EDge Davao Volume 14 Issue 258 | Friday, January 21, 2022

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VOL.14 ISSUE 258 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

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A Davao Auxiliary personnel assists in manning the traffic in Bolton Bridge 2, which was reopened for two-way traffic but only for light vehicles or vehicles weighing six tons and below, on Wednesday afternoon. The reopening of Bridge 2 aimed to help ease the traffic congestions in Davao City’s main thoroughfares particularly in Matina, Bankerohan and Quirino Avenue. Edge Davao

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UNGRATEFUL Sara to push for mandatory military service, hits back at VP rival Bello STORY ON PAGE 2

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VOL.14 ISSUE 258 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

Children and their mini bikes speeding along a major street in Davao City. The City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) warned to confiscate the bicycles due to the risks they pose to the children and to motorists.

MindaNews photo

UNGRATEFUL

Sara to push for mandatory military service, hits back at VP rival Bello

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio vowed to push for mandatory military service for all 18-year-old Filipinos if she wins as vice president in the coming elections.

Mayor Sara said she will use the office of the Vice President to ask the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines to make military service mandatory in the country.

“Nakikita natin ito sa ibang bansa sa South Korea at Israel. Nakikita natin yan doon sa kanila.

Hindi ROTC lang na isang subject or isang weekend

o isang buwan or isang taon dapat pagtungtong mo ng 18 years old, you will be asked to serve our country doon sa ating Armed Forces of the Philippines,” she said during BBM-Sara Uniteam’s pilot virtual caravan on January 19, 2022.

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in the Philippines is tasked to train and de-

velop college students in the rudiments of Military Service to produce capable Armed Forces of the Philippines reservists, train officers and enlisted personnel for the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara slammed fellow vice presidential aspirant Walden Bello for calling her proposal a “mask off ” moment for a “dictator-in-waiting.”

In a statement, the mayor called him an

ungrateful citizen and hopes the youth would not grow up to be like him.

“I truly hope that our youth do not grow up to be a Walden Bello — an ungrateful citizen who sleeps peacefully at the comfort of their homes, unable to say a prayer or a silent ‘thank you to the men and women who became martyrs while countering violent extremism, insurgency, and terrorism,” it said.

period of symptoms at mild lang din ang symptoms na nararanasan ng isang bakunado. Ito ang advantage kapag bakunado ( Thru the vaccines, the body gets to develop antibodies. Here, we have cases of vaccinated individuals who still get COVID but their symptoms were only experienced in a short period and these are just mild symptoms. This is one advantage of getting that vaccine.), Dr. Roa said.

She also highlighted the importance of getting a booster shot of COVID19 vaccine. The level of anti-

bodies, are lessened thru time, which also means that the protection that one gets from getting vaccinated is also lessened.

As of January 15, Davao Region recorded only 2 critical cases of which these are unvaccinated individuals.

Most of the active cases now are also asymptomatic and unvaccinated. Of the 818 mild cases, 590 of them are unvaccinated while 223 are fully vaccinated and five are partially vaccinated.

Of the 34 cases with severe COVID, 17 of them are unvaccinated while 16 are

fully vaccinated.

In Davao Region, the Department of Health XI still maintained that there is still no Omicron variant detected from the samples submitted for genome sequencing.

Dr. Roa also expressed that only thru genome sequencing that detection of a variant is considered official and accepted.

Although, she bared, that Omicron variant may actually be circulating in the National Capital Region (NCR) as number of cases

FUNGRATEFUL, P10

All vaccine brands good vs. Omicron

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ll vaccines are effective even against Omicron variant.

Infectious Disease expert Dr. Kathryn Chua Roa, reminded the public that all vaccines which are available and being administered in the Philippines still serve their purpose in protecting a person from getting a severe coronavirus disease or even from death. “ Thru vaccines, nagkakaroon ng antibodies ang katawan. Dito sa atin may mga cases tayo na kapag nabakunahan at na-infect ng COVID, short lang ang

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Over 1K flood-hit families in Sto. Tomas to get relief aid

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ver 1, 000 families from four flood-hit villages will receive relief aid from the municipal government of Santo Tomas as several families were displaced from their homes due to flooding triggered by continuous rain.

Mayor Ernesto Evangelista said he already ordered the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) to assess the different barangays that were submerged heavy rains continued due to shear line, causing major rivers to overflow and submerge low-lying areas here.

“Naghatag na kita og instruction sa MSWDO na hatagan og food packs and water provisions ang mga apektadong pamilya.

Gina-check nato kini kay para ma-validate pud ang ginahatag na mga report sa mga Punong Barangays kay para validated ang datos na atong makuha sa ground ug ma-account ang tanang pamilya na apektado sa baha,” Evangelista said.

The number of families affected by heavy flooding in this municipality reached

1, 138 as rains brought by shear line continued, flooding low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Leilani Mae Rafol, Officer-In-Charge of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, said the figure was based on the partial list obtained by her office in four flood-hit villages on Monday.

There were 800 families affected in Barangay San Miguel, 35 families from Barangay Kimamon, 153 families from Barangay Kinamayan, and 800 families from Barangay San Miguel, and 150 families from Barangay Salvacion.

Of the 150 families from Barangay Salvacion, 42 families from Sitio Panay were displaced after they were advised for pre-emptive evacuation to ensure their safety.

Rafol said her office initially provided food and water provisions to the displaced families, adding that the Municipal Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management (MDRRM) personnel have mounted tents to shelter the displaced families.

22 healthcare workers at vax hubs in Davao City test positive for COVID-19

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ome frontline health workers at the major drive-thru vaccination hubs in Davao City have been infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) just as the city ramps up efforts to immunize more people against the infection.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson for the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday that the local government recorded 22 personnel assigned at the drive-thru vaccination hubs at People’s Park and

at Davao Crocodile Park have been put in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

She said the close contacts of the COVID-positive workers have been put in quarantine.

Schlosser added that the transmission among the personnel did not hamper the operations of the vaccination sites as the city hopes to increase the vaccination coverage, saying “time is of the essence” amid the threat of the Omicron variant.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 258 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

NEWS

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Department of Tourism 11 (DOT 11) director Tanya Rabat-Tan says she sees a gradual recovery of domestic tourism following the safe reopening of the local destinations last year. Edge Davao

1 of 5 Omicron cases detected in Davao Region is from Davao City CTTMO warns to confiscate mini bikes used by children

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he Davao City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) warned to confiscate the customized brakeless mini-bicycles assembled out of recycled bike parts that children use to go on group rides along major thoroughfares in Davao City.

Retired Col. Dionisio Abude, CTTMO head, said during an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) that this type of bicycle can be too risky when used on the roads, which can cause accidents endangering the lives of children and other motorists.

He said that personnel of the CTTMO had monitored groups of children riding these customized mini-bicycles on some roads in the city, some of whom were seen speeding downhill along the Diversion Road near the Gap Farm Resort in Talomo District.

“You can see these children with small bicycles that have no brakes along the Diversion Road. They can be too dangerous because they can cause accidents, and can put the motorists in trouble,” Abude said.

He said the CTTMO was able to confiscate some of these bicycles along the Diversion Road upon a complaint submitted to the

local government.

“We did not release the bicycles yet as we want their parents to come over and talk to them,” he said.

Abude said he told the parents that the lives of their children would be wasted just because they are allowing them to ride out on the streets using these bicycles.

He asked them to stop their children from going on dangerous rides to prevent accidents that can endanger their children’s and other people’s lives.

Abude said that these customized vehicles are not intended for use on public roads.

“It may be allowed in places where there are no vehicles passing by, that’s fine. But in our city, it cannot be allowed,” he said.

He added that his personnel have been directed to confiscate these dangerous bicycles if they encounter them on the streets.

Abude said he is asking for a legal opinion if it is possible not to release these bicycles to the owners.

“They will use it again anyway once released back to them. It’s too dangerous if we cannot monitor them,” he said.

Abude said the local government has yet to implement the “Amended Bicycle and Light Mobility

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ne of the five cases of Covid-19’s Omicron variant detected from Davao Region is a resident of Davao City, according to the advisory of the Department of Health-Davao Region released on January 20, 2022.

The Department of Health–Davao Center for Health Development confirmed the detection of three cases of Omicron (B.1.

1.529) variant of concern in the Davao Region from the 35 specimens sent last December 23 and 29, 2021 to the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome

Center (UP-PGC) and two more, who were tested in Clark, Pampanga and the National Capital Region (NCR).

One of the five cases (Case No. 2) is a 27-yearold female ROF (returning overseas Filipino) from Davao City, who arrived from Singapore last Decem-

ber 18, 2021.

The specimen of the said patient was collected last December 21, 2021 and was processed at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Molecular Laboratory. She was tagged as fully recovered last January 2, 2022.

Meanwhile, Case No. 1 is a 23-year-old male ROF, who was swabbed at Philippine Red Cross Clark Molecular Laboratory. The sample was collected on December 18, 2021. He is now in his residence in Davao del Sur.

Case No. 3 is a 44-yearold male, fully vaccinated, a ROF who arrived from the United Kingdom last December 22, 2021. He completed his 14-day isolation in Manila before traveling to Davao Region. His sample was collected last December 26, 2021 and was processed at First Aide Diagnostic Center in the NCR. He is a resident of Davao del Norte.

Case No. 4 is a 28-yearold female, fully vaccinated, a resident of Davao Occidental with no history of

“Bounce Back Davao: Davao Region Towards Tourism Recovery”.

She also said that DOT 11 sees a gradual recovery of domestic tourism following the safe reopening of the local destinations last year.

“And we have seen how it has continued to help mitigate the impact on jobs and businesses in the sector,” she said.

Tan added that DOT 11 continues to focus on rebuilding tourism as the top priority which is why even in the middle of a pandemic it continues to find opportunities on how it can

rethink and reshape more resilient tourism for the region in the future.

She also said that DOT 11 continues its mandate not just in promoting destinations but also in continuing to develop the sector as the key socio-economic activity to uplift the lives, especially of affected industries and communities.

“And we have done all these through various training and seminars, capacity building of our communities and stakeholders, infrastructure developments, advocating the importance of upholding highest quality standards in tourism

operation, among many others,” Tan said.

Among DOT 11’s milestones in 2021 presented during the activity include conducting basic tourism statistics training to all tourism statistics focal person/in-charge in the region; conducting strategic planning workshop on the development of provincial tourism circuits in Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao City, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental; providing assistance on cultural projects; tourism road site validation on completed projects; de-

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DOT 11 sees emergence of new trends, market segments

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epartment of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan said DOH 11 has seen emerging consumer trends that are reshaping the way people travel today including the emergence of new niches and market segments particularly family travelers who have growing interest for outdoor activities such as farm tourism.

“New market segments, more on family travelers, have growing interest in outdoor activities,” Tan said during the recent annual Davao Region Tourism Industry Report 2021-Virtual Gathering with the theme

FDOT 11, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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An attendant shows one of the saleable vapes at a shop in Arellano Street, Davao City pre-pandemic. A bicameral conference committee has reconciled the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the measure seeking to regulate vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or vapes. Edge Davao

GenSan City extends renewal of biz permit

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tion for the extension of the January 20 deadline for the renewal of business permits.

The extension based on the approved resolu-

tion from the city council has now been extended until Feb. 28, 2022 without surcharges and penalties.

“Mayor Ronnel Rivera had earlier requested the extension to the city council to help business owners in the city in their financial recovery,” Zamora said.

The city government decision was in reference to the DILG advisory on

Dec. 24, 2021 that enjoins local government units nationwide to extend the payment of regular fees without surcharges or penalties and to provide other possible assistance for businesses in their respective areas.

To date, the BPLDO records showed that more than 7,000 businesses have renewed their business licenses in the city.

(PNA)

application and approval of travelers in their respective areas.

The JMC targets the S-Pass as a one-stop shop solution to scrap the varying and cumbersome travel requirements for travelers and different online applications used by LGUs. Under the JMC, LGUs should also integrate their contact tracing apps with S-Pass to have an interoperable travel management and contact tracing system for domestic travel.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has

welcomed this development that will help to stimulate local tourism.

“As the economy reopens, we want to make mobility and travel accessible and convenient for everyone, not frustrating and cumbersome,” Romulo-Puyat said in her recorded message during the ceremonial launch.

The JMC also orders LGUs to monitor and process on a day-to-day basis to approve or reject applications they receive through the S-Pass.

“LGUs are given 24

hours to approve or deny applications, including weekends,” ARTA Deputy Director General Ernesto Perez said.

Perez added that if the LGU failed to act on the application within 24 hours, it will be automatically approved given that the applicant provided all the requirements indicated in the S-Pass.

Among the requirements indicated in the S-Pass include vaccination card or certificate, government issued identification

he local government is extending its deadline for the renewal of business permits upon the request of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to help business owners affected by the pandemic.

Geraldine Zamora, head of Business Permit and Licensing Division Office (BPLDO), said Wednesday the city council has approved a resolu-

Gov’t simplifies S-Pass use for local travel

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he Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has simplified the use of the travel management system Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-Pass) to ease application of requirements for local trips.

ARTA, along with other government agencies, signed and launched Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, series of 2022, or the “Streamlining of Requirements and Processes for Local Travel” on Wednesday directing all local government units (LGUs) to use S-Pass for the

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Bicam panel finishes report on bill regulating vape products

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bicameral conference committee has reconciled the disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the measure seeking to regulate vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products or vapes.

Senate Bill 2239 and House Bill 9007 both provide for regulations on the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vape products and novel tobacco products.

The bicameral panel report which will be up for ratification by the Senate and House bans posts, messages, or images by manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers that encourage the purchase and use of vape products.

House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said that the measure aimed to offer an alternative for Filipinos who want to

quit smoking.

Senator Ralph Recto, however, said that the bill did not back the promotion of vaping “as a lifestyle.”

The Department of Health will be tasked to prescribe guidelines on the implementation of smoking and vaping restriction awareness campaigns while the Department of Trade and Industry will consult with the Food and Drug Administration in setting technical standards for the safety, consistency, and quality of the vape products.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sellers will be given an 18-month transitory period from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations to comply with the requirements of this measure.

This would include the registration of the vape products with the DTI.

EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY 5

Cebu Pacific upgrades its travel insurance product to include COVID-19 coverage to boost travel confidence amid the pandemic. Edge Davao

BOC-Davao seizes P28.87M worth of smuggled cigarettes CebPac upgrades travel insurance product, includes COVID coverage

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udget carrier Cebu Pacific said Wednesday it has upgraded its travel insurance product to include COVID-19 coverage to boost travel confidence amid the pandemic.

In a statement, Cebu Pacific said that starting January 13, 2022, its Travelsure Basic Protect “becomes even more comprehensive as it now covers COVID-related hospitalization and treatments, on top of up to P2,500,000 in medical expenses benefit, in case of an injury or other illness, and up to P2,500,000 in personal accident coverage during the trip.”

The airline said Travelsure Basic Protect may be availed by passengers with domestic and international itineraries, as long as their trip starts in the Philippines, for as low as P492 roundtrip.

Cebu Pacific said it is the first local carrier to offer this type of enhanced coverage in one product.

“As we continue to weather this pandemic, we see to it that everyJuan’s health and safety are prioritized above all else. We know peace of mind is needed now more than ever and we want to provide this to our passengers so they can

always fly safely and easily with us,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and customer experience.

The airline said the Travelsure product is underwritten by the Insurance Company of North America (a Chubb company).

Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company.

“We are happy to further strengthen our ties with Cebu Pacific as we continue to face this challenging situation together. Chubb aims to provide CEB customers with affordable, relevant and comprehensive products that are made conveniently within their reach,” said Mari Rachelle Canta, Chubb Philippines country president.

Cebu Pacific said its passengers can avail themselves of its Travelsure product when booking flights on its website or select as an add-on up to two hours prior to their flight via the Manage Booking portal on the Cebu Pacific website.

Insured passengers will receive their group policy Confirmation of Cover with the details of the travel insurance benefits via email, it said.

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he Bureau of Customs (BOC)-Port of Davao seized 1,020 mastercases of smuggled cigarettes with an estimated value of Php 28,872,000.00 on Jan. 18, 2022, at Davao International Container Terminal (DICT), Panabo City, Davao Del Norte.

Derogatory information received from the BOC’s Intelligence Group revealed that the said shipment was originally declared as 1,077 packag-

es of assorted items such as plastic wash basins, plastic chairs, drainer baskets and bond papers.

However, physical inspection yielded positive for

misdeclaration of smuggled cigarettes, containing 1000 master cases of Two Moon cigarettes and 20 master cases of Fort Menthol cigarettes were found.

District Collector, Atty.

Erastus Sandino B. Austria already issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the shipment consigned to Essafrank Consumer Goods Trading for

violating Section 117 and Section 1400 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

BOC assures the public that it will remain vigilant in protecting the country’s borders against the entry of smuggled goods including cigarettes which disrupt the tobacco industry and defrauds the government of rightful revenues.

According to Louise Dickson, Rystad Energy’s senior oil markets analyst, Brent spot trading was clawing towards $90 per barrel today, a high not witnessed since 2014, as regional tensions in the Middle East led to damaged oil infrastructure in the UAE, and with Russia’s announcement that it would not pump gas to Europe via the Yamal pipeline in February 2022.

Global oil markets started the week on a bullish sentiment over rising tension in the UAE after three fuel tanker trucks exploded in the industrial Musaffah area in the capital Abu Dhabi on Monday.

A fire also broke out at

a construction site at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.

On Tuesday, a Houthi commander was killed in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.

Dickson warned that the damage to the UAE oil facilities in Abu Dhabi would further tighten the already-fragile supply situation in the region this year.

“The attack raises the geopolitical risk in the region and may signal the Iran-US nuclear deal is off the table for the foreseeable future, meaning Iranian oil barrels are off the market, boosting demand for similar grade crude originating elsewhere,” she said.

Another threat for supply chains has arisen with Russia, Ukraine, and NATO stepping up military exercises from intensified tensions over recent weeks, with Kyiv openly accusing Moscow of planning an invasion.

The White House on Tuesday warned of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine and repeated a warning of severe economic consequences for Moscow in the event of such aggression.

“We’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine,” White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, told reporters at a news

Oil prices set new record high amid rising tension in Mideast, Ukraine

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il prices surpassed the record high prices that were seen in the shale-induced oil crash in 2014 over geopolitical tensions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia, both members of the OPEC+ group.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $88.22 per barrel at 0636 GMT for a 0.81 percent increase after closing the previous session at $87.51 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $85.59 per barrel at the same time for a 0.89-percent rise after trade in the previous session ended at $84.83 a barrel.

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 258 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

On rival Walden Bello calling her “dictator-in-waiting”:

I truly hope that our youth do not grow up to be a Walden Bello — an ungrateful citizen who sleeps peacefully at the comfort of their homes, unable to say a prayer or a silent ‘thank you to the men and women who became martyrs while countering violent extremism, insurgency, and terrorism.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Lesson to be learned The office of First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte immediately extended much-needed relief assistance to fire victims at Bolton Bridge, SIR Matina, Davao City on Saturday, January 15.

Congressman Pulong dispatched his staff to the evacuation area to supply relief aid such as food packs (rice and canned goods), toiletries, tents, and portable toilets for a total of 39 families affected by the incident.

While the victims were trying to recuperate from the traumatic incident, Rep. Duterte also provided hot meals for their breakfast and dinner for five consecutive days starting on Sunday.

“For the relocation of the victims mag-agad ta sa desisyon sa local nga kagamhanan ug asa sila patukuron ug mga bag-ong pan-

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The young Duterte said affected individuals with health concerns could also seek medical support from his office.

That is the good news. It is a story of Congressman Pulong’s altruism, his brand of public service and his speed to provide assistance to his constituents who are in need.

There is however a lesson to be learned from this incident. And also questions to be answered. How come there were so many informal settlers under the Bolton Bridge 1 and 2? Why did the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allow them -- some 50 families --to build their houses in a no-build zone. As a result of the fire, the responders reported cracks on the bridges.

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

imalay. Andam mutabang ang congressional district office pinaagi sa Pulong-pulong ni Pulong,” Rep. Duterte said.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

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

DISASTER RISK-PROOFING MINDANAO Every year, an average of 20 out of 36 tropical cyclones that develop over the Northwest Pacific basin cross the Philippines area of responsibility. “There is no month in the country which is free from typhoons,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a statement.

In a symposium on Status of Research and Development Program and Mitigation Strategies for Typhoon- and Flood-Prone Areas held at Los Baños, Laguna some few years back, experts have observed that typhoon development in the country has been erratic in recent years and almost unpredictable with strongly varying movement and structure.

In the past, Mindanao was considered as typhoon-free but now cyclones no longer spare the island. This was particularly true in Davao Region, whose inhabitants never experience typhoons in their lives. Not until Super Typhoon Pablo (international name: Washi) made landfall late on December 3, 2012. The storm caused widespread destruction in the region.

Last year, Super Typhoon (Rai) made landfall nine days before Christmas on Siargao Island.

“Shortly after landfall with winds at 160 miles per hour (mph), it underwent an eyewall replacement cycle and decreased in

strength, but winds remained at 150 mph,” a report said.

In 2011, Mindanao was also hit by another strong typhoon named Sendong (Washi). On December 16, severe tropical storm Sendong brought 10 hours of torrential rains that triggered disastrous flash flooding over Mindanao, an area that rarely experiences tropical cyclones.

Typhoons used to be moderate in Northern Luzon and Batanes, but it has completely changed as typhoons now frequent these areas. Global warming caused by climate change is cited as the most likely culprit of these changes.

“Weather patterns could become unpredictable, as would extreme weather events, hurricanes could become much stronger and more frequent,” wrote Lulu Bucay in a climate change brochure produced by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In 2007, the Nobel prize-winning International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated that sea levels might rise – as a result of climate change – by between 18 centimeters and 59 centimeters in the coming century. The Philippines ranks fourth in the Global Climate Risk Index.

Fifteen of the 16 regions of the country are vulnerable to sea level rise.

In Mindanao, a six-meter sea level rise in the Davao Gulf could

submerge the coastal area of Davao City.

When he was still alive, city councilor Leonardo Avila III said in a forum that Agdao district, Panacan, Sta. Ana wharf, part of the Lanang, Bajada and Matina areas, the whole downtown area, including the City Hall, will be completely under water. “These areas will virtually be part of the Davao Gulf,” he said.

As a result, 40% of the city’s total population will be forced to evacuate to higher areas like the Buhangin district, Catalunan Grande, Calinan, Mintal, and Paquibato. Since the downtown area is already inundated, businesses have also to be relocated to higher areas.

In a conference on strengthening river basin organizations in Davao City in 2015, Lorenzo Tan, executive director of Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), declared: “If you see rising sea levels, Mindanao is at ground zero.”

Davao City was a case in point. It was among the 12 key cities in the country that was included in the Business Risk Assessment and the Management of Climate Change Impacts study done by WWF along with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation Inc. “The study was conducted to help city planners assess the impacts of climate change in their communities, identify opportunities and decide on a sustainability

strategy, site-specific interventions that will allow the city to retain its economic viability,” Tan told Business World.

Tan noted that Davao runs a close second to Cebu in terms of tonnage shopped through its ports. “Located along the relatively shallow channel between the city and Samal Island, these port facilities are a nerve center for Davao City’s economy, and serve a variety of ships handling both cargo and passengers,” the risk assessment said.

But sea level rise may create some havoc in the near future. “Davao should take a close look at the city’s shipping fleet and port facilities and take the necessary steps to ensure that they are upgraded to deal with the impacts of climate change,” Tan suggested.

The World Bank sounded the same alarm in a report. “Climate change is occurring now and will intensify in the next few decades, threatening in particular developing nations, with the Philippines being one of the most vulnerable countries in the world,” said the report, Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines.

The report said the country is “already experiencing temperature increases; sea level rise; stronger storms, floods, and droughts; and ocean acidification, all of which will intensify and affect subsistence livelihoods as

well as urban and coastal areas.”

It must be recalled that in 2009, the government passed the Climate Change Act, which enacted a set of climate-specific laws complemented by the creation of climate-specific institutions. These institutions aim to integrate and coordinate climate change at all levels of government – national, regional, and local – to improve financing, prioritization, and planning.

Although climate change affects everyone, “the poor, however, are usually more severely affected,” said Mary Ann Lucille Sering, then the head of the Climate Change Commission (CCC).

She added that the greatest challenge poorer countries like the Philippines face these days “is that hard-earned development progress they have achieved in the last several decades could be reversed in a short time because of climate change.”

The World Bank report urges the Philippines “to improve its climate resilience and develop its adaptive capacity to alleviate the risk of catastrophic economic and humanitarian impacts.”

Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar of the Bureau of Agricultural Research hit the right nail when he said, “Science teaches us that if we act decisively and collectively, soon we can manage climate change. The sooner we act on this, the cheaper it will be for the country.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

SAN PEDRO IN LOCAL HISTORY The import of San Pedro in Davao City’s history is immense.

In fact, it is the most significant area where many of the colonial events took place, starting with the dedication of Davao town in 1848, to the royalty of Spain following its conquest by a Spanish-led expedition.

Because the dedication fell on June 29, 1848, which coincides with the Roman Catholic calendar of saints as the feast of San Ped-ro and San Pablo, the first church was named San Pedro. The choice of San Pedro as a patron is also a memorial to him as Ro-man Catholic’s first pope.

When town planning was introduced by Don Jose Oyanguren y Cruz, the Spanish conqueror, San Pedro was one of three early thoroughfares that were opened. Given that it passes alongside the church, the road was named San Pedro.

Through the years, as San Pedro turned to become town center, the street at its eastern sector hosted the barracks of the Spanish guardia civil, the military-police component. The same site was lat-er converted to Philippine Constabulary headquarters in 1902 dur-ing American rule. Today, Camp Domingo Leonor serves as the city police head office. In the post-Hispanic period, the street re-mained a valuable address for governance, health, and recreation. The area across the PC command once hosted a military hospital; adjacent to it was the American governor’s residence.

The first sectarian school, founded in 1905, was built inside the San Pedro Church premises after it moved from the Palma Gil res-idence where it was provisionally accommodated. It was chris-tened

Escuela Catolica de San Pedro and renamed in 1934 as Immac-ulate Conception Academy (now a university). For the same rea-son, San Pedro Hospital, which started after the war, got its name after the street; it was owned by the Rivera family before the Do-minican Sisters took over.

San Pedro Street is also the site of Davao’s second oldest bank, the Philippine National Bank, which opened in 1918.

(The Postal Savings Bank, organized by the colonial administration in 1906, had around 437 branches throughout the archipelago by 1912, in-cluding an office in Davao. This banking system is older than the savings bank introduced in the United States in 1911.)

Beyond affiliation in name, San Pedro has evolved over the dec-ades as the city’s central business district, an adminis-

trative center (legislature and executive), site of the defunct city zoo, home of Davao Garden (now Osmeña Park), and two other plazas (Rizal and Quezon) and, in the 1970s, of a restaurant advertised as San Pedro Restaurant and a lodge named San Pedro Hotel.

Most of San Pedro’s commercial hub was later razed to the ground in the February 10, 1964, fire. In Brokenshire 1908-2018, published in 2019, the incident is described in great detail: “Although no death was recorded and the incident traced to faulty electrical wiring, the blaze, which started at Davao Super-ette at Anda Street, was the biggest fire to hit the city in post-war years. The morning flames ate up Lyric Theater, Universal Theater, and Liberty Barber Shop, and later all the stores along Anda and San Pe-

dro streets, including the Vera Cruz Hotel, were razed to the ground…

“Embers from the burning blocks were fanned by strong winds that helped start another fire on the third block, which was to the left of the first block.

Stores like Gift Mart, Three Sisters, Tung Chong Grocery, and Farmacia Pascual were reduced…

“Similarly, the flying embers from the second block crossed to the nearby chunk, gobbling up Liberty Theater…. From the third block, the fire jumped to another before consuming the Broken-shire Memorial Hospital (BMH). From the first block, the confla-gration crossed Ponciano Reyes Extension (Crooked Road), in the direction of San Pedro Church, swallowing on its way Gems Thea-ter…, Loleng’s Refreshment Parlor, and the pre-war residence of the Lizada family.”

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

DAVAO GULF RECAPTURED AT

BLUE LOTUS

As Davao City slowly springs back to life from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the city’s hotel with the best view of Davao Gulf reopened Blue Lotus Hotel welcomed the year 2022 by celebrating its second anniversary highlighted with its reopening on January 5, 2022. “On our second year, it is with great pride to see our company growing, embracing a good value system, and achieving more than what we have ever thought of. And that is all because of your support,” said Roxanne Dela MercedPasibe, hotel manager of Blue Lotus Hotel.Blue Lotus Hotel, which sits in a 2,000-square meter prime property along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City, is owned by the family behind weighing scale manufacturer First Philippine Scales Inc. (FPSI). They decided to

venture into the hotel business and opened the hotel on January 5, 2020.“Almost the same time when the outbreak started globally wherein the first suspected case in the Philippines was investigated on January 22, 2020. If you could only imagine how heart-rending that is for us. But because of the circumstances, our company has become stronger and more efficient than ever before. Our employees, who always stand by our side, are and will always be our

intellectual assets,” Pasibe said.On normal days, staying in a near-empty hotel with only a handful of other guests and hotel staff might seem like the stuff of nightmares but pandemic time is not an ordinary time and yet employees of Blue Lotus Hotel worked against all the odds.“We’ve given great thought to how we can retain that proactive force for good on a far wider scale in our everyday business, and strengthen our commitment to make sure we do what’s right, not just what’s needed,” Pasibe added.The seven-floor, 133-room hotel is being positioned not just for leisure and business travelers but as a venue for small and medium-sized meetings, seminars, conferences, and special events with its eight function rooms.The hotel is also ideal for local guests looking for an upgraded staycation or weekend getaway. Not to mention its “Skyview” at the

rooftop wherein guests can admire the view of the city, Samal Island, majestic Mt. Apo, and the Davao Gulf.Of course, health and safety remain the top priority of Blue Lotus Hotel that’s why it is leaning into the minimum health protocols set during the pandemic.What are you waiting for? Get your suitcases ready as Blue Lotus Hotel gives you the chance to take time out to reset with a safe and pleasurable staycation.

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S

moking is hazardous to your health!

Smokers are more likely than smokers to develop heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, according to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan are considered rabies-free, the disease continues to be a serious threat elsewhere in Asia. In the Philippines, for instance, rabies claims 400 people each year, according to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO).

Health experts, however, fear the real toll may be much higher. They believe the death toll could be higher because of the many deaths that go unreported in remote parts of the country.

In most parts of the country, surveillance of rabies is inadequate and not given priority compared with other infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria

and more recently, coronavirus disease 2019. In addition, there are not too many laboratories doing rabies diagnosis.

The government has been implementing various control interventions to prevent the spread of the disease. In Davao City, mass vaccination of dogs has been implemented since 2006.

In 2011, additional control interventions like impounding and neutering were also employed.

“But despite all these, the number of rabies cases continues to fluctuate,” reported Zython Paul T. Lachica and five others who conducted a cointegration analysis of rabies cases and weather com-

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RABIES Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ponents in Davao City from 2006 to 2017. To think, “the Philippines aims to be rabies-free by 2022,” they said.

Dog is a man’s friend.

But the animal can be deadly if it bites you, especially if the dog is not vaccinated.

After all, dogs are one of the carriers of rabies, a viral infection of the brain.

Based on figures gathered by Lachica et al, about 635 dogs have been infect-

ed annually since 2012.

In Davao City, most of the rabies cases were coming from dogs, although there some from cats. All in all, a total of 210 rabies-infected dogs were documented.

People almost always contract rabies from the saliva of rabid animals. Any warm-blooded animal can be infected, but dogs are by far the commonest source.

In fact, dogs are responsible for over 90 percent of rabies deaths in the country.

“The usual pattern of transmission is dog to dog and then from dog to human,” says Dr. Dr. Mary Elizabeth Miranda, one of the country’s top experts on rabies.

Children are at greatest risk, because they’re most likely to play with dogs.

This has been confirmed by the United Nations health agency, which said that up to 60% of rabies cases occur in people less than 15 years of age.

Take the case of Edward.

The lively eight-year-old was bitten by a puppy dog on his hand while playing with the three-month pet.

The parents did not give any significance to the small tooth mark (as a result of the bite) and just cleaned the wound with antiseptic.

They forgot the whole incident and never bothered to consult a doctor even when the puppy died five days after Edward was bitten.

Ten days after the biting

incident, the boy developed a fever and it was then that the parents brought the child to a doctor who prescribed some medicine.

Two more days passed and the boy started talking irrelevantly, looked confused and became sleepless. The next day, he refused to take any water and even food. At this time, the parents brought him back to the hospital where both the mother and father were interrogated.

They told the biting incident.

The attending physician suspected rabies and offered the boy a glass of water. Just by looking at the glass of water, the boy went into spasms and looked terrified. “I feel pity staring at the little boy who’s suffering from an incurable malady just because he had played with a puppy,” the doctor lamented.

Though bites are the usual form of transmission, rabies can also be contracted if open wounds or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth come into contact with saliva from a rabid animal, or if an infected person kisses a partner.

In rare cases, victims contract it from inhaling the air-borne virus – in caves inhabited by rabid bats, for example – or by drinking unpasteurized milk from a rabid animal.

But how can you tell if an animal is rabid? “A common clue is a sudden change of behavior, like drooling,

unprovoked aggression, biting, aimless running and difficulty breathing,” says Dr. Silvius Alon, a veterinarian who once worked with a non-government organization based in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. However, some infected animals may become paralyzed or die suddenly without showing signs of illness.

If possible, any dog that bites a person should be confined and observed. “If the dog remains healthy for ten to 14 days, it’s safe to assume it’s rabies-free,” says Dr. Miranda. If the animal does show symptoms, the owner should contact the local health department or a veterinarian immediately and the dog should be humanely put down.

In humans, rabies symptoms can take weeks or months to appear. This presents a real problem when treating the disease because by the time symptoms have developed it may be too late to prevent death.

When an infected animal bites a person, the virus travels along the nerves to the central nervous system where it incubates for up to three months. In this period the victim shows no signs of illness.

At the end of the incubation period, the virus multiplies rapidly, spreading to the brain and throughout the body, even to the eyes and extremities like hair fol-

FRABIES, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

UNGRATEFUL... FROM2

The mayor stated that if only Bello wasn’t so quick to jump the gun, he would know that her vision was not only to push for mandatory military service for the youth.

She said the youth should also play active roles in advancing their welfare — particularly in the aspect of health, education, gender equality, and reproductive issues. The mayor wanted them to be able to stand on their own, help themselves, help the communities, and help the nation.

Mayor Sara also stated that if only Bello did not stop at what he has been so stuck in over the past many years — dictatorship in the Philippines, something that the Filipinos know is a lie in the present time — he would have a better understanding of what she truly stands for.

She added that the obsession over dictatorship in this country is as ancient as the belief that the youth have no actual important role in building a nation that is progressive and peaceful.

“Only the likes of Mr. Bello would think of mandatory military service for its citizens as arming them and telling them to kill — instead of looking at it as something that inspires patriotism in the youth. If only he wasn’t so quick to react, he would have realized that I also emphasized the need for the youth to be prepared for disasters and become proactive community partners in rescue operations and in aiding victims of calamities,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara cited the city government

of Davao’s programs for the youth through the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

According to the mayor, SK president Jafar Marohom Salik engaged the youth in various barangays in emergency response training instead of participating in pageants and basketball leagues during fiestas.

The training aims to prepare them during disasters while the first responders have not yet arrived in the area.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya (Salik) na tigilan na natin itong mga liga, pageant at kung ano ano pa ang ginagawa sa fiesta, tigilan na natin yan dahil nasasayang ang pera ng gobyerno sa mga ganyan like trophy at kung ano ano pa na mga prizes na ibinibigay natin. Sabi ko itutok natin ang kabataan sa Davao City sa disaster preparedness dahil saang community ka pumunta meron tayong SK at youth,” the mayor said.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, at least 200 youth graduated from the said training.

The training only stopped because the pandemic came and mass gathering is currently prohibited in Davao City.

“But once we are clear sa pandemic definitely itutuloy namin yun. Hindi po siya mahirap gawin on a national level dahil meron namang budget sa mga ganyan sa ating disaster funds. Importante ang community emergency response team dahil sila yung habang nangyayari yung sunog, aksidente hindi pa dumadating yung first responders natin ay nadoon na sila tumutulong at hinahanda na ang mga victims sa pagdating ng responders,” the mayor said.

Vehicle Ordinance of Davao City,” which was passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod last July 19, 2021 The ordinance requires registration of bicycles by its owners for P20 at the barangays, he said.

“Our barangays will initiate the registration. They will be the ones to update us and give us the master list of how many bicycles have been registered,” he said.

The ordinance, Abude pointed out, also requires during registration that bike owners present helmet, headgear, or protective head covering and the use of reflectors, headlights, rear lights, or any warning device.

In July 2021, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) inaugurated the 54.74-kilometer Metro Davao Bike Lane Network in this city to provide

a “safer road” for cyclists amid the pandemic.

The P145-million project, funded by Republic Act 11494 (Bayanihan to Recover as One Act of 2020), was completed last June 30.

The bicycle lane network is a convergence project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and DOTr. According to the data released by DPWH-Davao, the bicycle lane network was placed along Davao-Cotabato Road, ABS-CBN Quimpo Boulevard Diversion Road, Sandawa Road, Roxas Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Elpidio Qurinio Avenue, E. Jacinto Extension Street. Dr. A. Gahol St., Mabini Street, F. Torres Street, Loyola Street, Porras Street, Iñigo Street, and Nicasio Street. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

veloping an ongoing marketing plan; and provision of technical assistance on the crafting of the municipal/ city/provincial tourism development plan.

“Looking back 2020, the Covid-19 hit the tourism industry the hardest and comparing the developments that the year 2021 the outlook for tourism seems brighter and more optimistic in 2022. Sure, the variants of Covid-19 continue to challenge us each day, but it has become an ordeal that we’re now more knowledgeable to confront. Thanks to our more cautious practices, following health protocols as well as to the arrival of vaccines and boosters that kept the industry up and running in the entire year,” she said.

According to her, the pandemic may have brought distressing challenges for the tourism sector but it also offered fighting chances to encourage innovation, drive new business models, explore new markets, open up new destinations, and move to more sustainable and resilient tourism development models.

She said with all these in place and with everyone’s support and cooperation, the region can favorably leverage varied opportunities in rebooting the tourism industry.

“But now on a stronger and more sustainable putting, only then we can genuinely bounce back together and be united towards genuine tourism recovery,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

cards, and confirmation of accommodation at the point of destination.

Depending on the

Covid-19 situation, some LGUs require negative results of Covid-19 tests.

(PNA)

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VACCINE... FROM2 grew exponentially. “ It’s also hard to detect an Omicron case just by the symptoms alone. Most of the symptoms of the ancestral variant and even of the Delta variant are also manifested in Omicron cases such as colds, sore throat, cough, fever, muscle pain, and headache.”, Dr. Roa said.

She emphasized that the Omicron variant, as claimed by experts from other countries with high cases of Omicron, is

highly transmissible and could infect many individuals even in a short span of time.

Dr. Roa said that even if it is considered to cause mild symptoms, everyone should still continue practicing the minimum public health standards so as to protect most especially the senior citizens, the unvaccinated, the persons with comorbidities and those with immunodeficiencies. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

“To be honest, yes, we are affected. The public deserves to know. We have already foreseen this in a surge that our health workers in vaccination sites would be affected. But we have a backup plan, which is to replace the manpower affected at the vaccination hubs,” she said.

She told the public not to worry about getting vaccinated as the local authorities ensured that the substitute health workers are cleared of the infection after having undergone the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

She said the course of action of the local government when vaccinators test positive for COVID-19 is not to close any affected vaccination hub but to replace personnel who would turn out positive and isolate their contacts who manifest symptoms.

“We are doing that and we

will be doing that in case there will be more vaccination hubs contaminated. We continue to encourage the public to get vaccinated and get booster shots. We are trying to beat the time because when it comes to COVID-19, time really matters,” Schlosser added.

According to the city government website, the city has 25 operational vaccination sites as of January 15.

The city government reported 1,268,468 individuals vaccinated with the first dose and 1,207,885 fully vaccinated.

Also, the city reported 121,050 individuals who received the booster shots.

As of January 18, the Department of Health (DOH)Davao reported 354 new cases, bringing the total cases to 56,783 with 2,636 active, 52,46 recovered, and 1,801 deaths. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

international travel. She was swabbed for RTPCR testing last December 11, 2021 and the specimen was processed at SPMC Molecular Laboratory.

Her specimen was sent to UPPGC last December 23, 2021.

Case No. 5 is a 63-year-old male, fully vaccinated, a resident of Davao Occidental with no history of International Travel. She was swabbed for RT-PCR testing last December 16, 2021 and the specimen was processed at SPMC Molecular Laboratory. His specimen was sent to UP-PGC last December 23, 2021.

DOH-Davao Region stated that the five abovementioned Omicron variant cases have been tagged as recovered upon the release of the Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) report.

As for the contact tracing of the close contacts of the abovementioned cases, Dr. Rachel Joy Pasion, head of DOH-Davao’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), said in a virtual presser on Thursday that DOH 11 is still waiting for the response and update from the LGUs as they are

the one’s doing the contact tracing.

“They are the ones conducting intensive surveillance and investigation on these cases. We will update if there are additional inputs from the LGUs,” Pasion said.

The health department emphasized in the advisory that this detection of cases ensures the public that biosurveillance in the region is heightened and we will continue to expand its capacities to detect all Covid-19 variants.

To date, a total of 4,564 specimen samples from the Davao Region were sent to UP-PGC for WGS. DOH-Davao assured it is closely working with the concerned Local Government Units (LGUs) to conduct intensive case investigation to ensure that the isolation period is completed all close contacts were adequately identified and completed quarantine, and that eligible samples for sequencing are submitted.

Re-testing will be done but re-quarantine is no longer necessary unless the case is symptomatic upon location.

“Yusup is not just good at the ground but in striking as well. When I was landing my kicks, he was fast with his punches and that got me. He put me down and when I tried to counter him too, he got a solid chin and a good heart to stand back up again.”

But the quick work Loman had against Saadulaev only made his fans crave for more.

Even the 30-year-old would admit that his full arsenal still wasn’t in full view in that match, and one he is looking forward on displaying once he returns to action.

“I want to show the ever supportive fans my striking ability and my ground game as well next time I step in the cage,” he said.

And the next guy he has on

his target? Another top fiveranked fighter in no. 2 “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il. “I think Kwon Won will be a good match for me,” he said smiling, while also aware that him being at no. 3 in the list puts him in position for a possible title shot on whoever comes on top at ONE: BAD BLOOD between reigning ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and his fellow Brazilian John “Hands of Stone” Lineker.

For now, Loman’s focus is on himself as he seeks to continue this rise and sustain his nine-fight win streak.

“Expect from me that I will give my everything to stay on the ladder and climb my way up to fight for the title at the soonest,” he

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licles. Initial symptoms, in what doctors refer to as the “prodromal stage” of the disease, may be mild. They last from two to ten days and include a slight fever, headache, nausea and persistent loose cough. There may be pain, itching, tingling or a sensation of cold at the bite site.

Then, in the “acute neurological stage,” symptoms become more and more frightening. For the next two to seven days, the patient becomes nervous, agitated, restless and irritable, and may salivate excessively. As the virus replicates in the brain, the victim experiences eye problems (like enlargement of the pupils), weakness of the facial muscles and hoarseness.

In one out of six cases, there’s hydrophobia – a fear of water. “In this stage, there are forceful, painful muscle spasms of the throat, which expel liquids administered orally,” says Dr. S.N. Madhusudana, associate professor of the Department of Neurovirology at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience in Bangalore, India.

Finally, the virus overwhelms the brain and central nervous system. The patient falls into a coma, becomes paralyzed and dies.

What should you do if you’re bitten by a rabid animal?

First, attend to the wound right away. “Wash it with plenty of soap and running tap water,” instructs Dr. Madhusudana.

“Then apply an antiseptic like iodine or betadine to kill the virus.”

As soon as the wound has been cleaned, seek medical help. Victims must be immunized as soon as possible so that antibodies can develop before the virus incubates. Injection must be done into the bite sites to neutralize the virus.

Those bitten by animals which carry the rabies virus should receive “active” and “passive” immunization, whether the animal turns out to be infected or not. In the active form, a vaccine is injected daily for 14 to 30 days and the patient’s immune system responds by producing antibod-

ies.

conference.

Meanwhile, producers from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are straining to meet their monthly quotas under the OPEC+ deal with Russia and its allies to add 400,000 barrels per day.

Omicron fears linger in market On the demand side, the rising numbers of daily Omicron cases in major economies are dampening upward price movements by raising the possible need

to implement stricter measures.

Germany on Wednesday reported more than 112,323 coronavirus cases in a day, a new record since the pandemic began two years ago, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s disease control agency.

France reported an alltime high of over 464,000 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, again topping European daily infections, according to figures published by the public health department. (Anadolu)

mistake of fighting the aggressive Ceja on the inside and had lulls in his activity.

The good news for him is that he adjusted and won in spectacular fashion, which earned him a shot at Russell.

“Freddie told me, ‘Mark, you need to adjust,’” Magsayo said. “He said, ‘Don’t follow his toe-to-toe style.

Box first, go in and out, hit and not get hit. That’s what changed the fight. I made the adjustment.

“Then, in the 10th round, I saw that his left eye was closing. I threw the right. And I won.”

Said Roach: “That [fight] was really good for him. He has more confidence now.”

But is he ready for Russell, a quick-handed, experienced former U.S. Olympian who will

be making the sixth defense of his title?

Roach thinks so. He believes in his protégé, who has undeniable natural gifts and is improving, and he suspects that ring rust from Russell’s two-year hiatus from boxing could work in Magsayo’s favor.

And, yes, Magsayo is confident. He’s humble, even soft-spoken, but he revealed the cockiness of a fighter who likes his chances against one of the better champions in the world.

“He says he’s the fastest fighter in the world,” Magsayo said, referring to Russell. “He forgot that I’m here. I’m fast, too. He thinks I’m too slow for him. That’s good. He will be surprised.

“I’m just confident and ready to fight.”

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When the course is finished, booster doses should be given after 10 and 20 days. In “passive” immunization, rabies immunoglobulin or antiserum should be administered to provide “ready-made” antibodies and another weapon to fight the infection.

Antiserum can either be of human (human rabies immunoglobulin – HRIG) or horse (equine rabies immunoglobulin – ERIG) origin. HRIG, produced from human blood products, is expensive. That’s why ERIG is recommended and used in Asia as a first line of defense. It’s just as safe and effective as the former, but costs a tenth as much.

Serious allergic reactions to the rabies vaccine are rare during the series of five injections. However, some adverse reactions that a person may experience after receiving the vaccine include abdominal pain, itching, muscle aches, dizziness, and inflammation. These adverse reactions, however, can be managed with anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs.

If possible, any dog that bites a person should be confined and observed. “If the dog remains healthy for ten to 14 days, it’s safe to assume it’s rabies-free,” says Dr. Miranda. If the animal does show symptoms, the owner should contact the local health department or a vet immediately and the dog should be humanely put down.

“Without timely treatment, rabies infection is 100 percent fatal,” pointed out Dr. Nancy Nazaire-Bermal, head of the clinical research and development of the Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics. “Rabies is the best example of an illness in which prevention is better than cure, as it is a vaccine-preventable disease.”

Vaccinating pets and livestock can help prevent rabies too.

While the government can do this, the public also has a vital role in the educational campaign against rabies. “Parents must remind children to NEVER touch or feed stray dogs or cats,” advises Dr. Alon.

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Nonito Donaire’s promoter and Probellum CEO Richard Schaefer said talks are on for a possible sequel of the 2019 fight of the year this coming April.

Pacers rally past Lakers

C

aris LeVert scored 22 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 111-104 comeback victory over the host Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.

Domantas Sabonis recorded 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season and 17th of his career as Indiana snapped an eight-game road losing streak. Malcolm Brogdon added 19 points for the Pacers, who halted a four-game overall slide and won for just the fourth time in the past 17 games.

LeVert was 12-of-16 shooting and collected eight rebounds. His 22 fourth-quarter points were two shy of the Lakers’ output in the stanza.

Indiana tallied 35 final-quarter points.

LeBron James had 30

points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles, which blew a 15-point lead while losing for the fourth time in the past five games.

Talen Horton-Tucker scored 20 points while Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook had 14 points apiece for the Lakers.

Los Angeles center Dwight Howard grabbed seven rebounds to tie Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond (1963-77) for 10th place in NBA history. Both players have 14,464.

James also reached a milestone. His career rebounding total sits at 10,002 as he became the 42nd player in NBA history to reach 10,000.

Malik Monk scored 10 points for Los Angeles, which shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 11 of 34 from 3-point range.

Donaire-Inoue 2 in the works

L

ooks like fans will be able to see Nonito Donaire vs Naoya Inoue II very soon.

Donaire’s promoter and Probellum CEO Richard Schaefer said talks are on for a possible sequel of the 2019 fight of the year this coming April. The fight might take place in Japan based on his discussions with Inoue promoter Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions.

“This is definitely a fight we would love to do and Nonito would love to have it as well.

We don’t have a problem going to Japan. Donaire has the balls to go into the lion’s den again.

Loman wants another top-rated opponent

S

tephen “The Sniper” Loman came to ONE Championship with high expectations.

The Team Lakay fighter, who held championships in his past promotions, was counted on to be one of the rising stars from the Baguio-based stable.

And in his first fight inside the ONE Circle, he didn’t just break every expectation, he smashed them.

Loman delivered a resounding victory in his promotional debut as he scored the first round technical knockout win over Russian contender Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev, battering him with his heavy

hands at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II last December.

It was just the kind of performance he craved for his introduction in The Home of Martial Arts and safe to say, he has put the bantamweight division on notice.

Loman has immediately propelled himself to the ONE Athlete Rankings, taking Saadulaev’s position as he’s now the no. 3 contender in the bantamweight class.

Although the ascent came as expected, it still surprised Loman that he got to this high in an instant.

“It was my debut fight and it is a great feeling to be at

the top five after defeating a ranked opponent. I was positive that I will be climbing up the rankings, but surprisingly, they put me in the third spot.

I’m so thankful,” he said.

Loman is well aware of Saadulaev’s pedigree, and the fact that he was able to topple such a tough cookie weighed heavily on his jump to this spot in the list.

“When I was watching Yusup in his fights and when he teaches his students, he is very technical on the ground and I can’t help but be impressed and learn, too, from him,” he said.

FLOMAN, P10

This is one of the biggest fights you can make in the sport,” said Schaefer in Boxing Scene.

“I can’t speak on behalf of Inoue, but I know that’s the fight he wants as well. I’ve al-

ways believed that when there is a big fight to be made, you make it -- and this is a big fight.

I am going to exhaust every resource and will not leave any stone unturned to pull off this fight. This is what Nonito and the fight fans want. We as a sport need to deliver it. I believe we’ll get it done.”

Inoue and Donaire first met on Nov. 7, 2019 at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan as part of the World Boxing Super Series finals, where the Japanese gutted out a difficult decision against a very game Donaire.

Donaire was knocked down, and Inoue was forced to

fight through a broken right eye socket in the brutal battle.

“Both guys have only gotten bigger since that fight, and probably even better, which is interesting to say especially in regard to Nonito,” said Schaefer.

Donaire now holds the WBC bantamweight title following a knockout of Frenchman Nordine Oubaali. He defended it by knocking out fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo last Dec. 11.

Inoue, meanwhile, scored three stoppage wins since beating Donaire. He is the reigning WBA and IBF bantamweight champion.

Stephen Loman delivered a resounding victory in his promotional debut as he scored the first round technical knockout win over Russian contender Yusup“Maestro”Saadulaev.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 258 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

Mark Magsayo has a chance to realize the dream of every young fighter: He faces long-reigning beltholder Gary Russell Jr. Saturday in Atlantic City (Showtime), his first world title shot.

ONE MORE DREAM Magsayo inching closer to a dream title M

ark Magsayo has already realized a number of his dreams.

The featherweight contender met his idol and countryman Manny Pacquiao, which happened four years ago at the Senate of the Philippines. A few years later Pacquiao became his promoter. And he now trains with Freddie Roach, who helped guide the eight-division champion to greatness.

Now Magsayo has a chance to realize the dream of every young fighter: He faces long-reigning beltholder Gary Russell Jr. Saturday in Atlantic City (Showtime), his first world title shot.

“This is a big challenge for me,” Magsayo said. “I like the challenge every time I fight. It’s good that I’m going to face a great fighter, a great warrior. If I win, it’s going to change my life. My dream will come true.”

Magsayo (23-0, 16 KOs) has some of the natural gifts of Pacquiao, including quick feet and hands, as well the punching power the boxer-turned-politician had at the lower weights.

The challenger’s stoppage of Julio Ceja – the result of a monstrous straight right hand in the 10th round last August – was a 2021 Knockout of the Year candidate and an important step in his evolution.

The problem might be that he’s still evolving even though he had a substantial amateur back-

ground, as Roach learned when he started working with Magsayo before the October 2020 Hermosillo fight.

One example: Magsayo had not incorporated road work into his training regimen, which Roach quickly corrected. And by Magsayo’s own admission, he needed considerable work in general when he landed at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.

“I’ve learned a lot things about boxing [from Roach],” he said.

“Before, I thought I really knew how boxing is but Freddie has taught me to box. He taught me footwork, moving in and out. He corrected my mistakes. I used to throw wild punches. Now my punches are more accurate.

“He’s taught me everything.”

And he might’ve learned his biggest lesson in the Ceja fight, in which he went down in Round 5 and was losing on all three cards after nine rounds. He made the

FONE, P10