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The parents of shooting victim Amierkhan Mangacop can’t hold back their emotion during a presser in Davao City. Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino, the suspect behind the shooting of Mangacop, posted bail for his homicide case at the Hall of Justice in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao
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VOL.15 ISSUE 85 • FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022
Former President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the children Edge Davao publisher and editor-in-chief Antonio Ajero at the latter’s wake at Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes along Camus Street in Davao City on Wednesday night. Edge Davao
TWO BIRTHDAYS T
DCPO opens new station in Baliok
Pepino marks 32nd birthday at home on Thursday, Mangacop’s family marks his 20th bitterly on Saturday By MAYA M. PADILLO
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Yesterday (Thursday), suspect Dr. Marvin Rey Andrew Pepino was back home to blow candles on his 32nd birthday on Thursday. The victim’s family meantime will light candles for Amierkhan Mangacop’s 20th birthday on Saturday on his grave. A day after he was indicted for homicide, Pepino
was released from a 19-day detention at the San Pedro Police Station, after posting a P180,000 bail. He arrived at the Davao City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 clad in a bulletproof vest and helmet to post bail around 8 a.m. “We pray that this is the usual process for every case and not simply because Dr. Pepino is rich and
influential. We hope this downgrade to homicide is not just someone’s birthday gift to Dr. Pepino, as he will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow. The family is expecting Dr. Pepino to post bail and go home today and to celebrate his birthday tomorrow. At the same time, we do not yet know how to commemorate Amierkhan’s birthday this Saturday, July 23, 2022,” the family said in a statement on Wednesday. “Dr. Pepino has been released early this morning to celebrate his birthday after
Authorities found African Swine Fever (ASF) on several pigs at a village in this city, prompting the City Veterinary Office (CVO) to order the immediate extermination of close to 80 heads of swine in the area. The incident came days after the city government allowed under strict conditions the passage of live hogs, pork and its processed form, from other areas, using the city as transshipment point. The conditions set include compliance to various levels of biosecurity measures and accreditation for trad-
ers, swine vehicle operators, swine farm operators and others. Dr. Emilio Gargaran, acting CVO head, said on Tuesday that the infected swine were at a hog farm in Purok Masagana in Barangay Baluan. Tests conducted on Monday by the Department of Agriculture (DA) satellite laboratory on blood samples taken randomly from three pigs yielded positive results on ASF infection. Gargaran said they immediately culled 77 pigs from 35 hog raisers to pre-
vent the ASF from spreading. Earlier, Gargaran said they were informed that a pig died at a stockyard of a hog trader in Baluan, which prompted them to immediately check and collect blood samples. This is the third time that ASF was found among pigs after a reported outbreak last January at Purok San Lorenzo, an urban village known for hog-raising residents. At least 500 heads of swine were exterminated then. The first ASF outbreak in this city known only to
y sheer stroke of coincidence, the two characters in the July 2 Lugar Bar shooting celebrate birthdays two days apart from each other.
posting bail for the charge of homicide. We are still discussing our next move with our lawyers. But yesterday afternoon, the family filed a motion to cause the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order before the city prosecutor. The family feels that since he has the financial capacity, he would escape prosecution by going abroad for good,” it said. In a signed Joint Resolution by Assistant City Prosecutors Armand D. Tirol, Daniel M. Fernandez,
few was in 2020, when hundreds of pigs were culled and secretly buried in barangay Conel. This was confirmed by a former veterinary official and a local legislator. Local hog traders here pride themselves as sources of ASF-free swine with the city’s strict policy against ASF. This city’s ₱8.4-billion hog industry is the third largest in the country and about 5,000 farm workers rely on it for livelihood. (Rommel G. Rebollido / MindaNews)
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he City Government of Davao, through the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), on Tuesday inaugurated the new three-story Police Station 17 building in Barangay Baliok. Director Alberto Lupaz, the city’s police chief, said the P8.9 Million facility, which started construction in August last year, was aimed at providing a stronger security in Barangay Baliok and in the surrounding areas. This would also mean, Lupaz said, that residents will no longer have to travel all the way to the Toril Po-
lice Station for their safety and security concerns. “Ang area talaga originally under ang lugar na ito is Toril Police Station. In which, kapag titingnan natin, napakalaki ng area so kaya nga (nag-suggest) ‘yong Philippine National Police - Police Regional Office XI na lagyan dito kay very strategic (We can see that area was originally under the responsibility of the Toril Police Station. In which, if we look closer, is too big an area so the Philippine National Police – Police Regional Office XI suggested to put up (a sta-
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DavOro guv opens Andam ‘disaster’ hub in Pantukan
D Vets detect new ASF infection in GenSan
avao de Oro Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga opened recently the Andam Action Center Resilience Hub in Pantukan, Davao de Oro. The center is located at the compound of the Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital – Pantukan, and currently manned by four trained personnel from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO). According to PDRRM officer Joseph Randy Loy, additional manpower will be later deployed at the hub as it will address the four thematic areas of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
“This hub is really envisioned not only in response, but it will cater to the four thematic pillars of DRRM, which are prevention and mitigation, disaster preparedness, disaster response and early recovery, and disaster rehab and recovery,” Loy said. The PhP 3-million hub is also capacitated with radio based facility, fibre boat, and patient transport vehicles. As a satellite office of PDRRMO, the disaster manager stressed that the hub will cater to coastal municipalities and other local government units requiring augmentation for
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NEWS
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Diarrhea cases in Toril on the rise By MAYA M. PADILLO
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r. Ashley Lopez, head of the City Health Office (CHO), reported that the number of affected barangays rose to 21 as there are already affected barangays outside Toril District with the top 4 barangays with the most cases of diarrhea: Toril Proper, Lubogan, Daliao, and Crossing Bayabas. Barangays with reported cases of diarrhea are Alambre, Bangkas Heigths, Baracatan, Bato, Binugao, Camansi, Catigan, Crossing Bayabas, Daliao, Daliao Plantation, Eden, Lizada, Lubogan, Marapangi, Mulig, Sirawan, Toril Proper, and Tungkalan. “One case still verifying kung unsa na barangay. Among these barangays katong naay bag-ong kaso Bato, Catigan, Crossing Bayabas ug Daliao,” Lopez said on Thursday over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR). Lopez also reported that one case of diarrhea was reported in Matina Aplaya, which is a far barangay from Toril. “We are still verifying the history of the case in Matina Aplaya,” he said. As of the morning of Thursday, there are a total of 212 cases of diarrhea recorded. “This is running. We have seven recoveries and the total number of active cases is 179,” Lopez said. Apart from the 10-year-old boy who succumb to death on July 19, 2022, another death was recorded at Viacrusis Medical Hospital, a 67-year-old patient who was admitted because of diarrhea but died of a
hemorrhagic stroke while on admission. On July 17, 2022, the city government of Davao confirmed through a statement the diarrhea outbreak in Toril District. The CHO has also gathered food/drink samples for testing and analysis to rule out any possible source of infection that might have caused the outbreak. “Official results of the water analysis and food analysis and rectal swab are not yet in,” Lopez said. Lopez said CHO is considering mixed infections and not only due to water and street food. “We are considering of a mixed-infections it cannot be water alone, it cannot be food alone. Puwedeng magsagol sagol infection tungod sa ubang kagaw. Incubation period sa mga kagaw lahi-lahi pud and it would take days,” he said. On July 19, 2022, the city government of Davao suspended the operations of food stalls in Toril District until further notice. The city government has initiated to subject food vendors to undergo fecalysis starting July 20, 2022, and shall undergo Food Handlers’ Seminar on July 21 at Toril Proper Gym.
Davao City awaits proclamation for Aug. 19 Kadayawan holiday
Former President Rodrigo Duterte visits the wake of Edge Davao publisher and editor-in-chief Antonio Ajero at Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes along Camus Street in Davao City on Wednesday night. Edge Davao
Adult participants in Kadayawan encouraged to get vax, booster
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r. Ashley Lopez, head of the City Health Office (CHO) on Thursday encouraged adult participants in the activities of the upcoming Kadayawan sa Davao Festival to get vaccinated or complete their booster shots. Vaccination is among the requirements stated in the guidelines formulated by the Kadayawan Execom. Lopez said there is a resolution crafted already but will be subjected to a legal opinion. He said the resolution will be for-
warded to the city legal to determine if the guidelines formulated can be implemented during the said festival. “Naa nami nahimo na final guidelines in relation to the requirements particularly sa atong mga participants sa Kadayawan festival. We already formulated the guidelines for this one,” Lopez said. Among the requirements cited in the guidelines is encouraging adult participants (18- yearsold and above) to get vaccinated and booster doses while there will be no
requirements needed for 17-year-old participants and below. “Ato lang i-encourage ang mga 18 years old especially those who are participating the Kadayawan to take your vaccination and your boosters. That is encouragement only but for the participants and attendees dili ni siya is required because in the first place vaccination is not mandatory,” Lopez said. Lopez also said that an Incident Command Center (ICC) will be established also for the fes-
tival. “These are the basic info but the official announcement will be coming from Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre,” he said. It can be recalled that the Davao City Kadayawan Execom has been discussing whether vaccination will be mandatory for participants of Kadayawan contests. Kadayawan Execom spokesperson Councilor Alejandre said that the Kadayawan Execom is encouraging that all of the participants be vaccinated. By Maya M. Padillo
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he city government of Davao is awaiting a proclamation from Malacañang Palace on declaring August 19 (Friday) as a non-working holiday in Davao City on the occasion of the Kadayawan Festival. “We are just waiting for Malacañang to give us a proclamation that August 19 is a non-working holiday,” said Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre who also serves as the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao spokesperson. He said traditionally the citywide Kadayawan holiday is on the third Friday of August, which this year falls on August 19. However, it is not yet a law, so they have to wait for the Presidential proclamation which would officially declare August 19 as a holiday in Davao City. Alejandre said there is no move to declare the following Monday (Au-
gust 22) as a holiday. “Isa lang ang pina-approve natin, Friday lang. We cannot ask for two holidays sa Malacanang,” Alejandre said. The 37th Kadayawan Festival will be held on the third week of August (Aug. 15-21) and will be marked by festivities such as cultural performances, street dancing, floral float parade among many other activities. Alejandre appealed to Dabawenyos to spend their long weekend celebrating the Kadayawan Festival instead of planning trips outside Davao City. “Hopefully they can schedule their outside trips not on the Kadayawan because this is a comeback of our face-toface celebrations, imagine wala siya for two years. Let your children experience the festival,” Alejandre said. (PIA RG Alama)
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VOL.15 ISSUE 85 • FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022
A rider traverses along the Davao-Cotabato national highway on his way to deliver a sofa made of bamboo to a cuatomer on Thursday. Edge Davao
DICT eyes creation of online shopping platform for MSMEs
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he Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is eyeing the creation of an online shopping platform to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) expand DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said the platform would provide a complete e-commerce “ecosystem” from sourcing of raw materials, global digital marketing, and an e-payment system. “This will be integrated -- they won’t have to worry about how would they
transform their business from a brick-and-mortar into an e-commerce-enabled business,” Uy told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Tuesday. He said the platform, to be run by the DICT in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry, would be similar to
other online shopping platforms such as Shopee and Alibaba. “But then, specially designed for MSMEs. This will bring them up, make them more, and will become a major player. Because MSMEs have always been a major player in our economy,” he said. Instead of having to design and develop their own websites to expand their businesses online, he said the government would design the platform and the MSMEs would simply
need to “register and be onboard.” “[It will] assist them to transform their businesses and introduce them to the e-commerce world seamlessly. Kasi ‘yan ang challenge nila (Because that’s the challenge for them). Where the heck are they going to hire web designers?” he said. The project is to address the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that shuttered numerous businesses while others who
alleviate the problems of rampant scamming and customer dissatisfaction that plagued many on popular eCommerce brands and social media marketplace,” LB TekSystems chief operating officer Angelo Alejandro said in a media release on Wednesday. More than an eCommerce app packed with
features found on current popular shopping apps, the owner company is founded and headquartered in the Philippines. This is good news for Filipinos, as unlike competition which are owned and operated by foreign companies, this new initiative will benefit the Philippines and the Filipinos with the tax revenue gen-
erated for the government and the additional jobs for more local workers. With the cessation of the current pandemic still elusive, this new homegrown business promises better value to Filipinos. That is, the same easyto-use buying and selling capabilities with better stability, security and
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PH firm to launch all Filipinoowned eCommerce platform
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he first ever all Filipino-owned eCommerce platform will be launched around the second quarter of 2023. The technology is currently being developed by LB TEKSystems, also an all-Filipino IT company operating locally. “We are hoping to build a platform that would help online buyers and sellers
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Marcos urged to tax billionaires, not the public as govt seeks boost in revenues
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resident Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr should tax billionaires instead of imposing new taxes on the public, an economic think tank said on Wednesday. As the government mulls new taxes to raise revenues to plug the fiscal deficit and pay debts, IBON Foundation said the government should instead levy a wealth tax on the richest Filipinos. IBON Foundation proposed a tax of 1 percent on those earning P1 billion, 2 percent on P2 billion, and 3 percent for those earning beyond P3 billion. This could generate P470 billion, the group said. “There are so many options in terms of raising resources for social assistance and stimulating the economy, like realigning budget items for different intent and proposing new taxes on wealth, but if the government does not break away from its old ways of thinking, the old problems will persist,” IBON Foundation executive director Sonny Africa said. The group said the ad-
ministration is likely to improve tax collection and impose new taxes to raise revenues given the country’s elevated debt. “When all those things come into play, I think they will—in the interest of preserving credit worthiness— sooner or later be pushed into announcing new taxes,” Africa said. Marcos should also present urgent solutions to economic challenges during his first State of the Nation (SONA) address on July 25, Africa said. However, Africa also said Marcos does not seem to have “a sense of how serious the economic crisis is.” “The fact that he is not raising any question about giving more social relief, halimbawa, I think that’s very problematic. I think he’s burying his head in the sand.” He said among the present concern the president should address is unemployment which was at 6 percent in May or equivalent to 2.93 million jobless Filipinos.
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It’s a busy Wednesday morning (20 July 2022) for fish vendors selling fresh catch by the seaside in Barangay Bagting in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte. Photo contributed by JOSE TORRES
DA to tap gov’t agencies to hit agri goals for 2022 Senate panel reviewing Duterte DOF’s proposed new taxes, hikes
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he Senate’s tax panel is reviewing measures earlier proposed by the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte to pay the country’s debts and sustain growth. The Senate Ways and Means Committee is looking at the Fiscal Consolidation and Resource Mobilization Plan proposed by the Department of Finance under then-Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, according to the Senate Tax Study-Research Office (STSRO). The Duterte DOF’s plan, which was supposed to be implemented from 2023 to 2025, included the following: Deferment of TRAIN income tax reduction • Hiking fuel excise taxes • VAT expansion • Tax on motorcycles, pickup trucks • Higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes • Rationalizing taxes mining • Reforms on Real Property Taxes • Taxes on
• Digital service • Crypto • Single-use plastics • Casino admissions • Carbon emissions The DOF proposed to defer reductions to personal income taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN). Under the TRAIN Law, income taxes are supposed to be lowered effective January 1, 2023, but the DOF proposed deferring this to 2025. “If you have a taxable income of 2 million pesos, for this year you’re paying 130k pesos as income tax. For next year, it is intended that you would only be paying 102,500 pesos, but the DOF would want to defer that development,” said Atty. Harold Bartolome, STSRO Assistant Service Chief of Indirect Taxes. FUEL EXCISE TAX HIKE, CRYPTO Despite the clamor for freezing fuel excise taxes, the DOF also looked at increasing excise taxes on petroleum products by
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rity. “The catch-up plan is for this year. We are looking at the activity that we have to put in place including the necessary funding requirements to be able to attain the goal,” said Evangelista in a televised briefing. The agency’s catch up plan aims to prioritize the production of rice, corn, livestock, poultry, vegetables, and fisheries, a statement from the DA
showed. “Ang pag-increase ng yield is something that we are looking into and something that we intend to achieve within the year also,” she added. Marcos on Monday said the government would strengthen its farm-to-market road program to aid the country’s ailing agriculture sector and help attain food sufficiency. Marcos told DA officials to create a farm-tomarket road masterplan that will detail not just the location of the roads, but
also the “funding source, payment terms, as well as the time frame for project completion,” Malacañang had said in a statement. The President this week said that strengthening farm-to-market roads would be “the first step to solve some of the supply chain problem.” DETAILS OF THE FARM-TO-MARKET ROAD MASTER PLAN Evangelista said aside from what Marcos mentioned, the master plan would include the identification of priority pro-
In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, AMRO chief economist Dr. Hoe Ee Khor said the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict negatively impacts not just the Philippine economy’s expansion, but also the rate of price increases due to supply-side factors. Domestic inflation rate accelerated to 6.1 percent last June, the highest since October 2018, due largely to the rise in prices of oil products and its impact on food and non-food commodities.
The average inflation in the first half of the year stood at 4.4 percent. With rate of price increases expected to remain elevated, Khor said the off-cycle 75 basis points increase in the BSP’s key rates last July 14 is a welcome development. “We think that it is a preemptive and proactive response to ratcheting inflation,” he said. Khor said “once the economy is entrenched and is ontrack, then there’s no
reason for the authorities not to withdraw the highly accommodative monetary policy.” He forecasts continued hikes in the BSP rates until they reach the neutral rate, which is around 4 percent. Khor, however, did not give a specific timeframe. BSP’s key rates have been increased three times to a total of 150 basis points (bps) –25 bps last March, 50 last June, and 75 bps last week.
A targets boosting farm yields, finishing farm-to-market road master plan ‘ASAP’
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said they are looking to finish the farmto-market road master plan “as soon as possible” following orders from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said they also plan to increase farm output “within the year” as part of the administration’s plan to attain food secu-
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BSP rates seen rising 4%
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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to raise its key rates to about 4 percent in line with ongoing normalization of monetary policy around the world due in part to accelerating inflation rate. The Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) forecasts domestic inflation to average at 4.4 percent this year, exceeding the government’s 2-4 percent target band, and at 3.8 percent next year.
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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO
VOL.15 ISSUE 85 • FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2022
Caricature by Arlene Pasaje
Thank you, AMA By Adi Cabrera Quisido It was almost midnight when my phone buzzed in an SMS from Sir Tony Ajero. It said ‘’Good pm Adi, why don’t you resume writing. What do you want to write about?’’
That wiped off the sleep from my eyes and I instantly replied to him. I said yes, I want to write about my journey from traditional media to new media, and how I had to learn writing for technology working for a US property technology firm. That was the first week of June and by July I had yet to send in my first story as a comeback columnist for Edge Davao. My older brother Willy had passed in June, derailing my personal timelines so I didn’t get the chance to write a good article. But when news of AMA passing away came a few days ago, I was so jolted with the loss of such a respected media personality, that I also felt bad for not being able to send him my first piece while he was still around. So here it is, AMA. I’m writing my first story, just as you wanted. This is my tribute to you. I wanted to call him Tito Tony when he signed off his SMS years back with ‘’Si Tito Tony ito.’’ But out of my deep respect for AMA, I just couldn’t be casual and felt it was more appropriate to call him Sir Tony.
One of the poignant encounters I had with AMA was in 2006 during the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in Davao, where I led the media management for the city government side. I saw Sir Tony come into the Media Room but nobody could attend to him immediately with all the foreign press and media people from Manila
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He had always been supportive of my writing, and I was always careful of the stories I sent in, knowing he would read it with a discerning eye. But much as I wanted to continue as a columnist years back, I eventually stopped when it got overwhelming, having to deal with a demanding job and consultancy, as well as being mom, wife, homemaker, dog parent, wannabe baker, part-time gardener, and everything else I wanted to be at that time.
But the desire to tell stories of my encounters and journeys the past years had always been there. So that when AMA sent that providential SMS in June, I felt it was the right time to write again. And I thank him profusely for this opportunity to have a voice and a platform to share my insights and learning as I cope as a writer within the fast-paced world of tech we live in today. So thank you, Sir Tony, for believing in me. Most of all, thank you for being a bastion of journalism, for upholding its principles and being an example for the rest of us. May you rest in peace po.
MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout
NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle
LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ
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He did not know me then but I knew his stature in Davao media. We met again several times after that in media events and when I started writing as a contributing columnist for other local newspapers. When he offered me a column in The Edge Davao, I did not hesitate and grabbed the opportunity to write for the newspaper he had founded.
ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief
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demanding everyone’s attention. After handing over a foreign journalist to one of my colleagues, I went over to AMA to attend to his needs. I didn’t want him to think we prioritized the visiting journalists over our very own in Davao.
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VANTAGE POINTS
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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!
WITH DEEP APPRECIATION “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire ***
It was a cold night and they had just found a little Italian café. The cold wind behind them, the pungent scent of spaghetti sauce and spices inside, they started toward a table. As they passed the booths, her eye was caught and held for a moment by a pink hat on a dark-haired lady’s head. It was a “magazine cover” of a hat, with pink tulle and flowers and a saucy tilt. Coming upon it so suddenly in the prosaic surrounding stopped him Just then the outer door opened and a group of sailors came in. As they made their way toward a table, just as we did, and passed the lady with the soft dark hair, one of them without pausing or breaking his stride with his fellow said gently, “Lady, I like your hat.” And she nodded briefly and answered, “Thank you.” And that seemed that. But she knew it couldn’t be just that. And she began to wish she had at least smiled at her to thank her for the thrill she had given him. The other evening for no apparent reason at all, her husband told her, “I always liked the way you walk.”
“Goodness,” she replied. “I walk like anyone else.” But her husband liked the way she walked. “Every step I took after that had a special meaning,” she said. “Appreciating out loud makes a person’s day…” The above story, which came from Catholic Digest, came to mind while reading the words of Jack Canfield. He said: “By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you’ve achieved – and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses – you actually can enhance everything about you. Self-acknowledgement and appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and accomplishments.” When was the last time you appreciated someone? When was the last time you said these words to someone: “Hey, you look great with your new haircut!” “I like the way you dress.” “Thanks for the food you have prepared for us.” “The color combination was just perfect.” “Make it a habit to tell people thank you,” said Ralph Marston. “To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”
Now, let me share you an anecdote written by the famous Rudyard Kipling: There was once a gigantic cargo ship and a very small bolt which, like thousands of others, helped hold together the steel plates on the hull of the ship. As the ship was sailing through the rough Indian Ocean, that little bolt was vibrating loose and was in danger of falling off altogether. Seeing what was happening, the other little bolts around it screamed, “Watch out! Hang on! If you fall out, we’ll all be the next.” When the large steel ribs inside the ship heard of the little bolt’s problem, they shouted out loud, “For heaven’s sake! Don’t let go, you bolt. If you do, we’re all lost.” The news of the little bolt’s danger of falling off flew to every corner of the big ship. So, the steel plates and all the other little bolts, along with the steel ribs and tiniest nails, sent a delegation to the little bolt to encourage him to hang on for dear life. They told him that he was important to them all. If he let go, the whole ship might come apart, and no one on it would ever get home alive. All this pleading flattered the little bolt’s pride over his importance to so many people. So, he assured the rest of the crew that he intended to hold on with all his might.
Have you ever appreciated your teacher? “A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge, and wisdom in the pupils,” said Ever Garrison. Carl Jung himself said, “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum has so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.” A couple of years back, I remembered my Grade III teacher. I can’t recall now all the wonderful things she did to me, but I could not forget her. But how will she ever know that I appreciated all those things if I won’t tell her? So, I decided to write a letter telling how grateful I was. The note was short but direct. I gave it to my niece and told her to deliver the message to my former teacher. I never knew what happened after that -- until I was invited to be the guest speaker of the school. Even before I could start the program, she called me and with misty eyes told me how thankful she was for the letter. It was the first and only letter she received from her former pupils and she showed it to other teachers. “The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is
no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them,” said Gilbert K. Chesterton. By a misplaced blow with a hammer, a man smashed one of his thumbs. “That’s too bad,” said a friend, when he heard about the accident. But the man was a kind of philosopher. “No, it isn’t,” he pointed out. “It is one of the best things that ever happened to me. It taught me to appreciate that thumb. I never knew its value to me before. On the first day, by actual count, I found out after I injured my thumb, that there were 257 things I had been doing with my thumb every day in my life, without giving it a thought. And I never realized that my thumb is practically indispensable to me.” Wayne Dyer suggested: “Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minutea-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” To end this piece, the words of Albert Schweitzer come handy: “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD
PROFILING DATU BAGO’S DOMAIN By going through the standard historical narratives, mainly dependent on oral tradition, missionary chronicles, and official accounts, the common thread that prominently attracts attention is the claim that Datu Bago, Davao’s legislated Moro hero, was ruler of the entire gulf. There are loopholes in this assertion that need to be revisited, especially the facets related to his regime, such as the size of his domain, the extent of his control as ‘ruler of the gulf,’ which implies domination over the entire bay, and the status of adjacent Moro enclaves in relation to his authority. These aspects can provide us a better appreciation of Datu Bago’s leadership during the Spanish-led invasion despite the scarcity of information about him. Most local historians agree
the conquest of Datu Bago’s domain took roughly three months, i.e., from April to June 1848. Against a 70 or so invaders and a compliment of indigenous fighters from Samal, the Moro chieftain’s forces were not really facing a huge unit except that the invaders were superiorly equipped in terms of weaponry. Between the time the attack was launched and the period the datu’s Bankerohan territory fell in disarray, there’s nary an account telling he got direct support during the battle from adjacent areas that were supposedly his vassals. This observation raises a question as to his true hold of the place as ‘ruler of the gulf.’ Why did Datu Bago not call on the relatives of his Kalagan second wife to help secure his turf? Bringing in reinforcements from Tagum via the tributaries linking Bincungan
to Davao River would have defended the fort at Bankerohan longer. Even the Moro districts in the north, especially Lasang, which is a few leagues from the Davao River delta, failed to timely link with him. Worse, the Moros of Darong, instead of reinforcing the beleaguered Datu Bago forces from the sea, were content to wait in ambush the invading troops doing mopping operations after the Moro chieftain had fled to Lapanday following the fall of his fortress at Pagasa and Madapo heights in the hands of Don Jose Oyanguren’s troops. Now come the questions: Was Datu Bago really the ‘ruler of the gulf’ or was he just one of the numerous fiefs along the coastline of the bay? Why did he fail to enlist the support of the Moros living adjacent to his domain? How was his relation-
ship with other Moro enclaves near his domain and those in the north and south sections of the bay? What is known, though, is that during the Spanish-led invasion, intra-tribal conflict was a real issue, and the discord between the tribes and Moros, in part due to incursions in indigenous settlements, created uncertainty for the Moros in extending aid to the besieged chieftain. Another angle for the failed help might be due to fear the reinforcement would be waylaid by tribal warriors supportive of the invasion. Against an occupying team that was far more superior in weaponry to them, the Moros was practical enough not to be drawn into a conflict that was blamed on the miscalculation of Datu Ongay, who torched the trading ship ‘San Rufo’ at Pakiputan Strait, in the
waters where ferry boats navigate in reaching Samal Island. Moreover, it is unusual why during the invasion no forces from the Maguindanao sultanate, where Datu Bago had close ties, showed up to reinforce from the sea. Maybe the Moro leader was confident he could contain the attacks only to find out belatedly that he was already a lost cause and there was no more time to dispatch an emissary to seek help from the governing sultan. There is still much to understand how Datu Bago was viewed by his peers during that time. Though he was one of two influential Moro gulf rulers at the turn of the 19th century, his control of the bay had greatly been affected by the lack of support from patrons after the foreigners managed to sign friendly trade covenants with the ruling sultanates.
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As returning back to the normalcy of life is already in the horizon, camping could very well be this time’s best vacation plan or weekend getaway.
If it’s camping you’re thinking, Camp Kwagsik should be high on that list. Located in Kwagsik, Brgy. Baganihan, Marilog District, this is the place to laze in the sunshine with friends or loved ones, sipping on drinks with the refreshing sounds of nature filling your ears. One can also just sit at the table near the waterfalls, which is a perfect spot for a coffee or “sikwate” and some “me time”. Imagine relaxing while sipping a cup of hot coffee next to the waterfalls after a week’s grind. Feels good, isn’t it? Camp Kwagsik has A-houses for those who want to stay overnight and a dedicated area for camping. It has a bonfire spot too to complete the camping experience. The place is serving up delicious camping meals to make your stay a breeze like baby back ribs, chicken teriyaki, chicken/pork adobo, breakfast meals, etc. Hold your events in a natural breathtaking background as the camp also
CAMPING UNDER THE STARS
has a function hall that can accommodate 40 persons for various occasions and events. The place can be rented exclusively at P6,000 a night for a large group of 20 persons with P1,000 consumable for food. If there’s more than 20 persons, a tent is avail-
able at P300 each. If you are alone, A-house costs P1,000 a night that could accommodate three to four persons. If lying down under a sky full of stars sounds good to you, unplug and commune with nature then drive off to Camp Kwagsik.
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RENT-TO-OWN IS STILL ON WITH A wide range of options await homebuyers at Aeon Towers. With the homegrown company extending its Rent-To-Own program, homebuyers should not miss having a look at the units in this iconic building sitting in the heart of Davao City’s central business district. This Rent-to-Own program was launched by Aeon Towers to give chance for aspiring clients who wish to
acquire a prized unit at the property through monthly rental and it comes with as much as 10% discount on their purchase. The previous promotions and activities that took place last year have contributed in making Aeon Towers a desirable mixed-use development home seekers would love to invest or live in. Rent-to-Own Homes: How the Process Works If you’re like most homebuyers, you’ll need
a mortgage to finance the purchase of a new house. To qualify, you must have a good credit score and cash for a down payment. Without these, the traditional route to homeownership may not be an option. There is an alternative, however: a rent-to-own agreement, in which you rent a home for a certain amount of time, with the option to buy it before the lease expires. Rent-to-own agreements consist of two
parts: a standard lease agreement and an option to buy. Here’s a rundown of what to watch for and how the rent-to-own process works. It’s more complicated than renting, and you’ll need to take extra precautions to protect your interests. Doing so will help you figure out whether the deal is a good choice if you’re looking to buy a home. Key Takeaways A rent-to-own agree-
ment is a deal in which you commit to renting a property for a specific period of time, with the option of buying it before the lease runs out. Rent-to-own agreements include a standard lease agreement and also an option to buy the property at a later time. Lease-option contracts give you the right to buy the home when the lease expires, while lease-purchase contracts require you to
Aeon Towers provide a wide range of options for homebuyers.
LIMITLESS REWARDS POINTS NOW CONVERTIBLE TO DONATIONS Loyalty rewards program LIMITLESS signed a memorandum of agreement with ABS-CBN Foundation on June 15, 2022 to launch a digital donation drive. Through the partnership, LIMITLESS members will be able to use the points they earn to donate to the causes of the Foundation. “We are very excited to partner with ABS-CBN Foundation to empower Filipinos through this new feature. Aside from shopping and earning points, our members now have the opportunity to help others with just a few taps on the app,” said LIMITLESS Head of Commerce Kenneth Ocampo. Using the LIMITLESS app, users can donate to the
different causes of the Foundation including child welfare, environment protection, disaster risk reduction and relief operations, education, and community development and empowerment. Aside from the funds raised on the app, Phoenix is also donating LIMITLESS vouchers to the Foundation. “The ABS-CBN Foundation is pleased to work with partners that engage donors in innovative ways, especially through technology that helps make giving a part of everyday life. LIMITLESS enables generosity effortlessly,” said ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc., whose brands
and products are also accessible on the LIMITLESS app, has also expressed support for the partnership. “We are glad to be a part of this endeavor so that our customers do not only earn rewards from transactions with our brands, they can also extend help to those in need, which is very much aligned with our vision,” said Phoenix Petroleum Senior Vice President Atty. Raymond Zorrilla. LIMITLESS and Phoenix have worked together to provide assistance to different communities. In the aftermath of Typhoon Odette, Phoenix fuel vouchers were donated via LIMITLESS to various beneficiaries, aiding rescue and recovery operations.
Present during the signing activity are LIMITLESS Head of Commerce Kenneth Ocampo, Phoenix Petroleum Senior Vice President Atty. Raymond Zorrilla, ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, and ABS-CBN Foundation Head for Marketing and Donor Relations Paul Mercado.
buy it. You pay rent throughout the lease, and in some cases, a percentage of the payment is applied to the purchase price. With some rent-to-own contracts, you may have to maintain the property and pay for repairs. About Aeon Towers Aeon Towers is the iconic and flagship mixeduse development of FTC Group of Companies housing not just premium condominium units but also commercial spaces and soon a 5-star hotel and serviced apartments. The hotel component is eyed to be the next choice of accommodation for residents and visitors in the coming years as tourism in Davao City will be on full swing once more. “We are very excited now that the pandemic is at ease here in the city and we are able to cater more clients in and out of Davao who are eager to invest at Aeon Towers. Rest assured we will support the city’s efforts in promoting Davao City as a venue for tourists and MICE activities,” Aeon Luxe Properties President and CEO Ian Cruz said. Message us at www. facebook.com/AeonLuxeProperties to know more details about the promo.
COINS.PH PARTNERS WITH GLOBE TO ACCELERATE CRYPTOCURRENCY INCLUSION Coins.ph, the Philippines’ leading fiat and crypto wallet services provider, has partnered with Globe Telecom Inc. to introduce a new offering for its loyalty program Globe Rewards. Starting July 20, prepaid and postpaid subscribers can start exchanging rewards points in their new GlobeOne app for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency vouchers redeemable at Coins.ph. Through the partnership, users can simply redeem rewards points and complete a crypto transaction without using their own money, making it perfect for crypto natives and newcomers alike. “We’re introducing a new feature in the Coins.ph app called ‘Redeem Crypto’ to continuously empower Filipinos in their quest for financial freedom. Customers can now take advantage of mainstream loyalty programs such as Globe Rewards for a low- or almost zero-risk approach to get started with their crypto journey. At the same time, we’re also opening opportunities for businesses to diversify their loyalty program offerings to remain competitive and maximize their potential for growth,” said Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph. To start redeeming crypto vouchers, users must first login or register in the new GlobeOne app downloadable in the App Store, Google Play Store, or AppGallery. Tap on the Rewards menu and
select among the Coins.ph cryptocurrency vouchers offered. The available denominations are P5, P10, P25, P50, and P100, each with a corresponding number of points required for redemption. After confirming redemption details, login or register in the Coins.ph app or website <https://coins.ph>. Coins.ph users must be Level 2 verified to redeem. Tap or click on “Redeem Crypto” under “All Services” and enter the voucher code provided by Globe Rewards. Choose the desired cryptocurrency to be exchanged for the peso value of the voucher. As of this writing, Coins. ph gives access to a total of 24 cryptocurrencies and crypto tokens, including BTC (Bitcoin), ETH (Ether), BCH (Bitcoin Cash), BAT (Basic Attention Token), XRP (Ripple), USDC (USD Coin), USDT (Tether), AAVE, AXS (Axie Infinity Shard), CHZ (Chiliz), GALA, KNC (Kyber Network Crystal v2), LINK (Chainlink), MATIC (Polygon), MKR (Maker), SAND (The Sandbox), SLP (Smooth Love Potion), UNI (Uniswap), and YGG (Yield Guild Games).
“Besides helping our customers navigate the world as it opens up again, Globe understands that Filipinos continue to use more digital solutions in their daily lives. Now with Globe Rewards, they can start their crypto journey by redeeming rewards points for Coins.ph vouchers on the New GlobeOne app. If Globe users opt to explore other investment opportunities on top of maximizing their rewards, Globe highly recommends that users do their due diligence on the rules and regulations that center around the emerging digital asset market conditions,” said Jerome Patalud, Globe Rewards Head. Cryptocurrency values are highly volatile and prices may go up and down in real time. Buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for everyone. To help manage this risk, Coins. ph extended the validity of voucher codes obtained via Globe Rewards until July 15, 2023. This way, users can redeem anytime and anywhere they want. Terms and conditions apply.
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and Irene Joy P. Tala as recommended by Prosecutor Sharuddin Roberto Sencio and approved by City Prosecutor Jhopee S. Avanceña and as received by the Mangacop family stated that there is “no probable cause exists to charge the respondent (Pepino) for murder”. In the resolution shared with the media on Wednesday, the prosecutor’s office stated there is no probable cause exists to charge Pepino for the crime of murder based on the evidence submitted by the investigating authorities particularly the CCTV footage of the incident. However, it stated that
probable cause exists to charge Pepino with homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code. It also mentioned in the resolution that Mangacop was killed and there is no clear showing or clear evidence to rebut the presumption that there was an intention to kill. Meanwhile, the Mangacop family is outraged and shocked at the speed of the CPO in releasing its resolution and decision on the case. On July 15, 2022, the National Bureau of Investigation-Davao Region (NBI-Davao Region) submitted the results of its investigation.
tion) here because it is very strategic),” Lupaz said. Although the DCPO had previously deployed a police detachment in the area, Lupaz said Baliok’s dense population and numerous residential areas prompted the creation of its own police station to better safeguard residents from crime. “Maraming mga housing areas at marami ring mga tao dito, kaya nga nilagyan dito so it can boost our capability in responding to any call of emergency or crime situation (There are many residential areas and many residents here, that is why we put a station
here so it can boost our capability in responding to any call of emergency or crime situation),” he added. Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in a statement read by Lupaz, congratulated the DCPO and the Police Station 17-Baliok security personnel for the turnover of the new building. The mayor said he and the entire local government, is confident that the new facility will bolster the agency’s response capability in the area. The DCPO and the City Government of Davao are planning to add more police stations and detachments in far-flung areas. CIO
emergency and disaster response. “It provides pre-hospital care to victims of vehicular accidents and disasters supporting LGUs in need and making sure that proximity of our services are delivered given the “golden hour” for victims to survive,” he said. During the blessing of the facility, Governor Gonzaga also distributed radio based equipment to all the municipal disaster risk reduction and management offices (MDRRMOs). She also urged the
MDRRMOs to propose to their mayors the establishment of such a facility in their locality. Governor Gonzaga also encouraged the public to work together with the provincial and municipal DRMM offices towards a disaster resilient Davao de Oro. “We really have to work hand in hand with the stakeholders because the role of the PDRRMO and the MDRRMO is not only to wait for natural calamities to happen, usually natural hazards.” (PIAXI/Michael Uy)
This brought the central bank’s overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to 3.25 percent from record-low of 2 percent after the total of 200 bps reduction in 2020. The recovery of the Philippine economy is expected to be sustained this year, with an expansion of around 6.9 percent, despite the risks from threats of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variants and weaker global growth. AMRO released on Wednesday its annual consultation report for the Philippines and it forecasts 2023 domestic growth to moderate to 6.5 percent, to be buoyed by government spending and a stronger private sector. “Capital flow volatility is expected to rise in 2022 as global financial conditions are set to tighten. In addi-
tion, scarring effects caused by the pandemic have become clearer, raising the urgency to take action to build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive long-term growth,” the report said. Khor said signs of economic recovery remain strong, backed partly by the continued reopening of the economy, the rising private investments, and strong external payments position. He said the scarring effects of the pandemic can be seen in several sectors, such as education and tourism sectors. He added the Philippine economy is driven mostly by the service sector, which was greatly affected by the lockdowns, but added the sector is recovering albeit slowly “simply because of the nature of products and services.” (PNA)
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adapted online thrived, he said. “They haven’t been able to shift their business into the e-commerce platform because of challenges. We’re here, and we’ll solve those challenges for them and make it easier for them to do,” Uy said. GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company based in the UK, said
e-commerce market in the Philippines has registered growth during the last few years and the Covid-19 pandemic has further accelerated this trend. It is expected to further grow an annual rate of 15.8 percent from 2022 to 2025 and transactions are projected to reach PHP495.2 billion in 2025. (PNA)
overall customer experience, and the continuous thrust to promote Filipinism and a better Philippine economy. The app makers are hoping to help online buy-
ers and sellers alleviate the problems of rampant scamming and customer dissatisfaction that plagued many on popular eCommerce brands and social media marketplace. (PR)
Food security and inflation should also be prioritized, Africa said. As inflation further quickened to 6.1 percent in June, IBON said the government must also provide cash assistance to households, substantial wage hikes and subsidies. Marcos should also remove excise tax on oil, ensure affordable and reliable transport and support agriculture and small businesses, IBON said. “One thing we are, actually, watching is if he will push through with his claims of pursuing food self-sufficiency because that
would be one of the traits from the previous attitude of past administrations,” Africa said. “If he has a well-developed plan about that in the SONA, I think that’s actually worth supporting,” he added. Marcos said he would become the head of the Department of Agriculture. During his inaugural speech, the President also vowed to beef up productivity and ensure food security. Recently, he also said he is willing to negotiate government-to-government fertilizer deals.
duction areas. She noted that the country so far has 10 million hectares of agricultural production areas. They were instructed to look at production areas, the roads leading to the markets, and consider the routes that products will have to take. “That is something that can also be discussed with [the] Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),” said the agriculture official. “We are working on
this already. Since it was part of the catch-up plan, we intend to be able to finish something like this [at] the soonest possible time, of course, with proper validation with other government agencies,” she added. Aside from these, they plan to strengthen the Kadiwa food mobilization program and look into government-to-government procurement of fertilizers to bring down its cost.
fully welcome and support this production series from EASL, and we look forward to working together on this in order to create something that our fans will really enjoy,” said Marcial. “We’re telling real human stories in a way that’s never been seen or done before with the best of the best,” said Lee, who once directed “Squid Game” star Lee Jung-Jae. “This will be a multi-layered 10-episode docuseries that dives deep into the world of basketball via East Asia Super League’s premier competition. “EASL is honored to be working with production powerhouses of Studio IGNITE!, Salty Pictures, and CTRL Media. This project has been in the works for some time, and we are so excited to kick it off with this group,” said EASL CEO Matt Beyer. The KBL has seen its popularity on the rise recently as traditional audiences take note of the rising level of play on the court.
The series will now act as another catalyst in boosting its brand awareness with a larger demographic. “The KBL is very excited to work with EASL on the production of this series. We believe this will showcase Korean basketball in a way that’s never been seen before,” said Ok. “Seoul SK Knights and Anyang KGC will be great ambassadors from our league.” Newly-crowned P.League+ champion Taipei Fubon Braves will have their first-ever feature in a major production. “We are a young league, but we are creating a lot of entertainment value for our fans from our exciting domestic games and competing with the best of the best in Asia,” said P. League+ CEO Charles Chen. “Now, fans will have the opportunity to dig even deeper into our basketball community through the Taipei Fubon Braves. We are very excited to be a part of this production.”
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P1.00 per liter for a minimum of 3 years, and imposing taxes on local coal, repealing Presidential Decree 972 or The Coal Development Act of 1976. The DOF also planned to impose taxes on cryptocurrencies, but the STSRO admitted further studies are required to explore this possibility. VAT EXPANSION The DOF also proposed the expansion of the Value Added Tax base which will remove exemptions except for those in the education, agriculture, health, and raw foods sectors. It also sought to reimpose the 60-month amortization period of input VAT on capital goods, which was only allowed until December 1, 2021 under the TRAIN Law. The DOF also proposed the imposition of VAT on digital service providers, seeing it as a “new source of revenue,” while anticipating the continued digitization of the economy. Filed as House Bill 7425 and Senate Resolution 410 under the 18th congress, Bartolome said he expects the proposal to be carried over to the 19th congress. TAX ON MOTORCYCLES, PICKUP TRUCKS Another carryover is the reform on motor vehicle users charge, which will impose a single and unitary rate based on gross vehicle rate of all motor vehicles, filed as House Bill 6136 in the previous Congress. Connected to it is the repeal of the excise tax exemption of pick-ups and the imposition of taxes on motorcycles. TAX ON MINING, CASINO ADMISSIONS, PLASTICS House Bill 8400 and Senate Bill 1979 are also expected to be carried over by the new congress, which will open its first regular session on July 25. The proposals seek to establish a single and rationalized fiscal regime applicable to all mining agreements. The DOF also proposed imposing mandatory charges on casino admissions with a flat rate of P3,500, a 5-percent tax on revenues from e-betting activities, taxing non-essential and semi-essential luxury goods, and single-use plastics at 20
pesos per kilogram upon removal from production facility or customs territory. REAL PROPERTY TAXES The DOF was aiming to implement by 2023 the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, filed in the previous congress under Senate Bills 246, 519, and 894. The measure seeks to adopt internationally accepted valuation standards, the establishment of a single valuation base for taxation through the adoption of a schedule of market values and the use of updated value benchmarks. ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES For 2024, the DOF intended to implement a reform on health taxes to increase taxes on cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcopops, and impose a unitary rate of P12 per liter volume on sweetened beverages. CARBON TAX By 2025, the DOF expected to impose taxes on carbon emissions, which is hoped to generate an additional P121.9 billion in annual revenues. The STSRO said this proposal sees the additional tax passed on to consumers and must be reviewed accordingly. As head of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he “will put taxpayers first,” insofar as paying taxes is concerned by further simplifying the tax regime. “[I want to make] sure that taxpaying is as easy as buying goods in Shopee, as easy as booking a flight or hotel. Our taxpayers get the gold standard treatment,” he said. He also said that he will focus on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), calling them the backbone of the economy. The Philippines’ sovereign debt ballooned in the last 2 years, as the Duterte administration spent heavily to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining its ambitious infrastructure push. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno however has downplayed concerns over the country’s rising debt saying the economy can “outgrow” it.
Harden said in an interview with AP earlier this week to promote the upcoming launch of a new wine label bearing his name. Harden’s plans have been clear since Philadelphia’s season ended: He was committed to staying with the 76ers and committed to help them get better. “I’ll be here,” Harden said on May 12, when Philadelphia’s season ended with a playoff loss to Miami. “Yeah, I’ll be
here. Whatever makes this team, whatever allows this team to continue to grow and get better and do the things necessary to win and compete at the highest level.” Harden is a threetime scoring champion and averaged 22.0 points and 10.3 assists during his time with Brooklyn and Philadelphia last season. The seven-time All-NBA player was the 2018 NBA MVP and is a member of the league’s 75th anniversary team.
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Action in the EASL starts in October. Handout photo
EASL to document inaugural season
T
he East Asia Super League (EASL) will immortalize its inaugural season with a long-form reality series that will document what happens on and off the court in the home-and-away regional championship league. Production already began for the series to be helmed by award-winning Korean film director John
H. Lee of the “Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite” fame, alongside Korean production powerhouse
studio IGNITE. Executive producers are Jonah Greenberg of Salty Pictures and Ezra Holland, director of CTRL Media owned by NBA legend and current Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash, along with Marc Iserlis of Third Culture Collective. The series will explore the high-stakes drama on and off the court throughout the basketball league’s inaugural season as teams com-
Harden signs 2-year extension with Sixers J ames Harden has agreed to terms on a two-year contract to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers and will make about $14.5 million less this coming season than he could have earned under his previous deal, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday. Harden will sign a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season and with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season,
according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the deal. See James Harden proves he’s still happy despite taking less money ESPN first reported the agreement being finalized between the 76ers and the 10-time All-Star guard. Harden had a $47.4 million option for this coming season that he declined last month, say-
ing he wanted to give the 76ers flexibility to improve their roster and compete for a championship. Giving back that much money — Harden basically gave himself a 30% pay cut for this coming season — allowed the 76ers to make moves such as signing power forward P.J. Tucker and small forward Danuel House earlier this month. “We got some really good pieces this summer, so now it’s time for us to go do the hard work,”
FHARDEN, P10
pete from all over Greater China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines. Taking center stage will be the heart and soul of the players, the coaches and the greater team rivalries. The series will pull back the curtains on the contrasting cultures, gameplay and lifestyles of all that East Asian basketball has to offer. During the inaugural grouping ceremony held last month at Shangri-La
The Fort, Lee and his production crew were on the ground in Manila to document the historic event and begin interviewing league commissioners, top players, coaches and influencers. In just two days, the crew interviewed more than 40 different stakeholders who were all gathered in Manila for the kick-off event, including EASL ambassador and NBA champion Metta World Peace, PBA commissioner
James Harden will sign a deal worth slightly over $68 million, paying him about $33 million this season and with a $35 million player option for the 2023-24 season.
Willie Marcial, B.League chairman Shinji Shimada, Korean Basketball League (KBL) commissioner Kim Hee Ok, among others. As one of the oldest-running leagues in the world, the PBA has no shortage of stories to tell. “The Philippines is a very basketball-passionate country, and the PBA is a league full of dynamic players and vibrant fans. We
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MANNY VS YOUTUBER Manny Pacquiao will fight Korean Youtuber DK Yoo in December.
No boxing comeback for now: Manny
N
o. Manny Pacquiao is not returning to the ring. Not just yet.
“Wala naman. Sa ngayon ang alam ko nag announce na ako ng retirement,” said the 43-year-old boxing great on Wednesday night during the press conference for his coming exhibition match against Korean DK Yoo at Shangri-La The Fort. “Yun ang nasa puso ko at nasa mind ko unless magbago ang puso ko at isip ko na lumaban ulit. Pero hindi pa ako nag-iisip ng ganun.” At the moment, his focus is on his exhibition against Yoo on December 11 in Seoul, South Korea. But his trainer Buboy Fernandez, thinks it could lead to a comeback. Fernandez is not discounting the possibility of the Filipino boxing legend unretiring and fighting in the ring again. “Maaring sign ito, pero depende pa rin sa magiging performance niya, “ said Fernandez “I just want to make sure na maghanda ng mabuti at
siguraduhin na yung kundsiyon ko ay 100 percent,” said Pacquiao. “Gagawin din natin yung usual na ginagawa sa training kapag nagpe-prepare tayo sa isang championship fight.” But this one has no title at stake as the match, to be fought in a two-minute limit per round, is a charity event whose proceeds will be used to help rebuild homes in the areas affected by the conflict in Ukraine, as well as Pacquiao’s housing projects in General Santos City and Saranggani. “Ito ay charity event at exhibition, hindi natin kailangan yung ganun (KO). Ang importante ay ma-entertain natin yung mga tao sa itaas ng ring,” Pacquiao added. Yoo was quick to say he’s not certain if he can beat Pacquiao, but will try his best to give the only eighttime world division champion a good fight especially in front of an expected partisan crowd.