‘Green’ ordinance mulled to generate tax incentives

A LEGISLATOR in Cagayan de Oro is mulling an ordinance involving “green projects” that would generate tax incentives, at the same time save the deteriorating environment.

Councilor President Elipe said the City Government would consider the proposal of the Matrix Consortium Community Support Services Group for a solar energy project, a renewable energy source for power with no study of negative effects to nature.

Agri office prepares for East Asia market

FILIPINO farmers must be ready for a 600-million East Asia market that has a very hungry appetite and change of eating habits.

Executive Director Rolando T. Dy said China will lead this demand for more food, along with Japan and South Korea, Center for Food and Agribusiness, and the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P).

Oro youth group hails bill on fare discounts

A GROUP of young people in Cagayan de Oro hailed the measure implementing fare discounts to students even on weekends, holidays and semestral breaks.

“I hope it will be given weight in Congress because most of the students have a hard time asking penny from their parents when they need to do educational researches, participate activities in school and attend classes even on weekends and holidays,” Loui S. Maliza, president of the Youth and Media Basketers Association (Yamba), said after learning that the proposed bill is still pending before Congress since 2010.

Indon airliner revives Manado-Davao link

ADVANCES in air connectivity and trade between the neighboring cities of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga) are showing signs of resurgence as Wings Air Indonesia re-launched its chartered flight serving the Manado-Davao-Manado route.

Wings Air, a subsidiary of Indonesia's largest privately run airline Lion Air, started reviving the Manado-Davao flight last month using a 70-seater twin-engine aircraft. The airline has served the same route back in 2008.

Sun loads available at all 'Cebuana' branches

SUN Cellular has made available its selection of Sun prepaid loads to all Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop branches nationwide.

“With the continuous rise of our subscriber base all over the country, we have to do what we can to improve the availability of our prepaid loads. This is also in line with the massive network expansion that the company is focusing on right now,” said Michele P. Curran, vice president for Sun Business Marketing.

DOST offers technology assistance program

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Misamis Oriental is calling all interested entrepreneurs to avail of its technology assistance program, where the agency lends equipment and other production facilities to enhance productivity of the business owners belonging to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Trade office holds banana industry forum

OROQUIETA CITY, Misamis Occidental -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently conducted a Banana Industry Stakeholders’ Forum in Kamayan sa Oro Restaurant, this city.

“Banana is considered one of the high value crops (HVC) of the province and is among those with high demand, either for fresh of processed products,” DTI provincial director Delia Ayano said.

Cooperative salutes active members

A COOPERATIVE in Cagayan de Oro expressed pride over the achievements of its members who took the initiative to help improve their lives and the lives of others.

Nibocar Teves, president of the Consumers and Users Productive (CUP) association, said at least 20 active members of the group achieved higher “than what was expected by the company” after dispatching their duties successfully.

Tesda, TVET group to host 2012 summit

THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Region (Tesda) and Mindanao Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Association will host the 11th Human Resource and Skills Development Summit and Exhibits on August 06-08 at SM Atrium in Cagayan de Oro City.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole)-Northern Mindanao and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and in participation by the Federation of Region X TVIs (Fort Inc).

Council confirms MOU on initiative with USAid

THE City Council confirmed Tuesday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into by and between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) concerning the Selection of Cagayan de Oro City for the USAid/Philippines Cities Development Initiative.

Birth of ‘Tsada Kagay-an’ to boost tourism industry

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) in Northern Mindanao lauded the introduction of “Tsada Kagay-an,” a vehicle mobile tour guide servicing both local and foreign tourists, saying it will boost local tourism in Cagayan de Oro.

Tourism Regional Director Catalino Chan said Tsada Kagay-an, created by the Bohemian Express Travel and Tours and launched last Wednesday, would definitely push the economic upturn of the locality via the tourism industry.

DPWH increases budget for Mindanao roads development

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will allocate P27 billion to pave Mindanao’s national roads in 2013, said the agency’s Secretary Rogelio Singson.

The amount is P7 billion higher than this year's budget.

Smart Infoboard service launched in Butuan

BUTUAN CITY -- The last week of June was a week of firsts for this city, as two institutions announced their Infoboard-driven partnership with wireless leader Smart Communications Inc. (Smart).

The local government of Butuan and Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) tapped Smart's Infoboard, a web-based solution offering Short Message Service (SMS) or text facility that enables communities to disseminate information to the mobile phones of subscribed members.

Bottled bangus in Baliangao a hit

NOT only tamban or galunggong, but bottled bangus (milk fish) is now also a hit in the market.

In every one-time 3,000 manufactured bottled bangus, the Magsillum Arc Cooperative disposes the ready-to-eat no-preservative-added product like a piece of cake.

Networking firm to hold business ops today

WANT to improve your health and at the same time improve your income in a natural way? Join the business opportunity meeting with networking industry leaders in Cagayan de Oro today, Saturday, 2 p.m. at the Outbox Bar on San Agustin Street.

Classique Herbs Corporation gives you very competitive earnings on retailing, development bonuses, monthly network bonuses, monthly car or house funds, year-end profit shares, insurance benefits and travel, and leisure locally and abroad.

Biz group urges police to boost intel network

WITH the series of robbery incidents in Cagayan de Oro City which the suspects are targeting small and big establishments, a group of businessmen urged the police to strengthen its intelligence network to track the perpetrators believed to be hiding in the city.

Ralph Paguio, then president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (OroChamber), said police officials have to devote more time on intelligence gathering as its preventive and reactive measures.

NFA ensures food security via ‘Ugnayan’

MALAYBALAY CITY -- The National Food Authority (NFA) has strengthened its coordination in Bukidnon province to ensure rice self-sufficiency and food security.

Victoria Real-Duray, provincial manager, said NFA is now focused on increased rice procurement, hands-on training on grains classification, posting of farmers’ kiosks and post-harvest facilities in far-flung areas, conduct of farmers’ forum, help farmers in selling their produce, and intensification of Iron-Fortified Rice (I-Rice) consumption.

Misamis Occidental coco farmers warned of a new pest

OROQUIETA CITY -- The Integrated Pest Management of the Department of Agriculture (IPM-DA) is warning coconut farmers in Misamis Occidental about a newly discovered pest - the Brontispa pest.

The Brontispa pests have alarmed the IPM-DA since it has already damaged some 1.6 million coconut trees nationwide, Dr. Jesus Binamira, IPM-DA National Officer, said.

Computer store opens in Cagayan de Oro

HEWLETT-PACKARD (HP), in partnership with Global Chips Technology in Cagayan de Oro, opened its new store along Chaves-Rizal Streets on Tuesday.

Firms partnered for Oro’s 2012 festival

THE City Government is now working on forging a partnership with the private sector for the celebration of Kagay-an Festival 2012.

Councilor Alden Bacal, chairman of the subcommittee on ways and means for private sector participation met last Friday with some private companies to present this proposal.

Energy department: Energy projects need LGU support

A NUMBER of proposed power generation projects in Mindanao are not moving as fast as expected because of the challenge of getting through long approval process in many of local government units (LGUs).

This was said on Tuesday by Energy Secretary Rene Almendras at the two-day Top Level Policy Roundtable Discussion (RTD) held in Manila that centered on four major issues Mindanao is currently facing, including energy, mining, transport and logistics, and agriculture.

AboitizPower signs $546-M deal for coal-fired project

ABOITIZ Power Corporation, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Therma South Inc. (TSI), signed contracts with a total value of $546 million with local and foreign contractors for a 300- Megawatt (MW) circulating-fluidized-bed coal-fired power generation facility to serve the Mindanao grid.

The project is located in Barangay Binugao, Davao City; and Barangay Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

‘Non-negotiables’ in a family business

A MATRIARCH. A patriarch. A couple. A child. A sibling. A relative. They are holding each other’s hands, united as a family in a family business. A family life cycle. A family business life cycle. In those days. In these days. The questions are: What holds the family together? What makes the family business intact? In those days and in these days, the answers are not so easy.

Furniture firm opens shop in Oro

MEGA Home and Office Furniture is set to start trading quality furniture sets today at Capt. Vicente Roa Street in Cagayan de Oro.

Kim Layon, one of the furniture shop’s staff, said freebies and discounts await customers during the opening to be officiated by Fr. Remel Mag-Usara.

Release of country’s $1-B loan to IMF ‘positive’

DESPITE strong opposition and even if the initiative of helping the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is credited to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, nothing can stop the present administration from releasing the $1-billion loan to the IMF.

“Oh, yes. Definitely,” Representative Rufus Rodriguez (2nd district, Cagayan de Oro) told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Friday when asked how confident he is that the loan is released in no time.

Lawmaker upholds city’s plea against power hike

A LAWMAKER said that public must not allow power companies to increase power rates, noting this is a “disaster.”

Bayan Muna Congressman Teddy Casiño, during the launching of the “People Power Laban sa Dengue” campaign in Iloilo, also discussed with some local business and consumer group leaders the 32-centavo power rate hike of the Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC) that was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Sun supports Cebu Business Month Expo 2012

SUN Business, the corporate solutions arm of Sun Cellular, intensifies its support for local industries and new business innovations by participating at the recent Cebu Business Month Expo 2012 held at Cebu City.

Bringing together industry experts and key stakeholders of the region, the event highlighted the role of innovation in keeping the competitive advantage of every local business. It also created several avenues for technology innovators and business developers to discuss their new ideas with potential investors.

USAid’s initiative to boost Oro economy

THE United States Agency for International Development’s (USAid) Cities Development Initiative (CDI) intended to create employment opportunities and boost local economy in Cagayan de Oro for Mindanao; Batangas for Luzon; and Iloilo in Visayas.

USAid Mission Director Gloria Steele said CDI is a five-year contract between the City Government of Cagayan de Oro and USAid to partner in introducing developments to local residents.

Banana chips firm can’t go global

A BANANA chips company in North Cotabato cannot yet expand globally despite acquiring Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17025 because it temporarily seized operation following a “political crisis” in China.

Emmanuel Zamoras, manager of Magpet Agro-Industrial Resources Cooperative (Magirco), a company that manufactures banana chips in Magpet, North Cotabato, said it is unfortunate for the firm that it can’t export its product yet due to market failure in China.

10 Mindanao companies receive int’l recognition

UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. recognized 10 companies in Mindanao that obtained the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and ISO 17025 certifications following assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAid).

HACCP is a system that ensures food production meets safety requirements to protect public health. ISO 17025 makes sure that laboratories that test products meet certain requirements.