Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 88 | Saturday, June 26, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

FIGHTING HUNGER THROUGH GARDENING AGRITRENDS P9 VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

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REINFORCEMENT

USAID sends swabbing teams to Davao City STORY ON PAGE 2

Repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Fiji are fetched and brought by the city government of Davao at the Davao International Airport on Friday after they underwent a 10-day quarantine at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. The seafarers were allowed to go home to their respective provinces after undergoing swab test and quarantine. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

President Rodrigo Roa Dutete signs one of the 16 bills during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday. The President has declared June 24 to July 3 as a Period of National Mourning over the passing of former President Benigno “Noynoy”Aquino III.PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

REINFORCEMENT D

92 photographers get cash assistance from First Congressional District Office

USAID sends swabbing teams to Davao City By MAYA M. PADILLO

he city government of Davao paid tribute to former president Benigno Simeon ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III who passed away Thursday morning.

Two swabbing teams from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be arriving in Davao City to assist the Covid-19 swab testing of the city government of Davao. Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting head of the City Health Office (CHO), said the two swabbing teams from USAID will be deployed temporarily at the swab testing site at

Davao Crocodile Park while the city’s swabbing team is undergoing quarantine. “Nagdugang nami ug swabbers, salamat sa USAID. Naa’y two swabbing teams coming from USAID. Mga mobile swabbing teams ni sila ug atong lang gi-detail temporary sa Crocodile Park tungod naa ta’y swabbing team na under quarantine karon,” he said.

Lopez also said that once the situation will be normalized at the said park, the two swabbing teams will be mobilized in the community particularly in the far-flung areas of Davao City. “These two swabbing teams from USAID will be mobilized in the community or workplaces para katong naa sa mga lagyo dili na sila ma-obliga na mubiyahe ug muadto sa Crocodile Park or Magsaysay Park. Sila na mismo ang adtoon sa ilang lugar para mu-conduct ug swabbing labi na katong

mga dako na population,” he added. He reiterated that even if there is an individual who refuse to undergo swab testing, that person poses a risk to the community. “As much as we can, dapat ato ng i-zero in tanan because through that we can control this surge. Kung makabuhi ng isa diha mudaghan na pud na siya after several days or weeks, kinahanglan gyud nato na silang subayon tanan,” he said. Meanwhile, the City

FREINFORCEMENT, P10

Lianga clash that killed 3 Manobos legitimate encounter, says IP leader

he issues and concerns on the armed encounter between the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) and families of fatalities in Lianga town were finally settled through the justice system and customary laws of the Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur. “Everything is settled now. What took place last

June 15 in Sitio New Decoy was a legitimate encounter between the 3SFBN troopers and the NPA rebels,” Datu Constancio Duhac, the tribal chieftain of Lianga, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday. The Municipal Tribal Council of Lianga, the Provincial Tribal Council of Surigao del Sur, and the

elders of the Manobo tribe on June 23 facilitated the processes called Dungaan and Uyagaan in Barangay Ganayon, Lianga. The Dungaan is a gathering to hear all sides for the settlement of issues and disputes while the Uyagaan is a ritual officiated by the elders and spiritual leaders of the tribe. “Through the Uyagaan,

the families of those who died during the encounter released their bad feelings to a sacrificed animal. During the ritual, we used three pigs,” Duhac said. He added that other details of the process were stipulated in a resolution issued by the municipal and tribal councils. The resolution was,

FLIANGA, P10

avao City – Some 92 identified photographers from the 54 barangays of the first district received the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) payout on June 25, Friday. The TUPAD is a community–based package of assistance that offers emergency service for displaced, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, not more than 30 days, depending on the nature of work. First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte, together with the Department of Labor Employment (DOLE) 11, led the distribution of the payouts, which was sent

to the 92 beneficiaries through a money remittance on Friday. Each beneficiary received P6,000 cash assistance. The photographers are among the marginalized workers whose living had been challenged due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Though their ability to work is not affected, they are currently having a hard time getting clients for the service. Rep. Duterte said that their office is prioritizing assistance to the marginalized workers and the front-liners as well, in response to the public health emergency brought about by the pandemic. He added that his office will continue supporting those in need.

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BPI-Philam encourages OFWs’ Protection vs. Covid-19 variants

ancassurance leader BPI-Philam urges Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) to protect their hard-earned savings from unexpected expenses amid the pandemic. With the still rising number infections of COVID-19 variants worldwide, it has become even more urgent to have life insurance protection that would safeguard OFWs and their families. As COVID-19 variants

continue to evolve and spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) had begun to assign labels as to Variants of Interest or Variants of Concern. Just last month, the government reported that three close contacts of an OFW infected with the COVID-19 variant first detected in India, known as Delta or B.1.617.2, also tested positive. “OFWs sacrifice so much

FENCOURAGES, P10

EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

Even children join the throngs of people in the streets of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao Wednesday (23 June 2021) welcoming the caravan pushing for the extension of the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA

‘Council of Leaders’ backs BARMM transition extension

he “Council of Leaders” has reached a consensus to extend the transition period in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), officials confirmed Thursday. “We’ve reached a consensus on the extension of the BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority). This will be reported to the President (Rodrigo Duterte),” lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro government spokesperson, disclosed. The “Meeting of the Council of Leaders and Political Leaders Meeting on the Extension of the Transition Period in the BARMM” was conducted

Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on Wednesday. Sinarimbo, also the Minister of the Interior and Local Government, thanked the Bangsamoro leaders and Duterte’s Cabinet secretaries for facilitating the leaders’ meeting. Hours before the leaders’ meeting, a huge caravan was mobilized to dramatize the call to extend the transition period in the BARMM. At least 13,000 vehicles joined the caravan, which rolled out from Cotabato City, the seat of the Bamngsamoro government, and traversed the provinces of Maguindanao, North

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PRRD declares 10-day mourning for Aquino By MAYA M. PADILLO

resident Rodrigo Roa Duterte has signed on Thursday Proclamation No. 1169, declaring June 24, 2021 to July 3, 2021 as a Period of National Mourning over the passing of former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III.

This means, the national flag shall be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on all

government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad

for a period of 10 days. The proclamation is in accordance with Republic Act No.8491 of the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines”, which provides that the flag shall be flown in half-mast as a sign of mourning on all buildings and places where it is displayed, on the official announcement of the

death, of a former President, for 10 days. The sisters of Aquino officially confirmed the passing of their brother on June 24, 2021, due to renal disease secondary to diabetes. The city government of Davao also paid tribute to Aquino by flying the Philippine flag in the entire Davao City at halfmast until his burial.

ore than a hundred public school teachers in Davao Region have acquired Covid-19, however, the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd 11) clarified these teachers were exposed to the virus through local transmission in their respective communities and not from the schools. DepEd 11 spokesperson Jenielito Atillo in a virtual media briefing reported that as of June 23, 2021, there are 169 active cases of Covid-19 among teachers in Davao Region while 37 cases from the nonteaching personnel and 21 active cases among school heads and principals. “All of these cases are not actually acquired from

workplaces or from the schools while the teachers are performing their tasks. These were acquired in their respective communities. Local transmissions within the community,” Atillo said. The said teachers, non-teaching personnel, and school heads were already transferred to isolation facilities in their respective local government units (LGUs). Atillo assured that the learnings of the students under the teachers who are affected with Covid-19, will not be impacted as DepEd 11 has available teachers to take over or substitute. “Gi-scenario build na namo daan kay you know teachers are not exempted to the possible affliction of the virus. In a

way of scenario building naa’y mga pamaagi na ginahimo nato kung pananglitan ang isa ka kauban naapektuhan and being sent to a facility, naa dayon mupuli sa iyaha. We are already doing this during pre-Covid wherein if there is non-presence of a teacher, immediately somebody will take over,” he said. In terms of deaths, Atillo shared that there are already 13 teachers and two school heads who died due to Covid-19. Since the start of the pandemic, DepEd 11 recorded a total of 825 confirmed cases of Covid-19 involving, teaching, non-teaching personnel, and school heads wherein 392 has fully recovered. By Maya M. Padillo

Landbank hikes Covid Teachers who got Covid-19 did not get it from schools: DepED support fund to P50B M S tate-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has raised to P50 billion the available loanable fund for local businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate more borrowers. This is the second budget hike made for the LANDBANK I-RESCUE (Interim REhabilitation Support to Cushion Unfavorably affected Enterprises by COVID-19) Lending Program since its launch in April 2020. With an initial fund of P10 billion, the Bank later doubled this to P20 billion in April 2021. The LANDBANK I-RESCUE Lending Program provides credit and loan restructuring assistance

to businesses whose operations have been severely affected by the pandemic, through more flexible loan terms and conditions. “Since its launch at the height of the pandemic last year, the I-RESCUE Lending Program has gained wide acceptance from borrowers striving to keep their businesses afloat amid the ongoing crisis. Rest assured that LANDBANK will continue to provide responsive credit assistance to support key sectors and contribute to accelerate the country’s ongoing economic recovery,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. As of May 31, 2021, LANDBANK has approved

loans totaling P20.95 billion to a total of 460 borrowers, comprised of 310 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 83 cooperatives, 62 large corporations, and five (5) microfinance institutions (MFIs). Of this amount, 93% or P19.53 billion has already been released. Under the I-RESCUE Lending Program, eligible borrowers may loan up to 85% of their emergency or permanent working capital requirements, with an affordable interest rate of 5% per annum for three (3) years, subject to annual re-pricing thereafter, and payable up to 10 years with a maximum of two (2) years grace period on the principal

FLANDBANK, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

A hawker takes advantage of the traffic congestion due to a road construction in Brgy. Banate, Malungon, Sarangani Province to peddle food snacks to motorists. Edge Davao

DOF chief, business groups recall Aquino admin’s economic reforms

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and business groups have recalled the economic reforms done during the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III, who passed away Thursday morning. In a text message to reporters, Dominguez cited that the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (TIMTA) and the sin tax law have helped in shaping a strong economy prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. TIMTA has enabled the government to review and analyze the economic impact of tax incentives given to qualified companies. Dominguez said this law passed under the former Chief Executive has “result-

ed in the formulation and enactment of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, which was recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in March.” “Sin tax law, which increased the excise tax (of) sin products and reduced to one rate the number of categories of taxes on cigarettes, (has) also laid the groundwork for increasing excise taxes on cigarettes as well as the enactment of legislation on excise tax on sugary drinks,” he

added. Aquino signed in 2012 the legislation, in which the government earmarked 85 percent of the higher tobacco revenues to health expenditure and 15 percent to tobacco-producing regions. According to The Asia Foundation, the road to Universal Health Care, which was enacted into law in 2019, began during the passage of sin tax law as revenues from higher taxes on cigarettes go to healthcare. In a May 2016 statement, Dominguez said the Duterte administration “will continue and maintain the current macroeconomic policies” of then President Aquino. In separate statements, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Makati Busi-

National Bank amounting to P7 billion, it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. “The loans shall be used to finance the Company’s capital expenditures,” the Ayala-led telco said. Globe earlier said it allocated a “record-breaking”

P70 billion for its capex this year. The fund will be used to support its modernization program, its 5G rollout and fiber technology expansion, Globe said. President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called on telcos to improve connectivity in the

ness Club (MBC) said they are mourning the passing of Aquino. “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of former President Noynoy Aquino,” PCCI president Benedicto Yujuico said. He added that Aquino continued to boost the country’s fiscal stability and macroeconomic fundamentals that he inherited from the previous administration. “(I)t was during his term that the Philippines won its first investment-grade credit rating. In 2013, three years into his Presidency, Fitch Ratings raised the country’s credit rating to investment grade citing the political and economic reforms implemented under Aquino. Other credit rating agencies followed suit,”

country. Globe and its rival PLDT, and now the third player DITO are all building and expanding networks in the country. The country’s second coronavirus response law or the Bayanihan 2 has a provision to help telcos expedite tower construction.

FDOF, P10

Globe inks total of P12-B loan deals with China Bank, PNB for capex lobe Telecom said it signed loan agreements with 2 local banks to finance its capital expenditures. The telco closed a term loan facility with China Banking Corp worth P5 billion as well as with the Philippine

Economists eye steady BSP rate this year, cut in RRR

conomists forecast the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to keep key rates steady this year to help lift the domestic economy and reduce banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) once inflation stabilizes. In a report released after the central bank announced that its policy-making Monetary Board (MB) maintained the key rates for the fifth consecutive rate-setting meet or since November 2020, ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa cited BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno’s statement about monetary authorities’ willingness to provide policy support “for as long as needed.” “With price pressures fading and inflation set to slide back within target in the coming months, we expect BSP to extend its pause for the balance of the year with a possible rate hike by the middle of next year,” he said. Last year, the MB slashed BSP’s key policy rates by a total of 200 basis points to help lift the domestic economy from the impact of the virus-induced pandemic.

Meanwhile, Mapa expects the local currency “to remain pressured in the near term on anxiety over the timing of the Fed (Federal Reserve) taper with BSP likely holding off on hiking policy rates to jumpstart stalling bank lending and revive the ailing economy.” The peso weakened to the 48-level in recent days but is holding on to that level against the US dollar. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said the MB’s decision on Thursday is widely expected on the back of expected easing of domestic inflation rate in the coming months and the need to support the domestic economy’s recovery. Inflation averaged at 4.4 percent in the first five months this year, with the January figure exceeding the government’s target band of between 2-4 percent when it accelerated to 4.2 percent. It further rose to 4.7 percent in February but decelerated to 4.5 the following

FECONOMISTS, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

ECONOMY

A fishing vessel is anchored near Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS). The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 11 (BFAR-11) along with the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group will conduct sea patrol operations to fight the illegal fishing activities of commercial fishing boats within municipal waters. Edge Davao

Monetary execs raise inflation forecast to 4%

igher oil prices in the international market resulted in the upward revision in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) average inflation forecast for this year. In a briefing streamed through the central bank’s Facebook page on Thursday, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the 2021 projection was changed from 3.9 percent to 4 percent. Inflation forecasts for 2022 and 2023 average 3 percent. “The factors that led to the revision in the inflation forecast include higher global crude oil prices, as well as a more favorable global growth

outlook,” Dakila said. These factors, however, are countered by the “lower-than-expected outturn in May inflation, as well as (the) continued strength of the peso,” he said. The inflation rate in May was at 4.5 percent, the third consecutive month of steady inflation print. The BSP’s inflation forecast for last month ranged from 4 percent to 4.8 percent. Average inflation in the first five months of this year stood at 4.4 percent. Monetary officials expect the elevated inflation rate to remain until the third quarter of this year. (PNA)

PSE: PNoy ushered PH economy to investment grade rating: PSE

ormer President Benigno Aquino III ushered the Philippine economy to investment-grade status through his good governance, the Philippine Stock Exchange said Thursday. The country earned its first investment grade from Fitch Ratings in 2013, 3 years into Noynoy’s term, the PSE said in a statement. “The PSE Board and Management extend their condolences to the Aquino family. The Philippine stock market recorded sev-

eral milestones during the term of President Aquino as his policies transformed the Philippines from a high credit risk to an investment grade rating country starting in 2013,” the statement said. Gross domestic product grew at an average of over 6 percent during Aquino’s tenure. The Philippines has retained its investment-grade ratings to this day, defying the global downgrade trend caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

BFAR-11 ramps up fight vs illegal fishing

coastline, including offshore islands. Only fishing boats -- weighing less than 3.1 gross tons which use non-destructive, passive gears such as hook and line, and gill nets -- are allowed to fish within municipal waters. BFAR-11 Provincial Fishery Officer Jefferson Montera said they are not only limiting the operation around Davao Gulf, but they have also included those

fishing vessels, who originally operated in Davao Gulf and transferred in Pujada Bay and Mayo Bay in Mati City, Davao Oriental. “This operation is being mandated by the national authority. It is a program of BFAR-11 making sure that we have safe and affordable fish commodities. It is also our help to the fishermen who were greatly affected by the pandemic,” he said. Montera assured fisherfolk especially those who will be caught doing illegal fishing that they can approach BFAR and their respective local government units (LGU) specifically the City Agriculture Office to give them livelihood assis-

tance depending on what they need in fishing. “If a commercial fishing boat violates the Fisheries Code, it will face an administrative case which will be facilitated by BFAR, and a criminal case that will be filed by the PNP Maritime Group,” he added. On June 22, BFAR-11 captured two commercial fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing. They were escorted to PNP Maritime temporary shelter and faced administrative charges. Montera urged the public to be watchful and report illegal fishing activities to the nearest BFAR Regional Office or LGU. (PNA)

for the second quarter this year in a row, with overseas Filipino workers (OFW) remittances showing “great influence” in the movement of the residential real estate price index (RREPI). “Capital values were modestly affected, thanks to developers who were quick to pivot and maintain market velocity,” he said. Leechiu said the pandemic has affected residential condominium sales in Metro Manila last year,

prompting developers to delay launches till the second half of 2020 and offering unprecedented payment terms. Unit sales are up by 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2021 from the fourth quarter last year. “Recovery in the upper-middle to luxury segment is strong with the rest of the segments expected to follow suit,” he added. Leechiu said the softening of rental rates is seen as

temporary and is expected to stabilize once quarantine restrictions ease, vaccine rollout speeds up, and office operations return. Meanwhile, the Villar Group kicked off the twoday The ViCon, the country’s first and biggest virtual property exposition that would showcase its complete real property offerings from various price points. It has partnered with

he Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 11 (BFAR-11) has strengthened its fisheries monitoring control surveillance (MCS) through conducting regular sea patrol operations in the region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, it said BFAR-11 along with the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group will conduct sea patrol operations to fight the illegal fishing activities of commercial fishing boats within municipal waters. Under Republic Act 10654, or the Amended Fisheries Code, municipal waters are areas covered within 15 km from the

Demand for residential property picking up

he demand for residential property has continued to pick up since last year’s dip as more investors take advantage of promotional payment terms in anticipation of market recovery from the pandemic, a property expert said. During the virtual The ViCon event Thursday, Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC) chief executive officer David Leechiu said the demand rebounded

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

On balancing sports and life:

The things athletes and sports players learn in the playing field transcend to real life, especially at crucial times like a pandemic. When faced with difficulties and challenges, that is when our characters are tested.” PSC CHAIRMAN

WILLIAM ‘BUTCH’ RAMIREZ

EDITORIAL Respect As expected, the demise of former President Benigno Aquino III has elicited some politically-stained remarks as well as comparisons. It also sparked some glimpse of what could be a change in course in the next presidential elections.

With Philippine politics, it’s never too early. It’s always a matter of time. But yes, necropolitics will always be part of the choice process among Filipinos when it comes to elections. People are not too naive of the prospects that an Aquino sibling will be put forward in the next elections in the same manner as the late President Cory and now, Noynoy.

But that should be set aside for now unless some quarters especially from the opposition want to cash in on the grief to fuel a political movement. The late President, it can be recalled, went up with a last ditch

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Despite that, President Duterte didn’t appear to hold a grudge against his predecessor.

On Thursday, President Duterte called for a national mourning period to last over 10 days from June 24 to July 3. You call that respect. Davao City, which was visited several times by the late leader during his incumbency, also flew the flag at half mast in a show of respect. The passing of President Aquino is a sad moment for the country and should not be used by those with vested interests to try to convert a family’s mourning into a political solicitation of sympathy. 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

move to sway voters to vote against President Duterte and choose the “Daang Matuwid” route instead via Liberal Party candidate Mar Roxas. It didn’t work. There was no magic. Or is that that because nobody died to fuel the grief into votes.

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 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THIS TRAGEDY CALLED SUICIDE More than 700,000 people around the world died by suicide in 2019, according to a new report released by the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). That’s equivalent to one in every 100 deaths. For each death, there are more than 20 suicide attempts. “Every year, more people die as a result of suicide than HIV, malaria or breast cancer - or war and homicide,” said the report, Suicide worldwide in 2019. This is indeed alarming. “We cannot - and must not - ignore suicide,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the United Nations health agency. “Each one is a tragedy.” With the world still facing the tragedies and economic losses that the coronavirus disease 2019 bring, suicide – defined as the deliberate taking of one’s own life – is prevalent and relevant as ever. “Our attention to suicide prevention is even more important now, after many months living with the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the risk factors for suicide ̶ job loss, financial stress and social isolation – still very much present,” the WHO official said. In the Philippines, statistics from the National Center for Men-

tal Health (NCMH) have supported this claim. From May 2019 to February 2020, NCHM’s helpline got 400 calls every month or an average of 13 to 15 calls per day. At the start of the pandemic in March, 672 calls were received. The calls grew steadily in the following months until there were 1,034 calls in July and 440 for half of August. This more than doubled the monthly average from March to August to 876 calls – or 32 to 37 calls daily. “I know how difficult it has been for Filipinos enduring the setbacks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the quarantine to prevent further transmission of COVID-19,” observes Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO representative in the Philippines, agrees. “Many people haven’t been able to work or have lost their jobs, some may have had difficulty going back to their home provinces or are impacted by the loss of loved ones or are separated from loved ones.” Globally, 79% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, however, high-income countries have the highest rates of suicide. More than twice as many males die due to suicide as females (12.6 per 100,000 males

compared with 5.4 per 100,000 females), according to the WHO report. Suicide rates among men are generally higher in high-income countries (16.5 per 100,000). For females, the highest suicide rates are found in lower-middle-income countries (7.1 per 100,000). Brian Mishara, of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, said more people kill themselves each year than are killed in all wars, terrorist acts, and homicides. “Yet, we give a large attention every time there is a death by homicide and very little attention to the million lives lost worldwide to suicide,” he deplored. The WHO report said that among young people aged 15-29, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death after road injury, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence. But not to be discounted are the older men, who are described as “the highest risk group.” In fact, “there is no indication that the suicide rates for this group of people have been declining.” It’s very rare, Mishara pointed out, that countries target the elderly as a risk group in national prevention efforts, most of which focus on young people.

Social support has been cited as one of the main reasons why suicide is so high among the elderly. “The elderly who die by suicide are more often men who have lost their wives and are socially isolated,” Mishara explained. “Elderly who are living surrounded by family and getting good social support are much less at risk.” In addition, the elderly people are “under-treated” for problems like depression, even though research shows that older people respond as well or better to treatment than younger people. Another issue is that some of the kinds of medications prescribed to the elderly – for example, those for Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible, progressive brain disorder – have depression as a common side-effect. It is estimated that around 20% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income countries. Ingesting poisons is described as a “highly effective strategy.” “Due to the high toxicity of many chemicals used in suicide attempts, this method often results in death,” the WHO said. Other common methods of suicide are hanging and firearms. Suicide is found in every cul-

ture and may be the result of complex social, cultural, religious and socio-economic factors, in addition to mental disorders. Suicide itself is not a mental disorder, but one of the most important causes of suicide is mental illness. “If we change our attitude to mental health, we change the world,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness. “Experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behavior,” the WHO says. Suicide rates are also high amongst vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. “By far the strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt,” the WHO points out.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO’S SHIPPING PIONEERS Although Santa Ana wharf was opened on July 1, 1908, its role in Davao’s booming hemp industry was further enhanced over a decade later. The pier, now an interisland jetty, serves littoral areas of the Davao Gulf; it was the brainchild of the Davao Planters Association, an organization of American, Spanish, and Filipino plantation owners. Tradition says the dock was designed by Juan Awad, a Syrian who, in some accounts, is honored as the father of Davao’s hemp plantations, owner of the first four-story edifice in town, and the first to open a cinema, the Cine Esperanza, during the years of silent movies. Santa Ana pier’s historic contribution to the city’s growth started in 1925 after the dock was extended and concreted through the representation of the Davao Chamber of Commerce with the national government. Its expansion gave rise to new shipping investments and interests. First to organize a freight

firm was Alfonso Angliongto, Sr. who opened in 1925 a coastal shipping business. His new 15ton wooden boat named M/L Angliongto Uno served the cities of Samal and Panabo; Magugpo and Hijo, now part of Tagum City; Mampising (Mabini, Davao de Oro); and Bongabong and Kingking (Pantukan, Davao de Oro). Angliongto, who migrated to Davao from Zamboanga in 1918 with brother Ang Kang, later acquired a 20-ton wooden launch, the M/L Hok Chiu, which plied the coastal regions of Malita, Davao Occidental; Kiamba, Glan, and Dadiangas, in South Cotabato; and Cotabato City, every two weeks. In 1936, he bought a 120ton steamship he called S/S Sebastian, the first of its kind in the gulf, and named after compradre and then Davao governor Sebastian Generoso. The steamship, the first of its kind in Davao, was captained by Simplicio Fuerte, a Cebuano who was father to Dr. Hector Fuerte, a physician once connect-

ed with Davao Doctor’s Hospital. (In Commonwealth records, the ship was registered in Ang Kang’s name.) Angliongto, assassinated in 1946, had a strong rapport with the governor so much so his eldest son was named Sebastian. Being a fluent Spanish speaker, the governor always brought along the Chinese trader each time President Manuel Quezon, also a Spanish speaker, was in Davao to conduct official business. Ang Kang, meanwhile, was born in Siasi, Sulu to Ang Liong and Yam Dia, a Moro woman. As a young boy, he left his birthplace to get educated in Amoy, China. He later returned to the country to work as storekeeper of a big store at Santa Ana pier, then slowly made his way up to gain experience and, using his savings, eventually decided to invest in the water transport business with his elder brother. Unlike Angliongto, Ang’s launches hauled abaca fiber products from Malita and deliv-

ered them to Davao, with merchandises lugged on their return trip. Later, inspired by the prospects the town of Malita offered, Ang, who adopted the name Antonio Generoso (also in honor of the governor), bought a land at barangay Mana and married Monica dela Cerna, a Boholana. Their union produced four children, namely Valeriana, Domingo, Lorenza, and Paciencia. Interestingly, in the 1933 and 1940 Philippine registers of vessels, all the vessels attributed to Angliongto were all recorded in the name Ang Kang as owner, presumably to avoid bureaucratic harassment given that he was married to a Filipino. In the 1933 records, Ang Liong To, a motor launch, was described as 14.97 in gross tonnage (GT), acquired in 1929, the same year that Hoc Chiu, also a motor launch, and Songbi II, a fishing boat, were bought. Also listed in Ang Kang’s 1933 registry were Ang Liong To No. 1, a fishing boat with 6.46 GT purchased or

built in 1930, and the Burchfield I, a fishing boat once owned by American James L Burchfield, with 11.61 GT. In the 1940 port of Davao registry, Ang Kang’s vessels included the 33.52 GT motor launch Hoc Chiu, refitted or rebuilt that year; the Sebastian, a motorship with 161.92 GT built in 1923; the 9.21 GT fishing vessel Songbi II; the Burchfield I, built in 1925; and Ang Liong To, a motor launch. Interviewed later about his life in Davao, Ang Kang said: “That Davao is a land of plenty, is a fact. I have combed the whole terrain of this country. I saw the wide opportunities for dreamers waiting for them to venture in the various fields. I witnessed aliens as well as brother Filipinos pit against great odds to graze in the green pastures of business.” (Some of the details were provided by Davao businessman Sebastian “Anggie” Angliongto, son of Alfonso, through his Facebook post, dated 11 November 2020.)

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

BTS ARMY GIVES BACK, RAISES THOUSANDS FOR FOODPANDA RIDER

WITH MANY PEOPLE staying home and having their deliveries ordered, foodpanda riders take on the hassles of going out and lining up to get meals and other necessities delivered conveniently to their customer’s doorstep.

For 38-year-old foodpanda rider, Benjamin Baetiong, June 18 was just another day on the job that has helped sustain his family’s needs. Little did he know that this was the day that he would gain a whole ARMY as his friends. As early as 7:30 am, Benjamin and other foodpanda riders noticed that there was a surge of orders for a special, limited edition BTS Meal from Mcdonald’s. By the time he was on his 5th BTS meal delivery of the day for eager Filipino fans of the K-Pop group, that was when he was inspired to post on his Facebook account, “Lakas ng BTS Meal ngayon. Umaarangkada na kaming mga FoodPanda riders, masayang ide-deliver sa inyo ang BTS Meals. Kaya mga BTS fans diyan, gogogogo, order na kayo.” This post was much appreciated by the fans, who call themselves the BTS ARMY, after they saw a lot of negativity online about the aforementioned meal. A Twitter account posted a small fundraiser for him, “In light of the toxicity we face as a fandom towards some food delivery riders, this manong FoodPanda rider stood out the most,” read the Tweet. “At dahil sa sipag at tiyaga niya sa pagdedeliver ng BTS Meal para sa ating lahat, ang proyektong ito ay para sa kanya,” Through this tweet, the ARMY was able to raise P40,500 over the initial target of P7,000. Benjamin, who has been a foodpanda rider for a year since losing his job as a tricycle driver in Quezon City, is overwhelmed by the support. He is the only boy among four siblings, and he is using his earnings as a rider to support their family after their father suffered a stroke. He recalls his surprise at the ARMY’s response to his post. “Noong araw na iyon, 7:30 am pa lang may surge na agad ng Mcdo BTS order. Sunod sunod napansin ko umaga pa lang. Kaya nung pang lima na order, nag post na ako sa Facebook ko na naghihikayat ako sa mga fans na umorder lang sila ng umorder at masaya kami na maghahatid ng BTS Mcdo nila,” he says. “Nagulat ako nung nag viral! Naninginig ako sa tuwa, lalo sa mga comments na BTS fans din.” An even bigger surprise was when he found out that his new-found friends put up a fundraising effort for him. “May nag-message sa akin na member ng BTS ARMY. Sabi lang nila may iniipon daw sila na donation para sa akin. Nung nakuha po nila number ko, may nag text saan daw ako pwede i-meet.” On June 20, they met at a McDonald’s branch in Cubao where they handed Benjamin their token of appreciation. He shares that he is very happy with the gift which he will use to take care of his family. “Para ito sa papa ko na stroke patient, ngayon kasi naka higa na lang at wheelchair at ako ang kasama sa bahay. Gagamitin ko din para sa gastusin sa bahay,” he says. He is also happy that McDonald’s also appreciated his efforts. “Nung kinagabihan din ng June 18, may tumawag na manager ng McDo at tinanong ako saan ako pinaka malapit na branch na nakatira. At sinabi na papadalahan ako, at binigyan nga ako ng limang BTS meals at binigay ko naman sa mga kapatid ko na BTS fans din!” One of the reasons why he is so supportive of the fandom is because he understands how they feel supporting their idols. “Ako po ay K-pop and K-drama fan din, kaya naiintidihan ko ang mga BTS fans. May mga nag-message sa akin na binibilin na siguraduhin maayos yung wrapper, kaya ang ginagawa ko po sinasabi ko na sa staff ng McDo na ibalot sa hindi BTS na wrapper yung order, wala kasing plastic ang McDo. ” He is very happy to be a foodpanda rider, he adds. He was able to sign up through the brand’s pandaTODA partnership with the Quezon City local government under Mayor Joy Belmonte, where tricycle drivers of the city who lost their jobs can sign up with foodpanda. “Maganda sa foodpanda. Sa kaunting oras, mas malaki ang kinikita, basta mabilis at masipag mag deliver. Kaya naman masaya talaga ko dito. Nagpapasalamat ako sa pagkakataon na ito.” His advice to other foodpanda riders, “Tuloy tuloy lang, think positive. Respeto sa mga customers kahit minsan mainit ang ulo nila. Intindihin ang excitement nila. “Hindi ko ine-expect na ako ay hahanapin at bibigyan pa ng tulong dahil lamang sa simpleng post na iyon. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila [BTS ARMY Philippines].” foodpanda managing director Daniel Marogy says that Benjamin is one fine example of how foodpanda riders care for their customers. “We are proud to have Benjamin as part of our team that delivers our customer’s orders with care. They are our heroes on two wheels who take on the job to deliver convenience and even happiness to your doorstep.”

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VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

AGRITRENDS

FIGHTING HUNGER

THROUGH GARDENING Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ore and more Filipinos are expected to experience hunger as the population continues to grow. In 1980, the Philippines was home to 48 million Filipinos. In 2000, the number swelled to 78 million. Today, there are more than 100 million people inhabiting the country.

Some years back, the Philippines was listed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as one of the 13 low-income food-deficit countries in Asia (“those that do not have enough food to feed their populations and for the most part lack the financial resources to pay for imports”). The other twelve Asian countries – most of them thickly populated – were Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. “In many developing countries, rapid population growth makes it difficult for agricultural production to keep pace with the rising demand for food,” wrote Don Hinrichsen in a report published by Population Reports. “Most developing countries already are cultivating virtually all arable land and are bringing more marginal land under cultivation.” Jacques Diouf, at the time when he was the director-general of FAO, echoed the same concern. “Population growth continues to outstrip food availability in many

countries,” he pointed out during the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome. Food security This alarms experts so much that the concept of food security came into existence. FAO defines it as a “state of affairs where all people at all times have access to safe and nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.” People are said to experience lack of food security when “either they cannot grow enough food themselves, or they cannot afford to purchase enough in the domestic marketplace.” As a result, “they suffer from micronutrient and protein energy deficiencies in their diets.” Over the past 10 years, malnutrition among Filipino children below the age of five has changed very little, observed Carin van der Hor, Country Director of Plan International. “The reduction of child malnutrition has been alarmingly slow,” said Hor, who convened the Koalisyon Para Alagaan at Isalba ang Nutrisyon (KAIN) in a Hunger Summit organized by the National Nutritional

Council some years back. Citing the National Nutrition Surveys done in 2011, Hor said that children below five years old who are underweight remain at 20 percent while children who are below the average height-to-age ratio remain at 30 percent. According to Senator Grace Poe, without sufficient nutrition, children’s motor development slows down and their cognitive skills become stunted. “And this has a long-term negative impact on the development of our human capital. We cannot build the foundation of our future on emaciated bodies who are no longer in school. No nation on Earth can,” she decried. Urban farming The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has enormously impacted the country’s economic and healthcare systems and also the nutritional and food security status of Filipinos, according to the Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey (RNAS) by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). Survey results showed that six out of 10 or 62.1% of surveyed households reported they experienced moderate to severe food insecurity, and that food security is highest in households with children (7 out of 10) and households with

pregnant members (8 out of 10). To solve this problem, some experts are recommending growing their own vegetables, particularly those living in the cities, who are greatly affected by hunger and malnutrition. “Urban agriculture can be one of the most important factors in improving childhood nutrition, by increasing both access to food and nutrition,” wrote Brian Halweil and Danielle Nierenberg in their collaborative State of the World report for the Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute. Another advantage: farms in the city can often supply markets on a more regular basis than distant rural farms can, particularly when refrigeration is scarce or during a rainy season when roads are bad. Enriched Potting Preparation There are several ways of raising vegetables in the garden. But Dr. Eduardo P. Paningbatan, Jr., a retired professor of soil science at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), has developed a better and easier method. He called it Enriched Potting Preparation (EPP). Designed for communities with little space for gardening, it can provide urban families with healthy and pesticide-free vegetables and herbs. EPP is an easy and

affordable way of growing plants right in the comfort of everyone’s home. Among the vegetables which can be grown using EPP are lettuce, pechay, mustard, tomato, eggplant, ampalaya, okra, ginger, beans, kangkong, sweet potato, saluyot, spring onion, hot pepper, sweet pepper, Chinese celery, cucumber, kale, kinchay, and spinach. For herbs, the following may be grown: basil, mint, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, wansoy, coriander, kaffir lime, tarragon, stevia, gotu kula, oregano, gynura, and mollocan. According to the information bulletin published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), the materials needed for EPP are the following: 1.5-liter empty plastic soft drink bottle, potting medium, compost soil extract (CSE), and nylon string. “Cut the plastic bottles in half,” PCAARRD instructs. “Put small holes on the sides of both top and bottom half of the bottle for aeration and drainage of excess water. Place the potting medium inside the inverted top half with the bottle cap. Use the bottom half as a stand for the top half to collect and reserve excess water for plant’s reuse.” Now, it’s ready for planting. “Sow two or more seeds and cover with one millimeter of the potting medium. Remove the upper part and wet the potting medium by dipping the plastic bottle container into a pail of water. “Put back the container by putting the bottom part on top of the soil surface. Place the EPP in a shaded area until seeds germinate, then place it where seeds can receive morning sunshine. If needed, transplant extra seedlings to other EPP.

Place EPP where plants can receive at least two hours of full sunlight,” the PCAARRD instructs. On watering, the PCAARRD notes: “Water the plants three times a week for seedlings or once a day for mature plants by dipping the EPP vessel into a pail of water or by sprinkling until the soil is fully wet.” Like most crops, the EPP plants also need fertilizer. “Dilute CSE in a ratio of five tablespoons of CSE to one liter of water,” the PCAARRD says. “Water the plants with about 100 milliliters of the diluted solution once a week during seedling stage and twice a week as the plant matures.” For pest control, the PCAARRD suggests to dip the whole EPP plant into a clean pail of water for 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the severity of the pest infection. You don’t have to harvest immediately once they mature. For green leafy vegetables like pechay and lettuce, for instance, you can harvest the leaves using scissors. Just leave the younger leaves and let them grow until ready for the next harvest. There are several advantages of raising vegetables the EPP way. For one, plants are easier to care for and tend. For another, there is a continued harvest of fresh, succulent leafy vegetables. More importantly, vegetables can be grown 6 cycles a year. Vegetable consumption Eating vegetables has several advantages, too. Studies show that those who eat more vegetables and less meat are most likely to live longer than their counterparts. According to a new study, people who limit how much meat they eat and stick to mostly fruits and vegetables are less likely to die over any particular

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EDGEDAVAO

REINFORCEMENT... FROMP2

Council has approved on the second reading the proposed ordinance requiring the mandatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and penalizing close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 positive cases for refusal to undergo the said testing. Proposed by Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta, who is also the committee chair on peace and public safety, the proposal entitled

“An Ordinance Providing For Mandatory Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Testing of All F1, F2, and F3 Contacts of An RT-PCR Confirmed Positive Case of Covid-19 In Davao City” covers all persons identified as F0 (person positive for Covid-19), F1 (first generation contacts of a Covid-19 confirmed positive), F2 (close contacts of F1), and F3 (close contacts of F2) in Davao City.

The lawmaker also said that his staff is continuously going around the areas under his jurisdiction to check whether there are

sectors who have yet to receive help from the government, as its programs are intended for disadvantaged members of the community.

however, not yet available as of this posting. Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative of San Miguel town, in a separate interview, said attached to the resolution was an affidavit issued by the concerned families. The affidavit showed that they are satisfied with the customary process that settled the issues and concerns on the June 15 encounter. “The matter was already settled and we assert that the June 15 incident was a legitimate encounter,” Maca said. Stop baseless info He added that the resolution also called on the different agencies and instrumentalities of the government, the religious sector, the Makabayan Bloc in Congress, the Save Our School (SOS) Network, and the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. to respect the outcome of the tribal process. He called on the Makabayan solons, human

rights groups, and the SOS to refrain from spreading baseless information and accusations against the government and the military. “They must respect the outcome of processes. We consider the same as sacred because everything that transpired was based on our culture and traditions,” Maca said. CPP-NPA condemned The final part of the resolution was the condemnation of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA for their continued recruitment and the use of minors in their armed struggle. “The NPA terrorists are just using our young generation in their futile armed struggle. We are calling them to stop recruiting and manipulating our youths,” Maca said. The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. (PNA)

banks and an institution in providing affordable home financing to Filipino families, such as AllBank, Banco de Oro, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), UnionBank, and PAG-IBIG Fund that are taking part in The ViCon. “We felt the need to open a digital window

so that we can continue reaching and serving our clients since the pandemic seemed to shut the physical doors for us. The ViCon is just one of the many digital initiatives that we will be unfolding in the future,” chairman Manuel Villar Jr. said in a statement. (PNA)

month until last May. Ricafort expects rate of price increases to decelerate in the coming week or months, partly due to the temporary cut in import tariffs for pork and rice, a move the government implemented to boost domestic supply especially of pork, after supply was affected by the African swine fever. He expects inflation to remain at 4 percent until September or October. Ricafort said the slower economic recovery prospects because of the impact of stricter quarantine measures in March and several weeks after, as well as high coronavi-

rus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases and delay in vaccine arrivals due to supply issues “would also translate to relatively slower demand-side inflationary factors.” “Thus, more accommodative monetary policy measures in terms of relatively lower borrowing costs/financing costs would continue and be justified to support economic recovery prospects, going forward,” he said. Another factor on the future policy rate decisions of the BSP is the hawkish signal from the Fed and the tapering of the Fed’s bond purchases, he added.

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ENCOURAGES... FROMP2

to save for their families and for their futures, but the sad reality is that it’s possible lose everything in one unfortunate incident. The hospitalization of a family member due to severe COVID-19 infection alone could wipe out years’ worth of their savings. We’ve heard the same thing happen many times, and we want to help change it so we’ve made it our mission at BPI-Philam to assist OFWs through difficulties to enable them and their families to live healthier, longer, and better lives wherever they are,” said Surendra Menon, BPI-Philam Chief Executive Officer. Just recently, BPIPhilam extended its free Php 200,000 COVID-19 insurance for qualified BPI and BPI-Philam customers to help Filipinos stay secure during these uncertain times. This free insurance coverage can be supplemented with other insurance plans like BPI-Philam’s Critical Care 100, which has health coverage that provides financial protection from setbacks caused by medical emergencies. Many OFWs’ employment requires them to travel to-and-fro, increasing their chances of exposure to the virus. Having life insurance can serve as financial protection from tapping into their savings for medical bills and

similar expenses. OFWs are also encouraged to think for the long-term and be prepared for the worst. Life insurance can help them achieve their goal of having financial freedom upon retirement. For those who want to start saving and even invest, there are life insurance products that have an investment part that may help grow their funds. These allot a portion of their premiums to the policyholder’s life insurance coverage, while the remaining portion goes into an investment fund, which may continue to grow even after the full payment of the policy. For OFWs, having the right life insurance plan gives their families back home peace of mind knowing that they are protected. They can live a worry-free life, letting them focus on accomplishing their goals. BPI-Philam helps by offering the right life insurance products that allow them to protect what they have built over the years and reach their ultimate goal of coming home sooner. More information about BPI-Philam is available at its website<bpi-philam. com>, Facebook page<fb. com/BPIPhilamOfficial>, via the virtual assistant Bessie (on Messenger), or through a Bancassurance Sales Executive at BPI and BPI Family Savings Bank branches nationwide.

Yuijico said. He said economic growth was also remarkable during the Aquino administration, which peaked at 7.2 percent in 2013, the second fastest economy in Asia, only behind China. He added foreign direct investment inflows rose by 60 percent when Aquino finished his term. “(T)he legacy of President Aquino should live on,” the PCCI chief said. Meanwhile, MBC also recalled how the Aquino administration helped in improving the lives of Fil-

ipinos, with its “pro-people social policies” such as modernizing education, expanding cash transfers, and “relatively clean government”. “We pray for President Aquino, send our condolences to the family, and thank them for his service to the people and democracy. We join the nation —including many in the business community, who knew him, served with him, or called him friend— in their sorrow, prayers, and rededicating ourselves to lifting up more Filipinos,” MBC said. (PNA)

period of time. “I think this adds to the evidence showing the possible beneficial effect of vegetarian diets in the prevention of chronic diseases and the improvement of longevity,” Dr. Michael Orlich, the study’s lead author from Loma Linda University in California, was quoted as saying by Reuters. Previous research, done in the United Kingdom, suggested that vegetarians are one-third less likely to be hospitalized

or die from heart disease than meat and fish eaters. “We’re able to be slightly more certain that it is something that’s in the vegetarian diet that’s causing vegetarians to have a lower risk of heart disease,” said Dr. Francesca Crowe, who led the study at the University of Oxford. “If people want to reduce their risk of heart disease by changing their diet, one way of doing that is to follow a vegetarian diet,” Dr. Crowe added. – (Photos by PCAARRD)

nent departure. After an in-person meeting, Cuban and the Mavericks announced Carlisle’s resignation. Central to building the roster is a new contract for Doncic, who is eligible to

sign a maximum extension this offseason valued at over $200 million. Other critical components for a new GM to decide include whether to re-sign unrestricted free agent Tim Hardaway Jr.

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FIGHTING... FROMP9

KIDD... FROMP11

COUNCIL... FROMP3

Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat. Duterte earlier met with Congress leaders, Cabinet secretaries, Bangsamoro government officials headed by Interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and political leaders in the region to discuss the postponement of the BARMM elections and the extension of the transition period from 2022 to 2025. Since no consensus had been reached during the June 16 meeting in Malacañang, Duterte instructed them to meet as Council of Leaders to resolve the issue. Duterte scheduled a “final meeting” with the Council of Leaders today, June 24, for the way forward on the moves to extend the

transition period in the Bangsamoro region. Five bills have been filed in the House of Representatives while two bills were filed in the Senate seeking the amendment of Republic Act 11054 (Organic Law for the BARMM) for the extension of the transition period in the Bangsamoro from 2022 to 2025. Congress, however, failed to pass the measure before they adjourned sine die on June 4. In March, one million signatures were submitted to the Office of the President petitioning Duterte to certify as urgent the measures seeking the extension of the BTA, the interim body mandated to govern the Bangsamoro government until June 30, 2022.

repayment. The Program also offers a sub-credit facility for MSMEs and cooperatives, as well as self-employed individuals duly registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), classified to be critically affected by the ongoing pandemic. Qualified borrowers may borrow a minimum amount of P100,000 or up to 85% of the actual permanent working capital requirement but not exceeding P3 million, at a lower fixed interest rate of 3% per annum, with no hard collateral requirement, and payable for up to three (3) years. For existing LANDBANK clients, the Program provides loan restructuring

assistance via additional loan and extended repayment period, or a combination of means to rehabilitate and restore operational cash flow. The LANDBANK I-RESCUE Lending Program is available until December 31, 2022. Interested borrowers may contact the nearest open LANDBANK Lending CenterorBranchnationwide or call LANDBANK’s customer service hotline at (02) 8-405-7000 or at PLDT Domestic Toll Free 1-80010-405-7000. For more updates, please Follow, Like and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts (@ landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@ LANDBANK),

last-second defeat in Game 2 of the series with a defensive effort that limited the Suns to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor. Mann finished with 12 points in the win. Ayton had 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds for Phoenix, which lost key reserve Cameron Payne to an ankle injury in the second period. Mikal Bridges added 13 points and Cameron

Johnson 12 in the defeat. With Paul returning from his long absence, the Suns seemed comfortable slowing the pace and getting into a defensive struggle in the first half. However, Paul and Booker each shot just 2-for-10 in the half. The Clippers again were without star forward Kawhi Leonard, who has a sprained right knee. He has missed the team’s past five games.

thoughts,” Kato added. Japan’s US-drafted post-war constitution strictly limits the role of the emperor to a symbolic figurehead with no political role. On Thursday, Kato insisted the government remained committed to hosting a “safe and secure” Olympics, Kyodo reported. Public opinion has for months been firmly opposed to holding the Games this year, though

recent polls suggest opposition may be softening. No overseas fans will be allowed and domestic spectators will be capped at 10,000 per event. Japan has seen a comparatively small virus outbreak, with around 14,500 deaths despite avoiding harsh lockdowns. Its vaccine rollout started slowly but has picked up pace in recent weeks, with nearly nine percent of the population fully vaccinated.

The future of Kristaps Porzingis in Dallas isn’t clear. Porzingis was an AllStar with the New York Knicks but has taken a back seat to Doncic in Dal-

las. Nelson said before the Mavericks were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Clippers that a Doncic-Porzingis rift was “way overblown.”

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VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

SPORTS 11

LA Clippers guard Paul George (13) tries to score past Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) and forward Jae Crowder (99) during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals for the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Japan PM insists emperor not ‘worried’ about Olympics

apan’s prime minister on Friday dismissed claims that the country’s emperor is “concerned” the Tokyo Olympics could spread the coronavirus, saying the comments were the opinions of an imperial household representative. On Thursday, Yasuhiko Nishimura, the head of the Imperial Household Agency that manages royal affairs, told reporters that Emperor Naruhito is “very worried about the current infection situation of Covid-19”, Japanese media reported. Nishimura said he believed the emperor “is concerned that while there are voices of anxiety among the public, the holding of the Olympics and Paralympics... may lead to a rise in infections”. He noted that he had “not heard such words directly from his majesty” but believed he “feels that

n the day he became the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, Rick Carlisle endorsed Jason Kidd as his replacement with the Dallas Mavericks. Carlisle on Thursday was hired for a second stint as Pacers head coach after resigning in Dallas last week, one day after general manager Donnie Nelson was fired by owner Mark Cuban. “It’s hard to put an exact finger on it,” Carlisle told ESPN about a Kidd-Mavericks pairing. “It’s just a feeling that I had that it would be mutually beneficial. My hope is that Jason Kidd will be the next coach of the Mavs because

way”, Kyodo news agency reported. While the emperor holds no political power, he is an important symbolic figure in Japan. But the remarks were dismissed Friday by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who told reporters Nishimura had “expressed his own opinion”. The line was echoed by Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa and top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato. Nishimura “was asked to comment on his own feelings about the Olympics, and... (he) discussed his feelings”, Kato told reporters. “I understand that he said he has come to form this sense as he holds daily conversations with his majesty. It has to be stressed that he was speaking about his own

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he and Luka (Doncic) have so many things in common as players.” ESPN reported Thursday that Kidd has emerged as a front runner for the Mavericks’ head coaching position. Per the report, Kidd has the support of Mavericks legend-turned-advisor Dirk Nowitzki and others that have Cuban’s ear. Kidd is an assistant coach under Frank Vogel with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 48-year-old Kidd was a 10-time All-Star and spent part of his career playing for the Mavericks, who selected him No. 2 overall in the 1994 draft. Kidd returned to play in

Clippers beat Suns in Game 3

aul George scored a game-high 27 points, Patrick Beverley harassed Devin Booker into a second consecutive subpar performance and the Los Angeles Clippers worked their Game 3 magic once again Thursday night in a 106-92 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals.

The Clippers got back into the best-of-seven series with a win after two opening defeats in Phoenix. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday night, also in Los Angeles.

Dallas from 2007-12. Carlisle began his run with the Mavericks in 2008. Kidd also had playing stints with the Phoenix Suns, then-New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks, and later coached the Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. He has a record of 183-190 as a head coach. The New York Times reported Thursday the Mavericks are currently focused on the general manager vacancy and have not focused on Kidd or any other coaching candidate. Cuban said during the regular season he would retain Carlisle as rumors began to swirl of his immi-

FKIDD, P10

Reggie Jackson chipped in with 23 points for Los Angeles while Ivica Zubac outplayed Deandre Ayton with a 15-point, 16-rebound performance.

Booker shot just 5-for-21 en route to 15 points for second-seeded Phoenix. Chris Paul, making his series debut after being released from COVID protocol, struggled to 15 of his own on 5-for-19 shooting. They combined to sink just 3 of 14 3-point attempts. Paul, who managed a game-high 12 assists in 39 minutes, hadn’t played since Game 4 of the Western semifinals against the Denver Nuggets on June 13. The Clippers, who became the first team in NBA history to erase 2-0 deficits in each of their first two playoff series, trailed this time

48-46 at halftime before dominating the second half. Down 55-50 in the second minute of the third period, the Clippers got three consecutive hoops from Terance Mann to grab a lead they never relinquished en route to finishing the quarter on a 30-14 run. George’s buzzer-beating, half-court shot capped the surge that produced an 8069 lead, after which the Suns got no closer than six. George complemented his 27 points with 15 rebounds and a team-high eight assists. He helped the Clippers bounce back from a

Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd has been endorsed to be the next Mavs coach.

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12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

LIFE SCHOOL

VOL.14 ISSUE 88 • SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

A fitness enthusiast works out at Arcadia Fitness Gym along Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, Davao City wearing a face mask as required by health protocols.

Sports and life in PSC Rise Up Shape Up webisode

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) tapped well-known Filipino coaches, athletes, and sports educators to share stories and insights on balancing sports and life in the upcoming episode of Rise Up, Shape Up web series this Saturday, June 26.

“The things athletes and sports players learn in the playing field transcend to real life, especially at crucial times like a pandemic. When faced with difficulties and challenges, that is when our characters are tested.” said PSC Chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, add-

ing sports is not just about competition but also about important life skills. The episode will feature College of Human Kinetics assistant professor Robin Darwin Tuliao of the Cagayan State University. He is a multi-medalist Cagayanon in

athletics, who used to serve as Program Coordinator for the Graduate School in Physical Education at the Taipei American School in Taiwan. He is a certified Group Suspension Training Specialist, a certified kinesiology taping practitioner, a licensed professional teacher, and an accredited International Amateur Athletics Federation Level 1 National Technical Official and Coach for Athletics. Tuliao will be joined by professor Trinidad Lumna, Chairperson of the Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) of Tarlac State University and Anne Daphien Baisa from Sienna College Quezon City. The show will be hosted by Arlene Ong, the first lay dean of the College Department of Sienna College Quezon City. Professor Lumna is a former lawn tennis player during her younger days and also served as a coach for individual and team sports. While Baisa is a licensed Physical Education teacher and a volleyball coach in Siena College Quezon City. PSC Women in Sports oversight Commissioner Celia Kiram has always been vocal about the positive impact of sports in empowering young girls and women in the country. She maintains that female representation in sports heavily contributes to shaping young girls and women to their full potential. “Seeing women athletes play and compete means girls are strong too, both in sports and real life. Sports is a platform to make young girls more equipped for life’s challenges,” said Kiram. PSC’s Rise Up, Shape Up is a weekly web series streamed via Facebook and YouTube every Saturdays at 10:30 AM and Sundays at 7PM. For more information on Rise Up, Shape Up, visit its official Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/riseupshapeup and YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/ riseupshapeup.