Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 205 | Friday, November 12, 2021

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VOL.14 ISSUE 205 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

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Alleged ‘cover-up’ during the operation just speculations: PDEA 11 STORY ON PAGE 2

A store attendant catches a catfish locally known as “pantat” from an aquarium outside a restaurant that serves an array of catfish delicacies in Los Amigos, Tugbok District, Davao City on Thursday.

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 205 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte unveils the Presidential Security Group (PSG) Station Hospital marker during the inauguration ceremony at the PSG Compound in Malacañang Park, Manila on Wednesday. With the President are Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and PSG Group Commander Col. Randolph Cabangbang. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

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P255K worth of cash prizes in Davao Pasko Fiesta 2021

Alleged ‘cover-up’ during the operation just speculations: PDEA 11

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he regional office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA 11) brushed aside allegations of “cover-up” during the conduct of the drug raid in a beach party held in Barangay Pindasan, Davao de Oro saying they are just “speculations.”

“Those are speculations and hindi ko rin maintindihan kung anong listahan ang binabanggit,” said Aileen Lovitos, regional director of PDEA 11 during the virtual AFP PNP Press Corps Media Forum.

Lovitos was firm on

her stand that the 17 personalities apprehended are the main subjects of the said operation wherein P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs including ecstasy, LSD, shabu, and marijuana were also confiscated.

She also said that the

apprehended individuals, mostly young professionals in business enterprises or privately employed, were under surveillance by PDEA-Davao.

“Like I said this is a planned operation and sila na nahuli namin ang subject of the operations who were successfully apprehended by the operatives.

Months ang ating ginugol para lang ma-apprehend and successfully conduct ng operation dito sa target personalities natin,” she added.

On November 6, 2021,

PDEA-Davao raided the birthday party of celebrator Revsan Ethelbert P. Elizalde, single, and a resident of Catalunan Pequeño, who was allegedly caught selling one plastic sachet believed to be a party drug worth P2,000 and marijuana worth P6,000 to an agent who acted as poseur buyer.

tan Kudarat.

The former rebels under West Daguma Front, SRC Daguma, Far South Mindanao Region (FSMR) brought along with them their respective firearms which include one (1) locally made Cal .22 rifle, one (1) locally made pistol 12 gauge, one (1) Cal .45 pistol COLT M1911 and one (1) rifle grenade.

Lieutenant Colonel Allen Van Estrera, Commander of 37IB disclosed that the series of Community Support Program (CSP) conducted with other government and private organizations made the former combatants to lay down their firearms and return to the folds of the law. “These former rebels decided to surrender because they

want to have peaceful and normal lives. They are now tired of hiding and now want to live peacefully with their families”, Ltc. Estrera added.

Meanwhile, another high ranking leader of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) decided to surrender to the government troops under 38th Infantry Battalion (38IB) at Sitio Macao,

Arrested also during the operation were Elizalde’s guests namely Eana Faye Marie Olea, Bryk Jiordan Archival, Kurk Bryan Tiubot, Paolo Guerero, and

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total amount of P255,000 cash prizes will be given to winners of the different online contests in the 2021 Davao Pasko Fiesta.

Three grand winners will each receive P25,000 in the Star ng Pasko: Parol ng Pamilyang Dabawenyo Competition. The contest involves family members making their Parol or Christmas Star.

Three grand winners will each receive P20,000 in the Family Tiktok Ngayong Pasko: Online Family Dance Competition. Participating families will create 30-60 seconder Tiktok video dancing to a Christmas Song or the official theme song of the Davao Pasko Fiesta.

The Himig ng Paskong Dabawenyo: Online Family Caroling Competition will have three grand winners with each winner receiving P20,000. The contest involves the family singing a Christmas song or Christmas medley and a portion of the official

Davao Pasko Fiesta.

Three family grand winners will each receive P10,000 for the Paskong Litrato ng Pamilyang Dabawenyo: A Family Christmas Photo Contest.

Participating families will submit a creative photo of themselves taken at home.

Three grand winners will receive P10,000 each in the Christmas Cards of Hope: The Davao Pasko Fiesta Family Christmas Card Making Competition. This is a Christmas card making contest involving families.

“We are really encouraging the families to participate in our many activities and contests this is for them,” Davao Pasko Fiesta Festival Director Renato Gatchalian said during the virtual media launch held on November 3.

Gatchalian said families who would want to join the contests will be guided by the Pasko

Brgy. Kablacan, Maasim, Sarangani Province on November 07, 2021.

Commanding Officer of 38IB, Lieutenant Colonel Anhouvic Atilano said that alias Manoy, Commander of Green Peak Platoon, Guerilla Front Musa, FSMR voluntarily surrendered to the 38IB headquarters.

“The surrender of alias Manoy, a top ranking official

of a CTG in Sarangani, only shows that the campaign of the JTFC against terrorism is gaining momentum as more of their members are now compelled to return to the folds of law”, Ltc. Atilano said.

In addition on November 02, 2021, another member of the communist terror group decided to re-

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Whole-of-Nation approach of the government led to waves of NPA surrender in SOCCSKSARGEN region

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AMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Influx of former combatants from the Communist Terrorist Group continued as four (4) of their members decided to turn their backs on the communist movement and live peacefully as they surrendered to the 37th Infantry Battalion (37IB) on November 09, 2021 at Brgy. Tibpuan, Lebak, Sul-

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NEWS

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The city government of Davao through its “Kusina ng Bayan”or the Emergency Mobile Kitchen serves hot meals to the flood victims in Brgy. Tigatto, Davao City on Wednesday night. CIO

Complete guidelines required in reopening of Roxas Night Market PRRD, Pacquiao meet to ‘renew strained friendship,’ Palace says

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resident Rodrigo Duterte has met with Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao to revive their strained “friendship,” Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that Duterte had a “short and cordial” meeting with Pacquiao on Tuesday night.

The meeting was held upon the request of Pacquiao, Roque said.

“We confirm that Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao met President Rodrigo Roa Duterte last night, November 9. It was a short and cordial meeting requested by the camp of the good Senator,” Roque said in a press statement.

Pacquiao, who was installed as the president of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in 2020, was once considered an ally of Duterte.

However, Duterte and Pacquiao engaged in a verbal tussle in July this year after the senator claimed that corruption exacerbates under the Chief Executive’s watch.

The rift between the two also led to the creation of a new faction of the PDP-Laban led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who is running for vice president under Cusi-led PDP-Laban, also attended the meeting between Duterte and Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, who is still regarded as the president of the other faction of the ruling party, is running for president in the May 9, 2022 national elections.

Roque said Duterte and Pacquiao did not talk about politics.

“There was no talk of politics but a renewal of friendship,” he said.

Roque added that the meeting between the two officials merely focused on several matters that would benefit the Filipino people.

“It was a meeting between two national leaders from Mindanao who discussed certain matters related to people’s concern in their area, specifically in the infrastructure and power industry,” he said. (PNA)

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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avao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said a complete set of guidelines is needed for the reopening of Roxas Night Market.

The clamor for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market came at the heels of reports that cases of Covid-19 are on the decline in Davao City.

“There should be a complete guideline kung unsaon nato pag open

sa Roxas Night Market na safe for the vendors and also for the clients.

Of course, kay gimingaw naman ta sa Roxas Night Market but we are also protecting the people syempre mahimo ng high risk na area kay maghubo

ta ug mask unya magkaon,” she said.

Last Monday, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio bared that the City Economic Enterprise is currently studying for the reopening of the Roxas Night Market.

In November last year, Mayor Sara ordered the closure of the popular Roxas Night Market for the second time after Davao City was reverted

to general community quarantine (GCQ) due to the surge of Covid-19.

It was first closed on March 12, 2020, and reopened on Sept. 12, 2020, from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. from Mondays to Sundays at 25 percent capacity.

Roxas Night Market is the city’s popular destination for street food, “ukayukay” (used clothes), and massage services.

offices, private and public offices, hospitals, and all other establishments may require mandatory use of face shield within their property. That would be the prerogative of the management,” said Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force.

Schlosser also said that establishments have the authority to refuse clients who are not wearing face shields as part of their company rule.

“They can do that because the executive order specified nga pwede mag-mandatory use under

prerogative sa isa ka establishment or isa ka company na ipa-mandatory ang face shield sa ilahang employees, clients, and guests,” she said.

On November 2, 2021, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued Executive Order No. 51-A, making face shields optional in 3Cs settings: crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces as cases of Covid-19 in the city continue to decline.

Based on the Regional Situation Update on Covid-19 in Davao Region as of November 10, 2021, the Department of Health

(DOH)-Davao Center for Health Development reported 68 new cases of Covid-19 in the region bringing the total number of active cases to 1,902.

Of these new cases, 31 were from Davao City, 13 from Davao de Oro, 18 from Davao del Norte, three from Davao del Sur, and three from Davao Oriental.

There were 140 recoveries reported and among these, 41 were from Davao City, 26 from Davao de Oro, 59 from Davao del Norte, three from Davao del Sur, and 11 from Davao Oriental. By Maya M. Padillo

Establishments to decide whether to require face shields or not

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o stop public confusion, an official of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force clarified that establishments particularly malls have the prerogative to require shoppers to wear face shields.

This despite an existing Executive Order that makes its use voluntary.

“Our good mayor released an Executive Order 51. Kini siya naga-ingon nga voluntary nalang ang pag-wear ug face shield sa all types of establishments and all type of setting katong 3C nato. However, Sa section 3 ng EO 51-B makit-an didto na katong

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 205 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

Farmers in Brgy. Lupiagan, Sumilao town in Bukidnon prepare newly harvested spring onions for delivery to buyers on Tuesday (9 November 2021). MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

Dar sees agri performance turnaround in Q4 of 2021

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he Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) has dubbed as “a feat” the economy’s third-quarter performance.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar is bullish on the performance of the agriculture sector in the last quarter (Q4) of the year despite the dip in livestock that pulled down its performance in the third quarter (Q3).

“We expect a better performance this fourth quarter, barring no major typhoons would visit us till yearend,” Dar said in a

statement late Tuesday.

“We hope to post at least a one-percent growth this year, despite the many challenges we faced, and look forward to a more respectable performance in 2022, in continued partnerships with the local government units, the private sector, and organized small farmers’ and fishers’ groups and cooperatives,” he added.

The DA initially took

pride in the high gains in the production of palay (unhusked rice) and poultry subsectors, but these were not enough to pull up the performance of the country’s agriculture and fishery sectors in the third quarter of 2021.

According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released Monday, it showed that the value of production in agriculture and fisheries at constant 2018 prices decreased by 2.6 percent in the third quarter of the year from a growth of 0.7 percent in the same period

last year.

“Despite said performance of the agri-fishery sector in the third quarter, we are heartened that palay production has remained on track, increasing its value by 6.7 percent,” Dar said.

“Further, our broiler raisers and chicken and duck egg producers are taking the cudgel, as the value of poultry production grew by 1.3 percent, while chicken and duck egg output increased by 8.1 percent and 7 percent, respectively, based on PSA estimates,” he added.

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ARTA outpost accepts reports against fixers, red tape in gov’t

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he Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Wednesday launched its first ARTAmbayan outpost that can receive reports from citizens regarding fixers and poor public service in government offices.

The first ARTAmbayan is located at Barangay Pinyahan along Magalang Street in Quezon City.

ARTA director general

Jeremiah Belgica said the outpost aims to empower citizens as they make the agency’s services more accessible to the public.

The ARTAmbayan can handle concerns and complaints on-site for citizens who have limited access to technology to file their complaints against fixers and red tape in public offices.

ebu Pacific’s net loss widened in the third quarter as the peso depreciated and pushed up the cost of the airline’s US-dollar denominated liabilities.

The company said it incurred foreign exchange losses of P1.77 billion in the third quarter, which deepened its net loss to P8.2 billion, versus a P5.54 billion net loss incurred in the same period last year.

From January to September, Cebu Pacific has booked a net loss of P21.99 billion, which was deeper

than the P14.69 billion loss it incurred during the same period last year.

The Gokongwei-led carrier however also said that revenues surged 62 percent year-on-year to P3.25 billion for the third quarter, as flights increased 69 percent.

Passenger revenues surged to P1.31 billion, 246 percent higher year-on-year, Cebu Pacific said.

The gains came from a low base in the third quarter of last year when Cebu Pacific restarted its operations af-

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widens net loss in BSP commits to achievement of CebPac Q3 as peso depreciates low-carbon economy: Dikono C

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has vowed to further advocate for greater contribution of the financial sector on the goal towards having environmentally responsible and sustainable policies to help address climate change.

In a statement on Wednesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the Philippine central bank is one with the Central Banks

and Supervisors’ Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) in calling for the achievement of climate goals under the Paris Climate Agreement, as authorities are discussing this issue in the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

Diokno said monetary regulators and financial institutions “should recog-

nize their important role in contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

“As stewards of the financial sector, we should all commit to act with urgency in achieving the desired emissions reduction targets and in promoting the sustainability agenda,” he said.

Diokno thus committed the BSP’s contributions by pushing for the implementation of initiatives under

the Sustainable Central Banking (SCB) program “to foster environmentally responsible and sustainable policies and work practices.”

He said the program “embodies the essential roles of the BSP as an enabler, mobilizer, and doer in relation to advocating sustainability principles in the financial system.”

Diokno added the BSP

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ECONOMY

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A worker carries a table made from falcata to the area where it will be applied with varnish at a shop in Toril, Davao City. Edge Davao

Jan-Aug FDI net inflows up nearly 40% to $6.4B — BSP Fitch Solutions forecasts higher 2021 growth for PH

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itch Solutions has revised upwards its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines following the higher-than-expected domestic output in the third quarter of this year but slashed its next year’s projection because of remaining risks.

In a report, the unit of Fitch Group now projects the domestic economy to grow this year by 4.5 percent, from 4.2 percent earlier, and by 6.5 percent next year, from 6.8 percent.

This, after the gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 7.1 percent in the third quarter, which surpassed expectations.

To date, the domestic economy’s average output stood at 4.9 percent, within the government’s 4 percent to 5-percent target band for the year.

Fitch Solutions said the economy grew by 3.8 percent quarter-on-quarter from July to September this year due to the easing of movement restrictions.

The government placed Metro Manila, which ac-

counts for around 70 percent of the economy’s annual output, under the strictest quarantine level, the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20 and the modified ECQ in the following weeks, due to another surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) because of the Delta variant.

“A gradual relaxing of domestic mobility restrictions and continued support measures from policymakers helped propel activity, bringing the economy closer to its pre-pandemic output levels,” the report said.

Fitch Solutions said there are signs of a continued recovery in the fourth quarter, with mobility data signaling an increase in domestic activity and vaccination rates rising in the key economic hub of Manila.

However, it said the country “remains vulnerable to Covid-19 outbreaks given disparities between regional vaccination rollouts and the lower efficacy

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oreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows for the first eight months of the year stood at $6.4 billion, up 39.7% from $4.6 billion in the comparable period in 2020, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said Wednesday.

The central bank defines FDI as an investment by a non-resident or foreign direct investor in a resident enterprise or an investment made by a non-resident subsidiary or associate in its resident direct investor.

FDI can be in the form of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and borrowings.

“The cumulative FDI net inflows rose on the back

of the 71.6% growth in non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments to $4.5 billion from $2.6 billion,” the BSP said.

“Likewise, reinvestment of earnings rose 11% to $776 million from the $699 million registered last year,” it said.

However, non-residents’ net investments in equity capital declined 12.2% to $1.1 billion, from $1.2 billion a year ago.

Net investments in equity capital also fell as placements dropped by 8.2% to $1.4 billion from $1.5 billion and withdrawals increased by 12.1% to $272 million from $243 million.

Equity capital placements were sourced primarily from Singapore, Japan, and the United States.

These were channeled mainly in the manufacturing; financial and insurance; electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning; and real estate industries.

Central bank data showed FDI net inflows in August amounted to $812 million, up 19.8% from $677 million in the same

period in 2020.

The expansion in FDI net inflows for the month was driven by non-residents’ net investments in debt instruments, which grew 38% year-on-year to $636 million from $461 million in August 2020, the BSP said.

Meanwhile, the central bank said that foreigners’ reinvestment of earnings contracted 24.7% to $99 million from $132 million.

Likewise, non-residents’ net investments in equity capital declined 9.7% to $77 million from $85 million in the same month last year.

This was due to the rise

reform program to become the second-largest full service-commercial bank in the country in terms of assets.”

On July 21, 1973, through Presidential Decree no. 251, the bank’s function was expanded, becoming the first universal bank in the country.

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, as amended by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, identifies the bank

as a financial intermediary of the national government for the agrarian reform program.

“It has also transformed further into a policy-oriented financial entity supporting the national government’s socio-economic development agenda as embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 20172022,” said Cua who also chairs the House committee.

Cua also cited the crucial role of the economic

recovery efforts from the COVID-19 crisis because of the various policy intervention through the Bayanihan 1 and 2 laws, which served as the backbone of the state’s economic rescue efforts.

The bank also consistently complied with the Agri-Agra law which requires banking institutions to allot 15% of their total lending portfolio for agricultural loans.

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House panel seeks to amend LBP charter

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he House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries is seeking to amend a 1963 law that created the Land Bank of the Philippines, and a presidential decree that expanded its functions.

In his explanatory note for House Bill 10440 reorganizing the Land Bank of the Philippines, Quirino lone district Rep. Junie Cua said LandBank has grown as “an institution from being the financing arm of the agrarian

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 205 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

On allegations of ‘cover-up’ during the conduct of the drug raid in a beach party held in Barangay Pindasan, Davao de Oro:

Those are speculations and hindi ko rin maintindihan kung anong listahan ang binabanggit.”

Aileen Lovitos

Regional Director, PDEA 11

EDITORIAL Still susceptible We are definitely opening up.

Across the country, people are beginning to drop their guards down and start moving around.

For most people, it’s freedom at last.

But not completely.

We cannot just ease up all of a sudden without thinking the enemy (the virus causing Covid-19) is still very much around.

The relief is a product of an aggressive vacci-

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However, as vaccination progresses, demands to lift restrictions increase. Nevertheless, most of the population remains susceptible. We are not over yet.

So while we are enjoying our long lost freedom now, we must still be wary that anything can still happen at this point.

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

nation. Everyone’s cooperation helped a lot in our march towards achieving herd immunity. Mass vaccination definitely offers a promising exit strategy for the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TAKING THAT CHANCE! LIFE is a matter of choice.

I was reminded of the story of Joe, an American who inherited a million dollars from his grandfather. The will, however, stipulated that he had to accept it either in Chile or Brazil. He personally picked Brazil. Had he chosen Chile, he would have received his inheritance in land on which uranium, gold, and silver had just been discovered.

Once in Brazil, Joe had to choose between receiving his inheritance in coffee or nuts. He chose nuts. Too bad! The bottom fell out of the nut market and coffee went up to US$1.50 per pound, wholesale. Poor Joe lost everything he had to his name.

Joe went out and sold his gold watch for the money he needed to fly back home. It seems that he had enough for a ticket to either New York or Boston. He chose Boston. When the plane for New York taxied up, he noticed it was a brand-new 747 super-jet with all the latest technology. The plane for Boston arrived, and it was a 1928 old Ford tri-motor with a sway back.

It was filled with crying children and tethered goats and sheep. It seemed like it took all day to get off the runway.

Over the Andes, one of the engines fell off. Joe then made his way to the captain. Remembering the story of Jonah – the prophet who was swallowed by a

big fish – he told him, “I’m a jinx on this plane. Let me out if you want to save your lives. Give me a parachute.”

The captain readily agreed.

But he added, “On this plane, anybody who bails out must wear two parachutes.” Joe did not ask why as he jumped out of the plane. As he fell through the air, he tried to make up his mind which ripcord to pull. Finally, he chose the one on the left. It was rusty, and the wire pulled loose.

So he pulled the other handle.

The chute opened, but its shroud line snapped. In desperation, Joe cried, “Saint Francis, save me!”

A hand reached out of heaven and grabbed Joe by the wrist and let him dangle in mid-air.

Then a gentle but inquisitive voice asked, “Saint Francis Xavier or Saint Francis of Assisi?”

Well, Joe’s answer was not as good as mine.

“When you have a serious decision to make, tell yourself firmly you are going to make it,” a statement from a magazine once advised. “Do not expect it will be the perfect one. Some of those ‘againsts’ may never be canceled out. You must simply try to make the best decision you can, having taken all the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ you can discover into account.”

It adds: “Try not to be hurried by others, or by your own panic, into a snap decision, before you have weighed matters and informed yourself fully…

Whether we like it or not, making a choice is part of being human and we do not think too highly of those who throw away this right – always needing someone else to make up their minds for them.”

If you decide not to decide, then it’s already your decision.

As William James puts it: “When you have to make a choice and you don’t make it, that itself is a choice.” Pat Riley adds, “There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either in or out. There’s no such thing as a life in-between.”

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also said, “Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.”

If only Ronald Reagan – a movie actor who later became the president of the United States – heard this advice when he was still a young boy. A kind aunt had taken him to a shoemaker to have a pair of shoes custom-made just for him. The shoemaker asked, “Do you want a round toe or a square toe?”

Young Ronald couldn’t make up his mind. So the cobbler said, “Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want.” A few days later, the shoemaker showed Ronald on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. “I haven’t made up my mind yet,” the boy answered.

“Very well,” said the shoe-

maker, “your shoes will be ready for you to pick up tomorrow.”

When Ronald picked up the shoes, he was astonished: one had a round toe and the other a square toe.

Before a group of friends, when he was already the president of the United States, he pondered: “Looking at those shoes taught me a lesson. If you don’t make your own decisions, somebody else makes them for you.”

Peter Drucker observed, “Every one of the most effective presidents in American history had his own method of producing the disagreement he needed in order to make an effective decision. Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman – each had his own ways. But each created the disagreement he needed for ‘some understanding of what the decision is all about.’ Washington, we know, hated conflicts and quarrels and wanted a united Cabinet. Yet, he made quite sure of the necessary differences of opinion on important matters by asking both Hamilton and Jefferson for their opinions.”

“Stay committed to your decisions; but stay flexible in your approach,” Tony Robbins pointed out. Two which Philip Brunstetter added: “There are no born decision-makers. The most successful decision-makers follow a set of rules that help them select the best alternative under the cir-

cumstances.”

According to Brunstetter, the basic rules of decision-making involve six steps. These are: (1) State the apparent problem or situation you face. (2) Gather the facts. (3) Organize and interpret the facts. (4) State the real problem or situation. (5) Develop alternative solutions. (6) Select the most appropriate alternative.

Murphy’s Law states, “If anything can go wrong, it will.” But someone argued, “Murphy was an optimist.”

In 1916, Georgia Tech University in Atlanta played a football game against Cumberland University, a tiny law school. The Tech team was a mighty football powerhouse and rolled over Cumberland by a score of 222 to 0. Tech pretty much beat the Cumberland players to a pulp, too. Toward the end of the game, Cumberland quarterback Ed Edwards fumbled a snap from center. As the Tech linemen charged into his backfield, Edwards yelled to his backs, “Pick it up! Pick it up!”

Edward’s fullback, seeing the monsters rush in who had battered him all day, yelled back, “Pick it up yourself. You dropped it!”

Peter Marshall reminds, “Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

MEDIA IN TIME OF COVID-19 Don’t look now but over the past nineteen (19) months (April 2020-October 2012), the time when life was made miserable by the Covid-19 pandemic, two dozen media personalities and an iconic print institution bade adieu. Oddly, each year (i.e., 2020 and 2021) registered a dozen ‘person’ deaths, the equivalent of the twelve months there are in a year.

Those who went to the Great Beyond in 2020 were Lucio Graciosa ‘Bagsoy’ Gutierrez, Jr., of DXUM Radyo Ukay, who died on April 9, 2020; Wilfredo Dalman ‘Fred’ Alonzo of the defunct San Pedro Express, in April 2020; Charlie ‘Cha’ Monforte of Mindanao Sun Chronicle, on June 28, 2020; M i n danao Sun Chronicle; Roberto ‘Bobby’ Diamante of Wild 92.3 WT FM, on July 2020; Gaudencio ‘Gaudy’ delos Reyes of Min-

danao Examiner, also in July 2020; Antonio Harada ‘Tony’ Vergara of DXUL (now dxMF) and DXGN 89.9 Spirit FM, on August 28, 2020; Enrique ‘Ricky’ Cayudong, Jr. of 98.7 Home Radio FM, in August 2020; Romulo ‘Loloy’ Capa of DXUM Radyo Ukay, on September 29, 2020; Mario Maximo ‘Dodong’ Solis of Radyo ni Juan, on October 13, 2020; Reybaldo ‘Rey’ Indig of DXUM Radyo Ukay, on November 14, 2020; Rose B. Palacio of Philippine Information Agency, on November 16, 2020; and photojournalist Boy Lim of Mindanao Times, in December 2020.

On July 3, 2020, the 70-year-old Mindanao Daily Mirror, the second oldest postwar daily publication in Davao City, folded due to lack of advertisers resulting from the

pandemic. Less than a year later (i.e., June 2021), the non-operational People’s Daily Forum was revived, this time as an online publication. Both are publications of the Flaviano family.

In 2021, over a ten-month period, another dozen media persons made their final trip to meet their Creator. First to go was Ricardo Rubia of DXPM 91.9 FM, Digos City, on February 20, 2021; Edgar Fuentes of 90.7 Love Radio, Panabo City, on March 3, 2021; Epifanio ‘Fanny’ Cacayan of ABS-CBN TV4, on April 30, 2021; Lito ‘King’ Camahalan of DXRD, DXOW, and DXGO, on June 18, 2021; Muhaimin Mohammad Sapie and Sitti Gilda Mahinay Sapie of Radio 76.1 FM DXLL, assassinated on July 14, 2021; Reynante Sanchez ‘Romnick’ Sabanal of DXIP & DXUM, on August 11, 2021; Pepe Bucao

of MBC-DXGO, on August 20, 2021; Phil Peralta of Philippine Post, on September 10, 2021; Edgar Delivo of DXAB ABS-CBN, on September 21, 2021; Elpidio ‘Ped’ Velasco of Manila Bulletin, in October 2021; and Orlando ‘Dondon’ Dinoy of Newsline Philippines Online, who was murdered inside his rented room in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, on October 30, 2021.

In 2019, the ‘Dead Journalists Online Mausoleum’ managed by grizzled media practitioner Roger Balanza of the online Durian Post, partially lists the journalists who wrote ‘30’ that year as Jun ‘Tira ‘To’ Cabales of DXUM Radyo Ukay, Danila ‘Dannypacs’ Paclipan of DXRA and DXIP, Dominador ‘Bobong’ Calamba of DXDC and Radyo ni Juan, photojournalist Rene Lumawag of Mindanao Times, Bobby Mahinay of

DXGO and DXUM-Radyo Ukay, and Efren Elbanbuena, regional director of Philippine Information Agency, Region XI. In the last decade (200919) prior to the pandemic, the highestdeath toll among active press members was recorded in 2014, Although the list is incomplete, it still consists some of the most popular figures who died with their journalistic boots on, namely Ramon M. ‘Ram’ Maxey of Edge Davao, Samuel ‘Sammy’ Oliverio of DXDX-Digos City, Ramon Teodoro Yuvienco ’Sonny’ Garcia of Mindanao Times, Rogelio Jacela ‘Roger’ Flaviano, publisher of People’s Daily Forum, Rogelio ‘Roger’ Israel of DXDN-Tagum City, Renato Espeleta ‘Rene’ Bartolo, Sr. of Mindanao Times, and Rodrigo ‘Ody’ Gajitos of Mindanao Daily Mirror and Philippine Daily Fiscalizer.

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Down the corner called

Now that health restrictions in Davao City have somewhat softened, more outdoor activities have been allowed including dining.

So we can now go out and dine at our well-loved cafés and restaurants, which can now accept dine-in guests limited to 30 percent of their space

capacity.

Eskina is the place to go to start picking up your social life and enjoy eating out after confining at home due to lockdown.

ESKINA Located in the compound of Lanang Business Park, Eskina has a well-thought-out menu.

and ice cream punch.

Lanang Business Park was opened in The place is also 2015. It began as a safe as it utilizes out- humble structure that door air to prevent the housed small stalls diners from exposing that offered a variety The restaurant to the virus. of food and beverages takes pride in its into Lanang Business Diners will also en- Park’s tenants and the house specials like crispy pata, mango joy its modern indus- general public. house salad, and os- trial interiors with instagrammable corners, sobuco.

However, inspired which makes eating a by the Dabawenyos’ Have a taste of In- lot of fun. As they say, love for food, Eskina donesia with a plate of eating is a sort of pas- has evolved into a resnasi goreng, an Asian time and a form of rec- taurant. fried rice. reation.

Eskina is open Eating out at EsEskina assures staff daily from 10 a.m. to kina is made more fun is fully vaccinated, safe 9 p.m. For reservawith Julles steak sand- location, and has a tions contact 0998wich, fried ice cream, vast space for parking. 597-8955.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 205 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

TB IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO shutterstock, vectorstock.com, healthxchange.sg

I

t may be a disease of the past but tuberculosis (TB) is still killing people – more than a million of them. In fact, TB deaths have increased for the first time in a decade, as a direct result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

That’s according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

New data from the UN health agency highlighted how years of global progress in tackling the preventable disease had been “reversed” since the pandemic overwhelmed health care systems in 2020, preventing vulnerable people from seeking help.

Lockdowns had also stymied many people’s access to essential health care services. With this, the number of TB deaths “could be much higher in 2021 and 2022,” said the WHO’s 2021 Global TB Report.

“This report confirms our fears that the disruption of essential health services due to the pandemic could start to unravel years of progress against tuberculosis,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This is alarming news that must serve as a global wake-up call to the urgent need for investments and innovation to close the gaps in diagnosis, treatment and care for the millions of people affected.”

Globally, TB incidence is falling at about 2% per year and between 2015 and 2020 the cumulative reduction was 11%. This was over half way to the End TB Strategy milestone of 20% reduction between 2015 and 2020.

Most feared But the COVID-19 changes the scenario. Today, the WHO considers TB as “the second deadliest infectious killer after COVID-19.”

TB and COVID-19 may both be respiratory diseases, but there are differences. For one, TB is caused by a bacteria while COVID-19 is caused by a virus genetically related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Both are spread through close physical contact.

“Tuberculosis spread usually in hours, and for COVID-19, it’s a virus with very short interaction, (which) results in the spread of the infection,” Dr. Shama Ahuja, director of TB Surveillance and Epidemiology at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene told USA Today.

But what worries experts is that COVID-19 could activate latent tuberculosis. “When people get sick with SARS-CoV-2, they could not only activate their latent TB, but also transmit their TB along with SARSCoV-2 to others,” Prof. Faramarz Valafar of San Diego State University’s School of Public Health, who’s a genomics expert and TB researcher.

No wonder, COVID-19 is the most feared disease these days as there’s still no cure for it. In fact, the existence of the new coronavirus made it impossible to provide and access essential TB services, leaving many people undiagnosed in 2020.

In a worrying development, WHO noted that the number of newly diagnosed people with the disease fell from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020, meaning that far fewer people were diagnosed, treated or provided with TB preventive treatment compared with 2019. .5 million deaths Covering the response to the epidemic in 197 countries and areas, the TB report found that in 2020, some 1.5 million people died from TB in 2020 – more than in 2019.

The report cited 30 countries with the highest TB burden. In Asia, most TB cases are from Bangladesh, China, India, Indone-

sia, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“Tuberculosis remains the biggest killer in the world,” says the Davao Doctors Hospital in its website, ddh.com.ph. “The Philippines ranks 8th in the world and third in the Western Pacific Region in terms of the burden of TB. It is the 6th cause of morbidity and mortality in our country with an estimated 270,000 cases detected every year.”

The Department of Health (DOH) said about 75 Filipinos die from TB each day – that’s about 3 people per hour.

Davao Region In Davao Region, TB continues to be a health threat. In 2016, 13,330 cases were detected in the region. In the first two quarters of 2017, as many as 7,000 cases were already recorded by the regional TB program of the health department.

“Because of the advocacies, because more initiatives are being done under the program of the DOH, we are expecting more detected cases including the cases at the barangay level and the vulnerable groups,” Dr. Hansel Amoguis, the regional TB program medical coordinator, was quoted as saying by media.

TB is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis that most of-

ten affect the lungs. Unlike cancer, TB is curable and preventable. The WHO says an estimated 66 million lives were saved through TB diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2020.

Ancient disease TB, one of the oldest diseases afflicting mankind, is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected.

The WHO says about one-quarter of the world’s population has a TB infection, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease and cannot transmit it.

People infected with TB bacteria have a 5–10% lifetime risk of falling ill with TB. Those with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill.

When a person develops active TB disease, the symptoms (such as cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss) may be mild for many months. This can lead to delays in seeking care, and results in transmission of the bacteria to others.

Infection to others People with active TB can infect 5–15 other people through close contact over the course of a year.

Without proper treatment, 45% of HIV-negative people with TB on average and nearly all HIV-positive people with TB will die.

The risk of active TB is also greater in persons suffering from other conditions that impair the immune system. People with undernutrition are 3 times more at risk. Globally in 2020, there were 1.9 million new TB cases that were attributable to undernutrition, the WHO reports.

Alcohol use disorder

TB backteria

and tobacco smoking increase the risk of TB disease by a factor of 3.3 and 1.6, respectively. The WHO says 0.74 million new TB cases worldwide in 2020 were attributable to alcohol use disorder and 0.73 million were attributable to smoking.

Drug regimen But unlike COVID-19, TB is preventable and curable. About 85% of people who develop TB can be treated with a six-month drug regimen; treatment has the added benefit of curtailing onward transmission of infection.

If you are diagnosed with active TB, then you must absolutely take anti-TB medicines. “There are no ifs and buts,” says Dr. Willie T. Ong, who co-authored the book with his wife, Dr. Liza Ong, Doctors’ Health Tips and Home Remedies.

“It’s for your own good and for the good of the people around you. If you don’t take the medications, then you will be infecting an average of 10 persons in a year, including your loved ones and children.”

According to Dr. Ong, the treatment for TB is a bit more complicated compared to ordinary infections “since it will take approximately 6 months to completely eradicate the bacteria.” In cases where the infection is serious, it may take about 9 months of treatment.

Only a doctor can give you a correct treatment so you better see one. “Never self-medicate,” Dr. Ong reminds. “This is the worst thing you can do. It will only strengthen the bacteria inside you and make you resistant in one tablet.”

Dr. Ong suggests that those who are undergoing treatment stay at home during the first 3 weeks of treatment. “Don’t go to school, work or come in close contact with people,” he says. “Your saliva and phlegm can infect others.”

He also recommends that they wear a face mask

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12 others identified as Jomark Aping, Ariel Bueno, Edel Caballero, Ronald Chuan, Fritz Dinopol, Tom Jhun Doblas, Mark Christopher Isip, Janlord Masong, Christopher Prudente, Jesus Ragas III, Giovanni Tabanao and Jason Viduya while allegedly having a drug session.

However, apprehended partygoers alleged that a “cover-up” transpired during the raid as there were 50 attendees but only 17 of them were arrested and former Davao City Information Officer Jefry Tupas is not on the list of apprehended individuals though he was seen at the party and was allegedly “arbored” by a certain official.

Lovitos also said that PDEA 11 is monitoring

the drug activities of the said personalities who are the subject of the operation.

“As you know the party drugs that they are peddling dito sa probinsiya natin hindi naman common yung party drugs na ecstasy, LSD so talagang minanmanan natin yan with other enforcement agencies,” she said.

Lovitos said PDEA has already started the investigation surrounding the controversial drug raid and that Tupas will be part of the investigation.

“There is an ongoing investigation on this on what really transpired and speculations sa nangyari sa operation and we will look further on what had happened during the conduct of the operation,” she said.

Seryes which are a series of online shows where resource persons will teach families how to make Christmas cards, parol, and take photos.

Qualified to join the contests are a family of at least four members, who are Davao-born or residents of Davao City for at least one year from com-

petition date. Families are required to submit resident certificates.

For more mechanics, interested families may visit the Davao Pasko Fiesta Facebook page where aside from mechanics they can also be updated on the schedules of the contests. (PIA XI/ RG Alama)

turn to the folds of the law as he surrendered to the 5th Special Forces Battalion troops in Brgy Lambingi, Banga, South Cotabato.

Lieutenant Colonel Zandro Alvez, Commanding Officer of 5SFBn expressed that the former communist combatant surrendered one (1) US M1 cal.30 carbine rifle and one (1) magazine with three (3) rounds of cartridge cal.30 ammunition.

Major General Juvymax Uy, Commander of the Joint Task Force Central and the 6th Infantry Division commended the efforts of both the JTFC troops and the Lo-

cal Government Units of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and South Cotabato. “The waves of surrender of the communist terrorist group is the result of the Community Support Program (CSP) of the Joint Task Force Central.

Some of their leaders and several members have surrendered. They are now awakened and have realized that the CTG ideologies are only based on deception”, Maj. Gen. Uy stated.

The JTFC and the 6ID Commander reiterated his call to the remaining members of the CTG to abandon their armed struggle.

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will “provide an enabling regulatory environment to equip banks in managing climate change, environmental, and social risks, and at the same time, unlock financing to economic activities contributing to sustainable development.”

Other measures towards this bid include assisting banks in their climate stress-testing exercises and the collection of more granular data on climate, and environmental and social risks exposure; encouraging a collaborative move in the financial sector and harmonizing policies and aligning initiatives with the objectives and strategies of the Philippine Sustainable Finance

Roadmap and Guiding Principles; and to build partnerships to intensify awareness and capacity-building activities for the financial sector.

“We need to take advantage of the momentum calling for action, and step up our response towards climate change,” Diokno added.

The BSP said it became a plenary member of the NGFS, a group of central banks and financial supervisors that voluntarily exchange experiences and best practices to enhance the financial sector’s environment and climate risk management and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable economy, in July 2020.

(PNA)

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On the other hand, the livestock subsector posted a -15.2 percent decrease in value of production, weighed down by the hog industry’s 17.8-percent negative performance due to the continuing scourge of the African swine fever (ASF) pandemic.

The PSA report further said that palay production for the first nine months of the year is expected to reach 12.53 million metric tons (MMT), combining the first semester output of 8.8 MMT and projected third quarter harvest of 3.73 MMT, based on standing crops in August.

Said projected harvest for the third quarter is 5 percent more than the

palay output of 11.9 MMT for the same period last year.

Meanwhile, increasing the country’s corn production continues to be a big challenge, Dar said, as the projected 6.28-MMT harvest for the nine-month period this year, combining the actual first semester harvest and estimated yield in the third quarter, is three percent less than the same period in 2020 at 6.47 MMT. He said the government will “work harder” to help the sector achieve growth in output in the fourth quarter of the year.

“We will continue to do much more during the last quarter of the year,” he added. (PNA)

Belgica said ARTA will be launching more outposts in fixer-prone areas in Metro Manila.

“The ARTAmbayan that you see today is not just the work of a barangay, of an LGU (local government unit), but a collaboration of various government agencies

that see the need to take seriously our problem on fixers and red tape,” he said.

Belgica also called on national government agencies and LGUs to pursue better regulations and a whole-of-nation approach in delivering public services. (PNA)

in equity capital withdrawals by 51.2% to $50 million from $33 million, which more than offset the increase in equity capital placements by 7.3% to $126 million from $118 million, the BSP said.

Equity capital place-

ments during the month originated mostly from Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States.

These were invested largely in the manufacturing, information and communication, and real estate industries.

“The constantly evolving Philippine financial landscape, coupled with the Bank’s redefined roles in supporting the national government’s sustainable development agenda, necessitates to institute a standalone legal and operational framework for LandBank,” said Cua. “This policy initiative seeks to amend the LandBank Charter that will place the Bank in a stronger position to pursue further the policy thrusts of the national government especially on countryside development while sustaining its institutional viability amid a highly competitive banking industry,” he said.

Land Bank president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo believes the measure will ensure the bank will keep up with its mandate to be inclusive of the national economy.

“Amending the LandBank Charter to institute a standalone legal and operational framework for the bank will place it in a stronger position to pursue further the developmental objective of the bank while keeping up with constantly shift-

ing financial landscape, sustaining its institutional viability amid a highly competitive banking industry,” Borromeo said.

“The proposed amendments to the Charter shall enhance its function to allow the bank to boost its capital-raising capabilities, sustain a competitive workforce and streamline its banking processes.”

Among the proposed amendments include opening up one-third of the government-owned bank to private entities such as small farmers, fisherfolks, organizations, among others as approved by the finance secretary and upon the recommendation of the board of directors.

The national government, under the proposal, shall at all times maintain its two-thirds ownership.

However, the Department of Finance suggested a 20% allocation to private entities but is still subject to finalization and clarification.

The House banks and financial panel is set to finalize and approve the bill next week on its final form.

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during the first 3 weeks of treatment. “Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough, sneeze or laugh too hard,” Dr. Ong urges.

“Then throw the tissue away in a sealed container.”

As a sort of reminder, all TB medications must be taken one hour before meals. “It is ideal not to break the dose of the drug,” Dr. Ong reminds. The patient needs to see his doctor to undergo blood tests to check for possible liver side effects of the drugs taken.

Side effects aren’t common but some TB medicines can occasionally be harmful to the liver, he says.

In addition, the color of the urine will change from yellow to orange. But don’t worry; the change of color is “a normal reaction to the treatment course.”

Dr. Ong suggests that you need to consult your doctor once you experience any of the following: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetites, yellowing of the skin, or fever of more than three days.

The most important thing: “Complete the 6- to 9-month course of your medicines,” Dr. Ong declares. “Do not stop your medicines without your doctor’s permission. Doing so will cause the TB bac-

teria to mutate and come back in a stronger and more virulent form.”

Multi-drug resistant TB In 2011, the WHO regional office reported that about 10,600 Filipinos have multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). By 2015, MDTTB cases went to 15,000.

Health experts say “treatment outcomes for MDR-TB are typically worse than those for patients with drug sensitive TB, in significant part due to the length of treatment and the potential for adverse effects from second-line medications.”

The international community wants to end TB from this planet by 2030.

After all, TB is preventable and curable. But in the Philippines, the number of people with TB continues to increase every year.

“Ending TB requires concerted action by all sectors and all care providers,” the WHO points out. “Everyone has a role to pay in ending TB – individuals, communities, businesses, governments, societies. Everyone must join the race to end TB by 2030.”

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. It’s time to ensure that no one dies of TB anymore.

and Mo Bamba added 14 points and nine rebounds.

The Magic shot 38 percent and made 4 of 33 3-point shots.

Aldridge hit three

3-pointers and scored 15 points in his first eight minutes in the game, helping the Nets pull out to a 19-point lead late in the first half.

it’s for the betterment and development of the basketball community, we’re gonna support Chooks-to-Go and the MPBL.” The MPBL Invitational is tentatively scheduled to take place on Dec. 11.

Aside from the said teams, confirming their participation as well are reigning champ Davao Occidental, Nueva Ecija, GenSan, Caloocan, Sarangani, Laguna, Bicol, Imus, Negros, and Bacolod.

More teams could join the pocket tournament depending on how many more joined before the Wednesday deadline.

Either the Crusaders, Supremos, or Heroes could be the semi-bubble hosts for the event as the MPBL is choosing among the Caloocan Sports Complex, the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex, and the Ynares Center in Antipolo City as its battleground for the supposed 11-day event. (PNA)

rates of the vaccines administered.”

“As of October 21, only 22.6 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated and the lower efficacy of the vaccines being used could mean that there is a greater need for booster shots. Thus, in the near term, further disruptions could weigh on the pace of

the economic recovery, and the prospects of a revival in the country’s tourism sector remain dim,” the report said.

It added that “while we expect economic growth to increase further in 2022, remaining challenges will stop the Philippine economy returning to its pre-pandemic growth trajectory.” (PNA)

ter an air travel suspension which lasted for most of the second quarter.

Despite the stricter quarantine imposed in the July to September period, Cebu Pacific said it flew 704,000 passengers in the third quarter, 10 percent higher than the second quarter.

“More recently, with COVID case counts and posi-

tivity rates decreasing to levels seen in February 2021, Metro Manila has recently de-escalated to Alert level 2, setting the stage for a stronger demand recovery,” the airline said.

Local carriers are expected to continue absorbing losses this year even as quarantine restrictions are eased, according to an industry group.

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SPORTS

11

Kaya FC players celebrate.

Kaya FC sweeps Group B Nets cruise K past Magic

O

RLANDO, Florida — Kevin Durant scored 30 points and James Harden had his 59th career triple double in the Brooklyn Nets’ 12390 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer at 29.5 points per game, made 11 of 12 shots, including both of his 3-point attempts, to help Brooklyn win for the

sixth time in seven games.

Harden had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to help. The two stars sat out the fourth quarter, with the Nets up 94-75 after three.

LaMarcus Aldridge came off the bench with a big second quarter to put Brooklyn in command. He had 21 points and eight rebounds.

Terrence Ross led Orlando with 17 points,

FNETS, P10

aya Iloilo pipped Mendiola with a 6-0 beating on Wednesday night to complete a sweep of Group B action in the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona.

A Jovin Bedic brace in the first half set the tone for the inaugural tournament champ even as the club netted three goals in each of the two halves to seal the top seed in its group ahead of the semifinals next week.

Bedic capitalized on an erroneous Mendiola attempt to keep the ball out of his reach and quickly raced inside the penalty box to open the scoring for Kaya Iloilo in the 11th minute.

Bedic then finished the job for Daizo Horikoshi in the 35th minute when he received the assist off a tough pass from the goal line for the 2-0 count.

Ryo Fujji joined Kaya Iloilo’s scoring barrage in the 40th minute when he picked a Daniel Ashley pass and slotted the ball from just outside the penalty area to make it 3-0.

Horikoshi played the facilitator again for Kaya Iloilo’s fourth goal in the

backing out of the competition due to matters regarding its AFC club license, both Stallion Laguna and Cebu FC are automatically through to the semis with their match determining which team will enter as the top seed.

Mendiola, on the other hand, will battle the Azkals Development Team on Saturday night to determine the final member of the semifinal cast.

With the result, however, the ADT gets another lifeline as the team can advance with a draw due to a superior goal difference, making this a win-or-go-home match for Mendiola for the right to face the Stallion Laguna-Cebu winner. (PNA)

Kuzma scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers in the final 26 seconds. Montrezl Harrell led the Wizards with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Bradley Beal had 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Ricky Rubio scored 20 points for the Cavaliers, but missed one of two free throws with 16 seconds left to keep Washington within 94-92. Kuzma took a quick pass from Beal on the other end, giving the Wizards

their only lead of the second half.

Cleveland was seeking its first five-game winning streak since March 28 to April 5, 2018 — the final season of LeBron James’ second stint with the franchise.

Rookie big man Evan Mobley and Garland scored 19 points apiece, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.

Cleveland held the largest lead of the game at 80-70 with 10:43 remaining when Garland made a 3-pointer.

Kuzma buzzer-beater lifts Wizards past Cavaliers

C Kyle Kuzma fired 22 points for the Wizards.

63rd minute, this time giving a beautiful feed to Kenshiro Daniels.

Horikoshi’s efforts were finally rewarded in the 83rd minute when he blitzed past the Mendiola backline, leaving only Mendiola keeper Michael Asong to beat which he eventually did, and made it 5-0.

Carlyle Mitchell then put the icing on the cake for Kaya Iloilo when he scored a header off a corner kick right at the final minute of stoppage time.

Kaya Iloilo will now await which club between Stallion Laguna and Cebu FC will falter in the lone match for Group A, which is ongoing as of posting.

With United Clark

LEVELAND — Kyle Kuzma hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 12 seconds left as the Washington Wizards scored the final five points in a 97-94 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).

Darius Garland missed an open 3-pointer on Cleveland’s subsequent possession, and Corey Kispert made a layup with 0.7 seconds remaining for Washington. Garland’s desperation 70-footer at the buzzer was well off target.

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TURNING PRO The Davao Occidental Tigers team.

MPBL now a professional league ahead of season’s start

T

he country’s top regional basketball league right now is moving up a notch.

No less than league officials confirmed on Tuesday night that the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has turned pro ahead of its return to action.

Mark Zambrano, the spokesman for Chooks-to-Go, which has taken over the league management due to league owner Manny Pacquiao’s presidential aspirations, said the decision for the MPBL to become a professional league was necessary for it to push through amid the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

“We have a meeting with GAB (Games and Amusements Board), and based on their mandate, the only really big requirement that they gave us to continue to is for the league to turn pro,” Zambrano said during the press launch of the league’s comeback tournament, the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Invitational, at the Prestige Tower in Pasig City.

This means players will now have to obtain pro licenses or, in the case of collegiate players who want to keep their amateur statuses, special guest licenses from GAB for them to play in the MPBL. Zambrano even bared that GAB is willing to help the teams in processing the pro licenses.

He also said the MPBL is in the process of formalizing things.

“Inaayos na namin yung (We are now fixing the) documentation when it comes to that. We already told the team managers what to do in terms of giving their players the licenses, especially those who will be seeing action in

the Invitational,” Zambrano said.

Front office members from three teams welcomed the major development.

“Ang gusto naman ng league (What the league wants) is growth.

Sometimes, change is a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the only constant thing in the world. We will embrace kung ano ang changes na mangyari (the changes that will take place) and the stuff,” Makati Skyscrapers team owner Paolo Orbeta said. “Naniniwala kami sa MPBL at sa Chooks-to-Go na itong liga na ito is long-term and every year, gaganda nang gaganda (We believe in the MPBL and Chooksto-Go that this league is long-term and every year, it becomes even better), so I think we’re OK.” Meanwhile, Councilor Elvis Tolentino of the Marikina Shoemasters said, “Ever since we joined the MPBL, nakasuporta kami kay Senator Pacquiao, so kung ano man ang decision ni Senator Pacquiao regarding sa league, 110 percent, susuporta kami (we are supporting Senator Pacquiao, so whatever the decision of Senator Pacquiao would be regarding the league, we will support it 110 percent).”

Team Manager Anj Azores of the Rizal Crusaders then said, “We are always open for options, and if

FTURNING, P10