Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 258 | Tuesday, February 16, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.13 ISSUE 258 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

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Workers ride their bicycles on their way home from work along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City on Monday. The Department of Transportation (DoTr) has announced that the overall completion of the 43-kilometer Metro Davao Bike Lanes is targeted by June 30, 2021. Edge Davao

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Cabinet members to observe city’s 3rd simulation exercise

EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

OBSERVERS President Rodrigo Duterte gestures during a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila. The President has decided to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in public to encourage Filipinos to take the vaccine. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Cabinet members to observe city’s 3rd simulation exercise By MAYA M. PADILLO

he city government of Davao will be conducting its 3rd Simulation Exercise for the transport of vaccines today (February 16, 2021) with the presence of some Cabinet members of the Duterte administration.

National Task Force Covid-19 Response Chief Implementor Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., Presidential Spokesperson Sec. Harry Roque, Jr. , Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and Cabinet Secretary Sec. Carlo Nograles are expected to attend the said activity that will determine the readiness of Davao City for the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines in the city as well as to ensure the smooth flow of vaccine delivery. The activity will high-

light the transport of vaccines from Los Amigos Health Center going to Mabini Elementary School. A mock vaccination activity will be conducted also. The second part of the activity is the visit of the CODE Team at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Mabini Elem. School for a walkthrough of the vaccination hub. Earlier, the first simulation exercise was conducted on February 10, 2021 highlighting the

transport of the vaccines from the Davao International Airport (DIA) to SPMC and Los Amigos where the vaccines will be stored. The second simulation exercise was held on Feb. 12 at Mabini Elem. School highlighting the transportation of the vaccines, which need -70 to -80 celsius temperature, from the SPMC. A mock on-site vaccination was also conducted. Dr. Anabelle Yumang, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH 11) commended the city government of Davao and the City Health Office (CHO) for the smooth conduct of the simulation exercise in the said school. “Na-impress ko sa preparation sa Mabini

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Completion of bike lanes targeted by June 2021

he Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that the overall completion of the Metro Davao Bike Lanes is targeted by June 30, 2021. Joanna May Macaranas, Project Officer IV and OIC for Road Infrastructure Projects of DoTr, said Metro Davao Bike Lanes is part of the Bayanihan Act II with a total project cost of P150 million. The Metro Davao Bike Lanes has a total length of 43 kilometers that will run in six locations namely Davao-Cotabato Road, ABS-CBN Boulevard, Sandawa Road, C.M Recto St., Roxas Avenue,

and Quimpo Blvd. “This is being implemented with DPWH and we planned the Metro Davao Bike Lanes in coordination and support of the city government of Davao. This is to highlight the transport planning and delivery in a holistic manner. In terms of implementation the construction started last February and the target overall completion is by June 30, 2021,” she said. The DoTr has secured a total of P1.3 billion for the construction of protected bike lanes in the country under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. The first phase of the project is to set up

painted bike lanes to give cyclists a dedicated area to bike safely while the second phase includes the installation of bike barriers and elevated bike lanes in selected areas Meanwhile, Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) continued the demarcation of bicycle lanes in the city. CTTMO demarcated 72 kilometers for bicycle lanes last year along Ma-a Road, MacArthur Highway, Quimpo Boulevard, Quezon Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, F. Torres St., Cabaguio Avenue, Leon Garcia, JP Laurel Av-

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Public Safety Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Angel Sumagaysay distributes free face masks and face shields to the combined security personnel (PNP, CSU, and Barangay Tanods) stationed at the Bahay Pag-asa, a temporary shelter for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). Contributed photo

DPWH gets transaction advisory for Davao-Digos Expressway A By MAYA M. PADILLO

n official of the Department Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that the agency has applied the procurement of the Transaction Advisory Service to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines through Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) for the construction of the Davao-Digos Expressway. The focus of the said transaction advisory is to assist government in

the planning and procurement and implementation of the Davao-Di-

gos Expressway project, which involves approximately 60-kilometer toll road which will start at the Bukidnon-Davao national highway in Davao City and will terminate at Digos-Sultan Kudarat Road. The project will traverse the towns of Toril and Sta. Cruz and will serve as an alternative route for Davao-Cotabato National Highway. “The market sounding

activity is already concluded and we are now in the process of procuring a transactional advisory consultants for the PPP together with the PPP center,” said Eugenio R. Pipo, Jr. Undersecretary for Regional Operations in Mindanao of DPWH. An online market sounding activity was conducted on November 23, 2020. The Davao-Digos Ex-

pressway is one of the projects enrolled under PPP. Under PPP program, the government recognizes the PPP as an approach to invest resources for adequate road infrastructure. The government has less resources to invest on Expressways. DPWH will undertake the reforms needed to create a more conducive environment for private business and

help generate many more bankable projects. Apart from Davao-Digos Expressway, other mega expressway projects of DPWH under PPP are the 226.5-kilometer Pacific Eastern Seaboard Expressway that will connect Quezon Province to Aurora Province and the 73.75-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway that will connect Cebu’s Naga City and Danao City.

hindi yung mga sinasabing may korupsyon, may preferred tayong bakuna, mabagal, kulang…Ang sinabi natin ang problema natin, mahigit sa kalahati ng populasyon sabi ng Pulse survey, talagang marami ang ayaw magpabakuna (We were the first to say that the problem about vaccines is not about corruption, that there’s a preferred vaccine, that procurement is slow, that it’s lacking. The problem is more than half of the population refuse to get vaccinated according to the Pulse Asia survey),” he said. He was referring to results of the Pulse Asia

survey conducted between Nov. 23 and Dec. 2, 2020 which showed that nearly 50 percent of respondents were unwilling to get inoculated for Covid-19, 32 percent were willing to get the vaccine, and 21 percent were undecided. Among those who refused, 84 percent cited safety of the vaccine as their reason for refusal. Another survey by OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa conducted from Dec. 9 to 13 in Metro Manila indicated that only 25 percent of Metro Manila residents aged 18 and up were willing to be

Nat’l ID pre-registration Focus on boosting vaccine in Region 11 continues confidence, critics told

he pre-registration for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or National ID in the Davao Region continues, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in Region 11 said. “The pre-registration operations are currently ongoing. As to the figures we are unauthorized yet to provide,” PSA-11 announced on its Facebook page on Feb 12. Step 1 or the pre-registration started in November 2020 in the region and the rest of the country. Though some provinces already proceeded

with the Step 2 registration slowly, other areas including Davao Region continued with Step 1 as various factors have caused delay in the process including stringent health protocols and restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019. PSA-11 said while Step 2 of the registration process has not yet started in Davao Region, it assured that it will make the necessary announcement and advisory in its website. “For now, Step 2 is still slowly starting in

other provinces in the Philippines. This is to make sure and test the system so that the information obtained from the registrant will be secured,” PSA-11 said. PSA-11 added that the PSA Central Office will build fixed mobile registration centers in selected areas in the Philippines to register individuals for Step 2. The central office, it said, has created a system for online registration. For those who have completed Step 1, PSA11 advised them to keep

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nstead of criticizing the Duterte administration’s Covid-19 response, critics should “concentrate” on boosting vaccine confidence among Filipinos, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Sunday. In his online commentary show “Counterpoint”, Panelo emphasized that the main problem hounding the government’s vaccination campaign was vaccine hesitancy and not corruption or preference for a certain brand. “Tayo ang unang nanawagan na ang problema talaga sa bakuna,

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A pedestrian walks by a Jollibee outlet in Davao City. Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has allocated P12.2 billion for its capital spending for 2021 to finance the opening of about 450 stores. Edge Davao

Pinoys urged to travel as hotels, resorts struggle to stay afloat T

BIR aims to intensify enforcement activities to boost tax collection

group of hotels and resorts on Sunday urged Filipinos to travel but following health protocols as businesses struggle to stay afloat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Local tourism lang talaga ang inaasahan namin (We are really just relying on local tourism). Sabi ko nga (I've said), 'Be a hero, you travel and help us out also'," said Christine Anne Ibarreta, president of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association which has some

155 members. Hotels have decreased their rates by "more than 50 percent", with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included, Ibarreta said. "We have to hold on and we’re still positive as Filipinos, hoteliers na malalagpasan namin ito

(that we'll get past this). Kaya (so), please travel and help us out," she said. For Valentines' Day, staycation hotels or those allowed to operate for travelers have an occupancy rate of more than 30 percent, according to Ibarreta. "Tumaas siya kasi dati, 5-10 percent. Nakakaawa talaga," she said. (It increased because it was only around 5-10 percent before.) "In terms of

occupancies, madami po ang occupancy ng quarantine hotels kasi maraming OFWs na dumating. For the staycation hotels, medyo kailangan po ng push. Yung F&B (food and beverage) talaga medyo pumatok ngayon." (Quarantine hotels have high occupancy because many overseas Filipino workers arrived. Staycation hotels need push. F&B departments now really boomed.)

pares with the P5.9 billion in capital investments recorded in 2020 when 338 new stores were opened, including 81 in the Philippines and 257 overseas. It also compares with the P10 billion actual spending reported in 2019. "We look forward to sustained recovery of the business as the world gradually returns to normalcy, aided by the intro-

duction of new vaccines. We plan to open 400 plus new stores worldwide most of which will be outside of the Philippines, particularly in North America, Vietnam, and China," JFC chief executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said in a regulatory filing. The company ended 2020 with 96% of its worldwide outlets operating -- 100% of stores

in China open, 94% in North America, 95% for SuperFoods, and 90% for the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. JFC started to report a net income in the last quarter of 2020 at P2.049 billion, reflecting a 34.5% drop from P3.128 billion the same quarter in 2019 but an improvement from the net losses in the past

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Jollibee Foods to spend P12.2B for the opening of 450 stores in 2021

omegrown fastfood operator Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has allocated P12.2 billion for its capital spending this year, mainly to finance the opening of about 450 stores as the company seeks to expand its footprint as business continues to recover amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest capital spending program com-

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he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) aims to increase its collection by 7.23 percent to PHP2.08 trillion this year by improving tax compliance among all taxpayers, strengthening its budget management system, speeding up its recruitment and promotion of employees, expanding its computerization efforts, and further intensifying its enforcement activities. In his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay said its enforcement activities include the Oplan Kandado program, Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, and tax audits, among others. Dulay said under the Oplan Kandado program, 209 establishments were padlocked for tax law violations, which led to the collection of PHP607.87 million in taxes in 2020. Its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program led to the filing of 157 cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with aggregate tax liabilities of PHP7.45 billion, and another 24 cases filed with the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) with total estimated liabilities of PHP753.75 million, he

said. Dulay said the BIR also plans to roll out its Enhanced Internal Revenue Stamp Integrated System (IRSIS) in the first quarter of this year to further step up its campaign against cigarette smuggling. The nationwide rollout of the Internal Revenue Integrated System (IRIS), which will serve as the BIR’s central tool and repository to process taxpayers’ information, is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021, along with the pilot implementation of its Electronic Invoicing System, he said. The Online Registration & Update System (ORUS), which is a webbased system that will provide an end-to-end process for registration and updating of taxpayer registration information, is due for implementation in the fourth quarter, he added. By the first quarter of this year, Dulay said the BIR expects its collection performance dashboard to be up and running. This will enable the central office to check the collection performance of each collecting office/ Revenue Region of the BIR against the assigned

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

A motorcycle is being refiled with gasoline at a gasoline station in Ecoland, Davao City. Oil firms implement another round of price hike as price of diesel is expected to increase by P1.20 to P1.30 per liter while gasoline prices by P0.70 to P0.80 per liter. Edge Davao

Dar rolls out P226-M PAFES, pilots Sarangani in Region 12 Fuel prices to go up this week

otorists should brace for higher cost of fuel as pump prices are seen to go up for another round, Unioil Petroleum Philippines said. In its fuel price forecast for February 16 to 22 trading week, Unioil said

the price per liter of diesel may go up by P1.20 to P1.30. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, are expected to increase by P0.70 to P0.80 per liter. Oil companies usually announce fuel price adjustment every Monday

to be effective on the following day. This week, fuel firms implemented their price increase effective February 9, 2021. Gasoline has increased by P0.85 per liter and diesel by P1.10 per liter. Data from the Depart-

ment of Energy showed the price per liter of gasoline range between P38.60 and P54.97, while diesel prices range from P30.80 to P38.37 per liter. Year-to-date adjustments to stand at a net increase of P3.25 per liter for gasoline and P2.65 per liter for diesel.

ng additional capacity. Bumili na kami ng mga freezers…Nag-expand na ho kami para ma-accommodate 'yung additional requirements ng bakuna,” Jakosalem said. “Pati ho doon sa warehouse namin sa Cebu tsaka Davao din, nagdagdag na kami ng capacities doon. So ready na ho talaga kami,” she added. According to Jako-

salem, Zuellig Pharma offered the government an end to end service wherein the provider will also manage the release of the vaccines from the Bureau of Customs. From the airplane, Zuellig Pharma will load the vaccines onto trucks and deliver them in a warehouse to store them in their required temperature.

Jakosalem said Zuellig Pharma will also set up a digital platform to support the planning of vaccine supply that can be monitored by the teams in vaccination sites. With this platform, the vaccine's second dose for individuals can be tracked as well as the possible adverse events that recipients may experience after the shot.

Zuellig Pharma ready to store, distribute vaccines —exec

he Zuellig Pharma Corp. is ready to manage COVID-19 vaccines with its cold chain facilities after expanding its capacity, its official said on Sunday. Zuellig Pharma’s chief business officer Janet Jakosalem said they can provide all the temperature requirements for the vaccines. “Naghanda na po kami

griculture Secretary William Dar and Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon had forged a partnership recently for piloting Sarangani in the implementation of the Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) in Region 12. The PAFES is a flagship initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strengthen the research extension of farmer and fisherfolk linkages in the province, spearhead agricultural modernization and industrialization, and enhance rural livelihood through massive utilization of science-based innovations and establishments of agro-based enterprises. The memorandum of agreement which Secretary Dar and Solon executed on February 5 in General Santos City stipulated the required interventions to assist the marginalized farmers and fishermen in the entire Sarangani. Dar said “experts have

previously warned that the negative economic impact of Covid-19 will last for a long time.” To also serve as an intervention, he said, government programs like the PAFES was established to provide livelihood to the affected sectors. The Secretary also disclosed some P226 million budget for the PAFES in Sarangani which will take full implementation in 2022 in accordance with the Mandanas decision of the Supreme Court. Each region in the country is required to pilot one province for the PAFES. In Region 12, Sarangani was selected as the pilot area. Dar said, the selection

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On criticisms against the Duterte administration’s Covid-19 response: Tayo ang unang nanawagan na ang problema talaga sa bakuna, hindi yung mga sinasabing may korupsyon, may preferred tayong bakuna, mabagal, kulang…Ang sinabi natin ang problema natin, mahigit sa kalahati ng populasyon sabi ng Pulse survey, talagang marami ang ayaw magpabakuna (We were the first to say that the problem about vaccines is not about corruption, that there’s a preferred vaccine, that procurement is slow, that it’s lacking. The problem is more than half of the population refuse to get vaccinated according to the Pulse Asia survey).”

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo

EDITORIAL

Vanguard doing its job

The Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) is doing its job as a vanguard for the protection of the city’s watershed areas. Just a week ago, the WMC denied a request of a businessman to be allowed to cut more than 100 trees in his own land in barangay Salaysay, Marilog District in Davao City because it is located within the watershed area protected under the law. Denied was the request of one Ling Ling Wu Lee. Lee applied for a permit to cut forest tree species within his 12.2-hectare land covered by title TCT 1462016018903 in Salaysay, for “personal, commercial and development purposes.” Proposed to be cut are 121 trees consisting of various planted and natural grown tree species with a total volume of 331.56 cubic meters. The denial was decided during the latest monthly meeting of the WMC presided by City Administrator Zuleika D. Lopez, who co-chairs the watershed council with Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The disapproval is pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance No. 0310-07, Series of 2007, otherwise known as the Watershed Code of Davao City. The code prohibits the cutting of trees and several other commercial and development activities within a

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site delineated as watershed area. The watershed council is composed of some 20 representatives of city and national agencies as well as certain private organizations like Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), the church and the media. It is headed by the city mayor herself. It is mandated to ensure the implementation of all the provisions of the code and its implementing rules and regulations. The WMC is assisted by the Watershed Multipartite MonitoringTeam (WMMT) in implementing the code. Also assisting the WMC is the Bantay Bukid volunteers under the tutorship of retired colonel Edgardo Batenga and lately the monolithic Public Safety and Security Command Center headed by Angel Sumagaysay, a retired police official. The WMC meeting last week of January also withheld action on two other requests for a permit to cut trees, pending submission of documents identifying coordinates or the exact location of the proposed logging area and the status of the lands where the cutting of trees is applied for. With WMC always on the move and its active members in the forefront, we can expect the Watershed Code to be enforced strictly.

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

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LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD Consultant Cartoonist 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

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VOL.13 ISSUE ISSUE258 258••TUESDAY, TUESDAY,FEBRUARY FEBRUARY16, 16,2021 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

HOW DO YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART? During my college days, one of my favorite American singers was Kenny Rogers. One of the songs I liked was “A Love Song.” The memorable lines go this way: “Why do people cry when they hear the word goodbye in a love song? Tears are sure to fall when you know they gave it all in a love song.” Another stanza has these words: “Each of us know there’s no guarantee we’ll ever find love. And in the songs that we share, the heartache is there to remind us.” More often than not, a broken heart is real. Some people have a hard time moving on after love has ended. There are those who still long that love will rekindle again for both of them. For some it may happen but for most, it won’t. Helen Reddy’s song comes to mind: “I can’t say goodbye to you no matter how I tried. You’re such a part of me without you, I would die. Deep in the heart of me, I know that you and I were meant to be together, I can’t tell you goodbye.” Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz once wrote: “Why can’t we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn’t work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves.

Then we would have to say goodbye. I hate good-byes.” For many people having a broken heart is something that may not be recognized at first, as it takes time for an emotional or physical loss to be fully acknowledged. “Human beings are not always aware of what they are feeling,” Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson points out. “Like animals, they may not be able to put their feelings into words.” This does not mean we have no feelings. Well-known psychologist Sigmund Freud once speculated that a man could be in love with a woman for six years and not know it until many years later. Such a man, with all the goodwill in the world, could not have verbalized what he did not know. He had the feelings, but he did not know about them. It may sound like a paradox—paradoxical because when we think of a feeling, we think of something that we are consciously aware of feeling. As Freud put it in his 1915 article The Unconscious: “It is surely of the essence of an emotion that we should be aware of it. Yet it is beyond question that we can ‘have’ feelings that we do not know about.” Even the Holy Bible has a passage on the subject: “Insults have broken my heart and left me weak, I looked for sympathy but

there was none; I found no one to comfort me” (Psalm 69:20. In this verse, King David explains that insults have broken his heart, not loss or pain. It is also a popular belief that rejection, major or minor, can break an individual’s heart. This heartbreak can be greatly increased if rejected by a loved one or someone whom you respect. So, how do you mend a broken heart? Having been broken-hearted several times over, I can say I am an expert on the subject. Here’s what you can do: Accept it. No matter what you do, it is the end of a beautiful relationship. If there is a beginning, there is always an ending. You cannot control the feeling of the other person. When it comes to love, two hearts must combine to beat as one. If there’s only one that beats, then it is not love at all. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, be glad that you were part of the other person’s life before. It’s not the end of the world. Just because you won’t see the person you loved the most anymore, the world hasn’t ended. The fact is: the wind will continue to blow, the sun to shine, and the sea waves to rush to shore. Your friends and enemies may talk about the failed relationship you had but that’s part of life and growing up. You are still in

control of your life. You can even sing the Every Brothers’ song: “I’m through with romance, I’m through with love. I’m through with counting the stars above.” Move on. It’s okay to think of your beloved for a day or a week. But after that, move on. Count your blessings. That person may not be the right person for you. I have known a lot of people who said, “I should have not married early in life.” Or you might be singing the song of Ogie Alcasid: “Bakit ngayon ka lang dumating sa buhay ko.” The break up might be a sign that someone out there is much better than your previous love. Find another love. It might be easier said than done. I am sure you have heard it before: “I won’t find another love but you.” What they really meant is that they won’t open their heart again for a new love. Instead, listen to your heart. Love will find a way. “I believe for everyone who goes astray,” Tom Jones sings, “some will come to show the way.” These rules are not foolproof. There are those that despite what they do, they continue to be brokenhearted. And although “heartbreak” is usually a metaphor, there is a medical condition—appropriately known as broken heart syndrome—where a traumatizing incident triggers

the brain to distribute chemicals that weaken heart tissue. Broken heart syndrome is clinically different from a heart attack because the patients have few risk factors for heart disease and were previously healthy prior to the heart muscles weakening. The recovery rates for those suffering from “broken heart syndrome” are faster than those who had heart attacks and complete recovery to the heart was achieved within two weeks. The symptoms of a “broken heart” can manifest themselves through psychological pain but for many the effect is physical. Although the experience is regarded commonly as indescribable, the following is a list of common symptoms that occur: a perceived tightness of the chest, similar to an anxiety attack; stomach ache and/or loss of appetite; partial or complete insomnia; anger; shock; nostalgia and apathy (loss of interest). Other symptoms include feelings of loneliness; feelings of hopelessness and despair; loss of self-respect and/or self-esteem; medical or psychological illness (depression, for example), suicidal thoughts (in some cases); nausea; fatigue; constant or frequent crying; a feeling of complete emptiness; the thousand-yard stare; and in extreme cases, death.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

?????!!!!! What exactly do I mean when my column title is but this series of question and exclamation marks? Are you as confused as I am? Yes, I have to admit - much against my subconscious will that I am in a state of confusion and quandary. I could not make heads or tails about what is going on around me because the continuous 24/7 broadcasts of news on CoVid 19 have taken over the more sensible issues of the day. Hey, people, the CoVid issue has been with us for nearly a completed one year cycle. It’s all CoVid, CoVid, Covid from sunrise to sunset! Anchormen (women) of radio programs are like androids repetitively mouthing precautions, warnings, statistics of death and recoveries picked up from press releases either from the IATF or the DOH as if this would improve the lives of every Filipino citizen within reach of their broadcasts. The CoVid news broadcasts have become redundant such that radio people spice it up with rumors about entertainment and

politics in order to break the ice. Even vloggers - irreverent as they are - wanting to gain attention and rating have jumped into the fray that contributed to the muddling of the issues. Frankly, I seldom listen to the CoVid broadcasts anymore. Not that they are not important but that they don’t seem to carry a tinge of credibility. I have heard dirty rumors that some hospitals try to convince grieving families to agree and sign the death certificate as resulting from CoVid and be rewarded with P127,000 in cash even if such death was not. Although I am not inclined to believe these tales, the huge corruption scandal at Philhealth ring alarm bells. If you ask an announcer reciting the list of CoVid stats the number of deaths arising out of TB, pneumonia, HIV, dengue, cancer, etc., he/she would very likely stammer and be caught by surprise. Why? Because he/she doesn’t have a list of other statistical deaths save for CoVid. Wouldn’t

this be embarrassing? I checked all radio stations in Metro Manila - especially the established outlets of the mainstream media (MSM) - and just about everyone of them could not help but chatter the IATF slogan: Mask, Hugas, Iwas in their opening spiels. I tell you, the word to describe this is ‘boring.” B-O-R-I-N-G. Why can’t they tackle other issues that may help educate and improve the life of the ordinary Filipino? Economics, for instance. Or the fragile peace in the Middle East and how will it affect the Philippines? Did you know that in 1967 during the Six Day war between Israel and her Arab neighbors, oil and gasoline were rationed and kilometric lines of vehicles of all makes queued all day long just to purchase 5 liters of gas for their individual use? Or they can discuss the morality of employing Smartmatic in the 2022 polls. Smartmatic and corporate ally Dominion were mentioned

by Trump and his legal advisers as allegedly involved in the commission of election fraud in the US presidential elections which until today hovers over the heads of the Democrats. As anchormen I see that they pretty much piggyback ride on what is popular and what currently are the burning issues. I find this quite shallow because they can’t seem to intelligently analyze what has caused this country to wallow in the mire of poverty and divisiveness for many decades. CoVid19 is evil. Its authors are out there somewhere laughing. It has overtaken our otherwise serene existence, disrupted our freedom of worship, collapsed our economy, rendered millions of families hungry, breadwinners jobless and unemployed, our leaders caught with their pants down. CoVid19 corrupted our subconscious that it is a lethal virus when it is not, created moronic obedience to a fake pandemic. Now every government appears to be in a rat race trying to corner

the most effective vaccine being peddled around by Big Pharma. I believe Philippine media must contribute to turn this malady around, Parroting the language of and dictates of the WHO is at this time already an overkill. Why? Every Filipino has, after a year of brainwashing, must have already memorized the accepted health protocols, including the punishment and fines to be imposed against any violation. Ask any elementary pupil the three words to remember and they will recite it with eager alacrity: Mask, Hugas, Iwas. Come on, the government cannot do it alone. Mainstream media - the broadcast entities and organizations in particular - have much to do to help alleviate the exasperating conditions and circumstances prevailing. Leonardo da Vinci said: “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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Subaru spices up February with Valentines special treats M

otor Image Pilipinas, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, spices up February with treats awaiting in selected showrooms!

Year of the Ox: ‘OKS’ deals on Hyundai commercial vehicles

uck is in the air with the Year of the Ox. For those in business, this means the promise of prosperity for those who exhibit the Ox’s characteristics for success--patience, strength, industriousness, trustworthiness, and intelligence. Hyundai trucks and buses have what it takes for better journeys ahead. Even better, you can get them with great deals as Hyundai welcomes the Chinese New Year. Let Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) help you change your luck for the better with the Oks na Oks sa Year of the Ox promo. From February 12 to March 15, the official Philippine distributor of Hyundai vehicles, offers huge savings on its hard-working fleet of trucks and minibuses. For light-duty trucks, PhP140,000 off on the HD65/65X cab and chassis and PhP280,000 off on the HD36L Maxculado cab and chassis; a PhP200,000 cash discount on the premium COUNTY to set your shuttle business on track; and, for those looking for massive, heavy-duty support for construction, logistics, or other heavy industries, a hefty PhP480,000 discount on the XCIENT dump truck and tractor (6- and 10-wheeler; cab and chassis). Stay strong with the HD36L Maxculado Built with high-capacity

chassis and made even more durable with its new ladder frame that features heavier gauge steel, the HD36L Maxculado helps you muscle up any business that requires a good deal of heavy lifting. This may be a light-duty truck, but its serious muscle and performance will give your operations a boost. The added stabilizer bar increases front-end rigidity and improves steering stability while the enhanced front suspension and shock absorber makes for uncompromised protection of vehicle and cargo. Volume capacity also gets a boost with a longer shuttle rear body. Now 11.8 feet (3600 mm) long, the extended wheelbase and longer cargo bed can accommodate an 11-foot rear deck, giving it a 1.7- ton payload capacity. Complementing the sturdy build is the new more fuel-efficient 2.5-liter diesel engine that gives 130ps power output and 26kg-m torque, further optimized by mating it to a six-speed transmission that delivers 53% more torque than its predecessor and makes for a more effortless drive. Work hard and smart with the HD65/65X Engineered to make light work of heavy duties, the HD65/65X is a hardy vehicle built with heat-treated, web-strengthened, ultra-rigid super frame

that make for the superior performance and safety of Hyundai HD trucks. Whether fully loaded or empty, suspension resilience is optimized in the HD65/65X through the proven strength and stability of leaf springs with advanced shock-absorbing technology. When it comes to power, the HD65/65X does not disappoint with its Euro 4 D4GA direct-injection diesel engine with turbocharger. Mated to a 5-speed manual transmission system, this engine generates maximum power output of 150 ps @ 2,500

rpm and maximum torque of 59 kg-m @ 1,400 rpm. All within a highly efficient engine operation that optimally churns generous power at minimal fuel consumption. Servicing and maintenance for the HD65/65X also comes easy, thanks to the 50-degree tilting cab feature that provides quick and easy access to the engine compartment. Other routine maintenance checks involving fluid levels are effortless with the truck’s advanced integrated fuel filter that requires service at 20,000 km intervals, contributing to greater peace of

his Valentines and Lunar New Year week (February 12 to 21), Subaru will be offering the following to all customers who visit the showroom: • Customers will be invited to Test Drive, and in turn will be entitled a pick a prize from a range of Subaru merchandise worth up to P1,000 • Customers who will book/reserve over the week of February 12-21 will receive a NICI Plush Toy of their choice as a Valentines gift*** • Customers who book/reserve over the week of February 12-21 will be entitled to another round of pick a prize, this time with special vehicle services worth up to Php5,000 up for grabs (exterior detailing, interior detailing, engine detailing, vehicle sanitation, etc.)***

***Exclusive to Subaru Greenhills, Subaru Manila Bay, Subaru Global City, and Subaru Pasig On top of the cash discounts available for all variants of the Subaru Forester and all variants of the Subaru XV, Subaru is extending the additional service voucher promo to purchases of the said models for this month Subaru Forester and XV FREEBIE SERVICE VOUCHER worth Php 50,000 (Forester i-S ES, Forester i-L ES, all XV variants) SERVICE VOUCHER worth Php 20,000 (Forester GT Edition, Forester GT Lite Edition) CAN BE USED FOR - PMS - Parts - Other outlet-based Services and Labor

mind and even greater savings for your operations. Aim big with the reliable XCIENT Boasting of a robust design, highlighted by a striking and voluminous front grille, and bold, dynamic lines, the Hyundai XCIENT is a commanding presence on the road. Its strength of character is reinforced even more by the extensive application of Hyundai’s signature high-strength steel, contributing to structural integrity and durability whatever the road or load. The XCIENT is built to take on tough jobs with its

front and rear multi-leaf suspension system and its core Powertech engine (in the D6HA and D6CC for XCIENT cargo trucks and XCIENT 4x2 and 6x2 tractor heads). Engineered with Hyundai’s class-leading technology, these direct-injection turbo-diesel engines produce higher power output for superior road performance no matter the load and are Euro-4 compatible, which makes for smarter operational efficiency with improved fuel consumption and emissions. The D6HA delivers a maximum power

FSUBARU, P10

FYEAR, P10

EDGEDAVAO

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Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

AGRITRENDS

he municipality of Bansalan is touted as “the green town of Davao del Sur.” It is understandable as it has several farms that practice ecologically-sound and environment-friendly schemes. In barangay Kinuskusan, there is a training center that has been visited by thousands of people from all over the country. Even before farm tourism has become a buzzword in the travel world, people flock to the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) to see the technologies it has developed through the years. “The MBRLC has been at the forefront of improving the lives of the Filipino people, both physically and spiritually,” commented then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the center’s 30th anniversary. “They have provided our people with the necessary guidance in order to become productive members of society.” Since its humble beginning in September 1971 (which means it will celebrate its golden anniversary this year), MBRLC has become one of the most-often visited places in Mindanao. People from other countries – from Australia to Zimbabwe, from Afghanistan to Vietnam, from the United Kingdom to the United States – have also visited the center. So far, about half a million people have paid a visit to the Watson Farm, as it was then called as it was founded by an American agricultural missionary from Mississippi named Harold R. Watson. “From an initial effort to train and improve the productivity of farmers in the area, it has spread as a reputable model throughout the Philippines and touched all of Asia,” said Jerry A. Rankin, former president of the International Mission Board based in Richmond, Virginia. “Agricultural technology and methods have turned barren hills into productive farms.” Some scribes have described MBRLC as a Disneyland of organic farming systems. “What we are promoting at the center is organic farming,” says Jethro P. Adang, the second Filipino to become director of the center; the first one was Roy C. Al-

infiltration and retention capacity, reduce surface and ground water consumption and subsequent soil salinization and reduce ground and surface water contamination. Erosion is the most pervasive form of land degradation. “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever,” Watson said. “It takes thousands of years to build one inch of topsoil but only one good strong rain to remove one inch from unprotected soil on the slopes of mountains.” On another occasion, Watson said, “Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly. It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land. We must consider ourselves in a state of emergency; our topsoil is all going…” The possible solution to the erosion problem is Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT 1), where two hedgerows of nitrogen fixing plants are planted together following the upland’s contour lines. “The idea is to stop the topsoil from eroding,” Adang says. Uplands under cultivation in the country have lost about two-thirds of their valuable topsoil, the primary resource in agriculture. The technology is very simple. The hedgerows are planted in very dense double rows to serve as erosion barriers. When the hedgerows – a combination of various nitrogen fixing tree species and shrubs like ipil-ipil, kakawate, flemingia, and rensonii – attain the height of two meters, they are cut back to about 40 centimeters and the cutting are placed in the 3- to 5-meter alleys where crops are growing. SALT is considered a diversified farming system. Aside from the hedgerows, rows of perennial crops such as coffee, bananas, and citrus

DISNEYLAND OF ORGANIC FARMING SYSTEMS

imoane. (Previously, the center was managed by Americans: Mississippi's Harold R. Watson, Tennessee's Jon J. Palmer, and Kentucky's Steve L. Musen.) “We want to show to our visitors that farming systems that protect the environment can also be productive and sustainable.” The United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO), in its report, Organic Agriculture and Food Security, believes organic agriculture is one of the methods that can fight hunger, tackle the issues of climate change aside from being beneficial for farmers, consumers and the environment. In a recent report, Lucille Elna Parreno-de Guzman gives this further definition: “Organic agriculture is an agricultural production system that avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, growth regulators, pesticides, livestock feed additives, and genetically modified organisms and products.” That’s what MBRLC is trying to do in its farm located in barangay Kinuskusan, about 10 kilometers away from the town proper. As 60% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares are considered uplands, it has developed four sustainable farming schemes. The Bureau of Soil and Water Management, a line agency of the Department of Agriculture, considered organic agriculture as one of the methods that can combat land degradation. In fact, it has been found that organic agriculture does not only help improve soil fertility but also prevent wind and water erosion of the soil, improve water

are grown in areas occupied by corn. The annual crops are rotated: corn is followed by soybeans or peanuts and then followed again by corn. “In this way, a farmer has something to harvest every month throughout the year,” Adang states. The success of SALT has ushered to the birth of three more variants, each one addressing a certain niche for the upland farmers. As malnutrition is a big problem, the MBRLC developed Simple Agro-Livestock Technology (SALT 2). Livestock particularly refers to goats, whose milk and meat can be the farm’s source of protein. Twelve dairy does and one buck are raised in one-half hectare. The goat house is located at the center. The lower portion is planted to various leguminous crops and napier grass, which are the source of forage for goats. The upper portion is allotted to agricultural crops. “As we are raising dairy goats, we practice zero grazing,” Adang says. The leguminous crops are cut and given to goats. The goat manure is used as fertilizer for the forages and agricultural crops. “The sources of income for the farmer are milk, goats, and some from his crops,” he says. The Philippines is fast losing its forest cover. To save the lingering forests, the MBRLC tries to integrate more trees in its SALT systems. In fact, the remaining two systems have more trees in them: Sustainable Agroforest Land Technology (SALT 3) and Small Agrofruit Livelihood Technology (SALT 4). The two-hectare SALT 3 is small-scale reforestation; one hect-

are is planted to agricultural crops while the other hectare is allotted to trees like mahogany, narra, raintree, and ipil-ipil. The forest component is located at the upper portion to douse the impact of the raindrops. To further curb the rushing water from the upper portion, bamboo is planted in the middle of the two components as a boundary crop. In the lower portion, the original SALT scheme is still followed. Since Mindanao is touted to be the fruit basket of the country, MBRLC developed the one-half hectare SALT 4. The area is planted to various fruit trees like durian, mangosteen, lanzones, marang, and guava. While the fruits are still young, the area is planted to annual crops (banana and pineapple) and vegetables (string beans, peanuts, cucumber). For the lowlands, the center has developed a gardening system called Food Always In The Home (FAITH), which can provide all-year round vegetables for a family with six members. “A refrigerator in the farm is what we call it,” Adang says. In a sense, it is. You can pick fresh tomatoes, eggplants, ampalaya, alugbati, winged beans, malunggay, and okra. You can even harvest fruits like pineapple and papaya, which are planted along the boundary of the garden as fences. The 100-square meter garden can provide 300 grams of fresh vegetables daily. The central feature of the garden is a series of raised garden beds into which bamboo baskets and trench composts are set about one foot in depth. These are filled with little manure and

some decomposed garbage and packed with leaves of grasses and leguminous plants like kakawate, flemingia, rensonii, and ipil-ipil. In all its systems, the center doesn’t use pesticides. “The key to good pest control,” Adang says, “begins with knowing your crops and checking them regularly to make sure they are healthy and not bothered by something that might want to eat them before you do! When you see a pest or disease problem, with diligent scouting it can be controlled before it becomes a major problem.” If infestation is immense, however, the center makes homemade pesticides using neem, kakawate, marigold, garlic, and hot pepper. At the MBRLC, wastes are no waste. They use them as feed for their night-crawling earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae). “With the aid of aerobic microorganisms (that is, bacteria and fungi), earthworms digest processed organic materials under favorable temperature and moisture conditions,” Adang explains. “The materials that pass through the digestive tract of the earthworms come out in a texturized, sanitized and deodorized form of castings known as vermicompost.” They use vermicompost in fertilizer for their crops. “While low in major plant nutrients compared to chemical fertilizers,” Adang says, “vermicompost supports microorganisms, which make nutrients more readily available to plants and produce substances that promote plant growth and health.” MBRLC also has fishponds,

where it raises tilapia. In some parts of the ponds, azolla and golden apple snail are also raised (although not together). Azolla is used as feed for tilapia and ducks. Azolla contains 4-5 percent nitrogen, 1-1.5 percent phosphorus, and 2-3 percent potassium. “As such, azolla can also be applied as organic fertilizer in fresh, dried, or composted form.” As for golden apple snails, they are utilized as feed for ducks. Chicken and pigs also dominate some areas of the farm. Instead of being a problem, the center uses pig manure as a source of biogas. They are using biogas to pasteurize goat’s milk and cook food prepared in the canteen. The MBRLC was actually conceptualized based on the masteral thesis of Watson. He found out that most agricultural training centers in the 1960s had already sophisticated facilities but didn’t have demonstration farms where the trainees can immerse themselves. “In those years, training centers had huge buildings where people can learn modern techniques of farming,” Watson said. “But unfortunately, they didn’t have demo fields that show how to do those techniques." At the MBRLC, training is conducted every week (although these days, due to pandemic, training is limited). The trainees don’t learn only the basics of the organic farming systems the center developed but also absorb the skills in doing them. “We call it hands-on-experience,” Adang says. “Only 25% of the training is done in the room, the remaining 75% are finished in the

field.” Each day, about 35 participants join the training. But in these days of coronavirus pandemic, the participants are trimmed down to only 10. “We follow all the health protocols recommended by the government,” Adang says. Even those who come to the center for a tour, they learn so many things. “We usually have a short orientation at the training hall,” Adang says. “After that, they can tour around the center, which usually takes about half a day. But in some instances, if farmers have so many questions during the tour, it may take about one day." Right now, brief exposure study tours (BEST), as the center calls it, are being discouraged again due to pandemic. But a few individuals who happen to drop by are being toured. There is a minimal fee of P45 per person for the tour. “Our farming systems are far from perfect,” admits Adang. “Every day, we are learning. But we are happy to share what we know. We don’t hide anything here. Everyone is free to copy what we do.” In fact, for encouraging international utilization of the farming schemes the center has developed through the years, its first director, Watson received the Ramon Magsaysay Award – Asia’s Nobel Prize – for international understanding. MBRLC has also received recognitions from the regional office of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, various government agencies, and Presidential Citation from former president Corazon C. Aquino. –

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Elementary School vaccine site. Kung ingon ani ang set up, makasulti ko nga preparado nata,” she commented. City Health Officer Ashley Lopez said pri-

vate and state-owned universities in Davao City are opening their campuses as vaccination sites in addition to designated public elementary school.

enue, Quinones Road and R. Castillo St. One-way lanes were marked along

San Pedro St., Pichon St. and Claro M. Recto. Maya Padillo

their active contact numbers and email addresses so they are informed about the schedule of the Step 2 registration. “Step 1 na’ko diri sa Davao city, ready for Step 2 ky naa nko pre -registration slip. Na mi sched hope mgsugod na Step 2 para makuha na nako akong ID kay importante kaau ng naay national ID (I finished Step 1 here in Davao City. I’m ready for Step 2 because I already have a pre-registration slip. I was given a schedule. I hope Step 2 will start already so I can get my ID because it is so important if you have a national ID),” said Ed Espinosa of Davao City in a Facebook post. Another resident, Zy Ninia Tormon, expressed eagerness to complete the registration for the National ID. “Na-register nami sa first step, sched namo atung Dec. 7 then nakadawat mig text na wait for another date kay cancel tong first gihatag, nagahulat mi tawagan kay gusto nami makakuha

ug national ID, hope matawagan nami sa PSA (We already registered for the first step. We were given a schedule on December 7 but we received a text to wait for another date because the first schedule was canceled, we are waiting for the call because we want to get a national ID hope PSA will already call us),” Tormon said. 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)

The public is urged to make reservations ahead of their stay and come prepared with their confirmatory swab test result, Ibarreta said. "The hotels still follow the safety guidelines. Merong masks, pagcheck ng temperature and face shield din (There are masks, temperature check and face shields). Hotel employees are (also) safe rin," Ibarreta said. "Everything is safe

and we make sure, we follow the DOT-IATF (Department of Tourism Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19) guidelines po." With the temporary shutdown of Makati Shangri-la and the closure of the Legend Villas, Ibarreta expressed hope that their other hotel members will not follow suit, otherwise "many more lives will be affected."

three quarters, bringing the year-to-date earnings down 257.4% to a net loss of P11.495 billion. "All of our regions generated recurring profit in the fourth quarter, led by the Philippines. We have significantly improved the Smashburger and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf businesses that they are now in reasonable position to start generating profit in 2021," said Tanmantiong. "Our strong profit recovery shows our organization's capability to execute complex and massive undertaking in a very short time like the Business Transformation. It was a very difficult and painful program but the right thing to do for the long term good of the business and the organization," he added. Launched in May 2020, the company's Business Transformation

(BT) program covered the rationalization of worldwide operations. Four commissaries and a total of 486 stores, of which 262 covered by the BT program, were permanently closed. As of December 31, 2020, JFC reported a total of 5,824 restaurants in its network under the brands Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger King, PHO24, Panda Express in the Philippines; and Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Dunkin' Donuts, Tim Ho Wan, Jollibee, Red Ribbon, Chowking, Highlands Coffee, PHO24, Hard Rock Cafe, Smashburger, and CBTL overseas. Shares in the company opened Monday at P180.3 apiece, up by P1.60 or 0.90% from its previous close of P178.70 last Friday.

vaccinated. Meanwhile, 28 percent of the respondents have said that they would not get the vaccine, and 47 percent have answered they have not decided whether they want to receive an anti-coronavirus shot. Panelo renewed his call to the opposition to help the administration inform Filipinos about the benefits of getting inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine. “Kaya sinasabi natin (sa) mga senador, mga kritiko, puwede ba dito na lang tayo mag concentrate. Mag educate tayo (That’s why I’m calling on senators and critics to concentrate on boosting vaccine confidence. Let’s educate people),” he added. He said politicians, officials, and other personalities have a “sphere of influence” that could convince Filipinos that the vaccines procured by government are safe and

effective. “Pag meron silang duda at sinabi nating ‘Hindi, huwag kayo maniwala, eto ang pinawalaan niyo’, naniniwala sila (If they have doubts and we say, ‘No, don’t believe in that, believe this’, they’ll believe us),” he said. He noted that critics should help because the failure of the government’s vaccination campaign could spell trouble for the entire nation. “Pag hindi ho natin mapaniwala, e sayang lahat yung paghihirap natin (If we don’t convince them to get vaccinated, our efforts would go to waste),” he said. The PCOO and its attached agency, the Philippine Information Agency, earlier launched the “Explain, Explain, Explain” information campaign which intends to persuade the public to get inoculated with the Covid-19 vaccine. The government’s goal is to vaccinate

goal, compare it with the previous year and classify it by type of collection, he said. Dulay said the BIR will also allow taxpayers to book online appointments with revenue officers regarding tax-related concerns starting this year. He said the bureau is targeting to complete its in-house developed One-Time Transaction (ONETT) tracking system this year to allow it to monitor the ONETT transactions from the date the taxpayer secured the services of the revenue officers for the computation of the tax due up to the time of securing the Electronic Certificates Authorizing Registration (eCARs). In his accomplishment report, Dulay re-

ported the BIR surpassed its collection goal in 2020 through the strict monitoring of tax compliance, topped by making good use of the bureau’s Taxpayer Account Management Program. The BIR's strict monitoring of tax compliance also included withholding the remittances of national government agencies, local government units, top withholding taxpayers and other private withholding agents, and employing online facilities. Citing BIR preliminary data, Dulay said the bureau collected a total of PHP1.94 trillion in 2020, or 15.14 percent over the revised goal of PHP1.68 trillion set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee for last year.(PR)

COMPLETION... FROM2 NAT’L... FROM3

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JOLLIBEE... FROM4

around 70 percent of the population in the country to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity is defined as the indirect protection from an infectious disease that hap-

pens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through the previous infection, according to the World Health Organization. (PNA)

These special deals also come on top of the standard 5-year warranty for purchases of new Subaru vehicles. Special deals for other Subaru models such as the BRZ and WRX will also be available. Subaru PH is also introducing the special Aftersales Lunar New Year Promo at all outlets – with Oil Change Packages, Parts Replacement, Labor, and Accessories offers. Setting an appointment in advance (via https://www.suba-

ru.asia/ph/en/owners/ subaru-service.php ) is recommended to ensure your safety and convenience. The aftersales promo is slated for a twoweek run from February 8 to 21, 2021. So what are you waiting for? Let’s all welcome the Love Month by visiting your nearest Subaru showroom and test driving your next Subaru vehicle! ** on selected outlets, additional offers await once customer reserves for a Subaru vehicle.

output of 380 ps @ 2,000 rpm and maximum torque of 160 kg-m @ 1,200 rpm, while the D6CC churns out maximum power of 410 ps @ 1,900 rpm, and maximum torque: 188 kg-m @ 1,200 rpm—all ready to support the daily rigors of cargo or hauling. Vehicle maintenance for the XCIENT is also a cinch, thanks to its cab’s tilt angle of 61 degrees and enlarged tilting cylinder that secures the volume of tilting pump reservoir. Protection applied to upper components helps prevent oil leakage, which saves you on undue costs from engine damage and hampered operations. Count on the COUNTY for countless business ideas Specially designed for mass transport, the COUNTY mini-bus boasts a host of features that assures dependability, safety, and comfort. Its body alone is as sturdy and as stable as it gets, thanks to greater rust-resistance from Hyundai’s standard seven-dip electrodeposition primer (EDP), or electrostatic immersion process, plus a stringent chassis durability test that ensures that it can handle a variety of road conditions. The COUNTY also em-

ploys reassuring stopping power, as it’s equipped with Load-Sensing Proportioning Valve (LSPV) that adjusts brake pressure according to the weight distribution of passenger load, as well as 9+10 brake booster for even safer braking. As for comfort and convenience, it is loaded with thoughtful amenities, like a swing-out type door for easy ingress and egress, semi-cloth upholstered seats for firm yet gentle support, deluxe cargo space to stow extra luggage, and nifty overhead shelves for handy storage. This Year of the Ox, luck can come in many forms— best of them is the choice of the best partner to get your business back on track. Keep your luck coming and your business moving with great deals on Hyundai commercial vehicles, para maging Oks na Oks ka sa Year of the Ox! Promo runs from February 12 to March 15, 2021. See flyers for complete details. Get to know more of Hyundai trucks and buses at https://www.hyundai. ph/trucksandbuses or request for a quote at Hyundai e-B2B: easy Booking to Buying: https://bit.ly/HyundaieB2B.

of Sarangani was based on the expressed interest, capacity, quality of governance, presence of a state university and college with strong agriculture and research and development program and, the potential for success. The successful implementation of the Special Area for Agricultural Development program in Sarangani was also one of the reasons for again selecting the province to receive another huge project from DA. Governor Solon who attended the ceremonial signing via Zoom expressed his gratitude to the Department of Agriculture for entrusting another project to Sarangani. Solon said, “God really blesses Sarangani even during this pandemic.” “Let us utilize this blessing. Let us work together to increase the production of agricultural crops and fisheries to strengthen and boost the

economy in Sarangani,” the governor added. The MOA signing was also attended by Malungon Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino; Congresswoman Shirlyn BañasNograles; Director Abdul Dayani of the Agricultural Training Institute; Regional Director Alfeo Piloton of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; and Regional Executive Director Arlan Mangelen of the DA XII. The event was also graced by Eduardo Lapong, Dean of the College of Agriculture-Mindanao State University-General Santos City who represented Chancellor Anshari Ali; Rodrigo España of the Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council; Board Member Arman Guili, chairman of the committee on agriculture; and Provincial Agriculturist, Jonathan Duhaylungsod. (Joshua John Pantonial/ SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

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Chot Reyes back as TNT coach V eteran coach Chot Reyes has been once again tapped to mentor Talk ‘N Text for the upcoming Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season. The Tropang Giga announced on Saturday night that the multi-titled coach will return to the team after nine years. “It’s like a homecoming for Chot. He is a coach that gave us four championships. We look forward to a successful relationship with Coach Chot,” said Ricky Vargas, TNT's representative to the PBA board of governors, in which he is the chairman. Reyes will take over the Tropang Giga coaching spot from the coach-consultant tandem of Bong Ravena and Mark Dickel. “We would like to thank TNT Tropang GIGA active consultant Mark Dickel for all that he has done for the team. He brought us to the PBA Finals twice in the two years that he was onboard. We wish him well as he moves on to new endeavors,” Vargas added.

Vargas said Reyes wants Dickel to stay with the team only that the latter wants to explore new opportunities, eventually opting to stay in Las Vegas. "I have spent the best years of my career as a ka-Tropa, and I look forward to this new challenge," Reyes said. With Reyes at the helm, TNT won four PBA titles, including backto-back Philippine Cup titles in 2011 and 2012 and coming just close to a 2011 grand slam after also winning the Commissioner's Cup championship in that year. However, he had to leave the Tropang Giga to go full time with Gilas Pilipinas Men. In what would be his second stint as national team coach, Reyes led Gilas Men to a silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup, which qualified them for the 2014 FIBA

World Cup, ending a 36year wait. Smart president and CEO Al Panlilio believes these accolades merit Reyes another stint as TNT coach. “Basketball is in the DNA of Filipinos, especially us at PLDT and

Smart. That is why we are looking forward to working with Coach Chot as he leads TNT Tropang GIGA in the coming PBA season,” said Panlilio, also PLDT's chief revenue officer. Reyes believes that his new coaching stint would

serve as an avenue for him to champion his goal. “Throughout my career, I have always tried to live according to my passion and purpose. My passion has always been coaching and building teams, whether in sports or business. And

Posadas couple give take on sports and relationship

Detroit center Mason Pumlee (left) defends against Pelicans star Zion Williamson.

Pistons beat Pelicans, spoil Van Gundy return

ETROIT — Mason Plumlee had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, and the Detroit Pistons spoiled Stan Van Gundy's return to Motown, beating the New Orleans Pelicans, 123-112, on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time). Van Gundy was the coach and president of basketball operations for the Pistons from 2014-18. He's coaching

the Pelicans now, and Detroit became the latest team to blitz New Orleans from 3-point range. The Pistons had six players with at least 15 points, and Detroit went 17 of 35 from beyond the arc — 13 of 21 during the final three quarters. Josh Jackson led Detroit with 21 points, and Svi Mykhailiuk added 18. The Pelicans also lost

their previous two games, allowing 25 3-pointers in each of those. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram scored 26 points each for the Pelicans, but New Orleans couldn't hold on after an impressive start. The Pelicans shot 79% from the field in a 40-point first quarter. The Pelicans led by 10 after the first, but they scored just 22 points in the second and trailed by two at halftime.

Detroit was up 97-89 after three. Mykhailiuk made a couple 3s to give the Pistons a 10897 lead in the fourth. Detroit is in last place in the Eastern Conference but has won three of four. Plumlee, who missed the previous two games with elbow issues, became the first Pistons center with a triple-double since Greg Monroe on Nov. 7, 2012.

my purpose is to further the advancement of Filipino coaches, so we can, in turn, help develop the next generation of Filipino leaders. Coaching again in the PBA provides me an excellent platform to advance this advocacy.” he added. (PNA)

he Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Rise Up! Shape Up! featured “Long Jump Queen of the Philippines” Elma Muros and Philippine athletics team coach Jojo Posadas as a power duo in maintaining healthy and meaningful connections in the family through sports last Saturday. The bemedaled athlete and winning coach are a married couple who share the task of training the youth in sports and inspiring them to pursue athletic excellence. “Sports build interpersonal values that shape healthy relationships such as commitment, trust, and respect for self and others. They (Muros and Posadas) embody these values taught by sports in their bond,” said PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram. Bringing the message that athletes learn so much about themselves through sports, and even learns how to handle relationships with other people, the episode hoped to highlight that sports contribute to character formation and influences interpersonal relations. For the episode’s Women On Wellness segment, registered psychologist Ms. Nenuca Fe Canlas of De la Salle University, Manila discussed effective communication strategies that can help couples understand each other and converse better. Kiram, who is in charge of women in sports, appeared in her regular segment K-Isport: Kwentong Isport talking about athletics.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 258 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021

IATF rules too restrictive for sports

Now that other aspects of our domestic life are slowly and gradually restored in relation to the Covid 19 health protocols, the government must seriously consider allowing spectator sports to be staged as they usually were. Basketball and boxing, the two most popular sports, attract huge fan following with hundreds and thousands of ticket buyers lining up to ensure they get the best seats in the house. These two events can readily measure observance of IATF health

protocols (wearing of face masks and social distancing) because the seats are numbered to enable management and ushers inside the arena (coliseum or stadium) to spot check violations. I am fully convinced that the time is ripe for the PBA to be allowed to commence with its new season in its home arena (the MOA) initially and then follow its practice of bringing the PBA to the provinces where hordes of die-hard PBA fans cannot commute to Metro Manila to personally watch the exciting

games. In the same manner, collegiate tournaments like the UAAP and the NCAA should be given the greenlight to proceed as the non-holding of their respective tournaments last year due to the viral threats has severely jeopardized the collegiate sports circuit. While the IATF’s very cautious loosening of its rules are arguably in favor of the citizens, it cannot be ignored that sports and physical fitness play a vital role in the development of a nation and its people. Student athletes who were already at the peak of their preparations for the annual Palarong Pambansa were heart-broken when the national students sports meet was canceled. It is already February 2021 and I haven’t heard

Restrictions are still on even in fitness gyms like the Arcadia Fitness Gym in Escandor Street, Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland. Gym owners have been lobbying for the relaxation of the restrictions.

any positive news from Dep-Ed whether they will disallow for the second consecutive season the holding of the Palaro. In MGCQ-declared areas where the LGUs are now capably armed with DOH-led regional protocols, small satellite-like tournaments in villages and municipalities may be allowed provided the same strict adherence to the health safety rules are rendered to the letter. It could be a good break for the Philippine sports community should the PBA and the boxing sector, for that matter, get a clearance from IATF top honchos. It’s been close to a year now when the first lockdown on March 15 was declared by the President. Noticeably, citizens have become familiarly educated with the rules

and their corresponding fines for their violations. Since the cinemas and theaters have been allowed to open as declared very recently, this positive action leads us to believe that more easing of the IATF rules are forthcoming. After basketball and boxing, traditional outdoor games like baseball and softball, volleyball, tennis, martial arts, gymnastics etc may follow. Boredom and anxiety were the by-products of the lockdown, not to mention a good number of women getting pregnant (no pun intended). Let us continue thinking positively. Napoleon Hill said: “What the mind conceives, the body will achieve.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!