Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 294 | Friday, March 4, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

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NO DRAMAS City gov’t won’t object to applications for face to face classes

STORY ON PAGE 2

A pedestrian gives her extra loose change to a physically challenged person who is begging for alms beside the road along C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issues Executive Order (EO) No.9 Series of 2022 or “an order declaring no objection to all applications for face-to-face classes in private and public schools from kindergarten to post-graduate studies.”The mayor recently encouraged all public and private schools in Davao City to start conducting face-to-face classes. Edge Davao

NO DRAMAS

City gov’t won’t object to applications for face to face classes By MAYA M. PADILLO

he city government of Davao announced it is not objecting all applications for face-to-face classes in private and public schools from kindergarten to post-graduate studies in Davao City. Executive Order (EO) No.9 Series of 2022 or “an order declaring no objection to all applications for face-to-face classes in private and public schools

from kindergarten to post-graduate studies” was released on Wednesday following the continuous decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases in Davao

City. The city government of Davao also considered its active vaccination rollout the need to bolster the reopening of schools for faceto-face classes to ensure continuity of academic instruction as well transition to the new normal. The Davao City Covid-19 Task Force reported on Feb-

ruary 28, 2022 that Davao City is already at 85.93 percent for first doses and 84 percent for second doses of 80 percent of the city’s total population, and at 16.43 percent for booster shots of the total number of fully-vaccinated individuals. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) also placed

FDRAMAS, P10

Sto. Tomas gets P7 million funding for multi-purpose tribal hall from OP

he administration of Mayor Ernesto Evangelista has secured another infrastructure project from the Office of the President worth P7,000,000— this time, a Multi-Purpose Tribal Hall intended for the operations of the town’s tribal council. “Dako atong pasalamat kay President Rodrigo

Duterte kay na approved ang atong gipangayo na Multi-Purpose Tribal Hall para sa lungsod sa Santo Tomas. Pinaagi sa maong building, atong mahatagan og pagtagad ang pahilunang implementasyon sa mga progamang ipatuman sa atoang Municipal Tribal Council,” Mayor Evangelista said.

The construction of Multi-Purpose Tribal Hall is among the identified infrastructure projects of the Evangelista administration that was sourced out from the Office of the President (OP) through Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. The Evangelista administration filed the request

last 2020 since such infrastructure project cannot be financed with available local government funds. The construction of the Multi-Purpose Tribal Hall was included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA), according to Municipal administrator lawyer Elisa Evangelista who re-

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More brgys in DavNor now drug-cleared

ore barangays in Davao del Norte have been cleared of illegal drugs as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has exerted efforts to get rid of drug influence factors, despite the persisting pandemic. Guesting in PIA Davao Del Norte’s regular radio program today, PDEA Davao Del Norte Provincial Director, Investigation Agent III Julius A. Magdadaro, and Intelligence Officer II Dennis Paguinto revealed that 49 new barangays in Davao Del Norte were declared as drug-cleared. They gave due credit to the full support of local government units in attaining this accomplishment. In the entire province, out of 223 barangays, 220 were declared before as

drug-affected and three were unaffected, said Paguinto. Two of these are from the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) and one from Panabo City. As of March 2022, there are 145 barangays who are cleared from drugs with the new 49 barangays added in this quarter to the previously 96 cleared barangays in 2021. As a recap of last year’s accomplishment, PDEA conducted 27 anti-illegal drugs operations including buy-bust operations of high-value personalities. Of these 27 operations, 89 personalities were arrested where 80 of them were categorized as high-value targets. PDEA also filed 95 criminal cases against the arrested drug

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246 Dabawenyos, private firms, groups honored for heroic deeds

he City Government of Davao feted 246 individuals, civic groups, and companies during the 85th Araw ng Dabaw “Pasidungog: Garbo sa Dabaw Awarding Ceremony” held virtually on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Of the 246 awardees, eight (8) were recognized as “Everyday Dabawenyo Heroes” while 238 were private firms and civic groups honored for their contribution to the city’s

various programs. Recognized as “Everyday Dabawenyo Heroes” were Mr. Kenneth Brian Cangke- a security guard who rescued a child and a grandmother from a burning vehicle; Ms. Melaine Mendez- an educator, an SK councilor, a freelance violinist and an entrepreneur who provided learning kits for kids whose parents struggled financially during the pandemic; Mr. Kenneth

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

NEWS

Lawyer Caesar Europa, legal counsel of former City Information Officer of the city government of Davao Jefry Tupas, bares that the latter is seriously considering filing a cyber libel case against vice presidential candidate Walden Bello. Europa said Bello unfairly, unjustly, and baselessly labeled his client as drug addict and drug dealer. Edge Davao

Former city info officer mulls filing case vs Bello Tagum City to take key role as dev’t, econ partner of Metro Davao LGUs

agum City is seen to take a significant role as an economic and development partner of component local government units (LGUs) to the Metro Davao Development Authority (DMMA). Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon has visualized this banking on the geographic location of Tagum; its economic and development potential; and its existing facilities, infrastructure and services. In an interview, Rellon said Tagum connects to key areas in Mindanao particularly to CARAGA Region, to Davao Oriental, to Valencia Bukidnon in Northern Mindanao and to the highly urbanized City of Davao. In terms of connectivity and accessibility, Rellon said three major national roads passes through Tagum City. It also has coastal road and bypass roads aside from being a major stop over point of the Mindanao Railway System.. Rellon also cited the competitiveness advantage of Tagum as confirmed by the Department of Trade and Industry Regional

Competitiveness Committee that recently declared Tagum as the Most Competitive City in Davao Region. Tagum can also substantially contribute in terms of commerce and industry as well as take the role as a regional center next to Davao City, and learning center with a number of private and public schools/colleges/ universities in Tagum. “We are a component city but we are aiming for highly urbanized city, whatever would be the reclassification upgrading of Tagum. So, I would say naay ( there is ) important role to play, Being the regional center of the region and daghan (a number of ) satellite and field offices of national government agencies are in Tagum,” he said. Aside from Davao City, other LGUs named as components of the Metro Davao Development Authority (DMMA) are the cities of Tagum, Panabo, Samal and the Municipality of Carmen in Davao del Norte; Digos and Sta Cruz in Davao del Sur.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

ormer City Information Officer Jefry Tupas is seriously considering filing a cyber libel case versus Vice Presidential candidate Walden Bello, his lawyer said on Thursday. Lawyer Caesar Europa, legal counsel of Tupas, said he will be drafting the complaint and will leave it to Tupas whether or not he decides to push through the filing of the case. “I’ll be drafting the complaint and he is seriously considering filing proper charges for cyber libel. I’ll draft the complaint but it’s going to be up to Jefry to

whether or not he decides to go on with it,” Europa said. Bello told an online interview now circulating on social media that Tupas “was nabbed at a beach party where she and her friends were snorting 1.5 million worth of drugs on November 6, 2021. “There was a need to correct the unfair, unjust,

and baseless labeling of Mr. Tupas as a drug addict and drug dealer. That’s simply not true,” Europa said. Tupas was reportedly among the attendees of a party at a beach resort in Barangay Pindasan, Mabini, Davao De Oro last year, which was the target of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)Davao buy-bust operation wherein 17 party-goers were arrested. However, the name of Tupas was not on the list of those arrested. “Ang masakit nito, ano ba ito, na-invite lang siya sa

r. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, dismissed as “fake news” reported deaths among pediatric vaccinees. “Naa daw mga namatay na mga bata pero as of today, the data of the City Health Office and Depart-

ment of Health, wala po tayong deaths sa pediatric vaccination whether for five to 11 or 12 to 17. Zero death talaga tayo,” Schlosser said on Wednesday. Schlosser assured that vaccine against Covid-19 is safe for the kids and explained there were only minor adverse events just like

in any vaccine routine. She added that the vaccines are for the protection of children from diseases. Meanwhile, Schlosser reported that at least 3,879 children aged five to 11 years old have been inoculated with their first doses as of February 25, 2022. She said the city gov-

party? Drug dealer ka na? Drug addict ka na? This is guilty by association. He (Tupas) was emotionally distraught and emotionally battered. As you all know he’s been receiving attacks for the past months. It was below the belt. Nakakagalit at nakakalungkot yung ginawa sa kanya ni Walden Bello. You can call him ( Tupas) a lot of colorful things but he is certainly not a drug dealer,” Europa said. “Mr. Walden Bello is an activist. Alam niyang mali

ernment of Davao recently opened special vaccination sites for the five to 11 years old vaccinees including the Almendras Gym, the Vicente Hizon Elementary School, and the San Roque Elementary School. Vaccination hubs were also put up at SM City

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Covid-19 TF debunks yarn on deaths due to pedia vaccines D

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi assures the public on the sufficiency of the country’s oil supply despite the worsening Russia-Ukraine conflict. Presidential Photo

PRRD issues EO 164 tapping nuke power as energy source

ment commits to the introduction of nuclear power energy into the state’s energy mix for power generation. The state will ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability,” the EO, dated February 28 but only released on March

3, states. The EO also states that the national “government will assess, review and develop nuclear energy plans using integrated approaches that consider both the provision of energy supplies, and the role of energy efficiency in meeting increasing demand for energy.” According to the government, projected demand for a clean energy pathway in the country is expected to grow at 4.4% a year, requiring almost 68 gigawatts (GW) of additional capacity by 2040. “Considering this demand and the depletion of

natural gas resources, nuclear power will play an important role to the required capacity to achieve energy security, especially to meet the needs of an emerging upper middle income country,” the EO states. Embarking on a Nuclear Energy Program, the EO says, will minimize possible trade-offs between emissions and the environment. “Life cycle emissions from nuclear power chains are comparable with the best renewable energy chains and several orders of magnitude lower than fossil fuel chains,” it states. “Nuclear power can

higher against its assigned target of 3.01 billion pesos, posting a surplus of 295.09 million pesos. This is also higher by 0.21% compared to the 2021 February collection

performance of 2.72 billion pesos. BOC Davao District Collector, Atty. Erastus Sandino B. Austria said that the positive revenue collection can be attribut-

ed to the improved valuation, intensified enforcement operations, and the government’s efforts in ensuring the unhampered movement of goods amid the pandemic situation.

resident Rodrigo Duterte has issued an executive order (EO) tapping nuclear power as an energy source along with other alternative energy resources, saying this is needed to achieve the country’s growth targets. Duterte, in issuing EO 164, said such a move is a by-product of the EO 116 issued in 2020 that directs the conduct of relevant studies for the adoption of a National Position for a Nuclear Energy Program, and constituted the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee (NEP-IAC) to oversee its preparation. “The national govern-

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BOC Davao exceeds Feb. 2022 collection target T

he Bureau of Customs, Port of Davao has exceeded its February 2022 revenue collection target. The Port collected 3.30 billion pesos or 9.81%

DOE assures ample oil supply amid Russia-Ukraine conflict

epartment of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Wednesday assured the public on the sufficiency of the country’s oil supply amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Cusi, however, cautioned against the inevitability of domestic price spikes, reflecting upward global market movements. “We are not lacking in supply given that we source our crude oil requirements primarily from the Middle East, and finished products from Asia-Pacific. However, the impact of the Ukraine crisis on international oil markets does have a direct effect on our prices,” Cusi said at the virtual Kapihan sa Manila Bay Forum with Marichu Villanueva. Cusi renewed his appeal to everyone “to observe energy efficiency and conservation measures during this critical period.” The Russia-Ukraine situation, Cusi said, further underscores the importance of attaining energy security and independence

for a country like the Philippines. “Our country, as an importer of petroleum products, is again at the mercy of global price movements. We must work towards decreasing our dependence on others for our energy needs,” he stressed. Measures to address oil concerns Cusi said the DOE has been pursuing various measures to address the soaring prices of oil products. For a short-term solution, he said the DOE has been in constant coordination with oil companies for promotional programs that extend fuel discounts to the public transport sector. He said the implementation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s PHP2.5 billion “Pantawid Pasada Program” in the 2022 budget and the Department of Agriculture’s PHP500 million fuel discount program for farmers and fisherfolk would also help mitigate the impact of the oil price hikes.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

ECONOMY

Among the areas in the SOCCSKSARGEN region, the municipality of Glan in Sarangani province has an extensive coastline where one can catch the setting of the sun. For this young boy, though, catching fish with a rod line is what excites his late afternoon. MindaNews photo taken 1 March 2022 by JULES L. BENITEZ

World Bank prepares $3-B support package to Ukraine

he World Bank is preparing a support package for Ukraine totaling USD3 billion and is studying Ukraine’s request for emergency financing, International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank Group president David Malpass said in a joint statement. “Our institutions are working together to support Ukraine on the financing and policy fronts and are urgently increasing that support. We have been in daily contact with the authorities on crisis measures,” the statement said. According to the document, the IMF is responding to Ukraine’s request for emergency financing through the Rapid Financ-

ing Instrument, which its Board could consider as early as next week. “At the World Bank Group, we are preparing a $3 billion package of support in the coming months, starting with a fast-disbursing budget support operation for at least $350 million that will be submitted to the Board for approval this week, followed by $200 million in fast-disbursing support for health and education,” it added. Assessing the situation around Ukraine The IMF and the World Bank are assessing the situation around Ukraine and discussing the adoption of necessary measures, Georgieva and Malpass said. “We stand with the

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Davao City to host MICE Con 2022

According to City Tourism Operations Office OIC Generose Tecson, they are eyeing October of this year in holding the largest gathering of MICE industry players and stakeholders in the country. Davao City won the bid to host MICE Con 2020 however the COVID-19 pandemic

forced the organizers and the city to cancel the event. “Since we won the bid in 2020, they decided that Davao City will host the MICE Con 2022,” Tecson said. The city tourism chief announced the good news during the induction of the Davao Tourism Association’s

new set of officers held on Feb. 28 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. Tecson said in preparation for the huge event, Davao City’s MICE execom will be meeting along with the Tourism Promotions Board to discuss the upcoming gathering. “For us go na siya, yung days nalang and yung setup niya if its going to be hybrid because we want to show them na kaya natin yung ganun

industry sectors. About 673,000 jobs were added to the agriculture sector while 326,000 to the industry sector. These numbers countered the 202,000 declines in the number of jobs in the services sector, it added. Other sectors that posted improvements are manufacturing, which shared in 325,000 jobs; hotels and

restaurants, 1,542 jobs; and transportation, 146,000 jobs. The bulletin said easing of movement restrictions allowed the hotels and restaurants sub-sector, among others, to register “its highest pandemic-era figure” on additional jobs last December. Labor force participation rate increased to 65.09 percent last December, the

highest during the pandemic, it said. While more people landed jobs last December, the bulletin said those who are unemployed increased by 113,000 “as the easing of quarantine restrictions encouraged more job seekers.” “Consequently, the employment rate slightly declined from 93.50 percent in November to 93.40 percent

ICE Con 2022 (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibits Conference) will be hosted by Davao

klaseng setup (For us it’s a go, it’s the days and the setup if it is going to be hybrid because we want to show them we can do that kind of setup),” Tecson said. The hosting of the MICE Con is in line with Davao City’s push to become the premiere MICE destination in the country and the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines- East Asean Growth Area) region. (PIA XI/RG Alama)

in December while the unemployment rate inched up from 6.50 percent to 6.60 percent over the same period,” it said. With these developments, the economic bulletin said continued inoculation of the population against Covid-19 “will help the country live with the virus.” “As always, the country

Enactment, amendments of several laws to boost economic recovery

he continued reopening of the economy, along with the enactment and amendments of laws supporting businesses and employment, are expected to boost the domestic economy’s recovery. In an economic bulletin issued on Wednesday, the Department of Finance (DOF) cited the creation of around 797,000 jobs in De-

cember 2021 following the easing of movement restrictions against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) as the number of infections decline. Citing preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the bulletin said the bulk of the additional jobs in the last month of last year was accounted for by the agriculture and the

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

In encouraging all public schools to start conducting face-to-face classes:

I already said we encouraged schools nga mag sugod sila ug face-to-face classes sa mga estudyante. Ang atoang DepEd is set to expand ang ilahang mga schools nga naay face-to-face classes.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL What’s the latest score; who’s winning? You want to vote intelligently in the May 9, 2022 elections? It would be advisable for you to watch or listen intently to presidential, vice presidential and senatorial debates. Try to understand the issues and process what the candidates are saying or what they promise to do about the ageold socio-political and economic problems.

If you don’t have the time, or are simply lazy to do it but want to identify yourself with the winners when the results are announced, just monitor the pre-election surveys conducted occasionally by prestigious organizations like Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia, OCTA Research and Publicus Asia Inc. These groups do their poll surveys scientifically and experience have shown that the survey outcomes do not vary very much from the real election results.

So what’s the latest score so far? Who are winning? The latest surveys were done by OCTA Research from February 12 to 17 with 1,200 respondents for all classes and by Publicis Asia from February 11 to 16 of 1,500 respondents. In both surveys the tandem of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio showed commanding leads. In the OCTA Research, Vice President Leni Robredo was a far second with an overall voter preference of 15 percent. Coming in third with 11 percent is Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, followed by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with 10 percent and Sen. Panfilo Lacson with three percent. Marcos Jr. again topped the Publicis Asia survey, with 52 percent, followed by Robredo with 22 percent, Domagoso in third place with 8.9 percent followed by Lacson and Pacquiao.

In Publicus’ vice presidential survey, Mayor Sara is again the leader with 53.5 percent, followed by Sen. Kiko Pangilinan with 13.7 percent;

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In the OCTA Research survey of vice presidential candidate, Inday Sara led with 43 percent, followed by Sen. Tito Sotto with 33 percent; Sen. Kiko Pangilinan with 10 percent; Dr. Willie Ong with seven percent; Lito Atienza with one percent and Rizalito Davd and Manny Lopez, zero points. In the survey for senatorial bets of OCTA former senator Loren Legarda, broadcast journalist Raffy Tulfo and former senator Alan Peter Cayetano occupied the top three slots.

They are followed by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, former senator Chiz Escudero and former public works secretary Mark Villar, action star Robin Padilla, Sen. Win Gatchalian, former vice president Jojo Binay, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, former senator Jinggoy Estrada and former senator JV Ejercito in the top 12. The same survey showed Sen. Joel Villanueva at 13th place followed by former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista, former senator Gringo Honasan, Sen. Richard Gordon, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV and former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar.

In its own survey, Publicus indicated that the top spots in the Senate race are occupied by returning senators Escudero and Cayetano, and Gatchalian, a senator seeking re-election. “Two ‘new’ names (Tulfo and Villar) are polling well (35 percent) enough to secure the fourth and fifth spot.

“The 9th to 12th spots are hotly contested by 12 candidates – with numbers ranging from 18.3 percent to 26.1 percent. Notable new names in this zone are DIOKNO, TEODORO, PADILLA, BAUTISTA, GADON and ROQUE. Also in this zone is former vice president BINAY.” 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

Doc. Willie Ong (12/5 percent); Sen. Tito Sotto (9.2 percent); and Lito Atienza (1.3 percent).

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 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

AND GOD CREATED WOMAN The Lord God, the Bible tells us, created man “in his own image.” He had given Adam – the first man – the power to control all His other creations. But God observed that Adam was lonely – he was alone. Genesis 2:21-23 chronicles how the first woman came to be: “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.’ The first marriage took place after that. In fact, Genesis 2:24 is perhaps the most-often quoted verse during weddings: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” The Bible story came into my mind when I heard a little girl who was asked during a Sunday school if she knew the story of Adam and Eve. “Of course, I do,” she replied. “First God made Adam and then looked at him and said, ‘I think I can do better,’ so He created a woman.” Here’s another version: A

small child came home from Sunday school and told her mother: “The teacher told us how God made the first man and the first woman. He made man first, but the man was very lonely with no one to talk to, so God put the man to sleep, and while he was asleep, God took out his brains and made a woman out of them.” Then, troubles start. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Joseph Conrad contends: “Being a woman is a terribly difficult task since it consists principally in dealing with men.” With women, there are always two choices. Will Rogers advises: “There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works.” Ihre Freundin said: “There are two kinds of women in the world: those who take a man’s strength and those who give a man strength.” Now talking about two types of women, a psychoanalyst shares: “My women patients can be divided into two categories: the ones who work and the ones who stay at home. The former suffer from a guilt complex, the latter from frustration.” Have you ever wondered why there are few women in combat? Elaynse Boosler replies:

“We have women in the military, but they don’t put us in the front lines. They don’t know if we can fight, if we can kill. I think we can. All the general has to do is walk over to the women and say, ‘You see the enemy over there? They say you look fat in those uniforms.’” This story contradicts, however. A foremost anthropologist supports the idea of coed conscription, but draws the line at letting the ladies be battleaxes. Her reason: “I do not believe in using women in combat, because females are too fierce.” Military generals, are you listening? Here are some words of wisdom about women from noted personalities. Oscar Wilde: “Woman begins by resisting a man’s advances and ends by blocking his retreat.” Aristotle Onassis: “If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.” In 1966’s ‘The Second Neurotic’s Notebook,’ Mignon McLaughlin wrote: “Women are never landlocked: they’re always mere minutes away from the briny deep of tears.” In 1933’s ‘Literature in My Time,’ Compton Mackenzie penned: “Women do not find it difficult nowadays to behave like men, but they often find it extremely difficult to behave like gentlemen.”

Are men and women really different? Elissa Melamed noted: “Men look at themselves in mirrors. Women look for themselves.” Oscar Wilde differentiates: “Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are. That is the difference between the sexes.” Will Rogers contends: “Every time a woman leaves off something she looks better, but every time a man leaves off something he looks worse.” Elayne Boosler argues: “When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.” Yul Brynner quips: “Women have an unfair advantage over men: if they can’t get what they want by being smart, they can get it by being dumb.” Here’s another advantage of being a woman. “I’d much rather be a woman than a man,” Gilda Radner remarks. “Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they are the first to be rescued off of sinking ships.” If a man is looking for attention, don’t expect it from a woman. David Garnett reminds: “Women, it is said, do not concentrate. They can attend to the subject in hand, but their attention has not the wholeheartedness of a man’s. If so, it is just possible that since women have been cooking supper, mending clothes,

listening to half a dozen children talking at once, and keeping them good-tempered and amused since before the dawn of history, they have learned to be able to attend to several things at a time. A man, on the other hand, focuses his mind.” British actor Michael Caine has a different tale: “One of the most important things for a woman, I think, is to respect herself. ‘Cause a woman usually gets from men the same amount of respect she has for herself, almost to the ounce. Men have a second sense about women and when they sense that a woman has no respect for herself, they’re very quick to follow in her footsteps.” As much as possible, never ask a woman how old she is. You’ll never know: “Women have a passion for mathematics. They divide their age in half, double the price of their clothes, and always add at least five years to the age of their best friend,” Marcel Achard points out. Why is this so? “Age to women is like Kryptonite to Superman,” says Kathy Lette. At one time, a thirty-something woman applied for a job. The receptionist gave her an application form and one of the queries was about age. The woman wrote: “Nuclear.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THE DUMOGHO KILLING One of high-profile assassinations that jarred Davao del Sur in the dying years of martial law was the killing of a political leader who, in his years as a law enforcer, was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP). Maj. Salvador B. Dumogho, then the provincial chairman of the opposition party PDP-Laban, was the campaign manager of human rights lawyer Douglas Ra. Cagas, who was running for a seat in the regular Batasang Pambansa, representing Davao del Sur. At the time, he was also director for student services of Cor Jesu College and barangay chairman of Zone 2, in Digos City. A reserve Army officer and municipal coordinator of the United Opposition of Davao del Sur, Dumogho was walking the last few meters towards his res-

idence along Roxas Street, in Digos City, when two armed men shot him pointblank in front of his terrified wife and 11-yearold son, Salvador IV. He had just visited his brother-in-law when the gruesome incident took place. The shots fired did not escape Dumogho’s relatives who were at his brother-in-law’s domicile. They rushed out of the place moments and ran in the direction where the shots were coming. What met them were the shouts of the victim’s wife and son who were asking for help. Apparently unperturbed by the commotion triggered by the shooting, the gunmen calmly fled on foot along with two other companions who served as lookouts. The crime’s scene was 100 hundred meters away only from the place where former Digos

mayor Nonito Llanos, Jr. was killed on March 26, 1982. Angry with the brutal death of his trusted leader, Cagas issued a strong statement, saying: “I condemn the system that breeds and promotes hatred among men. I condemn that system that leads Filipino to kill their brother Filipinos. I want the truth: Who killed Major Salvador B. Dumogho? And why? My family and I mourn his death. The people of Digos mourn his death.” Observers had a suspicion the killing had a political angle to it given the vocal anti-Marcos stance Cagas adopted. Nothing, however, came out of the police probe. Even after Cagas became as officer-in-charge of the province of Davao del Sur in 1986 following the collapse of the Marcos regime, the perpetrators and their mastermind remained

anonymous. People in the know suggested the Dumogho was ideologically motivated; the slay was later blamed on the New People’s Army and could have been related to the victim’s work while still in active duty as a policeman. All the while, Cagas wanted his friend’s untimely death avenged. After taking over the governorship from Leonardo Suario, then perceived as left-leaning, Cagas promised to free the province from the communist menace. He openly “declared an all-out war against communism, with his constituents as frontliners.” Carol O. Arguillas, in an article (“Fighting Rebels the ‘Peaceful’ Way”) that came in the March 5-11, 1987, issue of Veritas, wrote: “Calling himself the very first supporter of the NPA in his prov-

ince, Cagas now busies himself implementing the brainchild of Provincial Commander Lt. Col. Jesus Magno, the NAKASAKA (Nagkahiusang Katawhan Alang sa Kalinaw or United People for Peace). […] Immediately after the ceasefire [with the NPA] expired, [they] began making the rounds of the sitios to organize the residents into joining the organization by launching into Red scare speeches at a pulong-pulong or barangay assemblies. The speeches dwell on the evils of communism and the atrocities committed by the NPA, and the dire fate that awaits the country if it falls into the hands of communism.” With the Dumogho assassination still unresolved, the NAKASAKA, however, contributed a lot in forcing the communist insurgents to flee from the population centers to the countryside.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

#Couplegoal: Staying blessed to be a blessing to others

For Insular Life (InLife) financial advisors and married couple Mark and Mica Fernandez, being blessed is a strong motivation to be a blessing to others. Mark and Mica were working as accountants before they became InLife financial advisors in 2009 and 2012, respectively. During the recent InLife Winners Circle Business Opportunity Forum entitled “Achieving Financial Harmony,” Mark recalled that he was attracted by the flashy stock picker shown on Insular Life Building along Ayala Avenue in Makati City. His curiosity to learn about investing in the stock market motivated him to submit his resume in InLife and eventually work as a part-time financial advisor. After realizing that his calling in life was to give advice to people on how to become financially independent, Mark left the accounting firm after six months to work full-time as a financial advisor – an unfamiliar profession to many which he admitted was then frowned upon by his father who lives in Dumaguete City in Negros. Determined to make his father proud, Mark worked hard until he became one of InLife’s top performing financial advisors. He became part of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table, an association of the top 5% of financial advisors all over the world at age 23. Mica, on the other hand, worked in an accounting firm for three years. Intrigued with her friends who seemed so happy about the income and gratifications they were get-

ting from their side hustle, she was introduced to the world of InLife financial advisors. She was contented with being a part-time advisor at first, until her family in Batangas was faced with a difficult financial situation. They needed a huge amount of money to pay for their mortgaged house, otherwise they might lose it. “The challenge was to pay a P1 million loan with my P30,000 monthly salary. Even if I pay P10,000 monthly, P7,000 would go to interest and only P3,000 for the principal amount. This would take me 20 to 28 years to pay the loan. So, I decided to go full-time as a financial advisor. And because of that big decision, I was able to settle my parent’s loan in two years,” Mica shared. In 2018, they started Aetos FPH Financial Insurance Agency Inc. with Mica as President and Mark as Chairman. Starting with only 15 financial advisors, the agency has now grown to 57 financial advisors, particularly from Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Batangas, Rizal, Laguna, Iloilo, Cebu, Aklan, and Cagayan. Mark explained that his profession as a financial advisor allowed him to learn more about investments and insurance which have allowed his family to be financially independent. The profession also allowed him to be a hands-on parent to their daughter due to the work from home nature of the job while still earning a generous income, international travel incentives, industry recognitions, as well as opportunities for career

growth by helping aspiring young financial advisors become top financial advisors. “We help our policyholders reach their financial goals. We also help our financial advisors through mentoring and training,” Mica said. “The experience and struggles as a financial advisor were definitely worth it,” Mark said, adding that his family in Dumaguete is now his biggest fan. The couple shared their four tried and tested ways to reach their financial goals: 1. Build a surplus mindset to enable you to afford things and achieve your dreams, rather than settle for a shortage mindset. 2. Invest in yourself. Study and attend training programs. 3. Be determined to achieve your goals. 4. Start building multiple streams of income. Mark added that the country needs more financial advisors to spread the benefits of financial planning to more Filipinos. The couple noted that if more people are financially literate, there will be lesser poverty in the country. InLife, the country’s largest Filipino life insurance company, hopes to multiply Mark and Mica’s winning journey as financial advisors. To become financial advisors, simply attend InLife’s monthly Winners Circle Business Opportunity Forum; take the licensure exam and get licensed; and complete the basic training program. Visit https://tinyurl.com/4vap2y2y for more details.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) announced that the combined value facilitated by its six major electronic channels reached P2.45 trillion in 2021—a 46% hike from the previous year—while volume of transactions grew by 19% to 136.3 million. LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo credited this growth to the expanding adoption of the Bank’s digital services and marks another milestone in LANDBANK’s ongoing digital transformation. “LANDBANK is leveraging on the latest technological solutions to deliver a digital banking experience designed for the new normal. We will continue to bank on digital infrastructures as we push for greater digital adoption and advance fi-

nancial inclusion in the country,” said President Borromeo. The LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA) recorded 103.8 million transactions worth P172.39 billion last year, representing upsurges of 44% and 103%, respectively, from the previous year. The Bank’s e-payment facility, Link.BizPortal, facilitated around 3.88 million transactions equivalent to an 83% increase, corresponding to a total value of P10.45 billion or a 31% growth rate. The LANDBANK weAccess—the Bank’s institutional internet banking platform—recorded 20.9 million transactions worth nearly P489 million for increases of 29% and 24%, respectively. The Bank also logged a 30% jump in value via its iAccess internet retail

banking channel, reaching P15.40 billion compared to P11.87 billion in 2020. The LANDBANK Bulk Credit System (LBCS) also posted unprecedented annual growths of 105% and 1181% for volume and value, respectively. Lastly, the LANDBANK Electronic Modified Disbursement System (eMDS) for national government agency partners posted increases of 20.9 million or 29% more transactions, and a total P488.98 billion or 24% rise in value. With the continuous increase in the use of e-banking channels, the state-run Bank assures its customers that it maintains the highest level of security in all its systems while reminding customers to remain vigilant against online banking fraud and scams.

LANDBANK e-banking transaction value soars 46% to P2.45-T in 2021

SEC clears Tagum Global Medical Center IPO

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has considered favorably the initial public offering (IPO) by Tagum Global Medical Center, Inc. In its meeting on March 1, the Commission En Banc resolved to render effective the registration statement of Tagum Global Medical Center covering 156,000 common shares, subject to the company’s compliance with certain remaining requirements. The company will offer 36,000 common shares, equivalent to 3,600 blocks consisting of 10 shares per block. The primary offering is divided into four series, with the first consisting

of 1,400 blocks at an offer price of P200,000 per block, while the second is composed of 600 blocks priced at P250,000 per block. The third and fourth series consist of 700 blocks priced at P300,000 each and 900 blocks at P400,000 each, respectively. Net proceeds from the offering could amount to P997,086,914.70, which will be used for the construction and development of Tagum Global Medical Center and its pre-operating expenses, debt servicing, and working capital. Incorporated in 2018, Tagum Global Medical Center is currently constructing a seven-story,

116-bed healthcare facility on a 5,000-square meter lot located in Barangay Visayan Village, Tagum City in Davao del Norte. The hospital is part of the Allied Care Experts (ACE) Group of Hospitals. The intended market for the initial public offering will be medical practitioners and their relatives, as well as the public. Subscribers to the IPO will be given benefits and privileges such as discounts on medical and dental services, which the stockholder, his/her spouse, and dependents may avail of in other medical facilities affiliated with the ACE Group of Hospitals.

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nless something is done soon to protect plants and livestock and their wild relatives from extinction, the world will face hunger in the coming years, according to a London-based think tank.

“The profusion of plants, animals and microorganisms that make up the planet’s rich biological diversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening future food supplies,” said a briefing paper published by Panos Institute. Since the beginning of the century, about 75% of the world’s plant varieties have become extinct. “Around 50,000 varieties disappear every year,” deplores the Rome-based UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Twenty-five percent of animals, which contribute about 30% of the total global value of food and agriculture, have joined the extinct dodo. “Some 4,000 breeds worldwide are in danger of becoming extinct,” FAO warns. Climate change, defined as “a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates,” has been identified as one of the primary culprits on why plants and animals are fast disappearing. “A rise in the temperature can be detrimental to the area, some will move out of the area,” says Dr. Wilfredo L. Campos, chair of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of the Philippines Visayas. Take the cases of the open seas of Mindanao and Tawi-Tawi. “(These waters are) one of the most productive areas for fishing because of its oceanography,” Dr. Campos explains.

“Thus, any changes to the oceanography will affect the species, fishery production and the industry sector as a whole.” The forthcoming fish shortage is alarming as fish is the country’s second staple food. On average, every Filipino consumes about 98.6 grams of fish and fish products, according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. Biodiversity (condensed from biological diversity) refers to the vast diversity of plants and animals on the planet and implies the importance of all. Only about 1.75 million species have been formally identified, with scientific names, including everything from bacteria to the relatively tiny group of vertebrates. The most accurate estimate yet of the total number of species in the world, according to the 1,140-page Global Biodiversity Assessment, is from 13 to 14 million. “Biodiversity represents the very foundation of human existence,” says a summary of the report. “Yet by our heedless actions, we are eroding this biological capital at an alarming rate.” Biodiversity, FAO claims, is essential to the survival of humanity. The world’s population obtains 90% of its calories from 20 crop species. Four of them – rice, corn, wheat and potato – account for 50% of total calorie intake. “Within these few crops, the number of varieties used is also shrinking,” the

ENVIRONMENT

BIODIVERSITY LOSS

THREATENS FOOD SECURITY Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Panos paper noted. “This is because the technology of large-scale commercial farming, such as mechanical harvesting and heavy use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, demands that large areas are planted with the same variety of the same crop.” The introduction of high-yielding rice, wheat and corn has replaced thousands of local varieties of these crops by a few genetically uniform varieties. In Indonesia, for example,

1,500 local varieties of rice have disappeared in the past 15 years, and nearly three-fourths of the rice planted today descends from a single maternal plant. “Though the modern hybrid varieties have been successfully bred for particularly desirable characteristics, they may lack resistance to pests and diseases,” the Panos paper explained. According to Panos, the high-yielding varieties are “highly vulnerable, precisely because of their lack of genetic variation.” The Irish potato famine in the 19th century occurred because the few potato varieties planted in Ireland were vulnerable to the same blight. In Asia, a virus on rice in the 1970s caused dramatic losses because of over-reliance on a few varieties. The FAO, which was one of the chief supporters of the Green Revolution in the 1960s, now stresses that “intensified food production can be achieved by the sustainable use of a broader range of genetic material.” Scientists hunt through “libraries” of plant material and cross-breed, or introduce new genes into existing varieties to create new varieties. “If the wild relatives and old cultivars dis-

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Davao City under Alert Level 1 status from March 1, 2022 until March 15, 2022. The EO reminded to strictly implement the minimum public health standards (MPHS) in the schools such as wearing of face masks and physical distancing as well as adherence to guidelines that may be issued by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and other relevant government agencies. On February 14, 2022 Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio encouraged all public schools to start conducting face-to-face classes. “I already said we encouraged schools nga mag sugod sila ug face-to-face classes sa mga estudyante. Ang atoang DepEd is set to expand ang ilahang mga schools nga naay face-toface classes,” the mayor said. From the previous five schools identified to pilot

F2F classes, Mayor Sara said as of February 18, 2022 there are already 29 shortlisted schools for expanded F2F in Davao City. According to her, DepEd will reopen the F2F classes by phase with the first phase scheduled last January 10, 2022; the second phase on March 8, 2022; and the third phase on March 15, 2022. The mayor also encouraged the private schools in Davao City to start implementing F2F classes. As I said we encouraged ang atoang mga private schools to consider face-toface classes, especially that very critical na mabalik na ang mga bata sa eskwelahan because there are studies that say na lahi ra gyud ang learning kung face to face kontra online. Murag naay decline sa pagtuon ug pagsabot sa mga bata and ang absorption nila sa ilahang mga ginatun-an nga naa ra sila online,” the mayor said.

personalities. Recently, two drug dens were dismantled in the province located at Tagum City and Panabo City, he added. From these drug dens, 8 were arrested and cases have been filed against them. Paguinto said that the local government units especially the barangay

secretaries contributed massively to the success of the barangay drug clearing program in the province as even on weekends, the LGUs are conducting orientations and community outreach programs for the Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs). (PIA XI Davao del Norte/jmda/Ezri M. Coda, Jr.)

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ceived an official correspondence from the Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. “Padayon ang administrasyon ni Tatay Erning na mapalapdan ang serbisyong mahatag sa katawhang Tomasino pinaagi sa pag-access sa mga proyekto gikan sa National Government. Nagpasalamat kita sa tabang na gihatag sa atua ni President Duterte ug Senator Bong Go para sa Santo Tomas,” Evangelista said. Evangelista underscored the importance of having a Multi-Purpose

Tribal Hall, saying the “Evangelista administration has made some progress in crafting and implementing programs and projects intended for the indigenous peoples of Santo Tomas. Thus, a building is necessary to support the implementation of these undertakings.” She added that the Evangelista administration has also made efforts to work with the IPs and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) here in Davao Region for the growth and development of the Ata-Manobo communities here.

Howell Nazareno- the owner of a multimedia services business, who volunteered to help teachers produce videos for DepEd TV; Ms. Rhian Delalamon- an administrative assistant in a real estate company in Australia and a dedicated Bantay Dagat volunteer supporting a non-profit Bantay Dagat association advocating for coastal rehabilitation; Ms. Cecilia Lopeza 59-year old teacher who spent-28 years in daycare service; Mr. Roberto Palmares Puentespina Jr., who was given a posthumous recognition for his exemplary initiatives on environmental and wildlife conservation and his efforts in pursuing a waste-free Philippines; and, Mr. Jovanie Mendoza- a patrolman who rescued a person who attempted to take his life on the Bolton Bridge on Valentines Day. And the number 8 “Everyday Dabawenyo Heroes” was the group - Bantay Bukid

volunteers who rescued tourists who cannot cross rivers after visiting a waterfall in Carmen, Baguio District. The group is composed of Mr. Feleciano Aggas Landim, Mr. Jefrey Mosqueda Mailan, Mr. Ronel Lamodin Ilando, Mr. Joseph Oban Manandoon, Mr. Merjhone Aggas Mailan, Mr. Michael Bangcas Mie, and Mr. Reno Embam Landim. The 238 private firms and community civic partners were recognized according to their areas of contribution namely business development, urban infrastructure housing and resettlement; cooperative development; environment and solid waste management and beautification; public safety, disaster, and crisis response; social services; health; education; animal health, welfare, and productivity; tourism; arts, development management, economic development; and, infrastructure.

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ang ganito, yung guilty by association. Matagal na itong pinaglalaban. Yung aktibista ka, member ka ng progressive group at tatawagin ka nang NPA, terorista,” he added. Europa said Tupas is now a private citizen and it is unfair and illegal for him to be portrayed as a drug addict or to be called a drug dealer. “This is a very serious accusation without any evidence. When Jepoy (Tupas) called me up and asked me about it, masama ang kanyang loob, I told him that what was done really amounts to cyber libel,” he said It can be recalled that Tupas immediately resigned as CIO head after the incident. The issue of Tupas was brought up by Bello after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio did not attend the recent Vice Presidential debate hosted by CNN Philippines. In his FB post, Bello also cited Mayor Sara’ political spokesperson Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco’s state-

ment stating that “Mayor Sara does not need to participate in the debates because in the five years since [her becoming Mayor] in 2016, Davao has received 118 awards, citations, and recognitions.” Bello posted some questions questions including why is it that: “Davao City has become the drug smuggling center of the South, it being an open secret that the drug trade is controlled by a Duterte family member?” and “Mayor Duterte’s Press Information Officer Jefry Tupas was nabbed at a beach party where she and her friends were snorting P1.5 million worth of drugs on November 6, 2021? Her excuse that she did not know she was sheltering a drug dealer is not credible.” Bello also posted that “participating in a national debate is the only way Inday Sara can explain these blots on her record as the top city officer of Davao City that cast doubt on her fitness to hold higher office.”

Davao along Quimpo Boulevard, Gaisano Mall Toril, the F. Dizon Elementary School, and the Holy Cross College of Calinan. “Supposedly, we will be opening nine district sites, pero ang atong gi-

open upat palang kay nadelay ang pagdeliver sa atong logistics, sa vaccines. Hopefully, sa third tranche maging enough na sya para ma-open ang ubang sites,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

contribute effectively to the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and has strong potential to decarbonize the power sector.” The EO further states that the government is committed to pursue the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and safeguards, including provision for civil liability, to fulfill its obligations under international treaties, and other international conventions and agreements. The EO also mandates the NEP-IAC to collate all audits and recommendations, conduct further stud-

ies and assessments and if necessary, and make recommendations on the use and viability of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) and the establishment of other facilities for the utilization of nuclear energy. The Philippines last ventured into a nuclear program in 1976 when then-President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the construction of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP). The BNPP project, which cost as much as $2.3 billion, however, was shelved after three years due to safety concerns.

Ukrainian people through

these horrifying developments. The war is also creating significant spillovers to other countries. Commodity prices are being driven higher and risk further fueling inflation, which hits the poor the hardest. Disruptions in financial markets will contin-

ue to worsen should the conflict persist. The sanctions announced over the last few days will also have a significant economic impact. We are assessing the situation and discussing appropriate policy responses with our international partners,” the document said. (TASS)

needs to stay alert and not let its guard down as the virus continues to mutate,” it added. For the medium to long-term, it said signing into law of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, which economic managers deemed as the biggest stimulus program of the government to address the impact of the pandemic, is a “big help”. Other measures seen

to further increase investments into the country, as well as create more jobs, include the amendments to the Foreign Investments Act, Public Service Act, and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA). “The recent signing into law of the amendments to the RTLA is a welcome development towards faster economic recovery and, ultimately, better employment opportunities,” it added. (PNA)

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appeared,” the Panos paper noted, “all their useful characteristics would disappear with them.” The United Nations food agency believes biodiversity is essential to the world’s ability to maintain its current level of food supplies. “Crops need to be made more productive – able to yield more, to resist pests and diseases, to tolerate difficult environments such as drought and heat, and to cope with climate change,” the UN food agency says. “Such characteristics might be found in the range of varieties of plants, both cultivated and wild.” But crops are not the only species fast disappearing; animals, too. Europe has lost half the domestic horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry breeds it had in 1900. In the Philippines, tamaraw – the largest mammal native to the country – is facing extinction. From as many as 10,000 at the turn of the century, only about 500 are left. The loss of animal breeds, FAO points out, is “mostly due to the highly specialized nature of modern livestock production. Much of the genetic base of indigenous breeds is being eroded by ‘grading up’ with exotics.” In the Philippines, most biodiversity loss is taking place in tropical forests. In 1934, forests comprised more than half (54%) of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. In 2010, the forest cover had gone down to 23% or about 6.8 million hectares, according to a report compiled by the Senate Economic Planning Office. “Wild foods and trees contribute to food security and nutrition while trees and forests are vital for their role in the provision of ecosystem services to agriculture,” says the Center for International Forestry Research. Despite its importance, forests are being devoid of its cover. Without the trees, the biodiversity that lives within the area is also threatened with extinction. The case of the endangered Philippine eagle is a living

example. “Deforestation can be minimized and resolved through an ecosystem-based solution if we provide the local government units the responsibility and space to really take part, providing them the authority,” suggests Dr. Eduardo O. Mangoang, a professor and director of the Regional Climate Change R&D Center of Visayas State University in Baybay, Leyte. Logging policies also need to be revisited, especially because selective log bans perpetrates illegal logging, adds Dr. Susan P. Mercado, an international public health and food security expert. The Washington, D.C.based Worldwatch Institute described the earth’s biodiversity as “complex beyond understanding, valuable beyond measure.” And yet, they are fast disappearing from the face of the world. “Of all the global problems that confront us, species extinction is the one that is moving the most rapidly and the one that will have the most serious consequences,” says Dr. Peter Raven, a noted American biologist. The UN food agency is doubling its efforts in saving what has remained of the world’s biodiversity. After all, biodiversity provides the raw materials, in this case combinations of genes that are essential building blocks of the plant varieties and animal breeds upon which agriculture depends. “The thousands of different, genetically unique varieties of crops and animal breeds in existence are the result of 3,000 million years of natural biological evolution, as well as careful selection and nurturing by our farming and herding ancestors during 12,000 or so years of agriculture,” FAO said in a statement. “If we are to build a world without hunger, we have to conserve and sustain biodiversity and use it equitably,” declares Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a former Ramon Magsaysay Awardee.

applauding their effort and comeback — but the result was the same. Dallas wrapped up a five-game road trip with four victories, but only after surviving a largely poor second half. The Mavs jumped to their big lead during a first half highlighted by Doncic’s incendiary one-handed putback dunk over Dwight Howard late in the first quarter. “I hit my head (on the rim),” Doncic said with a laugh. “We’re not going

to talk about that. Let me enjoy the moment.” The first half looked like another wreck for the Lakers, who got three technical fouls for arguing amid their missed shots and lapsed defense. Vogel, Kent Bazemore and Russell Westbrook, who missed eight of his first nine shots, all got rung up. But Los Angeles made a 22-7 run out of halftime and pulled even with cold-shooting Dallas on James’ 3-pointer.

that women can break gender bias as sports is a male-dominated area, and women often have to deal with the glass ceiling,” PSC Women in Sports

Oversight Commissioner Celia H. Kiram said referencing the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day campaign #BreakTheBias

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LeBron: ‘Until you cut my head off, I’ve got a chance’

OS ANGELES — Luka Doncic scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson added 22 points and the Dallas Mavericks rallied for a 109-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time). Dorian Finney-Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who hung on for their eighth win in 10 games after blowing a huge early lead on the struggling Lakers. Dallas trailed 100-94 with seven minutes to play before scoring 11 consecutive points in a rally kicked off by Brunson’s fourth 3-pointer. “At halftime we told them, ‘They’re coming. LeBron is coming,’” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “In the third quarter, LeBron put on a show, but we

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didn’t lose our composure. That’s one of the things we’ve gotten better at, and in the fourth quarter we got back to what we’ve done at Golden State. We held them to 17 points, and that’s pretty good.” Doncic went 9 of 21 and looked significantly less sharp than in most previous games during his monthlong scoring tear, but made enough big baskets to win it. “We stayed together and just executed the game plan, played the game,” Doncic said. “My

LeBron James is determined to pull the Lakers back into contention. PHOTO: AP

mentality is to close the game with the best shot possible. We executed down the stretch.” LeBron James scored 26 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20 for the Lakers, who took their sixth loss in seven games despite erasing a 21-point deficit in just over 12 thrilling minutes spanning halftime. Los Angeles managed only four points in the final seven-plus minutes. “I don’t know if you can do a better job on Luka than we did tonight,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Our guys really competed. Our helpers really competed, but he had that stretch in crunch time where he scored a few buckets in a row. Not good enough. ... It hurts. All these guys are hurting in there. We’re putting in the work.”

Despite giving a much better effort against Dallas than in its most recent games, Los Angeles has lost 15 of 21 to slide a season-worst seven games below .500, with even its position in the postseason play-in tournament looking increasingly tenuous. Los Angeles is 0-3 since the All-Star break. “We still have games to play,” James said. “Until you stomp me out, cut my head off, bury me 12 feet under, I’ve got a chance. So that’s my confidence. We’ve got to come here and win ballgames and play better, but as long as we’ve got ballgames to play, we’ve got a chance.” Two nights after the Lakers were booed by their home fans in a lifeless blowout loss to New Orleans, James and his teammates had the crowd

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PSC’s Rise Up Shape Up goes back-to-back for Women’s Month

he Philippine Sports Commission’s Rise Up Shape Up web series tackles the vital role of women in sports and society as it joins the celebration of Women’s Month in its episodes this coming Saturday and Sunday. On March 5, the spotlight will be on the hardworking people behind successful sports programs, projects, and activities, particularly its Gintong Gawad 2021 “Babaeng Lider ng Isport sa Komunidad” awardee, Ma. Janelyn T. Fundal. Fundal is a veteran in sports education and management. Through hard work and dedication, she became an Ed-

ucation Supervisor for Physical Education and School Sports in La Paz, Iloilo City. She also served as the Provincial Government Department Head for Iloilo Sports Development and Management Office in 2017. On March 6, the webisode will give support to International Women’s Day as it rounds up a powerful line-up of topnotch women managing the national sports associations in the country in a special feature. “With women sports administrators comprising only a minority, their representation is all the more impactful. Their presence is a statement

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FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

QUO VADIS, RUSSIAN ATHLETES? Vladimir Putin may succeed in conquering Ukraine (no, hold it, not yet though) but Russian sports and athletes are the ones suffering the backlash. FIFA (International Football Federation) and the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations have banned Russia from taking part in the World Cup and European tournaments as part of the sanction imposed upon Putin for making the unprovoked invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Russia is one of Europe’s football superpowers, challenging the likes of Germany, Italy, France,

the UK and other outstanding teams in the continent but all this has come to an end. The Kremlin’s best footballers have always been serious contenders in many World Cup competitions. In the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association), opposing players of Russian tennis entries have refused to play against them while in chess, FIDE (International Chess Federation) has decided through a council resolution to strip Russia of its traditional right to host the Chess Olympiad scheduled in Moscow this July. Would you believe that

Ukrainian GMs have enlisted in the Ukrainian reserve corps as members of the Territorial Defense Group that will resist the Russian invaders in various cities? By the way, Ukraine just recently captured the 2021 European Chess Championship last November. (Oh, just an aside, Russian GM Sergey Karjakin has become the object of ridicule on social media after he voiced his agreement with Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.) And, yes, one active Ukrainian athlete is former world lightweight boxing title holder Vassily

Lomachenko who has also volunteered to become a Territorial Defense Group member. In athletics, World Athletics Federation president Sebastian Coe has lambasted the Russian leader for the sinister attack on Ukraine that has brought unimaginable difficulties and hardships to millions of innocent Ukrainians. Already, as the UN High Commission for Refugees has reported, more than half a million Ukrainians have left their country, moving in haste to nearby Poland, Romania and Moldova and wherever they are welcome.

With the pandemic on the way out (or so it seems), Europe and North America are again beehives of sports activities where prestigious international tournaments are normally held. The economic sanctions on Russia will now be slowly felt by the Russian population, thousands of whom bravely protested in the streets following the initial raid by Russian tanks into the eastern portion of Ukraine. Call it collateral damage, ugh! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 294 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Alaska’s Olu Ashaolu scores on a hook over Phoenix’s Matthew Wright. PBA

MR. RIGHTD

Wright drops 26 points, 11 assists to carry Phoenix past Alaska

u’Vaughnn Maxwell powered Phoenix Super LPG past Alaska 104-99 Thursday right in his very first game in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Fuel Masters’ third import for the conference collected 21 points and 21 rebounds, even coming up with the and-one play with 20.5 seconds left that served as the dagger and stopped the Aces right on their tracks. Maxwell failed to complete the three-point play, but RJ Jazul capped his own heroics with a charity that all but sealed the game as Phoenix snapped out of a three-game funk, improved to an even 5-5 record and fanned its hopes of catching the quarterfinals bus. “We know how important this game is for us and we also know that Alaska is on a run and we respect that team so much,” said Fuel Masters coach Topex Robinson. Robinson also believes he has finally found the right import in Maxwell after original reinforcement Paul Harris got injured and first replacement Dominique Sutton proved incapable of truly boosting his team. “I think what he brought to us was solid defense on the paint,” Robinson said of Maxwell. “He’s making smart moves down the stretch, he was making his shots. But most importantly. I think, was the energy he brings to the team. Especially on an import(-laden) conference wherein you really have to have somebody who the locals can believe in. And I think Du’vaughn is the right fit for us.” Maxwell got plenty of help as Matthew Wright led all scorers with 26 points and also had a game-high 11 assists, while Jason Perkins shrugged off foul trouble

to finish with 22 points. Jazul also had 21 points. The defeat was a bitter one for Alaska, which dropped to 6-4 and now needing to win over Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok on Sunday to avoid any complication another loss might bring. The Aces surely tried, razing an 80-92 fourth quarter deficit through a 13-0 to briefly wrest the lead 93-92, still 5:35 left. There’s no denying Phoenix, however, as Perkins boomed in a triple and then followed up Maxwell’s basket with his own putback before Jazul banked in a floater to make it a 101-97 count. After Yousef Taha brought Alaska within 99-101, Maxwell then converted a layup off a pickand-roll play with Wright while drawing a foul from Olu Ashaolu. Ashaolu notched his own double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds on top of six assists. Robert Herndon and Mike Digregorio came off the bench to add 17 and 13 points, respectively, while Jeron Teng, Maverick Ahanmisi and Taha each chipped in at least 10 points. (PBA) The Scores: Phoenix104 - Wright 26, Perkins 22, Jazul 21, Maxwell 21, Porter 6, Manganti 5, Melecio 3, Rios 0, Robles 0, Demusis 0, Pascual 0, Garcia 0. Alaska 99 - Ashaolu 24, Herndon 17, DiGregorio 13, Ahanmisi 12, Teng 12, Taha 10, Tratter 7, Racal 2, Bulanadi 2, Faundo 0, Ilagan 0, Stockton 0. Quarters: 31-20, 48-47, 81-74, 104-99.