Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 309 | Tuesdy, March 22, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

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Fresh sea produce are displayed at the wet section of Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Monday. Businesses at the city’s second biggest public market are experiencing minimal foot traffic since the oil prices skyrocketed due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Edge Davao

NEW THREAT LOOMS Sara announces no lockdown amid possible surge from new Omicron subvariant threat STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

NEW THREAT LOOMS Vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announces that there will be no lockdown in Davao City due to the possible surge due to Omicron subvariant threat. Edge Davao

Sara announces no lockdown amid possible surge from new Omicron subvariant threat Longest rural dev’t road network opens in DavOr

By MAYA M. PADILLO

direction for this upcoming surge wala gihapon ta’y lockdowns and home isolation sa mga dili nanginahanglan ug hospitalization,” the mayor said on Monday. The World Health Organization (WHO) described the Omicron variant of concern as currently the dom-

inant variant circulating globally because it has genetic mutations that could make it harder to distinguish from the delta variant using PCR tests, compared with the original omicron variant, BA.1. Mayor Sara said the city still has the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs) but not of the same number anymore. “Naa gyud ang atoang mga quarantine facilities pero dili ingon ana

kadaghan as our direction is we will allow home isolation na,” she said. The mayor urged the Dabawenyos to get vaccinated and have their booster jabs to be protected especially in the upcoming surge. “Sayo ta nagsulti sa tanan na magpa booster kay naay incoming surge and the projection is the surge will come in one to two months. So naa tay one or two months to get our booster,” Mayor Sara said.

talion (58IB) has neutralized three CTG members belonging to North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) during a series of encounters in the hinterlands of Barangay Plaridel, Claveria, Misamis Oriental on March 18. The killed terrorists were identified as Agay Taquin, Andrew Odiongan,

and Joan Pajardo. Troops also seized high-powered firearms and war materiel composed of a M16 rifle with magazine and ammunitions, a Carbine rifle with magazine and ammunitions, a KG9 rifle, five makeshift tents, personal belongings, and subversive documents. LtGen. Almerol said that

the continuous growing number of neutralized CTG members is a clear manifestation of the strong cooperation of the populace to ending local communist armed conflict. “With no letup in our intensified combat operations, coupled with the strong support from the Lo-

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that there will be no lockdown in Davao City due to the possible surge amid the Omicron subvariant threat.

“There will be an incoming surge and will be fueled by the subvariant of Omicron. Ang importante lang na hinumduman nato is ang atong mask dili nato hubuon kung naay laing tao and hubuon lang nato kung kinahanglan ta mukaon ug muinum. Ang atoang

ith the intensified focused military operations directed by LtGen. Greg T. Almerol to the maneuver forces of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) to put more pressure among the remnants of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), troops of the 402nd Brigade’s 58th Infantry Bat-

FNPA, P10

he Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Program (DA-PRDP) has recently opened the longest road network in Davao Oriental, expected to boost agriculture and economic productivity in rural villages. In a statement Monday, the provincial government of Davao Oriental said the road network stretches to at least 32.96 kilometers, covering eight villages: Barangays Macangao, Tagboa, New Visayas, and San Isidro (MATAVISAN) in the municipality of Lupon down to the Barangays of Libudon, Sanghay, Culian, and parts of Badas (LISACU) in the City of Mati. Started in 2017 and completed in 2020, the road network was formally turned over on March 16, 2022 in a ceremony in Barangay Macangao, Lupon, Davao Oriental, led by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang and graced by Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go. With a total project cost of PHP534.2 million, the road network was funded by DA-PRDP and the provincial government under the Conditional Matching

Grant to Provinces (CMGP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Abel James Monteagudo, DA-11 regional director, said the road network is one of the longest road projects implemented under the PRDP in the country, further extended through the DILG’s CMGP project. The PRDP paved 14.36 kilometers with funding of PHP218.1 million, while the remaining 18.6 kilometers with bridge component was sourced out from the DILG’s CMGP fund, amounting to PHP366.1 million. Monteagudo encouraged the people’s participation in managing the road, which is part of the PRDP’s community development, to ensure the proper usage and monitoring of the road’s condition. Economic growth Meanwhile, Dayanghirang said the road project would help stimulate economic activities and fight poverty. He also emphasized the road’s significance in ensuring peace and order in the communities and the fast delivery of government services to these far-flung

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

NEWS

Motorists traverse along Bolton Bridge 1, which is being used by north and south bounds vehicles after Bolton Bridge 2 was temporarily closed to give way to a repair. Motorists expressed their disappointment on the traffic situation in the area caused by the temporary closure of the bridge, which they said resulted to a higher fuel consumption. Edge Davao

City to issue ‘clean up’ EO to all local candidates By MAYA M. PADILLO

USEP med school gets overwhelming response

he University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) School of Medicine was overwhelmed with enrollees after it was launched last year, according to relectionist Senator Joel Villanueva. “According to USEP, overwhelmingly happy ang mga kabababayan natin dito na nangagarap maging doctor,” Villanueva said in an interview. Villanueva, who met with the officials of USEP and the Davao del Norte State College last week at DusitD2 in Davao City, authored Republic Act No. 11509 or the Doktor para sa Bayan Act that aims to produce more physicians by offering more scholarship opportunities to students. Scholars receive free tuition and allowances, including costs of undergoing review for the licensure exams. The law provides for a return service mechanism where the scholar “shall be integrated into the public health and medical service system and shall receive the appropriate civil ser-

vice rank, salary and related benefits. The scholar shall serve in a government public health office, government hospital, or any accredited government health facility ... for at least one year for every scholarship year availed of.” “Itong USEP gusto kong ibalita na itong Doktor Para sa Bayan libreng tuition, gadgets, uniform, internship, and insurance. When you passed the board exams you will be, there’s a guaranteed jobs available for you. May suweldo ito at kung ilang taon kang ginastusan ng gobyerno, yun ang taon din ang i-si-serve mo sa kapwa mo Pilipino,” Villanueva told media. In May 2018, USEP also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) as the MD program’s partner hospital. USeP, being the lone SUC approved by CHED to operate the MD program in the Davao Region, continues to live up to the University’s mantra of building dreams without limits.

FUSEP, P10

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Monday. Mayor Sara apologized to all the Dabawenyos as the postering and installation of tarpaulins will worsen in the coming days. “Mangayo ta ug pasensya sa mga Dabawenyos be-

cause this will worsen in the coming days especially na magsugod na ug postering ang atoang mga local candidates sunod semana. We intend to clean it up immediately after election day,” she said. The mayor said she can now see streamers and tarpaulins of the candidates in the city that are eye sore. “Magsugod na ang atoang campaign para sa atoang mga local candidates and duna tay ipagawas maybe today or tomorrow ang city government of

Davao na clean-up because sa pagka-karon makita nako na sakit sa mata ang mga streamers ug tarpaulins sa mga kandidatu,” the mayor said. It can be recalled that environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) Inc, called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and political candidates to implement an environment-friendly May 9 elections. This after the group

to provide authorities with information that will help fast-track the investigation on the murder of retired Colonel Rolen Balquin, the city public order and safety head. “We appeal to whoever may have witnessed the incident to help our investigators identify the suspect for the proper resolution of this case,” Cabalona said. Balquin, 60, also a for-

mer city police director, was shot by one of two assailants while he was about to alight from his service vehicle on Saturday along Sinsuat Avenue at past 9 a.m. Wounded in the same incident was his companion, Chief Master Sgt. Arial Gutang, 47, of the city police investigation unit. Balquin was about to attend the opening program

of a local tea house when the gunman approached his vehicle, briefly spoke to him, and opened fire. After firing several shots, the suspect casually walked towards a waiting motorcycle and fled southbound, police said. “Our investigators are now waiting for the wounded police officer who just got out of the operating

he city government of Davao is set to pass an Executive Order (EO) ordering all local candidates to create their own clean up teams who will immediately clean up their posters and tarpaulins after the election.

“We intend to come up with an executive order ordering all local candidates to create their clean up teams. We will ask them to clean up for three days. May 10, 11, 12 will be clean up days by teams coming from the local candidates,” said

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BARMM top police condemns killing of ex-city police director

he chief of the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) condemned Monday the killing of Cotabato City’s public order and safety department head, in an attack over the weekend that also wounded a police officer. In a statement, Brig. Gen. Arthur R. Cabalona also appealed to witnesses

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

Vendors like this woman selling “Bubbles” are back at the capitol grounds in Malaybalay City after Bukidnon province was placed under alert level 2 until March 31. Photo taken on Saturday, 19 March 2022 by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO / MindaNews

‘Ayuda not enough, suspend fuel taxes’: Some VP bets

government should also quickly distribute the P500 million fuel subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk, the P2.5 billion subsidy for the transport sector, and P6 billion unprogrammed fuel subsidy. “Kapag ang gobyerno ay mabilis kumilos, kapag ang gobyerno ay hindi natutu-

log, ika nga, at araw-araw binubusisi at tinitiyak na mare-release ito, makakatulong nang malaki ‘yan,” he said. (When the government acts quickly when the government is not sleeping, that is, and is investigating every day and making sure it is released, that will help a lot.) Senate President Vicente Sotto III also agreed that fuel excise taxes should be deferred, but added that the minimum wage in the National Capital Region should be raised to P1,000 per day, and P600 to P800

in regions. Sotto also proposed to give tax breaks to employers despite this resulting in lower revenue collection. “Di baleng gobyerno ang maghirap, huwag lang ang taumbayan. Sanay mangutang ang gobyerno eh pero ‘yung kababayan natin papatol sa 5-6 eh para lang may makain di ba o para lang may madagdag sa negosyo nila,” he said. (It’s ok for the government to suffer, not the people. The government is used to borrowing, but our countrymen will rely on the 5-6

as reported. At the Trabajo Market, increases were recorded in the prices per kilogram of chicken to P180 from P170; kasim/pigue to P370 from P350; liempo to P420 from P340 to P360; tomatoes to P140 from P80; ampalaya to P140 from P100; and carrots to P140 from P100.

The same trend was recorded at the Commonwealth Market — chicken at P140 to P165 from P120 to P140; bangus to P240 from P200; kasim/pigue at P330; liempo at P350; tomatoes to P100 from P60; broccoli and carrots to P120 from P100; pechay baguio to P70 from P60; eggplant to P60 from

P50; and ampalaya to P150 from P100. This comes amid 11 straight weeks of increases in pump prices of petroleum products, with gasoline prices up by P7.10 per liter and diesel by P13.15 per liter on Tuesday alone. A number of domestic

he P200 aid to be given to poor families to help them cope with high fuel prices is not enough, several Vice Presidential candidates said on Sunday during the debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections.

Some of the candidates said the government should also suspend the fuel excise taxes. “Kaagad-agad mararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan yan (That will be immediately felt by our countrymen),” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan. Pangilinan said the

F’AYUDA, P10

Prices of food climb amid series of pump price hikes

rices of basic food items have increased by as much as P60, following the 11 straight weeks of increases in the pump prices of petroleum products in the country. Market sellers indicated the increases are due to the higher costs of transporting products from the suppliers,

FPRICES, P10

Jobs await Filipino workers in Canada

ore employment opportunities will soon be available to Filipino workers as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) formally signed a labor cooperation agreement with the government of Yukon, Canada. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Minister Ranj Pillai inked the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the employment and protection of Filipino workers in a virtual ceremony on March 18. “The Memorandum of Understanding that we are signing not only strengthens our bilateral labor relations but will also enhance our cooperation in the protection, recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers in Yukon,” Bello said in a statement on Sunday. The agreement aims to facilitate the deployment of Filipino workers under the Yukon Nominee Program, which is driven by employers looking to fill critical vacancies unoccupied by Canadians or permanent

residents. The MOU will be implemented by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Yukon’s Department of Economic Development. The agreement provides that employers and their agents, including immigration consultants, are prohibited from charging any fees for recruitment services and selection. Both Bello and Pillai welcomed the MOU, which was negotiated starting in 2019. “It has been almost three years since we’ve met and signed the Philippines-Yukon Joint Communiqué in Whitehorse, Yukon. The Joint Communiqué paved the way for the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and Yukon on the Employment and Protection of Filipinos under the Yukon Nominee Program,” Bello said. The screening of qualified Filipino applicants will

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

ECONOMY

Motorists have their vehicles refilled with petroleum products at a gas station in Bo. Pampanga, Davao City. Oil firms announced they will cut the prices of diesel by P11.45 per liter, Gasoline by P5.45 per liter and Kerosene by P8.55 per liter starting today. Edge Davao

Electricity rates in Mindanao expected to increase: MinDA

SEC establishes office to monitor lending firms

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is creating an office that would monitor lending companies as part of its crackdown against illegal and abusive lenders, the Department of Finance said in a statement Sunday. “We are also creating a Financing and Lending Companies Division within the SEC to focus exclusively on the regulation and monitoring of these entities,” said SEC Chairman Emilio Aquino in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the statement read.

Dominguez had earlier asked Aquino to intensify the SEC’s measures against illegal and abusive lending companies, most of whom charge “very high” interest rates. Aquino said the SEC would focus its campaign against abusive lending companies following complaints that some of these firms “threaten” or “insult” borrowers. The regulator has an online team that “conducts regular sweeping operations, monitors all complaints, and

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lectricity rates in Mindanao are expected to increase following the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine affecting the global supply of diesel and price movement of coal in the global market, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) assistant secretary Romeo Montenegro said. Montenegro told MindaNews on Friday that majority of Mindanao’s generation mix comes from fuel sources, particularly diesel and coal, which are easily affected by external factors such as market volatility and fluctuation in foreign exchange. According to the data released by MinDA, Mindanao has a total system capacity of 2,751 megawatts (MW).

Out of this total, coal sources account for more than of Mindanao’s generation mix at 1,490.5MW or 54%; 523.2 MW or 19% diesel; 591.2 MW or 21% hydro; 75 MW or 3% geothermal; 56.9 MW or 2% solar; and 14.9 MW or 1% bio, according to the data released by MinDA. Montenegro explained to MindaNews on Saturday that 21% hydro refers to

fuel increase, the fuel has become around 40-50% of their operational cost. This is a big blow at them. So now, there has been an increase in fuel for a long time but they have only recently increased their fare.) With deregulation, Empedrad noted that some companies are set to increase by P25 to P50. He however said that they will still call out those who will increase their

“available capacity at the time of reporting.” He said some plant units are on maintenance shutdown but in terms of installed capacity, hydro is at 25%.” Mindanao used to depend on the hydro power plants for 70% of its power needs. Montenegro said the Agus-Pulangi hydro power was “around 55% in 2010, and together with Mt. Apo Geothermal and some biomass, made up 70% of renewal energy in Mindanao mix during that time.” “If we backtrack,” he added, “hydro was over 70%, some 20 years ago or before the ccommissioning of Steag 210 mw coal in 2006.” “Spike in rates is likely, with diesel accounting for

19% of Mindanao’s generation mix. With world market prices of coal spiking as well, then it’s going to result in a bigger rate impact to consumers since coal dominates Mindanao’s generation mix at 54%,” he said. A series of fuel price hikes has been implemented as a result of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Montenegro said this is the downside reality of a grid, which is heavily dependent on fuel sources. He said the cost variations for fuel spikes are recovered by power industry players through Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) and passed on to electricity consumers. To address similar prob-

hicles (PUV) are eligible to receive the fuel subsidy worth worth P6,500, the Landbank said. The bank added that it was closely coordinating with the transportation department and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to distribute the aid. “LandBank is one with the National Government in providing immediate support interventions to PUV drivers to weather the im-

pact of the fuel price surge,” said LandBank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo. Aside from jeepney drivers, LandBank said that it is also rolling out the subsidy for drivers of UV express units, minibuses, buses, shuttle services, taxis, tricycles, and other fulltime ride-hailing and delivery services nationwide. Drivers may get Pantawid Pasada at designated LandBank branches identi-

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MARINA: Several shipping companies may A total of 87,500 jeepney drivers get increase rates due to fuel price increases fuel subsidy amid fuel price hikes

everal shipping companies may increase their rates due to the successive fuel price hikes, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said Monday. MARINA administrator Robert Empedrad explained that in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, they requested the ship owners not to increase their rates, to which they abided with. However, the recent fuel price hikes are al-

ready causing a big impact on their shipping business, he added. “Hindi sila nag-increase for two years. Pero ‘yung fuel increase kasi, ‘yung fuel it’s around 4050% operational cost nila eh, gastos nila. So ang laki ng dagok sa kanila no’n. So ngayon, matagal nang may increase ng fuel pero lately lang sila nag-increase ng pamasahe,” he said. (They did not increase for two years. But with the

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bout 87,500 jeepney drivers in the entire country have received fuel subsidies to help them cope with soaring oil prices, the Land Bank of the Philippines said on Saturday. The Landbank said as of March 17, it has credited up to P569 million to the said drivers, who are cardholders of the Pantawid Pasada program. More than 377,000 drivers of public utility ve-

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

In saying that there will be no lockdown in Davao City even with a new possible surge due to the Omicron subvariant:

There will be an incoming surge and will be fueled by the subvariant of Omicron. Ang importante lang na hinumduman nato is ang atong mask dili nato hubuon kung naay laing tao and hubuon lang nato kung kinahanglan ta mukaon ug muinum. Ang atoang direction for this upcoming surge wala gihapon ta’y lockdowns and home isolation sa mga dili nanginahanglan ug hospitalization.” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Real threat There’s another threat looming in the horizon and it only signifies one thing--Covid-19 will be here for a little more time.

variant of concern.

WHO described the Omicron variant of concern as currently the dominant variant circulating globally because it has genetic mutations that could make it harder to distinguish from the delta variant using PCR tests, compared with the original omicron variant, BA.1.

However, precautions must be carried out everyone. The most glaring concern is the massive crowd gathering at political rallies leading to the elections in May. Whilst candidates and their camps are celebrating each time they get big crowds, those who feel the urgency of the threat can only shiver in fear.

The latest Omicron subvariant was confirmed by no less than the World Health Organization (WHO).

As most Dabawenyos have been either double vaccinated or boosted, the threat may not be as fearsome as was previous variants when vaccination hasn’t been rolled out yet. But with vaccination, the imminent threat could be just that, a threat.

This only means the threat is no joke. Whilst we are already adapting to our adopted roadmap for Covid to be treated as an ordinary common cold, this new threat cannot be underestimated. Hence, the WHO refers to it as a

There are still “what ifs” prevalent in how we deal with the contagion. Letting our guards down and allowing a mob is simply a recipe for major disaster.

EDGEDAVAO

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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

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY! Have you ever encountered a person telling you, “I am sick with worry”? That, my friend, is much more than a mere expression designating worry. Well, that person is not alone. One doctor said that 50% – that’s half – of his patients have definite worry symptoms. The word “worry” comes from the Greek word merimnao which is actually a combination of two words: merizo meaning “to divide” and nous meaning “mind” (including the faculties of perceiving, understanding, feeling, judging, determining). In simpler terms, worry means “to divide the mind.” As Arthur S. Roche explains it, “Worry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” Dr. Charles H. Mayo agreed: “Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, and the whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died of doubt.” John Edmund Haggai, author of How to Win Over Worry, wrote: “Worry divides the feelings; therefore, the emotions lack stability. Worry divides the understanding therefore convictions are shallow and changeable. Worry divides the

faculty of perception therefore observations are faulty and even false. Worry divides the faculty of judging; therefore, attitudes and decisions are often unjust. These decisions lead to damage and grief.” There are so many things that worry us. Let’s enumerate some of them. We worry about what the future holds for each of us. There are those who are worried about not meeting the expectations of other people. A few worries about not beating the deadline. Some of the things that most people worry about include health, business, children, clothes, taxes, debts, food, trips, loans, and mortgages. Grenville Kleiser penned this short but meaningful quote: “They worried, still they worried; they worried, but alas! They worried about a lot of things that did not come to pass.” When I was still in high school, I was always worried about not paying my tuition fees on time or else I won’t be able to take the examination. I also agonized of not doing my assignments, writing my home reading reports, etc. Some worries are results of past or currents actions. A corrupt politician is worried that his constituents may find out that he cheated during the

past election. A philandering husband worries about being caught by his wife. A man with many girlfriends could not sleep well knowing that his conquests may know that they are seeing the same man after all. When in doubt, don’t ever think ahead. “Heavy thoughts bring on physical maladies; when the soul is oppressed so is the body,” Martin Luther told us. “Don’t chain your worries to your body,” Astrid Alauda reiterated. “The burden soon becomes heavy and your health will give too much of itself to pick up the extra load.” There was this anecdote from a book 1000 Stories You Can Use. Let me share one which drive a point about worrying. At one time, a pilgrim met the Plague going to Baghdad. “What are you going to do there?” asked the pilgrim. “I’m to slay 5,000 people,” boasted the Plague, with a hideous leer. The pilgrim shuddered and changed his plans. However, sometime later he encountered a refugee from the stricken city and learned that not 5,000 but 50,000 people had died. Soon after, he met the Plague again, traveling to another city. “You lied,” accused the pilgrim. “You

said you were going to slay only 5,000 people.” “My friend,” explained the Plague as pleasantly as he could. “I did kill only 5,000, and the rest of the 50,000 died from being frightened.” How true indeed, were the words of John Lancaster Spalding, “We are more disturbed by a calamity which threatens us than by one which has befallen us.” Worry won’t kill you if you face problems squarely and solve them. But sidetrack those problems and internal tensions increase. Repression of our natural safety valves causes these tensions to find outlets in the stomach, heart, blood vessels, etc. And this will eventually kill you, says a psychiatrist. English motion picture producer J. Arthur Rank is said to have his own special way of handling worry. He decided to do all his worrying on one single day, Wednesday. He has what he calls his “Wednesday Worry Club.” When a worry occurs to him on any other day, he writes it down and puts it in a box. And, of course, when he opens the box on Wednesday, he finds that most of the things he was disturbed about have already been settled. The rest, he says, he puts

back in the box to take up the following Wednesday! In this way, he is curing himself of the worry habit. Mark Twain pointed out, “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.” Don Herold knew that well. “If I had my life to live over,” he said, “I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.” An old story tells of an angel who met a man carrying a heavy sack on his back and the angel asked him what was in it. “My worries,” replied the man. “Let me see them,” the angel said. When the sack was opened, it was empty. Then, the angel asked him, “Just what are you worried about?” The man answered, “Just two things: yesterday and tomorrow.” The angel asked him again, “Why worry about them? Yesterday is gone and too late to worry about. And tomorrow isn’t here yet. So how can you worry about it?” John Newton declares, “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of tomorrow before we are required to bear it.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

REBEL ATTACKS AT PUNTA LINAO At the height of the insurgency in Davao region, the eastern seaboard (i.e., Davao Oriental), which hosts nu-merous settlements populated by Islamized tribes, was not spared from the influence of Moro secessionist movement. Punta Linao eventually became one of its tar-gets. On September 8, 1984, around 6:00 p.m., about 50 mem-bers of the Bangsa Moro Army, a unit of the Moro Na-tional Liberation Front (MNLF), attacked the place. They used three hijacked Ford Fiera cabs when they surprised a police-military checkpoint at Punta Linao, Banaybanay. Hit in the initial salvo was Cpl. Jaime Andrada, who later died, while a militiaman was wounded. Despite their wounds, the two engaged the rebels in an aggressive firefight. Cpl. Andrada managed

to run and fire the cali-ber 30 submachine gun; unfortunately, it jammed. As the sentries sought cover, the secessionists ransacked the pa-trol base and seized the submachine gun and an Armalite rifle before retreating to their predestined pick-up point. A September 11, 1984, People’s Daily Forum account (‘NPA, MNLF hit checkpoints in separate raids’) filed by Dol Oñez reported that the attackers, armed with a M-79 launcher, fled to the direction of Cuison logpond in sitio Mugbongcogon, where three pump boats waited for them. A military pursuit operation under M/Sgt. Felipe Vil-laflor caught up with the band while inching close to their destination. A 45-minute skirmish ensued. Though equipped with more superior firearms, the rebels had to escape on foot af-

ter running out of ammunition. Not to be left behind, the New People’s Army (NPA), twelve hours later, attacked Manikling, in the town of San Isidro, by strafing a Philippine Constabulary (PC) check-point. At 5:30 a.m., September 9, a dump truck and Ford Fiera cab loaded with rebels numbering around 150 stopped fif-ty meters from the patrol base. The leader even greeted the sentries but the soldiers were promptly alerted after seeing the group was carrying very high frequency (VHF) radios! Without delay, the troops sought cover and fired the first shots that forced the insurgents to withdraw. The reports did not mention any casualty on the side of the in-truders but two paramilitary troops were wounded in the exchange of fire. On their way out of the pursuing soldiers, the rebels com-

mandeered two pick-up trucks as back-up as they fled towards the villages of Macamao and San Roque. They also seized an Armalite rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition before escaping to the hills of Calapagan. Three weeks later, a September 29, 1984 report in the same paper cried: “Two PC sergeants and a corporal were killed while five other soldiers were wounded in separate clashes with dissidents of the New People’s Army in Ba-naybanay, Calapagan and Punta Linao, Davao Oriental.” These attacks apparently enraged Davao Oriental gov-ernor Francisco Rabat who issued a statement saying the peace and order condition in his province had deteriorat-ed, directly blaming Maj. Salvador Daang, then the PC provincial commander, for the death of the soldiers.

As a result, Rabat, who claimed the NPA strength in the province had by then tripled, especially in the coastal towns, was accused of intervening in purely police-military affairs. The rift between the two eventually reached Camp Crame and got the attention of higher au-thorities. Lt. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, then director-general of the PC-INP, however, advised Maj. Daang to resolve his dis-cord with the governor, saying the “civilian government is supposed to be supreme over and above the constabu-lary and the police.” Curiously, in his report to the PC-INP chief, Rabat did not mention the MNLF secessionists who were allegedly “enjoying his administration’s benevolence and toler-ance” but selectively focused on the atrocities committed by insurgents!

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

At the opening event of the “Bai Chromatica” exhibit.

Jing Rabat’s “Bougainvilla”

BAI CHROMATICA EXHIBIT CELEBRATES WOMEN AND THEIR COLORFUL WORLDS Dabawenyo women’s artist group Bai Hinang, returns to the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao with the launch of it’s Women’s Month art exhibit, Bai Chromatica last March 15, 2022 after almost two years of absence due to the pandemic.

Featuring Davao artists, Dadai Joaquin, Trixie Borbon, Tanya Gaisano Lee, Amor delos Santos, Jing C. Rabat, Aimee Manangan Suarez, Kristin Gaid, Amanda Echevarria, Elenita Dumlao, Jane Ramos and Nina Custodio, Bai Chromatica, which is the amalgamation of the indigenous word “Bai” for women and “chromatica” for color, is the third time the group is exhibiting at the lobby of the landmark Davao hotel and is part of Bai Hinang’s thrust in advocating for issues about women.

In her welcome address, Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s hotel manager, Jennifer Romero shares the strong partnership between the property and the artist group. “For years, we have partnered with Bai Hinang to launch multiple exhibits in support of different causes. Now, we celebrate the month dedicated to all women around the world, we bring you Bai Chromatica: Reflective Radiance.” The group exhibition features a spectrum of different

Tanya Gaisano-Lee’s “Oranda”.

Abstract artist Aimee Suarez. Watefront Insular Hotel Davao’s Jennifer Romero. artistic styles from Dadai Joabackgrounds and upbringing. can materialize on a canvas. quin’s impressionist vistas, to Sharing the group’s mesViewers will get a feel of how Tanya Gaisano Lee’s contemsage, Amanda Echevarria said personality worms its way into porary pieces, and Amanda that “This exhibit educates the each brushstroke, color choice Echevarria’s surreal blooms. eyes regarding art styles and and artistic subject.” The exhibit is an amalgamaartistic approaches. It gives the The Bai Chormatica art tion of female talent coming viewers a sneak peak of the exhibition will run until April from a diverse set of cultural dynamic visual art styles that 10, 2022.

AmandaEchevarria and her surrealist blooms.

Dadai Joaquin and her impressionist works.

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hat has been lost can never be restored but what remains can still be saved, managed and enhanced. Such is the case of watershed, defined as an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet. This is perhaps the reason why the non-government organization Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability Inc. (IDIS) urged the Davao regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to review the Watershed Code before issuing permits to cut trees. It must be recalled that on August 18, 2021, a Private Land Timber Permit (PLTP) was issued to LingLing Wu Lee who, according to some reports, will cut 121 native trees – 22 agoho, 4 bagtikan, 14 lauaan, 44 tanguile, and 35 ulian – in Mounts Macabol-Alikoson Conservation Area (MMACA). The Watershed Code of Davao City has classified it an “environmentally critical area.” What was more alarming is that the area – which is located in sitio Falcata,

Macabol, barangay Salaysay in Marilog District – is a reported nesting site of the endangered Philippine eagle. When the DENR-Davao learned all these, it made a suspension order to the issued PLTP. “(We remain) committed to render public service with utmost quality and integrity and shall always consider the welfare of the general public to be balanced with our wildlife conservation measures especially the Philippine eagles and the forest ecosystem functions as a whole,” said Bagani Fidel Evasco, DENR regional director. “The office,” he added, “is also committed to implementing its mandate and priority programs guided by laws, rules, and regulations.” In order not to repeat the same incident to happen, the MindaNews quot-

Without trees in those mountainous areas, water will immediately go down causing floods in the lowland areas.

ENVIRONMENT

If the watershed is not protected, the water crisis will be rampant in the coming years.

SO MUCH ADO ABOUT

WATERSHEDS Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ed a statement issued by IDIS executive director Atty. Mark Peñalver stated that the Watershed Management Council “passed a resolution last February 4 urging DENR-Davao to consider the Watershed Code before allowing cutting activities within the watershed areas.” In addition to the WMC resolution, Peñalver said “the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) passed Resolution No. 7 last February 16 requesting the City Council of Davao to require the DENR to secure zoning compatibility certification for all tree cutting permit applications in the city.” The cutting of trees growing in watershed areas will definitely affect the water volume from aquifers. “We cannot talk of providing sustainable water to the people unless we protect the sources of the commodity – the watersheds,” said Elisea Gozun, former environment secretary. “A watershed needs

trees in order to absorb rainwater when it channels into streams, rivers and eventually dams where human communities source fresh water,” Rappler’s Pia Ranada wrote. “A typical tree breathes out 250 to 400 gallons of water per day through its leaves, humidifying the air,” Ranada explained. “This process, called evapotranspiration, is responsible for most of the rain that falls inland, far from oceans. Thus, without trees, there is no rain and it is rain that supplies much of the freshwater humans need to live.” Dr. Patrick Durst, former regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said the main benefit trees provide is helping to intercept precipitation and facilitate its infiltration into the soil and ground water storage areas. The trees in the watershed areas also help reduce erosion of soil by “breaking the fall” (that is, the impact)

Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land area of the country.

of rainfall that might otherwise dislodge soil particles upon harsh impact, Durst added. “Trees, through their leaves and branches, intercept rainfall,” the former FAO official explained. “But more importantly, healthy forests’ ground cover – organic litter, twigs, small plants and fallen leaves, among others – help trap water and hold it until it has an opportunity to soak into the ground soil.” In addition, roots – whether alive or decaying – provide additional pore space above that of normal soil texture for water to infiltrate into the ground.

“This is the reason why local springs and streams maintain a healthy flow when surrounded by protected micro-watersheds,” Durst pointed out. Father Pedro Walpole, of the Environment Science for Social Change, Inc., said that in a watershed, there is the interrelation of many resources. “There are (also) ecological services that a watershed provides such as delivery of water as part of the water cycle, stable land-water dynamics, nutrient cycles, and a diversity of life forms,” he explained. As such, “watershed management is not just a

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cal Government Units and the populace, we are optimistic that we can achieve our goals to put an end to the communist armed conflict in Eastern Mindanao and finally make way for unhampered peace and development,” LtGen. Almerol expressed. The EastMinCom Commander also lauded the troops for the recent accomplishment, saying that these are crucial to the attainment of EastMinCom’s campaign for peace and development in Eastern Mindanao. He also commended the active participation of the populace of Misamis Oriental who gave timely and vital information on the presence of the armed group. “Your unwavering passion and strong determination to pursue the remaining CTG make our vision of an insurgency-free country closer to its realization,” LtGen. Almerol said. Meanwhile, LtGen. Almerol expressed that he had continually encouraged the remaining members

of CTG to yield and offered them a second chance but some have still chosen the hardest option, which led to their demise. “Time and again, we have given them the opportunity to live a new and peaceful life through the programs of government. The death of the three terrorists is an example that to those who will not heed will surely fall at the hands of government security forces,” he said. He also reiterated his call to the remaining members of CTG to peacefully surrender and emulate their comrades who have already chosen the path of peace. “For those who will choose to surrender, various government services through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) are waiting on your return. For those who will remain, we will relentlessly hunt you down until you will have no other option but to lay down your arms,” LtGen. Almerol added.

communities. “By providing necessary infrastructures to support the people’s livelihood, we are assured of advancing development and reducing poverty among our people,” Dayanghirang added. Joselyn Recaña, 46, a resident of Barangay Culian in the City of Mati, said that their income has significantly increased since the newly paved road was opened. “Before the roads here were paved, our crops were damaged even before they reached the market. Farmers here get a meager income because of the damaged crops. But now, with better roads, we also earn a better income,” Recaña said. She added that delivering their produce to other municipalities is no longer a problem, as trucks collecting their crops can go

directly to their village. Katherine Magadan, 46, a farmer and a laborer from Barangay Tagboa, said that the concrete road provided respite to the villagers who used to endure badly rutted and muddy roads. “Before these roads were paved, we endured flooded roads and numerous potholes. Now, we easily go to other locations without any trouble, and the drive time is shortened,” she said. Erwin Barabag, village chief of Barangay Macangao, thanked the government for the project, saying it has provided relief to the residents. “We don’t have to worry about road maintenance because the road here is already concreted. We also transport our people easier, especially in emergencies,” he said. (PNA)

firms have also implemented a temporary price rollback, giving a slight reprieve from the successive hikes. The Department of Energy (DOE) has maintained that the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has hit global prices, which in turn impacted domestic prices. Latest DOE data show that year-to-date adjustments stood at a total net

increase of P13.25 per liter for gasoline, P17.50 per liter for diesel, and P11.40 per liter for kerosene as of March 8, 2022. The same data revealed that prices in Metro Manila range from P59.85 per liter (Caloocan) to P84.55 per liter (Muntinlupa) for gasoline, and from P55.20 per liter (Pasig) to P73.39 per liter (Taguig) as of March 10, 2022.

begin as soon as the implementing guidelines are approved by the Joint Working Committee to be represented by Consul General Maria Andrelita Austria, Deputy Consul General Arlene Magno, and Vancouver Labor Attaché Jainal Rasul Jr. Bello, who was accompanied by DOLE Assistant Secretary Alice Visperas and Rasul, signed the MOU at the Philippine

Consulate in New York; while Minister Pillai, who was accompanied by some Filipino community leaders in Whitehorse, Yukon, signed the MOU at the Philippine Consulate in Vancouver. There are approximately 5,000 Filipinos in Yukon and most of them have already become permanent residents or Canadian citizens. (PR)

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CITY... FROM3 observed election materials such as tarpaulins and banners of candidates that are already visible in different areas in Davao City. IDIS is expecting that more of these types of wastes will be added to the current waste

issues of the city at the start of the local campaign on March 25, 2022. The group stated that election campaigns produce tons of trash and only a fraction of it is likely to be recycled.

Meanwhile, Villanueva said there are still 900 municipalities in the country with zero doctors. He said

the country would be needing 12, 600 doctors every year until 2030. By Maya M. Padillo

room for a stomach gunshot wound to get his statement and possible identity of the suspects,” Cabalona said. Cabalona added that investigators are combing through footage of the closed-circuit security cameras for the possible identity of the perpetrators. Investigators found 10 spent shells for a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene. Authorities are still determining the motive of the attack. Cotabato City Mayor

Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi also issued a statement strongly condemning the attack on Balquin. “I am writing this message with anger sa mga taong may gawa nito sa kanya (to the people who did this to him). He was a good friend and a dependable colleague,” Sayadi said. “We may lay Col. Balquin to rest, but we will not rest until you are captured. Remember that,” she said, asking Cotabateños to help fight all forms of lawlessness. (PNA)

schemes just to have something to eat or just to add to their business.) He also suggested a shift to renewable energy. Walden Bello also panned the proposed P200 ayuda. “Talagang parang binibiro lang tayo ni Pres. Duterte with that (It really seems like Pres. Duterte was joking with us with that),” Bello said. He added that aside from excise taxes, the VAT on oil should also be suspended, as well as the country’s payment for its non-securitized foreign debt. Rizalito David also agreed that the P200 ayuda was not enough, and that fuel excise taxes should be suspended. But beyond this, the government should also extend aid to small businesses. “Kailangan talaga nating buhayin ‘yung ekonomiya, buhusan ng pera ‘yang maliliit na negosyo para

dumami ang kabuhayan at bumalik na tayo sa dati nating level na pamumuhay,” he said. (We really need to revive the economy, invest in small businesses to increase our livelihood, and return to our previous standard of living.) For his part, Dr. Willie Ong said that we should still look back into resolving the COVID-19 pandemic and the resolution to the economic crisis will follow. “Balik tayo sa problema, kailangang malutas ang pandemic para malutas natin ang ekonomiya,” he said. (Let’s go back to the problem, the pandemic needs to be solved for us to solve the economy.) Carlos Serapio proposed to give “energy relief” to households, which would enable them to produce their own electricity. Serapio was not able to elaborate on this.

goes through the different social media platforms to check on possible abusive or illegal lending practices,” said Aquino. For 2022, the SEC began its intensified crackdown with a “successful operation” against Cashtrees Lending Corp, according to the DOF statement. Majority of online lending applications (OLAs) handled by Cashtrees — such as Goodpocket, Easymoney, 365 Cash, and Rushloan —

are unregistered with the SEC, the regulator said. Forty-six employees, including the manager of Cashtrees Lending, were arrested for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act and the Lending Company Regulation Act (LCRA), Aquino said in the statement. The SEC said it revoked the registration of 2,081 firms and “secured” the conviction of 76 individuals in 8 cases for violating the LCRA.

fied by the LTFRB. The cards can be used to buy fuel at participating gas stations nationwide.

2022. Industry estimates show that oil companies may lower their prices of dieselbyP11toP11.70per liter,gasolinebyP6toP6.20 per liter, and kerosene by P8.70 to P8.80 per liter.

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After 11 consecutive oilpricehikes,arollbackis projectedtobeimplemented next week, the first for

matter of managing water but of managing the land that delivers the water and coordinating the people in that management,” Fr. Walpole urged. It’s just a matter of time until the country will experience a water crisis as its watersheds continue to be destroyed. “A watershed is a watershed is a watershed,” said the late Paz L. Lopez when she was the DENR head. “Many of our watersheds have been denuded,” commented Leila C. America, another science research specialist of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). “As a result, accelerated soil erosion, flash flooding, and drought have become more prevalent causing much destruction.” Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land of 30 million hectares. The Philippines has a total of 110 proclaimed and 154 priority watersheds with a total land area of 1,376,455.10 hectares and 11,690,695 hectares, respectively. “Watersheds provide vital resources, which include soil, water, forest range, wildlife, and minerals,” America noted. “Water is a key watershed resource that can be used for power generation, agriculture, industry, domestic, drinking and others.” A DENR report said that 90% of the 99 watershed

areas in the country are “hydrologically critical” due to their degraded physical condition. Massive destruction of the once-productive forested watersheds by illegal loggers and uncontrolled land use from mining, overgrazing, agricultural expansion and industrial utilization have contributed to water depletion. Davao was one of the cities that was identified as one of the nine major cities as “water critical areas” in a study done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The eight others were Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Angeles, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga. “The rapid urbanization of the Philippines, with more than 2 million being added to the urban population annually, is having a major impact on water resources,” notes the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its Asian Water Development Outlook some years back. In Davao City, contributing to the forthcoming water crisis is the destruction of the watersheds. There are eight of them, including the Talomo-Lipadas watershed located in Toril District. “These watersheds are natural reservoirs for the pristine potable water that has been certified as one of the world’s cleanest drinking waters,” IDIS says.

for Gold’s Ronnilan Quita was third in 1:17:16. Meanwhile, Excellent Noodles racing captain Santy Barnachea announced that he would retire for good after de-

laying it to lead his squad to a solid performance. “I’m retiring after 25 years in cycling, I will focus on coaching,” said the 47-year-old two-time Ronda winner.

lem in the future, he said MinDA is “promoting accelerated renewable energy deployment” under the “distributed generation strategy,” which “promotes greater local participation, along with local government units and local electric coops or distribution utilities opting to have the renewable energy power projects as embedded generation.” Montenegro said that as of March 17, most units of Agus Hydro Power Complex and Pulangi IV are in normal operation, except for Agus 6

Units 1 and 2, and Pulangi IV Unit 1 which are under planned shutdown for preventive maintenance this month. Majority of the hydropower source of the island comes from the state-run Agus-Pulangui Hydroelectric Power Complex, comprising seven hydroelectric plants such as Agus 1, Agus 2, Agus 4, Agus 5, Agus 6, and Agus 7 in the Lanao provinces and Pulangui 4 in Bukidnon. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews with a report from Carolyn O. Arguillas)

rates by 100% as it will also greatly affect the passengers. “Ang sa ‘min, titignan lang namin kung excessive,butagainit’sstillde-

raise their prices.) President Rodrigo Duterte recently approvedprovidingaP200 monthly cash aid or “ayuda”insteadforpoor householdsforanentire yeartoeasetheimpactof fuel price hikes. Finance Secretary CarlosDominguezIIIon Tuesdayadmittedthatthe amountofP200monthly for a year for poor householdsmightnotbe enough but he pointed out that this is what the governmentcanaffordto provide as of this time.

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regulated.Waladinkamingmagagawadiyan,but tocontinuouslyengage withshipownersna‘wag namansilamagtaasngexcessive,” he said. (We’lljustcheckifit’s excessive, but again it’s stillderegulated.Wecan’t doanythingaboutitbut tocontinuouslyengage withshipownersandask themnottoexcessively

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VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

SPORTS

Ronald Lomotos of Navy Standard Insurance crosses the finish line to emerge as champion of the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas.

Navy’s Lomotos is new Ronda king B AGUIO CITY — Navy Standard Insurance’s Ronald Lomotos cruised through the 10th and final stage on Sunday as he emerged as the champion of the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas that ended at the Burnham Park of this mountaintop city.

Lomotos, 27, was with the group that included his team captain and closest pursuer Ronald Oranza when he crossed the finish line of this 3.1-kilometer criterium at 20th place in an hour, 17 minutes and 50 seconds. After 10 stages of more than 1,000 kilometers of flat roads and mountain passes from different cities

and towns starting in Sorsogon, the San Felipe, Zambales native has crowned himself Ronda king with a cash purse worth P1 million. “I still can’t believe I’m now LBC Ronda Pilipinas champion,” said Lomotos, who finished second overall behind Navy teammate George Oconer in the last edition of this annual cy-

cling spectacle two years ago. In all, Lomotos has an aggregate time of 35:31:38, edging Oranza, who finished second in 35:31:59. The 29-year-old Oranza, the 2018 winner who was met by his whole family at the finish line, fell to second place after coming close to snaring his second crown after entering the penultimate Santiago, Isabela-Baguio Stage 10 as the red LBC jersey wearer. But Oranza came seconds short of achieving his goal after Lomotos rose from the ashes and delivered a performance to re-

member in the mountains of Kayapa and Bokod, Nueva Vizcaya. Oranza pocketed P400,000 for his effort. The two Ronalds’ efforts capped what had been a dominating race by Navy Standard Insurance, who had three others ending up in the top 10 — El Joshua Carino (No. 3, 35:50:32), Jeremy Lizardo (No. 4, 35:50:43) and John Mark Camingao (No. 10, 36:12:17). The other top 10 finishers were Excellent Noodles’ Joshua Mari Bonifacio (35:51:46), Go for Gold’s Jonel Carcueva (35:53:57), Excellent Noodles’ Jan Paul

Morales (35:55:23) and Joshua Pascual (35:56:34) and Team Nueva Ecija’s Marcelo Felipe (35:58:53). Navy also claimed its seventh Ronda team crown with a total clocking of 103:56:27 while claiming other individual awards — Oranza (Twin Cycle Gear King of the Mountain), and Jeremy Lizardo (MVP Under-23 and Gogo Express Top Rookie). Ironically, the only trophy Navy failed to snare was the award that its patron is sponsoring — the Standard Insurance Sprint King plum — that went to Felipe. Excellent Noodles, a

team managed by Alex Billan, for its part, had an exceptional Ronda debut as it finished second in the team race in 35:56:34, while sending 12 of its riders to podium finishes including six stage wins that was capped by Ryan Tugawin’s victorious Stage 10 effort in 1:17:15. “Having riders in the podium finish in all 10 stages and ending up second overall is already a blessing,” said Billan, who has been competing and patronizing executive races before joining Ronda for the first time. Oconer was second with the same clocking while Go

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FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

AWESOME, AMAZING GINS Defending titleholder Brgy. Ginebra, in fantastic fashion, rolled over TNT twice to turn the twice-to-beat deficit around and breakthrough into the semis of the PBA Gov’s Cup. Import Justin Brownlee teamed up anew with Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio and the doit-all Scottie Thompson to send a fearful message that their struggle in the prelims helped shape the Kings for tight games. Hey, don’t forget about John Pinto. Ever modest, JB said he had to make adjustments as he was playing for the first time with Christian Standhardinger who was acquired in a swap with NorthPort for the seven footer

Greg Slaughter. My fearless forecast in my last column proved correct as Magnolia and NLEX, which finished 1-2 in the elims, slew their rivals although the Road Warriors had to go through a do or die match versus the Alaska Aces. Sister team San Miguel Beer however was cut down to size by a solid Meralco crew. Coach Leo Austria blamed the setback on his team’s “lack of chemistry” which was very apparent during that sorry loss. The Hotshots will cross swords against the Bolts while Ginebra continues to make a blitzkrieg against NLEX in what could be the central focus of the conference.

Coach Tim Cone has a much more stellar line-up but he is also undermanned because playmaker Stanley Pringle is out on injuries along with Jarred Dillinger and defense specialist Aljon Mariano. The Road Warriors have lost Kiefer Ravena to the Japan pro league a situation where coach Yeng Guiao has successfully mended by molding his boys into a well-knit platoon. Though always the underdog, Kevin Alas and friends have displayed the motivation that in basketball a team is composed of five people who play with coordinated confidence and precise defensive system. The semis are a different

level, two notches higher than the prelims and a notch higher than the quarters. Which means that the performance of JB will be measured anew in the five-game series against NLEX. Guiao already knows how to defend agaisnt Cone’s big men men. He worries more about JB and Thompson who is emerging an an MVP material. Stopping this duo on their tracks and preventing them from registering huge outputs will spell victory for Guiao. If I know YG, he will assign two or three guards on JB to hound and stalk the Ginebra import from opening bell up to game’s end.

In the same manner, Thompson who carries the ball alternately with Tenorio, will be confronted by a “physically” healthy and speedy NLEX guard. The NLEX mentor saw what JB and Thompson did to TNT. The pair was simply amazing like the Spiderman adjective. The pressure is on Tim Cone. Sorry that Magnolia and Meralco are sidelined for a awhile. The entire country is gaga over Brgy. Ginebra. Lucky for NLEX as it shares the spotlight. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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VOL.14 ISSUE 309 • TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2022

The Meralco Bolts show off their giant replica check after winning Leg 4 of the PBA 3x3. PBA

HK ENTRY T

PBA gives guest team Bay Area Dragons the red carpet

he Philippine Basketball Association braces for its first foreign guest team in more than two decades as the Bay Area Dragons are set to come on board in next season’s Governors’ Cup. The Dragons, who are Hong Kong-based, will be composed of players from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei, are expected to arrive in the country by August of this year and will make Manila as their temporary home base as they compete simultaneously as well in the East Asia Super League (EASL). The EASL is set to kick off its new home-and-away format by October. The entry of the Dragons as guest team in the league’s 47th season was officially announced Monday during a virtual presser attended by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial and EASL co-founder Henry Kerins and Matt Beyer, who is also the league CEO. Bay Area is the first foreign guest ballclub in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league since UBC Thunderbirds and the US Pro-Am selection were seeded to compete in the quarterfinals of the 2004 Fiesta Conference. Beyer expressed gratitude to the PBA Board for allowing the entry of the Bay Area Dragons during its meeting two weeks ago, which he and Kerins both attended to make the formal presentation. “I am very grateful for the PBA and its support of the EASL, and for welcoming the Bay Area

Dragons to the PBA. We’re honored the PBA is willing to host the Dragons, and we’re excited for what lies ahead,” said Beyer. The Dragons are also going to be reinforced by an import standing 6-foot-6 and below as based on the current height-limit in the Governors’ Cup. The team, according to Beyer, will be competitive enough to contend for the title. “This is going to be half-national team level Chinese players. We’re going to have all of the top players from Hong Kong and we’re also going to have top players from Chinese-Taipei, who are coming into the free agency cycle from the P.League+,” added the EASL official. Marcial welcomed the opportunity for PBA teams to take the measure of a foreign ballclub. “Same system, same format, and they can be the champions of the Governors’ Cup,” said Marcial. At the same time, the commissioner added the entry of the Dragons is a plus-factor for the league in many ways. “This is a great opportunity for the PBA. Hindi lang sa income, it’s also for awareness and additional fans,” said Marcial. “Maybe the Chinese community will watch the PBA.”