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Socialized housing THE Cagayan de Oro City council’s committee on urban and rural poor has approved the implementation of the socialized housing in Barangay Balubal here to be undertaken by a community development foundation. City Councilor Leon Gan, chair of the committee on urban and rural poor, said on Thursday that the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GKCDF) would implement the socialized housing program in accordance with the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the city government. He said that the MOA was in line with the policy of the government to promote the active participation of the private sector, non-government organizations and other sectors, thereby optimizing opportunities for the implementation of development projects.
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C O M M U N I C AT I O N S executive Alvin D. Benasa has been elected president of the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro for Rotary Year 21042015. Also elected during the regular weekly fellowship of the RCCDO were the following: Paul Clarence R. Juarez, vice president; Sonny Tiro, secretary; Norman Makapugay, treasurer and the following as members
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of the Board of Directors: Dante M. Sudaria, Dufel Lagrosas, Michael Mendoza, Neil Que and Paul Ferrer. Benasa is a long-time resident of Cagayan de Oro and started as sales head for Bayan Telecommunications before eventually rising through the ranks to become regional sales head for ABSCBN Convergence, Inc. He is currently serving as the club’s vice president for Rotary
Year 2013-2014. Inducted as a member of the RC CDO in 2008, Rotarian B enasa gained prominence as the Team Building Facilitator of TEAM EXCEL. During his first year to the club, he became a Chairman/ Co-Chairman/and Active C ommitte e Me mb e r of different signature projects of the club including Career benasa/PAGE 11
Spot market operation in Mindanao begins New Rotary President Alvin Benasa
A
By GRACE BEBER, Reporter
FTER having delayed for a week, the trading floor for Mindanao’s spot power market formally started commercial operations last Tuesday, in a bid to narrow down the supply gap that is causing island’s persisting brownouts.
T h e t r a d i ng s y s t e m called Interim Mindanao Electricity Market (IMEM) was supposed to start last week (Nov. 26) but eventually moved to December 3 due to some issues left unresolved, such as the IGC appointments and some registration-related concerns.
Pinoy workers BUTUAN City -- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Deputy Director-General Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua recently said Filipinos are among the best skilled workers in the world. Sp e a k i n g b e f o re t h e competitors, coaches and experts during the recentlyconcluded 2013 Regional Skills Competition (RSC) held in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte, DDG Pascua pointed out that Filipino skilled workers are among the sought-after workers in different parts of the globe. DDG Pascua added this is proven through the increasing number of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based on the database of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). According to Pascua, because of the country’s significant contribution in the world labor force, it is but necessary for technicalvocational students to be trained as early as now.
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Benasa is new Rotary president
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ROTARY OFFICIALS. Newly elected officers of the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro (Mother Club) pose for posterity following their election at the Seda Centrio 5 December 2013: (L-R) Sonny Tiro, secretary; Popo Juarez, vice president; President Elect Luigi Sarraga; Norman Makapugay, treasurer; Dante Sudaria, Dodie Lagrosas and Neil Que, directors. Also in photo are RC CDO Pres. Ferdie Bernasor (right) and PP Caloy Gorospe (left). photo by mike baños , npm
P969.3M for small power firms okayed THE government’s bid to bring economic growth even in the far-flung areas got a boost with the release of P969.3 million for the maintenance requirements of small power utilities group (SPUG). SPUG provides electricity to off-grid areas in the country or those that are not connected to the main transmission and distribution lines due to its location.
Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad said the fund given to SPUG was sourced from the National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) budget for 2013 and will be used to purchase necessary spare parts for the power plants. He explained that the fund release “supports the Administration’s ongoing efforts to bring electricity to remote communities, and
areas and islands covered by the Napocor.” “By putting far-flung areas without electricity on the power grid, we can ensure the gradual economic empowerment and much needed commercial expansion in these remote communities,” he said. At the end of the third quarter this year, SPUG provided total capacity of power/PAGE 11
Mylene C. Capongcol, director of the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, said the Department of Energy was able to “finalize the composition of the independent governance committee (IGC)” that will oversee the operations of the market/PAGE 11
Mindanao flood control project to deliver 60MW STATE-OWNED National Power Corp. said Wednesday the completion of the P1.9billion Baloi flood control project in Lanao del Norte will deliver an additional 60 megawatts to the Mindanao power grid.
Napocor recently turned over P16.7 million for residents affected by the 2004 and 2008 flooding in the plains of Baloi, Lanao del Norte, which will pave the way for the implementation flood/PAGE 11
P1.06B fund okayed to rebuild Pablo damaged infras THE Philippines is set to release P1.06 billion to bankroll the rehabilitation of bridges and other infrastructure damaged by Typhoon Pablo, considered as the strongest tropical cyclone
ever to hit Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island. The amount will b e released to the Department of Public Works and Highways fund/PAGE 11
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MANILA – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is now reviewing the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) for 2014 to 2016 wherein the department is looking into more focused export plan.
DT I Und e rs e c re t ar y Ponciano Manalo Jr. told reporters during the National Export Congress Tuesday that the department eyes to revive some sectors to contribute on the export revenue for dti/PAGE 10
Economy
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NFA Lanao Sur intensifies local palay procurement By Apipa P. Bagumbaran
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur -- The National Food Authority (NFA) here is intensifying its local palay procurement program to help the government attain its goal of self-sufficiency when it comes to rice.
NFA Information Officer Khayamera Dialem said they are now implementing several strategies to encourage more farmers to sell their produce to the NFA. She said NFA Provincial Manager Sittienaidah
Sampaco is closely monitoring the palay production in the province and has deployed several mobile procurement teams to go to the places of farmers. She said they also nfa/PAGE 10
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Vista Land plans expansion of Camella Homes VISTA Land & Lifescapes Inc on Wednesday said it plans to build more subdivisions under its Camella Homes brand in second-tier cities nationwide over the next two to three years. “We are very aggressive, we are very bullish,” Manuel Villar, Vista Land chairman told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of a partnership with Procter & Gamble (P&G). “We are going to build more Camella Homes in the second-tier cities. We are now in 65 cities and municipalities. We want to increase that to 100, that’s our goal, maybe in the next two to three years,” the former senator said. For next year, Vista Land
will build Camella Homes in eight to 10 new locations, adding to its more than 250,000 homes nationwide. Villar said the company plans to expand in Valencia in Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Samar, Nue va Vis caya, Cauayan in Isabela and Zambales. “We will probably have two more in Pampanga and three more in Bulacan,” he said. Vista Land has a land bank of 1,930 hectares nationwide. In the first nine months
of the year, the property developer earned P3.8 billion, up 17 percent from last year’s P3.2 billion. Real estate revenues rose by a quarter year-on-year to P5.13 billion in the July to September period, bringing the nine-month tally to P14.8 billion, up 22 percent from P12.2 billion a year ago. Camella Homes and Communities Philippines accounted for a combined 74 percent of the company’s revenues. Communities Philippines develops projects outside Mega Manila mostly under the Camella brand. Vista Land is the holding company of five business vista/PAGE 10
A UNIT of Smart Communications Inc has partnered with the United Nat ions D e velopment Program (UNDP) and Land Bank of the Philippines for a mobile cash transfer program aimed at Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivors. In a forum on Wednesday, Smart E-Money Inc head for innovation Lito Villanueva said UNDP aims to provide financial assistance – P2,600 a family a month -- to an i n it i a l 5 0 , 0 0 0 f am i l i e s
through the company’s e-money platform. Villanueva said UNDP would provide the fund while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would identify the beneficiaries. “Only one member of the household will benefit from the program,” Villanueva said, adding that the families that migrated to Manila can no longer join the program. He said Smart has secured Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP) approval to pursue the program. If the UNDP transmits the money through LandBank, it will take five banking days to be credited to mobile money beneficiaries. The BSP has s et an account limit of P100,000 per month for the financial assistance. The BSP did not provide an ID requirement for the program registration but only requires personal information such as name, address and date of birth.
UNDP taps Smart for cash transfer Smart also put in place a way to monitor the expenses of the beneficiaries. Villanueva said Smart is also talking to the World Food Program, which is also planning to give a donation of P3,000 per family. The program is a special relief inter vention that covers Yolanda affected communities and is a way to distribute cash electronically. This would enable beneficiaries across undp/PAGE 10
Japan Tobacco, Philip Morris buy 40% of Russian distributor TOKYO – Japan Tobacco (JT) and Philip Morris will each buy a 20 percent stake in Russian distributor Megapolis for a total of more than $1.5 billion, as the rivals move to tap the world’s second-biggest cigarette market. JT said it would pay $750 million for its share in the firm, plus another $100 million tied to the distributor’s “operational performance.” US giant Philip Morris,
maker of the top-selling Marlboro brand, separately announced a deal with similar terms. Megapolis has a 70 percent share of Russia’s distribution market, delivering more than 260 billion cigarettes last year, the Japanese firm said. The investment would “strengthen the long-term relationship between the JT Group and Megapolis”, it said. tobacco/PAGE 10
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BSP: Inflation uptick only for short term RATE of price increases last November posted an uptick to 3.3 percent from the previous month’s 2.9 percent on account of faster inflation in the food, housing and utilities indices. Amid the uptick, average inflation in the first 11 months this year remains at 2.8 percent, lower than three to five percent target of the government for this and next year. Also, the inflation rate last November is the lower BSP/PAGE 10
BSP cuts typhoon-hit banks more slack THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) cut banks in typhoon-hit areas additional slack, allowing them, for example, to spread losses on loans over a long period. In a statement, the BSP issued a special regulatory relief package for all types of banks with head offices and branches in areas devastated by Typhoon ‘Yolanda’. This is on top of the regulatory and rediscounting relief measures provided banks in typhoon-hit areas
earlier. Those measures are still in place and available to banks in Palawan, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Samar, and Leyte – all severely affected areas and covered by Proclamation No. 682, which declares a state of national calamity. Under the additional regulatory relief package, the BSP allows banks to book over a five-year period the losses on loans outstanding as of November 7 this year that are partially or fully
condoned and written off. Impairment losses on bank premises, furniture, equipment, and real and other properties acquired as of November this year may also recognized over a staggered period no more than five years. In addition, thrift, rural, and cooperative banks with head offices in affected areas may apply for condonation of annual supervisory fees for 2014. cuts/PAGE 10
MoneyGram expects steep drop in remittance this year MONEYGRAM Philippines on Thursday said it expects the volume of remittances it would handle for the whole of 2013 to drop around 50 percent, because of the baseline effect considering 2012 was a banner year in terms of business growth. The local affiliate of NASDAQ-listed mone y transfer firm MoneyGram International Inc. declined to give ballpark figures, citing rules on corporate disclosures in the US. “L ast year, we grew
remittance volume by more than 40 percent,” Alex Chan Lim, MoneyGram country manager for the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, told reporters on the sidelines of a company event Thursday. “It will still be a very exciting double-digit growth for this year... around more than 20 percent,” Lim added. The lower volume was expected on account of the higher base last year, Lim noted, saying the company “would love to sustain” around
20 percent growth by keeping fees “below competitors” and focusing on advertising and promotion initiatives. MoneyGram intends to grow its business “organically” by pursuing partnerships with homegrown banks and pawnshops, most of which are top players in the money transfer business. Recently, it opened its 10,000th location in the Philippines. “ We a r e e a t i n g u p somebody’s market share,” drop/PAGE 10
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See yolanda, page 11
Cris diaz mike baños Uriel quilinguing EditorialConsultants
Don’t Defeat Yourself THINK
hink a minute.Recent studies show that only A Minute 1 out of 3 p e opl e have By Jhan Tiafau Hurst healthy self-confidence. That me ans 2 out of e v e r y 3 p e o p l e s i mp l y d o n’t k n ow t h e a b i l i t y they already have to be successful, even though it’s right there in their hands! If you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself first. R e m e mb e r : “No on e can make you feel inferior unless you let them.” A successful businessman says: “You can’t push anyone up a ladder unless he knows he can climb himself.” One of the most lethal weapons that will kill your success in life are these 2 little words: “I can’t.” Did you know people used to believe that if human beings traveled faster than 30 miles an hour it would stop our circulation of blood and kill us? Thank goodness a few people didn’t believe that silly, wrong thinking or we wouldn’t be riding in cars, busses, and flying on airplanes today. You’ll never know until you try. Roger Bannister was the first human being to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. But before he did it, most people in the world didn’t think it was even possible. Yet only a few months after Bannister did it, suddenly runners all over the world began running a mile in less than 4 minutes! If we believe something can be done, we’ll usually do it. Too many of us spend our lives looking around instead of looking up to the One Who made us and knows our potential. So why don’t you look up to Jesus Christ today? Ask Him to take full charge of your life, personally and professionally. You’ll be surprised how much more you can do. Just Think a Minute.
CONGRATULATIONS to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for launching its community-based reforestation projects. NGCP’s move deserves the public’s support. It is a very positive corporate social responsibility undertaking. The National Grid C o r p o r at i o n o f t h e Philippines (NGCP) has launched its reforestation projects with partners and stakeholders: The LGU of Impasug-ong in Bukidnon with supervision from Department of Environment and Natural Res ourcesCity Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) Manolo Fortich, Naawan in Misamis Oriental w i t h DE N R- C E N RO Initao, the ac ad eme Central Mindanao University (CMU) w i t h DE N R- C E N RO Pangantucan and nongovernment organization People’s Organization MISFAMILDA in Miaray, Dangcagan with DENRCENRO Don Carlos. N G C P H e a d o f Environmental Management Division Ju l i a W. E c h a v e z ’s pr e s e n t at i on of t h e project deser ves a warm applause. NGCP’s reforestation program
- BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO, December 6, 2013 -
covers a total of 138 hectares of land area with a budget allocation of P7.8M. It is hop e d that the areas hosting NGCP’s two transmission line projects, the Kib awe-Davao 138 KV rerouting project and K i r a h on - Ma r a m a g K V would be Editorial protected by the reforestation strides. The Kibawe-Davao 138 KV transmission l i n e rerouti ng proj e c t which was commissioned on September 18, 2012, traversed private lands in Barangays Marapangi, Natulongan and Balintawak in the municip ality of Kibawe, Bukidnon. The Kirahon-Maramag 230 KV transmission line which is targeted to commission this month will traverse municipalities of Villanueva and Tagoloan in Misamis Oriental, Sumilao, Manolo For ti ch , Imp asug-ong, Mar amag , Ma l ay b a l ay, Valencia and Lantapan in Bukidnon. Wo r t h y o f c i t a t i o n , N G C P ’s r e f o r e s t a t i o n project aims not only to
protect and preserve the env i ron m ent , but a l s o as source of livelihood to local farmers engaged in rubber-tree planting; poverty alleviation, food security and climate change adaptation. The Project’s Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is in compliance to condition no. 7 of the Special Tree Cutting permits, which require the planting of 100 indigenous seedlings for each tree cut, and maintenance of of the seedlings planted for up to three years hoping for a survival rate of at least 80%. The MOA is appreciable since it specifies a monitoring and reporting system by a third party using Global Positioning System (GPS). The monitoring and reporting need the certification and cross-verification by the academe, non-government organizations (NGOs) and local government units involved in the project. NGCP’s move deserves the public’s support. It is a very positive corporate social responsibility undertaking. Congratulations!
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Senate Labor Committee tackles OFW welfare bills in Overseas Filipinos Month
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Important Notice to CEPALCO Customers Subject: Scheduled Power Interruption on Sunday, December 8, 2013 The Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc. (CEPALCO) would like to inform all customers that power supply will be interrupted on December 8, 2013 as shown below: REASONS :TO FACILITATE PRIMARY POLE REPLACEMENT AND CONTINUATION OF LINE FIXING OF 69KV MINERGYNATUMULAN NEW STRUCTURES AT TAGOLOAN HI-WAY CROSSING VICMAR. DATE : SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2013 OFW WELFARE BILLS. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, tackles pending legislative measures creating a charter for the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and Magna Carta for Seafarers during a public hearing last Tuesday. The deliberation of bills promoting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers coincides with the observance of the Overseas Filipinos Month this December.
C
oinciding with the observance of the Overseas Filipinos Month, the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development tackled various legislative measures promoting the welfare of migrant workers. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, presided last Tuesday the committee hearing which discussed separate pending bills seeking to create a charter of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Magna Carta for Seafarers. The body took up the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers which will give flesh to the minimum labor standards on employment, recruitment and job placement of seafarers, and welfare mechanisms set forth by the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006. It also provides compulsory benefits and defines fundamental rights of the sea-based workers. The so-called “Seafarers’ Bill of Rights” is one of Sen. Estrada’s priority measures for the 16th Congress and is included in the list of twelve priority measures identified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). “With Filipino seafarers comprising more than a quarter of the 1.2 million seafarers around the globe, the enactment of this bill is indeed imperative. I really hope we can pass this bill which guarantees our seafarers their right to humane working conditions and just compensation at the soonest time possible,” Sen. Estrada said in his opening statement. The stakeholders, including the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, United Filipino Seafarers, Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines, expressed full support to the proposed legislation. Nonetheless, a technical working group meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, December 10. The Labor Committee also discussed the proposed OWWA Charter,
which shall lay the formal legislative foundation for the defined functions and powers of the OWWA. Sen. Estrada noted that the OWWA is a creation of different issuances of the executive over the years. Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Act, as amended, provides that the OWWA shall undertake the repatriation of workers in cases of war, epidemic, disasters or calamities, among others. It shall likewise formulate and implement welfare programs for overseas Filipino workers and their families while they are abroad and upon their return. “As said by Administrator Carmelita Dimzon during the hearing, ‘What are we really? The Commission on Audit applies the same auditing rules for government-owned and –controlled corporations and financial institutions, while we treat our office as a national government agency.’ It appears that there is confusion on what OWWA is and the proposed charter seeks to remedy this situation,” Jinggoy noted. Sen. Estrada added that this problem manifests on sluggish response by the agency on rescuing, repatriating and assisting distressed and runaway overseas Filipino workers. Under Senate Bill 24, the proposed OWWA Act of 2013 principally authored by Sen. Estrada, defines the nature, scope and functions of OWWA; membership, contribution and collection; OWWA board of trustees, secretariat and other personnel; guiding principles on the benefits and services for OFWs; and fiscal management, budget policy and administration of its funds. The country is observing the Overseas Filipinos Month, following the declaration made by the late President Cory Aquino through Proclamation 276. The decree which declares the month of December as Overseas Filipinos Month recognizes and honors overseas Filipinos who “contribute to building up the Philippine economy through their taxes and remittances.”
A.) INTERRUPTION TIME : 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (12 hours) AFFECTED AREAS : Portion of Gracia, Casinglot and Natumulan, Tagoloan 1. Portion of Natumulan old road from El Mundo down to crossing Vicmar, Tagoloan Hi-way. 2. Emano, UKC and Solid Built crushers at Natumulan, Tagoloan. 3. Misortel and Polar Bear area at Gracia, Tagoloan 4. Villa San Juan, Villa San Vicente and Petron Depot area in Casinglot, Tagoloan B.) INTERRUPTION TIME : 6:00 AM – 7:30 AM (1 hour and 30 minutes SWITCHING); and again at 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM (1 hour and 30 minutes SWITCHING) AFFECTED AREAS : Portion of Casinglot, Tagoloan up to Alae, Upper Puerto and from Bugo down to greater portion of Lapasan including Agora area 1. Portion along Casinglot Highway from Mindanao International Container Port up to bridge boundary of Tagoloan and Bugo. 2. Barangay Bugo down to Puerto, including Upper Puerto up to Alae. 3. Reyes Subd., Greymar and all of Villa Trinitas Subd. up to Sontingon area, Bugo 4. FirstGen, DMPI plantation, MENZI Agri, etc. 5. All the barangays of Agusan, Tablon, Baloy, Cugman, Gusa 6. Greater portion of Lapasan including Agora area up to corner Gaabucayan–Corrales extensions. 7. Upper Gusa, Indahag, Malasag, FS Catanico and Balubal. Power will however be restored immediately without further notice when the Cepalco switching and line works are completed earlier than scheduled. We hope the affected customers and the public in general will be guided by this announcement. Thank you. Released by: Ms. Marilyn A. Chavez Senior Manager Customer & Community Relations Dept.
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Survivors Helping Survivors through PagBAG-o Project by Xyla Mercedita E. Gualberto What’s in a bag? –chances. PagBAG-o Project gives everyone a chance to change the lives of the Sendong survivors in Xavier Ecoville. It is a livelihood initiative of the Xavier Ecoville Multipurpose Cooperative (XEMPCO) launched on November 30. It is a creative collaboration between the unemployed housewives of Xavier Ecoville who produce bags and the Xavier University students and alumni who make the design and lead the marketing efforts. Bag when it all started XEMPCO’s sewing cluster underwent skillsenhancement trainings funded by Give2Asia on June where they were taught pattern-making, cutting and sewing. After initially producing a hundred bags, their outputs were assessed. A follow-up training was then conducted to ensure quality workmanship of their products. Trainer Genadith Lloren Borres, a marketing alumna from Xavier University (XU) who sold bags for their feasibility study during her 4th year in college, taught them how to make katsa tote and sling bags, which were more usable and market-friendly. “They started making simple designs, kanang linear lang, like tote bags. Then later on, they tried sling bags which are more complicated. Naglisod sila at first. But they didn’t give up. They persevered to finish their output.” Borres said that the mothers could be taught easily and are inherently creative. They also have high hopes for their sewing enterprise. “Ingon sa mga nanay they need to help their husbands earn additional income since they have just transferred to their new houses. Daghan sila plans for their family. They need to start again from scratch, so they grab every opportunity to earn.” Borres worked with Philip Robert Flores, a Masters in Business Administration freshman in XU who is also the Xavier Ecoville Project’s Enterprise Development Officer. Flores oversees the production and pushes the bags to the market. He maximized the use of social media and released the bag designs online. The PagBAG-o Project Facebook page proved effective as it sold over a hundred bags in the first weeks with the help of the XU Eco Society volunteered to help market the bags. PagBAG-o Project is now making its way to the trend watch. PagBAG-o na PagBAG-o Project translates to project change. It gives everyone a chance to change the lives of the Sendong survivors in Xavier Ecoville. Every peso spent for buying the bag spells a difference for the survivors. The proceeds not only go to the sewing cluster but are coursed through the XEMPCO, of which over half of the community population in the Xavier Ecoville is a member of. In this way, help is able to reach more people, creating greater economic impact. Aside from employment, Flores said PagBAG-o Project has helped the beneficiaries in 2 other ways: 1) it enables them to move on from their traumatic experiences. “One mother told me nga its one way nga iyang malimtan iyang (Sendong) experience. Kon naa ra daw siya sa balay, wala siyay gihimo, ga balik balik iyang experience sa Sendong. Through PagBAG-o Project, na-tagaan siya’g work, katong mga memories nga bad, gaka tabunan na”. 2) It gives them an opportunity to bond as neighbors “Na tagaan og opportunity ang other mothers nga maka bond sa uban nga mothers. Though isara sila ka community, dili kayo sila close. With PagBAG-o Project, naga uban sila sa isa ka workplace. Na ila nila ang matag usa.” The designs featured in the first collection reflect the various battle cries of XU, such as XU’s Ruby Anniversary theme “Forming Leaders the Ateneo Way”, endorsed by no less than the university president himself, Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ. He is joined by the dynamic PagBAG-o Project ambassadors who represent various fields: XU Medicine Student and former Miss Teen Philippines Maxine Monasterio, XU Law Student and youth leader Ernesto Neri, XU Central Student Government president Princess Ubayubay, XU Crusaders basketball team captain Kim Labitad and XU security officer Rosanna Lapiz. Survivors helping survivors PagBAG-o Project speaks a lot about the Xavier Ecoville community’s resilience. Only two years ago, they lost their homes and belongings to tropical storm Sendong. Since that time, various organizations have helped them rebuild their lives and start anew. Now that they have moved on from the disaster, they are paying forward the goodness they have experienced. This time, they have become the ones on the giving end. They decided that proceeds of their bag sales will be given to the XU Tabang Visayas relief operation for Yolanda survivors.
Photos by Haiko Magtrayo and Keith Obed Ruiz
*** What’s in a bag? –experiences. “We want them to carry their experiences of hope and change, the experiences of dreaming better lives for their families. And with their outreach for XU Tabang Visayas survivors, we hope the same spirit of hope will be carried by the PagBAG-o Project bags to the hearts of the Yolanda survivors”, Flores said. (Xavier Ecoville is a resettlement community for Sendong survivors in Brgy. Lumbia. It is facilitated by Xavier University, the community members, the local government, donors and other partners for a selfsufficient and value-laden community.)
The Night Stalker:
Oro Chamber 4th GMM today at Pryce Plaza The Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industr y Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) holds its 4th Quarter General Membership Meeting today, Friday, December 6, 2013 6:00 10:00 PM at Pryce Plaza Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City. Registration and cocktails start at 5:30pm with the opening ceremonies slated to start at 6:30 with the acknowledgement of guests by PP Ralph Paguio and welcome remarks by Pres. Efren Uy. PP Ruben Vegafria, chair of the membership committee,
will present and induct the new members into the Oro Chamber membership. A short presentation by the visiting General Santos Chamber of Commerce follows before dinner follows with short presentation by Philcom. Pres. Uy will next present his President’s Report with a video presentation on bomb detection and handling to follow by the IED Division of the 4th Infantry Division. Pres. Uy assisted by Exec Dir Lords Enjambre will next give out the Presidential Recognition to deserving members who have helped advance the Oro Chamber’s
vision and mission during the past year. The 2014 Oro Chamber officers would next be inducted by PCCI Vice Pres for Mindanao Ms. Annie Ty to be followed by the acceptance speech of re-elected Pres. Uy and the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the Cagayan de Oro BusinessAcademe Council. Part II of the meeting features the Christmas gathering with raffles, exchange of gifts and dancing. For more inquiries, feel call 858-4068 / 858-4073 / 309-0951.
Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessdailymindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776 Editor: Cheng Ordoñez
Environment
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PHL watchful on climate change after typhoon devastation MANILA -- The Philippines, a country ravaged by a variety of natural disasters each year, voiced its full support for the campaign against climate change on Sunday. P r e s i d e n t i a l Communications Operation Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in an interview at a weekend radio program that the countr y had started implementing its comprehensive long-term plan and strategy for climate change adapt at ion and mitigation. Coloma said one specific campaign under the climate change adapt at ion and mitigation program is the reduction of the gas emission in the country that adds to pollution. The recent storm surge that accompanied typhoon Yolanda and devastated several provinces in the Philippines is being blamed on climate change. Philippine President B enigno Aquino III instructed Environment Secretary Ramon Paje to climate/PAGE 11
GREEN NO MORE. Residents of Tolosa town in Leyte walk below the hillock that used to be covered with trees, shrubs and grasses before super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas region on Nov. 8. mindanews photo by roel n . catoto
Climate Change Confab approves new procedure for damage compensation WARSAW -- The participants in the 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have approved a new procedure of compensation for the damage and losses from climate change on Saturday.
Rogelee Galangue, a resident of Barangay 87 Manlurip San Jose in Tacloban City, takes an early morning walk on Nov. 24 to collect debris as materials for rebuilding his house. Thousands of people in the city were left homeless after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged Leyte and other parts of the Visayas on Nov. 8. mindanews photo by roel n . catoto
Damages caused by ‘Yolanda’ now at P22. 6 billion MANILA -- The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Sunday announced that the damages caused by super typhoon “Yolanda” to properties and infrastructures has hit the P22,659,851,383.76 mark. Damage to agriculture was estimated at P10,701,971,349.76, including P5,096,116,351.70 in crops and P2,184,011,881 in livestock. While damage to infrastructure was estimated at P11,957,880,034. yolanda/PAGE 11
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One of the final documents adopted at the conference said that the Warsaw international mechanism was created to indemnify the damage and losses caused by gradually coming aftermath of climate change as well as emergency situations in the countries under development, which are particularly vulnerable
UN chief hails outcome of climate talks U N I T E D NAT I O N S - Un i t e d N a t i o n s ( U N ) Secretary-General Ban Kimoon Saturday welcomed the outcome of the climate talks that concluded in Warsaw on the same day, c a l l i n g t h e r e s u l t “a n important stepping stone” toward future global climate pact. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban c ong r atu l ate d Pol and for successfully hosting the UN Climate Change Conference. “The decisions adopted in Warsaw serve as an important stepping stone toward a universal legal agreement in 2015,” he said. “The Secretary-General wel c ome s t h e d e c i s i on by p ar t i e s to i nte ns i f y immediate actions to
fight climate change and to come forward with their national contributions to the agreement well before its finalization in 2015,” said the statement. The UN chief stressed that much more needs to be done over the coming two years to achieve the ambitious agreement necessary to keep the global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius. To f u r t h e r i n c re a s e global ambition and advance concrete action, Ban looks for ward to hosting a climate summit in September 2014, according to the statement. “He has asked world leaders, as well as leaders from business, finance, l o c a l g o v e r n m e nt a n d civil society, to bring bold
announcements and actions that will lead to significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions and strengthened adaptation and resilience efforts,” the statement said. The two-week-long negotiations on Saturday ag re e d on s om e m aj or principles for a new global climate pact due to be agreed on in 2015 and enter into force after 2020, according to w hich, a l l count r ies should prepare intended n at i o n a l l y d e t e r m i n e d contributions to help cut carbon emissions. The agreement was seen as a key step paving the way for all countries to reach an ambitious global climate pact in 2015, and a sign of their desire to avert a breakdown of the climate talks.(PNA/Xinhua)
due to unfavourable climate change. According to this decision an executive committee will be formed that should represent highly industrialized countries and countries under development on the basis of equity. During the debates on a new committee highly industrialized countries,
particularly the United States called for this mechanism to work for prevention, combating the negative climate change and acting in the conditions of adaptation to it. Meanwhile, the countries under development insisted on its climate rehabilitation functions. Speaking on behalf of the most underdeveloped countries, an official from Nepal, a countr y in the Himalayas in South Asia, stated that “the mechanism c an n ot b e f u l f i l l e d a s approves/PAGE 11
Power back in 2 major Visayas transmission lines MANILA -- Power was finally restored in some parts of Leyte and Iloilo on Friday, two weeks after super typhoon “Yolanda” wreaked havoc in Eastern Visayas and ahead of the Dec. 24, 2013 deadline of the Department of Energy. T h e Na t i o n a l G r i d Corporation of the Philippines said the Ormoc–Simangan 69-kV line was re-energized at about 5:18 p.m. Friday. The said line is connected to the substation of Leyte Electric C ooperative V (Leyeco V), which caters to Ormoc City. NGCP said the transformer in its Ormoc substation is also operational and ready to serve Leyeco V. This development enabled the city government of Ormoc to turn the lights on at the
City Hall by around 8 p.m., it said. The grid operator also said the Dingle-Natividad 69-kV line was also re-energized at 6:51 p.m. Friday. This line is connected to the Iloilo Electric Cooperative III (ILECO III) that distributes power to some parts of Iloilo like Anilao, Banate, Barotac Viejo and Ajuy. NGCP sp okesp ers on lawyer Cynthia Alabanza, in a text message, said the NGCP linemen who are working for the restoration of all transmission lines destroyed by typhoon Yolanda are also victims of the typhoon and have not seen their families for two weeks. “They understand that the work they do is not just for power/PAGE 11
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DTI...
Vista...
the next three years. ”We’re in the process of reviewing (the PEDP) and reviving what we can. We want it to be very quantitative and focus which means the plan would be based on data, on facts,” Manalo said. ” We are looking into sectors that we can still revive. Are we still in right export priorities,” he added. Manalo mentioned that among the priority industries would be the furniture sector which had a big leap in the offshore market in the recent years, food industry, and services in voice and non-voice which the official noted as important sector to balance the export of merchandise goods. He a d d e d t h at D T I will also include the manufacturing industry after the sector gains investments within this year. DTI-Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP) Director S enen Perlada also echoed during the export congress that PEDP 2014-2016, specifically, will prioritize leather and footwear sectors in line of the revival of manufacturing industry. Moreover, Manalo said target market for these export products will still be the United States as its economy has started to recover; Japan with its stable economic performance; and the ASEAN market as the ASEAN integration will take place in 2015. Manalo added that he will be meeting Perlada by January regarding the PEDP 2014-2016. The latter said that they the export plan will be finished by first quarter of 2014. The PEDP is the export industr y’s framework to develop and promote exports for the next three years. The PEDP 2014-2016 t arge t s to e ar n e x p or t revenue of US$ 120 billion in 2016. (PNA)
units, namely Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines and Vista Residences. The property firm and P&G to day launched a partnership wherein Vista Land’s new homebuyers could get free products from the multinational fastmoving consumer goods manufacturer. Existing homeowners can also get discounts. “Starting Januar y 2014, existing Vista Land homeowners in over 250,000 homes nat ionwide wi ll receive exclusive discounts and free samples of P&G products. New residents will also be given P&G products that will help start their lives in their new home,” said Sumeet Vohra, P&G Philippines general manager and president.
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www.johndprovoice.com
NFA... from page 2
CDO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947
DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631
CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491
LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739
CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City
CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011
simplified the requirements for the issuance of individual farmers passbook adding that the farmers passbook and taking of its ID picture is now free of charge. Additional incentives are also available for farmers selling their produce to NFA such as delivery fee, drying fee and cooperative development incentive fee (CDIF). Dialem said they are buying palay at P17.00 per kilogram (kg) plus the added incentives of P0.20/kg drying fee, P0.20/kg delivery fee, and P0.30/kg CDIF. Interested farmers can go directly to the NFA provincial office for more details or they can contact NFA Information Office at 0947-934-8071. For the period January 1 to November 26, this year, the NFA Provincial Office has been able to procure 5,995 bags or 287,324.15 kg of palay. (APB/PIA-10)
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UNDP... from page 4
the countr y to have immediate cash, provide an easy alternative to track payments sent electronically and increase security of transactions. Smart and Land Bank earlier partnered to open up mobile automated teller machines (ATMs) in Tacloban City to facilitate the flow of cash and revive commerce. Aside from donations to individuals, Villanueva said UNDP would provide assistance to small business such as sari-sari stores.
Tobacco... from page 4
Russia is the world’s second-largest cigarette market behind China. The JT agreement, which is expected to be finalized by the end of this month, comes as the firm looks to expand its overseas business to counter declining sales at home. The company, one of the world’s biggest tobacco firms and whose international brands include Winston and Camel, has suffered lackluster domestic sales, as Japan’s once huge number of smokers shrinks. Previously released figures from JT showed that about 21 percent of adults in Japan smoke now, down from 25 percent in 2009. A sales tax hike, set to be introduced in April, is also expected to take its toll on the domestic market, and observers say they expect the company to focus on overseas sales and other segments such as food and medical products. JT, which employs about 5,000 people in four factories in Russia, said in October it was slashing a fifth of its 8,900 workforce in its core tobacco business and closing four plants in Japan.
BSP...
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end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 3.3-4.1
percent forecast for the month. Relatively, core inflation, which excludes volatile items like food and oil, rose to 2.8 percent from 2.6 percent in the previous month. The 10-month average to date is at 2.8 percent. BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., in a text message to rep or ters, said they continue to see increases in inflation rates in the coming months on account of the impact of recent calamities like the earthquake in Bohol and the devastation of Eastern Vis ayas f rom Typho on Yolanda. “Nevertheless, as experience in past natural calamities have taught us, we do not see these effects persisting,” noted. Thus, Tetangco said monetary officials continue to see within target inflation in the near term. For 2015, the government’s inflation target is a band between two to four percent. “Policy settings therefore remain appropriate but we stand ready to make adjustments as and when needed to address unforeseen developments,” Tetangco added. The within-target inflation for the whole of 2013 has given central bank’s policymaking Monetary Board (MB) the leeway to maintain policy rates. To date, the central bank’s overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase facility (RRP) rate is at record-low of 3.5 percent and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate is at 5.5 percent. The B oard, however, tapped its policy tool kit to address continued rise of placements in the central bank’s special deposit account (SDA) facility. Among others, the Board has decided to cut the rate of this facility to 2 percent. Rate of this facility was previously pegged against the RRP rate. IMA funds are money
from retail investors pooled t hroug h a b an k’s t r ust department. The MB decided that by end-July this year, IMA deposits should be reduced by 30 percent based on the endMarch 2013 level and fully withdrawn by end-November this year. The decision was made to prevent banks from using the SDA facility as an investment vehicle. The central bank said the facility was established as a policy toolkit and not an investment option for banks. (PNA)
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The BSP may likewise condone the supervisory fees for up to five years. The central bank will also allow flexibility on branch relocation and temporary offices to a more variable location within the affected area for a period not exceeding six months. The regulator also relaxed the submission of periodic and branch reports for six months. The BSP enjoined industr y associations to draw common guidelines that member banks can adopt for the reconstitution of the documents of clients and banks in severely affected areas.
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L i m s ai d , n ot i n g t h at MoneyGram was “very keen” in growing its business in the Philippines. Overseas Filipino remittances grew by 5.8 percent to $16.48 billion in the first nine months of the year, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas expected remittances to grow by 5 percent this year. In 2012, remittances hit a record $21.391 billion, from the $20.117 billion in 2011. The Philippines is third largest recipient of remittances trailing China and India.
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Benasa... from page 1
Guidance, Workplace Tour and others, winning the 100% Attendance Award during his first two years with the Club. He was awarded as Rookie of the Year of RCCDO for RY 2008-2009 and became Club Service Director during his second year during the term of Past Pres. Manuel “Manny” Along (Rotary Year 2009-2010). During the same year he headed the club’s Youth Month Celebration as Chairman of both the New Generation Forum and Rotary Youth City Officials. He introduced to RC CDO the “New Graduates Boot Camp” which serves to guide graduating college students in their readiness for searching for a job. This project has since become one of the club’s signature projects. For his active participation in various club projects such as the Cataract Mission in Camiguin, Workplace Tour and Interplast, Rotarian Benasa was recognized as “ The Most Outstanding Rotarian of RCCDO for RY 2009-2010.” During the following RY 2010-2011 he served as Club Secretary under Past President Dietmar V. Schug and was cited with a Presidential Service Award for his unwavering support contributing to a successful Rotary Year. He was also recognized as one of the Most Outstanding Club Secretaries of District 3870 during the Governorship of Jaime P. Semaña (RY 2010-2011) A Paul Harris Fellow, Rotarian Benasa headed the construction of the Cala-Cala Water Piping as one of the Community Projects of the Club (RY 2010-2011).
Power... from page 1
327,523 kilowatts through 312 power plants, which cater to 236 services areas. It provides electricity to 36 provinces or to 670,000 households. Si m i l ar ly, the electrification projects in Cabul-an Island in Bohol, Atulayan Island in Camarines Sur and Palumbanes Island in Catanduanes are now 90 percent complete. “For too long, several remote communities have had their socio-economic progress severely limited by the simple absence of electricity in their towns. The Administration’s electrification program is only one of several ways that we’re bringing the benefits of good governance to the Filipino people,” Abad added. (PNA)
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(IMEM). Capongcol said the DOE would be meeting with the trading market operator Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) to assess its initial performance on the trading floor.
“The first day was not really bad considering that we expect some difficulties … as part of the birth pains,” PEMC President Melinda L. Ocampo said. Initial IMEM operations last Sept. 26 were intended to familiarize participants with daily operations. The trading platform is expected to alleviate Mindanao’s supply shortage problem by utilizing untapped elec tricity that will b e bought by supply-deficient distributors.
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of the Baloi flood control project. It is expected to maximize the generating capability of the Agus 2 hydroelectric power plant. Power plant operations have previously caused flooding along the Baloi plains, resulting in damages and claims against Napocor, which operates the facility. Nap o cor president Gladys Sta. Maria personally extended the financial aid to Baloi Mayor Hanifa Ali at the Napocor Mindanao Generation Headquarters in Iligan City. Sta. Rita said once the project was implemented, it would result in an additional capacity of 60 MW to the Mindanao grid and generate additional energy of 87.6 GWh annually. “Moreover, the project will prevent the overflow of the Agus river thus averting potential damage to the crops in the lowlands,” Sta. Rita said in a statement. A l i s ai d du r i ng t he turnover ceremonies of the financial assistance, a condition imposed for the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate and for the endorsement by Baloi LGU, would pave the way for the implementation of the Baloi flood control project along the Agus River. The Baloi flood control project was started in 2003 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines 52nd Engineering Brigade but was suspended in 2008 after Baloi did not endorse the project. After a series of dialogues with Baloi town, Napocor, Energy Department and P ubl i c Work s of f i c i a l s agreed to come up with a memorandum of agreement that would facilitate i mpl e ment at i on of t he project. Sta. Rita said project construction would start next year with the Public Works Department as the implementing agenc y.-InterAksyon
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(DPWH), which will in turn use them to rebuild and repair several bridges in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental under the DPWH-helmed Task Force Pablo Rehabilitation Plan, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said. The task force supports the reconstruction and
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rehabilitation of damaged national roads and bridges critical to the economic development of the affected areas. “ E v e n as the administration works with local officials and aid groups in securing aid for Yolandas t r i c k e n c o m mu n i t i e s , President Benigno Aquino III is determined to continue rehabilitation efforts in several other areas that Typhoon Pablo swept through. The aim, really, is to reverse the extent of the damage caused by Pablo through projects that will ultimately repair bridges and roads vital to the economic activity in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. “Aside from ongoing d i s a s t e r re l i e f e f for t s , the government remains committed to rebuilding crucial infrastructure, so we can restore normalcy in calamity-damaged areas and ensure the full economic recover y of all affected communities,” he added. Of the total amount, P517.4 million will be allotted for the reconstruction and repair of Caraga, Cateel, Taytayan, and Odiongan bridges in the roads spanning Surigao del Sur-Davao Oriental and Cateel-Compostela. Meanwhile, P543.0 million will cover the rehabilitation of Mayo, Manurigao, Dapnan, Casauman, Quinonoan, and Baguan bridges, connecting the Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental Coastal Road. “Because Davao Oriental is the leading coconutproducing province in the region, rebuilding their infrastructure will create a significant and positive impact on the province’s ability to recover from Pablo’s devastation,” Abad said. “ To g e t h e r w i t h t h e Contingency and Calamity Fu n d - - w i t h r e m a i n i n g balances of P824 million and P176 million, respectively-the P1.1-billion release will buoy the rehabilitation efforts for all affected communities in Davao Oriental,” he added.-InterAksyon
and we cannot adapt to some things.” “All countries should protect the land, but those, who are responsible for harmful aftermath of climate change, should assume more liabilities for funding,” he said. Despite the protest of the countries under development, the specific changes were not included in the document, but the negotiating parties fix an option in it to revise the Warsaw international mechanism, including its structure, mandate and efficiency at the 22nd World Climate Change Conference in 2016. The participants in the conference did not set in the document a concrete sum of funding that the developed countries should allocate for the protection of the climate up to 2020. The countries under development insisted that the conference should agree on allocating 70 billion dollars for the period from 2013 until 2016, but they had to give up these requirements, showing the spirit of compromise and flexibility. Taking into account that the developed countries have earlier agreed to increase the level of funding the climaterelated policy to 100 billion dollars annually by 2020, the participants in the conference called for working more intensively to attain this goal, attracting the monetary funds including from private resources. The countries were also recommended to prepare the materials on their national strategy to increase the funding for environment protection from 2014 through 2020. In particular, the World Climate Change Conference expects the information about expected levels of funding in the sphere of climate, policy, programmes and priorities, actions and the plans to raise additional financial resources. The 19th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change began in Warsaw, Poland’s capital, on November 11 and was to end on Friday evening. However, the talks were prolonged. (PNA/Itar-Tass)
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Yolanda...
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devise a comprehensive environment protection program to minimize the impact of storm surges, flooding and calamities following the devastation of Yolanda. Aquino also ordered Paje to impose a rule prohibiting building commercial and residential structures along the seashore, and to ensure the immediate planting of mangrove, which serves as a natural protection against big waves, Coloma said. (PNA/ Xinhua)
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ordinary adaptation.” “The compensation of damage and losses and adaptation are different things,” he stated. A delegate from Bolivia, South America, stated that “many losses are inevitable
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As of Sunday, the death toll remained at 5,235, with 23,501 injured and 1,613 still missing. “ Yo l a n d a” a f f e c t e d 2,160,576 families or 10,013,467 people in 10,724 villages in 44 provinces. Of these, 53,263 families or 241,365 people are staying in 1,095 evacuation centers. Operations in Tacloban Airport remained limited while the Philippine Ports Authority had taken over the Tacloban Port. (PNA)
Power... from page 9
NGCP but for the country,” she said. “We will continue to work harder to complete the rest of the work required to energize all affected areas as early as possible,” she added. (PNA)
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In cooperation with
HON. AQUILINO PIMENTEL III HON. YEVGENY EMANO Senator Republic of the Philippines
Provincial Governor Misamis Oriental
HON. JOEY PELAEZ Vice Governor Misamis Oriental
HON. OSCAR MORENO HON. ROLANDO “KLAREX” UY HON. PETER UNABIA City Mayor Cagayan de Oro City
Congressman, 1st district Cagayan de Oro City
Congressman, 1st District Misamis Oriental
present
REGIONWIDE
2013
COMPETITION 07 December 2013 7:00 o’ Clock in the morning Pelaez Sports Center Cagayan de Oro City
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
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