Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 132 | Tuesday, August 17, 2021

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VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

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More Delta variants detected in Davao Region STORY ON PAGE 2

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio tasks the City Councilors to set up their own mobile vaccination and target the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities. Edge Davao

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VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

MORE CASES More Delta variants cases

Senator Christopher Lawrence“Bong”Go delivers a speech after leading the launching of the 135th Malasakit Center at Basilan General Hospital in Isabela City, Basilan over the weekend. Handout

August 4, 2021 and arrived at Davao de Oro on the same day. He was isolated in a facility in Davao de Oro until August 8, 2021. No re-swabbing prior to discharge was done.

Currently, he is on strict home quarantine and still for repeat RT-PCR test on August 17, 2021.

These cases were detected from the specimens sent from Davao Region to University of the Philippines – Philippine Genome Center for Whole Genome Sequencing included in batch 30.

DOH-Davao strongly recommended that you get vaccinated when it is your turn for protection against Covid-19.

people in the area based on our existing laws and ordinances,” he said.

In a statement, IDIS expressed alarm over the increasing amount of plastic waste collected, mostly made from materials that would survive hundreds of years in the environment.

“The amount of waste collected is way higher than the previously conducted river clean-up last month…

The facemask count was only 21. Today, it surged to 80 pieces. These types of wastes have a significant impact on the environment and the communities near-

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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The new cases are a 38-year-old, pregnant woman from Tagum, Davao del Norte; 33-yearold, male from Mati, Davao Oriental; 32-year-old, female from Mati, Davao Oriental; and 41-year-old, male, Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) from Cairo, Egypt with present address in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro. The pregnant woman from Tagum, who is the 10th Delta case in the region, was swabbed and tested positive at Davao

Regional Medical Center last July 23, 2021. Currently, she is still an active case and currently isolated at a Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facility (TTMF) in Davao del Norte.

The male (11th case) from Mati Davao Oriental was swabbed and tested positive last July 10, 2021. The specimen was sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center. He was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period.

He is scheduled for a repeat reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

The female from Mati, Davao Oriental (12th case) was swabbed and tested positive last July 10, 2021.

The specimen was sent to Southern Philippines Medical Center. She was tagged as recovered after finishing the prescribed isolation period. She is scheduled for a repeat RTPCR test.

Meanwhile, the ROF from Cairo, Egypt was swabbed and tested positive on July 24, 2021. He was quarantined at BOQ Manila until August 3, 2021. He arrived in Davao International Airport last

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unmonitored recreational activities that are making the city’s next water source a “trash bin.”

Atty. Mark Peñalver, Executive Director of Interface Development Intervention for Sustainability (IDIS), told MindaNews on Saturday that the waste problem

would not be solved if these activities are tolerated.

“In the meantime, while waiting for that ordinance to be enforced, the LGU in coordination with the barangay should ensure that these violators are apprehended, if not create a mechanism that would regulate entry of

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he highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant has been detected in nearly all regions of the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday.

“Lahat po ng regions, based on the recent run, meron na. Pero ang Caraga po wala pa po kaming nade-detect,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a briefing.

(All regions, based on the recent run, have a Delta case except Caraga where we haven’t detected one.)

Vergeire clarified that the three Delta variant cases earlier reported to be from Caraga have been verified to be returning overseas Filipinos, not local cases. They are currently in isolation in Metro Manila.

“But it doesn’t mean that they (Caraga) do not have the variant. Katulad nga ng sabi natin, ‘yung sampling po kasi na ginagamit natin doesn’t really cover that much of the population for us to determine kung nasaan na siya sa mga regions,” she added.

(But it doesn’t mean that Caraga does not have the variant. Like we said, our sampling doesn’t really cover that much of the population for us to determine where the variant is.)

Vergeire said that while

detected in Davao Region he regional office of the Department of Health (DOH 11) reported on Monday additional Delta Variant cases in the Davao Region.

DOH: Delta variant found in nearly all Philippine regions the Alpha and Beta variants still account for most of the variant cases, almost half of the 338 samples subjected to genome sequencing in the latest run tested positive for the Delta variant.

“Talagang mukhang ‘yung proportion ng Delta variant dito sa ating bansa, based on this initial and very rough analysis, ay mukhang tumataas po talaga,” she said.

(It really looks like the proportion of Delta variant cases in our country, based on this initial and very rough analysis, is really increasing.)

The country has recorded 807 Delta variant cases as of August 12.

ECQ effect to be seen in 2 to 3 weeks Meanwhile, Vergeire reiterated that the effect of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed in certain areas in the country, including the National Capital Region, will not become evident until two to three weeks after.

“We are seeing that the cases are continuously increasing… After we end the ECQ period, we still need to have about two to three weeks before we can see the total effect of these lockdowns that we are doing right now,” she explained. by,” IDIS said.

The pollution of the watershed needs urgent solutions, it added.

The group urged consumers to be responsible and accountable in the preservation of the natural resources. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

More disposable face masks, plastic waste recovered in river clean-up n environmentalist group is urging the local government to create a mechanism to regulate the entry of people to the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed after recovering more disposable face masks and assorted plastic waste due to the unregulated and

NEWS

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Motorcycle riders use an umbrella while riding a motorcycle to shield themselves from the scorching heat on Monday in Duterte Street, Davao City. Edge Davao

City councilors to look for persons with comorbidities

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o reinforce the city government’s vaccination efforts, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio tasked the city councilors to set up own mobile vaccination and target the senior citizens and persons with comorbidities for vaccination.

“Dili ni sila na fix na vaccination site, therefore, dili ni sila under sa katong under sa schedule sa DQR. Ang ilaha is mangita ug A2 (senior citizens) ug A3 (persons with comorbidities) diha sa atong mga barangay.

Because mao ni sila ang taas nga categories sa mga deaths. Ilaha is setup and go meaning sa isa ka site na identified nila coordinated with the barangay, magset-up sila ug magschedule sila sa isa ka adlaw then they roll-out the vaccines and they pack-up at the end of the day and for the next week they move to another site or other barangay,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara is expecting that a team will be created in the first and second districts. She said two councilors in the first district are on the planning stage in their respective mobile vaccination site.

“Ang district 3 nato we already have one organized already in one area diri sa Los Amigos naa tay isa ka Gawad Kalinga village for PWDs

and apil napud nila ivaccinate ang senior citizens. Hopefully ma-organize na na sila very soon. This is a mobile vaccination site because ilang target is kadtong mga interesado magpabakuna but did not signup, did not go to vaccine centers,” the mayor said.

Last week, the city has started rolling out a mobile vaccination for the senior citizens particularly those who cannot go to their respective vaccination sites for various reasons.

Mayor Sara said that a mobile vaccination team will seek out cluster areas where there are still unvaccinated senior citizens in Davao City.

“We organize a mobile vaccination exclusive for senior citizens para pangitaon nato ang mga senior ug ngano wala ni sila nanggawas sa balay. Or duna bay rason like bedridden or nagsakit. So sila ang pangitaon sa bakuna, di na sila ang mangita sa bakuna,” the mayor said.

The mobile vaccination is expected to increase the number of senior citizens to be inoculated. Based on the record of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) the city has around 200,000 to 300,000 senior citizens. By Maya M. Padillo

RDC 11 endorses eight IFP projects in Davao Region

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Regional Development Council (RDC 11) has endorsed eight projects in the Infrastructure Flagship Project (IFP) list in Davao Region amounting to P338.9 billion.

Davao de Oro governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, who is also the chairman of RDC 11, shared on his Facebook account that RDC 11 will be pushing for these big-ticket infrastructure projects that are under the Duterte administration in Davao Region.

The P28.265B Davao City Coastal Road Project including Bucana Bridge, which is ongoing and with financing scheme thru General Appropriation Act (GAA) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) involves the construction of an 18.21-km road with a four-lane facility and a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour (kph), from Bago Aplaya to R. Castillo.

The ongoing P46.805B

Davao City Bypass project has an approximate 44.6KM length, including the tunnel section, which will start from Davao-Digos section of the Pan Philippine Highway in Toril, Davao City and will terminate intersecting the Davao-Agusan National Highway in Panabo City.

The ongoing P23.040B (ODA) Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project will cross Pakiputan Strait to connect Davao City and Samal Island.

The P81.686B (ODA) Mindanao Railway ProjectTagum-Davao-Digos (MRPTDD) segment, which is also ongoing, is expected to reduce travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte to Digos City, Davao

del Sur from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours once it starts operating in 2022.

Also ongoing is the P18.600B (ODA) Davao Public Transport Modernization (DPTM), which aims to introduce a modern bus systemin Davao City to replace current Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJ).

There’s also the ongoing P20.314B (ODA) Safe Philippines Project Phase 1 (for Region 11 and NCR) wherein the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will provide 18 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and Davao City with integrated operations and command centers and a remote backup data center.

Meanwhile, the P80.651B Davao City Expressway, which is not yet started and still up for National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board-Investment Coordination Committee (NB-

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the third center here.

The other two are at the Zamboanga City Medical Center and Mindanao Central Sanitarium General Hospital in Barangay Pasobolong.

Before going here, Go was in Isabela City to inaugurate the Basilan General Hospital and open the 135th

Malasakit Center in the province’s capital.

The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop where indigent patients can conveniently access financial and medical assistance from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,

ICC) approval is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is located within Davao City and extends along the Davao River, which is an elevated viaduct and generally in the north-south direction while Phase2 is located in the north of Davao City and close to the edge of the city and extends along the existing Carlos P. Garcia National Highway Phase 2 also is an elevated viaduct and in the east-west direction. Phase 3 is located in the western mountainous area of Davao City.

Lastly is the unsolicited P39.524B Davao International Airport Modernization-Public Private Partnership (PPP), which is not yet started and still up for Swiss challenge, which is a method of bidding, often used in public projects, in which an interested party initiates a proposal for a contract or the bid for a project.

Department of Health, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Previously, it will take one week to seek the assistance of these agencies. With this one-stop shop center, it will only take a day to avail of government’s assistance,” Go said in his speech.

Go opens Malasakit Centers in Basilan, Zamboanga City

he 136th Malasakit Center is now operational at the Labuan General Hospital, located just a few kilometers away from this city’s border with Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go led the launch of

4 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

On running in the 2022 national elections:

The 2022 elections are less than a year away, and there has been a lot of talks going around on who are possibly running for what position. And despite the recent endorsement of the PDP Laban members for my candidacy for the presidency, let me reiterate — I am not interested.”

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL Taking care of our future source of water The rivers of Panigan and Tamugan in Calinan, Davao City particularly the junction of the two important bodies of water have been found to be more polluted with disposable face masks and other solid waste materials during a cleanup activity.

The activity is regularly conducted by the Interfacing Development Intervention for Sustainability (IDIS), Bantay Bukid volunteers and other groups associated with the Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Team (WMMT) of the Watershed Management Council (WMC) last Friday, August 13.

The vanguards were able to collect 80 disposable face masks, which are prescribed by the authorities in the fight against Covid 19, one bottle of fungicide, 36 plastic cups, cigarette packs, and large amounts of different sachets of shampoo, junk foods and detergents.

To be sure, this is not the first time that IDIS, Bantay Bukid and other volunteer groups filed a negative report about the waters of Tamugan, which is now being developed into the city’s next source of potable water starting sometime end of this year. The joint development project will

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The unabated pollution of this important body of water is alarming given that the Apo Agua-DCWD multi billion will be inaugurated before the end of this year.

Clearly, there is a dire need for deliberate measures to stop polluters’ illegal activities if we are to check the impact of waste disposal on the quality of our future source of water.

It is however a good thing that Apo Agua this early is undertaking an integrated Panigan-Tamugan watershed multiple environmental and social impact assessment and management plans for the watershed. Apo Agua is commissioning Ove Arup and Partners Hongkong Ltd. Philippine Branch (Arup) to carry out the study with Galerio Environment Consultancy (GEC) as Arup’s subconsultant.

The study will be presented to the Davao City’s Watershed Management Council (WMC) headed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on August 25.

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

ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

cost the Apo Agua Infrastructure, Inc. P 10 billion and Davao City Water District (DCWD) another P 2 billion.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

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VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO JUDGE NOT The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?”

They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him; he straightened up and said to them, “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one sir,” she replied.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

This story from the Bible, written in John 8:3-11, is often used by preachers to teach people that all people in this world have committed sin. But it also

tells us about the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees to be judgmental.

The Oxford Dictionary defines judgmental as “of or concerning the use of judgement.”

A person doing so has or displays an overly critical point of view.

“It is human nature to judge others to some extent, yet even if we’re not overly sensitive, it’s upsetting when others are overly critical of us,” wrote Bonnie Marcus, an American executive coach, author and keynote speaker. “It’s hurtful and we feel the sting in life. It never seems constructive.”

An article in Psychology Today describes what it means to be judgmental: “Someone is being judgmental when their judgments are power-driven, unempathetic, based on their own idiosyncratic values or tastes, overly based on other people’s character, and are closed, shallow, and pessimistic, and ultimately have the consequence of making the other person feel problematically diminished.”

Why do people become judgmental? One reason is that they are too lazy to figure out things and analyze events better. As Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung puts it, “Thinking is difficult, that’s

why most people judge.”

So parents, if you want your children not to be judgmental towards others, be sure to teach them how to think.

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think,” American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead points out.

It is easier to judge a person than to know the person’s real worth. But it’s a different story if people will judge you.

How true were the words of Violet Lillydale: “Why judge someone? What gives you the right? We are all humans and we all have stories. Don’t be critical on people. For how would you like it if they said that about you?”

An unknown author has the same view. “A person doesn’t ever truly know another person,” he said. “They have a whole life, years and years of memories and experiences.

You cannot ever know what they have felt in situations, what has happened to them, what made them who they are.

So, you cannot judge a person ever, not unless you somehow manage to learn their whole life.”

Now, if ever you’re judgmental, you better watch out.

It might backfire on you. I was reminded of the story of South African leader Nelson Mandela

when he was still studying law at the university. There was this white professor named Peters who disliked him intensely. I am not sure if the story is true or fiction, but the lesson it teaches us is real.

One day, Prof. Peters was having lunch at the dining room when Mandela came along with his trays and sat next to the professor. “Mr. Mandela, you do not understand, a pig and a bird do not sit together to eat,” the professor said.

Mandela looked at him like a parent who would look a rude child. “Do not worry professor. I’ll fly away,” he said calmly, went and sat at another table.

Prof. Peters, reddened with rage, decided to take revenge. So, the next day in class, he posed the following question: “Mr. Mandela, if you were walking down the street and found a package, and within it was a bag of wisdom and another bag with money, which one would you take ?”

Without hesitation, Mandela stood up and responded, “The one with the money, of course.”

Prof. Peters, smiling sarcastically, said, “I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom.”

Mandela shrugged and responded, “Each one takes what

he doesn’t have.”

Prof. Peters, by this time was about to throw a fit, seething with fury. So great was his anger that he wrote on Nelson Mandela’s exam sheet the word “Idiot” and gave it to the future struggle icon.

Mandela took the exam sheet and sat down at his desk trying very hard to remain calm while he contemplated his next move. A few minutes later, Mandela got up, walked up to the professor and told him in a dignified polite tone, “Mr. Peters, you signed your name on the sheet, but you forgot to give me my grade.”

Mandela became president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. In 1993, he and Frederik Willem de Klerk were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.” His life story has been made into several movies, including 2013’s Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

John Manning, author of The Disciplined Leader: Keeping the Focus on What Really Matters, has this timely advice: “Go a little easy on the people around you. Try to reel in judging thoughts. Think before you speak.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD THINK ON THESE!

THE ENIGMATIC TAGABALOYES Spanish-era missionary accounts mention the Tabaloyes as a tribe separate from Mandaya and Mansaka described as living “in the inland jungle back of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Bislig City; and Cateel, Davao Oriental, “outside the control of the government and the church.”

Fr. Pedro de San Francisco de Assisi, Jesuit, wrote the Tagabaloyes were named after Mt. Balooy, describing them as “a corpulent race, well built, of great courage and strength, and they are at the same time of good understanding, and more than hallway industrious. Their nation is faithful in its treaties and constant in its promises, as they are descendants, so they pride themselves, of the Japanese, whom they resemble in complexion, countenance, and manners.”

Mt. Balooy, though, can only be found in missionary recounts. There is a Mt. Baloy, but it is not found anywhere close

to the common boundary of Davao and Surigao; it is in the Visayas.

Most historians posit the tribe could be the scion of the Mandaya of Manurigao or the Kamayo of Surigao del Sur. Accounts from the colonial period refer to them as natives of Cateel.

In some chronicles, they were portrayed as peaceful, sociable, and friendly but antagonistic to the Moros. They are “a sharp-witted lot and more industrious than most other tribals” and “the color of their skin and their customs were very much like those of the [Japanese].”

They lived in treehouses, unbaptized, were welcoming to the missionaries and liked to associate with them. Showing ruthless loathing towards the Moros, the Tagabaloyes, alongside the Visayans, were forced “to live with their weapons close at hand all the time.”

Their tribal origin may

be adduced from its name: taga +baloy + es. Taga is a prefix meaning ‘from’; baloy, the Ata-Manobo (tree) house; and es, the plural form in Spanish.

Collectively, Tagabaloyes, a subtribe of Mandaya, means “people living in a treehouse.”

The Tagabaloyes, even in the 1920s, still faced the threat of Moro incursions from the coast. They were wary of strangers, but welcomed strangers known to the bagani or headman. Due to the danger from raids and intra-tribal rivalry, the Mandayas used to live in tree houses American anthropologist Mabel Cook Cole, in a first-hand account of her visit in Mati, Davao Oriental, provided sizable details of her encounter with the tribe in Savage Gentlemen (1929): “The Mandaya live in trees.

Life is insecure, and fear ever with them. Honor and distinction being gained by taking human life, there are many enemies to be guarded against.

For this reason, the houses are built high up in trees, or on the side of a cliff, where they are approachable from only one direction.

Some of the dwelling rest on the limbs of trees conforming in size and shape to the nature of the supporting branches. Other there are no sides, the roof sloping directly from a central pole to the edges of the platform.

“Sometimes the top of the tree is cut off fifteen or twenty feet from the ground, leaving a great stump which is the foundation.

Lewanan’s [the bagani] house was of this nature, and when we had, with some difficulty, climbed up and landed safely in his one room dwelling, he drew up the bamboo ladder to show us that we might have little fear of a surprise attack.

Rattan cords attached from the house to nearby trees, anchored it against severe storms. Its rattan lashings allowed it to bend

and creak in the wind without breaking.”

Until the early 1920s, remnants of the Moro raiders who later chose to settle peacefully, were observed living in some villages along the Pacific coastlines, particularly the littoral regions between Mati and Manay.

Principally, the Moros lived in the Pacific watershed just north of Mati, “to the exclusion of all other tribes.” former Davao priest turned anthropologist Emmanuel S. Nabayra, in The Mandaya-Mansaka-Kalagan Continuum, was more direct is saying the Tagabaloyes are the Mandayas living in the hills and, as witnessed by Cole, securely residing in treehouses. This assertion, which resonates in other recent ethnological studies, clarifies the contention the Tagabaloyes were a separate tribe. In fact, there are seven Mindanao tribes that speak dialects principally classified as part of the Mandaya mother tongue.

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Republic of the Philippines City of Davao Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod

SECTION 7. DUTY OF MEAT VENDORS OR SUPPLIERS OF MEAT PROCESSORS – The meat vendors shall ensure that there shall be no selling of clandestinely or illegally slaughtered, transported, undocumented or sourced from illegal markets or prohibited markets classified as ASF affected areas by the Government.

SECTION 8. REGULATIONS ON SWILL FEEDING

19th City Council 13th Regular Session Series of 2021

A. For swine raisers: 1. Practice strict biosecurity and good animal husbandry practices in respective farms;

PRESENT: Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor

CHAPTER THREE PROTECTIVE MEASURES

Alberto T. Ungab Ralph O. Abella Nilo D. Abellera Maria Belen S. Acosta Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N. Advincula Wilberto E. Al-ag Dante L. Apostol Sr. Conrado C. Baluran Jessica M. Bonguyan Louie John J. Bonguyan Pilar C. Braga Augusto Javier G. Campos III Danilo C. Dayanghirang Jonard C. Dayap Edgar P. Ibuyan Jr. Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod Pamela A. Librado-Morata Diosdado Angelo Junior R. Mahipus Jaffar U. Marohomsalic Myrna G. L’Dalodo-Ortiz Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes J. Melchor B. Quitain Jr. Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte Jesus Joseph P. Zozobrado III

- Temporary Presiding Officer

B. The table left-overs or food wastes/swill (“lamaw”) shall be properly prepared or heated using the abovementioned method prior to disposal, sale or transfer to swine raisers.

C. For all other concerned agencies and barangay officials in their respective jurisdiction: 1. Conduct information, education, and communication activities on ASF prevention especially the prohibition on swill/food wastes (“lamaw”) feeding.

2. Conduct regular monitoring of health status of swine.

3. Ensure that illegal market products (fresh, frozen or processed) are not being sold in the market.

4. Report any suspicious incident of mortality in pigs in respective areas for verification of the City Veterinarian’s Office.

CHAPTER FOUR PROHIBITED ACTS SECTION 9. PROHIBITED ACTS – The following acts are declared unlawful: a. Selling, transporting, offering or receiving for sale, distribution and storing of imported pork, its by-products, carcasses and boar semen originating from ASF affected areas which are included in the list provided by the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Animal Industry within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City without the necessary permits and clearances from the appropriate agencies of the Government;

ABSENT: Vice Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar

2. Prohibit feeding raw/swill or food wastes (“lamaw”) to pigs, unless the raw/swill or food wastes is treated with proper heating or preparation method under “2019 OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code”.

(Temperature of at least 90°C for at least 60 minutes and continuous stirring)

- OB – Acting City Mayor

ORDINANCE NO. 0528-21 Series of 2021 AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE SELLING OR ENTRY OF IMPORTED OR LOCAL PORK AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS FROM AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) AFFECTED AREAS WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF DAVAO CITY PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City in session assembled, that: CHAPTER ONE GENERAL PROVISION SECTION 1. TITLE – This Ordinance shall be known as “AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE SELLING OR ENTRY OF IMPORTED OR LOCAL PORK AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS FROM AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) AFFECTED AREAS WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF DAVAO CITY PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”.

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY – It is the duty of the State as well as the Local Government Unit to protect and promote animal health and welfare and secure the development of animal industry in the attainment of greater safeguard and food security and safety for the City’s animal and human population, improved public health and environment and enhancement of global competitiveness.

SECTION 3. COVERAGE – This Ordinance shall apply to all persons, One Person Corporations (OPCs), partnerships, ventures, corporations, cooperatives and associations engaged in raising, buying, trading, transporting domestic and imported animals and selling for personal and commercial use.

SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS a. African Swine Fever (ASF) - is a highly contagious hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic and wild pigs, which is responsible for serious economic and production losses. b. ASF affected areas – defined as areas within or outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines declared by the proper Government bodies as having tested positive for ASF virus using the recommended laboratory test. c. Biosecurity – refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious diseases. d. Boar semen - Boar semen is a suspension of sperm cells and secretions from the boar reproductive tract, including the accessory glands. The fluid portion of this suspension is known as seminal plasma and it helps to carry and protect the sperm cells. In boars, the semen also contains large quantities of gel. e. Carcass – the carcass of an animal, including part of the carcass and the meat, bones, hide, skin, hoofs, horns, wool, offal and other parts of an animal. f. Cold storage facility - an installation intended for the cooling, freezing, and cold storage of perishable food products and other perishables.

b. Allowing entry, transportation, distribution, storing, receiving for sale and selling of locally-sourced pork, its by-products, carcasses and boar semen originating from ASF affected areas within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City without the necessary permits and clearances from the appropriate agencies of the Government; c. Display of pork, its by-products, carcasses and boar semen through an exhibition sale in any place, open market or private yard sale or the sale of carcasses and boar semen in any of the said places originating from ASF affected areas without the necessary permits and clearances from the appropriate agencies of the Government. d. Sale of seized or confiscated pork, its by-products, carcasses and boar semen originating from areas declared as ASF-affected by the Government agencies. e. Refrigeration of unsold or excess order pork, its by-products, carcasses in cold storage facilities after the same had been withdrawn from the said facilities for sale, manufacture or display. f. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to resist, harass, intimidate, assault, impede or interfere with any inspector during the performance of his duties as prescribed under this Ordinance. g. It shall be unlawful for any authorized persons employed by the Government or persons employed by the local government unit for the purpose of meat inspection work, to engage directly or indirectly in the business of buying, selling and trading or otherwise negotiating purchases or sales of meat and meat products for his own account or as an employee of another person, firm or corporation. h. Performing any other acts prohibited under this Ordinance.

SECTION 10. PENALTIES – Any person who violates the provisions in the preceding section or any prohibitive provisions of this Ordinance shall be penalized as follows: a. First offense – Fine of ₱ 3,000; b. Second offense – Fine of ₱ 4,000; c. Third offense – Fine of ₱ 5,000, revocation or cancellation of business permit and seizure or impounding of vehicle used for transportation and operation. In addition, an imprisonment of not less than six (6) months shall be imposed.

SECTION 11. CEASE AND DESIST ORDER – The City Mayor is authorized to issue after proper notice and hearing which shall be summary in nature except in instances when the continued operation causes imminent danger to public health, a ”Cease and Desist Order” to any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of selling, receiving or officering for sale, transporting, freezing, distributing, storing any pork and its by-products, boar semen, carcasses or parts or products, found to be in violation of any of the provisions of this Ordinance should the continued operation of said entity pose risk to public health and endanger the animal population.

SECTION 12. CONFISCATION / FORFEITURE – Any pork, its by-products, boar semen and carcasses found to have been sold, transported, distributed, delivered, received or offered for sale and stored, not in accordance with any provisions of this Ordinance shall be confiscated and disposed of as provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations at the expense of the person, firm or corporation found to be in violation thereof.

SECTION 13. DISPOSAL OF CONFISCATED ITEMS – All confiscated or seized items shall be immediately disposed in accordance with RA 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000” and PD 856 or the “Sanitation Code of the Philippines” or other pertinent laws, regulations and issuances of the Republic of the Philippines.

The confiscated items shall be disposed of in a landfill area or in any area defined by the local government unit as appropriate area for disposal or by any other means as determined by the Office of the City Veterinarian.

h. Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP) – it is a set of principles of good practices and minimum requirements for the commercial/ backyard rearing/ farming of animals for food use.

SECTION 14. IMPLEMENTATION – The City Veterinarian’s Office, National Meat Inspection Services, Department of Agriculture, DA - Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Trade and Industry , Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Philippine National Police and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and strictly enforce the quarantine control protocol and food safety measures within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City. The City Veterinarian’s Office shall be given confiscatory powers to enforce this Ordinance.

i. OIE – Office International des Epizooties or the World Organization for Animal Health. It is an international organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.

CHAPTER FIVE MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

j. Pork – the meat of pig that is used for food, either whole carcass, fabricated or in the form of retail or choice cuts, whether fresh, processed, cooked, refrigerated or frozen.

SECTION 15. DURATION OF EFFECTIVITY – This Ordinance shall be effective until the lifting of the ban by the Local Chief Executive or by legislative action with the recommendation of the City Veterinarian’s Office or by higher authorities, the Department of Agriculture or when the ASF disease has been completely eradicated.

k. Pork by-products – are fresh, frozen, processed or cooked products derived and/or processed from pork, whether cooked or uncooked, that includes alpha (pork fat), bacon, sausages, chorizo, tocino, hotdogs, corned pork, ham and the like. It also includes marinated or ready-to-cook pork meat, canned pork, and pork-based sauces intended for human consumption.

SECTION 16. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE – If, for any reason, a provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions hereof not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

g. Exhibition sale – a public display of goods for sale, exchange, barter or trade, whether for profit or not.

l. Sale or distribution - any form of sale, conveyance or transfer of ownership of meat or its by-products. It may include sale or generous transfer of pork and/or its by-products from the owner, broker, store owner, stall owner, mall, or its agents or representatives to the recipient or third party. This also includes selling by means of internet or through online-selling. m. Swill feeding - is the traditional name for the feeding of food scraps to pigs. n. Unsold or excess order – the difference between the quantity of pork and its by-products withdrawn from the cold storage facility over the quantity displayed, sold, used for processing and manufactured outside the cold storage facility by the owner, vendor, seller, manufacturer or supplier.

CHAPTER TWO INSPECTION OF IMPORTED MEAT AND/OR MEAT AND BY-PRODUCTS COMING FROM OUTSIDE DAVAO CITY SECTION 5. EXAMINATION AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS – The City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) shall conduct examination and, when necessary, laboratory analysis of imported and local pork and its by-products brought from outside Davao City after the products are approved for release by the National Veterinary Quarantine Service at the ports or place of entry.

SECTION 6. CONFISCATION OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS – The inspectors shall seize, recall, confiscate, condemn or dispose by destruction or re-export at the expense of the importer, any imported carcass, pork and its by-products that has been prepared, sold, transported or otherwise distributed or offered or received for distribution in commerce, and found to be in violation of the prohibited acts under this Ordinance during inspection and laboratory analysis.

SECTION 17. REPEALING CLAUSE – All Ordinances, resolutions, memoranda, orders and similar issuances, or part or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SECTION 18. EFFECTIVITY – This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after posting and publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Davao.

ENACTED, April 06, 2021, by a unanimous vote of all the Members of the Sanggunian, there being a quorum.

CERTIFIED CORRECT: ATTESTED:

Temporary Presiding Officer cns/kjtq

APRIL 27 APPROVED : ________________, 2021

ATTESTED:

AN ORDINANCE FOR THE PROHIBITION ON SELLING OR ENTRY OF IMPORTED OR LOCAL PORK AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS FROM AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF) AFFECTED AREAS WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF DAVAO CITY PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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It is harvest time for corn and rice in the upland farms of Alamada municipality in North Cotabato. Iranun farmer Judit Kimba, 27, father of one, is especially happy because the price of corn these days — 17 pesos per kilo — is good compared to previous harvests. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ.

RCBC posts 7% increase in net income for H1 of 2021

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izal Commercial Banking Corp on Monday said its consolidated net income for the first half of 2021 rose 7 percent to P3.3 billion compared to the same period last year.

The hike was driven by “sustained expansion” in the customer loan business which grew 9 percent even as the industry contracted by 2 percent, RCBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

Its “solid” loan growth was fuelled by the expansion in the corporate and small and medium enterprise segments by 10 percent and 17 percent respectively, it said.

The bank said it con-

tinued to forge new partnerships such as the 4.99 percent acquisition by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp in RCBC. Its financial app DiskarTech also registered “exponential growth” with total usage value and volume up 388 percent and 163 percent, respectively, the lender said.

“During the pandemic, we launched innovative customer solutions that have gained traction and won recognition. We remain committed to accelerating our digitization efforts, particularly towards financial inclusion,” RCBC president

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SoKor OKs import of poultry, pet birds from PH, says DA

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outh Korea has lifted the suspension on the entry of poultry and pet birds from the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced over the weekend.

According to Agriculture Attache in Korea Maria Alilia Maghirang, the suspension was lifted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) effective August 6, 2021.

“We are pleased to inform the good Secretary that the Philippines can

already export live birds (other than poultry) to South Korea,” Maghirang said in a letter to Agriculture Secretary William Dar coursed through Undersecretary Fermin Adriano.

“Post expects Philippine chicken meat export may commence

upon approval of the poultry establishments,” she added.

The Philippine Agriculture Office in Seoul said it has also coordinated with the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection to comply with the requirements of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA).

The requirements include the revision of veterinary health certificates for chicken meat and pet birds, and the submission

of application forms for the accreditation to export chicken meat to Korea.

Korea suspended the entry of poultry and pet birds from the Philippines, following the H5 avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the country.

The DA in January said the country was declared avian influenza-free by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), after resolving the outbreaks in Pampanga and Rizal.

along with four other parties that have formed a consortium.

“We continue to invest in international submarine cable systems, which are necessary infrastructure for global communications supporting ICT services.

The construction of this APRICOT cable system is vital to the Philippine economy with rapidly increasing data traffic and is aligned with our efforts to make the Philippines a strategic data center hub in the region,” said PLDT and Smart Communications President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio.

The new cable system features state-of-the-art facilities featuring 400G transmission technology and multiple pairs of

high-capacity optical fibers.

It also features state-of-theart submersible ROADM (reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer) employing WSS (wavelength selective switch) for a gridless and flexible bandwidth configuration, based on SDM (Space Division Multiplexing) design. These features ensure that massive amounts of data traffic will be facilitated, creating exceptional service quality to end users.

Slated to further augment PLDT’s international capacity for data traffic, particularly to the US and across Asia and the Pacific, the 12,000-kilometer long cable system will have design capacity of more than 190Tbps connecting the

Philippines to Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan and Guam.

“APRICOT assures our international and enterprise customers with sustained capacity availability and more resiliency options in support of their growing demand for data and continuing digital transformation. This likewise enhances how the Philippines connect to the rest of the world, a big plus for global hyperscalers who are looking at our country for their cloud region expansion,” according to ePLDT President and CEO and SVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy I. Hernandez.

The APRICOT cable

DITO services available PLDT invests $80M in APRICOT cable system in 7 more areas

D

ITO Telecommunity Corp. said it has further expanded its network coverage to seven more areas across the country.

In a statement, DITO said its mobile network services is now commercially available in the following cities: • San Manuel, Tarlac • Guiguinto, Bulacan • Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija • General Tinio, Nueva Ecija • Licab, Nueva Ecija • Cagayan De Oro, Misamis Oriental • Claveria, Misamis Oriental With the announced additional areas, DITO has

grown its network coverage from 15 pilot areas in March to 192.

The telco already has two million subscribers as of August 1.

To celebrate the milestone, DITO announced an exclusive offer to reward subscribers with an additional 2GB data once they avail of the 25GB High Speed Data and DITO 99 promos from August 12 to 18, 2021.

The additional 2GB data will be received by subscribers the next day after the activation of the 25GB High Speed Data or DITO 99 promo, it said.

The offer is available

FDITO, A4

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he Philippines’ largest fully integrated telecommunications company PLDT is set to further expand its network bandwidth capacity, with its participation in the construction of the newest international undersea cable system, APRICOT. This will boost the telco’s network capability to service the country’s growing data traffic driven by more digital services and new technologies such as 5G, and adds to the country’s advantage to help draw in global hyperscalers expanding in the region.

Targeted to be fully operational in 2024, PLDT is investing US$80 million (Php 3.9 Billion) in the APRICOT cable system,

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ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

Amid the pandemic, 33-year old Inday Bersano, mother of two, survives by selling exotic seafood to island tourists every weekend at the Britania Island Resort in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, about two hours away from Butuan City.

The seafood that she sells are eaten raw at the beach front with just a vinegar dip. Suaki and tuyom (types of sea

VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

urchins) are sold for 100 pesos; saang ( a univalve) is at 100 pesos per 12 pieces; tacubo (the small clam shell) is at 50 pesos each, and; lato (known as sea grapes) is 50 pesos a plate. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

PH suffers worst cut in work hours in ASEAN during Covid-19 pandemic

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orkers in the Philippines suffered the worst job displacements across Southeast Asia during the pandemic, the International Labor Organization said.

The United Nations-backed ILO said workers in the country lost 13.6% of their working hours in 2020, well above the regional average of 8.4%. That roughly translates to half a day in a typical 40-hour work week.

In contrast, lost working hours in Thailand, Brunei, and Laos only stood at the 4% level, according to the

report titled COVID-19 and the ASEAN labour market: Impact and policy response.

“These differences are driven by several factors, including the ability to control the pandemic, as well as the stringency and duration of lockdown measures implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic,” the ILO said.

“Moreover, the eco-

nomic structure of a country plays a role, as some sectors such as agriculture have been less vulnerable to the pandemic compared to others such as tourism-related industries.”

ILO labor economist Christian Viegelahn added that the Philippines imposed “the strictest lockdown measures” in 2020, which largely contributed to the job displacements. He added that 1.9 million workers were affected by movement restrictions.

“Roughly half of these working hour losses is caused by people losing

their jobs, and the other half is caused by people that might have kept their job but had to reduce simply because of different reasons –– because they were not able to work given the health restrictions put in place, or because there was no demand and other reasons as well,” Viegelahn said in a Friday press briefing.

The losses came mostly from the tourism, retail, hotel and restaurants, arts, manufacturing, and construction sectors, many of which had to shut down when-

projects which are expected to start operations by 2023.

“Not immediately, but certainly a strategy we’re looking at in the mid- to long-term,” he said in a virtual briefing.

“Once we have that track record, we definitely plan to do our REIT, and our REIT is going to be the only one that provides pure diversification away from, let’s say, NCR and

Luzon,” he added.

CLI is optimistic that the company’s hospitality segment will be buoyed by the pent-up demand for travel and leisure amid the lockdowns implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“I think our timing is actually quite fortuitous because more of our projects — especially that of hospitality projects — will start operating

between 2023, mostly towards 2024, 2025,” he said.

CLI opened its first development in September 2019, the Citadines Cebu City, a 180-room condotel operated and managed by Ascott International Management Pte. Ltd. The company’s product portfolio also covers residential, office, and estates covering the highend, middle, economic,

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Diesel, kerosene prices down Tuesday

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ump prices of petroleum products will be rolled back anew on Tuesday, marking the second straight week of cuts.

In an advisory, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said it will roll back prices per liter of diesel by P0.30, and kerosene by P0.40, while keeping the prices of gasoline unchanged.

Cleanfuel and Petro Gazz will implement the same adjustments, excluding kerosene which they do

not carry.

The changes will take effect 6 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, for all firms except for Cleanfuel which will implement the changes 8:01 a.m. the same day.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) show that year-to-date adjustments stand a net increase of P13.25 per liter for gasoline, P10.40 per liter for diesel, and P8.70 per liter for kerosene.

and socialized housing segments, with the hospitality and mixed-use assets to be included in the REIT. “Definitely those are assets we plan to put in our future REIT listing because those are recurring income assets that we’re building,” Cheng said.

“Our investors and the market can look forward to a REIT where part of your assets is owning

hospitality or part of the hospitality structures and assets in Visayas and Mindanao,” he added.

In the same briefing, CLI said it is on track to meet its earnings guidance of 15% to 20% growth, after recording historic growth in the first half of the year.

Net income for the six-month period climbed 66% year-on-year to

Cebu Landmasters to join REIT market once hospitality segment gains traction

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isayas and Mindanao property developer Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI) on Monday revealed plans to enter the real estate investment trust (REIT) market in the mid to long term, once its hospitality business has gained steam.

According to chief finance officer Beauregard Grant Cheng, the company will first focus on rolling out its hospitality

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EDGEDAVAO LIFESTYLE

“ K A D AYA WA N sa Davao” is just around the corner.

Lockdown or not.

This year’s celebrations will be once again very unique and exciting.

SM City Davao does not want restrictions to dampen Dabawenyos’ festive mood and transformed its activity center into “Best of Mindanao Fair” fit to the present situation.

The fair highlights the best of Mindanao and artisan products from different enterprises based in the island. It is a treasure trove of Mindanaoan fabrics and crafts E’s Things Specialty Davao, hardwood chairs and tables from Abrillo Furniture, homegrown finds from Kultura, T’nalak Home, and Tadeco Home as well as merchandises from the Tribal Women Weavers Association of Bansalan, San Lorenzo Women’s Group, Marz Pasalubong, Antonio Progressive Filipino Fare, and MJ Lilo Ornaments.

The mall made it easier for mall goers by rounding up the best eats to enjoy this ‘Kadayawan”. Savor chocolates from Cacao Culture and cinnamon buns from Annipie Bakery Café.

If your extra health conscious, try veggie wraps and adlai from The Green Bounty Kitchen for a guiltfree indulgence.

More options from vendors like Park Inn RBG, Serenitea, Vikings, and Union Market await you.

A haven for plantitas and plantitos as also on display are colorful plants in various sizes and orchids from MJ Lilo Ornaments.

“Kadayawan” will not be complete without the famous Durian, which hightlights the fruit section of

the fair. Bring home too fresh fruits and vegetables from Dizon Farms found in SM Supermarket and partners from the Department of Agriculture (DA).“ The Best of Mindanao highlights the best eats, best produce and best crafts that the island can offer,” says Lester R. Tantoco, mall manager of SM City Davao.

He also said that this is part of Kadayawan sa Davao celebration enforced with strict health protocols for a safer mall experience.

There’s more. Shoppers can also score up to 70 percent discounts in The Great 3-Day Sale at SM Lanang on August 13-15. For more updates and deals this Kadayawan, visit the official Facebook and Instagram pages of SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier.

The fair, which opened on August 6, 2021, will run until August 31, 2021.

LIGHTING UP ‘KADAYAWAN SA DAVAO’ VIBE

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Detecting COVID-19 variant cases in DITO... FROMA1 Mindanao will soon be done in SPMC

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etection of Delta and other variant cases of COVID-19 in Mindanao will soon be done in Mindanao instead of the present practice of sending specimens to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in Quezon City for whole genome sequencing (WGS) and waiting for several weeks to get results.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, chief of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) told MindaNews on Saturday that they are just awaiting the arrival of the equipment for WGS but they already have trained personnel for it as the SPMC is a sub-national laboratory.

MindaNews earlier asked Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega if the Department of Health (DOH) was going to support PGC Mindanao which has been doing WGS for research purposes since June, or if SPMC will be equipped for genome sequencing given the need for faster detection of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

According to the Department of Health, a person infected with the Delta variant can infect five to eight persons.

The reported Delta variant cases have all been tagged “recovered”

by the time results about their being infected with the Delta variant are received in Mindanao. The same situation has been noted in the detection of other variants in Mindanao. Because it takes weeks before the results are released, the patients are reported to have “recovered” before the results of the whole genome sequencing are released.

As of August 11 the number of confirmed Delta variant cases in three of six regions in Mindanao had reached 33 with Cagayan de Oro posting the highest at 21, Davao City with six, two in Davao del Norte and one each in Gingoog City, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Zamboanga City and Ipil in Zamboanga Sibugay.

By August 15, the total number of Delta variant cases in Mindanao had reached 46 as the Department of Health (DOH) central office re-

eady for another year of exhilarating virtual racing?

The Phoenix PULSE Formula V1 Virtual Cup returns for its second season starting August 14, promising yet another round of excitement for aspiring e-sport stars and racing fans nationwide after a successful run last year.

Phoenix PULSE, together with Tuason

Racing, is bringing back its virtual motorsports program, so racing and e-sport enthusiasts can pursue their love for the sport, even during this period of lockdown.

“I’m very excited to see what the future of motorsports has in store for us. Phoenix as a company has always been eager to support the Philippine racing industry. This initiative

ported 182 new cases, 13 of that in four regions of Mindanao: additional six in Northern Mindanao, additional three in the Davao region, the first three recorded cases in Caraga region and the first recorded in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The DOH report, however, did not indicate in which city or province the cases are.

Nationwide, the DOH has recorded a total of 807 Delta variant cases as of August 15. Ten days earlier, the total nationwide wsa 331.

The actual number of cases in Mindanao is expected to be more as 46 represents only those whose specimens went through the process of WGS and were confirmed to be Delta variant cases by the PGC at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City.

Vega said that although the UP Genome facility is under the UP health system, support is being given by the Department of Health (DOH) for logistics and equipment.

He said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) which is under the DOH and the National Reference Lab

“has a sub-national laboratory network in Level 3 retained govt hospitals.

Together with UP and RITM they will capacitate the centers for biosurveillance.”

“Under this program UP will expand via the academe platform and DOH through its sub-satellite labs in medical centers,” Vega said.

Aside from the Delta variant, additional cases of the Alpha, Beta and P3 variants were also detected from the specimens sent to UP-PGC from Mindanao.

According to the DOH’s August 15 Summary Table of Additional Variant Cases, additional 16 cases of the Alpha variant, first detected in the United Kingdom, were recorded in Mindanao: three in Region 9 or the Zamboanga Peninsula and 13 in the Davao region.

On the Beta variant, first detected in South Afrida, 32 aditional cases were recorded in Mindanao: five in the Zamboanga Peninsula and 27 in the Davao region, while the Davao region logged another case of the P3 variant, first detected in the Philippines. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

ensures we can continue to develop local e-sport talents and sustain the enthusiasm for motorsports, even during the pandemic,” says Alex Noveno, category manager for fuel of Phoenix Petroleum.

Celina Matias, Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Strategies, adds, “During the pandemic, we shifted from physical racing on the track to e-racing. It’s diversified who watches racing, and who can participate. The Virtual Cup fuels the competitive spirit, while providing entertainment for all of us in these unprecedented times.”

Registered participants may compete in one of two classes. The Amateur Class is for novice racers—those with minimal simulated racing experience, and unaffiliated with professional racing teams. On the other hand, the Pro Class is designed for professional e-racers with previous

competitions already under their belt.

Vitto Marquez will represent the Phoenix PULSE Racing Team, competing in the Sporting Class. He won the Phoenix PULSE Young Driver’s Program Celebrity Showdown this July. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasquez, who raced and won as Champion in the Amateur Class of Season 1 of the Phoenix PULSE Formula FV1 Virtual Cup, will now compete in the PRO Class for Season 2.

All races in the Virtual Cup will be hosted on Assetto Corsa, a simulated racing game available on PC. The first round begins in August, while subsequent rounds will be held in October and November. Races will be broadcast on the Phoenix Petroleum Facebook Page, 8 pm, on the following dates: Round 1: August 14 Round 2: October 2 Round 3: November 20 Phoenix Petroleum will be giving away Phoenix Fuels e-vouchers during the broadcast, so make sure to catch the races.

The Phoenix PULSE Formula V1 Virtual Cup is back R

via the DITO App, MyDITO, DITO Experience Stores, and retail partners.

“Every success we celebrate at DITO is something we want to share with our subscribers. Their trust and sup-

port allow us to reach more Filipinos to provide stronger connectivity through reliable and affordable high-speed data services,” said DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano.

ever COVID-19 infections rise.

Across ASEAN, ILO said some 9.4 million people are still expected to suffer from shorter working hours or unemployment this year, slightly better than the 10.6 million who suffered the blow of COVID-19 restrictions last year.

“The labor market situation is likely to deteriorate further, as the pandemic continues to spread exponentially in large parts of the region,” the report added.

By 2022, this employment gap is expected to drop to 4.1 million.

ILO pegged regional foregone income at $100

billion, or a staggering ₱5 trillion, as a result of the pandemic.

The Geneva-based group added that the job losses affected women and the youth the most, with mothers opting to leave work to tend to household care.

The global agency, however, cited the wage subsidies given to small businesses during the lockdowns as a way to support the poorest laborers.

It added that support for small firms, along with investments in skills development of workers and the provision of social protection measures, will help cushion the impact of lost earnings.

project will further serve PLDT Group’s fixed and wireless subscribers on the consumer level, and its large enterprise client base which are already connected by its extensive fiber footprint, which spans more than 524,000 kilometers as of end-June 2021.

“APRICOT is key to enhancing network resilience because new cable landing stations in Luzon and Mindanao will be built as part of this submarine cable system. With the cable to be routed via the eastern coast of the Philippines, it will also increase the submarine cable route diversity in the Asia-Pacific region. PLDT together with our global partners have worked to design APRICOT using state-of-the-art, upgradeable technology,” said PLDT VP and International Facilities Investments Management Head Gene Sanchez.

The APRICOT Cable project is the third international cable network system announced by the PLDT Group in the last two years, which when completed would bring PLDT’s participation in 18 international cable systems.

Earlier, PLDT announced its US$136.7 million investment in the Jupiter Cable project, and in the 9,400-kilometer Asia Direct Cable system, set to be completed by end 2021 and early 2023, respectively.

These investments in

international cables add resiliency and capacity to PLDT’s network and boost the country’s strategic position as a premium data and cable hub in the region for global hyperscalers.

The PLDT Group’s current participation in multiple international cable systems strongly links the country to all parts of the world.

Currently, PLDT has extensive participation in 14 international submarine cable systems and one terrestrial system carrying data traffic going in and out of the Philippines. These include the Asia-America Gateway (AAG), Asia-submarine Cable Express, APCN2, and South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 3 which are routed through PLDT’s three existing cable landing stations situated in Batangas, Daet, and La Union.

PLDT has been relentlessly expanding its fiber network in and out of the country. In addition to Php 460 billion invested from 2011 to 2020, PLDT is eyeing additional capex spend of Php 88 to 92 billion in 2021, aiding the country’s efforts in nation-building through digital services and technology. These investments further strengthen the country’s most extensive fiber network, enabling connectivity to industries, businesses, homes, individual consumers, and the nation’s growing digital economy.

and CEO Eugene Acevedo said.

As on June 2021, RCBC has a total of 434 branch-

es, 1,272 automated teller machines (ATM) and 1,535 ATM Go terminals nationwide.

P1.32 billion from P792 million, as revenue jumped to P5.1 billion from P3.5 billion.

“Housing has proven to be resilient and sustainable

since it is now, more than ever, considered a basic need especially with the extended pandemic,” chief executive officer Jose Soberano III said.

PH... FROMA2

PLDT... FROMA1

RCBC... FROMA1

CEBU... FROMA2

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

7

Boring win for Casimero John Riel Casimero battles rival Guillermo Rigondeaux.

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A three-division world champion, Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) made his second successful title defense at 118-pounds, earning a career-best victory over the longtime 122-pound champion Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs), who moved down to bantamweight in 2020.

“I’m excited to get the win,” said Casimero. “Rigondeaux is a good boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist. I was worried, because he said he wouldn’t run, but he ran the whole time.”

The bout started with an eventful first round, in which it appeared for a moment that a Casimero left hook to the back of Rigondeaux’s head would lead to a knockdown, but referee Jerry Cantu ruled the moment a slip. During the exchange, Casimero threw several punches while Rigondeaux was on one knee, earning a

warning from the referee.

From that point on, Rigondeaux remained steadfast to a defensive strategy that saw Casimero forced to chase his opponent around the ring. Meanwhile, Casimero stayed dedicated to pushing forward, looking to slow Rigondeaux down with body shots to set up power shots to the head.

“My expectations were for a knockout,” said Casimero. “Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.”

Rigondeaux was content countering his charging opponent, doing a majority of his damage with variations of his dangerous left hand. In a bout with numerous close rounds, Casimero ended the fight with a narrow 47 to 44 edge in punches landed, including a 41-28 tally in pow-

er punches.

Those power punches and sustained aggression proved to be enough for Casimero to hold onto his 118-pound title in the eyes of the judges, as scores of 117-111 and 116-112 overruled one judge’s 115-113 card in favor of Rigondeaux.

While Rigondeaux disputed the decision, Casimero looked forward to potential unification clashes with WBC champion Nonito Donaire and WBA and IBF titleholder Naoya Inoue.

“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring,” said Rigondeaux. “I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win. I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them. I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know.

You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the lighter weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”

“I had a three-fight plan,” said Casimero. “First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him.

Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”

The co-main event saw rising contender Gary Antonio Russell (18-0, 12 KOs)

n her first tournament back from the Tokyo Olympics, the Philippines’ Yuka Saso finished strongly in the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open that took place over the weekend, giving her needed confidence boost ahead of her next big tournament.

Saso, the world number eight women’s golfer right now, put up a four-underpar 68 in the final round on Sunday at the Dumbarnie

Links in Fife, Scotland, and she finished with a seven-under-par 281 in total, good for a share of 15th place with six more golfers.

The impressive Round 4 made up for her iffy performances in Days 2 and 3 that nearly bubbled her strong start.

Saso started on a high note with a five-under-par 67 in Round 1 on Thursday, an impressive stint for someone who has not

played that much in a links golf course.

However, she barely kept an even-par 72 in Round 2 on Friday and went two-over-par 74 in Round 3 on Saturday, essentially keeping her away from the podium.

But her stint on Sunday gave her something positive to cherish ahead of the AIG Women’s British Open.

Saso began the day with three birdies within

BO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero defeated two-division champion Guillermo Rigondeaux to retain his title Saturday night live on SHOWTIME headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

and former world champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-2, 12 KOs) fight to a no-decision just 16 seconds into the first round of their 118-pound matchup, after an accidental headbutt injured Rodriguez and ended the fight.

“It happens,” said Russell. “I was looking to establish my jab and I tried to set up a hook, and he came in at the same time. It’s very disappointing.”

“I feel okay,” said Rodriguez. “I’m a little frustrated after putting in all this work for the fight to end so quickly with nothing happening.

With the headbutt, maybe if there was no blood, we would have been able to continue. But once I saw all the blood, I knew it was over.”

The crossroads battle for the Interim WBA Bantamweight Title was meant to offer Russell a chance to establish himself as a true title contender and give Rodriguez an opportunity to move one step closer to becoming a two-division champion.

Rodriguez attempted to counter an incoming Russell attack, which led to the two southpaws clashing heads.

“I was actually in camp

for about four months,” said Russell. “I prepared great for this fight. I was really looking to broadcast my talents and show everyone what’s in my arsenal. Unfortunately, the headbutt happened.”

Rodriguez fell to the canvas immediately and was bleeding from his nose, prompting referee Sharon Sands to wave off the bout, which was ruled a no-decision.

“Of course, I would like to come right back,” said Russell. “If he can do it, I want to get right back in there with Rodriguez.”

“I don’t want to lose the condition that I’m in,” said Rodriguez. “I prepared really hard for this fight. As soon as the injury is fixed, I’ll be back in the ring and I’d like to fight Russell again.”

In the opening bout, former world champion Rau’shee Warren (19-3, 5 KOs) dominated Damien Vazquez (16-3-1, 12 KOs) on his way to a second-round stoppage in their bantamweight showdown. Warren scored his first knockout victory since 2015, after going the distance in his previous eight fights.

“I was trying to show them something differ-

ent this time around,” said Warren. “I have always had the power, but this training camp was very different. I was sitting on my punches and working on something different. It worked in the ring.

“I always knew I had that power and I always knew I had that speed. It’s just about taking your time in the ring and letting them come. When I saw the opportunity, I went for it.”

A three-time U.S. Olympian, Warren came out fast in the first round, using his speed advantage to beat Vazquez to the punch, connecting with a right hand midway through the frame that scored the fight’s first knockdown. Vazquez was able to rise to his feet, but was sent to the canvas for a second time moments later by another sharp right hand from Warren.

Cincinnati’s Warren landed an astounding 22 of 39 power punches in that first round, and continued his dominance into the second. Warren perfectly timed a straight left hand that badly rocked Vazquez, forcing referee Ray Corona to jump in and halt the bout at 2:18 in the second round.

the first seven holes, keeping her at a shot at barging into the Top 10.

But she finished the front nine with back-toback bogeys, nearly wiping away her good mark in the first seven holes.

After another bogey at Hole 12, Saso came alive in the end, alternating birdies and pars in the final six holes to get the minus-4 for the final round.

The Trust Golf Wom-

en’s Scottish Open, which was played in a links golf course, is part of Saso’s gear up for the AIG Women’s British Open, also to be played at another links golf course, the Carnoustie Golf Links also in Scotland.

Meanwhile, American Ryann O’Toole won the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.

O’Toole, who was a stroke behind Saso after Round 1, went off in Round

4 with an eight-underpar 64 and finished with 17-under-par 271, three strokes ahead of joint second placers Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, each with 14-under-par 274.

Ko, the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist, had one of the best performances in Round 4, going nine-under-par 63 without a bogey, but her blitz still came up short. (PNA)

Saso finishes 7-under-par in Scottish Open I

8 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

OLD SELF

Manny Pacquiao trains with Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao: 20 years ago, I was Ugas

VOL.14 ISSUE 132 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

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ith undefeated WBC/IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence sidelined while he recovers from retina surgery, all eyes are on WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás. Ugás stepped up from the card’s co-main event and will defend his tiTwenty years ago, with only one world title to his name, unknown outside the Philippines, and idling in the junior featherweight division, Manny Pacquiao received a call from destiny. IBF junior featherweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba, considered by most to be the class of the division, was scheduled to make a title defense against Enrique Sanchez

tle against the legendary eight-division world champion and boxer laureate Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, this Saturday, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be seen live as the main event on FOX Sports PBC Pay-PerView beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

in the co-main event of an HBO PPV card headlined by the Javier Castillejo - Oscar De La Hoya WBC super welterweight championship fight which took place on June 23, 2001.

Two weeks before the fight, Sanchez was injured in training camp and the hunt was on for a replacement.

After a few name opponents rejected the fight, Manny, the IBF’s No. 3 world-rated contender, received the offer, which he and his new trainer world-famous Freddie Roach readily accepted. The rest is history. From the opening bell, Manny was all over Ledwaba, busting him up from pillar to post until the fight was stopped in the sixth round.

“I was in very good shape since I had recently fought in the Philippines and had just begun to work with Freddie,” said Manny, who ends his Wild Card Boxing Club training camp today. “I was a day away from going home to the Philippines when the fight was offered to me. I was so excited. This was a great opportunity. There was no way I was going to pass it up. Freddie and I worked every day those two weeks until the weigh-in. That is how we started to get to know each other. Ugás is in a similar situation. He was already training for a welterweight title fight on the same card as mine so he too is ready to make the most of this opportunity. I know what Ugás is feeling because twenty years ago I was Ugás. I am not taking him for granted. In fact I am taking him as seriously as I took Errol Spence.

I will not make the same mistake Ledwaba made with me. I still have the same hunger to win. I live for it. I have had a great training camp and I am well-prepared. I want to prove to everyone, especially Yordenis Ugás, that I am still here. My title was given to Ugás. That is not how

you become a champion. You earn it by winning it inside the ring. We will fight for the title. That is the proper way a champion is crowned.”

And what does Freddie think?

“What Manny had going for him when he fought Ledwaba was that he was unknown in the U.S. which gave us the element of surprise,” said Freddie. “I don’t remember Sanchez being considered too tough an opponent and I guess Ledwaba trained for that level of opponent. They obviously didn’t do their homework on Manny, which was lucky for us.

The important lessons Manny and I learned from that fight were never underestimate your opponent, take nothing for granted, and never cut corners in training. And Manny never has. He gives it everything he has every day of every training camp and respects every opponent who is brave enough to enter a ring.”

ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. UGÁS Pacquiao vs. Ugás will see eight-division world champion and Philippine Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao taking on WBA Welterweight World Champion Yordenis Ugás in the FOX Sports PBC Pay-PerView main event Saturday, August 21 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will see former world champions and all-action brawlers Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero and “Vicious” Víctor Ortiz meet in a 10-round welterweight duel, unbeaten featherweight contender Mark Magsayo battle former world champion Julio Ceja in a WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator, plus undefeated contender Carlos Castro will take on former title challenger Óscar Escandón in a 10-round featherweight attraction that kicks off the pay-per-view.