Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 287 | Thursday, February 24, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING SEA GRAPES HEALTH P 9 edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 12 PAGES

ANTI-VAX MESSAGE

A boy unloads a piglet at the livestock area of Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Swine traders in Agdao Public Market are currently experiencing supply shortage, which they believed to be a long term effect of African swine fever outbreak in some parts of the country. Edge Davao

Case mulled vs. group behind anti-vax billboard in Bajada STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Major General Nolasco A. Mempin answers queries during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum in this undated photo. Mempin, a former commander of Task Force Davao and deputy chief of staff for Civil Military Operations (CMO), assumed as the commander of the 10th Infantry Agila Division replacing Lieutenant General Ernesto Torres, Jr. Edge Davao

ANTI-VAX MESSAGE

Case mulled vs. group behind anti-vax billboard in Bajada By MAYA M. PADILLO

he City Legal Office is now studying possible legal action against a group behind the anti-vaccination billboard along J.P Laurel Avenue in Davao City.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said the group even conducted a house-to-house information campaign and distributed leaflets with information detrimental to

the vaccination rollout in Davao City. “The City Legal Office is studying kung unsa ang puwede mabuhat sa mga campaign nga ingon ani nga naay flood against the government and against the

ways forward sa gobyerno in terms of vaccination rollout. Napag-usapan namo sa Covid-19 Task Force meeting last Monday it was quiet alarming kay nagbutang gyud sila ug dako na billboard and allegedly murag naga house-to-house ni sila ug nagahatag ug mga leaflets informing the public that are detriment na makuha nato sa bakuna,

katong mga bad effects sa bakuna,” Schlosser said on Wednesday. The billboard, which carried the name Alliance of Filipino for Freedom and Informed Choice, is printed with a message that says: “Nay, Tay, ngano imo man kong pabakunahan? Himsog man ko, walay kasiguruhan na dili ko

FMESSAGE, P10

DepED-11 eyes return of face-to-face classes

he Department of Education XI contemplates of returning the face-to-face classes now that the city eases the restrictions under the alert level II of the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19. However, Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson of the Department of Education XI, bared they have yet to determine the terms based on the safety school assessment tool. He said this tool will emanate from the

school environment in itself with the purpose of assessing the readiness of the school to conduct the face-to-face classes gauging its facilities and the capacity to handle the classes. Atillo underscored those teachers must be fully vaccinated. He said that face-to-face classes may be handled on the alert level I and II but will automatically stop when the alert level III is

hree hospitals in the Davao Region has been accredited by PhilHealth to provide the COVID-19 Home Isolation Benefit Package. These hospitals include Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center in Davao Oriental, Rivera Medical Center, Inc. in Davao del Norte and Davao Doctors Hospital in Davao City. With the accredited hospitals patients who are tested positive for

COVID-19 through RT-PCR tests but are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms can avail of the CHIBP by coordinating with these providers for assessment so they can receive adequate health support in their homes. The list of accredited CHIBP providers is expected to grow in the region as PhilHealth-accredited KonSulTa providers, Community Isolation Unites (CIU), infirmaries, hospitals can still

91 NPA affiliated workers T surrender in Davao Oro

ome 91 banana plantation workers who are member of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farms (NAMASUFA) surrendered recently to the authorities in the province of Davao de Oro. During the ceremony held at the Davao de Oro

Police Office complex, the workers revealed that their group has been used by the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPNA-NDF) to create chaos in their working field, and even organize movement against

the government. Vicente Barrios, president of NAMASUFA, bared in his speech that their group was infiltrated by the communist group and have been exploiting their social issues to agitate them against the company, their employer, and the govern-

ment. “Among narealize nga walay pulos ang tanang kalihukan nga amoang nahimo ilabina ang kalabanon ang atoang tinood nga gobyerno; ila (CPP-NPANDF) lang kaming gilingla og gigamit ang amoang

F91 NPA, P10

FDEPED-11, P10

Three hospitals in Davao Region offers COVID-19 home package

FTHREE, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

NEWS

The proposal for the modernization of the Davao International Airport (DIA) by Udenna Infrastructure Corporation (UIC) is still under review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), according to Romeo Montenegro, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). Edge Davao

Talks up on reopening of Davao-Manado air route Bar owners mull ‘no vaccine card, no entry’

ar owners and other establishments in Davao City are now thinking of implementing “no vaccine card, no entry” to prevent massive infection of Covid-19 in their respective property. Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said this is one of the steps seen to prevent the same incident involving those people partying at Supladoz Resto Bar violating the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS) last weekend. It can be recalled that the city government of Davao met the bar owners in the city following the violations perpetrated by the owner of Supladoz and the customers. “During our meeting, we have encouraged the bar owners katong “no vaccination, no entry” policy and murag willing sila to cooperate on that. They were very receptive to that idea,” Schlosser said on Wednesday.

Schlosser explained that as of the moment the city government of Davao cannot impose the “no vaccine card, no entry” policy but the private establishments can. “Kung gustuhon sa mga private establishments na mu “no vaccination, no entry” sila, puwede na nila buhaton because that is their property,” she said. Schlosser the city is hopeful that the bar owners will keep their promise of cooperation by implementing such policy. “We are hoping for them to do that. They have expressed that they will cooperate on that idea or ways kay dako na ug tabang. Kahit na pagtanggal sa mask kung bakunado and with proper social distancing medyo maka-siguro na dili dako ug risko for massive spread of infection if there is infection going on,” she added. Also discussed was the security personnel will

FBAR, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

avao-Manado flight could reopen as soon as transport connectivity to major international destinations will resume. After 12 years since the air route was available, in May 2007, it was relaunched on September 27, 2019 through Indonesia’s national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, but halted midMarch of 2020 following the travel restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic. The service is said to be

part of the Garuda’s effort to provide seamless connectivity for passengers in both countries through the first regular flight connecting Manado to Davao. “Sayang at nagkaroon ng pandemic, the Davao City-Manado flight was picking up already after its launch service by Garuda

Air, unfortunately, because of the pandemic, all other global flights were affected. But as soon as our transport connectivity to major destinations had been reopened, meaning countries are now starting to be opened on account of their improvement from pandemic situation and cases, once ma-reopen ang connectivity natin to major international destinations I hope isa itong Davao-Manado to be reopened as well,” said Ro-

meo Montenegro, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Executive Director of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). Before Garuda three Indonesian airlines have serviced the air route: Bouraq, Merpati and Sriwijaya. Bouraq had chartered flights in 1998 but regular flights were from 2002 to 2004, and Merpati in 2005 to 2006. Bouraq Airlines termi-

MGen Mempin is not new to the area of the Agila Division as he served as its assistant division commander from June to October 2021. Prior to that, he was the commander of the 1003rd Infantry Raptor Brigade from March 2019 to June 2021, and commander of Task Force Davao on August 2017 to March 2019. During his stint as the Raptor Brigade commander, Guerilla Front 56, and Pulang Bagani 2 and 3 of

the New People’s Army were dismantled. BGen Mempin is a member of Philippine Military Academy “Bigkis Lahi” Class 1990. During the Change of Command Ceremony held at the Camp General Manuel T Yan Sr, Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr. PA, commanding general of the Philippine Army, presided the hand-over of command symbol. Lieutenant General Brawner challenged Mem-

pin to sprint towards the finish line of ending the local communist armed conflict, and local terrorism. “As we end the term of the President, we have to have the sense of urgency, kasi ang sabi ng Pangulo, we have to end the local communist armed conflict and even pati na ang mga local terrorists operating here in Southern Mindanao,” LtGen Brawner said. Brawner assured Mempin and the 10ID troops

FTALKS, P10

Mempin assumes 10ID command

ajor General Nolasco A. Mempin PA assumes on Wednesday as the commander of the 10th Infantry Agila Division replacing Lieutenant General Ernesto Torres, Jr. AFP, who is now the commander of the North Luzon Command. Before his appointment, Major General Mempin was the deputy chief of staff for Civil Military Operations (CMO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since October 2021.

FMEMPIN, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

A rider, together with his pillion rider, maneuvers a customized “trisikel” fully loaded with used cardboards along an underconstruction road on their way to a junkshop in Bangkal, Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

Palace lauds view PH to be $1-trillion economy by 2033

alacañang on Monday welcomed a recent study saying the Philippines is expected to become one of Asia’s trillion-dollar economies in the next decade. According to the IHS Markit report released last month, the Philippines is seen to enjoy “rapid growth in 2022” thanks to private consumption and government infrastructure investments. “This is certainly a very welcome news,” said acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles. “If you would recall our

economic team remains optimistic that our COVID-19 pandemic team will not derail the Philippine vision to eliminate poverty by 2040,” he said in a televised press briefing. The Philippine economy posted a faster-than-expected 5.6 percent growth rate in 2021 as looser COVID-19 restrictions propelled recovery, with GDP

growing 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the Philippine Statistics Authority said in January 2022. The 2021 GDP growth is also above the 5 to 5.5 percent target set by the Development and Budget Coordination Committee in December. Economic managers are expecting growth of between 7 to 9 percent this year. The recovery follows the country’s worst postWar economic contraction in 2020, which was also the worst contraction for a major ASEAN economy that

he country’s first clean energy-themed real estate investment trust (REIT) listing on Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) aims to tap the tremendous opportunities in the local renewable energy market. With its initial public offering (IPO) Tuesday, Cit-

icore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT) took advantage of the resources from the local bourse to partly fund its 1,500-megawatt expansion project for the next five years. CREIT president Oliver Tan said the 1,500 MW pipeline projects are estimated to cost PHP70 bil-

lion, eyeing to inject new assets to the company every year. Tan said CREIT is earmarking PHP3 billion as capital expenditure for this year. Citicore chairman Edgar Saavedra said the country’s shift to clean energy is a “big opportunity” for

year. Economists blamed the 2020 contraction on what has been described as the strictest and longest COVID-19 lockdown in the world, which shuttered businesses and severely limited mobility. The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) has urged the national government to further ease health restrictions to allow businesses to cater to more customers and hire more workers as the country pushes to strengthen its economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

renewable energy players here. “Globally, there is a push in replacing fossil fuel power to more renewable sources. In fact, the mandate of the DOE (Department of Energy) is to increase the renewable portfolio from 20 percent to 40 percent

FPALACE, P10

Firm sees big opportunity in renewable energy market T

FFIRM, P10

Two leading presidential bets, good for MSMEs: econ adviser

residential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said presidential aspirants former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo “will be good” for small-scale businesses. “Judging from the platforms they have presented on Go Negosyo’s KandidaTalks forum, both of them understand and prioritize the development of the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector,” he said in a statement Tuesday. Concepcion said whoever wins the top government position, the next administration should prioritize poverty alleviation, MSME development, creating prosperity, and greater quality for all. “One of the biggest challenges that we face is the level of poverty in this country. To create prosperity for every Filipino, MSMEs have to be among the top focus of the next administration,” the adviser to President Rodrigo Duterte said.

Concepcion recalled both plans for Marcos and Robredo during the KandidaTalks forum. He cited Marcos’ plans for MSMEs include allocating a portion of internal revenue allotments to MSMEs, granting tax amnesty to those heavily impacted by the pandemic, rationalizing taxation for small businesses to encourage them to pay their taxes, and building MSMEs’ credit rating. On the other hand, Robredo’s plans include a PHP100-billion stimulus package for MSMEs as part of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) recovery program, providing smallscale businesses with special loans to prepare their businesses for the new normal, giving MSMEs better access to credit, and integrating them into public procurement program. “I am very hopeful that should either one become the next President of the Philippines, it will be good news for our small entrepreneurs,” Concepcion added. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

ECONOMY

A large lot of former Matina Golf Club is being cleared of trees and debris in preparation for a township development project in Matina, Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

Increase in oil prices adds 3-3.5% in production cost of goods —DTI T DOF chief hopes for Landbank Charter change in next admin

epartment of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos Dominguez III is hopeful that the proposed Charter change for stateowned Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) will push through in the next administration. During the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines’ (FINEX) 2nd general membership meeting on Tuesday where the finance chief served as guest speaker, Dominguez

said a measure on Landbank’s proposed Charter change is now in Congress, but “I don’t think (this) can get passed in this administration.” He said the state-owned bank, chaired by the DOF Secretary, “has a stupid Charter which says only cooperatives can invest in it.” To address the situation, Dominguez said they have increased the authorized capital of the bank,

FDOF, P10

APEC takes steps to reconnect region, boost reg’l integration

he Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is taking steps to pave a calibrated and measured way of reconnecting the dynamic region as economies learn to live with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to the APEC Secretariat-issued statement received here Tuesday. Such steps are also being taken as demand for travel is expected to make a steady comeback this year, the APEC Secretariat said. Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand and 2022 chair of the APEC Senior Officials Thani

Thongphakdi, in his address to senior officials and business leaders from 21 APEC member economies last week in an event held in Singapore, underscored the need to reconnect the Asia-Pacific region to support recovery. “Thailand recognizes the need to reconnect the region to support economic recovery. Taking forward the recommendation of the region’s business leaders to APEC leaders last year, a Safe Passage Task Force was created in order to coordinate cross-border travel resumption,” Thongphakdi said.

FAPEC, P10

he consecutive hikes in the pump prices of petroleum amid global supply disruptions has made the production of manufactured goods costlier and might be passed on to consumers, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Wednesday. Lopez said the increase in fuel prices has “3.5% na tama sa production cost (impact on production cost)… around 3% to 3.5%.”

The Trade chief, however, said manufacturers have not yet submitted petitions to increase the suggested retail prices of grocery items.

Nonetheless, Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will consider both the increase in fuel prices as well as other factors in manufacturing process such as raw materials and logistics costs in deciding whether or not SRPs will be adjusted upwardly. “Kung sakali kung mag-submit na sila ng mga datos, doon natin ib-

abase ‘yung rasonableng galaw ng costing na ito,” he said. (Should they submit data, it will be the basis for a reasonable adjustment of costing.) Since the start of the year, pump prices of fuel products have been adjusted by P8.75 per liter for gasoline, P10.85 per liter for diesel, and P9.55 per liter for kerosene.

attract more customers,” Director General Rowel Barba said in a statement Tuesday. “Our accomplishment in re-stimulating demand for IP creation and protection has motivated us stronger to sustain our momentum in rebuilding the economy with IP,” Barba said. From taking the biggest hit in 2020, UM filings made the biggest recovery, recording a 20 percent YOY boost to a total of 1,588. The rebound, which was faster than the 4 percent YOY growth in pre-pandemic year 2019, was driven by residents whose UM filings grew 24.4 percent with a total of 24,015. Non-resident

filers dipped by 44 percent to 48. Food chemistry made the largest contribution to the sum, with 815 UM filings. This was followed by basic materials chemistry (with 92 filings made); other special machines (77); handling (75); and civil engineering (57). Trademark applications surged by 12 percent to 39,616, with resident filers accounting for the bulk at 24,015 and bouncing back with a 14 percent YOY growth. Non-resident filings also rebounded with 12 percent. In total, trademark filings last year grew at a faster pace than 2019’s 10-percent annual growth. Trademark filings growth was largely due to

pharmaceuticals, health, and cosmetics filings, which totaled 11,360. Agricultural products and services (10,977) came second, followed by scientific research, information and communication technology (8,946); management, communications, real estate and financial services (7,624); and textiles, clothing and accessories (5,843). Meanwhile, patent filings expanded by 10 percent to 4,031. Filers under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), who propelled patent filing activities, expanded by 12 percent by 3,344 while resident filers grew at 455 by 9 percent. Pharmaceutical pat-

IP filings post double-digit growth in 2021 as economy reopens: IPOPHL

he Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said intellectual property (IP) filings from January to December 2021 grew 11.6 percent year-on-year (YOY) to a total of 46,496, recovering significantly from the 2020 drop, as lighter quarantine restrictions last year reignited business and IP-related activities. “This significant rebound, notably in UM (utility model), trademarks, patents and copyright, was made possible by our aggressive IP promotion campaigns to reach more inventors, artists and entrepreneurs. On top of this is our continuous work to upgrade, streamline and digitalize our services to

FIP, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

On clients not following minimum public health standards (MPHS):

This is not a question of gi-lift man gud ang liquor ban kaya nag ingon ato, hindi po, dahil kahit na may beer kung disiplinado ang mga tao na magfollow ug MPHS.” Dr. Michelle Schlosser Spokesperson, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force

EDITORIAL No brainer Bar owners should implement the “no vaccination card, no entry” policy without second thoughts. It’s a no brainer.

Whilst the Covid-19 Task Force has given the bar owners to decide for themselves, the choice cannot entirely rest on them. It has to be a collective stand by the city government and all stakeholders involved.

Look, the lifting of the liquor ban in itself has liberated businesses in the hospitality venues like bars to resume operations after having been put on the freezer for a long, long time. The frustration of having to see one’s business either close or freeze is understandable from a business standpoint. Hence, the initial reaction to go all out to try to recoup the losses is quite understandable to say it straight-

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Nevertheless, there is also the accompanying responsibility even in the absence of a mandatory order to try to keep the health standards be the operative law to regulate operations of these venues at this point. Despite a relaxed Covid-19 standards, there is no reason not to enforce the “no proof of vaccination, no entry rule” for two reasons: First, it encourages vaccination. And second, it puts the venue and everyone present a lot safer than there is no control whatsoever on who is going inside regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. There is no way we can take risks. That sign on the front door should be up. No vaccination card, no entry to these premises. 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

forwardly.

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

VOL.14 ISSUE 287 • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE INCREDIBLE, EDIBLE EGG ‘THE egg,” said one famous French chef, “is the cement that holds all the castles of cookery together.” How true. As chefs Joe Famularo and Louise Imperiale wrote in their collaborative book, The Festive Famularo Kitchen: “We couldn’t cook without them.” The two authors pointed out, “Eggs whip into Italian zabaglione, French mayonnaise and American baked Alaska. They are indispensable as lightening, thickening, binding, and enriching agents. They are necessary for cutlets, fritters and custards; in garnishings, salads and dressings; in sauces and soups. They clarify liquids. They become main dishes. They scramble, fry, boil, poach and bake.” In the Philippines, hardcooked eggs are quite common. They are one of the important ingredients in such popular dishes as morcon, pansit malabon, luglug, pansit bihon, sarciado, galantina, tamales and potato salad. A close look at the egg shows that it is “almost the perfect food”: a large chicken egg has

75 calories, 6 grams of protein, 215 milligrams of cholesterol, 65 milligrams of potassium, and 1 gram of carbohydrate. An egg also contains 4.5 grams of fat, including 1.5 grams of saturated fat, along with varying amounts of 13 vitamins – including iron, phosphorus and magnesium – and numerous minerals. Except for vitamin C, an egg has just about everything. When you eat an egg, you won’t waste anything – except the shell. You can fully digest the contents without much ado. By the way, you can also eat the shell, if you want to; after all, it’s an excellent source of calcium. Eggs can be included in almost everyone’s diet. Easily digested, they are one of the first solid foods fed to infants and to the ill and convalescent. Eggs also aid rapid growth in children and teenagers, and provide quick, easily prepared meals for adults and the elderly. Despite all these, eggs are still a much-maligned food. “Go easy on eggs,” advised those Americans who considered eggs to have contained high

cholesterol. Listen to the explanation of Linda Braun, the consumer services manager for the American Egg Board: “When the cholesterol scare started in the ‘80s, eggs were an easy target. Americans like to think if they can remove just one thing from their diet, everything will be alright. Unfortunately, eggs were that one thing.” Filipinos followed suit. “I don’t eat eggs because my American friends told me they contain high levels of cholesterol,” explains a former fashion model. But then, that’s jumping into conclusion without knowing the real facts. Unknown to many, 100 grams of eggs has only 144 calories, compared to salmon, 203; ham, 374; cheddar cheese, 398; and hamburger, 377. Salmonella poisoning is another thing. Contaminated eggs, we all heard, were causing several cases of food poisoning each year. Granted, the illness was rarely fatal, but it still guaranteed a bout of high fever, intestinal misery and days of downtime on the couch. Again, let’s get the facts on

the table: Some eggs do harbor salmonella bacteria. Some people get sick from eating them. But even a daily eggs-over-easy lover runs an extremely low risk. You see, when an egg forms inside the chicken, relatively few bacteria are passed along. Yet, it takes millions – maybe billions – of bacteria to produce symptoms in a healthy person. Bacterial population booms are rare in any new-laid egg because fresh egg white is “bacteriostatic” – meaning it won’t permit bacteria to multiply. Experts, however, advised that young children, the elderly and people with illnesses or immune-system problems should probably stick to well-cooked eggs. How can you determine if an egg is fresh or not? Well, an egg is fresh if it has the following characteristics: 1. The egg has cloudy or milky white color. The cloudiness indicates that the carbon dioxide naturally present in a newly laid egg has not yet escaped as gas through the shell. As the gas escapes, the whites

become clearer. 2. A fresh egg will cover only a small area in the frying pan because its white is still thick and large and stands high and firm around the yolk. The amount of thick white decreases the longer the egg is stored, and the egg tends to spread and cover more surface on the pan. 3. The shell of a boiled fresh egg does not peel easily. The longer an egg is stored the more it loses its carbon dioxide content and becomes easier to peel when cooked. 4. The cord-like formation that you see in an egg white, called challaza by scientists, anchors the yolk on both sides while the egg is developing. The challaza disappears as the egg grows older. 5. To test an egg for freshness, put it in a pan of water. If still fresh, the egg will sink; if no longer fresh, it will float. Now, which came first – the egg or the chicken? Most scientists say, the chicken. Those who argue that it’s the egg say it has something to do with Adam being created first. But that’s another story.

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

THE SAGA OF THE MISSING LUGGAGE One of the greatest fear of any traveller is finding out after a long day of voyage that his bags didn’t make it in his airport of destination. The dilemma with missing luggage was depicted in Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film “The Terminal” starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It is about an Eastern European man who got stuck in New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport terminal when he was denied entry to the United States and at the same time was unable to return to his native country because of a military coup. It was inspired by a true story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri who lived in Terminal One of the Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris, from 1988 until 2006. He was marooned in the airport for 18 years after he lost his luggage containing his refugee papers. If this unfortunate situation happens to a traveler, he must immediately report any missing luggage to airport service desk personnel who will then conduct an electronic search using the airline tracing system to im-

mediately locate the luggage. During the waiting period, the airline is bound to reimburse whatever essential purchases made and losses incurred while waiting for the luggage. In an action based on a breach of contract of carriage, the aggrieved party does not need to prove that the common carrier was at fault or was negligent. He is only required to prove the existence of the contract and non-performance by the carrier. Considering that a contract of carriage is vested with public interest, a common carrier is presumed to have been at fault or to have acted negligently in case of lost or damaged goods. . In cases filed against an airline company in relation to lost or missing luggage, it usually raises the defense that it performed extraordinary diligence in transporting the passenger and his luggage to his last destination. Even if found liable, it will stipulate that the amount of

actual damages should only be $400, or $20 per kilo, if the passenger did not declare the actual value of his suitcase. pursuant to the Warsaw Convention, or formally known as the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air. It is an international convention ratified by 152 states which regulates liability for international carriage of persons, luggage, or goods performed by aircraft for reward. There is a limitation period of two years within which a claim must be brought at his discretion in one of the following forums: (a) the carrier’s principal place of business, (b) the domicile of the carrier (c) the carrier’s place of business through which the contract was made and (d) the place of the destination. In the case of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines vs Dr. Jose Tiongco (GR No. 212136, October 4, 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the liability for damages is not limited to that prescribed by the Warsaw convention. The convention is deemed

a limit of liability only in those cases where the cause of the death or injury to person, or destruction, loss or damage to property or delay in its transport is not attributable to or attended by any willful misconduct, bad faith, recklessness, or otherwise improper conduct on the part of any official or employee for which the carrier is responsible. Tiongco purchased tickets from the airline for his trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan for a speaking engagement. However, his checked-in suitcase went missing during his flight. The suitcase contained his clothing for the conference wherein he was a guest speaker, a copy of his speech, and his resource materials. KLM breached its contract with Tiongco when it failed to deliver his checked-in suitcase in the designated place and time. Even after his return to the Philippines, Tiongco’s suitcase was still missing. Nobody from KLM’s personnel updated him of what happened to the search.

It was only when Tiongco wrote KLM a demand letter that the latter reached out to him asking for time to investigate the matter. Yet, it did not even notify him of the result of the purported investigation. KLM’s customer relations officer categorically testified that suitcase was eventually found in Almaty on board a Turkish Airlines plane which immediately informed KLM of the luggage. However, KLM did not bother to inform Tiongco that his suitcase had been found or took the necessary steps to transport it to Manila. Damages are proper as KLM displayed indifference to the plight and inconvenience suffered by Tiongco when he lost his luggage. (Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

DOLE Davao monitors projects under livelihood program

The Department of Labor and Employment XI conducted a Livelihood Monitoring and Evaluation of eight (3) projects implemented for the year 2021 under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) on February 16-22, 2022. The monitoring team, composed of the regional and field office livelihood focal persons and personnel from the Internal Management and Services Division, assessed the progress of project implementation visà-vis adherence to guidelines and performance targets towards project improvement. The team also provided assistance on the

liquidation of unliquidated livelihood funds. DOLE XI monitored and evaluated two (2) projects in Davao del Sur, (4) projects in Davao de Oro, and two (2) projects in Davao Oriental. The activity was accompanied by OIC-Assistant Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy and Technical Services and Support Division Chief Paul V. Cruz. OIC-Regional Director Atty. Randolf C. Pensoy said that this activity is just one of the methods to measure the progress of the projects implemented by DOLE XI. “We are ensuring that these projects are yielding results

as well as guide and empower our beneficiaries to develop a self-reliant community enterprise.” The Livelihood Monitoring and Evaluation is part of the program’s third phase, along with project operationalization and provision of resources, in its operational framework. First phase includes advocacy activities, identification of beneficiaries, and project negotiation. Second phase covers organization strengthening, convergence planning, and enhancement trainings. While the fourth and final phase encompasses project benefit and impact evaluation.

LANDBANK offers online channels for RTB-27 purchase More Filipinos can simultaneously grow their money and contribute to various socio-economic development initiatives in the country through the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) Retail Treasury Bonds Tranche 27 due 2027 or RTB-27 issuance, which are available via the online investment channels of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK). Launched on February 15 with the theme, “Mula sa Puso, Para sa Pinas,” the BTr’s five-year RTB-27 issuance is a low-risk investment instrument with a coupon rate of 4.875% per annum. The offer period is until February 28 with settlement scheduled on March 4. “The RTB-27 offering

is a timely opportunity for retail investors to expand their portfolio while directly contributing to the government’s recovery, resiliency and emergency programs. Investing in RTB27 has been made more accessible and convenient through LANDBANK’s digital platforms for Filipinos worldwide,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo. Interested investors can purchase RTB-27 bonds for a minimum investment of P5,000 via the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App in as fast as five minutes or less. This feature is also available in the Mobile Banking App of the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), the official digital bank of the Philippine government and a sub-

IDIS launches Green Vote 2022 survey

sidiary of LANDBANK. Investors of RTB-27 can also make online placements through the BTr Online Ordering Facility and settle the payments via the LANDBANK Link.BizPortal online payment platform. Over-the-counter placements are also accepted in all LANDBANK branches nationwide. In addition to purchasing new bonds, the BTr also allows holders of previously issued bonds, namely FXTN 20-02 and FXTN 03-24, to exchange and reinvest their bond holdings for RTB-27. Last November 2021, LANDBANK generated a total of P48.4 billion in sales for the previous Retail Treasury Bonds Tranche 26 or RTB-26 issuance.

The election is coming fast, and it will be pivotal in determining the future we want for our families, communities, country, and planet. Now, more than ever, we need the kind of leaders that will put environmental protection and climate justice as their priority focus. In line with this, the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc launched its version of the election survey dubbed as Green Vote 2022. With the theme #KinaiyahanNaman, this survey aims to know local aspiring candidates’ environmental stand and platforms in the upcoming election. The survey form will be forwarded to all official candidates of the City Government of Davao, both legislative and executive branches, including Mayor, Vice Mayor, Representatives, and Councilors. After that, IDIS will

consolidate their answers and publicly release the results in April 2022. The survey includes discussion on Watershed Protection, Solid Waste Management and Zero Waste Lifestyle, Urban Livability, Good Agricultural Practices, Sustainable/Clean Energy, Policy Bottlenecks and Good Governance. This will also highlight candidates’ platforms on environmental management and their views and decisions on various environmental issues in the City. The survey will discuss local issues, such as the halting of the cutting of old-growth trees at declared conservation zones such as in Mt. Makabol-Alikoson and Kalatong, the increasing wastes and pollution of the Sanitary Landfill, the proposed Waste-to-Energy Facility, resumption of Aerial and Chemical-based Spraying

provement products that significantly enhance living standards. Since the opening of its first store in 1998, CitiHardware has expanded to 82 branches nationwide and counting. Customers can also look forward to the opening of new stores in Milaor, Camarines Sur and San Jose, Mindoro. Even in the midst of a pandemic that has affected the whole

nation, CitiHardware has sought expansion not only to make affordable home improvement products accessible to customers in various localities, but also to support the local economy by generating job opportunities. To ensure the safety of its customers and employees, CitiHardware continues to implement standard health protocol guidelines.

Upon entering a store, customers are asked to observe proper sanitation, preventive measures like wearing face masks and observing physical distancing, and QR code scanning. CitiHardware has also embraced the online shopping revolution with the upcoming launch of online shops for Balusong, Iloilo, and Dasmariñas, making it easier for customers in

in monocrop plantations, quarrying and extraction of resources, and the Samal-Davao Bridge and other large infrastructure projects affecting the environment. “The Green Vote 2022 will not endorse a candidate or candidates but will serve as a guide for Dabawenyos in choosing whom to vote this coming election. Diri nato mabal-an kinsa sa mga kandidato ang naay plataporma, mga plano para mapalig-on o mobarog sa mga balaod para sa kinaiyahan. After we released the results, our clamor to the public is to vote by prioritizing environmental protection in balance with the needs and health of communities rather than for-profit purposes. We envision for more champions for the environment, with strong policies than mere promises,” EnP Lemuel Manalo, IDIS Program Coordinator, said.

CitiHardware completes extension of Lipa, Buhangin, Panabo branches, looks forward to new store openings

CITIHARDWARE is happy to announce that its Lipa, Buhangin, and Panabo branches have just finished their extension projects. At almost double their original size, the stores now offer a wider selection of affordable items for your home improvement needs. CitiHardware has always offered Great Value Every Day products that customers from all walks

of life can use for home building and DIY improvement projects. With an inventory of over 70,000 local and international products, CitiHardware’s procurement team seeks to maintain quality merchandise. True enough, loyal Ka-Citi customers have lauded the company’s ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and innovative home im-

those areas to shop from the comforts of their own homes. At the moment, e-commerce is available in Davao City only. Customers may shop as a guest, but they may also register for free so that they can track their order history. Orders may be picked up from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CitiHardware Balusong. Deliveries can also be done within the city.

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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING SEA GRAPES Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

lot of Filipinos love seaweed. There are several species but the most favored is the edible Caulerpa lentillifera due to its soft and succulent texture. Its colors are bright green to bluish and olive green. Traditionally, it is eaten in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, Oceania and East Asia. In the Philippines, it is called lato or arosep. It is rinsed clean with cool water to remove the slight fishy smell. Usually, it is eaten raw as a salad (called ensaladang lato), mixed with chopped onions and fresh tomatoes, and dressed with a blend of fish sauce or bagoong (fish paste) and vinegar. In the past, lato were harvested directly from the wild. The Filipinos cultivated it commercially in the 1950s in Cebu after the accidental introduction of lato to fish ponds. These days, lato are usually harvested after two months from first planting, and every two weeks afterwards – depending on growth rates. Japanese followed

commercial cultivation in 1986. Cultivated in tanks in the warmer waters of Okinawa, they umi-budo or kubiretsuta. Like Filipinos, Japanese eat it raw with soy sauce, or a mix of soy sauce, vinegar and mirin. It’s actually a kind of side dish that anyone can find in many restaurants. It can be found on everything – from sushi to ice cream. Curiously enough, it also goes well with beer. The Philippines and Japan are the top consumers of this seaweed species. However, its cultivation has spread to other countries, including China (particularly Fujian and Hainan), Taiwan, and Vietnam. The seaweed is also eaten in Vietnam, where

it is known as rong nho or rong nho bien. In Korea, it is called bada podo while in Indonesia, people living in Bali call it bulung. It is also popular in the Malaysian state of Sabah, where it is known as latok. In English, it is called green caviar. But generally, however, it is called sea grapes due to its appearance that looks like tiny clusters of green grapes. The “bubbles” are actually the leaf part of this underwater plant. They grow on a long stem that is also edible. So, no part of it is wasted. Those who have not tasted it might be wondering how sea grapes taste?

It tastes slightly salty with an oceanic freshness to it. But there are those who think sea grapes taste either sweet or sour like acidic flavor. “The taste is like a combination of wine, grapes and a little cocktail,” someone said. But sea grapes lovers would definitely tell you that the best thing about it is its texture. After all, the little bubbles burst in the mouth when eaten. The Japanese call this a “puchi puchi” texture, which is an onomatopoeia used to refer to the popping sound of the burst of air bubbles. Sea grapes are packed with vitamins and minerals. “They are considered

a good source of vitamins A and C, calcium, zinc and iron,” reports the website, favy-jp.com. “They also contain a high level of vegetable protein per calories and a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids, too.” Sea grapes contain less sugar but are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. It also contains carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, copper, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin B2, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate and biotin. Now, let’s talk about the health benefits you can get from eating sea grapes. Nutrition experts claim 100 grams of sea grapes contain about 1.8 milligrams of iodine. By eating

at least 30 grams of sea grapes, you get the sufficient iodine needed for thyroid. As such, they help prevent goiter. The Philippine Thyroid Diseases Study done in 2012 showed the prevalence of thyroid function in the country is 8.53% among the adult population. Among the thyroid disorders, goiter is the most common, with a prevalence rate of 10.12%. As sea grapes are rich in calcium, potassium and vitamin C, they are effective in reducing blood pressure due to the ability to promote excretion and maintain normal blood pressure

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10 EDGEDAVAO MESSAGE... FROM2

magka-Covid. Experimental pa ang Covid vaccine ug tun-an pa ang epekto niini sa akong kinabuhi ug panglawas. Wala’y tulubagon ang gobyerno ug ang pharmaceutical companies (cited RA 11525 Section 8). Dili mandatory ang Covid vaccine sa akong pag-eskwela (based on RA 11525 Section 12).” “Naa na’y lead ang atong PNP kung kinsa ni sila na group. Allegedly this is a group of individuals na they get together and created this flood against vaccination rollout,” Schlosser said. Schlosser said if this will continue it will have an

impact on the city’s vaccine rollout and the turnout of vaccines will decline because of misinformation. She said one of the steps taken by the Covid-19 Task Force is to intensify the education information campaign (EIC) to counter the said anti-vaccination drive. “I-intensify pa ang education information campaign para i-counter ang ilahang anti-vaccination drive. I-intensify pud namo kung mahimo mag houseto-house mi to inform the people unsa ang benefits sa bakuna,” she said. On February 22, 2022, the billboard was removed.

declared by the IATF and would revert back to the use of modules and online classes. Atillo stressed the DepED also need to get the nod of the local government unit for holding of the faceto-face classes. Assistant Regional Director Dr. Gerna Manatad of the Department of Health XI cited the coordination between and among the local government units, Commission on Higher Education, owners of the schools, the Department of Education for the resumption of the face-to-face classes.

She disclosed these agencies have to comply with the requirements before going to the face-toface classes. Manatad bared there is also a need to monitor the trend of COVID-19 cases in a given area before the Department of Health XI can make a recommendation for the resumption of faceto-face classes. “Based from experience of other regions, face-to-face classes follow a phase, we look at the cases in the region and in the country and even globally,” she said. (PIA XI/ Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

kahuyang,” Barrios said. (We have realized that the actions we made are just useless especially when we fought against the true government; they (CPP-NPANDF) have just exploited our weaknesses.) Aside from taking an oath of allegiance to the government, the workers also burned a flag of the CPP-NPA-NDF signifying their dismay in their former affiliation. “Karon, among ginaproklamar nga dili na kami makipaglambigit sa

walhong kalihokan kay nakamata na kami, ug gusto na namo magpuyo nga malinawon,” Barrios stressed. (Today, we proclaim that we will not be involved in the leftist movement because we are already awakened, and we want to live in peace.) During the program, the provincial government of Davao de Oro provided the workers with relief supplies, food packs, and financial assistance worth PHP3, 000 each. (PIAXI, Michael Uy)

enlist as CHIBP providers at no accreditation fee. The accredited CHIBP providers is in line with the release of PhilHealth Region XI Advisory Np. 2022-

0011 on January 22 this year which announced the acceptance of applications for those wanting to avail of the CHIBP. (PIA XI/RG Alama)

“Kami medyo sumasama ang loob namin kapag sinasabi na hindi pa handa,” ECOP President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. told PTV. (We are a bit sad when the government says that we are not yet ready to ease restrictions.) “Hindi namin alam ano pa ang pinaghahandaan. Madali sabihin yun nung mga hindi nawalan ng tra-

baho, hindi nawawalan ng pera,” he said. (We don’t know what else they are preparing for. It’s easy to say that only if you haven’t lost your job and you did not lose funds.) The ECOP chief underscored that the employers are also hoping for the tourism industry to further reopen as this is among the primary job generators in the country.

ents pushed the hike (with 3,170 filings), followed by organic fine chemistry (1,562); biotechnology, (994); basic materials chemistry, (614); and food chemistry, (443). Industrial design (ID) filings, meanwhile, contin-

ued its decline although at a slower rate compared to 2020’s 37 percent. ID applications fell by -0.2 percent to 1,261. Resident ID filings contracted -0.3 percent to 644 while non-resident filings remained the same at 617.

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nated its services in December 2004 after the company struggled financially while Merpati Airlines folded up its operation in December 2006 due to low load factor. Sriwijaya Airlines started regular services of the air route in November 2006 but folded its operation in May 2007. Meanwhile, Montenegro said that the unsolicited proposal for the modernization of the Davao International Airport (DIA) by Dennis Uy-led firm Udenna Infrastructure Corporation (UIC) is still under review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The rehabilitation aims to increase international traffic thus the proponent plans to partner with an airport operator with an

international network to facilitate new-route development by working with the government to develop new routes within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Covering an area of 209 hectares, proposed developments for DIA include a parallel taxiway, reconfiguration and expansion of the passenger terminal building, land-side and airside improvements, and the introduction of new airport technology. The development will be executed in three phases, with Phase 1 targeted to start next year covering the rehabilitation and expansion of the passenger terminal building and the construction of a new cargo terminal building, among others.

have open communication with the bar owners so that when clients are not following MPHS, the owners can directly call the police to give citation tickets. “This is not a question of gi-lift man gud ang liquor ban kaya nag ingon ato, hindi po, dahil kahit na may beer kung disiplinado ang mga tao na magfollow ug MPHS,” she said. The meeting, which was also attended by members of the city’s response cluster, also tackled the violations of Supladoz Resto Bar. The bar was also given a cease and desist order by the Business Bureau for operating without a permit. “Apart from that gi-violate nila ang pagpatuman sa MPHS sa sulod sa bar such as wearing of face mask and social distancing. The estab-

lishment itself will be held liable for not implementing the MPHS,” she said. She said upon the investigation of the contact-tracing team, the bar did not conduct DQR scanning. The city government of Davao will file cases against the owner of Supladoz Ilustre Restobar for illegally operating without a business permit and for violating Covid-19 protocols, such as the implementation of MPHS and Safe DQR scanning among its clients inside the establishment “During our meeting naa didto ang tag iya sa Supladoz. He was very sorry of what had happened pero ang giingon sa atoang business bureau naa’y due process for that,” Schlosser said. By Maya M. Padillo

that they in the central headquarters will support them “all the way.” Mempin, on his end, said that the division with more than 19,000 manppower is in great shape to accomplish the marching order on solving the problem of insurgency before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30. “We really have to focus on the marching order. because ang plano natin is

iyong mga units na merong mga kinocomfront na communist terrorist groups, hayaan natin silang makapagfocus; habang iyong mga other units na walang kinocomfront na communist terrorist groups, iyon yung mga iaassign natin on election duties so that walang interrurption sa ating campaign, also with the help sa ating mga stakeholders lalo na iyong task force ELCAC.” (PIAXI, Michael Uy)

a universal bank that focuses on the government’s programs towards funding the needs of farmers and fisherfolk from PHP200 billion to PHP800 billion, and increased the paid-up capital to PHP200 billion. He said they are also proposing the listing of the bank to the local bourse to allow the around 20-percent public ownership “with no group holding more than 5 percent.” “So that is the plan. That is the proposed legislation that we have done. I hope it gets done by the next administration,” he added. The current administration earlier scrapped an Executive Order (EO) issued by the recent Aquino administration regarding the proposed merger of Landbank with the

Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), another government finance institution (GFI) which is focused on helping finance the government’s infrastructure program. Under EO 198, Landbank will be the surviving entity after the merger. It is aimed at having a larger lender that will provide greater financing not only to its target beneficiaries but also to the government’s infrastructure programs. Dominguez said they put the proposed merger aside for a while and instead prioritized Landbank’s merger with United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), whose shares were acquired using coco levy funds thus, the Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring it as state-owned.

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for people with hypertension. More importantly, sea grapes strengthen eyesight and heart health. As they contain unsaturated fatty acids, they help to enhance eyesight and memory. They also lower cholesterol, enhance the fluidity of blood vessels, prevent oxidation, and maintain collagen structure of skin in the arteries. In like manner, they help prevent cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction. Sea grapes are good for people with diabetes. As they contain very low calories and sugar, they help control blood sugar level and activity of free radicals, decrease intracellular of sorbitol and inhibit the binding of glucose and protein, thus reducing complications of diabetes. Sea grapes are also found to be good for people experiencing stress and depression. “It is a natural origin of the B vitamins pyridoxine (B6) and pantothenic acid (B5),” notes the website, drhealthbenefits. com. “These are the energy vitamins that regulate the adrenal glands from turning exhausted during a period of high pressure. Without B vitamins, we become easily tired and we don’t think brightly.” Another reason why you need to eat sea grapes:

avoidance of cancerous cells. “Lignans are the origin of seaweed’s cancer-destroying properties,” drheatlbenefits.com says. “As a matter of fact, many cultures that eat a heavy number of sea grapes such as Japan and Korea have a population with very few examples of these deadly diseases.” But sea grapes have other uses, too. “Aside from being a high value food item, recent scientific studies point to its industrial and biomedical uses,” reports the Poseidon Ocean Sciences, Inc. (POSI). “Seaweeds, in general, possess many bioactive ingredients that are now in common use in the cosmetic industry as additives to give high value to topical formulations, such as anti-inflammatory, skin lightening and other benefits.” POSI adds, “It is very likely that sea grapes may possess biopharmaceutical attributes as more research is focused towards this direction. A concerted effort to utilize this resource in identifying promising ingredients open new opportunities that may provide unique cosmetic benefits. Since sea grapes can be grown all year round under controlled conditions, it is possible to maximize the production of such ingredients.” Sea grapes, anyone?

next round. The local organizing committee has also yet to make an official announcement on the matter, but chances are tipoff times will be moved as there will only be one game per day in this stretch.

India and New Zealand will face off on Thursday, before Gilas takes on India on Friday. The Filipinos also take their crack at the Tall Blacks on Sunday, before a rematch between India and New Zealand on Feb. 28.

renewable. And this translates to around 12,000 to 14,000 megawatt; 12,000 to 14,000 megawatts is around PHP1.5 trillion to PHP2 trillion,” Saavedra added. Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III called on clean energy companies to follow the pioneering move of Citicore in accessing the capital markets to fund green investments that will complement ongoing government efforts to help save the planet from the devastating effects of climate change.

In his pre-recorded message at Citicore listing at the PSE, Dominguez said the listing is “a perfect example of how the government and our own private sector can jointly build energy sufficiency and address issues related to global warming.” He said since the Duterte administration resolved two years ago the issues that had prevented REITs from flourishing in the country, five such corporations have been established in the market with a total capitalization of PHP280.6 billion.

He said the objective of the task force was to reopen cross-border travel safely and seamlessly in the short term while looking to expand business mobility in the longer term. “The task force will engage subject matter experts by exploring possible common travel protocols and mutual recognition of health certificates as well as promoting sustainable tourism,” he added. To enhance connectivity in the long term, Thongphakdi said Thailand will continue conversations on

broadening the scheme of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) and other innovative schemes to facilitate mobility for businesspeople and professionals to travel across APEC economies. “We want to keep the momentum of international cooperation going by further deepening our regional economic integration,” he added. “Our discussion on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) has been the cornerstone in facilitating trade and investment in the region.”

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SPORTS

Korea will have an 0-4 record ahead of the second window. PHOTO: FIBA.BASKETBALL

Korea to drop 0-4 after pullout from WC qualifiers

fter its pullout from the February window of the 2023 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers, Korea said it is ready to take the circumstances even if will mean forfeiting all of its four scheduled games in Manila. In a report by South Korean daily Chosun, the Korea Basketball Association (KBA) said it understands the repercussions of the decision. Its 12-man pool was placed under quarantine after one player who actively participated in its

training since Sunday has tested positive for COVID-19, preventing the squad from leaving for the Philippines on Tuesday. The forced Korea to pull out of the Manila window where it was supposed to play Gilas Pilipinas on Thursday, New

Goran Dragic is set to suit up for his fifth team in the NBA. PHOTO: AP

Zealand in Friday, India on Sunday, and the Philippines again on Monday. But with the team defaulting all of its games, Korea will sink to a 0-4 card in Group A and will have to make an uphill climb to progress to the next round of the qualifiers. Korea is still scheduled to play India and New Zealand for one more game in the third window in June. Only the top three teams in the group will progress to the

FKOREA, P10

Dragic signing with Nets for remainder of season

oran Dragic is set to join the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season, according to reports. Sent by the Toronto

Raptors to the Spurs at the trade deadline, Dragic is turning free agent with after a contract buyout with San Antonio. Jevon Carter is reportedly being waived by the Nets to accommodate Dragic. Dragic will play under Steve Nash, his teammate at Phoenix for three years from 2008. How much does Dragic have left in the tank? On one hand, he could be the playoff-tested gamer who ends up being the crown jewel of the buyout market. There was a reason multiple teams showed interest before he eventually landed with the Nets on Monday. On the other, he was shelved after only five games and 90 total minutes by a Raptors team desperate for rotational depth. Nick Nurse noted early in the season that rookie Dalano Banton and second year player Malachi

Flynn deserved minutes over the veteran Dragic. His teammates also seemed like they were tuning him out to some degree. Dragic has seen a steady decline in his game for the past few years. His former coach, Erik Spolestra, told the Miami Herald that while he was sad to see Dragic traded for Kyle Lowry in the offseason, “At the end of the day, this is a bottom-line business. It’s about winning.” Ouch. Still, there’s some reason why the Nets chose to take a flier on Dragic. He can provide some depth behind Kyrie Irving, who will be eligible for only eight of the team’s remaining games unless things change with vaccine mandates. With Kevin Durant still out and Ben Simmons still ramping up, there’s a noticeable gap to fill beyond just backing up Irving.

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LOVE AT FIRST SPIKE Courtside love story on PSC Rise Up Shape Up

A fitness enthusiast works at the stationary bike at the Acadia Fitness Gym along Escandor Street in Quimpo Boulevard.

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) brings together romance and love for sports in a special love month webisode of Rise Up, Shape Up this Saturday. The special episode will feature the love story of former volleyball stars Arlene Apostol and Antonio Ladimo on how the sport became a cupid matchmaker in their 20-year relationship. Apostol and Ladimo both played in the UAAP Volleyball and were part of the men’s and women’s volleyball teams who played in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the 1980s -1990s. Both had stellar performances in the international games with Arlene being part of the national volleybelles which bagged 3 gold medals for the country in 1985, 1987, and 1993 SEA Games. Her winning record also included silver and bronze medal wins during the 1983 and 1991 biennial meet, respectively. Antonio, on the other hand, was part of the men’s squad that won a bronze medal in the 1991 Games. “The episode hopes to show a different picture of sports and its players, by showcasing how it can be fertile ground for blossoming friendship and love instead of just competition,” PSC Women in Sports Commissioner oversight Celia H. Kiram said. “Aside from the romance, we want our audience to understand that love and passion for sports do create meaningful and life-changing connections. Sports, beyond the competitive spirit in the court or fields, bring people together.” added Kiram who will discuss the brief history of volleyball in her “K-Isport” segment. The love story of Arlene and Antonio Apostol will be streamed live on PSC’s Rise Up Shape Up Facebook page at 7 PM.