Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 317 | Thursday, March 31, 2022

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL.14 ISSUE 317 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

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ALL OUT DRIVE

City commences house-to-house vaccination STORY ON PAGE 2

A street vendor displays pomelo fruits at a roadside makeshift stall along Roxas Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. Fruit vendors in Davao City are hopeful that more tourists will visit the city, which will eventually help them earn more as most Covid-19 restrictions were already lifted by the city government of Davao.

Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 317 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with key government officials prior to his “Talk to the People”at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City on Tuesday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

ALL OUT DRIVE D

Sara absent in Zamboanga rally due to sudden change in sked

Davao City commences house-to-house vaccination

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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here will be no stones left unturned in Davao City’s aggressive Covid-19 vaccination campaign.

To do that, the city government of Davao will be going to every barangay to provide vaccination.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, explained that this mobile vaccination that is

also dubbed “special vaccination days” will be doing house-to-house vaccination, this is apart from the house-to-house vaccination being conducted by the Vice Mayor’s Office.

Schlosser said the activity is targeting the pediatric

population 12 years old and above and the vulnerable population (senior citizens) for booster shots, missed doses, and first and second doses.

“We will also be doing simultaneously the same thing sa mga barangays na natan-awan nato na gamay lang ang turnout of vaccinees. Nagpahigayon nata ug mobile vacciantion

ask Force Davao in coordination with Davao City Police Office scored big on Tuesday, March 29 after arresting a drug dealer at the AFP-PNP Checkpoint in Sirawan Toril.

Around P804,800.00 estimated worth of suspected shabu was intercepted by the authorities from a

certain Hidorick M. Aguilon, 39 years old, single and a resident of #96 Block 24 Lot 16, Phase 1 of SIR New Matina, Davao City.

According to reports, the suspect was on board a Public Utility Van (PUV) going towards Davao City when inspected with two bulky sachets of illegal drugs that weigh more or

less 50 grams with P31,680 cash.

This is by far the biggest amount of shabu intercepted at the AFP-PNP Checkpoints this year.

Task Force Davao Commander Colonel Darren E. Comia lauded the joint security forces of Davao City for a big catch. Indeed, the catch is a manifestation of

for 12 years old and above kauban ang vaccination cluster in partnership with UNICEF. Hopefully, makatabang ni siya magpataas sa atoang number of vaccinees sa kato na age groups,” she said.

Among the barangays in Davao City, barangays in Bunawan and Toril provided lists of families who have

the alertness and vigilance of our troops. The Commander likewise warned that “contrabands and other illegal items are not welcome in Davao City, stay away from illegal activities or else end up in jail” The suspect was immediately turned over to the Toril Police Station for proper disposition.

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TF Davao, DCPO seize P800-K shabu in Sirawan checkpoint T

avao City Mayor and Vice-Presidential bet Sara Duterte did not arrive on the appointed time and date in the city due to the sudden change in schedule, Jaydrick Yap, coordinator for Mindanao of the Ituloy ang Pagbabago Movement (IPM), said.

“Wala si Sara (Duterte) kasi biglaan ang schedule,” he said.

IPM is a parallel group of the UniTeam that supports the Marcos-Duterte tandem.

IPM members had earlier in the day gathered at the Roseller T. Lim Boulevard but not all proceeded to the Universidad de Zamboanga Summit Centre, venue of the rally, upon learning that President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter was not arriving.

UniTeam presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meanwhile profusely thanked the Zamboangueños for the welcome from the airport to the Summit Center. He did not discuss a platform or plans for Zamboanga should he win the presidency.

Architect Neil Dalena observed, “The full capacity of the UZ Summit Center is only 10,000. About to start na ang grand rally ni Marcos, hindi pa napuno ang Summit. Nasa pueblo (city center) lang ‘yang venue, aircon pa, at walang ulan.”

Dalena was referring to good weather, compared to the unpredictable weather that befell Zamboanga when Presidential candidate Leni Robredo staged her own grand rally with her vice-presidential bet

Kiko Pangilinan.

Senatorial aspirant Harry Roque thanked the crowd, and spoke only for a few minutes, simply thanking Zamboanga. The crowd that filled the Summit Center chanted BBM in between the playing of the Bagong Lipunan song.

The 10,000-seater venue, had some people standing on the sides and center of the Summit Centre floor, but the bleachers were not fully occupied.

An IPM member, Efren Inclan remarked, “Bueno man quel jende sila junto, para si anda si Sara, solo lang tamen le (It is perhaps good that they (BBM and Sara) were not together, so that when Sara comes, she is also alone).”

Mayor Isabelle Climaco sent off Marcos at the airport. Marcos is a friend of Climaco as they were colleagues in the House of Representatives.

The mayor had earlier announced that national candidates are “all welcome in the city.”

Climaco last week declared support for the RoSa (Robredo-Sara Duterte) tandem in a press conference in Cagayan de Oro during the launching of RoSa Mindanao on March 21.

Two out of the four local parties are endorsing Marcos as Presidential candidate: Team Colorao and Team Dalipe. There are also groups supporting Marcos individually such as the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) with Team Climaco

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NEWS

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Davao City Vaccination Cluster head Dr. Josephine Villafuerte bares that the city government of Davao’s vaccination drive is being implemented per barangay, as well as at the identified vaccination hubs in the latest Bayanihan Bakunahan from March 29 to 31, 2022. Edge Davao

Pharmacies no longer needed to rollout vaccinations: Covid TF Parents told to vax kids as 400 schools open in Davao City

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s over 400 public schools have already resumed face-to-face (F2F) classes in Davao City, the local government urged parents to have their children vaccinated for maximum protection.

Department of Education in Davao Region (DepEd-11) spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said Tuesday while there are still 11 schools that have yet to secure approval for the F2F classes, at least 419 schools

are holding on-site classes.

The resumption of regular classes has worried the city’s Covid-19 Task Force, which noted the low turnout of the pediatric vaccination for 5 to 11 years old in the city.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, the task force’s spokesperson, said they have only recorded 3,311 pediatric 5 to 11 years old population who received their second doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

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New 32.96-km road network in DavOr brings relief to residents

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he new 32.96-kilometer Matavisan-Licasu Road Network has brought relief to around 8,000 residents living along the communities connected by the infrastructure.

The road passes through the Barangays of Macangao, Tagboa, New Visayas, San Isidro in the Municipality of Lupon and the Barangays of Sanghay, Libudon, Culian ,Barangay Badas in Mati City.

“Dire-diretso na, di na ka mabalaka naa kay produkto di na mabun-og kung

magsakay-sakay motor, karon nindot na hayahay na kaayo” (It will now be smooth and straight you won’t have to worry that products will get damaged as they are carried along motorcycles. Now it’s great, it’s very comfortable),” says Jocelyn Recaña, a farmer resident in Barangay Culian, Mati City said.

“Karon daghan na maka-agi na salakyan di. Mga salakyaan gikan Mati maka-agi na diri (Now cars can pass here unlike be-

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Schlosser said there was a talk to involve pharmacies to fast-track the vaccination rollout, however, did not progress.

“Wala man ta’y kakulangan sa vaccination hubs.

We do have enough vaccination sites and we do have

enough strategies para masuyod nato ang dapat na mabakunahan. In fact, naa pa ang atoang mga fixed vaccination hubs na dungag lang ta ug house-to-house vaccination para ma-secure na mabakunahan ang mga taong dili gusto mugawas or

naa pa’y apprehensions or doubts. I don’t see any need for the pharmacy to do the rollout kasi so far kaya ra sa LGU and then also naay ta’y mga partners na NGOs, establishments like our malls nga gihimo natong vaccination hubs, So far there is no need for vaccination rollout gikan sa pharmacy,” she said.

Schlosser added that as of March 30, 2022 no pharmacy expressed to do the vaccination rollout.

“Kay I think it’s a huge preparation pud on their part at the same time when

nvironmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) urged the City Council to pass an ordinance regulating quarrying activities in Davao City.

The group hopes to sit down with the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to discuss technical details.

“We already drafted

the proposed ordinance ug gipasa na namo sa CENRO ug among ginahulat karon is ang schedule kung kanus-a mi maka sitdown ug ma-istoryhan ang draft ordinance with CENRO para ma- istoryahan namo kung unsa pa ang puwede mabutang sa Quarrying Regulation Ordinance,” said said Amelou Catague-Ferrer, policy advocate officer of IDIS.

Ferrer said IDIS is also pushing for a study of the capacity threshold that will determine whether a river can still be quarried.

The study is being supported by Ecoteneo, the advocacy group for environmental protection and conservation of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU).

“We supported the studies na inumpisahan ng IDIS for quarrying activi-

avao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said pharmacies in Davao City no longer need to rollout their vaccinations as Davao City has enough vaccination hubs and strategies for the Dabawenyos.

we do a vaccination rollout kinahanglan spacious. That is the struggle maybe the reason why wala nila na pursue ang idea or strategy,” she said.

In January this year, the Department of Health (DOH) launched “Resbakuna sa Botika” aiming to enhance the immune response to achieve a sufficient level of effectiveness against Covid-19.

The program, under the mandate of DOH, is the vaccination drive spearheaded

ties. We talked to the communities of nag-narrow yung water flow. We are supporting the moves of IDIS on this,” said Carmela Marie Santos, Ecoteneo Director.

Santos added that the issuance of permits by the City Council for quarrying activities is on and off.

“On and off kasi minsan magsabi ang City Council

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Group calls for passage of quarry regulations ordinance E

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Customers choose from the display of meat and fish items at a restaurant offering different barbeque products along F. Torres Street in Davao City on Tuesday evening. Edge Davao

Digital payments growth seen to remain robust post-pandemic 60% of Filipinos carried G less cash in 2021: study rowth of digital payments post-pandemic is expected to remain strong as more people realize the convenience it brings as well as the introduction of more innovative services.

In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Visa Country Manager for the Philippines and Guam Dan Wolbert said importance of cashless transactions and digital payments was appreciated during the pandemic, following the movement restrictions imposed to address the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Initially, people used it to buy necessities following

the lockdowns but later on utilized it for convenience, he said during the launch of the 2021 Visa Consumer Payments Attitudes Study.

“And so, we anticipate this trend to continue. And consumer behavior not only will continue but will accelerate as more and more services and capabilities will bring and will make this type of transactions simpler and easier and more functional,” he

said.

Results of Visa’s annual online Consumer Payments Attitudes Study last year showed that 60 percent of the 1,000 respondents from Manila, Cebu, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan, carried less cash in their wallets and 84 percent tried going cashless.

Wolbert said respondents prefer using mobile wallets, 64 percent; card payment online, 52 percent; card payment at physical merchants, 44 percent; and quick response (QR) payments, 31 percent.

“While cash is still commonplace in the Philippines, the preference for

cashless payments is clearly gaining momentum. Our study showed more Filipinos are confident to get by without cash and for longer periods of time -- with more than half feeling confident to get by for a week or longer, as cashless payment options grow,” he said.

Wolbert said the rise of cashless payments in Asia is at varying levels and what is important in the Philippines, among other countries, is that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is pushing for further rise in digital payments transactions.

He dubbed the private

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significant percentage of Filipino consumers carried less cash last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Visa’s Consumer Payment Attitudes Study.

Citing the results of its study, financial services firm Visa said 60% of Filipinos carried less cash in their wallets while 84% had tried going entirely cashless in 2021.

“While cash is still commonplace in the Philippines

the preference for cashless payments is clearly gaining momentum,” said Dan Wolbert, Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam.

“Our study showed more Filipinos are confident to get by without cash and for longer periods of time – with more than half feeling confident to get by for a week or longer, as cashless payment options grow,” added Wolbert.

native finance hubs given the recent development in Hong Kong as Asia’s main finance hub.

Herrera cited a Bloomberg report stating that nearly half of the European companies in Hong Kong are eyeing to relocate operations and staff due to the strict pandemic controls.

“Bloomberg has reported that foreign companies in Hong Kong are thinking of moving out because of the continuing pandemic biohazards there. I see this as an opportunity for the

Department of Trade and Industry to present the Philippines as the alternative finance hub of the Western Pacific,” Herrera said.

She said new investor-friendly laws have made the country a “much more competitive host” of regional headquarters and global hubs.

Herrera was referring to the recently-enacted law amending the 85-year-old Public Service Act (PSA), which she said could be a game-changer that would

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NorMin coffee products now House leader wants PH as in more markets, says DTI alternate finance hub in Asia

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offee products grown and packed in Northern Mindanao are getting more popular as they become more available in different marketplaces, the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 10 (DTI10) bared Tuesday.

During the Network Briefing News webcast produced by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), DTI-Region 10 Information Officer Julie Nieva-Costales said locally made coffee products have been sold to grocery stores in malls, trade fairs,

and even on digital platforms via online selling.

“We noted that in digital (platform) we have a bigger audience. We have a business-to-business program where we can link local sellers of coffee to bigger buyers,” Costales said.

Costales said linking buyers directly from the local coffee producers increases the chance for local products to gain market share overseas.

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, she also noted that selling local products online has become a viable

alternative, creating a niche for buyers to directly contact local sellers and producers.

Costales said most demands for local coffee come from the provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

Other than coffee products, she said the region also has an array of products to offer, especially in the tourism and agriculture industries.

One of the other potential and emerging industries are citronella-based products.

Recently, the DTI-Mis-

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lawmaker on Tuesday urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to present the Philippines as the alternative finance hub of the Western Pacific as more foreign businesses in Hong Kong are eyeing to move out due to the government’s strict Covid-19 protocols.

Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera said the government could consider Bonifacio Global City (BGC) Taguig, Clark, Makati City, Quezon City, and Metro Cebu as prime alter-

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ECONOMY

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A farmer heads home before it gets dark in Barangay Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon on Sunday (27 March 2022). MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

CAB says airlines’ fare hike need ‘more study’

DA vows to act against ‘big-time’ smugglers

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) has vowed to file charges against big-time personalities in the government, allegedly involved in the proliferation of smuggled agricultural products in the country.

DA Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Noel Reyes urged the public to report anyone allegedly involved in the unscrupulous act.

“Kung may kilala po kayo, sabihin lang po ninyo ang pangalan, para magawan natin ng kaukulang administrative charges, mahirap ‘yung pahapyaw lang (If you know anyone, name it, that we may file administrative charges, it’s hard if it’s indirect),” he said in a teleradio interview on Tuesday.

The proliferation of smuggled vegetable products is said to be a decades-long problem in the country, which now equates to a PHP2.5-million monetary loss per day on carrots alone, according to the League of Associations at the La Trinidad Vegetable

Trading Areas.

Reyes said farmers may coordinate with the DA’s Marketing Department to at least alleviate the impact of the smuggling problem.

“Kami po ang tulong namin diyan, sumadya sila sa Department of Agriculture, makipag-ugnayan po sa Marketing namin, sa Kadiwa, para madala dito sa Metro Manila ang kanilang mga produkto, makabawi man lang sa product cost (Our help could be, they could go to the Department of Agriculture and coordinate with our Marketing team, in Kadiwa, so that their products will be delivered in Metro Manila, at least they could meet their production cost),” he added.

Shortly after a Senate hearing on smuggling on Monday, DA Secretary William Dar condemned the said unnamed high-ranking personalities and the illegal entry of some vegetable products.

“We condemn whoever these personalities are, and we at DA will act swiftly and decisively to repri-

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he Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on Tuesday said more studies are be needed if airlines can impose fare hikes anytime soon, as fuel costs in the country continue to rise.

In a public briefing, CAB Operations Head Eldric Peredo said a fuel surcharge matrix is in place when prices of fuel continue to be uncertain.

The matrix was in place

since 2018, noted Peredo.

A matrix for the surcharge will be published every 12 months and will be revised “as necessary,” the CAB said that year.

“At itong matrix ay

mag-o-operate by itself, kung papalo sa ganitong presyo ang langis ay may karampatang pagpataw ng fuel surcharge na hindi na kailangan ng mahabang diskusyon,” Peredo explained.

“Napag-usapan din po ng board natin iyan kahapon, dahil nga sa nararamdaman na matinding pagtaas ng langis ulit ngayon, pero nangangailangan

he use of digital platforms enabled the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) to significantly cut its clearing time in settling a total of 19,184 deposit insurance claims and in resolving over 30,000 loan accounts in closed banks in 2021.

In a report to Finance Secretary and PDIC Board chairman Carlos Dominguez III, PDIC president and chief executive officer Roberto Tan said deposit insurance claims filed last year involving 10 banks with no more than 3,000 accounts each were settled in 17 to 22

working days, significantly faster than its target of 27 working days.

Meanwhile, all deposit insurance claims filed in two larger banks with over 3,000 to 10,000 accounts each were settled in 37 to 40 working days, an improvement over its target of 41 working days.

Tan also reported that insured deposits paid in closed banks grew from PHP219.68 million in 2020 to PHP471.15 million in 2021.

In cleaning up its noncash portfolio, Tan disclosed that the 30,384 loan

accounts resolved in 2021 were 70 percent higher than its target of 17,826 loan accounts for a three-year period from 2019 to 2021.

The PDIC has resolved a total of 79,474 loan accounts.

Tan said the PDIC’s target of disposing of 807 real properties also improved as it completed the disposal of 1,141 real properties in 2021 –bringing total asset disposal to 3,551 properties since 2019.

The PDIC manages a total inventory of 32,000 real properties and a five-year asset disposal program has

kasi iyan ng karagdagang datos, ng malalim na pagaaral,” he added.

This also comes amid Philippine Airlines’ statement that government must review fuel surcharge rates amid high fuel costs.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, however, said there would be no adjustments in airline fares yet as they review the rates.

been drawn up to expedite the disposal process.

Tan reported that the corporation continued last year the implementation of electronic filing and payment arrangements to settle deposit insurance claims; and electronic bidding of properties as a new normal approach to asset disposal.

These online channels include the web-based claim form made available by the PDIC on its website; and payment channels, such as PesoNet, Instapay, and other electronic money issuers.

“We also continued the

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On his desire to spend his last few months in the office ensuring that funds were spent for the needs of Filipinos:

Whatever is there remaining para sa akin (for me) which I can, ibuhos ko na lang (I will spend on) evacuation centers.”

President Rodrigo Duterte

EDITORIAL Sweeping up There will be no letup in the city government’s campaign to completely eradicate Covid-19. If it takes to sweep through the barangays, it will.

That is what exactly the local government is doing.

The Davao City’s Covid-19 Task Force is sweeping through the villages to vaccinate children and the vulnerable sector. The main agenda is to ensure the population of the city is vaccinated, at least for those who trust the Covid vaccination.

It is commendable for the city government to do so

EDGEDAVAO

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On the part of the communities in the barangays, it is critical for Dabawenyos to cooperate and take advantage of the Covid clean up. The faster we get everyone vaccinated, the better for our local economy and livelihood.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

despite the fact that the restrictions have been turned notches down to Alert Level 1. There is no letting the guards down. The key to getting past the pandemic is vaccination and it has been proven in the latest wave of the contagion called Omicron. We cannot afford to undergo another spike of cases and with business already grinding back to normalcy, the only way to sustain this is to continue the ruthless drive for inoculation.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

HONESTY STILL THE BEST POLICY “True honesty is hard.

Throughout my career, I’ve faced moments where I’ve needed to take an honest look at myself and face some very uncomfortable realities.” – Les Brown ***

A teenager knocked on the door of a lady’s house and asked if she would like to buy some of the strawberries he had just picked. “Yes,” she replied, “and I’ll take your pail in the kitchen and weigh about one kilogram.”

The boy stood outside and played with the dog. “Why don’t you come in and see that I weigh your strawberries right?” the lady asked. “How do you know that I won’t cheat you?”

“I am not worried,” the teenager replied, “for you would get the worst of it.”

“What do you mean by that?” the lady inquired.

“Why, ma’am,” the teenager said. “I would only lose some strawberries; but you would make yourself a thief.”

In Blithe Spirit, Noel Coward wrote: “It’s discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.”

“Be honest. Even if others are not, even if others will not, even if others cannot.” That seems to be the credo of Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals.

There are several ways of defining honesty. The dictionary itself has several meanings for the word: refraining from lying, cheating, or stealing; being truthful, trustworthy, or upright; showing fairness and sincerity; or free from deceit. If you describe someone having an honest living, it means that he gained or earned by fair methods his income, not by cheating, lying, or stealing.

Is honesty among Filipinos already a dying virtue these days? If you answer affirmatively, I beg to disagree. Remember that airport employee who was commended for returning a lost shoulder bag containing cash and valuables left behind in a baggage conveyor at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport?

In Taguig City, the mayor extolled two city hall employees for turning over the P40,000 cash which a businessman accidentally dropped. In Manila, a 41-yearold city hall timekeeper suffering

from polio returned P60,000 worth of cash and checks and vital documents to a company messenger.

In San Pablo City, driver-owner Faustino Cardoza earned praises from people for returning the P10-million cash left in his van by a German national. In Zamboanga City, a policeman got a one-rank promotion after he found and returned a bag containing almost half a million pesos to a retired Philippine Army soldier at the airport.

Even in other parts of the world, some Filipinos still have the decency of being honest. If you can recall, the Senate honored cab driver Nestor Sulpico for exemplifying honesty and uplifting the image of Filipinos abroad by returning US$70,000 worth of jewelry to its owner after it was left in his cab in New York City.

In the book of wisdom, according to American president Thomas Jefferson, “honesty is the first chapter.” But being honest is not just returning money and lost valuables. It’s more than that. It also means not cheating.

Dr. Madison Sarratt taught mathematics at Vanderbilt Uni-

versity for many years. Before giving a test, he would admonish his class something like this: ‘Today, I am giving two examinations – one in trigonometry and the other in honesty. I hope you will pass them both. If you must fail, fail trigonometry. There are many people in the world who can’t pass trigonometry, but there is no one who can’t pass the examination of honesty.”

Honesty also means telling the truth, and nothing but the truth. And that person who tells the truth is ready to face whatever consequences. “To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause,” so goes a line of a popular song.

Or as Louisa May Alcott puts it: “Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth’s sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won.”

Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Pearl S. Buck urges, “The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then.

Life is dull without it.”

But more often than not, people would listen more to fiction than the truth. A famous clergyman was preaching one Sunday and noticed that many of his au-

dience were drowsing. Suddenly, he paused, and then in a very loud voice, related an incident that had no connection whatsoever with his sermon.

The incident went like this: “I was once riding a small village and came to the house of a farmer. I stopped for a bit when I saw something more strange than I had ever seen in my life. There was a sow with a litter of ten little pigs. The sow and the piglets had a long-curved horn growing out their forehead between their ears.”

At this point, the clergyman stopped and ran his eyes over the congregation. Everybody was wide awake. So, he remarked, “How strange it all is! Few minutes ago, when I was telling you the truth from the Bible, you all went to sleep. But now when you have heard a whooping lie, you are all wide awake!”

Now, going back to honesty.

“Honesty is of God and dishonesty of the devil,” said Joseph B. Wirthlin, “the devil was a liar from the beginning.”

And here’s what John Lennon remarked, “Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it’ll always get you the right ones.”

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

TAKBO NG MGA ROSAS The Oblation sculpture of the University of the Philippines (UP) is considered as an icon of selfless dedication, service to the nation and freedom of expression.

One of the popular traditional activities within the UP campuses is the Oblation run, which begun in 1977, as an annual event of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) that calls to attention and highlights specific hot issues for the year.

During the Martial Law era, APO sponsored the screening of “Hubad na Bayani” which is a film diected by Robert Ylagan that portrayed a peasant revolt and the possibility of government overthrow. It was later censored by the Marcos’ media.

The first oblation run was a promotional gimmick for a film Marcos deemed politically dangerous.

In September 1977, two APO brothers streaked in front of Palma Hall as naked heroes of a defiant university under Martial Law. Since then UP denizens eagerly await the Oblation run every

second week of December.

And now it is the turn of women through the first “Takbo ng Mga Rosas” run held last March 27, 2022 around the UP Academic Oval led by advocates of women’s rights like the UP-based sororities and organizations.

March was declared in 1988 as Women’s Role in History Month through Presidential Proclamation No. 227 while March 8 of every year was declared in 1990 as National Women’s Day through Republic Act No. 6949 that aimed to give recognition to the contributions of Filipino women in our society.

The celebrations served as venues to highlight continuing and emerging women’s empowerment and gender equality issues and concerns, challenges, and commitments.

Women first won their right to suffrage on April 30, 1937, or 85 years ago, when an overwhelming majority of 447,725 Filipino women voted in a plebiscite in favor of their right to vote in political elections.

Since the first national election in 1907 for the Philippine Assembly until the adoption of the 1935 Constitution, only Filipino men were allowed to vote in the country.

The Philippines had two female presidents (Corazon Aquino from 1986-1992 and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2001-2010) and had its first woman Supreme Court justice (Cecilia Muñoz Palma in 1973).

Canopied by over a hundred old, sturdy Acacia trees, most of which are as old as the campus itself, these trees are now part of UP culture and heritage.

The scenic view of the way the branches of the trees from the left side of the street meet with those from the right side forms some kind of archway.

The loop has been the venue of many campus events including rallies, UP Fair and lantern parades.

The nine-day uprising called “Diliman Commune” from February 1 to 9, 1971 became an evidence of UP’s role as the “bastion

of activism” since the early days of the Marcos dictatorship.

The oval is home to the annual Lantern Parade which was inspired by the folk practice of carrying lanterns of various shapes and sizes to light the way to the early morning December masses or misa de gallo during the Spanish period.

From 1934 to 1968, the defunct Cadena de Amor was a rite usually held in mid-May at the Sunken Garden where senior coeds turn over to the juniors long garlands of the vine cadena de amor to symbolize the passing of responsibilities.

But the rise of student activism in the late 1960s saw the end of festivals of girls and flowers like the Cadena de Amor.. Students started questioning university traditions and the evolution of this ceremony into a beauty contest.

The Takbo ng mga Rosas was the third event held inside the Diliman campus to highlight the call of the UP community for a clean and honest election.

A pink lantern parade was held last December 21, 2021 followed by the Freedom Run last February 26.

It is hoped that Takbo ng mga Rosas will be part of UP’s annual tradition as a tribute to women.

The campus molded us to fight for the causes we believe in; trained us for the skills we need to communicate ideas and rally others to effect changes in society.

All educational institutions, including UP, must be maintained as safe havens for civilized and intelligent discourse of all beliefs and forms of democratic expression, where students and teachers can discuss freely without fear of censorship or retaliation.

Activities like runs and rallies will continue to be vehicles of UP’s existence as an institution with a critical eye on social and historical issues.

(Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

SEC awarded once again ISO90012015 certification

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has successfully maintained the ISO 9001:2015 Certification of its quality management system covering all core services across its main and extension offices.

“Once again, the SEC has demonstrated its global competitiveness

as the premier investor champion and catalyst of a deep, broad and informed investor-based capital market and more empowered business sector,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said after receiving the main certificate during the awarding ceremony held at the SEC Head Office inside the

The SEC, under the leadership of Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino and Commissioners Javey Paul D. Francisco, Kelvin Lester K. Lee, Karlo S. Bello, and Mcjill Bryant T. Fernandez,

Rent-to-own options for Aeon Towers clients

The rent-to-own promo has been launched by the management to give a chance for aspiring clients who wish to acquire a unit at Aeon Towers through monthly rental.

You dream it you get it.

That’s what Aeon Towers is offering homebuyers.

With the easy deal rent-to-own program option, this isn’t just a marketing ploy. It’s really possible.

The rent-to-own promo has been launched by the management to give a chance for aspiring clients who wish to acquire a unit at Aeon Towers through monthly rental.

Aside from that, they can also avail as much as 10% discount on their purchase. The previous promotions and activities that took place last year have contributed in making Aeon Towers a desirable mixed-use development home seekers would love to invest or live in.

Aeon Towers is the iconic and flagship

mixed-use development of FTC Group of Companies housing not just premium condominium units but also commercial spaces and soon a 5-star hotel and serviced apartments. The hotel component is eyed to be the next choice of accommodation for residents and visitors in the coming years as tourism in Davao City will be on full swing once more.

“We are very excited now that the pandemic is at ease here in the city and we are able to cater more clients in and out of Davao who are eager to invest at Aeon Towers. Rest assured we will support the city’s efforts in promoting Davao City as a venue for tourists and MICE activities,” Aeon Luxe Properties President and CEO Ian Cruz said.

PICC Complex in Pasay City on March 25.

“As we celebrate this achievement, we are working on more breakthroughs for the Commission in line with our SuperVision 2025 to be the premier investor champion and catalyst of a deep, broad and informed, investor-based capital mar-

ket and more empowered business sector considered among the best in the Southeast Asian region.”

The ISO 9001:2015 Certification is a testament to the Commission’s adherence to world-class standards in the provision of regulatory services over the corporate sector, the capital market

formally received the certificates from TÜV Rheinland Philippines, Inc., in an awarding ceremony held at the SEC Head Office inside the PICC Complex in Pasay City on March 25.

participants, and the securities and investments instruments market in the Philippines, as well as the protection of the investing public.

The certification further covers the provision of registration of partnerships and corporations doing business in the Philippines in all SEC Extension Offices in Baguio, Tarlac, Legazpi, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga.

The Commission first obtained ISO 9001:2015 Certification in 2018 for its quality management system covering the registration of partnerships and corporations doing business in the Philippines, and the licensing of capital market institutions and professionals.

The SEC then secured a recertification for ISO 9001:2015 in 2020, where

it successfully expanded the scope of its ISO-certified quality management system to cover 122 document procedures from the initial 59.

“The ISO 9001:2015 Re-Certification is exceptionally meaningful to the SEC. As a customer-centric organization, we appreciate that it has provided us with an external and objective evaluation of the quality of our services based on international standards,” SEC Commissioner Karlo S. Bello said in his opening remarks during the awarding ceremony.

“We also take pride in the consistent assessment that we have been compliant with ISO 9001:2015 standards for the past three years and confident that we will continue to be so in the next three years and beyond, pandemic or no pandemic.”

HOORAY FOR SUMMER, HOORAY FOR TOY KINGDOM’S TOP TEN TOYS Explore the great outdoors and say Hooray for Summer fun with amazing play-mates from Toy Kingdom. Here are Toy Kingdom’s 10 Top Toys that will make this summer exciting and memorable.

Topping the list are new toys from Batman and Barbie that have brought happiness to kids for many generations. This summer, the incredibly detailed McFarlane DC Comics Multiverse Batman Figure and Barbie’s Color Reveal Mermaid sets will be delightful additions to their collection.

Toys that allow kids to discover outdoor fun come next. With eased restrictions, this is the best time for kids to enjoy and explore the great outdoors.

They make a splash in your own backyard with cool inflatable pools, floaters and bubble blasters. Create your own exciting water adventure with a Giant rectangular pool or Water-

slide with Gator sprinkler pool.

Or they can have a blast biking around the neighborhood or in the park.

There are Disney-inspired bikes, foldable e-Scooters, and protection sets for active kids on the go; as well as motorized Motor Trucks and Go Karts by Rux and Segway. These will make your kids love cycling and electronic mobility as they explore the outdoors.

Rounding up the list are portable playsets from Frozen and Barbie; and Play-Doh sets where kids can explore their creative side.

Check out the Toy Kingdom’s Hooray for Play Collection in-store or on their website at www.toykingdom.com.ph and order now thru their Call to Deliver services at 0917.5578797 and have a personal shopper assist you. Follow ToyKingdomPH in Facebook and Instagram.

Promote active fun with your kids with Toy Kingdom’s Hooray for Play collection.

Unbox the surprises with the latest Barbie Color Reveal Rainbow Mermaid Series.

Take frozen fun on the go with Disney’s Frozen 2 Elsa’s Fold & Go Ice Palace Playset.

The Batman’s back! Incredibly detailed 7’’ scale Mc Farlane DC Comics Multiverse Batman figure is designed with ultra-articulation as his posture and look in the upcoming The Batman movie.

Available in select Toy Kingdom stores.

Enjoy a summer splash with the family with this Intex Summer Color Pool.

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AGRITRENDS

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Tomatoes: It can be eaten fresh, sliced, or prepared with other dishes.

KNOWING POSTHARVEST LOSSES

IN ONION, TOMATO AND MANGO VALUE CHAINS

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

O

nion and tomato are among the most important spices used

by Filipinos to perk-up somewhat drab dishes. Both can also be made into fresh salad. Mango, on the other hand, is one of the three fruits usually served as dessert in “eat all you can” eateries; the two other fruits are watermelon and papaya.

As they are popular among consumers, most Filipino farmers grow them. But the sad thing is that they usually deteriorate days or a week after they are harvested. So much so that the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a study on postharvest losses along the value chains of the three crops.

The results of the study, “Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Value Chains in the Philippines” which the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded, was presented at a recent virtual national policy forum jointly organized by SEARCA and SyCip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.).

Onion, tomato and mango are staples in the Filipino cuisine and should be given significant attention and funding to improve postharvest handling efficiency, said Evelyn Laviña, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for High Value Crops and Rural Credit.

Dr. Marlo Rankin and Dr. Flordeliza Lantican, agricultural value chain and market expert and agricultural value chain and market specialist, respectively, presented the study results, which focused on the postharvest losses quantified along the value chain of the

Mango: This is one of the most important fruits in the country.

Sliced onion: This spice is almost present in most Filipino dishes. three commodities.

In a SEARCA news release, the study revealed that mango produced in Iloilo and traded in Manila showed the highest postharvest losses at 33.89%.

Pangasinan-Manila route ranked second at 30.85% and Guimaras-Negros Occidental route ranked third at 19.02%.

Notably, a Guimaras mango corporation that observes good agricultural practices (GAP) posted the lowest postharvest losses at 11% in shipping fruits to Manila.

Postharvest losses in terms of volume and value indicate a significant reduction in marketable supply and income of key actors in the mango supply chain.

Pangasinan registered

the highest volume at 31,581 tons and value at P1.595 million of postharvest losses when mango is traded in Manila because it has higher mango production than other provinces. Iloilo, with the same destination, came second with volume and value of postharvest losses at 8,682 tons and P434 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, the total postharvest loss of freshly harvested onions from the farm in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija to the final market in Divisoria, Manila was 45.06%. The estimated volume of postharvest losses for red onion reached 48,891 tons and a value close to P1.96 billion.

Postharvest losses for the cold-stored onion chain

with the same route totaled 63.90%, with estimated volume and value lost at 69,333 tons and nearly 4.01 billion, respectively.

On the other hand, freshly harvested tomatoes produced in Nueva Ecija and traded in Manila incurred a postharvest loss of 10.94%. The volume of postharvest losses reached 1,930 tons with a value of P47 million.

The total postharvest loss of freshly harvested tomatoes from the farm in Bukidnon, Northern Mindanao to the final market in Manila was much higher at 24.14% due to longer travel duration. This equates to an estimated volume of postharvest losses of 41,125 tons and value close to P180 million.

Among the key recommendations in reducing postharvest losses for the three commodities include investing in cold storage

and packing facilities, providing delivery vehicles to facilitate transport of goods, developing online trading or digital marketing in partnership with the private sector, increasing access to credit and insurance, and strengthening extension services at the grassroots level.

Dr. Takeshi Ueda, Principle Natural Resources and Agriculture Specialist at ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, said the study is relevant to the directions of both DA and ADB, which are agricultural diversification, industrialization, modernization, and commercialization.

In his message delivered by SEARCA Deputy Director Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Director Glenn B. Gregorio stressed that the pandemic enabled people to realize the significance of the whole value chain process because food supply is

not limited only to production.

Dr. Gregorio also pointed out that onion, tomato, mango, and other high-value crops should be upscaled and the need to invest in them to ensure that the Philippines will have “a future-proof agriculture sector.”

He also stressed that SEARCA values research projects focused on agricultural development as they contribute to the center’s thrust of accelerating transformation through agricultural innovation, or what he called as ATTAIN. Aside from being used in dishes, onion, tomato and mango are also very popular due to the nutrients and vitamins they contain.

Tomato is considered one of the richest of all foods in vitamins. It is very rich in all three important vitamins like A, B and C

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not yet been vaccinated.

“So far ang naghatag pa lang sa listahan kay ang Bunawan and Toril. This will be our initial na lakang para sa suyuron ang bawat barangay especially sa atong pediatric population and vulnerable population,” Schlosser said.

Schlosser said through this the city will be able also to conduct education and information campaigns regarding the benefit of the vaccines right at the doorstep of each family.

“Ang strategy ani is suyuron ang barangay. Bawat District Health Offices and bawat barangay nato they will be submitting to us kanang ginatawag nato na number of mga tao or families nila nga wala pa nabakunahan so that apart sa mapabakunahan nato sila ibutang pud nato sa ilahang lataran ang education information campaign para mas masabtan nila kung unsa ka importante ang bakuna, unsa

ang benefits sa bakuna, mu-go down nata up to ground level,” she said.

The city also trained the contact tracers to assess each family and to conduct family profiling.

“What they will do is i-assess nila ang bawat pamilya kung kinsa ang nabakunahan ug Covid-19 as well as katong mga bata nga nabakunahan ug mga routine vaccines. It’s hitting two birds in one stone as well as do family profiling para makabalo mi kung kinsa pa ang wala pa nabakunahan ug Covid-19 sa isa ka pamilya,” Schlosser said.

She also said that they are going to involve the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) to help the district health office to consolidate lists of barangays that have few turnouts of vaccinees.

Schlosser also reminded that all fixed vaccination hubs in the city are still open.

District 2 Congressional bet Kim Elago as coordinator, and the IPM with businessman Jaydrick Yap as Mindanao coordinator.

IPM, with its motto, “Tibay at Puso,” campaigns for Sara Duterte.

Marcos did not categorically endorse neither Team Colorao not Team Dalipe, and while not speaking as BBM’s spokesperson, Yap opined, “I think BBM needs all parties, as much as possible, ayaw nilang makialam sa local.”

Team Dalipe led by mayoral aspirant John Dalipe and vice-mayor aspirant Melchor Sadain joined that caravan

that went around the city from Marcos’ arrival at the airport to the Summit Center.

At the rally venue, Team Colorao members led by mayoral bet Celso Lobregat and vice-mayoral aspirant Benjamin Guingona were seen onstage after the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas-organized grand rally.

The former congressman was with partymates Councilors Khymer Adan Olaso, Jerry Perez who are both running for Congressmen for the 1st and 2nd districts, respectively, and other Team Colorao candidates. (Frencie Carreon,/ MindaNews)

sige puwede tayong mag-release ng permits or ngayon puwedeng hindi. We are awating really the regulations on how to monitor and how the City Council and the city can finally say, back up with data, na kaya pa ma-sustain ang quarrying sa Davao City. With all this flooding with climate change na tataas yung sea level sa tingin natin mining whether it is sand and gravel or quarrying or metal mining dapat pag-isipan ng mabuti because in a climate emergency I doubt this is really the way we want to go,” Santos said.

In January this year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) apprehended 14 illegal miners in Barangay Waan, Davao City on December 11, 2021.

In a statement, the DENR said the operation was carried out by its Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service (ELEPS), which seized unlicensed equipment apart from arresting the persons engaged in unauthorized quarrying.

It can be recalled that in 2020, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio created an inter-agency task group to address issues relating to quarrying activities in the city, especially the unregulated and illegal operations through Executive Order (E.O) No. 48 and

emphasized the need to address all issues and to guarantee the proper implementation of quarrying laws and other related policies and ordinances.

This after CENRO received complaints on alleged unregulated and illegal quarrying activities by permit holders and other individuals.

The task group is composed of the head of CENRO as chairperson, the head of the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB)-XI as vice-chairperson, and the head/ representatives of the City Engineer’s Office (CEO, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO)-Zoning Division, City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR), Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers, Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI), and Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) as members.

The members are tasked to conduct regular ocular inspections, prepare reports on violations and recommendations, monitor and ensure all terms and conditions of quarry permits are complied with, formulate mitigating measures to properly address any negative environmental impact during operation, and make a periodic report to the mayor. By Maya M. Padillo

mand those involved among

lantaran, yes compromised, may nakukumpromiso sa BOC (Bureau of Customs) at DA, at may mga untouchable, ayaw nilang habulin, masyado sigurong malapit sa mga nakaupo (There’s no action even though it’s obvious, yes compromised, compromised in BOC and DA, and there are untouchables, they don’t want to go after, maybe it’s so close to those sitting in power),” said Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan.

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our ranks, officials, and staff.

If found guilty, we will file the appropriate administrative charges against these individuals… I condemn this dastardly act of smuggling and smugglers in general,” he said.

Untouchables In the Senate hearing, several lawmakers slammed the ‘rampant’ continuation of ‘technical smuggling’, as if they are being protected.

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by the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 to provide greater access to vaccines as a measure to protect citizens from the ongoing pandemic.

In partnership with local drugstore chains, “Resbakuna sa Botika” affirmed the DOH’s stance that vaccination offers significant protection in preventing the spread of Covid-19 and in mitigating the fatality of the virus.

The figure is only 1.2 percent of the 11,000 children who got their first jabs.

She also added that the 11,000 who had their first doses only make up 4 percent of the target 269,000 children of the 5-11 age bracket in the city.

“We can’t be certain that they would wear face masks inside the classroom. Parents, please don’t wait for the faceto-face classes to start with-

out protecting your children,” Schlosser said.

She said parents should take the opportunity to have their children inoculated now while the vaccination hubs are not crowded.

These designated vaccination hubs for 5 to 11 years old are SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao, Gaisano Mall Bajada – The Peak, Gaisano Mall Toril, and Holy Cross of Calinan. (PNA)

fore. Vehicles from Mati can

now go here),” says Katherine Magadan, a resident of of Barangay Tagboa, Municipality of Lupon.

Magadan said because of the new paved road, buyers of bananas are now passing through their barangay which benefits their livelihood.

For Levy Espelita, resident of Barangay Tagboa he remembers the bad roads of the past where vehicles will get bogged down. Now vehicles especially those laden with cargo will not have to worry being stuck in the mud.

The project costs an estimated P534 million, it was started in 2017 and had a formal turn-over on March 16, 2022. It was funded from the Philippine Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture and the Conditional Matching Grant to the Provinces under the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Under the PRDP-DA around 14.36 kilometers of road was concreted with a budget of P218.1 million while CMGP-DILG was responsible for the 18.06 kilometers of roads with bridge component

at a budget of P366.1 million.

“The DA PRDP we are always here to deliver and bring assistance to communities,” says DA-XI Regional Director Abel Monteagudo.

Monteagudo said the Matavisan-Licasu road network is a milestone because of its length and its impact to the community.

The Matavisan-Licasu road is one of the province’s Road Network Development aimed at connecting far-flung communities dependent on agriculture as a livelihood. The project is also a prime example of the government’s Build, Build, Build program.

“The build, build, build program is a timely window as there is a budget for infrastructure, political will and technical readiness is the key. We can’t afford a budget of P50-million P100 million from our IRA (internal revenue allotment) to build a road.

The secret of Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, he is always giving instructions, orders to the Provincial Governor’s Office to have these road sections be programmed, be proposed,” says Provincial Engineer Ruel Dumadag.

sector’s partnership with the central bank towards digital payments as “unifying and north star for the Philippines and stakeholders”.

“So, we’re really focused on growing and aiming to achieve and we’re really focused on

driving for more electronification of payments,” he said.

Wolbert said financial literacy and consumer education are important factors that will enhance people’s acceptance of this payment mode even after the pandemic.

amis Oriental office turned over PHP1.7 million worth of equipment and facilities to the Mat-i Man-ibay Civoleg Langguyod Higaonon Tribal Community (Mamacila, Inc.), an organization of the Higaonon Indigenous People (IP), for their citronella production.

The 145-member group was given oil hydro steam distilling extractor, cutter and

shredder equipment, heavy-duty digital industrial platform scale with 450 to 500-kilogram capacity, stainless steel cabinet, and stainless table through the shared service facilities (SSF) of DTI-Misamis Oriental.

SSF is a flagship project of DTI that aims at improving Micro, Small, and Medium productivity and efficiency through access to technology.

use of digital media platforms and local information networks to provide prompt and continuing information to depositors and other clients,” Tan said in his report.

He said PDIC’s Closed Bank Loan Incentive Program (CLIP), which offers easy payment and zero penalty initiative to borrowers of banks that were ordered closed by the Monetary Board (MB), also helped speed up the resolution of loan accounts.

CLIP offers substantial discounts to closed-bank borrowers with principal

loan balances of PHP1 million and below and who will opt to pay through a onetime cash settlement.

Tan said the PDIC under the Duterte administration will continue to expand the use of electronic modes of settling deposit insurance claims as part of the corporation’s digitalization efforts.

Aimed at further improving its customer services and operational efficiency, the PDIC completed the implementation of seven of its 16 major information and communications technology (ICT) projects in 2021.

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while most vegetables are deficient in one or more. Vitamin A plays an important role in vision, fighting infection and bacteria, maintaining skin and body linings, bone and body growth, reproduction, and normal cell development.

The B vitamins are very important to maintain good health. A deficiency of Vitamin B6 can raise a person’s risk of heart disease. Evidence also indicates that about 40 percent of heart attacks and strokes may be caused by a deficiency of folic acid, another important B vitamin.

Vitamin C is needed by the body to form collagen and fiber for teeth, bone, cartilage, connective tissue, skin and capillary walls. It helps in fighting bacterial infections. It may also protect against declining mental ability and stroke. Vitamin C of tomatoes is not destroyed by heat and therefore they are practically valuable for all sorts of stomach and liver troubles.

“Onions are super-healthy,” said Victoria Jarzabkowski, a nutritionist with the Fitness Institute of Texas at the University of Texas at Austin. “They are excellent sources of vitamin C, sulphuric compounds, flavonoids and phytochemicals.”

“I like to recommend eating onions because they add flavor without salt and sugar,” Jarzabkowski added. Onions are low in calories (45 per serving), very low in sodium, and contain no fat or cholesterol. Furthermore, onions contain fiber and folic acid, a B vitamin that helps the body make healthy new cells.

“The flavonoids in onion tend to be more concentrated in the outer layers of the flesh,” the website of the World’s Healthiest Foods (www.whfoods.com) claims. To maximize its health benefits, “peel off as little of the fleshy, edible portion as possible when removing the onion’s outermost paper layer.” Even a small amount of “overpeeling” can result in unwanted loss of flavonoids.

The total polyphenol content of onions is much higher than most people expect. Poly-

phenols are one of the largest categories of phytonutrients in food. “The total polyphenol content of onion is not only higher than its fellow allium vegetables, garlic and leeks, but also higher than tomatoes, carrots, and red bell pepper,” the website reports.

The particularly valuable flavonoid in onions is quercetin, which acts as an antioxidant. Although the average onion is likely to contain less than 100 milligrams of quercetin, some onions do provide this amount. “When onions are simmered to make soup, their quercetin does not get degraded,” reports the website. “It simply gets transferred into the water part of the soup. By using a low-heat method for preparing onion soup, you can preserve the health benefits of onion that are associated with this key flavonoid.”

Mango is a vitamin powerhouse. “One small mango provides a quarter of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, nearly two thirds of your daily quota for vitamin A, good amounts of vitamin E and fiber. They also contain vitamin K, phosphorus and magnesium.

Mangoes are particularly rich in potassium,” wrote Fiona Wilkinson, author of “Health Benefits of Mangoes.”

Mango is also considered a ‘high volume’ food; it means you get a lot of food for a relatively small amount of calories.

“One mango contains around 135 calories,” wrote Wilkinson. “However, they are quite high in natural sugar with one mango containing around 30 grams.”

Mango, being high in calories and carbohydrates, is good for those who are trying to gain weight. As it is high in iron, mango is said to be very good for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anemia.

“Mango has three times the vitamin C of a single orange or apple and important minerals essential to prevent cancer and other diseases,” said Dr. Martin Hirte, a German health food researcher and pediatrician.

and Management Services, Acting Deputy Executive Director Anna Christine Abellana of Bureau on Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services, and Chief of Staff Marc Edward Velasco, Meanwhile, Chairperson Caludtiag was assisted

by Commissioner (Lanao del Sur) Arsalan A. Diamaoden, Commissioner (Tawi-Tawi) Abdulkhabir I. Musa, Commissioner (Basilan) Yushoup A. Sario, Commissioner (Sulu) Adzhar L. Tingkahan, and BSC Sports Consultant Emmanuel Rene Ayo.

The transition to going cashless in the country was led by bill payments, supermarket expenditure, and retail shopping, the financial services company said.

“Filipinos believe COVID-19 has accelerated the country’s transition to a cashless society by at least three years. Now, seven out of 10 consumers anticipate that the Philippines can become fully cashless within the next seven to 10 years,” said Wolbert.

A majority of Filipinos have a preference for mobile wallets at 64%, followed by card payments online at 52%, card payments at physical merchants at 44%, and QR payments at 31%.

This showed that the pandemic has also driven the uptake of cashless payment methods, especially mobile

wallets and card payments online, with a large number of first-time users due to the pandemic, Visa said.

Meanwhile, 83% of Filipinos are aware of contactless payments while 69% have made contactless payments in 2021, up from 66% in 2020.

Last year, the pandemic continued to be the main driver of online shopping growth, especially for digital purchases made via e-commerce apps, Visa said.

It said that more consumers turned to online shopping and started using apps or websites to shop for the first time.

The financial services firm said movement restriction orders in the past year also led to an increase in spending on items such as home office products, groceries, personal care items, and content platform subscriptions.

open up the Philippine economy to more foreign investors, thus boosting jobs and economic growth and recovery.

“This is a golden opportunity to ensure continued economic recovery and long-term growth,” she said.

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SPORTS

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Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (R) in action against Los Angeles Lakers guard Stanley Johnson (L) during the third quarter of the NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, USA, 01 March 2022.

Etienne Laurent, EPA-EFE

Doncic’s triple-double leads Mavericks over skidding Lakers L uka Doncic collected 34 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists through three quarters to fuel the host Dallas Mavericks to a 128-110 wire-to-wire victory over the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Doncic made 12 of 23 shots from the floor -- including four 3-pointers -- before sitting out the entire fourth quarter. The triple-double was Doncic’s 10th of the season and 46th career.

Reggie Bullock made five shots from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points for the Mavericks (47-29), who shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 43.5 percent from 3-point range (20-for-46).

Dallas recorded its fourth win in a row at home and 19th in its last 23 to move within one game of the third-place Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.

The Lakers (31-44) played without four-time NBA MVP LeBron James and Anthony Davis. James sustained a left ankle sprain in Los Angeles’ 116108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday, while Davis hasn’t played

since suffering a right midfoot sprain on Feb. 16.

Malik Monk scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook added 25 for the Lakers, who have lost three in a row. Los Angeles fell below idle San Antonio (31-44) -- via tiebreaker -- into 11th place in the Western Conference.

Davis Bertans had four 3-pointers to finish with 14 points for the Mavericks. Spencer Dinwiddie had 13 points while Josh

Ramirez said in PSC’s first physical press conference amid the Covid-19 pandemic at its main office inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. “I’ve seen the softening on both sides.”

If the mediation continues to have a smooth flow, Ramirez hopes that the impasse between PATAFA and Obiena will end by Friday barring an “April Fools’

prank” as he said in jest since it’s on April 1.

Some signs, however, are leaning toward the resolution being a legit one.

“The PATAFA leadership has agreed to some of the possible competitions to be given to EJ Obiena,” Ramirez added.

The development further boosts Obiena’s chances to defend his gold medal in the Southeast

Asian Games in Hanoi from May 12-23.

Although the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has taken over the Philippine athletics team after suspending PATAFA for three months, paving the way for Obiena’s inclusion, PATAFA’s nod will all but seal Obiena’s participation this year in the Vietnam SEA Games.

The POC will be hold-

Green, Dwight Powell and Jalen Brunson each added 12.

Doncic scored 15 of his team’s first 23 points as Dallas bolted out of the blocks in the first quarter.

Bullock buried back-toback 3-pointers, Green added one of his own and Maxi Kleber made a layup as time expired to stake the Mavericks to a 4325 lead at the end of the quarter.

Dallas continued its

sharpshooting to seize an 82-56 lead at intermission.

The Mavericks’ point total was their most in any half this season.

Doncic secured his triple-double after recording an offensive rebound and putback to stake the Mavericks to a 101-65 lead with 6:58 remaining in the third quarter.

Dallas, which led by as many as 37 points, put it on cruise control the rest of the way.

PATAFA, EJ Obiena mediation nearing resolution: PSC chief

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez on Tuesday said both pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) are now nearing a resolution that could finally put their longstanding rift to rest, a major development in their ongoing mediation.

“We are almost there,”

ing its general assembly on Wednesday to decide whether it would soften its stance and lift the PATAFA suspension or not.

On the other hand, while he was not really allowed to disclose everything resolved during the mediation, Ramirez, the chief mediator between both parties, said he had to tell the reporters present at the press conference the

latest updates due to the importance of the sports media in burying the hatchet between Obiena and PATAFA. “I think the press will play a very important role. I will expect with the same partnership we have, we can work together to heal the wounds and act as one para sa bayan (for the nation),” Ramirez said. (PNA)

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EDGEDAVAO

(L-R) PSC Acting Deputy Executive Director of Bureau on Coordinating Secretariat and Support Services Anna Christine Abellana, Deputy Executive Director of Bureau on Administrative, Finance, and Management Services Merlita Ibay, BSC Commissioner (Basilan) Yushoup Sario, PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., Commissioner (Ta-

VOL.14 ISSUE 317 • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022

wi-Tawi) Abdulkhabir Musa, Commissioner (Lanao del Sur) Arsalan Diamaoden, Commissioner (Sulu) Adzhar Tingkahan, BSC Executive Director Salihwardi Alba and BSC Sports Consultant Emmanuel Rene Ayo during their courtesy visit today at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila

COLLABORATION

PSC strengthen ties with Bangsamoro Sports Commission

T

he Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) warmly welcomed the delegation of the Bangsamoro Sports Commission (BSC) in a courtesy visit in Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila on Tuesday.

BSC is the policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and was created on September 17, 2020 through the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 12 or “The Bangsamoro Sports Commission Act of 2020”.

“Our Commission is here to foster and cement a strong and solid linkage with one of the country’s formidable institutions — the Philippine Sports Commission. Our goals and passion to build interest and develop Filipino sports is very similar. Just as PSC, the BSC is committed to transforming the Bangsamoro people into a healthy citizen through various commendable sports development programs.” BSC Chairperson Nu-Man Caludtiag said.

PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez met with BSC Chairperson Caludtiag and his Commissioners through a two-hour coordination meeting today, which aimed to strengthen the linkage of the two parties through a cooperation agreement. Ramirez shared that part of the partnership is to continue the Mindanao sports for peace program of the Duterte administration.

“The core vision of Bangsamoro is easily a journey and I think it’s a celebration that during this administration, they’re almost there. You have your own flag, your own vision, your own office not only in Mindanao but also in Makati and you are negotiating with other countries so there’s great hope,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez was joined by PSC Women in Sports oversight commissioner Celia Kiram who also expressed her support for BSC especially in starting their program on women in sports.

“I hope I can share you more and do something to encourage our Muslim women to be in sports. Marami at napakalaki po ng potensyal ng ating mga kababaihan.” shared Commissioner Kiram.

Aside from the coordination meeting, the PSC-BSC top executives also conducted a tree planting activity in RMSC which is a symbol of friendship and stronger relationships in the future. The group also toured inside the historic PSC-Managed Complexes.

Ramirez and Kiram were joined by Executive Director Atty.

Guillermo Iroy Jr., Deputy Executive Director Merlita Ibay of Bureau on Administrative, Finance,

FCOLLABORATION, P10