Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 126 | Tuesday, August 10, 2021

VERTICAL FARMING AS POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO HUNGER AGRITRENDS P9 VOL.14 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 10. 2021

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KEEP FOCUSED Sara to Dabawenyos: Focus on fighting Covid-19 not politics STORY ON PAGE 2

A group of kids plays near a construction site for a bridge, which is part of the 18.5-kilometer Davao Coastal Road project, at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City on Monday. The National Task Force Against Covid-19 said it is now studying the inclusion of children as young as 12 years old in the government’s vaccination program. Edge Davao

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VOL.14 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte remarks during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemoration of its 54th founding anniversary that he is confident that the ASEAN will be able to win its fight against Covid-19 just as it hurdled various challenges in the past. Edge Davao

T KEEP FOCUSED Sara to Dabawenyos: Focus on

2 American missionaries perish in GenSan City fire

fighting Covid-19 not politics

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded Dabawenyos not to lose focus in observing minimum public health protocols as filing of candidacy for 2022 national elections draws near.

“Mag-remind ko sa atong kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na samtang magkaduol ang filing of candidacy magkasaba o magkagubot ang istoryang pulitika. And I’d like to remind everyone not to lose focus ang mga

taga Davao City on what we need to do dinhi sa syudad sa Davao and do not listen to that political noise. What we need to do, number one continue our minimum public health standards. Let us be mindful kung unsa

atong community quarantine status and sundon nato or basahon nato ang mga guide,” the mayor said on Monday.

Mayor Sara reiterated that Davao City is presently under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restriction status and to follow the guidelines provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Department of Labor and Employment

(DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Sa karon we are on GCQ with heightened restrictions so duna na siyay guide gikan sa IATF, gikan sa DOLE, ug DTI kung unsay kinahanglan buhaton nato niana.

Kung dili ninyo makita didto pangitaon ninyo sa Executive orders na na-release na kung unsang appropriate guidelines para sa inyong gusto buhaton na activity,” she said.

DavNor business chamber joins clamor to change Nordeco as power provider

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he business sector in Davao del Norte has joined the call for Davao Light and Power Co. (Davao Light) to take over the remaining areas of the province that the North Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco), formerly Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO), is servicing.

In Resolution 001 issued on July 26, 2021, the Davao del Norte Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed

by Rene T. Bungabong, said it decided to join the clamor for Davao Light to provide electricity to the remaining areas under Nordeco, complaining that Nordeco is “inefficient and unsatisfactory”

in providing services. “(As) leaders of the business community, we believe that sufficient, reliable, and affordable electricity is essential to the economic progress of ever locality,” it said on page 2 of the resolution.

In the same resolution, which was attested as ap-

proved by president Bongabong, the chamber, called for the termination of the right of Nordeco to service the areas and called the consumers to terminate their membership in the cooperative.

Electric cooperatives, however, unlike regular cooperatives, are non-stock

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wo American missionaries perished in an early morning fire, the third incident in less than six hours amid a heavy downpour that inundated several areas in this coastal city.

Fire investigators identified the missionaries as Jonathan Steffy and wife Roberta, both in their late 50s who lived in a rented house in Queenies Love Village in Barangay City Heights.

Fire investigator SFO1 Filamer Acub said the charred remains of the couple were discovered at the gutted house owned by a retired police officer.

It took 30-minutes for firefighters to put off the blaze that started at around 3 a.m. Damage was initially pegged at over 100 thousand pesos.

He said the remains of the couple were brought to a local funeral parlor pending notification of proper authorities and the US Em-

bassy in Manila.

Romeo Tagpuno, a neighbor of the couple, said they were startled in their sleep by other neighbors who were screaming. He saw flames billowing out from the house rented by the missionary couple.

Another neighbor, a certain Jojo, said they tried to yell at the missionaries to wake them up but there was no response from the couple.

“We tried pounding at their gates which were closed, but it was already getting too hot that we needed to stay back until firemen arrived,” he said.

Tagpuno said Jonathan recently came from the United States, where he visited his family.

Two other conflagrations preceded the fire at the house the couple was renting, but no one was reported hurt in those two incidents.

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Surigao del Norte suspends air, sea travel for two weeks

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ir and sea travel going to Surigao del Norte will be suspended for two weeks from Aug. 11 until 22 to protect residents from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and the Delta variant.

Gov. Francisco Matugas issued Executive Order (EO) No. 21-029 on Saturday following the detection of Delta variants in nine regions, in-

cluding the National Capital Region.

“In order to address and slow down the chilling effect of Covid-19 Delta variant to this province, there is now an urgent need to impose stricter temporary measures to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19,” Matugas said.

Air and sea travel of

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VOL.14 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021

NEWS

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Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) OIC medical chief Dr. Ricardo Audan bares during a virtual presser on Monday that SPMC is designating a modular hospital to cater to any Covid-19 variant. Edge Davao

More IPs leave UCCP Haran

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nother 99 Indigenous Peoples (IP) from Talaingod town in Davao del Norte, left UCCP Haran compound in Father Selga Street, Bankerohan, Davao City on Sunday (August 8).

Maj. Jerry Lamosao, chief of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, said that a ritual called “Panubadtubad” led by Datu Tungig, a resident of Talaingod and one of the hundred victims of “Taktikang Bakwit” was held before they traveled to return to communities in Talaingod “after years of being captive by Haran administrators and facilitators.”

Panubad-tubad is the general Manobo term for a ritual or prayer. This can be conducted by a single spiritual practitioner called a baylan, or by several of them. The reasons for performing a panubad-tubad

are similar to the reasons for prayer in other faiths: to heal the sick, to ward off illness, to welcome visitors, and to bid travelers a safe journey.

Lamosao said these IPs have decided to finally return to their ancestral land after being deceived by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) with false promises.

“They also cited abuses while inside the compound,” Lamosao revealed.

On August 2, tribal leader Datu Ginamao Andil, who was a member of NPA, also left the facility and even revealed the plans of the remaining IPs inside UCCP Haran to leave the compound anytime soon.

Prior to Andil’s homecoming, a total of 69 IPs

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SPMC designates all-variant Covid-19 modular hospital

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has designated a modular hospital to cater patients tested with any variant of Covid-19.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, officer-in-charge of SPMC, said the 22-bed modular hospital, which is located at the compound of SPMC, has two wings with its first wing already completed.

“Electricity na lang ang kulang (first wing). We are looking for staff for the modular hospital,” he said on Monday.

Audan said SPMC has also additional 23 state-of-

the-art ICU beds that will be opened this week.

“Kahit na Delta variant it’s the same Covid-19 virus, unless ma-toxic siya or needs ICU that is the time that we have to put him or her in the ICU. We have an additional 23-bed ICU. Wala ta problema sa staffing kasi that was the staff na inalis muna namin because of the renovation,” he said.

Audan said the said ICU

was completed on August 6, 2021, and will be turned over within this week.

“This is a very state-ofthe art ICU and its where we will put kung magka-ICU due to delta variant,” he said.

Audan also assured that Covid-19 variants recently detected in Davao Region were not SPMC patients.

Meanwhile, Audan pronounced that SPMC has sufficient oxygen for Covid-19 patients. In fact, SPMC will have an upcoming hyperbaric oxygen plant that is expected to produce 300 tons of oxygen.

This is to ensure that no similar incident of oxygen short-

age in Cebu City will happen in Davao Region.

Presently, SPMC has oxygen generator that is fully functional and can produce 873 tons per day, which is the maximum production.

The hospital as also partnered with Pryce Gas and Linde Philippines to meet the current daily consumption of 1,123 tons of oxygen per day.

“Very sufficient pa ang ating mechanical ventilators even with the high flow of oxygen. We have series of meetings with DOH and I assured them that we will not be like India or Cebu,” Audan said.

long for their scheduled vaccination, and at the same time prevent long queues on the day of inoculation.

To access the vaccination online appointment scheduler, registrant must go to profiles.safe-davao. com. or click Register for Vaccination button at https:/ covid19.davaocity. gov.ph/.

Those with pre-existing DQR registration may log in as an individual using their DQR number, mobile number, and birthday.

Those who do not have DQR number may register.

The registrant must click register and must read

and understand the privacy consent terms. They have to make sure that all the information they entered are correct. Informed and agreeable to these terms, they may click the agree and then proceed to the next button.

There is a next button that will lead the registrant to a disclaimer, which says that only Priority A1 (Health Care Workers), Priority A2 (Senior Citizens), Priority A3 (Persons with Comorbidities), and Priority A4 (essential workers), and Priority A5 (Poor Population) can avail of the vaccination as of

Top NPA leader in Mindanao surrenders after 42 years

Launch of Davao’s online vaccination system boosts vaccination rollout

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top leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Mindanao surrendered to the government early last week.

A belated report from Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division indicated that Eduardo S Genelsa alias “Lando”, a resident of Barangay Bongabong, Pantukan, Davao De Oro, served dual positions as commander of the Pulang Bagani Company 3 and staff for Southern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Genelsa, 61, had spent 42 years holding various top positions in the NPA ranks and was involved in numerous raids and armed confrontations against police and army installations and personnel that took place in various parts of southern Mindanao Region starting in 1979.

According to 10th ID acting Division Public Affairs Office head, Captain Erick Wynmer Calulot, Genelsa decided to surrender after realizing that they are only being exploited in

a revolution that is seeing no end but the demise of many young people enticed in what he calls a “fancy revolution”, citing that it is in reality a “money-making scheme” for the benefit of only their higher echelon leaders.

Based on court records, Genelsa has a standing warrant of arrest for robbery and also faces charges of double, multiple and frustrated murder.

Calulot said Genelsa was first captured in 2016

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he recent launching of the online vaccination scheduler gives Dabawenyos an opportunity to book for vaccination at their most convenient day and time.

Launched on August 7, 2021, by the city government of Davao, the online vaccination appointment system aims to improve ease of doing transactions aligned with the government’s effort to expand its immunization program.

The said system will help address the growing concerns of the public who have been waiting for so

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021

The breeze is cool, the vista is that of the Bukidnon range. This why this mountain ridge along the national highway in Alamada, North Cotabato makes travelers plying the Cagayan de Oro to Cotabato City route stop to marvel at the view.

MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

Agri output down C 1.5% in Q2 of ‘21

Interest rate, RRR cuts ‘not right thing’ to do at this time: Diokno

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hilippine agricultural production slipped further in the April to June period to mark the third straight quarter in negative territory, the statistics bureau reported Monday.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the value of production fell by 1.5% in the second quarter, following the -3.4% in the first quarter and the -3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2020. It is also a reversal of the 0.5% growth the same quarter

last year.

“This was attributed to the decline in livestock and fisheries production. Meanwhile, production increments were noted for crops and poultry,” the PSA said in an accompanying statement.

Livestock produc-

tion fell by 19.3%, as hog production declined by 26.2%.

Fisheries slipped 1.1%, as double-digit declines in production were recorded in yellowfin tuna, round scad (galunggong), threadfin bream (bisugo), frigate tuna (tulingan), fimbriated sardines (tunsoy), skipjack (gulyasan), and Bali sardinella (tamban).

Crop production grew 3.1% on higher yields from palay and corn, while poultry production gained 2.5%

after increments were seen in duck, chicken egg, and duck eggs production.

The latest figures brought the year-to-date value of production down 2.5%, lower than the 0.6% drop recorded in the first half of 2020.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) — mandated to promote agricultural development and ensure a food-secure Philippines — just recently cut its full-year growth target to 2% from 2.5% previously.

2008 global financial crisis.

The company will also be offering new products and services, according to chief marketing officer Leonardo Tan, including investments in big global tech firms.

“A lot of these will be made available. Robust technology, digital and analytics that’s also going to be present because we want to expand our reach, we want to empower our distribution channels and enrich customer experience,” Tan explained.

hirty (30) farmer-members of the Saranay Farmers’ Association of Malingon in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, graduated from the Farm Business School (FBS) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) during a ceremony recently held here.

DAR-Sultan Kudarat Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer May Jane Aguilar said the FBS aims to develop agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to become agricultural entrepreneurs.

Philam Life rebrands as AIA Philippines T A IA Philam Life, a major insurance company in the Philippines, is rebranding itself to AIA Philippines, taking on the name of its Hong Kong-based parent company.

Formerly known as Philippine American Life and General Insurance Co, the insurance firm has been operating in the country for 74 years with the “Philam Life” brand.

Kelvin Ang, CEO of AIA Philippines, said, the COVID-19 pandemic has

accelerated the company’s transformation to better keep up with the changing needs of its customers.

“We are now better aligned with the AIA Group, bringing the best from all the markets in AIA countries and having a standard that is comparative to all the markets that we operate,” Ang explained.

Hong Kong’s AIA Group acquired Philam Life from the American International Group (AIG) following the

utting key borrowing rates and reducing the reserve requirement for banks at this time is “untimely” and would be counterproductive in fostering economic growth, Bangko Sentral Governor Benjamin Diokno said Monday.

The country’s interest rate, used by banks to price loans, is currently at its record-low of 2 percent while the reserve requirement for banks is at 12 percent.

“The economic recovery is at its early stage. It has to be nurtured not nipped at its bud. We need to sustain it and raising the interest rate at this time is not the right thing to do. That could be counterproductive,” Diokno said.

“While I’m committed to reduce the RRR to single digit before the end of my term

which is in 2023, cutting it now is untimely and unjustified,” he added.

Diokno earlier said he would bring down the country’s RRR, used to be among the highest in the region, to single-digit before the end of his term.

The BSP has shaved some 200 basis points (bps) in the reserve requirement in 2020, pumping more liquidity into the system.

There’s still a lot of liquidity in the system. If there comes a time when the financial system needs more liquidity… that’s the time when we might consider an RR cut,” Diokno said.

A strong economic recovery is foreseen in the second quarter but the 2-week lockdown could affect third-quarter economic growth, he said.

“We want to make their farms profitable and make them understand the ins and outs of business so that they can respond to market challenges,” Aguilar said.

Aguilar added that building up the capabilities of agrarian cooperatives in handling and marketing their farm products is among the priorities of the DAR. “The knowledge and skills we gained from this program will surely serve as our steppingstone to transform the land awarded to us into a fruitful, pro-

gressive and sustainable farm that will benefit our families and the future generation,” said FBS graduate Glenda Abubo.

DAR support services division chief Rhea Marie Betque said the FBS program is a unique educational system designed to help farmers learn and improve their knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship and farm business management.

She said 19 females and 11 males graduated from the 25-session program

30 Sultan Kudarat town farmers graduate from Farm Biz School

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ECONOMY 5

More multinational Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies are reportedly planning to relocate their operations to Davao City, where at least 50 BPO companies are operating, with an estimated workforce of 45,000 to 50,000, according to the president of the president of the BPO Association of Davao. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS

Multinational BPO firms eyeing to relocate operations in Davao M

PH 1st quarter GDP growth revised upward to -3.9%

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he Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Monday announced the upward revision of the first-quarter economic growth to -3.9%, but still marking the fifth straight quarter in negative territory.

According to the PSA, the revision takes into account figures in professional and business services, construction, and real estate and ownership of dwellings which were better than earlier announced.

First-quarter economic growth was earlier re-

ported at -4.2%, which compares with the -0.7% recorded in the same quarter in 2020 and -8.3% in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Upward revisions were also recorded in the net primary income (NPI) from the rest of the world to -75.6% from -75.8%, and in gross national income (GNI) to -10.6% from -10.9%.

“The PSA revises the GDP estimates based on an approved revision policy which is consistent with international standard practices on national accounts revisions,” it said.

ore multinational Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies operating in India are planning to relocate their operations to Davao City as India continues to grapple with a surge of cases driven by the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Xavier Eric Manalastas, president of the BPO Association of Davao, told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Friday, that due to the ongoing surge in India, existing BPO firms operating in Davao City noted an increase in the demand for additional workforce.

Considered as one of the country’s BPO hubs, Manalastas said Davao City has around 50 BPO companies with a total number of workers estimated at 45,000 to 50,000.

India is the “toughest competition of the Philippines” as a BPO destination

in the world, according to him.

“Because of what happened to India, some of the work has shifted to the Philippines. We hope it did not have to happen that it caused the demand to go up,” he said.

He added that the industry has received inquiries from prospective investors who are setting their sights on Davao as an area for relocation and expansion of their services that will drive the growth of the industry this year.

“We’ve had a lot of inquiries that want to relocate to Davao. They want to move their operations to the Phil-

ippines because of the effect of the pandemic… The industry will be able to grow,” he said.

But even Davao City is seeing a rising trend in the number of Delta cases. From the first confirmed Delta case reported last July 25, Davao City now has a total of four out of the six cases of this variant in the region.

Genome sequencing results released by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) in Diliman last August 5 showed that 16 cases of Alpha variant or B.1.1.7 and 33 cases of Beta variant or B.1.351 were detected in

NorMin Covid-19 Response Task Force briefer, NEDA-10 Director Mylah Faye Cariño said the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) have loan programs that assist LGUs, the education sector, and micro, small and medium enterprises, including small farmers and fisherfolk.

“The DBP has approved

PHP432.63 million under three programs and the LBP has approved PHP185 million under two programs,” she said.

The loan programs came at a time when based on the regional data reported by the Department of Labor and Employment as of the end of July, 130 establishments have permanently closed in Region 10, displacing 1,716

workers.

“Moreover, 1,803 establishments have temporarily closed, affecting 34,477 workers. Roughly 719 establishments have retrenched or reduced their workforce, displacing 9,430 workers,” Cariño said.

Relief, financial assistance Meanwhile, about 53,000 families or individuals will

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Oil prices rollback

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fter a round of hikes, motorists will expect pump prices of petroleum products to go down this week, according to projections by Unioil Petroleum Philippines.

In its fuel price forecast for August 10 to 16 trading week, Unioil said the price per liter of diesel may roll back by P0.60.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, may decrease by P0.65 per liter.

Oil companies usually announce retail price adjust-

ments every Monday, to be effective on the following day.

Last week, fuel firms implemented a price increase in gasoline by P1.05 per liter and diesel by P0.75 to P0.80 per liter, effective August 3.

Diesel prices range between P38.35 and P47.76 per liter while gasoline prices range from P47.40 to P61.25 per liter.

Year-to-date adjustments stand at a total net increase of P13.90 per liter for gasoline and P11.10 per liter for diesel.

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he National Economic Development Authority in Region 10 (NEDA10) on Saturday said two government-owned banks have approved PHP617-million worth of loans to help local government units (LGUs) and the private sector in Northern Mindanao (NorMin) boost the local economy amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the online

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DAVAO 6 EDGE VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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In reminding Dabawenyos not to lose focus in observing minimum public health protocols instead of politics:

Mag-remind ko sa atong kaigsuonang Dabawenyo na samtang magkaduol ang filing of candidacy magkasaba o magkagubot ang istoryang pulitika.

And I’d like to remind everyone not to lose focus ang mga taga Davao City on what we need to do dinhi sa syudad sa Davao and do not listen to that political noise. What we need to do, number one continue our minimum public health standards.

Let us be mindful kung unsa atong community quarantine status and sundon nato or basahon nato ang mga guide.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Victory vs. lawbreaker While the country has been celebrating the historic triumphs in the Tokyo Olympic of our athletes mostly from Mindanao, Davao City had a taste of another kind of victory by winning its first case in court against a violator of a simple regulation of the government in its storied battle against the spread of the pandemic.

Davao City won a court case against a citizen who was caught submitting a counterfeit Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test result upon arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport last February.

According to the Davao City Information Office, Lloyd Abarquez, the accused, was sentenced to pay a fine of P 5,040 after pleading guilty of Section 9 of Republic Act 11332 or the “Law on Reporting Communicable Diseases” and Davao City Ordinance No. 0466-21 Series of 2021, “An Ordinance Penalizing Persons Using or Producing Falsified or Tampered Covid-19 Medical Test Results or Health Verification Documents in the City of Davao.” The decision was handed down by Judge Catherine Guerzon-Barrion of the Municipal

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This is just one of the first of the 159 cases filed by the city government through the Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center.

Angel Sumagaysay, PSSCC chief, said that the filing of the case was made after verifying that the swabbing center alleged by Abarquez to have issued the RT-PCR result testified that his name was not found in center’s system.

Mr. Sumagaysay was right when he said that the cases filed against Abarquez and the more than 100 others was proof of how serious the city authorities are in stamping out violations of regulation it has instituted.

While the fine of P5,040 can be said to be a pittance, the conviction is going to stain the record of the violator.

We can expect more convictions in the immediate future and it is hoped that the lesson will be well-learned.

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

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE FIFTH OCEAN The permanent thing in this world is change, so goes a popular saying. This can be applied in anything – even in science.

“Science is not the truth,” someone said. “Science is finding the truth. When science changes its opinion, it doesn’t lie to you. It learned more.”

Such is the case of the oceans. When I was still in high school, I had memorized the four oceans: the Pacific (the largest and deepest of Earth’s oceanic divisions), Atlantic (the second-largest, covering approximately 20% of Earth’s surface), Indian (third largest covering 19.8% of the water) and Arctic (the smallest, the shallowest and the coldest).

Now, there’s a new one – and it’s officially called Southern Ocean.

“The Earth has finally attained popular recognition for its fifth ocean, with a decision by the National Geographic Society to add the Southern Ocean around Antarctica to the four it recognizes already,” livescience. com’s Tom Metcalfe wrote.

Actually, the ocean is nothing new.

“Although the designation of the frigid waters around the

icy southern continent as a separate ocean has kicked around for almost 100 years and is widely used by scientists, until now it has not had popular backing,” penned Metcalfe, a London-based journalist who writes mainly about science, space, archaeology, the earth, and the oceans.

During the World Oceans Day celebration last June 8, the US-based National Geographic Society announced it would henceforth be labeling the Southern Ocean as the fifth ocean on its maps of the planet.

“The Southern Ocean has long been recognized by scientists, but because there was never agreement internationally, we never officially recognized it,” the society’s official geographer Alex Tait told the National Geographic website.

“It’s sort of geographic nerdiness in some ways.”

Tait said that one of the biggest impacts would be on education.

“Students learn information about the ocean world through what oceans you’re studying. If you don’t include the Southern Ocean, then you don’t learn the specifics of it and how important it is,” he said.

Borders and names for oceans and seas were internationally agreed when the International Hydrographic Bureau convened the First International Conference on July 24, 1919.

The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) came into existence and published these in its Limits of Oceans and Seas (1928).

In the 1928 edition, the Southern Ocean was delineated by land-based limits: Antarctica to the south, and South America, Africa, Australia, and Broughton Island, New Zealand to the north.

In the 1937 delineation, the northern limits of the Southern Ocean were moved southwards.

In 1953, Southern Ocean was omitted from the official publication and left to local hydrographic offices to determine their own limits.

When the National Geographic began making maps in 1915, the society had only formally recognized just four oceans. But it cannot be denied that the Southern Ocean was formed when Antarctica and South America moved apart, opening the Drake Passage, roughly 30 million years ago, according to Wikipedia.

The separation of the continents allowed the formation of Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), which allows water to flow unimpeded around the “bottom” of the world.

“One reason for considering it as a separate ocean stems from the fact that much of the water of the Southern Ocean differs from the water in the other oceans,” Wikipedia explains.

“Water gets transported around the Southern Ocean fairly rapidly because of the ACC, which circulates around Antarctica.

“Water in the Southern Ocean south of, for example, New Zealand, resembles the water in the Southern Ocean south of South America more closely than it resembles the water in the Pacific Ocean,” Wikipedia adds.

Thousands of marine species live only within the ACC, according to National Geographic.

“There are relatively few fish species in a few families in the Southern Ocean,” Wikipedia claims. “The most species-rich family are the snailfish, followed by the cod icefish, and eelpout.”

Five species of krill, small free-swimming crustaceans, have been found in the Southern Ocean. Slow moving sea

spiders are common, sometimes growing as large as a human hand.

Like the other oceans, the Southern Ocean is not spared from the consequences of climate change. “The Southern Ocean is one of the regions in which rapid climate change is most visibly taking place,” Wikipedia reports. “In this region, small perturbations in temperature lead to major environmental perturbation.”

Sub-divisions of oceans are geographical features such as “seas,” “straits,” “bays,” “channels,” and “gulfs.” Among the biggest seas in the Southern Ocean are Weddell Sea, Somov Sea, Lazarev Sea, Scottia Sea, Ross Sea, Mawson Sea, Amundsen Sea, and Davis Sea. Actually “Southern Ocean” is an obsolete name for the Pacific Ocean or South Pacific, coined by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to discover it, who approached it from the north.

The “South Seas” is a less archaic synonym, Wikipedia states. A 1745 British Act of Parliament established a prize for discovering a Northwest Passage to “the Western and Southern Ocean of America.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DAVAO ORIENTAL AS CATTLE CAPITAL Raising cattle was one of the least studied agricultural endeavors in Davao during American occupation. In the 1918 census, Davao Oriental, with a collection of six old towns now under its jurisdiction, was indisputably the region’s cattle capital, with Mati leading the pack.

Records show that the six censused towns had a total of 13,777 heads of cattle, distributed as follows: Mati, 6,339 heads; Manay, 2,374; Caraga, 1,943; Baganga, 1,587; Sigaboy (Gov. Generoso), 859; and Cateel, 675. The cattle were raised in ranches inside plantations that also served as pasture lands. These were chiefly owned by Americans with coconut farms.

Interestingly, the cattle boom in Mati could be attributed to the effort of migrants who owned ranches in town.

Among the fruitful landowners whose estates hosted cattle

herds were those of Chinaman Enrique Lopez, who had 700 heads, and Martin Marundan from Batangas, with roughly 500 heads. American Capt.

Levi Case, last commander of Mati detachment who married a woman from Tagabakid, Mati City, also raised hundreds of cattle in his farm.

Piso, now part of the Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, also hosted a cattle estate owned by retired U.S. Army Capt. James L. Burchfield, the first American to open a hemp plantation in Davao. He named his agricultural venture as Piso Coconut and Cattle Ranch, Inc. Despite the encouraging picture provided by the 1918 census regarding the cattle industry in Davao Oriental, a committee formed by the government to conduct agricultural assessment in regions across the archipelago came out with an observation a decade later that “the conditions for market-

ing the products of the farm or the cattle ranch [in the entire Davao district] are far from being satisfactory.”

Going south, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, lorded it over in the cattle industry in 1918, with 2,451 heads of cattle, followed

by Malita with only 179. In the north, the oxen capital was Samal with 1,810 heads of cattle, trailed by Pantukan with 1,710, Tagum with 267, and Monkayo, 40. Davao town, the epicenter of hemp, only had a measly 336 heads of cattle.

Davao’s cattle industry, though, was threatened with rinderpest in 1910 so much so the Manila administration had to send American C. G. Thomson, the state veterinarian, to the district. He reported the extent of the disease in Davao, saying “infected area was limited on the north by a creek near the barrio of Ilang, on the south by the Talomo River, on the east by the sea, and on the west by

the Apo mountain range. Many of the animals in the barrio of Talomo were infected and this condition presented a grave danger to the large herds to the south.”

The first case of rinderpest was reported by Lt. W.H. Dade, Davao’s district health officer, on October 6, 1910, in Davao town. When the government team reached Davao on December 14, 1910 from Zamboanga, a total of 372 animals were already reported dead. Later, the disease spread across Davao River where there were large herds of farm animals raised by hacenderos as meat source, and for transport purposes.

To address the threat, Dr. Thomson ordered a daily inspection, prohibited the movement of domestic animals of all kinds, immediate culling of sick and exposed animals, and the disinfection of encloses and flounders. The last case was recorded on February 2,

1911.

To ensure there would be no further outbreak, Dr. Thomson requested Lt. Dade to deputize constabulary patrols to conduct twice weekly inspections of contaminated areas and report if there was any reappearance of the disease. Also, there was strict enforcement of quarantine along the Talomo-Davao trail, the most heavily impacted.

Efforts to trace the origin of the infection, however, failed.

The initial theory was that the disease came from wild deer and boars from Surigao which acted as host, but this was dismissed for lack of basis. The veterinarian, however, suspected the virus reached Davao through importation from Cebu but hibernated before they were observed in cattle, goats, and other ruminants. The aftermath of the breakout led to the death of 2,535 cattle and 133 carabaos.

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ABS-CBN UNVEILS ‘KAPAMILYA YOUNIVERSE’ ON YOUTUBE

ABS-CBN is expanding its universe of experiences for all YouTube subscribers as it launches “Kapamilya YOUniverse” to stream the best in entertainment, music, film, and news on its popular YouTube channels this August.

“Kapamilya YOUniverse” is the coming together of the YouTube channels of Star Cinema, Star Music, MOR Entertainment, ABS-CBN News, and ABS-CBN Entertainment for a showcase of exciting and relevant content – from ABSCBN classics to new exclusive shows made for YouTube, live concerts, up-to-date news and information, interactive programs, and song playlists.

On the Star Cinema YouTube channel, “He’s Into Her” fans can delight in “He’s Into Her Extras,” which are bitesized interviews with Donny Pangilinan, Belle Mariano, and their co-stars, and “He’s Into Her The Journey,” a special documentary about the making of the hit online series.

Film geeks and fans will also enjoy “Secret Movie Files,” which are fun and quick explainers about what went on behind the scenes to pull off

the pivotal scenes in Star Cinema’s blockbuster hits. Its first episodes will feature Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla, and director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

Music aficionados can enjoy their favorites on Star Music YouTube channel’s “Gold School,” a live jam session featuring the hottest OPM artists’ own versions of popular OPM songs, and “The Music Room,” a live performance set where the best and up-and-coming artists sing their hits.

Filipinos who are looking for fun, advice, and relatable conversations may also turn to the MOR Entertainment YouTube channel. They can tune in to the fan-favorite “Dear MOR,” where DJs Popoy and Betina narrate true love and life stories while interacting with kaMORkadas. They can also listen to non-stop hits in “MOR Playlist,” tickle their imagination in “Bedtime Stories,” send their untold life experiences and secrets to “Con-

fessions,” and get hearty laughs from the impromptu dramedy “Gapnud sa Kinabuhi,” which caters to Bisaya listeners.

Get updated on the latest headlines with ABS-CBN News, as it brings comprehensive news updates, relevant discussions and interviews, and shows that tackle important events and issues this August.

YouTube subscribers in the Philippines who are in need of uninterrupted entertainment

can also rely on ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel, which houses Kapamilya Online Live’s 24/7 streaming of classic and current ABSCBN entertainment shows and movies.

Every month, ABS-CBN Entertainment will also continue to publish Englishdubbed series and Englishsubbed Filipino blockbuster movies for viewers worldwide.

Expect more experiences and surprises to uncover in “Kapamilya YOUniverse” as ABS-CBN unveils more shows on these YouTube channels this August.

Kapamilya YOUniverse is one of the initiatives launched

by ABS-CBN to stay connected with Filipinos and to boost its transition into being an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies and a growing list of digital properties that appeal to a wide array of audiences.

Discover more experiences in ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya YOUniverse on YouTube by subscribing to Star Cinema, Star Music, MOR Entertainment, ABS-CBN News, and ABS-CBN Entertainment.

SKY FIBER PROVIDES NEW SUBSCRIBERS WITH WIFI MESH UPON INSTALLATION FOR LEVELED UP COVERAGE NEW SKY Fiber subscribers will now be able to level up their WiFi coverage at home as all broadband plans come with free WiFi mesh upon installation. The WiFi mesh evenly distributes the network’s signal throughout a large home, eliminating dead zones and giving users constant wireless connectivity, secure web browsing, and fast streaming wherever they may be inside the house or even while moving from room to room.

All plans are now bundled with a high-speed modem and WiFi mesh device. The number of free mesh units will depend on the chosen plan. A SKY Fiber Unli Broadband Plan of 20Mbps comes with one unit of WiFi mesh for only P999/

month while Plan 40Mbps and above will entitle subscribers to two units of WiFi mesh.

When it comes to SKY Fiber’s Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV Plans, its basic 10Mbps plan will also grant one unit of WiFi mesh and a SKYcable HD box. But for Plan 30Mbps and above, subscribers will be thrilled to receive two units of WiFi mesh plus SKY Evo, the company’s latest Digibox innovation.

New and existing subscribers may also add a SKY Fiber Mesh on top of their plan, which they have an option to purchase any time for only P1,900 per unit.

“Encountering signal fluctuations at home limits productivity and comfort, which can

be costly for remote workers or online learners. This is why

we believe that every household should be equipped with

a home WiFi mesh system.

With this in mind, we have decided to offer the device as a standard inclusion in all our broadband packages so that our subscribers can experience seamless fiber connection without having to splurge,” Alan Supnet, SKY’s head for Consumer Broadband Products said.

To strengthen your WiFi coverage at home, visit mysky. com.ph/skyfiber. SKY Fiber Super Speed plans are now available up to 200Mbps in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Davao. While Baguio, Gensan, and Zamboanga can experience fiber-fast speeds of up to 80Mbps.

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he Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is putting water resource management as one of major priorities in their research and development (R&D) programs through partnership with both public and private sectors, said Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña during a virtual forum on ensuring water sustainability.

In these days of pandemic, people are staying at home. The Department of Health advises Filipinos to eat more fruits and vegetables to boost their immune systems to fight the virus. The Department of Agriculture, for its part, recommends those living in urban areas to plant their own vegetables. Aside from providing them pesticide-free crops, growing vegetables is also an environment-friendly scheme.

But areas in the cities where vegetables can be grown are limited. That’s why some experts are suggesting vertical farming, the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers.

More often than not, it incorporates controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth and soilless farming techniques.

In vertical farming, any or a combination of these techniques can be employed: hydroponics

(growing crops with nutrient-packed water), aquaponics (growing crops with water, which is also used for raising fish), and aeroponics (a liquid solution is misted in air chambers where plants are suspended) The idea originated from Dickinson Despommier, an American professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University. In 1999, he challenged his class of graduate students to calculate how much food they could grow on the rooftops of the thickly-populated New York. The students concluded that they could only feed 1,000 people.

The professor was not satisfied with their findings, so he suggested growing plants indoors instead, on multiple layers vertically.

Prof. Despommier and his students then proposed a design of a 30-storey vertical farm equipped with artificial lighting, advanced hydroponics and aeroponics,

AGRITRENDS

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VERTICAL FARMING AS POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO HUNGER Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO that could produce enough food for 50,000 people.

Although the “skyscraper farm,” as it has been called, has not yet been built, it popularized the idea of vertical farming and inspired many later designs.

In Southeast Asia, the leader when it comes to vertical farming is Singapore.

Its first commercial vertical farm – developed by Sky Greens Farms and is three stories high – was opened in 2012. Currently, the country has over 100 nine-meter-tall towers.

In the Philippines, one of the advocates of vertical farming is the Delbros (Delgado Brothers) Group, the country’s pioneer agriculture and logistic innovation with over 70 years of history. In 2018, it launched Good Greens and Co.’s vertical farming facilities in the country.

Additional photo

by Delbros Group

“With controlled environment of vertical farming facilities and the limited space it takes up, we can ensure that we provide safe, affordable and accessible food to Filipinos even in urban areas,” explained Erez Lugassi, GGC’s director of research and development.

Initially, GGC launched 4 vertical farm towers with the aim to give the residents a sufficient and sustainable food source. With the success of the initial launch, the company added 8 more vertical farms in the city, expanding the project into a 12-tower urban vertical farm in less than a year.

The 8 additional vertical farm towers were turned over to Navotas City, according to a statement. In partnership with the Navotas City Council and the Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP), the project is consid-

ered to be the tallest in Metro Manila. “(One of our aims) is to continue cultivating a sufficient and self-sustainable food source as restrictions are still placed for food transportation due to the current coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) situation,” the statement pointed out.

Through these 700 square-meter vertical farm towers, green produce is grown indoors which will be made readily-available to the surrounding communities of Navotas, a highly-urbanized city with a population of 247,543.

GGC added that the farm is expected to have a higher yield of crops produced as they are not affected by unfavorable weather conditions. In addition, these vertical farm towers will provide a more efficient way of producing crops as it needs less land compared to traditional farming.

“Through this innovation, we can ensure food security by planting crops even in highly urbanized areas like Navotas which will greatly benefit its citizens,” said Glenn Panganiban, National Director for Urban Agriculture.

GGC added that these vertical farm towers can create additional employment opportunities for the surrounding communities

as it opens the public to a possible career in the field of plant health, horticulture, food safety, integrated pest management, production and packing, as well as facilities and maintenance.

Added benefits for these vertical farm towers include health security as the food crops will be grown in computer-monitored sanitary buildings offering little risk of contamination by bacteria such as Escherichia coli.

But more importantly, these towers will also produce much cleaner air for the community as each can act as a “Greenland,” which absorbs carbon dioxide and contaminants in the air.

“Vertical farm towers are a viable solution to address existing agricultural challenges such as farmland fatigue, pesticide run-off, and greenhouse gas emissions. We see this model as a sustainable and viable model that urban areas can adopt, and it holds promise for locally grown and sustainable produce,” said GGC President Simon Villalon.

With the company’s continued research in vertical farming, GGC continues to be a pioneer in agriculture and logistics innovation as it plans to become the largest manufacturer of leafy greens in the Philippines.

“The company aims to produce vertical towers

FVERTICAL, P10

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The fire incidents were initially blamed on faulty electrical wirings triggered by a sustained heavy downpour that began early evening of Saturday, August 7.

The rains sent chestdeep flood waters into homes in some parts of the city, prompting many residents in barangays Olympog, Apopong, Bula and

Lagao to evacuate to safer grounds.

Several affected families spent the night at the gymnasium in Barangay Lagao while others stayed with relatives.

Authorities have yet to assess the damage caused by the floods that submerged roads and farmlands. (Rommel G. Rebollido / MindaNews)

and non-profit that members are plain consumers and do not have any stocks in them.

It added that it supports Davao Light as the one to provide the electricity in the province because it is “geographically positioned” to do so. Aside from servicing Davao City, Davao Light has also been servicing Panabo City and the towns of Sto. Tomas, Carmen and Braulio Dujali, all in Davao del Norte, since 1976.

The resolution expressed the support of the business sector in the province to the clamor to change the electricity provider to Davao Light, a campaign that is led by no less than Gov. Edwin Jubahib.

Jubahib and the mayors of the two cities, Island Garden City of Samal and Tagum, and the towns, except one, signed a resolution calling for the change in electricity provider of the province.

The business chamber

said that it decided to support the campaign after some member-consumers of the cooperative complained about its inefficiency.

The mayors of the two remaining cities under the franchise area of Nordeco, Al David Uy of the Island Garden City of Samal and Allan Rellon of Tagum, have criticized the cooperative for alleged non-transparency on its financing and its failure to provide better services.

Uy has been asking the cooperative to explain the loans it has obtained, particularly the one that is supposed to be used to provide better power in the island, the center of the tourism industry in the Davao Region.

Rellon, on the other hand, chided the cooperative for its failure to improve its services as the city government has to fix some basic problems, like buying electric posts and providing lines so that its constituents can be provided with electricity.

passengers for Surigao del Norte from Luzon and the Visayas are suspended during the specified period, except for the domestic air and sea travels of cargoes.

Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) are not covered in the suspension of travels but they are subjected to mandatory travel protocols at the airports and seaports.

Under the EO, the APORs include health workers on official business, government officials, returning overseas Filipino workers, and bank personnel tasked to replenish cash.

Persons traveling for health and humanitarian reasons, including returning residents of the province, and those who are providing basic services, public utilities, and other essential services, are also exempted

from the temporary suspension of travels.

The APORs are required to present at the airports and seaports negative results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within 48 hours, valid identification cards and travel orders.

The EO added that fully vaccinated APORs would still present the specified documents prior to their entry in the province.

Residents, non-resident APORs who will enter the province by land will also be required to present negative RT-PCR and valid IDs. Passing through travelers will only be required to present valid IDs and get a “Passing through Card” at the entry point that will be surrendered at the exit point. (PNA)

which started last April 6 and lasted until July of this year.

“The school trained them on various entrepreneurial skills and advance farming practices so they can properly manage their produce as they go out in the market,” Betque said.

FBS coordinator Mary

Joy Labanero said the student-farmers underwent a curriculum including assessing their current farm situation, devising a farm business plan and how to translate that plan into action, making their farms profitable, by managing their own farm business.

the region.

Of these, Davao City reported six Alpha and 21 Beta; Davao del Norte, six Alpha and 12 Beta; Davao de Oro, one Alpha; and Davao Oriental, three Alpha. To date, the region has a total of 64 Alpha

and 161 Beta, which originally surfaced in the UK and South Africa, respectively.

Manalastas said the demand for jobs is expected to grow further within the current semester, particularly in the last quarter.

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were also rescued from Haran and they are now back to their houses in Sitio Dulian, Barangay Palma Gil in Talaingod.

According to Lamosao, with the series of homecomings of several IPs, the 1003rd Infantry Battalion together with the Local Government Units, stakeholders, and other government agencies will operate the Balik Community Assistance Team (BCAT).

BCAT will be employed for any necessary assistance to the IPs such as the shelters for the families and classrooms for the students through bayanihan.

Livelihood will also be provided to the IPs to start anew. The 10ID and Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 will also assist them in coordinating with other government and IP officials of the community in order for them to have a smooth transition to have a normal life free from CPP-NPA-NDF intimidations.

The 10ID will also help distribute relief goods such as bugas, odong, sardinas

ug sigarilyo (BOSS) in coordination with the Davao del Norte Provincial Governor’s Office, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), LGU Talaingod and other stakeholders.

Meals will also be provided while they are in the municipal consolidation and processing area prior to returning back to their respective communities. Toys for the children will also be distributed.

“10ID troopers through its broadest means of protecting the people, will always be at the service to people whom they have sworn to serve,” Lamosao said.

“UCCP Haran administrators and facilitators are now faced with shame after the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) freezed four accounts used to feed the terrorist units of Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC) while IPs in Haran suffered famine and malnutrition,” Lamosao claimed.

Currently, about 500 IP individuals are still in the UCCP Haran compound.

but was included among the released peace negotiators for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)of the same year. However, he went into hiding when President Rodrigo Duterte ordered their capture after the peace talks bogged down in 2017.

Calulot assured the military will help Genelsa to get financial assistance and other benefits from government programs and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) as he starts to live a new life, but he said he will remain to be subject to the criminal charges he is facing.

He is currently undergoing custodial debriefing at an undisclosed location for safety reasons.

Maj. Gen. Ernesto C Tor-

res Jr., commander of 10th ID, lauded Genelsa for his bold move undertaken and vowed to ensure his safety.

“We attribute the surrender to the strong participation of communities and the strong commitment of government agencies to the cause of ending Communist insurgency. Together in one spirit against the scourge of insurgency, we were able to gain ground yet again in the name of peace and development of Davao and adjacent regions”, Torres concluded.

Last August 1, the secretary of Guerilla Front 55 ,SMRC, Ariane Jane Ocheta Ramos alias “Marikit”, who was known as a notorious NPA leader operating in Davao de Oro and nearby provinces also surrendered to the military.

the moment based on the guidelines set by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health. Those who seek to be vaccinated are required to honestly select their priority group.

Registrants are also warned that verification will be done onsite and those who are not part of the current priority groups being served shall be sent home.

Registrants shall be required to enter company name and occupation. Each of the registrants is required to state if they suffer from allergies or that they have comorbidity or other diseases based on the provided list. Once all information is verified, they may click and submit it.

The fourth step is the scheduling proper, the registrant after pre-registration, can now immediately check and choose the available vaccination site and the available date and time.

The fifth step is the confirmation, where once again details of the schedule will be shown for final review and submission. The schedule will appear at the topmost portion of the person’s pro-

file and he/she may screenshot it to present it to the vaccination site. Reschedule and cancel options are also available. If either of the two were selected the registrant should provide a reason for the rescheduling or the canceling of the schedule. A text confirmation will be sent showing the schedule this should be presented to the vaccination site on the day of the schedule.

Vaccinees are advised to bring additional required documents to the vaccination sites on the day of the vaccination depending on the priority group.

For Priority A1- photocopyofproofofemployment toahealthfacility,forPriority A2- government Issued ID with a birthdate that indicatesanageof60andabove, forPriorityA3-photocopyof proof of comorbidity and a government-issued ID with birthdate indicating age of 18 and above, for Priority A4-photocopy or any proof ofemployment,andPriority A5- 4Ps ID and verification with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). By Maya M. Padillo

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which will yield from an initial of 4,000 plants to 10,000 plants to match the market demand and contribute to community and national development while delivering the highest levels of product quality and safety,” the statement said.

Vertical farming is a form of urban agriculture.

The United Nations Development Program estimates that 800 million people are involved in urban farming around the world, with the majority in Asian cities. Of these, 200 million produce food primarily for the market, but the great majority raise food for their own families.

In a survey conducted for the United Nations, cities

worldwide already produce about one third of the food consumed by their residents on average. This percentage is “likely to grow in coming decades, given that the need for urban agriculture could be greater now than ever before,” wrote Brian Halweil and Danielle Nierenberg in their collaborative report published in the recent issue of State of the World, published by Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute.

Urban agriculture is nothing new. The hanging gardens in Babylon, for instance, were an example of urban agriculture, while residents of the first cities of ancient Iran, Syria, and Iraq produced vegetables in home gardens

with 17 points.

Mobley, the 7-footer who turned pro after one season at Southern California, struggled from the field, going 6 of 17 for 12 points with five rebounds, and three blocks.

Turkey’s Alperen Sengun, one of four first-round picks for Houston after the 16th overall choice was

acquired from Oklahoma City, had 15 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.

Josh Christopher, the 24th pick, scored 13.

Isaac Okoro, the fifth overall pick by the Cavaliers last year, led Cleveland with 17 points. Lamar Stevens had 15 points and nine rebounds. Mfiondu Kabengele had nine boards.

points on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc for Basilan, who can finish a 2-0 sweep of the finals-and a full 10-0 sweep of the Mindanao leg--on Monday night.

Michael Mabulac, who joined Gabo in the Mythical Team, added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

While relatively quiet all night long, Gabo still played decently, making 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, four steals, and one block.

Earlier in the night, Gabo, who averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds a game during the regular season, received the MVP award from Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup chief operating officer Rocky Chan.

“Unang-una, salamat sa

Panginoon na nandito kami ngayon sa Finals. Salamat din sa teammates ko saka sa coaches ko (First of all, thank You, Lord, that we are now here in the Finals. I would also like to thank my teammates and coaches),” Gabo said.

Chito Jaime and Leo Najorda each tallied 16 markers for Roxas, which now needs to beat Basilan in Game 2 to force a rubber match on Tuesday night.

James Castro, who is also part of the Mythical Team, was held to only six points on 1-of-6 field goals and committed four turnovers even as he had to play through foul trouble.

Completing the Mythical Team are former Philippine Basketball Association veterans John Wilson of Clarin and Jerwin Gaco of Zamboanga City. (PNA)

Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani became the first athletes not of Chinese nationality to win gold since 2008.

Like China in ping pong, Kenya’s dominance in steeplechase running has long been accepted as fact. However, Kenyan dominance too stopped.

Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali became the nonKenyan man since Los Angeles 1984 to win gold in the event.

With spells of dominance broken in so many sports, it’s little surprise that Tokyo’s medals table is as close as it has ever been.

The nip and tuck at the top of the table between

the United States, China and Japan has meant that no nation has been able to pull away from the rest as usual.

Further down the table, Britain, the Russian Olympic Committee and Australia have also been fighting for fourth place.

While a few fans have witnessed the Games in person, the tight nature of competition has meant that these Games have been some of the most engrossing and engaging in recent history.

Even though this may have been a Games like no other, it is clear that the Olympics remains the pinnacle of sport. (Xinhua)

receive cash assistance based on the guidelines provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 10 (DSWD-10) through

funds handed over to Gingoog City amounting to PHP212 million while 191,956 beneficiaries are targeted here with a budget of PHP767.8 million.

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Fil-Am Jalen Green goes up for a dunk.

Basilan beats Roxas in VisMin Cup Mindanao Finals opener

B

asilan moved to within a win from completing the domination of the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao leg after mauling Roxas, 8169, in Game 1 of the bestof-three conference finals at the Pagadian City Gymnasium.

Moments after Hesed Gabo won the Mindanao leg’s Most Valuable Player award, his backup, Chris Bitoon, took over for the Peace Riders in the opener of their best-of-three series against the Vanguards as they remained sharp despite sitting out for 10 days as a reward for going 8-0 in the eliminations and forcing a stepladder

playoff format that their opponents had to survive to enter the finals.

Basilan quickly raced to a double-digit spread even as their bench players led by Bitoon provided huge contributions to stomp their class over a struggling Roxas squad.

“I’m just happy we followed the game plan. Kahit na nagkaroon kami ng long break, nakita naman dito na (Even if we had a long break, it can be seen here that) we have fresher legs than them so we just kept on pressuring from start to finish,” Peace Riders head coach Jerson Cabiltes said.

Bitoon finished with 20

FBASILAN, P10

Fil-Am Green fires 23 in Summer League debut

L

AS VEGAS — Jalen Green was without one of his Houston teammates for his NBA Summer League debut because of COVID-19 protocols, the same reason the Washington-Indiana game was postponed.

The second overall pick from this year’s draft helped bring the headlines back to the court.

Green scored 23 points to lead all five starters in double figures, winning a matchup with No. 3 overall choice Evan Mobley of Cleveland as the Rockets

beat the Cavaliers, 84-76, on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

A couple of hours before Atlanta and Boston tipped off to open the Las Vegas Summer League, the league announced the postponement of the Wizards’ game against the Pac-

ers because contact tracing left Washington without enough players.

There was no word from the NBA about Washington’s next scheduled game on Tuesday against Sacramento.

Green, who skipped college and prepared for the draft by playing in the G League, was 9 of 18 from the field and had five rebounds.

“The ultimate goal for the G League Ignite was to be a pro and learn the

game as much as we can before we head up to the NBA,” Green said. “I think we accomplished that. We learned how to be a pro on and off the court. I think I showed it tonight.”

Expected to be a floor leader for the Rockets, Green had just two assists, but the second was a pass to a cutting K.J. Martin Jr. for a dunk and a 76-72 lead with 2:32 remaining.

Martin then hit a 3 for a six-point lead and finished

OKYO – Two weeks ago, uncertainty was the main feeling heading to the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

The same issues that caused the delay of the Games by a year still existed.

In the build-up to the opening ceremony, many athletes were denied entry to the Games due to failed Covid-19 tests, and the athletes who made the trip to Japan were faced with the crushing reality of empty stadia and strict quarantine controls.

The fear of the virus caused even some athletes to drop out.

However, despite the difficulties that have made this Olympics so unique, the sport has shone through.

As with every Olympic

Games, the achievements and stories of the athletes involved have inspired so many.

From soon-to-be iconic feats of Caleb Dressel and Emma McKeon in the pool, winning five and four golds each, to South Korea’s An San’s three golds on the archery range.

These Games have also seen the emergence of teenage stars. In diving, 14-year-old Quan Hongchan turning in a perfect score to secure gold for China, while in skateboarding, young Sky Brown at just 13 earned a bronze.

Tokyo has also seen the arrival of exciting new sports.

Brown’s skateboarding has been joined by surfing, 3x3 basketball and climbing, new exhilarating sports

that will inspire even more people to find their niche.

Although these new sports have made waves, the old favorites are still not to be missed.

The blue riband 100-meter final was one for the ages.

The unfancied Italian Lamont Marcell Jacobs shocked the world to steam home in 9.80 seconds.

Winning gold and setting a new European record, Jacobs only started sprinting full-time three years ago when switching from long jump.

Other underdog wins also made headlines. China’s long-held dominance in table tennis was finally broken, albeit in just one event. The Japanese duo of

FFIL-AM, P10

Olympic competition lives on despite challenges T

Fireworks lit up the sky in the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympiad.

FOLYMPIC, P10

12 SPORTS MORE INCENTIVES. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will be befitting from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino announcement of additional cash incentives and house and lot for medalists of Tokyo Olympics during an online press conference on Sunday (Aug. 28, 2021). Tolentino said the POC will give additional P3 million for gold, P2 million for silver and P1 million for bronze winners.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 126 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021

MORE MOJOS Eumir Marcial (left) and Carlo Paalam (right).

Add’l cash reward, house and lot for Olympic winners: POC

P

hilippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino announced on Sunday that additional cash benefits will be given to the four athletes who won medals for the Philippines during the Tokyo Olympics.

“With some of the savings of the POC, I’m now announcing that the bronze [medalist] will receive from the POC an additional PHP1 million, for the silver medalist, PHP2 million, for the gold [medalist], PHP3 million,” Tolentino said in an online press conference from Tokyo.

This means weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines’ first ever Olympic gold medalist, will get PHP3 million more, silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio of boxing will bag PHP2 million each, and fellow pug Eumir Marcial will collect PHP1 million more for winning the bronze.

The four-medal haul is the most a Philippine team has ever had in a single Olympiad even as it ended up as the top performing country in Southeast Asia this Olympics.

Tolentino also announced that he will also give Paalam, Petecio, and Marcial a house and lot each like how he promised Diaz.

“The two silvers and one bronze, bibigyan ko na rin ng pabahay (I will also give them house and lot),” Tolentino bared.

Upon hearing the news, Marcial said, “Grabe yung blessings at sobrang thankful kami sa Panginoon na may isang ginamit Niyang tao para makatulong sa amin at magbigay ng inspirasyon sa amin. Sobrang saya naming (There are so many blessings and we are thankful to the Lord that He used someone to help us and give us inspiration. We are so happy).”

Tolentino earlier said those who failed to win medals in Tokyo will receive PHP500,000 each from MVP Sports Foundation.

The Philippines was represented by 19 athletes and five para-athletes in Tokyo.

(PNA) FINSPIRATION, P10