Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 250 | Wednesday, January 12, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

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City gears for imminent surge of Covid-19 STORY ON PAGE 2

A police officer checks the belonging of a motorist at a checkpoint along R. Castillo Street in Davao City during the first day of the implementation of election gun ban. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members prior to his talk to the people at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Monday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

WE’RE READY A

Army warns public on funding NPA

City gears for imminent surge of Covid-19 By MAYA M. PADILLO

avao City stepped up preparations for the imminent surge of Covid-19 cases by installing Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs).

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday that TTMFs with a total bed capacity of 2,674, are being prepared for the expected surge of cases due to social gatherings during the Holidays. “We are experiencing an impending surge, andam na tanan,” the mayor said. The city’s TTMFs are currently in varied utili-

zation rates with some at 65 percent, others at 75, or 78 percent occupied. “As we experienced also sa last surge nato, when we come to a point na 75 percent na atong occupancy, we will do home isolation na for positive cases na asymptomatic and mild,” she said. According to the mayor, the TTMFs’ bed capacity stays the same as the

city can no longer increase it. She added that during the surge due to the Delta variant of Covid-19 last year, the city was eyeing to increase bed capacity but was lacking health workers. “Hangtud diha lang gyud na sya kung unsa lang atong nakita sa Delta surge. That’s the reason why mag-ingat gyud tanan. Na-expand na nato sya hangtud sa kakayanan nato sa atoang Covid response,” the mayor said. Meanwhile, Mayor Sara confirmed that the

city is experiencing an increase in cases, however, clarified that it is not yet a surge but the city is going there (surge of cases). “We are experiencing an increase in [Covid 19] cases but it is not yet a surge but padulongay na siya didto. Ang kanang pag taas sa atoang cases, this could be very, well likely because this is two weeks after sa atoang December 24 to 25. So most likely, mao kini na pagtapok or gatherings nga nahitabo from a week ago,”

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rmy officials warned companies and persons financing the New People’s Army (NPA) saying that they will soon be charged against violating the Anti-Terrorism Act, and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. Brigadier General Jesus Durante III, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, revealed on a press conference that subversive documents found in the back packs of the neutralized NPA leaders and members showed list of companies and persons, some in codes, with certain amounts believed to be the accounting of the NPA extortion activities. “Based on the records na nakuha namin, in one of those backpacks, recently from January to June (2021), the figures reached

to PhP 20 million plus. Naka indicate pa dun kung saan galing, anong company galing,” said BGen Durante. (Based on the records we got, in one of those backpacks, recently from January to June (2021), the figures reached to PhP 20 million plus. It indicated where it came from, what company it came from.) Although Durante did not mention any name of person or company, he said that they will still verify and validate the said list. Major General Ernesto Torres Jr. said that they were surprised with the documents as they have only monitored a total of PhP 1.4 million on the NPA’s extortion activities last year. Region Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTFELCAC) on how the docu-

fter the neutralization of Menandro Villanueva alias Bok, the 1001st Infantry Brigade is now pursuing New People’s Army’s (SMRC) Southern Mindanao Regional Command Secretary (SMRC) Eric Jun Casilao alias Elian or Wally, and party wife Mae Casilao alias Gab. Brigadier General Jesus Durante III, commander of the 100st Infantry Brigade revealed during a press conference that the couple were with Villanueva before his death at the hinterlands of Davao de Oro. “Give us one month,”

said BGen Durante when ask on his target date to capture the Casilao couple. The commander added that he is more than willing to accept if the couple surrenders before the deadline. Durante is also asking the community to cooperate with the security forces to put a stop on the atrocities of the communist movement. The Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government offered a PhP 5.4 million bounty to

Army hunts Casilao couple after Villanueva’s death

PRRD hopes to correct law on state of calamity declaration A P resident Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he wants to “correct” a law requiring the assessment of reports on disaster areas on a state of calamity is declared before he steps down from office in June. “I hope we can correct these things before we go out,” Duterte said in a prerecorded Talk to the People. Duterte was possibly

referring to Republic Act No. (RA) 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010. Expressing frustration over “anything that hinders or delays” government response, he said the law needed to be repealed to allow the next administration to better deal with all kinds of disasters. “We can propose something like this…yung mga

(some) corrective measures sa batas (in the law). Kasi the next time na wala na tayo (So when we are no longer here), at least yung (the) next administration would be in a position to deal with the problem faster and more sensible,” he added. Duterte described the law as “really silly”, noting that it seemed that the authors of the law did not really take time to think it

over. “That provision in the law, it’s really silly. That’s what I call a silly law. I’m not referring to the present Congress, but kung anong Congress ‘yan, hindi talaga pinag-isipan ng husto (whatever Congress that is, they didn’t think it over),” he said. He said the assessment of reports on disaster areas should only come after the

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

NEWS

This Mindanao Star passenger bus plying the Davao City-Cotabato City route is cordoned off after a bomb exploded at the rear portion inside the vehicle as it was cruising the highway at Purok Narra, San Mateo, Aleosan, North Cotabato around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday (11 January 2022). Police said seven of the 20 passengers were injured, but they have no idea yet as to the motive as investigations are ongoing. Photo from the Cotabato Provincial Police Command

Sara warns public anew vs. ‘Duterte scammers’

VGuv calls for fast probe on bus bombing in Cotabato Province

ice Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza of Cotabato Province said the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is now calling for a fast and relentless investigation by the concerned authorities to unmask the perpetrators of the bombing of a passenger bus near Aleosan town proper in Cotabato Province morning of January 11, 2022. A suspected improvised explosive device (IED) went off inside Mindanao Star bus that injured six passengers, including a 5-month-old baby and a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old children. Radyo Amigo Pigcawayan posted on its Facebook Page that the Aleosan Municipal Police Station is conducting an investigation and still waiting for the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) to provide concrete details on the incident. This is the first bombing incident in 2022 in Mindanao amid Covid-19 pandemic. “The bombing inside the Mindanao Star Bus at around 8:00 this morning near the Aleosan checkpoint calls for the highest

condemnation. Such dastardly acts committed by heartless and misguided individuals resulted in the wounding of six passengers, some of them children. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan calls for a fast and relentless investigation by our concerned authorities to pinpoint the perpetrators of this bombing and arrest them to face the consequences of their acts,” Mendoza said. Mendoza said in the continuing fight against the Covid-19, such action has no place amid a world reeling from the effects of the pandemic. “Atong iampo ang daling kaayuhan sa mga nasamdan ug akong ginahangyo ang tanang Cotabateños nga mahimong mabinantayon para sa atong kaluwasan,” she added. It can be recalled that a unit of Yellow Bus Line was set ablaze in M’lang, Cotabato Province on June 3, 2021, leaving three passengers charred beyond recognition. Mendoza said the burning of the Yellow Bus was another big blow to the Cotabateños and urged the Cotabateños

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio warned Dabawenyos against political scams using the Duterte family name for soliciting money or business proposals.

“Mag-remind ko sa atoang mga kaigsuonan, sa ating mga kababayan na huwag po maniwala sa mga solicitations, business proposals, and yung pag collect ng pera para sa ID. Mayroon po kaming natanggap na report na mayroon nag-iissue ng ID and they’re collecting from 30-300 pesos,” the mayor said on Monday during the Special Hour Program with Mayor In-

day via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR). This is in line with the post of Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte warning the public against individuals who showed their photos with him or President Rodrigo Duterte or his siblings and solicit money or pitch business proposals. “Scam na. Style nas mga hampas lupa. Di buot pasabot naa picture kau-

ban mi tinuod na na ilang gina ingon. Unta makaton na mo. Kay kapoy na,” the vice mayor posted. Mayor Sara said they are not authorizing solicitations and reminded the public not to trust or engage with these individuals. “Huwag po kayong maniwala sa mga ganyan. Wala po kaming ino-authorize na solicitation. Wala po kaming busines proposals, and wala po kaming ini-issue na ID na may bayad. Hindi lang po iyan. There may be other schemes, money-making schemes, na ginagamit

ang pangalan namin. Hindi po totoo ang lahat na iyan,” the mayor said. This is not the first time the name of the mayor or their family has been used in fraudulent schemes. In August last year, Mayor Sara reminded her supporters not to use her name in their transactions and issued a stern warning after a video circulated on social media, showing three men at the Davao International Airport (DIA) talking about a meeting with the mayor and the use of an airplane for campaign materials.

“Generally peaceful ang first-day ng implementation ng gun ban and no reported violators,” he said. He also ordered the personnel of DCPO to strictly implement the gun ban throughout the election period. The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) reminded the police to be in proper uniform when carrying a gun but when in civilian attire they must conceal their firearms. Police Major Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11), said checkpoints

are being put up in strategic areas. For civilians, application for a permit to carry firearms outside the residence is suspended from period of January 9, 2022 until June 6, 2022. Meanwhile, the first day of the gun ban caused heavy traffic particularly in Puan, Ulas, Bago Aplaya, and Talomo areas that irked some motorists in Davao City. “Wa ko kabalo na gun ban. So while driving, na shock na lang ko’s traffic jam nga taas pa’s sa buhok ni Rapunzel. So nanawag ko ug 911 kay para magrequest ug CTTMO unta kay

abi nakog naunsa. Gane nag advise ng 911 operator nga gun ban. Jusko tabang grabi ang movement murag 48 years ka maabot sa adtuan,” commented Neri John in the post of a local radio station’s Facebook page in Davao City. Jamir Lamoste commented also that the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) should be on top of the situation to man the roads. “Dapat pud gani CTTMO on top mo sa sitwasyon kay kamo man nakabalo sa dalan. Duha (2) ka national

Gun ban violator arrested in Marilog

avao City Police Office (DCPO) director Colonel Kirby John Kraft said a civilian was arrested in Marilog District for violating the nationwide gun ban that kicked off on January 9, 2022. “Meron na tayong violator sa Marilog pero hindi siya sa checkpoint nahuli but thru police response sa tawag ng concerned citizen na merong taong may dalang baril,” Kraft said in a text message. Kraft said that there are no violators on the first day of implementation of the gun ban.

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

A street vendor displays durian fruits along the sidewalk in R. Castillo Street, Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

Energy department calls on Indonesia to end coal ban

he Philippines’ Department of Energy has urged Indonesia to lift its recent ban on coal exports, with the DOE warning the policy will have a “detrimental” impact on the coal-reliant country. Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporter of coal used to generate electricity, this month stopped fossil fuel shipments to secure its domestic power supply. The Philippines imports about 70 percent of its coal supply and nearly 97 percent of that comes from Indonesia, official data show. Most of the coal is used for power generation.

Jakarta’s ban on January coal exports would be “detrimental” to countries like the Philippines that rely on coal-fired power, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a letter to his Indonesian counterpart last Thursday, according to a DOE statement on Monday. “Power generated from coal comprises about 60 percent of the country’s power de-

mand,” Cusi added. Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin has been enlisted to appeal against Indonesia’s decision via the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the statement said. Japan has also issued a similar appeal to Indonesia. Indonesia’s export ban was imposed after coal miners failed to meet their obligation to set aside 25 percent of output for the domestic market. That sent global prices of coal higher as the northern hemisphere’s winter demand for energy peaks. Last year the Philip-

pines imported 2.3 million metric tons of coal a month from Indonesia, Cusi said. “We’re not after the entire production of Indonesia. What we just want to get is what we are already getting,” said DOE spokesman William Fuentebella. It is not clear if the grade of coal purchased by the Philippines is the same as that burned by Indonesia’s power stations. The DOE will meet with the country’s coalfired power plant operators this week, officials said.

troleum Corp. and Seaoil Philippines Inc. said they will increase prices per liter of gasoline by P0.75, diesel by P1.10, and kerosene by P0.90. Changes in the price of kerosene will not be implemented in areas under state of calamity. Cleanfuel, Petro Gazz, and PTT Philippines Corp.

will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which they do not carry. The changes will take effect at 6 a.m. yesterday for all the firms except for Cleanfuel, which will adjust prices at 4:01 p.m.,, and Caltex at 12:01 a.m. on the same day. Other firms have yet to make

similar announcements for the week. Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) indicate that year-to-date adjustments stood at a net increase of P17.65 per liter for gasoline, P14.30 per liter for diesel, and P11.54 per liter for kerosene in 2021.

Pump prices up for 2nd straight week

otorists will have to pay more for petroleum products this week, as oil firms announced another round of price hikes to mark the second consecutive week of increases. In separate advisories, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Flying V, Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Pe-

Unregistered antigen test kit sellers can be penalized: DTI

usinesses selling unregistered self-test antigen test kits for Covid-19 may be held liable and penalized, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) warned on Monday. This, according to DTI Assistant Secretary and Consumer Protection Group Head Ann Claire Cabochan amid the rise of sellers of supposedly overpriced selftest kits online. “For as long as it had not been authorized to be sold in the Philippines, it should not be sold whether in physical stores or in online store,” she said in a Laging Handa public briefing. Currently, no self-administered antigen test kits have been registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III last week instructed the FDA to prepare its approval of registered self-test antigen test kits for Covid-19. “First, we have to make a distinction. Iyong (Those) self-test kits, because they

are not yet registered, they are not yet certified by the FDA as a product that can be sold in our market, wala po iyang SRP (they do not have suggested retail price),” Cabochan said. She said the DTI is working with the FDA to fast-track applications for certificates of product registration needed to allow the sale of these selftest kits. “Pinag-aaralan po iyan (It is being studied) and I know that the FDA is fast tracking any applications for certificate of product registration to be issued. So, wala po iyang SRP, iyong mga self-test kits at this time, kasi wala pa naman talaga silang registration from FDA. (So they these self-test kits have no SRP because they have no registration from FDA),” she said. Stable paracetamol supply Meanwhile, Cabochan assured that supply of paracetamol, which can be used to treat mild Covid-19 symptoms, is expected to normalize after drugstores topped

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EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY 5

A ground crew walks by a Philippine Airline aircraft at the Davao International Airport (DIA). PAL forced to cancel flights as several ground staff and frontline cabin crew tested positive for COVID-19. Edge Davao

DavNor implement BOSS for biz licenses renewal DA interventions in force to negate ‘Odette’ losses

he Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday reported PHP11.7 billion worth of damage in Typhoon Odette-hit regions but early intervention enabled farmers to save their crops. The agency’s PHP2.9 billion worth of various programs are also being used to help 411,038 farmers and fisherfolk get back on their feet. All concerned DA agencies are monitoring the damage to identify effective ways for the speedy recovery of the victims. The Dec. 16 and 17, 2021 typhoon caused 267,369 metric tons of production losses and damaged 442,674 hectares of agricultural areas in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga, according to the DA’s latest data. Affected commodities included rice, corn, high value crops, coconut, sugarcane, abaca, livestock, and fisheries.

Agricultural infrastructures, machinery, and equipment also incurred damage but the actual values are still subject to validation. Meanwhile, 11,454 hectares of rice were harvested prior to “Odette’s” landfall or an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to PHP615.53 million. As for corn, a total of 2,452 hectares were saved, equal to 6,965 metric tons or PHP82.55 million. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) recently provided six units of 20-footer fiberglass boats with engines and complete accessories and two units of upright freezers to selected fisherfolk beneficiaries and associations in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte. BFAR is set to conduct another on-the-ground assessment on the island this month to assess and validate the overall damage to fisheries-related infrastructure and livelihood. The data will be used

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the RA 11032 in their respective cities. “Ang ease of doing business, nagalangkob kana sa BOSS or Business-One-Stop Shop. Sa una man gud kung magrenew ka sa imong license muadto paka sa matag opisina nga involved. Muadto ka sa engineering, sa health office, sa Bureau of Fire pero sa pagkakaron, base sa RA 11032, the Ease of Doing Business, gusto man gud ni President Duterte nga mastreamline ang

pagpadagan sa mga transaction dili madugay dugay, mapadali so mao na sya nga gipatapok ang mga opisina involved in one area,”(The Ease of Doing Business Act includes the Business-OneStop Shop (BOSS). Before, we visit a lot of offices just to renew our licenses. You go to engineering, health, and BFP offices but now, since President Duterte wants to ease the transactions in business licenses renewals, he ordered through this act to gather all these offices in one place), Rabara explained. “Sa atoa pod diri sa Tagum City medyo nakabentaha pod mi kay naa mi atrium man gud sa amoang

city hall, naa ra sya dinha kay 2018 paman na naimplement ba, so naa mi diri sa city hall wherein dako kaayo mig area diha sa atrium,” (Here in Tagum City, it’s favourable for us because we have this huge atrium at our new city hall), she added. Rabara also stated that the City of Tagum is aiming towards full automation of the business permit and license renewal process. “This year amo gyud pod untang gipaningkamutan na pwede na mapa-online especially karon na COVID time although ika-3rd year na karon pero daghan pang kaso, In fact, naa nagyud mi online nga assessment,

due to staff shortage. Less than 10 percent of its cabin crew frontline roster either tested positive or in precautionary quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 positive patients, PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said. “Tinamaan po ng COVID ang ilang empleyado ng

Philippine Airlines including ground and frontliners at ang ilan naman ay nasa precautionary quarantine because of exposure to COVID positive individuals,” Villaluna said. (Some employees contracted COVID including ground and frontliners while some are in precau-

tionary quarantine because of exposure to COVID positive individuals) “Dahil dito kami po ay humihingi ng pang-unawa sa ating mga mananakay na kailangan i-rebook ang kanilang flights na apektado ng mga force majeure cancellations na ito,” she

ities and municipalities in the Province of Davao Del Norte implemented the Business-One-Stop Shop (BOSS) for the business permit and licenses renewal.

Representatives from the City Government of Tagum and Panabo shared their innovations and practices relative to Republic Act 11032 also known as the Ease of Doing Business Act during the latest episode of Kapihan sa DavNor. Tagum City Acting Assistant Treasurer, Nimfa Rabara, and the City Government of Panabo’s Business Permit and Licensing Section Head, Juliet Nacario explained how they are implementing

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COVID infections force PAL to cancel flights

hilippine Airlines said on Tuesday several ground staff and frontline cabin crew tested positive for COVID-19, which resulted to “force majeure” cancellation of flights. On Monday, the flag carrier announced it would cancel several domestic and international flights

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

On the expected surge of cases due to social gatherings during the Holidays:

We are experiencing an impending surge, andam na tanan.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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

WHERE HAVE ALL OUR LANDS GONE? Perhaps not too many know this but man’s survival hinges on land. “Land is the foundation of all life-sustaining processes on the planet,” explained the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle the world’s most important pressing environmental problems. “It provides us with food and water.” In addition, land “helps us manage environmental risks such as floods and drought,” the GEF stated. “It supports natural processes such as soil formation and nutrient cycling. And it offers opportunities for social and cultural activities.” There’s more. “In economic terms, land benefits billions of people, including a large proportion that depends entirely on farming and forest products for their livelihood,” the GEF said, adding that “it’s imperative to maintain sustained and productive use of land.” But human beings are not doing so. According to the United Nations report, The Global Land Outlook (GLO), said that pressures on global land resources “are now greater than ever.” Consumption of the earth’s natural reserves has doubled in the last 30 years, “with a third of the planet’s land now severely de-

graded,” GLO deplored. In the Philippines, the Global Assessment of Land Degradation and Improvement showed some 33,064,628 Filipinos affected by land degradation. “The total degraded land is estimated at 132,275 square kilometers,” the study said, explaining that one square kilometer is equivalent to 100 hectares. As such, roughly 1.3 million hectares in the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares, are already degraded. Land degradation is a broad term that can be applied differently across a wide range of scenarios. But as a global problem, it is largely related to agricultural use. Among those cited as causes are land clearance (deforestation is an example), agricultural depletion of soil nutrients through poor farming practices (“kaingin” farming or slash-andburning agriculture comes to mind), livestock raising (overgrazing, for one), inappropriate irrigation, urban sprawl and commercial development, and vehicle off-roading. Other causes include quarrying (sand, stone, ore and minerals), monoculture (planting of a single crop like pineapple, banana or corn), dumping of non-biodegradable trash such as plastics, and soil degradation.

Desertification, a term applied to the severe degradation of land to the point where it resembles a desert, is the ultimate human insult to land and soil resources. It results from overuse by humans, sometimes in combination with variations in climate such as droughts. In the Philippines, a report published by the Department of Agriculture in 2010 cited inadequate and inefficient irrigation systems, increasing population and rural poverty, poor land and watershed management as those that contribute to land degradation. More often than not, the ever-increasing number of people are the cause of land degradation. The UN report said so, too: “Populations abruptly gained access to what seemed to be an unlimited stock of natural capital, where land was seen as a free gift of nature.” That’s where the problem lies. “Using his burgeoning intelligence, this most successful of all mammals has exploited the environment to produce food for an ever increasing population,” award-winning British director and environmentalist David Attenborough pointed out. Instead of controlling the environment for the benefit of the population, perhaps it’s time we controlled the population to allow the survival of

the environment.” Others, however, believe that high population density is not always related to land degradation. “Rather, it is the practices of the human population that can cause a landscape to become degraded,” Wikipedia explained. “Populations can be a benefit to the land and make it more productive than it is in its natural state.” Gary Gardner, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, said that in the past, civilizations could simply leave one piece of land for another when the soil nutrients had been depleted. Today, we no longer have this luxury; the world has, for all intents and purposes, run out of available cropland. “If the soil on which all agriculture and all human life depends is wasted away, then the battle to free mankind from want cannot be won,” said Lord John Boyd Orr. Soil formation takes time: only one inch of topsoil for every 100 to 1,000 years. About 6 inches of topsoil is usually cultivated in modern agriculture, according to Penelope ReVelle and Charles ReVelle, authors of The Environment: Issues and Choices for Society. “If soil erodes at about 33 tons per hectare per year, about 0.10 inch of soil is lost each year

and the whole plow layer in 60-70 years,” they wrote. “Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Rev. Harold R. Watson, who received the 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land. We must consider ourselves in a state of emergency; our topsoil is all going…” Without topsoil, farming suffers. Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf, authors of a Worldwatch paper entitled “Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy,” say the erosion affects crop production in two ways. They explain: “The loss of topsoil reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure. It also increases the costs of p“When farmers lose topsoil,” the authors continue, “they may increase land productivity by substituting energy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs. And if productivity drops too low or agricultural costs rise too high, farmers are forced to abandon their land.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THREE SUPER TYPHOONS Over the last 110 years, Davao has been a recipient of three of the most devastating tropical cyclones, also known as super typhoons, to hit Mindanao. As anticipated, the immense destruction the typhoons brought cost thousands of lives and inflicted ginormous property losses. Based on missionary letters, the 1912 storm entered Mindanao via the northern sector of Baganga and south of Cateel on November 27 before crossing the Agusan River between Jativa (now San Roque, Haguimitan, Monkayo) and Compostela town. The observation was made by the people on board the steamer Fernandez Hermanos in Bislig waters and in the station of Davao. As a result, the convent at Manay, Davao Oriental, had its roof entirely removed, and the church and neighborhood de-

stroyed. At Manurigao and Baculin, the story was no different. Baganga was completely destroyed, while only five houses remained standing in Cateel. Fr. Raimundo Villa, S.J., assigned in Cateel, revealed that the people told him that no typhoon of equal severity had been felt in the place since the municipality’s existence. The same 1912 tropical cyclone was so damaging the defunct Washington Herald, citing a cable dispatch to the U.S. Bureau of Insular Affairs, screamed: ‘15,000 die in Philippine storm.’ ‘The typhoon,’ the article goes, ‘swept the Visayas and is said to have practically destroyed Tacloban, the capital city of Leyte, and to have wrought enormous damage and loss of life at Capiz.’ A century later, super typhoon Yolanda (internationally

known as Haiyan) ravaged the same regions, resulting in the death of roughly the same number of casualties. Fifty-eight years later another megastorm visited Davao region. Super typhoon Titang (internationally known as Kate) was a Category 4 super typhoon with a highest sustained wind of 240 kph. The howler made landfall 45 km south of Davao City on October 18, 1970, and was categorized by the Hawaii-based Typhoon Warning Center, which issues tropical cyclone warnings in the northwest Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean as a super typhoon. The cyclone ruined more than 5,000 houses, 631 people were confirmed killed, 284 were listed as missing, and the total damage cost was estimated at P250 million in properties, ‘making it one of the cost-

liest typhoons on record at the time.’ On December 4, 2012, Monkayo became one of the most devastated towns after storm ‘Pablo’ (internationally known as Bopha) ruined everything in its path. It had the lowest altitude super-typhoon (252+ kph) to hit landfall anywhere in the world and was classified as Category 5 in the international Saffir-Simpson Tropical Cyclone Scale. Records show that 7,947 residences were totally destroyed while 1,062 houses were partially damaged, or a total of 20,009 structures were affected. The death toll was 95, while the injured reached one hundred fifty-nine, with six persons missing due to landslides and flash floods. The town’s agricultural resources were mowed down by strong wind at 320 kph and the

howler was classified as Signal No. 5, the highest in the typhoon scale. At the height of the storm, which landed in Baganga, Davao Oriental, the town’s major waterways overflowed. As collateral damage, a wide swath of planted wood species uprooted, rice fields soaked in waist-deep water, forest vegetation scraped, cornfields flattened, rural gyms mangled beyond repair, school buildings stripped of roofs, concrete bridges cut in two, and roads rendered impassable. The tropical storm ruined over 12,000 hectares of banana farms valued at P225 billion, including the cost of replanting. Rehabilitation of plantations alone required P7.7 billion. On the other hand, estimates placed the collective destruction in agriculture, infrastructure, and public works, and loss of income at P50 million.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

Banking on data: Transforming banks with data intelligence As financial institutions continue to invest heavily in technology to augment, digitize, and even disrupt traditional operations and service offerings, the concept of what constitutes a ‘bank’ continues to change dramatically. Thanks to digital tools, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), we now have a glimpse of what banks of the future may look like: intelligent and able to provide a more convenient and impeccable banking experience for all. While banks continue to embrace these technologies, the past year emphasized the need for financial institutions to transform digitally. Limited mobility due to the much-needed lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19 made it apparent that customer-centricity and financial inclusion remain a challenge in the banking sector. In the Philippines alone, the number of unbanked adults remains one of the highest in Southeast Asia (SEA). In 2019, unbanked Filipinos were estimated at 51.2 million, out of a total adult population of 71 million, as revealed by the BSP’s Financial Inclusion Survey released in 2020. As a response, BSP released Circular No. 1105 last year to decrease the country’s unbanked population. This circular considers digital banks a distinct classification of banks and provides the framework for its operation and establishment. Initially, only five financial institutions were given licenses to operate as digital-only services. It was later expanded to seven last August 2021. The goal is to bring 70 percent of Filipino adults into the banked population and 50 percent to online payments by 2030. The past year has also seen significant changes as businesses and consumers alike went increasingly digital, driving the rise of online transactions and digital payments. BSP’s latest data revealed that 20.1 percent of monthly payments volume was done digitally by

the end of 2020, indicating an improvement from the 17-percent digital transactions in the first six months of the same year. As consumers increasingly go digital, particularly amid the never normal, it is now a crucial period for financial institutions to recalibrate their banking services and help improve financial inclusion and provide better customer experiences through customer-centric service offerings. But what does it take to achieve all these? Unlocking Possibilities through Data Intelligence Banking involves sifting through tremendous amounts of data gathered from various clients and transactions recorded in the bank’s systems. External sources also add up to these data, including mobile operators, social networks, and credit bureaus, among others. For banks to truly ex-

plore the full potential of their data, they need to ensure that the entire data lifecycle is adequately managed and governed—from data collection, recording, monitoring to visualization, analysis, and interpretation. When done correctly, data assets can add significant value to the bank’s profitability and sustainability. With AI-enabled tools, financial institutions can effectively use and transform them into data intelligence, which is necessary for making intelligent business decisions and staying competitive and profitable. Banks need a clear data strategy to utilize the full benefits

from data, which constitutes three crucial aspects. First is data management that involves data ownership and governance, including data collection, storage, structuring, review, cleaning, and monitoring. Next is reporting and visualization, which involves the creation of an intelligent view of the bank’s performance, quality of the portfolio, staff productivity, and other categories necessary to drive the business. And lastly, data analytics, which is deemed the most challenging yet valuable part of data strategy. Through analytical models developed by banks, they can predict customer be-

havior, understand better their needs and preferences, and proactively manage the overall business. As financial services become more available due to digital banking, AI-powered analytics can help banks differentiate themselves, particularly with the help of data intelligence. Nowadays, data intelligent banks utilize AI and ML to analyze and transform massive data sets into intelligent insights. With these insights, banks can understand better their collected information and provide better services and experiences to their customers while ensuring robust regulatory compliance and risk management. Becoming an ‘Intelligent Bank’ Among the country’s banks that utilize data intelligence is the UnionBank of the Philippines (UnionBank). As part of its data strategy, the UnionBank accelerated its digital initiatives further by collaborating with SAP to create a new banking model to support customer-centric services. With the help of SAP Data Intelligence, Union-

remain high, are open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30AM to 2:00PM, while LANDBANK branches in Visayas and Mindanao will continue to follow the regular banking hours of 8:30AM to 3:00PM on weekdays. However, some branches in NCR, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon are temporarily closed due to COVID-19 exposure of personnel and to give way to

disinfection to ensure the health and safety of LANDBANK clients and employees. Meanwhile, the Bank’s e-banking channels, such as the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App, iAccess, WeAccess, Link.BizPortal, Electronic Tax Payment System, Phone Access, and its ATM network, remain stable and available to the public 24/7. For a complete list of open and closed branches

and their operating hours, please visit the LANDBANK website at www. landbank.com. Banking schedules of LANDBANK branches nationwide are also posted daily at the LANDBANK website, and at the Bank’s official Facebook Page at @landbankofficial and Viber Community at @ LANDBANK. With more Flipinos staying home as NCR and some parts of the country

Bank integrated into their systems the first-known “Data Science Factory” model in SEA’s financial sector. This model can help the bank realize an enhanced business management, improve internal processes, and have a better end-toend perspective of all its operations. UnionBank’s adoption of SAP Data Intelligence for its new digital model provides several advantages. This comprehensive data management solution helps the bank transform its distributed data sprawls into critical data insights, delivering innovation at scale. Intelligent banks using this solution can easily find the most relevant data through enriched metadata tags, user-generated ratings and comments, and unified business glossaries. It can also build an enterprise data fabric that connects data silos and increases visibility into several data assets. For UnionBank, SAP Data Intelligence serves as a critical pillar in the governance and management of internal processes. It aids the bank to streamline op-

erations and stay ahead in regulatory compliance and risk management while supporting its new digital model. It also helps equip the bank’s administrators and other internal staff with the necessary insights and tools to provide high-quality customer service. For instance, using its Data Science Factory model, all the data and insights gathered by UnionBank can help them enable hyper-personalized accounts, allowing the customers to understand their financial capabilities better. By personalizing these accounts, the bank can support whatever specific goals their customers want to achieve. It also makes it easier to fulfill its responsibilities like providing loans, managing savings, and offering other services with ease while protecting its customers’ privacy. Making Transactions Easier As UnionBank embraced this new model, the company also saw the need to improve its efficiency and communications internal-

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LANDBANK branches nationwide remain open

Despite a sudden surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) announced that its branches nationwide shall continue to operate to serve the banking needs of its customers. In a statement, the state-run Bank said a number of LANDBANK branches in the National Capital Region (NCR) and most parts of Luzon, where COVID-19 cases

remain under Alert Level 3, LANDBANK once again reminded its customers to be cautious of online banking fraud and phishing activities. The Bank appealed to its clients to remain vigilant and ignore suspicious e-mails, text and social media messages, links and attachments from unknown senders. It also urged the pubic to be on the look-out for fake websites and social media

accounts pretending to be LANDBANK by checking and verifying a suspicious site’s URL, email address, social media account or phone number. Official LANDBANK representatives will never ask for a client’s onetime passwords (OTPs), account details, and the card verification value (CVV) at the back of the card, among other security details, the Bank said.

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AGRITRENDS

FARM TOURISM AT ITS BEST Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

oreigners usually think of the Philippines as a place of dreamy golden beaches, shimmering azure waters, blue skies and gently swaying palms. But there is a new wave in tourism across the country – especially for those interested in sustainability. Farm tourism is the new attraction. The Republic Act No. 10816, otherwise known as the Farm Tourism Development Act, defines farm tourism as “the practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational and recreational purposes.” As a reason to visit, it is becoming increasingly popular in the country. Any agriculture or fishery-based activity that brings people to be educated or trained on farming and related activities, or just provides a venue for outdoor recreation and family outings can be called farm tourism. “It ranges from very (sophisticated) tourist farms to very simple… farms,” said Senator Cynthia Villar, author of Act No. 10816. “They are the same thing; it’s about being creative.” The Philippines is an agricultural country. So much so that what you put into your mouth comes from the farm: from the morning coffee to extra rice during meals, from banana cue for snacks to tilapia crackers as pulutan, from pinakbet for breakfast to chicken inasal for dinner. “Shake the hands that

feed you,” commented Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat of the Department of Tourism. Now is the time to visit those farms and meet them. Exposure to areas where crops are grown can lift your mood and allow you to breathe fresh air. What most Filipinos don’t know is that the Philippines is now among the world’s top farm tourism destinations. That’s according to the Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). It is now at par with other farm tourism sites all over the globe, including Taiwan, Hawaii, Tuscany, Mallorca, California and Brazil. In Davao City, there’s 80-hectare Eden Nature Park and Resort, located in Toril. At 2,650 feet above sea level, it offers breathtaking views of Davao City and the Davao gulf. “This place was a remnant of logging concessionaires in the 1970s and was covered only by a blanket of wild grass,” said Brenda Ocampo, the resort’s marketing manager. The late Jesus V. Ayala saw the potential of the

place in 1971. He instructed his people to make terraces carved out of the mountain slope. To rejuvenate the area, he told them to plant thousands of pine trees all over the place. Today, there are over 100,000 pine trees spread across about 80 hectares, making the resort 95-percent manmade. The pine trees created canopies, which made the place cooler. In areas not planted to pine trees, various fruits were planted. As the place is good for growing mangosteen, about three hectares were allotted to the fruit crop. About five hectares are planted to dragon fruits, the yellow variety. These are harvested twice a year: the peak season is from August to October while the low season is January. These are sold locally although some of them are exported to Japan. A trivia: Dragon fruit is a native to southern Mexico and Central America. It is also called pitaya, pitahaya and strawberry pear. The most common type has bright red skin with green scales that resemble a dragon – hence the name. Other fruits planted include marang, durian, avocado, guava, and santol. Cacao is also grown as intercrop. Last year, President Rodrigo R. Duterte declared Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines with Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines.

When Ayala bought the land, he saw some bamboo growing naturally. Those were not harvested but instead they were allowed to grow for aesthetic reasons. To pay homage to the world’s tallest grass, it has created a bamboo maze, which reminds you of the movie The Shining – but without the snow and Jack Nicholson, of course. It takes about 8-10 minutes to complete the maze. One fascinating aspect of farming is fishing. That’s why Eden Nature Park has a 2,000-square-meter fishpond. This was opened to the public in 1997 and visitors can do their own fishing here. Among the types of fish raised are hito and tilapia, which are given commercial feeds. There’s no limit of how many kilos visitors can catch. All they have to do is pay all the fish they caught. In fact, they can ask some

resort personnel to cook the fish for them. While waiting, they can have bonding in some of the cottages near the pond. Not far from the fishpond is the hydroponics farm, which occupies about three hectares of the resort. Two greenhouses are used to grow several varieties of the lettuce. Other crops grown are Japanese tomatoes and cucumber. Some of the harvested vegetables, about 4-5 kilograms daily, are used in the resort’s restaurant. Aside from being organically-grown, hydroponics offers several advantages, notably a decrease in water usage. Studies have shown that to grow one kilogram of tomato using intensive farming methods, for instance, requires 400 liters. In comparison, growing the same amount of tomato using hydroponics, only 70 kilograms of water is used.

Most of the produce from the resort is sold through the Eden Fresh Produce, Inc. The resort is also concerned with the country’s flora and fauna. So much so that it includes as part of its itinerary some areas where people can have a close encounter with Philippine deer and butterflies. The Deer Park serves as the domicile of over thirty deer. At the Butterfly Garden, visitors can actually play with these familiar, colorful insects while taking the path around the 2,000-square-meter garThe most beautiful attraction of the resort, however, is the Flower Garden. From her travels abroad, the idea of putting such a garden came to Mrs. Fe Ayala. Some of the flowers grown were from the resort and nearby places but most of those gracing the

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the mayor added. As of January 9, 2022 the city has a total of 433 active Covid-19 positive cases. Mayor Sara said the cases are still manageable. “Manageable pa sya

because ang atoang TTMFs kaniadto during the Delta surge naa gihapon sila. Atoa lang sila gi temporary shutdown tong wala nay patients but we opened up again for the impending surge,” she added.

to unite and assure that the provincial council officials will help the province to survive from similar events. On January 27, 2021 a unit of the Yellow Bus Line was bombed in Sibsib, Tulunan, Cotabato Province

killing one and wounding five individuals. Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 12 (PRO 12) director Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum confirmed that the incident was a terror attack. By Maya M. Padillo

ments can be used against those companies and persons financing the terrorist group. “Aside from the document, we have former rebels now who are willing to convert their knowledge and experiences as to who are supporting the terrorist group into judicial affidavits (JA). And I think these JAs would stand up in court.” It can be recalled that the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) has designated the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF) as terrorist organizations under Resolution Numbers 12 and 21 respectively.

According to Sections 4 and 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, any person providing material support to terrorist individual or group shall be liable as principal and suffer the penalty of life imprisonment without the benefit of parole. Likewise, Section 8 of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act states that any person who makes available any property or funds, or financial services or other related services to designated and or identified terrorist person or organization shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua, and a fine of PhP 500,000 to PhP 1 million. (PIA 11/Michael Uy)

highway connecting ani nga highway Davao-Bukidnon ug Davao Digos highway, unya gi bottle neck (one way passing going downtwn).. dili man tah against their work for Comelec pero ang pag execute bops pol,” he posted. Diosdado Silva also shared experiencing the same inconvenience due to the traffic in the Tibungco area. “Mao pud kagabii sa Tibungco grabe gikan

Tagum bug-at traffic sa under construction bridge halos 2 hours mi natangkong inig abot namo Tibungco trafic na pod abe namo naa aksidente inig abot nmo Comelec gun ban checkpoint tanan klase sakyanan murag mag unahay overtake. Ok ra na basta naay systemaogpamaagimaulcer

any information that will lead to the neutralization of the male Casilao. Major General Ernesto Torres Jr, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, bared that the male Casilao is the secretary of the SMRC since 2016. “He is the brother of

the former representative (to the Congress) of Anakpawis, Ariel Casilao,” Torres said. Reports also said that Casilao is wanted for kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and two counts of murder. (PIA 11/Michael Uy)

calamity happened. “It could be a post-disaster that would be done immediately. It would take time, but not a disaster that would…the assessment of which would really depend now on the ability of the Executive Department to release the money immediately,” he said. He recalled his experience with Typhoon Odette, noting that the government had a “quandary” before declaring a state of calamity in typhoon-hit areas. “Yung (The) assessment of the damage could only be done if given enough time which could not come immediately after the occurrence of the disaster,” he said. Duterte expressed hope that Senator Christopher “Bong” Go could initiate efforts to repeal the law. “I hope he can initiate the corrective measures that are badly needed to be

done for us to comply with our duty commensurate to the time and the damage that is done whether it be a fire, landslide, bagyo(typhoon), earthquakes. These are the things that need immediate action,” he added. In December, Duterte 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 the typhoon and prevented the government from acting immediately. Typhoon Odette pummeled several provinces particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao last month. Duterte declared a state of calamity in 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)

up their inventory. “Nagkaroon lang talaga po ng (There was just an) overwhelming demand. But last week, we have already received reports because we were working very closely with the manufacturers of these products, as well the drugstore, iyong (the) association of drugstore,” she said. After some brands of paracetamol ran out of stock at certain drugstores early this month, she said the country’s major drugstores have already started replenishing their inventory since January 5. “We are anticipating na (that) over the weekend ay magno-normalize na iyong situation kasi makakarating na ng distribution channels, iyong mga major drugstores po natin (the situation will normalize because they will reach distribution channels, our major drugstores),” she added.

Now that the replenishment has been made, she said “there is more than enough supply” and that “manufacturers will continue to produce as they have in the past.” She also reiterated her warning against the sale of counterfeit medicines, noting that they may also be penalized with a fine, imprisonment, or both. Under Republic Act (RA) No. 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, persons who manufacture, sell and distribute fake drugs will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and PHP5 million fine “should a counterfeit drug be the proximate cause of death of a victim.” RA 9711 or the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009 also prohibits the importation, selling or offering for sale of counterfeit medicines. (PNA)

to create feasible and relevant livelihood intervention proposals for appropriate and immediate funding. DSWD assistance Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sent 1,340 family food packs and 30,000 pieces of Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC) forms to Caticlan in Aklan, Cebu, and Palawan before 2021

ended. Along with the food and non-food items transported on Dec. 22 to 30, 2021 by a local budget carrier, the DAFAC forms would help DSWD in monitoring the provision of aid to families affected by disasters. The forms also ensure that all families hit by Typhoon Odette are given appropriate DSWD assistance. (PNA)

however naa pami kulang nga data nga na upload sa system provider,”(We really exert effort in making this year’s transaction for the renewal to become online especially during this pandemic which is in its third year already, yet a lot of cases are still recorded. But there are still requirements we need to upload to the system provider to make it happen), she explained. “Mao na nga overtimean pa nila to aron next week, hopefully, makapa-online assessment na sila ug dili man maka-online payment,” (That’s why they have to work overtime so that next week, hopefully, they will be able to do the online assessment and if we will not be able to make the online payment), she added.

Meanwhile, Nacario also discussed the process of securing a business permit and license in Panabo City. “Ang pagkuha sa business permit sa syudad sa Panabo naka-angkla kini sa RA 11032 kung diin adunay kitay 3 ka step. Step 1 is the verification of requirements, step 2 is the payment and step 3 is ang pag-claim na sa atoang business permit. And right now Sir we are also implementing our online appointment system,” (Securing permit in the City of Panabo is anchored on RA 11032 following three steps. Step 1 is the verification of the requirements, Step 2 is the payment and Step 3 is to claim the permit and license. Right now, we also implement an online appointment system), Nacario explained.

added. (Because of this, we apologize to our passengers who need to rebook their flights since they’re affected by the force majeure cancellations) Affected passengers can opt to rebook their flight or

convert the ticket value to funds that can be used in a later date, the flag carrier said. Villaluna said this is an evolving situation. Passengers can check their upcoming flights through PAL’s social media pages or its official website.

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namitungodsabyahe gikanTagumtoDavao3.5 hours,”hecommented.By Maya M. Padillo

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garden were brought by the owner from her travels abroad. Among those you can find are sunflower, jade vine, blue salvia, amaranthus, coral vine, peace lily, cat’s tail, billy button, blue rose, buddleia lavender, gerbera, St. Joseph coat, marigold and the very popular mickey mouse, among others. Most of these are replanted quarterly. More flowers, which are grandma’s favorite, can be found at Lola’s Garden. This place is famous for its carabao statue and wishing well, whose water is decorated with various colors of gumamela flowers. From here, you can take the breathtaking view of the Davao Gulf. Today, the once-barren piece of land now provides a relaxing alternative to the bustling city life of Davao with its cool weather and unpolluted air. If you happen to visit the place past five in the afternoon, you better bring your own jacket as it becomes cooler. It’s like Baguio during the old days. Eden’s day tour takes about almost an hour. And there were only three stop-

overs where the tourists could take photos of themselves. There are rooms, cottages, mountain villas and suites available for rent just in case you want to stay for the night or spend the entire day there. Check with the Activity Center, the information nerve, for the accommodation and overnight rates. By the way, the park was named after the barangay where it is situated. According to some people, the barangay was named in honor of a beautiful resident named Edeng. Her Japanese husband reportedly couldn’t pronounce her name correctly, so he called her Eden. Because of her beauty, the barangay was named after her. How do you get there? From Davao City, you must travel south towards the Toril District. At the corner of Mercury drug in the main highway, make a right and just follow the signs towards barangay Eden. From there, it is a 12-kilometer uphill climb but you can enjoy the scenery. Travel time is about 45 minutes.

ly, particularly since the bank handles numerous documents every day. To tackle this challenge, the bank now employs SAP Signature Management by DocuSign. As a global reseller of DocuSign, SAP knows firsthand the great benefits that customers like UnionBank gain from the solution. It allows users to automate workflows from simple agreements to the most complex transactions like loan applications to service agreements. DocuSign provides users the ability to send, review, and sign documents from anywhere at any time for their convenience, with network support for iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. It also helps employees increase productivity by integrating with common document authoring applications, document management, and identity manage-

ment systems. Embracing Intelligent Banking Amid the ‘never normal’ world, organizations across all industries are taking initiatives to retain their customers—banks and financial institutions are no exception to this reality. As intelligent banking becomes one of today’s most significant trends in the industry, it’s high time for banks and financial institutions in the country to embrace AI-enabled technologies for their digital transformation journeys. Becoming an intelligent bank does not only ensure customer retention. It also enables banks to develop innovations that make for better banking experiences while helping achieve increased financial inclusion and defining what lies ahead for the future of banking. (By Edler Panlilio, Managing Director, SAP Philippines)

Australia mandates all players to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to compete in this year’s first major tennis tournament.

The 2022 Australian Open – the first Grand Slam of the year – will be held between Jan. 17 and 30 in Melbourne. (Anadolu)

lead on the next possession. However, Antetokounmpo drove the lane and tried to dish to Pat Connaughton in the corner but instead threw the ball over his head and out of bounds with 3.3 seconds left, the Bucks’ 20th turnover of the game. Bridges then sank two free throws to seal Charlotte’s win. The Bucks have lost four of five. “You are definitely concerned anytime you lose four out of five,” Middleton said. “And you never want to lose two in a row. You understand what the circumstanc-

es are (with players being out) and you never want to use that as an excuse. We understand what we’re going through and everybody is going through. But we still have to go out there and compete.” The Bucks led 48-47 at the break as the teams combined to shoot 38% from the floor in the first half. The Hornets came out of halftime hot, surging ahead by 15 behind Ball’s 16 third-quarter points, including a 3 off the glass from the wing and a step-back 3 from the top of the key off a fast break.

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Joel Embiid goes 9 for 16 in 26 minutes of action. PHOTO: AP

Sixers rip Rockets 111-91 H

OUSTON — Joel Embiid had 31 points and eight rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers over the Houston Rockets, 111-91, on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) for their seventh straight win. Embiid turned in his seventh straight 30-point game and also had six assists. He was 9 of 16 from the field and made all 13 of his free throws. He’s the second player in NBA history to score exactly 31 points in four straight games. Bob McAdoo was the first to do it

for the Buffalo Braves in November 1973. Embiid entered Monday averaging 26.8 points per game, sixth in the NBA. Philadelphia has the longest winning streak in the Eastern Conference and the second-longest run in the NBA behind Memphis’ nine-game string.

Andre Drummond had 13 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for Philadelphia, Tobias Harris also had 13 points, Furkan Korkmaz had 12, and Matisse Thybulle and Isaiah Joe both added 10. Philadelphia was playing without Seth Curry, who was dealing with left ankle soreness. Danny Green started in Curry’s place and scored five points in 20 minutes. Philadelphia led 36-27 after the first quarter and 62-50 at halftime. Christian Wood and Ja-

len Green each scored 14 points for Houston. Josh Christopher had 13 and Daniel Theis added 12. The Rockets were without shooting guard Eric Gordon, who was dealing with right groin tightness. Houston had 21 turnovers, and the Sixers made them pay, scoring 29 points off turnovers and 11 points in transition. Philadelphia also outscored Houston 5628 in the paint. The struggling Rockets have lost 11 of 12 and fell to 11-31 just past the season’s halfway point.

LaMelo nails go-ahead basket as Hornets repeat over Bucks C HARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball spent his youth “playing up” against older competition. That’s when he learned to shoot floaters. “Playing against bigger people, you can’t really get no shot up, so I did all of these little floats,” Ball said. It paid off on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time) when Ball hit an off-balance, go-ahead floater with 15 seconds left to lift the Charlotte Hornets over the NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks for the second straight night, 103-99. Terry Rozier had 27 points, Ball scored 18 of his 23 points in the second half, and Miles Bridges added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who have won six of eight games and improved to 12-5 at home.

Khris Middleton had 27 points and 11 assists, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 26 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for the Bucks, who also lost 114-106 to the Hornets on Saturday night. The Bucks battled back from the 15 down in the third quarter to tie it when Antetokounmpo scored on a drive through the lane with 38.8 seconds left and drew a foul. He missed the free throw, but Wesley Matthews got the tip-in to tie it. While Ball has been terrific as a playmaker since joining the Hornets as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, he hasn’t often been called upon to score with the game on the line. When Charlotte’s play began to break down and

the Bucks took away his first two reads in Rozier and Bridges, Ball took matters into his own hands and darted across the lane to his left, sweeping the ball above his shoulder before launching a runner across his body as he was falling away to give the Hornets (22-19) the lead for good. “That is a highly difficult shot, but he makes it look effortless,” Hornets coach James Borrego said. “Melo has that uncanny ability to be going 100 mph, get off-balance and still be poised when he raises up. ... That’s tough to do for a player who has been in the league 15 years, let alone a guy who has been in the league two years.” The Bucks (26-17) had a chance to tie or take the

FLaMELO, P10

Djokovic wins Australian court battle to stay in country

ELBOURNE – World No. 1 in men’s tennis Novak Djokovic on Monday won a court battle against the Australian government that canceled his visa ahead of the 2022 Australian Open. A hearing was held at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia that quashed the visa cancelation order. On Jan. 4, Djokovic announced that he was granted a medical exemption from being vaccinated for Covid-19. However, after he landed at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, the Australian Border Force quizzed him

LaMelo Ball goes 8 for 19 in 35 minutes of action. PHOTO: AP

and canceled his visa. “The ABF can confirm that Mr. Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently canceled,” the Australian Border Force previously said in a statement. “Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa canceled will be detained and removed from Australia,” it added. Djokovic was then sent to an immigration detention hotel in Melbourne after which he appealed to the federal court.

FDJOKOVIC, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 250 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2022

Embattled star athlete EJ Obiena.

LEAVING IN PEACE

Ramirez vows to resolve PATAFA vs Obiena row before term ends

hilippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez said he is looking to finally settle the score between the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena before he bids goodbye to his post.

Ramirez said on Tuesday that he does not want to keep the mediation process hanging once his term ends on June 30. “Our terms end on June 30, 2022. We don’t want to leave PSC with these disputes hanging,” Ramirez told the Philippine Sportswriters Association as it resumed its weekly online forum. Both Obiena and PATAFA have agreed to put an end to their row that spilled through the Christmas season through the Ramirez-initiated mediation. A positive sign moving forward is PATAFA’s agreement to clear the PSC in giving funds to Obiena’s medical assistance. This, as Ramirez confirmed that Obiena, the world number six pole vaulter in the world, will undergo knee surgery to repair his meniscus injury. “Obiena needs help for his medical procedure, which we just approved yesterday of an amount to take care of his surgery. Atty. [Guillermo] Iroy communicated

to PATAFA, and on good will, in the spirit for posit forthcoming mediation, they certified it because, without certification, we cannot give in to this incentive,” Ramirez said. “We have to thank PATAFA for this action.” He also thanked PATAFA chairman Rufus Rodriguez for assuring him that PATAFA wants to finally bury the hatchet as soon as possible. “I hope PATAFA will take a lead from Chairman Rufus Rodriguez,” Ramirez said. He assured the public that the PSC will keep on supporting Obiena. “He must understand that we are helping him beyond jurisdiction and the provisions of the law of the NSAs (national sports associations) because of helping the athletes. After all, the existence of the PSC is through athletes. Naka-sentro kami dyan (We are centered there). That’s why it was created this way,” Ramirez added. (PNA)