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Volume III, No. 240
Market Indicators
As of 6:02 pm june 20, 2013 (Thursday)
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PHISIX
US$1 = P43.80
6,311.33 points
53 cents
X
201.86 points
X
Briefly Smoking Ban ZAMBOANGA CITY, June 20 (PNA) –- The smoking ban in public places,transportation and government offices will be enforced in this southern port city starting in September. T h i s , a s M ayo r C e l s o Lobregat has signed on Monday the city ordinance enacted last June 6 by the city council. The ordinance will take effect within 90 days or three months. It will be published this week in a local newspaper. Councilor Myra Paz Abubakar, who authored the ordinance, said the local police are ready to implement the ordinance by September although it does not ban smoking, per se, because that is already prohibited under Republic Act No. 9211 otherwise known as the “Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.”
SSS retirees ILIGAN City -- The Social Security System (SSS) announced its new guidelines on contribution payments of voluntary members aged 65 and above who lack the required 120 monthly SSS contributions mandated by law to qualify for retirement pensions. SSS Manager Cheryl Jariol of Iligan Branch, said they are calling all members who are 65 years old or over prior to April 1, 2013, but have not reached the required member contributions of 120 months to qualify for retirement pension, to continue paying the remaining months but they must first file an application on or before July 1, 2013. This announcement was made by SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr., requiring all SSS branches to disseminate the said guidelines. Members affected by the new policy must file an ‘Application fo r Vo l u nt ar y Pay m e nt of Contributions for Members Aged 65 and Over’ within the prescribed period so they can complete their 120 contributions and be eligible for retirement pension. Otherwise, they can only receive a lump sum benefit instead of the lifetime SSS pension.
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June 21, 2013
Philex to spend P8b for Surigao mining project
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By BONG S. SARMIENTO, MindaNews
HILEX Mining Corp. is spending P5 to 8 billion this year for the exploration and development works at its Silangan project in Surigao del Norte, businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan said on Friday.
Pangilinan told reporters after the annual stockholders’ meeting of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. that the Silangan project is on track for its targeted commercial production in 2017.
“At the moment, we’re building a decline, which is the most important step [for the mining project’s commercial operation],” said Pangilinan, who also chairs Philex. project/PAGE 11
Matigsalug tribe folks in Bukidnon eye coconut plantation for livelihood
The Silangan Project portal. (source:philixmining.com.ph)
Davao airport governing body mulled By CARINA L CAYON, Contributor
By WALTER I. BALANE, MindaNews
MALAYBALAY City– The Matigsalugs of Kalagangan in San Fernando town in Bukidnon are eyeing to start
a coconut plantation for their livelihood here a decade after obtaining a Certificate eye/PAGE 11
DAVAO City -- The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-XI) has recommended support for the immediate passage of House Bill 6693, an Act creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) to administer and operate the F. Bangoy International Airport (FBIA). NEDA-XI, secretariat to the Regional Development
Council (R DC-X I), said e st abl ish i ng t he DI A A would redound to a more efficient and competitive administration and management of the Davao International Airport (DIA). Strengthening the role of DIA as the transportation and logistics hub in Mindanao has also been espoused in the current development and physical framework plans
of the Davao Region, said acting RDC-XI Secretary Miguel Herrera. Herrera ra ised t he r e c om m e n d a t i on a f t e r presenting some specific a nd gener a l com ment s gat hered from memberagencies of RDC-XI, relative to the provisions in HB 6693 authored by Davao City 2nd district Congresswoman mulled/PAGE 11
PSALM seeks OK for supply deals
The Mantigsalug tribe inhabits the mountains of Bukidnon and Davao.
THE POWER Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has sought the regulator’s approval for supply deals with 23 distribution utilities (DUs) in Mindanao, to allow PSALM to continue supplying a portion of distributors’ power needs. In a notice Wednesday, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said that PSALM filed an application on April 1 for the approval of the contracts for the supply of electric energy (CSEEs) it entered into
with the DUs. The utilities were identified as Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Camiguin Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Cotabato Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Iligan Light and Power, Inc.; Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.; deals/PAGE 11
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NEDA-XI bats for creation of Davao International Airport Authority By CARINA L. CAYON, Contributor
DAVAO CITY- The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA-XI) has recommended support for the immediate passage of House Bill 6693, an Act creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) to administer and operate the F. Bangoy International Airport (FBIA). NEDA-XI, secretariat to the Regional Development Council (R DC-X I), said e st abl i sh i ng t he DI A A would redound to a more efficient and competitive administration and management of the Davao International Airport (DIA). Strengthening the role of DIA as the transportation and logistics hub in Mindanao has also been espoused in the current development and physical framework plans of the Davao Region, said acting RDC-XI Secretary Miguel Herrera. Herrera ra ised t he r e c om m e nd at ion a f t e r presenting some specific a nd gener a l com ment s gat hered from memberagencies of RDC-XI, relative to the provisions in HB 6693 authored by Davao City 2nd district Congresswoman Mylene Garcia-Albano at the 15th Congress. T h e c o m m e nt s a n d recommendations were laid down before members of
the RDC-XI’s Development Administration Committee XI during the 2nd quarter meeting on June 11 at the NEDA-XI regional office. RDC-XI vice chair and NEDA-XI regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said they will ask Congresswoman Garcia-Albano to convene with the RDC-XI to discuss t h e re c om m e nd at ion s , emphasizing that the Bill has to be refined before the opening of the 16th Congress. On the same meeting, DAC -R D C X I memb er Davao Cit y Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) representing the private sector, presented a rejoinder reiterating the need to fast track the proposed establishment of DIAA. The ca l l was par t of DCCCII official statement released on June 5, 2013, following the June 2 Davao r u nway m ishap c au sed by one of Cebu Pacif ic aircrafts, which according
to DCCCII “resulted to loss of million peso economic opportunity for Davao City and its adjacent provinces and cities, being the gateway of Mindanao.” DCCCII suggested that DIAA should have its own charter and budget, with the mandate to ensure that the airport meets international standards, and that revenues generated by its operations should first and foremost be used for its upkeep and upgrade. Herrera said RDC-XI has passed various resolutions last year to address observed poor services and facilities at the FBIA which includes the request to the President through the Department of Tr a n s p or t at ion a nd Communications (DOTC) Secretary to establish the Davao International Airport Authority (Res. No. 66, series of 2012). Herrera said t hat t he primar y concern of the Council is on the improvement of the facilities and services of the FBIA, noting CAAP’s report that most of the equipment are old and need to be replaced, and that facilities need upgrading to internationally acceptable standards. NEDA/PAGE 10
Kidapawan City farmers expect better production with P10-M rehab of irrigation system By DANILO E. DOGUILES, Contributor
K O R O N A DA L C I T YMembers of the Magsaysay, Balindog, Kalaisan (MABAKAL) Irrigators’s Association in Kidapawan City have renewed their hope for better rice production with the rehabilitation of their communal irrigation system (CIS). Recently, the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over the P10-M worth of rehabilitation works for the 2.6 kilometer MABAKAL
CIS to the irrigators who will supervise its operations. The project was started i n Apr i l 2012 a nd wa s implemented under DAMRDP’s Rural Infrastructure component. At the turn over rites, Dioscoro Arances, president of the MABAKAL Irrigators’ A s s o c i a t i on e x pr e s s e d gratitude to the prompt response to their request for the repair of the water system that primarily serves the three barangays. “Hav ing a n ef f icient
irrigation system plays a major role in boosting our rice production,” Dioscoro Arances, president of the MABAKAL IA said. “This would certainly bring better income for us,” he told the participants of the ceremony, which was held at the village hall of Brgy. Kalaisan. Deputy Program Director Engr. Arnel de Mesa and other DA-MRDP officials were also present during the turn over ceremony. farmers/PAGE 10
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Talking Points 1. What are TESDA’s major programs and services that have contributed to the administration’s job generation program? 2. What are TESDA’s scholarship programs? Who are qualified to avail and how can interested parties avail of such scholarship programs? How many have already availed of this program? 3. What are the schemes that TESDA is using in measuring the impact in the regional development specifically for training and employment? 4. What is TESDA’s role in providing employment to returning OFWs who were economically displaced as a result of the global economic crisis?
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DA to expand organic farms in Region 12 By Marvyn N. Benaning
GENER AL SANTOS CIT Y—The Depa r t ment of Agriculture (DA) has allocated P21.7 million to expand organic-farming ac t iv it ies i n Reg ion 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) as part of its efforts to expand organic farms in the country this year. The DA said the amount set aside is higher than the P16.52 million spent for the same initiative last year. Region 12 has a number of agricultural production cooperatives devoted to organic farming and the culture of black rice, and many of them are banking on support based on the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10068, otherwise known as the “Organic Agriculture Act of 2010,” to boost their share of the local and foreign rice markets. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala was the principa l aut hor of R A 10 068, which ma ndates the government to convert
ORGANIC FARM. This 1,500 square-meter demo ecological sanitation organic ‘garden’ of WAND Foundation in Libertad, Misamis Oriental, is fully-powered by humanure, taken from the EcoSan toilet seen in the background. The garden is 100 percent organic and the crops are mixed to minimize disease and pest infestation.
5 p erc ent of t he tot a l agricultural land to organic farming. Reg ion 12 Technica l Director for Research and Re g u l at ion s E n r ique to
G. Natividad, who is also the Organic Agriculture Program (OAP) focal person, said his office has efficiently utilized the money to abide by the mandate of RA 10068.
20-kilometer radius. Taverna said the station is desig ned solely for agriculture and that the station’s long-term study will allow them in the future to forecast the weather in the next six months. “The local government of Gerona, Tarlac, built their own agrometeorology station to provide farmers of this town with weather information, relevant to t hei r pla nt i ng schedu le and appropriate farming approaches,” said R1 in a statement. “The infrastructure is an early warning system that will provide the farmers with a daily 12-hour weather forecast and customized farm tips and advisories and help them prepare their farms for any major impact due to weather disturbance,” it added. gears/PAGE 10
THE world quietly reached a milestone in the evolution of the human diet. In 2011, for the first time in modern history, world farmed fish production topped beef production. The gap widened in 2012, with output from fish farming – also called aquaculture – reaching a record 66 million tons, compared with production of beef at 63 million tons. And 2013 may well be the first year that people eat more fish raised on farms than caught in the wild. More than just a crossing of lines, these trends illustrate the latest stage in a historic shift in food production – a shift that at its core is a story of natural limits. As the global demand for animal protein grew more than five-fold over the second half of the 20th century, humans began to press against the productivity constraints of the world’s rangelands and oceans. Annual beef production climbed from 19 million tons in 1950 to more than 50 million tons in the late 1980s. Over the same period, the wild fish catch ballooned from 17 million tons to close to 90 million tons. Since the late 1980s, the growth in beef production has slowed, and the reported wild fish catch has remained essentially flat. It is only recently that the limitations of
Natividad said DA 12 OAP Team conducted briefings and training sessions for t he rema i ni ng 33 loca l government units (LGUs) expand/PAGE 10
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Tobacco control good for farmers too—advocates By Abigail Lee, IPS Asia-Pacific
BANGKOK—Since the age of five, Avelino Dacanay has known only one means of livelihood – tobacco farming. But today, at age 53, he has turned to farming white corn and says he finds it a more sustainable choice of crop to cultivate. “I am happy (that) I can finally be out of tobacco farming after all the problems it has caused me and my family,” says Dacanay, who spoke at a recent press conference here arranged by the anti-tobacco advocacy group South-east Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). He says his change of heart came with the realisation that he and his family’s income and quality of life had not improved much over the decades, and that cultivating tobacco had also taken a toll on their health. “It is true (that) farmers can earn a lot from tobacco, (but) the manufacturers usually come back to us with low prices,” explained Dacanay, who comes from the tobacco-growing province of La Union in northern Philippines. “It only provides my family a minimal income after subtracting all the expenses on labour wages and insecticides.” But the Philippines’ National Tobacco Administration says on its website: “Tobacco is the only cash crop which contributes an enormous sum in the family income of the farmers, particularly those in North.” According to statistics from SEATCA, tobacco farming can bring a farmer between 1,725 to 2,645 US dollars per hectare. But they need to sell to brokers who aim to buy tobacco leaves at lower prices in order to sell them at a profit to the large tobacco companies, the anti-tobacco group says. “We have no control over our pay (as) it is decided by the middlemen. It’s a contract (with them),” Dacanay explained. tobacco/PAGE 10
Agri town gears up Farmed fish production overtakes beef Food firms told to go for climate change organic GERONA, Tarlac—The firstever agrometeorology station in Central Luzon, designed to help some 5,000 farmers cope with climate change, was recently launched in this agricultural town. Mayor Dennis Norman Go and non-governmental organization Rice Watch A c t i o n N e t w o r k ( R 1) unveiled t he P3-million station in Barangay Ta g u m b a o f u n d e d b y the loca l government of Gerona. It was completed last mont h and its operation is monitored and assisted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Rodelio Taverna, who was trained by Pagasa to monitor the station aided by Internet service provided by Smart Communications, said the weather in Gerona can be monitored within a
natural systems have emerged on a global scale, And the bottom line: getting much more food from natural systems may not be possible. Much of the world’s grassland is stocked at or beyond capacity. Overstocked rangelands become obvious as the loss of protective vegetation leads to soil degradation, which at its worst can cause punishing dust and sand storms. And most of the world’s fisheries are fished to their limits or already crashing. Over- exploited fisheries are less readily visible, but fishing patterns over time reveal that more effort is required to achieve the same size catch as in years past. Boats are using more fuel and travelling to more remote and deeper waters to bring in their haul. Fishers are pulling up smaller fish, and populations of some of the most popular food fish have collapsed. Historically, people’s taste in eating animal protein was largely shaped by where they lived. In places with extensive grasslands, like in the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Australia, people gravitated toward grazing livestock. Along coasts and on islands, as in Japan, wild fish tended to be the protein staple. Today, with little room for expanding the output from rangelands and the seas, overtakes/PAGE 10
MANILA—Companies in the local food and beverage (F&B) industry are encouraged to consider to tap the growing market for organic products given the popularity of the healthy lifestyle. Wo r l d b e x S e r v i c e s Internationa l (WSI) Marketing Director Jon Richmond Ang said that suppl iers , d i st r ibutors , manufacturers and retailers of F&B products should take advantage of the increasing population of health buffs in the country as they are also a potential client. Wit hout citing exact figures, Ang said that more and more people prefer foods that are grown or produced orga n ic a l ly over t hos e chemically or artificially made that could harm their overall well-being. Since the Philippines is a organic/PAGE 7
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Damage to Sambawan Island coral reef placed at over P400,000
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By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA, Contributor
NAVAL, Biliran– The damage to the Sambawan Island coral reef caused by a foreign cargo vessed recently was estimated to reach P417,103. A report by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 8 said the M/V Unicorn Logger, a Japan bound vessel from Malaysia loaded with logs, damaged 280.5 square meters area of coral reef. The cargo vessel ran aground last June 13. The BFAR report stated that the computation of value cost of marine resources of World Bank (WB) on corals is about P1,487 per square
meter. The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 provides a fine in the amount of not less than P5,000 nor more than P500,000, exclusive of the value of the thing damaged, or imprisonment for not less than one (1) year but more than six (6) years, or both, as determined by the court. The offender shall also b e re qu i re d to re s tore or compens ate for t he
restoration to the damage. Meanwhile, the BFAR report mentioned that the quick response team (QRT) a nd t he env i ron ment a l monitoring unit who conducted an assessment on the reef damage last June 16 measured the damage area using a transect line with the following measurement: 25.5 meter length and 11 meter width of the grounding area measuring a total damage area of coral reef at about 280.5 square meters. The tota l hard cora l and soft coral cover was damage/PAGE 7
Sambawan Island in Biliran.
photo courtesy of www. panoramio . com
Aid continues to pour from Red Cross Isabela loses P11-M corn
plants due to absence of rain
By JEANEVIVE D. ABANGAN, Contributor
BAGANGA, Davao OrientalAs t he Internat iona l C om m it te e of t he Re d C ro s s (IC RC) a nd t he Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) continues its humanitarian response to the typhoon hard-hit towns in the province, they bring with them a spark of hope to the people struggling against their plight with the typhoon Pablo aftermath. Together with delegates f rom t he Un it e d A r a b
E m i r ate s Red Cre scent Society, the PNRC led by its Chairman R ichard J. Gordon early this month distributed to more than 300 residents of Brgy. Bobonao in Baganga town assorted relief goods comprising of food, hygiene kits, rice, oil, and sugar, among other basic household essentials as part of the joint ICRCPhilippine National Red Cross Rel ief Operat ion catering all affected towns
a nd ba ra ngays i n t he province. Governor Corazon N. Ma lanyaon t hanked t he interventions of the ICRC and the PNRC along with t he UA E Red Cre s c ent for extending help in the province’s desperate times. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our good chairman for being one of the first to come to our assistance, for being t here for us during our
most difficult times and for showing us compassion and for inspiring hope in the hearts of our people,” said Governor Malanyaon. “Disaster in our country is not so familiar to us. That is why it is most important that in debacles like this, we start together and get together right away. We should be helping each other,” said Chairman Gordon during his visit here. pours/PAGE 7
ILAGAN CITY, IsabelaThe Provincial Agriculture Office has received reports on totally damaged corn plants with loss estimated at P11 million in four northern Isabela towns due to absence of rainfall. Isabela agriculture office head Danilo Tumamao said that the four towns that registered totally damaged corn plants are Santa Maria, San Pablo, Cabagan and Sto. Tomas,
Tu m a m a o s a id t h at d e s pit e t he Ph i l ippi ne Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s declaration of rainy season in the country, the four towns still did not experience rainfall leading to the wilting of their corn plants. Based on the damage assessment report submitted by the municipal agriculture of f ic e s of t he a f fe c te d loses/PAGE 7
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Ride the wild horses THINK
hi n k a mi nute…Wi ld horses are such beautiful, A Minute powerful animals. By Jhan Tiafau Hurst It’s inspiring just to watch them run—fast and free. Yet their great speed and power would be of no use for transportation or anything else to mankind, if they had not been trained. But then, we humans also have tremendous natura l power and passion in us. We were not created just to be boring, safe people with no colorful personalities or special abilities. Just the opposite. God made us with all kinds of strong drives, personalities and ambitions to do great things. We just have to control and channel our passions, so we’ll use their power for our good and the good of those around us. Whether its our ambition for success in our job and career, our natural ability to lead others, or our passion for fun and adventure. You see, God wants us to use the strong drives and desires He gave us to reach our full potential and make a difference in this world, which He made for us to enjoy with Him. Jesus Christ came to set us free to become all we were created to be. He wants to give us the inner strength and self-control we need to fully use the power of our passions. Jesus Himself has strong passions, emotions, and a powerful personality. And He showed us how to use ours in the right way for the right purpose. Jesus doesn’t want to take all the fun, excitement and passion out of your life. He wants to help you maximize it and live your life to the fullest—through power under control. hurst/PAGE 7
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No such thing as a good dynasty
HE results of the last elections with 48 percent of the new mandates belonging to dynasties, we are either extremely stupid or we are trying to reinvent what the world has proven to be true over centuries. Dynasties have never served any country well and never will. China and Europe have suffered as written in history books on how dynasties have caused misery to the countries and its people. Economies have stagnated and suffered over the generations till such time the dynasties were finally booted out. For the more aggressive leaderships they literally wiped out the dynasty using extreme measures and yet in the Philippines both the electorate and the dynasties pursue the same models for doom. While we suffer the consequences dynasties bring about we continue to place in power dynasty leaders who pursue their ambitions to the detriment of the people and the country for their selfish and personal interests. Unless our leaders are just as stupid which it seems to be, they will continue with their disregard of the constitution on Article II Section 26 knowing well they cause harm to the people. Their pursuit of power to extricate monies corrupted from the government (meaning the Filipino people) will without a doubt lead us to the road to perdition. With the elections we hoped for the people to make the right and correct choices which has proven to be frustrated. Now if only our leaders would open their eyes and
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comprehend from the history books and lead with intelligence B randing and honesty to realize dynasBy Harry Tambuatco ties cannot be good for any leadership; we are for certain doomed. Education takes at least a generation on the short term for people to understand this and with the entire hullabaloo the education departments are fusing with they fail to introduce into the curriculum classes to educate the masses on our politics. The elections by itself is serious business and should not be presented with ati-atihan dancers and gyrating presenters as if to trivialize the process. Only thru the elections can we democratically remove dynasties that get away with their corruption to amass millions literally for their pockets. In the last elections alone, how can these politicians who spent hundreds of millions on TV ads alone get a return of monies spent? The corrupt politicians who paid for their votes; how on earth can they retrieve their expenses other than to steal from the offices they were voted into? It has become so glaring and erudite politicians spend tambuatco/PAGE 7
SUPER
Dollars: The problem of plenty
oo little or too much of anything can be bad. Exposure to too little sun can cause vitamin D deficiency. But too much sun can cause skin cancer. Too little water will kill plants. But too much water (as in floods) can kill not only the plants but also the people and the animals in the affected areas. In a way, this is also true with dollars in relation to the pesos that we hold. Too little dollars, and we will not be able to pay for our imports. We will also have a difficult time paying for our dollar-denominated loans. Too much dollars in relation to the pesos that we hold is also bad. Remember that both dollars and pesos are commodities and their relative values are affected by supply. So if we have more dollars in relation to pesos, the dollars will lose value while the pesos will increase in value. To put it another way, the dollars will weaken while the pesos will strengthen. Is this good or bad? It depends. For dollar earners (like our millions of OFWs), our exporters and the Business Process Outsourcing industry, this will be bad news. Our OFWs will have to send more dollars to compensate for the dollar’s loss in value. Our exporters’ products will be more expensive and, therefore, less competitive. With these developments, our BPOs expect to lose market share. For importers, however, the weakening of the dollar (and the strengthening of the peso) will be good news. Our imports of oil will be less expensive. Eventually, the lower cost of oil imports will also translate into lower electricity
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cost. Companies with dollar loans are just too glad because O ut they can pay for their dollar By Ignacio Bunye obligations more cheaply. Among my classmates, who are in the export business, I usually get nudged to persuade the Bangko Sentral Monetary Board to “do something about the weak dollar.” Others (and I suspect that they are importers), however, are all praises for the BSP for making the peso “one of the best performing currencies in the region.” Caught between these two diametrically opposed demands, from the dollar earners and the dollar spenders, what does the BSP do? Remember that the primary mandate of the BSP is monetary stability and this includes exchange stability. With this as a mandate, the BSP does not target any specific exchange rate. Rather, the BSP allows the dollarpeso exchange rate to seek its own level as determined by market forces. The BSP, however, will try to achieve exchange rate stability by preventing wild and abrupt fluctuations in the exchange rate. What are the present realities? One, OFW dollar remittances continue to rise. Two, interest rates abroad are down and much lower bunye/PAGE 7
SPEAKING
Lord of history
E need to realize that there is such a person as the Lord of history. He is the one who orchestrates all the events of the world in the whole length of time since he is the world’s Creator who cannot abandon his creation. Rather he continues to govern it, since he created it for a purpose. This Lord of history is God who revealed himself to us completely in his Son who became man, Jesus Christ, and who continues to be with us in the Holy Spirit through the Church and through the many instrumentalities—doctrine, sacraments, hierarchy—that Christ himself put up to keep his presence and action abiding in us throughout time. We need to understand that history is not just a product of blind forces nor of chance. It is a manifestation of divine providence that has to contend with our human freedom that can turn things in any which way. We need to understand that history is not just a series of events that we record, with more or less some logic thrown in to make it acquire some meaning. It is a history of salvation planned by God from all eternity, given birth in time, and developed toward its proper end through the twists and turns of human freedom. It is a history whose vital action takes place first of all and always in the hearts of men as they relate themselves to God or not, before it produces repercussions in the other aspects of human life: profes-
HINTS
sional, social, economic, political, cultural, etc. and Traces So our history is a joint By Fr. Roy Cimagala venture between God and us, with us always asked to participate as actively and as freely as possible in the plan of God. God is responsible for our history. He is always in control, knowing what to do in any situation. But we too are responsible. That’s the reason why we need to try our best to get in touch with God always. Every move that we make should be planned and executed always with God. And every incident that comes our way, good or bad, should be viewed always with God also. That is why it is the saints, from the time of the apostles up to now, more than the political or social leaders and heroes, who have effectively illuminated history. That is why the Church survives in spite of the many grave and serious crises it faced through time. The saints, ever faithful to God’s will and docile to his cimagala/PAGE 7
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Hurst... from page 6
Jesus doesn’t want to take the fight out of you; He wants you to learn to fight His way for His truth and the right reasons. He wants you to use your anger for the right things, so you’ll be angry at dishonesty and lying, vicious gossip, religious pride, prejudice, immorality and lack of selfcontrol. You’ll want to stop the abuse of women and children, and all the other wrongs that are ruining people’s lives, including your own. So today, why not ask Jesus to take complete control of your character, ambitions, and desires? He’s the only one who can help you train and ride the wild horses of your nature. Then, you can make the most of your natural drives and passions to help both yourself and others enjoy a satisfying, full life. Just Think a Minute…
Tambuatco ... from page 6
so much to get elected and reelected that they will rob the government coffers as soon as they are in power. Never mind the monies stolen but since this affects the lives of the very poor and the citizens on multiple platforms––this has to be stopped! But who will stop this practice? The president? Problem is; he too is a dynast.
Bunye ... from page 6
than interest rates in the Philippines. Foreign capital seek ing higher y ields continue to come in. Three, good economic f u nda menta ls of t he Philippines are expected to prevail for 2013. This makes Philippine stocks also more attractive. Half of the trade volume in the stock market, which has risen to an all time high, is now funded by foreign money. Four, the Philippines is on the cusp of investment grade. Given the above-stated conditions, we expect more dollars to come in. The BSP will have to deal with its “problem of plenty.”
So what is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas doing about it? Obviously, doing nothing is not an option. If the BSP were just to stand by, the peso would become so strong – more t han our OFWs and their families and our exporters can bear. So the BSP intervenes in the foreign exchange market by buying the excess dollars. This way, the BSP is able to smoothen the volatility in the exchange rate. (In a reverse situation, where the dollar is scarce and the peso depreciates, the BSP sells dollars.) Buying dollars, however, will definitely affect the pesos in circulation. The supply of pesos will increase – an inflationary situation. An oversupply of pesos would drive up local prices, eventually weakening the peso. C on s i s t e nt w it h it s mandate to keep the inflation rate low and stable, the BSP will now have to remove from circulation some of the pesos that it had earlier released. In BSP lingo, this process is called “sterilization.” The BSP performs “sterilization” (of course, we don’t mean this in the physical sense) by selling government securities or by luring these pesos to the SDA or Special Deposit Account. Mind you. “sterilization” is a very expensive operation. The cost comes in the form of interest expense. Just imagine the BSP paying 3 percent on P1.8 trillion worth of SDAs! What happens to the dol la rs w h ich t he B SP purchased? The dollars eventually form pa r t of t he Gross International Reserves which over the last five years has grown to more than 85 billion US dollars. Everybody (at least a lmost ever ybody) is hailing the BSP for this terrific achievement of piling up such a huge reserve. Our international reserves by conventional reckoning can pay for more than a year of imports. Our reserves are one and a half times more than our international debts. Hooray for that! But wait a minute. When we reinvest our reserves for example in US treasuries,
we only get a fraction of a percent. Compare that to the 3 percent that we are paying on the SDA. Worse, when these dollars are revalued and the peso appreciates, we have fewer pesos than we started with. As Ted Failon would say: You see what I mean? No commercia l bank would go into such operation knowing the tremendous cost involved. But the Bangko Sentral is not a commercial bank. The BSP was created for t he primar y purpose of maintaining price stability. The BSP has its own bottom line, as emphasized in the BSP vision: “..to deliver a high quality of life for all Filipinos.”
Cimagala ... from page 6
his abiding promptings, and even if their efforts were mostly hidden and hardly recognized, have been the ones who have outlived big empires and powerful ideologies. Their contribution went beyond what simply are temporal and worldly. They linked world events to their supernatural end. Like Christ, they did their part always passing through the way of the Cross. That’s how their resurrection, their victory was also assured. That is why, for the world today to successfully face the most subtle and deadly challenges it faces, it needs real saints who are faithful to God and not afraid to carry the Cross. In today’s world situation, what is needed are saints who know how to grapple with the sophistries of the times not so much by the eloquence of the words as by the abiding testimony of their saintly lives that highlight the spiritual and supernatural realities. As St. Paul put it: “My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor 2,4) This does not mean that we don’t study the doctrine of our faith, but we need to see to it that such study truly redounds to a palpable sanctity that is always accompanied
by the zeal to do apostolate, the best sign of Christian love one can have toward others. It is in this way that we can expose the lie behind the deceptive sophistries of our times like relativism, rationalism, atheism, agnosticism, materialism, exaggerated forms of spiritualism that downgrade the objective value of the material world, etc. These are what ail the modern world, an ailment that is not anymore considered as such, but rather the opposite, as a kind of liberation, enlightenment and the like. One is truly sick when he insanely considers his illness as his health and power. The Lord of history is doing his part, and provides us with everything we need. It’s us who need to correspond.
Damage... from page 5
estimated at about 20% and 30%, respectively, with most of the soft corals dominated by pulsating soft coral then followed with leather coral and other come in patches, like Pierogyra specie and Sea Whip coral, the report mentioned. The report also mentioned that the hard coral species were represented by different species in the area, including Tu b a s t r e a m i c r a n t h a , Mycedium elephantatus, Ganiapara species, Dipic a st rea hel lospora , Pacillapora species, Acropora digitata, Lobophyllia species. Invertebrates were also observed in the area, like Tube sponge, Barrel sponge, Feather star, Anemone, and Tube Worms which were the most dominant invertebrates
Organic... from page 4
highly agricultural country, he noted that “we have the land resources to produce organic materials” to feed the health-conscious customers. S t a t i s t i c s s h ow t h a t five years ago, there were already 35,000 organic farms on 14,140 hectares of land representing 0.12 percent of total agricultural lands. Expecting the figures to have improved recently, Ang said the only problem is the lack of technical know-how and proper technolog y in organic farming.
in the reef. Fish composition was mainly represented by the following: Goatf ish, Damselfish, Anemonefish, Anthias, Wrasse and Grouper.
Pours... from page 5
He u nder s c ore d t he importance of inculcating to onesel f t he va lue of assuming responsibi lit y while discouraging dependence. “Instead of just relying on other’s help, we should learn to stand on our own,” he said stressing a warning against idleness and mendicancy. Despite losing in t he recent senatorial elections Chairman Gordon assured the people of Baganga and Davao Or ienta l t hat he will continue his advocacy in bridging assistance to those who might need them considering that a seat in the political arena is not the only opportunit y in extending aid and be of service to people. Mea nwhi le, over 228 m i l l ion pesos wor t h of assista nce have a l ready been ex tended by t he International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)in the province of Davao Oriental alone for the provision of food, water, shelter, among other assistance, according to Gordon. Overall, the ICRC-PNRC has shelled out more than P600 million pesos worth assistance to all typhoonaffected areas including the province of Compostela Valley. The Red Cross Community society caters W h i le t here a re s ome farmers who still embrace traditional methods that favor chemical-based fertilizers, he cited a surge in the number of those getting into natural way that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control. This, in turn, could lead to competitive price in the market because they have to compete with each other cost-wise, he explained. To dispel the notion that organic products are expensive, the WSI executive said those produced locally are actually cheaper than imported ones. “It’s not that expensive,” he
7
all 18 villages in the town of Baganga as well as all barangays on other affected towns such as Cateel and Boston. They were also one of the first responders to come to the province’s aid. Among the assistance provided by the Red Cross in t he prov ince include prov i s ion of fo o d a nd s a fe w at e r, re p a i r a nd rehabi l it at ion of w ater facilities, rural health units. They were also involved in the rehabilitation of the Cateel District Hospita l as well as barangay health stations. They were also engaged on communitybased health interventions through hygiene promotion and provision of hygiene kits, community trainings, cash for work activities, and embarks on recovery prog ra m i n shelter a nd livelihood, among others.
Loses... from page 5
towns, there are at least 116 hectares planted with corn in vegetative stage that are already considered totally damaged due to the absence of rainfall. Tu ma mao sa id t hat even if the rain may fall on assessed corn plants, these have no chance to recover as because these are already totally wilted. Tu m a m ao i s s e t to report to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council the corn damage assessment report of the four towns and will seek the inter vention of the Department of Agriculture in the region. said. “[For instance] bottles of organic sauces at P50 to P70; abroad that’s [priced] $10 to $20. So here, it’s less than $2 only. There’s also an export potential for them.” Ac c ord i n g t o g l o b a l market research f irm Ma rketsa nd Ma rkets, t he global organic F&B sector is expected to grow to $104.5 billion in 2015 from $57.2 billion in 2010. Cornering even just a portion of the global organic F&B market, Ang said, would help prop up the country’s economic growth, which in the first three months of 2013 has registered an impressive rate of 7.8 percent. (BM)
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Utilization of NHTSPR data showcased in Bukidnon Dubbed as the “Home of Future Millionaires”, the municipality of Malitbog certainly has a lot to boost of. Located 40 km. From the regional capital-Cagayan de Oro City, Malitbog is home to a number of residents most of whom are actively engaged in agriculture. Along with its rich agricultural produce, it also has in its bosom the cleanest river in region 10, the Siloo River. Despite its remote topographical location, the people of Malitbog particularly, the Local Government unit of Malitbog has always been receptive to change and development. It has opened its doors to new ideas, strategies, and systems of the government. One of which is the utilization of the NHTSPR data in the implementation of various programs and services in their locality. The NHTSPR or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction is an information management system that the government uses in identifying who and where the poor are and is being spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It aims to address poverty reduction through a scientific and target- focused strategy. After it has executed a Memorandum of Agreement with the DSWD, the municipality of Malitbog has made use of the NHTSPR data shared to them particularly in the updating of their Comprehensive Land Use Plan for 2012-2013. The Municipal Comprehensive Land Use Plan (MCLUP) is an authoritative and legitimate document projecting a better quality of life for the people in the locality through its various programs, projects, and activities designed for local governance, socio-economic, and infrastructure. Through the NHTSPR database utilization, they are assured to have an adequate and accurate land use data. The NHTSPR data furthermore helped ensure that they have the updated data needed for allocation of national and local funds in the LGU. The data was also utilized to identify their beneficiaries for the Livelihood Assistance under Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD).
One of the beneficiaries of the draft animal dispersal project in Malitbog
This is a component project under the Mindanao Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture with the World Bank as the donor entity. The World Bank has extended a total funding allocation of 7.5 million wherein, 10 associations with 448 member beneficiaries were organized, listing of which were based on the NHTSPR data shared to the Local Government Unit of Malitbog. These beneficiaries are presently engaged in draft animal dispersal, banana production, post-harvest facility, goat production, cassava production, chicken production and corn production. The municipality was also a recipient of three farm-to-market roads under the Municipal Rural Development Plan. Another significant use of the NHTSPR data was in the identification of 50 families for the socialized housing project of the National Housing Authority. This project was designed for the homeless/landless giving priority to families living in hazard prone areas. T h e data was also t h e basis for replacement of senior citizens availing social pension as well those beneficiaries
qualified for livelihood assistance such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (formerly SEA-K) of DSWD. Forty Out-of-School Youths as identified from the list have also availed the Cash for Training Program of TESDA and DSWD as well as the endorsement of 4 family heads for employment to the Department Of Public Works and Highways. In addition to this, the LGU of Malitbog was also able to recommend 63 students for scholarship grants under the Priority Development Fund. M u n i c i p a l S o c i a l We l f a r e a n d Development Officer of Malitbog, Norma Mabatid considers the data as very useful and informative as far as identifying deserving beneficiaries is concerned. This is a clear manifestation how the NHTSPR data can be very useful and significant in terms of addressing the needs of the locality through its various programs and services. Through the utilization of the data, Local Government Units can assure to the constituents that programs and services are being rendered to those deserving poor households.
FASHIONALISM. The Best of Philippine National Costumes. An exhibit at the SM City Cagayan de Oro during the mall’s Independence Day celebration, featuring the gown collections of CDO designers Boogie Musni Rivera, Juniel Doring, Alquin Cap-atan, and Dr. Mavy Cooper De Leon. It also features bags by VESTI. Photos by SHAUN UY
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Globe Telecom makes going back to school easier for Manobo-Tinananon children The Manobo-Tinananon community in Tumanding, Arakan, Cotabato has a vision --- for its youth to have access to continuing education so that the lives of their people would be changed positively. While the goal seems easy to achieve, life is not easy for the residents of Tumanding. Not only do they have limited access to social services such as clean water and electricity, but they are also dependent on farm labor for income. Thus, although they can send the children to public schools, they have little to spend for anything else. Being one of the communities in Arakan that Globe has adopted under its Community of Practice (C o P) pro gra m s h owc as i n g the various advocacies of the company, Globe has decided to offer educational support to the children this current school year to lessen the financial burden to the parents. As initial assistance, Globe provided 180 primary and high school students of Tumanding Elementary School and Sto. Nino High School with basic school supplies applicable to their respective grade or year level. The school supplies were given as conservation incentives for habitat restoration partners of Globe in SEBNAKA (Sinaka Eagle Bagtok Napunangan Kayupaton Association), the tribal council which represents the ManoboTinanong community. SEBNAKA is duly registered as an Indigenous People’s Organization under the Department of Labor and Employment and is also an active member of the Arakan Civil Society Organizations. “ I ndirec t c o n ser vatio n
incentives like this are given as merits for the community’s good performance in forest restoration. While Globe is helping them increase their income through agro-forestry support, we are at the same time assisting them with their immediate needs such as the provision of school supplies. Hopefully, these incentives would also be able to promote forest restoration as an attractive option for non-partners,” said Yoly Crisanto, Head of Globe Corporate Communications. T h e M a n o b o -T i n a n a n o n community which is comprised of some 50 households, handles the reforestation and protection of around 150 hectares of forest in Mt. Sinaka which is among the important wildlife habitats in the area and is regarded as one of the world’s important bird areas due to the relatively high proportion of unique threatened birds it contains. Last year, Globe has entered into a par tners hip with the Philippine Eagle Foundation to restore wildlife habitats through rain forestation on grasslands along the forest corridor between the mountains of Mahuson, Sinaka and Kabalantiian-BinoonganKulaman (KABIKU) in Arakan Vall ey as well as provide assistance to its commu nity partners with the end-goal of preserving the breeding places of the Philippine Eagle. While the project is mainly about rain reforestation, Globe and PEF also find ways to improve the welfare of the communities by providing livelihood, education, and other basic needs of the communities which are working to help achieve the goal.
Fernando Esguerra, OIC for Corporate Social Responsibility of Globe Telecom, hands over a bag full of school supplies to one of the school children in the Manobo-Tinananon community in Tumanding, Arakan, Cotabato
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Expand... from page 4
that still need to organize their Municipal Organic Agriculture Boards. During t he Fa rmers’ Hea r t Day a nd U lat sa Bayan on February 11, OAP distributed three 1.5-toncapacity shredders and three bag closers to the LGUs of Kidapawan City, General Santos City and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. “We also provided funds to develop the frontage of stations such as those in Balindog and Tupi as organic techno demo sites,” he said. Four organic trading posts are also being set up in the towns of Midsayap a nd Tu lu na n i n Nor t h Cotabato and Surallah in South Cotabato and Tacurong City. During Region 12’s Ulat sa Bayan on May 8 and 9, OAP also turned over four multicultivators with trailers to Koronadal, General Santos, Columbio and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of South Cotabato. (BM)
Tobacco... from page 4
SEATCA’s press conference was aimed at countering the oft-cited arguments by tobacco manufacturers that anti-smoking campaigns, including raising taxes on tobacco products, hurt the livelihood of poor farmers who grow tobacco especially in developing countries. Mary Assunta, SEATCA senior policy advisor, said t h a t t o b a c c o i n du s t r y groups like the Portugalbased International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) paints tobacco farming as a profitable way of make a living and stokes opposition by fa r mers to ef fec t ive tobacco control measures. “Thousands of farmers from all over the world have fallen into the trap of the ITGA who spin the truth of tobacco farming in order to lure farmers into their lucrative businesses,” she argued. In its brief ing paper, S E AT C A c i t e d p u b l i c statements made by t he ITGA – which describes itself as a non-profit group that pushes the interests of tobacco fa rmers a nd the long-term security of tobacco markets – that “these (tobacco control) measures will have a huge devastating effect on the lives of millions of growers” and that these would put “our families and businesses under threat”. But SE ATCA a rg ues that tobacco farming is an
“insignificant contributor to total employment and agriculture among ASEAN countries.” It claims that tobacco hectarage accounts for an average of just 0.2 percent of total agricultural land, citing figures from the Tobacco Atlas. Comparing planting white corn to planting tobacco, Dacanay said that white corn is locally consumed and can also be planted on any type of soil, whereas much of Philippine tobacco is exported and its cultivation is very dependent on costly fer t i l i s ers . W h ite cor n cultivation also involves fewer labourers a nd no machinery at all, he added. White corn is harvested every 72 days, compared to tobacco – which, depending on t he dema nd of t he industry, which usually takes up to half a year to harvest. “It’s slow money to harvest tobacco crops,” Dacanay pointed out. Groups like SEATCA have been calling for greater action to curb the growing number of smokers in Southeast Asia. In 2011, World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics showed that the number of adult smokers reached a 127.17 million – which makes up 29.5 percent of adults in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). In countries li ke Indonesia, there are some 65 million smokers, and deaths related to tobacco diseases are significantly higher than that in other ASEAN nations, WHO data show. According to the same data, Indonesia has an average of 190,260 deaths per year from tobaccorelated illnesses, a figure that is double that of the Philippines’ 87,100 deaths per year. The Philippines is known to have among the cheapest tobacco products in the world.
Gears... from page 4
Following Wednesday’s lau nch, Del ia Ba sco of Pagasa’s Climatology and Agrometeorology Division, gave a seminar on climate change and global warming to farmers and students at the Gerona municipal hall. Go said 90 percent of his constituents are dependent on agricultural production “that’s why we need the stat ion to adjust to t he change in climate.” “We must fund what’s necessary and needed,” said Go, who is also the president of the mayors’ association in Tarlac. Joyce Sierra of R1 said Go
“was aggressive” in putting up t he station. She said Go was the first mayor to fund the construction of the station and provide the necessary equipment. Sierra said the station i s pa r t of t he C l i m ate Resi l ienc y Field School (CRFS) introduced earlier in other municipalities. The CRFS was already rolled out in Irosin, Sorsogon; Tubigon in Bohol; Esperanza, Columbio and Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat; Alamada a nd Pigcawa n in Nor t h Cotabato; and Jabonga and Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte. Sierra said the CRFS is designed to teach farmers to use orga nic fa r m i ng and adapt to the impact of climate change. She said farmers will also learn various technologies to have enough produce “even when it’s rainy or during the dry season.” Farmers will also be taught the proper time to plant vegetables or palay. “What’s important is that farmers and their families will not go hungry,” said Sierra. Sierra said the R1 have initia l ly par tnered w it h Gerona and a few ot her municipalities “because they are committed.” She said a local government unit (LGU) must first come up with a Clear Adaptation Plan for Agrculture before the group and the LGU could forge a partnership. She also said R1 plans to introduce the CRFS to other provinces such as in Pampanga where Gov. Lilia Pineda had earlier vowed to prioritize agriculture production in 2013 under the Pampanga Agricultural Modernization Program. (BM)
Overtakes... from page 4
producing more beef and f ish for a g row i ng a nd increasingly affluent world population has meant relying on feedlots for fattening cattle and on ponds, nets and pens for growing fish. While open waters and g rassla nds ca n be sel fsu s t a i n i ng i f m a na ge d carefully, raising fish and livestock in concentrated operations requires inputs. Grain and soybeans have been inserted into the protein production food chain. Cattle consume 7 pounds of grain or more to produce an additional pound of beef. This is twice as high as the grain rations for pigs, and over three times those of poultry. Fish are far more
efficient, typically taking less than 2 pounds of feed to add another pound of weight. Pork and poultry are the most widely eaten forms of animal protein worldwide, but farmed fish output is increasing the fastest. Average annual growth rates over the last five years have mirrored the relative efficiency of feed use, with the global production of farmed fish growing by nearly 6 percent a year, poultry by 4 percent, and pork by 1.7 percent – fast outpacing beef, which barely increased at all. As grain and soybean prices have risen well above historical levels in recent years, the cost of producing grain-eating livestock has also gone up. Higher prices have nudged consumers away from the least-efficient feeders. This means more farmed fish and less beef. In the United States, where the amount of meat in peoples’ diets has been falling since 2004, average consumption of beef per person has dropped by more than 13 percent and that of chicken by 5 percent. U.S. fish consumption has also dropped, but just by 2 percent. Beyond economic considerations, health and environmental concerns are also leading many people in industrial countries to reduce their beef intake. Meanwhile, fish are touted as healthy alternatives (save for the largest types, which have accumulated mercury from environmental pollution). Diets heavy in red meat have been associated with a hig her r isk for hea r t disease and colon cancer, among other ailments. Beef production has garnered a negative reputation for having a large carbon footprint and for destroying habitat, notably in the Brazilian Amazon. A nd excess nit rogen fertilizer applied to t he fields of feed corn grown to satisfy the world’s livestock runs off into streams and rivers, sometimes f lowing to coastal waters where it creates large algal blooms and low-oxygen “dead zones” where fish cannot survive. (Earth Policy Institute)
its regular operations and maintenance, as well as for capital investment. According to CAAP-XI report, FBIA had earned gross income for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 which amounted to P373M, P395M, P466M and P513M from toll and terminal fees. “This shows that the airport is really earning,” Herrera commented. Aside from the income of the FBIA, he said other factors must also be considered in the creation of DIAA such as the frequency/number of daily f lights, number of airlines, airport maintenance and operations and compliance w it h s t a nd a rd s of t he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Presently, there are about 64 flights daily (inbound and outbound) at FBIA by seven airlines namely: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Zest Air, Sea Air, Air Asia and Silk Air – international f lights to Singapore (4 times daily), according to CAAP-XI.
Farmers... from page 2
De Mesa pointed out that it was because of t he per for ma nce of S o c c s k s a r ge n R e g ion , including t he prov ince of North Cotabato and the implementers of its s u b -pr oj e c t s t h a t t h e
t he prov i nce ha s been ident i f ied a s a pi lot site of t he ex pa nded version of the program, t he Ph i l ippi ne Ru ra l Development Program. Besides, North Cotabato, South Cotabato has a lso been included among the pilot sites of t he nat iona l prog r a m, according to an earlier report from DA 12. PR DP is set for implementation w it hin this year. Me a nw h i l e , M R DP sta f f Rey Y la na n, who r e p r e s e n t e d DA 1 2 Regional Executive Director Amalia JayagDatukan to the activity assured the members of the irrigators’ association t hat t hey cou ld expect more assistance from DA to help them improve their production and livelihood. “ T he reha bi l it at ion of t he M A BA K A L CIS is a precursor to better pro duc t i n a nd h i g her income for rice farmers in Kidapawan City,” he said. On his part, Kidapawan Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco challenged the beneficiaries of the CIS to carefully manage t he project so t hat agencies like DA would be encouraged to pour in more aid.
NEDA... from page 2
Another RDC XI resolution (Res. No. 69, series of 2012) recommended to DOTC-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the retention of at least 50% of the annual income generated by the FBIA for
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Aug. 10, 2011, the company said.
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T he m i n i ng met hod we’ll use is block caving, an underground method similar to the Padcal project in Itogon, Benguet and not open-pit method like the Tampakan project in South Cotabato, the businessman said. The controversia l Tampakan project, which straddles the provinces of Sout h Cotabato, Su lta n Kudarat and Daval del Sur, is being hounded by the open-pit ban imposed by the South Cotabato provincial government. Ph i le x h a s a m i nor interest at the Tampakan project through the stake of Australian firm Indophil Resources NL. Majority of the controlling equity at the Tampakan project is owned by the merged Glencor Xstrata plc. Last year, Philex was fined by the government with at least P1 billion after Padcal’s tailings pond leaked. Pangilinan said the total cost to bring the Silangan project into commercial operation would amount to US$1 billion. Last year, Philex spent s o m e P10 b i l l i o n f o r exploration and development works at the Silangan project, he added. Pangilinan noted that the ores at the Silangan project will be mined using drilling and explosives to break the rocks into smaller pieces. The Silangan project combines the development of the Boyongan and Bayugo deposits, which comprise gold, copper and silver. As of Ju ly 2011, t he combined measured and indicated mineral resource for Boyongan is 273 million tons of 0.52 percent copper and 0.72 grams per ton (g/t) gold and, for Bayugo, 125 million tons of 0.66 percent copper and 0.66 g/t gold, a company study showed. In February 2009, Philex consolidated its interest i n Si la nga n projec t by purchasing the remaining 50 percent equity interest held by Anglo American Exploration BV and Anglo American Exploration (Philippines) Inc. for a consideration of $55 million. The project is covered by Mineral Production Sharing Agreement 149-99-XIII and Exploration Permit XII-03. The portal development for the Silangan project started in April 2011 while the first blast was done on
Eye...
from page 1
of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) over tracks of land in the area. Datu Jimboy Catawanan, c h a i r o f t h e p e o p l e ’s organization called SOLEDKI (Saamulan ne Ogpaan te Langun ne Etew alan te Keupia na n te Inged or Solidarity of People in the Community as the way to the Development of the Ancestral Land), said they have sought the help of the government to address poverty. “We can’t afford to pursue agriculture livelihood projects without the support of the government,” he added. A b o u t 71 m e m b e r s of S OL E DK I, he s a id , will become part of the organization’s test group for the coconut plantation project they are putting up in Kalagangan with an area of over a hundred hectares. Catawanan said they have worked with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) bot h for f i na ncia l a nd technical assistance. SOLEDKI is composed of 12 communities. In 2003, the tribe’s claim to at least 5,000 hectares of ancestral domain was granted as part of the Certificate of Ancestral D om a i n Tit le (C A D T ) awarded to the Federation of Matigsalug-Manobo Tribal Councils (Femmatrics). Despite the grant, they had been stuck with poverty, Catawanan said in an earlier interview. He added that the tribe still struggles to use their resources to make both ends meet. But Catawanan said they won’t give up and have pursued discussions with members on how the community could move forward. Earlier this year, he said with the help of friends, they were able to be in contact with the PCA. The PCA has scheduled to conduct initial meeting and technical training with the tribe starting today June 19 until tomorrow in the area. The seminar, he added, will cover discussions on viability of coconut, planting methods, and avoiding or controlling common diseases, among others. Catawanan still could not reveal the cost of the PCA grant but he said it will be managed by SOLEDKI. He added the people’s organization will also venture into corn plantation in a farm about 40 hectares big.
Mulled... from page 1
Mylene Garcia-Albano at the 15th Congress. T he com ments a nd recommendations were laid down before members of the RDC-XI’s Development Administration Committee XI during the 2nd quarter meeting on June 11 at the NEDA-XI regional office. RDC-XI vice chair and NEDA-XI regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said they will ask Congresswoman Garcia-Albano to convene with the RDC-XI to discuss the recommendations, emphasizing that the Bill has to be refined before the opening of the 16th Congress. On the same meeting, DAC-RDC XI member Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) represent i ng t he pr ivate sector, presented a rejoinder reiterating the need to fast track the proposed establishment of DIAA. The call was part of DCCCII official statement released on June 5, 2013, following the June 2 Davao runway mishap caused by one of Cebu Pacific aircrafts, which according to DCCCII “resulted to loss of million peso economic opportunity for Davao City and its adjacent provinces and cities, being the gateway of Mindanao.” DCCCII suggested that DIAA should have its own charter and budget, with the mandate to ensure that the airport meets international standards, and that revenues generated by its operations should first and foremost be used for its upkeep and upgrade. Herrera said RDC-XI has passed various resolutions last year to address observed poor services and facilities at the FBIA which includes the request to the President through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary to establish the Davao International Airport Authority (Res. No. 66, series of 2012). Herrera said t hat t he primary concern of the Council is on the improvement of the facilities and services of the FBIA, noting CAAP’s report that most of the equipment are old and need to be replaced, and that facilities need upgrading to internationally acceptable standards. Another RDC XI resolution (Res. No. 69, series of 2012) recommended to DOTCCivil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the retention of at least 50% of the annual income generated by the FBIA for its regular operations and maintenance, as well as for
capital investment. According to CAAP-XI report, FBIA had earned gross income for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 which amounted to P373M, P395M, P466M and P513M from toll and terminal fees. “This shows that the airport is really earning,” Herrera commented. Aside from the income of the FBIA, he said other factors must also be considered in the creation of DIAA such as the frequency/number of daily f lights, number of airlines, airport maintenance and operations and compliance with standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Presently, there are about 64 flights daily (inbound and outbound) at FBIA by seven airlines namely: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, Zest Air, Sea Air, Air Asia and Silk Air – international f lights to Singapore (4 times daily), according to CAAP-XI.
Deals... from page 1
Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Misamis Occidental I Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Misamis Occidenta l II E lec t r ic Cooperative, Inc.; and Misamis Oriental II Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. Also in the list are Siargao Electric Cooperative, Inc.; South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Surigao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Surigao del Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Surigao del Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Zamboanga del Sur I Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative, Inc.; and Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. According to the notice, the contracts should be effective for a period of four years, or from Dec. 26, 2012 to Dec. 25, 2016. “Contract energ y and equivalent demand... may be
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changed by the supplier annually due to a change in projected available capacity of the supplier’s power plants....,” the notice read. Details from PSALM on the power distributors’ specific contracted capacities were not immediately available yesterday. In the notice of public hearing, the ERC noted that PSALM “acknowledges that the continued operation of the DUs is indispensable to the economic efficiency of the franchise area they serve.... In order for the DUs to continue sourcing electricity from the grid, it is imperative that they enter into a CSEE with supplier.” PSALM emphasized that the CSEE of the specified DUs already expired on Dec. 25, 2012; hence, “a grant of provisional authority to execute the CSEE effective December 26, 2012 will benefit the DUs and ultimately redound the benefit of their customers.” The ERC has set an initial hearing, expository presentation and pre-trial conference and evidentiary hearing for the petition on July 3.
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