Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 234 | Tuesday, January 19, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

COVID-19 VACCINE: TO VAX OR NOT TO VAX HEALTH P7

Serving a seamless society

NO VAX, f

VOL.13 I SSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

@EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net

edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 12 PAGES

NO PENALTY

No sanctions for not getting Covid-19 vaccine: Sara STORY ON PAGE 2 Vendors clean then sort-out mussels by size at a sidewalk stall outside Bankerohan Public Market’s main building in Davao City on Monday.

Edge Davao

2

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

NEWS

NO VAX, NO PENALTY No sanctions for not getting Covid-19 vaccine: Sara

By MAYA M. PADILLO

M

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified that a person will not be penalized if he or she refused to get vaccinated from Covid-19.

She issued the statement after reports or public fear of vaccination because of real or perceived risks associated

with immunization.

The fear escalated after reports of 29 people above the age of 75 who reportedly died in Nor-

way after getting vaccinated for Covid-19.

“Voluntary man ang vaccination program sa Pilipinas so kung dili magbakuna ang tao there is no penalty or silot na ihatag sa iyaha,” the mayor said in a live broadcast interview on Monday.

The people’s refusal may also lead to lower vaccination coverage and

loss of herd immunity.

“Kung mu refuse dili ma-achieve ang herd immunity. Bisan pa dili nato maabot ang herd immunity dili ghapon ta puwede mupugos ang isa ka tao nga mu refuse magpabakuna. Dili nato puwede sila basta na lang birahon ug ipabakuna,” she said.

The city has recent-

ly inked deal with British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The mayor earlier said that the city targets to immunize 1.2 million Dabawenyos to achieve the herd of immunity in Davao City as recommended by experts.

Mayor Sara said the

solution that is need to be implemented to ensure high vaccination coverage is to have a massive information drive.

“Solusyon ana is enksato ug tamang pagpasabot sa mga tao kung unsa ang bakuna and unsa ang benefits kung mapabakuna sa imoha, sa imong pamilya ug sa community,” she said.

Pulong to lead appropriation in Congress for Ma-a flyover

D

eputy Speaker Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte will initiate in Congress the appropriation of funds for the construction of flyover in Ma-a Diversion Road.

This development came after the city government of Davao disclosed that such project is not a priority.

“Na build na nato pero giundang sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) kay nagsulat sa amoa ang city administrator nga dili daw priority sa city ang flyover. Naningkamot mi sa Congress kami ni Cong.

Eric Yap sa appropriation nga among ibalhin sa diversion road,” Duterte said in a virtual presser through Zoom on Monday.

The original plan is to build the said flyover in

front of SnR along MacArthur Highway aiming to decongest traffic in the area.

“Among gi-realign karon ug ibalhin namo sa Ma-a Diversion Road in Magtuod.

Didto man unta to ibutang sa atubangan sa SnR para iwas traffic puhon. Nagsulti man ang city hall nga musamot daw ang traffic. Daghan maapektuhan sama sa pagbalhin sa kuryente, tanan daghan maapektuhan. Dili pa daw priority sa syudad ang flyover atubangan sa SnR so atong gibutang didto sa Diversion Road,” he said.

Constructions of flyovers in congested areas, completion of coastal roads and connecting them to major highways to ease traffic are among identified key areas Duterte wants to focus in terms of public service.

The Department of Health (DOH) is considering conducting a "house-to-house" vaccination for vulnerable and high-risk senior citizens targeted to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

During the House Committee on Health inquiry into the government's COVID-19 vaccination program, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said a "house-to-house" vaccination is possible.

"Yung house to house, posibleng gagawin natin, kasama na sa pagpplano doon sa mga very, very vulnerable at high-risk senior citizens," he said.

Duque pointed out, however, that this plan is "more of an exception rather than the rule," since the original objective is for individuals to go to designated vaccination sites to receive the vaccines.

"Kinakailangan din natin bantayan yung post-immunization surveillance, monitoring and recording of adverse events following immunization," he said.

"Yan (house-to-house), titignan natin on a more focused basis yung sektor na baka mahirapan kung papupuntahin sila sa mga vaccine sites. We will bring the vaccines to them," he added.

Duque earlier said the government identified 4,512 fixed COVID-19 vaccination points across the country. He explained that the model will be similar to election poll sites and that existing medical centers and rural health facilities will be utilized.

Each site will have three vaccination teams. Each team will aim to administer the vaccine to 100 people per day.

DOH mulls ‘house-to-house’ vaccination for vulnerable sectors, senior citizens

Davao City 1st District Representative and Deputy Speaker Paolo“Pulong”Duterte says he will secure funds from Congress for the construction of flyover in Ma-a Diversion Road after the city government of Davao disclosed such project is not yet a priority of the city. Edge Davao

FDOH, P10

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

President Rodrigo Duterte shares a light moment with People’s Republic of China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malacañang Palace on Saturday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Davao City not expecting to be in COA’s wealthiest cities for 2020 M

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city is not expecting to keep its status as among the wealthiest Philippines cities in 2020.

This after Davao City was listed as the 10th wealthiest city in the country with a total assets of P19.784 billion last year for local government in to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) Annual Financial Report (AFR).

Davao City was the lone city in Mindanao to hit the top 10.

The COA reported on Thursday the list cities in the top 10: Makati City as the wealthiest city in the Philippines, with P233.7 billion in assets, followed

by Quezon City with P96.4 billion, Manila with P64.8 billion, Pasig with P45.6 billion, Cebu City with P34.7 billion, Mandaue City with P32.1 billion, Taguig City with P29 billion, Caloocan with P20.5 billion, and Pasay with P19.7 billion.

“Wala namo na gitarget na i-achieve for 2019, so that is not a target to achieve for 2020. Dili na siya mao ang ginatarget nato,”

do David.

Face-to-face classes also remain prohibited due to the threat of the pandemic, David added.

"I mean hindi natin pinapayagan 'yung school pero papayagan natin sila magpunta ng mall? Parang di lang consistent 'yung messaging na pwede silang pagala-gala pero di sila nagaaral. Kung ganun lang e di ibalik natin ang school. Mas importante yun," he said.

(We don't even allow school but we will allow them to go to malls? The messaging of allowing them to roam but not go to school is not consistent. If that's

the case, then let's bring back schools, it's more important.)

Children below 16 years old are also ineligible for COVID-19 vaccines as they have yet to be included in clinical trials, David said. "'Yung vaccine designed siya for 16 and above kaya wag natin hayaan na lumabas-labas ang mga batang ito. Kahit may vaccine na di natin sila mababakunahan," he said.

(The vaccine is designed for 16 and above so let's not let these children go outside. Even if there's a vaccine already, we can't inoculate them.)

OCTA Research rejects move to allow children in malls

A

group of independent researchers opposed Monday a proposal to allow children aged 10 and above outside their homes in a bid to revive the economy.

The trade department last week said it supports the proposal of Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua to let more children and families out of their homes so that commercial establishments like malls would have more customers.

Children, however, will not contribute much to the economy as they are "not breadwinners," said OCTA Research Group fellow Gui-

the mayor said.

The AFR for local government aims to provide essential information on the financial condition, performance, changes in equity, cash flows, and comparative budget and actual amounts of LGUs and the local government sector as a whole to a wide range of users and stakeholders.

In terms of the mayor’s economic projection in

2021 for the city, she said she still have to wait for the assessment of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO).

“We will see. Wala pa nahuman and we already instructed the CTO to make an assessment kung pareho lang ba ang atoang collections from last year to this year. From there on we will try to analyze kung dunay pagbag-o in terms of atoang

performance sa collection nato sa city government,” she said.

The mayor is also optimistic that the city’s economy will start picking up middle of 2022.

She also assured that displaced workers will receive assistance from the city’s special projects under Commissioner Norman Baloro.

Battalion.

Their bodies were recovered and brought to Malaybalay City late Saturday night.

Troops who reached the crash site at Sitio Nahigit, Barangay Bulonay, Impasug-ong town late Saturday afternoon found the aircraft “a total wreck” but did not explode and was not in flames.

The military earlier identified the crash site to be near Barangay Busdi, Malaybalay City but corrected it Sunday adding that the crash site can be reached by vehicles from Impasug-ong town.

Lt. Col. Edgardo Talaroc Jr., commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion said the helicopter did not explode.

Talaroc said soldiers and militiamen who responded to the incident found the wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter amid banana plants on the edge of a rice field.

“The bodies of the fatalities were still strapped to their seats but were badly mangled,” Talaroc said.

He said six bodies were found inside the downed helicopter while the seventh body was found a few meters away — apparently

Chopper didn’t explode when it crashed in Bukidnon; all seven bodies recovered

T

he ill-fated Philippine Air Force Huey UH1H helicopter did not explode on impact when it crashed on the edge of a ricefield in the mountains of Bukidnon Saturday afternoon, killing all seven passengers and crew on board.

Major Rodulfo Cordero Jr., spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division identified the fatalities as Lt. Col. Arnie Arroyo; 2Lt. Mark Anthony Caabay and their crew; Sgt. Melven Bersabe and A1C Stephen Agarrado; Sgt. Julius Salvado of the Philippine Army, and militiamen Jerry Ayocdo and Jhamel Sugalang of the 8th Infantry

FCHOPPER, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

Dabawenyos armed with umbrellas brave the downpour at the junction of San Pedro and Bolton Streets in Davao during a rainy Monday morning. Edge Davao

BOC seizes P9.75-B T ‘hot’ goods in 2020 T

PH economy still facing risk but ‘worst is over’: Lopez

he Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized in 2020 an estimated P9.746 billion-worth of smuggled goods, of which over half were illicit tobacco products.

Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III that the BOC apprehended smuggled cigarettes and other tobacco products in 150 of the 792 operations conducted by the bureau in various ports in 2o20.

As ordered by Dominguez, the BOC and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) intensified their respective operations against smugglers and tax evaders last year despite the mobility restrictions triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

“For the anti-smuggling effort of the BOC, the consolidated estimated value of seized shipments last year is P9.746 billion, of which P5.217 billion are from seizures of cigarettes and tobacco, P1.85 billion are from drugs seizure and P1.02 billion from counterfeit items,” Guerrero told Dominguez during a recent Executive Committee (Execom) meeting of the Department of Finance (DOF).

The confiscated tobacco products made up 53.5 percent of the total amount of goods seized by the BOC

during this period, Guerrero said.

Aside from tobacco products and illegal drugs, the BOC also seized P32.59 million-worth of various types of currencies from January to December 2020.

General merchandise worth P403.89 million, vehicles and automobile accessories valued at P354.53 million, and agricultural products amounting to about P207.7 million were also apprehended by the BOC, Guerrero said.

He said the BOC also seized personal protective equipment (PPEs), medical supplies and cosmetics, P195.57 million; jewelry and other products, P69 million; foodstuff, P212 million; used clothing, P130.59 million; electronics goods, P31.07 million; steel products, P4.76 million; alco-

holic beverages, P2.43 million; chemicals, P5 million; and firearms, P300,000.

From Jan. 1 to Dec. 28 last year, Guerrero said the BOC filed 74 criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against 268 respondents suspected of smuggling, and another 52 administrative cases before the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

As of Dec. 4, 2020, the BOC also ordered the closure of 20 customs-bonded warehouses (CBWs) and 40 members of customs common bonded warehouses (CCBWs) for various violations, Guerrero said.

“In 2020, the BOC already completed the inspection and investigation of a total of 150 Customs Bonded Warehouses and 247 Members of CCBWs,” Guerrero said.

sibility studies for major projects and other projects to be mutually agreed upon by the parties.

“Subject to further discussions between our two governments and depending on the requirements, this may possibly include support for Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) related activities and response measures,” Undersecretary Mark Dennis Joven of the International Finance Group (IFG) of the Department

of Finance (DOF) said in a statement Sunday.

Joven signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippines, while Vice Chairman Deng Boqing of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) signed on behalf of the Chinese government.

The signing of the grant accord was witnessed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and visiting China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang

Yi, in ceremonies held at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Taguig City.

The signing of the 500 million renminbi accord brings to seven the number of grant agreements executed and signed with the Chinese government by the Duterte administration.

The signing of the latest agreement brings the grant resources from the Chinese government to a total of 3.25 billion renminbi (about USD496.97 million). (PR)

PH gets P3.72B infra, devt grant from China

T

he Philippines and China signed Saturday an agreement on economic and technical cooperation that will provide the country with a grant of 500 million renminbi (about USD77.38 million or PHP3.72 billion) from China to support the implementation of infrastructure projects and other development initiatives of the Duterte administration.

The grant is intended to support livelihood projects, infrastructure facilities, fea-

he Philippines is still facing challenges this year that may hamper economic growth due to the pandemic but the “worst is over” in 2020, the country's top trade official said.

In an interview with CNBC Asia on Friday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the economic recovery has begun since the reopening of economic activities due to relaxed quarantine measures amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) health crisis.

“We are still facing risk but I would also say that the worst is over. 2020 was really the height of the lockdown and we saw the economy really dropping.

But ever since, we have seen signs of recovery from GDP (gross domestic product) to unemployment rates,” Lopez said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country recorded a 17.7 percent unemployment rate in April last year, the highest since 2005.

It slowed down to 10 percent in July when the government reopened economic and business activities.

After plummeting by 49.9 percent in April, export revenues recovered by 2.2 percent in September and 3 percent in November.

The GDP contraction likewise slowed down from a 16.9-percent decline in the second quarter of 2020 to -11.9 percent in the following quarter.

“We have been reopening the economy gradually and safely towards the latter part of 2020. That is the reason why we have been seeing signs of recovery (in) many aspects,” Lopez added.

He said the Philippine government has signed deals with Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers and the immunization program would be rolled out this year.

“Yes, there are still challenges but we expect the vaccines at least can provide some level of prevention despite new variants coming out. We simply just have to manage the virus and the policy of the Philippine leaders right now is to be able to have an attitude of risk management rather than risk avoidance,” Lopez said.

He said he is also expecting the country to benefit from regional trade deals, including the recently concluded Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The DTI, he added, is also looking into possible participation in the Comprehensive and Progressing Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

“Our intention really is to look into that regional bloc so that we can also benefit from a freer global trade bloc that (the) CPTPP has,” Lopez said.

Meanwhile, he welcomed the announcement of United States President-elect Joe Biden on a USD1.9-trillion stimulus package for their economic recovery. (PNA)

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Big-time oil price hike this week

H

eftier prices of petroleum products will again greet motorists this week, marking the third straight week of hikes.

In separate advisories, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline

by P1.00, diesel by P1.05, and kerosene by P0.95.

Cleanfuel and Petro Gazz will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which they do not carry.

The changes will take effect 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, except for Cleanfuel which will adjust prices 4:01 p.m. the same day. Other firms have yet to make similar announcements.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) show that yearto-date adjustments stand at a net decrease of P0.45 per liter for gasoline, P0.30 per liter for diesel, and P0.40 per liter for kerosene as of January 05, 2021.

Pass economic bills to further open economy, says DTI chief

T

he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in favor of further liberalizing the economy but not necessarily through constitutional amendments, Secretary Ramon Lopez said Friday.

Lopez said it has been DTI’s principle to support moves to open up the economy and lift restrictions that hamper economic growth, including those on foreign ownership.

“Kung magagawa ito sa pamamagitan ng ilang mga batas, not necessarily constitutional amendment, ito po ang nakikita naming mas madali moving forward (If this could be done by passing some bills, not necessarily constitutional amendment, this is what we see as the easier way to move forward),” he said during a Laging Handa public briefing.

Lopez said the department has nothing against Charter change, particularly if it focuses only on economic provisions, but other issues, especially political, have surfaced.

“Dahil ‘pag pinag-usapan ang Charter Change,

marami pang pangamba at issue na lumalabas, tulad ng nakikita natin ngayon (Because when Charter change is discussed, many concerns and issues arise, like what we are seeing now),” he said.

Lopez added that given the limited time before the start of the campaign and election period, lawmakers lack time to amend the Constitution.

Earlier, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business group, said discussing Charter change amid the pandemic is untimely.

Instead of pushing for a constitutional amendment, it said, lawmakers should pass pending bills that would also lift certain economic restrictions in the country.

The group was referring to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act, and the Public Service Act, among others. (PNA)

Local tourists on Friday afternoon, January 15, 2021, visit the landing site of Florentino Das, an intrepid Filipino sailor who made a 5,000-mile solo voyage from Kewalu Basin in Hawaii to Barangay Magsaysay in Sta. Monica town on Siargao Island. On board his self-made 24-foot sailboat, Lady Tamarau, powered by two 25-horsepower outboard engine, Das left Ha-

DTI-11 hits 2020 target amid Covid pandemic A mid the global pandemic, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region successfully delivered its 2020 targets and intensified its assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to help them cope up in these trying times.

The agency’s planning unit revealed that it assisted a total of 23,627 MSMEs in 2020. This is 107 percent of its annual target of 22,018 MSMEs. Part of last year’s breakthrough was the assistance for MSMEs in far-flung barangays in the region through the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB)

and Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG).

The NSB is designed to help maximize the potentials of barangays to become economically independent and make them more effective partners in the attainment of the national goal.

With this goal, the NSB has been reinvented to include barangays with recovering

torists on Tuesday after oil firms implemented price increase, marking the third straight week of hikes.

Edge Davao

MSMEs affected by the current health and economic crisis.

The agency reached 115 identified barangays in the region and assisted 10,942 clients, 6,029 of which were MSMEs. Various DTI services such as business registration assistance, business consultations, lecture on entrepreneurial mind-setting, livelihood, and skills training were provided during the said caravan. Livelihood kits worth P5,000 were also distributed to 1,191 identified beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the PPG was intended for MSMEs affected by fire incidents and oth-

er calamities. In 2020, 101 identified barangays in the region were reached, and served 3,173 MSMEs. Livelihood kits worth P5,000 were also distributed to 1,722 identified beneficiaries.

In the meantime, DTIDavao Region’s mentorship program continued through the Online Kapatid Mentor ME Program. It produced a total of 80 graduates out of 84 mentees who enrolled for last year.

The agency likewise extended its assistance to 154 investors in the priority industries. These industries

interventions to eradicate child labor.

In addition to the livelihood assistance, DOLE also had ‘Project Angel Three’ through which its private sector, individual and establishment partners directly gave assistance and shared (their) blessings to profiled child laborers and their parents last Christmas season.

In Davao del Norte, the agriculture industry holds the most number of child labor cases involving children working in hazardous conditions in farms while others were found peeling bananas to earn, Villegas said.

Villegas added that most of the child labor cases in

the province are found in Tagum City, as it is the capital of the province; however, he clarified that these cases were not all Davao del Norte residents as there were children from other provinces who came to work in Tagum.

“Apil na ang mga dayuhan kay Capital of Davao del Norte man ang Tagum City.

So dili lang mga taga Tagum City ang atong na profile but naka profile ta ug mga taga lahi na probinsya even mga taga Manila na profile nato diri kay naa diri karon nag trabaho (That includes the visitors because Tagum City is the Capital of Davao del Norte. So it’s not just

FD TI-11, P10

P5.5M support given to parents of child laborers in DavNor

T A pump attendant fills a motorcycle with gasoline at a pumping station in Matina, Davao City on Monday.

Higher prices of petroleum products will greet mo-

waii on May 14, 1955, supposedly for a 90-day voyage to the Philippines.

Guided only by a simple compass and the stars, Das survived six storms and reached the shores of Siargao on April 25, 1956. MindaNews photo

by ROEL N. CATOTO

he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region XI has given 5.5 million pesos worth of livelihood assistance to parents of child laborers all over Davao del Norte in 2020.

DOLE XI Community Facilitator Dave Andrei Villegas revealed that 350 parents of child laborers in the entire province were the recipients of the livelihood assistance.

Such livelihood assistance was extended through DOLE’s “starter kit” program rolled in areas with profiled child labor cases.

Villegas said this livelihood program is one of DOLE’s

FP5.5M, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

On the national government purchasing Sinovac vaccines for a price close to the P650 per dose offered to Indonesia: Ang aking ia-assure po sa inyo ‘no, fake news po iyong kumakalat na PHP3,600 per dose daw iyong singil ng China. Hindi po, ang ating presyo, bagama’t hindi pa po puwedeng i-anunsiyo kung ano talaga ang presyo ng Sinovac ay hindi po nagkakalayo o hindi nalayo doon sa presyo ng Indonesia nasa bandang P650.00 kada po turok (I can assure you that the claim that China is charging PHP3,6000 per dose is fake news. While I cannot announce the price of Sinovac, it’s not far from the price given to Indonesia, which is about PHP650 per dose).”

Presidential Spokesperson

Harry Roque

EDITORIAL

Scary Inauguration

Scary is a word that can aptly describe the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America scheduled on January 20, a few hours from today.

However, the general atmosphere in the world’s greatest democracy is far from being celebratory. Americans fear violence might erupt during and in the run- up to the historic ceremony. No wonder some 25,000 National Guard troops have been deployed in Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, where the Inauguration will be held. This is larger than the USA’s military contingents in Afghanistan, Syria and other countries where America is fighting wars.

Americans can hardly be blamed for their apprehension after what happened as a result of their Presidential election in November, last year. President Donald Trump would not accept defeat, accusing the Democrats, Biden’s party, stole the election, a claim rejected by the courts and some of Trump’s own officials and partymates.

Despite the rebuff in many fronts, Trump continued his “stolen election” rhetoric. It culminated in the violent attack of the US Capitol, the seat of the US House of Representatives and the Senate. The attack

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

CHRISTIAN JAY H.RAFAL GRACE M. BORDIOS Layout

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Consultant Cartoonist Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist VP Operations General Manager JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

done by Trump’s supporters after listening to his speech resulted in the death of five people, including a member of the police force. The rioters stormed the Congress chamber and the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned that armed protesters might also storm the country’s 50 state capitols, aside from Washington, D.C. Many Americans consider the January 6 storming of the US Capitol as worse than the Twin Towers 9-11 aerial attack by international terrorists wherein thousands of Americans died.

The violence that erupted in the US Capitol gave birth to what commentators and political analysts term “domestic terrorists.”

Doomsayers say that the incident is symbolic of American democracy’s unraveling.

As good neighbors, Filipinos, sometimes called “brown Americans,” an undeserved reputation which makes us blush with embarrassment, can only pray and shake our heads.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE MUTATION OF COVID-19 VIRUS In an article which appeared in National Geographic, Katherine J. Wu wrote this startling information: “There are more viruses than stars in the universe.

Why do only some infect us?

More than a quadrillion quadrillion individual viruses exist on Earth, but most are not poised to hop into humans.”

A virus is defined as “a submicroscopic agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.” Viruses infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.

There is an interesting story on how the virus was discovered.

“Louis Pasteur was unable to find a causative agent for rabies and speculated about a pathogen too small to be detected by microscope,” Wikipedia chronicles. “In 1884, the French microbiologist Charles Chamberland invented the Chamberland filter with pores small enough to remove all bacteria from a solution passed through it.

“In 1892, the Russian bi-

ologist Dmitri Ivanovsky used this filter to study what is now known as the tobacco mosaic virus: crushed leaf extracts from infected tobacco plants remained infectious even after filtration to remove bacteria. Ivanovsky suggested the infection might be caused by a toxin produced by bacteria, but he did not pursue the idea.

In 1898, the Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck repeated the experiments and became convinced that the filtered solution contained a new form of infectious agent. “He observed that the agent multiplied only in cells that were dividing, but as his experiments did not show that it was made of particles, he called it a ‘soluble living germ’ and reintroduced the word virus.”

Recent studies have shown that it is normal for viruses to mutate. And that’s what happens with the SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“The more the SARS-CoV-2

virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change,” warns the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). “High levels of transmission mean that we should expect more variants to emerge.”

Previous reports of the D614G mutation and the recent reports of virus variants from Denmark, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and South Africa have raised interest and concern in the impact of viral changes.

“Of the significant variants reported so far, some are associated with increases in transmissibility but not disease severity,” the United Nations health agency states. “Research is ongoing to address whether the changes impact public health tools and measures.”

Genomic sequencing has been critical in identifying and responding to new variants, according to the WHO. “So far an astounding 350,000 sequences have been

publicly shared, but most come from just a handful of countries.

Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is critical for the world to have eyes and ears on changes to the virus,” said Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Technical Lead on COVID-19.

As the UN health agency moves to expand its scientific collaboration and monitoring of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, global scientists are intensifying research into COVID-19.

Last Monday, January 12, a day-long virtual meeting of scientists from around the globe, brought together more than 1,750 experts from 124 countries to discuss critical knowledge gaps and research priorities for emerging variants of the virus.

“Science and research have played a vital role in responding to the pandemic since day one and will continue to be the heartbeat of everything WHO does,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in his welcome address.

The consultation was reportedly structured around six thematic areas covering epidemiology and mathematical modelling, evolutionary biology, animal models, assays and diagnostics, clinical management and therapeutics and vaccines.

Scientists noted the importance of research to detect and understand early on the potential impact of emerging variants on diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.

There was a consensus on the importance of integrating the new SARS-CoV-2 variants research into the global research and innovation agenda while enhancing coordination across disciplines.

“Our collective goal is to get ahead of the game and have a global mechanism to quickly identify and study variants of concern and understand their implications for disease control efforts,” said Dr. Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, Head of WHO’s R&D Blueprint.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

IMPERATIVE NATIONWIDE DISCUSSION OF CHA-CHA The Dalai lama said: “Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.”

Now, now here we go.

The House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is now (boldly) tackling pertinent issues affecting Charter Change.

Like a knee-jerk reaction, opponents of constitutional reforms are again raising a howl, citing so many excuses that have been offered in the years past that have been rendered lame so that Filipinos are now braver to face political and social realities.

The Senate – through its Senate President Vicente Sotto III - in the meantime chose to file a bill that seeks to grant ABS CBN a franchise renewal.

If you weigh in these two separate and independent actions, which bill should have priority?

Of course, it is the Cha-Cha bill because the proposed constitutional changes will directly affect the lives and well-being of the entire Philippine population.

The Sotto bill will only benefit the Lopez family whose broadcast outfit was found during the intensive congressional probe to have violated some pertinent laws of the land including failure to pay the correct taxes.

Filipinos must understand that the problems besetting the nation can no longer be swept under the rug as has been done during the previous administrations, notably during both the Cory and Noynoy incumbencies.

The government needs to generate job opportunities to accommodate hundreds of thousands OFWs who have lost their jobs and were sent home because of CoVid19. Including idle new graduates and those under-employed.

Many businesses – small and medium enterprises – have closed shop as evidence by those I have seen in several malls. Those who were laid off will definitely find it difficult to get new employment.

What to do?

It is incumbent upon the Duterte government, Congress (the HOR and the Senate) and the federation of Philippine business and the existing chambers of com-

merce, etc. to get their heads together and cooperate in finding an economic solution.

The suggestion that has long been offered was for the government to relax the 60-40 constitutional restriction for foreign businessmen to comply with.

Many economists, legislators and businessmen I talked to were pragmatic in their response.

Much as we need foreign investments to shore up our collapsing economy due to lockdowns brought by the Wuhan virus, no foreign entity will establish and conduct business in a country where their investments are not well protected.

Many in fact have moved out of the country to nearby Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand because the governments of these countries allow foreign businessmen to run and operate their companies wholly not in part.

A Korean businessman friend of mine has moved out of the BEZA in Mariveles citing high labor costs and unionism problems.

Congress must be resolute in finishing its work to meet its timeline and schedule. The Velasco-led

HOR wants to submit these constitutional proposals in a referendum coinciding with the 2022 presidential polls.

Which means they have more than a full year to conduct consultations with concerned target publics (A, B, C, D & E economic classes).

Political will is what our legislators need.

The antis – particularly the pro-Cory rah rah boys and gangmates of Noynoy - will use every means possible – the cooperative MSM (mainstream media) to undermine and destroy the position of the Cha-Cha proponents.

These members of the socalled yellow cult were able to strike fear in the hearts of our countrymen during the GMA era.

They continued their tyrannical ways from 2010-2016 under the tolerant supervision of a happy-go-lucky, DOTA-playing president whose first days in office were marked by a hostage-taking incident at the Luneta where nine Hong Kong tourists were killed.

So, are we now between the devil and the deep blue sea?

I hope the political will of the

President rubs off on Congress.

If they (these representatives of the people) want to do it, they can will their minds to do the job.

After all, it is the noble objective that matters.

The economic and social uplift of the country and the Filipino people heavily hinge on these constitutional changes, the benefits of which will accrue to future generations of Filipinos.

DEFINITELY, WE NEED MORE JOBS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED AND TEN MILLION POPULATION. American companies moving out of China and elsewhere in Europe and Asia may find it ideal to re-settle here.

That is, under the right economic conditions.

If Filipinos are united on this objective and purpose, the President and Congress can rally the people to support and approve the constitutional changes that will be proposed in a referendum in 2022.

Or we can bite the bullet.

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

A scholar of Therma Power Visayas, Inc. (TPVI) receives her stipend during the turnover of financial assistance at the Naga National High School in Naga City, Cebu on Nov. 6, 2021.

AboitizPower Oil BU lends hand to senior high students amidst pandemic M

CIMB Bank Philippines doubles its customer base to exceed 3 million customers with 800% increase in deposits for 2020

I

n a bid to ease the learning woes of students in its host communities, the AboitizPower Oil Business Unit (BU) turned over towards the end of 2020 financial assistance to senior high school scholars from these localities.

The AboitizPower Oil BU, in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation, handed out the subsidies to 28 scholars from Naga City in Cebu and 26 scholars from Maco in Davao de Oro on Nov. 6 and Dec. 9, respectively.

“The financial assistance is really a huge help to us, especially during this time. Most of us have parents who are currently unemployed because of the pandemic, so this will definitely go a long way,” Marlou Amit, a grade 12 student at the Tuyan Senior High School in Naga City, shared.

The financial assistance — which covers school fees, books, and miscellaneous educational expenses — is a welcome boost in the learning experience of the scholars, who all admit are struggling amidst the ongoing health crisis.

Under the current

blended learning setup, they are taught through various means such as online, television, radio, and printed materials, among others. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, COVID-19 is not only a health crisis but also a learning crisis, adding that during these times, children experience stress, fear, and anxiety.

The AboitizPower Oil BU hopes that through some of their interventions, they can help schools bring a sense of normalcy to the children’s lives.

A letter penned by the beneficiaries from Maco, who have been Aboitiz scholars since 2016, reads, “We are very grateful for the financial help you have provided us since our first year in this institution.

Your scholarship offer is the very reason [for] our perseverance and persistence.”

AboitizPower Oil BU Vice President for Corporate Services Jokin Aboitiz said their goal is not only to help energize the nation but also to build a more conducive learning environment for students, especially at a time like this.

“We partner with our host communities to help provide better education to the youth, in line with our promise of advancing business and communities,” Aboitiz added.

AboitizPower supports its host communities by working closely with local government units in the implementation of socially relevant programs.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the organization helped strengthen local COVID-19 responses through direct remittances to host communities under the Department of Energy’s Energy Regulations No. (ER) 1-94 program. Through collaborative projects funded by the program, the AP Oil BU worked closely with its neighboring local government units (LGUs) to mitigate the effects brought upon by the virus.

The AP Oil BU man-

ages and operates the oil-fired power generation assets of the Aboitiz Power Corporation. Its facilities — which include two land-based power facilities operated by Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) in Maco, Compostela Valley and Nasipit, Agusan del Norte; as well as power plants operated by Cebu Private Power Corporation (CPPC), East Asia Utilities Corporation (EAUC), and Therma Power Visayas, Inc. (TPVI) in Cebu — are ready to provide peaking capacity in Visayas and Mindanao whenever necessary.

The AP Oil BU is also certified for ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 22301:2012 (Business Continuity Management System), ISO 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System), ( ISO 5001:2018 (Energy Management System) and ISO 55001:2014 (Asset Management System).

ANILA –CIMB Bank Philippines doubles its deposit customer base to exceed 3 million total banking customers with a strong 800% increase in deposits balance sheet, and with 30% of these deposit customers claiming CIMB to be their first bank account. This is in line with CIMB’s aspiration to make banking more accessible to all Filipinos.

Amidst the pandemic, average balance per customer and average cash-in per customer increased by 350% and 400%, respectively as the bank continues its mission to encourage more Filipinos to save and to promote financial literacy.

According to CIMB, 90% of survey respondents are looking for best deposit interest rates while 75% prioritize ease of opening a bank account. Additionally, more than half are looking for bonus insurance coverage. These three features have been the core of CIMB Bank Philippines’ customer value proposition with its 4% savings interest rate, 10-minute bank account opening process, zero fees and on top of all that, a bonus free insurance coverage that is accorded to eligible customers to ensure that while they save, they are also protected with insurance.

Just recently, to serve a wider customer base and to ensure more Filipinos have access to protection via insurance coverage, CIMB Bank Philippines improved its insurance offering.

Previously, customers needed to have a minimum P100,000 balance to be eligible. Now CIMB and GSave depositors just need to maintain P5,000 to get a free life insurance coverage that's worth their average daily balance of up to P250,000.

CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Executive Officer Vijay Manoharan said “By continuously improving our products, we enable Filipinos to seize their life goals by providing them with the best-in-market deposit products that allow

them to earn as high as 4% interest rate per annum coupled with free life insurance of up to P250,000.” We want to give back to more Filipinos who work hard to earn and save. We strongly believe this is the foundation of getting more people to move forward in their lives” On the other hand, CIMB Bank Philippines’ full digital personal loan applications grew by 160% while loan disbursement saw a robust growth of 500%. Over 60% of these successful loan applicants claim CIMB to be their first bank loan indicating a shift in borrowing into the formal lending sector which allows for ease of access to credit which was previously unavailable.

This growth is driven by CIMB’s all-digital, quick loan application experience all on the mobile app –an attribute that is important to its loan customers. Additionally, CIMB Bank Philippines aggressively promotes responsible borrowing to ensure each of its loan customers manages their credit wisely. Along with its continued push on product innovation, CIMB has introduced a first in the market Loan Loyalty Program. This program rewards customers with good payment behavior with up to 30% interest rebates.

CIMB’s Loan Loyalty Program is open to all CIMB deposit account holders who will apply and get approved for a loan on or before March 31, 2021.

To date, CIMB Bank Philippines has accumulated 23 international awards in just 24 months, making it the most awarded digital bank in the Philippines.

CIMB Bank Philippines plans to launch new, exciting and revolutionary products and services in 2021 to further change the banking landscape and give more Filipinos access to banking products and services and stay true to keeping its position as the country’s top digital bank.

9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINE: TO VAX OR NOT TO VAX

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO he Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of both the United States and the Philippines have issued an emergency use authorization (EAU) for a vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The EAU allows the Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed in both countries.

T

“The FDA today is granting an emergency use authorization to Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.

It is decided that all conditions for an EAU are present and that the benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the known and potential risks,” said Philippines FDA Director General Eric Domingo in a virtual press briefing last January 14.

Last year, on December 11, the United States also approved the Pfizer vaccine for EAU. “Today’s action follows an open and transparent review process that included input from independent scientific and public health experts and a thorough evaluation by the agency’s career scientists to ensure this vaccine met FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization,” said US FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn in a statement.

Both FDAs have determined that the Pfizer vaccine has met the statutory criteria for issuance of an EUA. “The totality of the available data provides clear evidence that Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine may be effective in preventing COVID-19,” US FDA said.

Domingo echoed the same approval, stating that the vaccine may be effective to “prevent, diagnose, or treat COVID-19).”

Unfortunately, the Pfizer vaccine is not for everyone.

In the United States, the vaccine is administered “in individuals 16 years of age and older.” It is not given to those who had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine and had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine.

The vaccine, given as an injection into the muscle, is administered in two doses given three weeks apart. “If you receive one dose of the vaccine, you should receive a second dose of this same vaccine three weeks later to complete the vaccination series,” the US FDA explained.

Before you get yourself vaccinated, you need to tell the vaccination provider about all your medical conditions, including allergies, fever, have a bleeding disorder or taking a blood thinner, immunocompromised or on a medicine that affects your immune system, pregnant or planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding or having received another COVID-19 vaccine.

A fact sheet circulated

by US FDA, which this author obtained, listed some reported side effects of Pfizer vaccine. These include: injection site pain, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, injection site swelling, injection site redness, nausea, feeling unwell, and swollen lymph nodes.

“There is a remote chance that the Pfizer vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction,” the US FDA noted. “A severe allergic re-

action would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the vaccine. For this reason, your vaccination provider may ask you to stay at the place where you received your vaccine for monitoring after vaccination.”

According to the fact sheet, signs of a severe allergic reaction can include: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, a fast heartbeat, a bad rash all over the body, and dizziness and weakness.

Although these “may not be all the possible side effects” of the Pfizer vaccine, “serious and unexpected side effects may occur.” Currently, the vaccine “is still being studies in clinical trials.”

Some people are worried being injected with the vaccine since they feared they may get the dreaded virus. “The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine does not contain SARS-CoV-2 and cannot give you COVID-19,” the US FDA assured.

People who get their first dose will be given a vaccination card as a proof that you have already injected. “Remember to bring your card when you return” for your second dose of the vaccine, US FDA reminded.

The US FDA has also approved Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for EAU for “individuals 18 years of age and older.”

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) stated in its website in December last year

that there are “more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in trials.” So far, only three vaccines have been approved for EAU. Aside from Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the other one is AstraZeneca.

“It is likely that additional candidates will be submitted to regulatory authorities for approval,” the WHO said in a statement. “There are many potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates currently in development.”

In the Philippines, there are so much ado about COVID-19 vaccine. There are those who are against it and there are those who are for it. Some are arguing the efficacy of some of the vaccines while others are highlighting the prices of these vaccines.

“Vaccine confidence is taking a beating from non-scientific and nonpeer-reviewed data circulating around,” decried Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvana, an award-winning infectious disease specialist and molecular biologist at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH). “Science by press-release is the antithesis of true science.

“True science,” he explained, “is carefully looking at the data, analyzing and reanalyzing what’s going on, and deciding on how best to move forward. We need to act on data with cold objectivity, not speculate on motives or political intentions.”

According to Dr. Salvana, the efficacy of a vaccine is

measured in many ways. “It can be prevention of any infection (both symptomatic and asymptomatic), disease (symptomatic infection), and severe disease,” he said.

“Vaccines that prevent infection are transmission-blocking while vaccines that prevent severe disease are disease-modifying.

Most COVID-19 vaccine trials measure both outcomes.”

What medical scientists are trying to find is an ideal vaccine that prevents any infection. “This is very difficult to measure since you would have to swab everyone periodically whether or not they present with symptoms,” he said. “So far, only the Moderna trial has attempted this, and while their clinical efficacy is 94%, the transmission-blocking efficacy seems t be only about 2/3 effective – which is excellent but less than the clinical efficacy.”

Each COVID-19 vaccine currently available will be judged on its ability to prevent infection, its ability to prevent clinical disease, and its ability to prevent severe disease. “A vaccine that has unknown ability to prevent transmission, 62% ability to prevent clinical disease, but 100% ability to prevent severe disease is still very useful,” Dr. Salvana pointed out.

“Don’t believe me? These exact numbers are the efficacy numbers for the Astra vaccine which has been approved in Europe.”

On Sinovac (a vaccine from China), Dr. Salvana wrote: “Whatever the final

numbers for Sinovac (we’ve seen 50%, 78% to 91% in media so far, and 100% for prevention of severe disease), we need to review on data on prevention of infection, disease and severe disease.

“If this vaccine prevented only 50% of clinical disease but prevent 100% of severe disease, I would take it,” he stressed. “Remember, Pfizer is 95% clinically effective but only 89% effective for severe disease – this is great data, make no mistake. This is why every country will need to have real experts review the data for the FDA before considering use.”

With all the fuss going on, Dr. Salvana observed, “To undermine a vaccine even before we have full data and already declare it is useless without considering all outcomes is dangerous and will cost lives, especially if a vaccine that prevents severe disease is not used because it doesn’t prevent enough mild disease for people’s tastes.”

In conclusion, Dr. Salvana urged people to stop attacking vaccines. “The FDA and the vaccine expert panel will decide which vaccines will be useful to the Filipino people,” he said. “The most important thing is to prevent deaths, and any vaccine that can do this is more than welcome. Let’s stick to the science and ignore the noise.” – (Photos courtesy of WHO and Wikipedia)

10 EDGEDAVAO CHOPPER... FROM 3

thrown off by the impact.

Talaroc said the downed aircraft did not burn as earlier feared.

The Vietnam vintage helicopter with tail number 517 and another Huey helicopter were ferrying supplies, ammunition and troops from the 403rd Infantry Brigade in Malaybalay City to the military bases in Pantaron mountain range last Friday and Saturday, according to Talaroc.

He said the choppers made two ferry missions to their camp Saturday morning and was flying for its third mission when one of the helicopters crashed at around 2:30 p.m.

“The choppers carried food supplies and ammo on

the first two missions. They were carrying troops for replacements on their last and fatal mission,” Talaroc said.

Major Gen. Andres Centeno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division said the pilots of the second Huey helicopter noticed smoke trailing from the ill-fated aircraft.

Centeno said the pilots radioed the ill-fated aircraft on what they saw and got confirmation from its co-pilot that they were executing a turn to return.

Talaroc said residents of Sitio Nahigit recalled seeing the helicopter turn then suddenly nosedive to the ground. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

[children] from Tagum that we profiled, but also those who came from other provinces-even those from Manila- that we profiled here because they work here),” he explained.

Meanwhile, Villegas clarified the distinction between 'child labor' and 'working child', saying child labor exposes the children to hazardous conditions.

"The most basic way to consider a child under 'child labor’ is that the kid is below 18 and is working

under hazardous conditions; whether dangerous environment or exposure to the sun or rain," Villegas explained in vernacular.

On the other hand, a working child is one that is being trained and supervised by their parents or guardians under safe and appropriate conditions such as washing dishes, watching over the sari-sari store, or helping in business. (Jan Vincent Leuterio/PIA-XI/ jmda)

include cacao, coffee, banana, coconut, rubber, information, and communication technology (ICT), seaweed, rubber, wearables, and homestyle, and processed fruits and nuts. It is worth noting that the majority of these investors belong to the banana industry.

Trade promotion activities in the “new normal” were pushed through virtual trade fairs and online product displays. The agency facilitated 16 virtual fairs and online offerings allowing 320 exhibitors to showcase their products. These generated total sales of P72.64 million, with cash sales of P1.71 million, booked sales of P1.37 million, and sales under negotiation of P69.56 million.

On consumer protection, the agency strengthened its monitoring and enforcement activities, with 833 price monitoring activities conducted, covering 357 establishments region-wide. Likewise, 1,531 workplaces were monitored to ensure of their compliance with the prescribed guidelines during the new normal. These workplaces were composed of 676 dinein restaurants, 304 barbershops and salons, eight business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, and 543 other establishments.

To aid consumers during these challenging times, the agency partnered

with the local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) in carrying out several Presyo Diskwento Caravans.

A total of 221 caravans were conducted region-wide, covering 94 barangays, and participated by 53 retailers.

These benefitted 27,751 consumers and generated sales amounting to P20.15 million.

Further, the agency successfully resolved 100 percent of consumer complaints through mediation and arbitration within the prescribed time of 10 days and 20 days respectively.

Also, its provincial offices have successfully processed a total of 24,516 permits and licenses. This earned a regional client satisfaction rating of 99 percent.

DTI-Davao Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi attributed the success of the agency to the sustained spirit and dedication of its team despite the uncertainty brought by the pandemic.

“We will continue with our resiliency. Rest assured that DTI will still be at the forefront in providing serbisyong higit pa sa inaasahan, which has been our commitment all these years,” Ambi said, adding that the cooperation of the agency’s partners also helped them achieve their objectives.

DTI11/JBE/jmm

P5.5M... FROM 5

DTI-11... FROM 5

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

DOH... FROM 2

Those to be vaccinated will have to register, receive pre-vaccination education and counseling, and undergo screening and medical history review before being inoculated.

Afterward, they will get an immunization card and be subject to post-vaccination monitoring and surveillance.

The Philippines targets to inoculate 50 to 70 million

individuals within the year, and an estimated 50,000 is expected to be vaccinated in February.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the vaccine manufactured by American corporation Pfizer could be the first that will be used against COVID-19 in the country, as the COVAX Facility will have an early rollout of the brand.

Gov’t bought Sinovac vaccines ‘close to P650 per dose’: Palace

M

alacañang rejected claims that the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. costs PHP3,6000 per dose, insisting that they were cheaper than other options.

In an interview over dzBB, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the national government bought Sinovac vaccines for a price close to the PHP650 per dose offered to Indonesia.

“Ang aking ia-assure po sa inyo ‘no, fake news po iyong kumakalat na PHP3,600 per dose daw iyong singil ng China. Hindi po, ang ating presyo, bagama’t hindi pa po puwedeng i-anunsiyo kung ano talaga ang presyo ng Sinovac ay hindi po nagkakalayo o hindi nalayo doon sa presyo ng Indonesia nasa bandang P650.00 kada po turok (I can assure you that the claim that China is charging PHP3,6000 per dose is fake news. While I cannot announce the price of Sinovac, it’s not far from the price given to Indonesia, which is about PHP650 per dose),” he said.

Roque reiterated that China was hesitant to have the former announce the prices of their vaccines as they might be compared to prices in other countries.

Last week, he said the vaccines developed by Sinovac were sold to the Philippines at a “BFF” price.

“Ang presyo kasi ng Tsina, hindi kagaya ng ibang kumpanya na kapitalista na market-dictated. Ang presyo ng Tsina pupuwede nilang baguhin lang, wala silang pakialam, depende kung sino ang bibili. At iyon po iyong dahilan kung bakit ayaw ipasapinal mismo at ipa-anunsiyo mismo ng Tsina mismo, kasi nga baka magalit naman iyong hindi masyado nilang BFF na alam nilang bumili ng mas mahal (The prices of China are not like other capitalist countries that are market-dictated. China can change their price, they don’t care who buys them. And that’s the reason why China doesn’t want to announce the actual price because other countries which are not their BFF might get angry),” he said.

He also brushed aside senators’ calls to reconsider its decision to purchase Si-

novac vaccines, citing President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration that he would take responsibility for the health and safety of all Filipinos.

“Ang sabi ng Presidente, sabihin na ng mga senador ang gusto nilang sabihin, in the end, it is the President that is ultimately mananagot doon sa ating taumbayan.

So, lahat na po ng fake news, pupuwedeng ilabas, pero in the end po, ipatutupad po nito ng Presidente dahil ito po ay nakakabuti sa ating mga mamamayan (The President said the senators can say what they want to say. But in the end, it is the President who is ultimately going to be responsible to the people. Fake news will come out, but in the end, the President will implement [what is right] because it is good for the people),” he said.

According to Roque, the government was not favoring any vaccine supplier, but it was just a matter of which vaccine brands come first.

He said the government will not force anyone to receive the vaccines, but reminded the public about the risks of contracting the new Covid-19 variant.

“Ang aking paalala lang sa mga taumbayan, wala pong sapilitan, pero nandiyan na nga po iyong bagong variant(My only reminder to the public, we won’t force you, but the new variant is still there),” he said.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the Philippines has secured 25 million doses of Sinovac vaccine with the first 50,000 doses expected to arrive in February.

Galvez on Wednesday said the prices of coronavirus vaccines circulating in various social media platforms and other publications are not the same as the government's negotiated prices under the COVAX facility, an official said on Wednesday.

He said the price lists circulating online are based on commercial value.

"We want to caution the public on the prices of vaccines circulating online and in many publications. These are market prices and not the COVAX prices that were in our negotiations with vaccine manufacturers," he added. (PNA)

JTF Central, 6ID create Task Force to address conflict in South Upi

T

he Joint Task Force Central and the 6th Infantry (KAMPILAN) Division recently initiated a peace dialogue to address conflict in South Upi, Maguindanao.

Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of 6ID and JTF Central called for the dialogue after the series of incidents in the said municipality which resulted to the burning of houses, evacuation of hundreds of families, ambush of the convoy of Mayor Reynalbert Insular, and the harassment of the vehicle of SB Member Basit Kamid.

During the event, Major General Uy gave chance to all interested parties to air their sentiments by exclusively talking to them by group to determine the root cause of the problem.

Also, the task force’s Conflict Resolution Strategy, as the framework for peaceful resolution of conflict, was presented.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the 6ID and commander of the 6th Civil Military Operations Battalion noted the creation of a task force which will address the matter.

“We will create the Task Force Ketenanek to help facilitate the resolution of the conflict, secure the communities, and diffuse the tension by repelling the armed lawless groups in the area,” he said.

The TF “Ketenanek” or TF “Katahimikan” in Teduray dialect will provide steps to unite the tri-people in South Upi and create a peaceful community by reconciling the conflicting parties through their local government unit, the Provincial Government of Maguindanao, and the Bangsamoro government while the security sector assures to provide adequate efficient security forces.

All stakeholders in attendance have signified their commitment to help end violence and expressed support for the peace framework mechanism.

Meanwhile, JTF Central now facilitates the safe return of the over 500 internally displaced families and the immediate peaceful resolution of the problem to bring back normalcy in the area. (With reports from DPAO-6ID)

BARMM marks second foundation anniversary

T

he morning rain on Monday failed to stop the hoisting of the official flag of the Bangsamoro for the first time along with the Philippine flag at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) marked its second foundation anniversary.

It was also on this day that constituents heard the singing of the BARMM official hymn.

A group of men riding motorcycles held a motorcade through the city's streets as they waved the BARMM flag.

With the theme “Moral Governance: Building Strong Foundations for a Better Bangsamoro,” the BARMM officially kicked off as early as 7 a.m. on Monday its week-long foundation anniversary.

The ceremonial flag raising was also conducted simultaneously in several local government units, schools, and other government offices across the region.

In his speech, Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Hadji Murad” Ebrahim remembered the thousands of martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice toward the realization of BARMM. “These are the tears, sweats and bloods of our martyrs. For the first time ever we hoisted the Bangsamoro flag next to the Philippine flag," he said. "Allahu Akbar!" Murad said thrice.

"We can now proudly say that we have achieved genuine autonomy that encapsulates the long history of the Bangsamoro people,” he said.

Ebrahim stressed that "moral governance" should not just be BARMM's tagline. Government workers and residents should regard it as the guiding discipline and principles to live by, he said.

“Many of us speak of moral governance but the real challenge is how to live it. Our success lies in how we can change the system from the previous one to a better system. If we cannot deliver, then we are nothing,” he added.

Ebrahim also raised the issue of seeking to extend the term of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) to give it more time to meet its objectives.

“This reminds us we are moving forward in our cause. It is about time to develop our own Bangsamoro narrative,” BARMM Executive Secretary Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua said during the welcome address.

The BTA represented

by Speaker Ali Pangalian Balindong said the region has stood the test of time and can now create an unparalleled force to propel it further to progress.

Several activities were launched by different government agencies to mark the occasion.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

PFL eyeing April for ‘Copa’ return, June league start

A

fter its supposed start last year was pushed to as late as November due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Philippines Football League (PFL) looks to open its 2021 calendar in a more usual manner.

In an announcement on Saturday night through its "virtual kickoff", the PFL said it has set its resumption of play by April.

However, the scheduling will be different.

The PFL also said the Copa Paulino Alcantara will come first this time before the league season itself.

The league cup was canceled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, making the second ranked team from last season, Kaya Iloilo, the club that will compete in the qualifiers of this year's AFC Champions League (ACL) season.

Oftentimes, the PFL season kicks off first before the Copa.

This year, the league season is scheduled to commence after the FIFA international window in early June.

The Philippine football team, known as the Azkals, is booked for action during the June FIFA window in the World Cup Qualifiers.

The Azkals will face China on June 7 and Maldives on June 15.

The Azkals will actually return on March 25 when they face Guam, but because of the pandemic, despite listing the Azkals as the home team, the match could be played elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the PFL is expected to announce the final 2021 schedule later this month.

However, the PFL might resume play through a bubble, although the expected arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines by February could lead to some late changes.

During the Profession-

al Sports Summit on Dec. 5, 2020, PFL commissioner Coco Torre said he is eyeing eight clubs for next season, baring in earlier interviews that some clubs applied for expansion.

Asked for a reaction from the club officials present in the webinar, United City owner Eric Gottschalk said it would make the players more eager to resume training.

"If we're looking at football, we want to be in practice already because the players cannot afford another several months being out of a job and training, so the earlier we can start, the better," Gottschalk said.

Looking at the new schedule format, he added, "We want to make sure that the format suits everybody."

Gottschalk also believed that having the PFL to come back sooner through the Copa return is necessary especially for United City, Kaya Iloilo, and even the Azkals.

"Paul Tolentino, Kaya Iloilo's general manager], and I are going to play in Asian competitions. The Azkals are going ahead by the end of May and beginning of June with their [FIFA World Cup] Qualifiers. So if the players have not participated and trained for 5-6 months, it's going to put everybody at a huge disadvantage," he added.

The AFC has yet to agree on the final ACL calendar, although Tolentino said, "There is a possibility that the qualifier would be played around the middle or the third week of April."

However, despite potentially a short resting period, Tolentino said he is fine with having the Copa by April.

"Starting in April would allow us more preparation and active competition," Tolentino further said.

He added that the AFC may release the final ACL schedule on Jan. 27 during the group draw. (PNA)

Polls for new volleyball NSA set for January 25

T

he framework for a new national sports association (NSA) for volleyball has been placed as Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino met with top officials from three major groups.

On Saturday, Tolentino, Alliances of Philippine Volleyball Inc.’s (APVI) Tats Suzara, Larong Volleyballl sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) secretary general Ariel Paredes, and Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) secretary general Rustico “Otie” Camangian discussed how the new NSA will take shape.

Joining them were Ricky Palou and Tony Boy Liao of Sports Vision that organize the Premier Volleyball League.

Paredes also represents the Philippine Superliga.

With Tolentino were POC secretary general Ed Gastanes, membership and accreditation committee head Billy Sumagui, and legal officer Wharton Chan.

The attendees agreed that 13 people will form the inaugural executive board of the new NSA. “Volleyball is already unified at last and the true winner here is Philippine volleyball,” Tolentino said on Sunday.

Twelve seats will be reportedly divided equally among members from the LVPI, PVF, and an APVI-led coalition.

Palou and Liao are said to be aligned to Suzara's coalition. (PNA)

11

MMA superstar Conor McGregor says there’s a very high probability of fighting Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao this year.

‘Very high probability’ of McGregor-Pacquiao in 2021

U

FC superstar Conor McGregor believes there is a “very high probability” of the Irishman boxing against the legend Manny Pacquiao in 2021.

McGregor returns to the Octagon for the first time in a year next weekend at UFC 257 when he takes on rival Dustin Poirier in the main event of the evening. With a win over Poirier, it’s expected that McGregor will call out UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for a rematch. But while his focus is on MMA at the moment, McGregor can’t help but look around at oth-

er opportunities for him in the world of combat sports, namely in the boxing ring.

It was in August 2017 that McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather in a high-profile boxing match that shattered pay-per-view records.

McGregor has yet to re-enter the ring following the loss to Mayweather, but there have been rumors that he could do in order to challenge Pacquiao. This is a fight that

fans and media have suggested for a few years now, and in 2021, it seems like there is a very real chance of McGregor heading back into boxing to take on Pacquiao.

“I think it’s a very high probability that it happens this year. When I’m not so sure. Maybe towards the end of it. I suppose it’s all going to depend on what’s presented to me afterward.

I know the talks are amplifying and I’m ready for that belt as well. It’s a boxing world title on the line. Like I said, I have trained down to this frame. So let’s see what happens,” McGregor told ES-

PN’s Ariel Helwani.

UFC president Dana White will ultimately control McGregor’s fate, as he would have to give permission for McGregor to cross over into boxing and fight Pacquiao. White allowed McGregor to box Mayweather, but the world is a much different place now, and there’s no guarantee White gives McGregor permission this time around. Then again, if the deal could be worth White’s while, then maybe he will sign off on it and give McGregor his blessing. (Philboxing.com)

do want to make sure he ramps accordingly so that he’s not susceptible to unnecessary injury and protect him the best we can. But hopefully, it will be a short period of time. That is to be determined, though.”

Harden didn’t have a single practice with the Nets, but walked r i g h t into the starting lineup Saturday and posted a triple-double.

But Irving hasn’t played since Jan. 5 rout of Utah; and with the condensed fivemonth schedule, it’s been far longer since he had a real practice.

Brooklyn doesn’t have an official practice Sunday, but they’ll try to get Irving some work.

“Well, we don’t practice.

They have to be off their legs, so we try to teach and script and rehearse and watch film. But he’s getting his work in individually and maybe (Sunday) he can do some things with the Stay Ready group,” Nash said of Irving.

“We just want to make sure he has a few days in his legs before he gets thrown back in the fire.”

The Nets are putting a lot of money into a threeway experiment that may not even end up working.

It is going to cost a lot though - at least $236 million to be exact, per The Athletic. Harden, Durant and Irving all have two years left on their current deals.

Harden’s is worth $44 million per season, Durant’s is valued at $40 million and Irving’s at $34 million for a total of $236 million.

It is a lot of money to be gambling on the hope that the three can work together as ball-dominant players.

Mystery still surrounds $305m Nets experiment

T

he Nets didn’t unveil their Big 3 Saturday against Orlando, with Kyrie Irving out of his league-mandated quarantine but still ramping back up to playing an NBA game.

After taking a personal leave for as-yet undisclosed reasons, Irving went maskless at a party at an indoor event space, and ended up having to quarantine for five days.

But even after being cleared to return to basketball activities on Saturday, nearly two weeks away from the game will require time to g e t back t o

speed.

“Hopefully, we’re close.

I can’t really give you a firm update on that. We have to assess that as we go,” head coach Steve Nash said b e f o r e facing the Magic.

“We

New Nets recruit James Harden had a triple double on his first outing with the team.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 234 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021

BUBBLE-BOUND Ernie can’t wait to train in ‘Calam-bubble’ D

abawenyo paralympic swimming sensation Ernie Gawilan is itching to get back into ‘normal’ training.

The 29-year old Gawilan is among the Filipino athletes who have secured a slot to the Tokyo Olympics this year. He will be competing in the Paralympics, the Olympiad version for differently-abled athletes.

Earlier, the Philippine paralympic swimming team has asked the Philippine Sports Commission and Paralympics Committee of the Philippines to include them in the Calamba bubble training in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics games.

At the moment, the 29-year-old Gawilan continues to make Samal Island as his home base.

“I do outdoor activities, but they’re limited. I swim in the open water, too, and do group training online with my teammates and coaches,” Gawilan said.

He admitted having to be forced to do inland training like core strengtening, push ups and conditioning as swimming in a pool has become scarce with the implementation of strict

quarantines in Davao and nearby Island Garden City of Samal.

"Marami pang procedures kailangan kaya mahirap," he said.

He hopes they can join the 'Calam-bubble' along with regular national athletes who have begun entering the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna for its bubble training in preparation for qualifying tournaments in the Tokyo Olympics.

The first batch of athletes went inside the bubble on Friday, with more coming in the next few days after getting the nod from the Inter-Agency Task Force to train for about three months.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio, Mario Fernandez, and Carlo Paalam were among the first batch of athletes who arrived on Friday, while karateka Jamie Lim and taekwondo jins Samuel Morrison and Kirstie Elaine Alora entered on Saturday.

Born with underdeveloped extremities, Gawilan's career has been re-

Paralympian Ernie Gawilan can’t wait to get to bubble training. markable. He became the first Filipino para swimmer to win gold in the Asian Games in 2018 in Jakarta and also bagged gold at the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Para Games, before

earning a ticket to the Rio Olympics in 2016.

He was a favorite at the Philippines 2019 Para Games but the event was canceled because of the

pandemic.

Gawilan will be seeing action in the postponed Tokyo Paralympics where he has been picked to be country’s torch bearer.

The "Dabawenyo Torpedo" expressed his thanks to the Philippine Sports Commission for its support to athletes during the quarantine.

FPANDEMIC, P10