Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 209 | Wednesday, November 17, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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PROMISING City in talks with pharma developing medicines to treat Covid-19 STORY ON PAGE 2

A father piggybacks his daughter while walking their dogs at the football field of Azuela Cove along R. Castillo Street in Davao City over the weekend. The Department of Health (DOH) has urged parents to be cautious and always follow health protocols when going out with their children after reports of an infant contracting Covid-19 during a visit to a mall. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

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President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with Senator Christopher Lawrence“Bong”Go while holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Palace on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

PROMISING

City in talks with pharma developing medicines to treat Covid-19 By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Tuesday the city government of Davao is in talks with a pharmaceutical firm developing medicines to treat Covid-19.

“We reached out initially sa pinaka-una nga kompanya nga nag- announce nga duna na sila’y tambal. We are now directly communicating with the distributor for the Philippines. Very promising gyud ang ilahang ginasulti. Dili lang ko gusto muhatag og date

kay basin ma-premature ang jubilation or celebration sa mga taga Davao. We are already talking to the distributor and positive ang response,” Mayor sara said. The mayor said the company already has the “compassionate use”, which refers to a way for

people with life-threatening illnesses to get access to experimental treatments. “So duna na’y mga istorya na nahitabo and positive ang development,” she said. Mayor Sara thanked chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) for Covid-19 Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., for assisting the city to tap in the said pharmaceutical company. The mayor added that the city government has

NTF-ELCAC budget cut ‘big blow’ to anti-insurgency campaign: guv

lashing the budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) from PHP24 billion to PHP 4 billion in 2022 would deal a heavy blow to government efforts against insurgency as well as to provinces relying on the Barangay Development Program (BDP), a governor in the Davao Region said Monday. In an interview, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Ty-

ron Uy said the people residing in former lairs of the New People’s Army (NPA), would eventually lose hope and possibly lose their trust in the government if the BDP will not push through, following the Senate Committee on Finance’s decision to cut the NTF-ELCAC’s budget for 2002. “It is very unfortunate that these senators allow this [cutting down of budget] to happen. I reiterated to our senator friends espe-

cially Senator Angara that this is a big blow to the local government units (LGUs),” Uy told the Philippine News Agency here. A hallmark program of NTF-ELCAC with the end goal of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities, the BDP is part of the government‘s whole-of-nation approach in fighting the insurgency by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New

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also reached out to the other pharmaceutical company that claimed it also has available medicine. “Medyo dugay dugay pa ni because I think wala pa sila’y EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) sa United States of America,” she said. The city government has previously bought anti-Covid-19 vaccines which have not arrived yet and this may be due to the huge demand for the vaccines globally.

Revitalized-Pulis Sa Barangay of Davao to be enforced PH-wide

nterior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered the nationwide implementation of the Revitalized-Pulis sa Barangay (R-PSB) program which has been started in the Davao Region. R-PSB is the brainchild of Police Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, aimed to address insurgency in the country. Año recognized the program as a “Masterpiece Dish” that is significant in achieving the goal of President Rodrigo Duterte to end local communist armed conflict before his term ends. Escobal earlier presented the concept of the program to Ańo and senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame, Quezon City last Wednesday, November 10. According to Año, the program is a very novel

initiative and concept, adding that this would be integrated in other existing programs of the PNP and further recommends for the PRO 11’s R-PSB to be adopted and practiced nationwide. Año acknowledges the PNP’s vital role in the welfare, progress and development of the community besides of its main function which is to safeguard the community and maintain its peace and order. Escobal, meanwhile is grateful for the recognition that has been given to them, which he believed is gaining success through the active support and participation of the other peacekeeping forces, the respective Local Government Units, the stakeholders and private individuals who are seeing the positive impact of the project after it was launched sometime in January 2020. The region’s top cop also believes that the eventual implementation

in Barangay Old Bulatukan, Makilala, North Cotabato were initially alerted early Sunday morning about the possible entry of a truck loaded with contrabands. Tagum said around 4:30 a.m., a 6-wheeler cargo truck was flagged down and upon inspection yielded boxes of cigarettes and an unlicensed gun. “The cargo truck with the contraband was head-

ing to General Santos City from Davao del Sur,” Tagum said in a statement. He identified the arrested suspects as Rey Arnold Etil Mariscal, Rheno Quiao Mariscal, Romulo Calibo Soria, Pablito Agravante Elorcha, and Glenn Torres Judilla, all currently detained at the PRO-12 headquarters in Barangay Tambler, General Santos City.

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P5-M smuggled cigarettes intercepted in NorCot town

olicemen have foiled an attempt by suspected smugglers to transport PHP5 million worth of cigarettes and arrested five suspects in Makilala, North Cotabato, a top regional police official said Monday. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, the director of Police Regional Office in Soccsksargen (PRO-12), said a police team manning a checkpoint

FSMUGGLED, P10

EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy of Davao de Oro says slashing the budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) would deal a heavy blow to government efforts against insurgency as well as to provinces relying on the Barangay Development Program (BDP). Edge Davao

MGB urges transfer of residents away from critical GenSan river

he Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has recommended the relocation of residents near a critical river here due to the possible occurrence of flash floods and debris flow. Ariel Austin Acosta, MGB-12 supervising geologist, issued the recommendation on Monday in the wake of the impounding of huge volumes of water in the upper portion of the Klaja River in Barangay Conel here following a major landslide in the area last week. He said the “landslide dam,” which formed after a portion of a nearby mountain gave way last Nov. 9, could eventually collapse and trigger flash floods in

the low-lying areas. Based on an ocular inspection earlier conducted by the city government, around 500 to 800 meters of soil reportedly fell into the river and caused the impounding of an estimated 30 to 40 feet of water. Acosta, who led the assessment of the site over the weekend, said the impounded water poses danger to the nearby residents. “For a long-term solution, we need to relocate all the houses adjacent to Klaja because it is prone to flashflood and debris flow,” he said in an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo. If the immediate relocation is not possible, he said the preemptive evacuation of residents should be im-

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Mati City expects herd immunity by December

he Mati Incident Management Team targets to achieve herd immunity with 70 percent of the city’s total population vaccinated against Covid-19 before the end of the year. This after the earlier target of 40-percent vaccination rate imposed by the World Health Organization was achieved by the city earlier this month. Mati IMT commander Dr. Ben Hur Catbagan Jr. said that based on latest data, the Resbakuna Team has already vaccinated 50.8 percent of the target population of 107,442 for their 1st and 2nd doses. Dr. Catbagan said they

have been aggressively conducting vaccinations in the barangays aside from the fixed vaccination sites like in Baywalk, Madang Public Market, and at the Davao Oriental State University. He said that since the start of the city’s pediatric vaccination campaign, their teams have been vaccinating around 2,000 Matinians daily, adding that if this rate is maintained, herd immunity can be achieved by mid-December. The City of Mati is among the top 50 priority areas under the National Vaccination Operations Center. The Department of

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DCPDO to present anti-flooding plan By MAYA M. PADILLO

the recent flooding experienced in the city and the consolidation of infrastructure projects to address and mitigate it. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday said the city government of Davao through DCPDO prepared a planned infor-

mation drive about river flooding and street floodings affecting the city. Also included in the briefer are the projects that are being done and what needs to be done. “We have already prepared a comprehensive brief about the floodings no kaning sa river flooding na flooding and kaning sa flooding sa surface street na usually drainage ang problem. Our City Planning Development Office is ready to explain that to you. I-apil

napud didto ang mga projects nga ginabuhat ug ang mga kinahanglan buhaton,” the mayor said. Meanwhile, the flooding incident on November 10, 2021, resulted in the evacuation of more than nine thousand families and affected a total of 13 barangays. The Davao City Central 911 Operatives rescued 33 individuals and animals after search and rescue operations conducted in Jade

told Edge Davao that the corporation’s proposal to modernize DIA is currently being evaluated by DoTr, following the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP’s) submission on September 22, 2021. “Once we have completed the negotiations with the DOTr, we shall seek a formal approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board and then undergo a Swiss challenge as required

under the BOT Law,” Damuy said. The Swiss challenge is another form of public bidding, about the procurement of government projects instead of the usual bidding process. Chelsea Logistics has submitted an unsolicited proposal for the multi-billion DIA development project and was granted the original proponent status for the airport modernization project in May 2018.

The proposal was reported to have undergone several repetitions between and among NEDA, DoTr, CAAP, and the proponent. It was reported that NEDA wanted the proponent, which was also true for other PPP (public-private partnership) proponents, to comply with some necessary revisions and additional requirements, through DOTr and CAAP in compliance with relevant

he Davao City Planning and Development Office (DCPDO) is expected to provide a comprehensive briefer on Wednesday (Nov. 17) that aims to address floodings in Davao City. “Hopefully, we can provide the briefer tomorrow, we are still collating needed info per area of the flooding incident,” said Engr. Ivan C. Cortez, DCPDO head in a text message on Tuesday. The DCPDO underwent discussion on the planned information concerning

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Dennis Uy’s firm eyes to cap deal with DoTr on Davao airport modernization

abawenyo business tycoon Dennis Uy’s Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corporation is eyeing the completion of negotiations with the Department of Transportation (DoTr) for the modernization project of Davao International Airport (DIA). Chelsea Logistics and Infrastructure Holdings Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Chryss Alfonsus V. Damuy

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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As the government requires on-site workers to be vaccinated and with the proposal that beneficiaries of the anti-poverty program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) may not get their subsidy if unvaccinated, Iliganons line up in various venues for inoculation early morning Monday (15 November 2021). Shown here is the 200-meter queue at the Iligan City National High School that has spilled to the highway as early as 7 a.m. MindaNews photo by BOBBY TIMONERA

DA sees record high ‘palay’ yield this year R I

Firm putting up largest SEA solar project goes public

ncorporating learnings from last year’s performance and barring adverse weather conditions for the remaining weeks, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is confident it will hit another record in palay(unhusked rice) production this year.

The DA said the interventions, continued fund support from rice tariffs, and favorable weather are major factors that guarantee high yield for the remaining months of 2021. “It is likely that we would hit the 20-million metric ton level this year,” Secretary William Dar said in a news release on Monday, crediting the hard work of farmers and sustained support of

local government units and the private sector. “As we were able to distribute on time needed inbred seeds and other inputs, under President Duterte’s Philippine Integrated Rice Program (PIRP) and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), our farmers were encouraged to plant early, enabling them to harvest before the end of September, thus avoiding

the typhoons in October,” Dar added. An initial estimate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that for the third quarter (Q3) of the year, palay production would reach 3,752,730 metric tons (MT), which is 6.7 percent more than last year’s Q3 harvest of 3,516,346 MT. The total palay production for January to September 2021 amounts to 12.55 million MT, which is 5.5 percent more than the previous nine-month harvest in 2020 (11.90 million MT) and 10.9 percent more than in 2019 (11.32 million MT), based on PSA estimates. “With this year’s level of

production for the first nine months plus the estimated fourth quarter harvest, we are confident that we will surpass last year’s record output of 19.4 million MT,” Dar said, citing the report of DA-PIRP Director Dionisio Alvindia. Alvindia’s report stated that the Q4 production in 2020 (7.39 million MT) and 2019 (7.49 million MT) should provide an expectation “to harvest at least 7.4 million MT, bringing the total 2021 palay output to 19.95 million MT”. Apart from the RCEF, the PIRP includes the regular rice program and the Rice Resiliency Project that cover non-RCEF areas. (PR)

of financial services,” said Martha Sazon, CEO of Mynt which operates GCash. PayMaya, which directly competes with GCash, announced earlier that it secured a license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to put up its own digital bank, called Maya Bank. Sazon however said that not having its own bank al-

lows GCash to be “more flexible--whether we want to originate our own loans or partner with other banks.” “Becoming a digital bank is not a magic solution to be able to address all the current problems of the industry,” Sazon said. The Ayala-led fintech also said that while it has been profitable for the past

4 months, profitability is still currently not its main goal. “GCash is one of the very few fintech companies in the world that has proven that it can make money. But moving forward, our focus really is to grow the business, grow the user base and the use cases,” Sazon said. “And if that means los-

GCash not keen on setting up own digital bank even as value hits $2B

Cash has no plans of applying for a digital banking license like its main competitor as it prefers to remain a platform for other financial institutions instead of competing with them, the head of Globe’s fintech arm said on Monday. “Even without the digital banking license we are already able to offer a full suite

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enewable energy firm Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. (SPNEC) will raise funds to put up its largest solar project in Southeast Asia and boost the country’s renewable energy capacity. SPNEC got the nod of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering (IPO) next month. The company is offering 2.7 billion shares for PHP1 apiece between December 1 and 7 as the renewable energy firm targets to raise PHP2.7 billion. It will use PHP1.3 billion from the IPO to complete its first 50-megawatt project, while the excess will be used for land banking. “We thank the PSE and SEC for approving this IPO, which aims to give the public a new option to invest in RE and increase the RE capacity of the Philippines,” Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste said in a statement Monday. SPNEC will build a 500-megawatt (MW) project in Nueva Ecija, part of the 1-gigawatt projects of Solar Philippines eyed to operate by next year.

Solar Philippines’ 63MW project in Batangas with Korea Electric Power Corp. is already operational; its project with Razon Group’s Prime Infra in Tarlac is up for expansion at up to 200 MW; and the projects in Batangas and Cavite with a combined renewable energy capacity of 140 MW are expected to be fully operational by 2022. “We’ve decided to make this our group’s first venture into the public markets because this is the asset that we are proudest to showcase: a site where the largest solar project in Southeast Asia will rise, with potential for expansion given its proximity to Manila, to meet the growing demand for renewable energy in the Philippines,” Leviste added. During the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi reaffirmed the country’s commitment to supporting the global initiative of shifting to a cleaner source of energy. Among the commitments made by the Philippines is the “rapid scale-up deployment of clean power generation”. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY

Vendors pack charcoal in Agdao Market, Davao City on Monday. According to them, the demand for charcoal as an alternative fuel in households and food business establishments has increased due to the rising cost of liquefied petroleum gas or LPG. MindaNews Photo

ADB urges PH to develop clean energy sources

he Philippines has the potential to harvest clean alternative sources of energy while reducing its contribution to global warming, the Asian Development Bank said Monday. The country should explore opportunities in generating energy from solar and wind, among others, ADB’s Energy Division in Southeast Asia Toru Kubo told ANC. “Even though the Philippines and other countries they’re not the major contributor to the global warming side and changing of the climate, they are the most vulnerable, therefore they need to also show that the efforts are being made,”

Kubo said. “There’s so much potential out there, solar wind, these will be cost-effective in the mid to long term so the question is how to we develop those in an affordable, reliable way and help the Philippines become more energy independent,” he added. The ADB participated in the recently concluded UN’s 26th Conference of Parties (COP26). Kubo said there was progress as well as disappointment as the summit concluded. The COP26. in which the Philippines also participated, focused on financing and the commitment to reduce global warming.

Cash remittances hit $2.7B in September C

ash remittances from overseas Filipinos coursed through banks grew 5.2 percent growth to $2.737 billion in September compared to the same month last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Monday. This brought total cash remittances from January to September, to $23.117 billion, up 5.6 percent compared to the first 9 months of 2020, the BSP added. “The expansion in cash remittances was

due to the increase in receipts from land-based and sea-based workers, which rose by 6.2 percent (to $2.156 billion from $2.031 billion) and 1.9 percent (to $581 million from $570 million), respectively,” the BSP

of the Treasury (BTr) is scheduled to auction on Tuesday another batch of retail treasury bond (RTB). RTB is among the government’s retail securities intended for small investors since minimum placement is PHP5,000. The government has been encouraging the public to invest in government-issued debt securities not only to secure their funds for the future but also to be part of the economic recovery. Even with the pandemic, the government remained active in pro-

moting its debt securities issuance through the conduct of virtual roadshows that has greater reach among Filipinos overseas. Ricafort noted that availment by more Filipinos to government-issued bonds will boost the state’s capacity to finance programs targeted to address the impact of the pandemic. He said the virtual roadshows provided a venue for more people to understand the “important social function of investing in RTBs to support the governments’ various Covid-19 pro-

said. Personal remittances in September meanwhile reached $3 billion, 4.8 percent higher than in the same month last year. From January to September, personal remittances were up 5.7 percent to $25.7 billion. The United States, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea contributed largely to the increase in remittances in January-September 2021, the central bank said.

In terms of country origin, the US registered the highest share of overall remittances at 40.8 percent in the first nine months of 2021, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar, and South Korea. The Philippines is one of the biggest recipients of remittances, which power household consumption and drive the economy.

grams.” Gains from fund-raising activities will be very beneficial “for overall economic development and nation-building, thereby further increasing the appeal of investing in RTBs and other government securities,” he said. “Further increasing the awareness of the general public would be key especially through social media and other forms of advertisements/ announcements, as well as ensuring greater ease of transacting RTBs and other government securities through harness-

ing further digital/online banking channels would be among the key improvements over the past 5 years,” he said.

Tech innovations to further help gov’t debt issuance

n economist said further utilization of digital channels is expected to help boost the government’s reach vis-a-vis its retail debt issuance. In a reply to e-mailed questions from the Philippines News Agency, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said roadshows, now done virtually because of the pandemic, to promote the government’s fund-raising activities are a win-win move both for the government and the public.

“This forms part of the further development of the country’s capital markets that further democratizes the distribution of government securities within the reach of the masses/investing public at a minimum investment of PHP5,000 with much higher yield while having among the safest securities issued by the national government and highly marketable/tradable at the same time, thereby also effectively tapping more of the excess/surplus funds from the general public,” he said. For one, the Bureau

This move is “similar to the digital platform/ infrastructure adopted during the Retail Dollar Bond (RDB) offering more than a month ago, thereby making the fund-raising and distribution processes faster and more efficient, in response to the changing business environment and the demand/requirements of the investing public,” he added. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On claims by retired Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. that President Rodrigo Duterte was being controlled by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go:

In the years I have known the President, he has always been his own man. The President stands by his own decisions, has always been firm in his directives to us who are working for him, and is not as easily swayed or influenced by others as purported by the general.”

Delfin Lorenzana

National Defense Secretary

EDITORIAL Jabs for minors We said it before, we say it again. Covid-19 is not gone. People are safe just because they have been vaccinated. For the unvaccinated, that is a different question. Especially the minors.

With the restrictions slowly taken down by the government for areas considered low-risk and with high vaccination rate, more people are feeling at ease with the situation which is a good sign. In other words, we are slowly going back to our normal lives before Covid-19 hit us. However, we are not completely over with the pandemic.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s call on the local government units (LGUs) to pass local ordinances restricting unvaccinated minors to roam around public places must be heeded. It is the LGU’s responsibility to safeguard its own residents from health risks. The President’s call is one with urgency as we deal with a situation where rules have been relaxed but doing so also pose danger to the unvaccinated younger members of

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Thus, local government units must consider passing ordinances for age restrictions among minors who can be allowed to go to the malls and public places. Children, especially those who are not yet protected against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), will remain at risk of severe infection.

Likewise, it is also the responsibility of parents to keep their children away from the dreaded virus. A recent incident was reported ot a twoyear-old child who tested positive for Covid-19 three days after visiting a mall. The government is currently vaccinating young people aged 12 to 17 years old around the country. Both the national government and the health authorities are now completing the necessary assessments and safety protocols to start the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old. The full cooperation of the national government, health authorities, LGUs and parents is vital as we move forward back to our normal lives. 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

the society.

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

PEOPLE ARE SMOKING LESS People from all over the world are smoking less. From 1.32 billion smokers in 2015, it went down to 1.30 billion last year, according to data released recently by the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO). The fourth WHO global tobacco trends report estimates that the number is expected to continue to drop to 1.27 billion by 2025. “Sixty countries are now on track to achieving the voluntary global target of a 30% reduction by 2025, an increase from two years ago, when only 32 countries were on course,” the WHO said in a press statement. The numbers are very encouraging, says WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, but more work must be done. “We still have a long way to go, and tobacco companies will continue to use every trick in the book to defend the gigantic profits they make from peddling their deadly wares,” he said. Ruediger Krech, Director of WHO Department of Health Promotion, attributed some of the progress to measures aligned with the WHO Frame-

work Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), while maintaining that success is “fragile.” “It is clear that tobacco control is effective, and we have a moral obligation to our people to move aggressively in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals link,” he pointed out. If you haven’t tried smoking yet, don’t. And if you are already smoking, you better quit before it’s too late. Otherwise… “Tobacco kills one person every four seconds,” the United Nations health agency says. Despite a steady reduction in tobacco use globally, tobacco still kills over 8 million people every year. Another one million die due to second-hand smoke exposure. A report by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance in 2014 showed the Philippines has about 17 million smokers – or nearly a third of the adult population. Nearly half of all Filipino men and 9% of women smoke. The study said the habit costs the economy nearly $4 billion a year in healthcare and productivity losses. If you smoke, there’s no way you can escape from its consequences. The reason why

cigarettes harm nearly every organ of the body is due to what it contains. The WHO says there are some 4,000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke. “When burned, cigarettes create more than 7,000 chemicals,” the American Lung Association states. “At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are toxic. Many of these chemicals are also found in consumer products but these products have warning labels. (But) there is no such warning for the toxins in tobacco smoke.” Among the chemicals found in tobacco smoke and where these are also found: acetone (found in nail polish remover), acetic acid (an ingredient in hair dye), ammonia (a common household cleaner), arsenic (used in rat poison), benzene (found in rubber cement and gasoline), butane (used in lighter fluid), and cadmium (active component in battery acid). Here are more chemicals: carbon monoxide (released in car exhaust fumes), formaldehyde (embalming fluid), lead (used in batteries), naphthalene (an ingredient in mothballs), methanol (a main component

in rocket fuel), nicotine (used as an insecticide), tar (material for paving roads), and toluene (used to manufacture paint). “Smoking causes addiction to nicotine, a stimulant drug that is in tobacco,” says the website medlineplus.gov. “Nicotine addiction makes it much harder for people to quit smoking.” That’s why if you haven’t started smoking, don’t do it! It’s no wonder why smoking is hazardous to your health. The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. Estimates show smoking increases the risk for coronary heart disease and stroke by 2-4 times and of developing lung cancer for men by 25 times and for women by 25.7 times. “Smoking causes diminished overall health, increased absenteeism from work, and increased health care utilization and cost,” the CDC reminds. Smoking can cause lung disease by damaging your airways and the small air sacs (alveoli) found in the lungs. Lung diseases caused by smoking include COPD (chronic ob-

structive pulmonary disease), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. “Tobacco smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD, causing swelling and rupturing of the air sacs in the lungs, which reduces the lung’s capacity to take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide,” the WHO says. One in five smokers will develop COPD – which causes episodes of breathlessness, coughing and mucus production – in their lifetime, and almost half of COPD deaths are attributable to smoking, the United Nations health agency says. Cigarette smoking causes most cases of lung cancer. “Smokers are up to 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer in their lifetime, compared with non-smokers,” the WHO says. “Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke at home or in the workplace have a 30% higher risk of developing lung cancer.” According to WHO, tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, over 7 seven million of whom die as a direct result of smoking tobacco while around 1.2 million others from second-hand smoke.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

RISE OF A HISTORICAL INSTITUTE Appreciating History per se has almost always been an exclsuive interest in academia. In Davao region, except for some leading Davao institutions, the only other strong historical interest comes from journalists (print, broadcast, and online) who have embraced the significance that the past to the present and, likely, the future. Recently, an important development has sprung up. Holy Cross of Davao College, the only school to offer AB History today as a degree, has commenced building an institute to specifically focus research on Davao, with strong emphasis on Church history in the region. Unlike other academic institutions dealing on multi-disciplinary engagements, the Institute of Davao Studies (IDS) has an initial 21-point agenda that hopes to ignite and revive

dynamic interest in the value of History in understanding past events. Among the objectives are: To develop the institute into a center of ecclesial research, mainly focused on Catholicism and Christianity, become repository of indigenous dictionaries, and developed into a library of history books authored by local and non-Davao writers. It also envisions to create a mini-archive cum museum that brings together newly collected historical artifacts. As a research hub, IDS intends to print in book form original research works contributed to or done by the institute, conduct quarterly lecture series on local History with experts as resource speakers, stock up on a definitive encyclopedia of biographies of persons and institutions of Davao, and publish a comprehensive almanac titled

‘Today in Davao’s History’. Moreover, it aims to conduct weekly campus displays aimed at generating student interest on History, institutionalizing links with local government units in the preparation of their own town histories, organizing an historical association or society with exclusive student membership, creating scholarship opportunities in accord with LGUs, corporations, and foundations, holding monthly campus lectures for students to boost and inspire awareness in History and promoting a heritage walk with the HCDC as historical vortex. On the side, it plans to transform the entire HCDC campus into a corridor of historical displays and exhibits, promote History as a subject of masteral and doctoral dissertations, engage the LGUs in using the insti-

tute as partner in tourism and history lectures, and create an archive of oral history generated from interviews made with the involvement of important personages. Moreover, the IDS also plans to establish a professional History chair through corporate sponsors, promote historical academic linkages with various campuses in Davao Region, and launch an institute-led school and annual inter-school historical quiz. Opening the IDS answers an otherwise neglected fact that local history, which provides the brass tacks that shape the development of national history, has always been an inferior field of study. Instead of depending solely on wiseacres who formulate their own understanding on how settlements are organized, a more system-

atic approach will afford towns, cities, and provinces clearer appreciation of the events that have shaped its growth. A least appreciated aspect of the IDS thrust is the effort it will invest in introducing historical awareness in local government units which, hopefully, will result with towns opening their own public libraries that double as archive, museum, reading center, and depository of records donated by wellknown and important individuals, families and institutions. Unlike in other countries, local history research outside the academia has been not zealously pursued under the aegis of public and private institutions. In fact, there is a dearth of documents available to researchers that has made historical study more difficult and at times discouraging.

EDGEDAVAO EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 209 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY AS SUBARU OFFERS YULETIDE DEALS THIS NOVEMBER

ash discounts, low downpayment, low monthly, or zero interest promos are up for grabs

Motor Image Pilipinas, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Subaru vehicles in the Philippines, welcomes the holiday season with a full suite of offers for its customers to avail of. Ranging from generous cash discounts to special financing plans to free accessory and maintenance packages, Subaru is confident that each and every one of its customers will find a deal that best suits them. There is no better time for customers to drive home the brand-new Subaru of their dreams and relive or create new memories with all of their loved ones. SALES For the month of November, interested cus-

tomers may avail of any one of the following offers: New Subaru XV 2.0 i-S EyeSight CVT, SRP 1,908,000 1. As low as Php 20,710 per month 2. As low as Php 269,000 down payment 3. As high as 210K outright cash savings

Subaru Forester 2.0 i-L EyeSight CVT, SRP 1,938,000 1. As low as Php 21,036 per month 2. As low as Php 275,000 down payment 3. As high as 210K outright cash savings 4. Combination of 130K outright cash savings + GT Lite Kit + 40K worth of Service vouchers

Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S EyeSight CVT, SRP 2,068,000 1. As low as Php 23,050 per month 2. As high as 110K outright cash savings Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S EyeSight GT Edition CVT, SRP 2,170,000 1. 30K outright cash savings

All-New Subaru Evoltis 2.4 Touring EyeSight CVT, SRP 3,480,000 1. Zero interest for 12 months at 40% down payment 2. As high as 100K outright cash savings

Furthermore, all customers who either walk-in or book an appointment

with a Subaru sales consultant will instantly receive special Subaru merchandise upon arrival at the showroom. They shall then receive another premium Subaru item upon their completion of a test drive of any Subaru model. Indicated prices exclude freight and other additional logistical costs that may apply and are

subject to vary depending on location. Interested customers are encouraged to contact or visit their nearest Subaru showroom to learn more about Subaru’s promotions on its entire line-up of models, each equipped with over 100 standard safety features and Subaru’s signature Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system.

LANDBANK receives ADFIAP award for driving local recovery

he Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) received the Merit Award for Outstanding Development Project for Local Economic Development from the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), citing the state-run Bank’s efforts to support local communities to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The award for LANDBANK’s RISE UP LGUs Lending Program (Restoration and Invigoration Package for a Self-sufficient Economy towards UPgrowth for LGUs) was given at the Sustainable Development Awards 2021, held during the 44th ADFIAP Annual Meeting on October 2728, 2021. Launched in July 2020, the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program—with a P150-billion program fund allocation—aims to provide affordable and accessible financing to Local Government Units (LGUs) to stimulate economic activities and generate more livelihood opportunities. As of September 2021, LANDBANK has approved loans amounting to P90.95 billion for 330 LGUs nationwide.

“This recognition adds spring to our step, as the path towards a better normal is still riddled with obstacles and difficulties. But together—with a determined and hopeful resolve—we can do our part to contribute to the unified goal of overcoming this pandemic,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo during the 44th ADFIAP Annual Meeting on 28 October 2021. LANDBANK launched the RISE UP LGUs Lending Program in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the umbrella organization of all leagues of LGUs and locally elected government officials in the country. For the first nine months of the year, LANDBANK has also released a total of P60.35 billion in loans to support various LGU projects, which include agriculture and aquaculture initiatives, infrastructure, healthcare, and transportation, among others. LANDBANK remains committed to supporting local government partners towards building resilient and inclusive local communities as part of its mandate of serving the nation

NBCUNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS & DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER LAUNCHES DREAMWORKS ON SKYCABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES

hilippines – 15 November 2021 – NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer (NBCUIN & DTC) today announced the launch of DreamWorks – the 24-hour channel dedicated to kids and family entertainment – on SKYcable, the Pay TV service offering the widest selection of channels from any cable provider in the Philippines. Available from November 15, the channel will be offered in English and Tagalog language options as part of multiple SKYcable packs*. DreamWorks will

provide kids and families with hours of entertainment, featuring Emmy® award-winning, original television series such as Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, Dragons: Race to the Edge, and The Boss Baby: Back in Business. Loaded with action, adventure and imagination, the channel will offer SKYcable customers added value to their subscriptions, providing kids and families with hours of entertainment on the channel. “We are pleased to be working with our partners at SKYcable to bring DreamWorks’ animated series and its beloved

characters to even more households across the Philippines,” said Christine Fellowes, Managing Director, NBCUniversal International Networks & DTC, Asia Pacific. “DreamWorks’ captivating content slate will keep SKYcable customers tuned in to premium studio content featuring some of the best animation currently in the market.” “From us here at SKYcable, we welcome this new partnership with DreamWorks in our aim to give access to entertainment options of all genres on cable TV, especially during these unprecedented times. Not

only that, but more kids can continue to unleash their imaginative minds by watching its fun, animated shows, from “Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny” to “Trolls: The Beat Goes On,” leaving a memorable impact on their childhood,” commented James A. Dumlao, SKY’s Head for Programming and Airtime Business. To celebrate the launch of DreamWorks on SKYcable, the Pay TV service is offering a 30day free preview trial of DreamWorks to all eligible SKYcable customers from November 15 to December 14, 2021.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 209 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

ENVIRONMENT

DYNAMITE FISHING:

THUNDER UNDER THE SEA By HENRYLITO D. TACIO NOAA and Alamy

earning a lesson from experience is hard. But it is harder and even more painful if you lose someone forever. That was what happened to Arman.

He remembered it well. He was only 24 years old when it happened. One of the four sons of a fisherman, he filed a leave of absence from his work and came home to celebrate his mother’s birthday the following day. His brothers were all married and he is the youngest. That night, his father asked if he could accompany him fishing in the open sea in one of the remote areas in Davao Gulf. The last time Arman did it was when he was only 19. “I want to give something to your mother on her birthday,” his father told him. The father and son left home at around 9 in the evening. They went straight to the sea. They were in the middle of the sea when his father took something. It was dynamite. He was furious when he saw it. “Tatay, I told you it is against the law to use it,” he said. “Just this time,” the father replied. “I want something big for your mother’s birthday.” Before he could say anything, his father threw the dynamite into the water but it was only in the air when it exploded. His father was

badly hit and died instantly. Arman lost his left eye. Although there is already a law banning dynamite fishing in the country, it is still very much around. Still widespread Pramod Ganapathiraju, in last year’s evaluation of the Fisheries Monitoring Council and Surveillance report for the Philippines, wrote that destructive fisheries practices, including dynamite fishing, is still “widespread.” The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said the country loses P68.5 billion annually to illegal fishing. Dynamite fishing is among the most destructive forms of illegal fishing. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), a line agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said that “an average of 10,000 dynamite blasts are estimated to occur every day” in the country. In June last year, Basilan police confiscated 200 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and components for dynamite fishing. In Bacolod City, five boxes of fish caught using dynamites were seized by BFAR per-

sonnel and officials of the Philippine Coast Guard in a fish landing port in barangay Banago. Since World War II Dynamite fishing is practiced not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of Southeast Asia, as well as in the Aegean Sea and coastal Africa. But the Philippines get special mention as it has been documented by Ernst Jünger in his book, Storm of Steel. “Dynamite or blast fishing became rampant in the Philippines after the Second World War,” wrote Gregg Yan, communication officer of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). “American soldiers would sometimes lob grenades into shoals of fish, providing local fishing communities with a lucrative new means of instantly increasing their catches.” Nothing beats dynamite fishing for sheer efficiency. But it’s an incredibly destructive practice. “These fishermen use powdered ammonium nitrate (usually from fertilizer), kerosene and small pebbles, which are packed inside a glass bottle and covered with a blasting cap,” Yan wrote. “New designs integrate long metal rods which absorb sound and act as sinkers.” The impact underwater is devastating. “A single blast’s shockwave typically

travels at about 1500 meters per second (the length of 15 football fields), killing or maiming every fish in range and often liquefying their internal organs,” Yan wrote. “The fish are then collected either by divers using hookah air compressors where an on-board engine pumps air through a garden hose, or using nets.” Inhumane way “Dynamite fishing is an inhumane way of fishing,” an environmentalist wrote. “It is an effective way for fishermen to get a lot of fish fast and simple. By having the abundance of fish to sell, the fishermen slowly get out of the poverty cycle. Most local Filipino fishermen do not realize that by destroying the coral reefs, they destroy the homes of the fish, resulting in less

area to fish.” In fact, the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) considers dynamite fishing “one of the most destructive forms of fishing because it discriminately kills any animal in the blast area and devastates corals.” A New York Times report agrees: “Dynamite fishing decimates entire ocean food chains and the corals where the fish nest and grow. Blast fishing kills the entire food chain, including plankton, fish both large and small, and the juveniles that do not grow old enough to spawn. Without healthy corals, the ecosystem and the fish that live within it begin to die off.” Biggest threat to corals Most researchers believe dynamite fishing is

among the biggest threats to the coral reef ecosystems. “Coral reefs that may have taken thousands of years to grow are reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds, obscured by wafting clouds of silt,” Yan wrote. An estimated 10-15 per cent of the total fisheries come from coral reefs. About 80-90 per cent of the income of small island communities in the Philippines comes from fisheries. “Coral reef fish yields range from 20 to 25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs,” says Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary. The Philippines is home to over 400 local species of corals, which is more than what is found in the famous Great Barrier Reef of

FDYNAMITE, P10

EDGEDAVAO

REVITALIZED... FROM 2

of this project nationwide would hasten the government’s effort in Ending the Local Communist Armed Conflict following the stoppage in the recruitment activities of the Criminal Terrorist Groups and through the surrender of their members as a result of the PNP’s actual delivery of government services to the people in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.

He said he hopes that like PRO 11 the whole country can as well experience the benefits of the services and development programs provided by R-PSB to people Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAS) barangays. “The PNP shall gain the trust and confidence of the people as it serves as image building for the organization,” Escobal said.

People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the countryside. The program aims to eradicate the root causes of the insurgency, poverty, disease, lack of education and opportunities, and social injustice in far-flung communities across the country identified to have been influenced by the communist ideology. To achieve this, the BDP provides a grant of funds to identified NPA-cleared barangays to implement community-driven socio-economic development projects to former conflict-affected communities. Uy urged senators to visit former conflict-affected areas in the Davao Region which are now cleared of insurgency and see for themselves how the BDP transformed them into peaceful and developed areas. Under Republic Act 11518 or the 2021 General Appropriations Act, the national government appropriated PHP16.44 billion for the implementation of various development programs and projects for the 822 insurgency-cleared barangays in the country, including 215 villages in the Davao Region, this year. The 215 barangays 82 are from this city, 65 in Davao de Oro, 32 in Davao Oriental, 23 in Davao del Norte, eight in Davao del Sur, and five in Davao Occidental - will be given PHP20 million worth of funds each under the BDP. “We hope that you will realize its impact not just in the provinces or LGUs but on the national scope. It will have a big impact on national security. Once insurgency will end, then we can focus on the external security threats of

the country as long as internal conflict with CPP-NPA-NDF will be resolved,” Uy added. He disclosed that Davao Region has more than 20 NPA fronts, 15 of which have already been dismantled. “We are seeing a decline of influence by the dismantling of more than 15 fronts and we only have around six or seven fronts and we targeted to clear it by 2022,” Uy said. He emphasized that projects under the BDP are identified by people from the barangay themselves and not by the provincial or local officials. “I am begging our senators to look at the situation. I’m not speaking only for my LGU but on behalf of all LGUs who still have a BDP support next year which could not push through because of the budget cut,” Uy added. A total of 1,406 villages nationwide are expected to benefit from the BDP next year. They are set to receive PHP20 million each to fund their anti-insurgency projects. Each recipient barangay will spend the PHP20-million fund through farm to market roads amounting to PHP12 million; school buildings PHP3 million; water and sanitation systems - PHP2 million; reforestation and national greening program – PHP1.5; and health stations - PHP1.5 million. The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)

Valley, Tigatto, and Bacaca. The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) has called on Dabawenyos to always heed pre-emptive evacuation warnings for their safety and avoid being

trapped during calamities such as flooding occurrence while the Barangay officials and their rescue volunteers are also requested to be proactive in relaying advisories provided by the city government’s operation center.

NTF-ELCAC... FROM 2

DCPDO... FROM 3 SUN’S... FROM 11

Beverly was called for a foul on a layup attempt by Booker and when replays showed very little contact, fans started chanting toward the officials. Following his technical foul, Towns went to the bench and waved his arms up and down, encouraging the crowd to show its displeasure with the calls. The Suns, meanwhile, started hitting shots. Landry Shamet and Booker hit 3s and a 14-5 run gave the Suns a seven-point lead, their largest of the game. Towns scored nine points in a 9-2 run and gave Minnesota a 78-77 lead with a deep 3, setting up the crazy finish as both teams started making shots after a tough offensive game for both.

TIP-INS Suns: The 18 points in the first quarter were the fewest in an opening period for Phoenix this season. The 40 points in the first half tied their lowest output in a half. But Minnesota’s 38 points were the fewest allowed by the Suns in a half this season … Ayton played 33 minutes in his return. … Paul had two points on 1-of-7 shooting through three quarters. Timberwolves: C Naz Reid missed the game with right foot soreness. Coach Chris Finch said the injury occurred in Saturday’s loss to the Clippers, but Reid wasn’t sure what happened. … Edwards finished with nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds. He shot 2 of 11 from the field.

VOL.14 ISSUE 209 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

SMUGGLED... FROM 2

“The seizure of these smuggled items is the result of persistent information operation efforts of men and women of Police Regional Office 12. This only manifests that our

relentless effort to curve illegal activities in our area of responsibility can be achieved with our collaborative actions along with the community,” Tagum said. (PNA)

plementedduringheavyrains.

“It means that the soil is softalreadyandstartingtoliquefy,andmighteventuallygive way,” he explained. Acostasaidthelocalgovernment,especiallythebarangay,shouldassignateamthat willregularlymonitorthesite andalertresidentsincaseof possible disasters. Dr. Agripino Dacera Jr., headoftheCityDisasterRisk ReductionandManagement Office,saidnoresidentswere affected in last week’s landslide although there were somecropsthatwerereportedly destroyed. Hesaidtheyalreadyalerted the nearby residents and areworkingonthenecessary interventionstopreventpossible disasters. “It is a cause for alarm, but there’s no need to panic. We don’t see any serious threatcomingfromitandrest assuredthatwewilldosomethingaboutit,”hesaid.(MindaNews)

MGB... FROM 3

MGB-12identifiedtheKlajaRiverlastAprilasamongthe areasinthecitythatareprone toflashfloodsanddebrisflow basedonitsupdatedgeohazard assessment. Theagencyhasrecorded landslidesinthe1990snear thelatestsubsidenceinSitio PulatboofConel,whichisadjacenttoPurok15ofBarangay Mabuhay. Acostasaidtheimpounded water could further increasesinceatleastfourupstreamtributariesdraintothe Klaja River. Hesaidthatalthoughthere arenohousesinthesurrounding area, it could eventually affectthelowerportionsofthe riveranditsoutlets,especially the Buayan River. The site should be declaredoff-limitstoresidents andvisitorsasitwasobserved thatthesoilblockingtheriveralreadyhaswaterseeping from it, he added.

MATI... FROM 3

Health has added more doctors and nurses to the city to

helpinthestrongvaccination campaign of the City of Mati LGU. The Mati IMT is also now busypreparingfortheNationalCovidImmunizationcome November 29-December 1 which aims to inoculate 15 million Filipinos during the 3-daynationwidecampaign. The City of Mati has a totalpopulationof153,488.The Mati IMT just needs to vaccinate70percentor107,442to achieve herd immunity. Of the 26 barangays in Mati,Dahicanhasthehighest vaccinationrateof66.72percent followed by Matiao, Ba-

DENNIS... FROM 3

rangay Central, Don Enrique Lopez,Bobon,Lawigan,Tamisan, Taguibo, Dawan, Sainz, Danao,Libudon,Buso,Badas, Culian, Luban, Lanca, Don Salvador Lopez, Don Martin Marundan,Sanghay,Tagbinonga,Tagabakid,Mayo,Macambol,Cabuaya,andMamaliwith just22.66percentvaccination rate. TheCityofMatiLGUunder the administration of Mayor MichelleNakpilRabatcontinuestoencourageitsresidents toavailofthefreevaccination forage12yearsoldandabove. First dose vaccinees are also given10kilosricebythelocal governmentasincentive.(CIO MATI)

legal provisions for similar PPP proposals. In April this year, CAAP transmitted to NEDA the project evaluation report, revised PE (project evaluation) forms, jobs generation report, proponent’s letter indicating sufficiency of net worth to undertake the project, financial and economic models, and revised draft concession agreement, all in compliance with the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) checklist of documentary requirements. The rehabilitation aims to

increase international traffic thus the proponent plans to partner with an airport operator with an international network to facilitate new route development by working with the government to develop new routes. The proposed developments for DIA include a parallel taxiway, reconfiguration and expansion of the passenger terminal building, land-side and air-side improvements, and the introduction of new airport information technology (IT). By Maya M. Padillo

ing money just to invest more,

then we are not hung up on just making money,” Sazon said. Globe’s CEO Ernest Cu meanwhile also said that GCash is not keen on doing an initial public offering soon. A Globe official was quoted earlier this year that the telco’s fintech arm was eyeing an IPO to fund its expansion. But after a fresh infusion of cash from international investors which drove its valuation to around $2 billion, Cu said GCash was in no rush to list. “So far right I think being

private is good, we can raise all the capital that we need--attracting world-class investors who also probably gave us the seal of approval as the definitive fintech investment in the country today,” Cu said. Globe led a surge in telco stocks recently, driving the company’s stock to record highs. Some analysts attributed this to excitement over GCash’s explosive growth. The Ayala-led telco reported last Friday that its consolidated net income grew 13 percent to P18 billion for the first 9 months of the year.

games against China at the Xebio Arena in Sendai on November 27-28. Earlier this month, reign-

ing US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso said she will be representing Japan in future golf events starting in

GCASH... FROM 4

MARLOU’S... FROM 11

DYNAMITE... FROM 9

Australia. Unfortunately, these

have been slowly dying. As early as the 1970s, the East-West Center in Hawaii reported that more than half of the country’s reefs were “in advanced states of destruction.” It added that only about 25% were considered to be “in good condition” while only 5% were “in excellent condition.” In 2007, Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries, stated that only five percent of the country’s coral reefs were in “excellent condition.” These are the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, and Verde Island Passage off Batangas. Large blasted areas are very slow to recover because corals have difficulty establishing on loose or sandy substrate. “The damaged coral reefs from blast fishing led to instant declines in fish species wealth and quantity,” Wikipedia explains. “Explosives used in blast fishing not only kill fish but also destroy coral skeletons, creating unbalanced coral rubble,” the free encyclopedia continues. “The elimination of the fish also eliminates the resilience of the coral reefs to climate change, further hindering their recovery.” The effects of climate change to coral reefs – warming waters and acidification which causes bleaching – are difficult to address. But if the stresses caused by human activities like dynamite fishing, coral reefs have a better chance of surviving. Several studies have shown that single blasts cause reefs to recover over 5-10 years, while widespread blasting, as often practiced, “transforms these biodiverse ecosystems into continuous unstable rubble.” Annihilation of biodiversity It’s not only coral reefs that are annihilated. Also suffering loss are endangered species that live in the deep sea. A few years back, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported of a massacre of about 22 rare dwarf sperm whales and 21 dolphins off Siargao Island. “The whales, apparently 22 of them, were killed by dynamite fishing,” Gianni Boy Grifoni, a Swiss-Italian marine biologist, was quoted as saying. And then there is the human cost. In September this year, two fishermen were killed and two others were wounded as a result of illegal dynamite fishing. One fisherman ignited an improvised dynamite that suddenly exploded on his hand. “Dynamite fishing is prohibited in the Philippines, but many Filipino fishers still use homemade bombs,” Yan wrote. “Some fishermen lose limbs and sometimes even the sight in one or both eyes due to bombs exploding prematurely.” Some tricks But despite all these, fishermen are still doing it and the government seems to have had little success in stemming

the practice. The reason is that some fishermen use some tricks so they cannot be caught by authorities. Among these are the following: • Blasting artificial reefs (ARs) which have become effective fish aggregating devices. In most instances, ARs – which are designed to increase fish population in degraded coastal area – are blasted beyond repair; • Piggybacking on the operation of commercial fishermen. By tailing the big boys of the industry who use sophisticated equipment, the explosive experts are able to track down schools of fish which they blast away before the other side could even cast their cumbersome net; and • Employing local residents to gather the blasted fish. In areas protected by authorities, the blast fishers explode and run, leaving the task of collecting the dead fish to trusted local contacts. This arrangement enables them to minimize brushes with law enforcers. All-out war As early as 1954, the government recognized dynamite fishing as a destructive form of catching fish from the open seas. “Fish is basically an essential food of our people and therefore the government should strive to preserve the fish resources of our country,” said Executive Order No. 40 of 1954 which was signed by President Ramon Magsaysay. In 2012, the BFAR declared an “all-out war” against dynamite fishing and other illegal fishing practices. Actually, it is the implementation of Republic Act No. 4003. Article 3, Section 12 states: “The use of dynamite or other explosives for the stupefying, disabling, killing or taking of fish or other aquatic animals, or under water for any purpose except in the execution of bona fide engineering work and the destruction of wrecks or obstructions to navigation; or the gathering by any means of the fishes or other aquatic animals stupefied, disabled or killed by the action of dynamite or other explosives shall be unlawful.” On the other hand, “the possession and/or finding, of dynamite, blasting caps, and other explosives in any fishing boat shall constitute a presumption that the said dynamite and/or blasting caps and explosives are being used for fishing purposes” and “that the possession or discovery in any fishing boat of fish caught or killed by the use of dynamite or other explosives under expert testimony shall constitute a presumption that the owner if present in the fishing boat or the fishing crew have been fishing with dynamite or other explosives.” When asked why dynamite fishing ceased to exist, Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero, former director of the Philippine Council for Marine and Aquatic Research and Development, cites poverty, recklessness and lack of education on environmental protection as the reasons. “Fast money, too,” he adds.

SCHRODER... FROM 11

The Cavaliers went ahead by 11 in the first and second quarters before carrying a 39-37 lead into the break. Mobley had one point, five rebounds, four assists and three turnovers, while Grant Williams paced Boston with nine points. Isaac Okoro scored nine points and Osman had seven in the first as Cleveland held a 22-19 advantage. Tatum had six points and Robert Williams III grabbed six boards before exiting with a sore left knee.

TEMPORARY SERVICE Schroder averaged 26.5 points in his first four starts filling in for injured G Jaylen Brown, but coach Ime Udoka said Schroder will return to a bench role once Brown returns. “We like our regular starting lineup,” Udoka explained. “Dennis is a pseudo sixth starter for us, coming off the bench and finishing games.” Brown missed his fifth game with a strained right hamstring, but went through some drills earlier in the day.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 209 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

SPORTS

Matt Aquino, son of former PBA star Marlou, has been called up to the Japanese National Team.

Suns edge Wolves for ninth straight win

INNEAPOLIS — Chris Paul scored 19 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, Devin Booker had 29 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 9996, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) for their ninth straight win. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 12 rebounds in his return to the Suns after missing five games with a right lower leg contusion. Phoenix won a day after a 115-89 victory in Houston. Booker made one of two foul shots with 16.1 seconds to give the Suns a 98-96 lead. Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russell missed a 3-point and Anthony Edwards

couldn’t control an offensive rebound. Booker made another free throw and the Timberwolves’ last-second heave was short. Karl-Anthony Towns had 35 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which has lost eight of nine. Russell scored 22 points, including 11 in a wild, backand-forth fourth quarter. Malik Beasley shot made 4 of 10 on 3s for 12 points. A close game throughout turned Phoenix’s way midway through the third as Minnesota became frustrated with the officiating. Edwards and Towns were called for technical fouls in the span of 16 seconds. Teammate Patrick

FSUNS, P10

Marlou’s son called up to Japan’s national team

nother athlete of Filipino heritage might represent Japan in future sporting events.

Basketball player Matt Aquino has been called up to join Japan’s men’s basketball team ahead of the November window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. The Japanese Basketball Association announced on Monday that Aquino, the son of former Philippine Centennial Team member Marlou, will be part of a 24-man pool that would be considered for Japan’s first matches in

the WCQ. The 25-year-old Aquino, whose grandmother is Japanese, has been holding a Japanese passport since his childhood days, making him eligible to play for Japan as a local. If Aquino, who is currently playing for Shinshu in the B.League, gets to play for Japan in the November window, he would become ineligible to jump ships and play for Gilas Pil-

ipinas. But the six-foot-nine forward-center bared that he really wanted to join Japan’s national team. “I am honored to be selected as a candidate for the Japanese national team. I have been asking for play in Japan, so I am proud of this selection. I will do my best to produce results on behalf of Shinshu!” Aquino said through Shinshu’s website. Aquino is not the only Brave Warrior called up for the “Akatsuki Five” as Yuta Okada has been selected to

the pool as well. Completing the pool are Kosuke Takeuchi, Takatoshi Furukawa, Ryuichi Kishimoto, Makoto Hiejima, Aki Chambers, Luke Evans, Yuma Fujji, Yutaro Suda, Tenketsu Harimoto, Masaaki Morikawa, Kengo Nomoto, Yuki Togashi, Leo Vendrame, Shuta Hara, Shuto Ano, Takumi Saito, Keita Imamura, Eliet Kojima, Zack Moore, Ryo Terashima, Avi Schafer, and Yudai Nishida. Japan begins its WCQ quest with back-to-back

left as Cleveland rallied from a 19-point deficit in a 91-89 win over Boston. Both teams played their third game in four nights. Ricky Rubio scored 26 of his 28 points in the second half and Cedi Osman had 26 points and five assists off the bench for the Cavaliers (9-6), who have won six of eight. Cleveland rookie Evan Mobley missed all 11 of his field goal attempts and finished with one point, nine rebounds and five assists before heading into the locker room for undisclosed reasons early in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers appeared to take a 90-88 lead with

1:51 left, but Denzel Valentine’s back foot was out of bounds on a 3-pointer. Schroder made back-toback baskets to extend Boston’s advantage to 9489, then tacked on two free throws to close out the scoring. Mobley, the third overall draft selection from USC, started at center for the first time after top rebounder Jarrett Allen fell ill before the game. Tatum scored 10 points in the third as Boston went ahead for the first time and held a 65-64 advantage. Rubio had 14 points in the period, which featured five lead changes and seven ties.

FMARLOU’S, P10

Schroder steady in endgame as Celtics earn split with Cavs

Boston’s Dennis Schroder drives against Cleveland’s Dean Wade. PHOTO: AP

LEVELAND — Jayson Tatum scored 23 points and Dennis Schroder had six points in the final 76 seconds as the Boston Celtics beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 98-92, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time), splitting their two-game set at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Al Horford had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Schroder and Marcus Smart each scored 14 as Boston (7-7) won for the third time in four games. Tatum also had eight rebounds, five assists and two blocks. On Saturday, Darius Garland made two free throws with 9.4 seconds

FSCHRODER, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 209 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

BACK TO CAMP PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez is flanked by Commissioners Mon Fernandez, Arnold Agustin, Cecilia Kiram and Charles Maxey. PSC

PSC approves resumption of training in agency’s facilities

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Tuesday said it has approved the resumption of training of selected national teams not earlier than January 10, 2022 under certain conditions like “no vaccine no training.” In a statement, the government sports agency said training will resume in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (Manila City), Philsports Complex (Pasig City) and Baguio Training Camp (Baguio City). This resumption is dependent on provision of many considerations for safety before final implementation. PSC said it is now evaluating viable facilities which may be used in the said training. On-going coordination with the MPAIATF in Philsports, Pasig and the Baguio City local government unit are being done to ensure that all

safety measures are taken for the protection of our national team members. Concurrently, dormitory repairs are being done on damages caused by rain which were discovered upon inspection by the PSC Engineering team. The board has also provisionally approved the health-safety guidelines developed by the PSI-MSAS to be implemented in all training areas, with addition of and improvement on certain provisions. The guidelines are based on the PSS-GABDOH Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001.

In line with the resumption of training, the PSC created a Technical Working Group which is undertaking all the necessary preparations, including the finalization of sports which may be accommodated in said facilities. “All concerned national sports associations will be directed to submit their own health-safety protocols for approval of the PSC Medical Unit,” the PSC statement read. A no vaccine-no entry policy will be one of the strict requirements in the said training resumption.