Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 244 | Saturday, January 30, 2021

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VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

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Davao City to stay on GCQ status until Feb. 28 STORY ON PAGE 2

A metal worker ties round bars for an iron structure, which will be used for a drainage system, at a construction site along Dacudao Avenue in Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

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VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

NEWS

African Swine Fever cases to Mati City addressed but...

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he cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) in three barangays of Mati City are now “considered resolved,” the chief of the City Veterinary Office (CVO) said.

Dr. Marites Linsag-Erispe told MindaNews that there are “no more reports of unusual mortality of pigs and no further reports from other neighboring barangays.”

But Erispe said that while the infection in the three barangays has been addressed, they cannot as yet declare that the virus is under control.

She said the threat is still around in surrounding municipalities and within Mati, the center of trade and commerce in Davao Oriental.

She also said that the municipalities of Banaybanay, Lupon, Tarragona, and Boston have tested positive for the virus as well.

The presence of ASF in Mati City was confirmed by officials a month after it was first detected.

According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), ASF is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs. It causes high fever, loss of appetite, hemorrhages, and death. It also has no vaccine as of now.

Although it is not contagious, humans can still be a carrier of the virus and affect the pigs. Another way of transmitting the disease is through unsanitary cages, transporting, and swill feeding.

The ASF reached Luzon from China in 2019 and in late January 2020, Mindanao recorded its first ASF cases in Davao Occidental.

It spread to parts of Davao del Sur and Davao City in February, just weeks before the COVID-19 lockdowns started in mid-March.

Late last year, several areas in Mindanao reported ASF infections. In Mati City, six pigs in Barangay Don Salvador died due to the virus on December 16.

The infection spread to

Barangay Tagbinonga on December 22, killing one sow and in Barangay Buso when a pig was brought by a resident from Barangay Don Salvador which also killed one boar, according to Erispe.

She said there are two possible reasons for the virus reaching the city: through the entry of people from an affected area, direct contact with infected animals and illegal entry of infected pigs, pork meat, or pork by-products.

Although it was detected earlier, the public confirmation of the virus came only a month after, on January 16.

“Taking the experience of other LGUs who experienced the same situation, our office dealt directly (with) the barangay concerned since it is at first an isolated situation, not to cause panic wherein the response of the public becomes uncontrollable especially during the yuletide season,” Erispe said.

Erispe said they immediately informed the affected hog raisers about the virus and discreetly conducted surveillance and testing in the affected areas.

According to her, within a day or two, they convened a meeting with officials of the affected barangays, to inform them of the findings and the action to be taken.

Depopulation was ordered on December 18, in accordance with DA Administrative Order 22 mandating the culling of hogs within a 500-meter radius from Ground Zero.

Erispe said 126 hogs were culled in the three barangays: 26 in Barangay Don Salvador on December 18, 48 in Barangay Tagbinonga on December 22, and 52 in Barangay Buso on January 6.

Fifty hog-raisers were affected, she said.

In November, Mati City was free of ASF despite the outbreak in Davao de Oro, City Information Officer Ben Jason Tesiorna said.

DA is providing fi-

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EXTENDED Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warns the public against unscrupulous groups that are soliciting money using her name allegedly to raise campaign funds for the presidential race next year. Edge Davao

Davao City to stay on GCQ status until Feb. 28

By MAYA M. PADILLO here is no easing of restrictions as Davao City will remain under general community quarantine status starting February 1 to 28, 2021.

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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte retained the GCQ classification of Davao City.

Earlier, Dr. Ashley Lopez, focal person of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said he favors the city not to revert to modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status just yet due to increasing number of cases.

As of January 26, 2021, there are a total of 11,166 cases since March 15, 2020 up to present and out of this there are 1,482 active cases including 99 new cases, which accounts to about 13 percent of the total cases since March. There are also 9,962 recoveries recorded that accounts to 82 percent recoveries including 99 new recoveries and 522 deaths including 10 new deaths.

City will decrease as he has been expecting a surge of cases in the middle of next month.

Apart from Davao City, Also under GCQ are Metro Manila, Batangas and Cordillera Administrative Region which includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio City, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province for Luzon; Tacloban City for the Visayas; Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City for Mindanao.

Santiago City, Ormoc City, and all other areas are placed under MGCQ. The risk-level classifications will take effect starting Feb. 1 to 28, 2021.

Damosa Land open to use of cold storage facility for vaccine storing

T Ricardo“Cary”Lagdameo

“If you look at the positivity rate sa Davao City ang threshold anang positivity rate is 5 percent only and according to World Health Organization, Davao City, from January 10 up to 24 medyo taas pa ta ug positivity rate ug daghan pa ta transmission sa atong households in the community,” Lopez said.

Lopez said there is still the need to intensify the preventive measures implemented especially the Covid cases here continue to increase since January 4, 2020 and recording with 100 cases per day. He is hoping that before Valentine’s Day, cases in Davao

he completion of the cold storage facility of Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE) will boost Davao Region’s capacity to store Covid-19 vaccines.

Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, first vice president of Damosa Land Inc., (DLI), said the company is open to the idea but would like to ensure that the facility is operational before making discussions.

“We are open to having vaccines stored in. In fact we would like to put the word out there that there is this cold storage facility that could be done about three month time. I do understand that there

are a lot of cold storage facilities in the region. If there is a need to store vaccines, we would be happy to volunteer ours,” Lagdameo said during the webinar on Anflo Industrial Estate 2021 Kick off on Friday.

DLI is targeting to complete its cold storage facility in three monthstime with the first 1,000 square meter phase that will be good for 800 pallets. The cold storage facility, which is located at AIE in Panabo City, is ideal for livestock companies.

“And other companies.

This open to everyone,” Lagdameo said.

With the vaccines ex-

pected to arrive second half of the year, Lagdameo is optimistic that DLI would be able to meet its timeline of completion.

“We were starting to reach out to them but we also want to make sure that our timeline will be met. We want to make sure that when we offer, it (cold storage facility) is really done and operational,” he added.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the Department of Health 9DOH 11) has guranteed the availability of cold storage facilities in Davao Region for the arrival and safe storage of Covid-19 vaccines. Maya M. Padillo

VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

NEWS 3

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Senator Christopher“Bong”Go asks the Executive Department to step in and curb the rising prices of pork and chicken products by imposing a price ceiling. Contributed photo

TF Davao tightens security S after Tulunan bus bombing

Go urges executive department to issue EO imposing price ceiling on pork, chicken

By MAYA M. PADILLO ask Force Davao (TFD) is intensifying security following the bombing incident in Tulunan, North Cotabato, on Wednesday that killed one and wounded five others.

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In a statement Thursday, TFD commander Consolito Yecla said additional forces were sent to checkpoints and terminals and security inspections on vehicles entering the city have been intensified.

He said TF Davao is utilizing canine dogs for

inspecting the buses and deployed additional personnel in the checkpoints, especially in the Sirawan checkpoint.

Yecla said TF Davao is also closely coordinating with the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) management for

the inspection of the buses in the terminal and agreed to implement the “no picking up of passengers” outside of the terminal.

He said picking up passengers outside of the terminal is a violation of the security standard operating procedure because they are supposed to be inspected when they enter DCOTT. Yecla reminded Dabawenyos with the “No Unattended Baggage Policy,” especially in terminals.

Dabawenyos are urged

he city government expressed confidence it could deal with a surge caused by a similar, more infectious variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that was first detected in the United Kingdom, Health COVID-19 focal person Dr. Ashley Lopez said.

In a text message on Thursday, Lopez said the city has 12 isolation facilities and 11 quarantine facilities, which included three hotels designated as temporary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs), with a total combined capacity of around 2,500.

In his program over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday, he said that the average occupancy rate of the facilities ranged from 46% to 50% daily, even with the ongoing post-holiday surge which started to kick in on January 4 and is expected to last until mid-February.

“Half of the facilities are vacant. We still have sufficient facilities that can accommodate the unexpected surge caused, most especially, by the new variant which was blamed for the surge in the UK. If this will happen to Davao – God forbid – we are ready in terms of isolation and

quarantine facilities,” he added.

He said the city government is also preparing another hotel and a school to be designated as COVID-19 facilities but added that the high critical care utilization rate at the government-run Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), the primary hospital catering to COVID-19 patients, is worrying.

He said the regular COVID-19 beds of SPMC are 70% to 85% occupied daily while the 30-bed intensive care unit of the hospital is always at the critical level, from 90% to 100%.

Lopez disclosed that

to report immediately unattended boxes or bags to the authority. He added that if they have belongings, they should not leave them anywhere because it may cause panic.

TF Davao has also coordinated with the Coast Guard for the heightened monitoring of the Davao Gulf as well as working with the government intelligence units outside the city for better information sharing on the activities of terrorist groups in neighboring areas.

the SPMC plans to add 10 ICU beds to cater to more patients.

“The planning is ongoing and they are looking for a budget but the good thing is there is already an ongoing plan to expand SPMC,” he said.

The SPMC will only cater to moderate, critical and severe COVID-19 patients while the mild-symptomatic and asymptomatic ones will be referred to the TTMFs. As of January 27, the Department of HealthDavao reported 202 new cases, bringing the total to 16,665 with 2,670 active

Davao confident it can handle surge caused by UK variant of COVID-19

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enator Christopher “Bong” Go has asked the Executive Department to step in and curb the rising prices of pork and chicken products by imposing a price ceiling.

The continued rise in pork prices is due to supply shortages brought by the African swine fever (ASF) while chicken prices had been subject of some illegal manipulations by some opportunistic businesses.

“Umaapela ako sa executive department na pagaralan ang pag-i-impose ng price ceiling sa karneng baboy at manok sa bansa upang mapigilan ang tuluy-tuloy na pagtaas nito.

Marami po sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga minimum wage earners, ang hindi na ma-afford ito,” Go said.

“Kung maaari po, ang gobyerno na po ang pumasan sa mga problemang ito, huwag lang po mapunta sa ordinaryong mamamayan ang dagdag na pasakit ng mahal na bilihin,” he added.

The Department of Agriculture is also planning to increase the volume of pork imports and augment local pork supply by tripling the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) to keep the meat prices in the country stable, with Secretary William Dar saying, “Kasama po sa plano at pinag-aaralan na namin ‘yung dagdagan itong minimum access volume to triple what is allowed. Ang allowed ngayon ay 54,000

metric tons isang taon,” during a Laging Handa briefing last Monday.

MAV refers to the volume of specific agricultural commodity, such as pork, allowed to be imported with lower tariff rate.

Go has expressed his support to the proposal of the Department of Agriculture to increase the MAV on pork, but added that appropriate legal processes must be observed to do this.

“Kailangan po nating bigyan ng pansin ang hinaing na ito ng ating consumers,” Go said.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, during the agency’s television program Konsyumer Atbp., also said that DA and DTI recently convened the Task Group on Food Security to discuss various trading issues resulting to higher prices of agricultural products. Secretaries Dar and Lopez met the group last January 14 after increased prices of pork, chicken and vegetables were reported in many public markets nationwide.

Notably, the country’s average inflation rate for 2020 settled at 2.6%, which is below the midpoint of the target of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. However, the faster inflation in agricultural products is due to lower production as a result of the damage caused by typhoons. The increase

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

A fisherman catches fish using traditional equipment called 'sudsud' near the beachfront in Matina Aplaya, Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

PH economy contracts 9.5% F in 2020; strong rebound seen

IP filings in 2020 down but seen to post record growth post-Covid

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he Philippine economy shrank a record 9.5 percent in 2020 but is expected to stage a strong recovery before the end of the year with the rollout of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Thursday reported the gross domestic product (GDP) posted a smaller contraction of 8.3 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

“The prospects for 2021 are encouraging.

With the continuous calibrated reopening of businesses and mass transportation, and the relaxation of age group restrictions, we will see more economic activity in the months ahead,” said acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, reading a prepared joint statement of the government’s economic managers in a virtual press conference.

Chua said the Duterte administration’s efforts to increasingly open the economy while fast-tracking the vaccination program and keeping the Covid-19 caseload to the lowest level possible would boost business and consumer confidence that are crucial to a robust economic recovery.

“All of these efforts to

contain the coronavirus and revive the economy will allow us to prevent long-term economic scarring and productivity losses and recover to the pre-pandemic level by mid2022,” he added.

Chua said the country had targeted in 2022 the achievement of two important economic milestones -- achieving an upper middle-income country status and lifting some 6 million Filipinos out of poverty.

“All of these relative to our own performance and the targets we have set are actually on track.

And if we work together to address the remaining issues around both Covid and non-Covid issues, then we will be able to achieve the 6.5-7.5 percent growth target this year and the 8-10 percent growth target next year, and those two (targets) will put us right where we want to be based on our PDP (Philippine Development Plan) targets,” he told reporters.

Chua, chief of the Na-

tional Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said there is a need to balance to gradually open the economy, avoid prolonged quarantine, focus on localized quarantines, and implement the minimum health standards. “(These) actually can give us a better deal wherein we address both Covid while also addressing non-Covid problems of the people. So going forward, we cannot afford anymore prolonged quarantines or risk aversion...,” he added.

The full-year GDP contraction to -9.5 percent is at the low end of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) estimate of -8.5 to -9.5 percent for 2020.

Alongside the prospects for a mass vaccination program, Chua said the higher government spending through the Bayanihan to Recover as One (Bayanihan 2) and the 2020 and 2021 budgets, as well as the swift congressional approval of key legislative bills, would underpin economic recovery this year and onwards.

He said the 2021 budget amounting to about PHP4.5 trillion includes an allocation of PHP1.1 trillion for infrastructure.

“With a multiplier of 2.27, meaning every peso spent creates another 1.27 pesos, some 1.7 mil-

lion jobs can be created to accelerate the recovery.

Timely implementation of infrastructure projects will have the biggest impact on our recovery prospects,” he added.

The NEDA chief cited preliminary data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showing the actual infrastructure spending was higher than programmed levels in the fourth quarter and fullyear 2020.

“We have exceeded the program both for the fourth quarter and the full year on infrastructure disbursement. The reason why it is negative in the GDP account is we are comparing to the fourth quarter of 2019 where we have the highest ever infrastructure spending as a result of the catch-up plan in 2019,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chua attributed the improved performance of the economy in the fourth quarter to the further reopening of businesses and wider accessibility of public transport since October 2020.

On the demand side, private consumption, which comprises some 70 percent of GDP, remained weak with a -7.2 percent growth, he said.

He added government consumption grew by 4.4

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or the first time since its establishment in 1998, filings at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) were down across all types of intellectual property (IP) as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic had brought about a waitand-see situation for many innovators and creators.

From January to December 2020, applications for trademarks contracted by 10 percent year-on-year to a total of 35,274, and patents declined by 9 percent to 3,648.

“The sluggish flow of IP applications last year, which signify lower commitments to new intangible assets, was expected given the economic uncertainties subduing investment appetite,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said in a statement Wednesday.

“But with the gradual opening up of the economy and the anticipated vaccine rollout, we hope to see more fresh investments in IP assets this year,” he added.

Utility model filings took the biggest hit, plunging 45 percent to 1,235 year-on-year, followed by industrial design by 23 percent to 1,259. Meanwhile, copyright deposits slipped 44 percent to 940.

2020 was also marked as the year with the steepest drop in trademark and utility model applications.

Resident trademark filers, which accounted for the bulk, declined 10 percent to 21,034.

Filings from non-residents edged down 14 percent to 6,827 while those made under the international Madrid Protocol slid 8 percent to 7,413.

Resident filers for utility models maintained the lion’s share of filings but declined by 47 percent to 1,150. Non-resident applicants decreased slightly by 3 percent to 85.

Patent applications by residents went down 6 percent to 407 while non-residents slid 12 percent to 322. Foreign filings made under the Patent Cooperation Treaty decreased 9 percent to 2,919.

Resident filers for industrial designs declined 37 percent to 642 while non-resident applications increased 1 percent to 671.

Industrial renewal to favor innovators On the decrease of patent filings in particular --a widely used proxy for research and innovative activities-- Barba expressed hopes this will be temporary.

Barba also hopes the trend today would resemble that in the post-financial crisis of 2008 when patenting activities dropped immediately following the recession but experienced sharp growth that surpassed pre-global economic crisis rates.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), global patent filings in 2012 grew by 9.2 percent, the fastest in 18 years. In the same year,

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ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO

BPI net income down 25.7% in 2020 on higher provisions for bad loans

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Bank of the Philippine Islands discloses that it booked a net income of P21.4 billion last year, a 25.7 percent decline from the previous year as it increased provisions for bad loans. Edge Davao

ank of the Philippine Islands said it booked a net income of P21.4 billion in 2020, representing a 25.7 percent decline from the previous year as it increased provisions for bad loans.

The Ayala-led lender said its fourth quarter net profit also declined 37.4 percent to P4.2 billion.

“The decline in earnings was a result of the bank booking P28 billion in provisions for loan losses for the full year 2020, as the economic slowdown leads to an increase in non-performing loans (NPLs). This provision is 5 times more than the P5.6 billion set aside in 2019,” the banks said in a statement.

Due to delayed loan payments amid the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic, NPL ratio was at 2.68 percent, and NPL coverage ratio ballooned to 115.2 percent, the bank said.

Revenues however rose

PH aims to improve ease of doing business with launching of CBP

PH economy seen held back T by ‘excessive risk aversion’

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fter the Philippine economy posted its worst post-war contraction, economic managers on Thursday said the economy was weighed down by lockdowns and that “prolonging the status quo of community quarantine and risk aversion is not an option.”

In a statement delivered by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Chua, the Duterte administration’s economic managers said “the economy is strong enough to recover if we enable it to do so.”

“In 2020, we saw significant hardships among the people who were deprived of jobs and income that led to more hunger, more poor people, higher prevalence of other sicknesses,

far more deaths from nonCOVID reasons, and lost opportunities,” Chua said.

Quarantine restrictions reduced household spending by P801 billion in 2020 or an average of around P2.2 billion per day, Chua said.

The fall in consumption translates into a total income loss of around P1.04 trillion in 2020 or an average of around P2.8 billion per day, he added.

Labor chief wary of wage increase

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abor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Thursday warned of possible business closures and loss of employment if his agency endorsed a wage hike for workers, as the prices of basic goods go up.

The "status of employment" is more important for workers than a salary increase, he said in a public briefing.

"If we will grant or recommend the approval of their petition na tataasan ang suweldo from P537 to P700, P750, baka hindi makayanan ng mga employer," said Bello.

(If we will grant or recommend the approval of

their petition to increase their pay from P537 to P700, P750, employers might not be able to meet this.)

The wage hike may particularly hurt micro, small and medium enterprises which might be "compelled to close shop," leading to job loss for their workers, he said.

The highest minimum wage is in Metro Manila at P500 to P537. Meanwhile, prices of basic commodities have risen. A kilo of pork in some markets, for instance, costs as high as P380 to P400.

The labor department

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Chua pointed out that private consumption, which comprises some 70 percent of GDP, remained weak as restrictions on the mobility of children, and hence families, prevented private consumption from making a stronger comeback.

“Economic growth will be hard pressed to make a stronger recovery if children and families are restricted from participating in the economy, as up to 50 percent of non-essential retail sales are driven by family spending.”

Last week, the inter-agency task force leading the country’s pandemic response announced that minors aged 10 to 14 would be allowed to go out of their homes in areas under mod-

ified general community quarantine or MGCQ. President Rodrigo Duterte however took this back a few days later saying he was compelled to reimpose the restrictions on minors due to the detection of the new COVID-19 variant in upland northern Luzon.

Chua meanwhile acknowledged that easing quarantine restrictions have been complicated by the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, but said economic managers expect the government will have rolled out enough vaccines against COVID-19 for a majority of Filipinos before the end of 2021.

Economic managers expect GDP to grow by 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2021 and by 8 to 10 percent in 2022.

BOLSTERING BARANGAY HEALTH. Barangay Inawayan pioneered the first-of-its-kind barangay isolation unit in the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur through its share of Energy Regulations No. 1-94 (ER 1-94) funds from AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI). The ER 1-94 program is a policy under the Department of Energy (DOE) Act of 1992 and

10.5 percent to P101.9 billion last year on higher core income and trading gains.

But total loans declined 4.6 percent to P1.4 trillion on “slowed corporate lending.”

BPI earlier announced its merger with thrift arm BPI Family Savings to fuse and increase cash reserves to meet reserve requirements of the central bank.

The Ayala-led bank was the first Philippine listed company to announce its full year earnings.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas cut interest rates by a cumulative 200 basis points, and reduced the reserve ratio for banks by 200 basis points to 12 percent last year in an attempt to encourage lending and borrowing and support the economy.

Despite this, banks have tightened lending amid rising levels of bad loans as businesses were battered by the pandemic.

he Anti-Red Tape Authority along with other national and local government agencies on Thursday formally launched an online onestop shop for registering businesses in the Philippines.

The Central Business Portal (CBP) is seen to reduce the number of days in opening a business in the country to just half a day from the current 33 while bringing down the number of steps to one from 13.

With this, ARTA said it hopes to boost the Philippines ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business 'Starting a Business' sub-indicator.

Currently, the Philippines ranks 171st out of 190 countries in that indicator with an overall ranking of 95th or in the bottom half of the list.

CBP can be accessed online at business.gov.ph and offers a single site for all business-related information and transactions such as securing business

permits, licenses, and clearances.

The portal provides a Unified Application Form for all agencies involved in the business registration process, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and the Home Development Mutual Fund or PagIBIG Fund.

The CBP is also linked to the online business permitting systems of several local governments, namely, Quezon City, Paranaque City, Ilagan City, Baler, Dipaculao, Limay, Macabebe, Paete, Santa Cruz in Marinduque, Labo, Santa Barbara in Iloilo, Mandaue City, Dumingag, Catarman, and Kabacan.

ARTA said it is also looking to integrate the online business permitting systems of other local government units into the portal in the future, while incorporating other features.

Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) which stipulates that host communities will get a share of one centavo for every kilowatt-hour (P0.01/kWh) of the total electricity sales of power generation companies operating in its area.

DAVAO 6 EDGE VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

On asking the Executive Department to step in and curb the rising prices of pork and chicken products by imposing a price ceiling: Umaapela ako sa executive department na pag-aralan ang pag-i-impose ng price ceiling sa karneng baboy at manok sa bansa upang mapigilan ang tuluy-tuloy na pagtaas nito. Marami po sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga minimum wage earners, ang hindi na ma-afford ito.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL

A tale of 2 lizards

To know the state of the environment vital to our survival as human species in an increasingly threatened world, it takes only to be observant of simple indicators. Take this case of two sail-fin lizards, called “ibid” or “halo” in the vernacular.

A group of men and women from the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc. and Bantay Bukid volunteers were doing a regular clean-up of Panigan-Tamugan rivers where a P12.5-billion bulkwater project is being developed by the Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. and the Davao City Water District. The clean-up is a periodic activity of IDIS and its allies officially sanctioned by the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) headed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and co-chaired by City Administrator Zuleika T. Lopez.

The group is led by lawyer Mark Peñalver, newly-minted executive director of IDIS, found two lizards. The initial find was alive which according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (UCN), is a very good indicator that the Panigan-Tamugan watershed is healthy and houses a balanced ecosystem.

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However, the second sail-fin lizard was dead, killed by a bullet fired from a “sumpak”, a homemade gun popular among hunters in the hinterlands. This in effect, was a sad indicator that rare species like lizards in the same watershed area continue to be threatened by human predators.

A similar dilemma is being faced by those who are trying to save the endangered Philippine Eagle.

Hunting is not the only illegal activity that endangers the flora and fauna in our thinning forests. The other deadly predators are land conversions, logging, monocrop plantations and human intrusion like tourists indiscriminately throwing their trash and human waste into otherwise pristine waterways.

“Thus protection efforts in this area should be strengthened and the Water Code should be strictly implemented,” says lawyer Peñalver.

Yes siree, this tale of the two lizards is not a trifling matter if we consider its grave implications on the quality and safety of the output of this multi-billion peso bulk water supply system in Tamugan.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WALING-WALING: THE OTHER FLOWER ICON When we were still in high school, we were told that sampaguita is our national flower. We later found out that the flower is a native of India.

So, in 2013, waling-waling was named as the country’s newest flower icon -- thanks to then Senator Loren Legarda. It was her who pushed for the declaration of the beautiful orchid as another national flower to make its beauty known to the whole country and to the world.

“The waling-waling’s beauty adorns our treetops, especially in Davao, Cotabato, and Zamboanga where it is endemic. But there are threats to its survival, as the flowers that grow and thrive in the wild are harvested for commercial and decorative purposes, and their habitat is destroyed by deforestation,” Legarda said in a statement.

Waling-waling “is one of the finest orchid species endemic to the Philippines, desired by orchid growers and breeders alike for its showy and attractive flowers and ability to impart its vigor and floral characteristics to its progeny,” wrote Dr. Helen Valmayor in her book, Orchidiana Philippiniana.

A Pictorial Cyclopedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants, described the exotic waling-waling in these words: “The flowers are flat, to eight centimeters across; the sepals and petals are obviate, bluish pink, with buff-yellow stain, and dull-crimson reticulations on the lateral sepals; the lip is small and concave, purple-red at base, strongly recurved and brownish purple at apex; with three promi-

nent keels.”

The waling-waling, named in “allusion to a moth in flight,” was discovered on Mindanao in 1882.

It used to grow on tree trunks in the rainforests of Davao, Sultan Kudarat and other parts of the island. It is worshipped as “diwata” (fairy) by the native Bagobos.

Unfortunately, the exotic orchid is almost on the brink of extinction. “The waling-waling is almost extinct in the wild,” deplored Dr. Domingo Madulid, one of the country’s noted botanists. “Rarer varieties of this plant can only be found in expensive nurseries.”

Recent surveys show that the waling-waling can be found in abundance no longer in the Philippines but in other countries, particularly Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Hawaii.

It is the best orchid variety of the country, Madulid said. But most Filipinos didn’t know that it could be one of the biggest sources of dollars for the country. In the 1950s, the “systematic plunder” of wild plants, including orchids, started.

Madulid said that long before the country was sending maids to Singapore and Hong Kong, upland farmers had been despoiling the forests and selling rare orchid varieties, such as waling-waling, abroad.

There’s an interest in how the world came to know waling-waling. Valmayor, in her very informative book, shared this story: “One of the most successful and secretive collectors was Carl Roebelin, who was in the employ of

Frederick Sander of the Orchid House of Sanders at St. Albans, England.

“About 1879, the Spanish government of the Philippines initiated a regular mail service between Manila and Mindanao. This provided a satisfactory means of sending collected plant material from the southern island to Manila. Consequently, Sander commissioned Roebelin to explore Mindanao for spectacular and still undiscovered orchids.”

It was February or March of 1880 when Roebelin came to Mindanao in the Bay of Illana near Cotabato. The place was described as “a very mountainous region on the western side of Mindanao.”

Valmayor added this additional information: “At that time, only the coastal regions and some rivers were controlled by the Spaniards. The interiors were populated by hostile tribes who were wary about white intruders.”

The story continued: “Earlier, (Roebelin) had heard of stories from natives about an orchid that grew on trees in mosquito-infested jungles with ‘flowers as big a dishpans.’ This whetted his appetite to seek the mysterious orchid, thinking of fabulous prices it would command in Europe.

“To reach the area, Roebelin had to travel with Sam Choon, half Chinese and Filipino, for apparently he was the only one who could trade safely with the natives. (The two) sailed up the river towards Lake Magindanao to the interior village of a rather peaceful tribe, the Subanons. They lived above

the mosquito zone in tree houses about 50 feet above the ground.

These raised dwellings protected them from the marauding warlike Bagobos, who would attack the villagers at night. Ladders for the tree houses made up of tree trunks were pulled up for the night, making them safe from raids of the Bagobos.

“Roebelin slept for the night in one of these tree houses very close to the tree branches. While asleep he was awakened by a loud roar and the shaking of the flimsy thatched hut. He was sure it was an earthquake and proceeded to tie himself to a branch while the shaking continued. He dropped off exhausted, fell asleep, and when he woke up in the morning he saw the beautiful spray of purple and brown flowers which the natives called as ‘waling-waling.’”

Roebelin took some plants and mailed them but they never reached England, “as the mail service was disrupted by the earthquake.”

Valmayor wrote: “Roebelin returned to England with only an illustration of waling-waling, but he was again dispatched by Sander to go back, and this time he did secure the orchid.”

When the orchid flowered in England in 1882, German taxonomist Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach named the plant after Sander, hence the name Vanda Sanderiana, or Euanthe sanderiana, as another taxonomist preferred to call the plant.

After that, Sanders introduced waling-waling to orchid en-

thusiasts and lovers in London the following year. Since then, it has influenced another thousand or more colorful and attractive vandaceous hybrids that are now part of the world’s multibillion-dollar orchid and cutflower industry.

For almost a century, waling-waling disappeared in the Davao gardens. But thanks to Charita Pentespina, it has “returned” to its native home. Then a neophyte orchidist, Puentespina successfully pioneered in mass producing the waling-waling through embryo culture in 1985.

During the 48th Araw ng Dabaw, the first waling-waling seedlings in compots (community pots) were sold to the public, which in no time generated interest among hobbyists and commercial orchid growers.

Since then, the waling-waling has become a fixture in almost every garden in Davao. “The return of the waling-waling to every home garden in Davao and elsewhere in the country is one thing,” one noted author wrote. “It is another thing to see it bloom in its habitat at the foothills of Mount Apo.” Yes, waling-waling is endemic to the country. “Our national symbols are vital to our identity as Filipinos,” Legarda pointed out. “As we discover more about ourselves, we must also update the symbols that represent us. I believe that initiatives to do so increase the engagement of everyday Filipinos with the symbols of our nation, and aid in our nation-building process.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

SAVING QUEENS, THE THEATRE One of two movie houses that used to grace Bonifacio Street, Davao City, was Queens.

During its heyday, it was advertised as the largest cinema in the Visayas and Mindanao. When its popularity grew, establishments started to sprout across, adjacent, or near the theatre.

Queens theatre, opened in the 1970s, was built on a property first owned by the Guinoo family. It was, however, swapped for a Limso property just across the cinema, in a space that is now occupied by eateries.

As was the trend in the 1980s, Queens had ‘double program,’ which means a ticket holder can view two B—rated movies for the price of one. Most of the films shown then were Hollywood produced flicks. Except in movie houses where X-rated Tagalog flicks or ‘bomba’ films were offered, cinemas in the same category as Queens presented war and love stuffs. Movies at the time was advertised as a form of relaxation.

At a time when families treated movie-viewing as a time for bonding, Queens was in the com-

pany of other cinemas, such as Galaxy, Garnet, Golden, Garmon, Lawaan, Odeon, Eagle, Crest, Tagumpay, New Life, Ideal, Lyric, and Landmark 1 & 2, to name a few.

Historically, the Queen’s lot, prior to its acquisition by the Limso family, hosted a postwar, single-story apartment. Antonio O. Floirendo, the banana mogul, his wife Nenita, and the growing brood occupied a door. One of his neighbors there was Federico Melocoton, who became chief of police of Davao City. Later, when the business flourished, the Floirendo family moved to Juna Subdivision, the city’s first millionaire’s village, in Matina.

The late Floirendo, acknowledged as the country’s top banana exporter, was also known as a political kingmaker in Davao region in the 1970s. Though he did not run for public office, some members of his family eventually joined the political bandwagon.

After the swap, Ricardo Limso, a Mason, promptly constructed an edifice in the former Guinoo property to house the cinema, which he called Queens. Accord-

ingly, the name was a takeoff from the trendy British rock group Queen. The theatre, with an upper-section veranda, was famed for its iconic grand staircase and rail pegs that led moviegoers to the loge section.

(As personal hunch, the name Queens could have been inspired by a borough in New York, which shares border with Manhattan and the Bronx. It is also home of the Unisphere, a metal globe replicated outside the Mall of Asia in Manila. It hosts the world’s busiest airports, namely the John F. Kennedy International Airport, and La Guardia Airport, and the area has a diversified economy.)

Limso, a successful logger and landowner, was the same guy who helped build the Masonic Temple outside Santa Ana wharf.

He principally donated lumber, nails, and cash to construct the first postwar home of Freemasonry in Davao, which started in 1918. The structure has since been demolished after a permanent edifice was built along V. Mapa Street. A hospital along Ilustre Street was named in his

memory.

Affected by the entry of Betamax, laser discs, and digital video discs and the opening of cinemas in mall, Limso decided to close the scarlet curtain and thereafter leased the building to a certain Chua who eventually bought the property in the late 1980s.

On the dark side, the cinema was the scene of the January 14, 1992, grenade-throwing that resulted in the death of two moviegoers and the injury to six others due to the stampede that ensued.

The incident, according to probers, was predicated by a lovers’ quarrel. The authorities did not say how the bomb was squirreled inside.

For nearly two decades, the curtain fell on the movie house. It was rented by a sect which used the building for its religious activities but had to pack up after the building was sold and set for renovation and retrofitting. After an extended lull, the property opened as a commercial edifice under a new owner and management, the Davao DDBP Resources, Inc. To the credit of the new own-

er, the old name Queens was retained for nostalgic reasons, but its structure is now infused with modern layout that stands out among the buildings along the Bonifacio thoroughfare. On July 10, 2016, the renovated edifice was greeted gleefully.

“People cheered with the pulsing music and strobe lights,” local paper Sun-Star Davao reported, “as the three-colored lights go up and nestled in the old Queens marquee, the burst of light brightened one of the city’s best-known buildings in Davao. Amid showers of snowlike confetti, joyous energy spread through the crowd, people jumped and cheered as a handful of coins and treats flipped in the air to attract prosperity and good luck.”

Housed there today is Focusinc, a New York-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm and 7-Eleven, a Japanese-owned, US-based convenience store. The BPO firm introduces itself as “catering to small-scale business owners in the [US] particularly in the New York Tristate area.”

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021 VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

SPREAD THE LOVE WITH

MINISO Red Cross Youth Negros Occidental was recognized as the Coke Barkada Awardee last December 2020 in TAYO Awards. While their Drumvatory Handwashing Facilities helped provide cleaner and safer province during

the pandemic, it was also aligned with Coca-Cola Philippines' Water Stewardship and Recycling advocacies.

31 Drumvatories were distributed to different hospitals, medical centers, establishments, municipalities all over Negros Occidental to encourage proper hygiene and sanitation.

Coca-Cola continues to champion sustainability by supporting young social, environmental stewards JAPANESE fast fashion brand Miniso celebrates love and life this Valentine’s Day with adorable finds that make perfect gifts in this season of love. are pastel Meanwhile colored heartthe shape KKK, eyond what has already been There played whose members are stupillows with embossed sweet Valentine’s out in the news of the ongoing globfrom Mindanao messages to hugdents and to hold.theExpress State University – Tawi-Taal pandemic, humanity also bore your love and care through the power of wi College of Technolwords with Miniso’s Valentine’s inspired witness to many awe-inspiring initiatives ogy and Oceanography Stay healthy notebooks pens. Keep your lovedproinitiates from non-government organizations, pri-and(MSU-TCTO), and hydrated grams and activities geared ones cool and hydrated with We Bear with this We vate groups, and individuals across all towards environmental Bears water tumblers and Cookie MonBear Bears conservation all while prosectors, pink tumbler.in the year that has been.ster water bottles. viding opportunities for

B

The renewed sense of social responsibility, rightfully taking spotlight especially in the Philippines, also highlights the impact that the youth sector can collectively make in the face of challenges and adversity. Such as that of the Negros Occidental chapter of the Red Cross Youth (RCY) and Kilusan Para sa Kalikasan (KKK), who were the recipients of the Coke Barkada Awards for 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Coke Barkada Award is a special award given to one of the chosen Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) to recognize and empower the outstanding youth group that share the passion to improve the well-being of communities through projects that are aligned with Coca-Cola Philippines’ sustainability priorities. And for the past two years, these two model youth organizations man-

aged to stand out for their the youth to actively parnoble work. ticipate in these efforts.

A cleaner, safer prov- Through their “Kahapan ince with the help from RCY ma Kawman” project for inComposed of youth vol- stance, they set out to emunteers from school coun- power the heavily discrimcils all over the country’s inated Badjao community “sugar bowl,” RCY Negros by spearheading communiOccidental is led by young ty-based solid waste manhumanitarian leaders em- agement programs and powered through training bio-intensive gardening. and education by the PhilThis has seen the instalippine Red Cross. lation of waste bins situatThese young individu- ed near the homes of tribal s Valentine als—responding to the call Miniso’ leaders who, after being inspired notebook to help mitigate the spread trained on proper waste pen is perfect for then tasked of the COVID-19—repur- anddisposal, were love notes and love posed 31 used steel drums to share this know-how into “Red Cross Youth thoughts. with their constituents.

Drumvatory Handwashing Meanwhile, by extending Facilities”—installing them knowledge on the develin populated locations such opment of bio-intensive as hospitals, health centers, gardens, food security, establishments, and local self-reliance and additiongovernment offices across al income for community the province. According to members is also promoted. the group, each drumvatoA brighter, better ry is approximately used shared future 4,000 times in a single day, “Every year, we are igno doubt an encouraging nited with a light of hope response. emanated by our Coke A clearer, greener to- Barkada Awardees and morrow led by the ‘KKK’ their projects. Much like

Water bottles in Cookie Monster designs for your everyday use.

Spread the love to your special someone as well as family and friends with these heartwarming gifts from Miniso.

All these and more are available in Miniso stores located in most SM Supermalls nationwide.

For a more convenient shopping experience, you can also check out these Miniso items and more at Shopee, Lazada and Miniso Philippines’ Official Websitehttps://shop.minisoph.com/.

For more updates you can also follow @MinisoPhilippines at Facebook and Instagram.

Say it sweetly with this delightful Valentine pillow.

Keep cool with

The 2019these Coke We Barkada BearAwardee, Bears Kilusan ng Kabataan an ma Kawman”project. Part of the project is commupara sa Kalikasan (KKK), empowered the heavily dis- nity-based solid waste management programs and inspired water criminated Badjao bottles . community through their “Kahap- bio-intensive gardening. dailyheartening schedules, and creative expressions in these “It’snotes, quite tal and the KKK leading our own Company initia- Jot down notebooks fun and fancynow, notebooks. for 15 years we the change, hope springs tives, these efforts aim to that address the immediate and have been seeing such eternal. Together with long-term needs of com- bright and responsible these youth organizations, munities, proving that even young minds who do their Coca-Cola Philippines will the youth can play a part in share in community and continue to work towards making a positive impact nation building. Thus, achieving its World Withon the lives of others,” said through the Coke Barkada out Waste vision: to collect Cecile Alcantara, Coca-Co- Award and TAYO Awards and recycle every single la Foundation Philippines Foundation, Coca-Cola will bottle it sells by 2030. In President. She added that continue to support these line with this, the Compathey will remain commit- youth groups so that they ny is set to make progress ted towards seeking out can further serve as an in- this year on the PETValue recycling plant, the biggest and supporting youth spiration to others.”

No doubt, with groups bottle-to-bottle recycling groups that spark positive like RCY Negros Occiden- facility in the country. change.

BDO EMPLOYEES UPHOLD VOLUNTEERISM VIA “HANDOG SA ‘YO” INITIATIVE

BRANCH EMPLOYEES of BDO Unibank exemplified the bayanihan spirit during the recent holiday season through s more savers opt to lion recorded in the same accounts and in terms of posted the biggest growth above PhP500,000 grew counts that allow them to a volunteerism effort involving keep their money in period in 2019. In terms of amount of deposits, reflects in terms of amount and ac- by 9.3% from PhP11.6 tril- withdraw cash immediatethe distribution of food packs amount, 11.6% or PhP1.7 increased depositor confi- counts, or by 12.4% from lion to PhP12.7 trillion. This ly, shows in the negative banks, more deposit in the Philippine toaccounts various marginalized com- trillion of the PhP14.3 tril- dence in the banking sys- PhP476.7 billion in Sep- represented an increase of growth of 7.4% in time banking system continue to lion total deposits is fully tem despite the adversities tember 2019 to PhP535.7 6.7% in terms of number of deposits and LTNCDs from munities nationwide. benefit from deposit insurprevious PhP4.0 trillion Done in partnership with covered by deposit insur- posed by the pandemic. We billion in September 2020. deposit accounts from 2.4 the ance provided by the Phil- ance and represents an in- are confident that the full This mirrored the dou- million to 2.6 million. in end-September 2019, theippine Bank’sDeposit corporate social crease of 11.3% from the year data will present even ble-digit growth of 11.9% Insurance In these uncertain while savings deposits inresponsibility BDO Corporation arm, (PDIC) up Founto PhP1.5 trillion insured de- brighter prospects for sav- from 63.6 million deposit times, Filipinos showed an creased by 14.6% and dethe maximum deposit in- posits in the same period in ing as a positive response to accounts to 71.2 million inclination save through deposits grew dation (BDOF), the “Handog Ms.acNormita Felix, to Baran“Thismand/NOW was a welcome program surance coverage (MDIC) of 2019. the health crisis.

As deposicounts. banks.

Savings deposits and by 21.1%.

Sa ‘Yo ng BDO” initiative was gay Chairperson of San Juan, of BDO Foundation. It proPhP500,000 per depositor The PDIC reported that tor confidence has become Meanwhile, Cainta, depos-wasdemand deposits/NOW acThe PDICofisrelief an active simultaneously done recently overcome with vided a measure and per bank. the double-digit growth in evident, it is important for its with balances greater counts amounted to PhP6.8 member of the Financial acrossLatest the country. packsthe number Zambales, Pampanga, anghelp panahon saidPhP100,000 one emotion turn-over, joy toSector underprivileged families data Food released of fully insured PangaPDIC to also sustain[sic],” than up to during trillionthe and PhP3.9 trillion, Forum composed of were turned to various sinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, LeonoraPhP500,000 Reyes of while by Barangay Sta. Ines,and Tanayjointly as they faced challenges during by the stateover deposit insur- ba-accounts year-on-year the trust ofrecipient the depositing increased respectively, Philippine financial regulaer showed that as of Sepdouble-digpublic through adequate tril- Mr. accounted the bulk the of holiday tors andseason.” staunchly rangays and rural health units,mirrored Aklan,the Iloilo, Negros OccidenMorong, Rizal. 10.8% from PhP1.0 Captain, AdrenicoforZubagia Heencouradded tember 30, 2020, 96.7% it growth of 11.7% in the deposit insurance coverage lion in end-September total domestic deposits at ages saving through which included communities tal, Negros Oriental, Agusan Similar reactions have been said he was thankful to receive the program highlighted BDO’s or 76.1 the 78.7 of total and effective supervision 2019 to PhP1.1 trillion in 74.5%. banks.

It Responsibilalso strongly where themillion health of centers were number del Norte, anddeposit Davao. Metro expressed by community the donations for hisMeanwhile, constitu- comCorporate Social million total deposit ac- accounts in banks nation- of banks’ operations,” PDIC end-September 2020. This bined time deposits and advocates financial literacy restored BDOF under its wide.Manila barangays were also leaders and beneficiaries from who were normally overity. counts by maintained in 537 Total deposit amount President Roberto B. Tan accounted for an ents increase LTNCDs amounting to “ and financial inclusion as Rural Health Units Rehabilitain the selection.said.

Luzon, Visayas and to the remoteness of The and BDOF eye to banks nationwide are fully grewincluded 9.5% year-on-year of Mindanao.

11.4% from 4.5looked milliondue PhP3.7 trillion accounted itsBank corporate social responinsured

by PDIC. The total from PhP13.1 to ways, DepositTo data released depositwere accountsthe to community.

5.0 for 25.5% of the deposits.implement sibility program to promote tion Program.

“Becausetrillion they find them, the donations similar initiatives number of recipients fully insured trillion. pa rin sa Baranalso showed thatgiftsdemillion deposit accounts.

Depositors’ of depositor Among the were PhP14.3 nakarating not just for the Christmas Mr. Gerry Diaz, Southern preferyearlyitstomandate continuously reach accounts was 11.8% more “The steady growth posits with balances of Further, data showed that ence for liquidity in these protection and financial thecompared barangays in Ilocos Sur, gay Sto. Nino ang “Handog sa season, but also provisions for Luzon Region Head of BDO’s out to the impoverished comto the 68.1 mil- in the number of deposit PhP100,000 and below deposits with balances uncertain times, with ac- stability.

Isabela, Benguet, Tuguegarao, Amin ng BDO” kahit masungit their daily needs.

Branch Banking Group, said munities.

96.7% of deposit accounts nationwide fully protected by deposit insurance

A

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ENVIRONMENT

9

Water: The untapped source of power

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

W

ithout water, life itself would cease to exist. As Albert Szent-Gyorygi, Hungarian biochemist and Nobel Prize for medicine, puts it: “Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”

All doctors and health professionals know that.

Water, next to air, is the element most necessary for survival. Water makes up more than 60 percent of our body weight. Proteins make up only 18 percent while fats encompass 15 percent, minerals 4 percent, carbohydrates 2 percent and vitamins less than one percent.

But perhaps only very few know that water can also be a source of electricity, another important thing in our modern lives. “We all need electricity,” said Von Hernandez, Executive Director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “It is vital – it powers our lives, runs our hospitals and schools – we need it for every aspect of our lives.”

By 2030, global energy consumption is projected to be 55 per cent higher than it is today due to population growth, continued urbanization, and economic expansion. The largest share of this growth will almost certainly occur in the developing world – and that includes the Philippines – with most of the additional energy currently projected to come from fossil fuels.

Around the world, there is a growing realization that climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels, is a more serious threat to the international community than terrorism. The threat of climate change is as dangerous as war, warned then UN Secretary-General Ban

Ki-moon in early 2007. He added that upheavals due to impacts of climate change range “from droughts to inundated coastal areas and loss of arable land.” All these, he believed, “are likely to become a major driver of war and conflict.”

This is where renewable energy comes into the picture. Renewable energy technologies are now ready for use on a large scale and have the potential to meet world energy demand many times over, said Dr. Janet Sawin, a senior fellow at the institute and an expert on international energy and environmental policy.

“Renewable energy offers tremendous potential and, combined with improvements in energy efficiency, could fuel the economy of the future,” Dr. Sawin pinpointed. “The future is in renewable energy — not in outdated and environmentally destructive fossil fuels,” agreed Anna Abad, Climate and Energy campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

Power crisis Almost three decades

ago, then energy undersecretary Rufino Bomasang told participants of a media briefing on business and economics reporting convened by the Press Foundation of Asia at Los Baños, Laguna: “Our shortage of electricity is a real, serious problem that we cannot downplay. But if we focus exclusively on it, we run the risk of seeing just the trees and not the forest.”

The scenario has not changed even until now.

While power supply in Metro Manila is sufficient “for now.” Mindanao, the country’s second largest island, is expected to have blackouts of up to six hours a day during the summer months.

Speaking in London in June 1997, then British Environment Michael Meacher said: “Energy policies should be designed to promote cleaner, more efficient energy use and production.

We want a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources. Doing so will create jobs, win exports and protect the environment.”

Power from the water Perhaps one renewable energy source that has not been fully tapped until now is water, which covers over 70 per cent of the earth’s surface. Electricity produced by water movement has been used for decades.

About 16 percent of the world’s electricity is gener-

ated by hydropower.

According to the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, the world’s top five producers are Canada, China, Brazil, the United States and the Russian Federation.

Several countries, including Brazil and Norway, obtain almost all their electricity from this one source.

Hydropower can be generated by water falls (the first hydroelectric plant was built on Niagara Falls in 1878), rushing rivers and streams, and manmade dams, all of which allow a controlled amount of water to pass through the pipes that spin turbines – creating electricity.

Electric power is measured in units called watts.

A watt is equal to one joule per second. The total generating capacity of a power plant is measured in kilowatts for 1,000 watts and megawatts for one million watts.

Enormous dams such as the Hoover (1,455 megawatts) and the Grand Coulee (6,180 megawatts) produce large quantities of power.

“Growing interest in developing hydroelectric power is largely an outgrowth of governments’ desire to be more self-sufficient in energy and to provide low-cost electricity,” wrote Cynthia Pollock Shea in Renewable Energy: Today’s Contribution, Tomorrow’s Promises.

A World Bank report in

the 1980s showed the Philippines as one of the “thirteen largest additions to hydroelectric capacity in developing countries.” From an operating capacity of 940 megawatts in 1980, it went up to 2,195 megawatts in 1985. In 1998, the total hydropower capacity stood at 2,304 megawatts or almost 20 percent of the country’s total installed capacity.

Hydropower potential sites According to the Department of Energy, there are 1,081 hydropower potential sites scattered throughout the country. “Hydropower can produce a lot of megawatts,” Bomasang pointed out in 1994.

Most of the hydropower plants in the country are in the form of a dam that backs up the water and raises the level. The released water falls into a turbine that generates electricity. “Impounding a river radically changes the surrounding ecosystem,” Shea wrote. “Nutrient-bearing sediments, instead of being deposited on agricultural floodplains and providing food for downstream fish, accumulate behind turbines and dams. Hydroelectric dams may also change the temperature and oxygen content of downstream waters, altering the mix of aquatic and riparian species.”

FWATER, P10

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PSA reports additional 1.5 million AFRICAN... registrants for national ID system

S

ome 1.5 million adult Filipinos from low-income families have been registered to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) after the program was expanded nationwide starting January 18 this year.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the additional registrants were included in the list during the first six days of the expanded registration program.

Mapa said when the national ID program was rolled out last year, it only covered 32 provinces wherein some 10.5 million

Filipinos from low-income households were registered.

He said Step 2 of the registration process, which involves the capturing of biometric information, has begun in six provinces – Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Bataan, Zambales, and Rizal.

“In the coming weeks, this will be expanded further to the 32 provinces

that started (registration) last year,” Mapa added.

The government targets the national ID to be the foundational ID in the country as it aims to increase financial inclusion among Filipinos, among others.

Among the priority for the initial batch of registrants are the beneficiaries of the government’s cash aid program.

Mapa said the PSA is “ready” for the program and targets to register 50 million to 70 million Filipinos this year.

“Our registration process is ongoing and we are capturing more Filipinos into the national ID,” he

added.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens.

The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.

It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions.

(PNA)

Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XI has turned over two checks worth P100,000 and P50,000 to ‘Uraya High Valued Crops Farmers Association’ of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

The checks were handed over to Uraya High Valued Crops Farmers Association on January 21, 2021 during a ceremonial awarding at Sitio Uraya, Barangay Sto. Niño, Talaingod.

The checks worth P100,000 and P50,000 were the cash prizes earned by the association for winning ‘Best DOLE Assisted Livelihood Project’ on both the

respectively.

According to Atty. Jason P. Balais, DOLE Director II, the basis for winning the award is the association’s “capturing” of the market through their products, specifically, by becoming a supplier of vegetables to Jollibee and Chowking in Tagum City.

“The produce of the farmers here are already supplying for Jollibee and Chowking. That is something, given the limited knowledge of these farmers in terms of growing crops for example,” he said.

“The maturity of the organization to be able to deliver results like this has

nila, worthy of the national award 2020,” he added.

Governor Edwin I. Jubahib expressed his joy saying the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) did not waste the help given by the government.

“Sobrang tuwa at saya ang naramdaman ko dahil po sa inumpisahan natin kung paano sila tumayo ng kanilang sarili…dahil po sa pagsama-sama ng lahat, yung sinasabi nating wholeof-nation approach, eto na recognize kung ano talaga ang effort at ang naging magandang resulta (I am very happy because with our combined efforts in helping them stand on their own

results have been recognized),” he said.

“Akoy nagpapasalamat na yung mga IPs natin ay nagsisikap sila para sa kanilang sarili. Yun ang gusto kong mangyari na ang lahat ay nagsisikap hindi lang ang gobyerno (I am thankful to our IPs for working hard for themselves. That’s what I want to happen, everyone working hard not just the government),” he added.

Uraya High Valued Crops Farmers Association President, Rufino Andalay, said that the livelihood assistance given by the government positively changed their lives.

in meat inflation, on the other hand, is caused by the decline in production due to the ASF. To address the issues on ASF, President Rodrigo Duterte has already issued Executive Order No. 105 which created the National Task Force on Animal-Borne Diseases. This seeks to undertake activities to prevent the entry of animal-borne diseases, control their spread and address other related issues.

Earlier, Go also lauded President Duterte for signing Executive Order No. 123 modifying the rates of import duty on certain agricultural products under section 1611 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The EO will further maintain the reduced tariff rates on mechanically

deboned meat (MDM) of chicken and turkey until end of next year as a way to help curb hunger and prevent prices of said products from going up amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

MDM is a major ingredient of low-priced meat products largely consumed by ordinary Filipinos.

“This is most welcome and I support it. This will have a huge impact on keeping prices low by keeping the tariffs low and preventing any inflationary effect,” Go said.

He, likewise, lauded various measures to be implemented by the DA, which include barangay-based vegetable farming; intensified implementation of the “Plant, Plant, Plant” program covering crop production, livestock, poultry and aquaculture; urban gardening, such as Gulayan sa Barangay at Paaralan; improved

agri-fishery production, processing, marketing and logistical support; sustained implementation of the joint circular on price control; increasing shipments of hogs from ASFfree areas of the country; prize stabilization on pork products; managing the spread of ASF through the Bantay ASF sa Barangay (BABaY); and ongoing swine repopulation program.

Go emphasized that the issue of rising prices must be addressed given the economic ramifications of the current pandemic and their effects on the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

“Kailangan natin itong solusyonan, lalong-lalo na sa panahon ngayon na marami pong mga kababayan natin ang nawalan ng trabaho. Walang pambili ng pagkain ang mga 'yan, tataas pa ang presyo, mas lalong mahihirapan ang

mga kababayan natin,” he said.

Go has been prodding the government to prioritize three important aspects towards COVID-19 recovery: (1) address hunger; (2) acquire sufficient, safe and effective vaccines for all Filipinos with utmost priority to the poor and vulnerable sectors as well as frontliners; (3) and provide more economic opportunities through jobs and other forms of livelihood.

“Ipaglalaban po natin ang tatlong importanteng mga adhikain na ito sa loob at labas ng Senado — ang pagsugpo sa gutom; ang pagkakaroon ng sapat, ligtas, at epektibong bakuna; at ang pagpapalakas ng ekonomiya at kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

“Tulad nga ng sabi ng Pangulo, no one should be left behind towards recovery,” he added.

industrial design counts grew by an all-time record rate of 17 percent.

In the Philippines, WIPO data show that patent filings in 2015 registered an annual growth of 52 percent, the fastest in 14 years.

“Past global crises have reconstructed industries, eliminating the less efficient firms or compelling a repurposing amongst

them while accentuating the competitiveness of the more dynamic and the more agile who recover.

And historically, those who put research and innovation at the center of their strategies are those who stand and thrive in the face of disruptions,” Barba said.

“Thus, lower filings may signal a redirection of growth paths, favoring the highly competitive and

innovative, rather than stymied innovation,” he said.

The IPOPHL chief said the agency will be working hard for filing activities in 2021 to rebound. Strategies include intensifying education campaigns on the benefits of IP protection and effective IP asset management in business and innovation pursuits.

IPOPHL will also continue improving processes

to have the front to backend operations fully digitized by the end of the year.

“Digitizing will allow not only wider access of IPOPHL services among inventors and creators but will, just as importantly, elevate our quality of service in a way that will entice local and global stakeholders to protect their IP and create value for the future,” Barba added. (PR)

DOLE-11 awards P150,000 to DavNor town farmers' groups he Department of National and Regional level been recognized by Ma- feet, our effort and the good

T

GO... FROM3

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nancial assistance to 50 farmers whose hogs were culled. They promised to give P5,000 for every slaughtered adult female pig or sow and P3,000 for every suckling pig.

The city government is also providing financial assistance but there is no announcement yet when this will be and how much.

Erispe said they reminded hog raisers not to feed swill to the pigs, to monitor them and report immediately in case there are deaths. She said they

should also maintain regular sanitation and disinfection of the farm, observe strict biosecurity, provide multivitamins, and observe proper feeding management to maintain the good health of their pigs.

With regard to the pork supply and safety of the consumers, Erispe assured that pork sold in the market is safe and ASF-free. She also said their office has already inspected and certified the pork meat products. (Nicole Baulos Burlas / MindaNews)

ones, 13,320 recoveries, and 675 deaths.

Of the total, Davao City reported 11,266, with 9,226 recoveries and 533 deaths. Davao de Oro re-

ported 872, Davao del Norte 2,354, Davao del Sur 1,189, Davao Occidental 185, and Davao Oriental 799. (Antonio L. Colina IV/ MindaNews)

percent despite the high base in 2019. As of Dec. 31, 2020, PHP109 billion have been released under Bayanihan 2.

On the supply side, Chua added that reopening of the economy led to smaller contractions in in-

dustry, manufacturing, and services growth.

However, agriculture performance deteriorated and contracted by 2.5 percent due to a series of typhoons, flooding, and the African swine fever, he added. (PNA)

needs to study any wage hike, the official said.

"Kailangan dito masusing pag-aaral (this needs thorough study)-- can the employers afford it? If they can, then by all means, we will recommend, we will adopt the petition of the

workers," said Bello.

"But if they cannot, then we will have to be careful.

Otherwise, we will again increase the unemployment rate. And that is the worst situation as far as our employees are concerned," he added.

Smaller hydropower plants, however, do not necessarily require dams.

They use a series of pipes with turbines inside which are turned by the current.

During his lecture, Bomasang said that “we have the mini-hydro and micro-hydro plants, with a potential of as much as 200 megawatts in the Cordilleras alone.”

He added, “No rice floods are flooded – just a very short dam to collect and divert the water, use it to turn the turbines, and then return the same amount of water to the creek.” Indeed, they have less negative impact on the local ecosystem.

Environment-friendly But are hydropower plants really environment-friendly?

Some scientists believe that hydropower from manmade dams produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, which are greenhouse gases closely connected to climate change.

“Large amounts of carbon bound up in trees and other plants are released when a reservoir is initially flooded and the plants rots,”

Worldwatch points out in a recent report. “And as plant matter settling on the reservoir bottom decomposes without oxygen, it leads to a buildup of dissolved methane, which is released into the atmosphere when water passes through the dam’s turbines.”

To operate well for many decades, hydro projects require sound management, not just of equipment, but of entire watersheds.

“Hydroelectric power will not be truly renewable until the functions of flood control, irrigation, transportation, power production, tree planting, fisheries management, and sanitation are coordinated within the overall goal of maintaining healthy and productive rivers,” Shea reminded.

In the final analysis, however, “hydroelectric power creates virtually no pollution problems,” writes H. Steven Dashefsky, the man behind Environmental Literacy: Everything You Need to Know About Saving Our Planet. “Small-scale projects cause little harm to the environment, but larger projects are environmentally destructive.”

TIP-INS Lakers: Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and Talen Horton-Tucker contributed 13. ... James went 1 of 12 from the field af-

ter making his first seven shots.

Pistons: Detroit made all 13 of its free throws. ... Mason Plumlee had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

DAVAO... FROM3

PH ECONOMY... FROM4

LABOR... FROM5

WATER... FROM9

LAKERS... FROM11

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11

PSHOF 2020 Selection Committee chairperson and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez and GAB chairman Baham Mitra.

PH Sports Hall of Fame to start screening process

N

ominations for the fourth enshrinement of the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) closes on Sunday, January 31 and the committees buckle down to work on the final selection.

“We have already received additional nominations since the extension of submissions, and we are expecting for more as we near the deadline,” said PSHOF 2020 Selection Committee chairperson and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.

The sports agency chief is set to meet the Selection Committee members -Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Mitra, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary-General Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines Secre-

Lakers suffer back to back losses

D

ETROIT — Blake Griffin scored 23 points and the Detroit Pistons took advantage of Anthony Davis' absence Thursday night (Friday, Manila time) in a 107-92 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

LeBron James had 22 points and 10 assists, but only two of those points came after halftime. The defending champions have lost back-to-back games, the first losing streak of any kind for the Lakers since before last year's playoffs.

Davis was out with a right quad contusion, and Los Angeles — which lost by a point at Philadelphia on Wednesday night — faded in the fourth quarter against the Pistons.

Detroit led by one before Griffin's 3-pointer

with 6:54 remaining started a 16-0 run. The Lakers went nearly seven minutes without scoring.

Wayne Ellington added 20 points for the Pistons.

James was questionable because of a left ankle sprain, but he looked fine at the outset, making his first seven shots from the field and scoring 20 points in the first half.

James made four 3-pointers in the half, but so did Ellington, and the Pistons only trailed 58-56 at the break.

Ellington finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range and is 40 of 67 from long distance in his last eight games. Ellington became the eighth player in NBA history to have at least seven straight games with four or more 3s.

FLAKERS, P10

tary-General Atty. Avelino Sumagui, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Executive Director Atty. Rene Saguisag Jr., and Philippine Olympians Association President Akiko Thomson Guevara -- on February 11, for the presentation of nominees.

Previously, the selection committee adopted a resolution approving the automatic nomination of Olympic medalists, and the possibility of hosting the awarding on a virtual platform, with the current re-

strictions placed on mass gatherings.

Ramirez also named members of the Review Committee, who are tasked to thoroughly evaluate and shortlist the nominations, before the decision of the Selection Committee.

The Review and Evaluation Committee is comprised of Joaquin Henson of Philippine Star, Eduardo Andaya of Peoples Tonight, Lorenzo Lomibao Jr. of Business Mirror, Eriberto Talao of Manila Bulletin, Eduardo Catacutan Jr. of Spin.ph, Jose Antonio of

Blake Griffin works against LeBron James on the post. PHOTO: AP

People’s Journal, Reynaldo Bancod of Daily Tribune, and Prof. Theresa Jazmines of UP College of Mass Communication.

“We asked for the expertise of our notable sports media friends to form the review and evaluation committee, for they are the timekeepers of Philippine sports, and have covered the many great achievements of our Filipino athletes,” added Ramirez.

By virtue of Republic Act No. 8757 or the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame

Act, the highest sports award-giving body has enshrined Filipino athletes, coaches, and trainers who made valuable contributions in Philippine sports since its first induction in 2010.

Among the past recipients of the award were Asia’s First Chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Asia’s Fastest Woman Lydia de Vega, Bowling World champions Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno and Olivia “Bong” Coo, and Filipino Boxing legend Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.

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VOL.13 ISSUE 244 • SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021

An architect's perspective of the sports complex that's soon to rise in Mati City, Davao Oriental.

MOSES BILLACURA CLEAN SLATE

MATI SPORTS COMPLEX IN MY MIND The last time I was in the City of Mati was during the Mindanao Friendship Games.

Editor Neil Bravo, one of the brightest sons Mati has ever produced, was very kind to facilitate our comfortable stay and made arrangements to have a meeting with the late Rajah of Rebounds, Mayor Francisco “Paking” Rabat, member of the Philippine basketball team that played in the 1954 FIBA World Men’s Basketball Championship in Rio de Janeiro, where they won a bronze medal for the country.

Prior to the MFG, I had to opportunity to visit Mati on several occasions. I love the beaches and its people. And believe me or don’t, daghan gwapa sa Mati, Davao Oriental.

What brought me back to

mention Mati was when Tempo editor Toto Rey “Laching” Lachica tagged me on FB about the new sports facility. The sports center will be built at a 12-hectare property acquired by the province.

That development prompted me to request a statement from a long-time sportsman, Judge Emilio “Nonot” Dayanghirang III. “A project of this magnitude will transform Mati City into a beacon of sports; not only in the Davao region, but the entire Philippines as well. As an avid sportsman and former athlete, I cannot help but beam with joy at this monumental step. Our athletes are truly in great hands.”

And I completely agree with that statement from judge Nonot, who during our time with amateur basketball development

in Davao Region under regional director Regino “Boy” Cua, was one of the members of the hard-working BAP, then renamed SBP, SBP-XI Board.

Nindot kaayo, Judge Nonot noh?

Aside from the standard facilities of a sports center, what drew my attention more to the news, is the athlete’s dormitory.

In the yesteryears, I noticed that sports centers were built by local government units in Mindanao without the athlete’s dormitory. That gave me an impression that there was not yet a desire for training and maintaining top notch athletes. The sports center was simply built for competitions and other large crowd events, including political events, gamiton ting kampanya ba.

The presence of an athlete’s dormitory is an indication that a genuine sports program has already been in place. Athletes who are directly supported by the local government unit is a welcome development. Murag ni level up na.

I would love to see the day when local athletes can really represent their city of birth.

Kung taga Mati kaw, you play and represent Mati. That’s should always be the case. In the years that we’ve covered sports, we discovered during the interview of an athlete, representing this LGU, and a further inquiry, we discovered that he or she is not actually born and raised in that city or town. This situation is understandable because some towns, especially small towns

do not have a sports program in place and cannot fully support their local athletes. So the local athletes, offer their services to other LGUs. I can’t blame them. Why would he represent his or her town which has no sports funding or the lack of it in the first place? He cannot eat “lansang ug bato” and compete in the Provincials. “Lansang ug bato” is the poor athlete’s term for “bulad bolinao” (lansang, depende usahay sa numero) and “bato”, referring to the hard-boiled egg.

Someday, I will be back in Mati and will be beaming with pride to see a “world class” sports complex.

I would be happier if we would see “world class” athletes from Mati. Someday.

FPANDEMIC, P10