a l Tr e a s u r e for bringing so much rice to the world, Longping said hybrid rice is the only way to feed the world.

“Hybrid rice will play a key role in ensuring food security worldwide in the 21st century,” he said, pointing out that if half of rice paddy worldwide is covered by hybrids, rice production could be increased by another 150 million tons to feed half a billion more people.

“Rice is a major food crop that feeds more than half of the world,” Yuan said.

He pointed out that 60 percent more rice (compared to harvests in 1995) should be produced to feed the world in 2030.

“Currently one hectare of rice production provides

Hybrid rice technology flexes muscles

By Ma. Lizbeth J. BaroÑa

FATHER OF HYBRID RICE. Professor Yuan Longping, considered as the “Father of Hybrid Rice”, inspect a hybrid rice in a demonstration farm in China.

food for 27 people,” he said.

“By 2050, one hectare will have to support 43 people.”

One way to bridge the hunger gap is by planting hybrid rice which already feeds 70 million more people in China each year.

The average yield in 29.5 million hectares planted to

inbred rice is 6.4 tons per hectare (t/ha).

The average in 17 million hectares planted to hybrid (58 percent of the rice area) is 7.5t/ha, a yield advantage of over 20 percent.

An inbred rice variety is a cross between two or more different varieties and

reproduces itself through selfpollination or inbreeding.

Because seeds can be used for the succeeding planting seasons, most of the rice plants in farmers’ field today are inbred rice.

A hybrid is the product of a cross bet ween t wo rice/PAGE 11

IT’S not just about sounding optimistic that the greatest struggle of man – fighting poverty—is about to get a break. It is about being hopeful that finally, a scientific breakthrough that could get us to near attenuating, if not altogether eliminating, hunger is already being fieldtested in the part of the world where it all begun: China.

A new research in hybrid rice technology—the super rice varieties—is showing promising results, making its proponents hopeful on the prospect of achieving greater potentials of the hybrid rice.

The hybrid rice technology was developed in China in 1974. It will be almost three decades later that the Filipino farmer, albeit tentatively, started to make use of the technology.

Today, about 50% of China’s total rice area produces hybrid rice. China’s hybrid program was able to increase average rice production from 3.5 to 6.2 tons/ha. More importantly, it was able to feed more than 1 billion of its people.

Our government is excited with the implications of the high-yielding hybrid rice. It did not take long for the hybrid rice technology to make good on its promise: farmers who took part in the Hybrid Rice Commercialization Program (HRCP) reported having high-yields that they could only imagine before they were introduced to the hybrid variety.

The country’s Cagayan Valley has already 3,500 of its farmers planting hybrid rice, boasting an average yield of 6.15 ton/ha using hybrid rice varieties. From the south, the Philippine Rice Reseach Institute reported hybrid/PAGE 11

Sugar from nipa sap ideal for diabetics

MRDP upholds infra projects’ quality standards

NIPA sap can now be used to make sugar.

The product is classified as an alternative sugar that is ideal for diabetics, the overweight and the healthconscious.

Nipa sap sugar has a low glycemic index and does not cause sudden sugar spikes in the blood stream when consumed, making it ideal for diabetics. It is also low in calories so that weight-watchers stand to benefit.

Nipa sap sugar can be used as sweetener and ingredient in several foods and confectionery products like pastries and native delicacies.

In 2010, food researchers at the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) started developing the technology for the production of sugar from nipa sap.

Researchers led by Engr. Norberto Ambagan and Elsa Falco of ITDI’s Food Processing Division made a survey of local processors and saw the need to improve the processing of nipa sap for sugar.

“We introduced some innovations to standardize the process and produce sugar of better quality at a competitive cost,” said Falco, the product development lead.

Two major technology improvements were adopted.

One was the appropriate collection system using flexible pouches or sterile plastics to collect the sap.

“This is a simple collection system that can be easily adopted by the mangangarit or mananguete” says Melchor Valdecañas who heads food processing research at ITDI. “This method minimizes the exposure of the sap to air and contaminants, and allows the hygienic collection of sap, eliminating the tedious washing of collection vessels after every use to minimize inversion and fermentation of sap.”

The second innovation involved the processing equipment used in cooking the nipa sap to produce the sugar.

The collected nipa sap was boiled or cooked using the modified fire-tube-steam-jacketed kettle, replacing the direct heating of open pans traditionally used by processors. With this innovation, scorching during cooking is avoided.

Several field trials were conducted in nipa-growing communities in Morong, Bataan; Infanta, Quezon; Bulacan, Bulacan; and Pagsanghan, Western Samar.

Preliminary results showed a 15 percent average yield – that is about 1.5 kilograms of nipa sap sugar from 10 liters of nipa sap.

When analyzed in the laboratory, nipa sap sugar was shown to have the same mineral profile or electrolytes sugar/PAGE 11

The Mindanao Rura l D e ve l o pm e nt P r o g r a m (MRDP) upholds its adherence to quality standards and promptly instituted corrective measures to overcome any implementation lapses.

This came after a written complaint from a concerned citizen citing irregularities of the farm-to-market road project in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

MRDP is a special project u nder t he D e pa r t ment o f A g r i c u l t u r e ( DA ) which implements rura l i n f r a st r uc t u re proje c t s in partnership with local government u nits in Mindanao. These projects cover FMR, irrigation, and potable water system.

Barangay captain Mario delos Reyes, Sr. the complainant said the concrete pavement were defective and the reinforced concrete pipe culvert were also alleged to have no pile of rocks as described in a grouted riprap work item.

Local Government Unit (LGU) of Titay through a public bidding, implemented the said project and has the responsibility to fully i mplement it ba sed on approved plan. “ T h e program i mmed iately formed a n inspectorate team to conduct a comprehensive assessment and technical validation of the said FMR project,” said Lealyn Ramos, MRDP program director.

T he composite tea m included the engineers from MRDP/PAGE 11

INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION. A former OFW displays his home-made wine during an exhibit organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE)’s OFW Reintegration Program. The DoLE and Department of Agriculture (DA) recently signed an agreement on a P2-billion financing scheme aimed at encouraging returning OFWs to establish agribusinesses and earn enough income for their families.

DA, DoLE offer P2-B in agri loans to OFWs THE heads of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently signed an agreement on a P2-billion financing scheme aimed at encouraging returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to establish agribusinesses and earn enough income for their families. “ This [scheme] is in recognition of their [OFWs] invaluable contribution to t he countr y’s economic status,” Agriculture Secretary Prospero J. Alcala said. “The government also hopes to

harmoniously work with them to effect positive rural development.”

For her pa r t , L abor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said the DOLE supports the DA and the high potential of the country’s agricultural sector in terms of creating jobs.

“The country needs more agribusiness entrepreneurs who will not only invest money, but also time, effort and sk ills to modernize the agriculture sector,” she added.

Under the agreement, t he D OL E s h a l l m a k e

available the P2-billion OFW Reintegration Program to OFW ventures in agriculture or f isher ies , eit her for business expansion or startup operations, subject to its implementing rules and regulations.

T he a g re ement a l s o ensures t he avai labi lit y of information and e nt re pre ne u r s h ip w it h tech nolog y t ra i n i ng i n agriculture and fisheries; management and marketing assistance; experts’ technical suppor t ; a nd access to f i na nc i ng a nd suppor t loans/PAGE 11

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Mining... from page 1

1946, producing 4,800kg of gold and 8,000kg of silver. It was closed down again due to mine f looding and underground fire.

“The abandoned mine site was not rehabilitated until Red5 Limited secured a mining permit in 2002.

It was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate in April 2009 despite a prior scheduled Final Mine Rehabilitation and Decommissioning Plan expected late May of the same year,” ATM said.

“Siana Mines owner Red5 should certainly not have been allowed to reopen and use the old tailings facility. MGB should k now better t ha n t hat before permitting the reopening without rehabilitating the old facilities.

Meanwhile, Red5 Limited should have also known this before it operated in the area—mining under the circumstances was reckless,” said Dr. Robert Goodland, a social and environmental assessment specia list and member of t he London Working Group on Mining in the Philippines.

G ood la nd u rged MGB to institute “a transparent emergency action plan” for Siana Mines, such as (1) the immediate stop to all mining operations, (2) to alert local authorities and downstream communities of the big risks and encourage them to get out of the way of any breach that looks likely to happen at any time, and (3) for MGB to immediately conduct an onsite safety/risk assessment to prevent damage and reduce risks to some semblance of acceptability.

“The major lesson to be learned from this risky episode is that old tailings facilities must have safety assessments before new mining is permitted. Furthermore, to guarantee adequate mine closure and restoration, escrow bonds must be created and updated annually before a mining corporation is permitted to abandon a mine site,” Goodland added.

E a rl ier re p or t s s a id t hat geotechnical experts representing different parties of Red5 Limited have individually concluded that there is an unquantifiable risk in returning the tailings dam to operating status.

“At t h is t i me when we’re actually facing different threats (both natural and man-made) and risks, this mine should be immediately closed down and rehabi l it ated . T h is sit u at ion seriously merits a response from the MGB. Consequently, the review of all mining projects in the country should start. Lastly, we urge the NDRMMC at the provincial and regional levels to immediately conduct parallel investigations on this continuing event, so that we can safely determine if there are risks that face the communities in the Caraga region,” Garganera said.

T h e S i a n a G o l d P r oj e c t comprises of both an open pit and an underground mine. The project, as originally designed, delivers a minimum 849,000 ounces of gold production at a cash cost of sub US$400 per ounce over a ten-year life.

Program... from page 1

representative in Congress in July, he will not wait for July to begin his scholarship program since “classes will officially begin on June 3.”

“We will not wait until I will be back in Congress. Classes will start on the first week of June and if we’ll wait until July, it will be too late. We cannot deprive our scholars the opportunity to return to school in June,” he said.

When Uy visited the Global Mindanaw Polytechnic (GMP) spa at the Peace Center building of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. (BMFI) recently, he was very happy to have met some of his former scholars now teaching massage therapy at the GMP. T h e G M P i s a T E S DAaccredited and SEC-registered vocational technical school that was specifically established to help in the fulfillment of the vision of Balay Mindanaw Group (BMG) of NGOs.

BMG Senior Director Ariel C. Hernandez, who is also executive director of the Katilingbanong Pa ma handi sa Mindanaw

Fou nd at ion, I nc . (K PM F I) explained that GMP was established to (1) provide technical vocational education and training programs, especially to poor rural households in Mindanao; (2) take the lead in providing globally competitive, excellent and tradable skillful Filipino workers with passion for socio-economic development such as alleviating poverty and building peace; (3) provide the highest possible quality of professionalism in education and training that is market-driven, relevant to industry needs and at par with national and international standards; (4) be sought on its expertise in innovative community-based technology and entrepreneurship development by those who demand the highest caliber of human resources and by those potential entrepreneurs, hence, it is the Center for Mindanao Technopreneurship; and (5) partner with like-minded and like-hearted i nst it ut ions , e spec ia l ly w it h technical vocation and financial institutions coming from public and private sectors to ensure the viability and sustainability of its programs and projects.

Uy said he will look for an “opening” to be a partner of GMP in t he implementation of his scholarship program, which mostly prov ides technica l vocationa l education to his scholars.

One of Uy’s scholars, Allan E. Ladegorio of Barangay Tignapoloan said that Uy provided him the rare opportunity to pursue a college degree.

Ladegorio took up Agriculture at the Misamis Oriental State C ol le ge of A g r ic u lt u re a nd Technology (MOSCAT). He said he chose to major in Agriculture because that is the “backbone of our country” without which everyone will go hungry.

He described Uy as a “bridge.”

“Congressman Uy is the bridge to our future. Through him, we are given the opportunity to realize our dream and make our future bright,” he said, adding: “I am like a man walking across a bridge, and that bridge is Congressman Uy. He sacrificed a lot, he exerted effort so that we can pass through the bridge safely toward the achievement of our goal—a bright future.”

Gensets... from page 1

Electric Cooperative, Inc.; and Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative, Inc. Ms. Exconde said these ECs will have to conduct a bidding for the acquisition of the gensets, and afterwards, they could already tap the funding assistance from the government. “They will have to go through their process of bidding.

So that depends how fast they will be able to complete their bidding process. After that, they can tap support from the government,” Ms. Exconde said.

“We have d ra f t ter ms of reference and we will provide this to them for their guide on how to go through the process, including the arrangements,” she added.

The official said that the DoE a lready submitted a letter to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) requesting for a P4.4-billion funding from the Malampaya fund.

“We already have a letter to the DBM, as early as two months ago, saying that this is a concrete program to address the power problem and Mindanao and we need the support of the national government, through the Malampaya fund,” she said.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA), the agency that oversees the operations of the ECs all over the country, will establish the trust fund for the financing of the gensets.

In all, there are 27 ECs in Mindanao. Ms. Exconde said that the remaining interested ECs have yet to submit their board resolutions confirming their participation in the program of the DoE. Ms. Exconde said the gensets would probably be ready “within the year.”

Last month, DoE Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said the government is willing to allocate a P4.4-billion budget for modular generators. Under the program, the ECs can purchase their own gensets.

DOE... from page 2

may or may not requ i re t he participants to submit report of

the same information is already subm it te d to t he D oE ,” t he department’s Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said in a text message yesterday

The reports that will be received by the department will be published, according to Mr. Petilla. “We will publish the reports and use them as a guide for further policies that may be required by RCOA,” he said.

E RC E x e c ut i ve D i r e c t o r Francis Saturnino C. Juan said in a text message that the resolution was promulgated as part of the preparations for the commercial operations of the RCOA. “It is for the information and monitoring,” Mr. Juan added.

COMPLAINTS

The new circular and the ERC’s resolution were promulgated in response to several issues and concerns raised by contestable customers on the “inaction of several suppliers to their requests for proposal.”

M s . C ap ongcol s a id t hat contestable customers -- or those end-users accredited by the ERC to participate in the RCOA -complained that suppliers are not making any offers to them, with the latter claiming that they are already fully contracted. “There are contestable customers that complained. According to them, despite their efforts, they have not yet executed any supply contract,” Ms. Capongcol explained.

The detailed reporting will determine if there is enough supply for the demand of the contestable customers, according to the official.

L a s t D e c . 17, t h e E R C promulgated the transitory rules for the initial implementation of RCOA, which commenced on Dec. 26 and will run until June 25.

MOA... from page 2

tax identification numbers, Social Security System (SSS) and Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) for employer registration numbers, all in line with the Public Business Registry.

However, not included in the scope of the new system are pa r t nership, cor poration a nd cooperative firms for they are under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The new e-payment for EBNRS will be launched on May 31 of this year. (PNA)

Diaz... from page 6

leaders are.

Emano knows that he won the election “fair and square.” Perhaps, Emano believes that it would be better to leave the matter to the people to decide.

After all, with the suspicions a nd t he ex posure made by NAMFREL, the credibility of the elections becomes questionable.

For Moreno, the issue is already settled. The Comelec proclaimed Moreno as duly elected Mayor.

Moreno, therefore, now faces the challenge of proving that he is worth of what he has promised during the election campaign.

Moreno has to exercise diligence as a true public servant rather than allow the exultance of power at the expense of unity and common good.

React crisguardian@yahoo. com

MRDP... from page 8

the program support and regional off ices, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and delos Reyes himself being the complainant.

Based on the ocular inspection of the team, it was noted that the road sections have manifested major scaling on the surface while some portions of the pavement have exhibited visible transverse and longitudinal cracks.

MR DP also commissioned the DPWH in Ipil, Zamboanga, Sibugay to undertake the core boring and f ield densit y test.

Results of samples subjected to appropriate laboratory tests for strength determination did not meet the required comprehensive strength of 3,500 Psi as set forth

by DPWH. Based on the findings of the team, LGU of Titay for its part ex pressed its commit ment to undertake corrective measures and directed the contactor to remove and replace all defective structures

at no additional cost for the MRDP. T h e c o nt r a c t o r a n d t h e L GU a re a l s o pr ov i s ion a l l y prohibited to participate in all the procurement opportunities under the forthcoming Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP). The PRDP is the scale-up version of MRDP covering the entire country.

“As the MRDP implementation is nearing its homestretch, it will ensure that all legitimate compla ints a re prompt ly a nd appropr iately ac ted upon to encourage sustained interest and participation of beneficiaries in ensuring sustainability of their projects,” Ramos said adding:

“MRDP is thankful to concerned citizens like Barangay Captain delos Reyes who immediately brought to our attention the defects he noticed in the FMR project and alarmed us to do the necessary action,” Ramos said.

She said t he program encourages the same vigilance and participation among other b ene f ic i a r ie s a s c om mu n it y monitoring of the construction or rehabilitation of infrastructure projects can be an effective way to ensure approved design will be followed and completed as scheduled.

“I f ou r b enef ic ia r ie s a re vigilant enough they can empower themselves to hold their leaders accou ntable a nd get ac t ively involved in good governance,” Ramos said.

Rice... from page 8

genetically distinct rice parents and has both greater vigor and yield than either of the parents. While the seeds cannot be replanted with the same results, hybrids yield much more and are more resistant to weeds, diseases and insects.

In order to feed China in the 21st century, Yuan said the world’s largest and most populous country is developing a Super Hybrid Rice aimed to yield 13.5 tons per hectare by 2015.

That’s a 60 percent increase over harvests in 1990, a target that has been achieved in 2011, four years ahead of schedule, he said.

In recent years, the average yield was around 8.3 t/ha in 2 million hectares of large scale commercial production. The area under super hybrids was near 1 million hectares in 2011 and the average yield was above 9 t/ha.

“My wish is for our friendship to make the Philippine self-sufficient in rice,” he said. “In order to extend hybrid rice technolog y in t he Philippines, the government should pay great attention to developing hybrid rice and make good policies that encourage farmers to plant hybrid rice.”

T he gover n ment shou ld encourage the private sector to develop good hybrid seeds, said the Father of Hybrid Rice.

In the 1970s, Yuan discovered the genetic basis of heterosis in rice.

Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is unique to hybrid rice and enables the plant to produce higher yields due to more spikelets per panicle.

The first hybrid rice varieties he developed, released in China in 1974, increased that country’s rice production which currently feeds 22 percent of the world’s peoples using only 7 percent of the world’s arable land.

In 1979, hybrid rice technology was introduced in the United States, increasing rice harvest in 400,000 hectares by 20 percent. It was the first case of intellectual property rights transfer in the new China.

I n I nd ia , s ome 18 0 0, 0 0 0 hectares of hybrids have a yield advantage of up to 20 percent.

About 700,000 hectares in Vietnam are planted to hybrids, yielding 6.3 t/ha against 4.5 t/ha for inbred varieties. In the Philippines, hybrids in 191,000 hectares average about 6.5 t/ha against 4.5 t/ha for inbreds.

Over 20 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Madagascar, Liberia and Papua New Guinea, now plant hyrbid rice. (APM)

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brown to yellowish brown in color and has a shelf life of more than 2 years at room temperature.

The sugar is packed using appropriate materia ls, sea led properly, put in carton boxes, sealed, labelled and stored in a cool, dry storage room.

The technolog y process is available from ITDI, care of Dr. Nuna E. Almanzor, Director, DOST Compound., Gen. Santos Ave., Bicutan, Taguig City; Tel. 837-2071 to 82 local 2215; Telefax 837-3167; email-nealmanzor@dost.gov.ph.

(ScienceNewsPhilippines)

Loans... from page 8

IN-DEPTH

ser v ices for agribusinesses preferred by OF Ws a nd t heir families.

Ret u rni ng OF Ws who a re interested in agribusiness projects may avail themselves of the loan assistance without collateral, as long as the business they want to put or expand remains practical and profitable. They may submit their business plans to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) regional offices.

This is a joint-venture project of the OWWA, the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Benef iciaries may seek sk i l ls tra ining, retooling a nd upgrading, financial literacy of money ma nagement t ra i n i ng and entrepreneurship training, business capital assistance, and business loans or facilities, as we l l a s t e c h nolo g y, pro du c t d e ve lopment a nd m a rk e t i ng assistance.

O F Ws m a y a l s o a v a i l t hemselve s of cou nsel i ng on family-values formation, family support, preparation for eventual return and realization of their family goals as an offshoot of overseas employment. Distressed OFWs could ask for assistance in legal medical, economic and repatriation matters.

A lca la and Ba ldoz believe that their partnership will bring government programs closer to the public and elevate the quality of life in the countryside. (BM)

Hybrid... from page 8

that a farmer, Pedro Gonzales, who was a cooperator in the HRCPZamboanga City, harvested 11.75 tons/ha using a locally-bred hybrid rice, the Mestizo rice. It was the biggest harvest Mr. Gonzales had since becoming a farmer in 1968.

It was also a record harvest.

Although the average yield of the hybrid rice variety is 6-7 tons/ ha, way lower than the record yield from Zamboanga City, the hybrid rice’s average harvest is still 15-20% greater than that from using best bred varieties.

And it can get better. At least that’s how the person who started it all, Chinese professor Yuan Longpin, dubbed “Father of Hybrid Rice”, feels about his new hybrid rice research.

Professor Yuan is leading a study that seeks to develop “super hybrid rice” varieties. The “super rice” research hopes to develop varieties that would increase yield by a further 10%. This is achieved by integrating varieties that have erect-leaf canopy for sufficient sunlight, lower panicle position that is about 40-60 cm above the ground for increased lodging resistance, and bigger panicles that can accommodate more grains, with javanica –the variety resulting from matching of different species involving indica and japonica.

A trial field in Hunan province generated a yield of 12 tons/ha.

The commercialization of super hybrid rice is expected to feed 75 million more mouths if planted to 13 million hectares.

Whether the development of the “super rice” would finally help us turn the corner in our race to feed the world against depleting resources remains to be seen.

But what is keeping Professor Yuan and the researchers hopeful are the test results. The initial results point to the possibility of considerably decreasing hunger incidence, especially in the country that has to feed billions, like China, and eventually throughout Asia where the majority of the world’ rice-eating population are located.

www.businessweekmindanao.com

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Sugar... from page 8

content as that of coconut sugar.

The basic process for producing nipa sap sugar involves simple steps: freshly-gathered sap is weighed, strained and boiled, forming into granules or crystals that are cooled to room temperature.

The finished product is golden

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