Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 301 | Saturday, March 12, 2022

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

f

@EdgeDavao

www.edgedavao.net

FOR THE FLAG SPORTS P 12 edgedavao@gmail.com

P 15.00 • 12 PAGES

ACTION VS RABIES Ordinance banning stray dogs passes 2nd reading in Sanggunian STORY ON PAGE 2

While business is slow and foot traffic is minimal, a vendor spends her time making “chorizo” at a stall inside inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Friday.

Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

Vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is lauded for initiating the creation of the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children. Edge Davao

ACTION VS RABIES T

Davao City COVID-19 TF: Contact tracing remains

Ordinance banning stray dogs passes 2nd reading in Sanggunian

By MAYA M. PADILLO

A

n official of Bantay Hayop Davao (BHD) is optimistic that the proposal prohibiting the letting loose of pet dogs will strengthen the fight against the spread of rabies. The proposal will like-

Last Tuesday, the City Council passed on second reading the proposal amending Ordinance No. 1457, Series Of 1974, entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting The Loosening Or Letting Stray of Dogs In The City Of Davao, Providing For The Catching And

Impounding Of The Same, Collection Of Fees For Impounding Them And Providing Further For Their Disposition When Not Claimed Within A Certain Period And Providing For Penalty In Case Of Violation Thereof.”

“If this ordinance is

approved, it will strengthen the fight against the spread of rabies, accidents, increase of stray population due to irresponsible pet ownership. This is one way we can solve the problem directly, but it needs to be in the barangay level and not just another ordinance,” Rovie Bullina, program director of BHD, told Edge Davao.

Bullina said that problems caused by stray animals are not the fault of the animals, which are

abandoned and homeless, but by the people who are negligent and irresponsible of their pets.

“We should not punish these animals by killing them in the city pound but we should penalize the owners who turned them into strays instead of companion animals or pets,” she added.

Bullina also said that ordinances like Ordinance No. 1457 need to be implemented once approved.

of violent incidents).

BGen Arthur Cabalona, BARMM regional police director said the primary reasons for the violent incidents were conflicts between two groups.

The meeting, held at Bajau Hall of the BARMM Government Center, was presided by Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, the RPOC chair.

Thirty-eight members of the council attended the meeting either in person or via Zoom.

Ebrahim cited that the

May 9 elections will be the first time for members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to exercise their right to suffrage and support its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

He urged the military and police to ensure that the people are protected in the exercise of such right.

During the same meeting, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, RPOC secretary and BARMM spokesperson told the council that the Department of Interior and Local Government national office

has formed the task force for the disbandment of private armed groups.

Sinarimbo, also the Interior Minister of BARMM said the disbandment of armed groups is important because it will make it easier to proceed with the decommissioning of MILF fighters.

He noted that MILF fighters would be reluctant to undergo decommissioning if the private armed groups were not disbanded.

At the same time, the military assured residents

FACTION, P10

he Davao City COVID-19 Task Force has clarified that only the expanded contact tracing through the Safe Davao QR was suspended through a recent executive order, and not the entire contact tracing strategy being implemented as part of the city’s COVID-19 response.

“Contact tracing was not eliminated. Ang atoang traditional na contact tracing naa gihapon. Pag duna’y mag-positive, i-contact trace gihapon ang iyang mga close contacts (Our traditional contact tracing remains. If somebody turns out positive for COVID-19, his or her close contacts will still be traced),” Davao City COVID-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said during the COVID-19 Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) that was aired on Wednesday, March

10, 2022.

She said the DQR was used for expanded contact tracing in the management of past COVID-19 surges.

The city health official explained that Executive Order (EO) No. 11 Series of 2022, which lifts most COVID-19 restrictions in Davao City, did not state that contact tracing was suspended but only the use of DQR for contact tracing was suspended.

Dr. Schlosser maintained that the city still complies with the Department of Health (DOH) memorandum on contact tracing, isolation, and quarantining protocols when one is infected with COVID-19.

“Ang DQR scanning man gud nato typically used nato sya to expand our contact tracing although karon ginapakuha nato og DQR ang mga tao for vaccination

of Pikit in North Cotabato and areas around Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao they have nothing to fear despite the presence of more soldiers and policemen in their communities.

MGen Alfredo Rosario, chief of the Western Mindanao Command who attended the RPOC meeting via Zoom, said they launched the operations in these areas in response to the presence of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya.

Rosario said there was no need for civilians to evacuate as ensuring their safety is among their priorities.

Cabalona said he refused to believe that their presence instilled fear, and that it should be the other way around.

He assured that the operations would not lead to the disenfranchisement of voters during election day.

Lawyer Abdul Rashig Kamil, chair of the Bangsamoro Human Rights

FDAVAO, P10

102 areas tagged as poll hotspots in Bangsamoro

N

inety-nine towns and three cities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are considered election hotspots, according to the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) which held its first meeting this year on Thursday.

Eighteen of these areas are under Red Code (critical), 34 under Orange Code (with presence of armed groups and organized movements), and 50 under Yellow Code (with history

F102 AREAS, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

NEWS

3

DUCK, COVER, HOLD. SM malls in Davao participated in the first online National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) this year which was conducted on March 10 as part of their mission to educate employees on disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Photo courtesy of SM

Establishments may continue requiring social distancing Mayor Sara endorses Robin Padilla for senator

I

n the most recent online program Sara All for You, incumbent Davao City Mayor and Vice-Presidential bet Sara Duterte Carpio took the time to discuss the possible future with Senatorial Aspirant, actor, philanthropist Robin Padilla.

At the beginning of the program, Robin Padilla mentioned his desire to run for the Senate was the experience of working with the Duterte Administration which in Padilla’s own words, inspired him and brought out his desire to do more, to be of service to the country, to continue the good works the administration has begun, this time as a Senator of the country.

Continuity of the Reform Agenda and Stability and Security of Workers.

He pointed out that the social justice agenda is one that is closest and dearest to his heart. Padilla mentioned that he wishes to pursue and make real the “endo” law that was part of the platforms pursued and pushed by the Duterte Administration that sadly was not passed into law. He

further declared the need to make just the wages received by Filipinos most especially healthcare workers and teachers receive because according to him, what use is there for the schools and hospitals we build if there are no teachers and healthcare professionals available because we lose them all to more attractive offers abroad.

Another dimension of the aspiring Senator’s platform he discussed was his desire to author a law that would establish a grassroots community justice system that pushes for transparency, that may even be televised or viewed online, most especially if cases involve government and public servants.

Worker and Food Security Through Cooperatives and Agriculture.

Moving to another aspect of the discussion, Padilla told Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that he aims to push for the strengthening of the cooperative system and to encourage a closer working relationship with government and non-gov-

FMAYOR, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

A

n official of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said private offices and establishments may continue implementing social distancing protocol within their premises, despite the city government of Davao’s lifting of the social distancing requirement amid the city’s Alert Level 1 status.

Executive Order (EO) 11 Series of 2022, signed by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on March 7, 2022 lifted the one-meter physical distancing protocol.

“Kung gusto gihapon nila ipadayon ang social

distancing sa ilang opisina, establishments, and businesses, pwede gyud na kaayo but it will be under the discretion of the private sectors or private owners of the establishments,” according to Dr. Michelle

Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force.

Dr. Schlosser added that Dabawenyos should not be complacent, although, Davao City is currently in an “open policy” heading into the normalcy of activities.

“Ang tumong nato is economic recovery pero we are also pleading. Nagahangyo pud ta sa mga tao na even if we are opening up and heading toward economic recovery dili unta gyud makalimot na naa pa ang COVID-19, so kinahanglan gihapon ta mag-follow

og minimum public health standards na wearing of face mask. Technically, ang atoang social distancing wala na nato gi-follow,” she said.

Schlosser cited the recent guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allowing establishments on full capacity and full operation under Alert Level 1, provided that the Minimum Public Health Protocols (MPHS) are still being followed, particularly the wearing of face masks and observing physical distancing.

Panelo, who is running for a Senate seat under Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), had a son with down syndrome who died in his sleep in January 2017.

He said the Philippines has more than five million children with special needs.

“Kailangan ang gobyerno ay ma-obliga na magbigay ng special education sa kanila, ng libreng rehabilitation, at magtayo ng

mga care facilities upang kung mamatay ang kanilang mga magulang, merong gobyernong mag-aalaga sa mga special children,” it said.

Panelo said that if he is elected senator in May, he will revisit and ensure full implementation of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons under Republic Act 7277.

The city government

of Davao is now building a P70-million facility that will offer medical care for children with special needs.

The construction was expected to start in 2020 but was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The facility will offer an early intervention and transition program, and allied medical services including occupational, physical, and

Sara lauded for creation of city center for kids with special needs

M

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is lauded for initiating the creation of the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children, which aims to provide hope for parents who have children with special needs.

In a statement, former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo praised Mayor Sara for the project.

FSARA, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

The Canned Sardines Association of the Philippines meets with the Department of Trade and Industry to discuss their plea for an increase in the suggested retail price (SRP). The group said it is stuck with the July 2021 SRP while gasoline prices, crucial in catching fish using fishing boats, have soared continuously the past weeks. Edge Davao

PH logs record-high FDI inflows at $10.5-B in ‘21

T

he Philippines recorded its highest foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows in 2021 amounting to USD10.52 billion, increasing by 54.2 percent from USD6.82 billion the previous year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Thursday.

FDIs continued to gain momentum last year despite two major lockdowns both in the first and second semesters of the year due to a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases.

“The growth in FDI reflected positive foreign

investor sentiment on the country amid expectations of a rebound of domestic economic activity and declining Covid-19 reported cases, as well as the strengthening of the global economy,” the BSP said in a statement.

The 2021 FDIs sur-

passed the USD10.3 billion net FDIs in 2017.

The central bank said FDI net inflows last year grew on the back of the 80.4-percent increase in net investments in debt instruments amounting to USD7.5 billion from USD2.4 billion in 2020.

Reinvestment of earnings rose 34.7 percent to USD1.3 billion last year from 2020’s value of USD944 million.

Net investments in equity capital other than reinvestment of earnings slightly grew by 0.7 percent to USD1.72

billion in 2021 from USD1.71 billion the previous year.

Top sources of equity capital placements last year were Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands, with bulk of investments infused in sectors of manufacturing; electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning; financial and insurance; and real estate.

For December 2021 alone, FDI net inflows rose 59 percent to USD1.1 billion from USD671 million in the same month in 2020. (PNA)

Product, Programming, and Airtime Group, explained during the media conference.

Alan Supnet, SKY’s head of Consumer Broadband, elaborated on the difficulty of subscribers in choosing the right plan, citing the issue of balancing speed and price.

Budget-conscious consumers tend to settle for low-cost plans with an unreliable connection, while those concerned about a poor internet connection go for mega high-speed plans but end up paying exorbitant fees.

SKY Fiber aims to resolve this problem by offer-

ing the fast speed options enough for internet activities bundled with the WiFi Mesh device to improve the internet signal distribution in the home. Given this, subscribers will not need to choose between expensive high-speed plans and unreliable low-cost plans as SKY Fiber Super Speed Plans can satisfy their internet needs.

“No other brands in the market bundle WiFi Mesh units at no extra monthly fees. So that’s another ‘swak’ feature of our revitalized Super Speed Plans,” Supnet said.

Additionally, the internet service provider strength-

ened the cost-efficiency of subscribing to SKY Fiber by offering waived installation fees and a free speed boost promo until April 30. The free speed boost providing as much as 50% additional internet speed is available for select plans.

For P1,699 per month, subscribers can already get the Plan 50Mbps which has boosted speeds of up to 75Mbps until the end of April and two free WiFi Mesh devices to ensure seamless connection throughout the whole household.

There are also unlimited broadband plans with

SKY Fiber’s new Super Speed Plans deliver on cost-efficiency, seamless internet connectivity

B

roadband internet service provider SKY Fiber is offering cost-effective internet connectivity for homes with the launch of its new Super Speed Plans that address the need for fast and reliable internet speeds at affordable prices for Filipino households.

“While the proliferation of broadband options is beneficial for consumers, choosing the right plan for their daily needs is proving to be a challenge. And, more often than not, there would be a trade-off in terms of price, speed, reliability, or overall service,” James Dumlao, SKY’s head of Consumer

FSKY, P10

Oil prices gain on hope OPEC filling Russian supply shortfall

O

il prices rebounded on Thursday following a sharp drop late on Wednesday as the market weighed expectations of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) producers boosting production to fill the shortfall in Russian supplies.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $112.66 per barrel at 0627 GMT for a 1.4-percent gain

after closing the previous session at $111.14 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $109.25 per barrel at the same time for a 0.5-percent increase after the previous session closed at $108.70 a barrel.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al Otaiba said his country favors

FOIL, P10

CAMPI eyes 17% hike in auto industry sales for this year

T

he Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) targets the local automotive vehicle industry to expand by 17 percent in terms of volume of sales this year.

“As the economy reopens, the safety and health of the public is paramount to prevent another wave of virus infections and cause disruption anew to the recovery of the industry, which targets to sell 336,000 units this year -- a 17-percent increase from the actual volume last year,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement Thursday.

Last year, CAMPI alone

registered a 20-percent sales increase selling 268,488 units in 2021.

On the other hand, the group of vehicle importers reported an increase of 14 percent last year with a total of 58,916 unit sales.

Meanwhile, CAMPI members’ vehicle sales in February this year still registered a decline. However, the decrease is slower compared to the start of the year.

CAMPI said vehicle sales declined by 7.3 percent to 24,304 units in February 2022 from 26,230 units last year.

The decrease slowed down from an 11.2-percent

FCAMPI, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

ECONOMY

5

People gather infront of the stalls selling street foods at the entrance of the Davao City Coastal Road Bago Aplaya. The city government of Davao opened a flea market in the area starting Friday, March 11, but vendors need to leave the area once the coastal road is fully open to vehicle traffic. Edge Davao

DBM releases P3 billion for fuel subsidy, discount programs

T

he Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a total of PHP3 billion for the implementation of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) fuel subsidy program (PHP2.5 billion) and the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) fuel discount program (PHP500 million) to provide targeted assistance to affected sectors and cushion the impact of the consecutive oil price hikes in the past three months.

The funds were charged from the regular budgets of the DOTr and the DA under the fiscal year 2022 General Appropriations Act. Under the DOTr’s fuel subsidy program, financial aid amounting to PHP6,500 will be directly provided not only to affected jeepney drivers but also to qualified drivers of UV express, mini buses, buses, shuttle ser-

vices, taxis, tricycles, and other full-time ride-hailing such as transport network vehicle service (TNVS) and motorcycle taxis, and delivery services nationwide.

The identified 377,443 beneficiaries may claim the subsidy through cash cards from the Landbank of the Philippines.

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has coordinated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Communication and Technology for the identification of beneficiaries, particularly on the list of qualified tricycle drivers, ride-hailing services and delivery services, respectively.

The DA’s fuel discount program aims to provide fuel discounts to farmers and fisherfolk who own

FDBM, P10

DBP signs pact with CICC to bolster cyber resiliency

S

tate-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to further strengthen the bank against potential cybersecurity threats and boost its capacity to defend critical system infrastructure, a top official said.

DBP president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Herbosa said CICC would be providing the necessary technical expertise and assistance to DBP in crafting the bank’s cybersecurity plan and ensure its align-

ment with globally-accepted standards and protocols of the national cybersecurity plan.

“DBP acknowledges that investing in cybersecurity is not only a crucial concern, but also indispensable to protect the stakeholder data and information stored in our system,” Herbosa said.

DBP is the fifth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and has a branch network of 131 branches and 12 branch-lite units. It provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small

FDBP, P10

New set of officers for DATA inducted

I

Held in a face-to-face event at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao on February 28, the 15 new officers, board of trustees and committee chairpersons was led by new DATA president Cherry Al-ag.

The new set of officers came from different tourism establishments and businesses in the city. DATA is a group composed of various private sector tourism stakehold-

ers in Davao City. DATA has been a steady partner of the City Government in various tourism industry related initiatives.

Among the recent partnership was the widely acclaimed Bakuna by the Sea held last year which vaccinated 11,000 tourism workers in Davao City, kickstarting the industry’s eventual recovery.

“Hindi lumubog ang Davao City Tourism (Davao

City tourism didn’t sink) because of you, our Davao City Tourism stakeholders kayo po ang (you are the) pride and prized partners ng city government and our relationship is the envy of all other LGUs because there is nothing that comes near it.”

City Tourism Operations Office OIC Generose Tecson in her message cited the role of DATA as the template of private and public partnership which has worked well for the city.

Meanwhile president Al-ag vowed to give her best in championing Davao tourism thru her leadership at DATA.

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has highlighted the contribution of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in making financial products and services more accessible to micro and small enterprises, especially in rural areas.

In a briefing Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said MFIs can further expand their reach through digital transformation.

Diokno said MFIs are strategic partners of the government to achieve finan-

cial inclusion as 84 percent of local government units (LGUs) have access to MFIs. More than half or 57 percent of unbanked LGUs also have MFI presence.

“Today, 144 banks are engaged in microfinance.

They provide safe and affordable financial services to around 2 million borrowers with (a) total microfinance loan portfolio of PHP26 billion,” he said.

The BSP chief added that non-bank MFIs, such as cooperatives, have assisted 8.8 million members providing

PHP288 billion worth of outstanding loans.

On the other hand, microfinance non-governmental organizations served 6.2 million clients with a total loan of PHP50 billion.

“With that, the BSP recognizes the potential of technology as a game changer for microfinance,” he said.

Diokno cited there is a growing traction on the use of digital loan disbursement and collection as well as online payment gateways.

He added mobile applications provide seamless

n a momentous occasion the Davao Tourism Association (DATA) had its formal induction of officers and board of trustees for 2022 -2024.

“Together with the 2022 to 2024 board of trustees and chairpersons and fellow tourism stakeholders and partners I shall give my best to help you DATA members to promote Davao City, to champion job generation and with the Department of Tourism and the City Tourism Operations Office to be an inclusive, that we have an inclusive Davao Tourism,” Al-ag said in her speech during the event.

Inducting the new set of officers and board of trustees was Department of Tourism -XI regional director Tanya Rabat Tan. (PIA XI/RG ALAMA)

experience for self-service options to access account information, and availing of online financial services.

Innovation has also been pursued in back-end operations of MFIs, such as automated financial management systems, as well as credit scoring and decisioning models, Diokno said.

He said embracing digitalization will facilitate in transitioning microfinance clients from cash to digital transactions that will support the BSP goals on digital

MFIs encouraged to embrace digitalization to expand reach T

FMFIs, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

On the opening of more vaccination hubs for a three-day vaccination campaign:

Just like the other nilabay na ‘Bayanihan, Bakunahan”, we will be opening all the vaccination hubs. This time included population will be the 12 years old and above.”

Dr. Michelle Schlosser

Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson

EDITORIAL Fake news galore One phenomenon coming with the advent of social media is fake news.

Seriously, fake news is “false or misleading information presented as news.” According to Google, fake news “often has the aim of damaging the reputation of a person or entity.” It is “often created to influence views or for political motives.”

That it has been used to distort information about the ongoing pandemic especially by purveyors of conspiracy theories is a fact.

And the very serious matter of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is not an exception.

A lady broadcaster, obviously American, went to town giving examples of fake news in a video circulating about the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Among the fake news she bared were images of a Russian

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

Another example is a video of several Russian bomber planes being downed by Ukrainian fighters which turned out to be a creative production cut from a popular video game entitled “Kombat” and many other video productions which were verified to be fake news after all.

An apolitical television news anchor who broadcast images of an explosion in the sky supposedly from the invading Russian forces found out that it was an explosion in China a long time ago.

The lady broadcaster also admitted to have circuited fake news herself and apologized for it.

Now, now, having zero capability on fact-checking, we are not sure if what the broadcaster is saying is true or false.

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

war tank running over a Ukrainian car with civilian passengers, which turned out to be a Ukranian tank that went out of control but fortunately the car passengers survived. The incident reportedly happened long before the invasion.

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 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE SUBJECT IS WOMAN The college professor was 10 minutes late. He immediately placed his books on top of the table and went directly to the board. The students were stunned. Without much ado, he wrote these words: “Woman without her man is a savage.”

Then, facing the students, he told them to punctuate it correctly.

To his amazement, the professor found that the males looked at it one way and the females another. The males wrote: “Woman, without her, man is a savage!” The counterparts penned: “Woman! Without her, man is a savage.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes quipped: “Man has will, but woman has her way.” Elbert Hubbard notices, “A man is as good as he has to be, and a woman as bad as she dares.” Rudyard Kipling argues, “A woman’s guess is much more accurate than a man’s certainty.”

This brings us to the subject of the battle of sexes. Man has a different view from that of a woman. For instance, a man will pay 100 pesos for a 50peso item he wants. A woman, on the other hand, will pay 50 pesos for a 100-peso item that she doesn’t want. Woman, to be happy with a man you must understand him a lot and love him a little. Man, to be happy with a

woman you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.

Friedrich Nietzsche once remarked: “The same passions in man and woman nonetheless differ in tempo; hence man and woman do not cease misunderstanding one another.” Yes, Mr. Nietzsche was the same person who said: “Woman was God’s second mistake.”

Mary Crowley thinks otherwise. God made man first.

Then, He stepped back, looked him over, and said, “I can do better than that.” And so He made a woman.

Husbands and wives fight most of the time. The reason: they don’t understand each other. A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.

A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife. Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more willing to die.

The husband told his wife, “In the 16 years we’ve been married, we haven’t been able to agree on a single thing.”

His wife replied, “It’s been 17 years.”

When a man and woman get married, each has a different agenda for the bitter-half.

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn’t. A man marries a wom-

an expecting that she won’t change and she does. What did famous singer and actress Barbra Streisand say again?

Perhaps talking from experience, she wonders: “Why does a woman work ten years to change a man’s habits and then complain that he’s not the man she married?”

Socrates urges: “By all means marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.” Not bad, huh? Warren Farrell comments, “When women hold off from marrying men, we call it independence.

When men hold off from marrying women, we call it fear of commitment.”

So, who thinks there is life after the wedding? “After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can’t face each other, but still they stay together,” says Hemant Joshi. Patrick Murray notes, “I’ve had bad luck with both my wives. The first one left me and the second one didn’t.”

This reminds me of the story of a man who inserted an advertisement in the classifieds: “Wife wanted.” The following day, he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: “You can have mine.”

“My wife’s an angel,” said the first man. The second man

lamented, “You’re lucky, mine is still alive!” Rita Rudner claims, “Men forget everything; women remember everything. That’s why men need instant replays in sports. They’ve already forgotten what happened.”

Why do some marriages last? If you will pose that question to Henry Youngman, his answer would be: “We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week: a little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.”

Groucho Marx once commented: “Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.”

And the battle of sexes continues. “Can you tell me where I find the book, ‘Man, the Superior Sex’?” the man asked the saleswoman. She replied, “Sure, it’s upstairs in the science fiction department.”

“Women get more unhappy the more they try to liberate themselves,” observes French kitten Brigitte Bardot. “A woman is a tender and sweet person.

She will lose that if she tries to be like a man.”

Hollywood debonair Mel Gibson states, “I love women.

They’re the best thing ever created. If they want to be like men and come down to our level, that’s fine.”

Men should never under-

estimate the power of a woman. Once upon a time, there were eleven people hanging on to a rope that extended down from a helicopter. The weight of eleven people was too much for the rope. So, the group decided that one person would get off, because if the weight on the rope wasn’t reduced, the rope would break and everyone would die.

No one could decide who should go, so finally the woman volunteered. She gave a touching speech, saying she would give up her life to save the others, because women were used to giving up things for their husbands and children. When she finished speaking, all the men started clapping. Of course, you know the rest of the story.

Never insult a woman – unless you are British statesman Winston Churchill. At a dinner party, there was a heated exchange between Churchill and a female visitor. At the end of the argument, the lady said scornfully. “Mr. Churchill, you are drunk.”

“And you, madam,” replied Churchill, “are ugly. But I shall be sober tomorrow.”

By the way, in all arguments, the woman has the last word.

Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

PETITION TO RETAIN MAJ. LIGGETT According to U.S. military reports, two years after the American troops set foot in Davao, petitions to retain them were received, saying their presence in their places of assignments was being needed. The appeals were con-tained in the command correspondences sent by the U.S. War Department to the Senate committee on Philippine affairs.

The Washington-based The Evening Star, in its April 25, 1902 issue (‘Philippine Towns Want Officers to Remain’) reported: “The correspondence consists of over half a hundred petitions from native sources asking the retention of United States troops at various points in the archipelago. The petitioners declare that by the presence of American troops in their respective localities they

are insured hu-mane treatment, protection and the maintenance of peace and good order. In many cases the petitions refer to indi-vidual American officers whom the natives have learned to admire and respect, and to whom they look for protec-tion and justice. In several instances also the petitioners ask that American troops be not replaced by native scouts.”

Brig. Gen. William August Kobbe, assigned in the coun-try, was one who called the attention of Elihu Root, secre-tary of war, to the petitions cabled to the war department by Gen. Adna Chaffee, the military governor in the Phil-ippines. In forwarding a petition from the municipal council at Davao, Gen. Kobbe explained: “From my personal knowledge of the people and of Major Liggett I know that the

petition is not based on senti-mental considerations, but on the situation as exists there, and on the serious convictions of the petitioners… I for-ward also here with Major [Hunter] Liggett’s latest report, requesting its return to this office. It deserves the careful perusal of the major general commanding the division.

“All races in Mindanao and some from other islands are represented at Davao. It has furnished and will continue to furnish problems of a kind that, if not met, as Major Liggett meets them, may be a source of infinite trouble and expense to the United States, and that cannot be met by relays of short-service troops.

I therefore earnestly sec-ond the petitioners’ request. Davao should, in my opin-ion, be ultimately held by one company of

troops, prefer-ably the latter, and I hope that it may be possible to retain Major Liggett in command.”

The petition of the municipal council of Davao to retain Maj. Liggett was in part due to his being “well-liked and a very popular person in this town, especially among the savages who inhabit the woods.” Then the commander of the 5th United States Infantry, Maj. Liggett (after whom the Samal islets of Ligid, now known as Santa Cruz, were named and later on retired as a lieutenant general) went on to become the first American military governor of Da-vao.

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA, Maj. Liggett (1857– 1935) was part of the 31st Infantry, U.S. Volunteers, assigned in Davao in 1898. An 1879 graduate of the U.S. Military

Academy at West Point, he was a second lieuten-ant of the 5th U.S. Infantry for five years and led the first the 31st Infantry of the U.S. Volunteers troops that landed in Davao on December 20, 1899.

His military service earned him a Distinguished Service Medal (U.S.), a Legion of Honor (France), the Order of Leopold (Belgium), and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy). In his honor, the U.S. Army named after him Fort Hunter Liggett, a base on California’s central coast, the Hunter Liggett Army Airfield at Fort Stewart, Georgia, the Liggett Hall on Governors Island in New York Harbor, and the USS Hunter Liggett, a passenger ship transferred to the Army in February 1939. He died on De-cember 30, 1935, in San Francisco, California, U.S.A.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Nickel Asia employees surprise a sitio in Dinagat with ‘yero’ gifts Typhoon Odette overwhelmed the Province of Dinagat Islands a few days before Christmas, leaving a devastation that continues to be a disheartening spectacle to this day, 3 months after the typhoon made a landfall in the island province.

Ricardo Piquero, Purok Chairman of Barangay Legaspi, where sitio Cagais is located, is the leader of this small community of 22 households. And on behalf of the residents of Cagais he receives more than 200 sheets of corrugated sheets (yero), a gift from employees of Nickel Asia Corp.

(NAC).

Piquero says they did not expect the gifts but it was what they pray for and what they need now.

“As you can see, all our

houses have been razed down by Odette, every day is a struggle emotionally as each of us finds ways to rebuild our homes, these corrugated sheets are heaven-sent, you are our angels,” Piquero expresses in the dialect.

NAC employees initiated a program called PSR – Personal Social Responsibility – a few years back starting with “Lapis at Papel, Kapalit ay Ngiti” where employees would donate writing papers and pencils to poor students in far-flung areas before the pandemic suspended faceto-face classes.

According to the International Journal of Development Research, PSR is “a novel socio-economic model, based on a strategic decision by an individual

The houses in sitio Cagais in Barangay Legaspi in Dinagat Islands, a community of 22 households, were totaled by Odette. NAC employees pooled together personal funds to gift each household with 10 sheets of corrugated sheets

“We did not expect this gift but it was what we pray for” – Chairman Piquero

to undertake an obligation to society in an organized framework.”

Engr. Arnilo C. Milaor, Resident Mine Manager of Cagdianao Mining Corp.

(CMC), a NAC subsidiary based in Dinagat Islands, explains that the PSR program is when employees contribute from their own personal funds to give to the communities.

“NAC employees have had several PSRs – pots and pans for the victims of the Mayon Volcano erup-

tion; papers and pencils for students of far-flung schools such as in Malimono in Surigao del Norte and Dinapigue in Isabela; blankets for the victims of flashfloods in Buso-Buso in Batangas; food for abandoned children housed in a center in Quezon City, and employees would contribute however we can, devoted to our PSR programs because we are committed to the communities,” Milaor expounds.

“NAC’s PSR programs

respond to immediate needs of a community, the idea of corrugated sheets was decided after reports of houses in Dinagat Islands destroyed by the typhoon,” Milaor adds.

Aside from PSR however, CMC as a corporate citizen in Dinagat Islands has since downloaded P13.2M of the company’s social development and management program (SDMP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to help the communities survive

and recover from Odette.

Collectively, subsidiaries of NAC in areas hit by Odette – Cagdianao Mining (CMC), Hinatuan Mining (HMC), Rio Tuba Mining (RTN), and Taganito Mining (TMC) – have so far downloaded a total of P44.M of its SDMP and CSR funds to respond to the social challenges caused by Odette.

NAC is a diversified natural resources development company and the Philippine’s largest producer of lateritic nickel ore.

service now that the pandemic restrictions are being lifted.”

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III announced on Wednesday that President Duterte appointed Regino, then a SS Commissioner, to the position of SSS President and CEO. Dominguez said Duterte expected Regino to institute measures that would enhance the services of the agency and look for ways to increase the reserves of the pension fund.

Aside from extending the office hours in SSS branches in NCR, Regino said he also directed the agency’s information

technology department to beef up their digital platforms so that members could have the option of conducting their transactions online and avoid queueing at SSS branches.

“With the My.SSS and the SSS Mobile App in place, I encourage our members and stakeholders to conduct their transactions through these digital platforms.

Since March 2020, we have managed to shift the majority of our overthe-counter transactions to the My.SSS and SSS Mobile App platforms.

These have allowed thousands of members

to conduct their transactions 24/7 from the comfort of their homes,” Regino added.

Regino said SSS branches in Diliman, Cubao, San Francisco Del Monte, Batasan Hills, New Panaderos, Makati-JP Rizal, Pasig-Pioneer, Parañaque, Taguig, Las Piñas, Alabang-Muntinlupa, Binondo, and Manila will open on Saturdays in March. These SSS branches will accept all transactions except tellering services from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Regino also said SSS branches in Metro Manila would augment their current workforce with ad-

ditional personnel from the main office. This will also allow more counter personnel to address the high volume of transacting members going to the branches daily.

Members who wish to get more updates are advised to subscribe to the agency’s official social media accounts through its Facebook page at “Philippine Social Security System–SSS,” Instagram at “mysssph,” Twitter at “PHLSSS,” YouTube Channel at “mysssph” or join the community on Viber at “MYSSSPH Updates” or visit the uSSSap Tayo Portal at https:// crms.sss.gov.ph/.

Regino extends SSS office hours to accommodate influx of transactions In an initial move to improve its frontline services, newly-installed Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino ordered today all SSS branch heads in Metro Manila to extend their operating hours effective immediately.

In a press statement, Regino said SSS offices in the National Capital Region (NCR) would be opened from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and some offices on Saturdays to accommodate as many transactions as possible following the surge of transactions

since the Alert Level 1 status was declared.

“These measures are meant to give our members, employers, and pensioners more time to complete their transactions with us without much hassle and difficulty. It pains me to see our members camping outside SSS offices quite early in the morning just to beat the queues and finish their transactions,” he added.

“I hope those long queues and camping out will soon be a thing of the past,” Regino said. “We owe it to our members, employers, and pensioners to give them a better

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

AGRITRENDS

9

RICE HULL UTILIZATION: NEW HORIZON FOR RICE FARMERS

RICE HULL (COURTESY OF IRRI)

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Additional Photo: IRRI

“I

f we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food,” the late food columnist Doreen Fernandez once wrote, “we would probably feel less Filipino.”

With rice as staple food of Filipinos, it’s not surprising that the Philippines is among the world’s top producers of rice. In 2018, the country ranked eight in global rice production, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

On average, Filipinos consume 114-120 kilograms of rice per capita per year. That’s almost double the world average of 65 kilograms per capita per year, according to Dr. Eufemio Rasco, Jr., former director of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

Rice is widely grown in Luzon, Western Visayas, Southern Mindanao, and Central Mindanao. For the past two decades, rice production has increased considerably from 12 metric tons in 1999 to 19 metric tons in 2008.

Rice is among the country’s top users of water. The Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) says a farmer needs about a thousand gallons of water to raise a ton of rice.

Rice also produces a

lot of waste. Aside from rice straw, the other biggest waste from producing rice is rice hull, a major by-product of the rice milling industry. The estimated production of rice hulls in the country is about two million tons annually.

Rice hull, which constitutes about 20 to 22 percent by weight of the grain, is the coating for the seeds (palay) of the rice plant. To protect the seed during the growing season, the hull is made of hard materials.

As it is hard, the hull is mostly indigestible to humans. In fact, rice hulls are considered a waste, which are dumped into open fields and waterways or burned in dumping grounds.

But rice hulls – also called rice husk – should not be treated as useless.

There are several uses of rice hulls. For one, it is a good source of energy. A ton of rice hull is equivalent to 318 liters of fuel. With a heating value of 13,900 kilojoules per kilogram, rice hulls can sum up to this volume given ideal conditions.

A study conducted by

the Bureau of Post-Harvest Research and Extension (BPRE), a line agency of the Department of Agriculture, showed that farmers and rice millers can save money every time they use their batch recirculating dryers by retrofitting it with a rice hull-fired furnace.

In the past, batch recirculating dryers were originally designed to use kerosene as a source of heat for drying. However, their utilization has become minimal as a result of spiraling prices of fossil fuel like kerosene.

Mechanical dryers typically require about 0.75 liter of kerosene per bag of wet palay, constituting about 80% of the total operating cost of batch recirculating dryers.

Engr. Edgar D. Flores and his study collaborators – engineers Nestor T. Asuncion, Wryan Quiet Z. Viloria, Robelyn E. Daquila, Romualdo C. Martinez, and Ruben E. Manalabe – thought that the cost of drying could be substantially reduced if a cheaper fuel is used as a source of heating.

So, they decided to develop a rice hull-fed furnace that can be retrofitted to presently installed batch recirculating rice dryers.

The furnace has an automatic feeding mechanism synchronized with ash removal, thereby facilitating continuous combustion. It also has a temperature controller, which regulates and maintains uniform drying

air temperature throughout the drying operation.

Likewise, the furnace has a heat exchanger that delivers clean air to the products being dried.

Moreover, it has a fly ash scrubber that controls the emission of fly ash.

The heating efficiency of this rice hull-fed furnace meets the required standard set by Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers for indirect fired furnaces. The emission of fly ash from this furnace – 15.1 milligram per normal cubic meter (mg/NCM) – is very much below the maximum limit set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,

RICE UP CLOSE

which is 200 mg/NCM. Fortunately, the BPRE-developed rice hullfed furnace can be retrofitted to two adjacent batch recirculating rice dryers and operated simultaneously. With this scheme, about 160 to 180 liters of kerosene costing can be saved per batch of drying.

Rice hulls can also be used as burner fuel for drying activities and domestic stoves in raw form or briquettes. In Nueva Ecija, where rice hulls are abundant, residents find it a good source of cooking fuel.

Some studies have shown that a rice hull is a good energy source for hot water heaters and boilers

to generate steam. Some rice mills originally dispose of the hulls in this way. In San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, a farmer has developed a rice hull-fueled steam engine for this purpose.

It has been discovered that the ash produced after the hulls have been burned in the open fields is high in silica. A number of possible uses are being investigated for this, among them: aggregates and fillers for concrete and board production; absorbents for oils and chemicals; soil ameliorants; as a source of silicon; and as an insulation material for homes and refrigerants.

Some Filipino research-

FRICE, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO ACTION... FROM2

“It needs implementation, and Bantay Hayop Davao, as long as we exist, will continue to assist the government not just in the consultation, but also in the implementation,” she said.

Section 7 of the Ordinance stated that dogs/ cattle, including carabaos and maybe goats shall be considered stray if they are not accompanied by their owner and found wandering in streets, plazas, markets, school premises, and other public places.

Based on Republic Act No. 9482 of the “Anti-Rabies Act of 2007” imposes the following penalties:

P2,000.00 for pet owners who fail to have their dog registered and immunized; P10,000 for those who refuse to have their dog placed under observation after it has bitten a person; P25,000 for pet owners who refused to shoulder the medical expenses of the bitten person; P500 for dog owners who refuse to put their dog on a leash; P5,000 per dog for those found guilty of trading dog for meat and imprisonment for one year to four years; and P 5,000 per act and imprisonment of one to four years for those who use electrocution as a method of euthanasia.

purposes (Our DQR scanning was typically used to expand our contact tracing although we still ask people now to get a DQR for vaccination purposes),” she added.

However, she maintained that any private-owned establishment or office may still opt to create restrictions within their premises whether they implement DQR scanning or

social distancing or wearing of a face shield.

She said, “Because it is under their premise naa sila’y karapatan (they have the right) since they own and manage the place.”

The wearing of face masks and frequent handwashing are the minimum public health standards (MPHS) mandated in Davao City through EO 11 Series of 2022. CIO

Commission reported during the meeting that some civilians in the affected areas had voiced ap-

prehensions on the effect of the military and police operations. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)

an oil production increase and will encourage OPEC to raise its production levels on Wednesday.

“The UAE has been a reliable and responsible supplier of energy to global markets for more than 50 years and believes that stability in energy markets is critical to the global economy,” Al Otaiba said in a statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Antony Blinken welcomed the UAE’s support for higher production before adding: “stabilize global energy markets, to make sure that there remains an abundant supply of energy around the world.”

After the successive statements signaling a production boost in an already tight market, prices dropped 15 percent and retreated to $110 late on Wednesday, marking the biggest daily drop in nearly two years.

However, prices began to revive on Thursday, ahead of the critical tripartite meeting with the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Russia that Turkiye is hosting to facilitate a ceasefire as the war enters day 15.

The decline in US commercial crude oil and gasoline inventories also supported prices. The country’s commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 0.5 percent during the week ending March 4, according to the latest data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Inventories fell by 1.9 million barrels to 411.6 million barrels compared to the market expectation of a fall of 833,000 barrels.

Gasoline inventories also dropped by 1.4 million barrels to 244.6 million barrels over that period. (Anadolu)

drop in year-on-year sales in January.

On the other hand, industry sales improved by 17 percent in February compared to January 2022 sales of 20,765 units after a 25.4-percent month-onmonth decline at the start of the year.

Gutierrez attributed the recovery of the market to the declining coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in February following the surge in January due to the Omicron variant.

“The February 2022 sales have regained a double-digit growth amid the improved consumer confidence as the country has shifted to ‘low-risk’ for Covid-19 classification, ac-

cording to the government report –a welcome development for the industry,” he added.

Month-on-month sales, the commercial vehicle segment jumped by 22.8 percent to 18,390 units in February from 14,981 units in January.

Passenger car sales rose by 2.25 percent to 5,914 units from 5,784 units during the same period.

“The industry is anticipating to see a continued recovery this month as the economy further reopens, downgrading to the least restrictive Alert Level 1 in major areas, including the National Capital Region starting this month,” Gutierrez added.

DAVAO... FROM2

102 AREAS... FROM2 OIL... FROM4

CAMPI... FROM4

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

MAYOR... FROM3

RICE... FROM9

ernment institutions to benefit most especially the urban working poor.

He further mentioned that though the provision of “ayuda” or help to those in need by the government is still part of its responsibility, having a strong cooperative system will help alleviate people’s dependence on dole outs when faced with unfavorable situations.

Duterte – Carpio agreed with Padilla’s statement as she said that the responsibility of the government is to provide opportunities, opportunities for people to have work and for business to thrive.

Padilla cited that being an agricultural country with rich natural resources, he cannot understand our need to import rice, and most recently fish from abroad.

He believes that this is an insult to us as Filipinos.

The actor-philanthropist believes that government must put systems in place

to ensure that our agricultural workers must be given adequate support by the government to be more competitive and to increase yields which in the end will be instrumental in ensuring food security for the long term.

He also mentioned about the need to protect Filipino products, most especially those produced

by MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises) that can be further protected by the strengthening of cooperatives as well as carefully guarding the implementation of the Retail Trade Liberalization Act to ensure protection for our local businesses.

In addition, Padilla pushed to revisit the pending Foreign Investment Act which he believes will be beneficial for our local businesses but again with scrutiny by the government to guarantee the welfare of our local businesses.

speech therapy.

Councilor Antionette Principe-Castrodes, the chairperson of the committee on ethics and good government, said via the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), the project was

initially budgeted at P40 million but the city government of Davao increased the funding for the special design features that will offer more comfort and safety for the children. By Maya M. Padillo

higher speeds such as the Plan 100Mbps (P2,299/ month), Plan 150Mbps (P2,799/month), and Plan 200Mbps (P3,499/ month). Basic plans of up to 20Mbps (P999/ month) and 30 Mbps (P1,299/month) as well as cable TV bundled plans with speeds of up to 40Mbps (P1,699/month), 80Mbps (P2,499/month),

and 150Mbps (P2,999/ month) are available.

All come with free WiFi Mesh, but the number of units is dependent on the plan.

SKY Fiber is available for residents in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Baguio, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, GenSan, and Zamboanga.

agricultural or fishery machinery, either individually or through organizations.

The fuel discount can be claimed through fuel discount cards (FDCs) which will be issued in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The FDCs will then be distributed by Regional Field Offices of the DA to eligible beneficiaries.

The recipients can present their FDCs to the contracted oil companies or gas stations and claim a maximum amount of PHP3,000 fuel discount.

The DBM shall continue to work closely with implementing agencies to ensure the timely release of funds for the execution of programs intended to help the most affected sectors. (PR)

the gold medal even blind folded in Hanoi,” Tolentino said. “He’s not only the best in the SEA Games, but in the whole of Asia—not to forget that he’s No. 5 in the world.”

Had Obiena been endorsed by PATAFA, he could have been the first full-blooded Filipino to compete in the world indoors, Unso said.

Obiena won the men’s

pole vault gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games at the New Clark City Stadium with a leap of 5.45 meters.

Less than two years after on Sept. 12, 2021, he broke the Asian record with 5.93 meters at the Golden Rooftop Challenge, in Innsbruck, Austria.

Obiena was also the only Asian to qualify at the Tokyo Olympics last year.

(PNA)

payments.

“Collaboration is instrumental in the establishment of shared digital platforms

or facilities among MFIs to create a multiplier effect on the microfinance sector,” he added. (PNA)

SARA... FROM3 SKY... FROM4

DBM... FROM5

FLAG... FROM12

MFIs... FROM5

ers have discovered rice hull ash (RHA) as a suitable cement binder in the manufacture of hollow blocks. Adding 10% to 20% ground gray or white ash to ordinary cement does not affect the strength of the construction materials compared to 100% cement.

This is because, researchers say, rice hulls contain more than 87% silica. Adding 30% RHA by weight or 50% RHA by volume to ordinary cement in the manufacture of roof tiles makes the materials light, porous, and hard but brittle.

“The high silica content of RHA makes it a good additive for the steel and concrete industries,” the IRRI points out.

Another product that is becoming increasingly popular is the carbonized rice hull (CRH). To produce CRH, raw rice hulls are burned without air so that it will not turn into ash. CRH is sterile and is free from disease organisms.

At the PhilRice in Nueva Ecija, there was once a showcase of a pigpen where CRH, about one foot deep, serves as flooring instead of the usual cement floor. The pigpen didn’t have to be washed with water every day. In fact, it does not get washed for the entire growing period of four months.

“The manure and urine of the pigs get buried in the carbonized rice hull,” PhilRice said. “The usual foul smell is practically eliminated. And when the pigs attain market size and are sold, the litter is collected and used as organic fertilizer for vegetables, rice and other crops.”

As organic fertilizer, CRH is also very useful in

rice farming. Twenty bags of CRH combined with other organic fertilizer or compost may be applied in one hectare. It could be plowed in during land preparation.

“This will make the land not only more porous for better plant growth; it will also enable the soil to retain the moisture much longer,” the study showed. “Thus, when there is a prolonged dry spell, the rice plants will be able to survive the rainless period longer.”

The high lignin content of rice hulls can make composting a slow process. Some farmers put earthworms to accelerate the process. Using vermicomposting techniques, the hulls can be converted to fertilizer in about four months.

In some parts of the world, rice hulls are used as pillow stuffing. The pillows are loosely stuffed and considered therapeutic as they retain the shape of the head. In China, where these pillows have become popular, it is considered a luxury item.

In some industries, rice hulls are also useful. In brewing beer, for instance, they are used to increase the lautering ability of a mash. In the United States, rice hulls are used as a “press aid” to improve extraction efficiency of apple pressing.

“Intensifying rice hull use will have a great impact on the economy,” commented one researcher. “Tapping more of this ‘waste’ and less of fossil-based fuels will significantly reduce energy costs. In the rice processing industry, this usually represents 50 to 60 percent of the total drying cost.”

worth.

“I can promise you that I’m going to be ready on April 16 to show what I’m worth.

“I’m a warrior. I’m someone who is committed to his family, to his community, to his team.

But I will give the fans more than 100 percent of what I can give, and I can promise

you it will be something you don’t want to miss.

Spence begins the favorite, as he did for Manny Pacquiao, but Ugas has a proven track record of matching every big-name opponent.

Until next month, whether that will be enough to dethrone Spence will remain up in the air.

and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.

CICC is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology and was created by Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. It oversees the formulation of the Philippines national cybersecurity plan, establishment of the national computer emergency response team, and the facilitation of international cooperation on intelligence regarding cybersecurity matters.

Under the partnership, Herbosa said DBP and CICC would collaborate in institutionalizing cyber policies to pave the way for the adaptation of needed technologies to protect DBP’s data, endpoints, and critical infrastructures.

He said the agreement

also entails the monitoring of the bank’s compliance to mitigate threats in cyberspace, adding, “CICC will assist DBP in coordinating with appropriate agencies in case of cybercrime incidents…”

DBP director and head of the bank’s board-level IT governance committee Dante Liban said, “We look forward to this collaboration with CICC as we continue to build up DBP’s capacity on cybercrime prevention and suppression to give our clients and partners a cybersafe banking experience.”

Last December, the Department of Finance directed all government financial institutions under its administrative supervision to enhance their respective cybersecurity defense systems amidst an expected increase in cybercrimes due to a surge in the use of digital transactions. (PR)

UGAS... FROM11

DBP... FROM5

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

11

World-class pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (Obiena’s FB page photo)

Jerwin Ancajas battles Argentina’s Fernando Martinez in a junior bantamweight clash in Las Vegas. Ryan Hafey, Premier Boxing Champions.

No plans to train with Memo: Ancajas camp T

he camp is dethroned Dabawenyo world champion Jerwin Ancajas on Thursday denied plans of hiring renowned conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia.

Heredia said he recently “welcomed” Ancajas to his Ameuro Elite Fitness team through his post on social media, saying his team will prepare the Filipino boxer for his return fight.

“I am extremely proud to add him to our team because we known of his

excelente boxing skills & tecnique so we trust our conditioning & strength Nutrition and recovery programs will be truly beneficial for him for his health and boxing performance,” the Mexican coach said.

“Our main goal is to

bring him stronger and regain his world title.”

But boxing trainer Joven Jimenez, who has been working with Ancajas for a long time, denied such development.

“Hindi namin kunin ’yon,” Jimenez told a recent interview. “Magulo naman iyon.”

When asked if Ancajas reached a deal with Heredia, the coach said: “Ay bakit, nag-oo na ba si Jerwin sa kanya?”

I’m ready for Spence: Ugas

W

BA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas is adamant he’ll be able to match Errol Spence following his victory over Manny Pacquiao.

Ugas retired Pacquiao in August last year, ironically in a fight initially against Spence. Before the event, Spence got ruled out with an eye injury. Ugas stepped in, and the rest is history.

The Cuban maestro says he will unseat the WBC and IBF welterweight champion

on April 16 in Texas.

“I’m so excited for this fight. I have nothing but respect for Errol Spence Jr., for his team and his trainer,” said Ugas.

“What you are going to see on April 16 is two of the three best welterweights in the world face-to-face and ready to give a great show for the fans.

“This is not just going to be a fight between two of the best welterweights in the world. But a fight between

two of the best trainers in the world too.

“They are going to go head-to-head and show their prowess as well.

On winning the Manny Pacquiao battle, Ugas added: “I’ve fought since I was six years old. I have overcome any and all challenges.

“I was ready for Pacquiao, and I’m going to be ready for Spence. Like I said before, I’m so excited for this fight to be able to show people what I’m

FUGAS, P10

Jimenez said he was not in good terms with the conditioning coach after an alleged confrontation over Ancajas’ teammate, Jonas Sultan.

“Unang salta pa lang ni Jonas sa training niya binakbakan na niya agad.

Hard training kaya sumakit mga paa ni Jonas,” said Jimenez.

Sultan has reportedly skipped training with Heredia, who in turn allegedly “blamed” Jimenez.

“Nagalit siya bakit hindi nag-training, at ako pinagbintangan niya. Sabi ko sa kanya hindi pa man ako nakialam kay Jonas at kung professional ka na tao bakit hindi mo kausapin direkta si Jonas,” said Jimenez.

A drained Ancajas lost his IBF junior bantamweight crown to Fernando Martinez after the Filipino encountered conditioning issues while making the 115-pound limit.

This apparently paved the way for Heredia to enter the picture.

But Jimenez said Ancajas, who recently returned to the Philippines after a lengthy stay in the US, is taking a break from boxing before deciding his next move.

“Hinayaan ko muna siya mag-relax. Saka na namin pag-uusapan ang boxing,” said the coach.

“Pahinga muna at wala munang Memo Memo.”

Yordenis Ugas retired Pacquiao in August last year, ironically in a fight initially against Spence. Before the event, Spence got ruled out with an eye injury.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 301 • SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

Pole vault star Ernest John “EJ” Obiena (File photo)

FOR THE FLAG

PATAFA, Obiena urged to set aside petty differences for flag

A

leader of the House of Representatives on Thursday called on both the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena to set aside “petty differences” and include him in the athletics team roster for the 31st Southeast Asian Games to be held in Vietnam in May. Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez said Obiena should be given a chance to defend his SEAG pole vault crown, as it would bring honor to the Philippine flag once given a chance.

“Obiena is the most qualified track and field athlete of the country given his world standing. That’s a no brainer,” Martinez said.

Obiena’s rift with the PATAFA has reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport after PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico filed a complaint against the Tokyo Olympian and the POC last February 11.

The rift revolves around Obiena’s liquidation of his coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries that evolved into the athlete’s accusation of harassment by his national sports association.

Martinez said both parties should “rise above those petty differences for flag and country”.

“If both parties don’t want to resolve their differences, huwag ninyong idamay ang bansa (Do not involve the country),” said Martinez.

Obiena, the Asian record holder in men’s pole vault, wrote the PATAFA on February 24 seeking his endorsement for the world indoors in Belgrade (March 18 to 20), 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi (May 12 to

23), World Championships in Eugene (Oregon, July 15 to 24) and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 12 to 25).

But the PATAFA denied Obiena’s request in a letter signed by the sports association’s Training Director Renato Unso, citing the non-completion of mediation procedures.

“By authority of the PATAFA Board of Trustees, please be informed that the PATAFA Board of Trustees will not act on your letter … pending completion of the mediation process being conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission,” the PATAFA said in its response.

The POC reiterated its effort to help Obiena compete in international competitions.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said it is one gold medal lost for Team Philippines.

“I can only shake my head, this is horrible,” said Tolentino on Obiena’s name missing from the entry by numbers form which the PATAFA and 38 other national sports associations (NSAs) taking part in Vietnam submitted to the POC. “Barring serious injury, EJ will win

FFLAG, P10