Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: Non-traditional farming feasible in Mindanao DA

Name of the Author: Louise Maureen Simeon

Summary:
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking at non-traditional farming areas
particularly in Mindanao that can potentially be improved as it moves toward
alleviating poverty and hitting self-sufficiency in rice over the next three years.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piol said the DA would divert its attention to areas
that are not prone to typhoons, instead of the traditional farming areas in Luzon. He,
however, clarified the agency was not abandoning the traditional farming areas. The
DA has started the color-coded Agriculture Guide Map which will determine the
crops or agricultural activities best in a specific area based on geographic, climatic
and soil type condition. He said Basilan and Tawi-Tawi are also potential areas due to
lesser threats of climatic disturbances.

Reaction:
It is great idea that the Department of Agriculture is looking and planning for
non-traditional farming in our country like Mindanao and other places so that it can
potentially be improved as it moves to lessen poverty and hitting more rice over the
next three years. The DA keeps trying to find more potential place for farming so
that they can attain their goals in our economy.

Recommendation:
I suggest not only in Mindanao to have a non-traditional farming the DA try to
find other places in our country so that we can harvest and produce more in
farming.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: NEA commits P300 M funds for typhoon-hit electric coops
Name of the Author: Danessa Rivera

Summary:
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is prepared to proved as
much as P300 million in calamity funds to electric cooperatives (ECs) that incurred
damage in their assets and facilities in the aftermath of Typhoon Nina. NEA, which
supervises 119 ECs nationwide, has funds ready to support the rehabilitation and
repair programs of South Luzon power distributors which sustained heavy damage
in their respective franchise areas. In terms of households, 1,003,519 households or
about 57 percent of the total affected have been re-energized as Dec 4. This is to
speed up power restoration up to the household level in South Luzon by February.

Reaction:
Electricity is also part of our needs thats why National Electrification
Administration commits P300 million funds for typhoon-hit electric coops. Those
funds are very useful because 57 percent of the total affected have been re-
energized. NEA did their best to speed up power restoration and help the typhoon
survivors.

Recommendation:
Keep on what theyre doing in so that all affected by typhoon be re-energized.
All energy companies help one another so that it can speed up power restoration.

Title of the Publisher: Philippine Daily Inquirer Business

Title of the Article: Govt vows to help Bangladesh recover funds
Name of the Author: Ben O. de Vera

Summary:
The head of the Duterte administrators economic team said the government
was vigorously helping Bangladeshs central bank recover funds stolen through a
cyberheist while highlighting the need for Bangladeshi officials cooperation in the
investigation. The delegation was seeking to recover the bigger chunk of the $81
billion stolen by hackers from Bangladesh Banks account following the recovery of
$15 billion. The Department of Finance in a statement as saying that they strongly
recommended that Bangladesh share with the Department of Justice and the Anti-
Money Laundering Council the results of their investigation into the cyberheist.

Reaction:
Bangladeshs central bank recover fund was stolen through a cyberheist the
Duterte administrations economic team vows to help and they start the
investigation by the help of the Department of Justice and the Anti-Laundering
Council also the Department of Finance. Helping from another country can build and
create our relationship with them. Im glad that the Duterte Administration is always
there to help.

Recommendation:
We should aware on every problem to our country and there is a way to solve
it like helping one another. Helping one another in other develop efficiently and
effectively.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: DA seeks addl P20 B
Name of the Author: Louise Maureen Simeon

Summary:
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking an additional budget of P20-
billion starting next year to be allocating for the establishment of solar-powered
irrigation systems nationwide. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piol said the
agency would ask Congress to allot a P20-billion budget starting 2018 to 2022 to
irrigate an estimated one million hectares as the country aims to be rice sufficient
before the end of the Duterte administration. The department targets to distribute
and set-up solar-powered irrigation system in farming communities nationwide by
2018. Of the countrys 3.9 million hectares of rice farms, only 1.2 million hectares
benefit from communal irrigation systems that allow farmers to plant rice twice a
year, which is implemented by the National Irrigation Administration.

Reaction:
The Department of Agriculture is now focusing in rice farming for the farmers.
Thats why they seeking additional P20-billion for solar-powered irrigation systems
starting 2018 to 2022 aiming to be rice self-sufficient before the end of the Duterte
Administration. Agriculture Secretary Mr. Piol said solar-powered irrigation systems
will be a game changer in Philippines agriculture as increase of production of rice
and also minimize the destruction of the environment. The system allow farmers to
plant rice twice a year which implemented by the National Irrigation Administration.
The Department of Agriculture is quite excellent in advance planning.

Recommendation:
I suggest to keep continue the projects of the Department of Agriculture and
add also more projects so that our country will be productive in our economy.

Title of the Publisher: Philippine Daily Inquirer Business

Title of the Article: January Inflation Seen Higher At 2.6-3.1%
Name of the Author: Ben O. de Vera

Summary:
Higher prices of food, oil and the so-called sin products likely pushed the
inflation rate even higher in January to a range of 2.6-3.1%. Metrobank research
analyst Pauline May Ann E. Revillas said her forecast of a 2.6% year-on-year
increase in the price of basic goods at the start of the year was due to mixed
movements of food prices and higher gasoline prices. DBS Bank Ltd. Economist
Gundy Cahyadi shares the same forecast. Following the governments
announcement of the 6.8-percent GDP growth in 2016, BSP Governor Amando M.
Tetangco Jr. said the inflation outlook also remains manageable so there is no
pressing need to deviate from the current monetary policy stance. Land Bank of
the Philippines market economist Guian Angelo S. Dumalagan said consumer prices
likely grew 2.9% on the back of higher oil prices and a weaker peso also food prices
likely accelerated as well because of the lingering effects of the Typhoon Nina hit
the country.

Reaction:
January showed us that the inflation rate went higher to 2.6-3.1 percent the
cause of the inflation is the prices of the food, oil and the sin products when higher.
Because of the Typhoon Nina went to our country the food prices when high due to
in high demand for surviving. Higher excise taxes for alcohol and tobaccos may
cause high inflation also the oil. There is 6.8 percent GDP growth in 2016 even
theres inflation in our country.

Recommendation:
We should aware on what will happen in our economy. As a consumer we
should only buy those things that are really important.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: 6 more Calabarzon ecotourism sites up for DOT accreditation
Name of the Author: Mary Grace Padin

Summary:
The Department of Tourism plans to accredit six more ecotourism sites in the
CALABARZON region under the governments National Ecotourism Strategy (NES).
The sites to be accredited including the Wawa-Pamitinan Protected Landscape in
Rodriguez, Rizal; Kilangin Falls in Liliw, Laguna; Buruwisan Falls in Siniloan, Laguna;
Mount Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal; Tikub Lake in Tianong, Quezon; and the Quezon
Protected Landscape in Atimonan, Quezon. The 5 ecotourism sites approved by the
Regional Ecotourism Committee of CALABARZON include Masungi Karst in Tanay
Rizal; Pansipit River and Volcano Island Bird Sanctuary in San Nicolas, Batangas;
Mount Makiling Forest Reserve in Los Banos, Laguna Tayak Nature and Wildlife Park
in Rizal, Laguna; and the Lobo Agro Ecotourism Site in Lobo, Bantangas. DOT Region
4A director Rebecca Villanueva-Labit highlighted the role of ecotourism to ensure
sustainable and inclusive growth in the country.

Reaction:
Planning to have ecotourism sites in our country is a brilliant idea to the
Department of Tourism so that we can develop the community, protect the natural
environment; provide livelihood, sustainable source of income, and immediately,
that community becomes the vanguards of the environment, like DOT Region 4A
director Rebecca Villanueva-Labit said the importance of ecotourism.

Recommendation:
The Department of Tourism must find another more ecotourism sites in our
country and promote the importance of ecotourism.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: Pure Energy eyes 500 MW in 5 years
Name of the Author: Danessa Rivera

Summary:
Pure Energy Holdings Corp. is eyeing more investments in the renewable
energy sector apart from hydropower ventures as it looks to have a 500
megawatts (MW) of total capacity in five years. Pure Energy is looking at forming a
basket of renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and biomass to expand its
portfolio after it lists in the local bourse. The company is working on a total capacity
of 153 MW composed of hydropower projects and geothermal facility through its
subsidies Repower Energy Development Corp. and Pure Geothermal Inc. The
company is also eyeing opportunities in wind projects.

Reaction:
Pure Energy is now setting the goal to have 500 megawatts of total capacity
in five years. Now they start working and they have 153 megawatts total capacity
composed of hydropower project and geothermal facility through its subsidiaries
from other energy company. I appreciate their desire to achieve their objective in
the company.

Recommendation:
Continue on what the Pure Energy is doing and keep looking for more
opportunities like wind project so that in order to attain their objective.
Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business
Title of the Article: Smart partners with Huawei for 5G study
Name of the Author: Louella Desiderio

Summary:
PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. have partnered
with Huawei Technologies Philippines to undertake joint research for 5G or the fifth
generation wireless broadband technology as the telco group wants to be ready for
its rollout by 2020. During a recent visit to the Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen in
China, Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT and Smart chairman, president and CEO, signed a
memorandum of understanding with Huawei Philippines CEO Jacky Gao Kexin to
work together for the strategic and commercial development of 5G in the country.
Smart and Huawei successfully combined five frequencies through Carrier
Aggregation to achieve data speeds of 1.4 Gbps (gibabit per second). Smart intends
to extend the benefits of 5G to as many Filipinos as possible, as soon as it is
available.

Reaction:
Smart Communication Inc. partnered with Huawei Technologies Philippines for
innovations by doing some research for the fifth generation of wireless
broadband technology (5G). How wonderful that our country continue evolving by
using technologies like internet connections.

Recommendation:
After they finished the fifth generation of wireless broadband technology (5G)
they must still continue developing, improving and innovate so that our country
continue evolving. So that the Philippines is no longer part of the countrys slow
internet connection.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: Jollibee hikes spending budget for 2017
Name of the Author: Richmond Mercurio
Summary:
Local fastfood giant Jollibee Food Corp. (JFC) is jacking up its capital spending
this year after chalking up a 25 percent increase in net income last year. JFC chief
executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said the company is earmarking P14 billion in
capital expenditures this 2017, 35 percent higher than last years allocation of P10.4
billion. He said the budget would be used mainly for new store expansion and
renovation, as well as commissary investment. In 2016, the company recorded a
24.6 percent increase in attributable net income to P6.14 billion. Also JFC opened
340 stores, the highest number of opening store in the companys history.

Reaction:
JFC last years sale was incredible and they have their budget for this year
and them going to use it for new expansion, renovation and commissary
investment. JFC keep moving forward to continue strong profitable growth in the
years ahead in the Philippines and from abroad. I appreciate the company because
the company can help our economy.

Recommendation:
Just keep moving forward and continue the way JFC doing so that they can
have a strong profitable growth throughout year. JFC must spend wisely of their
budget.

Title of the Publisher: The Philippine Star Business

Title of the Article: SM Cyberzone keeping up with fast-paced digital world
Name of the Author: Louella Desiderio

Summary:
SM, being the retail giant in the Philippines, took the bold step of introducing
the SM Cyberzone, a hub for retail marketing of technology that serves as a venue
for this specific market. SM took the opportunity of providing a space in its malls to
provide greater convenience for its shoppers. SM malls began to designate an area
in each mall to feature IT Information Technology concepts. Cyberzone features a
number of top international concept stores including Samsung, HP, Dell, Lenovo,
Acer, Sony, Asus, Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, Canon, Nikon as well as telco giants Smart,
Globe and Sun. Cyberzone is also known as a venue for the biggest gaming and
tech-related events.

Reaction:
Our country continues to be one of the economies that easily adopt
technologies and gadgets. Gadgets and Technologies in business side provide an
opportunity to come up with an idea on how to create a market solely for those who
love latest technology. SM Cyberzone comes up with innovation and keeping up
fast-paced, SM Cyberzone requires a lot of effort in consumption for gadget and
technology. Im glad that our country continues evolving a better technology in our
economy.

Recommendation:
I suggest is to invite another technology company in order to promote and
maintain the fast-pace of SM Cyberzone like inviting the Apple Inc., and other
international companies. Keep their company steady and updated for the upcoming
changes and evolution of technologies and gadgets.

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION COLLEGE

TACLOBAN CITY

PROJECT IN
ECONOMICS 102
REACTION PAPER
(ARTICLES ON ECONOMIC ISSUES)

SUBMITTED BY:

DAVE GOLDWYN BANTUGAN

SUBMITTED TO:

LETECIA BARTOLOME