Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 242 | Wednesday, December 29, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

Sara postpones naming of new director of DCPO STORY ON PAGE 2

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A city government of Davao employee tidies up Quezon Park along City Hall drive in Davao City on Tuesday. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that Davao City will be debt-free by the second half of 2022. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

NO RUSH

President Rodrigo Duterte urges Congress or the next President to repeal a law requiring the assessment of reports on disaster areas before a state of calamity is declared. Edge Davao

Sara postpones naming of new director of DCPO By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is buying more time to pick the next city director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

The Mayor said she is postponing her selection of the new DCPO chief so as not to affect the ongoing security plan from December 2021 until the Feast of Santo Niño on January 15,

2022. DCPO chief Colonel Kirby Kraft, who was appointed to replace former DCPO director Alexander Tagum in October 2019, is reported to be ending his tenure.

“Yes naka-receive mi ug letter gikan sa Philippine National Police (PNP) about the tenure of DCPO Director Colonel Kirby Kraft and we replied didto sa PNP,” the mayor said. Mayor Sara said she already replied to the letter sent by PNP 11 requesting the city mayor to select

among the identified eligible nominees for the next city director of DCPO from the list of eligible officers submitted by PNP 11. The mayor informed PNP 11 for the postponement of the selection at this time for the following reasons: vetting of offi-

del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur included fishponds and aquaculture projects devoted to the production of milkfish, tilapia, lobsters, groupers, seaweeds, and mangrove crabs. In a statement Monday, BFAR-13 said Regional Director Usop Pendaliday, Jr. has already ordered the provincial fishery officers and division chiefs to conduct further assessments to

determine the total damage and losses of fishery projects in their areas of jurisdictions. “Odette”, considered the strongest to hit the country this year, also damaged some PHP13.1 million worth of BFAR-13 properties and facilities situated in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Agusan del Norte. “The damages to BFAR-13 properties and

facilities include offices, farm stations, information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, and service vehicles,” the BFAR-13 said. The agency pointed out that most of the accounted damage on its properties and facilities is from the agricultural infrastructures placed at PHP5.6 million. The damaged agricultural infrastructures

FNO RUSH, P10

Initial damage to BFAR projects in Caraga placed at P142.3M

he Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Caraga (BFAR-13) on Monday said that initial assessment showed that Typhoon Odette has caused damage to fishery projects in the region worth at least PHP142.3 million. As of December 23, the initial cost of damage to different fishery projects in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan

FINITIAL, P10

MisOcc town mayor dies days after ‘sniper’ attack

opez Jaena town Mayor Michael P. Gutierrez who was initially hurt in a “sniper” attack during a Christmas party in this city last week has died, his daughter, Lopez Jaena Councilor Andrea “Pinky” Gutierrez, said on Facebook on Monday. “A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. He was a light in this world, and now we need to continue shining his light by carrying it within us in our own lives,” she said on behalf of her family, as the province mourned the local chief executive’s death. Based on an initial report by the Tangub City Police Station, Gutierrez was hit on the nape with slug and glass debris as a result of the sniper bullet supposedly to target Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal around 8:45 p.m. on December 22. Gutierrez was supposed to run for vice governor in tandem with Oaminal who will run for governor in the 2022 elections. Andrea earlier documented how her father had been initially declared safe from harm a day after the incident but was closely being monitored at a hospital in Ozamiz City. However, she later posted on her Facebook that her father had to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit on December 25. In a Facebook post, Rep. Oaminal dangled a PHP5-million bounty for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest and imprisonment of the assailants. “This brazen and sense-

less act of violence has no place in a democratic society, especially when it threatens our fundamental right to vote. We cannot let fear and injustice prevail over us,” he said. Ozamiz City Mayor Sancho Oaminal, party-mate of Gutierrez, said the latter’s death was a tragic and heartbreaking development, “most especially during this season of love and peace.” “The desperate, cowardly and violent act which led to Mayor Michael’s death should be condemned, and justice should be sought. Yes, it was a desperate act -- anybody who commits murder for whatever reason must be in great distress and recklessly desperate,” he said in a Facebook post. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra in a Philippine News Agency report on December 23 said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the region will be on standby, as the Philippine National Police makes their initial investigation. In a statement Thursday last week, December 23, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., Police Regional Office - Northern Mindanao (PRO-10) director, said a special investigation task group (SITG) will look into identifying the perpetrators behind the attempt on Oaminal, Gutierrez, and former Oroquieta City mayor Jason Almonte, who also plans to run for 1st District Representative of the province. Another bounty In a press conference Monday, Misamis Occiden-

FMISOCC, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

NEWS

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Colonel Kirby John Kraft interacts with members of the media in this undated photo. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has postponed the selection of the new city director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) so as not to affect the ongoing security plan from December 2021 until the Feast of Santo Niño on January 15, 2022. Edge Davao

Davao City debt-free in 2022: Mayor Sara

Repeal law on state of calamity declaration, PRRD to Congress

resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday urged Congress or the next President to repeal a law requiring the assessment of reports on disaster areas before a state of calamity is declared. Duterte was possibly referring to Republic Act No. (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. “It behooves upon this Congress, if they want to, for the next President, may I advise, try to repeal the law so that government, there is already the warning, hindi na kailangan ng (no need for) assessment because the warning just too far away for us to prepare,” he said in a prerecorded Talk to the People. He described waiting for the assessment of reports as a “hindrance” and “legal obstacle” that delayed his declaration of a state of calamity in areas battered by Typhoon Odette and prevented the government

from acting immediately. “There has to be an evaluation and the assessment of damage before you can declare a state of calamity. These are the things, these are the stupid laws passed by Congress. Sila man ang (They make the) final word diyan (there) whether it should be or it should be not,” he added. Duterte said it would be difficult for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to release an assessment while still providing relief to typhoon victims. “I cannot rely on [NDRRMC Executive Director] Undersecretary [Ricardo] Jalad kasi kasagsagan lang ‘yan ng ano (because that’s the height of)…and to base an evaluation of assessment of the damage could not be done immediately. That is really silly and that puts a cap on my power…Undersecretary Jalad is busy rescuing and retriev-

FREPEAL, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio predicted that by the second half of 2022, Davao City will be debt-free.

“For 2022, good news sa Davao City this will be the last year na magbayad ta ug utang, after the second half of 2022, Davao City will be debt-free wala na ta’y bayaran na loan or utang,” the mayor said on Monday. Mayor Sara said the city is paying more than

P200 million a year for the loans and is now down to the last loan of P70 million for next year. She added that in the annual budget of 2023 the city will no longer pay the interest or principal on the loans and approximately P200 million to P300 million will be free

for use by the city government of Davao. The mayor also said that this report will be part of her State of the City Address (SOCA), which was postponed to empathize with the victims of Typhoon Odette and rescheduled tentatively on January 24, 2022. “Pero ginapaningkamutan nato na mahitabo ni earlier depende

sa schedule na available,” she said. Mayor Sara shared this information in line with the recent report of the Commission on Audit (COA) naming Davao City a part of the top 10 richest cities in the country based on the 2020 annual financial report. “Kana siya very factual na siya based on the Davao City reports,” she

tion wrought by Typhoon Odette, I believe that the Monolithic Dome Program should be embraced by the national government, including the local government units, in designing the new buildings which would be built after the destruction,” Piñol said in a statement. He suggested having a

radical shift in the architectural design of government buildings and even private structures and homes in areas located in the path of the typhoons. In 2018 he approved the funding and construction of the monolithic dome to serve as a grains and seeds warehouse in the Department of Agri-

culture Experimental Station in Iguig town Cagayan Province. The dome is climate-resilient storage for various agricultural products such as seeds and other farm inputs. It may also serve as an evacuation center during typhoons and disasters. “The first monolith-

FDAVAO, P10

Typhoon-resistant monolithic dome-shaped structures pushed

ormer Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is pushing for monolithic dome-shaped structures in designing buildings following the recent onslaught of Typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao on December 16, 2021. “Given the experience we had with the destruc-

FTYPHOON, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

An elderly woman peddles colorful native hand fans made from“Anahaw”along the sidewalk of San Pedro Street in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

Siargao airport to resume comm’l flights on December 28: DOTr chief

he Siargao Airport will reopen for commercial flights on Tuesday, December 28 after sustaining critical damage caused Typhoon Odette, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said Monday. “By tomorrow, maski na ho critically-damaged ang paliparan na ito, Siargao, will be commercially operable,” Tugade reported to President Rodrigo Duterte during a weekly Talk to the People. In his data, Tugade said 15 airports sustained minor damage including Busuanga, Puerto Prince-

sa, Bicol, Caticlan, Kalibo, Roxas, Bohol-Panglao, Tacloban, Ormoc, Laguindingan, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Butuan, and Iloilo. Eight airports including San Vicente, Dumaguete, Camiguin, Siquijor, Antique, Maasin, Surigao, and Mactan-Cebu, sustained major damages but were already fully op-

erational. Tugade also reported that the following estimated funds will be needed to repair the destroyed airports from the Odette aftermath: Siargao Airport P13,500,000 Surigao Airport P10,500,000 Maasin Airport P3,750,000 Mactan Cebu Airport P2,000,000 Added inconvenience Moreover, Tugade said 45 vessels were damaged and non-operational due to Odette. Prior to Odette’s wrath, the transportation chief said

there were 119 ships operating for shipping services. He said the scarcity of vessels was an added inconvenience to passengers in Odette-stricken areas. “Diyan sa kakulangan na ‘yun, nagdadagdag ng inconvenience sa mga tao,” he said. Tugade further said with the help of Maritime Industry Authority they issued a special permit to add nine more ships. Moreover, Tugade said the Philippine Coast Guard also helped in the lack of vessels for transport operations.

the application forms of business enterprises who wish to avail of tax incentives. Dominguez chairs the reconstituted FIRB, with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez as co-chairman. Dominguez ordered all agencies attached to the Department of Finance (DOF) to implement their respective digital transformation programs long before the pandemic.

The NTRC launched the FIRMS last June 14, 2021 to comply with the provisions of the CREATE law. On top of being an application portal, the FIRMS will be used by the IPAs and the FIRB to review, approve/reject, and monitor activities/projects. The NTRC said that in the future, FIRMS will be able to generate the electronic Certificate of Registration (COR) and Certificate of Entitlement to Tax

NTRC further develop’s portal for investors’ incentives application

he National Tax Research Center (NTRC) is further developing the functionalities of its existing incentives application portal for investors to allow the electronic submission in the future of reports that would enable the government to better review and analyze the economic impact of investment incentives. In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the NTRC said this online portal —Fiscal

Incentives Registration and Monitoring System (FIRMS)— is currently being used by potential investors to submit their applications for incentives in any of the investment promotion agencies (IPAs). Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11534 or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, the NTRC serves as the secretariat of the reconstituted Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) and is tasked to craft

FNTRC, P10

Each Odette-hit province to receive P20 million in livelihood aid —DTI

rovinces affected by Typhoon Odette will receive livelihood assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry, Secretary Ramon Lopez said Monday night. In President Rodrigo Duterte’s weekly Talk to the People briefing, Lopez said they plan to give P8,000 to P10,000 in livelihood assistance to 2,000 mivro entrepreneur beneficiaries per province affected by Odette. “On the part of DTI, ‘yong moving forward po sa amin ‘yong pagbigay ng kabuhayan. In all our visits, nag-assess po kami ng mga kailangang tulungang mga micro SMEs,” Lopez said. (We assessed the micro businesses that needed help.) “Ang estimate po namin magiging 2,000 ang beneficiary per probinsiya. Kung 2,000 ‘yan at bawat isa ang programa natin ay P8,000 to P10,000 kada micro entrepreneur para mabigyan ng pangkabuhayan package,” he added. (Our estimate is about 2,000 beneficiaries per province. Our program allocates P8,000 to 10,000 per micro entrepreneur.) Lopez said each prov-

ince will be allocated P20 million. “So total po, P100 to P150 million ang ating magiging initial assistance,” he said. (Our initial assistance will total P100 to P150 million.) For now, he said, the DTI already has P8.2 million that will be allocated to 300 profiled micro, small, and medium enterprises affected in Siargao. He added that this week, the DTI will also distribute the livelihood aid to 1,000 beneficiaries in Regions 6, 7, 8, and Caraga. “Pangsimula pa lang ‘to pero sabi ko mag-a-allocate tayo ng P100 to P150 million. Magsimula muna sa P8 million para this week may mabigyan na,” he said. Lopez also said the SB Corporation will get P500 million for microfinancing to help affected MSMEs. A total of 1,074, 169 families or 4,204,601 people were affected by the typhoon in MIMAROPA, CARAGA, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Regions, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

ECONOMY 5

A mother and her child prepare street foods along San Pedro Street in Davao City on Tuesday where foot traffic is heavy. Edge Davao

Agri damage due to Odette reaches P6 billion, DA says DTI: Profiteers flagged in typhoon-hit areas

resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to look into reports of profiteering and overpricing in provinces affected by typhoon Odette. Duterte also gave the DTI the authority to implement price caps on basic goods, including medicines and construction materials. “There seems to be a spike in prices. They say some, not all, are hoarding, and you know, you increase the price by selling more than the usual price, for example, building materials, or food stocks, canned goods,” he said in a taped public briefing. “Tell us, if there has been violations during this time because we can identify them and the Philippine National Police, we will ask them to arrest the hoarders and people who are taking advantage of the situation,” Duterte added. “We have to put a stop on this and probably we

can go ahead and cap the prices of the goods available, especially medicine,” he also said. In response, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said they have already issued letters of inquiry to several establishments who were reportedly overpricing their products. “Noong nagdeclare ng state of calamity, nag-umpisa na ‘yung ating price cap. So may price control na tayo, ibig sabihin ‘yung price freeze natin, kung ano ‘yung presyo bago magbagyo, ‘yun po dapat ang presyo, hindi gagalaw,” he explained. (When the state of calamity was declared, the price cap also took effect. So we already have a price control, which means there is a price freeze. Whatever the prices were before the typhoon hit, these should still be the prices after. There should be no changes.) “The day after, I think hanggang 2 days after,

FDTI, P10

yphoon Odette has caused P6 billion worth of damage to agriculture, the Department of Agriculture said in updated figures on Monday. The amount covers the volume of production loss of 118,426 metric tons (MT) and 288,677 hectares of agricultural areas in CALABARZON, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga. The calamity affected

68,991 farmers and fishers. Affected commodities include rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, livestock, and fisheries. Agricultural infrastructure, machineries, and equipment have also been damaged. “These values are subject to validation,” the DA said.

Despite the huge losses, the DA said 11,454 hectares of rice were harvested from Regions Mimaropa, VI, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII, yielding 34,433 metric tons worth P615.53 million prior to Odette’s landfall. A total of 2,452 hectares of corn were harvested from Mimaropa and Regions IV-A, VIII, IX, XI, and XIII, yielding 6,965 metric tons worth P82.55 million. The DA said it would provide at least P2.9 billion worth of readily available assistance to farmers, con-

sisting of: 1. P1 billion worth of Quick Response Fund (QRF) for the rehabilitation of affected areas; 2. P828 million from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to indemnify affected farmers. 3. P500 million under the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for 20,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P25,000 each; 4. P314 million worth

percent of Filipino adults to open bank accounts by 2023. “We are confident of hitting the twin goals... With financial digitalization, I am confident that we will achieve the stronger post-COVID economy that we envision sooner rather than later,” said BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno

said during the recently concluded HSBC Digital Bankers Forum. “As more Filipinos embrace the convenience of digital payments, we expect the phenomenal growth in digital financial transactions to continue in the years ahead,” he added. Share of digital payments to the total financial

transactions reached 20.1 percent in 2020 from 14 percent in 2019, the central bank said. Registered e-money accounts hit 138.8 million in 2020 with the total number of transactions at 1.7 billion, data show. The number of basic deposit accounts reached

FAGRI, P10

BSP ‘confident’ in hitting digitalization targets

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Tuesday it is confident it can achieve its digitalization goals ahead of 2023. Under its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap (DPTR), the BSP aims to digitize at least 50 percent of retail payments volume and encourage 70

FBSP, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

In renewing his call to give unused governmentowned lands to the poor, including those displaced by Typhoon Odette:

Lahat ng lupa na puwedeng ibigay sa tao (All the unused lands we can give to the people), whether they were victims of the typhoon or not, ibigay na lang yung kaya ibigay (let’s just give what we can give).”

President Rodrigo Duterte

EDITORIAL On idle government lands President Rodrigo Duterte is hated by Communists. But there is something very Communist in the way the President is responding to the victims of calamities and that is to give away idle government lands in their favor. In the light of the recent devastation brought about by super typhoon Odette, President Duterte has renewed his call to give unused government-owned lands to the poor. The proposed action will include those displaced by the recent typhoon that hit the Visayas and Mindanao. Pronto, the President directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to ensure that idle government-owned lands are distributed “within the next few months”. Most of those affected by the typhoon were “marginalized”

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As of last count, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that Typhoon Odette has caused over P28 million worth of damage in 506,404 houses; more than P16 billion worth of damage to 276 infrastructures, and over P5 billion worth of damage to agriculture. In sum, over 300 cities and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao were placed under a state of calamity. Given the figures, the President’s proposition is that if the government decides to rehabilitate a community, the government better give identified idle lands to the people right away for as long as they qualify and the process is followed. 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

and “very poor” and had no other place to go.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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VOL.14 ISSUE 242 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO TACIO SERAFICA D. J. WEIS THINK ON CORNER THESE! IBP DAVAO

PREVENTING FOREST FIRES Some years back, the Philippine Congress released a study that said about 123,000 hectares of the country’s forest cover are lost every year. Unless reforestation is started, the study further stated, there would be no forest left in the country by 2036 – that’s exactly 15 years from now. Then President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his state of the nation address (SONA) in 2011, stated that most politicians use one possible solution – that of tree planting – as a photo opportunity. “They plant trees, but they do not ensure that the trees will remain standing after they leave,” he admitted. When he was still the head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Michael Defensor admitted that “only 30% of reforestation projects succeeded.” In a Subic meeting of local executives, he told them: “People hardly recognize the economic benefits from protecting the environment. Most sabotaged the program.” The bluntness seemed to echo an earlier study of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, entitled Sustainable Forest Management, which stated, “Most of the (Philip-

pines’) once rich forest are gone. Forest recovery, through natural and artificial means, never coped with the destruction rate.” There are several reasons why trees are cut extensively: logging (both legal and illegal), kaingin farming (slash-and-burn agriculture) and mining. Volcanic eruptions have also devastated some of the country’s tropical forests. Ditto for typhoons, which have destroyed considerable hectares of forest areas. And there’s forest fires. From 1978 to 1996, forest fires in the Philippines destroyed approximately 304,345 hectares or an average of 16,000 hectares per year. From 1992 to 1996 alone, fire damage was estimated at P465 million. “Forest fires damage the soil and biodiversity in affected areas,” said the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). “These also derail the country’s reforestation efforts.” This must be the reason why PCAARRD has developed science- and technology-based tools to help forest managers and other stakeholders in predicting the probability of fire occurrence.

“The fire behaviour model simulates and predicts fire movements,” said the PCAARRD Information Bulletin No. 25. The tools are integrated with geographic information system (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning system (GPS), and Web innovations. “These interactive disaster and hazard management models were programmed for easy information dissemination and will allow a location-specific application,” explained PCAARRD, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology. “Using this web-enabled hazard decision support system, various maps – which can be resized on-screen and point-clicked with their corresponding attributes and statistics – can be accessed and generated,” it added. Negative impacts and destruction brought by uncontrolled forest fires are unlimited. As such, preventing forest fires is better than any fire control measure. “Fire prediction is an important prevention measure,” PCAARRD said. The PCAARRD-funded program enabled researchers to develop a forest fire hazard and behavior forecasting and a risk

reduction system using GIS. Through the project, fire hazard maps were developed. The maps used the prediction equation, which combines a number of critical factors that significantly influence forest fires. These are: vegetation or land cover; proximity to farms; distance to roads; slope; and aspect. Vegetation refers to the vegetative cover or current land use pattern which determines the kind, quantity, and quality of fuels present on site. Fuels present, as an element of the fire triangle, determine fire risks. “An element of the fire triangle is a model that shows the relationship between the essential elements of fire,” the information bulletin explained. Proximity to farms and roads is a factor in the prediction equation due to previous fire incidents in farms and careless passers-by and pranksters throwing lighting materials like lighted cigarettes. The area’s slope, meanwhile, enhances burning since “the steeper slope promotes rapid spread of fire upslope.” The aspect refers to the horizontal direction where the mountain slope faces. “The aspect is also considered because drying of fuels is more preva-

lent along east-west slopes than north-south facing slopes,” the PCAARRD publication informed. According to PCAARRD, highly-vulnerable, vulnerable, and less-vulnerable sites are identified on the calibrated maps. “Through these fire hazard maps, forest managers and other stakeholders will be properly guided on fire risks, especially during fire season (summer months),” it said. Forest managers include the forest protection unit of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units. The PCAARRD publication suggests that practices causing fire ignition (like slash and regrowth of grass for grazing purposes) should not be allowed during the fire season in places adjacent to high risk areas. Proper local ordinances and their strict implementation can help lessen the chances of fire. “If coupled with appropriate information, education and communication strategies and replicated in other areas, these hazard maps will hopefully make every barangay (village) ready and responsive to forest fires,” the PCARRD publication concluded.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

HITTING ROCK BOTTOM “WIth realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” - DALAI LAMA *******

In my view (hopefully, it is shared by others who think on a parallel scale) the pandemic viral disease from Wuhan, China brought about the collapse of the world’s economy - a situation that also resulted in many domestic crises in each country that struggled to survive and surmount. As echoed by the Dalai Lama in the above quote, a nation and its people who realize that the potential to succeed depends largely on recognizing your own talents (and gifts) and the self-belief in your ability to achieve your goals. I am not sure if you agree that we (and many other countries in various parts of the

globe) almost hit rock bottom inasmuch as millions of our countrymen lost their jobs, thousands of families went hungry, companies closed shops and reduced their manpower and workforce, etc., because Covid19 imposed its brutal unconditional terms on hapless nations caught with their proverbial pants down. As you will now note with clarity, even the most progressive nations - the US, UK, France, Italy, Canada, Australia - bellyached when their people started getting sick with infections and many died without receiving the best and most appropriate medical treatment. Of course, when you are already down there, there is no way to go but up. The world is undergoing a major economic meltdown and a recession is actually being felt. Inflation is high. Costs and prices of prime commodities have soared.

Can you believe that a kilo of red onions costs P300 per? Just a week before Odette struck with fury, onions were priced only at P187/kilo. As someone who obeys the wife’s command to do grocery and market errands regularly, I grimace and groan at the sight of these skyrocketing prices. Domestically, the government’s thrust should ideally be on agriculture and food production and security. I wonder why, despite our tag as an agriculturally-rich country, we are still NOT enjoying the blessings of a huge patrimony. Cumulatively speaking, it is my personal view that all the administrations that have come and gone should share the blame because they did not zero in on agricultural development, cooperatives, food production (rice, fish, etc) and security and everything pertaining to the economic

growth of the nation. When people go hungry and do not see that their basic necessities are met and provided by government authorities, insurgency, banditry, lawlessness and terrorism will occur. Some Latin American countries are actually suffering domestic violence and conflict because of poverty and hunger. I can mention a few - Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Colombia. Of course, blame these also on the course and conduct of political rivalries and the polarization of the people. Sometimes, I am inclined to believe that, in this generation, Filipinos will not be able to find and discover the true leader who can bail us out of these maladies. No, I am not looking for a “messiah.” There is only ONE Messiah and that is Jesus. Pardon me for digressing

but it cannot be helped. FIgure it out. We are a people hankering for a political leader who is incorruptible, dedicated and politically-willed. How can we find him if we ourselves are corruptible? We sell our votes to the candidate who has the money but lacks the proper credentials. Funny, but hey we cannot have the best of both worlds. We must all first take serious cognizance of - and admit the situation we are in. Then we must make concrete amends. Change- genuine change - must come from within us. If we stop patronizing political dishonesty and corrupt practices that dismantle the moral fiber of our people, then perhaps we may be able to get out of the rut. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

dulge!

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LIFESTYLE

CAMELLA NORTHPOINT RISES STRONG DESPITE PANDEMIC

The property roundabout unfortunately halted during the lockdowns last year.

The good thing is, the pause did not last long as real estate still emerged as one of the booming sectors during the pandemic. One such proof is Camella Northpoint along J.P Laurel in Davao City which remained bullish on the condo market as it recently turned over units amid the pandemic. Camella Manors has turned over units of the 5th and 6th floors of the 10-story Bradford Building, which is Camella Northpoint’s fifth condominium building. Princess Grace Padua, marketing officer of Camella Manors Davao, said units from the 5th and 6th floors, wherein each floor houses 30 units, were turned over and there are only three units left on each floor.

“The rest are sold out and these are limited units available for sale and ready for occupancy (RFO),” she said. Units that were turned over were 2 BR (bedroom) and 3 BR units, which are prime units as owners can enjoy two views, from the front and side. Padua said most of their market are OFWs and foreign investors who would like to own property not just for end-use but also for investment like rental business and secondary market are selfemployed and business owners. “Northpoint is one of

the most preferred accommodations in Davao City, so taas mi ug rental occupancy, that’s around 90 percent. These are our primary market, secondary na ang self-employed and business owners,” she

said. Carlo Refamonte, marketing head for Camella Manors for VisMin, said they are targeting to turn over the remaining units in three months. “The first to 6th floors are already complete but the units at the top floors are more than ready. Then we will resume going back to the 10th, 9th, 8th, and 7th floors. Bradford is already 90 percent sold. Everything will be sold in three months. There is still a chance to invest in Northpoint until this runs out of inventory,” he said. If you haven’t purchased your unit now, wait for the reopening of units after the units on the 5th and 6th floors are sold out. “Kung may available pa,” Refamonte said. Camella Manors is proud of Bradford Building and is considered investorfriendly as it provides an

alternative income stream and is easy to sell because of its prime location. It can be recalled that property consultancy and advisory company Prime Philippines bared that J.P. Laurel Avenue remains the most lucrative area in Davao City. “That is the reason why many investors wouldn’t think twice na mag-invest not only in Bradford but Northpoint in general because they are sure that their investment will be continuously appreciating quarterly or yearly,” Refamonte said. Bradford Building completed the five condominium developments in Camella Northpoint namely 5-story Manchester, first building; 5-story Birmingham, second building; 10-story Nottingham, third building; and 16-story Liverpool, fourth building.

“These are mid-rise vertical developments and less dense,” Padua said. “This is just the beginning of something beautiful. The good thing about Northpoint is this has become the blueprint because Camella Manors is a nationwide brand and this is aligned with the thrust of our founder former Senator Manny Villar who is pushing for condo villages,” Refamonte added. Aside from Camella Northpoint, other upcoming two projects that people, partners, and investors of Camella Manors look forward to are Camella Manors Frontera in Buhangin and the soon to be announced project in Lanang. Camella Northpoint is under Camella Manors, which is a brand for midrise developments and a subsidiary of Villar-led firm Vista Land.

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ENVIRONMENT

WHAT FILIPINOS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TYPHOONS By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Darrell Blatchley

irst it was Pablo. Then, Yolanda came along. And most recently, it was Odette. These three are names of devastating typhoons that hit the Philippines in recent years.

Pablo (international name: Bopha) struck the Philippines on December 4, 2012. Rushing flood waters destroyed some entire barangays and killed some 1,901 people. “Entire families may have been washed away,” commented then Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. With winds of 280 kilometers per hour, Pablo was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to ever hit the southern Philippines, particularly Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental. The storm caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands of people homeless. Yolanda (Haiyan), which made its landfall on November 8, 2013, was one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with wind speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour and storm surges of over four meters. Described as “the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2013,” Yolanda killed at least 6,300 people. It severely affected more than 170 cities and municipalities in 14 provinces across six regions found within a 100-kilometer storm track. Odette (Rai) entered the

Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on the night of December 14. The strong storm pounded the country the following day. Wikipedia reports: “Heavy rainfall, strong and gusty winds impacted several areas around the storm’s path. Many areas across Visayas and Mindanao lost electricity with several provinces deprived further of communication services. “Downed trees obstructed many roadways, and flooding was a major problem across the affected regions, particularly Bohol, where the storm was described as ‘one of the worst for the province.’” Odette also shattered Siargao Island, a popular tourist destination. When then-American president Barack Obama visited the country, Benigno Aquino III said in a press conference: “Typhoon Haiyan showed the entire world how vulnerable the Philippines as well as other developing countries are to natural disasters.” Records show an average of 20 out of 36 tropical cyclones enter the country’s

area of responsibility. “There is no month in the Philippines which is free from typhoons,” says the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA, a line agency of the Department of Science and Technology, is the government body mandated to provide adequate warning to typhoon-affected areas and mitigative measures to reduce losses to lives, properties, and the economy of the nation. Understanding typhoons The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines typhoons as “a type of large storm system having a circular or spiral system of violent winds, typically hundreds of kilometers in diameter.” When storms occur in the Western Pacific, they are called typhoons. But when these storms happen in the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific, it is called a hurricane. In the Indian Ocean, they are known as tropical cyclones. In other words, all three are the same weather phenomenon. Among Filipinos, they’re known simply as bagyo, a term that came into existence after a 1911 storm in Baguio which had a record rainfall of 46 inches within a 24-hour period.

“About 95 percent of the tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines originate in the Pacific Ocean while the rest come from the South China Sea,” says the staterun weather bureau. According to PAGASA, typhoons usually occur from the month of June to November. Most, however, occur in the months of July and August “though other months outside of this period are not entirely free from tropical cyclones.” During the early part of the typhoon season, PAGASA claims, tropical cyclones pass the northern regions of the country. In the latter part (from October to December), the central and southern parts are more prone to the passage. Based on a study con-

ducted by PAGASA from 1948 to 1989, Northern Luzon experiences five cyclones every two years. Central and Southern Luzon encounter 3 cyclones in 2 years and 5 cyclones in 3 years, respectively. A cyclone passes Eastern Visayas every year. The weather bureau considers tropical cyclones as “the most commonly occurring natural hazard in the country.” Weather advisories PAGASA issues weather advisories for tropical cyclones. The advisory contains general information on the presence of the cyclone even if it is still too far away from the country to pose a threat in the next three days. This gives Filipinos enough time to become aware of a potential threat.

After this, PAGASA releases a tropical cyclone alert which indicates that a tropical cyclone poses an impending threat on a part of the country but still falls short of the bases for raising storm signals. Finally, a tropical cyclone warning is issued by PAGASA when there is a real and immediate threat to a part or parts of the country from a cyclone. This warning indicates a description of the cyclone’s current location, movement and intensity. Typhoon signals “We issued typhoon signals every six hours and gradually raise the signal as the typhoon approaches,” said a weather bureau official. “You can jump from Signal No. 1 to Signal No. 3,

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cers takes a considerable amount of time following a thorough assessment and evaluation processes; the security cluster preparations on December 2021, Christmas, and New year

until January 15, 2022, which is the Feast of Santo Niño is already underway. “We do not wish to change leadership in the DCPO at the moment. We want na humanon sa ang

included the provincial fisheries offices in the Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, the regional office in Surigao City, and the technology outreach stations in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte and Placer, Surigao del Norte. “Aside from the infrastructures, damages on the ICT equipment were

also recorded and estimated at PHP2.9 million, as well as the 4-tonne capacity refrigerated van stationed in Surigao City at PHP4.6 million,” the BFAR-13 said. No casualties were reported among BFAR Caraga employees and non-resident personnel assigned in the affected areas in the region. (PNA)

tal 1st Dist. Rep. Diego Ty also offered a PHP1-million bounty on the head of the perpetrators behind the death of Gutierrez. “This money comes from my wife. She told me this is to show our respect and friendship to the mayor (Gutierrez),” he said. Despite coming from different political parties for the 2022 elections, Ty considered Gutierrez as his “brother.” Ty also denied the accusations of his alleged involvement in the attack.

Provincial Gov. Philip Tan also extended condolences to the Gutierrez family. Tan, who also spoke on behalf of his local party, said they do not resort to violence in dealing with other opposing local parties. “We categorically deny the insinuation and allegation that the shooting was politically motivated,” he said. He also said that the provincial government welcomes the investigation of the SITG and even the NBI. (PNA)

said. Based on its consolidated 2020 Annual Financial Report for the Local Government, COA reported that Davao City’s wealth was at P23.664 billion with current assets (CA) of P14.172 billion and non-current assets (NCA) of P9.493 billion. The complete list of the top 10 richest cities in the country are Quezon City with total

assets worth P452.333 billion in 2020; Makati City with total assets of P238.465 billion; the City of Manila with total assets of P76.547 billion; Pasig City with P49.548 billion; Cebu City with P34.754 billion; Mandaue City with P32.571 billion; Taguig City with P30.682 billion; Davao City; Caloocan City with PP22.203 billion; and Zamboanga City with total assets of P19.775 billion.

of rice seeds, P129 million worth of corn seeds, P57 million worth of assorted vegetables; 5. P47 million worth of assistance to affected fisherfolk from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resourc-

es (BFAR); 6. P6.6 million worth of animal stocks, drugs and biologics for livestock and poultry; and 7. Available funds from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

habang nagkakagulo pa rin, marami ho talaga ang nareport na nag-price increase, nagsamantala,” Lopez added. (The day after, until 2 days after, while everything was chaotic, there were many reports of price increases, some took advantage of it.)

A total of 50 establishments in Bohol were asked to explain the increase in the prices of their goods, while 2 establishments in Cebu where issued letters of inquiry (LOI). In Misamis Oriental, 8 establishments were issued LOIs, and 7 were issued show-cause orders.

7 million with P4.8 billion deposits in the first quarter of 2021, which brought the total number of banked Filipino adults to 53 percent in the period, the BSP said. As of October this year, at least 1 in 5 payments was already digital, a BSP

report said. Both InstaPay and PESONet transactions, or the electronic money transfers under the BSP’s National Retail Payment System, have surged in both volumes and values during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ic dome constructed by a Filipino company with Polish engineers as consultants and could withstand Typhoon Signal 5,” Piñol said. He said with a cost of P12 million, the first monolithic dome and six other smaller versions constructed in Region 2 withstood the strongest typhoons since their completion. The Monolithic Dome Program was supposed to be expanded to other typhoon-prone regions of Eastern and Western Visayas, Bicol, Southern Tagalog including Mindoro, Central Luzon, Ilocos, and Cordillera Regions.

“Apart from that also said that to adapt, adjust and mitigate the devastating effects of climate change, there should be a national program to plant native trees, fruit trees, and bamboos in the deforested mountains of the country must be implemented through a law that would require every Filipino and every agency of government to participate. Also, the national land-use plan must be passed and implemented which would define areas for habitation, agricultural production, and total environmental protection,” the statement said. By Maya M. Padillo

ing patay na tao (dead bodies),” he said. He said during disaster-related emergencies, funds should be available even before a state of calamity is declared. “Emergency is an emergency and it is not dependent now because the extent of the damage would really be…it could not even be done in one month tapos maghintay ka para magdeclare ng (and then you wait to declare a) state of calamity,” he said. He said such a law “does not help, but rather it plays a burden” to the government. Duterte lambasted those criticizing the delay in the government’s response following the devastation wreaked by the typhoon, noting that it was not easy

looking for sources of funding. “The critics, we are always wrong and they are always right…Hindi ito (This is not) martial law na(where) you can just draw the money and you can start buying,” he said. Typhoon Odette left widespread devastation and damages when it hit parts of Visayas and Mindanao on Dec. 16, killing nearly 389 people and displacing over 1 million families. Duterte declared a state of calamity in areas battered by Typhoon Odette, particularly Mimaropa (Region 4-B), Western Visayas (Region 6), Central Visayas (Region 7), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Northern Mindanao (Region 10), and Caraga (Region 13) on Dec. 21. (PNA)

Incentives (CETI) of approved investments. The NTRC is encouraging existing businesses already receiving tax incentives from the government to also create their accounts in FIRMS. It will soon allow business enterprises to electronically submit their reports on the fiscal incentives they have received, in compliance with the provisions of CREATE, the NTRC

said. These electronic submissions will enable the government to better monitor, review, and analyze the economic impact of tax incentives. Under CREATE, the FIRB shall conduct an impact evaluation, such as a cost-benefit analysis, on investment incentives to determine the impact of such incentives on the Philippine economy.

game. Spurs: San Antonio had scored at least 110 points in its previous 10 games. It was their longest such streak since 11 straight in March 1984. … Keldon Johnson made his 100th career start in his 118th game with the Spurs. Only

Tim Duncan (118 starts), David Robinson (116), Willie Anderson (115), Tony Parker (113) and Sean Elliott (106) had more career starts over the same time period. … Jock Landale is shooting 64% on 3-pointers. … The Spurs are 8-13 against the West.

ippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, and his deputies -- lawyer Alberto Agra of obstacle sports and Muaythai

Association of the Philippines (MAP) secretary general Pearl Managuelod -- are expected to fly to Hanoi for the confab.

The Bulls improved to 21-10, second-best in the Eastern Conference. They began the day 10 games over .500 for the first time since January 2016. The Hawks began the day tied for 10th in the East and dropped to 15-18, los-

ing their eighth in a row at home. White’s straightaway 3 gave the Bulls their first double-digit lead with 9:10 to go in the third. Vucevic’s lay-in against Clint Capela made it 80-70, and Atlanta called a full timeout.

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but when decreasing a signal, you can lower it by two ranges.” The weather bureau releases tropical cyclone warnings in the form of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals (TCWS). An area having a storm signal may be under: · TCWS #1 - Tropical cyclone winds of 30 kilometers per hour (km/h) to 60 km/h are expected within the next 36 hours. (Note: If a tropical cyclone forms very close to the area, then a shorter lead time is seen on the warning bulletin.) · TCWS #2 - Tropical cyclone winds of 61 km/h to 120 km/h are expected within the next 24 hours. · TCWS #3 - Tropical cyclone winds of 121 km/h to 170 km/h are expected within the next 18 hours. · TCWS #4 - Tropical cyclone winds of 171 km/h to 220 km/h are expected within 12 hours. · TCWS #5 - Tropical cyclone winds greater than 220 km/h are expected within 12 hours. The normal lifespan of a tropical cyclone is seven days, but a lingering one can stay for as long as 37 days. Experts say the life span can be cut short when a typhoon either changes direction or changes in intensity. So, when does a typhoon die? PAGASA says a typhoon dies when it hits a land area (called landfall) where there is no available moisture. Typhoons, after all, thrive on moisture and they get loads of it over bodies of hot water. In the past, Filipinos only heard of tropical cyclones. Depending on the intensity and strength of the winds that they bring, tropical cyclones are classified as tropical depression, tropical storm, severe tropical storm, and typhoon (hurricane). Climate change Recently, the term “super typhoon” was added to refer to powerful typhoons like 2013’s Yolanda and 2018’s Ompong. Some experts claim the increase of super typhoons in recent years can be attributed to human-induced climate change. “There is strong scientific consensus that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change and that this is contributing to stronger typhoons due to higher sea surface temperatures and higher subsurface sea temperatures,” wrote William Holden and Shawn Marshall in a paper. As a result, the world’s oceans continue to warm at a fast rate, which means cyclones are more likely. Typhoons reportedly “draw their energy from deep below the ocean’s surface – up to depths of 2,000 meters,” wrote Daniel Levitt and Niko Kommenda in an article published in The Guardian. The temperature at these depths is measured by Ocean Heat Content, a metric that has soared since 1970, driven largely by four of the world’s major oceans. Super Typhoon Yolanda was considered as the second deadliest typhoon to hit the country as it took the lives of 6,3000 people. The deadliest, however, happened in 1881 when Haiphong snatched 20,000

Filipinos. In 1991, Thelma left with 5,101 people perished while Pablo managed to kill 1,901. Typhoons Angela (in 1867) and Winnie (in 2004) took the lives of 1,800 and 1,593, respectively. Super Typhoon Yolanda was also the costliest typhoon to hit the country as the reported damage was P95.5 billion. Super Typhoon Pablo trailed with a reported damage of P43.2 billion. The reported damage of Typhoons Glenda and Ompong were P38.6 billion and P33.9 billion, respectively. What’s in a name? PAGASA has been giving local names to storms that enter the PAR since 1963. In the past, most names given to these typhoons were females. It’s derogatory and discriminatory, women complained. In 1998, the weather bureau held a contest asking Filipinos to send their proposed local names for typhoons. From the nominations, a committee chose 140 typhoon names which made it to PAGASA’s list of names for tropical cyclones. The list was divided into four sets of 25 names (in alphabetical order) and additional 10 auxiliary names. This year, the names of typhoons are as follows: Agaton, Basyang, Caloy, Domeng, Ester, Florita, Gardo, Henry, Inday, Josie, Karding, Luis, Maymay, Neneng, Obet, Paeng, Queenie, Rosal, Samuel, Tomas, Umberto, Venus, Waldo, Yayang, and Zeny. When the number of tropical cyclones for the season exceeds 25, the following auxiliary names will be used: Agila, Bagwis, Chito, Diego, Elena, Felino, Gunding, Harriet, Indang, and Jessa. PAGASA removes a name from its list if the typhoon has caused at least 300 deaths or P1 billion worth of agricultural and infrastructural damage. This practice, the weather bureau explains, can help prevent the trauma from haunting survivors who lost their families and properties to the typhoons. No way out Typhoons are here to stay. No one can escape from them and so Filipinos need to be always ready when such storms hit anywhere in the country. Perhaps the statement below of veteran journalist Juan L. Mercado is a timely reminder: “Storms are a symbol. The day is coming, for all of us, when a storm throws our lives in utter disarray. Jobs disappear. A relationship falls apart. The doctor says the test results are not good. “Soon, for each one of us, the waters will rise, winds spin out of control, and the power will go out for good. We can protect ourselves from storms by taking proper precautions. But a storm is coming which the strongest walls, sturdiest retirement plans, the best doctors cannot protect us from. “Coming to terms with that reality is the most important thing we can do. A storm reminds us that ‘normal life’ must someday break apart. Take advantage of this passing storm to think about the greater storm that is coming for us all.”

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SPORTS 11

Jordan Clarkson goes 9 for 21 in 32 minutes of action. PHOTO: AP

Clarkson shows way as Jazz sans Mitchell edge Spurs Hanoi SEAG preps in high gear: POC chief

“chef de mission” meeting is set in early January as preparations shift to high gear with under only five months before the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) opening ceremony in Hanoi on May 12 next year, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Sunday. The meeting will be held face-to-face -- the first to be organized by host Vietnam for the postponed SEA Games that will end May 23, he noted.

“Although the SEA Games are just months away, we believe the hosts are doing everything for a successful hosting,” Tolentino said. “They’re prepared, because if not for the pandemic, the Games should have been done and over with this time.” The multi-sport event, which Vietnam is hosting for the second time, was originally scheduled for Nov. 21 to Dec. 2, 2021. Tolentino said the Philippines’ chef de mission to the Games, Phil-

AN ANTONIO — Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs, 110-104, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) for their fourth straight victory. Bojan Bogdanovic had 19 points and Joe Ingles added 17 for Utah, which has won 12 of 14. Derrick White scored 21 points and Doug McDermott added 17 for San Antonio, who had its season-high, three-game winning streak snapped. San Antonio went on an 8-0 run to close within 108-102 with 22 seconds

left after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich emptied the bench, but Clarkson sealed the victory with a pair of free throws. The Spurs entered the game with the league’s third-best scoring offense, but the Jazz shut that down after a fast start. The Jazz were without injured guard Donovan Mitchell. Spurs point guard

Dejounte Murray missed his second straight game while in the league’s health and safety protocols. The absence of each team’s leading scorer didn’t hamper either offense initially. Both shot better than 60% in the opening quarter, shooting a combined 24 for 40. Utah opened a 15-point lead while scoring 11 straight in the second quarter. Gobert’s presence impacted the Spurs’ short jumpers and layups. San Antonio went 7 for 26 in the second quarter, failing to make a field goal for 5 1/2 minutes.

Gobert finished with three blocks but altered numerous shots in the second and third quarters as Utah took command of the game. TIP-INS Jazz: Mitchell is expected to miss at least two games after straining his back in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Dallas. … Mike Conley has 1,300 career steals. … Utah is 14-3 against the West. … Udoka Azubuike (ankle) and Malik Fitts (shoulder) both missed the game with injuries. … The Jazz limited their previous 10 opponents to 108 points per

his second game back after missing 15 days in protocols, went 11 for 21, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Nikola Vucevic got his 14th double-double with 24 points and 17 rebounds. Vucevic banked in a 3-pointer with 3:15 remaining to make it a 10-point lead and essentially put the game out of reach after DeRozan’s 15-foot fadeaway jumper padded the lead at 126-116. Coby White’s 3-pointer from the left corner ended it with 1:19 left. Matt Thomas’ 3-pointer gave the Bulls their biggest lead at 16 points in the closing minutes of the third,

and the Hawks never really threatened the rest of the way, though two 3s by Reddish twice cut it to five early in the fourth. Reddish buried a 3 from the left wing to make it 108-104 before Vucevic hit consecutive 3-pointers to push the lead to seven. Young, who ranks fourth in the NBA with a 27.3 scoring average and third with 9.3 assists per game, returned two negative tests to be eligible to return. He missed the last three games after a positive COVID-19 test, and the Hawks went 1-2 without him.

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DeMar DeRozan shoots 14 for 20 in 38 minutes of action. PHOTO: AP

TLANTA — DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Zach LaVine added 30 and the Chicago Bulls won their fourth straight game, beating the short-handed Atlanta Hawks, 130-118, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time). Cam Reddish finished with 33 points and Trae Young, cleared from health and safety protocols about 90 minutes before tipoff, returned to the starting lineup and scored 29 for Atlanta in the first game of a homeand-home set with the Bulls. DeRozan was 14 for 20 from the field. LaVine, in

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Terrence Romeo of San Miguel Beer looks to pass against defender Ed Daquioag of Terrafirma. PBA

Sports entertainment is back! N ow that the PBA and other spectator sports have been allowed to hold games inside closed arenas and indoor venues, the stagnant and seemingly dead cells among our bodies have become alive again. I’ve been yelling my voice hoarse, since the IATF banned sports events and games

where athletes and players engage in unpredictable contact situations, that standard health protocols can be strictly practiced and enforced inside gymnasiums and indoor courts because the inflow of spectators can be rationally controlled. As you now see, the Araneta Coliseum, the PBA’s traditional venue, has reorganized its seating arrangements to conform with standard health protocols set by WHO and the IATF here. The arrival of American hoopsters to beef up local teams adds spice to the basketball menu. While the seating capacity may not be filled to the rafters (as it is expected when championship day comes) owners of commercial venues may still earn their keep, instead of remaining vacant and unoccupied and unrented, thus earning zero revenues. It’s just a matter of managing the risks, as NEDA SEC. Karl Chua has advised. A great relief, really. To be able to move around and enjoy - though not to the hilt - something you have been enjoying before the pandemic mercilessly struck, can be taken as a blessing. Playing before an excited cheering crowd inspires,

motivates and encourages players to display their best under the most excruciating moments. Besides, the friendly though sometimes fierce rivalry establishes a connection between fans and players cum coaches of teams the public supports. Because of strict compliance to IATF health protocols the PBA and volleyball events have observed and heeded, other spectator sports like badminton, boxing, baseball, etc. may now be heartened to stage their own competitions. I’m certain the UAAP and the NCAA are already jittery about the prospects of staging their respective collegiate sports calendar since being set aside for two solid seasons. Big time boxing promotions have been “dead” for quite some time. Promoters have been struggling while commercial sponsors are eagerly waiting in the wings. Did you notice that professional chess has emerged a favorite and chess platforms are now mushrooming to provide coverage commentary and analyses? On-line chess has become the most watched sports competition since the pandemic. I pray this compliance effectively continues until the pandemic count comes to zero. Welcome back, Pinoy sports! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!