Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 305 | Thursday, March 17, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 305 • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

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STEADY PROGRESS

Davao City remains under Alert Level 1 STORY ON PAGE 2

A group of boys belonging to the Badjao tribe tries to catch fish near a coastal community in Brgy. 23-C Isla Verde, Davao City on Wednesday. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said qualified Dabawenyo fishermen may avail of the assistance given to farmers and fisherfolk by the national government. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 305 • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials prior to his “Talk to the People” at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Tuesday night. The topics discussed were the oil crisis, online live cockfighting, and COVID-19 related concerns. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

STEADY PROGRESS A

Haran spox yields, bares IP group-CPP-NPA links

Davao City remains under Alert Level 1 By MAYA M. PADILLO

Butuan City. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio earlier announced that Davao City has already passed the critical part of the Covid-19 pandemic based on the continuous decline of cases in the city after two weeks under Alert Level 1. “This is my opinion I think we already passed

the serious portion of the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s safe to continue with your ” hanapbuhay”, trabaho, and your events. Just remember to wear your face mask if you are not drinking or eating,” Mayor Sara said. On her end, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser reminded the public that while the city is now under the open policy and enforces only wearing of facemasks as the minimum public health protocol, Dabawenyos should

still avail vaccination and booster doses to have an added layer of protection. Meanwhile, other areas l under Alert Level 1 are: For Luzon: Cordillera Administrative Region: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga; Region I: Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan; Region II: Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino; Region III: Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo

Makabol-Alikoson Conservation Area (MMACA) in Sitio Falcata, Macabol, Barangay Salaysay, Marilog District. Atty. Mark Peñalver, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Inc. executive director, said in a statement that the WMC passed a resolution last February 4 urging DENR-Davao to consider the Watershed Code before allowing cutting activities within the watershed areas.

The permit issued to Wu allowed the cutting of century-old trees, including 22 Agoho, 4 Bagtikan, 15 Lauan, 44 Tanguile, and 36 Ulian trees to pave the way for the “intended land development.” But DENRDavao executive director Bagani Fidel A. Evasco said the property owner desisted from cutting the trees in October last year. Peñalver said the code lists down the “prohibited activities” in conservation

areas and Agro-Forestry/ Agricultural Non-Tillage areas. The Mounts Makabol-Alikoson Conservation Area (MMACA) is classified as “environmentally critical area” under the Watershed Code. Aside from the WMC resolution, Peñalver added that the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) passed Resolution No. 7 last February 16 requesting

avao City remained where it wanted to be and that’s under Alert Level 1 starting March 16, 2022 until March 31, 2022.

Davao City was placed on Alert Level 1 by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) along with the National Capital Region (NCR) and 46 other areas on March 15, 2022. Apart from Davao City, other Mindanao areas places under Alert Level 1 are Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, and

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DENR-Davao urged to review Watershed Code before issuing permit to cut trees

he Watershed Management Council (WMC) has asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao to take into consideration the provisions of the Watershed Code of Davao before issuing permits to cut trees. This after DENR-Davao granted a Private Land Timber Permit (PLTP) to LingLing Wu Lee on August 18, 2021, covering a 12.2-hectare property at the Mounts

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communist insurgent who was once the face of the controversial UCCP-Haran “bakwit” (evacuee) saga in this city has surrendered to the government. Jong Monzon, former Secretary General of the “Pasakaday Salugpongan Kalimodan” (PASAKA), confirmed suspicions that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) was behind the ploy to use the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in a public campaign to demonize the military. Several military officials have accused the rebels of exploiting tribe members to pressure government troops in abandoning hinterland areas under the influence of the CPP-NPA. In a virtual press conference organized by the Army’s 701st Brigade (701Bde) Tuesday afternoon, Monzon--whose real name is Cristoni “Jun” Latiban Monzon--said the Haran evacuees were also “exploited” by the CPPNPA to gain financing for their anti-government activities. “I think the media can still remember my name: I was assigned in UCCP-Haran (in Davao City) where the IPs were gathered to pose as evacuees (bakwits in local dialect). We were there, as mandated by the leaders of the CPP-NPA, to act as their best defense. We were told to cry for human rights violation,” Monzon, 29, said.

Haran spokesperson From 2015-2021, Monzon said he acted as the spokesperson to cater to media inquiries regarding the supposed plight of the IPs from various parts in Mindanao. During their first year, authorities estimated over 500 of them taking “refuge” inside the UCCP Haran in Davao City. “The role of IPs in the CPP is to pose as their “proof” that there is indeed harassment against them by military troops. In truth, this is only being used...to show to the potential sponsors or partners. The CPP profits a lot by asking support from the international community, universities, and hospitals here,” Monzon alleged. In April 2021, the Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued an arrest warrant against six administrators of the UCCP-Haran for child abuse. Monzon was among thse named in warrant, which included UCCP Bishop Hamuel Tequis, Rev. Daniel Palicte, Ephraim Malazarte, Lindy Trenilla, and Grace Avila. They have been charged with two counts of violation of RA 7610 or the Child Abuse Law. “The CPP-NPA leaders told us to retreat to the countryside because of the case,” he said. Monzon surrendered to authorities in Boston town, Davao Oriental, on March 8.

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EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

Reelectionist Senator Joel Villanueva says he is thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for the endorsement of the Chief Executive as it would surely boost his reelection bid in this coming May 9 elections. Edge Davao

Sara commends farmers’ contribution to rice supply RT-PCR test for patients’ admission not lifted

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio clarified that there is no Executive Order (EO) on the lifting of the mandatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) test in private hospitals to patients subject for admission. Some Dabawenyos are hesitant to be admitted to the hospitals as all patients referred to hospitals in Davao City besides the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) are required to submit results of their reverse transmission-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For watchers of the patients, they are not required to present their RT-PCR test results but need to be fully vaccinated and need to present their vaccine cards. Some doctors and Dabawenyos are questioning if the requirement will be lifted since Davao City is already under Alert Level 1 or the policy should not be included among the provisions in the Executive Order (EO) No. 11 Series of 2022 that lifted all Covid-19 re-

strictions in Davao City. “Duna ta’y continuous na meetings with the private hospitals, SPMC, and PhilHealth ug apil na sa atong meeting with them and we asked them kung angay pa ba buhatan ug EO para ma lift ni siya (RTPCR) na requirement for hospitals or we just live it to the respective hospitals to implement their own Covid-19 reponse dinha sa sulod sa ilahang institutions,” Mayor Sara said. Mayor Sara said there is no EO yet with regards to lifting it inside the hospitals. She said the city will do consult the hospitals first if it is still appropriate to do EO to lift it for the entire Davao City. “Wala pa ta’y EO with regards sa pag-lift ana sa sulod sa mga hospitals ang atoang buhaton is consult them first kung angay pa ba mag EO para ma lift siya for the entire Davao City or sila na lang on their own ang magtanggal ani nga requirement or mag continue to include this requirement dinha sa sulod sa ilahang mga hospitals,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

By MAYA M. PADILLO

helping the government in addressing rice problems in the country such as the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which was passed by the Duterte administration and removed the quantitative restrictions on

rice imports and replaced them with a tariff. “Ang Nueva Ecija po ay may napakalaking kontribusyon sa ating bansa sa usaping bigas,” said Mayor Sara in a statement shared by Hugpong Ng Pagbabago (HNP). Based on the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in the fourth quarter of 2019, Nueva Ecija was the top rice-producing province with a yield of over 760,000 metric tons of rice, followed by Tarlac

(over 275,000 MT) and Bulacan (over 174,000 MT). Rogelio dela Cruz, 57 years old and who has been a rice grower for 15 years, said despite sufficient yield of the staple commodity, they still wish lower prices of farm inputs to boost their earnings. “Ang kauna-unahan naming kailangan ay yung fertilizer. Pagka-mataas (ang presyo) ang fertilizer, wala na kaming kikitain. Kung bababa yung fertiliz-

which is 72,942. In the three-day NVD 4 or Bayanihan Bakunahan 4, the entire region has administered the vaccination of 26,909 individuals. Of this number, Davao del Norte recorded the most number of jabs which is at 7,421 or 45.51% of the 16,308 target jabs in the said province. Davao de Oro has also reached out and vaccinated 5,504 individuals; Davao City with 5,062; Davao del Sur with 3,556 jabs; Davao Oriental with 3,368 jabs; and Davao Occidental

with1,998 jabs. Implementing units from the Department of Health and the local government units noted some challenges which include the delay in reporting of accomplishments. This was addressed by providing additional augmentation of LGU human resource. The DOH also reported that fully vaccinated individuals are already confident with the two doses and they no longer see the need for the booster dose. However, the DOH stressed that booster doses

not just in COVID19 vaccine has been proven to be needed as well as effective. This was shown in the various published stories showing the efficacy of booster dose. Also, a challenge which surfaced in the NVD 4 are the undecided senior citizens who are hesitant to get the jab due to their age and comorbidities. The National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) noted less vaccination output for Davao Region. Implementing units were asked to hold granu-

ice Presidential aspirant Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lauded the country’s farmers and rice industry operators for their efforts in providing ample supply to the country as well as for feeding Filipinos with quality rice.

In her meet and greet with supporters in Nueva Ecija, which is considered the country’s biggest rice producer and referred to as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines”, the mayor recognized the farmers for

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Bayanihan Bakunahan 4 extended

he national government through the National Vaccination Days 4 or bayanihan Bakunahan 4 gets an extension as the government sees more unvaccinated are yet to go to designated vaccination sites. The NVD4 is extended until today March 15 while the vaccination for the Priority Group A2 or the senior citizens is extended until March 18. NVD 4 data as of March 14 showed that the Davao Region has yet covered 36.89% of its target jabs

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief Karl Kendrick Chua shares his remarks on the oil crisis to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Tuesday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

GenSan’s tuna industry hurt by fuel price hikes

he series of increases in fuel prices has started to take its toll on the tuna fishing industry here, with some operators reportedly considering suspending operations to avoid further losses.

Dominic Salazar, president of the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc. (SFFAII), said Tuesday that tuna fishing companies and other operators have been recording significant spikes in their operating costs due to the situation. Industry players had estimated that fuel costs, specifically diesel, take up

about 60 percent of the total expenses of a regular fishing operation, depending on the distance of the fishing grounds. The price of diesel here increased to as high as P79.35 per liter on Tuesday as the latest round of adjustments formally took effect amid the rising prices in the global market “The fishing industry

is already feeling the pain brought about by the fuel price increases. Some players I talked with are even considering to temporarily stop their operations if this will continue,” Salazar said in an interview with Brigada News FM. He said fishing operators might have no other option later on as it is not also viable to continue a losing operation. Salazar acknowledged that such situation might lead to much bigger negative effects, among them the increase of fish prices and related goods, and job loss-

es for industry workers. He said SFFAII has been engaging with the city government and other national agencies for possible remedies. The local government has supported the group’s call to the national government to suspend the value-added tax and excise tax on fuel as immediate relief, he said. “We might be able to sustain our operations if these taxes are removed,” said Salazar, who is also the president of tuna fishing group South Cotabato

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PH economy may exceed prepandemic level in Q1: NEDA

he National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is confident about the economy recovering to pre-pandemic level as early as the first quarter of 2022 despite the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief Karl Kendrick Chua said the domestic economy is in a “very strong” position

to withstand global headwinds, as he believes that tensions between the two countries are “temporary in nature”. “So I think we are still very much on track to our projected growth targets for this year,” he said in a virtual press briefing Tuesday. “I still believe that in the first quarter, we will exceed the 2019 level and

retary Paola Alvarez said fuel consumption of those belonging to the higher bracket of society has the bigger share at around 48.8 percent while lower income households’ share is around 13.8 percent. Thus, suspension of the excise tax of fuel products will benefit the higher income households but is detrimental to the govern-

ment through lower tax collection, which, in turn, will impact the poor since the government will have lesser funding for its social services program, she said. Alvarez said there are two measures in Congress that are calling for temporary suspension of excise tax on fuel. These are the House

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NEDA chief recommends 4-day Targeted subsidy favorable option workweek to conserve energy against impact of oil price hikes

ocioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua on Tuesday suggested for the government to impose a four-day workweek to conserve energy and alleviate the public’s expenses amid the series of bigtime oil price hikes. During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People aired on Wednesday morning, Chua, who also

heads the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the country should exercise energy conservation by limiting the mobility of workers into four days with increased hours of duty per day. “Siguro subukan natin ‘yung conservation of energy at isa sa halimbawa dito ay ‘yung four-day workweek. Magta-trabaho pa rin

po ang bawat Pilipino ng 40 hours per week pero imbes na sa limang araw, ay apat na araw. Imbes na walong oras, magiging sampung oras kada araw,” he said. (Let’s try energy conservation and one of the examples here is through the four-day workweek. Every Filipino will still work 40 hours per week but instead

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he government prefers targeted subsidy over the suspension of excise tax on fuel products because the latter has long-term negative impact on government revenues and the economy, a Department of Finance (DOF) executive said. During the virtual Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday, DOF Undersec-

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EDGEDAVAO

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ECONOMY

Vendors repack charcoal at Agdao Public Market in Agdao, Davao City on Wednesday. The demand for household alternative cooking fuel like charcoal is increasing due to the soaring fuel prices. Edge Davao

Prices of basic commodities in Davao stable amid Ukraine-Russia conflict Industry group supports gov’towned crude stockpiling

he Independent Philippine Petroleum Companies Association (IPPCA) supports the establishment of a government-owned strategic petroleum reserve as one of the long term solutions to address the volatile oil prices in the global market. IPPCA chair Fernando Martinez said in a Senate Energy Committee hearing Monday the stockpiling facility should be for crude as it is safer to store this than diesel and gasoline. “It’s strategic to store crude because you don’t

need to dispose (of) it immediately unlike diesel or gasoline,” Martinez said, adding that diesel and gasoline have shelf life. He said the industry has proposed to the government to convert land in Batangas and Bataan for strategic reserve facilities as both provinces have ports. Martinez also reiterated a proposal for the central bank to put the country’s reserves not only in dollars or gold but also in “black gold”. IPPCA has opposed the proposal of increasing the monthly inventory require-

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Almost 700K rice farmers benefit from RCEF Mechanization Program

he Department of Agriculture (DA) has been upgrading the rice farmers’ methods of doing work by providing free machinery and equipment. The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) said some 682,502 farmers nationwide were recipients of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund’s (RCEF) Mechanization Program as of December 2021. “Our goal is to reduce the production cost of rice farmers so they can save up

some for their savings and other farm needs. These (pieces of) machinery, which are given by the government for free, are meant to make the farmers’ lives more convenient, work will be faster, and there will be more yield compared to manual or traditional way of farming,” PhilMech Director Dionision Alvindia said in a virtual press briefer on Tuesday. He added that his office has so far procured 19,542 machinery -- of this number, they have already distributed 16,167 machinery.

(DCDR 87.5) that the prices of basic goods remain stable as the agency sees no direct impact yet on the costs of the basic goods in the local market weeks after the Russia-Ukraine conflict started. She said the agency has not received requests from manufacturers for any price adjustments. Remitio hopes the anticipated price increase

could be abated with measures that intend to stabilize the prices of goods amid the crisis, including the commitment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase supply of fuel in the hopes of addressing the supply shortage in the world market. She warned establishments to avoid increasing prices of goods above the suggested retail prices (SRPs), adding that personnel of the agency are being deployed weekly to 48 major supermarkets in the city to monitor the movement of prices. “We’re doing the monitoring to see the compliance

of the establishments with the SRP. If we see price adjustments during our monitoring, right there and then we remind the retailers that they should follow the SRP,” she said. Remitio said the agency implemented the new SRPs last January 27, allowing less than 10% increase in the prices of basic commodities, particularly canned goods and bread products. An increase of P2 in the SRP for bread has been permitted and P2 to P3 increase for canned goods, she said. Remitio said price adjustments were made due to increases in the cost of raw materials.

ternet, which she said reaches around 40 million based on statistics. She said about 80 percent of those digital-savvy Filipino adults purchase products or avail of services via online. “So that’s about 32 million Filipino consumers whom SB Finance can tap to offer various loans. And with the government’s continued push for digitalization that further enhances our growth prospects for this year,” she added. The fully-digital zuki app allows SB Finance to do electronic know-your-customer processes and to offer various

products, such as Hoologan, a cash credit line that provides up to PHP200,000 loan; and MotorsikLOAN, a loan product that will finance the purchase of both branch new and pre-owned motorcycle units. SB Finance was launched in 2020 as a tie-up between Security Bank and Bank of Ayudhya (Krungsri) of Thailand. During the same event, SB Finance president and chief executive officer (CEO) Abbie Casanova is bullish about borrowers’ repayment capacity, citing improvement in the country’s employment situation.

She said that despite the rise of the unemployment rate in the country in 2020 because of the pandemic, the numbers have improved to around 6 percent last year and is expected to go down further to around 5 percent this year. Unemployment rate rose to a decades high 17.6 percent in April 2020 after the government implemented its strictest movement restriction, the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), starting from March 17 to April 30, 2020 in the National Capital Region (NCR), among other areas in Luzon.

oney sent home by overseas Filipinos sustained an uptrend in January, a month after the traditionally consumption-heavy Christmas season, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Wednesday showed. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)Davao City said on Monday that there has been no increase in the prices of basic necessities and prime commodities despite the steep hike in oil prices as a result of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Rachel Remitio, DTIDavao City director, told Davao City Disaster Radio

Economic recovery, digitalization to boost SB Finance’s growth

he government’s push for digitalization of financial transactions, along with the continued recovery of the domestic economy, make officials of SB Finance optimistic for business growth this year. “We have a positive outlook this year to grow our portfolio by at least 40 percent,” said SB finance chief financial officer Joy Supan during the virtual launch of the company’s zuki mobile app on Tuesday. Supan attributed their confidence to the number of Filipino adults who do financial transactions using the in-

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 305 • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

On the proposed Metropolitan Davao Development Authority envisioned to improve the coordination among the local government units of Davao City and of nearby areas:

Lumalaki na po ang businesses dito at lumalawak na po ang ating rehiyon. Isa po tayo, Region XI, sa booming regions so talagang dapat may maayos na koordinasyon through the creation of the MDDA.” Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL Need for continuity Philippine authorities very recently intercepted a huge shipment of suspected shabu worth P12 biĺlion in a town of Quezon province. Drug busts, big and small, have become a fact of life on a daily basis in the Philippines.

It is incontrovertible proof that the war on illegal drugs relentlessly waged by President Duterte starting Day 1 of his administration, at times hounded by controversies, continues to be necessary until today. No wonder many of the

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Our take is that.the continuing busts are not a sign of failure of the cuŕrent war on drug. Rather it is a signal to the authorities, especially the incoming administration to press on with the war, and yes, improve on it, if possible, until all vestiges of the drug evil in our land are removed. 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

presidential candidates in the ongoing 2022 electoral campaign, also vow to continue the fight, although promising to make their.own.drives better and sans abuses of the enforcers.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT FAILURE? “You are not a failure and you need to quit telling yourself that you could have avoided failing because no successful person ever avoids the pain in hopes for the gains.” – Anonymous ***

J. K. Rowling, the famous British author of the Harry Potter series, was not an overnight success. Like in most cases, she started from scratch. is a case in point. Her biggest fear during her beginning years “was not poverty, but failure.” “We all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it,” she said during a commencement address delivered before the Harvard graduates. “So, I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. “An exceptionally shortlived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.”

Rowling told the graduates: “You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” Had it not been for her early failures in life, Rowling won’t be as successful as she is now. Failure, she said, “meant a stripping away of the inessential.” She explained, “I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. “Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged,” she continued. “I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” “He who has never failed has never tried,” Emmett LeCompte once said. Napoleon Bonaparte failed as an essay writer, William Shakespeare as a wool merchant, and Abraham

Lincoln as a storekeeper. None of them gave up. They moved into other fields, tried other things for which they were better fitted, with the results we all know. “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm,” Sir Winston Churchill once said. “It is a rare person who doesn’t hope responsibility for his failures will fall on somebody else. It is normal to want to shift blame for our troubles. But shifting isn’t easy to do. People don’t fool easily. It isn’t even easy to fool yourself. Besides, shifting the blame serves no practical ends. It means talking about troubles instead of remedies, about past problems instead of future plans,” Normal Shidle wrote. Don’t be afraid to experience failures. “I can take any group of young people any place, and teach them to be inventors, if I can get them to throw off the hazard of being afraid to fail,” Charles Kettering pointed out. “You fail because your ideas aren’t right. You shouldn’t be afraid to fail, but you should learn to fail intelligently. By that I mean, when you fail, find out why you failed, and each time you fail it will bring you up nearer to the goal.” Florence Chadwick set a

world record when she swam across the English Channel from France in 13 hours and 20 minutes in 1950. The following year, she swam from England to France, making history as the first woman to swim the channel from both directions. In 1952, she made a drastic move in accepting the challenge of swimming from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes, California. Although the waters were frigid and sharks trailed her, Chadwick’s resolve was shattered by something else. After 15 hours if hard swimming, she lost the will to continue and climbed aboard an escort boat – less than half a mile from shore. “It was the fog,” she answered when asked why she stopped. “If I had seen land, I could have finished. But when you can’t see your goal, you lose all sense of progress and you begin to give up.” But Chadwick didn’t give up. A few months later, she successfully swam the same route – and set a new record. “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” That popular proverb contains a great and powerful truth. Exclaimed Thomas Alva Edison to an assistant marveling at the bewildering total of his failures – 50,000 experiments for exam-

ple, before he succeeded with a new storage battery: “Results? Why man, I have gotten lots of results. I now know 50,000 things that won’t work.” Not all successes started as triumphs. In fact, some success began as failure. The Apple microcomputer was turned down by both Hewlett Packard and Atari, but had first year sales of US$2.5 million. In his first year in the automobile business, Henry Ford went bankrupt. Two years later, his second company also failed. Dr. Seuss’s first children’s book was rejected by 23 publishers; the 24th publisher sold six million copies. “Many people fail in life because they believe in the adage: If you don’t succeed, try something else,” says Don B. Owens, Jr. “But success eludes those who follow such advice. Virtually everyone has had dreams at one time or another, especially in youth. The dreams that have come true did so because people stuck to their ambitions. They refused to be discouraged. They never let disappointment get the upper hand. Challenges only spurred them on to greater effort.” Napoleon Hill said it all: “Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

DECODING DATU BAGO’S NAME Datu Bago, Davao City’s hero, is called in some accounts as Amilbangsa Campsa Harial, an appellation that is popular among Muslims. In other historical chronicles, the datu goes by an alternative name, i.e., Mucamad Amilbansa Harial, which came in the August 13, 1804, letter of Caraga provincial governor Salvador Ximenez Rendon, or simply Campsa Harial. The etymology of Amilbangsa Campsa Harial is quite interesting in that it brings together loanwords from three languages, namely Arabic, Indonesian, and Sanskrit. Muslims are known to adopt many names, even coining new titles that appeal. Change of name is personal, and among Islamic believers, this is done to focus the start of a new chapter in a person’s life, especially in

embracing a new faith, namely Islam. Mucamad is a variant of Muhammad or Macmud, meaning ‘the praised one.’ Etymologi-cally, the loanword has its origin in Aramaic but was later Arabicized. Amilbangsa, on the other hand, is a combination of Arabic ‘amir,’ mweaning ‘command-er,’ and Indonesian ‘bangsa,’ which refers to a nation. Amilbangsa, therefore, means the ‘commander of a nation,’ though not necessarily that of a sovereign state. Amir is also transcribed as emir, ameer, or amier but according to accepted online ver-sions, refers to ‘a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or ceremonial authority.’ Campsa and Harial, mean-

while, have Sanskrit origins. Campsa, a variant of Kamza or Kamsa, is a proper noun while Harial, which has no relation to but is homophonic with Isra-el, is translated in Hindu language as ‘a (green) pigeon.’ Historically, Sanskrit originated from Hindu via Java, Indonesia, the seat of the Srivijaya empire in the 13th and 14th centuries. Under Hindu rule, Java Hindu, a linguistic subbranch, developed and spread the Sanskrit to many southeast Asian places through trade and com-merce. Moro conquest of Java in the 15h century eventually gave way to the entry of Arabic names, often influence by Syriac Aramaic. As the Islamic faith established foothold in former animist settlements in Mindanao, Arabicized proper names started to

surface in written ac-counts. There is no extant record providing a hint when Davao’s ruler adopted Mucamad Amil-bansa Harial as his ‘official’ name. In other accounts, he is known simply as Datu Bago, and at times as Datu Mama Bago, which seems to underline gender and newness to the position of power. Names, by studying their etymologic and orthographic provenance, also afford us a per-spective into what might historical events were transpiring prior to and during a person’s life. Though the choice of names is also a personal image of someone’s profile, the correctness of the preference does not necessarily reflect the true image of the selector. Some names, many of these designations, are entitlements. The attachment of ‘amilbang-sa’

to Datu Bago’s name, for instance, could be an affirmation of his being a ruler, regardless of territorial size or expanse of control. A title can be self-chosen, imbued, or adopted to iden-tify the rival ruler. But why do the records often call the Davao chieftain as simply Datu Ba-go? As far as existent, Campsa Harial, in reference to Datu Bago, is found in Jesuit chronicles and a few more travel logs. In Muslim tarsilas or genealogies, the most conspicuous appella-tion that is linked to Davao’s foremost chieftain is the entry ‘Datu Bago.’ Moreover, names and titles attached to rulers of dominions also open discourses on how appellations and their provenance help a historiographer unearth the roles sovereigns play in the formation, change, and decadence of kingdoms.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA chief Karl Kendrick Chua. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III . JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez . JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea. ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

With the noticeable proliferation of advertising materials placed on electric posts, Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) reminds businesses and advertising companies of Republic Act No. 11361 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act. RA 11361 ensures “uninterrupted conveyance of electricity from generating plants to end users, and protect the integrity and reliability of the country’s transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution systems by keeping the land beneath, the air spaces surrounding, and the area traversed by

power lines clear of dangerous obstructions.” Orville C. Lazaro, Davao Light Assistant Vice President for Engineering Operations explained that posters and tarpaulins placed and hung on electric posts pose several concerns on the side of the public and the electric distribution utility. “For one, it poses safety hazards. When these advertising materials detach and come in contact with our distribution lines then an individual accidentally touches the material or any electric conductor connected to these materials, electrocution may occur. Second is,

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Reconciliation, and Unity (PAPRU) and National Task Force against Coronavirus Disease-2019 (NTF COVID-19) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Presidential Adviser for COVID response, Secretary Vivencio Dizon. ROEMARI LIMOSNERO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año .JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Labor and Employment Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay. JOEY DALUMPINES/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Davao Light reminds public, not to place advertising materials on electric posts unscheduled power interruptions will happen when there is any disturbance to the lines. Third, when the Davao Light crew needs to do upgrading or maintenance works, they may face some difficulty in accessing poles and lines with all these materials hanging. Lastly, if these posters cover our pole numbers, it will affect our operations because these numbers are critical to our service.” Davao Light will continue to protect its lines and campaign against power line obstructions and hazards. “We want our customers to enjoy continuous and

unhampered power, and so we ask the full cooperation of everyone,” Lazaro added. The company further asks the public to report to Davao Light any power line hazards and obstruction situations such as kite flying, planting of tall trees, installation of billboard tarpaulins, and all other activities that will possibly lead to power interruptions and pose safety hazards to the community. Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, serves customers from the cities of Davao and Panabo as well as the municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto. Tomas.

Davao Light reminds advertising companies of Republic Act No. 11361 or the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act to ensure continuous and unhampered power for its customers.

9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

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RABIES: IF BITES COULD KILL Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ogs may be man’s best friend but they are also carriers of one of mankind’s oldest diseases – rabies. As carriers of the virus that attacks the nervous system, dogs should be played or hugged if they are infected. It’s the bite that should be avoided at all cost as the virus is present mainly in saliva.

“Although rabies is not among the leading causes of disease and death in the country, it has become a public health problem of significance for two reasons,” says the Department of Health (DOH). For one, the Philippines ranks fourth worldwide in incidence of rabies. For another, despite the government’s program of eliminating the disease, the number of cases continues to increase. In 1998, 362 Filipinos died of rabies compared with 321 in 1997 and 337 in 1996. A current report, however, stated that “incidence of rabies cases in the country has declined in recent years.” Still “rabies continues to pose a daunting challenge to its population: over one million Filipinos are bitten by dogs every year, nearly half of whom are children below five years of age,” said a United Nations re-

port. In Davao City, a highly urbanized metropolis with almost two million inhabitants, is not spared from the rabies problem. So much so that “the City Council passed on second reading the proposal amending Ordinance No. 1457, Series of 1974,” as per report of Maya Padillo last March 12. “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,” Rovie Bullina, program director of Bantay Hayop Davao, was quoted as saying. “This is one way we can solve the problem directly but it needs to be at the barangay level and not just another ordinance. Although rabies is also present in other animals, dogs remain the principal animal source of rabies. This has been supported by a recent study that was pub-

lished in PLoS ONE. “Most of the animal rabies cases (in Davao City) are coming from dog samples with a total of 210 rabies-infected dogs reported from 2006 to 2017,” the study reported. If you are bitten by a dog, don’t kill the animal. But a man from Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, did not only kill the dog but butcher it for meat after being bitten by his dog. He cooked the meat and gave some to his friends and relatives. Fifteen days after he was bitten, he died. Those that had eaten the meat were reported to be infected too with rabies. According to the health department, the rabies virus is present in the saliva, brain and spinal cord of an infected animal. Two types of exposure should be considered: bite and non-bite. “The most dangerous and common route of rabies exposure is from the bite of a rabid animal,” wrote Dr. Virgilio M. Ofiana on a rabies feature. “Exposure to rabies might also occur (non-bite) when virus-containing saliva or nerve tissue is introduced into fresh, open cuts in the skin or onto mucous membranes (that is, linings of the mouth and airways).” It must be stressed here

that petting or cuddling an animal and contact of saliva with intact skin “do not constitute exposure.” How will you know that a dog is rabid or not? In dogs, there are two types of rabies: “dumb” type (present in about 60%) and “furious” type (reported in about 40%). Also known as paralytic rabies, the dumb type is observed when the dog has a dropped jaw with tongue hanging out and saliva drooling. This manifestation is due to paralysis of the throat muscles. “This dog cannot bite and is not dangerous un-

less you put your hand in its mouth,” Dr. Ofiana explained. “Occasionally, the paralysis may start in the hind legs and rapidly progress forward. This type can bite but is usually not vicious. It usually dies within three to five days.” It is entirely a different story for the furious type. The symptoms, according to Dr. Ofiana, occur in the following sequence: change in “personality,” starting with a horse bark due to paralysis of the vocal cords; tries to hide in dark corners, closets or under the bed; becomes highly excit-

able, is restless and tries to get away; keeping it in a pen is difficult; and starts to roam and may do so for kilometers, snapping and biting at anything that moves and gets in the way. It dies within 4-8 days due to complete paralysis. The word “rabies” came from a Latin word that means “to rage.” Globally, 59,000 people die unnecessary deaths due to rabies each year. Until now, there is no cure against rabies. As stated earlier, it affects the nervous system of humans and animals; once signs of

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10 EDGEDAVAO STEADY... FROM2

Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo City; Region VII: Cebu City and Siquijor; and Region VIII: Biliran, Ormoc City and Tacloban City. While the areas not in the abovementioned list shall be under Alert Level 2 beginning March 16, 2022 until March 31, 2022.

the City Council of Davao to require the DENR to secure zoning compatibility certification for all tree cutting permit application in the city. He said the resolution ensures “avoidance of the issuance of tree-cutting permits in areas that require biodiversity protection” and urges all public and private entities/agencies to observe Zoning Ordinance, which “specifies

areas for production and areas for protection and conservation.” But Peñalver reiterated their call to declare Mounts Makabol-Alikoson Conservation Area critical watershed and critical habitat of the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) pursuant to Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

He surrendered along with two other IP rebels -Mentroso Tumagsa Malibato alias “Raquel”, 50, and Danny Tiklunay Malibatu alias “Rolly”, 32. The Philippine Army said Monzon and the two other surrenderers cited hardship, hunger, and fear of dying in a combat with government forces that led them to surrender. Chad Booc ‘combatant’ In a separate statement, Monzon said that IP teacher Chad Booc was with them when their group engaged government troops in a series of encounters at Andap, New Bataan, Compostela town in Davao de Oro, which led to Booc’s death. Monzon, who hails from Davao Oriental, said that like him, it was likely that Booc was recruited by the NPA while in college. He said rebel recruiters approached him and radicalized him while he was a student taking up Civil En-

gineering course in Davao City’s University of Mindanao sometime in 2010. He also warned other students to stay clear from the paths of activist groups that are known fronts of the CPP-NPA, “lest they may end up” like him and his other colleagues. Meanwhile, 701Bde commander Brig. Gen. Oliver Maquiling expressed gratitude for the help of the local government in facilitating the surrender of the three rebels. “The government is more than willing to accept and assist the few remaining NPA members who wish to help themselves by going back to the mainstream society living normal and peaceful lives,” Maquiling said. For his part, Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayangharing urged the rest of the NPA rebels to follow the decision of their former colleagues “while there is a good chance to do so.”

Bill (HB) 10488, which calls for the suspension of the excise taxes on oil products from June to November 2022 and Senate Bill (SB) 2445, which calls for the suspension of the said taxes from June to December 2022. Alvarez said the measure in the Lower House is seen to reduce government revenues by around PHP48.7 billion while the one in the Senate will translate to tax losses amounting

to around PHP69.3 billion. “Pag overall sinuspinde po natin lahat – iyong excise tax including iyong VAT (value added tax) on excise tax ng lahat ng klase po ng fuel – mawawalan po tayo ng PHP138.8 billion in one year or 0.6 percent of our GDP (gross domestic product) (If we suspend all the taxes including VAT on all fuel products we will lose PHP138.8 billion in one year or 0.6 percent of our GDP),” she said.

ment for diesel and gasoline from 15 days to 30 days as this means oil players have to spend more on importing fuel products. The industry group said the oil players are now spending PHP15 billion additional capital to import the same volume of petroleum products amid the soaring prices in the world market. Expanding the monthly stock requirement will further increase the capital needed to import fuel prod-

ucts, and this could not be met by small independent players, Martinez added. He said oil firms will also take all the losses when prices plunge after doubling their inventory. Meanwhile, Martinez said the government should look into mechanisms on when to suspend the oil excise tax. Instead of suspending the excise tax after three months of oil price hikes, he added it should be suspended after a month. (PNA)

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City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales; Region IV-A: Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Lucena City; Region IV-B: Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon; and Region V: Naga City and Catanduanes. For the Visayas, the following areas shall be under Alert Level 1: Region VI:

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er, medyo aahon,” the statement said. The statement also stated that Dela Cruz emphasized it would be a huge help if the farmers are capacitated with modern farming techniques and procedures given the availability of modern technology. “Mas maganda kung magkakaroon kami ng training. Malaking bagay sa amin yun. Yung hindi pa namin alam ay matututunan namin,” it said. Meanwhile, Senatori-

al candidate Harry Roque who was with the mayor in Nueva Ecija vowed that addressing the farmer’s sentiments will be among his prime priorities if elected into office. Senatorial re-electionist Migz Zubiri said he will push for the regulation of rice importation and ensure the country’s sufficient supply, and that the marketing of local produce is prioritized. The UniTeam candidates held a series of sorties in the province.

lar vaccination activities to further reach and provided access and service to individuals willing to be vac-

cinated as well as those remaining undecided population. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

Purse-Seiners Association. During the 20th National Tuna Congress in 2018, which was hosted by SFFAII, industry players passed a resolution urging the Office of the President, through the Department of Finance, to revisit the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act or the Train Law and “to totally remove the excise tax on petroleum products that are directly used by the masses, otherwise exempt such products from being imposed with the excise tax, provided the same are used for fishing and fishery activities.” Salazar also called on

the national government, especially the Department of Agriculture, to control the entry of fish imports into the country amid the situation. This will enable fishing operators and ordinary fishermen to sell their catches at favorable market prices, he said. Dubbed the country’s “tuna capital,” the city hosts six of the country’s seven tuna canneries and related industries that employ around 120,000 people. The industry exports around $57.89 million worth of fresh, chilled and frozen tuna annually to the global markets.

there has been significant developments in the domestic economy shifting to Alert Level 1 which added more than PHP9 billion per week.” Chua also hoped that

the entire country can shift to Alert Level 1 that will generate PHP16 billion per week of economic activity, and open all face-to-face schooling which will add PHP12 billion per week.

of five days, it will be four days. Instead of eight hours, it will be ten hours per day.) Chua said the country had already implemented such changes in the 1990s during the Gulf War and in 2008 when the fuel prices also increased then. “Ang epekto nito ay makakatipid din imbes na

araw-araw magko-commute, ay magiging apat na araw. Ito ay makakatulong din sa pag-manage ng ekonomiya natin,” he added. (Its effect will also help people save money because instead of commuting every day, they will be commuting only for four days. It will also help manage our economy.)

Standhardinger, who won in 2019 when he played for NorthPort. Now part of Barangay Ginebra, Stand-

hardinger is 11th in the race with 29.3 SPs, after putting up 15.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Gin Kings.

Irving’s points haul came 24 hours after the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns scored 60 in a victory over the Spurs. It is the first time different players have scored 60 points or more on consecutive nights in the NBA since 1962. It also came two days after team-mate Kevin Durant scored 53 in a weekend win over the New York Knicks. Irving admitted the friendly rivalry with Durant was spurring him on.

“Across the league guys are putting up crazy numbers, but when you have two guys on the same team competing, friendly competition, brotherly competition,” Irving said. “Of course we talk about it but we really want to be savants about this. We take the game seriously, we want to be efficient with it, and make everyone feel good. And prove to every team in the league we can be efficient defensively and offensively.” Irving admitted the ova-

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brain involvement are manifested, rabies is 100% fatal. What happens between the time you are bitten and then by the time it becomes fatal? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares the following sequence. Once you are bitten, the virus attaches to the cell membrane and begins to replicate its RNA inside the cell; the victim often shows no symptoms at this point. Rabies vaccination is needed at this time to abort the process. The virus slowly moves from the wound to nearby nerve and further replicates; virus then travels up peripheral nerves toward the brain and spinal cord. Once in the brain or spinal cord, viruses replicate in the nerve cells; during this period, flu-like symptoms develop. In addition, there may be itchiness around the bite site. Inside the brain, virus temporarily interferes with connections to other parts of the body; virus is likely to accumulate in the following brain parts: motor cortex (calls for brain signals to be sent through the spinal cord to body parts), hypothalamus (controls water and salt balance, thirst, arousal and basic functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and breathing), basal ganglia (important for learned movements), and cerebellum (facilitates smooth, precise balance and posture). Finally, the virus migrates from the nerves into the salivary glands; during this period, these symptoms appear: insomnia, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing and fear of water. “With death inevitable, doctors care for the patient in a dark, quiet room,” the CDC says. “The patient dies within a week, usually due to respiratory failure.” Rabies incubation – the time elapsed between exposure and when signs and symptoms first become apparent – can vary greatly. The typical incubation period, says the American Humane Association, is three to eight weeks. However, it can be as little as nine days or as long as several years in some rare cases. Any mammal can get rabies, according to petmd. com. Domesticated animals like cattle, carabao, pigs, goats and horses also have rabies. No rabies has been isolated from a bird, wild rat or rabbit, nor from such pets as white rats or mice, hamsters, or guinea pigs. In the Philippines, the two most carriers of rabies are dogs and cats. “People get rabies from

tion from the Orlando crowd had been a career first. “This is what the game is about, just bringing the love, performing well and doing it with a humble approach,” he said. Six other Nets players finished with double-digit points tallies, with Durant adding 19 points, Patty Mills 15 and Kessler Edwards 14.

scratch, lick or bite from a rabies-infected dog or cat,” the Davao-based Animal Bite Center (ABC) reminds. Although rabies is almost 100% fatal, it is also 100% preventable. The ABC urges that once you are bitten by an animal – whether infected or not – immediately wash the wound with running water. “Washing with soap and water for 15 minutes with lather formation kills the majority of the viruses,” it says. Applying antiseptic/ alcohol after wound wash kills the viruses further. “Do not apply chilly powder, leave’s milk or other irritants on the wound,” ABC warns. “They do not kill the virus but cause its further spread.” The Cleveland Clinic adds the following tips: Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage. Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor. Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound. “Animal bite is not an emergency case, there is no need to panic,” the ABC reminds. “Anti-rabies injection can be delayed by a day or two. However, if there is a massive nonstop bleeding or torn flesh, the nearest hospital can help you manage it.” An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes a saying. By administering vaccine and immunoglobulin at the right time to an animal bite victim, rabies can be prevented. There are two types of immunization: active and passive. Active immunization or vaccination, explains the health department, aims to induce the body to develop antibodies against rabies whose effect lasts for one to three years. Passive immunization, on the other hand, is the process of giving an antibody to persons bitten in the following instances: head and neck bites, multiple/ single deep bites, contamination of mucous membranes, licks in the eyes, lips and mouth. Passive immunization is done to provide immediate protection against the rabies, which should be administered within the first seven days of active immunization. Post-exposure treatment is given to persons who are exposed to rabid animals. It consists of local wound treatment, active immunization and passive immunization. By the way, there are also rabies vaccines available for animals. Dogs can receive the rabies vaccine as early as six to eight weeks of age, and cats as early as eight weeks, petmd.com says.

Cole Anthony led the Orlando scoring with 19 points. Brooklyn’s fourth consecutive win saw the Nets improve to 36-33 to keep their hopes of an automatic playoff berth alive. The Nets are eighth in the Eastern Conference, three wins behind the sixth placed Cavaliers.

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving drives against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of their NBA game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, USA, 02 February 2022. John Mabanglo, EPA-EFE

Irving casts spell over Magic with record 60

ets star Irving -- who had bagged 50 points last week in a victory over Charlotte -- delivered another performance for the ages against an outclassed Magic at Orlando’s Amway Center. Irving’s tour de force surpassed his previous career best of 57 points, set in 2015 while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a vic-

tory over the San Antonio Spurs. “I felt good,” Irving said after his epic display. “It really is a testament to the

way we’ve been gelling as a team -- us just giving each other confidence and doing the right things. “When you can get 60 in the flow of the game and it doesn’t seem forced, and you’re not putting up a few too many bad shots, and you come to the bench and guys are supporting you, telling you to go after the

record -- that makes the basketball worth it.” The 29-year-old Australian-born seven-time AllStar made 20-of-31 from the field, making eight of 12 attempts from outside the arc. A career-high performance for Irving looked inevitable after an explosive first half from Brooklyn.

The Nets piled on 48 points in the first quarter alone before adding 38 in the second quarter to lead 86-56 at half-time. Irving contributed 41 points in that devastating first half, leaving him only 16 shy of his individual record. He brought up 50 points -- the sixth half-century of

orthPort guard Robert Bolick is the frontrunner for the Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award in the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup. According to statistics shared by the league on Wednesday morning, Bolick has compiled 39.9 average statistical points (SPs) at the end of the elimination round, where he led the Batang Pier to a 5-6 win-loss record. Bolick led all locals in scoring at 21.8 points per game, as well as in assists (8.8) and steals (2.2) per contest. He also averaged 7.1 rebounds per contest. The 26-year-old Bolick highlighted his elimination round campaign with a 21-point, 17-assist performance in a 124-117 win against TerraFirma Dyip, and also had a 30-point, 11-rebound outing in a 116103 triumph vs. the Blackwater Bossing.

However, Bolick’s bid for his first-ever Best Player of the Conference award was dented with NorthPort’s failure to advance to the quarterfinals. The Batang Pier bowed to the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, 101-98, in their knockout game last Sunday. Challenging Bolick for the top spot are Phoenix Super LPG ace Matthew Wright (34.9 SPs), TNT super rookie Mikey Williams (33.9 SPs) and NLEX veteran Kevin Alas (33.55 SPs). Wright averaged 18.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game, and nailed the game-winner in Phoenix Super LPG’s win against NorthPort that sent them to the quarterfinals. Williams, meanwhile, has firmly established himself as TNT’s top scoring option, averaging 21.4 points along with 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. The

his career -- with a driving layup in the third quarter, prompting appreciative chants of “Kyrie, Kyrie” from the Orlando crowd. Two free throws saw him reach his record at 57 and then a magical threepoint pull-up from 26 feet saw him hit the 60-point mark.

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Northport’s Bolick is PBA’s BPC frontrunner N

NorthPort guard Robert Bolick (8) led locals in scoring and assists in the elimination round of the 2021 PBA Governors’ Cup. PBA Images.

Tropang GIGA beat NorthPort in overtime in their final elimination round game to assure themselves of a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals. Alas is putting up 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists as the top local option for NLEX, which placed second in the elimination round with an 8-3 win-loss record. Rounding out the top 5 is NorthPort forward Arwind Santos (33.5 SPs), who led the league in blocks with 1.8 rejections per game. The rest of the top 10 are as follows: Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra (33.3 SPs), June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer (32.5 SPs), Paul Lee of Magnolia (30.9 SPs), Mark Barroca of Magnolia (30.0 SPs), and NorthPort rookie Jamie Malonzo (29.8 SPs). The reigning BPC of the Governors’ Cup is Christian

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12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 305 • THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022

Exciting PBA quarterfinals I am making a fearless forecast. Of the highly favored teams that finished in the top four after the prelims in the Gov’s Cup - Magnolia, NLEX, TNT and Meralco - I am putting my marbles on the first two ballclubs to handle their assignments expectedly. With a twice to beat privilege, Magnolia (9-2) clashes against Phoenix which survived NorthPort in a playoff for the number 8 slot while NLEX (8-3) takes on unpredictable Alaska. However, TNT will have its hands full against a resurgent Barangay Ginebra with resident Best Import Justin Brownlee expected to dish out a yeoman’s job to avoid immediate ouster from the tournament. Coach Tim Cone is piloting an undermanned squad that survived scary games but has promised to give TNT a run for the money. The Kings don’t have Joe Devance, Stanley Pringle, Aljon Mariano and Jared Dillinger. Meralco is likewise unsure of its collision with San Miguel Beer. The Beermen has a prolific import in Shabazz Muhammad who is not scared banging bodies inside and under the basket against taller Pinoy opponents. Surely, coach Norman Black will need to devise a defensive concept to prevent the Beermen from gaining inspiration from Muhammad’s ala Superman do it all role. I mean, coaches Chito Victolero and Yeng Guiao of Magnolia and NLEX, respectively, won’t take their opponents lightly.

But at this time both bench strategists already have a distinct plan - offensively and defensively - to ensure their entry into the semifinals. It may not be politically right to say Alaska is demoralized because the team’s franchise is on the selling block but somehow the players may not possess the will power to move on and proceed under this atmosphere. Focus, in particular, will be on the TNT vs Ginebra tussle where hordes of Gin Kings fans will troop to the Big Dome to cheer their heroes and to boo the opposing team. Cone may have to concentrate on the hot-shooting Mikey Williams who is deadly even literally with just one eye open. No, I’m kidding. What Ginebra needs to do is to provide tall guys Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger the ball who will expectedly be defended furiously. JB will be left open for his long treys and should the TNT defense sag out, Japeth and or Christian must get the pass on a one-on-one inside. Chot Reyes, for sure, knows this. A double team on the low post is not far-fetched. Technical fouls will be called on both teams, I can see. Beautiful picture, huh? Exciting PBA basketball all throughout from Wednesday to Sunday gives us the necessary break from the pandemic fatigue. Ugh! (Email your feedback to fredumba@yahoo.com.). GOD BLESS THE PHIIPPINES!