KSCI Royal Gardens opens in Tagoloan

HIGHLIGHTING nature-culture relationships within the confines of a memorial garden, Kagay-anon Sports Club Incorporated (KSCI) Royal Gardens, nestled along the hillside of Sta. Ana in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, brings in a long-lasting mark of respect to a loved one who passed away and offers a place for the family to remember and heal.

This one-and-a-half-hectare memorial garden overlooking the Macajalar Bay is beautifully crafted with the greenest grass and trees landscaped by its owners to provide comfort and warmth to clients.

Farmer groups want fair probe on land grabbing

THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas or Peasant Movement of the Philippines (KMP) and the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) are calling the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and House of Representatives to probe land grabbing and harassments to farmers in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

The land grabbing and harassments are allegedly made by Nakeen Corporation, a subsidiary of A. Brown Company Inc. whose palm oil plantation is located in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

Misamis Oriental coop receives P300,000 cash aid

A MULTI-PURPOSE cooperative at a remote village in Misamis Oriental, received a total of P300,000 cash as livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Northern Mindanao, a radio report said Thursday.

The Nagkahiusang Kahugpungan sa Mag-uuma-Multi Purpose Cooperative (Namukaw-MPC) in Barangay Umagos in Lagonglong town is now equipped to produce quality bananas for export and help more than 150 members in producing other products with the Dole’s livelihood program.

Senator pushes concurrence on ILO convention

SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III pushed Thursday for the concurrence by the Senate in the country’s ratification of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189, otherwise known as the Domestic Workers’ Convention of 2011.

In Senate Resolution 801, Pimentel cited the pressing need to adopt the ILO convention which aims to “supplement the general standards for workers with standards specific to household workers so as to enable them to enjoy their rights fully.”

Vendors at school warned

THE Cagayan de Oro City health department has warned vendors at school of displaying undesirable kinds of foodstuffs for the buying schoolchildren in the city.

City Health Officer Dr. Jerie Calingasan said vendors found selling unfit food for snacks and meals to children are subject to permanent closure by the city mayor.

Samsung’s Smart TV hits 58% market share in Oro

SAMSUNG’S Smart TV has hit 58 percent of the market share in Cagayan de Oro alone.

“That’s why we selected Cagayan de Oro as the first venue (in the Philippines) to launch Samsung’s Smart TV outside Metro Manila,” said Jan Roman, Samsung’s product manager for Future Produce Television (FPTV), during the launching of the television brand’s newest and latest model in Cagayan de Oro City on Friday.

Sun Cellular opens prepaid reloading via bank

IN AN effort to augment its already pervasive range of service channels, Sun Cellular opens prepaid reloading via Security Bank Online.

“We tap on the sophistication of online banking to create a convenient and reliable channel for our customers to reload their Sun prepaid accounts anytime. Now, Security Bank Online clients can get 24/7 access to Sun load using just their gadgets and an internet connection,” says Michele Curran, vice president for Marketing of Sun Business, Sun Cellular’s corporate solutions unit.

Council to reassess biz sector’s request

THE City Council would need to reassess further the request of the business sector in Cagayan de Oro for a 50-percent reduction on real property tax (RPT) of devaluated lots as the effect of the onslaught Tropical Storm Sendong.

Lots located near the rivers in Cagayan de Oro were reportedly devaluated following the directive of Pres. Benigno Aquino not to use it anymore on any purpose.

‘Coop’ to bid for Agus-Pulangui power plants

NOT less than 100 multi-purpose and credit cooperatives from Northern Mindanao gather in Cagayan de Oro today, Thursday, to organize a group to enter bidding in the purchase of Agus and Pulangui hydropower plants.

Sun Cellular urges subscribers to switch to paperless billing

IN VIEW of today’s (Thursday) shift to online communications, postpaid leader and industry mover Sun Cellular encourages its subscribers to switch to paperless billing via Sun Online Bill Service.

“This service has been designed to give our customers the maximum convenience of having an online access to their Sun Postpaid bills. As it rides on the accessibility of email technology, our customers achieve a more flexible, yet secure bill viewing experience,” said Reuben Pangan, vice president for Customer Relationship Management of Sun Cellular.

Soriano: 6th Commandment - Pay Must be Commensurate to Productivity

THE Sixth Commandment is “pay must be based on contribution to the business.” Lance Gokongwei said that in order for the family member to live and think independently, the family business must pay the right salary for the right job, but the pay must be adequate enough so that the family member will not be dependent on the parents for support.

“The amount you will receive is based on merit and not who you are in the family totem pole,” Lance added.

Earn every time you use your phone with VMobile

INCENTIVIZED consumerism. This is how VMobile technologies describe the future as it starts to give more consumers the opportunity to earn from their own consumption of certain pre-paid products like cellphone loads, cable TV, broadband, online games, among others.

Multi-million peso ship simulator to open in Oro

AFTER the successful launching of the New Simulator Center of the Philippines Inc. (Newsim) in Cebu City in December 2011, a Cagayan de Oro branch opens this June 2012.

Captain Nathan R. Luga, review director of Cebu Gems-Cagayan de Oro, said a multi-million-peso ship simulator would open at the top floor of Imperial Plaza Building on Velez Street to cater reviewees from Northern Mindanao.

Going back to school is more fun with Sun Cellular!

“THAT was quick!” says the still-drowsy student, as he wakes up late from his usual summer slumber. He is not referring to his sleep (or lack thereof), but rather, on his realization that his happy days of summer vacation are soon to be over.

An idea came over him. Excited, he scrambled for his phone to check his Facebook account. He could not connect to the internet though. He ran out of mobile internet load.

City Hall to exempt LimKetKai P28-M tax

THE City Council passed and approved last week an ordinance exempting LimKetKai and Sons Inc. from paying its various taxes to the City Government of Cagayan de Oro for the period of three years to reach roughly P28 million.

The amount accordingly would be used for the road widening and concreting of four-lane road along LimKetKai Avenue and J.R. Borja Streets (P18 million); and installation of street lamps, sidewalk and drainage systems in the amount of close to P8 million.

P100-M equipment yard to rise in MisOr

A P100-million equipment yard will rise in Misamis Oriental particularly in El Salvador City by 2013.

In time for Monark Equipment’s 25th year anniversary, Ana Benson Pastelero, Vice Chairperson of the equipment firm, led the groundbreaking at the site last week where millions-worth heavy equipment would be housed.

Gusa eastbound terminal losing

THE multi-million-peso Gusa Eastbound Terminal in Gusa, Cagayan de Oro, is losing P1.5 million annually, a councilor said Friday.

“The City Government is spending for the maintenance of the terminal though administration officials already knew that it is losing. City Hall actually appropriated P2 million for this year alone for the terminal,” said Councilor Roger Abaday over a radio interview.

Zubiri: Coops can ease joblessness

WITH unemployment hovering at new highs, former Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri has sought the help of big business in building up the nation’s more than 20,000 cooperatives, citing their growing role in creating badly needed new jobs and reducing poverty.

“We are appealing to large private corporations to patronize the goods and services produced by our co-ops, and in the process, bolster them as viable small enterprises,” said Zubiri, author of the Cooperative Code of 2008.

Agreement inked to tap youth in Mindanao peace, dev’t efforts

IN ITS bid to encourage wider youth participation in Mindanao’s peace-building and socio-economic development, the National Youth Commission (NYC) had signed an agreement with Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) to put the Mindanao Youth Agenda into action.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed here recently is expected to empower the Mindanao youth in realizing the changes they aspire, as the government recognizes their potential to bring about change.

Soriano: Being Family is No Guarantee of Employment

EVEN if your family business is a model of harmony, it's a good idea to think about how you'll deal with conflicts before they arise.

“There comes a time when there is not enough jobs for everyone in the family. Oftentimes, professionals may even be better in running the day to day operations,” Lance said.

Misamis Oriental town acquires P8-M ‘bangus’ plant

IN THE occasion of the 4th Lambangus Harvest Festival on Monday in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, a town official announced of acquiring recently a processing plant for bangus or milkfish production amounting to P8 million from the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The 500-square meter processing plant is managed by the Balingasag Women’s Producer Cooperative (BWPC) which aims at improving the town’s one-town one-product.

Farmers to launch national protest march

THOUSANDS of farmers will conduct a national protest march starting on May 28 to demand that President Aquino guarantee the distribution of 1.093 million hectares of land to peasants.

Dubbed “Lakaw, Mag-uuma para sa Pagpatuman sa Agraryong Reporma (Peasant March for the Completion of Agrarian Reform),” the protest action organized by Task Force Mapalad (TFM) aims to drum up support for the completion of the objectives of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (Carper) before it expires in 2014.

USAID-MinDA project eases plight of Tumbao fishermen

MANGUDADATU, Maguindanao – A new boat landing in Barangay Tumbao, Mangudadatu town, Maguindanao has eased the burden of local fisher folks in hauling and docking their catch from Lake Buluan.

Before the construction of the boat landing, local fishermen did not have a proper facility to place their catch and would simply spread them on the ground before transporting them to the nearby market.

‘Small coops’ urged to merge with OSSC

“SMALL cooperatives” having difficulties of recovering from loses could merge with the Oro Savings and Sharing Cooperative (OSSC), a top official of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) said.

CDA chairman Dr. Emmanuel M. Santiguel noted several advantages to losing cooperatives by combining its resources with OSSC, a millionaire savings cooperative based in Cagayan de Oro.

Government urged to help coco growers

WITH copra prices plummeting, a former senator has urged government to help coconut farmers diversify and build viable cooperatives.

“Diversification is key to the economic survival of small growers facing severe hardship, with the farm-gate price of copra now down to as low as P15 per kilo from P40 a year ago,” said former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Engineers to host Mindanao power forum

THE Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) will be hosting a Mindanao Power Forum Update at the Grand Caprice Restaurant and Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro on Thursday.

This will be one of the events cum technical sessions during the hosting of the 2012 National Midyear Convention themed “Engineering a Safe and Better Nation Through Excellence in Electrical Profession” on May 23-26, 2012.

8 diesel-feed power plants to rise in Misamis Oriental

EIGHT diesel-feed power plants are expected to rise in Misamis Oriental, officials of the Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative (Moresco-1) in Laguindingan town said Friday.

Edelesio Arcol, Moresco-1’s president of the board of directors, said the power distributor is projecting a zero-brownout in its area of coverage in Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, parts of Cagayan de Oro and Lanao areas with the establishment of these power plants within this year that would produce a total capacity of 16 megawatts power.

Regional Development Council holds 93rd meeting

BUKIDNON Governor Alex Calingasan hosted the 93rd meeting of the Northern Mindanao Regional Development Council (RDC) in Northern Mindanao last May 17, 2012 in Malaybalay City.

In his welcome remarks, Governor Calingasan thanked the body for holding the meeting in the province as he is also given the opportunity to show the grandeurs of Bukidnon and for bearing with them the problem of traffic congestion in its roads due to the ongoing repairs/rehabilitation.

Farmers assert IFFM report, slams Palm oil firm

THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) lambasted Nakeen Corporation, a company that operates a palm oil plantation in Misamis Oriental, for spreading lies and deception during their press conference held on May 17, 2012.

Nakeen Corporation, a subsidiary of A. Brown Company Inc., is a company that operates an 11,350-hectare palm oil plantation in three villages of Opol town.

Philippines commended for competent ACO leadership

THE Philippines received commendations from resident Heads of Missions representing Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states as it wound down its chairmanship of the Asean Committee in Ottawa (ACO).

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie B. Gatan steered the 231st ACO meeting, the last under Philippine chairmanship, last May 9 at the Tahanang Rizal, the Philippine Ambassador’s official residence.