Pag-IBIG grants loan moratorium RDC-10 advisory committee meeting Light for ecoville project p8 p4 VOL. 1, No. 235 Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday February 22, 2012 P10.00 YOUR MINDANAO-WIDE NEWSPAPER http://www.mindanaodailybalita.com p2 NONOY NONOY LECHON SERVICES OFFERED OUT OF TOWN ORDER For more details, contact Tel. No.: 309-5276 HERMILINO VILLALON Manager By AL JACINTO, Regional Editor-Zamboanga By PAT SAMONTE, Regional Editor-Caraga By VANESSA L. ALMEDA Special to Mindanao Daily source: pagasa WEATHER UPDATE TAIL-END of a cold front affecting the Northern Luzon. Easterlies prevailing over Mindanao. Northern and Central Luzon and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the East to Southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the East over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough. MINING OR GRAVEYARD? Editorial: 74-53-80, e-mail: [email protected]• Advertising: 0917-7121424, e-mail: [email protected]Authorities said the ram- pant use of cyanide and mercury are threatening the environment and the safety and health of villag- ers around the mountain. There have been many cases of deaths related to illegal MGB Regional Director Albert Johann Jacildo looks at the geo-hazard map of Balabag mountain in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur province. The mountainous area is marked ‘red’ because of dangers pose by landslides in Balabag. The illegal gold mining activities in Balabag in the town of Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur province is a disaster waiting to happen because the area is home to hundreds of small scale miners who use cyanide, mercury and nitric acid in their operation. Blasting is also rampant in the mountain where illegal miners use improvised explosives in making tunnels in Balabag. Photo by Al Jacinto Cops nab drug suspect, 2 others escape in buy-bust BUTUAN City––A sus- pected drug pusher was apprehended while two oth- ers escaped in two separate police “sting” operations here and Surigao City over ZAMBOANGA del Sur––Philippine authorities have expressed alarm over the unabated illegal gold mining activi- ties in the mountain of Balabag in the town of Bayog in the Western Mindanao province of Zamboanga del Sur. mining over the years–– from landslides to blasting of tunnels––by small scale miners. The illegal activities continue to pose grave dangers and the pollution from hazardous chemicals such as cyanide, mercury and nitric acid are now threatening not only the water and food sources in Balabag, but the safety of humans and animals as well. The toxic chemicals are being used by small-scale miners to extract gold from rocks and earth dug from tunnels that now dotted the mountain like bee hives. Tons and tons of cyanide, mercury and nitric acid are dumped in Balabag over the past decades by illegal miners whose operations the weekend. Authorities identified the suspect as Frederick Cor- tez Barrier, 33, of Surigao City. Barrier’s brother, Mark Felizarta Cortez, eluded ar- rest. Alvin Buyan Tioaquin alias Tata jumped from the second floor of a lodging house here and made good his escape from police raid- ers, police said. On Sunday, elements of the Caraga police intel- ligence division, Surigao City police, and a Special Weapons and Tactics team raided the suspects’ house following a buy-bust opera- tion at around 6 pm. The raiders were armed with a search warrant issued by Butuan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 Judge Em- manauel Escatron. Caraga police informa- tion officer Supt. Martin Gamba said the raiders ar- rested Barrier from whom SURIGAO City––The Department of Education official facing a snowball- ing public outcry on her order requiring pupils and students to submit a tax clearance certificate as re- quirement to graduation finds an ally in Capitol. While admitting there was “no malice” when she issued the memorandum, Schools Division Superin- tendent Dr. Evelyn R. Fetal- vero said there is no reason to cause an uproar as she already issued an addendum to DepEd Memorandum No. 08 issued on January 18, 2012. “It’s already in the ad- dendum …(and) really, I have no malice about this (memo) as I am only doing it to help our local govern- ment,” the DepEd official said Wednesday. The ad- dendum was issued Febru- ary 3, 2012. Provincial Administrator of Surigao del Norte lawyer Premolito Plaza came to the rescue of the embattled DepEd official saying it will be “thankless” if they leave her “hanging” when she has only offered her support to the policies of the provincial government. “Lisud man sad kaayo kay nitabang man ang de- partamento sa atong gobyer- no (local government unit),” Plaza said. Plaza explained that Fe- talvero’s move,in relation to the Gov. Sol F. Matugas Executive Order 001 issued last January 7, 2011, is in line with the “territorial jurisdiction” of the local government, the DepEd Division being “under” it. Plaza has also empha- sized the role of “partner- ship” between the local gov- ernment unit with national line agencies as expressed in the 1991 Local Government Code’s General Provision Capitol defends DepEd ‘memo’ Regional News Top Stories Community MINING/PAGE 10 MEMO/PAGE 11 BUST/PAGE 10
Transcript
Pag-IBIG grants loan moratorium
RDC-10advisorycommitteemeeting
Light forecovilleproject
p8
p4
VOL. 1, No. 235 Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday February 22, 2012 P10.00
YOUR MINDANAO-WIDE NEWSPAPERhttp://www.mindanaodailybalita.com
p2
NONOYNONOY LECHON SERVICES
OFFERED OUT OF
TOWN ORDER
For more details, contact Tel. No.: 309-5276
HERMILINO VILLALONManager
By AL JACINTO, Regional Editor-Zamboanga
By PAT SAMONTE, Regional Editor-Caraga
By VANESSA L. ALMEDASpecial to Mindanao Daily
source: pagasa
WEATHER UPDATETAIL-END of a cold front affecting the Northern Luzon. Easterlies prevailing over Mindanao. Northern and Central Luzon and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern section of Northern and Central Luzon which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the East to Southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the East over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.
Authorities said the ram-pant use of cyanide and mercury are threatening the environment and the safety and health of villag-ers around the mountain. There have been many cases of deaths related to illegal
MGB Regional Director Albert Johann Jacildo looks at the geo-hazard map of Balabag mountain in Bayog town in Zamboanga del Sur province. The mountainous area is marked ‘red’ because of dangers pose by landslides in Balabag. The illegal gold mining activities in Balabag in the town of Bayog in Zamboanga del Sur province is a disaster waiting to happen because the area is home to hundreds of small scale miners who use cyanide, mercury and nitric acid in their operation. Blasting is also rampant in the mountain where illegal miners use improvised explosives in making tunnels in Balabag. Photo by Al Jacinto
Cops nab drug suspect, 2 others escape in buy-bustBUTUAN City––A sus-pected drug pusher was apprehended while two oth-ers escaped in two separate police “sting” operations here and Surigao City over
ZAMBOANGA del Sur––Philippine authorities have expressed alarm over the unabated illegal gold mining activi-ties in the mountain of Balabag in the town of Bayog in the Western Mindanao province of Zamboanga del Sur.
mining over the years––from landslides to blasting of tunnels––by small scale miners.
The illegal activities continue to pose grave dangers and the pollution from hazardous chemicals
such as cyanide, mercury and nitric acid are now threatening not only the water and food sources in Balabag, but the safety of humans and animals as well.
The toxic chemicals are being used by small-scale miners to extract gold from rocks and earth dug from tunnels that now dotted the mountain like bee hives.
Tons and tons of cyanide, mercury and nitric acid are dumped in Balabag over the past decades by illegal miners whose operations
the weekend.Authorities identified the
suspect as Frederick Cor-tez Barrier, 33, of Surigao City. Barrier’s brother, Mark Felizarta Cortez, eluded ar-
rest. Alvin Buyan Tioaquin alias Tata jumped from the second floor of a lodging house here and made good his escape from police raid-ers, police said.
On Sunday, elements of the Caraga police intel-
ligence division, Surigao City police, and a Special Weapons and Tactics team raided the suspects’ house following a buy-bust opera-tion at around 6 pm. The raiders were armed with a search warrant issued by
Butuan City Regional Trial Court Branch 2 Judge Em-manauel Escatron.
Caraga police informa-tion officer Supt. Martin Gamba said the raiders ar-rested Barrier from whom
SURIGAO City––The Department of Education official facing a snowball-ing public outcry on her order requiring pupils and students to submit a tax clearance certificate as re-quirement to graduation finds an ally in Capitol.
While admitting there was “no malice” when she issued the memorandum, Schools Division Superin-tendent Dr. Evelyn R. Fetal-vero said there is no reason to cause an uproar as she already issued an addendum to DepEd Memorandum No. 08 issued on January 18, 2012.
“It’s already in the ad-dendum …(and) really, I have no malice about this (memo) as I am only doing it to help our local govern-ment,” the DepEd official said Wednesday. The ad-dendum was issued Febru-ary 3, 2012.
Provincial Administrator of Surigao del Norte lawyer Premolito Plaza came to the rescue of the embattled DepEd official saying it will be “thankless” if they leave her “hanging” when she has only offered her support to the policies of the provincial government.
“Lisud man sad kaayo kay nitabang man ang de-partamento sa atong gobyer-no (local government unit),” Plaza said.
Plaza explained that Fe-talvero’s move,in relation to the Gov. Sol F. Matugas Executive Order 001 issued last January 7, 2011, is in line with the “territorial jurisdiction” of the local government, the DepEd Division being “under” it.
Plaza has also empha-sized the role of “partner-ship” between the local gov-ernment unit with national line agencies as expressed in the 1991 Local Government Code’s General Provision
Capitol defends DepEd ‘memo’
Regional News Top Stories Community
MINING/PAGE 10
MEMO/PAGE 11BUST/PAGE 10
2 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
Regional NewsEditor: CRIS DIAZ
By RIC Y. OCIONES, Correspondent
By RIC Y. OCIONES, Correspondent
Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay turns over a check for P2-million to Iligan Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz during a break in the February 17 meeting of the RDC-10 Advisory Committee (RAC) held at the NEDA-10 Office.
Photo by Mike Banos, NPN
CAGAYAN de Oro City––Despite limited resources, Zambales opposition Rep. Mitos Magsaysay was able to allocate from her congres-sional allocation the amount of P2 million intended to the victims of typhoon Sen-dong that struck Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities last December.
M a g s a y s a y v i s i t e d Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities recently purposely to hand over the checks.
Magsaysay, a staunch critic of the Aquino ad-ministration, said that the P1.5 million is intended for Iligan while the remaining amount of P500,000 is for Cagayan de Oro.
She said the funding was taken from her congres-sional pork barrel.
The lady solon accom-
CAGAYAN de Oro City––In line of the fiesta cel-ebration in honor of their patron, “St. Peter de Fish-erman,” on February 22-23, the Barangay Council of Macabalan headed by Punong Barangay Norbel Saa successfully conducted
People’s health day conducted at Brgy Macabalan
NORBEL SAA
the People’s Health Day Program last February 17.
In an interview, Chair-man Saa said that hundreds of families living in their locality availed of the ser-vices extended by the City Health Department, Legal Division, and Agriculture
under the city government headed by Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano.
Saa said that among the services extended include free dental and medical checkup, including free medicines, dog vaccina-tions, legal counseling, hair-cut and many more.
Chairman Saa together
with the entire members of the Barangay Council expressed their “profound” thanks and gratitude to Mayor Vicente Emano for the excellent services ex-tended his locality.
Meanwhile, among the highlights during their fi-esta celebration are; various ball games, nyt café includ-
ing band concert besides the river, cleanliness drive participated in by the dif-ferent sitios, cultural night presentation, and a civic parade around the premises of Macabalan.
Barangay Councilor Toto Salorico is the chair-man of this year’s fiesta activities.
Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said the officers and men of Kidapawan City Jail deserved commenda-tion for putting up a fight and repulsing heavily armed bandits out to free their alleged leader Datukan Samad.
About 50 heavily-armed men attacked the District Jail in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato Sunday night, killing three people and wounding 15 others, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported.
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos said the heavily-armed unidentified men were out to spring from jail detained Maguindanao-based notorious Muslim bandit leader Datukan Samad, alias “Lastikman”.
The raider fired rocket-
C’bato jail attacked, 3 killed, 15 woundedTHE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Lo-cal Government on Tuesday commended jail officers and men of Kidapawan City Jail for bravery and gallantry in repulsing 50 heavily armed men who attacked the district jail in North Cotabato on Monday.
propelled grenade to the wall of the city jail and B-40 antitank rockets at the jail’s main gate.
Personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), however, returned fire, forcing the attackers to retreat.
Burgos said three people were killed during the raid. He identified them as Mark Anthony Morales, 23; Ian Carlos Sevilla, 22; and a certain Benny Balmediano.
The attackers shot Sevilla and Morales, who were on a drinking spree inside a nearby Molos Videoke House, to divert attention.
The injured included Fire Chief Insp. Romeo Tactaquin, Fire Officer 1 Jonathan Cornejo, Jail Of-ficer 2 Joel Letada, Fire Officer 1 Jerry Anonciado,
Police Officer 2 Ricky San-tos, Adrales Cabriles, Elvin Dulay, Ernie Aguirre, Raffy Yusulan, Joemar Lizardo, Rizaldy Dapan, and Al Termolin Lao. They are now undergoing treatment in different hospitals in Kidapawan City.
Samad is a new and emerging notorious bandit leader whose group is en-gaged in kidnap-for-ransom, car theft, extortion, gun for hire, among others, and operating in Maguindanao and nearby provinces.
“The officers and men of the Kidapawan City District Jail deserves commendation for putting up a fight and repulsing about 50 armed bandits, who were out to spring out from jail their alleged leader Datukan Sa-mad,” Robredo said.
Robredo has directed of-ficials of the PNP Regional Office 12 led by Chief Supt. Benjardi Mantele to inves-tigate the incident, identify the raiders and work for their arrest. CD With wire reports
Mitos gives P2m to Oro, Iliganpanied by Customs Deputy Collector for Administra-tion Marvin Mison said Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan and Vicente Emano of Cagayan de Oro person-ally received the assistance.
For his part, Emano extended his thanks and appreciations to the lady solon for her praiseworthy feat by extending support to the calamity victims in his locality.
“Ako kinasing-kasing nagapa-abot sa akong pasalamat ni kongresista Metos Magsaysay sa Zam-bales sa iyang gitonul nga hinabang sa mga nabik-tema sa kalamidad,dako na kayo kinig ikatabang sa mga pamilya dinhi sa atung siyudad,” said Emano.
Meanwhile, despite the constant mud-slinging and
character assassination by the opposition, donations and relief goods still keep pouring into the city through the office of Mayor Vicente “Dongkoy” Y. Emano.
Even two months after the city’s ordeal with Send-ong, Emano was surprised that there are still many kind souls who offered their assistance and donations.
“Recently, through Rep. Bambi Emano, Manila Mayor Fred Lim gave a P1 million donation, and Speaker Sonny Belmonte gave P500,000,” the mayor said.
As of latest count, the donation which the city government of Cagayan de Oro received amounted to P65,590,685.85. This money, according to the mayor, will be used to construct 1,000 houses at the relocation site in Barangay Calaanan.
By ARJAY S. FELICILDA, Caraga News Bureau
BAYUGAN City––Local police operatives, in co-ordination with the 13th RCIDU-Agusan del Sur CIDT and RID, PRO 13, have recovered several f irearms and ammuni-tions from the residence of Mr. Diomedes Aleria Bagarinao in Purok 2, Brgy. Katipunan, afternoon of February 16.
Recovered were one Springfield Armory cali-
Police raid yields guns, ammosber .45 pistol, one home-made calibre .38 revolver, one homemade caliber 357 Magnum, nine caliber .45 live bullets, four 12 gauge shotgun live bullets and 13 cal .38 live bullets.
Also recovered in the same raid were one caliber .45 magazine assembly,
one homemade shot-gun magazine assembly, one homemade 12 gauge shotgun and holsters for
caliber .38 revolver, caliber .357 pistol and caliber .45 pistol.
The search and seizure operations, carried out by authority of Judge Hector Salise of RTC Branch 7, were witnessed by Brgy. Katipunan Councilors Jo-eboy Unlad and Elsie Unlad.
Mr. Bagarinao is now under the custody of the Bayugan City Police Sta-tion. (with report from PO1 Ryan C Cagula, PRO-13 Info Office)
Medical Mission at Bonbon Covered Court. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez addresses the patients at Barangay Bonbon during the Medical Mission organized by the Light of the World Church headed by Pastor Noah Silava with volunteers from United States, Cebu and Manila. Cong. Rodriguez provided for four doctors and ten senior nurses for the event.
CAMP Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City––The 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division started to celebrate its 42nd anniversary by having Fun Games Com-petition at the Division’s parade ground here today.
This Fun Games is participated by the different units and offices inside the camp to promote camaraderie, esprit d’corps and healthy competition.
This is part of the series of activities in line with the two-day anniversary cel-ebration of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division with a theme: “Team Diamond: 42 Years of Service and Commitment.” The games played were Obstacle Race Relay, Tug of War, Tire Pushing Relay, Sack Race, Straw Planting, and 4x100m
Relay.The post units and offices were
divided into six groups represented by different colors to compete with each other. The following are the groupings: Group “GREEN” members are OG1, DPGAO, 10FAB, DRO, DCHAP, PEC, and DSSO; Group “RED” members are OG2, 4MIB, 10ISU, MIG10, NICA and HHSBn; Group “WHITE” members are the Command Group, OESPA, OG3, DSM, OG8, ODIG, CPO, MFO, 4PED and ODPM; Group “BLUE” members are OG4, SSBn, PDS and CESH; Group “ORANGE” members are OG6, 4SBn, RCDG, DREO, ODA and PIC; and the Group “ YELLOW” members are OG7, CMOBn, FSU, 4LAC, FPAO and FAO.
4ID’s 42nd anniversary kicks off with fun games
44 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012TOP STORIESEditor: CRIS DIAZ
is now
PhilGEPS Accredited
LIGHT FOR ECOVILLE PROJECT: Energy firm STEAG State Power Inc (SPI) handed-over some 500 pieces of solar-powered emergency rechargeable lamps to the residents of Xavier EcoVille in Lumbia Cagayan de Oro City as part of its support to the rehabilitation efforts for the victims of Typhoon Sendong. The solar lamps will provide alternative source of lighting for the residents of the relocation site considering the limited supply of electric power in the area. The project is implemented in partnership with Xavier University, CARD Business Development Service Foundation Inc., and Hapinoy . Present during a simple turn-over program were Steag officials led by Dr. Carsten Evers and Ghaye Alegrio, Fr. Eric Velandria of Xavier University and Mr. Bam Aquino of Hapinoy.
Headsgikan sa pahina 6
to show disrespect to the dead father, including him in the fray.
-ooo-WHY THE DIFFER-
ENCE, MR. LACIERDA? Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda has some-thing to explain: why is it that, when it is President Aquino who is comment-ing on the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, that is to be con-sidered as part of his duty as a chief executive, while if it is the Catholic bish-ops or some other groups condemning the impeach-ment, it is considered by him as meddling? Sauce
for the goose, sauce for the gander?
-ooo-LEWD ART EXHIBIT
SIGN OF THE END: The art exhibit in Spain featur-ing women clad as nuns but sporting sexy attires and sexy poses is one of the signs of the end, foretold by the Bible long ago. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. Peo-ple will be lovers of them-selves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their par-ents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers of God…”
-ooo-SWORD OF DAMO-
CLES OVER SENATOR-JUDGES: Sen. Joker Arroyo has every reason to be afraid, with the disclosures made in the course of the impeachment trial on Mon-day, February 20, 2012: if Corona was investigated by three agencies of govern-ment in 2011 preparatory to his impeachment, what is there to prevent simi-lar investigations against senator-judges who are not toeing the line? The thought is not only chilling, it is fearful, hanging like the sword of Damocles over their heads for, indeed, who can fight City Hall?
Electiongikan sa pahina 6
and other major estab-lished election monitor-ing groups in the country such as NAMFREL, PPCRV, CBCP, the Alternative Law Groups of the Philippines, OneVoice Inc., and other civil society groups finally decided to answer the long-felt need for a citizen’s arm dedicated especially to the legal aspect of the elections.
IBP’s partnership with
Lente is based on the com-mitment of the country’s legal community to the democratic ideals and to the principle that an effec-tive democracy begins with clean, honest and orderly elections that reflects the genuine will of the people.
One of Lente’s weak-nesses, if not threats, is membership. Election sea-son is a very good time for lawyers to be partisan and profitable. Lawyers are well compensated for their
services during this time, and so, volunteering for Lente does not seem to be a practical move to most.
Nevertheless, there are always those who are will-ing to volunteer in response to our innate calling to be in the service of others. Perhaps an institutional push from the likes of the IBP will encourage more lawyers and paralegals to contribute their time and expertise. Will the IBP heed Lente’s call?
Lawyer Miguel Pal-ma Gil, 38, a resident of Townhouse B5, Palm Street Green Heights Subdivision, Buhangin, Davao City, re-mains under observation at the Brokenshire Hospital after a certain Alan Bigcas reportedly shot him.
There is no way to verify whether Alan Bigcas is the same ‘Alan Bigcas’ in Cagayan de Oro who fig-ured on a scandal involving stolen motorcycle owned by a Hollywood actor.
Police investigators, led by Senior Police Of-ficer (SPO1) 1 Sherwin Lelim Arbania, said that Palma Gil was driving his Toyota Vios (TRI 136)
‘Love triangle’ eyed in lawyer’s shootingDAVAO City––Police authorities are looking into love triangle as motive in the shoot-ing of a 38-year-old lawyer at the corner of Mabini and Torres Streets in the city around Sunday morning.
when he noticed that a Hilux pick-up vehicle with ‘for registration’ plate was following him.
Palma Gil stopped at the corner of Mabini and
Torres Streets apparently to accost the man on board the vehicle.
Upon nearing the sus-pect’s vehicle, Palma Gil noticed that the suspect had been holding a gun, prompting the victim to go back to his vehicle to also get his firearm.
But before the victim could reach his car, the suspect fired at him, hit-
ting his shoulder and right hand.
Palma Gil’s former lover, identified as Aimee Salisi, 29, who happened to be with the suspect during that time, immediately went down from the suspect’s vehicle to help the lawyer.
Salisi brought the victim to the hospital while the suspect fled from the area. With wire reports
GENERAL Santos City––Th e city government is im-plementing an P800-million drainage master plan in a bid to resolve the perennial fl ooding problems in several villages here.
Mayor Darlene Antoni-no-Custodio said they are now sourcing out available funds for the city--wide drainage project, which mainly involves the con-struction of major drainage channels and additional flood-control systems in major rivers traversing the city’s 26 barangays.
“Our resource mobi-lization planning is pres-ently ongoing and we’re determining whether it’s wise for us to seek or ap-ply for a loan at this time or we may opt to delay the implementation of some project components that are not considered critical,” she said in a radio interview.
Th e mayor said they were also considering applying for fi nancial grants from the
P800m drainage master plan eyednational government and other funding institutions for some of the drainage project’s components.
Custodio said among the project’s major components is the reopening of the outlets and development of stable drainage channels for the Kalaja River, which caused severe fl ooding in four vil-lages in the area last week.
She said the local govern-ment is initially looking at the phased implementation of the projects due to their huge budget requirements.
In some of its compo-nents, she said the cost would run up between P30 to P40 million for a section alone.
Some 632 families were directly affected by the fl oods, which rose to about three feet in several portions of Barangays Baluan, Lagao, Bula and Buayan here.
Custodio earlier said the river’s waters, which drains towards the Buayan Creek and end up in the Sarangani Bay, caused severe fl ooding
in the area aft er it failed to follow its normal course due to some barriers clogging portions of the waterway.
Last year, around 200 families that were situated in communities near the Silway River were forced to evacuate several times due to the swelling of the river’s waters.
Silway River, which fl ows to Sarangani Bay, is the main outlet of several river-tributaries from the upland areas in nearby South Cotabato province.
In June and July last year, several portions of the dike along the Silway River suffered breaches and eventually collapsed follow-ing heavy rains in the area.
To help ease the flooding problems in the area, the city government allotted some P52.8 million for the construction of additional dikes along the banks of four major river systems that traverse six villages within the city. Wire reports
HAPPY FIESTA BARANGAY MACABALAN!Greetings from:
HON. IAN MARK Q. NACAYA City Councilor 2nd- district, Cagayan de Oro City
large centers don’t want to deal with small projects, and most smaller centers are not adequately funded nor do they have the infrastructure required to minimize down-time.” Its clients are mostly small to medium sized companies for which it provides customer inbound services such as virtual assistant, live chat (voice/non-voice) and sales (investments, insurance), surveys, appoint-ment setting, lead generation
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 20125
NOW OPENENMarket City, AgoraMarket City, AgoraEDITOR: ALLAN MEDIANTE, Email: [email protected]
qualified for a promotion, he will always get it because we prioritize internal over external recruitment. We believe that starting with the right culture and environment has helped us keep our employee turnover quite low.” Ms. Juarez, the firm’s vice president for operations, be-lieves management style also plays its part. “We manage our operations hands-on and have a 1:12 team leader/member ratio unlike other call centers where the usual ratio is 1:20. So our relationships with our employees are on a personal basis, one-on-one, and we encourage them to think of their workplace as their second home.” Besides offering higher salaries than other local call centers, FBS also offers al-lowances for communications and transportation, free life insurance for regulars, and free juice, water and coffee for everyone. The FBC (for Filipino Buy-ing Corp) group of companies so far include FBC Worldwide, FBC Solutions Corp. and FBC Trust Corp.
consultancy business. Today, he is a full-time employee of FBC Solutions working online from his base in New Delhi, India. And top this: young as the firm is, it has already helped set up a separate company named E-confluence, a partner firm owned by some former CU Call Center employees which provides business, medicine and legal transcription ser-vices to clients in the US and Australia. This, despite the young firm’s initial difficulties in recruiting call center agents due to intense competition from local and Cebu-based call centers. Besides FBC So-lutions, there are four other call centers based in Cagayan de Oro, two in Iligan and one start-up in Bukidnon. Just last week, the company had difficulty processing all the walk-in applicants who wanted to join them. “That’s because we always tell our staff they will grow with, and not for the company,” said Mr. Duran, the firm’s managing director for Asia. “Provided our employee is
By MIKE BAÑOS
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Two homegrown Pinoys, A Fil-Am who traces his roots to this city and nearby Bal-ingasag, Misamis Oriental, his two Pakistani-American friends, an Indian Business Manager based in New Delhi and clients in the US, United Kingdom and Australia lend a truly global flavor to the newest call center in this Next Wave City for Pinoy BPOs. FBC Solutions Corp. cel-ebrated its first anniversary January 28th, a brainchild of cousins Niño Mae V. Duran and Nathan John V. Yap and family friend Noelle Noreen A. Juarez. Far-fetched as it seems, the venture arose from a confluence of unlikely events: Nathan visited Cagayan de Oro from his hometown in Hous-ton, Texas in 2007 with two Pakistani-American friends who wanted to import copper concentrates from Mati for export to China. However, when that fell through, the partners instead turned to exporting local deli-cacies from Iligan City to a
The Globalization of Cagayan de Oro’s newest call center
growing Pasalubong market in the US thru FBC World-wide, LLC, an import-export firm based in Houston and registered under US Laws. Then, when Ms. Juarez’s in-laws began having second thoughts about continuing their CU Call Center in Oc-tober, 2010, the local partners thought it a great idea to help the call center agents keep their jobs through a new venture that would also address the need for some of Mr. Yap’s American friends for offshore customer services. When the CU Call Center finally closed down in Decem-ber, 2010, FBC Solutions was already ready to accommodate its former employees and cli-ents barely a month later. Today, FBC has its first call center in Gusa just op-posite the CU Medical City and inaugurated a new annex at the site of the former CU Call Center. “FBC’s niche is to be the de-fault call center and outsourcer for small businesses,” noted Mr. Yap, FBC CEO. “There is a huge gap in the market serving this demographic --
for outbound services. “Our bread and butter is supporting entrepreneurs scale and grow their businesses, creating much-needed jobs both in the Philippines and the United States in the process,” Mr. Yap adds. The firm’s business man-ager Ron Dutta, is an Indian national charged with recruit-ing new business for the com-pany. He used to work for a Canadian call center but opted out when he started his own
FBC Solutions is Niño Mae V. Duran, Noelle Noreen A. Juarez and Nathan John V. Yap
HAPPY FIESTA TO ALL THE PEOPLEOF BARANGAY MACABALAN
Greetings from employee & Staff of DPWH 2nd Engineering District
ENGR. ALLAN BORROMEODistrict Engineer
DPWH – 2nd Engineering District
FIESTA GREETINGS TO BRGY. MACABALAN!
Greetings from:
ATTY. LEON GAN City Administrator (In-coming) City Hall, Cagayan de Oro City
6 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012OPINION
The MINDANAO DAILY is published by Mindanao Daily Balita at Door 3, Geleng Bldg., Lapasan Highway, Cagayan de Oro City. It is registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Region 10 with Cer fi fcate No. 01349532, and with Business Permit No. 02275, TIN No. 946-396-807-001
have more memories than dreams, then you’ve lost your passion for living.”
Imagine if we all actu-ally lived our dreams with our eyes wide open! The problem many times is not that most people aim too high and miss, it’s that they aim too low and hit. We’ll usually get what we aim for. One of the richest men in the world said: “You have to think anyway, so why not think big!”
Our dreams shouldn’t put us to sleep, they should wake us up to all our pos-sibilities.
One great leader put it this way: “The prize goes to the person who sees the future the quickest. And the best way to predict the future is to invent it. After all, if you don’t know where
Live your dreams
you’re going, how will you know when you get there?”
So if you and I can just set our goals, then concen-trate on reaching them, we could actually begin to live our life on purpose instead of by chance. But to make our dreams come true, we must live by 3 rules. First: Start right now. Second: Do your very best. And third: There are no exceptions to the first 2 rules.
The former world record holder in the mile run, Jim Ryan, said: “Dreams are
what get you started, but discipline is what keeps you going all the way.”
How many times have you seen exciting new busi-nesses start up with great success?
They were impressive and promising, but then in only a short time they failed and went out of busi-ness. They did not pay their debts, or they dropped the standards of their product or service so low that they lost their customers. It’s like some of us who diet and
lose heaps of weight, but then after awhile we gain most all of it back. Why? We just did not discipline ourselves to stay with it and permanently change our daily eating habits and lifestyle.
So how about you? Do you have a dream or goal that you dare to commit to, concentrate on every day, and then complete?
Something that at the end of your life you don’t want to look back and wish you had done or lived dif-ferently.
Why not start now? Ask Jesus Christ to help you know the right, best dreams and goals for your life. Then, He will also help you with the discipline and will power you need to really live your dreams—with your eyes wide open.
Just Think a Minute.
ELECTION/p.4
Think A Minute
Jhan Tiafau HurstJhan Tiafau Hurst
Registered
Atty. Sara Jane A. SuguitanAtty. Sara Jane A. Suguitan
IBP as election armTHE Legal Network for Truthful Elections or Lente is a nationwide organization of lawyers and law students who volunteer their time and expertise during elections.
In the first automated presidential elections in 2010 the thrust of Lente was to monitor election offenses and violations, gather evidence, and assist in the prosecution of election offenders.
Lente also sought to change the election laws by al-lowing the filing of anonymous complaints in order to protect witnesses.
Sad to say, although Lente received numerous anony-mous complaints and evidence, only one was filed in court in Camiguin by a couple of media workers but, it was eventually dismissed.
In 2010 Lente volunteers conducted at least a hundred seminars on automation and election law violations all over the country.
Among the beneficiaries of those seminars are the Mangyans, the indigenous peoples of Mindoro, who form majority of the voters in the island.
They not only acted as election monitors, they were also well-versed paralegals who ensured that no voter was disenfranchised or held back from voting.
Lente is a way for lawyers and law students to con-tribute to the great enterprise called nation-building.
The heart of the Constitution is social justice, which is the diffusion of wealth and political power for the common good.
Elections are about the diffusion of political power. It is the fundamental building block of any democracy.
Beyond the brilliance in arguing cases or the shrewd maneuverings in the courtroom, there is something noble and ennobling in the practice of law when it gives substance to the freedom of choice and to equal opportunity to public office.
Thus, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)
THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Misamis Oriental has reportedly ap-proved an Ordinance banning ‘small scale mining’ in Opol, Misamis Ori-ental. The SP deserved commendation for the laudable move.
At last, the provincial board in Misamis Oriental has taken cognizant of the unabated mining activities in the hinterlands of Opol. The siltation and soil denudation of the mountains of Opol due to unrestrained mining caused the death of Iponan River. Nevertheless, who needs the SP Ordinance?
There is no reason to rejoice. What the SP ordinance prohibited is only ‘small scale mining.’ If we are to examine Republic Act No. 7942 or ‘An Act Instituting A New System Of Mineral Resources Exploration, De-velopment, Utilization and Conservation,’ small scale mining is governed by a separate legislation.
Small scale mining is covered by Republic Act No. 7076 or “People’s Small-scale Mining Act of 1991.” Sec-tion 7, on Ancestral Land under RA 7076 provides, ‘No ancestral land may be declared as a people’s small-scale mining area without the prior consent of the cultural communities concerned: Provided, That, if ancestral lands are declared as people’s small-scale mining areas, the members of the cultural communities therein shall be given priority in the awarding of small-scale mining contracts.’
There are doubts on the existence of SSM in Opol. Based on the allowable areas covered under the explo-
Misor bans mining in Opolration permits issued to Opol stakeholders, the miners are corporations. These corporate miners are able to get ‘Exploration Permits,’ not permits for small-scale mining operations. Under RA 7942, the ‘permittee’ is allowed to employ heavy equipment, haulers and other mining equipment in stark contrast to SSM which, under RA No. 7076, is basically carried out through ‘manual labor.’
In other words, the Ordinance approved by SP in Misamis Oriental prohibiting small-scale mining in Opol is an Ordinance that has yet to take place. What is there to prohibit when nothing has taken place?
What the SP should do now is recommend the can-cellation of the exploration permits of three big mining ‘permittees’ at the hinterlands of Opol. These are the ‘99 Mountain Range Resources Corporation (assignment from Mr. Alfredo C. Roxas), Linktone Peak Resources, Inc. and CEESMAG Development Corporation, all engaged in the exploration of Chromite and other associated mineral resources covering a total of 20,502.09 hectares.’
Only the municipal town mayor of Opol can stop the operation of these mining firms. Under the law, only town mayors can issue permits allowing mining firms to operate within their jurisdiction. In this case, will town mayor Dexter Yasay stop it? If Yasay protects the interest of these mining firms by the mere issuance of town permit, how can he stop their operations?
By the way, an exploration permit is renewable every two years. Although governed by RA 7942, the implementing guideline prior to issuance of exploration permit is distinct from the implementing guideline in the issuance of small-scale mining permit.
LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Do your best to pres-ent yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth…” (2 Timothy 2:15, the Holy Bible).
-ooo-RAPTURE AND THE
RETURN OF JESUS: Do you know what “rapture” is? 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 describes it thus: “… For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord
Sword over senator-judges’ heads
forever…” The question is, do you belong to the group of people who will rise to the clouds to meet Jesus at the end of time, and live with Him forever?
If your answer to this question is, “I don’t know”, the great probability is you will not be in that “rapture” and you are not going to live with Jesus in eternity. You will be with someone else, in a place other than heaven! While there is time, make sure you will be with Jesus forever---you and your love ones---because otherwise,
there will be hell to pay, literally and figuratively!
-ooo-AIRPORT RENAMING
DISHONORS PRESIDENT: Whoever thought of renam-ing Diosdado Macapagal International Airport at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga, to remove “Diosdado Ma-capagal” and replace it with “Clark” so that the airport will once again be known as Clark International Air-port, is dishonoring and desecrating the memory of a former President.
Macapagal served the
country well during his term, and one way of honor-ing him is to name the only international airport in his native province after him, in much the same way that a senator was honored in the case of the then Manila In-ternational Airport. It didn’t matter that the honor was bestowed upon Macapagal by his very own daughter, because Macapagal deserved to be recognized anyway.
As it is, Macapagal’s ca-balens in Pampanga cannot be faulted for thinking that politics pushed the airport’s change of name, considering the drive of the Aquino gov-ernment against Macapagal’s daughter, former President Gloria Arroyo. The sen-timent is that, President Aquino may have reasons to run after Gloria, but it is a blunder to show disrespect
HEADS/p.4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 20127
NOW OPENENMarket City, AgoraMarket City, AgoraEDITOR: ALLAN MEDIANTE, Email: [email protected]
p
& Outstanding Business Leaders
Awards 2012
p
& Outstanding Business Leaders
Awards 2012
Mindanao Entrepreneurs & Outstanding Business
Leaders Awards 2012
Mindanao Entrepreneurs & Outstanding Business
Leaders Awards 2012
Join the Search!!!
NOMINATION FORM
Full Name/Title of Nominee________________________________________________ (Official Name of Individual or Company)Business Address: ________________________________________________________ Tel. No.__________ Email ____________ Web Site:______________
Awards Category : ________________________________________________________ Agri-business Banking & Finance Alternative Energy Dev’t
Attach the following: (1) Official Letter of Endorsement; (2) Photos (1 passport size/ pics of establishment bldg/area) (3) Short History (500 words) (4) Documentary Evidence ( Photo copies of citations/ certificates, awards) (5) Biodata or resume
For more info, call: Tel Nos.: (088)856-3344, (08822)72-33-44 , 74-53-80; (088)587-1390 or 0923-432-0687; 09274795196
Visit our website at : www.businessweekmindanao.com
SECURITY Bank’s corporate social responsibility are em-bodied in the following programs and projects:
Community Livelihood Development The Foundation supports Livelihood Development Projects that are empow-ering, sustainable, and produce measurable results which can help improve the lives of the people, especially the least fortunate families, in the communities that the bank serves. These include projects that teach skills to supplement family income and support crafts that will generate products to sell. In 2005, the Foundation supported the Dagatan Family Farm School and Balete Family Farm School’s Lettuce Production Project. This project aims to animate each Family Farm School (FFS) Association to be active partners of FFS in the development of the community where the school is located; generate enough income in the conduct of livelihood activities that would increase income of the farmers and help in the operational expenses of each school; utilize the projects as management and skills training laboratory for farmers and students; aid in the promotion of FFS as venue for community development; and increase understanding of farmers in managing an organization. Another project supported by the Foundation in 2005 was the Punlaan School in San Juan, Metro Manila. The financial assistance granted by the Foundation to Punlaan School was used for the advancement of less-privileged young women to help them acquire general culture, values formation and necessary skills for gainful employment in tourism-related establishments after graduation. The foundation supports the school’s distinct education philosophy of promoting positive values that builds character and ingrains work ethics in both the group-teaching situations and in the individualized tutorial system. In July 2009, the Foundation supported an Organic Rice Production Project in San Pablo, Laguna in partnership with the San Pablo Parents Association, Inc. and Yakap sa Kaunlaran ng Bata, Inc. This project aims to provide about poor families with access to low cost but nutritious rice and additional income, as well as to generate funds to help support community projects or activities for children and families in the community.Education Scholarship The Foundation provides scholarships for deserving and promising individuals who wish to complete elementary, secondary, and tertiary education / vocational courses or pursue graduate courses in reputable schools and universities. Scholarships granted from 2007-2008:UNIVERSITY DEGREE PROGRAMUniversity of the Philippines(Diliman Campus) College of Business Administration (includes Marketing) Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)College of Engineering Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)University of Santo Tomas(Manila Campus) College of Commerce Bachelor of Science in CommerceCollege of Accountacy Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA)College of Engineering Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) Bachelor of Science in Information Management (BSIM) Bachelor of Science in Information Technoloy (BSIT)Centro Escolar University(Manila Campus) School of Accountacy, Management and Technology Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, major in Management (BSBA Management) Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS)Ateneo de Manila University School of Management Management EngineeringSchool of Science and Engineering BS Applied Math Major in Mathematical Finance BS in Management Information System coursesThe Foundation gives a plaque of recognition and cash award to the chosen recipient of the Student Excellence Award during the annual graduation rites of the college / university. Student Excellence Award In partnership with selected colleges / universities, the Foundation gives recognition to graduating students with outstanding scholastic performance in the following courses or degree programs:
Employee Volunteerism The Foundation, in partnership with the Human Resource Division (HRD) of Security Bank Corporation, has successfully launched and implemented the Security Bank Employee Volunteerism Pilot Activity, “Resource Mobilization Campaign for Public Schools and Poor In-School Children and Youth” which ran from April 27 to June 3, 2009. The activity generated 3,500 assorted reading materials (reference books, textbooks, journals, magazines, dictionaries, etc.), and assorted schools supplies (pencils, crayons, pad papers, colored pens, bags, notebooks, etc.) that were turned over to six (6) public schools in the communi-ties served by the Bank. The “Regalo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko (RMKK): Employee Giving Project” is another employee volunteerism project launched last January 2010 that aims to generate funds from among the Security Bank Employees to help provide educational assistance to the children of Security Bank Agency Personnel na-tionwide.
is always welcome when the or-ganisation conduct regular audits with both internal and external parties” shares Carol Sim, Sales Director, BSI Singapore. “Globe is proud to be the first telecommunications company in the Philippines to receive the BS 25999 certification. Using global standards in our Business Continuity Management Program is a testament of our greater resolve to put our customers first and help them mitigate business risks, said Albert de Larrazabal, Chief Financial Officer of Globe Telecom. “With Globe as their telecom partner, our customers can enjoy a higher standard of assurance especially during critical periods of any business,” adds de Larrazabal. Business continuity is a reality that all organisations must soon come to realize. The sooner any organization acknowledges this importance and implements a systematic approach to man-age this area; the less likely they would be caught off guard when disruption happens in their business.
UPDATE :
BusinessWeek Mindanao’s Partner s for OUTSTANDING BUSINESS LEADERS AWARDS 2012
Manila, February 13th, 2012 – BSI Group, the global independent business services organization and certification body has recently awarded Philippine’s leading telecommunications giant; Globe Telecom, with the much sought after BS 25999 Business Continu-ity Management System (BCMS). Being certified to BS 25999 Business Continuity Management System showcases the highest confidence and assurance to stakeholders that the organization is more than capable to proac-tively plan, prevent and navigate through difficult periods. As one of the largest telecommunications provider in the Philippines, it is important for Globe Telecom’s management to ensure that there will always be continuous service even during possible disruption period. The BS 25999 Business Conti-nuity Management System provide the specifi cation needed to comply with global international business continuity practice and it is a stan-dard that heavily emphasizes on the formation and maintenance of a proper control framework within
an organization to systematically plan for disaster recovery and also to ensure minimal disruption downtime in the organisation. The standard is most attractive to higher-risk industries within the economy which includes the banking sector, transportation sector, public sector and the telecommunication sector. Since the BS 25999 BCMS standard was published in De-cember 2006, BSI Group has since certified thousands of organisations globally. Within the telecommunication sector in Southeast Asia, Globe Telecom is currently the first in Philippines to be certified by BSI Group to receive the BS 25999 BCMS certificate. “Certifying to BS 25999 BCMS is really about taking a pledge of excellence and commitment that necessary steps have been taken to make sure that the organization survives through disruptions and maintains a business as usual motion. Being certified also enforces to the organization that implementation alone is never enough; and that improvement
Globe Telecom, first to receive BS 25999 Business Continuity certification from BSI Group among peers
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 20128BUTUAN CITY, BAYUGAN CITY, SAN FRANCISCO, TAGUM CITY
SP authorizes mayor to sign textbook dealBUTUAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panglunsod has authorized City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. to sign the agreement between the Children’s International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI) and the Butuan City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office for the textbook distribution of the city government. CIPI, represented by Chief of Programs Rebecca Fuellos, is one of the NGOs affiliated with Children International, duly licensed by the DSWD to operate as an auxiliary social welfare and development agency. Medical mission highlights DXDD 42nd yearOZAMIZ City - A medical mission highlighted Radio Station DXDD AMs 42nd anniversary, February 15, at the GSK Entablado, Tambalan ng Cathedral. The activity was aimed at helping the poor and needy Ozamiznons. Part of the medical mission was the bloodletting activity, under the station’s “Dugo Pag-papaalam” Program. DXDD AM is operated by the Archdiocese of Ozamiz, with Mr. Wendell Talibong, as program director, said. Iraqi envoy graces student leadership trainingBUTUAN City––Hon. Ibrahim Khalil Ibrahim, chan-cellor of the Iraqi Embassy to the Philippines, is the guest-of-honor during the Philippine Higher Education Student Government (PHESG) Leadership Training Program, May 5-7 this year, here. PHESG-Caraga Chair and CEO Rex Ybanez is meeting with the chancellor on February 24 for possible establishment of youth development programs in the city.
Director Abner M. CagaPIA, R10 & 13 Cluster
PIA News Bits
BY ROWJOE S. FELICILDA M C
I P
KANUS-A mo-atake ang cancer sa tawo?
Sumala sa Philipine Can-cer Society, mga 75% sa cancer cases ang mamatikdan sa pangidaron nga 50 anyos.
Sa matag 100,000 ka mga Pinoy, mokabat sa 200 ang taptan sa makamatay nga cancer, sama sa lung cancer.
Sa matag lima ka mga Pinoy nga 74 anyos ang pangidaron pataas, usa ang magka-cancer. (Gisiksik ug gisabwag sa ROWJOE S. FELICILDA MEMORIAL CANCER INFORMATION PROJECT, Cagayan de Oro City, e-mail : [email protected])
Pag-atake sa kanser
MDaily JokeCompiled by KHRISTHA RIVA ARFENE
Only GOD can turn a MESS into a MESSage, a TEST into a TESTimony, a TRIal into a TRIumph and a VICTim into a VICTory. Keep PraYing..,it wOrks! (Contributed by Atty Vic Carillo, Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity)
WORD FOR THOUGHT
What does What does marriage marriage mean?mean?
BUTUAN City––The Sang-guniang Panglunsod (SP) re-cently approved a resolution granting one farm tractor to the Antongalon-Agusan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, in line with the Agri-Pinoy Rice Program.
In said resolution, the SP has authorized City Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on
Butuan City grants farm tractor to coop
behalf of the city govern-ment, with the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit XIII and the said cooperative, which is accordingly in dire need of farm equipment to increase productivity.
The grant is in response to the letter-request of City Agriculturist Alberto Buca given to the cooperative, a legitimate farmer coop-erative.
The resolution, was au-thored by Councilor An-gelo Calo, chair of the SP
Committee on Agriculture. (END/asf)
P/Inspector Kathleen Pebojot rappels from the Pelaez Bridge in Barangay Tagua-nao, Cagayan de Oro City, as part of the six-day Disaster Preparedness Trainers Training of PRO-10, February 6-11. The activity was attended by 94 police officers and members of the Barangay Peace Action Teams (BPAT) from Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City Bukidnon province. (photo provided)
By MA. THERESE M. ABEJO
CAGAYAN de Oro City––Pag-IBIG Fund Housing Loan (HL) Borrowers, whose units were damaged, or whose sources of income were af-fected by typhoon Send-ong, are given a three-month moratorium on payments.This, in accordance with Circular No. 303 that seeks to alleviate the debt-burden of HL borrowers directly af-fected by the typhoon.Th e moratorium covers the hard-hit regions of Central Visayas, Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and CARAGA. To qualify, the borrow-ers’ HL accounts should be updated, as of December 15,
Pag-ibig grants loan relief
2011. Th e 3-month morato-rium runs between December 16, 2011 and March 15 this year. In eff ect, the borrower’s loan term shall be extended for another three months, but the HL amortization, interest rate and other terms shall remain. Due dates, shall
be adjusted accordingly. Payments of HL amorti-zations shall resume on the month following the third month of the borrower’s moratorium period. HL borrowers, with ap-proved applications on mora-torium, may still opt to pay their monthly amortization even during the moratorium period. Such payment, how-ever, shall be applied to the month when the member is slated to resume payment. Applications for the HL moratorium will be received only until Wednesday this week, February 24, at Pag-IBIG Fund Cagayan de Oro Branch, J.R. Borja Mortola Sts., Cagayan de Oro City. (MTMA/jdelpf)
By PREM KALSOOR An elderly dad in Mumbai calls his son in New York :
Dad : I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage... and that much misery is enough!”
Son : (Screaming) “Dad, what are you talking about?!!!”
Dad : We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer.“We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her! “
Son : (Frantic, he calls his sister)
Smart Parents...Dad and mom zzzzzzzz!
Daughter : (Explodes on the phone) Like heck, they’re getting divorced. I’ll take care of this.”
She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man.
Daughter : You are not getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR??.
Dad : (Hangs up his phone and turns to his wife) “Okay“, It’s all set. They’re both coming for our anniversary and paying their own airfares!!”
Camiguinguv raises watch on coco tree-cutting CAMIGUIN––Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo ex-pressed apprehension on the excessive cutting of coconut trees in the province. “When you fly by heli-copter, green areas can be seen to cover most of the island’s sections, but (coco) tree cutting activities are quite visible,” he said adding that he wants the PCA to tone-down these activities and tighten the issuance of permits.“I also want to double-up our tree planting efforts, in like manner, trees that have been approved for cutting should also be replaced,” he added. Governor Romulado called on the public to report to his office any of such tree cutting cases. “What has been happen-ing around can also hit us. We cannot hold the disaster, but we can somehow do something to prevent it,” Romulado stated. (PIA-10/jdelpf)
NONOYNONOY LECHON SERVICES
OFFERED OUT OF TOWN ORDER
Wedding • Anniversary Birthday • Party
Located at 31-22 Brgy. Nazareth, CDO & Westfi eld Subdivision, Brgy. Iponan, Entrance Brgy. Balulang,
massage therapist (masahesta)18- 30 yrs old, male / fmale • With massage exprienced
• Pleasing personality • Comission basis.
Call (no txt pls) 09187958578/ 09061149906-REY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012 9
KIMBERLITE PAWNSHOPKimberlite Pawnshop will be having an AUCTION SALE on all items that expired on January 2012.
AUCTION DATE: MARCH 15, 2012
MALAYBALAY BRANCHEstrada Bldg., Fortich-Don Carlos Sts.,
Malaybalay City, BukidnonMD : Feb 20 - Mar. 20, 2012
In Oroquieta City, Relax & Enjoy @
DAMINAR’S RIVERSIDE DAMINAR’S RIVERSIDE GARDEN and ResortGARDEN and Resort
Layawan, Oroquieta City
Owned and Managed by: Board Member & Mrs.
Zaldy and Bessie Daminaror Reservation: (088) 586-0350
NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given that the Loyola Plans Policy of the Deceased Isabel Mary Winstanley Walter, with a Policy Number 401443-7 and a Certificate of Full Payment Number 14816.
A newly develop “BURUUN HILLTOP RESORT” located at the National Hi-way in Brgy. Buruun, lligan City near the famous TIMOGA SWIMMING POOL” is looking for a ZIPLINE & CABLE CAR INVESTOR.Interested investor may contact Cell No. 0918-8580000/0917-7174431 or Tel No. (063) 2216924/223-0569, 221-5488
WE BUYRICE BRAN (D1) (Tahup sa humay)
CALL OR TXT, US AT:CELL#S: 09066968868 •
09229910438 • 09206336542MD : Feb. 15-23, 2012
10 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
CROSSWORD puzzleACROSS
1. Course game 4. Muscular contraction 8 .Alcoholic beverage 9. Sluggish 11. Kingdom 13. Make amends 15. Fog 17. Actor Max Sydow 18. Not at all 19. Greek letter 20. Sweetheart 21. Gladden 23. _Nino 24. Eager 26. Nasal openings 28. For each 29. Naval vessel 31. War cry 33. Musical piece 35. Prongs
37. Baked dish 38. Sponsorship 39. Plant trunk
DOWN 1. Singer Valenciano 2. Bullring cheer 3. Depart 4. Tin symbol 5. Pome fruit 6. Skill 7. Kitchen appliance 9. Force 10. Of the kidneys 12. Washed 14. Brief comments 16. Bataan town 18. Prose narrative 19. Military cap 20. Land of the Rising Sun 22. Stories
25. Angry 27. Burst forth 29. All (comb.form) 30. Appear 32. Manipulate 34. Pass away 36. Einsteinium symbol
CIRCLE A WORDCASINODAYLIGHTSDIAMONDSEYESFOREVERGOLDENGOLDFINGER
LOVEMOONRAKEROCTOPUSSYQUANTUMROYTALERUSSIA
WORDS IN BOND FILM TITLES
SECRETSERVICESOLACESPYTHUNDERBALLTOMORROWTWICE
SUDOKUHow to play the game?Fill in completely every rows, columns and diagonals of each puzzle without repitition of the same digit.
Ang miagi
MiningFrom page 1
are being run by local financiers.
‘War Zone’Blasting in Balabag is
also rampant, especially during night time where illegal miners dig tunnels to gather rocks and boulders where gold is found. The loud blasts from homemade explosives reverberate in the still of the cold and foggy night as if Balabag is a war zone.
The blasting of the mountain is so rampant that even authorities can-not do anything to stop it. The lack of security forces to guard the environment remains a sad reality in Balabag. The smuggling of cyanide and ammonium nitrate and blasting caps - use as detonators for home-made explosives - continue unabated.
The Miswi Intermedi-ate School in Balabag has already been evacuated because of tunnels dug by illegal miners beneath. The cracks on the floor of the school are threatening the safety and lives of dozens of students.
And there have been numerous illegal miners and workers buried alive and all these have become bitter memories of families who lost their loved ones in search for gold.
‘Child Laborers’The huge number of
child workers has become increasingly alarming in Balabag. Teenagers bear the heavy scar of illegal mining activities in the mountain.
And ever yday, they carry heavy boulders and rocks and crushed it with hammer and steel and col-lected by ball mill workers in Balabag – and all these dangerous jobs in exchange for small amount of money to feed their hungry family.
Their limbs and lives are their only guarantee to earn a living from the virtual gold rush area controlled by a few financiers and an army of workers blinded by greed for money.
‘Balabag Force’The lack of security
forces to help guard the mountain of Balabag and protect the environment and people in Bayog has become part of life of vil-lagers living in the area who witnessed the destruction of their land.
Natalio Bello, a mem-ber of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliaries of the Philippine Army, says he is a living witness to the unabated destruction of Balabag because of illegal mining activities.
“I have seen here the problems brought about by illegal miners. The rampant blasting to make tunnels and their continued use of mercury, cyanide and nitric acid is a bigger problem. The unabated dumping of mine tailings by small scale miners is also another problem and these tailings contain hazardous chemi-
cals that contaminate our water sources, our lakes and go down to the mountain and eventually to the sea,” he says.
“We are afraid that these illegal activities are contam-inating the environment. The illegal miners extract minerals in the wrong way and there have been nu-merous deaths related to these activities - those who perished and buried alive in tunnels and landslides in Balabag - and most of these cases are not even reported to the authorities. We just hope that these problems are resolved soon,” says Bello, who is under the command of 18th Infantry Battalion.
Bello is only one of few villagers trained by the government as militia and deployed in Balabag to help protect the environment and the human population in communities around the mountain.
‘Gold Rush’The whole Balabag area
has been likened to gold rush sites in the province of Compostela Valley in Davao region where thousands of illegal miners are operating despite a government ban.
In Balabag, hundreds of families have put up their shanties in mountain slopes, and are illegally mining for gold.
Financiers of illegal mining do not have gov-ernment permits, not even from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau of the De-partment of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned agencies. They do not pay taxes for all the gold they have col-lected and sold to the black markets.
There are also reports that some journalists are under the payroll of fi-nanciers of illegal min-ing in Balabag to protect and defend them from bad publicity and some even claimed to be members of the media watchdog called National Union of Journal-ists of the Philippines.‘Mines and Geosciences
Bureau’The Mines and Geosci-
ences Bureau in Western Mindanao has acknowl-edged the huge problems posed by illegal mining activities in Balabag and has called on the Philip-pine National Police to investigate the rampant blasting and smuggling of improvised explosives or materials use in the manufacture of homemade bombs.
“There is a community of small scale miners there. These are informal small scale miners similar to the problems in Pantukan and Diwalwal (gold rush) in Compostela Valley. We have a gold-rush area in Balabag and since I assumed office I realized that there is really a problem brought about by illegal mining there,” says Albert Johann Jacildo, the MGB regional director.
He says the geographi-cal hazard map of Balabag shows that the mountain
area is vulnerable to land-slides and posed dangers to illegal miners.
Jacildo says he also re-ceived a report about the evacuation of a school in Balabag due to the cracks on the floor caused by tun-nels dug by illegal miners.
“We have received a report about this. We have photographs that showed the cracks on the earth inside the school which may pose real danger to the students. Our office immediately wrote to the regional police director Chief Superintendent Na-poleon Estilles and we are asking their help because this (problem) involved explosives,” he says.
‘Stop Illegal Mining Activities’
Various organizations and groups, lawmakers and mining corporations have asked the government to put a stop to illegal mining activities in the country be-cause of its ill-effects to the environment and dangers posed by their continued operation to human life.
Hundreds had died from landslides and collapsed of tunnels in areas where there are rampant illegal mining activities, especially in Mindanao.
Pre s i d e nt B e n i g n o Aquino says he would act on the problems of illegal mining and create the Na-tional Anti-Illegal Mining Task Force to carry out his order to put a stop to it. (Mindanao Examiner)
BustFrom page 1
they allegedly confiscat-ed six sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated valaue of P15,000, P1,000 marked money, a caliber .38 Smith & Wesson revolver without serial number, and drug paraphernalia.
Gamba said the police officers also searched Mark Felizarta Cortez’s room and seized an air soft M16, drug paraphernalia and several live and spent ammunition.
Gomez is still at large, he said.
Barrier and Cortez are now facing charges, Gamba added.
On Saturday at around 11 am, a police poseur bought a sachet of shabu allegedly from Alvin Buyan Tioaquin alias Tata for P500 marked money.
When police officers moved in to arrest him, Tioaquin jumped from the second floor of Diamond Lodging House on Salvador Calo Street in Barangay
Obrero and fled.Recovered were two sa-
chets of suspected shabu, P500 marked money, P1,000 cash money, and drug para-phernalia.
The operation was wit-nessed by Obrero Baran-gay Chairman Fernando Rivero, a Department of Justice representative and a local radio reporter, po-lice said.
Appropriate charges were readied and sub-sequently filed with the court, police added.
HINDI na naman nakaiwas si Isabel Oli sa pag-usisa ng media tungkol sa kung ano talaga ang relasyon nila ni James Yap, na ex-husband ni Kris Aquino.
Sa ulat ni showbiz re-porter Aubrey Carampel, sinabing kabilang si Isabel sa mga celebrities na na-kipagtalbugan ng kasuotan sa isang fashion event na ginanap sa Taguig.
Dito ay muli raw inu-sisa ng media si Isabel tungkol sa tunay na es-tado ng relasyon nila ng basketbolistang si James.
Patuloy kasi ang mga balita na romantikong nag-uugnay kay Isabel sa sikat na basketball player. Katunayan, lumabas sa isang artikulo ng Philip-pine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph) na nabaitan daw
Isabel Oli, iginiit na friends lang sila ng ex-hubby ni Kris Aquino na si James Yap
si Kris sa Kapuso actress.Boto rin daw si Kris na
maging girlfriend ni James si Isabel, ayon pa sa ulat ng PEP.
Pero sinabi ni Isabel sa Chika Minute ng GMA news 24 Oras nitong Biyernes na magkaibigan lang talaga sila ni James.
“Nakakapagod na rin kasi parang paulit-ulit ko nang sinasabi na we’re friends, and yung lang ta-laga,” pahayag ni Isabel.
Nag-alangan nga daw
ang aktres nang dumalo siya sa birthday party ni James kamakailan nang makita niya na maraming tao at media na dumalo dito.
“Pagdating ko kasi pa-rang akala ko konti konti lang, ang dami palang tao. Yun, hindi ko iniexpect na may camera… If ever may itinatago man kami e sana hindi na lang ako pumunta dun ‘di ba,” pali-wanag niya. - FRJimenez, GMA News
pasakay para karong adlawa busa ang atong hottest pair mao ang mga mosunod:
42, 52, 72, ug 82.Maayo sab nga pairing
ang napulo nga ultimate pairs sa odd numbers nga mao ang mga mosunod: 13,
15, 17, 19, 35, 37, 39, 57, 59, ug 79. Unya idugang ang 2.
========Ugma ng adlawa ang
aton pinasahi nga SUPER-TRES, the winning guide!
Kanunay gayud nga gusto namo nga kitang tanan makadaug!
Mr. Supertres
150 4 2-4-6
1-7-9
2-7-9
758705087 3
M D B P A S A K A Y G U I D E P A M O S T E
H O T P A S A K A Y
H O T P A I R S
622 8
95
PASA
KAY
SUPERHOT
M D B S Y N D I C A T E G U I D E
3-8 4-7 6-9 0-1
0-1 2-5 3-8 4-76-94-7
0-16-9
2-50-1
3-82-5
Bonus
LUCKY PICK
213152172219352237329527
592729518258
T O D A Y ’ S G U I D E Y E S T E R D A Y
M A I N T A I N BULLSEYE
271-128-298201-192-815720-123-501127-915-924
MemoFrom page 1
and Principles where the national government ensures the “fullest development” of local governments as “self-reliant communities”.
“Isa ini na pamaagi na nakatabang sa local govern-ment for the collection of taxes,” he added.
Plaza admitted though that he was not privy to the DepEd order and it was his fi rst time to read the copy of the memo and the addendum when Agusan-Surigao Enquirer showed him a copy.
No MaliceFetalvero in the same
interview said the issue should not be blown out of proportion as she does not have any “malice” in issuing the memorandum.
She said she was doing it to support the initiatives of the provincial governor in the collection of taxes.
Fetalvero issued an ad-dendum on Feb. 3, 2012. She said Division Memo No. 08 is still subject for revisions thus the issuance of the addendum.
Th e DepEd offi cial also underscored the Special Education Fund (SEF) which the DepEd province will automatically have a share from the taxes collected from real property taxes.
“We intend to get our 1% share from the local school board,” the offi cial added.
Republic Act 7160 or the LG Code allows local government units to impose yearly a 1% tax on the as-sessed value of real property in addition to the basic real property tax.
Further, Section 235 of the Code in part says “Th e proceeds thereof shall exclu-sively accrue to the Special Education Fund (SEF).”
Legal quandaryA DepEd division order,
in the case of Fetalvero’s order, requires that it has followed government pro-cedure in the issuance of an order. In this case, the division chief, can only issue an order if it was based on an order from the Central Offi ce or the DepEd regional director.
Lawyer Jose Expeditus Bayana, city councilor, said Fetalvero is not under the local government unit of Surigao del Norte.
“Th e DepEd is not under the local government unit of Surigao del Norte but its Central Offi ce which is a national agency. And we are not aware of the DepEd mandating the requirement of a tax clearance certifi cate and requiring payments thereof,” Bayana said.
Th e lawmaker cited the basis for the issuance of the division order, which is the EO 001, is also “illegal”.
Explaining, Bayana said that “to make a requirement mandatory, and most espe-cially if fees are collected and made by the LGU, this can only be done through an ordinance,” he said.
“In this case, an EO can be issued for the purpose of implementing a national law
or an ordinance duly enacted by the SP. In the absence of the law or ordinance, the Chief Executive cannot is-sue an executive order,” he added.
“In case of EO 001, there is no ordinance that will form as basis for issuance of the EO which makes it illegal,” the public offi cial said.
On Monday’s regular SP session, the provincial legislators adopted the reso-lution of the “Request of the Provincial Treasurer, Daisy B. Hubilla, for inclusion of EO 001 series of 2012, Re ‘An Order Requiring a Tax Clearance Certifi cate issued by the Provincial, City and/or Municipal Treasurer as the case maybe, evidencing payment of yearly tax obli-gations from any requester including contractors and suppliers of goods and ser-vices and job applicants before issuance of Offi cial Records.’”
But Bayana said the SP resolution does not merit the legality of the EO be-cause according to him, a resolution is not a law but an “expression of an opinion or sentiment” and is “tem-porary in nature.”
Th e ordinance is the one considered as a law as against a resolution which is not.
“Since the EO 001 is il-legal, the Division Order 08 is also illegal,” the legislator said.
Magna Carta for teach-ers violated
Makabayan Surigao City coordinator lawyer Jose V. Begil Jr. also criticized the order for violating the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers saying it is not within the bounds of the education department to withhold teacher’s pay just because it failed to pay its
real property tax. The salary of public
school teachers should not be held hostage because in the fi rst place the work rendered by teachers are a product of their hard earned labor, Begil said.
“Umay labot sa sweldo na ila man jaon taghaguan? If failure to pay the real property tax is the problem then a subsequent law is provided for to require them to pay their taxes,” the city legislator said.
Provincial Tax Ordi-nance No. 1
Gov. Matugas’ EO pro-vided as basis Sec. 465(b)(iii) of the Code which states that “the governor shall en-sure that all taxes and other revenues of the province are collected..”. Plaza said, “from this, there is a clear mandate for the collection of taxes.”
Plaza added it is the obli-gation of the citizens to pay taxes and “in the course of collection, (they) secure tax clearance certifi cate.”
Provincial Tax Ordinance No. 1, series of 2004 “pro-vides that imposition for payment of real property tax is mandated to all per-sons owning real proper-ties within the territorial jurisdiction of the province”, according to the EO 001-A.
Plaza has explained that “EO 001-A” is the title of the EO’s final copy. This reporter have two of the copies of the EO.
Provincial treasurer Dai-sy D. Hubilla, in a separate interview confi rmed that as per said ordinance, issuance of certifi cates is provided for under Chapter IV, Sec. 4A-01 on “Service Fees and Charges”, Article A on “Sec-retary’s Fee” of the said tax ordinance No. 1.
This charges has long
been imposed when we is-sue certifi cates, she said. Th e province charges P20 for the certifi cate, P20 as research fee and another P15 for the BIR documentary stamp or a total of P55.
Sit downRep. Guillermo A. Ro-
marate, 2nd District Surigao del Norte, said the Division Memo is still “debatable” and urge Fetalvero and the Capitol to “sit down” and talk of the legal issue of the matter.
Romarate, an ally of the governor, said his point of view is based on the Constitutional Right to Education by pupils and students. Clearly, he said, the Constitution provides that all public study from elementary to high school is free.
By the provision that “education is free”, it is not legal to require pupils and students to submit a tax clearance certicate which in turn is the obligation of the parent.
Kabataan Partylist pro-vincial coordinator Aiza Cuadrillero said the order is an additional burden to the parents who are already deep in fi nancial quandary due to the rising cost of commodities and the below the minimum wage salary working parents receive.
“Kun mao na ila paagi, daghan na pud ang dili maka-eskuyla ani,” (If this is their strategy, then more will not be able to go to school) she said.
Edgar Canda, of Bayan Muna Partylist, also urged the local government to instead run aft er big mining corporations in order to get higher government revenue.
Canda said if the pur-pose of the provincial gov-ernment is to ensure real
property taxes are paid, it should instead follow what is provided by law and let Capitol personnel in-charge in the collection of taxes do its work.
“Dili ang mga gagmay’ng tawo kay naglisud na gani sila kuman tungod ini ka-mahal nan ato panaliton. Why not go aft er big min-ing companies and other businesses or rich traders,” (Th e poor should not be bur-dened again, as it is already suff ering from the current high cost of commodities.) Canda said.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines Surigao Chapter thru its president lawyer Alfonso S. Cassura on Wednesday called on Fetalvero to recall her order or face legal action from the group.
Th e progressive Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Surigao diocese also came out with a strongly worded statement against the memo-randum declaring it “illegal and immoral”. IFI also called on the lady offi cial to recall the order.
Fetalvero in its Janu-ary 18 memorandum cited Executive Order 001 issued by Gov. Matugas on Janu-ary 11, 2011 which requires contractors, suppliers, and applicants to secure a copy of the tax clearance certifi cate as part of the offi cial require-ment for any government transaction including the requirement for job ap-plication.
In the same EO 01, “all government employees...shall pay their tax obliga-tions to the provincial or municipal treasurer and shall secure the required Tax Clearance Certifi cate before they can collect their January, 2012 salaries and in the years onward.”
POUND-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao swapped his boxing gloves for golf clubs Wednesday in a charity event that raised funds for storm victims in the country’s south.
The 33-year-old, rated the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, played along-side Filipino golfing ace Frankie Minoza in the ICTSI Philippine Open pro-am, a prelude to the Asian Tour’s $300,000 tournament.
After hitting the greens, the sports icon signed boxing gloves at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Manila which were then sold to fans, raising about 105,960 pesos (2,464 dollars), organis-ers said.
“I’m happy as there are a lot of good people who are helping the victims,” Pacquiao said. “This will be a big help.”
The funds raised would go to victims of tropical storm Washi, which destroyed whole villages in the south-ern island of Mindanao in December and left 300,000 people dis-placed and needing ur-gent humanitarian help.
Pacquiao is consid-ered a national treasure in his native Philip-pines, where he is also a politician and a televi-sion and movie celeb-rity.
Mannytees offfor charity
6 7 8 9 0
6703
5819
9425
5736
6847
12 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012Feature
THERE are people who choose for the finer things that
life can offer: trendiest clothes, luxury cars, lat-est gadgets, but there are those who want nothing else but the most com-fortable bedroom spiced up with the best ameni-ties as possible—the bed linen. Imagine coming home at the end of the day to a beautiful, plush bed, com-plete with your favorite bed sheet and luxurious comforter that provides you much-needed respite from all of the day’s rigor-
ous activities. Lifestyle Bed Linens, the latest and hippest brand of Canadian Manu-facturing brings to the fore its three collections: Platinum, Gold and Silver promising the same qual-ity that the company is well known for: Processed with anti-pilling, uses only top of the line dye stuff, coordinated designs, excellent stitching quality and Oekotex certified. You can get that look and feel of affluence by choosing their Platinum Collection, 200 thread count, 100% combed cot-
ton with a choice between Cotton USA (benchmark of quality and safety) or Aegis Antimicrobial Shield (An antimicrobial finishing that protects your sheets from odor, dust mites and other aller-gens). The vibrant prints perfectly complement or enhance any bedroom and transform it to a chic and highly sophisticated vibe. If you want to give your bedroom a sense of pres-tige at a fraction of the cost, the Gold Lifestyle collection is the hands-down choice. It offers the ultimate in terms of value for money as it harps on a perfect blend of comfort and durability, a gold mine indeed. For those who desire
brilliantly eye-catching designs that are high in quality yet light on the pocket, the Silver Lifestyle Collection is the answer. Smooth bed linens press-ing against the skin, with excellent stitching quality that exudes luxury that every homeowners want—and definitely deserve. This collection might be perfect for the budget conscious buyer, but it is fashionably handed in a silver platter. The L i fe s ty le B e d Linen Collection by Ca-nadian Manufacturing is available at Landmark, Robinsons Department Stores, Metro Gaisano Malls and in all leading department stores na-tionwide.
THOUGH the phrase may be overused, customer service still remains to be one aspect of business that is one of the most important, if not THE most important. However, it is through good customer service, aside from quality product or brand, that can make or break a company in terms of credibility and reputation. In fact, noble aft er sales service should be the life-blood of companies, and this is where Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), makers of the popular Honda motorcycles like the Honda BeAT, the TMX 155 or the recently-launched Honda Scoopy, prides itself with. Th eir idea of good customer service is best demonstrated not just when there are customer concerns about the product but also during times of ca-lamities or natural disasters, like typhoons or earthquakes, where some customers really need help. Th eir philosophy on cus-tomer or aft er-sales service during extraordinary situ-ations was made evident during the time of super typhoon “Milenyo” where Metro Manila suffered a direct hit back in 2006. Th is typhoon wreaked havoc as it destroyed millions of pe-
A CARING ATTITUDE IN TIMES OF NEED
“Honda Philippines, Inc. paved the way towards effective after-sales service”
sos worth of property and claimed the lives of so many people in its wake. It was there that HPI saw the need to help customers, especially those whose motorcycle units were damaged because of the severe eff ects of typhoons like fl oods, for example. Th rough the years—and several typhoons and calami-ties later—the motorcycle maker continues to conduct eff ective aft er-sales service eff orts, which explains why the company—and the mo-torcycle brand—remain a favorite among motorcycle enthusiasts not only because of the superiority of Honda motorcycles in terms of qual-ity workmanship but also the way Honda treats its customers. And these eff orts to serve the customers more effi-ciently during critical times were made possible with the help and cooperation of of HPI’s dealers and other partners. HPI regularly of-fers after-sales service to Honda motorcycle owners in pre-selected areas, which includes free maintenance check up and consultation for other engine-related con-cerns (parts not included). Just recently, the free service by HPI was dem-onstrated once again during
the aft ermath of the recent spate of typhoons that hit the country, particularly in areas like Calumpit in the province of Bulacan, where several motorcycles were damaged after being submerged in deep fl ood waters. “Customer service for Honda Philippines is a mat-ter that we take seriously, especially if it happens in undesirable circumstances like calamities. But then again, calamity or not, we make sure that we attend to our customers’ concerns with regard to their motorcycle units, and that we are able to answer all their needs in terms of having their units checked properly for any damage so we off er this free service to them,” explains Peter Gatchalian, PR and Events Supervisor of Honda Philippines, Inc. Gatchalian also adds that HPI will remain grateful for the trust and confidence of loyal Honda motorcycle customers towards the brand. “Th is is Honda’s own little way of thanking its custom-ers for their patronage and we hope to be of continued service to them over the years—whether there is a calamity or not.” “We also would like to thank our dealers for con-
tinually responding to our call to join us in helping a vast number of loyal customers in aff ected areas where they
need assistance. Without our dealers’ help, it would be diffi cult for us to reach out,” Gatchalian added.
For more details about Honda Philippines, Inc. and its products, visit http://www.hondaph.com.
Spice Up Your Bedroom with Lifestyle Bed LinensSpice Up Your Bedroom with Lifestyle Bed Linens
