Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 48 | Thursday, June 9, 2022 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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ZERO CASH Sara’s campaign expenses reach over P216M but all non-cash donations STORY ON PAGE 2

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio has spent more than P216 million for her campaign during the May 9 local and national elections based on her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), which was recently filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Edge Davao

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 48 • THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

ZERO CASH

Senator Christopher Lawrence Go urges Raissa Robles to visit Mindanao so that she can see it herself and be the judge. Go issued the invitation following Robles’demeaning and inaccurate statements about Mindanao. Edge Davao

Sara’s campaign expenses reach over P216M but all non-cash donations By MAYA M. PADILLO

SOCE, the VP-elect did not use personal funds but inkind contributions from her political party and other sources. Duterte-Carpio received P136,609,244.91 in-kind contributions from her political par-

ty and zero cash contributions. From other sources, she received P79,581,690.15 in-kind contributions but zero cash contributions and she did not receive cash or in-kind contributions from other political parties. Duterte-Carpio won the vice-presidential elections garnering over 32 million votes. She will take her oath

of office in Davao City slated on June 19, 2022 at San Pedro Square. The oath-taking of Duterte-Carpio as the 15th Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines will be administered by Supreme Court (SC) Justice Ramon Paul Hernando and she is expected to wear a Filipiniana custom-made by Davao designer Silverio Anglacer.

event is expected to draw a crowd of at least 20,000 individuals from all over the Philippines. She said deployment of the police and military personnel will begin at least a day before the event to secure the venue at San Pedro Street, located right across the decades-old City Hall of Davao. “We need to size up area and start setup of our physical preparation on June 18,” she said. She said the security

cluster was holding a coordinating conference to finetune the security plan. She said the security cluster has proposed a three-day closure of the entire stretch of San Pedro Street beginning June 16, but they need to secure a resolution from the city council approving it. She said the public will be informed should a re-routing be enforced on that day. She said the anticipated huge crowd will be a chal-

lenge but assured that they are ready to handle the situation with augmentation from the Police Regional Office and Armed Forces of the Philippines. Gaspan told those who are planning to witness the oath-taking to not bring prohibited items to the venue, including jackets, umbrellas, backpacks, and bladed weapons. She said attendees should expect a tight inspection upon entry to the

ice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio spent more than P216 million for her campaign during the May 9 local and national elections.

Based on her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), which was recently filed before the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Duterte-Carpio spent a total of P216,190,935.06. Also based on her

2,000 soldiers, cops to secure venue of VP-elect Sara’s oath-taking rites

t least 2,000 military and police personnel will secure the venue of the oath-taking program of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte in Davao City on June 19, an official of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said on Tuesday. DCPO spokesperson Maj. Ma. Teresita P. Gaspan said during an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) that stricter security protocols will be observed to maintain peace and order as the

FSOLDIERS, P7

Sen. Go to Robles: ‘See Mindanao for yourself’

enator Christopher Lawrence Go urged journalist Raissa Robles Tuesday to visit Mindanao so that she “can see it for yourself and be the judge.” Go issued the invitation following Robles’ demeaning and inaccurate statements about Mindanao, suggesting that the entire island is infested with terrorists and kidnappers and unfit for tourism. In a series of social media posts that began on June 2, Robles criticized incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco for proposing to open Mindanao to tourists. Robles, a correspondent for the South China Morning Post, said “the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other bandits would be pleased by the prospects of so many potential kidnap victims.” She also told Frasco to “prep yourself for ransom negotiations.” Her derogatory comments immediately received backlash from Mindanawons, who pointed out that Robles was perpetuating a decades-old stereotype that unfairly characterizes Mindanao as an undeveloped backwater populated by terrorists and kidnap-for-ransom gangs. Go noted that during the Duterte administration, the peace in Mindanao was “somehow achieved. It may not be perfect, but we almost achieved total peace in Mindanao.”

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year stint, Go said the government has drastically lowered the number of insurgencies and terrorism on the island. “If the President did not stop the war in Marawi, we might be in danger. Lawlessness may reign, but it didn’t happen because of the efforts of the government,” he said. Go said kidnapping and other cases of criminality were no longer unique to Mindanao, as other areas in the country comparatively have higher crime rates than most of the major cities on the island. “You better come here in Mindanao, see for yourself that you will be able to walk during night time without being kidnapped,” the senator told Robles. Go also hopes the next administration would continue what President Duterte started in Mindanao. Last week, Vice President-elect Sara Duterte also lambasted Robles, saying the latter tried to demonize Mindanao and insult its people. Duterte said the views expressed by Robles should generate a collective condemnation as it grossly discriminated against all Mindanaoans, especially those living in Moro communities. “As a Filipino, Robles should be ashamed of herself for dangerously trying to stoke and encourage terrorist groups to target tourists in Mindanao,” Duterte said. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 48 • THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

NEWS

Ambassador F.M. Borhan Uddin expresses interest in establishing a sister-city pact between Khulna and Davao City during his courtesy visit to Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and officials of the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) on Tuesday. Uddin also said a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company is eyeing to invest in the country. Edge Davao

Bangladesh wants sister city pact with Davao City Radio stays relevant vs. disinformation

espite the numerous emerging platforms of communication, the radio remains an effective tool to counter disinformation. Philippine Information Agency XI Regional Director Fryan Abkilan pointed this out this morning during the ground-breaking of the tower site of the AM (amplitude modulation) radio station of the provincial government of Davao Oriental. Made possible under the administration of Davao Oriental Provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, the radio station will be run by the provincial government through the Provincial Information Office (PIO) headed by Karen Deloso. Abkilan lauded the provincial government for pushing through the station project which has sprung from the idea of reaching far-flung communities that most often, have become influenced areas of the communist terrorists group (CTG). He said the radio as a

medium of communication, still possesses the power to connect people and places, and has been a factor of “saving peoples lives especially during calamities”. Beyond emergency situations, the radio remains a crucial tool to raise civic awareness and promote cultural growth, Abkilan added. On top of citing the prevailing relevance of radio, he urged those in radio programming, and even the information officers to stay as “guardians of information” and to remain committed to it, especially in the advocacy to counter disinformation. RD Abkilan was one of the especially invited to speak during the ground-breaking rites of the tower site of the Davao Oriental AM Radio Station. Other guest speaker was Major General Manuel V. Sequitin, the commander of the Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (Jeanevive Duron Abangand, PIA XI)

By MAYA M. PADILLO

some ideas from DCIPC. Number one is making a sister city agreement. That is a very good idea for us and by initiating the sister city agreement, we can work together on the environment protection,” said Uddin in an interview. Uddin added that part of the discussion was an investment from Bangla-

desh to Davao City, particularly pharmaceuticals. He mentioned that a Bangladeshi pharmaceutical company, Square Pharmaceuticals Limited, is eyeing establishing a plant in the Philippines. “We will request (company) to divert the company here in Davao City if possible. We will try to negotiate the company to come here to Davao City and establish their plant,” he said. A signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the

Embassy and the city government of Davao to further collaborations in the fields of business, and tourism, among others is expected this year. “We have discussed some areas of cooperation with Davao City. We are working on cooperation between the two countries. Davao City is inviting special attention from other countries around the world,” Uddin said. The diplomat also sees Davao City and the Philip-

to be promoted at the national level. DOT 11 has developed a regional tourism circuit that afforded the local government units to institutionalize a comprehensive tour program that it can offer to the visitors/tourists as well as localized promotional videos to each province as a marketing tool. A total of 498 tourism

sites in the Davao Region were identified for the circuits as offerings to the tourists. Tan said in Davao de Oro, DOT 11 is promoting the Coastal loop, Wellness Loop, and Highland to Valley loop, in Davao Oriental the east coast tourism circuit (culture and heritage, waterfalls), Gulf town tourism circuit (dive, highland

adventures), and Focus Destination: Dahican (sun and beach tourism). “We have Davao Oriental na naging well-known na especially during pandemic time that has been receiving a lot of visitors. We also have Davao de Oro, Davao del Sur, and Davao del Norte. Seguro itong mga circuits ma-prepare

he ambassador of Bangladesh to the Philippines expressed his intention to create a sister city pact between its third-largest city Khulna with Davao City. Ambassador F.M. Borhan Uddin expressed interest in establishing a sister-city pact between Khulna and Davao City during his courtesy visit to Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and officials of the Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) on June 6, 2022. “We have received

FBANGLADESH, P7

Tourism circuits in Davao Region eyed as part of agenda by new DOT chief

he regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT 11) is hoping that the regional tourism circuits would be part of the priority programs of the incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco. DOT 11 director Tanya Rabat-Tan is hoping that the new DOT chief can help the sites in the said circuits

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4 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On the thrust of DOT 11 to continue to work with the local government units (LGUs) for these areas to attract tourists:

Para tourists would come here and get that well-rounded tourism experience. There is a lot of work still that needs to be done in terms of enhancing these sites as destinations.” Tanya Rabat-Tan

Regional Director, Department of Tourism

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VOL.15 ISSUE 47 VOL.14 48 • THURSDAY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE JUNE 9, 8, 2022 2022

Republic of the Philippines City of Davao Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod

19th City Council 9th Regular Session Series of 2022 PRESENT: Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor Councilor

Edgar P. Ibuyan Jr. - Temporary Presiding Officer Ralph O. Abella Nilo D. Abellera Bai Hundra Cassandra Dominique N. Advincula Wilberto E. Al-ag Dante L. Apostol Sr. Conrado C. Baluran Jessica M. Bonguyan Louie John J. Bonguyan Pilar C. Braga Augusto Javier G. Campos III Danilo C. Dayanghirang Jonard C. Dayap Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod Diosdado Angelo Junior R. Mahipus Rodolfo M. Mande Jaffar U. Marohomsalic Myrna G. L’Dalodo-Ortiz Antoinette G. Principe-Castrodes J. Melchor B. Quitain Jr. Alberto T. Ungab Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte Jesus Joseph P. Zozobrado III

ABSENT: Vice Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte Councilor Pamela A. Librado-Morata Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar

- On Official Business - On Domestic Emergency Leave - On Sick Leave

ORDINANCE NO. 0897-22 Series of 2022 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 0384-10, SERIES OF 2010, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORDINANCE OF DAVAO CITY 2010” CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLES SECTION 1. TITLE – This Ordinance shall be known and cited as “Amended Organic Agriculture Ordinance of Davao City”. SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY It is the duty of the Local Government Unit of Davao City to protect life and advance the rights of all citizens to food sufficiency, sovereignty and safety, sustainable livelihood and social equity in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Toward this end, the local government shall mainstream organic agriculture as a main agricultural practice in Davao City; SECTION 3. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES - The practice of organic agriculture shall adhere to the following principles to guide the implementation of this Ordinance: a. The promotion, enhancement, and the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity shall prevail over any other activities in agricultural sector; b. The empowerment of small and marginalized farmers especially in terms of information on different alternative agricultural technologies, product value and fair market trade with access or linkage to the countryside is a priority; c. The empowerment of all small and marginalized farmers in the agricultural areas of the City is a priority which will include value chain for organic agricultural products; d. The implementation of a strategy for mitigation and adaptation to climate change is an urgent policy that needs to be integrated in all sectoral policies; e. While unifying the initiatives and effort of all government agencies and instrumentalities in agriculture, the enhancement of the City’s poverty reduction strategy should not be lost in sight;

A1 5

fish/fowl cleanings, bones) and farm wastes (grass clippings, dead or decayed plants, leaves, fruits, vegetables, branches, twigs and the like); e. Buffer Zones - are defined areas on the boundary of an organic farm that has land use controls and allow only activities compatible with the protection of the organic farm. It serves as a barrier that surrounds or separates an organic farm from other traditional or conventional farms where plants are not designated as organic. The area of the buffer zones shall be determined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations depending on the total situation on the ground; f. Certification – it is the procedure by which a government agency or an officially accredited Organic Certifying Board (OCB) provides written or equivalent assurance that farms or production and processing systems,, conform to organic standards as mandated in this Ordinance; g. Certification Mark - refers to a certification’s sign, symbol or seal that identifies product or products as being certified in accordance with the standards of a certification body and approved by the accredited Organic Certifying Board (OCB); h. Backyard Compost Site - means a site located within a property not greater than 3 square meters used to compost food scraps, garden wastes, weeds, lawn cuttings, leaves and pruning from a single family or household with the intention of using compost produced on site. i. Consumer Groups - are organized consumer groups patronizing and advocating organic products; j. Conversion Period - refers to the time between the start of the organic management and the certification of crops, animal husbandry or aquaculture products as organic; k. Commingling - to mix or mingle together or to combine; an intentional or unintentional mixing together or the physical contact between organic products and non-organic products which are unpackaged or permeably packaged, which leads to a loss of integrity of the organic product during production, processing, transportation, storage, or handling. I. Genetically Modified Crops - Genetically Modified Crops (GM crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. m. Genetically Engineered/Modified Organisms (GEO/GMOs) - are organisms made with techniques that alter the molecular or cell biology of an organism by means not possible under natural conditions or processes. Genetic engineering includes recombinant DNA, cell fusion, micro- and macro- encapsulation, gene deletion and doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes. It shall not include breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in-vitro fertilization, and tissue culture;. n. Grocery Stores- specialize in the selling of food, both fresh and pre-packaged,, as well as nonfood household goods. Typical grocery stores sell fresh produce meats, dairy products and often, bakery goods alongside canned, frozen and prepared foods. In addition, a grocery store will also sell a full range of household, healthcare and personal care items.. o. Inspection - is the examination of farms, food and non-food process, food control systems, raw materials, processing, distribution and retailing, including in-process and finished product testing, in order to verify that they conform to the requirements for being organic. Inspection includes examination of the production and processing systems; p. Organic - refers to a particular farming and processing system, described in the standards and not in the classical chemical sense. The term “organic” is synonymous in other languages to “biological” or “ecological”. It is also a labeling term that denotes products considered organic based on the Philippine National Standards for organic agriculture. q. Organic agriculture - includes all agricultural systems that promote an ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically feasible production of food and fibers. Organic agricultural dramatically reduces external inputs by refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areas such as, but not limited to, soil fertility management, varietal breeding and selection under chemical and pesticide-free conditions, the use of biotechnology and other cultural practices that are consistent with the principles and policies of this Act, and enhance productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers and the environment as defined by the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movement (IFOAM): Provided, that biotechnology herein referred to shall not include Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOS. r. Organic Center – is a center with the following goals: 1. Establish a strategic venue for consumer education, information and communication for a sustainable healthy lifestyle; 2. Design as a showcase for organic products and farm technologies; 3. Develop holistic and sustainable technology training programs; 4. Formulate farm-based farmer coordinated applied research program and 5. Promote environmental economic values in enterprise development;

f. Organic agriculture is a contributor to the City’s economy and the attainment of food security, ecological sustainability and well-being of the people of Davao City;

s. Organic Agricultural Zone - areas of agricultural land that are farmed, cultivated and maintained solely for organic agriculture and farming. (n)

g. Organic agriculture cannot co-exist with genetically-modified crops, chemically produced crops and related organism both living and non-living;

t. Organic Certifying Body (OCB) refers to a legal entity accredited by a government agency to perform inspection and certification activities. It is responsible for verifying that a product sold or labeled as “organic” is produced, processed, prepared or handled according to relevant guidelines. (n). (n)

h. The integrity of organic product through the approved organic certification process and organic production handling and processing standards should be ensured; SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS - As used in this Ordinance, the following terms shall mean:

u. Organic Inputs - The resources that are used in farm production, such as feeds, feedstuffs, seeds, organic fertilizers, organic pesticides, fungicide and energy exclusive of chemical inputs.

a. Accreditation – it is a procedure by which a government agency, having jurisdiction, formally recognizes the competence of an Organic Certifying Board (OCB) to provide inspection and certification services. This shall be solely and exclusively exercised by the designated agency or agencies;

v. Organic Material - yard waste, food scraps and compostable materials and ingredients.

b. BAFS- Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards;

x. Organic Value Chain - refers to agriculture - related activities that put farmers, processors, distributors and consumers within a system that produces, processes, transports, markets and distributes organic products.

c. Biopesticides - are naturally occurring substances and microorganisms that control pests; d. Biodegradable Wastes - refer to organic matter for compost/organic fertilizer for the organic cultivation, farming of food crops and include discards segregated farm nonbiodegradable wastes coming from the kitchen/household (leftovers, vegetables and fruit peelings and trims, fish/fowl cleanings, seeds, bones, soft paper used as food wrap and the like), yard or garden (leaves, grasses, weeds and twigs), market (wilted, decayed or rotten vegetables and fruits,

w. Organic Section - sections in markets or supermarkets, private or public, that is exclusively allocated to display organic produce.

y. Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) - are locally focused quality assurance system that certifies the practice of organic agriculture. The certification is based on the active participation of producers and farmers in the practice of agriculture, built on foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange. (n)

A1 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Davao Region’s cacao stakeholders sign a pledge of commitment to show their utmost support to the industry’s full development. DTI 11

May inflation uptick still within forecast: Diokno

urther acceleration of the inflation rate, which rose to 5.4 percent last May, the highest since December 2018, remains within forecast, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said. The BSP projected the May 2022 inflation to stay between 5 to 5.8 percent. “The inflation outturn is consistent with the BSP’s assessment of continued uptick in inflation as supply-side pressures persist,” Diokno said in a Viber mes-

sage to journalists on Tuesday. The rate of price increases in the first five months this year averaged at 4.1 percent, already above the government’s 2 to 4-percent target range until 2014.

Inflation rate in May 2021 was lower at 4.1 percent while the April 2022 level was at 4.9 percent, the first time the rate surpassed the government’s 2 to 4-percent target band until 2023. Diokno said they project above-target average inflation rate this year but the 2023 level is forecast to decelerate and stay near the upper-end of the target. “The inflation path continues to be driven primar-

he Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) level settled at $103.53 billion as of the end of May, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Wednesday. This is more than an adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 9.1 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income, the BSP said in a statement.

The total is also about 6.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.5 times based on residual maturity, it added. However, the total is lower than the $106.76 billion GIR level in April, the BSP said. “The month-on-month decrease in the GIR level reflected mainly the National

Government’s (NG) foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP to settle its foreign currency debt obligations and pay for its various expenditures,” the central bank said. The downward adjustment in the value of the BSP’s gold holdings due to the decrease in the price of gold in the international market also contributed to

ily by supply-side factors amid volatile global commodity prices. Supply chain disruptions could also contribute to inflationary pressures, and thus warrant closer monitoring to enable timely intervention to arrest emergence of further second-round effects,” he said. Diokno said latest readings on the domestic output indicate continued expansion of the economy following the easing of movement restrictions.

the decline in the GIR, it added. In addition, the net international reserves (NIR), which is the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets (GIR) and reserve liabilities (short-term foreign debt and credit loans from the International Monetary Fund), declined to $103.51 billion as of the end of May, the BSP said.

PH’s gross int’l reserves level settles at $103.53B in May T

Climate change mitigation crucial to socioeconomic planning: NEDA

limate change adaptation and mitigation need to be placed at the heart of socioeconomic planning for the country to achieve its 2040 vision of eradicating extreme poverty, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Tuesday. “Addressing the triple planetary crisis (of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) has become our top development challenge. If we are to eradicate extreme poverty in the Philippines by 2040 and hand down a better planet to our children and grandchildren, climate change adaptation and mitigation need to be placed at the heart of socioeconomic planning,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said at the Philippine Environment Science Summit 2022. Chua said urgent actions are needed to curb greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in response to climate

change. The health of terrestrial and marine ecosystems has been deteriorating at a rapid pace, he added. Chua described the third planetary crisis –pollution and waste– as the toxic trail of economic growth that results in premature deaths of millions of terrestrial and marine life, and even people. In response to the triple planetary crisis, Chua said NEDA has proposed for the theme of the next Philippine Development Plan to be ‘saving our planet, saving our country.’ The NEDA chief added that the government formulated the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP) to provide the guiding framework towards the shift to sustainable and climate-smart practices and behaviors across sectors. Chua said the PAP4SCP can facilitate green recovery by integrating circular economy approaches to attain the sustainable development goals.

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ECONOMY A2

Department of Tourism in Davao Region director Tanya Rabat Tan shares her expectations of the new Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco during this week’s Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall in Davao City. Edge Davao

Gov’t, private partners support revival of Davao cacao council

DOE bats for review of oil deregulation law

he Department of Energy (DOE) will ask the 19th Congress to prioritize the review of the oil deregulation law as the agency aims to ease petroleum prices. During the Laging Handa public briefing Tuesday, DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. said the agency wants to regain its authority to intervene when there is a dramatic increase in oil prices for a longer period. “We wrote to the Congress to give priority to revisit and review the oil deregulation law so that the government will have the power to do something in this kind of situation,” DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr. said in Filipino.

He said DOE has been batting for the unbundling of oil prices to promote transparency in oil price adjustments. As the DOE does not have any power to intervene amid the skyrocketing petroleum prices, the agency has requested oil firms to provide discounts to consumers. Among oil firms, Petro Gazz has so far announced that it will give a “company-initiative” price discount for its diesel products. “Petro Gazz will implement PHP3.50 per liter off on diesel prices from June 8, 6 a.m. to June 11, 10 p.m. at selected stations nationwide,” Petro Gazz said, adding there are some stations that have diesel inventories that can last up to four days.

for sustained worldwide market trades for agricultural products. In a statement, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the UN-FAO must lead the global call to maintain “unhampered movement of food and agricultural inputs.”

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a staunch believer of partnerships, implements initiatives on industry development with the representatives from other government agencies, the academe, and industry, known as the tri-helix collaboration. The Industry Cluster Enhancement (ICE) program aims to promote and develop the eight priority industries that the agency supports, namely: cacao, coffee, processed fruits and nuts (PFN), bamboo, coconut, rubber, oil palm, and wearable and homestyle (W&H). In addition, the ICE program is a mechanism for collaboration between and among government agen-

cies, academic institutions, and value chain actors. One of the outcomes of this program is the formation or organization of the regional, provincial, and national cacao councils. These councils pave the way for the cacao industry stakeholders to actively participate in numerous relevant activities. DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said that the cacao industry is one of the ICE program’s target sectors, with the Davao Region recognized as the champion for cacao. “Together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), we move towards the reactivation of our Regional Cacao Council to development the industry further and promote inclusive

growth among value chain players,” the trade official said. She added that the Davao Regional Cacao Industry Council, a private sector-led organization, was reorganized to increase private sector participation in developing government programs, activities, and initiatives that address the needs and requirements of the value chain actors. In the preceding years, the collaboration of the cacao stakeholders in the region resulted in the recognition of Davao City as the Chocolate Capital of the Philippines, and the Davao Region as the Cacao Capital of the Philippines, as stipulated in Republic Act No. 115471. Moreover, the region’s cacao farmers also garnered international recognitions for producing the best quality cacao beans. In fact, in the International Cocoa Awards

Dar made the appeal amid the continuing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, leading to a decline in wheat and other agricultural supplies. In a virtual presser, Dar said they have monitored several countries pausing

their exports of food and production inputs, adding up to tighter limitations. These included Argentina, Algeria, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey, among others.

“The first reason is these countries are protecting their population, their [people] first before the global market,” he said in Filipino. The Philippine Statistics Authority said on Tuesday May’s inflation has increased to 5.4 percent, higher than

ifty-three stakeholders of the thriving Davao Region’s cacao industry have expressed their support towards the reactivation of its council.

(ICA) 2021, a prestigious international competition participated by 53 cacao-producing countries, two of the farmers from here took home the gold and silver awards. Meanwhile, the DTI 11, through its ICE program, spearheaded a Strategic Planning Workshop on May 12 to 13 in a bid to set a clearer direction for the council while carrying out initiatives and interventions for development of the local cacao industry. “We are glad that 53 representatives from government agencies, provincial cacao councils, cacao industry experts, producers, processors, and traders in the region contributed to the strategic plan. This was the first Strategic Planning Workshop of the council since its inception in 2015. And we are optimistic that this is just the start of the strong alliance,” Ambi shared.

April’s 4.9 percent, and May’s 4.1 percent last 2021. Dar noted that the increasing commodity prices are not only happening in the Philippines, but also globally, particularly for the prices of rice, corn, soybean, sugar, and wheat. (PNA)

DA urges UN to ensure unhampered movement of agricultural products ollowing earlier warnings on a “looming global food crisis” as well as the continuing global inflation, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday urged the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) to push

A3 EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO PLACES

GOING OFF THE GRID IN

MARILOG Everyone will agree that technology, specifically the internet, has changed the way people live and socialize. It eases tasks, gives access to valuable information and enables people to work while travelling.

Because of the conveniece that it gives, majority are constantly glued to their gadgets. However, too much dependence on technology can be stressful too. There’s the negative effects of social media wherein people wasting hours scrolling and absorbing the information they read or content they see, which sometimes caused depression or anxiety. That is why switching to an off-grid lifestyle, even just on weekends, maybe a smart decision one could make to

rejuvenate and minimize technology’s negative impacts. Living off the grid means taking a break and settling in a less populated place where internet is not that important. Up there in Marilog District in Davao City are cabins in all sizes and shapes that are thriving and perfect for living off the grid. One of these accomodation destinations is Shuri’s Casa Di Vetro in Barangay Baganihan, Maharlika,

Marilog District. For those who want to have time to reconnect with nature, this is the right place for them. It has a charming and inviting A-frame cabin strategically built in the woods wherein one can relax with family and friends. Opened last year, it is a “glasshouse” type of cabin with a bedroom and an attic. For camping feel in the woods, it also has nice spaces alloted for tents. It offers a cabin living but with modern aesthetics. It has a separate two-story structure for karaoke and a billiard table. Shuri’s has this magical vibe that makes you feel closer to nature— maybe it’s the thick patchy fog outside or the breeze of the mountain that feels so refreshing even during mid-day. The place can be rented exclusively at P12,000 a night for 15 persons. You can check

their Facebook Page Shuri’s Casa Di Vetro for inquiries. A minute walk from Shuri’s is the upcoming Forest Bliss Cabin. A charming hideaway blending perfectly within a cluster of rainforest trees. Forest Bliss Cabin has the comforts of home with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bath, and a porch where one can take in the soothing natural environment - towering trees, cool breeze all day and a peaceful ambiance. It is a quiet, relaxing place for families, couples, or groups of friends and it is a perfect place to chill, unwind, and let nature refresh you. Forest Bliss Cabin is less than 10 minutes away from homegrown restaurants in Baganihan, which is an emerging foodie destination in Marilog. For inquiries, check out their page Forest Bliss Cabin. The two cabins are only

five minutes off the DavaoBukidnon highway (before the popular Eagle Statue). You will love cabin liv-

ing in Marilog as it melts away life’s stresses: the great outdoors, fresh air, remote location, and more greens.

SPORTS

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VOL.15 ISSUE 48 • THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

The Philippine Azkals against Yemen in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Photo courtesy of the PFF.

Azkals held to a scoreless draw

he Philippine Azkals opened the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers with a goalless draw against Yemen, Wednesday at the MFF Football Centre, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The Azkals, ranked 133rd in the world by FIFA, controlled most of the possession but could not find the back of the net, and settled for a point in their first

match. The 24 remaining teams are battling for the remaining 11 spots in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. The winners of the six groups,

as well the five best second-placed teams, will qualify. The Philippines is seeking a second straight appearance in the Asian Cup after their breakthrough in 2019. “About the game, I’m not unhappy,” said Azkals coach Thomas Dooley, who is looking to once again lead the Philippines to the continental competition. “We

saw a lot of good things in the game, how we played.” “We rushed a little bit in the end, we should have played more like we did in the first half,” he added. They had their chances against Yemen, a side ranked 151st in the world by FIFA. In the 59th minute, 19-year-old midfielder Sandro Reyes won a corner kick, leading to a

fine cross by Manny Ott to Kenshiro Daniels inside the box. However, his attempt was rebuffed by Yemen’s goal-keeper, Salem Gamal Al-Harsh. t connect. Ott came close to putting the Azkals ahead late, meeting the rebound off a poor clearance by Yemen but his attempt hit the side of the net.

Yemen also had their chances to nab all three points, but their final attempt in the 93rd was well read by Neil Etheridge. The Azkals had nine attempts but only three were on target; Yemen had six shots on target though the Filipinos’ defense stood firm every time. The Azkals controlled 63% of the possession in the match.

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

EXCELLENCE, CONSISTENCY EQUALS SPORTS RENAISSANCE I would not slam nor condemn our sports officials even if the Philippines finished a (poor) fourth in the recently-concluded SEAG in Vietnam. Although where it mattered most, we lost the basketball golden trophy to Indonesia - a favorite whipping boy - I would not condemn the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas. I would not even if its apology came three days late. I would not also condemn coach Chot Reyes even if he was negligent in his choices of the best qualified members of the national team; even if he lament-

ed to high heavens that the absence of Japhet Aguilar (due to injuries) invariably weakened Gilas’ offensive and defensive structures. I would rather stay positive and praise the men and women who - despite great odds - continue to perform their best in the most trying times under the worst circumstances. These athletes, whether they brought home a medal or not, deserved to be nurtured, nourished and provided the best coaches possible because in the next competition, they will come out sure winners.

Of course, the SEAG shouldn’t be our principal gauge for our athletes to excel in. By all means, sports officials, stakeholders and policy-makers should look forward to inter-continental contests where the best and the mightiest take part. There are three arenas - as far as the Pinoy athlete is concerned - where his value and true worth are measured competently and tested to the hilt. These are the IOC-sanctioned and organized Asian Games, the Olympics and the World Championships. However, even if the country

savored for awhile the Olympic glory that Hidilyn Diaz brought home with her victory in women’s weightlifting, elite sports should not take precedence over grassroots development. This has been a sensitive issue among thinkers in the Philippine Olympic Committee and PSC policy-makers because money meant for grassroots development has been spread thinly in our collective desire to pursue the quest for the country’s first Olympic gold. Ideally, we should have at this point in time, a continuing and sustainable spawning

ground for talent identification and sourcing. There was a time within the POC when aging athletes almost past their prime were still being harnessed to wear the national colors. As Carlos Yulo and his ilk begin to stamp their class among their peers in the Southeast Aian region, I see how vibrant and vigorous our sports development is coming into. There is a sports renaissance on the horizon. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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z. PGS Group - is a legal association or cooperative of registered farmer members and other stakeholders in a participatory guarantee system. (n)

An Organic Section under the City Veterinarian’s Office shall likewise be created for the implementation of this Ordinance.

aa. Participatory Organic Certificate - is a documentary proof that a core PGS group is compliant with the requirements, standards and norms of organic agriculture. It shall be issued by a government agency or by an authorized Organic Certifying Body, after the conduct of an investigation and certification activity on the application for certification by the core PGS group. It shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of issuance. (n)

The composition of the organization in the division and section shall be defined in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) upon the recommendation of the Organic Agriculture Management Council

bb. Small And Marginalized Farmers (SMF) - refers to those utilizing not more than five (5) hectares of land for the single purpose of, or a combination of the following purposes for agricultural crop production, including rice and corn, aquaculture, and poultry/livestock raising: Provided, that poultry/livestock raising shall not have more than the following: 1. Poultry - 1,000 poultry layers or 5,000 broilers. 2. Swine/native pigs - 10 sow level or 20 fatteners. 3. Cattle - 10 fatteners or 5 breeders. 4. Dairy - 10 milking cows. 5. Goat, sheep and other small ruminants - 50 heads . 6. Other animals permitted to be raised,, the limits of which are to be determined by the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB).(n) cc. Supermarkets – a selling area between 400 square meters and 2,500 square meters, at least 70 percent of which is devoted to food and everyday goods. Mostly located inside shopping malls, department stores, or within a commercial complex.

CHAPTER 2: STRATEGIES SECTION 5. ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL AREAS. - Upon effectivity of this Ordinance, any areas that are being used and cultivated for organic agriculture may remain the same subject to any limitation prescribed by laws and other statutes. SECTION 6. ORGANIC CENTERS. – The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office, shall establish, recognize and support Organic Centers including those initiated by the private sector that will promote, market, and develop organic agriculture. Grocery stores, supermarkets and similar establishments shall allocate and designate separate areas or organic sections solely dedicated for the display of organic fruits, vegetables, poultry, livestock products or by products, seafood products and other processed organic products. (n) The City shall continue to collaborate, encourage and support the participation of the private sector in the promotion, development and implementation of organic agriculture, from farm production through marketing, trade and consumption. (n) SECTION 7. CONSERVATION OF INDIGENOUS FARM PRACTICES - Measures shall be established, by the farming communities, including indigenous people’s communities, to conserve and protect indigenous knowledge relating to organic agriculture, including those that relate to seed conservation and propagation and various ways in which on-farm and ex-situs (outside) mechanisms are established and sustained. SECTION 8. CONVERSION OF PRIOR AGRICULTURAL LAND TO ORGANIC FARMING – The City Government of Davao, shall formulate directives for the conversion of prior agricultural land to organic farming and allocation of at least five (0.5) % annually of the total agricultural land for organic farming. (n) SECTION 9. ORGANIC GENE/SEED BANK. – The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office and City Veterinarian’s Office, in coordination with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), international organizations and other appropriate agencies, shall establish and fund an Organic Seed or Gene Bank which will produce and supply organic, feeds and feedstuffs endemic or indigenous seeds to farmers. SECTION 10. PROHIBITION ON RECLASSIFICATION OF ORGANIC ZONES - Those identified organic zones shall be reclassified under the protected area of the Agricultural sub-zones.. SECTION 11. SUPPORT SERVICE TO ORGANIC FARMERS. - The City Government of Davao shall ensure support to organic farmers who wish to engage in organic agriculture, such as training, production, marketing and branding, including financial management and accounting, among other necessary skills, to develop an organic agriculture product that will secure a market niche, including the practice of fair trade. Support services shall also be primarily extended to small and marginalized farmers and women’s groups including the promotion, enhancement and fulfillment of their rights as defined in national laws. SECTION 12. ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR SMALL AND ORGANIC FARMERS. - Small and organic farmers, through the assistance of the City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office, shall have access to credit facility and financial services through organized groups of small farmers preferably those cooperatives registered with the City Cooperative Development Office. (IRR) SECTION 13. BIOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL CONTROL Organic Farmers shall practice and utilize biological and botanical methods which relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory or other natural mechanisms in the control of pests and diseases in their organic farm. The City Government of Davao shall provide support to the Research Division of the City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office for the research and development of biological and botanical control.

CHAPTER THREE: IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISMS SECTION 14. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE DIVISION/SECTION - The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office, may create and organize the Organic Agriculture Division (ORAD) which shall be under its exclusive jurisdiction. The ORAD shall insure the implementation of this Ordinance guided by the principles of organic value chain(n). It shall ensure the marketing of organic products by providing centers for selling, transport and other necessary services. It shall also ensure that organic products have certified organic branding in accordance with the Philippine National Standards. (n)

SECTION 15. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL - The City Government shall institute the formation of Organic Agriculture Management Council chaired by the City Mayor with the City Agriculturist’s Office as the Vice-Chair which will assist in the implementation of the Ordinance and in the formulation of an Organic Agriculture Plan for Davao City. The members shall be provided for in the Implementing Rules and Regulations, in accordance with Republic Act No. 11511. SECTION 16. PARTICIPATORY GUARANTEE SYSTEM – The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) shall be the principal and primary mechanism by which small farmers, fisherfolks, their farms, associations and cooperatives shall be certified as engaged in organic agriculture and as producers of organic products or engaged in organic agriculture and as producers of organic agricultural products. The products certified through the Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) shall be traded only in the domestic market, unless covered by an international certification or a mutual recognition agreement under any reciprocity agreement. (n) SECTION 17. PARTICIPATORY ORGANIC CERTIFICATE – The farm or farm owner shall apply for a participatory organic certificate with a core Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group where the farm belongs or with the City Agriculturist’s Office. The Participatory Organic Certificate shall be valid for a period of three (3) years and renewable upon application of a member of the core of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group representing a farm. A farm owner applying for certification as an organic agriculture practitioner may apply directly with any Organic Certifying Board (OCB) or Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) accredited by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS). The decision of some core Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group or the organic certifying body on the said application for certification shall be subject to appeal. Provided, that such certification shall be issued in the name of the core Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group of which the farm or farm owner shall be a member. Provided further, that withdrawal of membership in the said core Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group shall result in the forfeiture of the privilege. Only minimal fees shall be collected in the application for certification as determined in the IRR. (n) SECTION 18. LABELING OF ORGANIC PRODUCE - The labeling of organic produce shall be assisted by the City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office and must contain the name, logo or the seal of the Organic Certifying Body (OCB) and the accreditation number issued by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS), expiration date of the produce (“best before”), date of production, lot or batch number and quantity of content. The organic label or mark may also include the trade name or registered mark, as defined by the intellectual property laws and the address of the origin of the produce. SECTION 19. CORE PGS GROUP - The core Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group shall be registered in the City of Davao. It shall secure the mayor’s permit and the possession of such is sufficient proof of registration and the grant of legal personality which shall be limited only to Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) transactions. (n) SECTION 20. REGISTRATION OF ORGANIC PRODUCERS, PRODUCE, INPUTS AND ORGANIC PROCESSED FOODS - The City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office shall adopt rules on registration of integrated organic farms and organic inputs by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS); Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) as to the registration of organic seeds, planting materials and crops; Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) as to the registration of organic agriculture farms, livestock, poultry and its feeds; and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as to the registration of organic fisheries, aquaculture resources and organic aquaculture feeds. The City Agriculturist’s Office shall likewise adopt the rules on registration of organic processed food formulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health (DOH). SECTION 21. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PGS GROUP - Each Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) group will enforce the duties and responsibilities set forth by the appropriate government offices. (IRR) SECTION 22. INCENTIVES TO SMALL AND MARGINALIZED FARMERS, SCHOOLS AND BARANGAYS. - Pursuant to the mandate of the Amended Organic Agriculture Act of 2020, the Local Government of Davao City shall extend incentives, awards and financial support to small and marginalized farmers, schools and barangays which pursue, promote and practice organic farming. The City Agriculturist’s Office and the City Veterinarian’s Office shall formulate guidelines for developing incentive programs, award systems and/or financial support. SECTION 23. STANDARD SETTING - The City Mayor, through the Organic Agriculture Management Council of the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAGRO), shall adopt the organic agriculture standards set forth by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standard (BAFS) for Davao City. SECTION 24. CAPACITY-BUILDING, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION - To sustain and broaden the base for the implementation of this Ordinance, it is hereby adopted as a continuous effort, funded by at least five percent (5%) from the budget set aside for organic agriculture as identified in Section 34 of this Ordinance, for capacity-building and training, including the accreditation of institutions for standard-testing and verification. Measures shall also be adopted to encourage integration of organic agriculture in the primary, secondary and tertiary school curricula.. The Master Plan shall be regularly updated in consultation with different sectors. The participation of farmers and other stakeholders such as, but not limited to, private entities, NGOs and LGUs in the research, development and implementation of the master plan is preferred; SECTION 25. PROMOTION OF URBAN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE. – The City Agriculturist’s Office shall promote organic agriculture in urban areas, utilizing new technologies and taking advantage of ecological solid waste. The barangays in the urban areas is mandated to promote organic gardening including the establishment of organic gardens. SECTION 26. AWARENESS RAISING PROGRAM - The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office and City Veterinarian’s Office, shall raise awareness program on the benefits of organic farming for health and ecology.

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CHAPTER FOUR: WASTE DISPOSAL AND CREATION OF COMPOST SITES SECTION 27. PURPOSE - The City Government of Davao encourages those doing business in the organic agriculture sector to build and promote responsible disposal of organic waste in order to protect the environment, public health, safety, comfort, convenience, and the general welfare of the locals. SECTION 28. COMPOST SITE - The composting site shall be located within the owner’s property and designed so that seepage from the compost will not run into public or private streets, drainage ditches, water retention basins, and streams. SECTION 29. WASTE PROCESSING CENTER – A waste processing center shall be established for the processing of organic waste materials.

CHAPTER SIX: PROHIBITED ACTS, MONITORING, ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES SECTION 30. PROHIBITED ACTS. The following acts shall be prohibited: (n) a. To sell or charge to the consumers any amount manifestly greater than that of the current selling price of the organic products based on the suggested retail price determined by appropriate Government Offices; b. Willfully obstructing, delaying or committing any other acts that violates the implementation of this Ordinance and the development of organic agriculture in the City, including misuse, diversion, or material misrepresentation involving support extended by the government and or the NGO and; c. Any other acts that are prohibited under Republic Act No. 11511 Amending Republic Act No. 10068, or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. SECTION 31. PENALTIES - Any person, whether natural or juridical who shall violate this Ordinance shall be penalized as follows:: Those prohibited acts under Republic Act No. 11511 Amending Republic Act No. 10068, shall be penalized under the same law. Those prohibited acts which are not covered by Republic Act No. 11511 Amending Republic Act No. 10068 shall be covered by the following graduated penalties; First offense, payment of Fine amounting to Php 1,000; Second offense, payment of Fine amounting to Php 3,000; Third offense, payment of Fine amounting to Php 5,000. SECTION 32. ENFORCEMENT/MONITORING TEAMS (EMT) -The Regional Post Market Surveillance Team (RPMST) shall conduct regular proactive and reactive rounds to ensure compliance with the applicable Organic Philippine National Standards, conduct assessment of market outlets on the awareness of the Organic Agriculture Act and apprehend violators of this Ordinance.

CHAPTER FIVE: FINAL PROVISIONS SECTION 33. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS - The City Mayor is hereby authorized to create a joint executive-legislative committee to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Ordinance upon its effectivity. SECTION 34. APPROPRIATION CLAUSE - The City Government of Davao shall appropriate substantial budget of at least two percent (2%) of the ADF budget of the City Government of Davao for the implementation of the Organic Agriculture Program including incentives and to ensure the implementation of this Ordinance and to support the organic agriculture activities of the City. (n) SECTION 35. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE - If any part of this Ordinance is declared unconstitutional, the remaining parts unaffected thereby shall continue to remain valid and in effect. SECTION 36. REPEALING CLAUSE - All ordinances,, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 37. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE - This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the completion of its publication in a newspaper of local circulation. ENACTED, February 22, 2022, by a unanimous vote of all the Members of the Sanggunian present, there being a quorum.

CERTIFIED CORRECT: For in the absence of the Secretary:

ATTESTED:

MA. THERESA A. REYES Acting Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (Local Legislative Staff Officer IV)

EDGAR P. IBUYAN JR. President Pro Tempore Temporary Presiding Officer cns/ray

APR 8 APPROVED : ________________, 2022

DOE: Fuel price hikes expected to continue in next few weeks Fuel price increases, already a burden to motorists and public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, are expected to continue in the next few weeks, an official of the Department of Energy (DOE) said Wednesday. DOE’s Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad said they do not see any events that can offset the series of price increases. “Itong tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ay may expectation po tayo na mangyayari at mangyayari sa mga susunod na week [We are expecting these increases to continue in the next few weeks],” he said. Abad cited the European Union’s ban against oil importation from Russia, the potential surge of demand for fuel during the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

According to him, the three previous rollbacks were due to the recent lockdown in Beijing and Shanghai in China. “Ngayon, palabas na ang China sa lockdown [lockdown in China is almost over].” Higher in Palawan Asked if the reported P100 per liter of fuel price in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, could also happen in Metro Manila, Abad explained that the price in Palawan is usually P6 to P8 higher due to lack of import terminals and transportation cost. Nevertheless, Abad pointed out that the price of fuel in Palawan does seem overpriced and remains unexplained by oil companies. “Tingin natin yung around kalahati ng P8, yung P4 to P5 ay sobra talaga ‘yan [We think the P8 is overpriced by P4 to P5],”

he said. Aside from the fuel subsidies and discounts that the government is providing to PUV drivers and farmers, Abad said oil companies offer promo programs for their customers as requested by the DOE. On Tuesday, oil firms implemented another round of pump price hikes to mark the second straight week of increases for diesel and kerosene. Domestic pump prices have so far been on an uptrend for most of the year, with only eight weekly rollbacks implemented in 2022. Latest data available from the DOE show that year-to-date adjustments stand at a net increase of P23.85 per liter for gasoline, P30.30 per liter for diesel, and P27.65 per liter for kerosene as of May 31, 2022.

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, in partnership with IdeaSpace-QBO Innovation Hub (QBO), hosted a Qlitan Networking night to motivate and uplift the startup industry in the Philippines. “Israel is known as the startup nation with over 6,000 active startups. We have built a strong ecosystem joined by various innovation key players. We are even shifting from start-up nation to building a smart-up nation to sustain innovation and prepare in addressing future challenges,” Ambassador Ilan Fluss said in his opening remarks. “We would like to share the success story of Israel as a startup nation and cre-

ate partnerships with the innovation community in the Philippines. We have to build bridges of innovation between our countries to contribute to addressing the development challenges of the Philippines,” Ambassador Fluss added. Around 50 Filipino founders of startup companies and investors in the Philippines participated in the networking night. The event aimed to connect Filipino startups and key players of the innovation community and to come up with a collaboration between Filipino and Israeli startups. The night also featured a net café session wherein Philippine startup founders engaged with Israeli

businessmen and officials to exchange views and best practices in the industry as well as find ways to work together. “We need to build a bridge between our two countries so that startups can benefit and gain business,” Butch Meily, president of IdeaSpace Foundation and QBO said. QBO is the Philippines’ first public-private partnership platform for Filipino startups led by the IdeaSpace Foundation and supported by JP Morgan Foundation, the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It connects and develops the local startup ecosystem.

venue as a “multi-layered security” will be enforced. “There will be layer-to-layer inspection,” she said. She said progressive

groups will not be prevented from holding rallies for as long as their acts don’t “pose any imminent danger or impede public convenience.”

“It’s their right to express their opinion as long as their acts would not create any violence,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

pines as potential trade partners, as well as people-to-people exchanges and relevant collaborations, saying that he aims to introduce Bangladesh to the Filipinos as he also learns more about them. Uddin also shared in his courtesy visit the recent developments in Bangladesh including its rise as the second highest importer of textiles in the world, next to China, as well as agriculture

and economic progress that Bangladesh has witnessed over the years. Bangladesh is the 50th largest exporter to the Philippines. The total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the Philippines stands around $110 million in 2020-2021. The main export products include agricultural products, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, knitwear, woven garments, home textile, footwear,

leathers, cotton, jute and jute goods, chemical products, plastic products, and copper wire. Meanwhile, the incoming mayor said everyone from Bangladesh is very much welcome to Davao City and wishes to visit Bangladesh soon. Uddin also met with the officials of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (DCCCII) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

natin in most areas. Marami din tayong country-side tours,” she said during Wednesdays Habi at Kape media forum at Abreeza Mall. Tan said it is not also

enough to just promote them but DOT 11 will continue to work with the local government units (LGUs) for these areas to attract tourists. “Para tourists would

come here and get that well-rounded tourism experience. There is a lot of work still that needs to be done in terms of enhancing these sites as destinations,” she said.

Israel Builds Bridges of Innovation with Filipino Startups

SOLDIERS... FROM2

BANGLADESH... FROM3

TOURISM... FROM3 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 0384-10, SERIES OF 2010, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORDINANCE OF DAVAO CITY 2010”.

7 5

8 SPORTS Jason Moloney connects to the head of Filipino Aston Palicte in this photo by Getty Images.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 48 • THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2022

Naoya Inoue of Japan (L) knocks down Nonito Donaire of the Philippines (R) during the bantamweight unification title fight at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, 07 June 2022. EPA-EFE via Jiji Press

HARDEST PUNCH

Inoue unleashed hardest punch I’ve ever been hit with: Donaire

AITAMA, Japan -- Nonito Donaire said he was felled by “the hardest punch I’ve ever been hit with” as bantamweight king Naoya Inoue inflicted a sensational second-round stoppage on the Filipino veteran in Saitama. The unbeaten Japan boxing great known as “Monster” scored his 20th KO victory in 23 fights to add the WBC title to his WBA and IBF belts in a breathless display of power punching. In the pair’s first, classic fight three years ago in the same arena, five-weight world champion Donaire fractured a bone in Inoue’s face as the Japanese was pushed all the way before scoring a unanimous points victory. But in Tuesday’s rematch, the 39-year-old “Filipino Flash” Donaire was demolished like never before in his storied career. Just seconds before the end of an even first round, Inoue’s lightning quick overhand right to Donaire’s temple scrambled the senses of the future Hall-ofFamer and sent him sprawling. “That was the hardest punch I’ve ever been hit with. I came up completely blank,” Donaire said to fans live on his YouTube channel following the defeat.

“When I got hit I didn’t even know I got dropped. I didn’t see that punch coming at all because I was trying to counter him and got caught. That was pretty much it.” In round two a barrage of precision power punches from Inoue induced wobbly legs in the gutsy Donaire before a second knockdown saw the referee call off the contest. Donaire had only been stopped once in his previous 48 fights. He paid tribute to the 29-year-old Inoue, regarded by many as the best pound-forpound puncher in world boxing. “He’s an amazing fighter and I’m glad I got to share the ring with him,” said Donaire. “Inoue got me really good and I’m glad the referee stopped the fight as I was always going to stand up -- I just don’t have any quit in me. “It is what it is. I’m only grateful that I’m healthy.” -Agence France-Presse