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Go says he is honored by the endorsement, but won’t be running
STORY ON PAGE 2
Health workers wait for patients at the entrance of Southern Philippines Medical Center’s (SPMC) emergency section in Dumanlas Road, Davao City on Monday. Health workers and other frontliners are now considered as modern-day heroes as the country commemorates the National Heroes Day on Monday. Edge Davao
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President Rodrigo Duterte remains the chair of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). This was clarified by PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag on Sunday after the faction led by Senator Manny Pacquiao elected Senator Aquilino“Koko”Pimentel III as party chair, supposedly to replace Duterte. Edge Davao
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Party sec-gen says PRRD, not Koko, is PDP-Laban chairman
Go says he is honored by the endorsement, but won’t be running By MAYA M. PADILLO
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ick off Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in the presidentiable list. The Dabawenyo lawmaker is not interested in running for the presidency.
On Monday, the closest aide of President Rodrigo Duterte reiterated he has no intentions of running and has made it official by declining the endorsement of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The endorsement was for him to be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate, alongside President Rodrigo Duterte who
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resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday lauded the country’s countless “unsung heroes” who have led the country’s fight against the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. In his National Heroes Day message, Duterte thanked health workers, uniformed personnel, government employees, and economic front-liners for their “collective sacrifice” in
was endorsed to run for the vice-presidential post. In a letter addressed to party president and Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Go said that while he is deeply honored by the trust and confidence, he respectfully declines the endorsement. “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence of the members of the NEC in my capability to run for the presidency this coming 2022 elections. For a simple
readily answering the call to serve fellow Filipinos. “This National Heroes Day, we pay tribute to a new breed of heroes who readily answered the call to fight in a war against one of the greatest threats to our way of life,” he said. Duterte recognized them for their “indomitable spirit” in leading the battle against the health crisis despite hiding in anonymity.
man who hails from a city in the South, the endorsement alone by esteemed members and officers of the NEC is a great personal honor for me. As much as I wish to respond to the clamor of many of our partymates, I most respectfully decline the said endorsement. As I have said many times before, I am not interested in the presidency,” Go said in a statement. The letter comes after the PDP-Laban NEC adopted Resolution No. 5, series of 2021, last August 4, 2021, which endorses Go as the party’s presidential candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte for the vice-presidential post.
“Their names will not be etched on edifice, statues will not be erected in their honor, banknotes will not be graced by their portraits, and their individual exploits will not be immortalized on the pages of history books. Yet, for selflessly risking their lives to ensure the survival of our society, I can confidently say that they have more than earned their rightful place
In the letter’s conclusion, Go stated that he will leave his political future in God’s hands. “Ipapasa-Diyos ko na lang ang lahat,” he said. Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said that he would rather devote his time and attention in helping the government and Filipinos overcome the pandemic as soon as possible. “This includes not just crafting laws but also performing representation and constituency services, particularly by helping those in need, as I have been doing ever since,” he said.
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in the pedestal of heroes,” he added. He said today’s celebration should serve not just as a memorial to their extraordinary heroism, but as an “enduring testament” to Filipinos’ capacity to “rise above self-interest” to fight for a greater cause. “This year, let us consecrate this day not just as a memorial to their extraor-
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resident Rodrigo Duterte remains the chair of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag issued this statement on Sunday after the faction led by Senator Manny Pacquiao elected Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as party chair, supposedly to replace Duterte. Matibag described the recent development as a “comedy”, adding that Pimentel, whose late father Aquilino Jr. was the PDP-Laban founder, does not represent the party. “It’s a comedy. Sen. Koko Pimentel has no position in the PDP Laban. He is irrelevant and he does not represent the party. His group are pretenders and are attention seekers,” he said in a press statement. He insisted Duterte remains at the helm of the ruling party. “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the PDP Laban party chairman. He
remains to be so and will continue to be so,” he added. PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac earlier said the “original” PDP-Laban elected the new party officials in a national council on Sunday afternoon. In a text message, he said former Eastern Samar governor Lutgardo Barbo was elected vice chair. In July, the group of Secretary Alfonso Cusi ousted Pacquiao as PDP-Laban president and replaced him with the Department of Energy chief. Pacquiao has alleged corruption in the administration but Duterte challenged him to come up with solid proof. The President also said Pacquiao is impatient to be named as the party’s presidential bet. Pacquiao, who lost via unanimous decision to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas on Aug. 22 (Aug. 21, US time), is reportedly slated to arrive in Manila from Los Angeles, California on Sunday night. (PNA)
PhilSys registration in Davao City likely to resume Sept. 1
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he suspension of the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card registration in Davao City will likely end on Aug. 31 as stipulated in Executive Order (EO) No. 31 issued by Mayor Sara Duterte in May. EO 31 states that “all face-to-face non-emergency essential government activities including trainings and seminars are hereby suspended until Aug. 31, 2021” unless they can be done virtually or
online. Although the PhilID registration is provided under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act, it is prohibited within the prescribed period stipulated in EO 31. “There are essential government activities like the civil service examination and the National ID registration which are postponed until Aug. 31. That stay as is for now. We did not extend it,” Duterte
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Senator Christopher “Bong”Go officially declines the endorsement of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for him to be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate, alongside President Rodrigo Duterte who was endorsed to run for the vice-presidential post. Handout
Digos to implement granular lockdown
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igos City Mayor Josef Cagas bared that the city government of Digos will strictly implement granular lockdowns in affected barangays in the coming days following the surge of Covid-19 cases in the city. Based on the update of Digos City’s Health office, the Covid-19 cases as of 7 p.m. of August 29, 2021, show there are 22 new confirmed cases, two new deaths, and 34 new recoveries. The cases per barangay currently admitted: Aplaya – 3; Cogon – 2; Dawis – 1; Kiagot – 1; Matti – 1; San Agustin – 2; San Jose – 1; San Miguel – 5; Tres de Mayo – 1; Zone 1 – 1; Zone 2 – 2; and Zone 3 – 2. There were also three cases of Delta variant detected from Digos City. Based on the report of the Department of HealthDavao, an 83-year-old male
was swabbed on July 24, 2021 at Davao One World Diagnostic Center Incorporated; a 64-year-old female was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL; and a 33-year-old male who was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL and tested negative. The patient is now recovered. Cagas has called on his constituents for solidarity in “rallying behind our government’s efforts of enforcing our health protocol’s,” as he confirmed the presence of three Delta variant cases in the city. “Again, I would like to appeal for your help. We cannot, as a government, do this alone. But as a people, a united Digoseños strictly following the health protocols, we can overcome this pandemic,” Cagas said in his official statement posted on the City Government of Digos Facebook page. By Maya M. Padillo
ayor Sara Duterte has established an executive committee and a technical working group to oversee the establishment of the 100-bed Davao City Public Hospital within the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in Mintal. According to Executive Order 41 dated August 19 but released on August 27, the creation of the bodies is intended to supervise the steps to be undertaken from the
establishment of the city hospital until it starts initial operations. It said that the city hospital “will ensure all people residing and sojourning in the city, especially the deprived, disadvantaged, and underserved Dabawenyos” to receive appropriate health services at affordable cost. The Execom will be composed of the city mayor as chair and UP Mindanao Chancellor as co-chair, with vice mayor,
DavOcc town has highest number of new Delta cases By MAYA M. PADILLO
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ine out of 22 additional cases of Delta variant in Davao Region were detected in the municipality of Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental. The cases in Sta. Maria, which are the first recorded cases in Davao Occidental, are among the 22 additional Delta Variant cases recorded in Davao Region based on the report of the Department of Health-Davao on August 29, 2021. A 21-year-old male (case no. 35) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at Southern Philippines Medical Center-Subnational Laboratory-Molecular Biology Laboratory (SPMC-SNLMBL). A 28-year-old male
(case no.36) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was also swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. A 10-year-old female (case no. 37) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL and a 10 year-old-female (case no. 38) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was also swabbed on the same day at SPMC-SNL-MBL. Case no. 39 is a 30-yearold female also from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental who was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-
MBL while case no.40 is a 13-year-old female also from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental who was swabbed on July 26, 2021. A 40-year-old male (case no. 41) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was swabbed on July 27, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. A 24-year-old male (case no. 42) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was swabbed on July 28, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. A 39-year-old male (case no.47) from Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental was swabbed on July 29, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. According to the report of DOH-Davao cases numbers 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 were discharged for re-
chair of the Health committee at the City Council, City Health officer, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) director, and Department of Health (DOH)-Davao director as members. This body is directed to promulgate policies in accordance with the declared state policies on Level III General Hospital as well as the policies, standards and thrusts of the DOH and other pertinent laws; in coordination
with the City Council, provide for the regular support for the development, operation and maintenance of the city hospital; recommend to the City Council policies on Level III General Hospital and other related development legislation on effective governance and management of the city hospital; and provide permanent site for the construction of buildings and offices of the city hospital. Last April, Dr. Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, a
councilor of the city’s 3rd District, said the city hospital is Level 3, and needs a budget of around P300 million for the construction. A Level 3 or tertiary hospital, Villafuerte explained, offers services such as subspecialty surgery, OB-GYN department, and internal medicine; has a fully functional laboratory; and can qualify as a training hospital, among others. She said the construction of a Level 3 hospital
swabbing. Meanwhile, a 29- yearold female (case no. 27) Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) was swabbed on July 16, 2021 at the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) Molecular Laboratory. A 69 year-old-female (case no. 28) is from Davao City who was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at Vitalab Molecular Laboratory. Case no. 29 is an 83-year-old male from Digos City, Davao del Sur who was swabbed on July 24, 2021 at Davao One World Diagnostic Center Incorporated while Case No. 30 is a 32-year-old female from Davao City who was
would be a win-win for both the local government and UP Mindanao as the city needs its own healthcare facility for its constituents while the state university needs a hospital to operate a medical school. Meanwhile, the technical working group (TWG) will comprise the City Mayor’s Office; chairs of Committees on Health and Government Reorganization and Appointment, DOH-Davao;
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Execom, TWG set up for Davao City’s 100-bed hospital project within UP Mindanao campus
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After three years of community peace work, the Teduray women of barangay Limpongo in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town in Maguindanao inaugurated on Saturday, 28 August 2021 their livelihood center for the production and sale of indigenous crafts and arts. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ.
DTI’s Lopez suggests incentives for fully-vaccinated individuals T rade Secretary Ramon Lopez pushed to allow fully-vaccinated individuals to avail of dine-in and personal care services to encourage others to get vaccinated. Under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) classification dine-in and personal care services are still prohibited. Lopez’s remark came after the government announced the extension of MECQ status of the Na-
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he ability of the Philippines to move up to high-income country status hinges on the longterm development of the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said. In his keynote speech during the Department of Trade and Industry-Board of Investments’ Manufacturing Summit held on Aug. 26, Socioeconomic Plan-
tional Capital Region until September 7. Also, the MECQ classification will be retained in the provinces of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Bataan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, and Lucena City. But Lopez said: “I am pushing for allowing
the vaccinated in BAWAL (prohibited) sectors —dine-in and personal care.” “Again, sa bawal na sectors like these two. Because we are saying na sa bawal (prohibited) sectors, [it’s] SAFER for VACCINATED not the unvaxxed (unvaccinated),” he added. On allowing vaccinated individuals in prohibited activities, the Trade chief said that an increase in severe critical cases is
not expected, which is the promise of the vaccine -“ICU (intensive care unit) cases should not worsen.” “We believe in the vaccine. So we should believe in the vaccinated… and parang (this should be sort of) incentive to the vaccinated… to encourage vaccination,” Lopez pointed out. “With this, we help bring back jobs, if we open a bit of these sectors. Because for other
ning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua emphasized the importance of the manufacturing sector in the Philippines. “If we are to grow and sustain our upper middle-income country status and eventually move up to high-income country status in the next two decades, we have to focus on agriculture and manufacturing. A strong, productive agriculture sector will provide a very good foundation for a
competitive manufacturing sector,” he said. Chua said that in countries that experience successful structural transformation, agricultural workers are typically absorbed by the manufacturing sector. This paves the way for a capital-intensive and high-technology manufacturing sector, then eventually a high-skilled services sector. However, in the Philippines, the share of agricul-
ture and manufacturing to the gross domestic product has been stagnant. Moreover, agricultural workers typically migrate to informal services. “What we need to do, moving forward, is to make sure that manufacturing, aided by agriculture, actually helps pave our growth path towards our 2040 vision of becoming a high-income country. That is why this administration has
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PAGCOR: POGO revenues down as some players fled to neighboring countries
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evenues from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) went down this year as a number of players have relocated to other countries in Southeast Asia, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Chairperson Andrea Domingo said. Domingo told a briefing called by the House of Representatives appropriations committee on the proposed 2022 national budget that only around half of the POGO players are still in the country. She did not give a figure, but there are 41 POGOs registered with PAGCOR as of August 6, 2021, based on the list posted on its website. “More than half have already closed. They went to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos,” Domingo said after Deputy Speaker Bienvenido Abante Jr. inquired about the status of POGOs. She said PAGCOR collected P1.6 billion from the POGO industry in the first half of 2021, making it impossible to hit the
usual revenue of around P8 billion to P9 billion a year. “They’ve always been paying taxes. However, I think there is a new regulation regarding how much they should pay,” Domingo said. “[It] has been clearly stated.” Senators earlier passed a bill that would impose a 5% tax on gross gaming receipts for offshore gaming licensees and a 25% withholding tax on foreigners employed by offshore gambling licensees and service providers. The House leadership has agreed to adopt the Senate version to skip the reconciliation process during the bicameral conference. Once enacted into law, the government is expected to collect an estimated P28.7 billion in revenues this year from all POGOs. The bill was certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte in May. Domingo said they might be able to collect around P4 billion from POGOs this year.
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Taking advantage of the less restrictive quarantine status, Oddrea Bernaldez, proprietor of Kape sa Dalan Rolls, sells hot, steamy Arabica coffee at the rotunda area in Cagayan de Oro City on the feast day of St. Augustine on August 28, 2021. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO
Fuel prices seen to go up today
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fter rounds of rollbacks, motorists should brace for a hike in the prices of fuel products this week, according to projections by Unioil Petroleum Philippines. In its fuel price forecast for August 31 to September 6, 2021 trading week, Unioil said the price per liter of diesel is expected to go up by P0.60 to P0.70. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, may increase by P0.20 to P0.30 per liter.
Fuel firms usually announce price adjustments every Monday, which will be implemented on the following day. Effective August 24, Tuesday, oil companies implemented a price decrease for gasoline by P0.80 to P1.00 per liter and P0.75 per liter for diesel. Year-to-date adjustments stand at a total net increase of P12.45 per liter for gasoline and P9.35 per liter for diesel.
Fintech startup NextPay targets P1B annual transactions in ‘next 2 years’
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hilippine fintech startup NextPay said it aims to grow its transaction volume to over P1 billion annually over the next 2 years as more freelancers and small businesses take advantage of the platform. NextPay announced last month that it has $1.6 million or over P80 million in seed funding from international and local investors, including a private investment fund of the Sy family. It has said the funds will be used to expand its suite of services, its customer base, and introduce new digital banking solutions to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Don Pansacola, CEO of NextPay, said that freelancers like its digital invoicing solutions which lets them track which customers have made pay-
ments. Small businesses meanwhile like NextPay’s payroll solutions which lets companies pay employees through the bank or e-wallet chosen by the employee. The company said their payroll service makes it very convenient for employees because they no longer need to open an account in the bank of the employer. He added that this is also convenient for the employer, especially MSMEs, because they don’t need to maintain a large balance to access payroll services. He noted however that around 40 percent of payroll payments goes to e-wallets. “And that’s a really big deal because that means that these people were traditionally unbanked,” Pansacola said.
Hong Kong bans PAL flights from Manila for two weeks
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find out about the sudden flight suspension. “I’m just hearing about this, but we will be affected,” he said. “It’s just going to be a big impact, not only for clients intending to bring in helpers ... but also future clients who are open to hiring helpers overseas will now have second thoughts.” Philippine Airlines is one of a handful of carriers shuttling domestic
workers between Manila and Hong Kong, and the unexpected ban comes at a particularly inopportune time. Thousands of wouldbe helpers in the Philippines and Indonesia with work lined up in the city had found themselves stuck in limbo for months due to Hong Kong authorities’ reluctance to accept Covid-19 vaccination records from their home countries. However, with local employer representatives warning of a serious labour shortage, the government finally struck deals with the two highrisk countries to allow helpers vaccinated there to begin flying into the city on Monday. Employers had hoped that thousands of foreign domestic helpers would
take advantage of the arrangement in the coming months, but the process - already hampered by a limited number of quarantine hotel rooms - is likely to be complicated early on by the Philippine Airlines ban. Some employer unions, however, noted there were still two other options available - Cathay Pacific Airways and Cebu Pacific Air - and were optimistic that affected parties could still change their plans, albeit with some inconvenience. Betty Yung Ma Shanyee, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Employers of Domestic Helpers Association, said she was yet to receive any complaints from members regarding the flight ban.
“All the additional requirements requested by the regulatory body have been submitted. We will make the necessary announcement once we received the official statement,” Lyka said. “We look forward to the issuance of the license so that our partner merchants can accept Lyka GEMs again.” Lyka, which operates in the Philippines and is backed by a Hong Kong
company, allows users to purchase, exchange and use “gift cards in electronic mode”, or GEMs, as payment for goods and services, according to the regulatory body. An OPS could be a cash-in service provider, bills payment, payment gateway, payment facilitator or merchant acquirer that enables sellers of goods and services to accept payments in cash or digital form, it added.
Despite the developments, the social media application said this is the “best time” to accumulate the electronic gift cards for future use. Celebrities and vloggers have been promoting the social media app. Digital financial transactions have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as Filipinos sought ways to continue daily tasks without leaving their homes.
he plans of many domestic workers - not to mention employers and agencies - were given an unexpected shake-up after the government on Sunday banned Philippine Airlines from operating flights between Manila and Hong Kong, one day before a policy shift was to reopen the city’s doors to helpers vaccinated overseas. The two-week ban, which took effect on Sunday and is set to end on September 11, was imposed after three of the seven imported coronavirus cases confirmed in Hong Kong on Sunday were found to have come from Manila via the airline’s flight PR300. Mike Cheung Chungwai, president of the Overseas Employment Centre, said he was surprised to
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Merchants not accepting GEMs just temporary: Lyka
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ocial media application Lyka said establishments refusing to accept their “gems” in exchange for products is only temporary, as it settles licensing issues with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). In an Instagram Story, Lyka said the BSP has released a circular ordering it to suspend transactions until an operator of payment system (OPS) license is issued.
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On the endorsement of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for him to be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate:
As much as I wish to respond to the clamor of many of our partymates, I most respectfully decline the said endorsement. As I have said many times before, I am not interested in the presidency.” Senator Christopher “Bong” Go
EDITORIAL Government’s life-changing offer The government has turned over 168 housing units to Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in Talaingod, a hinterland town of Davao del Norte last Friday. The housing project will benefit residents of two sitios in Barangay Sto. Niño in Talaingod. The houses worth P200,000 each were built by the National Housing Authority. The beneficiaries also received food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and solar radio transistors from the provincial government of Davao del Norte. This housing program has also earlier benefitted other IP communities in the province.
According to the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), the housing program is the national government support to relocate IP members who were previously affected by the armed conflict when Communist Terrorist Group’s (CTG) “Taktikang Bakwit” luring IP members to leave their communities and use them as participants during rallies and propaganda activities against the government in urban areas.
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Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, EastMinCom chief, said the command will always be a reliable partner in community building and in implementing the national comprehensive development programs for the people of Eastern Mindanao.
Putting roofs over their heads is one impact-project that will give decency to the lives of indigenous peoples redounding to their security, safety and well-being, said the military officer.
This pleasant story should reverberate in the hinterlands among similarly-situated indigenous peoples and encourage them to embrace the life-changing offer of the government. Overall, this augurs well for the effort to end the longest running communist insurgency in the world. 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
Datu Dante Sibugan, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the government especially President Rodrigo Duterte for giving them decent shelters, and hoped that the government will provide more housing units for other IP members who want to settle back to their communities.
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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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!
HAZARDS OF MEDICAL WASTES Medical waste brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now estimated to be accumulating by 280 metric tons (MT) per day, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Because of this, the DENR will be implementing a healthcare waste management project in light of the huge waste problem brought about by the pandemic as these medical waste can cause detrimental effects to human health. The environment department is cooperating with international agencies including governments from developing countries Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal, said the press statement issued by DENR. China’s South South Cooperation Fund is allocating $1.076 million for the Philippines, announced Floradema C. Eleazar, United Nations Development Program team, during the launching of the project last August 13. China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) is co-funding the project which totals to $5 million for five countries. Eleazar said two waste treatment facilities will be put up in the Philippines. One treatment facility will be put up in cooperation with the Pasig local government unit (LGU) where several hos-
pitals (Pasig City General Hospital, Rizal Medical Center) are run by the government. “The problem has reached a critical level. The city government does not have a capacity to deal with this infectious waste (that has been piling up) in the past few months. It is an urgent concern that seeks to be addressed,” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto after knowing that the project will bring about expertise in medical waste management in the city. “We look forward to the exchange of information, transfer of technology, technical support , and training of people. We look forward to the use of an autoclave shredder to process and treat up to 50 kilo per hour of waste,” he added. The other facility will be built in Tala, Caloocan City. Although hospitals make only a relatively small contribution to the waste mountain as a whole, their wastes pose more danger than any other form of garbage because of their infectious and toxic character. Among the infectious wastes that are thrown away by hospitals include human parts, blood and other body fluids and dressing contaminated with such substances, contaminated articles such as urine containers and stoma bags, and hypodermic syringes or sharps.
Infections may also stem from the improper disposal and use of contaminated items like needles which could transmit such diseases as hepatitis B, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria and syphilis. HIV is the microorganism that causes the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Toxic wastes induce acute or chronic effects on human health. They may come from unused or expired drugs, chemicals used in clinical practice and in research laboratories, and radioactive wastes from radiology. Health problems that may arise from hospital wastes come in two forms: acute exposure or chronic exposure. Acute exposure, sources said, means exposure up to 14 days, while chronic exposure is for much longer periods, including years. According to medical scientists, the risk of infection depends on the survival of the germs present in the hospital waste. To survive, pathogenic viruses need the same milieu as in human cells. “Neither waste nor soil provide this milieu, and microorganisms are broken down there within a few hours,” informed Dr. Winfried Schmidt, a German researcher who has been working on an environmentally- and hygienically-sound concept for the
disposal of hospital waste. But there’s a risk of infection if someone comes into direct contact with infectious microorganisms as a result of injury by puncture, cut or abrasion. “Infection will follow if a large number of infectious germs find their way into the body, either through this injury or through the mouth,” Dr. Schmidt explained. A survey conducted by the Presidential Task Force on Waste Management in the late1990s found that over 90% of the 64 hospitals surveyed “dispose of their general wastes through the city or municipal refuse disposal system.” General wastes include packing materials and non-infectious rubbish. In its report, the task force said that 56 hospitals disposed of their general waste through the city or municipal refuse disposal system, 11 burned their waste inside the hospital compound, and 4 buried their garbage within the hospital premises. The report also noted that most of the surveyed hospitals treated their radioactive wastes before disposing of them. “Chemical wastes (non-hazardous and hazardous) are disposed of in sinks or water closets through hospital septic tanks, pit and sewer lines,” the report said. But what alarmed the task force was the fact that most of
the disposal sites of the hospital wastes “are all open dumps with the prevalence of scavenging.” It added that the majority of the hospital dispose of their infectious waste with the general wastes without disinfection. “The work for sanitation is tied to health,” the report said. “If these facts fail to put across the message that health has been all but neglected here, I don’t know what will.” The seriousness of the garbage problem caught the attention of then president Fidel V. Ramos. In fact, he directed the Department of Health to ensure the hospitals’ strict compliance with waste disposal management standards. He also urged the local government units to deal with the problem in their respective areas. Republic Act 6969, or “The Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” stresses the need to control and regulate the management of toxic wastes, from all sources. Administrative Order No. 29 of the DENR, the implementing rules and regulation of the law, covers hazardous hospital wastes since these categorize infectious waste as hazardous. The law likewise outlines rules, responsibilities, and instructions for waste handlers, and provides a system to keep track of hazardous waste.
ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD
PENITENTS IN CAPIROTE An interesting piece of history that came out in Davao of the Past was a group picture of hooded people wearing capes resembling the uniform of the U.S. white supremacist group Ku Klux Klan. The photo, shot on Tuesday, May 1, 1928, was contributed by James Ross Welborn to the American and European descendants in Mindanao, Basilan, and Sulu. The pointed hood, with cut-out spaces for the eyes, is of Spanish provenance. Dating to the Inquisition, it is called capirote, locally known as kapirosa, meaning hood in English and has roots in Catholicism, usually used in religious confradia (brotherhoods). The practice was introduced to the Philippines by the Spaniards. Hoods are also known as frocks, hence the word ‘defrocked,’ meaning a person who has been excommunicated. In the 1920s, the practice
was popular in Pampanga. A barefoot flagellant, magdarame, who joined the Lenten penance, wore a hooded cloth with a crown of warped leaves and brambles resembling Christ’s crown of thorns. Today, in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, penitents of St. John Marie Vianney still wear the white robes with tapering headdresses during Good Friday procession that harks to the La Candelaria brother walk practiced in Seville, Spain. Historically, the conical hood or cowl, worn when performing an act of faith, was introduced by the Spaniards in her colonies, but the tradition started to die out by the late 19th century. Only in Mexico and Guatemala where the custom remains strong. Migrants from Luzon in Davao first adopted the use of hood during Lent. Much like pro-Catholic organizations
without recognition from the church, the ritual was embraced by people coming from similar regions in the north where Lent customs include the hood tradition. The introduction of capirote in Davao was the handiwork of some Spaniards, many of the plantation and ranches owners in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur and Mati City, and their first recruits could have been their farm managers. Most likely, the practice was confined to a secular group without the church imprimatur given the attire’s association with the Inquisition. Another reason for the demise of capirote tradition could be lack of interest among Catholics. Not only was the Spanish hood tradition eerily cryptic and suspicious, people in Davao town during this time, except in the countryside where Christian practices were respected, were
more focused on economic endeavors than social engagements. And given that Davao was under U.S. occupation, the colonists did not want to further incense an already brewing discrimination issue that had led to numerous uprisings and the killings of American planters. There are no available accounts that provide definite information when the practice of using hood was introduced in the city, the name of group using it, and the length the frock-loving organization survived. What is clear, though, is that the use of capirote was active well into the late 1920s. Whether it was used for Lent-related activities or not, the archival threads do not show. Although the Catholic church has frowned on the practice of flagellants using devices that produce self-inflicted injuries, the use of frocks,
through the decades, has declined in Luzon, especially that it has been treated more as a spectacle than as a religious sign of penance. For Lenten penitents, the use of hood, meanwhile, is inconvenient if worn during summer Lent, and flagellants find it obtrusive. Because hoods are pristine white, bloods from back wounds that are splashed on the cloth look gruesome. For some reason, the hood was adopted by the American racial group, the Ku Klux Klan, in the early 20th century and has since become a symbol of white supremacist ideology and anti-Black culture. During World War II, the use of a headdress with eye slits made from pandanus was adopted by the group Makabayan Katipunan ng mga Pilipino (Makapili) with intent to betray fellow Filipinos and help the Imperial colonists identify their enemies.
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VOL.14 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021 VOL.14 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021
EDGEDAVAO
EDGEDAVAO
PEOPLE
REAL SUPERHEROES ON THE ROAD
IN CELEBRATION of National Heroes Day, foodpanda recognizes its riders who are on the road and serving the public to the best of their abilities. It also gives special recognition to foodpanda riders who are performing at their peak with the super capabilities that they have developed because of their disabilities. Arnel S. Yobido, Clark Nel Garol, Christopher G. De Asis, and Jayson M. Papa overcome their challenges as Persons With Disabilities and ride with pride as they deliver with foodpanda in order to earn a living for their families. Christoper De Asis used to work with the DSWD and as a subcontractor of a construction company. Now he rides the streets of Negros and even with one eye visually impaired, he is able to navigate carefully and not only deliver his orders but also an inspiration to his customers. The Marketing graduate has experienced discrimination before, he says, when a security guard at an office told him outright that they don’t hire PWDs. “I’m happy that there are employers like foodpanda that offer equal opportunities. Because of my job, my partner Primalou and I are able to save for our future.” Jayson Papa was a security guard before donning the pink
Clark Nel Garol was a construction worker and ‘habal rider’ before becoming a foodpanda rider. “Na-appreciate ako nang ibang customer nakita nila ako dahil sa kabila ng aking sitwasyon ay nagsusumikap daw ako. Tu-
Arnel Yobido. uniform. ‘Masaya rin ako sa pagiging foodpanda rider dahil sa kabila ng aking kondisyon na pagiging physically disabled, nakakapagbigay ako ng inspirasyon sa ibang tao,” he says. He adds that foodpanda is a big help for his family’s support and it gives him the opportunity to live a normal and productive life.
Christopher de Asis.
wing narinig ko po sila na ganyan ang feedback nila sa akin, sobrang saya ko po. Mas lalo ko pa pinagbuti ang aking trabaho.” Arnel Yobido previously worked as a family driver and is now happily delivering good service in Davao City. Despite his challenges where he experiences pain in his leg while making deliveries, he is happy to be working as a foodpanda rider, especially as he and his wife are expecting a baby girl. “Kapag sumasakit ang binti ko, pinapahinga ko muna, patuloy akong Christopher de Asis. lalaban para sa aking pamilya
at sa mga pangarap namin.”
Superpowers activated The four foodpanda heroes are ready to face adversity in order to serve their communities. Arnel says his superpower is prayer. “Ang pagpray ko araw-araw para healthy ang pangagatawan ko ay nakakatulong na maging 100 percent sa paghatid ng pagkain sa mga customer sa maayos at mabilis na paraan.” Clark shares that he wants to inspire those who are facing challenges in life with what he does. “Kahit na napansin ko na ang paglaki ko ay hindi katulad sa ibang mga bata, gustong kong patunayan sa lahat ng tao ang kaibahan ko na kahit ganito ako -- may mararating ako sa buhay. Sa pamilya ako humuhugot ng lakas ko na magpatuloy maging foodpanda rider -- lalong lalo na sa anak kong babae.” Christopher notes that he can give inspiration to other PWDs. “Natutulungan ko ang aking kapwa sa pamamagitan ng paghatid ng wastong serbisyo para mapadali ang pangangailangan ng [mga] customers. Bilang isang PWD foodpanda rider, nakakapagbigay inspirasyon ako sa iba -- hindi hadlang ang kapansanan para ipagpatuloy ang buhay, tumulong sa iba, umasenso at makamit ang mga pangarap.” For his part, Jayson says that giving money is not the only way that one can help others.
Clark Garol. “Bilang isang food delivery rider, tumutulong ako sa pamamagitan ng paghahatid ng order sa mga customer sa kanilang bahay. Lalong-lalo na sa mga taong ayaw lumabas at sa mga taong takot mahawaan sa sakit mula sa COVID-19. Para sa akin, ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging bayani ay pagbibigay tulong sa kapwa ng walang anumang kapalit.” Honoring heroes In recognition of the service rendered by its riders in these unprecedented times, foodpanda awarded 99 PWD riders with P2,000 each and P500 nonPWD riders P1,000 each. “We believe that they are truly heroes, ensuring efficient deliveries and keeping us safe as we stay home. We want to thank all our Bayaning Ka-Panda and salute their efforts to support their families. Arnel, Clark, Christopher, and Jayson are all sources of inspiration on how to overcome hardships and emerge as heroes,” says Jao Manahan, foodpanda Operations Manager for Rider Experience.
GMA’S JOSE MARI R. ABACAN TAKES PART AT 2021 CONTENTASIA SUMMIT AND CONTENTASIA TV AWARDS
GMA First Vice President for Program Management Department Jose Mari R. Abacan shared his expertise as one of the esteemed speakers and judges at this year’s ContentAsia Summit and ContentAsia TV Awards, which were held live online last August 25-27. For over 27 years, Abacan has been involved in the television and film industries. Among other achievements, he was instrumental in introducing Koreanovelas to the local audiences. It is also through his efforts that
we have Thai series (Lakorn), Turkish, and Indian dramas in the country. He also leads and oversees all program acquisition initiatives of the Network, dealing with both local and foreign suppliers and producers. Abacan was tasked to discuss “A Lakorn Love Story,” which showed how Thai drama makes its way around the region and the world, its challenges, advantages, and how they want to move forward, along with his fellow industry experts across Asia. This recorded session can be found at ContentAsia’s website until September 27, 2021. Moreover, he was also among
the judges for the categories ‘Best Director of a Scripted TV Programme’ and ‘Best Asian Feature Film or Telemovie’ for the ContentAsia TV Awards. The ContentAsia Summit was launched in 2009 as a one-day focus on all the issues impacting Asia’s content industry. It’s organised by ContentAsia, an Asia-based information resource that covers content creation, funding, financing, licensing, distribution, design and branding, and technology across the Asia region. For more stories about the Kapuso Network, visit www. GMAnetwork.com.
9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO
VOL.14 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021
“T
here is much euphoria about developments in biotechnology and about the benefits they promise to bring to society,” warned Reuben Olembo of the United Nations Environment Program. “But there are also risks and dangers associated with this technology.” Biotechnology is a modern technology that makes use of organisms (or some parts) to make or modify products; improve and develop microorganisms, plants or animals; or develop organisms for specific purposes in a “All plants, animals and living organisms have cells, the basic unit of life,” explains a fact sheet published by the Biotechnology Information Center of the Laguna-based Southeast Asia Regional Center for Agriculture. “Within cells are hereditary materials generally composed of deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA). “There hereditary materials (that determine a trait) are called genes. Through biotechnology, the gene fragments can be inserted from one organism to another, within related and unrelated species, to improve specific traits,” it adds. There are five tools used in biotechnology. There’s gene cloning, where scientists identify and isolate specific DNA fragments which are introduced into a self-replicating genetic element so that the fragment can be reproduced and expressed in the target organism. Tissue culture is a technique that involves culturing plant parts and animal cells under laboratory conditions. Microbial culture, on the other hand, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms. DNA-marker technology involves the identi-
fication of DNA fragments associated with a certain desired trait and its utilization. Genetic engineering, the most controversial among the tools, is the manipulation, introduction and expression of specific genes or DNA in the target organisms. This is the method used in developing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “By transferring genes across species barriers which have existed for eons, we risk breaching natural thresholds against unexpected biological processes,” warned Dr. Peter Wills, a theoretical biologist at Auckland University. The bone of contention is on GM products. “Any politician or scientist who tells you GM products are safe is either very stupid or lying,” wrote David Suzuki in an article which appeared in “Canadian Media Star.” Greenpeace, in a press statement, also said: “It’s now possible to do stuff that only writers could imagine before and build up completely new life forms. The argument that we need genetically-modified food to feed the world is complete bull.” One of the biggest concerns related to GM foods is that an allergen (a protein that causes an allergic reaction) could be accidentally introduced into a food product. Fortunately, scientists know a lot about which foods trigger allergic reactions in adults and children. Ninety percent of all
ARE GM FOODS
REALLY SAFE TO EAT? Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO
food allergies are associated with only eight foods or food groups: shellfish, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts and wheat. “These, and many other food allergens, are well characterized and so it is extremely unlikely that they would ever be introduced into a GM food,” assures the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), also based in Laguna. “Even so, allergenicity
screening is a very important part of safety testing before a crop can enter into the food market,” ISAAA says. “A variety of tests and questions must be considered to determine whether the food poses any increased risk of allergenicity.” Another concern is antibiotic resistance as some GM crops contain genes for this kind of trait. Scientists, it is said, use this trait as a market to identify cells into which the desired gene
has been successfully introduced. There are those who believe that these marker genes could move from GM crops to microorganisms that normally reside in a person’s gut and lead to an increase in antibiotic resistance. “The likelihood of antibiotic resistance genes moving from GM crops to any other organisms is extremely remote,” ISAAA points out. “Even in the unlikely event that it happens, the impact
of this transfer would be negligible, as the markers used in GM crops have limited clinical or veterinary use.” Foods derived from GM crops have reportedly undergone more testing than any other food in history. Before entering the food market, they are assessed consistent with guidelines issued by several international agencies like World Health Organization, UN Food and Agriculture Orga-
FGM FOODS, P10
10 EDGEDAVAO Bong Go declines PDP-Laban’s endorsement to run for President
VOL.14 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021
S
enator Christopher “Bong” Go officially declined the endorsement of the National Executive Committee of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for him to be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate, alongside President Rodrigo Duterte who was endorsed to run for the vice-presidential post. In a letter addressed to party president and Department of Energy Secre-
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tary Alfonso Cusi, Go said that while he is deeply honored by the trust and
Last week, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, considered by many to be among the frontrunners
among presidentiables, urged her father President Duterte and Go to disclose their electoral plans.
dinary heroism, but as an enduring testament to our inherent capacity to rise above self-interest to fight for a cause far greater than our own,” he said. In a taped message aired over state-run PTV-4, Duterte honored the “noble sacrifices” of the country’s ancestors who fought to establish a now thriving democracy. He again honored “modern-day heroes” who sacrificed their lives, comfort, and security for others and urged the public to learn from the country’s past and present heroes.
“May we all learn from the valiant example of the past and present heroes and build on them to achieve a stronger future for all. Duterte declared National Heroes Day a regular holiday under Proclamation 1107. Republic Act 9492 declared the last Monday of August of every year as an official national holiday that honors the country’s unknown heroes of the revolution who laid the foundation for the country’s independence after centuries under foreign rule including Spain, the United States, and Japan.
said in an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio on Aug. 23. Among the activities which are permanently prohibited under EO 31 are photo shoots, ceremonial turnover rites, and wreath-laying. Prior to the postponement, PhilSys registration sites were set up in malls
and public schools with strict enforcement of the standard health protocols. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that as of Aug. 18, a total of 26,322,999 have finished the Step 2 biometrics process -- front-facing photographs and fingerprint and iris scans.
CHO; City Budget Office; City Engineers Office; City Accountant’s Office; City Treasurer’s Office; City Planning and Develop-
ment office; City General Service Office; City Legal Office; Interim Office of the City Architect; and UP Mindanao.
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confidence, he respectfully declines the endorsement. “I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence of the members of the NEC in my capability to run for the presidency this coming 2022 elections. For a simple man who hails from a city in the South, the endorsement alone by esteemed members and officers of the NEC is a great personal honor for me,” said Go. “As much as I wish to respond to the clamor of many of our partymates, I most respectfully decline the said endorsement. As I have said many times before, I am not interested in the presidency,” he added. The letter comes after the PDP-Laban NEC adopted Resolution No. 5, series
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of 2021, last August 4, which endorses Go as the party’s presidential candidate and President Rodrigo Duterte for the vice-presidential post. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go said that he would rather devote his time and attention in helping the government and Filipinos overcome the pandemic as soon as possible. “This includes not just crafting laws but also performing representation and constituency services, particularly by helping those in need, as I have been doing ever since,” he further explained. In the letter’s conclusion, Go stated that he will leave his political future in God’s hands. “Ipapasa-Diyos ko na lang ang lahat,” concluded Go. Earlier, Go also thanked the Filipino public for their trust and support following several independent surveys showing high trust and performance ratings for him, President Duterte, and the whole administration. “Maraming salamat po sa inyong tiwala, lalung lalo na po sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Marahil ay nakakita po ang mga supporters niya ng rason para
swabbed on July 28, 2021 at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). A 32-year-old male (case no. 31) from Davao City was swabbed on July 28, 2021 at SPMC-Subnational Laboratory-Molecular Biology Laboratory (SPMC-SNL-MBL). A 29-year-old female (case no. 32) from Davao City was swabbed on July 29, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. Case no. 33 is a 64-yearold female from Digos City, Davao del Sur who was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL while case no. 34 is a 33-year-old male from Digos City who was swabbed on July 26, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL and tested negative. The patient is now recovered. A 58-year-old male (case no.43) from Magsaysay, Davao del Sur was swabbed on July 28, 2021 at SPMCSNL-MBL. Case no. 44 is an 18-yearold female from Mati City, Davao Oriental who was
swabbed on July 27, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL while case no. 45 is a 25-year-old female from Mati City who was swabbed on July 27, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. A 15-year-old female (case no.46) from Mati City was also swabbed at SPMCSNL-MBL. Case no. 48 is a 50-yearold female from Mati City, Davao Oriental was swabbed on July 29, 2021 at SPMC-SNL-MBL. Cases numbers 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 43, 44, 46, and 48 were also discharged for reswabbing. DOH-Davao reported that one of these 22 detected Delta cases is from 169 specimens sent last July 29, 2021 for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), while the 2 detected Delta cases are from 230 specimens sent last August 5, 2021 for WGS. The 19 detected Delta variant cases are from 214 specimens sent last August 12, 2021 for WGS.
[sectors], no need for distinguishing, kasi pwede pareho ang vaxxed at unvaxxed” (no need to distinguish the vaccinated and the unvaccinated), he said. For instance, the rules should be the same inside the malls or in taking public transport. Otherwise, it looks discriminatory,” he added d in a mix of English and Filipino. Likewise, the Trade chief pointed out that about one million dine-
in service workers are affected and around P1.5 billion in revenues are gone per week, “add [to this] the 200,000 jobs in personal care services.” Meanwhile, non-essential retail trade establishments such as clothing and accessories, jewelry, flower, novelty, antique, perfume shops, toy stores, music stores, art galleries, and firearms and ammunition stores are allowed at 50% venue capacity under MECQ.
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maipagpatuloy ang mga magagandang nagawa ng Pangulo. Continuity po ang kanilang hinahanap,” Go earlier said. “Ngunit hindi pa rin nagbabago ang isip ko. Hindi talaga ako interesado. Unahin niyo na lang ang mga may gusto talagang tumakbo bilang Pangulo. Kung ako tatanungin ninyo, mas gugustuhin ko na ako’y tahimik na nagseserbisyo para sa kabutihan ng kapwa kong Pilipino bilang inyong Senador,” he added. The Senator, who continues to go around the country to help Filipinos in crisis situations, such as fire victims, victims of natural disasters, displaced workers and vulnerable sectors of the pandemic, earlier said that his public service will not be hampered by talks about the coming elections and he will not limit himself to being a legislator only. “As I have said numerous times, I will not limit myself to legislation only. Parte rin ng tungkulin ko ang representation at constituency services. Magseserbisyo ako sa Pilipino kahit saan man sila sa mundo para tugunan ang mga suliranin, pakinggan ang mga hinaing, at mag-iwan ng ngiti sa oras ng kanilang pagdadalamha-
ti,” Go previously said. “Focus muna tayo, serbisyo muna tayo. Mahalaga po nandiyan po ang ating recovery measures at importante po walang maiwan sa ating pagbangon bilang nagkakaisa at mas matatag na bansa,” he added. When asked about his considerations for the upcoming elections, he hopes that whoever would lead the country next can continue the efforts that President Duterte has started towards providing a more comfortable life for all Filipinos. “Kung papaano maipagpapatuloy ang mga magagandang pagbabago na nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte, lalo na ang kampanya laban sa kriminalidad, korapsyon at iligal na droga. At kung papaano rin maipagpatuloy ang pagkakaroon ng isang gobyerno na may malasakit sa kanyang mamamayan para maiahon ang ating bansa mula sa krisis na ito,” he emphasized. “Iyon ang aking konsiderasyon sa pagpili ng susunod na mamumuno sa ating bansa. Importante na may katimbang si Pangulong Duterte na kayang ipagpatuloy ang mga nagawa niya. Iyan ang continuity na sinasabi ko. Pero please lang, huwag lang ako,” he reiterated.
nization, and Organization for Economic Cooperation for Development. These are the guidelines used: * GM products should be regulated in the same way as foods produced by other methods. The risks associated with foods derived from biotechnology are of the same nature as those for conventional foods. * These products will be judged on their individual safety, allergenicity, toxicity, and nutrition rather than the methods or techniques used to produce them. * Any new ingredient added to food through biotechnology will be subjected to pre-market approval in the same way a new food additive, such as a preservative or food color, must be approved before it reaches the food market. “The products of mod-
ern biotechnology cannot be enjoyed fully by the people unless uncertainties regarding their risks to human health and the environment are minimized and managed, if not eliminated,” said Leonardo Montemayor, former agriculture secretary. The 2010 report of the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation on GMOs (genetically modified organisms) has this ready answer: “The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular GMOs, are not per se more risky than conventional plant breeding technologies.”
put strong importance on achieving our 10-point socioeconomic agenda. This will support the growth of manufacturing,” Chua said.
For instance, the government’s prudent macroeconomic policy has resulted in the highest ever credit rating of the country.
“Employers should still be able to switch airlines,” she added. But Thomas Chan Tung-fung, chairman of the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, said affected employers might need to buy another ticket first, then wait for months for a refund
from Philippine Airlines. “The impact is not so serious as two other airlines are still operating ... but it’s quite embarrassing for employers to (rebook) flights from Philippine Airlines to other airlines; the time frame is quite tight for them,” he said.
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EDGEDAVAO
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Edge Davao contributor Athena Jillian Bravo receives the plaque from So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation chairman So Peng Kee for Edge Davao’s contribution to sports
development during the annual So Kim Cheng Sports Awards held under strict restrictions and limited attendance at Eskina
Is Rondo headed back to Lakers?
R
ajon Rondo is reportedly set to rejoin the Los Angeles Lakers after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies. A key member of the 2020 Lakers NBA champion squad, Rondo was sent by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Eric Bledsoe trade. Memphis also got Patrick Beverley in that trade, an ended up sending the guard to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On Saturday (Sunday, Manila time), the Grizzlies waived Rondo. Rondo will clear waivers on Monday and is expected to sign with the Lakers, according to reports. Rondo, now 35, could be a valuable acquisition even as the Lakers reloaded its roster with the signing of veterans Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook. The Lakers also reacquired Dwight Howard.
abawenyo swimmer Ernie Gawilan failed to reach the finals of his last event in the men’s 100m backstroke-S7. He finished last in the second heat in the
2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Center on Monday morning clocking one minute, 21.60 seconds, finishing 12.48 seconds behind Heat 2 winner
SPORTS
So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation chairman So Peng Kee presides over the awarding of plaques to athletes and coaches during the annual So Kim Cheng
11
Sports Awards held under strict restrictions and limited attendance at Eskina.
Mangliwan sets new PB in 1500-meter race
J
errold Mangliwan put up a personal-best performance on Sunday night as he broke the four-minute barrier in the Tokyo Paralympics 1500-meter wheelchair race at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. Despite failing to make the podium in his second medal race of the Olympic season, Mangliwan still had something to be proud of after finishing at three minutes and 58.24, way better
than his previous career-fast of 4:09.95. He finished sixth out of seven racers. Even those who finished ahead of Mangliwan set their fastest times for 2021.
Gold medal winner Tomoki Sato of Japan broke the Paralympic record after clocking in at 3:29.13, dethroning 2016 champ Raymond Martin of the United States by just 0.59 seconds. Martin, who set the previous Paralympic record of 3:40.63 in Rio De Janeiro in 2016, still got an area record with his 3:29.72 performance, which was good for silver. Hirokazu Ueyonaba-
Pipo Carlomagno of Argentina. The 30-year-old placed 10th overall, last among the swimmers who competed in the day. Christian Sadie of South Africa, the 11th
competitor, didn’t start the race. The men’s 100m backstroke was Gawilan’s final event in the Paralympic Games where he reached the finals in his pet event,
the men’s 400m freestyle-S7, placing sixth overall. Carlomagno, Andrii Trusov of Ukraine, Andrei Gladkov of Russia Olympic Committee, Mark Malyar of Israel,
ru capped another 1-3 finish for Japan with a personal best of 3:44.17. Fourth placer Thomas Geierspichler of Austria set his new season-best at 3:54.77, just 0.05 seconds ahead of fifth placer Leonardo Perez of Mexico, who also had a season-best. Isaiah Rigo of the United States had the slowest stint but it was still below four minutes at 3:59.42. (PNA)
Federico Bicelli of Italy, Yevhenli Bohodaiko of Ukraine, Lucas Nicolas Poggi of Argentina, and Inaki Basiloff of Argentina are the finalists in the men’s 100m backstroke-S7.
Gawilan bows out of 100m backstroke D
12 SPORTS
EDGEDAVAO
NEED FOR SPEED
VOL.14 ISSUE 143 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021
Dabawenyo Paralympic swimmer Ernie Gawilan placed sixth in the finals of the 400-meter freestyle.
High-achieving Ernie Gawilan a dmits he lack the speed of his rivals, pool familiarity BY NEIL BRAVO
M
oments after he became the first Filipino Paralympian in history to compete in the finals of the Paralympics, Ernie Gawilan admitted he still has a lot to work on.
First, the ‘Dabawenyo Torpedo’ realized while he had the talent to be in the running for a Paralympic medal, he still lacked the speed of his rivals. In a conversation with this writer shortly after he finished sixth in the finals of the men’s 400-meter freestyle-S7 event with a time of four minutes and 56.24 seconds, Gawilan said: “Naa pa jud silay speed sir grabe (They got speed, sir. Too much speed.”).” The 30-year old swimmer who was born with underdeveloped extremities swam with all his might in the last 100 meters for a respectable finish at the Tokyo Aquatic Centre. “Kusog jud sila sir kay akong best time sa hundred meter 1:05 pero sila split lang nila ang 1:05 (They’re really fast because my best time in the hundred meter is 1:05 and that 1:05 is just split for them),” said Gawilan in the online conversation. Trailing in the seventh spot for most of the race, Gawilan made his move at halfway mark before going full throttle in the seventh lap, emerging from the pool as the first Filipino para swimmer to reach the finals of the quadrennial sportsfest featuring the best para athletes in the world. He finished 25.18 seconds be-
hind Israel’s Mark Malyar, who led from start to finish in bagging his second gold medal in a new world record of 4:31.06, surpassing his previous mark of 4:33.62 in 2019, with Ukraine’s Andrii Trusov (4:35.56) securing the silver and American Evan Austin (4:38.95) bronze. Despite the sixth place finish, coach Tony Ong beamed with pride over the feat of Gawilan who bested by more than two seconds his qualifying time of 4:58.58 in the morning heats. “Intense! Hahaha. Finally, Ernie is the first para (Filipino) swimmer to get into the finals. So happy naman kami with the outcome,” Ong said. Gawilan said he also has to improve on his strategy in the pool. “Strategy jud sir kay usahay mawala ko sa pool (I think I need to focus on my strategy because sometimes I get disoriented in the pool),” said Gawilan who trained mostly in the coastal waters of Samal Island in the height of the pandemic. Gawilan is set to resume training upon his return and focus on his preparations for the Asian Para Games in China next year. As for the 2024 Games in Paris, Gawilan said he is still not thinking about it.