Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 145 | Friday, Sept. 30, 2022

An

CAMPUS CASES

City intensifies Covid-19 monitoring in schools after cases were reported

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The city government of Davao through the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force is keeping a close watch on Davao City schools after cases of Covid-19 among stu dents and employees were reported this month.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson for the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, re ported that most of the cas es are in graduate schools and colleges. She added they also monitored several cas es in elementary and high

school but most of these are school employees.

“We are also monitoring sa mga eskwelahan kung naay mga cases sa atoang mga students. Naa tay sev eral cases sa mga elemen tary and high schools but

most of these are employ ees. Kadaghanan estudyante nga na infect are college stu dents and graduate school,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.

Schlosser also reported that on September 18 to 24, 2022 there were 18 cases in schools and universities wherein majority are stu dents in colleges and gradu ate schools.

With the said number of cases, the Covid Task Force along with the City Mayor’s

Office and the City Health Office will be meeting with the officials of the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd 11) and Commission on Higher Edu cation 11 (CHED 11) on Sep tember 30, 2022 to intensify their Covid-19 management and vaccination and booster rollout.

“We will have a sit-down meeting with CHED and DepEd. Our team in the CHO, Davao City COVID-19 Task Force, and the LGU naa didto

FCAMPUS, P6

Matalam VM to harness leadership capacities through YLGG program

Vice Mayor Raprap Rafael of Matalam, Province of Cotaba to will be harnessing his leadership capacities af ter being selected for the Jose M. Robredo Foun dation’s (JRMF) Young Leaders for Good Gover nance (YLGG) Fellowship Program.

The YLGG Fellowship

Program is a training pro gram for incumbent local officials aged between 21 to 45 years old from all over the country.

For the past five years, the program has had four successful im plementations and en gaged more than 100 lo cal officials all over the country, embarking on a

wide array of activities and endeavors that pro mote the legacy of the late Department of the Interior and Local Gov ernment (DILG) Secre tary Jesse M. Robredo on the principle of people’s participation, empower ment, transparency, and accountability in local governance.

Now on its 5th, YLGG will assume a hybrid setup and will be composed of five modules that will train and enhance the ca pacities of the fellows to effectively push for better public services.

The fellowship pro gram will run for 8 months from September 2022 to May 2023.

With only a few days left before the September 30 deadline, health au thorities here are work ing double time to meet its COVID-19 vaccination target amid the hesitancy among their Lumad se nior citizens.

Dr. Mark Anthony Dano, Talakag health of ficer, admitted they may not hit their 63,000 target even though they have al ready inoculated 84 per cent mainly because they lag behind in vaccinating senior citizens, especially among the Lumads.

“Kulelat kami sa se nior citizens, especially among the Lumad. There is a strong resistance to the vaccine,” Dano said.

He said that of the 5,300 Lumad seniors in the municipality, only 3,000 are fully vaccinated and only 700 of them have been inoculated with the first booster shot.

The World Health Or ganization has expressed alarm over the sluggish COVID-19 vaccination rate among senior citi zens in the Philippines and is worried that a surge of cases among the elderly would affect the country’s hospital system.

It said only 6.4 million senior citizens or 25 per cent of the vulnerable sec tor have been fully vacci nated despite efforts by local government units.

At the health center in Talakag poblacion, em ployees were busy put ting up tarpaulin signages as part of the information drive for the five-day “Ba kunang Bayan” vaccina tion campaign last Mon

day.

Nurses and doctors were attending to a small crowd of residents who came to be vaccinated but senior citizens were con spicuously absent.

“We have no problem with the younger popula tion. It is a different story with the senior citizens, and we are worried of the risks,” Dano said.

He said they tried new tactics, like offering P300 meal allowance as an in centive for the elderly to be vaccinated. They also resorted to a house-tohouse campaign to get the senior citizens vaccinated or boosted.

“All of these failed. It seems the Lumad elders are stubborn enough that they rejected even the meal allowance we of fered,” he said.

The town of Talakag is a first class town of Bukid non province. Its popula tion of 77,000 residents is mostly a mix of Higaonon and Talaandig tribe.

Dano said misinforma tion about the COVID-19 vaccines is the main cause for the hesitancy among its senior citizens.

“The Lumad has this belief that COVID-19 vac cines are harmful to their health. Some of them be lieved they will get sick if they are vaccinated and some even think they will turn into zombies,” he said.

The Lumad tribal councils in Talakag, the doctor said, even issued certificates that exempt its members from the COVID-19 vaccination. Dano said the health of

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss proposes a toast as he graces the opening of the Davao Agri Trade Expo 2022 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center on Thursday. A number of companies from Israel take part during the two-day agri event. Edge Davao

Health officials struggle convincing IP seniors in Bukidnon to get vaxxed

Pulong’s son Rigo graces Araw

ng Barangay Matina Crossing

Indian, Israeli companies eye opportunities in Davao

What is the common denominator of India and Israel? They are both agricultural powerhouse.

India is the world’s larg est producer of milk, puls es, and spices, and has the world’s largest cattle herd (buffaloes), as well as the largest area under wheat, rice and cotton. It is the sec ond largest producer of rice, wheat, cotton, sugarcane, farmed fish, sheep and goat meat, fruit, vegetables and tea.

Israel, on the other hand, has emerged as a global leader in agriculture and water management.

Consider Davao City to be fortunate that these countries came to show their technologies in the ongoing Davao Agri Trade Expo 2022 (DATE) which was opened on Thursday at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier.

Five Israeli companies engaged in irrigation, tech nology, and fruits set up booths to display their prod ucts.

“It’s a spectrum of com panies presenting different

solutions. So what we are going today, we will be hav ing an exhibition here with the five Israeli companies that will be promoting their technologies, practices, and looking for opportunities to engage in the Philippines,” said Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss in an interview.

Fluss also invited Fili pinos to come to Israel for the Agritech Israel, the 21st International Agricultural Exhibition in the field of ag ricultural technologies

“We are looking forward to the new opportunities and cooperation,” he said.

Meanwhile, six Indian companies also set up their booths and a pavilion show casing agricultural solutions.

Nishikant Singh, firs secretary (economic and commerce) of the Embassy of India, said there is one participating company that is looking for a partner to connect and grow their busi ness.

“The Philippine can learn a lot from India as we have revolutionized and transform the agriculture value chain,” he said.

FINDIAN, P6

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II joined res idents of Barangay 74-A, Matina Crossing in celebrating the Araw ng Barangay on Wednesday.

Duterte II also con gratulated Barangay Cap tain Joel Santes and the barangay councilors for maintaining the peace and order in the said barangay.

“Dili pud nato kalimtan pasalamatan ang mga ba rangay functionaries nga naghago nga imentinar

ang kahapsay ug kalinaw sa inyong barangay,” Dute rte II said in his message.

The young Duterte explained that his fa ther failed to attend the celebration because he was looking after his son who was infected with Covid-19.

“Gusto ipaabot pud sa akong amahan nga nan gayo sya ug pasaylo nga dili makatambong sa sel ebrasyon, Gusto pud niya ipaabot ang dakong pas alamat sa padayon nin yong pagsuporta sa iyaha ug sa among pamilya,” he said.

Before concluding his message, the young Dute rte introduced himself in jest.

Usa ko mahuman ani akong pakighinabi kanin

yo, tuguti diay ko nga magpaila ila: Ako si Rodri go “Rigo” Duterte II, ang pinakahimsog nga anak ni Pulong. Di na ta maghis got ug guwapo ihatag na nako na sa mga maayong laki diri sa inyong baran gay labi na sa atong Mayor Baste,” he said.

The young Duterte has been standing-in for his father in community en gagements and extending assistance to fire victims in Davao City.

Chinese keen to break ground

Samal-Davao Bridge project

Chinese Consul Gener

al Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao disclosed that on the Chinese government’s side, the groundbreak ing of the long-planned P19-billion China-funded Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project is ready to happen.

“As far as I know, from the Chinese side they al ready prepared for the

groundbreaking,” Lin told media during the opening of the Davao Agri Trade Expo 2022 (DATE) at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier on Thursday.

He said they are just waiting for the go signal from the Philippine side. He also said that some Chinese companies would come together to partici pate in the groundbreak

ing.

“It’s ready there and can happen any day,” he said.

Earlier this month, geotechnical team from China started to conduct a geotechnical investigation (soil sampling) for the said project along Daang Ma harlika Highway (Lanang), Davao City.

Meanwhile, the Rodri guez-Lucas clan, owner of

the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Sa mal (IGaCoS), expressed it is ready to sit down with the Department of Pub lic Works and Highways (DPWH) with the inten tion of finding a win-win solution to the project standoff.

The bridge’s landing site on the Samal side will

Chinese Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao bares that the Chinese side is keen for the groundbreaking of the long-planned P19-billion China-funded Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project. Edge Davao

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

Despite being renamed, prewar Magallanes Street’s past as a thriving district is slowly crawling back. Amid this reassuring change, Davao’s cosmopolitan populace, now chiefly composed of migrants, has principally forgotten the place’s true historical value. Day in and day out, people tra verse the area in transport and only see very few surviving structures.

In the Spanish period, Ma gallanes, as part of a colonial town, was one of three roads originally opened in the mu nicipality’s administrative, ec clesial, and commercial hub. It was initially set aside for homestead farming but repur posed when the Americans ar rived.

Under American rule, the area, an adjunct to the town’s administrative center situated at the end of the street (where

HISTORICITY OF MAGALLANES AREA

the Washington area is found), hosted some of the most signif icant landmarks, let alone the fact that it was principally ti tled by discharged US military personnel who transformed it into a mixed-use community.

During its halcyon hey days, it was home to numer ous ‘firsts,’ among them the Davao Mission Hospital (now Brokenshire), the first private hospital in Mindanao; the first nurses’ dorm (owned by Da vid Jacobson, an American Jew philanthropist); the first Amer ican kindergarten Sunday school; the first ice and electric plant (owned by Capt. James L. Burchfield, the first American hemp planter); the first Rizal monument (where the Boni facio statue stands); the first post office; the first family res idence of Rev. Robert Franklin Black, the first Protestant pas tor of Davao; and the City Gar

den (now Osmeña Park), the first town plaza.

Then and now, Magallanes Street still hosts the legisla tive building, an area that was initially part of the San Pedro Church estate until it was do nated to the city at the prod ding of Gov. Eulalio E. Causing (1915-17), Davao’s first Filipi no administrator; it also host ed the town hall. At the eastern end, the street used to house lodges for transients, and there were socio-civic clubs frequented by expatriates, in the area once occupied by the burnt Colasa’s BBQ chicken house.

Following the nationwide effort to rehabilitate areas destroyed by the war in the postwar retro, the street was revived from the ruins. Res idences owned by prosper ous families started to sprout, among them the Villa-Abrille

(still extant), Sexton, Carriedo, Palamos, Porras, and Arkoncel houses. Regrettably, the con flagration of February 1964, which gutted down three huge blocks of the city’s central busi ness district, also devoured many of the domiciles.

Later, outfits like Dux Nightclub, Rendezvous Beer house, Rizal Memorial Colleges (owned by the Abellera clan), Peter Lou Inn (owned by the family of ex-Davao second dis trict city councilor Pedrito Sal vador), Gillamac’s Marketing (an appliance center), the Pal amos and Carriedo buildings, El Gusto Lodge (downsized to ELG Traveler’s Inn), Diamond Lodge, Davao City Tennis Club, and DXRA (a radio station), be came conversant fixtures.

Through the decades, more structures altered the street’s landscape. Among the more familiar names are Grand Men

Seng Hotel, Jaltan’s, Kuya Ed’s, People’s Daily Forum, GV Hotel, JLF Plaza, Metrobank, Bernar do Clinic, Community Health & Development Cooperative Hos pital, Sunny Point Bakery, Wes son, and government entities like the Court of First Instance (later Museo Dabawenyo), Sangguniang Kabataan, City Ag riculturist’s Office, Magallanes Elementary School, and Land Registration Authority.

What used to be a two-way street, Magallanes (now An tonio Pichon Sr., in honor of a Philippine Constabulary cap tain and Davao board mem ber), is now bustling with one-way traffic. So much has changed in the way the area looks today. Though new fa cades have surfaced to high light its newfound vitality, it is still far removed from the days when it was a teeming com mercial hub.

WAS THE US VISIT A SUCCESS?

“Politics begin where the masses are, not where there are thousands, but where there are millions. That is where serious politics begin.” - VLADIMIR LE NIN

To my mind, I would qualify PBBM’s six-day working visit in the US as a success.

Not as hugely as it ideally was imagined. But the warm reception by his American hosts tells the whole story.

PBBM flew to the US East Coast to deliver a speech be fore the UN General Assembly in its New York headquarters.

But as is usual when a Phil ippine president is accompa nied by his economic team and a score of Filipino business men to boot, you can expect that something positive and beautiful will happen.

Yes - as always - the Philip pine entourage took advantage of the time they had in their hands because seldom does this rare circumstance ever

happen.

Indeed, PBBM’s meeting and dialogue with US Chief Ex ecutive Joe Biden was meaty and substantial enough as both mutually agreed to fur ther strengthen their bond and alliance as the contemporary events warrant.

The contentious situation in the South China Sea was mentioned while PBBM reit erated the Philippines’ centu ry-old, enduring partnership - economically and politically - with the USA.

As the world appears to fall into recession - one discovers this everytime the US raises interest rates to protect the dollar - the government should exert greater efforts to attract foreign investments to buoy our economic recovery due to the global pandemic lockdown.

The warm welcome ex tended to PBBM and his party at the New York Stock Exchange is a signal that the Philippines is a bright prospect as the next investment haven in the ASEAN region.

Not only are we enjoying political stability as reflected in several peaceful electoral exer cises where the great majority of Filipinos trooped to the poll ing booths to cast their votes, but the whole country is also enjoying what others casually describe as “relative peace and security.”

Himself acting as the coun try’s number one salesman, PBBM may yet give this a seri ous thought.

Why not duplicate the US sojourn by making a thor oughly planned working tour of the European Union where European investors and busi nessmen hurt by the pandemic may be scouting for a new site to put up new business invest ments and recover what they have lost?

Surely, these EU business men don’t put their eggs in just one basket.

The only wrinkle I see is the restrictive constitutional prohibition preventing foriegn investors from owning their businesses cum investments a

hundred percent.

This could be very discour aging.

In reality, it already is.

If FDIs (foreign direct invest ments) come pouring into the country during the entire six years of the PBBM presidency, the Philippines may yet emerge as another Singapore (or Hong Kong) in this part of the planet.

And then - following this vision - the millions of OFWs scrounging for a living in vari ous parts of the globe may be persuaded to permanently come home, settle down and re-join their families.

Again - this is a BIG IF.

The national leadership should ideally prepare the business climate and the polit ical atmosphere necessary for FDIs to make a beeline to this country they call the “Pearl of the Orient Seas.”

To my mind, the results of the US visit will be the gauge.

It is basic that every busi nessman and investor looks for profitable ventures.

They also look for govern

ments that have the highest standards of business ethics and practices that will protect their huge investments.

Foreign businessmen and investors shy away from coun tries notorious for corruption and political machinations.

The pathway to progress is evidenced by a people whose majority supports the govern ment.

With the 31 million plus votes garnered by PBBM in the 2022 presidential ballot ing - considered monumental in our political life - the Filipi nos should be able to get out of the economic (and political) slump in due time.

This is the democracy that the Filipino nation ideally de serves.

There is no excuse for fail ure.

Amusingly, I quote George Washington who said: “99% of failures come from people who make excuses.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

House OKs DBM’s proposed P1.7-billion budget for 2023

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the proposed PHP1.7-billion budget of the Depart ment of Budget and Management (DBM) for 2023.

Budget Secretary Amen ah Pangandaman expressed gratitude to the House law makers for giving their nod to the proposed budget for her office.

“We are grateful that the members of the House of Representatives have ap proved the 2023 proposed budget of the DBM,” Pangan daman said in a press state

ment.

Under the proposed 2023 National Expendi ture Program, a total of PHP1,737,629 will be allot ted to the DBM.

The approval of DBM’s proposed budget also came the same day when the Commission on Appoint ments confirmed the ad in terim appointment of Pan

gandaman.

Pangandaman said the DBM would ensure the “effi cient and sound” utilization of government funds and resources.

“The prudent manage ment of fiscal resources is my main concern,” she said. “The government cannot afford to waste a single cen tavo.”

Pangandaman also pledged to push for bud get reforms, which include President Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr.’s bid to digi talize the government.

The use of latest technol

ogies, she said, would enable the government to monitor the implementation of proj ects and improve the trans parency of the budget pro cess and execution.

Marcos has certified the bill containing the proposed PHP5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 “in order to address the need to main tain continuous govern ment operations following the end of the current fiscal year, strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the Covid-19 pandemic, and support initiatives towards national economic recovery.”

Financially viable PPP projects seen with revised BOT law IRR

The National Econom ic and Development Authority (NEDA) is confident that more finan cially viable and well-struc tured public-private part nership (PPP) projects will be delivered following the publication of the revised 2022 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) law last Sept. 27.

In a statement Wednes day, NEDA Secretary and BOT IRR Cabinet-level Committee chair Arsen io Balisacan said the PPP projects arising from the revised 2022 IRR of the BOT law will further aid the government in foster ing development across the country’s critical sectors amid global headwinds and fiscal constraints.

Balisacan said the new IRR seeks to balance pri vate and public interests to ward meeting the country’s development goals.

“Through the new IRR, the government will utilize PPP projects to address the binding con straints to growth and job creation in sectors, such as manufacturing, tour ism, IT-BPOs (information

technology and business process outsourcing), and the creative industry. Con sidering our current fiscal position, private sector re sources and technical ex pertise will be harnessed to introduce innovations and upgrade the country’s vital infrastructure such as logistics, transporta tion, telecommunications, and water,” he said.

Additional regulations for digital banks issued by BSP

Digital banks are required to heed prudential require ments and policies, such as those imposed on uni versal and commercial banks (U/KBs), given their classification as complex banks.

Under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 1154 issued on Sept. 14, digital banks are re quired to have corporate governance framework, risk management system such as on information technology (IT) and cy ber security, outsourcing, consumer protection and anti-money laundering (AML) and countering ter rorist financing.

The additional rules were issued following its approval by the pol icy-making Monetary Board (MB) and the issu ance of the digital bank framework in December 2020.

Digital banks are re quired to have a minimum capital of PHP1 billion.

The Circular said banks converting to dig

ital banks shall be given a period of three years from approval of the MB within which to “meet the minimum capital require ment and implement the transition plan, including divestment or closure of branches, sub-branches or branch lite units.”

It said the three-year period wherein digital banks should meet the minimum capital require ment excludes funds being infused by new investors and transfer of the convert ing bank’s shares of stocks or similar arrangements.

The digital banks were required to have the need ed capital before they were issued Certificate of Authority (COA), which is a requirement for regis tration with the Securities and Exchange Commis sion (SEC), it added.

The BSP has approved the operations of only six digital banks to date, a number deemed enough for now for the regulator to assess the importance and necessity for this new bank classification.

Visitors check one of the exhibitors display of native products at the exhibit area of the Davao Agri Trade Expo 2022 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center on Thursday. Edge Davao

IT-BPM sector targets $59-billion revenue, 2.5M workforce in 2028

Airlines echo Marcos stance on addressing aviation sector woes

AirAsia Philippines and the Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday echoed Pres ident Ferdinand “Bong bong” Marcos Jr.’s stance on addressing the aviation sec tor’s woes, which included solutions such as building new airports and facilities, and partnering with the private industries to help boost the sector.

Marcos graced the opening of the New Pas senger Terminal Building (NPTB) of the Clark Inter national Airport (CRK) in Pampanga.

“Habang hindi pa naay os yung airport sa Manila, habang di pa nag-ooperate yung airport sa Bulacan, sa Sangley, kailangan natin buksan ang mga airport sa regional (While the air port in Manila is still being improved, and while the airports in Bulacan and Sangley are yet to operate, we need to open airports in the regions),” the President said.

“CRK will not only help decongest air traffic in Ma nila by providing an alter

native option for connec tivity, but it is also seen to boost trade, e-commerce, and tourism in Central and Northern Luzon,” AirAsia spokesperson Steve Dai lisan told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The carrier, he said, lauds the government’s partnership with LIPAD Corporation in developing a world-class passenger terminal that serves as a gateway to more regional economic hubs.

At the NPTB’s opening, Marcos also said neither the government nor the pri vate sector can do it alone.

Dailisan affirmed this, saying the low-budget carrier believes in the im portance of collaboration among aviation stakehold ers to address the challenge of accommodating future air service growth while remaining safe, secure, and customer-centric.

“Any help especially in pushing for our strong re bound will be welcomed not only by AirAsia but the entire aviation industry,” Dailisan said.

The country’s information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry targets to hit a revenue of USD59 billion and a total of 2.5 million full-time employees (FTEs) in the next six years, according to Jack Madrid, Information Technology and Business Pro cess Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) president and chief executive officer, on Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Ma drid said the industry en visions the Philippines to become the world’s leading experience hub for digi tally-enabled and custom er-centric services while

driving inclusive and sus tainable growth across the country.

He said IBPAP targets 54 percent of its growth will be driven by activities in the countryside.

To support the growth target of the industry, Ma drid said upskilling the local talents will be one of the pri orities of the IT-BPM sector.

In the next six years, IBPAP aims to expand highskill category jobs, with a 13 percent increase in revenue per FTE by 2028.

“Since we launched the previous roadmap in 2016, we have already seen sig nificant and widespread achievements of the indus try to our economy… In the next six years, what it aims, along with our industry players, is for our sector to create (an) even more meaningful impact as we

envision our country to be the world’s number one experience hub for custom er-centric and digitally en abled services while driving sustainable economic and social growth,” Madrid said.

He said the IT-BPM in dustry is one of the “very few industries” that the country can claim to be a world leader.

For the industry to be on track with its targets, the IBPAP chief said the government should ensure ease of doing business as there are many IT-BPM investors eyeing to put up and expand their opera tions across the country.

Energy dept awards P271-B renewable energy contracts

The Department of En ergy (DOE) reported it awarded a total of 998 renewable energy (RE) contracts as of June 2022, with investments amount ing to PHP270.8 billion.

In a statement Wednes day, DOE said the RE con tracts have a total installed capacity of 5,460.59 mega watts and a potential capac ity of 61,613.81 MW.

The biggest investments were in solar energy, which amounted to PHP130.44 billion. This is followed

by wind RE technology at PHP52.91 billion, hydro power at PHP38.73 bil lion, biomass at PHP38.16 billion, and investments in geothermal energy at PHP10.54 billion.

To attract more invest ments in the RE sector, DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla signed Department Circular No. 2022-09-0030 last Sept. 23 increasing the utilization of RE for on-grid areas from 1 percent to 2.52 percent.

“The increase in the uti lization of renewable ener

gy in our power generation mix would encourage more investors and end-users to develop and utilize domes tic energy sources,” Lotilla said.

The increase in RE utili zation in areas connected to the grid will take effect next year.

The DOE said the newly signed department circular “requires or encourages elec tricity suppliers, particularly the distribution utilities, to source or produce a specified fraction of their power sup

ply from eligible renewable energy resources”.

Lotilla added that in creasing the RE utilization for on-grid areas will drive the country towards energy sustainability.

“Private sector invest ments are central in achiev ing our renewable energy targets and vision. To date, the share of renewable en ergy in the power genera tion mix is 22 percent. Our target share is 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040,” he added. (PNA)

A Matigsalug vendor from Bukidnon sells tribal bracelets in Iligan City on Tuesday (27 September 2022). Itinerant vendors usually come in droves during the fiesta season as the city will celebrate the feast of St. Michael the Archangel on Thursday. MindaNews photo by RICHEL V. UMEL

TIGER SUGAR MANIA

No doubt about it, milk tea is the drink of the times. The current toast.

So when you see peo ple walking around hold ing a lid-topped drink cup, it must be milk tea.

The fact is that milk tea has gained so much popularity in Davao City that sales of this popular flavored tea drink is at an all-time high. On top of the list of this sugary, bubbly beverage called Tiger Sugar.

Quite strange for a name to be honest.

For how can you mix the ferocity of a Tiger and the sweetness of sugar?

That strange name coupled with its unique flavors and taste has captured the hearts of

Dabawenyos so much that they are willing to endure the long queue just to grab a cup of this creamy goodness at a Ti ger Sugar stall inside the Abreeza Mall.

Tiger Sugar is pop ular for its signature favors that include brown sugar boba milk plus pearl with cream mousse, brown sugar boba with tiger jelly (cof fee in it), and brown sug ar boba milk with pearl with chocolate malt.

With its growing

popularity, Tiger Sugar has decided to add a new outlet in Davao City.

Recently, Tiger Sug ar drinkers gathered during the opening of its branch at CT Drive Com pound along Tulip Drive.

Instead of the ordi nary stall, this new outlet is a cafe where custom ers can hang out while enjoying their favorite Tiger Sugar drinks. It carries a similar ambi ence but has a casual space that allowed cus tomers to hang around and have a good chat while sipping their cups. It is a place for friends and family to meet, re fresh, and awaken the taste buds.

“We want this some thing na pagpasok ng customers para siyang nasa abroad,” said Jasper Ngo, managing partner.

Ngo said although,

Tiger Sugar is a fairly new player in the milk tea business but upon tasting it the first time in Manila in 2018 he could really tell that it is some thing different because of the quality of their products and drinks.

“Iba talaga. I took the chance, even if marami ng players, because I be lieved in the brand and the product. We opened the first Tiger Sugar at Abreeza in 2020 and there’s an opportunity to open another one be cause the Davao market is getting bigger,” he said.

Other than being a healthy drink, milk tea offers a wide range of flavors that one can choose from.

“We want to offer something of value to the community rin. That is why we opened anoth er branch here. I think there is a huge market who would like a taste of Tiger Sugar,” Ngo said.

As of the moment the new branch is only serv ing drinks.

“There are other products in the pipeline. Our ingredients galing pa ng Taiwan that is why its different. That is why what your drink Tiger Sugar in Taiwan, is what we offer here,” Ngo said.

This bubbly delight is really perfect for chill ing as most people often love to relax and social ize while sipping their favorite drinks.

EDGEDAVAO COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL.15 ISSUE 145 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 Estrella, Borromeo approve IRR on agrarian debt moratorium

In compliance with the directive of President Ferdi nand R. Marcos, Jr., Agrarian Reform Secretary Conra do M. Estrella III and Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) President and CEO Cecilia C. Borro meo, today, September 28, 2022, signed the Joint Ad ministrative Order provid ing the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 4 Se ries of 2022, which declares a moratorium on the pay ment of land amortization and interests for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Signed by the President on September 13, 2022, the

EO entitled, “Directing the Implementation of a Mor atorium on the Payment of the Principal Obligation and Interest of the Amortization Due and Payable by Agrar ian Reform Beneficiaries,” calls for a one-year morato rium on loan payments of Agrarian Reform Beneficia ries (ARBs) who received agricultural land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“It is our duty in the gov ernment to prioritize the farmers, not only because they are the ones who keep us alive, but because they will make our economy rise again,” the President said.

The IRR signed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and LAND BANK specifies that the one-year moratorium cov ers the payment of the Prin cipal Value and the Annual Interest Due and payable by the ARBs.

“The one-year morato rium period will provide the needed time for Con gress to pass the law con doning the existing agrar ian reform loans for the current ARBs and free land distribution for future ben eficiaries,” Estrella said.

It primarily covers the fi nancial obligation to pay the total cost of the land under

Presidential Decree No. 27, including interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per an num as provided under Sec tion 6 of E.O. No. 228; and the financial obligation to pay the principal value including the six percent (6%) annual interest of the thirty (30)year land amortization of the ARBs under Section 26 of RA No. 6657, as amended.

“LANDBANK supports this historic initiative which is now taking off. We will provide immediate finan cial relief to ARBs nation wide, and yield positive re sults towards ensuring food security in the country,” said LANDBANK President

EDGEDAVAO

A4

Borromeo.

LANDBANK serves as the collection agent of the National Government for land amortizations from ARBs, pursuant to its man date as the financial inter mediary of the CARP. All collections are remitted by the Bank to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) as part of the revenue of the Na tional Government.

The DAR-LANDBANK Joint Administrative Order covers the identification of beneficiaries qualified to avail of the one-year pay ment suspension, with the impact of the initiative to enhance the productivi

ty and profitability of the ARBs duly documented and promoted.

EO No. 4 directs the DAR and LANDBANK to jointly submit to the Office of the President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, a comprehensive report on the implementa tion of this Order, includ ing data on the number of ARBs actually covered and impact of the moratorium, among others.

The DAR-LANDBANK Joint Administrative Order shall take effect upon publi cation in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of gener al circulation.

Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. showroom located at the Aeon Towers provide clients and investors a glimpse of its iconic project including the upcoming Aeon Bleu. It also features a heritage wall highlighting the journey of the home-grown real estate building company.

Reform

Secretary Conrado

MinDA key to lasting peace, Padilla says

Senator Robin Padilla on Wednesday moved for the increase of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) bud get, saying this will be a key to lasting peace in the region.

Padilla also urged the government to pour enough funds to support the airport project in the Municipality of M’lang, North Cotabato which was in limbo for the past 15 years.

“Sayang yan. Magan da yan sana sa Central Mindanao. Ang progresi bong lugar talagang may airport, seaport. Hang gang wala po yan, sayang ang 15 years (It would be a waste. The airport would have been good for Central Mindanao. Progressive places have airports and seaports. Without these, the last 15 years would have been for nothing),” he said in a news release.

Padilla also noted that based on the proposed budget of the Department of Budget and Manage ment (DBM), Luzon got a big share, followed by the Visayas.

“Malapit sa amin ang Mindanao. Para sa amin, pag nakikita namin ang budget, kasi pinakita po sa amin ang budget ng DBM. Ang laki sa Luzon, tapos pagdating sa Vi sayas, malaki rin. Pero pagdating sa Mindanao, medyo maliit pa rin. Me dyo may kalungkutan po doon pagdating sa punto na yan (Mindanao is close to us. We have seen the proposed budgets for Lu zon and Visayas, and they are considerable. But for Mindanao, the budget is quite small. This is very sad),” said Padilla, after learning of a budget cut for MinDA for next year),” he said.

For 2023, the Nation al Expenditure Program allotted PHP158.958 mil lion for MinDA, which is PHP197.27 million lower than the agency’s budget of PHP38.312 million this year.

As such, some PHP306.642 million in projects may go unfund ed, including:

* Mindanao digital innovations programPHP18.98 million;

* Expanded Mindanao

economic recovery pro gram - PHP20.977 mil lion;

* Mindanao River Ba sins Food-Energy-Wa ter nexus programPHP12.390 million; and the

* Mindanao Indige nous Peoples Heritage Preservation and Devel opment Support Program PHP10 million.

“Sabi nyo nga, napa kahalaga ng kapayapaan. At alam natin ang ugat ng lahat ng kaguluhan ang dapat maging pan tay-pantay ang develop ment (As you said, peace is very important. And we know the key to peace is to address the cause of chaos by ensuring equi table development),” he told MinDA Chairperson Ma. Belen Acosta.

Padilla said while he and finance subcommit tee chairman Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa will find ways to increase MinDA’s budget, the agen cy’s officials must also make representations with the Department of Budget and Management. (With report from Leonel Abasola/PNA)

CAMPUS...

FROM 2

to sit down with them. Open dialogue with them unsa’y matabang nato sa ilaha, re orient them. Kinahanglan i-emphasize ang campaign nato sa vaccination, if naa sila’y nalimtan, madungagan pa ilang awareness sa effi cient contact tracing, quar antining and isolation, and testing,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Vac cination Cluster will also strengthen vaccinations in schools.

Schlosser reported that Covid cases in the city may be decreasing, however, it is still very notable that several still died due to Covid-19.

She said that 14 new deaths were recorded from September 18 to 24, 2022 and of the 14 deaths, seven were senior citizens who re ceived the two-dose primary series of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine and only one among them had the first booster.

She also noted that there is significant deaths in the 20 to 29 and 30 to 39 age groups, as well as below five years old

INDIAN...

and five to 11 years old.

“We are putting empha sis na magpabakuna gyud ang mga naa sa vulnerable sector and also putting em phasis na kailangan magpa booster because the data is showing us nga naay na matay na bakunado pero gamay ra ilaha ang nakapa booster dose. Kasagaran na matay ay 50 to 59 years old and 60 years old and above pero medyo nagadaghan atong cases na namatay mga bata or young adults. I am emphasizing na dili puwede magsalig lang ta sa prima ry and second dose series lang ta kinahnglan ta magpa booster especially na karon ang atoang mga acitviites are mostly pre-pandemic na,” Schlosser said.

A vaccination site has been set up for the Bakunah ang Bayan Pinaslakas Vacci nation Days at People’s Park from September 26 to Sep tember 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and district health cen ters-based vaccination hubs are also operational.

HEALTH...

fice does not honor the certificates.

He said they tried ev erything, including en gaging Peace Crops, a non-government organi zation, to produce a vari ety of information materi als like posters, tarpaulins and comics in the Higa onon dialect.

The materials were distributed in barangays Tikalaan, Indulang, Lan tud and San Rafael, which have mostly Higaonon residents.

The NGO strategy is that the key to overcom ing vaccine hesitancy among the Lumads is a Higaonon-centered and Higaonon-led communi cation campaign.

Peace Crops president Robert de la Serna said they were able to gain support and participation

CHINESE...

FROM 3

2

by featuring in the tarpau lins and posters Higaonon leaders who have been in oculated.

De la Serna said the information materials have a simple message in the Higaonon dialect: vac cines are safe.

Jasper Kent Ola, of the Department of Health in Region 10, said health of ficials sought the help of Higaonon leaders for the effective vaccination cam paign in Malitbog, another municipality of Bukidnon.

Furthermore, they gave a sack of rice as an incentive for the Higa onon residents to come to the health centers, ac cording to Ola.

“Once you earned the trust of their leaders, the rest of the Higaonon resi dents will follow,” he add ed.

UPLB...

FROM 3

The participating com panies from India and Isra el will join in the B2B (busi ness matching) activity to be facilitated by the Bureau of Investments (Bo) and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Indus try Inc (DCCCII), which is among the highlights of DATE 2022.

This year’s DATE aims to encourage local agri en

trepreneurs to adopt new farming techniques and technologies to increase farm productivity, ensure sustainability, and become more competitive in the global market.

DATE 2022 carries the theme “Innovative Agribusi ness: Achieving Productivity and Sustainability for Food Security.”

By Maya M. Pa dillo

cover a reef in between Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort and Costa Marina Beach Resort, both owned by the family.

The family offered to donate to the government a valuable piece of prop erty with less marine life just a short distance away from the old shipyard, Bridgeport, as an alterna tive landing site in Samal Island. By Maya M. Padillo

FROM

donation of solar lights to selected IP communities in Paquibato, Baguio and Marilog Districts . One of their many civic projects which they intend to sus tain in the coming years.

Dinner and raffle of prizes will follow at the South Pacific Golf ball room after the tourna ment.

The current Board of Directors and officers of

Higaonon leader Rose Undag said the resistance is strong among the el ders because the idea of vaccination is not part of their oral history and tra dition.

“We do not even have a word for vaccination in our dialect. Our elders do not understand its impor tance to their health,” she pointed out.

Undag said the Higa onon people resort to me dicinal plants when they get sick and trust that “Magbabaya” (Supreme Creator) would heal them.

She said her people would seek the treatment of modern medicine only as their last resort.

Undag said when the COVID-19 pandemic rav aged urban cities, many Higaonon communities refrained from socializing

with the people from the urban areas.

“The elders were lucky that most of the local gov ernment units implement ed strict quarantine mea sures,” said Undag, who is fully vaccinated and have gotten two booster shots.

On the other hand, she said young Higaonons are also scared by the side ef fects of the vaccine, point ing out to fevers and chills experienced after being inoculated.

She said the young Hi gaonons, who are mostly working in the farms, are afraid they would get sick after being vaccinated.

“They cannot afford to be absent from their work even for a single day. It would mean missed meals for their families,” Undag said. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

the UPLBAA-Davao chap ter are the following:

Stephen M. Angala, President; Eduardo D. Alejandrino, Jr., Pres ident -Elect; Cecilio I. Cadiz,Vice-President; Maricar B. Cervantes, Secretary; Clarisse C. Vil lanueva, Asst.Secretary; Sheryl Azette Capa-Lim, Treasurer; Edna Mae M. Alconera, Auditor; Cherry Anne Silva, PRO; Ramon

R. Bien, ex -officio; the BOD are as follows, Joel Lumang,Alan Good,Dante Payson, Mae P. Bautista, Bryan Good and Luis Ybi ernas.

For any inquiries and possible sponsorship you may contact the tourna ment director thru 09176271204 and Mr. Ramon Bien at 0918-9992511, or any of the officers and members of the board.

Okay okay. Did I write too many superlatives about the Bay Area Dragons (BAD) in my previ ous column?

I guess I did.

Bryan Goorjian’s credentials as a capable coach are as impres sive as you read them.

How about Myles Powell, the 6’2” shooting guard who once wore the New York Knicks outfit several seasons ago?

Isn’t the guy just fantastic and amazing?

After his torrid 41 point per formance against Blackwater in BAD’s initial PBA outing where the visitors walloped with im punity the helpless Bossing with

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

MYLES POWELL IS NO JOKE FOLKS

a 46-point winning margin, I thought Northport coach Pido Jarencio might have devised something that would limit, if not prevent, Powell from his prolific contribution to his team.

Well, the ex-NBAer poured in 37 markers.

Well, in the early goings, Batang Pier matched BAD’s pro duction and its defense prevented Powell et al from scoring at will as they did against Blackwater.

In fact, I was thrilled by the superb playmaking of Roi Su mang who gave Northport its lasy taste of the lead at 104-192 with just 1:08 remaining.

Robert Bolick’s confidence as

a do-it-all and Northport go-toguy remarkably surfaced as he eluded even the tall guards as signed against him with finesse and shifty maneuvers.

Bolick reminded me of a young Pido Jarencio during the latter’s active playing days, scoot ing around the perimeter defense and sneaking in short stabs, snip ing here and there.

But Powell did what he had to do.

In the dying seconds, he drib bled near the left elbow, tossed a hurried but well-executed buzz er-beating jumpshot and, despite the outstretched long arms of im port Prince Ibeh challenging his

MOSES BILLACURA CLEAN SLATE

trey, bailed the Dragons for a final 105-104 count.

Goodbye, Northport. Sorry it wasn’t your night.

I don’t think that was a lucky shot. If you say so, I am sorry to disagree.

Powell is a proven scorer. Leave him open and you pay the price.

Any PBA coach would proba bly love to get him on his team.

Powell has deft reliable shoot ing hands. He is shifty as an eel and a good passer as well.

With a 2-0 record, the Drag ons may have built an intimidat ing presence in the Commission er’s Cup.

Of course, the test of the pud ding, as they say, is in the eating.

We will have to see how Goor jian and his boys perform against proven champion ball clubs such as TNT, San Miguel Beer, Magno lia and Ginebra San Miguel.

They literally squeezed their way through Northport’s court savvy.

Remember, this is an im port-laden tournament where a 610” reinforcement is allowed.

For the moment, Powell and the Dragons have captured the fancy of discriminating basket ball fans. (Email feedback to fred lumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

WITH PATAFA EVP’S BLESSINGS, DCTAFA WILL SURELY MAKE SOME BIG WAVES

I could not help but express my happiness over the election of Kenneth Sai as interim president of the Davao City Track and Field Association.

It is appropriate for Kenneth to lead the organization because he is an active marathon organizer in the region and has kept in touch with various stakeholders for years since the death of his father, Vic Sai, a long-time sports organiz er and sports editor.

Thanks to PATAFA executive vice-president Dr. Willie Torres of the University of Mindanao for initiating this momentous event and I am fully confident that with Dr.Torres’ backing, the DCTAFA will be able to do the needed proj

ects to be done for our local track and field athletes.

If you can recall, manong Zaf Respicio, then OIC Mayor of Davao City, initiated the com ing of the great Lydia de Vega to Davao and this has triggered the Dabawenyos’s enormous interest in athletics. Manong Vic Sai did most of the leg work and Manong Zaf was already in Manila as PA TAFA’s EVP.

Luckily, schools like the Uni versity of Mindanao, Holy Cross of Davao College, Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philip pines and other private schools have made track and field part of its varsity programs. That huge school support led to the rise of

athletics stars Nixon Mas of UM and Alther Rivera of Holy Cross.

The DCTAFA, if I remember it right, was formed about a decade ago and it has organized various projects too but the presence and support of a PATAFA EVP, there will surely be a big boost to the devel opment of the sport.

Before UM sports director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia retired, he brought me to UM-Matina to check on the brand-new UM Track Oval, the construction, personally initi ated by Dr. Torres. And when I had the chance to chat with Dr. Torres, just outside his office, he men tioned about the training program that has started. This has clearly shown his deep love for the sport

because he himself is a collegiate champion track athlete in his years at DLSU.

And no wonder, when there were leadership changes in PATA FA Manila, Dr.Torres was among those considered to be part of the new leaders.

DCTAFA is a non-profit organi zation that needs the support of all stakeholders.

And the support of all sports directors from both private and public schools will make the job, unpaid job actually, for Kenneth, Dr.Torres and the rest of the offi cers easier.

Come to think of it, athletics is much easier to organize compared to team sports and it even requires

a lower budget.

Harrish Ratag, the 100-meter dash champion of the University of Mindanao, used to run without shoes and still emerged champi on.

Just imagine what DCTAFA and PATAFA officials can do when they work harmoniously.

That would be a lovely sight.

Which brings me to the next question, how much money will the Sports Development Divi sion-City Mayor’s Office appropri ate for athletics development?

* * *

Comments are welcome by sending an email to mpb_sports@ yahoo.com.

Daghang salamat!

Ateneo de Davao University’s Baby Jaldon in action during the recent Inter-Ateneo Alumni Football Friendlies at the Azuela Cove. Handout photo

UPLB Loyalty Golf Cup set

BY CHITO MALABANAN

The UPLB Alumni Association- Davao Chap ter will hold its Annual golf tournament on October 15,2022 in the all-weather fair ways of South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates in Catalunan,Pequeno, Davao City. This will be their 7th Loyalty Cup after a two year absence due to the pandemic.

Tournament Director Edwin Cayamanda said that they will be using System 36 as its scor ing format on a Double Barrel start on Hole No 1 and Hole No.10. “We are using this sys tem and format to enable the golfers to have fun and enjoy golf as much as possible “ he

added.

Registration fee is peg at 2500 per player which includes the Green Fee and an additional 200 for mulligan, one each per 9 (front and back) . The pro ceeds of this worthy cause will be used by the UPLBAA for the

Davao Eagle masters Cup flightmates Boy Hererra, Francis Ponzi, Bong Belen, and Edge Davao columnist Chito Malabanan.

EDWIN CAYAMANDA

FUPLB, P6