businessweek mindanao (march 1-2, 2013 issue)

12
Market Indicators US$1 = P40.70 6,616.27 points X FOREX PHISIX AS OF 5:56 PM FEB. 27, 2013 (Wednesday) X 5 cents 14.40 points Briefly Investment target KORONADAL City -- Socck- sargen’s Regional Develop- ment Council (RDC-12) has recently endorsed P32.3 billion worth of priority programs and projects for implementation in 2014. RDC 12 chair and Gen- eral Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said these programs and projects were gathered from investment plans proposed by 41 regional line agen- cies, five state colleges and universities and three government-owned and controlled organizations in Soccsksargen Region or Region 12. Soccsksargen Region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani as well as the cities of General San- tos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. MOA for dev’t DAVAO City -- Various government agencies here signed on Thursday a memorandum of agree- ment (MOA) to further boost development in the region’s priority industry clusters in the Davao Region. The MOA will upgrade the Davao Industry Clus- ter Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) which is now being adopted na- tionwide as a development strategy and carries the name NICCEP (National IC- CEP). DICCEP was started in Davao Region in 2007, with technical cooperation assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Under the MOA, the agencies have vowed to work together in implement- ing more relevant initiatives that will result to greater development in the eight priority industries of the region which include ba- nana, mango, coconut, seaweed, mining, tourism, wood, information and com- munications technology (ICT). P15.00 Issue No. 170, Volume III March 1-2, 2013 Friday-Saturday Cagayan de Oro City Editorial and advertising email : [email protected] • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 NOW every Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPER MINDANAO J.P. RIZAL - CRUZ TAAL STS., (NEAR SHANGHAI BAKERY) DIVISORIA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY UP TO 15% DISCOUNT ON DOWNPAYMENT DOWNPAYMENT- UP TO 12-24 MONTHS TO PAY BALANCE PAYABLE IN 10 YEARS @ 10% FLAT RATE PEUGEOT-CDO OPENS: Peugeot RCZ, the French award-winning sports car, is put on display at the showroom of the newly-opened Peugeot-Cagayan de Oro branch along Mastersons Avenue, Pueblo de Oro Business Park. Also available from Peu- geot are the 3008 Crossover, the 5008 Compact MPV and the 508 Executive Sedan. PHOTO BY SHAUN ALEJANDRAE YAP UY EYES OF DESPAIR. A young scavenger carries his loot to a buy-station. Poverty, as a result of lack of economic opportunities, is the main problem facing the country today and which local and national candidates need to address, at least in their campaign platforms. PHOTO BY MIO CADE Filinvest eyeing Misor’s second coal-fired plant By BONG D. FABE, Correspondent A P30-billion 405-megawatt (MW) circulating fluidized bed (CFB) coal-fired thermal power plant will soon rise in an 84-hectare area within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. will source 80 percent of its coal requirement abroad and 20% from local coal mines. Sanchez said that while FDCUI strongly believes in renewable sources of energy, it chose to invest in a coal- fired power plant “despite the many challenges from many groups” because (1) coal-fired power plant has short construction period; (2) it is the most feasible at present; and (3) coal is readily available. “We cannot rely for a long time on fossil fuels. We should use renewable energy The new plant, which will be fully-owned by Filinvest Development Corp. Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), a subsidiary of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corporation, is expected to ease the bur- geoning power problem in Mindanao. If pushes through, it is the second coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental after the 212MW Steag State Power Corp. established in 1995, also at Phividec. FDCUI Corporate Com- munications Manager Ana Margarita Sanchez said the plant, which will be in opera- tion for the next 25 years, …but study says Mindanao to suffer brownouts again DESPITE government’s as- surance to put an end to Mindanao’s recurring power shortage, a state-run research institute has warned the is- land is poised to suffer from power outages again this summer after no additional capacity came on stream. Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) senior research fellow Adora- cion Navarro said the de- mand for power in Mindanao has spiked through the years with rapid urbanization and increased industrialization. Forecasts for 2010-2019 show an annual average de- mand growth of 4.28 percent in Mindanao, higher than the national average of 3.63 percent. Citing 2012 data from the Department of Energy (DOE), the study notes that the Mindanao grid at present has 37.31 percent base load generating capacity, a far cry Villar continues surge in poll surveys FORMER Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, popularly known as “Misis Hanep Bu- hay” due to her livelihood programs,” jumped from the 9th place to the 7th place in ranking as among the choice for senators in the coming May elections based on the latest survey conducted by StratPOLLS. “Misis Hanep Buhay” attributed the surge in her rankings to the in- creased public awareness on her achievements as congresswoman for three terms or nine years, hav- ing served as chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Villar ADVERTORIAL Reg’l arbitration affirms dismissal by NGCP of its erring employees THE National Labor Rela- tions Commission (NLRC) recently dismissed three cases of illegal termination of employment filed against the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for lack of merit. In a decision handed by NLRC’s Regional Ar- bitration Branch No. XIII in Butuan City on January 30, the court denied the claims for reinstatement, back wages, damages and EYEING/PAGE 7 SUFFER/PAGE 7 POLL/PAGE 7 DISMISSAL/PAGE 7

Upload: dante-sudaria

Post on 27-Mar-2016

227 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

DESCRIPTION

BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

Market Indicators

US$1 = P40.70 6,616.27 pointsX

FOREX PHISIX

AS of 5:56 Pm feb. 27, 2013 (Wednesday)

X5cents

14.40points

BrieflyInvestment targetKORONADAL City -- Socck-sargen’s Regional Develop-ment Council (RDC-12) has recently endorsed P32.3 bill ion worth of priority programs and projects for implementation in 2014. RDC 12 chair and Gen-eral Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio said these programs and projects were gathered from investment plans proposed by 41 regional line agen-cies, five state colleges and universities and three government-owned and controlled organizations in Soccsksargen Region or Region 12. Soccsksargen Region consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani as well as the cities of General San-tos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

MOA for dev’tDAVAO City -- Various government agenc ies here signed on Thursday a memorandum of agree-ment (MOA) to further boost development in the region’s priority industry clusters in the Davao Region. The MOA will upgrade the Davao Industry Clus-ter Capacity Enhancement Project (DICCEP) which is now being adopted na-tionwide as a development strategy and carries the name NICCEP (National IC-CEP). DICCEP was started in Davao Region in 2007, with technical cooperation assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Under the MOA, the agencies have vowed to work together in implement-ing more relevant initiatives that will result to greater development in the eight priority industries of the region which include ba-nana, mango, coconut, seaweed, mining, tourism, wood, information and com-munications technology (ICT).

P15.00Issue No. 170, Volume III • March 1-2, 2013Friday-SaturdayCagayan de Oro City

Editorial and advertising email : [email protected] • Cell Number : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

Now

every Mondays,

wednesdays, & Fridays

BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

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

up to 15% discount on downpaymentdownpayment-up to 12-24 months to paybalance payable in 10 years @ 10% flat rate

PEUGEOT-CDO OPENS: Peugeot RCZ, the French award-winning sports car, is put on display at the showroom of the newly-opened Peugeot-Cagayan de Oro branch along Mastersons Avenue, Pueblo de Oro Business Park. Also available from Peu-geot are the 3008 Crossover, the 5008 Compact MPV and the 508 Executive Sedan.

photo by shaun alejandrae yap uy

EYES OF DESPAIR. A young scavenger carries his loot to a buy-station. Poverty, as a result of lack of economic opportunities, is the main problem facing the country today and which local and national candidates need to address, at least in their campaign platforms.

photo by mio cade

Filinvest eyeing Misor’s second coal-fired plant

By BONG D. FABE, Correspondent

A P30-billion 405-megawatt (MW) circulating f luidized bed (CFB) coal-fired thermal power plant will

soon rise in an 84-hectare area within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

will source 80 percent of its coal requirement abroad and 20% from local coal mines. Sanchez said that while FDCUI strongly believes in renewable sources of energy, it chose to invest in a coal-fired power plant “despite the many challenges from many groups” because (1) coal-fired power plant has short construction period; (2) it is the most feasible at present; and (3) coal is readily available. “We cannot rely for a long time on fossil fuels. We should use renewable energy

The new plant, which will be fully-owned by Filinvest Development Corp. Utilities, Inc. (FDCUI), a subsidiary of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corporation, is expected to ease the bur-geoning power problem in Mindanao. If pushes through, it is

the second coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental after the 212MW Steag State Power Corp. established in 1995, also at Phividec. FDCUI Corporate Com-munications Manager Ana Margarita Sanchez said the plant, which will be in opera-tion for the next 25 years,

…but study says Mindanao to suffer brownouts again

DESPITE government’s as-surance to put an end to Mindanao’s recurring power shortage, a state-run research institute has warned the is-land is poised to suffer from power outages again this summer after no additional capacity came on stream. Philippine Institute of

Development Studies (PIDS) senior research fellow Adora-cion Navarro said the de-mand for power in Mindanao has spiked through the years with rapid urbanization and increased industrialization. Forecasts for 2010-2019 show an annual average de-mand growth of 4.28 percent

in Mindanao, higher than the national average of 3.63 percent. Citing 2012 data from the Department of Energy (DOE), the study notes that the Mindanao grid at present has 37.31 percent base load generating capacity, a far cry

Villar continues surge in poll surveysFORMER Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, popularly known as “Misis Hanep Bu-hay” due to her livelihood programs,” jumped from the 9th place to the 7th place in ranking as among the choice for senators in the coming May elections based on the latest survey conducted by StratPOLLS.

“Misis Hanep Buhay” attributed the surge in her rankings to the in-creased public awareness on her achievements as congresswoman for three terms or nine years, hav-ing served as chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical

Villar

advertorial

Reg’l arbitration affirms dismissal by NGCP of its erring employees

THE National Labor Rela-tions Commission (NLRC) recently dismissed three cases of illegal termination of employment filed against the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for lack of merit.

In a decision handed by NLRC’s Regional Ar-bitration Branch No. XIII in Butuan City on January 30, the court denied the claims for reinstatement, back wages, damages and

eyeIng/PAGE 7

suffer/PAGE 7

pOll/PAGE 7

dIsMIssAl/PAGE 7

Page 2: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

Economy2 Friday - Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013 BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

0917-7154399088-856-8562/63

AMenITIes : ZORBIT * ATV * TREE TOP ADVENTURE BUGGY * BUNGEE

* PICNIC GROUNDS PLAYGROUND * CAFE * LUGE * MINI GOLF ROOM

ACCOMODATIONS

Multi-million infra projects set for implementation in CdO

road worth over P42 million would start construction this year, too. As of January this year, the DPWH’s ongoing proj-ects are the gravel to paved rehabilitation of access road at the city’s newly com-pleted 3rd bridge including right of way, construction of Cagayan de Oro City River Basin, construction of city’s coastal road (bypass road) including ROW and gravel to paved rehabilitation of Gaza – Kamakawan access road to the relocation site. (PNA)

ICT-Davao working to attain 30,000 job demand by 2016

THE Department of Public Works and High-ways (DPWH) will implement various infra-structure projects here worth over P100 million this year, City Councillor Emmanuel Abejuela said Thursday. Abejuela, chair of the city’s committee on public works, said that the high-way’s district engineer’s of-fice furnished his office cop-ies of the DPWH’s completed and ongoing infrastructure projects in the city. These projects include the improvement of drainage structure at the Sapang Creek along Butuan–Cagayan de

Oro–Iligan Road, Phase I, Bulua Section in the amount of P20 million. Another project is the construction of the P50 million Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road (By-pass Road) including ROW, Bayabas Section. It said that the drainage and road facilities of the Lumbia-Uguiaban by-pass

DAVAO City -- Law yer Samuel Matunog, the new-ly-elected president of the Information Communica-tions Technology (ICT)-Davao City, said Thursday they are working hard to meet the 30,000 projected demand of the ICT industry here by 2016. “We continue to work hard to attain the 30,000 jobs in ICT by 2016,” said Matunog, who replaced two-term ICT president Lizabel Holganza. Holganza was recently elected president of the Na-tional ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), comprised of 45 ICT coun-cils nationwide, wherein she served as its vice president last year. Matunog said plans will

be implemented this year to further push the growth of the business process out-sourcing industry (BPO) in the city. “We are not doing some-thing new but we’re con-tinuing to implement the roadmap we have prepared several years ago,” Matunog said, who was also the ICT-Davao vice president for Industry Development in 2012. Right now, about 16,000 to 18,000 jobs have already been generated in BPO-related careers such as voice, non-voice, software and de-velopment, and animation, according to Matunog. He said the number of workforce is expected to increase, as two new big call center firms will open

in May this year. Matunog said they are also eyeing partnerships with other ICT councils in the country to do an “impact sourcing and micro work programs.” Matunog said there are foreign firms including in the USA which are allowed to ex-tend development programs through their corporate so-cial responsibility (CSR) that can help in alleviating poverty in the countryside. “These firms can mini-mize their taxes. They are allowed to deduct taxes if they can do some philan-trophic work. They can do that through channeling some resources through lo-cal organizations that are doing poverty alleviation programs,” he said.

Co-op in S. Cotabato town completes P1.5-M MRDP project

KORONADAL City -- A credit cooperative in nearby Banga town has received a certificate from the local government unit and De-partment of Agriculture 12 for completing its project dubbed “Pre-and Post-harvest Facility Intervention.” Organized in September 2010, Rang-ay Credit Coop-erative in Barangay Rang-ay officially got the P1.5-million worth of livelihood project from MRDP’s Community Fund for Agricultural Devel-opment (CFAD) component. At present, the co-op is composed of 33 members whose main source of income is derived from corn farming. The cooperative proposed the project in order to short-en the time in shelling and drying operations of their produce. They used the fund to

purchase one unit each of hand tractor with trailer and corn sheller as well as constructed a warehouse and a solar dryer. In a turn-over ceremony, Banga Mayor Henry L. Ladot conferred the certificate to cooperative chairman Jona-than G. Castillo. The certifi-cate proves “We have waited for this project to come to realiza-tion. Finally, now we call this really out own,” teary-eyed Castillo said in his response speech. “Thank you so much to LGU, DA and the MRDP,” he said. Mayor Ladot encour-aged the members of the coop to sustain the project so that gradually they could generate income which they could utilize in trying other ventures.

The local chief executive also thanked the national government through the DA-MRDP for providing such livelihood assistance to his constituents. “We thank the national government for the help ex-tended to improve the lives of residents in Banga, the local executive chief said. “Once the Philippine Ru-ral Development Program, we hope more people from our town would benefit from the program.” After the turn-over cer-emonies, Rey Ylanan, a staff from the MRDP, oriented the chairmen of the different people’s organizations in the municipality regarding the significance of PO accredita-tion. “We encourage all POs to seek an accreditation from the regional office for this will be an important requirement before the POs and other farmers’ groups can avail of projects from the DA,” Ylanan emphasized. MRDP is a medium-term poverty-alleviation initiative which is implemented by the national government through the DA and funded by the World Bank with the LGUs providing an equity share.

Page 3: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

Mitsubishi aims to surpass pre-Asian crisis sales recordTHE Philippine unit of Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi aims to sur-pass its pre-Asian crisis sales record this year. For this year, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp (MMPC) aims to sell “not less than 40,000” vehicles, its executive vice president for marketing Taizo Furuhashi said in a speech during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration on Monday night. MMPC executives said the company is poised to exceed the previous sales record of 36,533 units posted in 1996—before the Asian financial crisis struck and slowed domestic auto sales. Last year, MMPC grew its sales 7.1 percent to 34,915 from the 2011 tally of 32,603 mainly on the strong orders for the all-new Mirage model, which was launched in the country last November. In the first month of 2013, MMPC sold 2,850 vehicles, up 23.3 percent year-on-year. The company aims to hit the 50,000-unit sales mark in 2015 as it adds new models to its fast-growing passenger car line-up. MMPC president Hikosa-

buro Shibata told reporters that while the Philippines was traditionally a bigger market for larger commer-cial vehicles given Filipinos’ close family ties, smaller cars such as the Mirage are fast-becoming the “it” vehicle for young people. “For the younger genera-tion, it is more affordable to buy a car like Mirage,” Shibata said, adding that the greater appeal of small cars to the young is now a

global trend. Shibata said the company has “overachieved” sales of the Mirage, as MMPC delivers 700-800 units a month, more than the 500-unit monthly sales target. “We have short supply of Mirage now. The demand has increased… Some customers are waiting long [for their orders],” he said. MMPC will launch “some more” new passenger car models this year to sustain

the gains being made in the segment so far, Shibata said, without disclosing details. Another model, the Lanc-er EX, is being assembled at MMPC’s Cainta, Rizal facility. At present, MMPC sells the locally assembled models Adventure, Lancer EX, L200, L300, and Fuso trucks and buses; Japan-made ASX and Pajero; Taiwan-made Fuzion; and Thailand-made Mirage, Montero Sport and Strada.

Hyundai: No agreement on US fuel economy suitSEOUL -- Hyundai Mo-tor Co., South Korea’s top automaker, on Wednesday dismissed a media report that it has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit by U.S. consumers who say they were misled by the carmaker’s inf lated fuel economy ratings. Hyundai said it has pro-duced no specific progress in resolving the legal trouble stemming from its incorrect fuel economy rating for about 900,000 cars sold in the United States between 2010 and 2012. “No agreement has been made,” a Hyundai official said. He said it remains to be seen whether his company will reach a class-action settlement, citing legal pro-cedures are under way. Another Hyundai official also sounded a note of cau-tion, saying it is difficult to say whether his company will hold negotiations with lawyers who represent the plaintiffs to settle the suit. The two Hyundai officials asked not to be identified, citing policy. Their comments came hours after Bloomberg News reported from Los Ange-les that “Hyundai agreed in principle on terms of a settlement,” citing a filing in federal court in L.A by

lawyers for the plaintiffs. In November, Hyundai and its sister carmaker Kia Motors Corp. said procedural errors at testing operations were to blame for inaccurate fuel economy ratings for the cars sold in the U.S. Hyundai and Kia, which are f lagships of Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s fifth largest carmaker, have said the average fuel econo-my ratings for their 13 U.S. models were unintentionally but incorrectly listed as 27 miles per gallon (mpg), up 3 percent from the actual 26 mpg. The U.S. government has announced plans to require automakers to achieve aver-age fuel economy ratings of 34.1 mpg and reach 250 grams per mile in carbon dioxide emissions by 2016. The rare admission has prompted the South Korean government to intensify its checks on fuel efficiency of new vehicles to narrow a currently wide gap between the fuel efficiency claimed by automakers and their actual efficiency. South Korea plans to reduce fuel efficiency rat-ings’ margin of error to plus or minus 3 percent, from the current 5 percent. The measure is expected to take effect later this year.(PNA)

Page 4: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

puregOld/PAGE 7

Corporate.World4 Friday - Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013 BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

Pepsi-Cola bares powdered juice foray

One of the latest products of Pepsi-Cola Products Phil-ippines, Inc. is Tropicana Coco Quench, shown here in an undated official photo on the company’s Web site.

LISTED BEVERAGE producer Pepsi-Cola Products Philip-pines, Inc. (PCPPI), which offers both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, has announced its foray into the powdered juice market as part of moves to grow sales through further diversification. In a statement, PCPPI said it will sell in 35-gram (g) and 280-g pouches Mirinda Pow-der Fun Mix, a juice powder based on Mirinda, its orange-f lavored carbonated drink. “We are excited at the op-portunity to provide variety to our consumers. Though this is our first foray into the powdered juice drinks category, we are con-fident that Mirinda Powder Fun Mix will be well-received, similar to our product inno-vations in the past,” Partho Chakrabarti, PCPPI president, said in the statement. Another PCPPI official cited Mirinda Powder Fun Mix’s potential to enhance the beverage firm’s sales over time. “This is in line with our strategy to drive growth by entering new categories. PCPPI has been enjoying solid dou-ble-digit growths for quite a while and the launch into this category will further fuel growth,” Angelica M. Dalu-pan, PCPPI vice-president for corporate affairs and com-munications, said in an e-mail yesterday.

She declined to cite figures. PCPPI more than tripled its net income last year to P696.84 million as of September from P225.83 million in the same nine months in 2011, driven primarily by the company’s carbonated cola drinks. In the same comparative periods, net sales last year increased by 12.58% to P14.23 billion from P12.64 billion, while cost of goods sold grew by 4.73% to P10.40 billion from P9.93 billion. “For year one (2013), it

may not form a significant part of our revenues. But over time we expect to gain share and be a major player in this category in the Philippines, which is among the top countries for powdered beverages,” Ms. Dalupan said of Mirinda Powder Fun Mix’s potential in the local powdered juice market. A PCPPI study of the pow-dered juice market showed an annual segment growth of 5%, with the category dominated by Tang, Eight O’Clock, and

Sundays, Ms. Dalupan said. Mirinda Powder Fun Mix wil l be available at major supermarkets and groceries nationwide at a standard retail price of P10 for the 35-g pack, and P76 for the 280-g pack, Ms. Dalupan said. PCPPI, incorporated in 1989, is engaged in the manu-facture, sale and distribution of carbonated soft drinks and non-carbonated beverages to retail, wholesale, restaurants and bar trades. It is co-owned by United States-based beverage giant PepsiCo, Inc. and Lotte Chil-sung Beverage Co. Ltd., one of South Korea’s biggest beverage firms. The firm currently has 11 plants serving at least 440,000 outlets nationwide, according to its latest financial statement. PCPPI’s product line now consists of carbonated bever-ages such as its f lagship cola, Pepsi and its diet counterpart, Pepsi Max; citrus-f lavored Mountain Dew; lemon-lime 7-Up; Mug root beer and Mirinda, according to the company’s Web site. The company also pro-duces non-carbonated bever-ages such as Tropicana Coco Quench coconut water, Tropi-cana Twister orange juice, Gatorade sports drink, Ga-torade Propel vitamin water, Sting energy drink, Lipton iced tea, and Premier pure distilled water.

Globe prepaid subscriber base grows by 6%

THE number of Globe Tele-com Inc.’s prepaid subscrib-ers increased by 6 percent year-on-year to 16.4 million in 2012, the company said. Last year, Globe Pre-paid bundled prepaid offers with text messages to all networks and mobile data access and gave subscribers free access to Facebook and Google. Globe senior advisor for consumer business Peter Bithos attributed the growth

to “innovation” despite con-sumers’ switching from one prepaid SIM to the other. Globe’s prepaid business offers Load Watch, which provides subscribers with real-time information on their load status. It a lso offers GoSakto, which lets subscribers make their own prepaid promo, choosing the type and number of calls, texts and data they need. Over 2,000 combina-tions are possible.

Philex Mining ends 2012 in the redPHILEX Mining Corp on Thursday said it incurred a loss in 2012, as revenue fell by more than two-fifths following the suspension of operations at its Padcal copper-gold mine in August of last year. In a report to the Philip-pine Stock Exchange, Philex Mining said it ended last year with a loss of 295 million, a reversal of the P5.8 billion profit in 2011. Excluding non-recurring items, the mining company’s core net income likewise dropped 69 percent to P1.7 billion in 2012 from P5.6 bil-lion the year before. Revenues slipped 43 per-cent to P8.7 billion last year from P15.3 billion in 2011, after net revenues from its copper-gold-silver operations likewise fell 43 percent. The company blamed the drop on the closure of its Padcal mine in Benguet. Philex Mining voluntarily shut the mine after an accidental tailings spill. The government had or-dered the suspension of min-ing operations pending the

completion of rehabilitation efforts. A few days ago, Phi-lex Mining however secured state approval for a 4-month resumption of operations to secure the integrity of the mine’s facilities ahead of the rainy season. T he government had slapped a P1.043 bi l l ion penalty on the company for violation of the Mining Act of 1995. Philex Mining early this week settled the fine, but a separate penalty for violation of the Clean Water Act has been imposed on the company. Also contributing to Philex Mining’s negative bottom line were losses of P1.086 billion at its unit Philex Petroleum Corp. This in turn was the result of its unit Forum Energy Plc’s P389 million write-down of investments in its North Cebu oil filed under Service Contract 40, as well as another unit, Brixton Energy & Min-ing Corp, writing off P578 million of coal assets under Coal Operating Contract No. 130 in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Puregold keeps spending tack, aims for 30% growth this year

“We are at a situation where we can regard Philex’s lower core income for the year as not entirely negative, considering the prolonged suspension of our Padcal operations,” Manuel V. Pangilinan, the company’s chairman, said. “Since that regrettable tailings accident last 1st Au-gust—where we immediately decided to shut down the mine—every effort has been made by Philex to remediate

and rehabilitate the tailings pond and the affected areas, and restore operations and the environment to normalcy as quickly as we could. I believe we have gone a long way in the effort and that the per-formance of Philex will be restored as soon as Padcal recommences operations,” he said. Pangilinan also chairs TV5, of which InterAksyon.com is the online news portal.

PUREGOLD Price Club Inc will spend the same amount it did last year for its expan-sion, which the company expects to lift sales by nearly a third in 2013. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the country’s second big-gest grocery store operator expects consolidated net

sales to climb by 30 percent this year from P57.5 billion in 2012. Growth of the Lucio Co-led retailer will be driven by the like-for-like net sales growth of 2 percent for 100 Puregold stores at end-2011 and 12 percent for S&R Mem-bership Shopping outlets.

Campaign...from page 10

campaign on the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012, we should also push skills training and micro-finance programs as alternatives for indigent families to consider. The best protection that our workers can get here and abroad is the acquisition of skills and experience so they can move up to less vulnerable occupations,” Villar added. Villar, also known as “Misis Hanepbuhay”, said she will push for legislation to complement the Anti-Trafficking Act that would focus on providing victims of human trafficking and illegal recruitment with concrete re-integration services. “While we run after the traffickers, we also need to care for the victims in a more sustained, cohesive way.”

out that most of the women repatriated from abroad were forced to leave the country to provide for the basic needs of their families. “They are seduced by all these sweet promises because they could no longer stand seeing their children go hungry. They feel so helpless due to poverty and lack of income sources,” Villar noted. She said that the Technical Education and Skills Develop-ment Authority (TESDA) is on the right track in taking a more pro-active stance in promoting vocational skills training at the grassroots levels. “Alongside the awareness

Leap...from page 10inclusive, and transparent approach in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Known as “Misis Hanep-buhay” the former congress-woman of Las Pinas City said that the Villar Foundation is willing to work with other

NGOs and LGUs in pro-moting various livelihood projects in Mindanao. “We all have to pitch in and accompany the peace process to its rightful conclu-sion because a peaceful and stable Mindanao has much to offer not just our country but the world,” Villar stressed.

Page 5: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

5Friday-SaturdayMar. 1-2, 2013

BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

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,

RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT

- This is the 2nd Mindanao Business Leaders Awards, in a different category from the first one. The 1st Mindanao Busi-ness 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 : January 15, 2013 to May 15, 2013Awards Night : 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 nomi-nated 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 | 09274795196 (Allan Mediante) [email protected]

MEDIA PARTNERS :

present

Page 6: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

Opinion6 Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013 BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

CIMAgAlA/PAGE 7

What do you mean by saying ‘world-class’FR. ROY CIMAGALA

Hints and traces

1983 Code of Canon Law

THE Catholic Church is to this date, more than two thousand years old – and counting. It is the one and only Church that has mem-bership from people of dif-ferent races and colors from all parts of the globe. It is the one and only Church that is universal in scope as it is an Institution found in all the continents of the world. It is the one and only

TemptationsIT’S important that we know exactly what to do in Lent which is a very special season in the liturgical year. It is supposed to identify us more closely with Christ who, as our redeemer and perfecter of our humanity, shows us precisely how to face the many trials and challenges in our life. Among them are the temptations that we can-not avoid. Christ himself already warned us about this. “Woe to the world because of temptations. For it must be that temptations come.” (Mt 18,7) Of course, if we think a little, we will readily realize why it is so. Our spiritual faculties of intelligence and will, which enable us to know the truth and to choose the good, have been darkened and weakened by sin. Though not completely detached from the source of truth and goodness that need to be cured, healed, rehabbed, or at least purified and strengthened. Thus, we now have what is called concupiscence, which is a certain attraction toward evil. St. John in his first letter distinguishes this concupis-cence into concupiscence of the f lesh, concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life. (cf 2,16) We start to feel this con-cupiscence when we begin to use our reason and will, because that’s when we can think we can be by ourselves, instead of being always with God and with others, which is the ideal way we ought to

live our life. That’s why it is important that at their very tender age, children should be taught to train their mind and heart to engage God in love, and because of that love, to be engaged also with everybody else. Otherwise, the children can harden in their self-centered attitudes as they grow to adulthood. Aside from our wounded human nature with its con-cupiscence, the other sources of temptations are the world and the devil himself. The world, which originally was good because it also has been created by God, has unfortunately absorbed the evil effects of our sinfulness, and so it can exercise an evil inf luence over us. The devil, of course, was originally a good angel cre-ated by God also to be like him, with intelligence and will superior to ours since they are pure spirits, but who at the beginning of his existence abused those gifts

Men Are From MarsTHINK a minute… Many marriages are not happy simply because the husband and wife don’t un-derstand each other’s needs. Men and women are very dif-ferent creatures! Remember the best-selling book, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus? Last time we talked about women’s needs. So today, we’ll look at your husband’s needs. Number 1: A man needs passion—physical passion. But also a passionate wife who is fun and a good sport. Frankly, some wives are just plain boring. Other wives are so grouchy and always serious, that all they seem

to do is nag and complain. Some of us could learn to laugh and lighten up! Not only will it cure our grouchi-ness and moodiness, but the atmosphere in many homes would definitely improve. Number 2: A man needs help in the home. And some men more than others. Just a neat house and tasty food. But we need to care enough to notice and give attention to our husband’s likes and dislikes. Remember the well-known saying, “The tunnel to a man’s heart runs through his stomach!” And some tun-nels are bigger than others. Number 3: A man needs to feel respected by his wife.

It doesn’t matter what his job is, our husband needs to know that we are proud of him in his own special strengths and abilities. So nagging him, criticizing him, and comparing him to other men not only hurts him, but it also hurts your marriage and life together. Friend, only Jesus Christ can help you change to be-come the wife your husband needs. Remember, your hus-band will never be perfect; he’ll still fail you sometimes. But Jesus will never fail you! He will always love, forgive and accept you. He will also give you His strength you need each day to love and

respect your husband without conditions. And that’s when your husband will want to start changing and become the husband you need. Just think a minute…

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

Think a minute

Speaking out

IGNACIO BUNYE

Viewpoints

ARCH. OSCARV. CRUZ (Ret)

Church that is represented by a Head of State in the person of the Pope. It is the one and only Church that has official diplomatic relations with different countries by virtue of a Geneva Convention. It is the one and only Church that has Ambassadors called “Apostolic Nuncios.” It is the one and only Church whose Vatican citi-zens carry a pursuant Vatican Diplomatic Passport. It is the one and only Church that has its own stamps and coinage. No wonder then that the Catholic Church also has her own set or body of laws that are well thought of, carefully written down, attentively interpreted and applied. These legislation with universal relevance and ob-servance are found officially complied in the 1983 Code of Canon Law – which su-perseded the previous 1917 Code of Canon Law – in

response to the signs of the times, the concerns and needs of the Catholics all over the world. It is both a cause of delight and pride that the now binding 1983 Code of Canon Law was formally promulgated by Blessed Pope John Paul II. It is interesting to note that the 1983 Code of Canon Law that now rules the Uni-versal Church – from the child to be baptized to the Pope to be elected – con-tains Seven (complex and compound) Sections: Section I: General Norms Section II: The People of God Section III: The Teaching Office of the Church Section IV: The Sanc-t i f y i n g O f f i c e o f t he Church Section V: The Temporal Goods of the Church Section VI: Sanctions of the Church Section VII: Processes. The Code carries 1782

THE start of the New Year is a lways an oppor tune time for taking stock, set-ting goals and evaluating how successful we were in achieving last year’s targets. I prefer not to treat these as “new year’s resolutions,” as these tend to have the l imited l i fe span of the fireworks Filipinos so enjoy. Rather, it should be a time for an honest look in the mirror, and a decision to push ourselves harder, if necessary. We Fi l ipinos l i ke to t h i n k of ou rselves a nd the things we do as being “world class.” But what does being world class rea l ly entail? A number of local restaurants, for example, are being touted as ‘world class’ for their innovative cuisine, ambience and other unique attributes. They are written about in glowing terms in glossy magazines and “best of ” lists. When it comes to service, however, they still have a long way to go. Does a “world class” restaurant make you wait for one hour before inform-

***** Over the last two years, t he pat tern in overseas Filipino employment has dramatically changed. In 2006, 60 per cent of Filipi-nos working abroad were professionals and skilled workers, compared to 40 per cent non-skilled, in-cluding domestic workers. In 2007, the deployment ratio became 73 -27 in favor of sk i l led workers. This explains why despite the constant level of deploy-ment , foreign exchange r e m i t t a n c e h a s b e e n increasing.

separate legislation, each of which is usually enunciated through several paragraphs, each of which in turn is com-posed of several numbers. It is precisely on account of its significance and importance that there are Catholic Uni-versities especially in Europe that offer Canon Law studies, and confers the Degrees of Bachelor, Licentiate (Master) and Doctorate in Canon Law. It is worth nothing that the official Code of Canon Law is entirely written in Latin which is also the of-ficial language of the Church. Canon Law as such is an-chored on Roman Law ex-pressed in Latin – in words and spirit. That is why it is understandable that Church Law is intimately identi-fied with the Latin language which in turn finds some usage in Civil – such as: “Argumentum ad absurdum.” “Omnis praesumptio falsa.” “Qui nimis probat, nil pro-bat.” Etc. Etc.

ing you that your order is unavailable? And after making inexcusable mis-takes, does the management and staff take responsibility for their actions or lack of it? Or do they fall back on the classic Pinoy response of “pasensiya na po”? My family and I recently had an interesting discus-sion on whether “pasensiya na po” constitutes a proper apology. Both my wife and daughter insisted that in most service-oriented es-tablishments, it is insuf-ficient, because the man-agement and staff do not take responsibility for their shortcomings, but shift the burden to the customer to accept what is otherwise unacceptable. A pernicious practice of reta i l establ ishments i s not g iv ing t he exac t change. Whether this is condoned by management or a conspirac y a mong unscrupulous sa les staf f is def initely not “world class” and something to look into. Other Pinoy behaviors

that are far from world class include creating multiple counterf lows in an already chaotic traff ic situation. On the road to Baguio, like most other motorists, we were stuck for more than an hour at the Urdaneta, Pangasinan junction. Bull-headed drivers created their own lanes, thinking they could cut through traffic. The result? More traff ic. Our only consolation dur-ing that horrendous traffic jam was my trusty Vaio laptop. My wife and I were able to watch belatedly via VCD, Mano Po, starring two of our favorites stars, Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon. I have said many times that each one of us has to take personal responsibility in order for real changes to take place in order country. These incidents may be petty, but they pervade our daily life and have come to be accepted as part of the way things work. If we are to be at par with the rest of the world, hindi pwede ang pwede na.

Website: www.businessweekmindanao.comE-mail : [email protected]

The BusinessWeek Mindanao is published by Busi-nessWeek Mindanao Advertising and Promotions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the week with office address at Tanleh Building, Abellanosa, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Cer-tificate No. 00875701, and with Business Permit No. 2010-5698, TIN No. 946-396-807 – Non VAT. Tel. Nos.: (088)8578447, 74-5380, 0923-432-0687, 0917-7121424

ATTY. MARIO T. JUNIatty. roberto a. cantago jr.

Legal Counsels

DANTE M. SUDARIAPublisher

ROSE MARY D. SUDARIAManager

JOE DEL PUERTO FELICILDAUriel C. Quilinguing Editorial Consultants RIZA O. ARES

LIEZL A. DELOSOJOE PALABAO

RENE MIChAEL BAÑOSMarketing Consultants

NELSON CONSTANTINOeditor-in-Chief

DOLLY PELONEAdvertising

FELIX SANTILLANRONALD B. MASTAIL

Layout Artists

allan medianteexecutive Editor

cheng ordoñezAssociate Editor

Member: -Philippine Press Institute

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

BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

Page 7: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

7Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

Eyeing...from page 1

Dismissal...from page 1

Polls...from page 1

Suffer...from page 1

energy where there is avail-able. But we should take advantage of what is available now, and that is coal. In the Philippines, technology to harness renewable sources of energy is still financially prohibitive and we cannot wait any longer to address the energy crisis in our country, especially here in Mindanao,” she said. As of 2012, Mindanao had an energy shortfall of 92 MegaWatts, which is projected to increase to a shortfall of 121 MW by 2016 “even with committed utili-ties on board.” The Misamis Oriental 3x135 MW CFB Coal-Fired Thermal Power Project, to be set up by FDCUI and FDC Misamis Power Corp., will be using the Rankine Cycle Thermal Plant with CFB combustion technology boiler for a more efficient use of coal. The advantages of us-ing CFB compared to the traditional coal-fired power plant like Steag’s is that CFB “doesn’t have to operate on very high temperature of 800 to 850 degrees to generate electricity.” “High heat generates ele-ments that can contribute to acid rain,” Sanchez said. Also, the plant’s boiler is designed to allow limestone to be injected to capture sulphur and convert this into calcium sulphate.

renting vehicles for line clear-ing activities. The termination was based on a decision of an administrative investigating panel on August 28, 2012 after hearing and due con-sideration, which declared the complainants guilty of violating the provisions of the NGCP Code of Conduct and recommended their dismissal of employment without any entitlement to separation pay. The Executive Labor Arbiter found that the in-fractions committed by the complainants did not only violate NGCP’s existing pol-icy, rules and regulations for conduct against property and company interest, but also constitute a just cause for termination under Article 282 of the Labor Code. The law states than an employer may terminate an employment for serious misconduct or willful dis-obedience by the employee of the lawful orders of his employer or representative in connection with his work. The Decision further stated that NGCP fully com-plied with the requirements of the procedural due process before the complainants were dismissed from employment. As ruled by the court, the show-cause letter, the complainants’ explanation in writing, the administrative investigation of NGCP where complainants answers the charges against them, and the final notice of termination of employment are sufficient to satisfy the requirements of due process prescribed by the Labor Code.

Education, President of the Lady Legislators of the House of Representatives in the 12th, 13th and 14th Congress, and President of the Senate Spouse Foundation. In going around the country, Villar says she has been conveying her message to the people, particularly her platform and the programs she intends to do if she wins as senator. She also says the people are more aware now of what they do in the Villar Foundation where she is the managing director. The foundation has been helping our OFWs for the past 20 years. She says the results of this survey and the previous surveys indicate that the people believe in her and her programs and advocacies.

cr y f rom Luzon’s 63.94 percent and Visayas’ 71.88 percent. Mindanao’s generating capacity is also heavily de-pendent on hydropower, which has become unreli-able in the face of worsening deforestation of watersheds and siltation of river systems. Of the total 1,616 mega-watts (MW) dependable gen-eration capacity in Mind-anao, nearly two-thirds come from hydropower plants such as the Agus and Pulangui generating facilities. Mindanao’s peak demand could reach 1,428 MW this year and 1, 823 MW by 2019. To meet peak demand and, at the same time, main-tain security and reliability of the power grid, genera-tion capacity must not only correspond to peak demand but also provide for other ancillary services, Navarro said. The DOE requires a re-serve margin of at least 21 percent of peak demand. The total generation capac-ity consequently should be 1,728 MW in 2013 and 2,206 MW in 2019. However, the dependable capacity in Mindanao stands at 1,616 MW. This means the area could suffer a reserve shortfall of 112 MW for this year, indicating that outages could happen in the coming months. Navarro said this gap can only be filled in 2015 when a new coal plant in Sarangani would already have been built to supply an additional 105 MW. The DOE should imple-ment short-term solutions for likely peaks in the summers of 2013 and 2014, as well as medium- to long-term solu-tions for increasing generat-ing capacity and managing demand, she said. As short-term measures, Navarro recommends the rehabilitation of the Agus and Pulangui hydropower plants and the promotion of interruptible load program for large consumers in the region. A more aggressive in-formation, education, and communication campaign on the power situation and outlook in Mindanao should be undertaken, she said. For the long term, Navarro recommended the imple-mentation of demand-side management programs, the interconnection of the Vi-sayas and Mindanao grids, coming up with a definitive decision on the privatiza-tion of Agus and Palangui plants, and implementation of reforestation and water-shed management programs, among others.--InterAksyon

reliefs of complainants Alvaro L. Salingay, Jose B. Siarot, and Jose C. Simogan. Said complainants were terminated from their em-ployment for manipulating and interfering with NGCP’s bidding process for a service contract hiring laborers and

“The system also effec-tively captures sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at 95% efficiency rate, aside from eliminating fugi-tive coal dust,” she added. Sanchez explained that the rankine cycle system was chosen because FDCUI is committed to protecting the integrity of the environ-ment. In the Rankine cycle sys-tem, also known as Rankine thermodynamic cycle, the steam is produced by the boiler, where water pumped into the boiler (“feedwater”) passes through a series of tubes to capture heat released by coal combustion and then boils under high pressure to become superheated steam. The superheated steam leav-ing the boiler then enters the steam turbine throttle, where it powers the turbine and connected generator to make electricity. After the steam expands through the turbine, it exits the back end of the turbine into the surface condenser, where it is cooled and condensed back to water. This condensate is then returned to the boiler through high-pressure feed pumps for reuse. Heat from the condensing steam is nor-mally rejected to cooling water circulated through the condenser which then goes to a surface water body, such as a river, or to an on-site cooling tower. “As a plant, it will cer-tainly generate CO2 and we don’t want to add to the CO2 in the atmosphere,” she stressed, adding that the system uses the “clean coal technology.” “Clean coal technology is proven worldwide as safe and efficient,” she explained while showing pictures of CFB coal-fired power plant sitting right next to shopping malls in Taiwan and other places. The first and second units of the plant are scheduled to start operation in 2016 while the third unit is scheduled in 2018. As of press time, FDC Misamis Power Corp./FD-CUI is in the process of finalizing electricity power purchase agreements (EP-PAs) with several Mindanao electric cooperatives.

She says they trust her that’s why, she’s so thankful to them. While being a wife of Senator Manny Villar who was House Speaker and Sen-ate President is also a factor, “Misis Hanep Buhay,” how-ever, insists she doesn’t want to live in the shadow of her husband because she is proud of her own achievements. Misis Hanep Buhay” consistently land in the Top 12 senatoriables in all election surveys. (advertorial)

Cimagala...from page 6and chose to be by himself, making God his enemy. He is a most powerful enemy that we have to con-tend with. St. Paul warns us about this: “Our wrestling is not against f lesh and blood, but against the principalities, and the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high.” (Eph 6,11-12) And we can easily de-lude ourselves by rational-izing that we can take all the temptations, even to the extent of falling into the Napoleonic complex of thinking only ordinary people obey laws, while the extraordinary people have the right to transgress laws with impunity. But we should remain calm and optimistic when tempted, since temptations can usher great benefits to us. They point to us where we are weak at, as well as what precious treasures we have since the devil is provoked to tempt us. We usually are not aware of these aspects of life until we are tempted. Temptations also can oc-casion the urge to get closer to God, developing more virtues and increasing our intimacy with him. In his let-ter, St. James tells us, “Count it all joy when you shall fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith works patience...that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.” (1,2-4) In other words, temp-tat ions can pur i f y and strengthen us, and give us an opportunity to grow in our spiritual life, in our love for God, and in gaining more merits for our struggles, etc. Besides, we are assured that with his grace God does not allow us to be tempted be-yond our capacity to resist.St. Paul tells us that: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10,13) The secret is to medi-tate on the example of how Christ dealt with his own temptation. Consider the argument of St. Augustine: “If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcame the devil. Do you think only of Christ’s temptations and fail to think of his victory?

Puregold...from page 4 A lso contribut ing to growth are the full year

operations of the Puregold stores opened in 2012, the consolidation of the full-year results of S&R and Parco, new store roll outs this year and the addition of 15 Eunilaine food marts and Grocer E supermarkets acquired in January. Puregold also targets to sustain its current consoli-dated gross and net profit margins at 16.1 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively. The listed retailer has maintained its capital ex-penditures at P3 billion this year to bankroll the opening of 25 new Puregold stores and 1 S&R store. The new Puregold stores will be lo-cated in Luzon. Puregold has opened five new stores in January, while the remaining 20 new store locations have been con-tracted and are in various stages of design development and construction. S&R, on the other hand, will open a new warehouse in Davao City in the second quarter. The expansion of Pure-gold’s branch network will be funded by the proceeds of its P5-billion corporate notes issuance last year. The grocery operator ended 2012 with 156 stores af ter rol ling out 31 new Puregold outlets. The store count also includes 19 Parco supermarkets and six S&R warehouses. Puregold had said it ex-pects to hit its 200-store target ahead of the 2015 deadline through organic growth and acquisitions. The retailer grew its net income by 76 percent to P2.718 billion in 2012 from P1.55 billion in the previous year.

Warns...from page 10 “If you are endorsing a product na nandun mukha ng candidate, that is pro-paganda under the defi-nition of Supreme Court. Product endorsement has nothing to do with the elec-tions and yet considered a propaganda. Ito, nandyan ang mga kandidato. Team Patay. Team Buhay. That is an endorsement of can-didates,” he added. Brillantes said the Dio-cese of Bacolod instead use their claim that the poster is part of the church’s ad-vocacy, as part of their defense in the event that a case is filed against them. Asked on who will be the respondents of the complaint in case they

decided to push through with it, he said they are still studying their options. “Kaya nga tinatanong namin sino ba ang may-ari ng mga simbahan? Sino nagpa lagay nyan?” the Comelec chief added. Brillantes said they can-not just ignore it because it involves a religious group. “In the meantime, ayaw ninyo tanggalin, we will charge you. Nakakahiya na ma n. Wa la na ma ng privileges just because you belong to the Catholic Church or what,” he said. The San Sebastian Ca-thedral in Bacolod City posted a “Team Patay and Team Buhay” tarpaulin, which identifies senato-rial candidates who are anti and pro-Reproductive Health (RH). The tarpaulin identified senatorial candidates Juan Edgardo Angara, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, Teddy Casiño, Jack Enrile and partylist groups Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Akbayan, and Anak Pawis as members of Team Patay. On Team Buhay, in-cluded were Joseph Victor Ejercito-Estrada, Antonio Trillanes, Gregorio Ho-nasan, Mitos Magsaysay, Koko Pimentel, and Cyn-thia Villar. Section 17 of Come-lec Resolution 9615 states that posting of campaign materials are allowed in private places “provided it has the consent of the owner”. The controversial tar-paulin was also said to be measuring 6 feet by 10 feet, which is over the size of the allowable measure of 2 feet by 3 feet. Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) refused to comment on the matter saying it is a local issue and should be resolved by the diocese. “This is a local issue, hindi sa CBCP. Dapat ang magresolve nito local,” said Msgr. Joselito Asis, CBCP secretary general. Asked about the report-ed plan of other dioceses to come up with their own posters just l ike in the Diocese of Bacolod, he said that it is the strategy of the bishops. “Diskarte na ‘yun ng mga bishop. Hindi namin pwede ipolice ang mga diocese,” he explained. (PNA)

Page 8: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

8 Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013 BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAOAgrinews

LPI-EWS DATA REVIEW OF SITUATIONER REPORT. Formerly referred to as the Broiler and Swine Information and Early Warning System (BSI-EWS), the Livestock and Poultry Information and Early Warning System (LPI-EWS) team convened recently for a data review on the livestock and poultry situationer report for the period of January-December 2012 for purposes of recon-ciling and validating any data gaps. In particular, the report aims to enhance and update the forecasting methodologies used to improve the information database on livestock and poultry for a more responsive early warning system for the said sector. Likewise, it sought to capably project estimates in terms of demand, allowing industry stakeholders to fittingly invest and convey the precise quantity of deliverables over a period of time.

39 rice importers purged from BOC list

THIRTY-nine rice importers, including at least 16 cooperatives, have been de-listed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as part of its “pre-emptive measure” against rice smuggling.

importers, 16 were coop-eratives that had little or no track record at all, the BOC said. The rest were small trading companies that only complied with the BOC’s minimum accredita-tion requirements. During a Senate inquiry on the P500-million rice smuggling attempt at the Subic Freeport Zone last year, senators uncovered that non-government orga-nizations and cooperatives with little track record were given large rice importation al location quotas by the NFA.

The latest move by the BOC’s Interim Customs Accreditation and Regis-tration unit has brought to 170 the total number of de-listed rice importers and brokers—the highest in the agency’s history. “The BOC has nothing to do with the issuance of rice importation quota al-locations as this is the func-tion of the National Food Authority. But on our end,

as a pre-emptive measure to stop rice smuggling, we are purging our list of import-ers/companies that may have been accredited earlier by the BOC as a general merchan-dise importer upon compli-ance of minimum require-ments, but were given large rice importation allocation quota by the NFA,” Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon said Tuesday. Of the 39 de-listed rice

Carabao owners helped to raise family incomeA STORE that sells dairy products made from carabao milk now helps farmers earn an extra buck. Opened in November last year, the store along Maharlika Highway in Mu-ñoz, Nueva Ecija was built by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) -- an agency attached to the Agriculture department -- to help farm-ers find a bigger market for this extra source of income. PCC’s Milka Krem is a store where consumers can buy various dairy products made from fresh carabao milk, including mozzarella di buffala cheese, kesong puti, premium ice cream, yogurt and pastillas de leche. “Small carabao milk pro-ducers sell their produce to what we call a ‘backyard market’ or to their neighbors and others living within their community,” PCC Executive Director Libertado C. Cruz said in a telephone interview last Tuesday. “With Milka Krem, we have provided them a venue

where they can access the commercial market.” Mr. Cruz said products sold in Milka Krem are pro-cessed in the PCC dairy plant just beside Milka Krem. “We transport raw milk from small dairy farmers and small dairy cooperatives to our processing facility,” Mr. Cruz said. Processing fee is approxi-mately P10 per liter, Mr. Cruz said, adding: “They (farmers and cooperatives) don’t have to wait for the processed product to be sold. We pay them P50 per liter as soon as we get hold of the raw milk.” Carabao milk in the backyard market are usu-ally packaged using empty beer or softdrink bottles and sold at an average price of P55 per liter, Mr. Cruz noted. He said that while this selling price is much high-er, the backyard market is quickly saturated. At the same time, Mr. Cruz said the commercial market requires proper pack-

aging and longer shelf-life. But while products sold in the commercial market have higher overhead cost, it is able to absorb more volume than the backyard market, he noted. “Instead of being wasted, we buy it (excess from the backyard market) and sell it to the commercial market which is much bigger than the backyard market,” Mr. Cruz said. He noted that Milka Krem clients include institutional buyers that provide carabao milk to restaurants and ho-tels. Asked on plans to expand Milka Krem, Mr. Cruz said: “Investors have asked us about purchasing a franchise of Milka Krem, but our cur-rent production is barely keeping up with demand.” “Products sold in Milka Krem are always sold out.” Accord ing to PCC’s Web site, Milka Krem was built using a P200-million grant from the Japanese government.

Feature StoryCoco sugar, the healthy sweetener

By JASPER MARIE OBLINA-RUCAT

EVERYONE can now enjoy sweets without feeling guilty of taking on ‘too much’ sugar. Coco sugar is one of the most sought after products for those who seek to live healthy these days. Readily available and currently produced in Bal-ingasag, Misamis Oriental under the Linabu Agrarian Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LAMPCO), Coco sugar is a very good alternative to the current white/refined/brown sugar in the market. Irwin Jayson Jamaca, Trade and Industry Develop-ment Specialist of the Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Barangay Linabu was identified as one of the largest producers of coconut in the east of Misamis Ori-ental. Because of this, the Philippine Coconut Author-ity gave a series of trainings on the production of coco sugar. This was then pushed on a larger scale through the financial assistance from the Department of Agrarian Reform through Emergency Employment Program or CLEEP in 2009. Since then the produc-tion of Coco Sugar has gone through a series of laboratory analyses and nutritional facts analysis through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), he added. LAMPCO was also grant-

ed the construction of BFAD-LTO building as production plant and received marketing trainings provided by the Department of Trade and Industry-Misamis Oriental. Gaining more confidence, LAMPCO has also become a constant exhibitor in trade fairs since August of 2009. They have bagged awards like Best Dressed Booth - Talisayan Farmer’s Forum and Trade Fair on September 3-7, 2012 and Highest Sales for Food Sector- Market Week Philippines in September 18-23, 2012. When they received the United States Department of Agriculture Approved (USDA) Organic Certificate and Food and Drug Admin-istration (FDA) License to Operate, samples of these coco sugars reached the lands of Canada and Brunei. Jamaca said that dur-ing the 2011 International Food Expo (IFEX) a good number of clients from US, Canada and UAE required them of 20 tons per month that is why they have opted to mechanize some process as the cooking and drying to cope up with the demand and prepare for IFEX 2013 this coming May. At present Canada market requires them 1 container van (20 tons) per quarter, he stressed. This goal was even given

weight when their BFAD License to Operate was re-leased last January. This will allow them to have a smooth breakthrough in the market. Also, the cooperative took the initiative of procuring a wide-array of packaging options for different sets of international buyers whether local or international. Vari-ous packaging options are currently developed: from sachet packaging, PP plas-tic with print and box, said Jamaca. He further emphasized that this product is considered healthy primarily because it does not go through refining process and is therefore free from bleaches and stabilizers which are potentially toxic chemicals. Coco Sugar is an all-nat-ural sweetener that is made from sweet toddy watery sap that drips from cut flower buds of organically-grown, fresh coconuts. It is light brown in color and looks rough but feels light in one’s hand and taste sweet. It has low glycemic index (GI=35), lesser than the cane sugar of GI=55 as per Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Insti-tute meaning a slow release of glucose in the bloodstream, he stressed. Presently, LAMPCO sells a retail pack of 500grams at P100. For 1000 kilos and up, 15 days is the delivery period.

Rodriguez...from page 11

Courtesy...from page 11

becomes a Senator, she said. Her mention of livelihood projects was applauded many times by the audience. It can be noted that accord-ing to NEDA records, Lanao del Sur, one of the provinces in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is among the poorest provinces in the country. After the enthronement ceremony, Villar was wel-comed at the LASURECO Offices in another part of Marawi City where she for-mally opened the Consumers’ Park within the compound of the said cooperative.

(advertorial)

how to plan their families and protect their’s and their children’s health and safety. To make sure that women and children’s rights are protected by law, Rodriguez filed House Bill No. 5956, an act granting favourable work-ing conditions for mothers in the private sector for the purpose of attending to the personal care of their infants amending for the purpose Sec. 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161.

Maranaos for being mostly business-minded. She said that Maranao businessmen and traders are found everywhere throughout the country. She told the crowd of hundreds of people from the different Sultanates of Lanao del Sur that she has started Livelihood Projects in Lanao del Sur among many that she has throughout the country through the Villar Foundation. These will be replicated in many more places in Mind-anao and nationwide once she

UN banquet of blemished food highlights wasteOSLO -- The United Nations treated government minis-ters and officials to a meal of blemished African fruit and vegetables last Feb. 20 to highlight how perfectly edible food is being rejected by European supermarkets. The five-course meal for 500 delegates at a week-long United Nations Environ-ment Programme (UNEP) event in the Kenyan capital included grilled sweet corn tamales, yel low lenti l dal and mangomisu -- a tropical version of the Italian dessert tiramisu. The food was all reject-grade by the standards of European buyers, who some-times cancel orders af ter produce has been harvested. The rejected food often

rots or is fed to livestock be-cause farmers produce more than local markets can absorb. “No economic, environ-mental or ethical argument can be made to justify the extent of food waste and loss currently happening in the world,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UNEP which hosted the dinner. “With this dinner, we are demonstrating to retailers, consumers and policy mak-ers who can push for change that the astonishing amount of food we throw away is not just edible and nutritious, but also delicious,” he said. A total of 1.7 tons of food was collected, both for the meal and as a donation to local charities. Tristram Stuart, a British

founder of the Feeding the 5000 campaign group that worked with UNEP, said farm-ers singled out supermarkets in Europe as the worst of their buyers abroad. Fruit and vegetables were often rejected for cosmetic reasons such as color or shape. French beans had to be exactly the right length, for instance, and any that were too long had to be cut short, with the ends fed to livestock. “We are demonstrating the colossal scale of gratuitous waste, even in countries like Kenya where there are mil-lions of hungry people,” he said. “The waste of perfectly edible, ‘ugly’ vegetables is endemic in our food produc-tion systems.” -- Reuters

Page 9: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

9Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAOClassified Ads

Pryce Plaza HotelCarmen Hill, CDo,

Tel. No.722791 to93/858-4537e-mail:[email protected]

---------------------------------tHe Marigold Hotel

Velez cor. Luna Sts, CDoTel Nos. 856-4320, 856-2050, 726937

e-mail: [email protected]

---------------------------------cHaNaNtHoN Bed

& BreaKFaStcm recto avenue, cagayan de oro citytel. #: 856-81-89 / 309-3095 / 231-2103email ad : [email protected]

Room @ P800.00

---------------------------------NeW daWN PeNSioNNe

Velez-macahambus Sts, CDoTel Nos. 8571776, 721776

email : [email protected]

for RENT

088-855-19450918-979-31300922-865-9063

ADDRESS: 003 Guijo Street Baloy Cagayan de Oro City

EMAIL ADDRESS:[email protected]

MDN: Aug 17, 2012-Feb 17, 2013

Contact no.: 309-5276HERMILINO VILLALON

KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOP MALAYBALAY BRANCH

Kimberlite Pawnshop will be having an AUCTION SALE on all items that expired on January 2013

EXPIRY DATE

AUCTION MONTH

2012

TAGUM

BRANCH 1

BRANCH 2

MALAYBALAY

November 2011 JANUARY 19 12 26 17

December 2011 FEBRUARY 21 14 28 16

January 2012 MARCH 20 13 29 15

February 2012 APRIL 19 12 26 17

March 2012 MAY 22 15 29 17

April 2012 JUNE 21 14 26 19

May 2012 JULY 24 12 26 19

June 2012 AUGUST 21 14 28 16

July 2012 SEPTEMBER 20 13 27 18

August 2012 OCTOBER 18 12 25 16

September 2012 NOVEMBER 20 15 27 20

October 2012 DECEMBER 11 18 18 13

KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOP

Kimberlite Pawnshop will be having its monthly AUCTION SALE with corresponding expiry dates. All items will be sold to public auction at KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOP on the following dates and venues.

ADDRESS TAGUM MAIN Door 1 Misa Bldg., Pioneer Ave., Misa District, Magugpo West, Tagum City PANABO BRANCH 1 Lot 8 Blk 22 Cor. Mabitad-Quirino Sts., Panabo City, Davao del Norte Tel. No. (084) 628-8165 PANABO BRANCH 2 Blk 10 Stall 7, Panabo Central Market Panabo City, Davao del Norte Tel. No. (084) 628-8529 MALAYBALAY BRANCH Estrada Bldg., Fortich-Don Carlos Sts., Malaybalay, Bukidnon

AUCTION DATE: MARCH 21, 2013Estrada Bldg., Fortich-Don Carlos Sts.,

Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

FOR YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS PLACEMENTS CONTACT

Page 10: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

10 Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013 BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAOElection Watch

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes

Villanueva Mayor Juliette Uy and her husband Julio Uy sign the covenant for a peaceful elections in May during the Unity Walk/Peace Covenant Signing held Tuesday morning in Cagayan de Oro City. The couple are running for elective posts in Misamis Oriental. photo by: gerry lee gorit

Bacolod Diocese catego-rizes six anti-RH senatorial bets as Team Buhay and seven pro-RH candidates as Team Patay.

Rules on media accreditation for May polls outTHE Commission on Elections has released the guidelines for mass media accreditation in the May 13 automated national and local polls.

professional videographers. All parties requesting accreditation are required to submit a duly accomplished accreditation application form; two recently taken 2×2 colored photographs and an endorsement from the newspaper, television, radio station or internet news agency employing the applicant. Visiting foreign media, on the other hand, are re-quired to submit photocop-ies of both sides of their International Press Center Card for the year 2013, aside from the requirements mentioned above. Manila-based foreign media, meanwhile, are also required to submit an en-

In Resolution No. 9649, promulgated Feb 27, the Comelec said the coming elec t ions w i l l generate “great media attention.” It ack nowledged t he need to increase the ef-ficiency in the recording and monitoring of grants of accreditation to “avoid the proliferation of spuri-ous accreditation papers or media passes.” “Duly accredited mass media shall be given free access to polling places, voting centers and canvass-ing centers for purposes of observing and report-

ing on election events and processes,” the poll body said in the resolution. The poll body defined ‘media representatives’ as those “who are act ively engaged in the pursuit of information gathering and reporting or distribution, in any manner or form.” Media representatives, the Comelec said, include: print, television, radio, on-line and photo journalists; novelists, screenwriters, playwrights, feature film-makers, documentary mak-ers, television production, professional photographers,

dorsement letter from their Manila Bureau Chief and back-to-back photocopies of their IPC Cards, aside from the requirements men-tioned. Application forms for accreditation are available at the COMELEC Education and Information Depart-ment and in all Comelec offices nationwide. Application forms may also be downloaded from the poll body’s website (http://www.comelec.gov.ph). The period for filing of applications will run from February 1, 2013 to April 15, 2013. “This period shal l be non-extendible,” said the poll body.

“Duly accredited domes-tic and foreign media shall be allowed maximum access to all stages of the electoral process subject only to con-

ditions essentia l for the protection of COMELEC personnel, property, and privi leged information,” it added. (PNA)

TransCom a major leap for peace, says Villar

FORMER congresswoman and senatorial candidate (Team PNoy-NP) Cynthia Villar welcomed as a “major leap for peace” the presi-dential appointment of 15 members to the Transition Commission (TransCom) that would help draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law as a vital step towards obtaining lasting peace in Mindanao. “It is both symbolic and appropriate that President Aquino decided to name the members of the 15-per-son Transition Commission on this historic day. We must harness the spirit and essence of people power in support of peace and development initiatives for Mindanao,” she said. Villar said the Naciona-lista Party fully supports

Villar

Villar bats for massive information campaign on new anti–trafficking law

NP-Team P-Noy senatorial candidate Cynthia Villar urged the Inter-Agency Council Against Traffick-ing (IACAT) to mount a massive information campaign on the recently signed RA No. 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking Act of 2012 to warn syndi-cates that the government means business in the fight against human trafficking. Villar, one of the con-gressional authors of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2003, said that the new law has more teeth and provides greater resources to the fight against traf-ficking. She also lauded Presi-dent Aquino for signing the landmark law and sig-nifying his support to its thorough implementation. “Under RA 10364, any attempt to recruit and de-ploy Filipinos for human trafficking is recognized as a criminal offense. The law also removes the cloak

of confidentiality for the perpetrators of human trafficking, so they could no longer hide from the public by citing their right to privacy,” she explained. The former congress-woman from Las Pinas City expressed concern that illegal recruitment and trafficking of women to countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Malaysia, and South Korea continues despite repeated warnings from the government. “The fight against hu-man trafficking and illegal recruitment requires the cooperation of all sectors. We need to intensify access to livelihood programs at the barangay levels to give our unemployed and underemployed citizens more alternatives than to just leave the country un-protected,” Villar stressed. As managing director of the Villar Foundation, Mrs. Cynthia Villar pointed out

the ongoing transformation of conf lict-affected areas in Muslim Mindanao into havens of peace and devel-opment as a major thrust of the Aquino administration. She said that the Tran-sition Commission needs to begin its consultations right away and must make an effort to ensure an open,

Walk around the city to push peaceful electionsBy GERRY LEE GORIT

Reporter

CANDIDATES of elective positions in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental were joined by people from various sectors in a Unity Walk around the city on Tuesday morning for a safe and honest elections in May. The participants publi-cized their campaign from the Cathedral to Divisoria and back. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma later spoke to the crowd from the Bishop’s Palace urging them to choose candidates who are “for the greater good of the com-munity.” Ledesma promoted a campaign called “My Vote is Not for Sale” as he re-called the democratic gains of the Edsa I People Power which was commemorated on Monday. He said the Church will back fair elections. Among the government of f icia ls and candidates who part icipated in the walk and covenant sign-ing were Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny “Bambi” Emano, Joey Pelaez, Opol Mayor Dexter Yasay, provincial board members

Arrish Canonigo and Heck-ert Emano, Talisayan Vice Mayor Rommel Maslog, Villanueva Mayor Juliette Uy and her husband Julio Uy, and El Salvador Mayor Milette Almirante. Officials of the Padayon Pilipino Party came in full force and gathered later at the City Tourism Hall where

their titular head Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Vicente Emano encouraged them to support fair and clean elections. For his part, Comis-sion on Elections provincial election supervisor Cirilo Nala said the Comelec has asked once again the help of teachers for the conduct

of the May elections. Nala said the teachers “have the experience and competency in the conduct of the elections.” He also joined the chorus calling for honest and clean elections. “We should prevent, if not minimize, violations of election laws,” he said.

Election body warns owners of team patay/buhay posters

them. “When we say take it out, that is our findings. If they don’t take it out, we will simply charge them,” he added. Although, Brillantes said they have received a letter from the Diocese of Bacolod, the latter insisted that they would not take down the poster until the poll body has established that the tarpau-lins are campaign materials.

THOSE who approved the posting of the Team Patay/Team Buhay posters at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City may soon be charged by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for refusing to take down the oversized tarpaulins. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said the refusal of the owners to do away with the posters might result to the filing of a case against

Earlier, Atty. Mitchelle Abella, of the Diocese of Bacolod explained that the message in the tarpaulin was not an electoral campaign material, but about the re-jection of the reproductive health law. But, Brillantes noted that if the materials promote or campaign against particular candidates, it can be consid-ered as propaganda materials.

leAp/PAGE 4

CAMpAIgn/PAGE 4 wArns/PAGE 7

Page 11: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

11Friday-Saturday I Mar. 1-2, 2013BusinessWeek www.businessweekmindanao.com

YOUR LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS PAPERMINDANAO

COurTesy/PAGE 8rOdrIguez/PAGE 8

Congress Watch

Cynthia Villar pays courtesy to enthroned Maranao Royalty

At Center is Senatorial Candidate Cythia Villar with Royalties in Lanao del Sur.

By FRANK E. DOSDOS, JR. Ansary Maongco and Bai a Labi Nessren “Eleanor” Dimaporo Lantud of Tabib, Butig, Lanao del Sur. The affair was held at the Lanao del Sur Capitol Auditorium. According to Maranao custom the Sultan is the Head of the Community while the Bai a Labi is the equivalent of the Sultan in leading the women population. Some call the Bai a Labi, their queen.

ONE of the leading senato-rial candidates in the forth-coming May 13, elections, a favorite of the Maranaos, graced the enthronement of two prominent royal personalities in Lanao del Sur last February 16. Former Congresswoman of Las Pinas and Managing Director of Villar Founda-tion Cynthia Villar was the Guest of Honor during the enthronement of Sultan

Ansary is known to be a prominent personality in his profession and among the people of Butig and the whole province of Lanao del Sur while Lantud is the incumbent Mayor of Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte. In her message, Villar give her wishes to Ansary and Lantud for their suc-cesses and the prosperity of their respective domains. She also praised the

Rufus Rodriguez: Champions for women’s rights and the poor

rep. rufus rodriguez

FIGHTING for the welfare of women and the poor has always been Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez’ crusade in and out of the Philippine Congress. Rodriguez has fought to put into law more stringent regulations against manu-facturers in the marketing of milk for children. While the existing law only provides for govern-ment review of advertising materials for infant milks, Rodriguez has proposed the outright ban on advertising

of milk intended for infants and continued regulation of all sales promotions on milk intended for older children. Rodriguez also proposes the imposition of stiffer pen-alties of imprisonment and the cancelation of the licence to operate of violators of the law. It was also Rodriguez who pushed that local government units be allowed to accept donations and conduct milk feeding programs in times of disasters and calamities to prevent malnutrition of

problems among children. Rodriguez, however, said that milk feeding programs during calamities should be under the supervision of the Department of Health or the municipal and city health officers to make it safe. Rodriguez promised to continue to fight against leg-islations that limit women’s right to full information and freedom of choice on how to best nourish their children and those that also encroach on their personal belief on

Page 12: BusinessWeek Mindanao (March 1-2, 2013 Issue)

BusinessWeek Mindanao

The TEAM:

at the BWM MEDIA CENTERNEWSCON

“ We never stop moving to serve you...

This time, we joined forces to

serve you more!”

COMING SOON!Friday, March 8, 2013, 9-10:30 am

and every Friday thereafter

Tanleh Bldg., Abellanosa St., Consolacion, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City

being brought to you by :

PROVIDING our dear readers with a weekly news conference that tackles different issues in Northern Mindanao and elsewhere with a program that is inquisitive, upbeat and intervening about a variety of topics of vital importance to kagay-anons and the rest.

BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon is an hour-and-a-half long program with recurring and unique feature segments. It comes to fore with special media coverage, primarily by the four major newspapers in the Team, plus other media entities invited to join in the news conference for their regular coverage.

Ultimately, BWM NewsCon, as a weekly conduit, will help people find ways to answering essential questions and learning from prevailing responses that experts will share as guests in the news conference.

BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon’s Team believes that the earlier people understand the challenges and the probable solutions, the better off we will all be in the long run.

Welcome to the BusinessWeek Mindanao NewsCon!

DANTE SUDARIAPublisher

BusinessWeek MindanaoMindanao Daily News

Mindanao StarThe Cagayan Times

CHENG ORDOÑEZNewsCon Director

BWM Media Center

Associate EditorBusinessWeek Mindanao

ALLAN MEDIANTEEditor-in-Chief

Mindanao Daily News

Training DirectorPrint Journalism

JOSE FELICILDAEditor-in-ChiefMindanao Star

Training DirectorBroadcast Journalism

NELSONCONSTANTINO

Editor-in-ChiefBusinessWeek Mindanao

PR/ Editorial Consultant

RUEL PELONEExecutive Editor

Mindanao Daily NewsOnline Editor

businessweekmindanao.com

SHAUNALEJANDRAE UY

Editor-in-ChiefThe Cagayan Times

Training DirectorPhoto Journalism

CRIS DIAZAssociate Editor

Mindanao Daily News

MIKE BAÑOSFreelance Writer

Editorial ConsultantBWM Group of

Publications

For inquiries, call :

09495449724 / 09064670148 (Cheng) or (088)856-3344, (08822)74-53-80 (Marketing Dept.) 0917-7121424 / 0947-8935776 (Dante) or 0949-5449724 / 0906-4670148 (Cheng)