Weather Update Now comes out 3 x weekly!
every Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays BusinessWeek Mindanao is available online, what you see on print is exactly the same on line at www.businessweekmindanao.com find us on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/BusinessWeek.Mindanao
Contact us: 0917-712-1424 email: businessweekmindanao@gmail.com
INTERTROPICAL Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao. Davao Region and the Provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani will have cloudy skies with occasional light to moderate rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast over Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast with slight to moderate seas. source : pagasa
NONOY LECHON SERVICES OFFERED OUT OF TOWN ORDER
www.mindanaodailybalita.com
A Brown serves indigenous tribe VOL. 2, No. 169
Cagayan de Oro City
Saturday-Sunday
December 1-2, 2012
P10.00
SHARES COMMUNITY BENEFITS TEN-FOLD
CAGAYAN de Oro City––For more than five years now, A Brown Energy Resources Development, Inc. (ABERDI), a subsidiary of A Brown Group of Companies has been in the forefront of employment generation in Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and lately, in Tingalan, Opol, Misamis Oriental, and soon in Tignapoloan, Cagayan de Oro. Employed as field maintenance workers of ABERDI’s 1,500 hectare-oil palm plantation are mostly indigenous peoples (IPs) belonging to the Higaonon Tribe, one of seven active tribal communities in Northern Mindanao, ABERDI President Robertino Pizarro said. Of the almost 400 plantation-based personnel hired by ABERDI, 75 percent of whom belong to the Higaonon Tribe paid on DOLEapproved minimum daily wage rate. In Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, ABERDI workers receive Php259 per day while Php247 daily wage is being implemented
in Tingalan, Opol, MisOr. On top of the daily minimum pay, workers enjoy other benefits like SSS, Philhealth, subsidized uniform allowance, rice and Christmas giveaways, reinforcing ABERDI’s commitment in making a meaningful impact on communities where the company operates. A monthly payroll of Php3.3 million is being spent by ABERDI, creating significant positive contribution not only for the workers and their families but also to the local economy of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon and Opol, MisOr, Pizarro said. BROWN | page 10
For more details, contact Tel. No.: 309-5276 HERMILINO VILLALON
House approves FOI bill
THE Palace on Wednesday welcomed the approval of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill by the House of Representatives committee on public information. After almost two years, the House committee of public information on Tuesday approved the FOI bill and is now for deliberation in the plenary. Seventeen congressmenmembers of the committee voted for the consolidated measure, three objected -Reps. Rodolfo Antonino, Amelita Villarosa and Lani Meracado Revilla; and one abstained -- Rep. Rodante BILL | page 10
DENR cites 18 ‘green’ companies
EARLY X’MAS GIFT FROM A BROWN. A smiling plantation worker, one of the 400
plantation-based workers of ABERDI happily receives one sack rice, a gift from Dr. Walter W. Brown, chair of A Brown Group of Companies. Turning over the gift in Kaanibungan, Kalabugao, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon are: HR Manager Vivien Lawansa (right), and Secretary to the VP Karen Cabigon.
EIGHTEEN business companies, including multinational firms Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Nestle Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, and Holcim Philippines, join the roster of most environmentally responsible corporations operating in the country for their exemplary performance under the Philippine Environmental Partnership Program (PEPP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The companies were awarded the Official Seal of Approval, which is GREEN | page 10
Ban on use of plastic to send 175,000 people jobless DAVAO City––The Philippine Plastics Industries Association (PPIA) anticipates the plastic industry to die once all cities and municipalities in the country implement a ban on the use of plastic. “I see the death of the plastic industry if all the cities and municipalities will have an ordinance banning
plastic as food container,” Peter Quintana, PPIA president, said. He said the plastic industry contributes largely to the country’s economy, being a $ 10-billion worth of investments. The country annually produces 600,000 metric tons of plastic and Styrofoam and employs about
175,000 people, he said. As of this time, Quintana said there are about 112 cities and municipalities all over the country to have passed an ordinance banning and regulating plastics. Quintana described as alarming the effect of the ban to the plastic industry, citing a 50-percent reduction in the volume of
production of plastics and 40-percent reduction in the production of Styrofoam or Polystyrene. The ban also resulted in the loss of job of numerous laborers. He said about two to three working days is lost for a certain worker in a plastic factory with the ban of plastics.
Quintana criticized the local government units (LGUs) banning the use of plastic, saying that they passed the ordinance without undertaking an information campaign about what is it all about. He said the LGUs just lifted information about plastic from the internet, therefore making the or-
dinance banning plastic without basis. Quintana clarified “it’s not the product that is the problem but the attitude of people”. Some LGUs including Davao City have an existing ordinance banning plastics and Styrofoam as food containers for JOBLESS | page 10
Editorial: e-mail: mindanaodailynews@gmail.com • Advertising: 0917-7121424, e-mail: mindanaodaily.ads@gmail.com