INDEPENDENCE DAY

PHILIPPINESJUNE 12, 2018

33333

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR

Mohammed Salim MohamedADVERTISING MANAGER

Ali Wahba

CHAIRMAN

SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DR. KHALID AL-SHAFI

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

Rocel MolinaDESIGN

Abraham Augusthy

Mabuhay!

On this auspicious occasion, we commem-orate the 120th year anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. A century and two decades past, our bat-

tle for independence speaks of the story of sacrifice, patriotism, and valor of our forebears.

This year’s theme “Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan” pays tribute to the noble sacrifices of our ancestors which paved the way for the freedom that we now enjoy. We have successfully prevailed over the many challenges that tested our mettle as a nation. And today, we co-exist side by side with the international community as an equal sovereign state and as a proud member of the community of nations.

As we move forward to a future made bright by the valiant sacrifices of our ancestors, I hope that we can carry each other forward, supported by the genuine love for our country and concern for our compatriots. Filipinos must set side personal differences and unite under the banner of our country’s flag in order to reap the benefits of a better future and lasting progress.

I also wish to thank each and every member of our Filipino community for devoting your time and

energy in worthwhile endeavors which contribute to the positive image of our country. May you all continue to exemplify in your chosen professions so as to bring pride and joy to your family and to your country.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!

Alan L. TimbayanAmbassador

AMBASSADOR’S MESSAGE

4

The Philippines’ economic growth is expected to sustain its quick pace in 2018 and 2019 as the government’s infrastructure program is rolled out, says a new Asian Development Bank

(ADB) report.In its new Asian Development Outlook (ADO)

2018, ADB projects Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 6.8% this year and 6.9% in 2019, up from 6.7% in 2017. Rising domes-tic demand, remittances, and employment, in addition to infrastructure spending, will drive growth. ADO is ADB’s flagship annual economic publication.

“Along with domestic demand, the govern-ment’s infrastructure investments will fuel the country’s growth in the next few years, sup-ported by a sound economic policy setting,” said Kelly Bird, ADB Country Director for the Phil-ippines. “We expect this growth to further lift wage employment numbers, add to household incomes, and benefit more poor families across the archipelago.”

The Philippines remained one of the strong-est growing economies in Southeast Asia in 2017. Domestic investment recorded 9% growth last year, moderating from a brisk 23.7% in 2016, al-though growth in fixed investment in industrial machinery, transport equipment, and public

construction remained robust. Household con-sumption grew by 5.8% in 2017, from 7% in 2016, on the back of higher remittances and employ-ment, with the unemployment rate falling by 1.3 percentage points to 5.3% in January 2018 as 2.4 million jobs were added. Public spending rose by 7.3% last year from 8.4% in 2016.

Consumer price inflation reached 3.2% last year from 1.8% in 2016 due to strong economic growth, higher international fuel prices, and Philippine peso depreciation, but well within the 2% to 4% target by the BangkoSentral ng Pili-pinas—the country’s central bank. The country’s external debt further declined to 23.3% of GDP in 2017, from 24.5% of GDP in 2016.

Moving forward, ADB projects services will continue to drive GDP growth, along with manufacturing and construction industries. The approval of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law in December 2017 will augment tax revenues and provide additional fiscal space for more progressive public spending. The policy reforms are expected to yield additional 90 bil-lion to 144 billion Philippine pesos ($1.73 billion to $2.76 billion) in tax revenue collection in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

With economic growth gaining momentum, inflation is projected to reach 4% in 2018 as glo-bal oil and food prices rise, and higher excise

taxes on some commodities take effect. In 2019, meanwhile, inflation is expected to marginally decline to 3.9%.

The report notes there are external risks to the Philippines’ growth outlook from heightened volatility in international financial markets and uncertainty about global trade openness, al-though the country’s strong external payments position would cushion these effects.

A major policy challenge to the country’s growth outlook, according to the report, is managing the rollout of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, which is expected to raise public infrastructure spending to 7.3% of GDP by 2022 from 4.5% in 2016.

The report provides suggestions on ways to enhance government capacity, including strengthening coordination between gov-ernment agencies and improving technical capacity of staff within these agencies, and fostering stronger partnerships between government agencies, the private sector, and development partners.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to re-ducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Es-tablished in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.

Infrastructure drive and strong domestic demand to sustain Philippine growth: ADB

5

Strong macroeconomic fundamentals along-side plans to ramp up infrastructure spending propelled the Philippines

to the top of a list of “best countries” to invest in, the head of the Duterte administration’s economic team said in March this year.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III noted of a report published on the website Busi-ness Insider, which cited a ranking released by US News in February placing the Philippines on the no. 1 spot. On its website, US News its

“Best Countries to Invest In” had been ranked “based on scores primarily from more than 6,000 business decision makers on a compilation of eight equally weighted country attributes: corruption, dynamism, economic stability, entrepreneur-ship, favorable tax environment, innovation, skilled labour force, and technological expertise.

“In contrast to declining inflows of foreign direct invest-ment or FDI to Southeast Asia as a whole, the Philippine contin-ued to perform well, according to United Nations data,” US News said, citing the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s World Investment Report 2017.

According to the Unctad report, “in South and Southeast Asia, several

countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines, are ex-pected to receive more FDI in years to come. This may continue to strengthen these countries’ positions in regional produc-tion networks. For instance, five Chinese companies plan to invest $10bn in the aviation, downstream

oil, renewable energy, iron and steel, and shipbuilding in-dustries in the Philippines,” Unctad said, citing a report of the Board of Investments.

Unctad said that while FDI flows to Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand weighted down on the region’s total haul, “flows to the Philippines — the third largest recipient in the sub-region — in-creased by more than 60 percent to

a new high of $8bn in 2016.”The latest BangkoSentral ng

Pilipinas data showed that net FDI inflows worth $8.7bn as of Novem-ber last year already exceeded the $8-billion target for 2017. For US News, the Philippines “is expected to receive more FDI from within the region from powerhouses like China that are looking to utilize available labor in developing nations”.

Dominguez attributed the Phil-ippines’ top ranking to the following: Young and hardworking workforce, an excellent inclusive growth mo-mentum, an expanding middle class, politically stable environment, strong and popular leadership, fiscal discipline, stable monetary policy, membership in Asean, an achiev-able infrastructure programme, a strong anti-corruption drive, and improved revenue collection.” Ranked second was Indonesia, followed by Poland, Malaysia and Singapore in the top five.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III

Philippines ranks No. 1 among ‘best countries to invest in’

6

Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Eritrea to Qatar; Ibrahim Fakhroo,

Director of Protocol; H E Dr. Issa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Administrative Development,

Labour and Social Affairs; Alan L. Timbayan, Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, and Ibrahim bin Saleh Al

Nuaimi, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, with other officials during

the Philippine National Day reception at Westin Doha Hotel and Spa.

Qatar-Philippine ties rooted on mutual respect: Envoy

The Philippines regards Qatar as a friend and partner with nearly four decades of bilateral ties, according to Ambassa-dor of the Philippines to

Qatar, Alan L. Timbayan.Speaking at a reception, the

Philippine Embassy organised on the occasion of the 120th anniver-sary of Philippine Independence, Timbayan underlined that the Philippines’ Independent Foreign Policy enabled the country to widen its diplomatic reach across continents, fostering friendship and cooperation with international partners.

“One such friend and partner across the miles is the State of Qa-tar. Our relations with the State of Qatar span for 37 years now. The special ties that bind us together are cemented by strong people-to-people linkages, which are rooted on mutual respect for cultural di-versity and religious tolerance,” he said.

The envoy said these special ties was evident with the visit of Philip-pine President Rodrigo Duterte to

Qatar last year which witnessed the signing of four bilateral agreements on investment, health, culture and technical-vocational training.

“It bears noting that the Filipi-nos hold Qatari nationals in high esteem, as we have felt the warm reception of and cordial treatment of our 255,000 strong Filipino mi-grants in Qatar,” he stressed. As the Philippines continues to sustain its growth momentum, he said the country hopes to forge closer ties and deeper relations with the rest of the international community.

“The Philippines remains com-mitted to the global agenda that support peace, social equity and prosperity for all peoples in the world – be it through bilateral, regional or multilateral for a,” he stressed.

On the theme of this year’s Independence Day celebration —

“Hard-fought change, a legacy for prosperous future” — Timbayan paid tribute to Filipino forebears whose heroic deeds led to the country’s independence.

“What we have achieved since independence and what we are enjoying now, we owe it to our ancestors with deep gratitude. In-spired by their resolve, we have successfully prevailed over so many challenges that tested our mettle as a nation through the years. If we have succeeded, it is because we stood on the shoulders of giants,” he said.

H E Dr. Issa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi, Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Af-fairs; Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi,

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; and Ibrahim Fakhroo, Director of Protocol at Ministry of Foreign Affairs; were among the guests at the event which saw the gathering of ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions, business community and members of the Filipino community.

Filipina soprano Stefanie Quin-tin enthralled the audience with an impressive performance of a rep-ertoire of Filipino Kundiman (love songs) and a number of songs in other languages. An exhibition on the evolution of Philippine flags curated by the National Commis-sion for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) of the Philippines was also held at the event held at Westin Doha Hotel and Spa.

“One such friend and partner across the miles is the State of Qatar. Our relations with the State of Qatar span for 37 years now. The special ties that bind us together are cemented by strong people-to-people linkages, which are rooted on mutual respect for cultural diversity and religious tolerance,” Ambassador of the Philippines to Qatar, Alan L. Timbayan said.

7

Dr. Khalid bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Cancer Society,

inspects the Philippine Embassy booth while Consul General Roussel

Reyes and other embassy personnel look on.

Philippine Embassy observes 2018 World Cancer Day

The Philippine Embassy in Doha, Qatar joined inter-national community in the observance of World Can-

cer Day on the theme “We Can - I Can’t” in Aspire Park on February 22, 2018.

The Embassy displayed a

cultural booth and participated in the information awareness activities during the event. Other participating communities such as Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Nepal, among others also rendered sup-port for the fight against cancer.

According to the Ministry of

Public Health (MoPH), “The World Health Organization’s (WHO) theme ‘We Can – I Can’ means that we can all do something together to reduce the impact of cancer. For example, all of us can choose to eat healthy food, undertake physi-cal activity and stop smoking to

reduce the risk of developing cancer.”

Philippine Embassy person-nel and members of their family also participated in the community event. Other expatriate communi-ties came in their national costumes and supported the event.

10

Embassy celebrates 2018 Qatar Sport Day

The Philippine Embassy in Doha par-ticipated in the celebration of the Qatar National Sport Day in simultaneous events held at The Diplomatic Club and the City

Center Rotana Hotel on February 13.Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, hosted a gathering for the diplomatic corps and members of their family at the Diplomatic Club. The event offered various sporting events and recreational activities such as outdoor zumba session, beach volleyball, basketball, table tennis, provision of exercise equipment such as station-ary bikes, outdoor playground for kids, camel and horseback ride by the beach, a photo booth with falcons, and medical check-up booths.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Community Sports and Wellness celebration at the City Centre Ro-tana Hotel highlighted traditional Filipino games such patintero, luksonglubid, luksongtinik, and sungka. The community event also featured the 1st Oryx Gan Soo Doo Qatar Ambassador’s Cup, a mixed martial arts tournament with children and adult categories. The afternoon leg of the event provided musical and dance performances,

zumba session, and capped with a ballroom dancing competition in the evening. The Em-bassy also set up a mobile services booth for the overseas voting registration as well as to provide assistance with SSS and Pag-IBIG related queries.

The Qatar National Sport Day is annual national holiday which is celebrated across the country in order to raise awareness on the

importance of sports and wellness in everyday life. It aims to encourage the local and expatri-ate community in Qatar to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad Al Thani, led a group of cyclist along Doha Corniche to jumpstart the day-long celebration.

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, Alan L.

Timbayan, leads the Sports and Wellness

Filipino community celebration at City Center

Rotana Hotel. RIGHT: The embassy facilitates

overseas voting registration during the

community event.

12

Filipino photo exhibition serenades Qatar

Forty-three spectacular images captured on lens by 32 Filipino pho-tography enthusiasts lined the walls of Gallery 2 at Katara Building 19 at the “Qatar through Filipino Lenses” exhibition in August last year.

The collection of photographs depicted some of the most unique structures, popular places and scenic sights found in the country and serves as the artists’ fitting tribute to Qatar they regard as their second home. It projected the distinct point of view of the Filipino artists on Qatar with the photos they took from the mundane corners of Doha and its busy souqs to the city’s towering skyscrapers and architectural wonders to the country’s picturesque desert landscapes and charming seafronts.

Among the well-known landmarks that fea-tured in the show were the Museum of Islamic Art, the Corniche, Souq Waqif, Katara, The Pearl Qatar, Abdul Wahhab Mosque, The Torch Ho-tel and Fanar tower. Photos of Arabian horses, traditional dhows and falcons also figured prom-inently in the sundry collection.

A first for the community, the photo exhi-bition was opened by Philippine Ambassador Alan L. Timbayan and Katara Human Resourc-es Manager Saif Al Dosari in the presence of ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community, the participating artists, Filipino community leaders and a large number of lo-cal media. Ambassador Timbayan lauded the participants for their talent and passion in their art evident in the stunning array of photos on display that reflect Qatar’s vibrant art scene and its fast-paced development.

“It is through their eyes that we see Qatar’s architecture, people and natural wonders. They present a unique perspective of the blending of the old and the new, progress and history which define Qatar’s development as a country and as a society,” said Timbayan.

He expressed deep appreciation for Katara’s “keen interest in working together to promote cultural activities and for providing opportuni-ties for artistic expression. “We look forward to working with you again in the future under the

Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Alan L. Timbayan and Katara Human Resources Manager

Saif Al Dosari at the exhibition at Katara.

ambit of our newly signed Culture Cooperation Agreement,” he added.

“The exhibition documents the features of Qatar through the lenses of the Filipino commu-nity living in Doha, which reflects the ambitious citizens residing on the lands of Qatar, living as one community regardless of their culture or nationality,” said Al Dosari.

He added: “Stemming from Katara’s keenness to build communication bridges that connect people from all walks of life, we tend to see a wide range of exhibitions and events that showcase various cultures. In

addition, we are fully aware that culture with all its branches comes in as a common lan-guage that transcends bonds with different countries, and increases the rapprochement between all nations regardless of their his-tory or geographical features.”

The photographs were chosen among submissions by members of photography organisations recognised by the Philippine Embassy including Doha Shutter Bugz, Pic-ture in Action Photography Club, Pinoy Lente, The Catchers of Light Qatar, Qamera Club and Doha Pinoy Shooters.

13

The Department of Tour-ism (DOT) early last month said that over two million international vis-

itors arrived in the Philippines in the first quarter of 2018.

“We already welcomed over two million foreign guests to the Philippines in just three months compared to last year when it took four months or until April to reach two million,” DOT Sec-retary Wanda Teo said.

“For the first quarter, it has been a tight contest between the Chinese and the Koreans. In fact, these two key markets, together with the Americans, al-ready comprise more than half our tourist arrivals,” Teo added.

Data from the DOT shows a 14.80 percent year-on-year increase: 2,049,094 foreign tourists in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 1,784,882 tourists in the same period in 2017.

The DOT said that the Chinese remain the “fastest-growing market”, with 371,429 arrivals in the first three months of 2018, but trail the Koreans at 477,087. In March, 114,549 Chinese and 122,387 Koreans visited the country.

“Our target for the Chinese arrivals this year remains at 1.5 million as we strive for more quality tourists who spend more in the country,” Teo said.

She also underscored that the foreign visitors also consist of American tourists (284,946 ar-rivals), followed by the Japanese (181,178), and Australians (74,027).

Other sources of inter-national visitors are Canada (70,501), Taiwan (59,877), Unit-ed Kingdom (56,521), Singapore (44,398), Malaysia (37,090), Hong Kong (36,777), and India (32,999).

DOT: More than

2 million foreign

tourists arrived in

Philippines in Q1The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed Forbes.com’s citation of the Phil-ippines as one of the top spots in Asia this year.

The article entitled “The 5 Spots In Asia That Are Booming With Tourists In 2018”, underscored the country’s improved connectivity and infrastructure as the factors for the increased tourism interest.

Forbes.com aligned the Phil-ippines with the continent’s must visit destinations Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea.

“To be lined-up with the region’s tourism powerhouse is a testament to the resiliency of the people and the country’s resolve to promote the Philippines as a safe and fun destination,” said Tourism Secre-tary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.

The article stated, “with recent improvements in local infrastruc-ture, top tourist destinations are now being served by domestic air-ports with frequent flights to and from the country’s major cities”.

Several international gateways have experienced renovations last year with plans to develop more regional airports like the Iloilo In-ternational Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, and New Bohol International Airport in Panglao.

Improved air connectivity and opening of new flights are ex-pected with the country’s hosting of Routes Asia 2019, the only route

development event dedicated to the Asia Pacific region, in Cebu next year. Not to be outdone, the coun-try’s sea connectivity will receive a significant boost in the succeed-ing years with new major cruise lines including the Norwegian Cruise Lines, Windstar Cruises arriving in the Philippines shores for the first time.

Several cruise ships will also be returning and some even increas-ing port calls including MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Ova-tion of the Seas, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow, and Crystal Cruises. According to the latest tourism statistics, the country welcomed a total of of 1,406,337

international visitors for January-February, which is 16.15 percent higher compared to the 1,210,817 total for the same period in 2017.

Philippine tourism even be-sted the average tourism growth of Asia and the Pacific which is at six percent and Southeast Asia at eight percent according to the latest United Nations World Tour-ism Organization (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer.

Forbes.com is part of Forbes Digital, a division of the American business magazine Forbes famous for its lists and rankings. The web-site attracts 59 million unique visitors each month with 30 mil-lion social media followers.

Forbes.com cites Philippines as a must-visit destination

Passengers of M/V SuperStar Virgo, M/S Costa Atlantica, M/S

Amsterdam and M/S Silver Shadow experience the warm welcome

of the Philippines’ Capital of Fun.

Four cruise ships made simultaneous port of call at Pier 15 of Manila South Harbor.

14

Twenty-four years ago, Helen Zava was a house-wife content to stay home and take care of her fam-ily. While she felt fulfilled,

Zava found another kind of satis-faction when she became a weaver for Hacienda Crafts, a manufac-turer and exporter of Philippine handicraft.

Hacienda Crafts makes and sells unique and useful handicraft, in-cluding furniture, home accessories, lamp shades and the like. Operated by couple Joey and Ina Gaston, it is based in Negros Occidental. Zava’s husband was a worker on the Gas-tons’ sugar farm. “At the time, the women had no jobs, only the men were working,” she said.

For Joey Gaston, the hiring of the wives came about because doing so would augment the farm families’ income. He and Ina were newly married then and Ina hap-pened to enjoy making crafts. They agreed to introduce the womenfolk to the crafts.

Ina said that, initially, there were only five women and they be-gan by making little things—mats, coasters, trays and nets. Later they moved up to lamps made of capiz, coconut and buri. “These take more time to make because they’re hand made,” said Ina.

The products are inspired by

the native skills of the weavers, according to Ina. “I design with that in mind. I take from what they are able to do.” The handicrafts are also influenced by the cultures and traditions in various parts of the country. By 1994, Hacienda Crafts had become a full-fledged business operating out of a hacienda (sugar plantation) in Negros Occidental.

“Where before our workers earned only from the fields, now they also earn from the workshop,” Ina said.

Hacienda Crafts gives the wom-en the materials and teaches them how to make the products. The weavers take the materials home, work on the products and return to the factory with the finished prod-ucts as scheduled. Checking for quality control follows. At week’s end, the weavers get paid. Ina said this helps the mothers since they can make extra money while look-ing after their children at home.

Hacienda Crafts also has a pro-gram to help the young children of its workers obtain educational scholarships. Older children are taught farming skills and other trades, such as welding. “It’s nice to see the children growing,” Ina said.

Hacienda Crafts has tied up with various skilled groups — weld-ers, for instance, who makes farm implements — who serve as its suppliers. It also works with two

cooperatives of T’boli weavers who make t’nalak , an indigenous woven fabric incorporated in its products.

In the beginning, the company was using raw materials available on the farm, Ina said, but soon enough they had to start looking for resources from neighboring towns. By do-ing so, the company has helped the communities around the farm generate more income.

Hacienda Crafts products showcase the communities where the materials are sourced,

according to Ina. The company’s role is to design and market the products. “The design part values Filipino culture and heritage,” she said. “We want to preserve them because we’re starting to lose them.”

The brand also works with for-eign designers with Filipino roots.

“We love working with people from different cultures,” Ina said. “We want our products to transcend ge-ographical boundaries. If we design a bag, for example, we want it to come from two different cultures.”

To grow the business, Joey said, they were also focusing on con-necting the workers and materials to the market. They are working hard to increase the demand for their handicrafts.

The young firm early on joined the Negros Trade Fair, which opened the world of export to them. From then on, Hacienda Crafts has been a fixture at major trade events like the Philippines International Furniture Show and the annual Manila FAME.

Ina is looking to distribute their handicrafts in the international

market and at the same time not lose sight of their core values that prioritize the social, environmental and design aspects of a product.

Zava hopes that Hacienda Crafts attracts more buyers so they can create more products and con-tinue her employment, for which she is grateful.

“Nakatulongsa pang-financial ang pagtrabaho ko sa Hacienda Crafts (My work at Hacienda Crafts has helped us financially),” Zava said. “Nadagdagan din ang kaala-man ko (It has also taught me some things I didn’t know before).”

A mother of seven, Zava has four children in high school and one in college. She hopes her children who have stopped schooling would find jobs in the meantime. Her goal, she said, is to have all her children graduate from school

(This story is part of a series of articles written by GO NEGOSYO writers being published by Good-NewsPilipinas.com as part of our support to Philippine businesses.)

Hacienda Crafts founder and designer Christina Borromeo-Gaston

received an award from ASEAN Selections 2017 in Thailand.

Hacienda Crafts: Raising women’s dignity through crafts

15

New oil & natural gas source found in Cebu

The Department of Energy (DOE) declared the Alegria Oil Field to have commercial quantities of natural gas and

oil resources after exploration and drilling activities on the oil field by the service contractor yielded the desired deposits.

The 2018 Joint Declaration of Commerciality was made by DOE and China International Mining Petrole-um Company Limited (CIMP Co Ltd), the service contractor which has been exploring the oil field since 2009.

In 2016, the DOE and CIMP Co Ltd jointly established that the oil field contained commercial quantities of natural gas upon its discovery of oil accumulation in the adjacent hydrocarbon traps within the Alegria underground area.

The DOE and CIMP Co Ltd discovered an estimat-ed 27.93 million barrels of oil (MMBO) with a possible production recovery of 3.35 MMBO or a conservative estimate of 12% of total oil in place/reserves. For natural gas, about 9.42 billion cubic feet (bcf) reserves were found, with the recoverable resource estimated at 6.6 bcf or about 70% of total natural gas in place/reserves.

Based on the development plan crafted after the initial testing, the natural gas and oil production of the field may last until 2037. In a Cebu government report, site engineer Engr. Dennis Guardiario of the East Asia drilling contractor, said the third, fourth and fifth well in Barangay Montpeller, Alegria may produce 300 to 400 barrels of crude oil daily.

DOE-7 regional director Saul Gonzales said that crude oil and gas in commercial quantity will spur eco-nomic growth in Alegria and the whole Cebu province, even in the country.

Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangu-dadatu has revealed

the presence of vast natural gas deposits worth more $1 trillion in the 220,000-hectare Ligua-san Marsh, even as he called for prompt development of such assets to propel growth in Mindanao, in particular, and the country, in general.

Mangudadatu released a vid-eo footage, showing him standing beside a large pipe installed at Buluan Lake that continuously produced flame emanating from running water coming from the marsh, which, he claimed, was evidence of the presence of meth-ane gas. Buluan Lake forms part of the 220,000-hectare Liguasan marsh that borders Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cota-bato provinces.

Presence of $1-trillion methane gas deposits in Liguasan Marsh