Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 70 | Saturday, June 5, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION ENVIRONMENT P9 VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

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MECQ THIS TIME

A Dabawenyo receives his first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at one of the vaccination hubs in Davao City. The Department of Health (DOH) has reported that more than 100,000 or nine percent of the total number of Filipinos who got their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine were not able to receive their second dose due to unknown reasons. Edge Davao

IATF approves Davao City to be placed under MECQ for 15 days starting June 5 STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

Davao City is placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) starting June 5 until June 20 as declared by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the management of emerging infectious diseases. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio asked the IATF-EID on Wednesday to place the city under MECQ from June 5 to 30 to allow a“circuit breaker in the surge of patients inside hospitals.”Edge Davao

MECQ THIS TIME T

DavSur provides rescue vehicles to 6 barangays

IATF approves Davao City to be placed under MECQ for 15 days starting June 5 By MAYA M. PADILLO

residential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has approved the request of Davao City to be placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) beginning June 5 until June 20, 2021. The IATF issued Resolution No. 119 s. 2021, on June 3, 2021, approving the recommendations of the Screening and Validation Committee for the reclassification of Davao City from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to MECQ.

It can be recalled that Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has requested the InterAgency Task Force-Regional Task Force (IATF-RTF) to place Davao City under MECQ from June 5 to 30, 2021, to prevent the surge of Covid-19 patients inside

hospitals. In an advisory, the city stated that the request aims to help the city’s frontliners by making sure that the “stay home” campaign will be strictly observed except for work or business. The city will be guided by the regulations for MECQ under the IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated May 20, 2021, particularly Page 9, Section 3 and the Department of Trade and Industry Memorandum Circular No. 21-19 dated May 14, 2021. The salient points of the

guidelines include limiting the movement of all persons to accessing goods and establishments and for work in such establishments (Sec. 3, IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated May 20, 2021). It also states that any person below eighteen (18) years old and over sixty-five (65) years of age and persons with comorbidities, pregnant women shall be required to stay at home, except for obtaining essential goods and services (Sec. 3, IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated May 20, 2021).

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he local government of Davao del Sur has provided rescue vehicles to six (6) barangays from three municipalities in the province. The barangay recipients are: Alegre, Buenavista, and Tubod of Bansalan town; Barayong and Blocon of Magsaysay; and New Katipunan of Matanao. Christopher Tan, the provincial disaster risk reduction management officer, bared that the funding of the rescue vehicles which totaled to P3,498,600.00 came from the five per cent of the PDRRMO budget. The vehicles were turned over to the officials of the barangay recipients during the provincial capitol’s Monday convocation program on May 31, 2021. Punong Barangay Pablito Ladeza of Tubod in Bansalan, was thankful to

Governor Douglas Cagas for providing them with the needed assistance, saying in the vernacular “this is very useful in responding to road accidents and in maintaining the peace and order in the barangay.” “Dako kaayong ikatabang alang sa katawhan, labina na ang Barayong nga isa sa pinaka dakong barangay sa Magsaysay (This is a big help for our people, especially in Barayong which is one of the biggest barangays in Magsaysay),” Barayong Punong Barangay Exequiel Elentoria stated. Also during the Monday convocation, Cagas handed over a check worth P300,000.00 to the Barangay Council of Ceboza, Matanao, as financial assistance from the provincial government. The assistance is intended to purchase food and other necessities for the

conducting events and other gatherings, respectively. Such release comes after the province has experienced a surge of COVID19 cases recently “with index cases at events/ mass gatherings and tourism activities”. As of June 2, 2021, the province has 146 active cases with Baganga Municipality having the most contribution at 56

active cases followed by Mati City at 33 active cases, and Lupon Municipality at 20 active cases. EO 12 series of 2021 is “an order adopting the joint regional Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases -Regional Task Force Against COVID-19 Resolution No. 1 series of 2021 and for other

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PRO-11 applicants temporarily DavOr intensifies measures vs COVID-19 T processed at Camp Crame

n compliance to the Executive Order No. 31 Series Of 2021 which regulates the events in all barangays, local and national government offices, agencies and instrumentalities and government-owned and controlled corporation, the processing of application for

new members of the Police Regional Office XI will be at the national headquarters in Camp Crame instead of the PRO XI. Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of the PRO XI told the AFP-PNP Press Corps, the recruits may apply directly and in person

at the general headquarters given the new height requirement which is 5 feet for female and 5’2” for male recruits. She said the PRO XI has an allocation of 100 new police personnel including women.

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he province has intensified its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID19 with the release of three Executive Orders No. 12, 13, and 14 all series of 2021 in the end of May. Each of these three Eos implements regulation and guidelines on regional borders, safety seal certification program for establishments, and events regulations guidelines in

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

NEWS 3

The provincial government of Davao del Sur debunks that Governor Douglas Cagas, who has been hospitalized since Thursday at the Medical Center of Digos Cooperative in Digos City, has passed away on Friday. According to the Provincial Information Office, Governor Cagas has been declared recovering after having experienced difficulty in breathing morning of Friday. Photo from the Facebook page of Davao del Sur

Gov. Cagas is alive, says camp

18 NPA rebels give up to Army

he Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) said that 18 members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Norte and North Cotabato returned to the folds of the law during surrender rites held May 20 and June 1,2021. Maj. Jerry Lamosao, spokesman of the 10th ID ,said that among the surrenderers were 8 members including the Vice Commander of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 55 and Sub-Regional Guerilla Unit operating in Davao del Norte and its nearby provinces. The other returnees are members of Pulang Bagani Command-Guerilla Front 51 who surrendered after a series of encounters recently

in New Israel,Makilala,North Cotabato. The NPA returnees also surrendered 10 firearms and some war materials. Lamosao said the returnees are currently undergoing processing of requirements to avail themselves of the government’s EnhancedComprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). 10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Ernesto C Torres Jr lauded the troops for the series of neutralization of terrorist groups. Torres said that the surrender is a manifestation of trust towards the government and the troops attributed to the success

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

he camp of Governor Douglas “Dodo” Cagas of Davao del Sur clarified that the governor is recovering contrary to reports circulating in social media that he passed away on Friday morning. A social media post was reported claiming that the governor had passed away. However, the report was quickly debunked by those who are close to the Cagas family saying that his vital organs are functioning normally. P r o v i n c i a l

Information Officer Sherwin Cesar clarified that the governor is recovering in the I.C.U of Medical Center of Digos Cooperative where he was brought after complaining of feeling unwell on June 3, 2021. The family is waiting for the result of his swab test.

In a post, Cesar shared on the Facebook Page of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur on June 4, 2021, he shared that the vital signs of the governor have normalized. This was also affirmed by Dr. Frimm Sally Cagas Baña through a social media post. On Friday morning, the profile of the Facebook page of the province was moderately darkened and flooded with comments and prayers for the

governor’s recovery. Vice Governor Marc Cagas’ post fueled the people’s uncertainties with regards to the health status of the governor. “Ginoo tabangi ang imong anak nga si Dodo Cagas nasayud ka nga instrumento gayud nimo siya. Pabalika siya aning kalibutanan para mahuman niya iyang misyon para sa katawhan sa Davao del Sur ug sa iya pamilya ug labaw sa tanan para sa ikahimaya sa Diyos” he posted.

opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of peaceful Transformation. It is a ¥ ‎ 4.928 billion (P2.12 billion) official development assistance from JICA that seeks to provide concessional loans to small and medium enterprises, corporatives (plantation farm management services), large agribusiness enterprises, cooperatives, and participating financial institutions in BARMM and other conflict-affected neighbouring areas. In this project, DCCCII will serve as a recommendatory party in identifying possible

beneficiaries. In her president’s report during the 5th General Membership Meeting of DCCCII, Dr. malou Monteverde said HARVEST is a two-step loan of Landbank from JICA for on-lending to subborrowers with eligible sub-loans and projects. HARVEST is a five-year relending facility that will give private enterprises access to a credit line with LANDBANK for their capital investments, operations, expansion initiatives and agriculturerelated projects that support agri-related economic activities in the region.

“We would like to promote opportunities in agriculture by fostering linkages among and between cooperatives and SMEs in BARMM and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao to further enhance and sustain their viability and thereby contribute in accelerating agricultural development, livelihood and commerce, and generate employment in the area,” Monteverde said. Under the program, JICA will provide human resource training and technical assistance to Landbank, agriculture cooperatives, and other participating institutions.

DCCCII a conduit for JICA, Landbank project

he Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII) will be a conduit for the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Harvest Project in partnership with Landbank. JICA’s Harvest Project aims to accelerate the improvement of financial access and economic activities by improving employment and livelihood on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as well as the surrounding conflictaffected areas. HARVEST stands for Harnessing Agribusiness

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

A sidewalk vendor sells freshly harvested mangoes along Tionko Avenue in Davao City on Friday. The stall is being frequented by employees of nearby establishments during lunch break. Edge Davao

Inflation steady at 4.5% in May I nflation remained unchanged for the third straight month in May, reflecting the stable prices of basic commodities, the state statistics bureau said Friday.

The consumer price index rose 4.5 percent, similar to the previous month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a virtual briefing. May’s figure, which is within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 4 to 4.8 percent projection, remains above the government target of 2 to 4 percent. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as transport, contributed the most to the inflation for the month, data showed.

Inflation could fall within target as early as July but there’s still a lot of demand-side pressures since the country remains in recession, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said. “There is a call for BSP to remain accommodative until the recovery is in full swing,” Mapa said. Pork meat supply in the country was earlier hit by the African Swine Fever, which has drastically reduced the domestic hog population.

The government has since launched aid programs to help producers repopulate. A price cap for pork meat was earlier imposed to mitigate the escalating retail prices. A proposal to reduce tariffs for imported meat was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte to augment supply. “The implementation of the temporary reduction in tariffs on imported pork is seen to address supply constraints and ease price pressures on meat products going forward,” the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a statement. “Thus the projected de-

cline of inflation depends crucially on the timely arrival of pork to help stabilize domestic prices,” it added. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said inflation could temporarily remain elevated, but it should start easing by the second half and eventually settle back within the government target band by 2022. Higher inflation tends to influence household consumption which is considered a key economic driver. The BSP has kept interest rates at its lowest level of 2 percent while encouraging consumers to borrow, to support the country’s economic recovery.

Logistics, supply chain resilience key to post-pandemic recovery

ocal and international logistics practitioners from various sectors shared the challenges and solutions to emergency logistics that impacted the humanitarian supply chain due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a recent international forum on emerging innovations in disaster risk reduction and management. The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) co-organized a session with UPS Foundation at the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Man-

agement’s (AHA Centre) Humanitarian and Emergency Logistics Expo (HELIX) ASEAN Forum event last May 24. Titled “Logistics Beyond: Multi-sector engagements of the Private sector during the Pandemic,” this session brought together representatives from local and international private and public organizations to discuss how the pandemic is shaping disaster risk management practices especially in the logistics sector and how public-private partnerships can help improve response to complex emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought massive restrictions on transportation, affecting individual mobility, supply chain, and the delivery of essential needs. As the Philippines rolls out its vaccination program, some of the government’s biggest challenges are handling the incoming supply of the vaccines and efficiently distributing it to designated sites. Philippine logistics cluster plan According to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council – Office of Civil Defense

(NDRRMC–OCD) Operations Office Director Rafaelito Alejandro IV, NDRRMC is currently in the final steps of institutionalizing the National Logistics Cluster Plan which will implement the strategies and protocols in humanitarian emergency logistics and supply chain. The private sector will play a crucial role in the implementation of the cluster plan. PDRF has been appointed by NDRRMC-OCD as the point of contact to manage all the private sector logistics support in coordination with OCD.

Economist sees PH gov’t debt to remain sustainable

igher financing requirements brought about by the pandemic increased the national government’s liabilities but an economist believes that as long as credit level is kept within the international threshold then debt remains sustainable. The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Thursday reported the rise in the national government’s (NG) total outstanding debt to PHP10.99 trillion as of end-April 2021, up by PHP217.49 billion from the previous month’s level.

“The increase in the government’s debt would still remain sustainable in the coming years for as long as the debt-to-GDP ratio remains around 60 percent, which is considered an important international threshold,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said in a report. As of end-2020, NG’s total outstanding debt amounted to PHP9.795 trillion. Last year, the propor-

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Condo unit prices shrink in 2nd half of 2020, BSP officials say

ondominium prices contracted in the second half of 2020 but monetary officials are not worried about the situation, citing the pandemic as the factor for the negative print. In a virtual briefing Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the share of condominiums in the overall growth in prices of real estate properties in the country dipped by -5.9 percent in the third quarter and by -2.4 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. In the fourth quarter of 2019, the contribution of

condominiums in the yearon-year growth of the Residential Real Estate Price Index (RREPI) is 6.6 percent. “Condominium units contracted year-on-year due to the postponement of new launches by developers and tepid demand for transient dwelling amid the pandemic,” Diokno said. RREPI, which uses bank data on appraised values of new residential mortgages based on housing types, is being used by the BSP to monitor changes in residential prices in the country. A rise in the index shows

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

ECONOMY

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde welcomes the recently established partnership between DCCII and Technical Education and Skills Authority 11 (TESDA XI) to establish an Industry Board for Davao City as it will invigorate jobs creation for the major industry sectors and sub-sectors while also efficiently matching trained professionals to their field of expertise. Edge Davao

Pork tariff reduction key to PH inflation rate deceleration: BSP

he deceleration of the domestic inflation rate, which is steady at 4.5 percent last May, depends on the normalization of pork supply with the help of the temporary tariff cut on imported pork. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno, in a message to reporters on Friday, said last month’s inflation print is within their 4 percent to 4.8 percent projection for the month and is in line with their expectations of an elevated rate during the quarter because of pork supply constraints and high oil prices. He, however, reiterated monetary authorities’ forecast of inflation deceleration to within the 2 percent to 4 percent target band starting in the second

half of the year until 2022 once supply stabilizes. “The implementation of the temporary reduction in tariffs on imported pork is seen to address supply constraints and ease price pressures on meat products going forward. Thus, the projected decline of inflation depends crucially on the timely arrival of pork to help stabilize domestic prices,” he said. With the rate of price increases steady for the third consecutive month last May, average inflation to date stood at 4.4 percent. Monetary authorities project inflation to average at 3.9 percent this year. Diokno said central bank officials are “of the view that risks to the inflation outlook are

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TESDA-11, DCCCII create Industry Board to address the skills gap in Davao City

he Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA XI) and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) have just recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which will establish an Industry Board for Davao City. This is aimed to harmonize skills, standards, and the appropriation of proper training for workers under leading induAgribusiness, Tourism, Information, and Communication Technology (ICT), Manufacturing, and Construction were the five (5) major sectors that were endorsed by the DCCCII to be part of the TESDA Industry Board.

DOE: Rotational brownouts not reflective of PH’s power supply

he country’s power capacity has increased by 30 percent since the start of the Duterte administration. In a Palace briefing Thursday, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency continues work on capacity building and has plans until 2040 to ensure that the country will have a sufficient supply of electricity. “We have built a capacity (of) more than 30 percent since we assumed our jobs,” he said, adding that the country is not reliant on just one source of energy but is ex-

ploring proper energy mix. Cusi said the rotational brownouts experienced in the past days were due to the breakdown of power plants with a total capacity of more than 2,000 megawatts. The Luzon grid was on red alert status for three days since Monday. Earlier, the DOE attributed the cause of the red alert status to unplanned outages of power plants and increased power demand due to higher heat index. For every one degree Celsius increase in the heat index, 100 MW is added to

the power demand. Cusi reiterated that the DOE has been proactive in its policies to avoid insufficient power supply. Among those are prohibiting maintenance in April, May, and June when the dry season is at its peak, except for hydropower plants; securing firm contracting for ancillary services which build the backup when there is a breakdown in power plants; lifting the moratorium on exploration in the West Philippine Sea; and exploring other sources of energy like nuclear and

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TESDA Secretary Lapeña emphasized how the signing of the MOA with DCCCII will be beneficial to bridging the gap between industries and establishing a competent workforce for the private sector. “With the different industries in Davao City helping us [acquire] the names and lists of the trainees, these trainees - after graduation - will

have better employability rates,” Lapeña said. DCCCII President Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde welcomes the recently established partnership with TESDA XI since it will invigorate jobs creation for the major industry sectors and sub-sectors while also efficiently matching trained professionals to their field of expertise. ‘Jobs creation is a must and this should be addressed so that people would still have something to look forward to. On behalf of the business sector, being given the chance or the opportunity for us to address this with TESDA giving out the tools for the assessment to match this with the

needs of the industry is something and we do appreciate the TESDA and the National Government for this,’ Dr. Monteverde said. TESDA XI Regional Director Engr. Lorenzo Macapili highlighted how the major industry sectors in Davao City and the workforce comprised of trained professionals will greatly benefit from the said signing of the MOA. ‘This partnership will pave the way for highly trained individuals for the industries. This will provide the atmosphere of producing the right quality of manpower now and in the near future,’ Macapili added. (PIA XI/ KPLCaro)

who use the facilities. According to World Bank Country Director for the Philippines Ndiame Diop, the financing will improve core capacities and capabilities to organize operations and coordinate resources to respond to emergencies. “Metro Manila or the National Capital Region is the seat of government and the country’s population, economic, and cultural center,” he said in an emailed statement. “Enhancing the safety of its buildings and structures while boosting institutional response to disasters will

help protect the lives and safety of more than 12 million residents, including the poor and most vulnerable,” he added. The World Bank is March approved a $500-million funding for the Philippines to support government efforts against COVID-19, including the purchase and distribution of vaccines. The multilateral lender expects the Philippine economy to grow 5.5% this year, slower than the 5.9% it initially announced in December, but still faster than the 9.6% contraction recorded last year as the country slipped into recession.

World Bank OKs $300-M funding to upgrade Philippines structures vs. natural hazards

he World Bank has approved a $300-million funding for a new Philippine project that seeks to better protect local structures from natural hazards such as earthquakes and other climate-related events. According to the WB, its Board of Executive Directors on Thursday approved the funding for the Philippines Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project. This will upgrade some 425 structures including school buildings and health centers, and is seen to reduce risks for an estimated 300,000 teachers, students, doctors, patients, and staff

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

On the decision of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force to extended the lockdown of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) building up to June 13, 2021:

Although, gamay ang positivity rate but this is a big number considering kung wala ta nag surveillance swabbing didto sa sulod sa SP, kaning 44 in a matter of duha ka semana ani madoble or ma-triple ni. Maayo na lang kay nag surveillance swabbing ta.” DR. ASHLEY LOPEZ, ACTING CITY HEALTH OFFICE HEAD

EDITORIAL MECQ this time Let’s brace for another visit to MECQ world.

On Friday, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved to place Davao City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) beginning June 5 until June 20, 2021.

The IATF issued Resolution No. 119 s. 2021, on June 3, 2021, approving the recommendations of the Screening and Validation Committee for the reclassification of Davao City from General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to MECQ. This came after the city government has requested the Inter-Agency Task ForceRegional Task Force (IATF-RTF) to place Davao City under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) from June 5 to 30, 2021. As it has been a while, it is best to revisit the IATF protocols under the MECQ regime.

Among these are that areas placed under MECQ shall observe the protocols that include the movement of all persons shall be limited to accessing goods and services from permitted establishments, for work in such establishments.

All establishments, persons, or activities not permitted to operate, work, or be under takenduring ECQ shall be allowed to operate at 50 percent on-site capacity while encouraging work-from-home and other flexible work arrangements, where applicable. Establishments, persons, or activities not permitted to operate, work, or be

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Also prohibited are recreational venues such as internet cafes, billiard halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys, and similar venues; amusement parks or theme parks, fairs/peryas, kid amusement industries such as playgrounds, playroom, and kiddie rides; outdoor sports courts or venues for contact sports, scrimmages, games, or activities; indoor sports courts or venues, fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centers or facilities, and swimming pools; casinos, horse racing, cockfighting and operation of cockpits, lottery and betting shops, and other gaming establishments except for the draws conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office; indoor visitor or tourist attractions and cultural shows and exhibits; outdoor tourist attractions; venues for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions; personal care services which include beauty salons, beauty parlors, medical aesthetic clinics, cosmetic or derma clinics, make-up salons, and wellness. Home service for these activities are likewise not permitted; and indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as commissaries, restaurants, and eateries. For those working, there will still be public transportation operating under the MECQ. To succeed over this new visit to MECQ, it is best to review the MECQ regulations contained in IATF Omnibus Guidelines dated May 20, 2021. Everyone’s cooperation is key. 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 ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant 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 SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

undertaken during MECQ include: entertainment venues with live performers such as karaoke bars, bars, clubs, concert halls, theaters, and cinemas.

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.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

MENTAL HEALTH: NOT JUST A STATE OF MIND “Depression is a devastating illness that affects the total being – physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” wrote Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier in their book, Happiness Is a Choice. “The emotional pain of depression is more severe than the physical pain of a broken leg.” “After anxiety, depression is the most common mental health disorder,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. Statistics show that 10% of people who see their doctors for what they think is a physical problem are actually experiencing depression. “People who become depressed typically do so in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, although depression can begin at almost any age,” the Merck manual points out. “Depression affects a number of children and adolescents.” An episode of depression typically lasts about 6 months if untreated, but sometimes it lasts for 2 years or more. “Episodes generally tend to recur several times over a lifetime,” the Merck manual notes. Medical experts say that about a third of people with

depression don’t know they have it. And two-thirds don’t seek treatment at all. “With proper treatment, most people with serious depression improve, often within weeks, and can return to their normal daily activities,” says the Mayo Clinic. But how can they be treated if no one reports it? “In the Philippines, many people still think that depression is not an illness, but something that one eventually snaps out of, and that’s the reason why so many people who are suffering from depression feel embarrassed to seek help,” said Senator Grace Poe, who filed a resolution on the increasing incidence of suicide and depression in the country. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the highest number of depressed people, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Health. In fact, one in 5 adult Filipinos suffer from mental or psychiatric disorder. It is not surprising why suicide cases in the country has been growing over a period of 20 years. The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) reported the

Philippines has suicide rates (per 100,000) of 2.5 for men and 1.7 for women as of 1993. “But these numbers don’t necessarily tell the entire story,” wrote Lila Ramos-Shanani in her column for Philippine Star. “According to the WHO, they probably represent only a portion of the whole, because suicides statistics are vulnerable to under-reporting in a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines.” Maria Theresa Redaniel, May Antonnette Lebanan-Dalida, and David Gunnell, authors of a study entitled, “Suicide in the Philippines: time trend analysis (1974-2005) and literature review,” wrote that the most commonly used methods of suicide were hanging, shooting and pesticide ingestion. In non-fatal attempts, the most common methods used were ingestion of drugs or pesticide ingestion. Family and relationship problems were the most common problems reported. “While suicide rates are low in the Philippines, increases in incidence and relatively high rates in adolescents and young adults point to the importance of focused suicide prevention programs,”

the study concluded. “Improving data quality and better reporting of suicide deaths is likewise imperative to inform and evaluate prevention strategies.” One out of four people around the world will suffer from a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives, according to the United Nations health agency. Mental health, as defined by WHO is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his/ her community.” Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity. Some of the major types are: anxiety. Schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders and depression. These illnesses may also be referred to as a mental disorder, mental impairment or psychiatric disability. Based on a survey conducted in 2000 by the National Statistics Office, mental illness is the third most common form of disability in the country – after visual and

hearing impairments. For every 100,000 Filipinos, about 88 of them suffer from mental illness due to heredity, psychosocial development and substance abuse. In most cases, mental illness is not easily understood by everyone. “We instinctively fear what we do not comprehend,” wrote Dr. Malaya Pimental-Santos, a long-time community health advocate having worked with several non-government health organizations. “The negative perception of society towards mental disorders is widespread, and represents an added burden for affected individuals, who are already faced with the burden of having to deal with the medical aspects of their illness,” Dr. Santos wrote in her column, “A Different Drum,” published in Health and Lifestyle. A person diagnosed with mental disorder carries a lot of greater stigma and social burden than a person diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension. “These individuals often become subject to discrimination in their school, workplace, and community,” Dr. Santos wrote

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

FORTUITOUS 2,400-KM SEA ODYSSEY On June 12, 2021, Caburan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, will recall a nerve-jarring sea odyssey that sent seven persons on a 2,400-km rudderless odyssey lasting 37 days 50 years ago. The accidental journey, led by Fr. Marcel Loiselle, PME, a Canadian priest from Quebec City, brought the castaways from Davao Gulf to Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, some 1,500 miles away, or roughly 2,400 kilometers. Fr. Loiselle and six parishioners took a rickety 14-foot outrigger boat worn by exposure to the weather for Sarangani Island to attend a fiesta, celebrate a Mass and administer a wedding. The passengers were the priest, then 39 years old; three catechists (i.e., Leticia, 18; Evangeline Maloza, 14, and Nelida, 17), an acolyte (Roberto, 27), and two altar boys (i.e.,

Vivencio, 13, and Ciriaco, 12). But the unexpected happened within a kilometer from Sarangani peninsula. The 40hp outboard motor conked out and the boat, due to current and waves, was dragged to Davao Gulf by an eastward airstream. Hours later, they were entering Pacific Ocean, rudderless and moving away from the nearest isle. It was the start of a perilous 37-day sojourn to the unknown. News that the priest and his companions failed to show up in the feast was known a few hours later. The following day, the Manila Rescue Coordinating Center dispatched planes, boats, and foot patrols but after two weeks of scouring they returned empty handed. Remembering their dangerous journey, Fr. Loiselle recalled: “We never lost hope, but it was 99 per cent gone. The worst times were at the

beginnings of the day because we counted times just in the morning and we could see how long we had been gone.” “The worst time was the fourth day, when the first time we couldn’t see land,” he told the Associated Press. “That was the moment I realized that we were in real danger.” Miraculously, nobody panicked during the entire voyage, perhaps secure at the thought they were with a priest who guided them through prayerful intercession. To keep themselves from being burned by the direct sunlight, they hid behind the canvas that was used as shelter in case of rain. They also quickly learned the futility of catching fish while navigating the sea on a stormy weather. To survive the ordeal, they caught “rain water in gasoline cans and their diet was raw fish and turtles, toothpaste, stomach pills, three mangoes, about 250

Communion wafers and wine the Roman Catholic priest had planned to use in a Mass at the fiesta, plus a coconut they fished from the ocean.” Fr. Loiselle narrated that to catch fish they made use of the wedding veil intended for the wedding ceremony in Sarangani: “The fishing was marvelous. We managed to catch l50 small fish on three separate occasions, which kept us in food. We are alive today because we were never too long without food or water and the weather was favorable and not too hot.” After a five-week ordeal, a Japanese freighter, the Koyo Maru, moving in the direction of Rabaul in the Solomon Islands, picked them up near the Carolines, roughly 1,500 miles from Caburan. Collectively, the entire crew lost 216 lbs., 54 of this belonged to Fr. Loiselle and another 40 to an 18-yearold girl high school senior.

On August 1, 1971, a Sunday, the castaways returned to the Philippines on board an Australian jetliner. A paper described them as “about 200 pounds lighter and highly seasoned in the art of survival at sea.” After the ordeal, Roberto Lagos, the acolyte, entered the seminary and went on to become a priest under the Diocese of Digos. Fr. Loiselle, meanwhile, continued to serve as Foreign Mission Society of Quebec missionary in Davao. Fr. Loiselle arrived in the Philippines in 1960 but was appointed parish priest of Caburan only in 1969, age 37. At the time, Caburan, the administrative center of José Abad Santos town, was only a decade old. The municipality, with half of the municipality being Catholics, had 36 villages, three of which were on Sarangani island and five others on Balut island.

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LIFESTYLE

GMA NETWORK’S ‘LOVE OF MY LIFE’ STREAMS ON NETFLIX PHILIPPINES GMA Network’s toprating family drama series ‘Love of My Life’ is set to capture the hearts of more viewers as it debuts on Netflix Philippines beginning May 28. Following its successful run on GMA since its premiere in February 2020, avid fans and viewers of the well-loved series requested that the program to be made available on the popular video streaming platform. Love of My Life joins the growing list of Kapuso shows on Netflix Philippines including the internationallyacclaimed primetime series ‘Descendants of the Sun Philippines’ and the groundbreaking program ‘I Can See You’ - further solidifying the Network’s online presence and mission of bringing world-class GMA content to more Filipinos. The original series is topbilled by one of the industry’s highly-acclaimed actresses Ms. Coney Reyes as Isabella Gonzales; multitalented actressmodel Rhian Ramos as Kelly Generoso; and award-win-

ning actress Carla Abellana as Adelle Nisperos. Joining them are dramatic actormodel Mikael Daez as Nikolai Gonzales and, in a very special role, versatile actor Tom Rodriguez as Stefano Gonzales. Love of My Life dwells on the atypical relationship of

the Gonzales family. Isabella (Coney), the matriarch, is a rich widow with high standards who would stop at nothing to get what’s best for her sons - Nikolai (Mikael), the youngest son who has grown into a rebellious man, and Stefano (Tom), the favorite son

CATRIONA COMES FULL CIRCLE WITH ‘R.Y.F’ MISS UNIVERSE 2018 Catriona Gray revealed that her “R.Y.F” single speaks of her coming full circle in her journey as a beauty queen-turned-recording artist as well as her ‘call to action’ towards uplifting lives. “’R.Y.F’ is an anthem for me. The song is very much a reflection of my journey. There is no better way to kick off my career in music than by singing this song,” shared Catriona during the #RYFSpotlight virtual media conference. “In a way, the role of lending my voice to ‘R.Y.F’ is very similar to being Miss Universe because the song has a message that I believe in,” she added. Catriona explained that “R.Y.F” goes beyond its message of patriotism towards standing up for someone or something and advocating causes that matter amid challenging times. “It’s about raising your voice for something you believe in,” she said. “I know that it’s very trying for us because there are so many surmounting challenges, so it really is just trying to see how you can be of help to someone even in the smallest of

ways.” The new “Raise Your Flag” rendition, with lyrics tweaked by Catriona herself, is a collaboration of ABS-CBN’s Star Music and CS Music. It was released just last Friday (May 28) and has been included in Spotify’s New Music Friday Philippines playlist. The empowering single was originally written by Trisha Denise and ABS-CBN Music creative director Jonathan Manalo inspired by the beauty queen’s memorable statements from her Miss Universe journey. First recorded by Kapamilya singer KZ Tandingan and rapper Kritiko, the song is meant to raise awareness, advocate social

movements, and bring inspiration. Stream Catriona’s “R.Y.F” version, now available in various music streaming services. For more details, like Star Music on Facebook (www.facebook. com/starmusicph) and follow it on Twitter and Instagram (@ StarMusicPH).

who also happens to father the child of his former lover, Kelly (Rhian). Amidst his mother’s objection, Stefano pursues Adelle (Carla), a widow with a child who manages her own handicraft business. Their seemingly perfect life crumbles not only

when Kelly barges into the picture along with the estranged Nikolai, but also when Stefano gets diagnosed with a terminal illness. An original creation of the GMA Entertainment Group, Love of my Life is under the supervision of the Production team headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, FVP for Drama Redgie A. Magno, SAVP for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy, and Senior Program Manager Cathy Ochoa-Perez. The series is a product of the visionary minds of Creative Director Aloy Adlawan; Creative Head Suzette Doctolero; Creative Consultant Agnes Gagelonia-Uligan; Head Writer Ronalean Sales; Writer Ana Aleta Nadela; Brainstormers Nehem Dallego, Dang Sulit-Mariano, and Gilda Olvidado Marcelino; and Executive Producer Michele Borja. Catch the heart-tugging story of ‘Love of My Life’ - directed by Don Michael Perez beginning May 28 on Netflix Philippines.

HOMESURF99 NOW OFFERS 15GB FOR 5 DAYS WITH GLOBE AT HOME PREPAID WIFI

THE demand for a stable yet affordable internet service remains to be high. As the global health crisis rages on, Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi pushes efforts to offer products and services that best fit their customers’ needs as they continue to work, earn, and learn safely from their homes. Globe At Home enhances its HomeSURF offers for its Prepaid WiFi customers with the new and improved HomeSURF99. Now at 15GB valid for five days, customers can enjoy 10GB access to all sites and additional 5GB (1GB daily) to readily access watch, learn, chat, and earn apps like YouTube, Google, Messenger, Shopee, GCash, Grab, and more! With online and offline options, loading and reloading HomeSURF99 is easy! Replenish your HomeSURF99 through the Globe At Home app or GCash app, or visit a Globe Store or partner retailer near your area. Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi is the budget-friendly option for families seeking affordable internet connectivity. With bigger data allocations at reasonable price points, Globe At Home’s Prepaid WiFi is great for those who need multiple users to connect and use the internet simultaneously. “This is just a few of the solutions we continuously pursue and deliver as we do our share to help ease the struggles of Filipino families today. Making our Globe At Home products more accessible and affordable is part of our larger commitment to care for the masses and provide internet access for all,” said Darius Delgado, Globe Vice President and Head of Broadband Business. Globe At Home continues to address the demand for better connectivity through its aggressive cell site builds and network improvements, complemented by an evolving product and service portfolio that’s responsive to our customers’ most important needs.

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ENVIRONMENT

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

very year, on June 5, the world commemorates World Environment Day. It is the United Nations’ flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Held annualThe Philippines joins the rest of the globe in celebrating the occasion every year. The leading agency given the task of the commemoration is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This year’s theme is “Ecosystem Restoration” and it focuses on resetting human’s relationship with nature. Coinciding the celebration is the formal launching of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 20It was British ecologist Arthur Tansley who used the term “ecosystem” for the first time in a 1935 Ecosystem is defined as a community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other in a specific environment. “Tropical forests, for instance,” explains the website, youmatter.world, “are ecosystems made up of living beings such as trees, plants, animals, insects and microorganisms that are in constant interaction between themselves and that are affected by other physical (sun, temperature) or chemical (oxygen or nutrients) components.” Deforestation Speaking of forests, the

country’s forests have been decimated since Ferdinand Magellan rediscovered the country on March 16, 1521. Since then, deforestation continued unabated. “The forest area of the Philippines is estimated to have declined from 12 million hectares in 1960 to a current level of about 5.7 million hectares (which includes less than 1 million hectares of virgin forest largely confined to very steep and inaccessible areas),” reports the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to FAO, it is difficult to obtain accurate land use data in the country as all over 18 degrees of slope are classified as forest regardless of whether any tree cover is present. “The official figure of forest area is about 33% of the land area (of 30 million hectares),” it says. Most remaining forests have been given protected status, “but many of these areas are in critical condition and remain threatened due to inadequate protection resulting from lack of funds and lack of political will,” the FAO notes. Although the government has passed

several laws against the cutting of forests, deforestation remained at about 150,000 hectares in the 1980s, according to FAO. “Deforestation is caused by shifting cultivation, landuse conversion, forest fires, illegal logging, and fuelwood harvesting,” it says. Soil erosion When forest areas are devoid of their cover, soil erosion ensues. In fact, soil erosion is quite pronounced in more than half of the country’s land area. “Eroded areas are estimated to cover more than half of the land area in the following provinces: Batangas, Cebu, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Batanes, Bohol, Masbate, Abra, Iloilo, Cavite, Rizal, Capiz, and Marinduque,” FAO reports. “No other soil phenomenon is more destructive worldwide than soil erosion,” wrote Nyle C. Brady in his book, The Nature and Properties of Soils. “It involves losing water and plant nutrients at rates far higher than those occurring through leaching. “More tragically, however, (soil erosion) can result in the loss of the entire soil,” Brady continued. “Furthermore, the soil that is removed finds its way into streams, rivers, and lakes and becomes a pollution problem there.” “Land is not being remade,” said Harold R. Watson, who once served as the director of the Davao-

based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever. 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.” Water security Forests are also very important when it comes to water production and conservation. “Water security is dependent on forests,” the United Nations food agency points out. “Forests and trees are essential to maintaining resilient production systems, communities and ecosystems. They are vital to our water supply, providing high quality water resources: they intercept atmospheric moisture, contribute to cloud and rain formation, reduce erosion and recharge groundwater.” Forested watersheds provide an estimated 75% of the world’s accessible freshwater resources, on which more than half of the planet’s people depend for domestic, agricultural, industrial and environmental purposes. “Forests, therefore, are vital natural infrastructure, and their management can provide ‘nature-based solutions’ for a range of water-related societal challenges,” FAO points out. “As water is an

absolutely vital resource, at the center of life itself, it is a key integrating factor in the environment. Without sustainable water management to ensure that there are sufficient supplies of clean, safe water, the health of ecosystems and those who depend on them, especially people, suffer,” said Dr. Klaus Toepfer, during his term as executive director of the Nairobibased United Nations Environment Program. “Water is the most precious asset on Earth,” states Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project. “It is the basis of life.” Mangroves If you think deforestation happens only in the uplands, you are wrong. The forests near the seashores called mangroves are not spared. Despite their importance, mangrove forests throughout the country are fast disappearing. A briefing paper released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said that the country’s mangrove forests are down to only 117,000 hectares from the 500,000 hectares in 1918. The BFAR paper said that of the remaining 117,000 hectares, 95% of these are already “secondary growth.” This means that only 5% constitutes old or “primary mangrove forests.”

“Most mangrove areas in Luzon and the Visayas are made up of reproduction brush and young growth. Thus, mangrove forests remaining along Philippine coasts today are of much lower quality than early in the century, and they cover less than one-third of their original area,” the paper pointed out. “Mangroves in the Philippines have long been ‘ecologically disturbed by rampant cutting for timber products and massive conversion of forests into aquaculture ponds,” said a summit overview of the state of the mangroves in 2015. Seagrasses Mangroves are part of the coastal ecosystem. The other members of this ecologically-fragile ecosystem are seagrasses and coral reefs. Both are also being depleted at an alarming rate. In the Philippines, the rapid disappearance of seagrass is due to the increasing population’s multiple demands upon the country’s marine environment as source of food, avenues of transportation, receptacles of waste, living space and source of recreation and aesthetic pleasures. The seagrass ecosystem is likewise adversely affected by mining of industrial minerals; oil

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Meanwhile, the city called on those affected by MECQ zero operational capacity to coordinate with the Trabaho Dabawenyo employment assistance at the City Mayor’s Office Special Project Office at

Magsaysay Park. They may also coordinate with the office through the following numbers: (082) 244 7054; 0977-193-8176 / 0923-585-1995; and its Facebook Page, Work for Davao.

barangay frontliners and for the COVID-19 response activities of the barangay. Ceboza Barangay Captain Albert Penuela and

fellow officials extended their gratitude to the Governor for granting their request. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon/PIO DavSur)

“New recruits may apply directly and in person at the general headquarters where physical examination and agility tests are given,” Gultiano said. She proposed to focus on the neuro-psychological traits of person before allowing them to join the police force. Gultiano said that the involvement of a police in the killing of a 52-year -old woman in Quezon City though isolated might affect the morale of the police force.

She said locally, cleansing their ranks of scalawags is going on, even before the incident happened. “We have filed 120 administrative cases against 172 police personnel in the region of which 97 cases were resolved with 14 police officers either suspended, demoted, or reprimanded while seven police officers were eventually dismissed from the service due to drug-related cases,” Gultiano said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

purposes.” With EO 12, tourists are required a negative RTPCR result taken within 72 hours, resort or hotel booking confirmation, and “staysafe.ph application” upon entry. For travelers passing through, they must present an ID with address of residency. They must follow the screening protocols at the entrance and cooperate with police on duty for the coordination until exit. EO 13 is “an order adopting the Safety Seal Certification Program with the Local Government Units of Davao Oriental as issuing authorities and for other purposes”. The safety seal is a physical manifestation of the compliance of an establishment to the minimum health standards required by government to contain the spread of COVID-19. After an establishment receives inspection from the LGU, a seal may be issued in printed or digital form in A4 size which must be displayed conspicuously at all entrance points of the

establishment or building. EO 14 is “an order prescribing additional measures in the conduct of events and other gatherings in the province of the Davao Oriented and for other purposes”. With this EO, establishments are required to obtain a 50% Capacity Seal from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) after receiving an inspection. As well, police and local tourism counterparts will inspect every event twice a day to ensure compliance to health standards. Furthermore, when requesting for approval for the conduct of an event, a detailed floor plan is required as an attachment to the letter of request showing the “physical distancing, flow of traffic, among others and risk management plan.” The approving authorities will be the Provincial Task Force for events holding more than 100 people and the City or Municipal Task Force for events holding less than 100 people. (Jan Vincent Leuterio/PIA-XI)

broadly balanced.” “The risks relate to the arrival of pork imports at lower tariffs, the successful reopening of the domestic economy, and the pace of the global economic recovery,” he said. He said the latest inflation development will be among the factors the policy-making Monetary Board will consider

during its rate-setting meet on June 24. “The BSP remains watchful over the evolving economic conditions and challenges brought about by the pandemic to ensure that the monetary policy stance remains consistent with its price and financial stability objectives,” he added. (PNA)

hydrogen as the energy of the future. “When there is a breakdown (in power plants), (it’s) not within our control,” he said. Cusi added that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines must secure

ancillary services, which will be deployed as a backup if there will be unplanned outages of power plants. “We need to establish the required reserve,” Cusi said. “The public can count on DOE that we are on top of these things.” (PNA)

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18 NPA... FROMP3 of the localized peace engagement initiatives by numerous provincial governments together with the army. “It is very clear that our programs and services in the government are being felt and heard even to the farthest hinterlands inside Agila Division’s area of responsibility,” he said. “It is an indicator of the

success of peace initiatives by local chief executives and the army under the helm of Executive Order no 70”, Torres said. “I urge the remaining rebels to unite with the government in rebuilding the nation from the 53 years of suffering that the CPP-NPA-NDF has brought,” Torres said. 10th ID Photo

tion of debt to the country’s total output, or the debtto-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio, rose to 54.5 percent from 39.6 percent in the previous year, which authorities attribute to the increased need to tap fund sources to financing pandemic-related programs. Ricafort said the country’s debt-to-GDP remains relatively lower compared to some countries in the region due to the government’s fiscal discipline. “Cautious approach on any additional stimulus measures, just like in 2020, would help limit any further widening of the budget deficit and also temper any further rise in the debt-to-GDP ratio,” he said.

As of last April, the government’s budget gap reached PHP365.9 billion, 1.63 percent higher than the PHP360 billion deficit same period in 2020. Economic managers have set a budget gap ceiling of 9.4 percent of GDP this year. “The country’s debt-toGDP ratio still expected to be within/around the international acceptable threshold of 60 percent of GDP, especially if GDP continues to recover in the coming months/years, thereby giving the government greater leeway to increase spending, budget deficits, and overall debt to pump-prime the economy,” Ricafort added. (PNA)

house price inflation and a slip indicates a decline in prices. BSP started publishing the RREPI in the first quarter of 2016. During the same briefing, BSP Department of Economic Statistics (DES) Senior Director Redentor Paolo M. Alegre Jr., said he does not consider this development in condominium prices in the second half of last year as a “worrisome factor or event.” “We are in unprecedented times. We were affected severely by Covid,” he said. He explained that as the economy is opened gradually the situation in real estate is expected to improve. “We may expect a bounce in the trend of condominium units. That is a view, which I believe, it’s a personal view,

which I believe will happen,” he added.

well,” he said. “But the best ones become true brand ambassadors when they have a broader persona. The best brand ambassadors are real people. (Osaka) is talking about an issue that is relevant to many people. Mental health is a bigger issue than winning or losing tennis.” Reilly Opelka, a 23-yearold American tennis player seeded 32nd at the French Open who plays his thirdround match Friday, told The Associated Press he’s glad Osaka “is taking time to get better.” “She’s one of the best players in the world — she’s very influential,” Opelka said. “The sport needs her. She’s an icon. It’s bad for the sport to have one of the main attractions not around.” Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father, moved to the United States with her family when she was 3, and now lives in Los Angeles. She has taken a leading role in protesting the deaths

last year of George Floyd and other Black people who died at the hands of the police, wearing a mask with a different victim’s name on each match day at the 2020 U.S. Open. She was named the 2020 AP Female Athlete of the Year. According to Forbes, Osaka is the world’s highest-paid woman athlete, earning $48 million in 2020 from bluechip sponsors such as Tag Heuer, AirBnB, and Louis Vuitton in addition to Mastercard and Nike. Nike has stood by sports stars after other controversies, including Tiger Woods after his 2009 sex scandal and former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick after he knelt during games to protest police brutality against Black people. But it recently dropped Brazilian soccer star Neymar after he refused to cooperate with an internal investigation into sexual assault allegations from a Nike staffer.

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Meanwhile, Diokno said they are set to release within the year the Commercial Property Price Index “as part of expanding the surveillance on financial exposure of banks and price trends in the property sector. “Together, these two indicators may be used to monitor the developments in the Philippine property sector as a whole and their linkages with the other sectors in the economy,” he added. Also, Alegre said the commercial property price index has yet to be approved by the central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board and is targeted to be released in the last quarter of this year. (PNA)

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spills caused by accidents, operational shipping and refinery activities; dredging and illegal associates. Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, the country’s foremost expert on seagrasses, believed seagrasses are fast disappearing in this part of the world for economic reasons. “Huge tracts of these productive habitats are being dredged, filled, polluted, exploited, converted to other coastal uses or simply being destroyed, all in the name of economic development,” he deplored. Coral reefs In 2014, a nationwide assessment was initiated to update the information status of the country’s coral reefs by the biology department of the De La Salle University. Dr. Wilfredo Y. Licuanan, leader of the study, and his team surveyed randomly selected 206 reef stations from 2014 to 2017 and another 101 stations were monitored from 2015 to 2018. No excellent category reefs were found in the recent surveys around the country, the findings of the study showed, which was published in Marine

Pollution Bulletin. But what is alarming is that about a third of the reef corals were lost over the last decade, the study found out. “We lost roughly a third of the coral in 20 years and we lost our ‘excellent’ category corals in the last 40 years,” Dr. Licuanan was quoted as saying by Business World. In the Philippines, an estimated 10%-15% of the total fisheries come from coral reefs. About 80%90% of the income of small island communities come from fisheries, according to Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary. In terms of productivity, good coral reef areas can produce as much as 30 tons of fishery products per square kilometer in a year, Dr. Alcala reports. In a study done on the Sumilon Marine Park near Negros Oriental, marine biologist of Silliman University found that, with protection, the estimated fish yields were 14 to 24 tons per square kilometer annually. When protective management was withdrawn, the catch of fishermen in the area declined by as much as 55%.

Braz tried to overtake Obiena by going for 5.75, but failed to clear the height. Obiena also went for a higher jump at 5.8 meters, but also missed the target. Pal Haugen Lillefosse and Cole Walsh tied up for third place with a 5.6-meter leap. Lillefosse, however, clinched the tiebreaker after clearing the height before that, 5.5 meters, in just one try. Walsh, on the other hand, missed the said height in two tries but opted to skip the third try and went straight to 5.6.

Both cleared 5.6 meters in their first tries. Despite missing on the podium finish, Walsh achieved a season best. Obiena is one of the nine Filipino athletes who have already qualified to play in the Tokyo Olympics from July 23 to Aug. 8 this year. The eight others are 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Caloy Yulo (gymnastics), Kurt Barbosa (Taekwondo), Cris Nievarez (rowing), and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Irish Magno Carlo Paalam. (PNA)

manuel Joseph at 1-3 down in the second set for taking too long between points. “I don’t even dare to go my towel anymore,” he said to Joseph. Federer, the oldest man in the draw at 39, continued to lose his cool and the set before recovering to defeat former world number three Cilic. “I had very good moments, in the tie-break in particular, and I served really well to finish,” said Federer after hitting 47 winners. Playing in only his second French Open since 2015, Federer goes on to face Germany’s 59th-ranked Dominik Koepfer. Tennis: Osaka ‘brave and bold’ over French Open withdrawal, says Djokovic Women’s top seed Barty, already suffering from a left hip injury, retired injured midway through the second set of her second-round match against Poland’s 45thranked Magda Linette. The Australian, who won the title on her last visit to Roland Garros in 2019, left the court for medical treatment after losing the first set 6-1. She then called it quits at 2-2 in the second set on Court Philippe Chatrier.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Barty said. “It’s a miracle I got past the first round.” The 25-year-old’s withdrawal leaves the tournament already without the world’s top three-ranked women’s players. World number two Naomi Osaka pulled out following a media boycott, saying she has suffered “bouts of depression” for three years. Third-ranked Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open winner, withdrew before the event with injury. World No. 3 Rafael Nadal, bidding for a 14th French Open and record-setting 21st Grand Slam title, celebrates his 35th birthday by facing Richard Gasquet, a player he first met when they were 12 years old. However, schedulers have handed the Spaniard the evening session, meaning no fans on site as the match clashes with a 9pm Covid-19 curfew. Gasquet won his first junior clash against Nadal at the Petits As tournament in France in 1999. Sadly for him, that was as good as it would ever get. On the ATP Tour, Nadal has monopolized their headto-head and leads 16-0.

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Portland guard Damian Lillard and forward Robert Covington celebrate after defeating Denver in Game 1 of the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on May 22. Reuters

Djokovic, Federer advance in French Open, Barty out

ovak Djokovic and Roger Federer both reached the French Open third round for the 16th time on Thursday as the battle for the women’s title was thrown wide open after world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty limped out. Top seed Djokovic continued his bid for a second Roland Garros and 19th Grand Slam title with a straight-sets win over Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas. The 34-year-old, who is looking to become the first man in more than 50 years to claim all four Slams multiple times, won 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. “I stayed concentrated. I thought the third set was very difficult for me because

he lifted the level of his game,” said the world number one after his 350th Grand Slam match in which he fired 32 winners. Djokovic will next face Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis. Federer stayed on course for a quarterfinal showdown with Djokovic, but only after becoming entangled in a rare running dispute with the chair umpire. The 20-time major winner and 2009 champion in Paris saw off Marin Cilic for the 10th time in 11 meetings, winning 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Federer was handed a time violation by umpire Em-

FDJOKOVIC, P10

Lillard wins award as teammate of the year

ortland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was selected the NBA Teammate of the Year in a vote of players, the league announced Thursday.

The award, first presented in 2013, recognizes the individual deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, dedication to team plus on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players. A panel of league executives chose 12 nominees

and current NBA players chose the winner with Lillard edging Phoenix’s Chris Paul 1,012-1,001 in weighted total points balloting with 10-7-5-3-1 points for a one through five placement on a ballot. Paul was named first on 47 ballots to 40 for Lillard and each was named

second on 32 ballots with Paul edging Lillard 48-47 in third-place ballots. But Lillard was fourth on 37 ballots to only 19 for Paul and fifth on 42 ballots to only 10 for Paul to make the difference overall. Miami’s Udonis Haslem was third on 893 points followed by Toronto’s Kyle Lowry, Boban Marjanovic of Dallas, Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Indiana’s Malcolm Brogdon, New York’s Theo Pinson, Denver’s Paul Millsap, Utah’s Joe Ingles,

Brooklyn’s Joe Harris and Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns. Lillard, a nine-year NBA veteran, averaged 28.8 points, 7.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 67 games this season. The 30-year-old American was selected an NBA AllStar for the fourth consecutive season and sixth time overall, helping Portland to an eighth consecutive playoff appearance, the NBA’s longest active streak.

Sponsorship masterstroke behind Osaka withdrawal

few years ago, a star athlete dropping out of a major tennis tournament over mental health issues might have been seen as a sign of weakness. Today, at least for Naomi Osaka’s corporate sponsors, it is being hailed as refreshingly honest. That would explain why so many of them have stuck by Osaka after the four-time Grand Slam champion announced Monday that she was withdrawing from the French Open because she didn’t want to appear for the requisite news conferences that caused her “huge waves of anxiety.” Osaka, who also acknowledged suffering “long bouts of depression,” received criticism by some who say the media events are just “ part of the job. “ But Nike, Sweetgreen and other sponsors put out statements in support of the 23-year-old star after she revealed her struggles.

The only place tennis fans can watch every Roland-Garros match is on Stan Sport. Start a seven day free trial of the Stan Sport add-on now! “Our thoughts are with Naomi,” Nike said in a statement. “We support her and recognise her courage in sharing her own mental health experience.” Sweetgreen tweeted that its partnership with Osaka “is rooted in wellness in all its forms.” And Mastercard tweeted: “Naomi Osaka’s decision reminds us all how important it is to prioritise personal health and well-being.” Allen Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce, said that Osaka’s disclosure has made her a more authentic spokesperson — and more valuable to corporate sponsors. “Every athlete gets a sports sponsorship because they win games or perform

FSPONSORSHIP, P10

Naomi Osaka during her first round match at Roland-Garros.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 70 • SATURDAY, JUNE 05, 2021

EJ Obiena ruled the event pitting six other competitors after clearing 5.7 meters. (File photo)

OLYMPIC BOOST

Tokyo Olympics-bound Obiena gets gold in Folksam GP

J Obiena’s bid to get the elusive Olympic gold got a huge boost early Thursday (Philippine Time) after he won the Folksam Grand Prix in Gothenburg, Denmark. The Filipino pole vaulter ruled the event pitting six other competitors after clearing 5.7 meters, beating longtime training partner

Thiago Braz for the gold. Braz could only clear 5.65 meters and settled for the silver.

FOLYMPIC, P10