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NO ROSA Sara slams RoSa reports, says she values word of honor STORY ON PAGE 2
Residents make a quick stop over near a bridge that is being built as part of Davao City Coastal Road project at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao
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NO ROSA
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio says she is a leader who values word of honor and emphasizes that her President is Uniteam’s Presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The mayor issued the statement as various groups are teaming her up with other Presidential bets. Edge Davao
Sara slams RoSa reports, says she values word of honor By MAYA M. PADILLO
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here is no RoSa as far as Sara is concerned. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded the public and her supporters that she is a person, a woman, a leader who values commitment and word of honor and emphasized she is running for the position of Vice President and her presidential bet is runningmate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The mayor issued the statement as various groups are toying with the idea of teaming up Mayor Sara with other Presidential bets, specifically opposition bet Vice President Leni Robredo. “The presidency was the option for Apo BBM as it was for me. I chose the vice presidency,” the mayor said. Some groups and allies are now pushing a Robre-
do-Duterte (RoSa) 2022 tandem and even tagged the team-up “Women of Steel”. Vice President Leni Robredo was also reported expressing her willingness to work with anyone, including Mayor Sara, should they secure the country’s highest posts this upcoming election. There are also groups pushing for Isko-Sara tan-
he time for political junking is here. With the elections drawing close, alignment of forces are expected. The first breakdown took place between former allies Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson and Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez? This after Alvarez an-
heart, many members of Partido Reporma are constrained to consider a candidate other than their first choice. “We reasonably believe that the only realistic option at this point, with roughly a month and a half left, is to converge with Leni Robredo’s campaign. Together, we will pursue the realization of our collective
aspirations to improve the chances of ordinary Filipinos at a better life,” he said. Alvarez added that the Reporma members and officers concerned, they positively, but realistically, view the opportunity to help ensure that the Leni Robredo campaign is strengthened and further represented by additional sectors of soci-
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Alvarez dumps Lacson, endorses Robredo
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nounced on Thursday that Partido Reporma, which he is the president, is now endorsing the presidential candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo in the May 2022 elections, which according to reports led Lacson to resign from the said party. In a statement, Alvarez said it was a hard choice to make and with a heavy
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TUCP files petition for P418 daily wage hike in Davao
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he Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed a petition for a P418 increase in the daily minimum wage in Region 11 before the Regional Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-Davao Region in Davao City on Thursday. If approved, the current daily minimum wage of P396 will increase to P814. Representative Raymond Mendoza, president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), led the filing of the petition. He said there is a need to increase the wage as the current daily minimum wage of P396 can only accord workers and their families nutritionally deficient survival meals. “Ang suweldo karon is not survival wage, di ba ingon ta living wage ang abton, it’s a statement by itself nga kana living wage. Every one of us enshrine the constitution kay ang kasunod ana survival wages, like explained ganiha poverty threshold wages nga pareho sa survival. Ang nahitabo karon kay below poverty wages man, dili kay poverty wages, below pa gyud,” Mendoza said in an interview. In a statement, the group stated that the labor center said that poverty incidence in the region remains prevalent due to low wages and income of workers and their families. The group also cited the 2021 First Semester Poverty Incidence Among Families released by the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA), poverty incidence that was 7.9 percent in Davao del Sur; 13.6 percent in Davao del Norte; 24.5 percent in Davao Oriental; 31.7 percent in Davao Occidental; and 21.8 percent in Davao de Oro. TUCP stated that based on 2021 government data, P13,619 per month is the poverty threshold for Davao Region compared with the current minimum wage of only P10,296 per month, with a purchasing power of only P9,242.37. “The fact that our minimum wage earners have become the newly poor is a blatant injustice that must be seriously and urgently addressed by the government,” Mendoza said. TUCP said that with the current minimum wage of P396 in Davao Region it can only afford a measly P14.48 a meal per member of the family which is P46.69 lower compared to P61.17 per meal per person estimated by the Ateneo Policy Center using the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Pinggang Pinoy model, and the March 2019 PSA Media Service Market Price of Selected Commodities. “For the food requirement, meron ding nilabas ang gobyerno, ang FNRI ng DOST kasama niya pa DOH, at World Health Organization 2019 figures pa ito na ginagamit namin kasi wala pang update. Ang kailan-
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On rumors of a Robredo-Sara (RoSa) combination in the May elections:
Once again, let me reiterate that I am aware that many of you wish to see me with another presidential candidate. I take that as a sign of confidence in me as a leader. And for that, I am truly deeply touched and honored. When we agreed to form the UniTeam of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, we both agreed to run together with the singular purpose of improving the lives of the Filipinos and making the Philippines a stronger country.”
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio
EDITORIAL Why Pinoys must not be complacent COVID-19 is again surging in Western European countries like Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
a daily record of 300,000 infections.
In addition, China has subjected millions of their people to lockdowns due to a similar surge of COVID-19 cases.
There must be no letup in the vaccination rollout. Let’s continue listening to the experts, especially that we are in the midst of an electoral campaign wherein sometimes as many as 100,000 people converge totally forgetting social distancing.
Reports yesterday said the uptick is due to a “perfect storm” of their governments’ lifting pandemic restrictions, waning immunity and the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, according to experts.
Western Europe and China are seeing dramatic resurgence of infections in recent days. One example is Germany which has
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EDGEDAVAO
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VANTAGE POINTS
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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!
WHY FORESTS ARE IMPORTANT Last March 21, the world celebrated the International Day of Forests (IDF). The celebration was “not just to recognise the importance of healthy forest ecosystems in our daily lives, but also to remind ourselves of the urgency to protect and conserve this overdrawn natural resource,” said the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) in a statement. ACB is an intergovernmental regional center of excellence that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “A biodiverse region that boasts of high levels of species endemicity, the countries of the ASEAN harbour over 200 million hectares of forest, encompassing at least 60% of the world’s tropical peatlands and over 40 per cent of mangroves,” the ACB says. “These forests are critical habitats to diverse forms of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world.” The Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) agrees. “Forests are vital not only as habitat of various species of flora and fauna but also yield numerous benefits such as source
of water, provision of raw materials and other forest products for food, medicine, construction materials and many other uses,” says BMB, a line agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “Forests also serve as carbon sink which help mitigate the effects of climate change, act as our natural defender against natural disasters and many more ecosystem services,” the BMB adds. The State and Outlook of Agroforestry in ASEAN (2021) reports that environmental disasters in the region cost over US$122 trillion from the year 2000 to 2020, affecting over 324 million people. Biodiversity (short term for biological diversity) abounds in forests. “Our protected areas have more than 2.5 million hectares of forest cover which also serve as repositories of discovered and undiscovered biological genetic materials,” the BMB points out. Despite these benefits, however, the ASEAN reported major forest declines during the last four decades, losing almost half of its total forested areas due to persistent anthropogenic drivers. While the rate has slowed down, if not abated, the degra-
dation of forests in the region will result in grave challenges, both for people and biodiversity. “In a region where half of the population directly or indirectly depend on forest resources, restoring the health and wealth of the region’s forest ecosystems is a crucial step towards nature-positivity,” the ACB stated. “Where have all our forests gone?” asked Jethro P. Adang, director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC). “Why are we losing our trees at a very fast rate?” Some experts believe logging operations, legal and otherwise, are mowing down the country’s remaining forest cover. Over the past 50 years, 400 logging companies operated in the country, reports the Environmental Science for Social Change. The Rev. Peter Walpole, a Jesuit priest who heads the environmental group, said the Philippines “trusted” logging companies to cut down trees and manage the forest. “But they did a very bad job,” he decried. “That started the problem that we have now.” Environmentalist and wildlife photographer Jose Ma. Lo-
renzo Tan, in an article he wrote for a national daily, reported that when Ferdinand Marcos came to power, “serious deforestation began.” Before Marcos became president, there were only 58 companies issued with timber licenses; it swelled to 412 during his presidency. “Forests were decimated at an astonishing rate of 300,000 hectares per year,” Tan deplores. In 1989, the government imposed a lumber export ban in an effort to save the country’s forests from uncontrolled illegal logging. The following year, the ban was quietly lifted, but was reinstated after loud criticism. But despite this, logging continues. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the lead agency responsible for the country’s natural resources and ecosystems, is virtually powerless against logging. Aside from logging, other causes of deforestation in the Philippines are forest fires, slash-and-burn farming (locally known as kaingin), mining operations, geothermal explorations, dam construction and operation; and land development projects such as construction of
subdivision, industrial estates, and commercial sites. Volcanic eruptions have also devastated some of the country’s forests. Ditto for typhoons, which have devastated considerable hectares of forest cover. Look what Yolanda and Odette had done. The country’s surging population – currently totalled 86.6 million – has also contributed to the problem. At least a fourth of the total population live in the upland areas, where most trees are located. “They (the uplanders) denude forests and turn them into kaingin farms,” wrote the late Vicente Tirol in a report for the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. “When the thin topsoil of the mountain slopes can no longer support their crops, they move on, denuding more forests.” As a consequence of the continuous removal of forest cover, particularly those in the uplands, the Philippines now experienced different environmental problems. “Most of these were not seen in such intensity and magnitude before our time,” Adang deplored. “The signs cry out for immediate, nationwide attention.”
ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD
THREE SUPER TYPHOONS Over the last 110 years, Davao has been a recipient of three of the most devastating tropi-cal cyclones, also known as super typhoons, to hit Mindanao. As anticipated, the immense destruction the typhoons brought cost thousands of lives and inflicted ginormous property losses. Based on missionary letters, the 1912 storm entered Mindanao via the northern sector of Baganga and south of Cateel on November 27 before crossing the Agusan River between Ja-tiva (now San Roque, Haguimitan, Monkayo) and Compostela town. The observation was made by the people on board the steamer Fernandez Hermanos in Bislig waters and in the sta-tion of Davao. As a result, the convent at Manay, Davao Oriental, had its roof entirely removed, and the church and neighborhood de-
stroyed. At Manurigao and Baculin, the story was no different. Baganga was completely destroyed, while only five houses remained standing in Cateel. Fr. Raimundo Villa, S.J., assigned in Cateel, revealed that the people told him that no ty-phoon of equal severity had been felt in the place since the municipality’s existence. The same 1912 tropical cyclone was so damaging the defunct Washington Herald, citing a cable dispatch to the U.S. Bureau of Insular Affairs, screamed: ‘15,000 die in Philippine storm.’ ‘The typhoon,’ the article goes, ‘swept the Visayas and is said to have practically destroyed Tacloban, the capital city of Leyte, and to have wrought enormous damage and loss of life at Capiz.’ A century later, super typhoon Yolanda (internationally
known as Haiyan) ravaged the same regions, resulting in the death of roughly the same number of casualties. Fifty-eight years later another megastorm visited Davao region. Super typhoon Titang (in-ternationally known as Kate) was a Category 4 super typhoon with a highest sustained wind of 240 kph. The howler made landfall 45 km south of Davao City on October 18, 1970, and was categorized by the Hawaii-based Typhoon Warning Center, which issues tropical cy-clone warnings in the northwest Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean as a super typhoon. The cyclone ruined more than 5,000 houses, 631 people were confirmed killed, 284 were listed as missing, and the total damage cost was estimated at P250 million in properties, ‘mak-ing it one of the cost-
liest typhoons on record at the time.’ On December 4, 2012, Monkayo became one of the most devastated towns after storm ‘Pablo’ (internationally known as Bopha) ruined everything in its path. It had the lowest alti-tude super-typhoon (252+ kph) to hit landfall anywhere in the world and was classified as Category 5 in the international Saffir-Simpson Tropical Cyclone Scale. Records show that 7,947 residences were totally destroyed while 1,062 houses were par-tially damaged, or a total of 20,009 structures were affected. The death toll was 95, while the injured reached one hundred fifty-nine, with six persons missing due to landslides and flash floods. The town’s agricultural resources were mowed down by strong wind at 320 kph and the
howler was classified as Signal No. 5, the highest in the typhoon scale. At the height of the storm, which landed in Baganga, Davao Oriental, the town’s major waterways overflowed. As collateral damage, a wide swath of planted wood species uprooted, rice fields soaked in waist-deep water, forest vegetation scraped, cornfields flattened, rural gyms mangled beyond repair, school buildings stripped of roofs, concrete bridges cut in two, and roads rendered impassable. The tropical storm ruined over 12,000 hectares of banana farms valued at P225 billion, including the cost of replanting. Rehabilitation of plantations alone required P7.7 billion. On the other hand, estimates placed the collective destruction in agriculture, infrastructure, and public works, and loss of income at P50 million.
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Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president Congressman Raymond Mendoza, together with ALU-TUCP national vice president Eva Arcos, answers questions during a news presser after filing a petition for a P418 daily minimum wage increase in Davao Region before the Regional Wages and Productivity Board 11 (RTWPB 11) on Thursday. Edge Davao
South Cotabato governor endorses retention of open-pit mining ban
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In a virtual meeting on March 9, the PDC approved the resolutions passed by the body’s Social Development Committee, the Institutional Development Committee, and the Disaster Risk Reduction / Climate Change Adaptation Committee upholding the controversial ban on open-pit mining in the area. “May this request war-
rant the preferential attention of this honorable body,” Tamayo said in his letter to the provincial board. Tamayo chairs the PDC, which is composed of mayors, members of the House of Representatives and non-government organizations in the province. Rene Pamplona, a resident of South Cotabato and chair of Alyansa Tigil Mina, welcomed Tamayo’s endorsement of the PDC resolution to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. “This is a welcome move as it represents the
sentiments of the stakeholders in the province. We commend the provincial government for heeding the demands of the residents of South Cotabato. We have been anxious that by reviewing the ban on openpit mining, the provincial government would cave in to corporate lobby. We are happy it stood with the people,” Pamplona said in a statement. In a letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan dated March 10, Tamayo endorsed PDC Resolution No.
million beneficiaries will benefit from the additional subsidy, which will cost the government an estimated PHP20 billion just for three months. “Ang excess revenues naman na ito ay manggagaling either sa dividends ng mga government corporations or doon sa excess VAT collections as a result noong pagtaas natin ng value ng petrolyo. So sa halip na pakinabangan iyan ng gobyerno, kumbaga ibabalik sa taumbayan – iyong pinakamahirap nating ta-
umbayan, iyong ayuda na ito (The excess revenues will come either from the government corporations’ dividends or from excess VAT collections due mainly of oil price increases. So, instead of the government benefiting from it we will return it to the people –the poorest of them– as a subsidy),” she said. Canda said the government has no other excess source of funds for the additional 4Ps subsidy for now aside from the excess VAT and GOCCs’ dividends be-
cause the government has doubled its PHP2.5 billion subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and by PHP600 million the subsidies for the agriculture sector. “Excess revenues lang ang inaasahan natin dito, sir, kasi iyong mga regular nating mga collection ay para din sa mga ongoing na proyekto, mga existing na programa ng gobyerno (We can only source the funds from excess revenues, sir, because our regular collec-
outh Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr. has endorsed a resolution for the retention of the 12-year-old ban on open-pit mining in the province.
Green groups lauded Tamayo for endorsing the resolution favoring the retention of the ban on openpit method approved by the Provincial Development Council (PDC) of South Cotabato to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which is hearing petitions to lift the controversial prohibition on open-pit mining method.
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Excess VAT collections, GOCC dividends to fund more subsidies
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xcess value added tax (VAT) collections, boosted by oil price upticks, and dividends from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) will be used for the additional PHP500 subsidy for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. During the Laging Handa public briefing aired over the state-owned PTV-4 on Wednesday, Department of Budget and Management acting Secretary Tina Rose Canda said around 13
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PH education moving towards ‘hyflex’ in new normal: Lenovo
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he Philippine educational system is moving towards a “hyflex” or hybrid and flexible setup where educators and students do not need to be physically in the same room all the time to learn, an official of major computer maker Lenovo said on Wednesday. As the government slowly allows schools to resume face-to-face classes as COVID-19 infections decline, Lenovo Philippines general manager Michael Ngan said education will not likely be going back to purely physical classes. “Hyflex will stick in the new normal,” Ngan said during an online briefing on the company’s EdVision initiative. Classes can be conducted with students physically present in the room, but there can also be students tuning in remotely online, with the teacher monitoring their presence on a big screen at the back, Ngan said. While some students may want to attend classes physically, others may not and schools will need to accommodate them. “The hybrid classroom is here to stay,” Ngan said.
There is more to online or hybrid learning than simply having teleconferencing systems lie Zoom or Teams, he said. One challenge for educators implementing hybrid learning setups is ensuring that students who go to classes online will have the same level of engagement as those in in-person classes. Ngan said a major concern is distraction, as students may instead be drawn to playing games, or searching Google or browsing social media. Lenovo, he said, has a system that addresses this which allows the teacher to control the device of the student during class hours. “Lenovo, as an intelligent education solutions provider, is enriching the hybrid learning experience by providing solutions that make the modern classroom more interactive and collaborative for both students and teachers, as these will be the key to keeping students engaged with both their peers and their lessons,” Ngan said. The Philippine educational system was not prepared to go digital when the
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ECONOMY
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Workers replace old and busted bulbs in preparation for the reopening of Roxas Night Market in Davao City on Thursday morning. Edge Davao
DavSur coffee farmers dominate PCQC anew Palace: EO on econ recovery preparation for ‘new normal’
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he adoption of the 10-point policy agenda for the country’s economic recovery is not an “exit plan” solely from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, Malacañang said Thursday. In a press statement, acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the policy agenda is part of the preparations for the shift to the “new normal”. “We do not share the view that this is the current Administration’s exit plan, for this forms part of the country’s preparation to build resilience under the New Normal,” Andanar said. Andanar issued the clarification after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday signed Executive Order (EO) 166 directing all government departments and offices to adopt the 10-point policy agenda to hasten the recovery of the Philippine economy from the impact of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. Under EO 166, all state departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled
corporations and state universities and colleges, are mandated to ensure that all related policies, measures, and programs are aligned with the adopted policy agenda. Andanar expressed optimism that EO 166 would also be implemented by the succeeding administrations. This, as he likened the new EO to the current administration’s adoption of EO 168 which was signed by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2014 to create the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines. “Unless Executive Order No.166 is modified or revoked, it would remain effective and operational,” Andanar said. EO 166 aims to sustain current economic gains, minimize the Covid-19 pandemic’s long-term adverse effects, and restore the country’s development trajectory. It orders the government offices to strengthen healthcare capacity; accelerate and expand the vaccination program; further
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avao del Sur coffee farmers have proven to be the producers of the best Arabica coffee in the country as they cement their position in the top ranks of the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition this year. Marifel Dela Cerna and Cherry Gil Cabanday of the Balutakay Coffee Farmers Cooperative (BACOFA COOP) snagged the Top 1 and Top 2 ranks, respectively, in the Arabica category. The two coffee farmers bested all 45 entries submitted nationwide in this year’s PCQC under the Arabica category. Dela Cerna now joins the ranks of Davao del Sur’s
Marites Arellano and Marivic Dubria, who also topped the Arabica category in 2021 and 2019, respectively. Dela Cerna credits her success to her mentors and to all institutions that helped their cooperative including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DA), ACDI/VOCA, among others. She encouraged her fel-
low coffee farmers to continue persevering and keep pursuing their goals. “Dili lang gyud sila (coffee farmers) mawad-an og paglaum, magpadayon sila ug maningkamot sila (Never lose hope, carry on and work hard),” Dela Cerna stated. In the same category, seven more coffee farmers made it to the Top 12 finalists namely Ronald Dicdican (Top 5), Cecilia Cavalida (Top 6), Jhon Lawrence Dela Cerna (Top 7), Marilyn Tibog (Top 8), Leizel Silvano (Top 9), Rosemarie Rupecio (Top 10) and Jerry Lapasigue (Top 11). Moreover, Dela Cerna also got the special award
on the Best Arabica Coffee – Washed Process while Cabanday got the Best Arabica Coffee – Natural Process. Ronald Dicdican of Loon Coffee Farms won the special award on Best Arabica Coffee – Honey Process. The awarding ceremony was held on March 18, 2022, at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City. “Both the BACOFA Coop and Loon Coffee Farms are beneficiaries of various DTI programs like the RAPID Growth Project, Shared Service Facilities Project, Kapatid Mentor Me Program, OTOP Next Gen, among others,” DTI Davao del Sur
mance, the airline told the stock exchange. It flew 3.4 million passengers for the year with 34,463 flights, 32 percent lower than the previous year due to 2020’s high base with close to 4.4 million passengers flown in the first quarter, Cebu Pacific said. Cebu Pacific said it generated P15.7 billion in revenues in 2021, 30 percent lower compared to 2020, mostly due to the decline in passenger revenue to P6.3 billion from P12.6 billion in
2020. Cargo operations, meanwhile, “continued to flourish” in 2021 with record sales of P6.5 billion, up 20 percent compared to 2020, the airline said. “Amidst the losses and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, CEB stayed resilient and ensured its long-term sustainability,” is said. “Aside from its cost-saving initiatives, it successfully raised over $1.6 billion from various fund-raising
initiatives. This not only allowed for an even longer liquidity runway but also resulted to a stronger balance sheet,” it added. Airlines are betting on “revenge travel” to spur demand as Metro Manila and over 40 other areas in the country shifted to Alert Level 1. With increasing sales, Cebu Pacific said it is expecting to recover to its pre-pandemic domestic capacity by the second quarter of 2022.
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CebPac posts net loss of P24.9 billion in 2021
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ebu Pacific on Wednesday said it incurred a net loss of P24.9 billion for 2021 due to the continued impact of mobility restrictions to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. The optimism brought by the rollout of the vaccination program against the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year was offset by new variants which caused a surge in cases and strict lockdowns that “tempered growth” of its operations and financial perfor-
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More infra projects in DavNor this 2022 under B3: DPWH 11
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he Province of Davao Del Norte will receive more infrastructure and road network projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the Build, Build, Build Program this year, DPWH XI said. Davao Del Norte received P4.631B worth of infrastructure and road projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this year with over 192 projects now being implemented, said DPWH XI Information Officer, Dean I. Ortiz in a radio interview today, (Mar. 23). Ortiz also said that this budget will increase given that we are still in the first quarter of the year. “As a little background sa atong budget history, nagsugod ta atong 2017 sa P4.8B nga budget sa Davao Del Norte. Sa una naa lang sa less than P1B ang atoang budget diri prior to this administration. Sa 2018 nakadawat tag P3.6B. Sa 2019 anaa sa P2.6B. Pag-abot ug 2020, P3B ug pag-abot ug 2021, P3.5B ug karong 22 naa sa P4.6B pa lang so musaka pa na. So for the past 5 years under the Build, Build, Build Program we have already accumulated P22.35B worth of budget from the national government 1,487 projects have been implemented (As a little background on our budget history, we started 2017 with a P4.8B budget in Davao Del Norte. At first, our budget here pri-
or to this administration was only less than P1B. In 2018 it received a P3.6B. In 2019 it is at P2.6B. By 2020, P3B and by 2021, P3.5B, and now in 2022, we already have P4.6B now and it will still go up. So for the past 5 years under the Build, Build, Build Program, we have already accumulated P22.35B worth of budget from the national government 1,487 projects have been implemented in Davao Del Norte alone),” said Ortiz. He mentioned the road widening projects in the City of Tagum specifically the intersection in Daang Maharlika and the CDRRMO facility in Canocotan, Tagum City via San Miguel, Tagum City going to the Provincial Capitol of Davao Del Norte which would take only 7 minutes. Ortiz also mentioned the Carmen - Tagum City Coastal Road which is an ongoing project now except that some parts are having problems with occupants’ right of way. However, DPWH is coordinating with the Provincial Engineers Office and City and Municipal Engineers Office of concerned LGUs to ask the occupants to pave the way for government projects to be implemented. Access roads to Agusan Del Sur and San Fernando, Bukidnon will soon be open via Davao Del Norte routes which Ortiz called as the missing gaps in the region to ease the travels of the residents in Davao Region.
2022-01 or “PDC Resolution Supporting to Uphold the Environment Code in Banning the Open Pit Mining in the Province of South Cotabato.” The governor also endorsed to the SP the adoption and approval of PDC-ENRM-DRR/CCA Committee Resolution 2022-01, PDC Social Development Committee Resolution 2022-01, and PDC Institutional Development Committee Resolution 2022-01, all of which resolved to uphold the ban on open-pit mining. “We call on the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of South Cotabato to listen to the clamor of the people as represented by the PDC. As officials directly elected by the people, the SP must heed the call to uphold the ban on open-pit mining in the province,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM national coordinator. Pamplona said that “the ban on open-pit mining is for the protection and for the general welfare of the people of South Cotabato.” Spearheaded by the local Catholic Church, at least 93,453 signatures opposing the lifting of the open-pit mining method have been submitted to the provincial board.
Sagittarius Mines, Inc., operator of the Tampakan project, earlier revealed in a study that the most viable way to extract the minerals is through openpit mining. The Tampakan project is touted as the largest undeveloped copper-gold minefield in Southeast Asia and among the biggest of its kind in the world. It has the potential to yield an average of 375,000 tons of copper and 360,000 ounces of gold in concentrate per annum in the expected 17-year-life of the mine. Sagittarius Mines has repeatedly vowed to employ “responsible mining” in the Tampakan project. The Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), which campaigned for the repeal of the Mining Act of 1995, stressed that “only the ban stands in the way of the Tampakan project, one of the largest openpit projects in Asia that residents fear will destroy the environment.” This resolution is a good sign that the provincial government itself will eventually uphold the open-pit ban enshrined in the landmark environmental code of South Cotabato,” said Maya Quirino, LRC advocacy coordinator. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)
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Hawaii. “Mindanao is the most culturally diverse island in the Philippines where people of different languages, tribes and races meet,” someone commented. “As a melting pot of different cultures, it creates a more distinct culture which is not present in other island groups in the country.” The merging of cultures of various inhabitants has caused certain conflicts, and at times bitter warfare has raged between Christian and Muslim Filipinos. This resulted in “cycles of displacement,” which have affected various areas in the island. In Central Mindanao, for instance, cycles of displacement have peaked during the first decade of the 21st century. Norwegian Refugee Council, in its 2009 report, “Cycle of conflict and neglect: Mindanao’s displacement and protection crisis,” noted that after decades
of “low intensity conflict” in Maguindanao between 1976 and 2000, then President Joseph Estrada’s “allout war” strategy declared in 2000 led to the displacement of more than 930,000 individuals. The decade that followed has been marked by “a cycle of violence” and “resumption of peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front” that sought to establish an independent Islamic state in Maguindanao. A World Bank study said that between 2000 and 2010, four out of ten households (41%) said they have experienced displacement: 29% reported displacement caused by armed groups’ movements, 9% identified ridos (blood feuds), and 9% identified other causes, such as economic displacement (3%) or natural disasters (2%). Armed groups’ movements were by far the most
reopen the economy and expand public transport capacity; resume faceto-face learning; reduce restrictions on domestic travel and standardize local government units’ requirements; and relax requirements for international travel. It also mandates the national government to accelerate digital transformation through legislative measures; provide for enhanced and flexible emer-
gency measures through legislation; shift the focus of decision-making and government reporting to more useful and empowering metrics; and undertake medium-term preparation for pandemic resilience. The Department of Health has classified all areas in the country as low risk for Covid-19. From March 14 to 20, the country has reported around 3,572 new coronavirus infections. (PNA)
OIC-Provincial Director Maria Victoria Placer shared. “And coming here in the awarding ceremony, we felt very elated seeing how our coffee farmers are reaping the fruits of their hard work. Events like the PCQC motivate our farmers that if they commit to produce quality coffee through good agricultural practices, be eager to learn and be open to new technologies, wonderful opportunities will swarm them,” OIC-PD Placer added. During the awarding ceremony, young farmers Lendilou Loon and Jastine Mae Dubria were also giv-
en recognition as Youth in Coffee awardees. The PCQC is an annual green coffee competition that seeks to increase the consciousness of Filipino farmers on coffee quality and encourages them to improve their competitiveness in the domestic and international markets. The DTI, DA, ACDI/ VOCA, Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia and the Philippine Coffee Guild have organized PCQC since 2017. They seek to promote Philippine coffee locally and internationally, specifically Arabica and Robusta. (PR/DTI-Davao del Sur)
tions are for ongoing projects, the existing programs of the government),” she added. Canda said the additional subsidy for PUV drivers and the agriculture sector
will be released to the Department of Social Welfare and Development by April since the Bureau of the Treasury is expected to release a certification by end-March. (PNA)
pandemic hit two years ago, he said, noting that there was a scramble for devices during the first year. While the pandemic sped up digitalization, there are still of lot of laggards when it comes to adopting digital learning, he said. Ngan however also said that several major educational institutions are already getting ready to
adopt hybrid and flexible learning for the next school year. As of March 5, at least 6,121 schools across the country are currently holding limited in-person classes. The Philippines is one of the last countries in the world to resume in-person classes amid the pandemic.
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frequent cause of displacement and also the most damageable, according to the World Bank study. Some provinces were more affected than others, including Maguindanao (82%), Lanao del Norte (48%) and Lanao del Sur (47%). Other forms of violence have also been prevalent. In Maguindanao, for example, 45% of the total population reported the destruction of their house. Other forms of violence reported in that province include the destruction of goods (37%), being attacked by someone with a weapon (20%), witness looting (32%), and witness killing (16%). “The conflict did not only come with a high cost to human lives,” noted Dr. Rainer Werning, a German political and social scientist and current affairs commentator specializing on Southeast Asia and East Asia. Another World Bank study done in 2002 concluded that “the expenses associated with the seemingly never-ending conflict ran up to P30 million a day.” That’s about P10 billion a year. “These projections did not factor in the loss and destruction to property, foregone investment opportunities, and conflict-related trauma and stress, let alone the ‘collateral damage’ on the collective psyche that resulted in strong feelings of hate, reinforced stereotypes, calls for vengeance, and discrimination among the affected populations,” wrote Dr. Werning in “Mindanao: Rich in Resources, Rich in Conflicts,” a chapter in the book, Handbook Philippines. Mindanao is also a hotspot for clans, particularly those running in politics. The world was totally shocked when 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were massacred in broad daylight on November 23, 2009. The victims were on their way to Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of then vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu as governor of Maguindanao. “What kind of animals are these killers?” asked then chairperson Leila de Lima of the Commission of Human Rights. “We are so shocked and enraged. This is beyond words. It is most despicable. This is the work of someone who is not human. It is a bestial act of the highest order. I have never seen anything like it. It’s brutal ruthlessness all in the name of power. It’s an affront to all forms of civility.” But those who live and grow up in Mindanao can attest that there is more to this island than just war and conflict. In fact, Mindanao is touted to be the major breadbasket of the Philippines with eight of the top 10 agri-commodities exported from the Philippines coming from the island. Its economy accounts for 14% of the country’s gross domestic product. “We are a net importer of coffee, producing around 70,000 metric tons (3/4 of which are produced in
Mindanao) while importing more than 200,000 metric tons per year,” wrote Manila Bulletin’s John Carlo Borja Tria. “Mindanao is also a nature-lover’s paradise,” the atlas pointed out. “Camiguin island is enchanting with its white-sand beaches and volcanic chains. Zamboanga has pink-sand beaches and rolling greens. The home of endangered Philippine eagles and the site of large historic caves, Davao promises adventure for spelunkers and enhancement for lovers of tropical fruits and orchids. “The country’s highest peak, Mount Apo, is in Davao del Sur. Pineapple plantations blanket Cotabato. Citrus orchards cover Bukidnon. Lanao del Norte is home of the legendary Maria Cristina Falls while Lanao del Sur, the center of Island in the south, is the site of majestic Lanao Lake.” More importantly, Mindanao is where from the current – and outgoing president – Rodrigo R. Duterte. In addition, the forthcoming vice-president might be from Mindanao too; I’m referring to Sara Duterte-Carpio. Both the father and the daughter come from Davao City. Davao City, which used to be a haven of conflicts, is now one of the safest cities in the world. At the height of the insurgency, there was only Gap Farm as tourist destination. Today, you can count more than your two hands: Eden Nature Park, Crocodile Park, Malagos Garden Resort, Philippine Eagle Center, and D’Bone Collector Museum, to name a few. In Buda (the boundary between Bukidnon and Davao City), there are so many resorts that people can visit. In Kapatagan (Digos City) and Balutakay (Bansalan) – both located in Davao del Sur – resorts and tourist destinations have also sprouted. If you visit other cities of Mindanao – Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Pagadian, and Zamboanga – you get to glimpse other destinations unheard of before and there are those that are yet to be discovered. Marit Stinus-Remonde, in an article she penned for The Manila Times some years back, observed: “To someone based in Cebu City, Mindanao is a vast and diverse place. In my six days of travel, I managed to appreciate why Mindanao is truly the land of promise. Not the promise of huge fortunes and business ventures or of future military battles and bombings as we are conditioned to believe by the few loud voices talking about Mindanao. No, the promise is rather the promise of hope and possibilities. The promise of hope can be as gentle as I found it in the Transfiguration Monastery in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. Or it can be loud as in the beat of the drums at a jazz concert in Davao City.” Yes, this is my Mindanao! And there’s more to explore if you visit the island yourself. –
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Dahican Beach: Located in Mati City, Davao Oriental, this is touted to be the “Boracay of the South.”
MINDANAO, MY MINDANAO Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO
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hen I was growing up, I usually read a big billboard (displayed in Matina) that welcomed me whenever I went to Davao City that said: “The Land of Promise.” That was what I remembered. I didn’t know if the billboard was referring to Davao City or Mindanao. But reading the glossy book, Philippines, written by Richard Z. Chesnoff, I now think the billboard was
describing Mindanao (although some may disagree with me on this matter). “Mindanao is the future,” Chesnoff wrote in the book first published in 1978 – that’s six years after then President Ferdinand
Marcos declared Martial Law. “Vast, with some areas still uncharted, it is an island of fertile plateaus and mineral-rich mountains, mighty waterfalls and towering rainforests. It is also blessed with a climate free from typhoons that rage across most of the Philippines. The result is a promised land of enormous economic potential.” Mindanao – named after the Maguindanaons
Lake Sebu: A municipality of South Cotabato, it is known for its indigenous people groups.
Tinuy-an Falls: This Bislig City attraction is considered the Niagara Falls of the Philippines.
who constituted the largest Sultanate historically – is the second largest island in the country (after Luzon) at 104,630 square kilometers. It is the eighth most populous island in the world. For trivia fanatics out there, it might interest you to know that the island of Mindanao is larger compared with other 125 countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ireland. The Environment and Natural Resources Atlas of the Philippines described Mindanao in these words: “A land of towering mosques and of cultural communities whose tales
of bravery are as colorful as their tapestries.” Muslim tribes, which account for about 10% of the island population, represent the largest minority in Mindanao. “The stilt houses and many-colored vintas boats of the seafaring Moros line the southern coast,” Chesnoff wrote. “The white-domed mosques and intricately carved torogan houses of the proud Maranao people guard the shores that surround the azure waters of Lake Lanao.” Mindanao is also home to the collective group of indigenous tribes known as the lumad (although some don’t want to be identified as such). At the beginning
of the 20th century, the lumads controlled an area which now covers almost two-thirds of Mindanao’s total provinces, but by the 1980 census, they constituted less than 6% of the population of Mindanao and Sulu. Heavy migration to Mindanao of Christians and non-Christians from nearby Visayas and as far as Luzon, which were spurred by government-sponsored resettlement programs, “turned the indigenous lumads and Muslims into minorities,” noted Islam and the Politics of Identity, published by the Center for Philippines Studies at the University of
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Water service interruptions in some Dumoy and riverside WSS areas on March 28 and April 1, 2022
Davao City Water District advises the public of two separate sets of water service interruptions. First set is on March 28, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM affecting some areas served by Dumoy Water Supply System (WSS). Specific affected areas are GSIS Heights Subd. and these Matina Aplaya areas: San Francisco Village, New Lanzona Subd., Lanzona Subd., Delta Homes Subd., Poly Subd.,
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dem Presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Mayor Sara. “Once again, let me reiterate that I am aware that many of you wish to see me with another presidential candidate. I take that as a sign of confidence in me as a leader. And for that, I am truly deeply touched and honored. When we agreed to form the UniTeam of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, we both agreed to run together with the singular purpose of improving the lives of the Filipinos and making the Philippines a stronger country. Again, I intend to honor the commitment of my parties — the Lakas-CMD and Hugpong ng Pagbabago. That is to support Apo Bongbong Marcos as President,” Mayor Sara said. Mayor Sara also said with only 48 days before the elections in May, her Vice Presidential candidacy continues
Pag-asa Village, Cristina Village, Victoria Village, Tan Subd., Alpha Homes, RPJ Village, Seaside Subd., and Matina Aplaya Shanghai Village HOA. DCWD needs to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the tapping of a step test valve to DCWD’s existing pipeline for the Dumoy WSS District Metered Area Project. This project is among DCWD’s strategies to
reduce non-revenue water or water loss. Second set is on April 1, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting some areas served by Riverside WSS, particularly, Purok 6 Riverside, Sitio Balentong, Upper Riverside, Purok 11 Los Amigos, Cebohle Los Amigos, Babad Compound, and Cebalos Area. DCWD needs to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give
way to the tapping and looping of newly installed pipelines to DCWD’s existing pipelines for the mainline improvement along Purok 11 Cebalos Area and Purok 6B, Babad Compound. The DCWD management asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers and advises them to store enough water prior to the schedules. Water supply
ety, especially from those in Mindanao, which runs the risk of being neglected again when President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office.
“We respect the choice of our members and officers. They are not “Pink”, but they are reformists, and they are for Leni Robredo. The fight for good governance and a better tomorrow for our people has never been, and never will be, limited to a single color. And on my part, I personally have also made a decision. We need a leader. And for the 2022 Presidential elections, given all these considerations and the crisis we have to overcome, that leader is a woman. Her name is Leni Robredo,” he said. Alvarez added that Robredo has also shown that she represents ideals which are substantially in line with the aims of Partido Reporma: to reform government and provide a better future for Filipinos. In February this year,
Lacson claimed that Davao del Norte is the bailiwick of Partido Reporma. If elected, Lacson even promised to find solution in the lingering problem of the banana industry of the province, the fusarium wilt, by establishing a national laboratory for banana diseases in Davao del Norte. Alvarez described Lacson as the best, and that their leaders on the ground have echoed that sentiment time and again. “Even supporters of other candidates agree. And under ideal circumstances, they want to campaign and vote for him and see him lead the country. He is the most qualified to be President. But the electoral terrain in 2022 is far from ideal, and fate had other plans. Time and context framed the narrative of
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to move forward. She said she is encouraged and inspired by the overwhelming welcome from thousands after thousands of Filipinos across the country. “We are barely half the journey, but I would have not reached this point in the campaign without the support of many local leaders, politicians, businessmen, people in nongovernment organizations and the academe, youth groups, women’s organizations, the Moro people, tribal leaders and their communities, members of the LGBT community, the ordinary citizens who trust in me and joined my cause,” she said.
may be restored earlier if works goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise. DCWD conducts flushing after service works are completed. However, once water is restored, customers are advised to open all faucets and allow water to run for at least two minutes. Do not drink tap water immediately but if needed, boil water beforehand as safety precaution.
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gan mo P917.50 to get at least P61 compared mo sa P14, Yun ang benchmark namin. Ang ginawa namin kinompyut namin, and you need around P350 to come up with a decent meal, nutritious hindi P14,” said Eva Arcos, national vice president of Associated Labor Union (ALU-TUCP). The group said that the P418 petition covers only half the gap between the government-prescribed daily nutritional needs of a family of five and the survival meal that can be afforded by a minimum-wage 2022 in a way that gave traction, rightly or wrongly, to other candidacies instead. This is a difficult fact which takes courage to admit,” he said. By Maya M. Padillo
For the latest water service updates or any DCWD related concerns, the general public may contact DCWD’s 24-hour call center hotlines at 235-3293, 244-6767, 0927-798-8966, 0925-511-3293, or 0908441-0653 and chat support in the DCWD’s website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) or Facebook page (www. facebook.com/officialDCWD). (Katrina Belen R. Bongato)
earner. The group is also hopeful that their petition will be immediately granted. Meanwhile, TUCP also sent a letter to President Rodrigo Duterte requesting his intervention on behalf of “more than five million minimum wage earners who are now fast-becoming the new poor of the country.” “I wrote an appeal to the President for a one timebig time na wage increase considering nga ang aging gyud sa wage increase range from two years to three years in a half. Dugay kaayo niagi gud ta ug pandemic. Karon lang mi 2022 nibalik ug file tungod sa alert levels. One time-big time since patapos na ang iyahang presidency and as a legacy,” Mendoza said. By Maya M. Padillo
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The Cocolife Pilipinas Super League slapped two players from the Cagayan Valley Golden Eagles--Joseph Marquez and Francis Camacho--with an additional penalty for incurring Flagrant Fouls Penalty 2 during their March 20 game against the Bicol Spicy Oragons.
Golden Eagles’ Marquez, Camacho fined, suspended
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March 20 game against the Bicol Spicy Oragons at the Manuel Roxas Sports Complex here. The PSL has already penalized both Marquez and Camacho with automatic one-game suspensions as part of its
house rules, but following a meeting with Commissioner Marc Pingris, league president Rocky Chan said that they too have to pay PHP20,000 each as fines. “Nag-usap na ang committee kasama si Commissioner Marc Pingris. Lahat kami sangayon na higpitan namin ang parusa sa mga ganitong kilos sa court,” Chan said. The calls were both
made after they hit the same player. Marquez was the first to receive the said call barely a minute into the game and the game tied at 2-all after swinging an elbow to a driving Peter Manalang. Camacho was also called with his own flagrant foul with 20 seconds left before halftime and the Spicy Oragons already beginning to pull away with a 50-23 advantage after also elbowing
est days for me as I’ve been saying ever since then that I won that fight,” the Marrok Force competitor revealed. “But it happened already, and it’s just a story now. What I can do for this upcoming rematch is to [rewrite] history.” She now wants to use that result to push herself to a better performance when she steps inside the Circle with Ham at ONE’s tenth-anniversary event. “If you come from a loss, you’ll have that hunger, that urge to train harder. You want to prove that loss cannot define you,” Zamboanga said. That said, the fero-
cious fighter with an 8-1 career mixed martial arts record has kept herself busy since her last appearance in ONE Championship. “I’ve been training hard since then. I missed the Circle, and I cannot wait to be back to show everyone how much I have improved,” she expressed. While her routine mainly stayed the same, she did make changes to her regimen specifically for her upcoming showdown with the 23-8 Ham. But don’t expect her to give away any secrets. “I cannot mention [the changes],” Zambo-
anga admitted. “But what I can say is that it’s been a hard and fun training camp. I’m ready.” “Lycan Queen” has all the right to want redemption after how her first encounter with Ham unfolded. However, the fighting pride of the Philippines remained professional with her message to the South Korean leading up to their second bout. “You’re a great athlete, and it’s my pleasure to have a rematch with you,” she said. “Let’s give them a great fight. Let’s write history. I can’t wait to share the Circle with you again. See you soon.”
he Cocolife Pilipinas Super League (PSL) powered by Smart 5G, the Philippines’ newest regional basketball league, proved that it is quick to teach its players a lesson in discipline.
The league has decided to slap two players from the Cagayan Valley Golden Eagles, namely Joseph Marquez and Francis Camacho, with an additional penalty for incurring Flagrant Fouls Penalty 2 during their
Manalang while going for the rebound. The entire Bicol bench did not like what Camacho did to Manalang, and because of that, the Spicy Oragons was slapped with a technical foul. The Bicol Spicy ragons prevailed in their encounter with the Cagayan Valley Golden Eagles, 71-59. Both Marquez and Camacho have already served their bans, but
Chan said that the additional fine would serve as a warning to the players who tend to resort to dirty tactics when the going gets tough. The PSL’s original fine for Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 is pegged at PHP5,000, which means the league has quadrupled the fine with its new rule. “Kapag hindi sila umaray sa bulsa, uulit pa rin ang mga iyan,” Chan further said.
Zamboanga on rematch with Ham: I’m hungry
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umber two-ranked ONE women’s atomweight contender Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga is confident that she’s going to win her rematch with Ham Seo Hee at ONE X on 26 March. After all, the 25-yearold Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert didn’t take the split decision loss to Ham in their ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix quarter final encounter at ONE: EMPOWER lightly. This time she wants to dictate what will happen against her nemesis at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. “It was one of the dark-
Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga is confident that she’s going to win her rematch with Ham Seo Hee at ONE X on 26 March.
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A male gym member works on the weights at Arcadia Fitness Gym at Escandor Street in Quimpo Boulevard on Thursday. Arcadia photo
COACHES COURSE PSC resumes sports science lectures for coaches
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ocal coaches from various provinces will receive sports scientific lectures as the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) National Sports Coaching Certification Course (NSCCC) resumes on Thursday. Over 100 coaches from all over the country are expected to join the Level 2 of online lectures for badminton and lawn tennis via Zoom, from March 24 to 26, led by the agency’s Philippine Sports Institute (PSI). “We want to continue building on the momentum we had last year with these coaches and elevate their learning and mastery of coaching in their specific sport,” PSI Grassroots Program Head Abby Rivera said in a news release on Wednesday. This is the third leg of the NSCCC which started from its first course on Sport-Specific Training for Table Tennis Level 1 and Sports Science Lectures Level 2 last February 24 to 26 and March 17 to 19, respectively with almost 200 coaches attending.
Rivera added that, “more than half of the attendees also signed up for the optional examination where they are entitled to receive certificates.” After the three courses, the PSI will continue another set of topics and lectures for Sports Science Level 1 until Apr 28, to be led by the expertise of Prof. Henry Daut for Sports Management, UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Francis Carlos Diaz for Training Program Design & Development, Karen Leslie Pineda, Ashly Villa and Jane Serapion for Sports Nutrition, Arsenio Lantin, MD and Victor Francis Gaddi, MD for Sports Sports Injury & Rehabilitation, Mary Jane Santos for Sports Massage, and Marc Donyell Bayang for Strength & Conditioning. (PR)