Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 92 | Thursday, July 1, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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POLISHING NEEDED

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021 A health worker administers Sinovac vaccine to a call center agent during the first day of vaccination for the employees of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies at Felcris Centrale in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

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Covid-19 Task Force requests City Council to defer proposed mandatory swab testing ordinance

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to highlight in his last state of the nation address (SONA) this month the government’s aggressive anti-illegal drugs campaign, the top on the list of his administration’s achievements. Presidential Photo

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19 barangays in Laak town, DavOro declared drug-free

Covid-19 Task Force requests City Council to defer proposed mandatory swab testing ordinance By MAYA M. PADILLO

head of the City Health Office (CHO), clarified the proposed ordinance was not canceled but is only deferred for passing on third reading. “Kay naa pa ta’y mga data nga dapat himoon in relation to the data analysis nato for F1, F2, and F3. Naa pa gamay na mga proseso na kailangan humanon bago

ta mu-proceed with the final reading,” Lopez explained during the Covid-19 Alert Program via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday. 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.

suspects as Monalisa Camsa Amirol, 21, and resident of Cotabato City, and Khali Musa Kadatuan, 27, and resident of Kurontem Dos, Maguindanao. Suaga said the suspects were arrested after selling a plastic sachet of suspected shabu to undercover policemen.

Seized from them were some P400,000 worth of suspected shabu, buy-bust money, and 2 units of cellular phones. Criminal complaints for violation of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 are being prepared against the suspects.

he Davao City Covid-19 Task Force has requested the City Council to defer the passage of an ordinance requiring mandatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) testing and penalizing close contacts of confirmed Covid-19 positive cases for refusal to undergo testing.

During the council session on Tuesday, Councilor Mabel SungaAcosta, who is the proponent of the said proposed ordinance, reported that the task force requested for a deferment as adjustments are needed to polish the measure. Dr. Ashley Lopez, acting

Section 8 of the proposed ordinance stated that F0, F1, F2, and F3 contacts willfully refused to undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing under being notified shall be penalized accordingly while FO who shall willfully refuse to undergo mandatory isolation after being duly notified shall be penalized with a penalty of P5,000. Lopez said that until now the task force has not discussed yet the fines and penalties. “If the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will be able to pass the resolution for third and final reading then probably we can already

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ineteen barangays (villages) in Laak town in Davao de Oro have been declared drug-free by the Regional Oversight Committee Barangay Drug Clearing Program (ROCBDC). In a ceremony held at Laak Municipal Grounds in said town on M onday (June 28), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 11 who chairs ROCBDC said the declaration was the result of the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign by the authorities including barangay officials and police in said province. The villages that have been declared drug-cleared effective June 28 are Anitap, Bagong Silang, Banbanon, Bollukan, Buhi Ampawid, Doña Josefa, El Katipunan, El Papa, Inakayan, Kaligutan, Kidawa, Langtud, Macopa, Malinao, Naga, New Bethlehem, San Antonio, Sisimon, and Sto. Niño. The PDEA regional office said a barangay has to meet all the parameters to

be declared drug-cleared. Among the criteria set by the Dangerous Drugs Board are the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory, clandestine drug warehouse, clandestine chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den or resort, drug pusher, drug user, protectors, coddlers and financiers. Other criteria include active involvement of barangay officials in antiillegal drugs activities, active involvement of sangguniang kabataan representatives in maintaining the drugliberated status of the villages, the existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related antiillegal drugs programs, the existence of a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment, and rehabilitation processing desk in the barangay.

Dormitory (DCJ-MD) compound in Barangay Ma-a last Saturday. Insp. Edo Lobenia, BJMP-11 spokesperson, said that the jail guards discovered 21 grams of the illegal substance, wrapped securely with electrical tape, inside the ball that fell off from the roof.

Authorities found out during an examination that the object contained six sachets of white crystalline substance, particularly, methamphetamine or “shabu.” Lobenia said they believed that the object was thrown from a

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Live-in couple yields P400,000 Shabu worth P315K stuffed inside worth of shabu in Buhangin ops basketball seized at Davao jail

n t i - D r u g Enforcement Unit of Buhangin Police seized shabu worth P400,000 from a live-in couple during an anti-drug operation in Buhangin this city on Monday (June 28) night. Buhangin acting chief of police Maj. Bernie Suaga identified the

fficers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)Davao confiscated six sachets of confirmed methamphetamine or “shabu” worth P315,000 that were stuffed inside a basketball that was thrown from outside the Davao City Jail Male

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NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles expresses support for the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) term for another three years. Edge Davao

Ex-Bayan Muna leader surrenders in Sarangani

former provincial coordinator of Bayan Muna and alleged member of the communist New People’s Army surrendered to the military at Sitio Loot, Brgy Poblacion, Malapatan, Sarangani Province early this week. A report from the Philippine Army’s 10th ID identified the rebel returnee as Marvin Magrano, member of the Weakened Guerilla Front Tala. He is also a coordinator of Bayan Muna in Sarangani Province. Magrano also surrendered war materiels such as four pieces of claymore mines; a rifle grenade; and a detonating

anabo residents aged 21 to 30 years old are leading the city’s number of COVID19 cases. This is according to the data of Panabo City Health Office (CHO) for the months May and June. Following this age group are the 3140 years old and the 41-50 years old age groups. The COVID-19

cord. 10th ID commander Maj. Gen. Ernesto C Torres Jr said that more CPP-NPANDF legal front organization personalities are expected to go back to the folds of the law following the surrender of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) National Treasurer Pedro Arnado. “We are witnessing an influx of surrendering leaders of CTG front organizations to the government which proves their realization of the futility of the communist terrorist movement. We see this development as an opportunity to further unmask and establish the connection between

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Surveillance Team of the CHO identified that 66 percent of the cases were infected in the workplace, mostly in private companies. “Naay uban dili mo sulti sa tinuod nga naa silay ginabati, dihaa na sila mo sulti nga naa na silay natakdan (There are some who won’t admit that they

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Jabs rollout for call center agents begin By MAYA M. PADILLO

tranches coming. What we are doing is, we agreed with the city government of Davao that we will organize it, we will provide the facility, we will work together with different companies and all of us participate as volunteers to implement the project. The

city government provides the Sinovac vaccine for the employees,” he said. Manalastas said the group is eyeing to vaccinate 25,000 employees registered in the participating BPO companies that include BPO Solutions, VXI, Flatworld, Awesome OS, Concentrix, and OpenAccess BPO. “The target is 25,000 call center agents for all the companies participated, right now ang nakapag register sa

atin online ay nasa 20,000,” he said. The BPO sector is identified by the city government with high cases of Covid-19. In fact, some BPO companies were placed under lockdown last month by the city government of Davao. Manalastas said the sector is now closely coordinating with the city and see to it that as soon as possible BPO companies will

for quarantine after some of the swabbers and staff were tested positive of Covid-19 during a routine test conducted last June 15, 2021. “Gusto nako mangayo ug pasaylo ug pasensya sa naapektuhan sa congestion last week because nagundergo ug quarantine ang atong mga staff ug kinahanglan pud nato na sila atimanon kay mga

frontliners ni, so they have to be in good shape bago musabak sa trabaho,” Lopez explained. Apart from Sta. Ana Health Center, other swabbing areas in the city are the Davao Crocodile Park, for drivethru swabbing area and accommodates individuals under surveillance testing, F2 and F3 or secondgeneration and third

generation contacts respectively without influenza-like illness (ILIs); and the Magsaysay Park that caters F2 and F3 contacts, and those who received a text message from the Safe Davao QR (DQR) system. “Reminders for everybody, kung F1 ka or ILI ka tapos naa kay symptoms related to Covid-19 like sipon, kalintura, ubo ug labi

he BPO Association of Davao Inc., (BPOADI) has started inoculation of call center agents in Davao City on Wednesday at Felcris Centrale. Xavier Eric Manalastas, president of BPOADI, told Edge Davao the inoculation will be conducted in tranches. For the first tranche, the group is aiming to vaccinate 500 workers a day for a total of 1,500. “There will be more

he city government of Davao has reopened Sta. Ana Health Center, one of the main swabbing centers in Davao City, on Monday after a week of temporary closure since June 15, 2021. The city ordered the closure of Sta. Ana Health Center for a week for disinfection and testing of other staff who had closed contact (F1) and

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director general Charito Plaza says we have to address the efficiency factors to attract our investors to go to the countryside. Most of these efficiency factors that must be addressed by DICT

PRRD OKs LBP-UCPB merger P

resident Rodrigo Duterte has approved the merger of state-owned banks Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB).

Duterte inked Executive Order (EO) 142 on June 25, as he acknowledged that the merger of LBP and UCPB will significantly strengthen the capability to deliver financial services to the coconut industry and the entire agriculture sector. The LBP-UPCB merger, Duterte said in EO 142, will also contribute to economic sufficiency, foster countryside development, and financial inclusion, and promote stability in the country’s

banking system. “The merger of the UCPB with the LBP is hereby approved, with the LBP as surviving entity, subject to the requisite approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission, and to the conditions and limitations under RA (Republic Act) 11524 and RA 11232 or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines,” the order read. Section 2 of RA 11524 or the Coconut Farmers Industry Trust Fund Act

mandates the state to consolidate and hasten the delivery of benefits due to coconut farmers. The UCPB and the LBP, in consultation with the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GCG), will determine the mode of merger and implement the same with the approval of relevant regulatory agencies. All assets and liabilities of UCPB will also be transferred to LBP. The LBP, according to the order, will acquire the outstanding Special Preferred Shares held by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) in the UCPB. EO 142 states that

the LBP has to take into account the recovery of the PDIC’s financial assistance to the UCPB, the valuation of the shares by the PDIC and LBP for this purpose, and the LBP’s return on equity. “It is understood that this approval shall be without prejudice to the terms and conditions set forth by the PDIC in its 08 February 2021 approval of the sale to the LBP of its Special Preferred Shares,” it said. The UCPB and LBP should also prepare and implement an integration plan towards the full implementation of the merger, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

for this projection because of the increasing FDI (foreign direct investments),” Panga said. He also cited the report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in 2020 that FDIs in the Philippines rose by 29 percent despite the pandemic, while the trend in other Southeast Asian countries is the opposite. Panga said the ecozone investments increased by 21 percent last year. “We are following the

same trend for FDI. In the case of PEZA, the sources for this come from ICT (information and communications technology), manufacturing, and real estate,” he added. Panga said the enactment into law of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprise (CREATE) Act will also support the increase in project registration with PEZA. The CREATE law cuts the corporate income tax rate for businesses from

30 percent to 25 percent. The Department of Finance and the Department of Trade and Industry signed last week the implementing rules and regulations for the law. Moreover, PEZA director general Charito Plaza is also requesting President Rodrigo Duterte to lift the moratorium on setting up more economic zones in Metro Manila. She said the lifting of the moratorium will allow more investments in information technolo-

DOE, USAID tie-up to mobilize P39-B energy investments

he new partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is expected to mobilize USD750 million or PHP39 billion worth of investments in the energy sector. In a statement Tuesday, the DOE said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with USAID for the Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Activity last June 28. The DOE said the USAID will fund USD34 million or PHP1.65 billion through

the ESP Activity that aims to help the country achieve its goal of enhancing energy security and reliability. The ESP Activity is a five-year program aimed to promote private sector investment in advanced technology to make the energy sector inclusive and resilient to shocks and stresses. “I anticipate that the plans and programs will bring us closer to our energy goals,” DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said. “Let us always keep in mind a vision of the improved lives of Filipinos.” US Embassy in the Phil-

gy and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) as investors prefer to set up their offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) due to better ICT infrastructure. “We should take advantage of this. We have to address the efficiency factors to attract our investors to go to the countryside. Most of these efficiency factors that must be addressed by DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) is the IT in-

frastructure,” Plaza said. She added there are nine cities in NCR that have not yet hosted IT parks, and these cities are also asking for the lifting of the moratorium. “We are waiting for the response (of the Office of the President), especially that among those that really provided the biggest employment are the IT-BPOs. Of the 1.6 million direct employment in our ecozone, almost a million come from the jobs created by ITBPOs,” Plaza said. (PNA)

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Robust FDI inflows to boost PEZA growth this year

he Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) targets a 7-percent increase in investment approvals this year supported by strong investment interests from foreign sources. In a briefing Tuesday, PEZA deputy director general Tereso Panga said the investment promotion agency aims PHP6 billion more investment approvals this year from last year’s approval of PHP95.03 billion. “We have a strong basis

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

ECONOMY

Ayala Malls Abreeza starts administering the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines to its employees belonging to the A4 category (frontliners in essential sectors) at the mall’s activity center on Tuesday. Abreeza is targeting to vaccinate 100 percent of employees. Contributed photo

DTI, DOT to realign tourism loan for truckers, other industries

he Small Business (SB) Corp. and the Department of Tourism (DOT) have agreed to realign the allocated loan budget for tourism businesses to truckers and micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs) in other sectors. In a press conference Tuesday, SB Corp. executive vice president and chief operating officer Santi Lim said DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has allowed the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) financing arm to lend PHP1.5 billion out of the PHP4 billion available loan budget for tourism enterprises to truckers and other industries.

Lim said there is a slow uptake for tourism loans due to mobility restrictions brought by the community quarantine measures. This loan allocation is under the Covid-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program being rolled out by SB Corp. On Tuesday, SB Corp. and Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to extend the zero-interest loan to ACTOO members. “Right now, we actually have (an) available fund of PHP300 million out of the PHP4-billion al-

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BOC reports P4.4-B tax haul from 478 anti-smuggling operations

he Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported to the Department of Finance (DOF) it seized PHP4.43 billion worth of goods in the first five months of this year from 478 operations involving suspected smuggling activities during this period. Preliminary BOC data showed that of the seized goods, counterfeit products accounted for PHP1.98 billion, followed by general merchandise worth PHP864.44 million. Its tightened watch on cigarette shipments entering the country has led to nu-

merous seizures and apprehensions of illegally imported tobacco products, which accounted for PHP759.89 million of the value of suspected smuggled goods confiscated so far by the agency. In its report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III during a recent DOF Executive Committee (Execom) meeting, the BOC also said it has apprehended PHP373.16 million worth of illegal drugs, PHP221.81 million worth of agricultural products, and used clothing valued at PHP39.13 million during the period.

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Ayala Malls Abreeza starts vax of over 1,600 workers

This number is made up of mall personnel, store staff, and employees of other establishments and offices that make up the larger Abreeza Estate: Alveo Land, Avida Land,

Seda Abreeza Hotel, and Abreeza Central Estate Association. The first round of vaccinations took place at the mall’s Activity Center and Supermarket Hallway on June 30, with 350 people getting their first dose of Sinovac. This first batch is made up of supermarket staff, department store staff, and mall and estate service personnel (security, housekeeping, technical, landscaping, and administration). The second round is scheduled for July 2, with 250 employees who work in

essential stores and food merchants set to get their jabs. The remaining over 1,000 employees will be vaccinated in the coming weeks once vaccines become available. The vaccination drive is made possible in collaboration with the City Government of Davao, the City Health Office, and the Department of Health – Davao Region. As with all Ayala Malls nationwide, Abreeza strongly supports the local government and health authorities in their aim of

and the 2022 projection to 6.8 percent from 7.9 percent. “For most countries in the region, including the Philippines, one of the priorities now is to roll out the vaccination as quickly as possible in order to contain the infection so they can open up the economy more fully and allow the economy to recover,” AMRO chief economist Dr. Hoe Ee Khor said in a virtual press briefing. He said fiscal support is critical “and fortunately, in the case of the Philippines, we do see ample fiscal space.”

Based on the AMRO report on the country released during the day, the domestic economy continues to post improvements after registering its decades-low contraction of 16.9 percent in the second quarter of 2020. “After the initial bounce back in 2020, the recovery momentum will depend on the pace of further reopening of the economy, restoration of confidence, and the strength of policy support,” it said, adding “a quick rollout of vaccination will accelerate the reopening process and

help boost consumer and business confidence.” The report said the government’s goal was to vaccinate 70 percent of the population this year but noted the risks posed by vaccine supplies and the pace of deliveries. As the domestic economy is service-oriented and most businesses belong to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Khor said this characteristic makes the Philippines susceptible to pandemic shocks.

yala Malls Abreeza has begun administering the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines to its employees belonging to the A4 category (frontliners in essential sectors). The vaccination drive is in line with the shopping mall’s mission to safeguard the health and safety of mall employees in the fight against COVID-19, as well as to further ensure a safe shopping experience to its shoppers.

Over 1,600 employees are expected to take part in this vaccination campaign, keeping Abreeza on track in its target of having 100 percent of employees vaccinated.

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Faster vax rollout, fiscal support to drive PH economy this year

aster vaccination program rollout to address the high number of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections, targeted containment measures, and sustained implementation of stimulus programs are expected to buoy the Philippine economy this year, an economist said Tuesday. However, pandemic-related developments made Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) slash its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.4 percent from 6.9 percent,

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

In response to Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s statement that the Department of Health (DOH) was on top of his corruption list, and sought for a probe into the agency’s purchase of personal protective equipment and test kits at the height of the country’s COVID-19 fight:

Absent po siguro si Senator Pacquiao nung nagprisinta yung mga Cabinet secretaries. Or kung hindi siya absent, he may have been preoccupied with something else.”

Presidential Spokesperson

Harry Roque

EDITORIAL Political suicide Grizzled veterans in the political arena must have shook their heads after professional boxer-turned-Senator Manny Pacquiao went head on with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Before Senator Pacquiao made his statements, he was erstwhile favorite of the President, an ally and a supposed source of wisdom for the budding politician. Whatever crossed the fighting legislator’s mind is beyond comprehension. It was easily the worst political move for one who was seen as a possible frontrunner to become President if not in the next elections, in the near future.

Pacquiao was probably dealing with some distractions, for one a lawsuit from a boxing promotions outfit over a fight contract, and the overeagerness to push for his next political journey.

Pacquiao is used to having the people around him decide for himself from his next fight to the choice of his trainer and manager. He was under the boxing promotions legend Bob Arum for most of his glory days before junking the old man for another outfit. His trainer Freddie Roach guided him through the most important fights of his career only to one day, dump Freddie before taking him back again. Pacquiao is also surrounded by people like Ilocos political kingpin Chavit

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So who injected a script into Pacquiao’s boxing-beaten head that led to his eventual burning bridges with the man who could have made him King? It took Pacquiao’s camp over 24 hours to come up with a statement in response to President Duterte’s dare for him to reveal what the boxer claims as massive corruption in the Duterte administration. Understandably, it was not Manny alone who made the response, or he could even be not part of the scriptwriting at all. And when it came out, it was as porous as his defense against Floyd Mayweather Jr. It made matters even worse. These exchanges only expose Manny’s inept faculties to run a country. For all his exploits in boxing, we are regaled by Manny’s skills. But in this fight, Manny’s punches are haywire. We don’t forget that Manny fought and ruled eight divisions in boxing. But this is a different arena. And Manny, the more he engages, will be rudely exposed he does not belong to this league.

He pushed it too far. He pushed it too early. Goaded by his overeager camp, Manny is in for the biggest disaster of his political career. And he is not even done yet with a legal fiasco in the boxing backyard. 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

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VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

PANDEMIC FUELING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN “Globally, 243 million women and girls aged 15-49 have been subjected to sexual and/ or physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months,” the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) said in a report. “The number is likely to increase as security, health, and money worries heighten tensions and strains are accentuated by cramped and confined living conditions.” Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), emerging data and reports from those on the front lines, have shown that all types of violence against women and girls, particularly domestic violence, has intensified, UN Women reported. Big data analysis shows that Internet searches related to violence against women and help-seeking rose significantly during COVID-19 lockdowns in the Philippines and seven other Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, and Thailand. According to COVID-19 and Violence Against Women: The Evidence Behind the Talk, searches related to physical violence increased significantly between October 2019 and September 2020. Searches using help-seeking keywords increased in almost all countries. Online misogyny rose, including trolling, sexual harassment and victim-blaming. “Violence against women tends to increase in any emer-

gency, including epidemic,” said the World Health Organization (WHO). “Stress, disruption of social and protective networks, increased economic hardship and decreased access to services can exacerbate the risk of women suffering violence.” In the case of COVID-19, “isolation, restricted movement and stay-at-home measures to contain the spread of the infection have a particularly acute impact on women,” the WHO stated. Antonio Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, is very much aware of this. “We know lockdowns and quarantines are essential to suppressing COVID-19,” he said. “But they can trap women with abusive partners.” In the beginning of the pandemic, as economic and social pressures and fear have grown, Guterres said the world had “seen a horrifying global surge in domestic violence.” “The chances of women and their children being exposed to violence is dramatically increased (during the pandemic), as family members spend more time in close contact and household stress intensifies, and the risk grows even greater when families also have to cope with potential economic or job losses,” the WHO explained. The UN Women calls this phenomenon “Shadow Pandemic.” “(This type of pandemic) grows amidst the COVID-19 crisis and we need a global collective effort to stop it,” the

United Nations agency urged. “As COVID-19 cases continue to strain health services, essential services, such as domestic violence shelters and helplines, have reached capacity. More needs to be done to prioritize addressing violence against women in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.” Right now, the WHO said that health services that addresses issues such as clinical management of rape, firstline support and basic mental health services for survivors are overwhelmed by the urgent need to counteract the effect of the pandemic. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1993) defines VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Figures don’t lie. Even before the pandemic began, one in three women experienced physical or sexual violence. In 2017, some 87,000 women were intentionally killed and the majority of these killings were committed by an intimate partner or family member of the victim. “The surge in COVID-19 cases is straining even the most advanced and best-resourced health systems to the breaking point, including those at the front line in violence response,”

UN Women said. In some countries, resources and efforts have been diverted from violence against women and girls response to immediate COVID-19 relief. If violence against women and girls is happening in most parts of the world, it also takes place in the Philippines. “Even before this global health crisis, violence against women was plaguing one out of every 4 Filipinos who is married or has been married at least once in their lives,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, UN resident and human coordination in the Philippines. “We know the incidence and numbers escalate during disasters but one can only estimate what impact this might have on the whole country.” The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that there had been a 20% increase in domestic violence globally. A study commissioned by the UNFPA approximates that intimate partner violence will increase by 16% in the country. A survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations, released during the Women’s Month celebration last March, showed that “one of four adult Filipinos have said harmful acts in various forms are among the most pressing problems of women during the present health crisis.” “For survivors of gender-based violence locked down in their homes with an abuser, the COVID-19 pandemic is only one of the compounding

crises that threaten their physical and mental well-being,” Gonzalez said. The impact of violence against women during the pandemic is even more distressing. “The global cost of violence against women and girls (public, private and social) is estimated at approximately 2% of the global gross domestic product or US$1.5 trillion,” the UN Women said. “That figure can only be rising as violence increases now, and continues in the aftermath of the pandemic,” the UN Women added. “A predicted rise in the different forms and manifestations of violence against women and girls will not only exacerbate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis but will also slow down economic recovery across the world.” It must stop now. “Violence against women is endemic in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and their families, and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “But unlike COVID-19, violence against women cannot be stopped with a vaccine. We can only fight it with deep-rooted and sustained efforts – by governments, communities, and individuals – to change harmful attitudes, improve access to opportunities and services for women and girls, and foster healthy and mutually respectful relationships.” –

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO GULF TUNA FISHING, 1940 Although interest in commercial tuna fishing in Davao Gulf started as early as 1929, the tuna industry took off only in 1936. This was due to several factors such as the size of boats used to haul catches, the lack of sources for baits, and the volume of fish caught were mostly supplied to retail vendors for disposal in marketplaces and to satiate Japanese consumption for tuna. During the Commonwealth, Sea Foods Corporation, a Japanese firm, ventured into fishing with four motorboats, namely Sea Foods I, Sea Foods II, Sea Foods III, and Sea Foods IV. Comparatively, the crafts had bigger gross tonnage (GT) than all the launches of Davao Fishery, Inc., another Japanese-owned company. These boats also carried skilled technicians. The fishermen operating the launches were experienced Japanese fishermen, graduates of fishery schools in Japan, or former students of ag-

ricultural institutions while the Filipino crew undertook training under Japanese fishermen even if they were illiterate. Moreover, the motorboats were skippered by Japanese and the machinists were licensed Japanese fishermen. Jose S. Domantay, an expert in the Division of Fisheries in Manila, in an article (‘Tuna Fishing in Southern Mindanao’) in The Philippine Journal of Science (1940), described the structural details of the fishing boats as follows: “The style and form of the four fishing boats are identical. They are flush deck vessels with low freeboard aft, with the engine located amidship. There is a large clear afterdeck which is used as fishermen’s quarters and for minor work, such as preparing the hooks with artificial bait, making hook base, line, and similar task. A trunk cabin for the captain is located slightly forward of and over the engine room, with a glassed-in shelter from which the boa s navigated.

“Beneath the bridge, forward of and below the main deck, are the fish holds and bait wells. There are four of the former and three of the latter in the larger boats. The four fish holds are usually filled with blocks of ice, and the bait wells are left empty until the boat is near the live-bait station. When the bot is approaching the liv-bit station, the eight large wooden plugs or stoppers which cover the connecting holes of the bait well with the sea water are remove to permit sea water to fill the bait well. He also identified eight tuna species caught in southern Mindanao, with skipjack (tuliñgan) as the most plentiful, followed by yellowfin tuna (bariles). Four of the tuna species were considered good for canning while the others were unsuited due to black meat, poor fat content, and blood glut. “The western half of Davao Gulf,” the scientist wrote, “from south of Talicod and Samal Island to north of Malita, together

with the eastern two-thirds of the entrance of the gulf from off Monserrat to within 20 miles south of Cape San Agustin, constitute the tuna fishing ground of Davao fishermen.” Outside Davao Gulf, other tuna fishing grounds adjacent to southern Mindanao identified included “the neighborhood of Cotabato up to Sarangani Bay.” In catching fish, the fishing boats used pole, made of Japanese bamboo, and line made of ramie fibers, with different types and sizes of hooks rigidly fixed to a lead or brass handle. Brass handles were imported from Japan while leads were produced manually. The artificial bait, meanwhile, was composed of different hues of bird feathers. Unlike Davao Fishery, Inc., Sea Foods Corporation owned a wharf, which made unloading of fish easier, and had a cannery. The old routine of placing the fishes in baskets, bringing them to shore by small boats, and car-

ried by fishers to the cannery was discarded. Under the new setup, the boats dumped and unloaded the fish at the pier before these were placed in baskets, weighed, recorded, taken to small rail cars, and shoved to the cannery. Records kept by the Sea Foods Corporation showed that from 1937 to 1939, the total tuna haul over a 24-month period reached 452,671 kgs, divided as follows: 59,032 kgs in 1937 (August to December); 252,473 kgs in 1938 (whole year); and 141,166 kgs in 1939 (January to July). The lowest weight of yellowfin caught was 2.26 kgs and the heaviest was 4.98 kgs. For skipjack or striped tuna, the lightest was 2.64 kgs while the heaviest was 3.54 kgs. The highest number of tuna fish caught in a month was in November 1938 with 9,493 while the lowest was in November 1937 with only 1,744. Overall, 46,652 tuna fishes were caught over a two-year span.

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

SOFA DESIGN INSTITUTE OPENS MINDANAO ADMISSIONS OFFICE TRUTH be told, Durianburg is a city that is full of creative spark. With a wide spectrum of cultures, inspirations and experiences, the city’s creative juices are definitely there. But all the creative ideas in the world is nothing when it is when not harnessed and guided to achieve its full potential. The start of something creative Close to fifteen years ago, the idea of a new type of school in the Philippines – one that was truly committed to professionalizing design, where the culture was hinged on encouraging authentic creativity – was born in Manila. SoFA Design Institute was to become the breeding ground for creative leaders. Today the SoFA Design Insti-

Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor. tute is the definitive place where professionals. “After years of world class design potential is preparation, we are proud to say honed; a place that paired deep that SoFA Design Institute has introspection and a harnessproven to be a powerful force ing of the critical mind with a in design, not just in the Philipthorough knowledge of technipines, but soon in the region cal and business skills create and the world.” shared SoFa Design Leaders for the next fouder and leading Filipino bag generation. designer Amina Aranas AluContinuing to translate its nan. vision of producing globally “Creating and documenting competitive creative profession- the “SoFA Method” of educaals, the SoFA Design Institute tion took years, and it continues revolutionizes Design Education to evolve and grow” added in the Philippines to produce Amina globally competitive creative

Marga Montemayor-Nograles. Taking root in Mindanao With the onset of the pandemic, SoFA Design Institute transitioned with the opportunities presented by remote learning. Together with Dabawenyo mother and daughter entrepreneurs, Mary Ann “Baby” Montemayor and Marga Montemayor-Nograles, SoFA openes its first satellite Admission Office in Davao. “Today, we are a step closer to bringing our education to the rest of the globe as we open the institute’s very first satellite

Amina Aranas Alunan. Admissions Office in the Mindanao region.” The Davao Admissions Office will allow creative talents from Davao City and beyond to access SoFA’s doors. “With a dedicated team at the helm of our Mindanao Admissions Office, SoFA Design Institute is now all the more poised to champion local design education.” said Marga “Mindanaoans may inquire and gain access to SoFA Design Institute’s extensive range of creative programs in Interior Design, Fashion, and the Arts through our Mindanao Admissions Office.” If you wish to know more about the institute and their programs, visit their website www.sofa.edu.ph or follow their Mindanao Admissions Office on social media to see how at SoFA Design.

IN DAVAO, A GLOBAL VISION OF SAFE TRAVELS

PARK INN BY RADISSON DAVAO was recently conferred the Safe Travel Stamp issued by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), recognizing the hotel’s adherence to the safety and hygiene protocols of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and compliance with WTTC’s Safe Travel Protocols. The world’s first-ever global safety and hygiene seal, the Safe Travel Stamp enables travelers to recognize governments and businesses around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols to address Covid-19. In the Philippines the Safe Travel Stamp is issued to Park Inn Davao by Tourism

Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat, assuring travelers of the

hotel’s commitment to protect the wellbeing of hotel guests

and employees. “This seal recognizes Park

Inn Davao’s adherence to the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol, a comprehensive program of in-depth cleanliness and disinfection developed with SGS, the world’s leading experts in hygiene inspection, testing and certification,” shares Roel Constantino, the hotel’s general manager. “The program aligns well with the New Normal guidelines prescribed by the Philippine government, to make sure guests are and feel safe staying in our hotel.” WTTC is an organization of business leaders in the global Travel & Tourism community, and works closely with governments and destinations to raise awareness and optimize the full economic and social impact and potential of Travel & Tourism worldwide.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

AGRITRENDS

MORE FILIPINO FARMERS NOW PLANT BIOTECH CORN Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ike his father before him, Ryan Lising is a corn farmer, and corn is his family’s main source of income. Corn gives him money not only to send his four children to school, but also to help him expand his business and buy his own farm machinery. His crop also allows him to assist other corn farmers in their community.

But unlike his father who planted white corn before him, Lising plants biotech corn (Bt corn), a crop that has made him an important person in their farming community of Mandani in Magalang, Pampanga. Lising started planting biotech corn in 2003 after the government approved the commercial planting of Bt corn in tLising became one of the early adopters of Bt corn when it was introduced by seed company technicians. Though uncertain about the new corn that the technicians introduced in the farm demonstration, his frustrations with white corn - his crop then - urged him to try it. Following his first Bt corn harvest, it became clear to Lising that there was no turning back. He knew that it was the beginning of a new life for him and his family, who has faced so many hardships in trying to make ends meet. “When I realized that I will earn more if I plant Bt corn, I decided to add two more children to my brood. Sending my children to school was not that difficult anymore,” he said then.

When stacked traits corn was approved for commercial planting in the country, Lising did not hesitate to plant it on his farm which has grown from 1.5 to more than 20 hectares. It was a decision he never regretted. After a decade of planting Bt corn, his life and that of his family has completely changed. His increased and steady income from planting Bt corn allowed him to explore other business opportunities. “I have a new motorcycle now to replace the stolen one,” he admitted, “and I was able to buy my own farm machines. I have two trucks and two tractors, and I am getting a new, bigger tractor soon.” Lising also has more time to spend with his family because he does not need to spend a lot of time on his farm. He also found other means of livelihood in their community. “The Philippines became the first country in Southeast Asia to plant a biotech crop after Bt corn commercialization started in 2003,” reports the Laguna-based International Service for the Acquisition of

Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). In 2017, the Philippines ranked 13th in biotech crop area among 24 countries. In Asia, Bt corn is also planted in China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan. Other countries planting the crop are the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and some parts of South America and Africa. In 2017, the area planted to Bt corn decreased to 642,000 hectares from 812,000 hectares in 2016. Bt corn area and adoption rate decreased because according to industry analysts, there was a proliferation of counterfeit biotech maize seeds in the country. “The adoption rate of biotech maize in 2017 was 46.5%, compared to 65% in 2016,” ISAAA reports. “The number of small resource poor farmers, growing an average 2 hectares of Bt corn in the Philippines in 2017 was estimated at 470,500.” So far, only Bt corn is currently the only biotech crop being planted commercially in the Philippines. “The area occupied in 2017 by the stacked insect resistant/herbicide tolerant (IR/ HT) maize was 607,000 hectares or 94.5% of the total area planted for Bt corn; and 5.5% for herbicide tolerant corn at 35,000 hectares,” ISAAA states. A total of 13 Bt corn events have been approved for commercial planting in the Philippines since 2002; these are 3 single Bt,

4 single HT, 2 pyramided Bt genes, and 4 Bt/HT stacked traits. In addition, a total of 88 biotech crops and products are currently approved for direct use as food, feed, and for processing in the Philippines that include alfalfa, canola, cotton, maize, potato, rice, soybean, and sugar beet. Since the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled in December 2015 that the Administrative Order No. 8 is invalid, no new approval has been granted by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry for cultivation. But there are two crops that are waiting for commercialization in the country: Bt eggplant and golden rice. The latter might be available for crop production by 2023, according to some reports. The fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt eggplant project led by the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (IPB-UPLB), was a royalty-free technology donated by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) through a sublicense agreement. According to ISAAA, the proponents already completed field trials of promising hybrid varieties in the approved multi-location trial sites in Luzon and Mindanao in 2012. In July 2016, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed its December 2015 decision and granted all motions for

reconsideration by the proponents and interested parties. Since then, the team has continued its collaboration with Cornell University, and published results from field trials. Golden rice, on the other hand, is a beta carotene-fortified rice being developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Two seasons of confined field testing of Golden Rice have been completed in early 2016 under the strict monitoring of prescribed government bodies. The proponents have filed an application to secure a Food, Feed, Processing (FFP) permit for direct use. The FFP application was also sent to the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Health Canada, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Now, going back to Bt corn. Asian corn borer is a major pest that ruins up to 80% of traditional corn varieties in the country. It feeds on the plant stem, leaves and ears even before corn is harvested. Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a common soil bacterium so called because it was first isolated in the Thuringia region of Germany. It produces a protein that paralyzes the larvae of some harmful insects. Scientists, through genetic engineering, have taken the Bt gene responsible for the production of the insecticidal protein from

the bacterium and incorporated it into the genome of plants. As such, the plants have a built-in mechanism of protection against targeted pests, including Asian corn borer. “The farm level economic benefit of planting Bt corn in the Philippines in the period 2003 to 2016 is estimated to have reached US$724 million,” ISAAA reports. “For 2016 alone, the net national impact of Bt corn on farm income was estimated at US$82 million.” According to the Department of Agriculture, the corn producing areas in the country are located in Isabela, the rest of Cagayan Valley, South and North Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat. Meanwhile, from just being a corn farmer, Lising has also become a corn buyer. “I go to different corn farms in our village to see their corn,” he says. “I am now a corn buyer.” Lising uses his two trucks to transport the corn that he buys from the various farms in their village. He also buys and transports other agricultural produce such as sweet corn and vegetables, and helps the people in their village by providing them with jobs, an undertaking that makes him proud. “Biotech corn changed my life completely. After years of planting it, I am now an important man,” Lising points out.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

EARLY MOVE-IN AT AEON TOWERS. The turnover streak continuous as more condo owners received keys to their units this month of June by availing of Aeon Towers’Early Move-in Promo. The ceremony was spearheaded by Aeon Luxe Properties, Inc. Sales Admin Manager Mr. Luis Dollesin.

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set the fines and penalty na P5,000. Daghan ta ug reaction ana (P5,000), ang point man gud sa government is, dili man ta mu-impose ani kay gusto ta maka-kuwarta,” he said. Lopez added that imposing fines and penalties aims to improve the compliance of Dabawenyos on following guidelines particularly on undergoing swab testing. “Basing on our data dili tanan F1 nagapa-test, dili tanan F2 nagapa-test, dili tanan F3 naga pa-test. Labi na F2s and F3s daghan nibalibad. Imagine na lang kung kaning mga tawhana positive tinuod, basin mao ni

ang spreader nato dinha sa atong mga lugar,” he said. Lopez added that if that is always the habit of Dabawenyos, the city cannot control and stop Covid-19 pandemic. “So we need the cooperation of everybody. In order probably to push a little para matagaan ug ngipon ang atong balaod bahin aning atong expanded contact tracing, we have to impose penalties, kung dili mu gusto ma-penalize mo, dali ra man, musunod mo sa swabbing because this is free. The local government of Davao is allocating this for free,” he said.

The activity attended by provincial and

was the local

officials, Regional Police, Department of Health, and barangay officials.

vacant lot located on the other side of the concrete fence in front of the jail facility. He said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-11 took custody of the contraband for proper verification and tagging. He said authorities are conducting an investigation to identify

the violators behind the incident and the supposed recipient of the illegal drugs. “The BJMP will intensify security measures in the area and apprehend individuals who will be caught trying to sneak any contrabands into the jail facility,” Lobenia added. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

widespread vaccine rollout as one way to reach economic recovery from the pandemic. The vaccination drive is part of Alagang AyalaLand, the real estate developer’s broad community engagement program in effect in all Ayala Malls nationwide. Alagang AyalaLand’s goals include supporting the government’s COVID-19 response efforts, providing assistance during extreme disasters or calamities, and creating livelihood opportunities for local businesses affected by the pandemic. Also under the same program is Alagang Ayala Rewards, an initiative which provides incentives to vaccinated individuals. It is AyalaLand’s way of applauding those who have chosen to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe by

getting vaccinated against COVID-19. Through Alagang Ayala Rewards, vaccinated individuals can claim discounts and freebies in 25 Abreeza stores: Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, Bratpack, Chikaan, Club Coffee, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Crustasia Asian Seafood Market, David’s Salon, Gerry’s Grill, Gibi, Goldilocks, Greenwich, Grind, Habi at Kape, Hukad, Hush Puppies, Ipanema, Jollibee, Macao Imperial Tea, Marks & Spencer, Onesimus, Power Mac Center, Res|Toe|Run, SumoSam, T’nalak Home, and The Travel Club. To avail of the perks, individuals simply have to present their vaccination card reflecting either the first or second dose of any COVID-19 vaccine at these stores from June 18 to August 31, 2021.

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resume operations so that employment and income of the employees will not be affected. “The BPO industry has the most stringent policy and protocols among private enterprises patterned to international standards. Kaya lang when you have a community transmission

and people bring this to the workplace that is how it spread. Eventually it spread in the workplace, but its common factor of people not telling the truth and sad to say, most of BPO workers are working in an enclosed environment, which may have contributed to the spread,” he added.

the CPP-NPA-NDF and its legal fronts which include several party-list groups in Congress,” Torres said. The military commander lauded the troops for the capture of the anti-personnel mines that pose a huge threat not only to the troops but also

to civilians implementing community support programs. Magrano is now currently undergoing custodial debriefing while the surrendered war materials have been turned over in the 73rd Infantry Battalion for safekeeping.

have symptoms, when they do, it’s too late as they have already infected someone else),” Surveillance Team Leader Roviglo Amor C. Pantua said. Pantua added that there are also those who won’t tell the truth about their travel history—only declaring when somebody else has already informed the surveillance team. The surveillance team also revealed that cases of infection within households constitute 34 percent of the COVID19 cases in May-June. As of June 28, there are 239 active cases in the city after recording 5 new cases and 1 recovery. On the vaccination rollout,

there are 8,812 vaccinated individuals in the city as of the last report on June 17. In June, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Inspection Team of Panabo has targeted the Panabo Public Premium Market, 3’F Marketing, and other establishments in making sure the health protocols are implemented. Most recently, the National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on COVID19 has recommended the entire Davao Region to go under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) starting July 1 to 15. (Jan Vincent Leuterio/ PIA-XI with reports from City Government of Panabo FB Page)

Electronics parts and products worth PHP23.54 million, firearms valued at PHP40.12 million; cosmetics, personal protective equipment (PPE) sets and other medical supplies worth PHP54.12 million, vehicles and accessories valued at PHP23.47 million, wildlife worth PHP3.73 million, and al-

coholic beverages worth PHP3.91 million were also seized by the BOC, according to Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero during the Execom meeting. The BOC also seized PHP45.77 million worth of currency, jewelry, fuel, chemicals and other products from January 1 to May 31.

soon found his groove and his nimble footwork to put Mannarino under constant pressure. It was not until his sixth break point opportunity in the opening set that the Swiss finally managed to convert and he did it in style

with a breathtaking backhand crosscourt pass. The second set went on serve before Federer completely lost control over his forehand in the tiebreaker and four consecutive errors helped Mannarino level the match.

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na katong musobra ug 10 adlaw kung dili mo makaaccess sa inyong district health center or any swab units sa inyong distrito o barangay, didto mo adto sa Sta. Ana Heath Center,” Lopez said. “Kung F2 and F3 mo, second or third generation contacts, ug nakadawat mo ug message from DQR, naa ka sa usa ka mall ug naay nag-positive, didto ka padulong sa Magsaysay Park para magpa-swab. Ang gina-accommodate sa

Crocodile Park kay katong na traced sa surveillance swabbing. Example naay isa ka dako na kompanya tapos naa’y nag-positive after sa risk assessment na gibuhat sa CHO, majority of the employees should undergo swabbing,” he added. According to Lopez to avoid congestion in the swab test centers, Dabawenyos are advised to classify themselves where to avail the swab test. By Maya M. Padillo

ippines Chargé d’ Affaires John Law said the ESP Activity aims to mobilize USD750 million in investments that will add 500 megawatts in the generation capacity in the Philippines. In a Philippine-US eco-

nomic briefing last April, Cusi invited American firms to explore opportunities in the Philippine energy sector, particularly in renewable energy and exploration of indigenous energy sources. (PNA)

location for the non-tourism MSMEs. We plan to use this for ACTOO members also, that is why, it’s important that we have signed the MOA so that we can start accommodating the applications,” Lim said. In total, there will be some PHP1.8-billion funds available for logistics providers under ACTOO. Lim urged truckers that are interested to borrow from SB Corp. to immediately apply for the CARES loan as the remaining budget could last up to Sep-

tember this year with the current trend in loan application from MSMEs. “For the past four months, we have been processing PHP500 million loan releases a month,” he added. PHP2-B fund unreleased Under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), lawmakers allotted PHP10-billion budget for the CARES program, PHP6 billion of which is for tourism-related MSMEs and the remaining PHP4 billion is for other industries.

hush fell over the arena. The entire Milwaukee bench came out to check on Antetokounmpo, who had to be helped to the locker room with what was diagnosed as a hyperextended knee. He returned briefly to the bench but never made it back to the court, heading to the locker room for good when the Hawks blew the game open. Atlanta outscored the Bucks 25-8 the rest of the quarter to seize a commanding 87-62 lead. The Hawks led 51-38 at halftime, holding the Bucks’ to their lowest-scoring half of the postseason. Milwaukee made only

14 of 41 shots from the field — including 5 of 23 beyond the arc — to go along with nine turnovers. MIDDLETON STRUGGLES Two nights after tying his career playoff high with 38 points in a Game 3 victory, Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton was held to 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting. He missed all seven of his 3-point attempts. TRAE FEINT Young was at the team’s closed morning walkthrough and supposedly appeared well enough to play, according to teammate Onyeka Okongwu.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

Giannis Antotekounmpo clutches his leg.

PH clubs suffer bad beats in ACL

nited Clark and Kaya Iloilo, the country’s two best football clubs, suffered huge beatdowns in their second matches in the AFC Champions League group stages on Tuesday night. Kaya Iloilo fell to reigning Vietnamese league champion Viettel, 0-5, in Group F action at the Leo Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand, while United Clark got bludgeoned by Korean league powerhouse Daegu in Group I play at the Milliy Stadium in Tashkent. In the Metro Bangkok area, Viettel went on a quick blitz against Kaya Iloilo with Nguyen Hoang Hoc opening the scoring with a second-minute goal and Caique Lemes doubling the lead seven minutes later. Kaya Iloilo somehow slowed Viettel down the rest of the first half, but Viet-

tel found the net anew four minutes into the second half when skipper Bui Tien Dung headed the ball in off a Trong Hoang corner kick. Lemes completed a brace after converting Jahongir Abdumuminov’s assist for a 61st-minute goal. Substitute Vu Minh Tuan sealed Viettel’s onslaught with a 65th-minute goal, barely a minute into his stint in the match. Over at Uzbekistan’s capital city, the Daegu-United Clark was shaping up to be a close one until Cesinha dos Santos found a space at the right side of the goal and struck the ball in from the center of the penalty area in the 23rd minute. Edgar da Silva then pounced on a huge defensive blunder by United Clark by converting the goal off a Lee Keun-Ho steal in the 42nd minute to make it 2-0.

SPORTS 11

Hawks blow away Bucks in Game 4 A

TLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks proved they are more than a one-man team, shaking off Trae Young’s absence with a freak injury to even the Eastern Conference finals with a 110-88 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Four on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time).

And in another stunning twist to a series no one saw coming, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo hobbled off the court with an injured left knee, depriving the Bucks of their best player. Lou Williams did a stel-

lar job filling in for Young with 21 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic broke a series-long slump with 20, and the Hawks pulled away in the third quarter to tie the series at two wins apiece. Enjoy the Playoffs with

L Switzerland’s Roger Federer in action during his first round match against France’s Adrian Mannarino. Peter Nicholls, Reuters

ONDON - Eight-times champion Roger Federer survived a massive scare against Adrian Mannarino before advancing to the Wimbledon second round on Tuesday when the Frenchman retired with a knee injury after slipping on court. The match was poised at 6-4 6-7(3) 3-6 6-2 with Federer forcing a fifth set before Mannarino, celebrating his 33rd birthday, decided he could not continue. “It’s awful,” Federer said in his on-court interview. “It shows that one shot can change the outcome of a match, a season, a career. I wish him all the best and I hope he recovers quickly so we see him back on the

superstar-level streaming & get NBA League Pass at a special price! Try now > Game Four is Thursday night in Milwaukee. Young was declared out about 45 minutes before tipoff, having sustained a bone bruise when he twisted his right ankle stepping on an official’s foot along the sideline in Game 3. He watched from the bench in a black warmup suit, barely noticeable with a hood over his head and a mask across his face. Turns out, he wasn’t needed. After a dismal first half for Antetokounmpo, who

was held to six points and chunked up a pair of airballs from the free-throw line, the Greek Freak came out firing in the third quarter. He scored eight points in the first 4 1/2 minutes — more than he managed in the entire first half — and sliced Atlanta’s lead to 62-54 with a step-back jumper. But, the next time down the court, Williams worked a pick-and-roll with Clint Capela, who went up for a dunk that Antetokounmpo tried to contest. The Bucks star landed awkwardly and went down in a heap, grasping at his left knee while a

courts. “He could have won the match at the end. Obviously, he was the better player, so I definitely got a bit lucky.” Federer, seeded sixth, was serving with a 4-2 lead in the fourth set when the 41st-ranked Mannarino slipped while attempting a return and twisted his right knee. The Frenchman received medical attention on Centre Court and limped back to complete the set before shaking hands with Federer, who now has a 7-0 head-to-head record against him. “You don’t get many walkovers throughout a career and you try also not to have it happen to yourself,”

Federer added. “It’s a reminder how quickly it goes. But of course, I’m obviously happy I can get another chance for another match here. “I worked very hard and at the end I enjoyed myself out here today. It was great fun until the end, obviously.” The 20-times Grand Slam winner came into Tuesday’s match having lost just one set in his six previous meetings against the left-hander, including three on the manicured grass at Wimbledon. WRONG FOOT Federer started off on the wrong foot, trailing 0-40 in the opening game but managed to hold serve and

FHAWKS, P10

FFEDERER, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 92 • THURSDAY, JULY 01, 2021

NOT HAPPENING Donaire says fight against Casimero is off

here is more thing to boxing than just skills. Start ticking respect, professionalism. That’s the point Filipino boxing champion Nonito Donaire is driving at on Wednesday as he insisted that he will no longer fight John Riel Casimero in a bantamweight title unification bout, as the two camps continue trading barbs.

The camp of “The Filipino Flash” has alleged that Casimero is evading testing from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA). Moreover, Donaire was irked about the statements allegedly made by Casimero against his wife, Rachel, who also serves as his trainer and manager. In a statement on his social media accounts, Donaire said that he stands “for VADA 24/7/365 testing for all boxers.” “This should never be refused or delayed,” he said. The Donaire camp has repeatedly claimed that Casimero has yet to submit the necessary documents to VADA, despite the insistence of Casimero’s trainer that the boxer has been enrolled in VADA testing “for a long time.” Donaire was unconvinced, however, and claimed to have proof that the Casimero camp “was neither honest nor forthcoming in providing the proper information to begin VADA drug testing.” “As we’ve said before, we cancelled the fight when they delayed turning in the VADA paperwork for five days,” he explained. When they cancelled the fight, Casimero’s VADA paperwork “suddenly appear(ed),” said Donaire. But Donaire also made it clear that he was against any form of bullying, as well as disrespect of women and children. “I stand against misogynistic culture,” he said. “A grown man recently told the mother of my boys to ‘snack on his ----’. We cannot ignore this unprofessional behavior. We cannot excuse the disgusting trolling memes created of my wife as ‘just for entertainment,’” Donaire said. Donaire said that they have to maintain a “respectable character… for the future generations to emulate” and challenged boxing promoters and network to “veer away from unacceptable behavior.” Ultimately, “The Filipino Flash” said he does not want to give Ca-

simero a platform or the opportunity to fight him, given his antics. “As much as I want to knock him out, I’m going to take the high road and instead of highlighting his misbehaviors, I’m not going to give his example the stage or the payday that comes with it,” he said. The bout, originally scheduled for August 14, would have unified the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles. Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire (center) celebrates his fourth round KO win against French boxer Nordine Oubaali during their WBC World Bantamweight Championship bout at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday in Carson, California, USA. Katelyn Mulcahy, Getty Images/AFP