Edge Davao Volume 15 Issue 34 | Tuesday, May 24, 2022

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VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

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PREMATURE Sara’s camp slams ACT Teachers Partylist

Workers from a nearby establishments choose “ukayukay” pants and shorts being peddled by a vendor using his customized tricycle along Lapu-lapu Street in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte’s camp says ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro’s “false claims on history revisionism” is premature and misleading, pending the presentation of the education agenda by the incoming administration. Edge Davao

PREMATURE Sara’s camp slams ACT Teachers Partylist

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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lenge issued by Castro is premature and misleading pending the presentation of the education agenda by

the incoming administration.

Castro was also reported challenging Duterte-Carpio, as the next Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary, not to use the educational system as a tool for further revision of the Philippine history this after Duterte-Carpio was reported saying she would change the mar-

tial law historical record once seated as Education Secretary last week. Duterte-Carpio also said that it would be difficult and it was not a priority.

“In any event, the current leadership of the Department of Education has clarified time and again that contrary to reckless and misleading claims, Philip-

operations, 26-year-old alias Ka Jayto, commander of the SRSDG EAGLES, Sub-regional committee 1 of the NPA’s Northern Central Mindanao Regional Committee for four years and considered a high-value individual, also yielded to authorities, the 16IB said in a news release on Sunday.

His wife, “Renchie”, a medic of the same committee, returned to the fold of the law on May 12 due to post-natal demands, coupled with sleepless nights, fatigue, and extreme hunger.

She has resolved on fostering a nurturing environment to raise her child away from violence, which

she said is the only thing the NPA offers.

Renchie convinced Jayto to surrender and coordinated with the 16IB. Similar to Renchie’s reasons for leaving the armed struggle, Jayto said that his longing to be reunited with his wife and child fueled his courage to leave the moun-

he camp of presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio slammed ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro after she called for the inclusion of Philippine history in the high school curriculum.

Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco, spokesperson of Duterte-Carpio, said in a statement that the chal-

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NPA commander yields six days after wife’s surrender in Bukidnon

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New People’s Army (NPA) commander yielded to the 16th Infantry Battalion (16IB) under the 402nd Infantry Brigade in Barangay Kiabo in Malitbog, Bukidnon on May 18, or six days after the surrender of his wife.

Following successive focused military operations and intensified intelligence

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Sarangani intensifies fight against dengue

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ealth authorities in Sarangani province have enhanced their detection and surveillance system to ensure a faster response to suspected cases of the deadly dengue fever.

Federico Yadao, medical technologist of the Sarangani Provincial Health Office (PHO), said Monday they adopted the “SarDengue 123” strategy, which sets a three-day intervention for dengue cases in local communities.

The first day is for the surveillance of the identified case, investigation and analysis of data on the second day, and adoption of appropriate action on the third day, he said.

Yadao said the recorded dengue cases in the province are still lower when compared to last year, but said they are going “deeper on the ground” to prevent possible outbreaks.

As of morbidity week 20 or from January 1 to May 22, a total of 371 dengue cases and one fatality were reported in the province’s seven municipalities, about 21.4% lower than the 472 cases in 2021.

“We can’t be complacent with the situation since 2022 is considered an epidemic year (for dengue) based on the trend, which happens every two to three years,” he said in a statement.

The province recorded a surge of dengue infections in 2019, reaching over 2,000 cases and 13 deaths.

As part of their interventions, he said they also deployed contact-tracing teams and adopted the

tracking system utilized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to fast track the tracing and ensure proper response for dengue cases.

Sarangani had trained and deployed at least eight contact-tracing teams in each of its seven municipalities “as a proactive approach” to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Each team is composed of a representative from the Philippine National Police, a nurse, an encoder, a barangay health emergency response team, and peacekeeping volunteers.

It created a database that allowed the encoding of contact-tracing information into an open data kit or ODK system, an opensource tool that allows data collection using Android mobile devices and their submission to an online server.

Yadao said they saw that the expertise of the contact tracers can be utilized for other diseases while COVID-19 cases in the province are still down.

The PHO, in coordination with the municipal health offices (MHO), has also clustered barangays in the province that have one or more dengue cases in two succeeding weeks.

Yadao said the move is aimed to immediately capture the infections at the field level and prevent local hospitals from getting overwhelmed with admissions.

The PHO and MHO teams have distributed Olyset curtains treated with chemicals against dengue-carrying mosquitoes

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VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

NEWS

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Sara backs postponement of SK, barangay elections

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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resumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio is supporting the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections from December 5 this year to May 6, 2024 to save money.

This is in relation to House Bill 10425 seeking to postpone Dec. 5, 2022, to May 6, 2024 filed by Davao Oriental Representative Joel Almario in November last year. The SK and Barangay elections are also scheduled only seven months after the May national and local elections.

“Kana siya manginahanglan na siya ug balaod gikan sa atoang House of Representatives and the Senate

para ma-postpone ang barangay elections because we can save money dinha sa pagpahigayon ug elections which our the new administration can use para sa mga mas importante na butang s apagka-karon na epekto tungod sa economic downturn that we see all around the world,” Duterte-Carpio said during the Special Hour with Mayor Inday Sara Duterte on Monday.

Duterte-Carpio added

that there is nothing wrong to conduct the national, local and barangay elections in just one year.

“We’ll wait for that balaod na buhaton sa kongreso na to suspend the barangay elections. There is nothing wrong nga sa isa lang ka tuig ang national, local and barangay elections. Sa pagka-karon ang pinakadako nga mahinungdanon na rason kung nganoo kinahanglan or puwede i-postpone ang barangay elections is the savings that we get niana na activity,” she said.

The national government was reported allocating some P8 billion from the national budget for the barangay and SK elections this year.

SM City Davao reactivates, expands chocolate festival

S Former Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director and now Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. warns erring cops to shape up or face the consequences. Danao admitted that despite efforts to weed out rogue officers, there were still some involved in illegal drugs and other schemes.

Edge Davao

UP-Min concerned over ‘red tagging’

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he University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Min) has raised “grave concern” over social media posts alleging that its campus was being used by communist rebels for recruitment.

The university said this allegation has led to incidents of harassment of students and personnel.

“We express grave concern over a recent post from an alumnus on social media about the alleged NPA (New People’s Army) recruitment in the UP Mindanao campus, which has affected the UP Mindanao community,” said Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao in a statement issued late Saturday.

Murao was referring to a certain Choyax Cagape, identified as an alumnus of UP Mindanao in a May 19 Philippine News Agen-

cy (PNA) article titled “UP alumnus confirms NPA recruitment in school.”

According to the article, Cagape claimed “there is active recruitment” in UP Mindanao. He went on to narrate how a teacher supposedly introduced him to “subversive ideology” when he was “Comelec chairman of the student body in first year.”

The PNA article was reposted on the official Facebook page of the National Security Council of the Philippines.

“The post may have been based on an experience of the concerned individual while he was a student about two decades ago. This does not warrant the citing of the post as the basis of allegations from the National Security Council

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M City Davao has reactivated Cacao Mindanao Chocolate Fair and even expanded the activity in all SM malls in Mindanao.

Slated from May 27 to 29, 2022, the three-day activity, which is in partnership with the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, (CIDAMI) Inc., Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11), Department of Trade and Industry 11 (DTI 11), and the city government of Davao will be mounted in all SM Supermalls in Mindanao and will highlight homegrown cacao and chocolate

makers.

“Right now, since we missed out the two years without activating chocolate festival, we are not only activating this one in SM City Davao but also SM malls in Mindanao, which is not only for Davao cacao growers or chocolatiers but also for other regions to appreciate what we have done here in Davao Region,” said Engineer Jonathan Nick D. Santos, regional operations manager of SM Supermalls, during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday.

In Davao City, the fair at SM City Davao will be joined

by the following exhibitors: Rosario’s, Freefood, El Rey’s Chocolab, Puratos, Valori Food Chocolate, Antipas Chocolate, Auro Chocolate, and Malagos Chocolate.

At SM Lanang Premier, the activity will be participated by Nutrarich, Dais Chocolate, MS3, COSCAO, Don Ricardo’s Chocolate, Chocolate Capital, Malagos Chocolate, and Park Inn by Radisson Davao.

“Right now, we have participants coming from Region 12, General Santos, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro, and Butuan City.

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President pays tribute to Bansalan national artist P

NCCA executive director Oscar Casaysay delivers the message pf the President.

resident Rodrigo Duterte paid tribute to the late Bansalan national artist Salinta Monon on Friday.

“This administration is grateful for the life she (Salinta Monon) has dedicated to heralding the beauty of traditional folk arts and telling the world that our indigenous practices reflect the values and principles innate to our character as a people,” said Duterte in a speech read by National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) executive director Oscar G. Casaysay during the necrological tribute honoring Salinta Monon last Friday, May 20.

Monon, a Tagabawa Bagobo textile weaver

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

Workers install street light post along the Talomo portion of the Davao Coastal Road project. The working committee on Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is hopeful of the incoming administration’s support on the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program as investments in infrastructure would be the cornerstones way forward for sustainable development. Edge Davao

RCEP to maximize PH’s agro-based exports

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In a radio interview with Radyo Singko 92.3 News FM Monday, Lopez said the RCEP can help Philippine agro-based exports to maximize their potential as they will become more competitive in other markets through the lowering of tariffs.

Contrary to the claims that Philippine agro-based exports are weak, the DTI

chief said there are agricultural products in which the country is one of the top exporters in the world.

These include banana, pineapple, coconut-based products, and tuna, among others.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show that in March 2022, total exports of agro-based products rose 32.6 per-

cent to USD571.12 million from USD430.82 million in March 2021.

Its share in the exports revenue year-on-year also grew from 6.4 percent to 8 percent.

Through RCEP, the current 5-percent tariff of Philippine pineapple exports to China will be reduced to zero in 20 years.

Tariffs of papaya and durian exports to South Korea will also be down to zero in 10 years from the current 24 percent via RCEP. “Marami tayong mga sektor na may laban (We have many sectors that are competitive),” Lopez said,

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would be the cornerstones way forward for sustainable development.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary and “Build, Build, Build’ chief implementer Emil K. Sadain, at a recent media

briefing on the sideline of the 5th IFP Forum held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), said implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects properly reviewed by the National Economic and Development Authori-

epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez again debunked the notion that the country’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will weaken the agriculture sector.

adding that these sectors should be nurtured by improving the productivity of the agriculture sector.

He added that the RCEP will also help in attracting investments that will increase the production capacity of the agriculture sector.

The top trade official also said the country’s increasing imports is not due to an influx of agricultural products, but because of the rising demand for raw materials as part of the growing economy.

With the reopening of the economy, Lopez said manufacturing activities

ty-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) Board deserves continuity to ensure economic progress and recovery from the pandemic.

Sadain said the much-needed flagship in-

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Infra projects to sustain PH growth, recovery opeful of the incoming administration’s support on the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program, the working committee on Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP) maintained that investments in infrastructure

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DOE to ramp up regulatory framework of nuke power adoption for next admin’s approval

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he Department of Energy (DOE) will ramp up the regulatory framework of the inclusion of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix which it hopes the next administration will adopt, a top official of the agency said on Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. explained that they have come up with studies to assess the safety and security of the nuclear power that is aligned with international standards.

“Meron tayong stakeholders’ involvement and acceptance at nabuo na natin ‘yung framework.

Ang naiwanan na lang dito, ‘yung ira-ramp up natin ‘yung regulatory framework, ‘yung batas to see to it na itong international standards ay maisabatas natin.

Ayun ang hindi natapos ngayong time ni President Duterte,” he said.

(We have stakeholder involvement and acceptance and we have developed the framework for it. The only thing left is the ramping up of the regulatory framework or the law

to see to it that we can legislate these international standards. That was not completed during the Duterte administration.)

“Nakikita natin na [we see that] it will depend now on the next administration’s acceptance on nuclear. Kaya nakita natin [ang] mga kandidato dito against [many candidates were against it], but we have the presumptive president who declared that he supports nuclear.

We see a good ramping up of the regulatory framework,” he added.

Presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte have earlier vowed to hasten the country’s adoption of nuclear power in a bid to lower electricity rates after President Rodrigo Duterte issued an executive order tapping nuclear power as an energy source along with other alternative energy resources.

Erguiza pointed out that once enacted into law, a Philippine Nuclear Commission will be established to regulate the utilization of nuclear energy in the country.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

Farmers, fisherfolks, students, and agriculture enthusiasts from different provinces of Davao Region attended the Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month celebration conducted by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office XI – Research Division at SM Lanang Premier on May 20 at the former Prestige Lounge. Participants got

US-Asean Summit sends strong signal to invest in PH

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he success of the recent US-Asean Special Summit sends a strong message of pushing for deeper economic engagement between the US and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states, especially on more jobs and investments for the Philippines.

Hosted by US President Joe Biden in Washington D.C. on May 12 and 13, the Philippine Embassy in the US said the special summit saw the US commitment to strengthen and expand its engagement with member states of the Asean.

“Consistent with the Embassy’s message, this deeper economic engagement strengthens the signals to American companies and industries that now is the right time to invest in the Philippines,” the Embassy said in an interview.

The US-Asean engagement, it said, focuses on a wide range of areas from political and security cooperation, to fighting global pandemics such as Covid-19, and promoting people-to-people connections.

The Embassy said US support and investment, particularly on clean energy transition, including nuclear energy, and sustainable infrastructure will help transform communities and enable inclusive economic growth in the country.

“Filipinos stand to benefit from cheaper electricity rates brought on by more alternative power sources.

Furthermore, digital transformation will positively impact our general population as it brings ease and support to Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises in doing commerce,” the Philippine Embassy said.

A modern Philippine

digital economy, it added, will open opportunities to a wider market access not only within the Philippines, but also in the Asean region.

“The Philippines, as a member of Asean and a long-standing ally of the United States, stands ready to work closely with both the US and its fellow Asean members to realize the many benefits that could be derived from this enhanced engagement,” the Embassy said.

The US-Asean Special Summit, in a joint resolution, committed to continue cooperation for promoting trade and investment and facilitating resilient global supply chains and seamless regional connectivity, including for essential goods such as medical supplies, medicines, vaccines, food and agricultural products, commodities, high-tech products, and other essential supplies and services, contributing to sustainable economic recovery and resilience in the region.

“We seek to deepen our collaboration on transport connectivity, including air, land, maritime, and transport facilitation program to advance sustainable infrastructure development and support emerging technologies, including electric vehicles,” a paragraph of the Joint Vision Statement read.

SCS: Sea of peace Meanwhile, the joint resolution signified its reaffirmation of the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), signed by Asean member states and China in 2002 while both sides continue negotiations on a Code of Conduct (COC) on the disputed waters.

ECONOMY

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the chance to learn new skills in urban gardening and edible landscaping, mushroom production, honeydew production, biofertilizer production, intensive tilapia hatchery and management, and climate change adaptive technology through a series of lectures. (SM PR)

BIR fails to hit Q1 revenue target

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he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) failed to meet the revenue target in the first three months of the year, the Department of Finance announced over the weekend.

According to the DOF, collections of the BIR in the first quarter stood at P485.4 billion, P47.2 billion or 8.9% lower than the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) P532.6 billion.

First-quarter revenues, however, are still P32.4 bil-

lion or 7.2% higher than the P452.9 billion the agency collected in the comparable period of 2021.

BIR Deputy Commissioner Arnel Guballa attributed the shortfall on businesses utilizing their input VAT credits on purchases available to them under

the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The agency reported a P17.4-billion shortfall in VAT collections, and another P9.4 billion in income tax collections for the first quarter of the year versus the targets set by the DBCC. The bureau’s collections from its non-BIR operations for the quarter reached P18.1 billion, bringing its total collection for the quarter to P503.5 billion, up by P33 billion

or 7.0% year on year.

The BIR is mandated to assess and collect all national internal revenue taxes, fees, and charges, and enforce all forfeitures, penalties, and fines connected.

This includes cases decided in its favor by the Court of Tax Appeals and ordinary courts.

The agency collected P2.086 trillion in 2021, 0.25% higher than the collection target and 6.94% higher than the P1.951 trillion collected in 2020.

For workers in private establishments, the RTWPB-IVB issued Wage Order No. RB-MIMAROPA-10 granting P35 wage increase, bringing the new minimum wage rate to P329 for establishments with less than 10 workers and P355 for establishments employing 10 or more workers.

“Also, the Board issued Wage Order No. RB-MIMAROPA-DW-03 granting a monthly increase of P1,000, bringing the new monthly wage rate for domestic workers in the region to

P4,500,” the DOLE said.

For Region XII, the NWPC affirmed RTWPB XII’s Wage Order No. RBXII-22 which granted a P32 wage increase to be given in two tranches — P16 upon the effectivity of the Wage Order and another P16 on September 1, 2022 — bringing the new minimum wage rate in Region XII to P368 for the non-agriculture sector and P347 for agriculture/service/retail establishments.

Likewise, the NWPC affirmed the order issued

by RTWPB II for domestic

workers’ wages.

The said wage order granted a P1,000 monthly wage increase for domestic workers in Region II bringing the monthly minimum wage rate to P5,000 from P4,000 under the previous wage order.

The said wage orders shall take effect 15 days after publication.

Regional wage board in the National Capital Region, Western Visayas have earlier issued wage increase orders.

For NCR, the minimum

Minimum wage hikes approved for Mimaropa, SOCCSKSARGEN: DOLE

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orkers in Regions IV-B and XII should expect a raise in minimum wages after the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) affirmed the wage orders of their respective regional wage boards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

In a statement, the DOLE said that, in a meeting on Friday, the NWPC affirmed the wage orders issued by Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPBs) in Mimaropa and SOCCSKSARGEN.

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

In supporting the postponement of the barangay and SK elections:

Kana siya manginahanglan na siya ug balaod gikan sa atoang House of Representatives and the Senate para ma-postpone ang barangay elections because we can save money dinha sa pagpahigayon ug elections which our the new administration can use para sa mga mas importante na butang sa pagka-karon na epekto tungod sa economic downturn that we see all around the world.”

Presumptive Vice President Sara Durerte-Carpio

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 34 • TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THIS LAND IS MINED Mining is the process of extracting minerals from the earth.

In mining engineering practice, it means the extraction of ores, coal, or stone from the earth.

Ores are mineral deposits that can be worked at a profit under existing economic conditions.

Stone includes industrial (usually non-metallic) minerals such as calcite, quarts, and other similar products.

Generally, minerals are classified into three groups, namely: metallic minerals (like iron, copper, and gold), non-metallic (example: limestone), and mineral fuels (coal is the best example).

Some of these precious minerals can be found in the Philippines, as it straddles the Western fringes of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Its grounds are very rich in economic mineral deposits, according to a speech delivered by Ramon J.P. Paje, then the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), during the Asia Mining Congress 2011 in Singapore.

The plate tectonics have caused the deposition of rich minerals in this part of the world.

“The Philippines is endowed with bountiful metallic and non-metallic mineral resources,” Paje pointed out.

“Currently, gold, copper, iron, chromite and nickel are the most sought-after metallic commodities,” he said. “Among our

non-metallic resources, sand and gravel, limestone, marble, clay and other quarry materials are in great demand.”

The Philippines is one of the world’s producers of metallic commodities. In 2010, our country became the third biggest producer of nickel ore, behind Russia and Indonesia, vaulting over Australia and Canada.

According to Paje, the country’s mining industry “has been the subject of intense scrutiny by major sectors of Philippine society, such as local government units, civil society organizations and religious organizations.”

All these can be attributed to the “past and current experiences on the negative impacts of mining on the environment and host communities.” Because of this, “the industry continues to labor under the stigma of its ‘sins of the past.’

“This is aggravated by indiscriminate mining practices, and the lack of a unified information campaign to address misconceptions about mining,” Paje said.

There are several ways of mining – surface, underground, and open-pit to name a few. Of these, I am familiar with open-pit as I had been to Hibbing, Minnesota, which was built on the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range. At the edge of the city is the largest open-pit iron mine in the world – the Hull-Rust-Ma-

honing Open Pit Iron Mine.

“Open-pit mining is perhaps the most common mining method due to its relatively low cost.”

Explains the book, Mining: Legal Notes and Materials. “Open-pit mining entails the removal of any overburden in order to expose the mineral deposit. This operation is dependent on the type of overburden. In cases where the overburden consists of highly consolidated rock, blasting (explosives) is used.”

Open-pit mining has been in the news lately as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato lifted the open-pit mining ban in the Environment Code of South Cotabato. As such, it has paved the way to large-scale mining operations in the province, including the controversial Tampakan Mining Project (TMP) of the Sagittarius Mines Incorporated (SMI).

Tampakan is approximately 65 kilometers north of General Santos. The project is reportedly situated on the boundaries of four provinces, namely: South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur. The Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM) called for a veto on the lifting of the ban. “The undue haste,” it said, “betrays the spirit of public consultation and genuine commitment to environmental protection.”

The SDM said public consul-

tations – and position statements – have raised some concerns.

First, the impact on water supply and agricultural productivity and food security. It explains: “(The project) exposes the river system networks and watersheds (on which irrigation, agriculture and the indigenous and local community’s water supply rely), to clear and present danger.”

Another is “the fate and future of the indigenous peoples, those who will be directly displaced and the generations to come who will have no ancestral land to return to.” An approximately 1,000,000 population from 16 municipalities will be affected, SDM stated.

Lastly, “the denudation of vast tracts of forest when Mindanao is down to 6% of its original forest cover.” In its press release, SDM said the Tampakan mining area covers three major watersheds (Padada River, Catisan Allah Valley River, and Marbel River) which cover nearly one million hectares.

“Watersheds are geographical ecological units, and what happens in one part of the watershed will influence the whole watershed from forests, agricultural, urban, and coastal to estuarine ecosystems due to its geomorphological characteristics, connected rivers and tributaries at the surface, and including groundwater reserves,”

explained Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), another environmental group.

IDIS said that the project “will demand and use groundwater resources and transport highly toxic wastewater through a 150km pipe from Malalag draining to Davao Gulf. There is a treatment process presented, however, the risks of overland flow, flooding disasters, or possible collapse of tailings ponds will inevitably impair marine and aquatic biodiversity, fish stocks, and aquaculture in the coastal areas...”

“A valid objection is that mining operations sometimes leave the local population with little residual benefit after the mining operation,” wrote Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ, in his Manila Bulletin column.

“This is not true in most cases as, for example, the Baguio area mining,” he pointed out. “If not for the mines, tourism could not have developed Baguio as it is now. But many of the local people are still poor. This is not because of mining but because of the sharing system.

“Why let the mining companies take away all the gravy and leave the community in poverty?

This is a problem of community administration and legislation, not of the extraction of minerals from the mountains,” Fr. Barcelon stated.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

TRIBAL DIVIDE: LINGUISTICS OR ETHNOLOGY Depending on sources, Mindanao is claimed to host eighteen major tribes: Subanen, B‟laan, T‟boli, Mandaya, Mansaka, Tiruray, Higaonon, Manobo, Bagobo, Bukidnon, Tagakaolo, Obu, Banwaon, Kalagan, Dibabawon, Talaandig, Mamanwa and Manguangan.

For its part, Davao City recognizes eleven groups as ‘tribes.’

Categorized as indigenous clusters are the Bagobo-Klata, Ata, Obu-Manuvu, Matigsalog, and Tagabawa while clustered as ‘Moros’ are the Tausug, Maguindanaoan, Iranun, Kagan, Maranao, and Sama. The classi-fications, however, need a revisit and should be subject to more academic debates.

Iranun and Maranao, for instance, should be fused because they are one and the same. Historian James F. Warren of Murdoch University (Australia) has

made an extensive study on this.

On the other hand, the Sama tribe, which is restrictive, should be expanded to Sama-Bajau.

In the case of indigenous factions, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples classi-fies the Bagobo as a major tribe, making the Tagabawa, Clata (Guiangan), and Obu its subgroups. In effect, the city should only have two principal tribes and five primary Moro groups.

Stripped of redundancy, the final listing of tribes present in the city should include only the Tausug, Maguindanao, Iranun-Maranao, Kagan, Sama-Bajau, Bagobo, and Matigsalog. All other indigenous groups, for obvious reason, should be classified as subtribes or sub-groups.

Classifying indigenous peoples (Moro and Lumad) should not be left in the hand of bu-reaucrats and politicians. A thorough

understanding of how socio-linguistic groups operate should be measured, among others, using the gradations of linguistics and ethnology.

Ethnology is defined as ‘the study of the characteristics of various peoples and the differ-ences and relationships between them’ as opposed to ethnography, which is ‘the scientific description of the customs of individual peoples and cultures.’

On the other hand, linguistics is described as ‘the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics.’

Andrew F. Gallman, in his dissertation ‘Proto-South-East Mindanao and Its Internal Rela-tionship’ (1979), studies the original sounds or phonology of several indigenous languages

and their relation to each other dating to roughly 2,500 years ago. In particular, he delves into the data on the dispersal of Mandaya dialects in various areas of the eastern seaboard of Davao region.

He writes that four Mandaya dialects ‘are spoken to the north, east, and south of the [ter-ritories populated by] Mansakas.’

For the Mandayan-Maragusan dialect, he got his data from Maragusan Valley, Davao Oriental, south of the Mansakas, while his facts on Mandayan-Kabasagan dialect came from Kabasaga, Boston area, northeast of the Mansaka region.

On the other hand, he gathered his information on Mandayan-Caraga dialect from Sangab, Caraga, Davao Oriental, east of the Mansakas, and the Mandayan-Boso data originated from Boso, Mati, Davao Oriental,

south of the Mansaka domain.

The role of linguistics in classifying tribes is significant. Experts in the field use lexicostatis-tical studies as a foundation for an in-depth appreciation of how languages evolved. But more importantly, they conduct detailed probes of sound shifts and grammatical structures in establishing the scientific grouping of languages and dialects, which are helpful in cataloging tribes.

In David Thomas and Alan Healey’s ‘Some Philippine Language Subgroupings: A Lexicosta-tistical Study’ (1962), the split of Philippine languages occurred some 700 B.C. But it was not around 100 B.C. that the Southern Philippine Family split resulted in the rise of at least nine branches. Mansaka and Kalagan languages belong to this break-up.

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Cagayan Farmers celebrate increased yellow corn yield through harvest festival Farmer Beneficiaries from the Municipality of Baggao, together with officials from the Municipality of Baggao, Cagayan provincial government, Department of Agriculture (DA), and stakeholder partners, celebrate the success of the Yellow Corn Project through a harvest festival on 28, April 2022 in Baggao, Cagayan, organized by Cargill Philippines and Save the Children Philippines.

Launched in October 2021, the Yellow Corn project is a 6-month inclusive business pilot project by Cargill Philippines and Save the Children Philippines that provides training on good agricultural practices, farming inputs, post-harvest support, and

integration of farmers directly into the animal feed value chain.

Since then, 430 farmer families have benefitted from the project and showcased a higher-level of agricultural process and improved livelihood together with their school children.

Francis Samilin, a farmer beneficiary partner, shared that the trainings they received through the Yellow Corn project improved their knowledge and skills in corn farming.

“The quality of the produced corn is good. The volume of our harvest increased and our income increased. If this continues, this will help us improve our status in life and the welfare of our children, especially the younger ones, for their education,” said Samilin.

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nother outbreak – that of monkeypox – is happening in other parts of the world and Filipino health experts are monitoring and preparing for it. Even though monkeypox is not yet detected within the country or at its borders.

The Department of Health, in its public health advisory dated May 20, said that it is “intensifying screening at our border and ensuring that surveillance systems are actively monitoring the situation.”

As of May 21, the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) reported 92 laboratory confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases. Aside from Africa, where monkeypox is endemic, cases were also reported in European countries (Italy, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal), the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

“The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries,” the WHO said in a statement. “Immediate actions focus on informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox infection with accurate information, in order to stop further spread.”

In the United Kingdom, Dr. Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, was quoted as saying: “This isn’t going to cause a nationwide epidemic like COVID-10 did, but it’s a serious outbreak of a serious disease – and we should take it seriously.”

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmit-

ted to humans from animals) with symptoms very similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.

The United Nations health agency said there are two phases when it comes to developing symptoms of monkeypox: the invasion period and the incubation period.

In the invasion period, which lasts between 0-5 days, the person experiences fever, intense headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle aches and intense lack of energy.

Within one to three days of the appearance of fever, the skin eruption usually begins. The rash tends to be more concentrated on the face and extremities rather than on the trunk.

It affects the face (in 95% of cases), and palms of the hands and soles of the feet (in 75% of cases).

Other parts of the body that are affected are oral mucous membranes (in 70% of cases), genitalia (30%), and conjunctivae (20%), as well as the cornea. “The rash evolves sequentially from macules (lesions with a flat base) to papules (slightly raised firm lesions), vesicles (lesions filled with clear fluid), pustules (lesions filled with yellowish fluid), and crusts which dry up and fall off,” the WHO said. “The num-

MONKEYPOX:

AN OUTBREAK TO WATCH OUT FOR

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO from WHO ber of lesions varies from a few to several thousand.

In severe cases, lesions can coalesce until large sections of skin slough off.”

Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus of which there are two clades: the West African clade and the Congo Basin (Central African) clade. The name monkeypox originates from the initial discovery of the virus in monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958. The first human case was identified in a child in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.

The WHO said the viral disease occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa. It is endemic in these countries: Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana (identified in animals only), Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan.

Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body

fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. The incubation period is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.

“Based on currently available information, cases have mainly but not exclusively been identified amongst men who have sex with men seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics,” the WHO said.

Various animal species have been identified as susceptible to the monkeypox virus. This includes rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, non-human primates and other species. The natural reservoir of monkeypox has not yet been identified, though rodents are the most likely.

“Eating inadequately cooked meat and other animal products of infected animals is a possible risk factor,” the WHO said.

In its website, the WHO said complications of monkeypox can include secondary infections, bron-

chopneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, and infection of the cornea with ensuing loss of vision. The extent to which asymptomatic infection may occur is still unknown.

“The case fatality ratio of monkeypox has historically ranged from 0 to 11 % in the general population and has been higher among young children,” the WHO said. “In recent times, the case fatality ratio has been around 3-6%.”

In a press release, WHO gave some insights on suspected, probable and confirmed cases of monkeypox: A person from non-endemic country is said to be suspected of monkeypox if he or she has an unexplained acute rash and has one or more of the following signs or symptoms: headache, acute onset of fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle and body aches, back pain, and profound weakness.

It’s considered a probable case if the person has or more of the following: has an epidemiological

link (face-to-face exposure, including health workers without eye and respiratory protection); direct physical contact with skin or skin lesions, including sexual contact; or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, bedding or utensils to a probable or confirmed case of monkeypox in the 21 days before symptom onset.

In addition, it’s also a probable cause if the person has travel history to a monkeypox endemic country in the 21 days before symptom onset; has had multiple or anonymous sexual partners in the 21 days before symptom onset; and is hospitalized due to the illness.

A confirmed case is either a suspected or probable case and is laboratory confirmed for monkeypox virus by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA either by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or sequencing.

“While monkeypox may look like smallpox,”

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10 EDGEDAVAO PREMATURE ... FROM2

pine History is in fact being taught in the K to 12 curriculum. It is Rep. Castro who sows misinformation by making false claims on historical revisionism,” Frasco said.

Frasco also urged Castro not to give in to her personal and political agenda and to focus on upholding the welfare of thousands of teachers by legislation which is her duty and mandate.

“Taking a belligerent and combative stance in the molding of our youth serves no one except perhaps those whose intention it is to foment discord and disunity in our country,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio was also reported asking the public to wait for her proclamation before she addressed concerns on the K-12 program as well as increasing the salary of teachers.

tains.

After being a government enemy for 10 years, he told authorities he has realized the deceptions and propaganda of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPANDF).

The family is currently under the custody of the Army as it undergoes the usual process for returning rebels.

The 16IB is providing initial assistance, such as livelihood aid and skills training, and enrollment

to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) to enable them to start anew.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PR)

to communities and started spraying or fogging activities in local schools, he said.

“Based on the entomological survey of dengue vectors, most of the cases primarily come from schools,” Yadao said.

Records showed that most of the recorded dengue cases in the province are among the school-age children and adults, specifically from 10 to 22 years old, he added. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)

Most cacao growers in these regions are even more excited than dito sa atin because we have been doing this for a while, tayo ang nag-spearhead and we are very happy to support this endeavor,” Santos said.

The festival is SM City Davao’s way of supporting local cacao producers and processors, and also to the entrepreneurs.

“When we started this chocolate festival in 2020, it was in support with CIDAMI. In the years to come we will continue this one,”

Santos said.

The festival will also celebrate the first year of enactment of Republic Act 11547 declaring Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines.

In May last year, Davao City was officially declared as the Philippines’s Chocolate Capital after congress passed Republic Act No. 11547, or An Act Declaring The City of Davao as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines and the entire Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines.

By Maya M. Padillo

have increased, which also include those products for exports.

“More than half, around 60 percent of imports are input to production,” he said.

With the resumption of Congress this week, the DTI hopes for the Senate’s concurrence with the RCEP before the end of the Duterte administration.

(PNA)

frastructure projects to bridge the infrastructure gap in the country will be the key drivers if not the main driver of the economic recovery of the country.

Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Rolando U. Toledo, NEDA OIC-Undersecretary Roderick M. Planta, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto, and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Kelly Bird

joined the media briefing.

The Philippines’ economic competitiveness rankings underscore the importance of infrastructure to the investment climate.

DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado said the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has taken the first steps toward elevating the Philippines’ competitiveness to improve the investment climate by coming up with the BBB program, adequately investing in infrastructure to support and sustain the country’s growing economic activities.

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PRRD... FROM3 from Upper Bitaug in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, was named Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan in 1998 during the time of President Fidel V. Ramos. She was cited for fully demonstrating “the creative and expressive aspects of the Bagobo abaca ikat weaving called inabal at a time when such craft was threatened with extinction.”

She died on June 24, 2009 at the age of 88.

“Her passing is truly a massive loss to the entire nation, knowing that her expertise and craftsmanship can never be paralleled even by the modern advancements in the clothing industry,” Duterte said.

Bagobo abaca ikat weaving is a laborious task.

And for Monon, it usually takes three to four months to finish a fabric that measures 3.5 meters by 42 centimeters in length.

One abaca tube skirt can be finished within a month. “It takes time but the result is great,” she pointed out.

The painstaking process commences with the stripping of the abaca plant to get the fiber for textile, drying the threads and tying each strand by hand.

What follows next is the delicate task of setting the strands on the “bed-tying” bamboo frame. The bud or the tying of abaca fiber is what actually defines the design, she explained.

For Salinta, who was a mother of five children, she was just doing what her mother and grandmothers did before her.

Last year, the president declared December 12, 2020 to December 11, 2021 as the Centennial Year of Manlilikha ng Bayan Sa-

linta Monon. She was born on December 12, 1920 in a barangay inhabited by the Bagobos.

“Take to heart that, even amidst the inevitable march of globalization and modernity, her exceptional artistry has fortified our cultural foundations and left an indelible mark on our collective culture as Filipinos,” Duterte said in his speech.

Duterte explained why Monon was different from the rest of ikat weavers.

“Her various compositions – ranging from design motifs to patterns and colors unique to your community – have kept indigenous creativity alive for the benefit of present and succeeding generations,” Duterte said.

In his message, Duterte encouraged the members of the Tagabawa Bagobo cultural community “to remember the art of weaving that Salinta has left behind.

“Amidst her passing,” the president pointed out, “let the masterful craft live on through your hands so it can be passed on to succeeding generations of Filipinos.”

Duterte challenged the young people to match what Salinta had done as she started developing a keen sense of the weaving art at the age of 12.

“I believe you can emulate her example and enhance your capacities regardless of age,” the president said. “Always capitalize on your own strengths, confident that we can turn into better persons if we commit to our work with vigor and enthusiasm,” said Duterte. By Henrylito D. Tacio

of the Philippines,” Murao said.

Murao said the “irresponsible publication” of the allegations on social media caused “distress” among UP Mindanao faculty, students and staff.

“Some are currently experiencing harassment, both in person and on social media,” Murao said.

Murao said the university would take “legal action due to harassment, when necessary, to protect the welfare of our constituents, especially our students.”

“Furthermore, we are committed to remain vigilant and to uphold the welfare of our students and the entire UP Mindanao community against undue harassment by any form or means,” she said.

Murao stressed that UP is a “community of diverse

personalities, ideas and beliefs,” which is encouraged “as part of its respect for academic freedom and to develop critical thinking among its students.”

She added that UP Mindanao was also in solidarity with other universities that have been accused of being “recruitment havens of socalled enemies of the state.”

“We call on the academic community to work together to sustain academic freedom and critical thinking --- the hallmarks of a flourishing learning institution,” she said.

Last year, former anti-communist insurgency task force spokesperson Antonio Parlade named 18 Philippine colleges and universities as “recruitment havens” for the NPA, an accusation that school heads have rejected.

wage shall increase by P33 while those in Western Visayas will be up to P110.

Likewise, the RTWPBs of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Caraga have approved increases in the minimum wages of workers in their respective jurisdictions.

For the Ilocos Region, the DOLE said the RTWPB

I issued Wage Order No. RB1-21 on May 16 providing wage increases ranging from P60 to P90 in two to three tranches.

For Cagayan Valley Region, the RTWPB II issued Wage Order No. RTWPB-02-21 on May 17, “granting wage increases ranging from P50 to P75 in two to three tranches.”

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the DOH said in its public health advisory, “it is less contagious and causes less severe illness.”

The WHO considers monkeypox as “usually self-limiting” but cautions “it may be severe in some individuals, such as children, pregnant women or persons with immune suppression due to other health conditions.”

There is no specific vaccine for monkeypox. However, vaccination against smallpox has shown to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox, the WHO said.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised by the media with regard to the amplification of the spread of monkeypox virus in the context of large gatherings.

“Large gatherings may represent a conducive environment for the transmission of monkeypox virus as they entail close, prolonged and frequent interactions among people, which in turn can expose attendees to contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials,” the WHO said.

While the exact mechanisms of transmission of the present monkeypox outbreak are still being in-

vestigated, and they likely differ from those of SARSCoV-2, “it is important to remind that the general precautionary measures recommended against COVID-19 are also expected to largely protect from monkeypox virus transmission,” the WHO urged.

In addition, any person meeting the suspected, probable and confirmed case definition detailed above should refrain from close contact with any other individual and should not attend large gatherings.

“During human monkeypox outbreaks, close physical contact with infected persons is the most significant risk factor for monkeypox virus infection,” the WHO reminded.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. In fact, the health protocols recommended for COVID-19 can also be applied against monkeypox.

“Steps for self-protection include avoiding skin to skin or face to face contact with anyone who has symptoms, practicing safer sex, keeping hands clean with water and soap or alcohol-based hand rub, and maintaining respiratory etiquette,” the WHO said.

The Philippine contingent, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, finished the 12-day biennial games with 51 gold medals on top of 67 silver and 92 bronze medals for fourth overall, a big comedown from its overpowering performance three years ago when it bagged the country’s second overall crown with a harvest of 149-117-121.

Host Vietnam, still battling Thailand for the football crown, the most cherished gold here at press time, continued to put the finishing touches to its dominant run to the overall crown with a 193115-109 haul, followed by Thailand (84-96-126) and Indonesia (63-83-74).

Singapore, which seized fourth from the Philippines last Friday, remained stuck at 47 golds with 45 silver and 67 bronze medals for fifth.

Of the 11 participating countries here, only Timor Leste failed to win a gold.

Bolden, who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, served as the lynchpin for the Indon squad that finished with a 6-0 card, with Abraham Grahita also lending support.

With his teammates watching from the sidelines, Marcial, 26, who has already won two pro fights, went to work as

soon as the bell sounded, delivering solid punches to his foe.

“I shouted to him to extend the fight, but it didn’t reach the last two-minute mark, I guess.

The referee just stopped the fight,” women’s featherweight bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio said after cheering Marcial.

The Philippines ended the boxing competition with three gold medals, one silver and five bronze medals, a far cry from the seven golds, three silver medals and two bronze medals won by the country in the 2019 SEA Games.

Gymnastics emerged as the goldmine for Pinoys in these games, with world vault champion Carlos Yulo leading a 7-41 harvest.

“I congratulate Malaysia. They still had that heart to play the game.

Even though they were down, we really had a hard time. They were making shots,” said Gilas Women coach Pat Aquino.

The Gilas women had an average winning margin of 23 points in their past four games in winning their second straight SEA Games title.

“I still tip my hat off for the girls. They played their hearts out. It’s just not as sweet as we want it to be. But we are still gold medalist. I’m so proud of them having that feat,” said Aquino. (PR)

campaign, notably the injury to Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar that forced him to withdraw from the team.

They also sorely missed two players in Dwight Ramos and Robert Bolick,

both of whom could have helped space the floor for June Mar Fajardo.

“That’s life,” said Reyes. “Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we played.”

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Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors dunks the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals at American Airlines Center on May 22, 2022 in Dallas, Texas.

Ron Jenkins, Getty Images/AFP

Warriors on brink of Finals after Game 3 win vs. Mavs

D

ALLAS — Stephen Curry scored 31 points, Andrew Wiggins added 27 while posterizing Luka Doncic on a dunk and the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks, 109-100, Sunday night (Monday, Manila time) for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Klay Thompson scored 19 with a pair of big fourth-quarter 3-point-

ers as the Warriors moved within a victory of a return to the NBA Finals, three

years after the end of a run of five consecutive trips that yielded three championships.

Golden State, which swept Portland in its most recent West finals in 2019 before Toronto won the title, goes for the sweep in Game Four on Tuesday in Dallas. No team has rallied from 3-0 down to win an NBA playoff series.

Doncic scored 40 and beat the first-quarter buzzer with a 32-footer that got the crowd going with the

Mavericks again at home trailing 2-0, as they did against top-seeded Phoenix before winning the West semifinal series in seven games.

But that shimmy-inducing bucket was a blip on an otherwise rough night from 3-point range for the Mavericks, who missed their first seven and finished 13 of 45.

Reggie Bullock and Maxi Kleber, two longrange specialists for Dallas, missed all 12 of their 3s

er, Wiggins, who had 11 rebounds, moved quickly down the right baseline for a follow dunk on a miss by Curry as the Warriors extended their NBA record with a 26th consecutive series in which they won at least one road game.

One of Dinwiddie’s 3-pointers got Dallas within five points with 1:15 remaining, but Jordan Poole answered with one from the left wing just inside the final minute.

Reyes, speaking to Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph and Luisa Morales of the Philippine Star after the game, said they couldn’t match Indonesia’s threepoint shooting.

“Indonesia came with a very good game plan,” he admitted.

Indonesia, led by naturalized center Marques Bolden, connected on 13 of 31 three-pointers and also got crucial second chance points in the end game. The Philippines were cold all night from long distance, making just three of 16 three-pointers.

“Obviously, that’s on me,” Reyes said of the loss.

“I take full accountability and responsibility for the

result.”

The Gilas players, Reyes said, “tried their best.” They had already pulled ahead by six points towards the end of the third period, only to give up a 9-0 run to Indonesia including a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Japan-based professional Brandon Jawato. That triple gave Indonesia a 63-60 lead that they would not relinquish.

“No excuses,” said Reyes. “I thought we still have the team that could get the job done, and we came up short.”

Reyes acknowledged that there were some factors that affected their

We came up short: Chot

C

Chot Reyes said he is responsible for Gilas Pilipinas’ shocking defeat to Indonesia in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, which ended the country’s long reign as kings of basketball in the region.

combined and were 0-15 overall. Both went scoreless, offsetting Spencer Dinwiddie’s 26 points off the bench. Jalen Brunson scored 20.

Wiggins’ dunk over Doncic was originally ruled an offensive foul midway through the fourth quarter. The Warriors challenged, and the ruling was Wiggins’ elbow to Doncic was incidental contact, giving Golden State a 93-83 lead.

About a minute lat-

hot Reyes said he is responsible for Gilas Pilipinas’ shocking defeat to Indonesia in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, which ended the country’s long reign as kings of basketball in the region.

The Philippines fell short against Indonesia, 85-81, in a battle of undefeated teams on Sunday night at the Thanh Trì District Sporting Hall in Hanoi. Indonesia completed a six-game sweep to claim their first ever SEA Games gold, while forcing Gilas to settle for silver.

It’s an unfamiliar result for the Philippines who have won 13 consecutive gold medals in SEA Games men’s basketball.

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THE GOLD THAT MATTERS Indonesia dethrones Gilas Pilipinas in SEA Games

HEARTBREAKING LOSS. Thirdy Ravena tries to elude Indonesia’s swarming defense as the Gilas Pilipinas failed to defend its gold medal after a heart-breaking 81-85 loss to gritty Indonesian squad at the close of the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday (May 22, 2022). The Gilas women’s team also suffered a 93-96 setback at the hands of the upstart Malaysian team but still took the gold via the winner-over-the-other rule.

(Photo courtesy of Team Philippines)

H

ANOI – Tokyo Olympics bronze winner Eumir Marcial mauled his unheralded Timor Leste opponent to lead a final-day, four-gold medal haul that somehow lost luster after Gilas Pilipinas failed in its mission on Sunday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games here.

Showing superior skills, Marcial made quick work of Delio Anzageci Mouzinho, forcing a referee-stopped contest (RSC) victory in the first round of the middleweight finals, following through on big victories scored earlier by Ian Clark Bautista and Rogen Ladon at the Bac Ninh Stadium.

But the story of the day, the saddest in Team Philippines’ participation here, was the stunning 81-85 defeat suffered

by Gilas Pilipinas to a gritty Indonesian squad backstopped by former NBA player Marques Bolden and coached by former Gilas mentor Raiko Toroman.

The defeat came after the Gilas Pilipinas women’s team absorbed a similarly surprising 93-96 setback at the hands of the upstart Malaysian squad at the Thanh Tri Gymnasium earlier, although the loss was somehow softened by the fact the distaff team still won the gold medal via the winner-over-theother rule.

The Gilas women’s cause was helped along by Vietnam, which beat Malaysia 69-65 late Saturday night, the Malaysians’ second defeat in five games.

With a 4-1 card, the Gilas women bagged the gold. Indonesia can match that record with a win over Singapore later Sunday but Gilas will still prevail, having beaten the Indons 93-77 Monday last week.

With a 5-1 mark, the men’s squad coached by Chot Reyes, who took over when Tab Baldwin gave up the post last January, became only the third Philippine team in SEA Games history to fail in its golden

quest after similar silver medal finishes by the country in the 1979 and 1989 games, both in Malaysia, against 18 title conquests.

This immediately prompted calls on social media for Reyes to resign, with his detractors pointing out that the biennial competition is the lowest form of competition in Asia.

The last time Reyes coached Gilas was in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with the team winning just three of seven games to finish seventh overall.

“Our players played their best,” Reyes said after emerging from the dugout. “Indonesia came up with a very good game plan. They shot well from the three-point line. In the end, we just couldn’t match it.

“Obviously that’s on me. I take full accountability and responsibility for the result. Like I said, they tried their best and that’s sports. That’s life. Sometimes, things don’t work out the way we played,” he added.

Lost in the horror and agony of that loss were the victories posted by Ladon, who edged Thao Tran Van of Vietnam 3-2 in the men’s 52kg division, and Bautista, who humbled Naing Latt of Myanmar 5-0 in the men’s 57kg class.

The other Pinoy boxer in the finals, Tokyo Olympian Irish Magno, lost to Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Tam in the women’s flyweight championship and bagged the silver, the same fate suffered by the esports team in its League of Legends finals showdown against Vietnam 0-3.

FTHE, P10