POLITICS

Bloggers, ‘influencers’ with more than 5k followers eligible to cover Duterte

As per the President’s Office, bloggers and social media influencers with more than 5,000 followers will be eligible for official press passes to cover President Duterte. The Office stated that the press pass eligibility for bloggers only reflected the current landscape of journalism in which social media or “new media” competes with traditional media in covering the news.

Assistant Presidential Press Secretary Ablan told the press reporters that Asec. Mocha Uson will oversee the accreditation process. Uson, who has 5 million likes on Facebook, was heavily critiqued due to false information posted on her blog and her posts humiliating all critics of the President.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/921779/bloggers-influencers-with-more-than-5k-followers-eligible-to-cover-duterte#ixzz4tm8fFZeG

Barbers cites ‘grand design’ to ‘divert attention’ from smuggling issue

Congressman Robert Ace Barbers scorned remarks made by Atty. Mandy Anderson online calling Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez an “imbecile” over his remarks regarding the Court of Appeals. Anderson, Chief-of-Staff to BOC Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, earlier stated that Alvarez asked her to promote an employee on his behalf and received threats from the Speaker when the promotion did not materialize.

To this Congressman Barbers replies that there is a “grand design” to “divert” attention from the smuggling issue that hounds the Bureau of Customs (BOC). “It is astonishing, and we can’t help but think that there’s a grand design to divert the people’s attention from what is happening at the Customs),” Barbers said in an interview with radio DZBB. Further, Barbers stated that it is not proper to make such remarks about the 4th most powerful person in the country.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/918867/barbers-cites-grand-design-to-divert-attention-from-smuggling-issue#ixzz4tmB03faH

 BUSINESS

Treasury’s P50-M ‘white elephant’ project uncovered

A 50-Million peso facility from the past administration was uncovered last August 2017. The facility was allegedly used to safeguard the government’s debt management data as well as the database of the country’s bond management creditors. National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said that the backup site’s remote location “is not ideal for the Treasury’s critical systems and telecommunications facilities such as high-speed fiber cables have not yet been set up by either PLDT or Globe Telecom in the area, defeating the purpose of setting up the cutting-edge ICT facilities in the backup data center”. Secretary Dominguez of the Department of Finance instructed De Leon to find ways to put the project to good use and to hire a private service provider to ensure it runs efficiently.

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/236025/treasury-project-computer-system-back-up-white-elephant-internet-disaster-recovery-site#ixzz4tmErxLQU

 ECONOMY

World Bank: Fixing Mindanao economy key to PH progress

In a report titled “Philippines Mindanao Jobs Report: A Strategy for Mindanao Regional Development” published in June, the World Bank said that in general, “economic progress in the Philippines will depend on the success of development in Mindanao.” The institution states that the pursuit of a stable peace in Mindanao will contribute greatly to the development of the Philippines as a whole. As Mindanao holds a quarter of the Philippine population and a third of its poor citizens, lifting this area out of poverty will in turn have positive effects on the rest of the country. Mindanao is also the “breadbasket” of the Philippines or the main source of agricultural products, thus enhancing and normalizing production in Mindanao could lessen food prices and make Philippine products more competitive. The World Bank also states that “Unless there is development in Mindanao, it is hard to see how the Philippines can achieve sustained and inclusive growth” and it recommends a program of sustainable peace and development in the region. “Resolving conflict in Mindanao rests on addressing the causes of conflict and providing jobs and economic opportunities as alternatives to violence,” the World Bank said.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/914735/world-bank-fixing-mindanao-economy-key-to-ph-progress#ixzz4tmHRDdxE

Duterte reminded after 1st year: 20M poor Pinoys still waiting for help

The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) stated on Sunday that although the government has seen significant strides forward towards alleviating poverty, it has failed to address key issues that still plague the poor. The NAPC cites improvement in the “concretization” of some policies in the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Health although the group maintains that the poor are still disproportionately affected by the administration’s war on drugs.

Liza Maza, the NAPC Commissioner, reminds the public that the target set by the administration was to reduce poverty by 9 percent annually and a 25 percent reduction in three years. When asked by the Philippine Daily Inquirer if there had been actions on the mostly poor victims killed in the drug war, or on unfulfilled campaign promises, Maza stated that: “There are a lot of things that still needs to be pursued. We’re not even halfway there. We’re just actually starting. More than 20 million [Filipinos] are still in poverty as of 2015. They say poverty [incidence] decreased last year, but that still needs to be verified. My theory is that it only happened because 2016 was an election year. A lot of funds were released.” According to the PDI, Maza suggested a focus on agrarian reform and national industrialization, the so-called “basic pillars of the economy”.

 INVESTMENTS

Ayala completes purchase of 49% of Zalora PH

The Ayala group has completed its acquisition of a 49-percent stake in the country’s leading e-commerce platform Zalora Philippines from Global Fashion Group (GFG). “This acquisition allows Ayala to capture the growing opportunities in e-commerce,” Ayala Corp. said. Zalora, an online shopping platform, offers more than 1,000 international brands to Filipino shoppers. According to GFG “This partnership will allow ZALORA Philippines to keep investing in brand acquisition, marketing, and logistics infrastructure and will leverage Ayala’s key businesses representing some of the country’s leading companies in banking, telecommunications and retail business”.

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/236078/ayala-completes-purchase-49-zalora-ph#ixzz4tmFclrAe

Shareholders ok DoubleDragon’s P7.5B “re-IPO”

Double Dragon Properties Corp. received permission from its shareholders to raise fresh capital through a re-initial public offering as part of its goal to join the Philippine Stock Exchange in two years. The new public offering aims to attract foreign investors according to DoubleDragon chair and chief executive officer Edgar Sia II. Sia stated that “For the last two years, we’ve been joining different conferences and met about 300 (foreign institutional) investors. That’s the group that we want to tap. This is a window for them so they can get good strategic position”. The re-IPO is also furthering Double Dragon’s goal of net profit of 5.5 Million pesos.

Source: http://business.inquirer.net/236001/shareholders-ok-doubledragons-p7-5b-re-ipo#ixzz4tmGZrPPp

 INFRASTRUCTURE

PHP 77B bridge, airport, dam to be built by Duterte gov’t in W. Visayas

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Duterte administration plans to build a bridge connecting the Guimaras, Panay and Negros islands in Western Visayas. This bridge is set to be one of the three major infrastructure projects in the region. The other projects are the improvements to the Iloilo International Airport (PHP30.4 billion) and the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project (P19.3-billion). In total, the Duterte administration is set to spend roughly PHP 77 billion in the region.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/918946/p77b-bridge-airport-dam-to-be-built-by-duterte-govt-in-w-visayas#ixzz4tmHcg7nc

 ENERGY

Diesel-fired plant boosts Marinduque power supply

The Department of Energy is launching a 5-megawatt diesel-fired power plant to supply Marinduque with electricity. According to the Philippine Daily inquirer, the Boac Diesel Power Plant located in the capital of Marinduque is comprised of five modular generating units, each with a capacity of 1 MW. Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi released a statement saying that “Projects such as this diesel plant allow us to empower our communities, giving Marinduque the hope to dream bigger for a brighter future, (This is) a prelude to our vision of total electrification for all our rural areas nationwide”.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/926591/diesel-fired-plant-boosts-marinduque-power-supply#ixzz4twAq8U40

ENVIRONMENT

DENR says waste-to-energy viable solution to garbage problem

In the context of the worsening garbage problem in Metro Manila, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is looking at Waste-to-Energy (WTE) initiatives to help solve the issue. DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs, Jonas Leones, stated that WTE technology was a smart solution to burgeoning landfills. Leones says “Our landfills can only hold so much trash. We need to look for other ways to dispose of our garbage and WTE is a smart alternative with less environmental impact”. In order to solve this issue, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu met with members of the Local Government to secure their commitment in waste management. Cimatu states that “Local government units (LGUs) are duty-bound to comply with the existing law on solid waste management. The law provides that the primary responsibility in the implementation of waste segregation and disposal at source is lodged with the LGUs”. Leones notes that WTE technology uses biogas or enzymes to convert waste into useful energy as compared to when the waste simply sits in landfills and releases methane and greenhouse gases that are harmful to the environment.

 AGRICULTURE

UPLB researchers develop new approach vs eggplant pest

One of the most lethal pests that face eggplant farmers is the eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB). The shoot borer attacks flowers, buds, young shoot tips, stems, and fruits. Losses attributed to shoot borer ranged from 50 to 75 percent, according to the Philippine Star. In order to manage these losses, eggplant farmers spray synthetic insecticides an average of 58 times per cropping season. That is about 41 liters of pesticides applied to eggplants each season, resulting in about 55% pesticide cost to the total material input. To solve this issue, the University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Agriculture undertook studies to improve the methods that are said to be effective against EFSB. The methods they used were the application of trichogramma, mulching with rice straw and releasing of earwig, intercropping with lemon grass, spraying of botanical insecticides, sanitation, and use of sex pheromone. These methods were found to have erratic results and were eventually scrapped. Recently, however, the application of neem crude leaf extracts was found to be highly effective against EFSB as it reduced the EFSB fruit damage to about 20 percent.

HEALTHCARE

Philippines has fastest growing HIV infections in Asia — UN

The number of HIV cases in the Philippines increased dramatically from 2014 to 2016, even while the number of cases in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole declined by 13 percent. Eamonn Murphy, director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team, called it an “HIV epidemic” and stated that the country has a small time frame to prevent the disease from taking hold. Department of Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial stated that “HIV is one of the top health priorities for the government”. The corresponding increase in the DOH’s budget for HIV reflects this priority. The government is currently directing it’s attention towards sectors most at risk for HIV (identified as men having sex with other men as well as transgender women).

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/919763/philippines-has-fastest-growing-hiv-infections-in-asia-un#ixzz4twe0LTRa

 TOURISM

PH grants visas on arrival to Chinese nationals

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) stated on August 17, 2017 that it would grand visas on arrival for selected Chinese nationals. "BI will be issuing landed visas to nationals from the People's Republic of China (PROC) in a bid to draw more tourists and investors from the world's most populous nation and fastest growing economy. Through this scheme, we aim to facilitate the expeditious entry and admission of Chinese nationals into the country and thus attract more tourists and investors from China," said BI Commissioner Jaime Morente. Members of tour groups of DOT-accredited operators, businessmen supported by government agencies and business groups as well as athletes and delegates to conventions are said to be part of the select group. This move is slated to improve tourism and investments in the country. Chinese nationals may apply for landed visas for an inital 30-day stay, which may be extended to up to 6 months. Applications should be filed 10 days before arrival in the Philippines.

Source: https://www.rappler.com/nation/179012-ph-visa-upon-arrival-chinese

Cebu Factsheet August 2017

CAR SALES REMAIN ROBUST IN CEBU. General sales manager of Ford Philippines, Ivy Castro, said sales performance in Cebu increases due to the growth of local industries like construction and real estate. The expanding middle class brings high purchasing power, easy payment schemes from banks, low interest rates, quality of customer sales and after-sales service to clients. Ford Cebu earns 10-percent growth from January to August 2016 with over a thousand units sold. The strong business performance in Cebu drives the demand for Ford’s Ranger pickup truck, Everest SUV, and EcoSport crossover.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/21/industries-support-car-sales-565210

CO-WORKING SPACES IN MALLS AND TOWNSHIPS. Property management firm, Colliers International Philippines, encouraged malls and townships to cater the rising need for co-working spaces. In its second quarter 2017 Cebu Retail Report, Colliers suggested that developers carve out co-working space in malls located within township communities due to the worsening traffic in Cebu and the rising disposable incomes of highly-mobile millennials and young entrepreneurs. In addition, operators should offer incentives for co-working office space occupants such as discounts in the mall’s stores, gyms, and restaurants. Cebu gains most of its retails activities from the BPO workforce, overseas Filipino remittances, local and foreign tourists, and the sustained generation of employment opportunities by traditional companies.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/21/co-working-spaces-needed-malls-565388

BPO RENTALS IN CEBU STILL STRONG. Despite concerns of BPO slowdown, Cebu market has remained resilient. Colliers International Philippines director for office service, Dom Fredrick Andaya, welcomed the development from both BPOs and offshore gaming companies in Cebu. In the recently released Cebu Q2 2017 Office Report of Colliers, BPOs cover 57 percent of total transactions of office market reaching 69,000 square meters of spaces for the first semester which is 20 percent higher than the whole of 2016. Colliers also saw an emerging office space demand driver for offshore gaming sites. Given the limited supply of business districts, Colliers anticipates a 5 percent increase in average rents over the next 12 months.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/19/bpo-rentals-still-strong-564991

AIRPORT OPERATIONS DRIVE MEGAWIDE PROFITS. Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) reported a jump in revenues with 26 percent to 1.9 billion in 2016. Megawide Construction Corp. said GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp (GMCAC) contributed 14 percent year-on-year growth, or 11 percent to the group’s consolidated revenue of 17.7 billion. Airport operations recorded earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) was at 1.3 billion, from 971 million in 2015, while net income grew by 80 percent to 903 million in 2016. As a construction conglomerate, Megawide said it is supporting the Duterte administration’s Build Build Build program by investing in transportation and infrastructure projects.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/20/airport-operations-drive-megawide-profits-564987

PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE STILL UPBEAT. Demand for properties and houses are expanding outside main cities. Cebu Real Estate Board Inc. (CEREB) vice president, Eva Miñoza, said residential projects, both subdivisions and condominiums, attract buyers of different backgrounds including local professionals, business owners, overseas Filipinos, and expats. Younger market especially those in business process outsourcing (BPO) industry have started to embrace condominiums due to the worsening traffic congestion in Cebu. Property prices that never gone down reveal real estate is doing well and people are buying the properties. In addition, industrial properties have also gone up especially for warehouse as many companies from Metro Manila are seeking industrial spaces in Cebu.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/14/real-estate-still-upbeat-563975

EXPORTERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WEAK PESO. Cebu industry stakeholders see exports expanding in positive territory for the second half after experiencing double-digit export growth in the first semester. Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) Cebu executive director, Fred Escalona, expects the decent performance to continue by the rest of the year as ecporters take advantage of the weak peso. Generally, peso depreciation lowers the cost of exports and attracts foreign buyers to purchase Philippine products. Preliminary data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows from January to June 2017, total merchandise expanded by 14 percent to $31.04 billion versus the same period in 2016.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2017/09/16/exporters-see-better-2h-results-564392

Davao Factsheet September 2017

Exec: City needs halal certifiers

DAVAO. As part of the campaign to establish Davao City as a halal model city, TCP Halal Committee chairperson Marilou Ampuan said the city is currently in need of local halal certifiers. (Macky Lim)

"In Davao city, we do not have a local certifier. Before, we have these certifiers appointed by the city government through an ordinance. They appoint these religious groups as local certifiers in Davao. But it was amended because they are not accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipino," said TCP Halal Committee chairperson Marilou Ampuan.

Currently, the mandate of halal had been transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Ampuan said her group and the DTI are scheduled to meet on the last week of September wherein hopefully the latter can already present the national halal standard that would be followed and observed nationwide.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/09/21/exec-city-needs-halal-certifiers-565260

3K youth, MSMEs expected in Asean biz gab

A TOTAL of 3,000 youth and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are expected to attend the Asean on Stage Business Conference on September 30 at the Philippine Women's College wherein they are to be introduced to the business opportunities in the country for the existing small business and business ideas with the Asean integration.

Target delegates are students, out-of-school youth, would-be entrepreneurs, SMEs, Start-up entrepreneurs, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) or their families, OFW cooperatives, and business industry players. According to Promotions Head Kerby Arafol, as the younger generation is believed to be the future of the nation as well as their innovative ideas, the millennials are the priority of this conference.

"Our target for this conference are the millennials. What we think they need most is the exposure to the field (of business). The conference will serve as the starting point to promote their ideas wherein the experts in the industry will be there as well. It's a confidence-building measure on their part. If they want to be an entrepreneur, it's a good avenue for exposure to them to sharpen their experience in the field," Arafol said.

The entire discussions in the conference will revolve on the theme "Shaping new millennials to become globally competitive in seizing the billion dollar Asean market opportunity."

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/09/20/3k-youth-msmes-expected-asean-biz-gab-565258

Expo for online sellers slated in December

ONLINE sellers based in Davao City and neighboring areas will be given a chance to sell their goods in a physical store and booth through a three-day Grand Holiday Expo happening in December.

From December 5 to 7, KGI Sales and Events will be conducting a Grand Holiday Expo at the Davao Convention Center wherein about 96 exhibitors of dry goods, food, and specialty and souvenir items are expected to participate.

KGI Sales and Events assistant project director Leonard Paul Palo said there are still a number of spaces available and online sellers who are interested to participate in the expo and have their products featured and be physically available to the customers can check KGI Sales and Events' Facebook page.

Palo said, given their schedule, they know they are competing with the malls and department stores in the city who have their own holiday bazaars, sales, and discounts as well.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/09/21/expo-online-sellers-slated-december-565254

Cebu Pacific to launch Davao-Tagbilaran flights in October

LEADING low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific continues to expand its network as it is set to launch its new route that will directly link Davao City with Tagbilaran, Bohol starting October 21.

The flight will be operated by Cebu Pacific’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Cebgo, and will be flying between Davao and Tagbilaran four-times-a-week, Tuesdays, Thursday, Saturdays, and Sundays. The flight will be operated using one of the subsidiary's ATR 72 aircraft.

“As part of our efforts to improve the overall customer experience for everyJuan, we have been taking to heart the suggestions and feedback from our guests. We’ve looked at the feasibility of the Davao-Tagbilaran route and are optimistic that this new air link will not only answer the clamor from the local communities, but stimulate trade and tourism in both destinations,” said Alexander Lao, President and chief executive officer of Cebgo.

"It’s (Davao-Tagbilaran flight) going to give us and Bohol more opportunities not only for tourism but business as well. Hopefully, also aside from locals, foreign guests will use this opportunity to come visit us in Davao," said Davao City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson, in a text message to SunStar Davao.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/09/19/cebu-pacific-launch-davao-tagbilaran-flights-october-565043

Banana is Davao Region's top export commodity in 2016

EXPORT of fresh bananas made up 12.44 percent of the entire export made by Davao Region in 2016 amounting to about $84.85 million.

In the data provided by Philexport Davao Region, there are about 60 commodities that the region is exporting, the top commodity of which is the fresh bananas with export amounting to exactly $84,854,883.21.

Aside from bananas, top export commodity of the region for 2016 also includes abaca fiber with total export amounting to $52.37 million or about 7.68 percent of the entire export made by the region last year. Gold and silver came next with $33.80 million contributing 4.96 percent of the export of the region.

Total export of coconut oil is at $17.86 million contribution 2.82 percent of the exports of the region in 2016 while fresh pineapples were at $17.27 million or 2.53 percent.

Other commodities on the list include desiccated coconut ($15.25 million), banana puree ($7.90 million), activated carbon ($7.22 million), banana chips ($3.99 million), and rubber ($3.06 million).

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/09/19/banana-davao-regions-top-export-commodity-2016-564867

Davao poultry producers threatened by expansion of subdivisions

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/08 August) – The massive expansion of subdivisions in the southern part of Davao City threatens the local poultry industry and should push the city council to designate an area in Calinan and Tugbok Districts as “food corridor” to ensure a stable production of meat products, a group of poultry growers said.

Lalaine dela Victoria, Davao Poultry and Egg Producers Inc. president told reporters Monday that they fear they could no longer meet the local demand for meat products.

She said they want to lobby for a declaration of a “food corridor” to protect the growers and breeders of cattle, hogs, and poultry from the looming threat of land development.

She said the local poultry industry produces about 32 million chickens a year but demand would reach 40 million a year.

Chinkie Pelino-Golle, acting executive director of environment group Interface Development Interventions said Tuesday she doesn’t mind the operations of the existing farms for as long as they don’t go near the water “recharge zones” and conservation areas.

“May point naman sila dun sa massive expansion ng subdivisions (They have a point regarding the massive expansion of subdivisions),” she conceded.

But she said they must also address the pollution that their farms bring to the communities.

Victoria said a food corridor will ensure that the farmers will not be displaced from their farms.

She said the group needs the support of the council because most of the land developers are now fixing their eyes on these areas as potential areas for expansion of their residential projects.

“You know most of the land developers go to Calinan and Tugbok, which are near our areas, and when they are near our poultry farms, we are being closed down,” she said.

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/business/2017/08/davao-poultry-producers-threatened-by-expansion-of-subdivisions

CDO Factsheet August 2017

26TH MINDANAO BUSINESS CONFERENCE (MINBIZCON) UNAFFECTED BY MARTIAL LAW

MARTIAL LAW has not stopped investors and business people from all over the island to participate in the biggest gathering of key players in the business sector.

The ongoing fighting in Marawi City that caused the displacement of thousands of families and the destruction of properties and lives did not deter delegates from attending the 26th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon) held at the Xavier Sports and Country Club here, Sept. 7-9.

Businesses were initially affected by the Marawi crisis, causing tourism and hotel occupancy to dip. But business has since bounced back as the influx of evacuees led to an increase in the purchase of goods for their needs, said Robert Pizzaro, the incumbent president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. Pizzaro, who’s also the executive chairman of A Brown Company Inc., said Minbizcon drew at least a thousand business leaders not just from Mindanao but from other areas in the country as well.

This year’s theme was “Emerging Opportunities, One Mindanao” and it aims to set the stage for discussing innovative strategies towards building a strong and more resilient economy for the island and the whole country.

Resolutions adopted from the various discussions of business-related issues which form part of the policy agenda will be submitted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to President Rodrigo Duterte at the 43rd Philippine Business Conference in October.

The Minbizcon has also become a venue for Filipino inventors to showcase their innovations to potential investors, said Alfonso Alamban, regional director of the Depart of Science and Technology (DOST).

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2017/09/09/minbizcon-unaffected-martial-law-563135

SMC TO INVEST P60 BILLION IN MISAMIS ORIENTAL

THE San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is planning to pour P60 billion worth of additional investments in Misamis Oriental next year, Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said on Monday, September 18. Emano said SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang announced the additional investment is for the establishment of several plants that include a packaging plant, a plant that will produce chicken nuggets and hotdogs, another plant for its bottled water products, and the expansion of a Petron depot in Barangay Casinglot in Tagoloan town. The food and beverage giant has a majority stake in Petron Corporation, the country’s largest oil refiner.

The San Miguel Brewery Inc. has earlier constructed its new brewery, also in Tagoloan town, which will start its operations next year. The new brewery stands in a 54-hectare area and is expected to generate at least a thousand jobs. The P6 billion brewery will have a full capacity of 3 million hectoliters.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2017/09/19/smc-invest-p60-billion-misamis-oriental-564847

HEDCOR POWER PLANTS ALREADY 90% COMPLETE

THE 68.8 megawatts (MW) Manolo Fortich Hydro Project of Hedcor Bukidnon Inc. in Santiago, Bukidnon province, is already 90 percent complete and is on track to be inaugurated December this year. Rody Laguna, project manager of Hedcor Bukidnon Inc., said 5 electric cooperatives have already bagged contracts for power distribution. The project, is composed of 2 plants, called the Manolo 1 plant which generates 43 MW, and Manolo 2 which generates about 25 MW. The project will bring Hedcor's total capacity to 129.37 MW for Mindanao only.

For a year, the hydro powerplant will generate at least 360 Gigawatt hours, depending on the water availability of the area where the plants are situated. To date, the cost of the project has reached over P12.5 billion, which includes the purchase of the electro-mechanical equipment, such as the turbines and generators, coming from Germany.

Hedcor Inc. is subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2017/09/18/hedcor-power-plants-already-90-complete-564634

MISOR RELEASES P58M FOR AGRICULTURE PROJECTS

THE Misamis Oriental Provincial Agriculture Office (Mopao) has released some P58 million for projects for local farmers as of August 2017, Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano said. Emano said P39 million of the total amount came from the Provincial Government while the other P19 million was sourced from the National Government’s General Appropriations Act (GAA). In a report, MOPAO chief Dr. Benjamin Resma said farmer-beneficiaries had availed of different programs of the Mopao like the distribution of bags of rice, corn, vegetables, and cacao seedlings in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). “We also had dispersed Tilapia fingerlings for our fishery production. Aside from these, we are also able to give molasses to these farmers who are into organic farming,” Resma said. Resma said the Mopao also turned over irrigation facilities and other farming equipment such as pumps and engines, knapsack sprayers, fish landings, bottom set gill nets, squid jigger fish stalls, fiber glass boat engines and payaw. It has also conducted trainings for farmers, and even sending them to schools to acquire new techniques in rice and corn production, including a farmers' tour, where 25 cacao farmers acquired actual cacao care and management course.

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/business/2017/09/07/misor-releases-p58m-agriculture-projects-562773

FRANCISCO MOTOR CORPORATION TO BUILD MANUFACTURING PLANT IN NORTHERN MINDANAO

Francisco Motor Corporation (FMC) is set to build a manufacturing plant in Northern Mindanao where it will mass produce its new prototype much improved and more environment-friendly Francisco Jeepney, the Philippines’ iconic jeepney design which has plied the country’s streets for 70 years.

In its official Facebook page, the company stated it will soon release its new prototype jeepney based on specifications of the Department of Transportation in line with the PUV Modernization Program of the government.

Accordingly, the project is in partnership with Ayala Corporation Industrial, Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc. and Isuzu Philippines, Inc., among others and the manufacturing facility is set to mass produce the first batch of the new Francisco Jeepneys within the next five years. Aside from jeepneys, the plant will also make new utility vehicles, vans, trucks, military vehicles and cars, which we can truly state as Filipino-made. It is expected to generate job opportunities in the region.

GARDENIA BREAD MANUFACTURING PLANT TO RISE AT PHIVIDEC

Gardenia is set to open its 3rd production facility in the country and first in Mindanao. Gardenia established its first state-of-the-art facility in Binan, Laguna in 1998 and added its second facility in Cebu in 2011. Nutrimax Fresh Baked Inc., a subsidiary of Singapore-based Gardenia International Pte. Ltd. recently broke ground for its bread manufacturing plant inside Phividec Industrial Estate at Sta. Cruz, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental last August 14, 2017.

The plant is within a 2.5-hectare lot inside Phividec and includes a manufacturing and distribution facility. The company is investing some P855.7 Million for the facility. Construction is set to start in the 4th quarter of 2017 and the first bread and bakery products will be made in 14 months.

Source: http://www.cdodev.com/2017/09/11/project-watch-gardenia-bread-manufacturing-plant-to-rise-at-phividec/