Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 60 | Thursday, June 23, 2022

EDGEDAVAO BROTHER’S ADVICE Serving a seamless society

NBA-BOUND

SPORTS P 12

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

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Baste to Sara: Don’t forget your own happiness

STORY ON PAGE 2

A vendor checks her display of unsold pork meat on a quiet Wednesday afternoon at Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Market goers seemed to avoid buying pork meat nowadays because of the high price and some swine producing provinces that supply the city’s public markets are affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF). Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte interacts with ex-wife Elizabeth Zimmerman during the inauguration of their daughter, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte at San Pedro Square in Davao City last Sunday. The outgoing President has declined serving as the drug czar of his successor President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Malacañang said. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

BROTHER’S ADVICE Baste to Sara: Don’t forget Davao City’s People’s Park set to reopen next month

your own happiness

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he bond between a brother and sister is much stronger than anyone could imagine.

The same bond shared by incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and big sister Vice President-elect Sara Duterte.

When the elder Duterte starts working as Vice President, life between them will never be the same.

That said, the incoming mayor has kind words for his big sister.

“She has to make sure na dili niya kalimtan iyahang kaugalingong kalipay pud. Dapat naa pud siya time para sa iyahang kaugalingon dili puro trabaho

lang. She is known to be a very hardworker man gud so malimtan niya iyahang kaugalingon usahay.

Akoang request lang para sa iyaha is to take care of herself all the time,” he said in an interview on Tuesday during the opening of the Esplanade at the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road in Talomo, Davao City.

The incoming mayor,

he recent report released by the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) reflected the fulfilled promises of President Rodrigo Duterte to sustain the gains of the comprehensive peace process in the Bangsamoro region.

The IGRB is composed

of officials from the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and BARMM Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal as co-chairpersons.

Iqbal, Dominguez, and BARMM officials met with

President Duterte at the Palace on Thursday to discuss the second progress report of the IGRB, covering December 2019 to December 2021 where 11 key issues in the first progress report have been addressed.

“This report is a manifestation that President Duterte remains commit-

however, said they don’t usually bond before getting away from each other.

Meanwhile, Duterte also advised her brother and successor to always heed the general welfare of the people and to follow the general welfare clause of the Local Government Code of the Philippines particularly Section 16 under

ted to bringing lasting and sustainable peace closer to the Bangsamoro people. He stayed true to his promise of honoring all signed peace agreements,” Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.

The concerns included

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BARMM report part of PRRD fulfillment of peace process T

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fter more than two years, the People’s Park will be reopened next month after it was shut down as authorities prohibited mass gathering to avoid transmission of the highly infectious coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Engr. Juancho B. Dagasohan, acting chief of the Parks and Playgrounds Division at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Tuesday that outdoor activities will be permitted once it reopens its gates to the locals.

The People’s Park is one of the city’s largest sites for swabbing at the height of the COVID-19 surge and later as a vaccination hub with drive-thru.

He said the gated public park, a popular go-to place for exercise and other outdoor activities, will resume its operations as the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force will move the vaccination program from the existing hubs to the barangay health districts.

“Your dream to jog at People’s Park again will happen soon, maybe, starting this month of July. Once the local government trans-

fers the vaccination to the barangay health districts, that’s the time when we can finally reopen it. As of now, it’s used as a venue for vaccination,” he said.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson for the task force, said last Friday that the vaccination drive at the People’s Park and the privately-owned Davao Crocodile Park will operate until end of June.

Dagasohan added that the local government has set aside a budget for the renovation of the public park. The park now houses the five-story gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), which is set to open in December this year.

“We have a budget for the renovation of the People’s Park. However, it did not push through when the pandemic happened,” he said.

Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, head of the city’s vaccination cluster, told DCDR. 87.5 that they are closing all vaccination hubs in malls and schools by June 30, but these services will be transferred to the 18 district health offices.

As of June 10, there are

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NEWS

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Incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte graces the turn over ceremony of Bago Aplaya Espalanade by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Davao Region (DPWH-Davao) to the city government of Davao on Tuesday afternoon. Edge Davao

Whole-of-Nation Approach curtails violence in Davao Region: Gov. Uy Cotabato guv-elect calls for harmony

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overnor-elect Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza urged newly-elected officials of the Province of Cotabato to foster a healthy working environment and relationship with the legislative and executive departments when they assume office to achieve their goals in helping and building Cotabato.

Mendoza, the incumbent vice governor, regained the gubernatorial

post in the May 9 elections over incumbent Governor Nancy Catamco. Incoming vice-governor Efren “Boy” Piñol is the running-mate of Catamco.

The provincial legislature has 10 elective seats wherein Mendoza’s party-mates won seven of the slots, with just three of the rival’s political party’s winning the rest of the slots.

“To my party mates both

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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egional Development Council 11 (RDC 11) chair Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy of Davao de Oro disclosed that the Whole-of-Nation Approach of the Duterte administration has helped in curtailing the incidence of terrorism and violence in the Davao Region.

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) of the Whole-ofNation Approach, which was institutionalized through Executive Order No. 70 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018, has resulted in the dismantling of the decades-long

Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) stronghold in Davao Region.

In his State of the Region Address (SORA) on June 21, 2022, at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier, Uy reported that violent incidents in-

volving communist terrorist groups in Davao Region have significantly declined from 130 in 2017 to only 13 incidents in 2021.

“I can say that the revitalization of barangay police in the region was significant in this anti-insurgency campaign,” he said.

Uy was referring to the Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay Program, which was pioneered in October 2019

by Police Regional Office 11, which was effective in eradicating the remnants of communist insurgency through the regular delivery of government services directly to communities in

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Manhunt underway for three escapees

T Mug shots of three detainees who escaped last Thursday, June 6 from the Sasa Police Station. Photos courtesy of Davao City Police Office

geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Region.

The initiative was also recognized by the PNP National Leadership and has since been replicated nationwide.

“With the support and cooperation of the whole of society, from our barangay functionaries up to the President’s Cabinet, including Congress, the Judiciary, and our private sector partners, we did it. We have won this long-fought battle against local communist armed conflict here in Davao Region not through

he Sasa Police Station is currently conducting a manhunt operation for three detainees who escaped on June 16, 2022 at the Sasa Police Station in Davao City.

The three are identified as Alan Tilmaria Suluan, Aljun Norbia Lulang, and Agdokahal Montasi.

Based on the spot report dated June 16, 2022 shared to media, the three suspects escaped by sawing the one-piece round steel bar using unknown cutting materials situated at the back portion of the detention facility.

Immediately,

personnel of this office conducted a hot pursuit operation for the possible arrest of the three escaped suspects.

In a statement, Major Ma. Teresita Gaspan, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson, stated that during the manhunt operation conducted by the Tracker Team composed of the intel operatives and personnel of the Sasa Police Office led by Police Major Alberto Abela, the team searched particularly Isla Verde, Barangay 23-C, Davao City as well as to

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

A hawker takes advantage of the traffic caused by a road construction to sell food snacks to motorists in Zamboanga Sibugay. Edge Davao

Corn farmers, fisherfolk in Caraga get fuel subsidy A

t least 351 corn farmers and fisherfolk from this city and three towns of Agusan del Sur benefited from the fuel subsidy program launched by the regional agriculture office here Tuesday.

In a statement, the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA13) said that apart from farmer-beneficiaries in this city, fuel discount cards were also distributed to the municipalities of Nasipit, Carmen, and Buenavista in Agusan del Norte.

The program intends to aid the corn farmers and fisherfolk who own and operate agricultural and fishing machinery to cope with the rising fuel prices in the international market.

“The fuel discount program is a big help in the face of rising fuel pric-

es caused by the pandemic and aggravated by the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” DA-13 said.

Each of the beneficiaries was provided with gasoline discount payment cards worth PHP3,000.

The card distribution was facilitated with the Universal Storefront Services Corporation, a partner of the DA-13 in the program.

Melody Guimary, DA13 chief of field operations, said at least 1,616

corn farmers and 2,186 fisherfolk from the region will directly benefit from the program.

“The distribution of the fuel discount cards will continue on June 22 to 23 in other areas in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur,” she said.

The other areas to be covered in the coming days include Las Nieves in Agusan del Norte and the towns of Lapaz, Talacogon, and San Luis in Agusan del Sur. (PNA)

small fintech companies to operate seamlessly in delivering their products and services.

“By leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s IT (information technology) infrastructure and innovative fintech products, digital financial services can reach more of the country’s unbanked Filipinos,” he said.

Under the Fintech

ONE program, the company will provide eligible fintech firms up to USD10,000 in cloud coupons that can be redeemed for Alibaba Cloud products and services.

The digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, which started its domestic operations in January 2019, will also provide

consulting and technical services to the qualified start-ups, he added.

Gou said they are also coordinating with regulators vis-à-vis the push to further digitalize the payment system in the country.

He said they are in talks with other stakeholders to share best practices that will benefit local players. (PNA)

Local fintechs to benefit from digital company’s mentorship program

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ocal financial technology (fintech) firms are set to benefit from a mentorship program that aims to help start-up companies in their digitalization bid to expand their operations.

In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Alibaba Cloud country manager for the Philippines Allen Gou said the “Fintech ONE” program intends to aid

ARTA recalls ruling on automatic approval of 2 NTC applications

T

he Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) has issued resolutions setting aside its decision on automatic approval of the applications of NOW Telecom and News and Entertainment Network Corp. with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

In separate resolutions shared by ARTA officer-in-charge Ernesto Perez, ARTA said the decision on the applications of NOWTel and NEWS Net shall now be in the hands of the NTC. The ARTA came up with the resolutions following a ruling of the Office of the Secretary of Justice that transactions in quasi-judicial agencies are not covered by the 3-7-20 rule. “(T)he subject ARTA Resolution and Order of Automatic Approval dated March 1, 2021 are hereby now set aside and the application of

NOWTel for the assignment of frequencies is hereby endorsed to the National Telecommunications Commission for prompt disposition,” the resolution pertaining to NOWTel’s case said.

Its decision of automatic approval for NEWS Net dated Feb. 12, 2020 was also set aside and the application was endorsed to the NTC for “prompt disposition”.

The implementing rules and regulations of the ease of doing business (EODB) law impose all national government agencies and local government units to process simple transactions in three days, seven days for complex transactions, and 20 days for highly technical transactions.

Transactions with complete requirements shall be deemed approved within three, seven, or 20 days depending on the complexity of the transaction. (PNA)

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ECONOMY

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A woman washes the clothes and linens of customers at a laundry shop along C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City. Edge Davao

P1.1-T investments, $4.3-B FDIs in manufacturing OK’d in six years

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Duterte administration has created a vibrant business environment in the last six years that helped in attracting investments in the manufacturing sector.

During the 7th Manufacturing Summit in Makati City Tuesday, Lopez said a total of PHP1.1 trillion investments were approved in the manufacturing sector between 2016 and 2022.

Some USD4.3 billion worth of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the manufacturing sector also entered the country in the same period.

Lopez added that employment in the sector

stood at 3.66 million in April 2022, which is higher than the pre-pandemic level of 3.65 million employees in 2019.

This also reflected that the job losses during the pandemic were recovered.

In 2020, employment in manufacturing reached 3.19 million.

With the further reopening of the economy, manufacturing output is on the trajectory of hitting the pre-pandemic level of PHP3.6 trillion.

Lopez said the industry’s output in 2021 is pegged at USD3.55 trillion.

In the first quarter of 2022, manufacturing output stood at PHP975

epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez is proposing to the next administration to tweak Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, to adopt some provisions that will favor local manufacturers in government bidding.

During the 7th Manufacturing Summit in Makati City Tuesday, Lopez said the next administration can refine the “lowest bid” rule in RA 9184 which will open the opportunity for lo-

cal companies to supply goods and services to the government.

The “lowest bid” rule in the government procurement law could be a disadvantage to domestic industries because imported products, especially those coming from China, are cheaper.

“Provided that supply is available, (and) prices are competitive.

There can just be benchmarking with foreign prices from abroad just to make sure that the prices are within range,” Lopez said.

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P20 per kilo of rice doable: DA-11 exec

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he top official of the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) said Tuesday that the PHP20 per kilo price of rice is doable, especially with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. concurrently leading the department starting next month.

In an interview, DA-11 Director Abel James Monteagudo noted that the PHP20 per kilo rice “has been a dream statement” of the incoming president, but

cautioned that it might take a while considering various factors.

These factors, he said, include the looming price hikes on oil, fertilizers, and

other world events that have ramifications for the agriculture industry.

“That statement does not mean that it will happen immediately. It was more of a dream of the president, hoping it will be achieved sooner,” Monteagudo said.

For instance, Monteagudo said the prices of fertilizer are being affected by the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is one of the biggest sources of fertilizer.

He said the Task Force Group on Economic Recovery-National Employment Recovery Strategy (TGER-NERS) passed this kind of resolution wherein only local manufacturers can participate in a particular government procurement program to stimulate activities and jobs in local industries.

“Our thinking, while the law has yet to be amended, may be changing the terms of reference of some government procurement projects through this

resolution of NERS that hopefully can be adopted by the President and issue an executive order.

It’s like side by side with RA 9184,” he said on the sidelines of the event.

The DTI chief suggested that this can be done in response to the government’s requirement for personal protective equipment (PPE) to patronize the local PPE manufacturing, which heeded the government’s call to put up PPE production facilities to supply the local needs during the onset

of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, the country only has one face mask manufacturer and has no producer for other PPE like gloves and gowns.

Another area where bidding could be exclusive for Filipino enterprises is in supplying uniforms for uniformed personnel.

Lopez said there is an abundant supply in the local market, and this move can stimulate the local garments and

We are somehow dependent on the fertilizer-producing countries, and it is one of the problems the president has to address,” he added.

Meanwhile, Monteagudo said the decision of Marcos Jr. to lead the agency would mean better and fast delivery of services to Filipino farmers.

“We accept his decision with open arms, and it’s very welcome news. It is something to look forward to,” he said. (PNA)

shoe industries.

“Other simple basic requirements are office tools (and) equipment that are locally available. The problem is we get used to importing,” he told reporters.

Lopez added allocating 20 percent of government procurement programs exclusively for Filipino manufacturers could help in the growth of the domestic industries. “(There are) many ways to help local manufacturing,” the outgoing DTI chief said. (PNA)

DTI eyes refinement in gov’t procurement law D

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

On the new journey of sister Sara Duterte as Vice President of the country:

She has to make sure na dili niya kalimtan iyahang kaugalingong kalipay pud.

Dapat naa pud siya time para sa iyahang kaugalingon dili puro trabaho lang. She is known to be a very hardworker man gud so malimtan niya iyahang kaugalingon usahay. Akoang request lang para sa iyaha is to take care of herself all the time.”

Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE CONTROVERSIAL DURIAN FRUIT Right after eating the edible flesh of durian fruit, we usually throw away the thorny rind.

But there’s good news. Those rinds can be used supposedly as natural preservatives.

A report from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) said that the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) has received funding approval from the regional office Department of Science of Technology for the research.

According to Prof. Judee Nogodula, “the study aims to use the fruit’s rinds as natural bio-preservatives by isolating bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and extracting bacteriocin from fermenting durian rind.”

“This research also aims to provide future solutions to food safety issues,” said Prof. Nogodula, head of the USEP College of Arts and Sciences Research and study leader of the project, which received P900,000 from DOST-11.

This is welcome news since durian rinds become a sort of garbage after eating the edible flesh. And Davao region will definitely benefit from the study as most of the durians are grown here. Now that

Kadayawan sa Dabaw is fast approaching, expect durians to invade the street walks and market stalls in the city.

Davao Region is considered a durian republic. “Most foreigners who come here are surprised to know that durian thrives well in this part of the world,” commented Ian Ogatis, farm manager of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC).

Yes, durian (scientific name: Durio zibethinus) abounds in Davao, especially at this time of the year. “If Davao can be compared to a fruit, then durian would be more likely,” said Brad Eivens, an American who has lived in the country for more than a decade now.

Eivens is not the only American who’s a durian enthusiast.

Before him, there was Harold Watson, a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for international understanding in 1985. Two others who loved eating durian were Jeff Palmer and the late Ben Wolf.

When people talk about durian, they always focus on its odor. Most foreigners think durian stinks. But to most Filipinos, its fragrance can be compared to that of a perfume. “It

smells like hell and tastes like heaven” is how some Westerners described the fruit.

Most airlines won’t allow it on board. Singapore, so orderly that it bans chewing gum, bars durians from its subway stations and trains.

The taste and odor of the fruit defies description. One Thai fan wrote: “The rich brimstone musk, whispering of depravity and month-old eggs… durian is to fruit what limburger is to cheese and pornography is to literature.”

British novelist Anthony Burgess told of “the fetid exciting reek like eating a sweet raspberry blancmange in the lavatory.”

English writer Somerset Maugham compares the fruit to “a combination of cornflower, rotten cheese, nectarines, crushed filbert (hazel nuts), a dash of pineapple, a spoonful of old dry sherry, thick cream, apricot pulp and soupcorn of garlic, all reduced to the consistency of a thick custard.”

In his dairy, the 19th-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote that his journey to the East was worth it, “if only to taste of durian fruit.”

One world-renowned his-

torian declared: “To those who are used to it, the durian fruit seems to smell like rotten onions, but after they have tasted it, they prefer it to all other fruits.”

Now, listen to the words of Jose Madera, who had his first taste of durian recently: “Its flavor was indescribably rich and sweet, and I enjoyed it at the moment. But like other strongly flavored foods, such as raw onions for example, its odor returned to plague me.”

“Durians have an unfair reputation,” observed one Filipina who is married to an American. “My husband, for example, can stand the taste, but not the smell. It’s easier to introduce durians to children. Adults are prejudiced.”

The durian fruit is a good source of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and some protein.

The ripe pulp is usually eaten fresh by most people. The pulp can also be made into jam, preserved (often packed like long sausages), candies and other sweets, or used as ice cream flavoring. On the other hand, the unripe or half-ripe pulp may be used in making soup.

Unknown to many, the seeds of durian are roasted, cut into

slices and fried in spiced coconut oil to be eaten with rice or covered with sugar and consumed as a sweetmeat in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, here’s a timely tip to people who would like to eat durian. After eating, put some water into the empty durian shell and wash your hands in it. This removes the smell.

Try anything else – detergents, deodorant, or whatever – the smell will remain just as pungent.

On the other hand, a novice eating durian should consult an expert before opening the fruit.

Otherwise, he would only mess things up by wounding it, or worse, hurting himself with the sharp spikes.

The durian tree belongs to the family Bombacaceae.

In his book, Underexploited Tropical Plants with Promising Economic Value, Dr. Roberto E. Coronel wrote: “The durian was probably introduced into the Philippines during its early trading with neighboring countries. Up to now, it still grows wild in many places in Mindanao and is particularly abundant from Davao to the lake region of Agusan and the Sulu Archipelago.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

BUSWHACK AT LUPON Law enforcers in southern Mindanao when Davao was the epicenter of the communist insurgency movement suffered a humiliating encounter on October 17, 1985, when the New People’s Army (NPA) waylaid a police unit from Lupon, costing the lie of the town’s police chief.

Seventy fully-armed rebels ambushed a joint 15-man police and paramilitary force led by Lt. Arnold Malintad on a mission to recover the body of a woman publicly executed in front of her husband and children over an hour earlier for being suspected as an informer by the NPA. The ambush took place at Cabadiangan, Lupon, Davao Oriental, early in the morning.

The suspected informant, according to media reports, was a relative of one of Davao Oriental Francisco Rabat’s close-in security guards, the ‘Blue Boys’,

that secured the provincial capital. This relationship was purportedly the reason why she was distructed.

Another reason cited for her death was in retaliation for the number of rebels killed by the military operatives during the several encounters between the two contending factions.

Aside from Lt. Malintad, a former chief of police of the towns of Manay, Sigaboy (Gov. Generoso), and Mati (now a city), those killed in the waylay included Patrolman Pama and militiamen Juan Kasan, Dante Godoso, Rolando Magno, and Jun Caya. Apparently, nobody tipped the police-led contingent about the impending surprise attack.

Survivors’ accounts say the rebels had already positioned themselves along the roadside when they pounced on the un-

prepared police patrol jeep. A one-hour gunfight ensued but the law enforcers had to tactically withdraw to ask for reinforcement. They also brought along with their retreat three of their wounded companions.

Lt. Malintad, who was Lupon station commander for less than a year, managed to hit back by shooting at close range NPA Commander Cambol who approached to collect his firearm. Playing dead with a cocked gun, he fired at the rebel leader and fatally hit him. The other insurgents who saw the incindent ran towards the mortally wounded police chief and finished him off.

Overall, the ambush and the subsequent gunfight between the law enorcers and the insurgents cost the lives of eleven persons.

Two weeks earlier, on Octo-

ber 3, government troops with help of the Mandaya tribesmen, ambushed and killed three of southern Mindanao’s most wanted rebel commanders and twenty-seven of their men at sitio Sangab, barangay Pichon in the town of Caraga, Davao Oriental.

Slain were Commander Saulo (Alexander Navarro), commanding officer of the 234th Secondary Regional Guerrilla Unit (SRGU) of the CPP-NPANDF; Commander Ramel (Pablo Estander), member of the 234th SRGU company operational command; and Commander Karim (Joel Fernandez), member of the 234th MRUGU battalion operational command.

The ambush was prearranged after Davao Oriental provincial command under Lt. Col. Carlos E. Pena received information the communist

rebels under Front 15, which covered the towns of Tarragona, Malay, Baganga, and Caraga, had scheduled a plenum.

People’s Daily Forum, a Davao-based daily paper, reported in its October 6,1985, edition: ‘Briefed on the unusually large communist groups about to converge in the area,Col. Peña immediately organized the ambush platoon and another team led byCapt. Binang A. Hadjiril, 433rd PC commanding o<cer.

The ambush platoon, whichwas under the operational control of the Philippine Constabulary command, hadpositioned itself hours before the ambush.

The second team has likewise sealed allpossible routes from a handful of ambush survivors believed straggling in theneighboring areas of sitio Sangab.

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EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Gardening Essentials

by CITI HARDWARE

President, PR Institute of New Zealand.

“This year’s Congress aims to inspire through thought leadership from those who thrived throughout the pandemic and served others through effective and empathic communications during the most challenging two years globally.

The first-ever joint Congress aims to propagate truth, innovation, and progress as key anchors for communicators.

Through this convergence, we hope to continue responsibly and sustainably help rebuild and reopen our economy, ” shares Cathy Yang, Chairperson of the National PR Congress.

This year will be a milestone year for the PRSP as it marks a variety of firsts for the country’s premier organization for public relations professionals. This will be the first time the Society will hold the Congress as a joint hybrid event with the 29th National PR Congress and the 28th Student PR Congress.

“The 28th Students’ PR Congress aims to offer a fresh and clear perspective for tomorrow’s communicators. To effectively communicate under a better nor-

tools such as a machete, bolo, claw bar, digging bar, shovel, rake, grass sickle, and grass hooks. These tools are necessary for cleaning the garden, planting, and harvesting. These are made of heavy-duty materials, low maintenance care, and are easy to use. Power sprayer, brush cutter, and lawn mower are some of the garden equipment available in the CitiHardware store. Garden hoses with different hose accessories and propagation pots for planting and growing are also available in different sizes and styles.

Proper garden tools and equipment ensure better gardening results and high

MANILA, Philippines Starbucks Philippines champions sustainability and digital innovation as they unveil their initiatives for 2022 and beyond. In a media roundtable, the company went indepth on new digital services and sustainability efforts that help give back to the planet, while enhancing its customer experience.

“We are very excited to be introducing these new initiatives for sustainability and digital innovation. Through these efforts, we can connect with our customers better, and focus on the well-being of our planet to create a better shared future,” said Jamie Silva, Senior Manager for Marketing, Digital Customer Experience & Loyalty at Starbucks Philippines.

Connecting Starbucks Rewards with Grab and Lazada It’s important for the company to make earning rewards as easy for customers as possible and connecting to Grab and Lazada is a powerful tool for Starbucks Philippines because of how easily it fits into its customer’s daily lives.

Starting June 23, a seamless integration with Starbucks Rewards will allow customers to earn 1 Star for every Php40 spent on Starbucks orders. Every 100 Stars collected converts to a free Starbucks beverage or food reward, redeemable in stores.

Gifting Made Easy The company’s integration with GLife and GrabGifts is a key next step as Starbucks Philippines innovates in social digital gifting, providing a greater connection and convenience for all its customers. eGifting is now available through GrabGift and GLife, allowing customers to digitally send Starbucks favorites to their loved ones. Starbucks eGifts can be purchased starting at Php 100 on GrabGifts and Php 300 on GLife. eGifts from GLife can be used to pay in Starbucks stores while eGifts from GrabGifts can be used to purchase orders from Starbucks on GrabFood.

Starbucks FoodShare Program Last March, Starbucks FoodShare launched in the Philippines starting with

productivity while saving significant time and effort.

Grab your tools now and get started! For your gardening and home improvement needs, come and visit any CitiHardware store near you!

You may also shop in the comfort of your home thru Shop &amp; Go hotlines, CitiHardware online shops www.Lazada.com. ph/shop/citihardware- inc., www. shopee.ph/citihardwareinc, and www.shop. citihardware.com. For more information, check our CitiHardware website www. citihardware.com.

Shop safely and conveniently at CitiHardware and enjoy great value every day!

STARBUCKS PHILIPPINES SHOWCASES INNOVATION FOR GROWTH AND A MORE CONNECTED FUTURE

MVP, Kevin Tan top bill business icons in 2022 National PR Congress this September MANILA, Philippines, June 21, 2022 – Underscoring the important role of communications in shaping the Philippines in the next normal, MVP Group of Companies Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Alliance Global Group Chief Executive Officer Kevin L. Tan headline the list of business icons who will be leading thought-leadership conversations during the National Public Relations Congress hosted by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) to be held on September 1 and 2 at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City.

“We are very excited to present a roster of speakers and panelists, not just from the communications industry but also from the business community, who believe that the public relations profession is integral to their organizations & growth and success,”says Harold Geronimo, APR, president, PRSP. Other business icons joining the high-level discussions include Bernie Liu, Founder and CEO, The Penshoppe Group, and June Chaye Cabal-Revilla, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, Metro-Pacific Investments Corporation. Also flying in from overseas to join the much-anticipated event are Prita Kamal Gani, President, ASEAN Public Relations Network; Jaffri Amin Osman, Executive Member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management; and Fiona Cassidy,

Looking for a new activity this summer? Then make gardening at the top of your list.

Getting in touch with nature, breathing fresh air, and being under the sun effectively boosts your mood and de-stress yourself. Gardening is an activity that is good for both mind and body.

It may be hard to know where to begin with this new hobby, but you can keep it simple and start with easy-to-grow plants. Make sure that you have the proper tools and equipment for a great gardening experience.

CitiHardware offers a wide selection of gardening essentials you can choose from. We have gardening

mal, we need to equip our young communicators with a refreshed mindset, engage them through thought-provoking discourse, and empower them to make the right decisions to help build a better nation,” says Franz dela Fuente, PRSP Treasurer and Chairperson of the 28th Students’ PR Congress.

Organized by the PRSP, the PR Congress is the largest congregation of public relations practitioners across industries in the public sector, civil society and students in the Philippines.

For more information, visit the event website or the PRSP Facebook page at www. facebook.com/PRSPofficial.

40 stores in Metro Manila.

Through Starbucks’ ongoing partnership with Grab, participating stores can connect with Grab drivers to pick up and deliver food donations daily. The donations are donated to Philippine Food Bank Foundation, a local non-profit organization, to be distributed to select beneficiaries within Metro Manila daily.

To date, the program has served over 50,000 meals from more than 200 stores.

The company’s goal is to continuously expand the program to more stores outside Metro Manila and serve more communities.

Global Community Impact Grants The Starbucks Foundation commits a $30 million investment in the Global Community Impact Grants by 2030. These grants aim to support programs that create meaningful impact, both locally and regionally.

For Starbucks Philippines, a total of $70,000 in grants have been awarded to Gawad Kalinga, HOUSE Foundation, and Teach for the Philippines. These grants will be directed to hunger relief and youth development programs from 2nd half of 2022 to 1st half of 2023.

“We’re very grateful for the continued support our customers and media partners have given Starbucks Philippines. As we introduce more initiatives to enhance the Starbucks Experience, I look forward to collaboratively creating a better future for all,” said Noey Lopez, President & CEO of Starbucks

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ENVIRONMENT

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Dolphins were among the marine species found during the survey.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

One of the snakes found inside the 67-hectare rainforest of Hijo Plantation.

Additional Photos courtesy of Harry D. Morris

I

f Harry D. Morris rings a bell, it’s because this British-Filipino guy is part of the Philippine Volcanoes. As a national-level rugby player, he is known for his skill on the sports field. But what most Filipinos don’t know is that he is a marine biologist and entrepreneur, passionate about preserving Davao Gulf, one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

Morris created the Trinity Project in November 2016 at the Banana Beach Resort, one of the business

endeavors of Hijo Resources Corporation in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Initially, he was thinking of rehabili-

Harry Morris with the mangroves ready for planting

tating only 200 square meters. But as months passed by, more areas were added.

Today, it occupies over 150 hectares of terrestrial area including 67 hectares of rainforest and 120 hectares of coastal (20 hectares of mangrove forest, 80 hectares of seagrass meadows, and 30 hectares of coral reef habitat).

“This large area and all its challenges is managed daily by only a small team (reduced due to the

pandemic) supervised by our project leader, Joselito Chavez,” Morris says.

There’s an interesting story on how he got involved in the project. He was attending a tourism conference in General Santos City, where he was one of the resource persons. It so happened that Rosanna Tuason-Fores, Hijo’s chief executive officer and president, was also there.

They talked and during their conversation, he found out that she was looking for someone who could help her rehabilitate the coastal area of Banana Beach Resort. It so happened that he was also looking for such an endeavor. The rest, as they say, history.

On why it is called Trinity, it’s because it involves the three coastal ecosystems: mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. “The coastline is in urgent need of protection from erosion,” he explains.

“Coral reef structures will help break and disrupt wave energy below the surface.

The seagrass meadows will buffer the wave energy against the sediment and slow down the movement of the water. The mangroves will dissipate the wave energy with their prop roots, pneumatophores and trunks before the wave

reaches the shore.”

More importantly, the ecosystems of the Trinity project are among the most diverse and productive types on the planet, producing and sustaining huge biomass in terms of fish, invertebrates, sea mammals, plankton, and birds. It is also crucial for capturing atmospheric carbon from the air and water.

Just recently, this author received a communication from him stating that he is doing some “scientific partnerships” with University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min), University of Mindanao (UM), Mindanao State University (MSU) – Marawi, and University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP). In addition, he is collaborating with some institutions abroad.

“There are multiple studies being carried out in our forest,” he says of the 67-hectare forest, which is home to wild pigs and monkeys. “Our coastal area has been declared a marine protected area (MPA),” he continues, adding that he is also involved in the hiking program being done at Mount Hamiguitan and other locations in Davao Oriental). Last month, he commissioned a group that conducted whale and dolphin surveys in Davao Gulf.

But that’s going ahead of the story. “With the academe, we have several on-

going scientific studies within the Hijo Property, such as the one-year long biodiversity study in partnership with UP-Min,” he says.

The study is to determine the diversity of the fauna and flora within the project’s rainforest and compare it to the study carried out by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2010.

“Every one to two months, we host a team of scientists who, for three days and nights, will search the forest in organized transects to find mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, plants and trees,” he says.

Included in the study are specialized teams who are looking for and identify plants and trees containing medicinally important compounds. “Since the last site visit, I believe there were over 70 compounds found, which can be synthesized to help in the treatment and potential cures for a variety of ailments, including – but not restricted to – cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes,” Morris says.

The wild pigs living in the forest were not spared from the African swine flu (ASF); in fact, there was an incident where an entire wild boar population was wiped out within a space of two weeks.

“The ASF disease is believed to have been intro-

FDIFFERENT, P10

10 EDGEDAVAO BROTHER’S ... FROM2

the General Welfare, which

emphasizes the fact that local governments should exercise the powers which have been expressly granted to them, the implied powers, and the powers which are necessary, appropriate, incidental, and

important to the efficient management of their constituents.

When asked about any tip that her sister has given to him, Baste said “sulti niya good luck mao lang akong matiman-an”.

MANHUNT ... FROM3

the possible areas visited by the escapees located at Sta. Cruz, Talicud island, Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS); Sta. Cruz Davao del Sur, and in the area of Badjao Village at General Santos City. However, during the operation, the tracker team failed to locate the detainees in the said areas.

The manhunt operation

continues for the possible recovery/apprehension of the escapees.

The suspects have pending cases for violation of Section 5 (the selling of illegal drugs) of Article 2 of R.A. 9165 or Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

By Maya M. Padillo

in the national and local positions, I thanked you for being united in our shared goals and advocacy to help and build Cotabato. I am referring to the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) as well as the mayors and council, our partnership is made easy because of the shared belief that we can achieve our goals if there is a healthy working environment and relationship with the executive and legislative department. Cooperation and support of our district and party-list representative and the active participation of our local government unit in the 17 municipalities and one city of the Province of Cotabato,” Mendoza said in her inaugural speech on June 20, 2022, at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City.

Mendoza emphasized that public service transcends political affiliations, loyalties, and personalities because of the commitment to advocacy.

“We are so committed to this advocacy that we have shared our joys, pains, laughter, and problems, and took the intrigues and issues positively made our team push and work harder to achieve our singular goal in the entire duration of the grueling campaign,” she said.

She reminded the employees of the provincial government that they are in partnership to perform and are bound to the responsibilities and accountabilities.

“My term begins at noon of the 30th (June) and my

task begins right then. As I embark on this direction to govern I am thankful at the same time-honored to be given this opportunity to serve the entire province as your governor,” she said.

She also urged all officials and employees to do their duties well despite the tests that are expected to come and harbors good conscience as the only reward.

Meanwhile, Mendoza also vowed that the Province of Cotabato will rise again under her “Serbisyong Totoo” Program.

She presented her programs, projects, and activities under her 12-point agenda for her 100 days including people’s participation and empowerment; women, senior citizens, people with disabilities (PWDs); lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (one’s sexual or gender identity), intersex, and asexual/aromantic/ agender (LBGBTQIA) empowerment plus programs and benefits; social services; cultural preservation, peace and harmony, tri-people council for peace; health for all and protection against contagious diseases; disaster preparedness, response, and resilience; agricultural productivity and livelihood; environment and tourism development (eco-tourism); infrastructure and barangay development; education for all; youth empowerment and sports development; and moral recovery, good governance, accountability, and transparency. By Maya M. Padillo

1,336,961 individuals vaccinated with the first dose, of whom 1,318,682 are fully vaccinated.

The city also reported 269,057 individuals who received the first booster dose and 20,828 who were administered with the second booster dose.

She said the local gov-

ernment has decided to shut down existing hubs since only few people visit the hubs to avail of the vaccination against COVID-19.

She added that scheduled vaccination will be done in communities to reach out to more residents.

(Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

billion, the highest output recorded in all first quarters of the previous years.

“This shows that once the domestic and global economy adapt better to the pandemic situation, the Philippine manufacturing sector is ready to return to

the pre-pandemic trajectory,” he added.

Lopez said the Duterte administration will also be leaving with around PHP500 billion worth of prospective investments that can be realized in the next 18 months. (PNA)

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DIFFERENT... FROM9 duced by poachers attempting to trap wild boars, and they were carrying it either on the soles of their shoes or within infected meat they used to bait the traps with,” Morris surmises. “As this disease is very fast acting, the attempts to isolate infected populations was unsuccessful, and approximately 250 individuals died rapidly.”

The Provincial Environmental Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and environment department is tapping the Hijo as the place where wild animals caught in Tagum are released into the forest.

“Due to the proximity of human developments and natural environments such as pocket forests and water bodies, it is quite common for wildlife and humans to interact,” Morris says. “Often, it doesn’t end well for wildlife and it’s common for them to become injured or die from things like traffic collisions or being killed out of fear, in the case of snakes and some lizards. Sometimes the animal is also captured and kept captive as a ‘pet.’

“We are working closely now with concerned envi-

ronment departments to encourage the public to hand in these animals to their office or alert them of their location,” he says. “They can then be brought into a temporary area and assessed by the city veterinarian for injuries or illnesses. Once the animal is deemed fit and healthy again, then they are turned over to my team at Hijo, will undergo a period of acclimatization and will then be released into our protected rainforest area.”

The Hijo Rainforest is situated within the 300-hectare leisure area, which has two rivers (Libuganon and Madaum) that provide natural, protective boundaries for the birds and animals to live peacefully, with minimal disturbance by people.

“We are proud to be the owners and managers of this pristine environment and are fortunate for its close proximity to the city,” Morris says.

“When we do a release of several animals, we’re happy to document and invite guests to participate in this heart-warming event.”

In 2021, Morris started a pilot programme for internships – in relation to any

the transfer of properties and assets of offices of national government agencies within the BARMM to the Bangsamoro government; nationally funded programs; Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in the region; participation of the Bangsamoro government in the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines; policing in the Bangsamoro; creation of an inter-agency committee for purposes of inventory; transfer of real properties of the ARMM outside the BARMM; joint exploration, development, and utilization of fossil fuels and uranium; Bangsamoro participation in the national government; establishment of a Shari’ah Supervisory Board and an Islamic Banking Unit within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; and participation of the Bang-

samoro government in the Southern Philippines Development Authority.

Among the major milestones achieved were the turnover of the Cotabato City District Engineering Office to the Bangsamoro government; signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs; creation of a regional office of the Bureau of Local Government Finance; creation of a Philippine Coast Guard District; transfer of management of Bangsamoro historical and cultural sites; inclusion of local government units in the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project and all its four components; audit of mine operations by the Mining Industry Coordinating Council; and funding of state universities and colleges.

violent means but through sincere, proactive community dialogues and with focused socioeconomic interventions for the affected communities,” Uy said.

He also shared that in Davao de Oro last week, he was notified by the Philippine Army that the last remaining members of the Guerilla Front 2, the oldest NPA guerilla unit in Mindanao had already left Davao de Oro. He said on June 20, 2022, the Provincial Peace and Order Council passed a resolution officially declaring Davao de Oro an insurgency-free province.

“This is the culmination of our long efforts to free the province from insurgency, the final barrier that separates us from fully realizing our development potential.

We were also informed by the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army that 100 percent of the recorded 145 barangays in the Davao Region, which used to be af-

fected by these communist terrorist groups in 2016, have been cleared of CPPNPA-NDF affectation. Today, I am proud to share our victory. At last, we are now finally free,” he said.

Considered to be one of the achievements of NTF- ELCAC was former CPP-NPA-NDF cadre Arian Jane Ramos alias Ka Marikit, who surrendered to the government troops last year.

Meanwhile, Uy’s SORA wrapped up his term in the RDC 11 to usher in the new administration for the next Davao Regional Development Plan, covering the years 2023 to 2028.

“I look back on our collective gains with a grateful sigh. It has been a tough yet rewarding three years serving the Dabawenyos with you all in the Regional Development Council.

While our term ends on June 30, 2022, the service to the public continues,” he said.

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course within environment and agriculture fields – under The Trinity Project. “My intention was to assess the feasibility of hosting students for extended periods of time at Hijo, checking to see whether we fill the criteria of local and international universities,” he says.

“I also needed to be confident that we can ensure the experience the student has whilst in Hijo will be beneficial, enjoyable and will contribute to their course in terms of credits and/or course objectives,” he continues.

The first internship student was a female American student, who is majoring in environmental studies, from the University of Oregon. She stayed at the place for over two months. “This internship was a major success, with our intern performing very well,” Morris says. “She was able to achieve three credits towards her degree in Oregon, became a certified Scuba Diver and learned many new skills that will prove useful in the working environment.”

The success of the said internship has led to the launch of the internship program. It also helped pave the way to create what he calls “science tourism” as a future activity.

Here, “a group of students can do internships from abroad or their thesis in Hijo for several weeks, compiling data that can be shared and published worldwide. Nature and the environment is a resource that can be tapped sustainably in the pursuit of science and knowledge.”

The coastal area where the Hijo is located has been declared by Tagum City Environment and Natural Office an MPA since last year. MPA is a section of the seas where a government has placed limits on human activity. Hijo, and its CENRO and Coastguard partners can now enforce restrictions locally.

“The reason for this is because the target area was historically – in the 1970s and 1980s – a very rich seagrass meadow, which is incredibly important for the marine species thriving at the Davao Gulf,” Morris says. “Eggs of fish and invertebrates are laid in seagrass meadows, affording them protection at a young larval stage. This environment helps protect them and allow them to reach reproductive age, ensuring fish stocks and populations for the future seasons.”

According to Morris, the seagrass meadow area was constantly targeted by illegal bottom trawling fishermen in the past. “The poaching activity posed the biggest challenge for me when I began replanting patches of various seagrass species in this area,” he recalls.

“These poachers use a destructive method of fishing, by attaching a heavy metal V-shaped wedge to the bottom edge of their net. This weight is then towed behind the back of their boats at slow speeds causing the metal wedge to dig a few cm into the sediment and drag the seabed. During this motion, the wedge-shaped weight will dislodge anything in its path. These fish and invertebrates such as shellfish, crustaceans and octopus will then be thrown up and caught by the attached net. Obviously, this method destroys and disturbs anything growing on the sediment and scrapes away any root systems of seagrass, as well as disconnecting any algae or corals, leaving the area barren and loose.”

Speaking of marine species, Morris’s whale survey was conducted from May 10 to 14 this year. “It was a tremendous success,” he says of

the survey which was done in collaboration with Balyena.org and Marine Wildlife Watch Philippines (MWWP).

MWWP’s whale conservationist Elson Aca and colleague Ari Barcelona designed the survey and transect points. Also part of the team were the CENRO partners from Tagum, the Philippine Coastguard, ProDive boat with their ever dependable crew and French freedive expert Jean-Luc Tulliez.

“We started day one from Hijo, and in a zig-zag pattern went all the way down the coastline to Cape San Agustin, around the peninsula where we covered a few more kilometres on the Pacific side,” Morris reports. “We experienced 18 sightings with 9 species of cetacean over the four days at sea, covering 514 kilometers and can add this valuable data to the historical Davao Gulf data, which previously had recorded only 11 species of cetacean.

“The Davao Gulf can now boast 17 species, which puts it up there as one of the most diverse areas for cetacean sightings in the country,” Morris says.

The 9 species sighted were: Fraser’s dolphin, Pygmy Killer whale, Short-finned pilot whale, Dwarf sperm whale, False Killer whale, Melon-headed whale, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, and Pygmy sperm whale.

Some of the other cetaceans not sighted during the four-day trip but have been seen on other surveys and on boat trips include: Sperm whale, Cuvier’s beaked whale, Spinner dolphin, Risso’s dolphin and Orca.

“It may be a bit early to say now but the more data and studies we have of the large and charismatic sea life creatures, then the more we will know about their movements and behavioral patterns, and then we can start developing some interaction activities” Morris says.

Meanwhile, Hijo will be opening up hiking products for its guests to experience, so they can include a more diverse range of activities for long-term guests and foreign visitors who would like to experience multiple types of natural attractions.

“We will be looking to showcase 4-5 different hikes of varying difficulties so we can cater to beginners as well as the more experienced.”

Morris says. “During these hikes, tourists will be treated to a wide array of natural ecosystems, some, such as Mt. Hamiguitan being a superb example of a primary forest and World UNESCO site.

“It is a chance to allow people under safe supervision to immerse themselves in these environments and see unique fauna and flora first hand,” he continues.

“We will be training the local guides on identifying and showing off certain plants and animals and arming them with the knowledge they can share that will help them talk to tourists both local and international.”

These and more activities will be added soon to make a visit to this part of the Davao region exciting and fun. “I truly believe we are situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, and due to some historical bad press, Mindanao is often overlooked as a destination,” Morris laments. “Which of course, does not allow much opportunity for the local economies to earn outside of fishing and farming.”

To those who want to help the Trinity Project, they can donate it through the Tuason Development Foundation, Inc., China Bank, Account Number: 272-0977-615.

VOL.15 ISSUE 60 • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022

EDGEDAVAO

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Heated action in the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup. Phoenix Fuelmasters battled Rain or Shine in this file photo. The finalists of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup will represent PBA in the East Asia Super League (EASL) beginning Oct. 12. PBA

East Asia Super League kicks off Oct. 12

T

he East Asia Super League (EASL) has penned Oct. 12 for its inaugural staging.

The international basketball league announced on Tuesday that its first season will begin on the said date with eight of the top teams in the region competing in home-and-

away action.

Confirming its participation are the Seoul SK Knights and Anyang KGC from the Korean Basketball League, Utsonomiya Brex and Ryukyu Golden

Kings of the B. League, and the Bay Area Dragons from Greater China.

Three more spots are to be determined, the finalists of the ongoing PBA Philippine Cup and the champion of the P League+.

The Taipei Fubon Braves and Hsinchu JKO Lioneers are currently facing off in the P League Finals

with both teams splitting the first two games of their best-of-seven series.

Game 3 is scheduled on Thursday night in Taipei.

In line with the new season, the group draw is set next Tuesday at the Shangri-La Fort in Taguig.

The eight teams will be divided into two groups

of four.

The teams will play a double-round-robin preliminary phase within their groups.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the semis, and the two surviving clubs fighting for the championship and the USD1 million prize money at stake.

The PBA Board of Gov-

ernors led by chairman Ricky Vargas, commissioner Willie Marcial, and the league’s management committee have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Barangay Ginebra governor and San Miguel Corporation sports director Alfrancis Chua will represent the PBA in the EASL Advisory Board. (PNA)

ASTBOURNE, United Kingdom -- Serena Williams admitted Tuesday that she feared her storied career was over after a leg injury at last year’s Wimbledon forced her off tour for a year and saw her ranking plummet to 1,204 in the world.

“Did I ever doubt I would return? Absolutely, for sure. I would be dishonest if I said it wasn’t (on her mind) and now my body feels great,” said Williams.

The 40-year-old made a winning comeback when she teamed with Ons Jabeur to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 2-6, 6-3, 13-11 in the Eastbourne International doubles on Tuesday.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, was playing for the first time since a tearful exit at

Wimbledon last year.

Before she made the surprise announcement of her return last week, rumors of retirement had swirled around her for several months.

But, with Wimbledon starting on June 27, she finally resumed her career, playing with Jabeur at the Wimbledon warm-up event by the Sussex seaside.

Williams and Tunisia’s Jabeur, who is third in the WTA singles rankings, saw off Spain’s Sorribes Tormo and Bouzkova of the Czech Republic in the last-16 tie.

Although Williams was far from her vintage best, she will be encouraged by her first outing for 12 months.

However, she refused to be drawn on how long she intends to play despite Margaret Court’s record of

24 Slams being tantalizingly within reach.

“You know what I am literally taking it one day at a time. I really took my time with my hamstring injury so I am not making a ton of decisions after this.

“I did a lot of non-training in the beginning obviously and after I couldn’t play New York I went cold turkey of not working out.

“It felt good but I always try to stay semi-fit because you never know when you are going to play Wimbledon.

“I love tennis and I love playing otherwise I wouldn’t be here but I also love what I do off the court.”

Williams has been given a wildcard to play in the singles at Wimbledon, where she is a seven-time champion, as she restarts her history bid.

I doubted I’d ever return: Serena E

Serena Williams of the United States serves the ball during her Women’s Singles first round match against Kristie Ahn of the United States on Day Two of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 1, 2020 in the Queens borough of New York City. File photo. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP

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Ginebra coach Tim Cone with Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra.

NBA-BOUND Cone to act as assistant coach for Miami Heat Summer League team

G

inebra coach Tim Cone will temporarily leave Barangay Ginebra as he has accepted the invitation to be part of the coaching staff of the Miami Heat summer league team.

“I’ve been invited to work with the Heat for their Summer League team which starts in San Francisco to Vegas. The bottomline is I’ll be an assistant coach to their head coach which is Malik Allen. He will coach the Summer League team. Eric Spolestra doesn’t involve himself in the Summer League,” said revealed in an interview with Paolo Del Rosario of Cignal TV. Richard Del Rosario will take over from Cone starting with the July 1 match against Converge, the first of four games that Cone will miss.

Meantime, Barangay Ginebra looks to rebound from its defeat to Magnolia last Sunday when it faces NLEX in Wednesday’s PBA Philippine Cup. The Gin Kings suffered

their first loss since winning the Governors’ Cup, bowing to the Magnolia Chicken Timplados, 89-84.

Ginebra was off to a good start this season, dropping Blackwater and Rain Or Shine before losing to the Hotshots.

Tim Cone now aims to break from a four-way logjam at second place with the Road Warriors, Meralco and Blackwater with their identical 2-1 win-loss records.

But Ginebra will be tackling an NLEX squad that is on a high following a thrilling 90-89 win over TNT Tropang GIGA. It was Don Trollano who knocked down the go-ahead jumper that completed the Road Warriors’ fightback from a 12-point deficit against the Texters.