Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 149 | Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022

LONG-TERM FIX

Mayor Baste mulls creation of drainage master plan

Geotechnical team from the People’s Republic of China and a group of local workers prepare the machine that will be used to conduct soil sampling for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project along R. Castillo Street in Davao City on Tuesday. A Chinese official bared that the Chinese side is just waiting for the go signal from its Filipino counterpart to groundbreak the long-planned P19-billion China-funded project. Edge Davao

LONG-TERM FIX

Mayor Baste mulls creation of drainage master plan

By MAYA M. PADILLO

To manage drainage and flooding problems in Davao City, Mayor Se bastian “Baste” Duterte is thinking to create a drainage master plan.

“Maghimo gyud ta ug master drainage plan, that is the plan. Mao na ang puwede nato buhaton ana kung unsaon gyud na,” he said.

The mayor said while there are other projects that could be implemented

to address flooding in the city, the creation of a mas ter plan is among those he wants to pursue.

“Pero daghan lain na mga projects na puwede nato i-implement parehas ni JICA naa silay flood mit igation project so those are

one of the efforts na atoang gusto i-pursue. Dili lang man gud kita ang gabaha gyud. There are some areas because of deforestation, environment. The city is getting urbanized. These are things that we have to face ug kailangan tutukan pud,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, the city’s Ancillary Services Unit (ASU) reported it is step ping up its clean-up opera tions of the city’s drainage

system after heavy flooding hit the city last week.

The floods caused heavy traffic in the city’s main thoroughfares in cluding J.P. Laurel Avenue, F. Torres corner Jacinto extension, and Buhangin flyover.

ASU head Paul Berme jo said the unit is increas ing manpower in their clean-up operations by deploying two teams to

FLONG-TERM, P10

Army overruns bomb-making area of BIFF in Maguindanao

Government forces have overrun a shan ty in the middle of the marshland where extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Free dom Fighters (BIFF) are manufacturing improvised bombs, the Army here said Tuesday.

Col. Oriel Pangcog, the Army’s 601st Infantry Bri gade chief, said terrorist

materials and documents were found Monday inside a shack with bloodstains in Barangay Inaladan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Magu indanao.

Pangcog said the blood stain was an indication that BIFF groups operating in the area sustained injuries in the clearing operation that started Friday last week.

“The prolonged opera tion also led to the recovery of improvised bombs and components in bomb-mak ing,” he added.

Soldiers also found documents indicating that the terrorist organization is bent on sabotaging the peace process.

Government forces were pursuing the groups of Ysa

Ganoy, Abdulkarim Hashim, Ben Harrsi, and Emarudin Kulay, all BIFF field com manders, during the opera tion.

Earlier, residents in Datu Saydona Mustapha town complained of money being taken from them by the BIFF.

Pangcog said farmers and fisherfolk have also

Road rehab teams eye fast project completion

Teams of heavy equipment opera tors deployed for the Oplan Kalsada are working round the clock to get done the task of massive road rehabili tation in the province of Davao Oriental.

The Provincial Infor mation Office in a report said that the operators are hoping to rehabilitate all the 552.997-kilometer stretch of roads before the rainy season comes.

Provincial Governor Corazon Malanyaon re cently checked on their progress of work and their overall performance under the Oplan Karsada Program.

PIO Davao Oriental re ported that as of Septem ber 23, 2022, the Oplan

Karsada completed 15.37 percent of the 552.997 kilometers of provincial roads across the prov ince.

While the Oplan Kar sada primarily caters to provincial roads, Gover nor Malanyaon directed the Oplan Karsada man agement team to include those considered critical barangay roads leading to communities with large populations or essential routes for trade.

Governor Malanyaon stressed the urgency of road rehabilitation, not ing that most barangays have prioritized road re habilitation over other development projects as they volunteered to pour their provincial aid to cov

PBBM reappoints 10 Cabinet members bypassed by CA

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has renewed the ad interim appointments of at least 10 members of his Cabinet who failed to secure the nod of the Commission on Appoint ments (CA).

Marcos on Tuesday morning administered the oath of office to the reappointed Cabinet of ficials at Malacañan Pal ace in Manila, based on a Facebook post by the Of fice of the Press Secretary (OPS).

“President Ferdi nand R. Marcos Jr. led the oath-taking of his reap

pointed Cabinet members on Tuesday, October 4, in [Malacañan],” the OPS said in a statement post ed on its official Facebook page.

The reappointed of ficials were Secretaries Benjamin Diokno (Fi nance), Arsenio Balisacan (Socioeconomic Plan ning), Manuel Bonoan (Public Works), Alfredo Pascual (Trade), Erwin Tulfo (Social Welfare), Jai me Bautista (Transporta tion), Renato Solidum Jr. (Science and Technology), Raphael Lotilla (Ener gy), Susan Ople (Migrant

Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte greets one of the honorees as he graces the event of City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) honoring 32 centenarians at the Grand Menseng Hotel here on Monday. CIO

City honors centenarians

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The city government of Davao hon ored 15 of 32 invited centenarians in Davao City in an awarding ceremony held at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City on Monday.

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Atty. Marl isa Gallo said each award ee received a plaque and P100,000 cash.

Gallo added that six

of the awardees already passed away.

“Katong namatay na tagaan ug apil ug ang ni dawat ang ilang mga pam ilya. Nakadawat gyud kay ang requirement is dapat

nag 100 years old ka sa time na na-approve ang atong ordinance which was on December 2, 2021,” she said over Davao City Disas ter Radio (DCDR) on Mon day.

The awarding was led by Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte together with Vice Mayor Jay Melchor Quitain and Councilors Wilberto Al-ag, Tek Ocampo, and Myrna Dalodo Ortiz.

City Anti-Scam Unit issues advisory on wedding scams

An official of the Davao City Anti-Scam Unit (ASU) issued a warn ing to couples to always ask for business permits to make sure that a wedding organizer is legit.

Anti-Scam Unit head Simplicio Sagarino said 10 complainants came to his office to report that they were victims of a wedding scam.

“Dapat i-background check jud ug pangitaan ug mga permits such as busi ness permits, SEC permit, B.I.R, ug DTI permit para dili gyud sila ma-scam. Ug maayo nga ila gyud pictur an ang wedding coordi

nator para pud mahadlok magbinuang,” he said in a text message.

He mentioned a wed ding organizer, who is also being complained about, that appeared to be legiti mate because it has an of fice in Diversion Road.

“Well, makaingon man gud ka nga legit kay naa man office sa Diversion Road. So far ang status sa kaso still pending kay amo pa gihimoan og demand letter para ma-file ang kaso kay mao nay requisite sa fiscal ug dili pa ta ka di vulge sa ilang pangalan kay wala pa ta ka file ug kaso,” he said.

Last month, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Dute rte warned Dabawenyis against wedding scam mers.

The warning came at the heels of increasing complaints of wedding scams where up to 80 cou ples have been victimized in the city.

The mayor urged the public particularly couples and couples-to-be to be careful and do research first before choosing a wedding planner to hire and make sure there is a contract and receipt for each transaction payment.

By Maya M. Padillo

In May this year, the city government of Davao pro mulgated the implement ing rules and regulations (IRR) of City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021, which honors centenarians in the city.

Duterte, who was the acting mayor then, signed Executive Order (EO) No. 20, Series of 2022, also known as “An Order Promulgating The Imple

menting Rules and Regu lations of City Ordinance No. 0727-21, Series of 2021, Entitled “An Order Honoring Centenarians In The City of Davao.”EO 20 cited Article XV, Section 4, of the Philippine Consti tution, which states it is the family’s duty to care for its elderly members but the State may also do so through programs and social security.

The EO also cited Davao City Ordinance No. 072721, Series of 2021, which aims to recognize and hon or Davao centenarians by granting them cash incen tives.

“Sa atoang balaod na gasulti na ang honoring of centenarians pagabuha ton siya sa first Monday of October kay kaparte siya sa selebrasyon sa Elderly Week,” she said.

BSKE postponement, SIM registration bills signed by 19th Congress leaders

TheSenate and House of Representatives on Tuesday signed the SIM (subscriber iden tity module) Registration Act and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) Post ponement Act.

Copies of both bills have been sent to Mala cañang for the signature of President Ferdinand Mar cos Jr.

Senators and congress men gathered at Manila Golf Club in Makati City for the ceremonial signing of the bills that will become the first two laws under the 19th Congress.

“Nakakabuo na tayo ng maganda at (We have cre ated a good and) effective

working relationship with the House and if our bi cameral sessions for these two bills are anything to go by, then I think we can all expect to have a very active and productive 19th Con gress,” Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said during the signing ceremo ny.

Zubiri, who principally authored the SIM Registra tion Act, is confident that President Marcos will see the urgent need to sign it into law.

“We have also ad dressed the concerns regarding social media registration raised in the previous veto, so umaasa tayong wala ng magiging problema dito (we hope

there will be no more prob lems),” he said.

The previous version of the bill was also approved by both Houses during the 18th Congress but was ve toed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in April.

Duterte lauded Con gress’ efforts in finding ways to address the in creasing incidence of cy bercrimes and offenses related to information and communications technol ogy but was constrained to disagree with the inclu sion of social media in the measure, without provid ing proper guidelines and definitions.

“We need this law.

Masyado nang laganap

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Major Ma. Teresita Gaspan is designated as the new commander of Ma-a Police Station, effective Tuesday, October 4. Edge Davao

BSP: More Filipinos investing in retirement through digital PERA

More

Filipinos have began investing in their retirement fund through the electronic Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA) as contri butions tripled in just 2 years, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Digital PERA contribu tions rose to 4,892 on Sept. 8, 2022 from just 1,684 when it was launched 2

years prior, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said in a statement.

Contributions also in

creased by 106 percent to P289.82 million in Sep tember from P140.76 mil lion during the same peri od in 2020, it added.

Filipino workers make up 67.43 percent of the PERA contributions while the remaining came from OFWs and self-employed individuals, the BSP said.

Through digital PERA,

contributors can invest, open an account, monitor and settle transactions via InstaPay and PESONet.

PERA is the govern ment-run voluntary re tirement savings program to supplement pension plans such as the Social Security System and Gov ernment Service Insur ance System.

DOE OKs Prime Infra acquisition of Shell PH’s Malampaya stake

The Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the acqui sition deal between Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc. and Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) on the latter’s 45-percent stake in the Malampaya Service Contract (SC) 38.

This, after the DOE completed the review of the transaction in accor dance with Presidential Decree 87 and Depart ment Circular No. 200704-003 for the transfer of rights and obligations in petroleum service con tracts.

“Prime Infra was

found to be technically, financially, and legally qualified as a transferee and a successor to Shell as operator of Malampaya natural gas project,” the DOE said in a statement Monday.

With the approval of the transaction, SPEX will now be a wholly owned unit of Prime Infra and will continue to operate the Malampaya natural gas field.

“The DOE’s approval is conditioned on SPEX remaining to be a subsid iary of Prime Infra, and on the continuing validity of Prime Infra’s commit

ments and undertakings to the DOE in respect of SPEX’s obligations as operator of Malampaya Service Contract 38,” it added.

In a separate state ment, Prime Infra chair man Enrique Razon Jr. has welcomed the decision of the DOE as this would allow the company to fur ther explore the natural gas field.

“We will contribute by doing all that can be done to produce as much gas as possible to sustain pro duction in support of the power demand in Luzon,” Razon said.

Prime Infra said it is committed to deliver “outstanding operation al performance and fur ther the potential of SC38 covering the Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project to ensure continu ity of production as long as the reserves support it”.

“Prime Infra’s energy portfolio has always been aligned with the national government’s objective towards attaining en ergy independence and security, while reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.

SoCot coop ‘outstanding’ agrarian reform recipient

The Dolefil Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Cooperative (DAR BC), located in Polomolok, South Cotabato, was rec ognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as the most outstanding agrarian reform beneficia ries organization (ARBO) in the entire region of Soc csksargen for its continued effort to help uplift the lives of the agrarian reform ben eficiaries (ARBs).

As emphasized in the priority areas of DAR Sec retary Conrado Estrella III, the recognition was highlighted by the part nerships, not only between the farmers and various government agencies but also among members of the DARBC and the local government of Polomolok to look into the interests of the farmers and fulfill fu ture projects in the area.

DARBC Chairman Vin cent Palma said their com mitment to expand their services has more than doubled now that they have formally inked an al liance of mutual support with Polomolok govern

ment.

He said that DARBC has immensely contributed to improving and empow ering the socio-economic welfare of the ARBs, small farm workers, and cooper ative members through its pineapple production and other agricultural business ventures.

“The award and ac knowledgment was not the primary goal of the organi zation. Its main objective is to create a cooperative that would provide the most outstanding benefits to its members and the commu nity,” he said.

Palma extended his gratitude to the DAR, and all the members, officers, staff, and people who have helped the cooperative rise and become the most progressive ARBO in the region.

H. Roldan Ali, DAR-Soc csksargen Assistant Re gional Director said the cooperative has been op erating for almost 34 years and have proven that the support services provided by the DAR were excellent

The prices of meat are expected to hike in the coming months leading up to the Christmas holidays as costs continue to increase, according to the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA). Edge Davao

DdO vies for DOT award for best tourism practices

GCash taps Ayala Land to offer virtual real estate shopping

Mobile wallet GCash said on Monday it partnered with Aya la Land Inc to allow users to view select properties, inquire and access cashless payments when investing in real estate.

The Ayala-led fintech said Ayala properties can be browsed on the app’s GLife feature including the brands Ayala Land Premier, Alveo, Avida and Amaia.

Users can log in to the app’s GLife feature to browse Ayala Land’s prop erty listings and submit an inquiry, GCash said. Property listings can be viewed by tapping GLife and searching for the “real estate” tab.

Property seekers can tap “inquire,” fill in the de tails and “submit” their in quiry.

“With this partnership with Ayala Land, GCash en ables potential homeown

ers and property seekers to conduct virtual unit view ing and, after they make the decision to buy a property, access cashless payment of reservation fees using their e-wallet account,” GCash president and CEO Martha Sazon said.

Using the app also eliminates the need for post-dated checks, bank deposits or over-the-count er payments for real estate dues.

“They can conveniently and safely do just all these transactions using their smartphones and via GLife on the GCash app,” Sazon added.

“As more and more in dividuals are turning to the convenience of online shopping, we strongly be lieve that buying home and real estate properties should not be any differ ent. By launching four of

Davao

de Oro province will vie for the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines- Department of Tourism 2022 Pearl Awards (ATOP-DOT) for its best tourism practices on Oct. 27 in Tagay tay City.

In a statement Monday, the provincial government said five of its entries made it to the final list of the ATOP-DOT during the pre liminary round last month at the University of Sto. To

mas.

Last week, the DOT sent a letter to Gov. Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga congrat ulating the provincial gov ernment for having been listed as one of the finalists

for the prestigious awards.

The entries from the province which made it to the finals are Best Prac tices in Responsible Tour ism-Community Based Heritage Conservation Project/Program; Best Tourism Week/ Month Celebration; Best Tourism Promotions Video from Davao de Oro Tourism, Nabunturan Local Govern ment Unit’s Best Tourism Event-Festival; and the

Most Outstanding Tourism Officer.

“We are proud and loud to represent our entries,” Davao de Oro senior tour ism officer Christine Dom por said.

Dompor, along with the municipal tourism officer of Nabunturan, joined the final presentation of the entries at the Blessed Bue naventura Garcia Paredes, University of Sto. Tomas on Sept. 23, 2022. (PNA)

Economist forecasts sustained growth in PH manufacturing PMI

Aneconomist fore casts continued im provement of the Philippines’ manufactur ing purchasing managers index (PMI) as the gov ernment sustains reopen ing the economy.

The country regis tered another increase in manufacturing PMI

last September to 52.9 from 51.2 in the previ ous month, which Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ri cafort traced to some manufacturers’ decision to increase production activities ahead of the seasonal hike in demand

during the holidays.

A PMI index of above 50 indicates expansion while figures below 50 show contraction.

Ricafort said the lat est manufacturing PMI is the eighth consecutive rise and is the highest in crease in three months, as well as among the highest

before the lockdowns in March 2020.

He said resumption of operations of the tour ism sector, along with the start of face-to-face classes, also benefited the manufacturing sector.

Other plus factors are the jumps in exports and

A vendor, who peddles denim products using a customized bicycle with sidecar, waits as a pedestrian checks if a denim shorts will fit him by wrapping it around his neck along Lapu-lapu Street in Davao City on Tuesday. Edge Davao

GREGORIO

MAYA

MOSES

I was in Phnom Penh last week for a meeting of the ASE AN Women for Peace Registry (AWPR) with the Governing Council of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR). Launched December 2018 in Cebu, then Permanent Representative and member of the AIPR Governing Council Ambassador to Jakarta Eliza beth P. Buensuceso recalled how AIPR thought of creating “a pool of women experts to promote gender perspectives in peace and reconciliation processes throughout ASEAN, as well as to nurture and strengthen the capacities of our home-grown women peace experts.” Further, Ambassador Buensuceso not ed: “These women experts may be approached by ASEAN Mem ber States as well as the AIPR in times when a specific expertise is required, such as when re source persons are needed for peace efforts and initiatives of ASEAN Member States.”

AWPR members, while fully aware that we are a Registry of Experts, feel we can do more to help and can be more engaged, particularly since ASEAN has been drafting a proposed Re

AMINA

I wish I did not have to tackle this “insane” topic.

Lennon just stated it in his above quote.

Wow!

However much I tried de ciphering the issue, I could not - for the life of me - reconcile my self to the explanation offered by the PCSO.

For the sake of argument, the question that every exasperated Pinoy was asking in the after math of the official PCSO decla ration validating the published Lotto results for the 6/55 draw with more than P200M prize was: Did all 433 winners on the day they placed their bets just COINCIDENTALLY picked the winning numbers (9-18-27-3645-54) without talking to each other?

gional Plan of Action on Wom en, Peace and Security. This was the first meeting of AWPR with the Governing Council, and a productive one.

Our guest on “She Talks Peace” is a member of AWPR. Ayu Katrika Dewi serves as Special Staff to President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, providing him with innovative ideas on peacebuilding efforts and issues relating to tolerance and social cohesion. She currently works as managing director of Indika Foundation.

Recalling the episode on masculinist states and the prog ress being made on the Region al Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, I thought Ayu could provide new insights as she works within the corridors of power in Indonesia.

There are two different fac ets of security and peacebuild ing in Indonesia. The first is hard security, which pertains to matters such as terrorism and violent extremism. Ayu deals with the second facet—soft security. Here, she advises the President on ways to pre-empt and prevent domestic problems of intolerance. An effective com

TACKLING INTOLERANCE

municator, Ayu opts out of us ing run-of-the-mill issue briefs when corresponding with the President. Observing President Widodo’s quickness to absorb information, she will some times commission an artist to transform her reports into com ic books or infographics, so the President can digest complex information and ideas quickly on a tight schedule.

Ayu’s civil society work is as managing director of Indika Foundation. Indika is a foun dation geared toward creating an impact on peace education and character building for the youth. It focuses on cultivating the youth’s critical thinking and socio-emotional skills to be come effective peacebuilders. Ayu asserted, “Without these [skills], it’s difficult for a [per son] to become a peaceful hu man being.” To do this, Indika organizes various activities like journalism trips. During a jour nalism trip, youth participants visit post-conflict areas to in teract with the people therein, learn about their experiences, and discover firsthand how they overcame intolerance in their communities.

We spoke of “mindfulness”

as a peacebuilding tool.Ayu learned to practice meditation and mindfulness from her men tor, and she promotes the two as tools for leaders and peace builders. Mindfulness, she ex plained, is the practice of being present and “[being] aware of expressing what is going on in our heads.” Ayu stressed that it is an excellent exercise in an ger management, as it helps practitioners to assess their re actions to triggering situations.

“If you’re not aware, then you can be swept into an intense emotion. Our actions will be clouded by these emotions.” She even believes that some acts of intolerance can be prevented through mindfulness.

On Indonesia’s track record in promoting tolerance and di versity, I remarked, “It has al ways struck me that among our ASEAN neighbors, Indonesians are—maybe genetically—more mindful.” Ayu attributes this to a combination of Indonesia’s cultural background and the government’s initiatives. Unity in diversity is the founding fa ther’s rallying cry for Indone sians to embrace the country’s

inherent diversity and use it as a steppingstone to prosperity. The government also has initia tives to integrate peacebuilding into several aspects of daily life. This is the case in education, for example, where the Minister of Education designated the fol lowing acts as the “three biggest sins”: bullying, sexual harass ment and intolerance. Such an appreciation for peace and tol erance from government agents builds bridges for Ayu to assist in integrating peacebuilding programs in school curricula.

“To create peace in the outer world, we have to create peace inside,” Ayu reminds aspiring peacebuilders. Peacebuilders must make peace with and work through their personal trauma, dissatisfaction and dis appointment before addressing the conflicts of others.

Listen to Ayu’s observations on working with President Joko! https://open.spotify.com/ episode/433fn8RTf3YsN4uY 89j2c4 https://podcasts.apple.com/ us/podcast/ayu-kartika-de wi-talks-promoting-peace-tol erance-from/id1579999446?i= 1000581264371

Next question: Did all 433 winners purchase single tickets?

Or did some individuals or groups of bettors cleverly pur chase tens or hundreds of tick ets to ensure they did not have to share the prize with another “lucky’ winner?

As was declared, the win ners, the PCSO said, will receive P500,000 for EACH WINNING TICKET holder.

This strange situation defies logic. It qualifies in the Ripley’s Believe it or Not category.

The 433 winners are not necessarily 433 individuals.

There could be some - or a few smart alecks who were dead sure they bought the winning six number combination - who might have purchased 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more tickets.

If indeed they are 433 indi vidual winners, then the PCSO will have a difficult time inter viewing each.

PCSO is traditionally inter viewing grand prize winners

without publicizing their iden tity but their winning numbers are declared just to clarify which of the six categories has been won and the lottery date.

I have a naughty hunchthat since Lotto winners are not required to be identified for se curity reasons - that perhaps a syndicate of gamblers that was dead sure they had the winning combination mathematically decided that 433 tickets were all that was needed to equally share the first prize at a max of P500K per winning ticket.

How much was the cost of 433 tickets?

At P20 per that would be P8660, am I right?

So, Sen. Koko Pimentel has rightfully reacted.

He is filing a senate resolu tion to investigate this hyster ically disturbing development that may have serious repercus sions on the credibility of the computerized PCSO lotto games.

Since 1995, the lotto games

have been a good stable source of funds for the government to finance its social agenda espe cially for the medical needs of the poor and the needy. Even for sports development, mind you.

The senate probe is most welcome.

Pimentel will be doing lotto bettors and their beneficiaries a great big favor by going down into the bottom of the issue.

Again, this naughty thought: Suppose IT hijack ers and hackers were able to crack into the safety nets of the sensitive computerized algorithms and all that jazz, how sure are we that this won’t be invaded again in the future when the prize money is already this huge?

If internationally prestigious banks’ computerized and dig ital systems are vulnerable to raids and invasions from crimi nally-minded computer experts and hackers, how then can Pi noy lotto bettors and patrons

be assured that they continue to trust the PCSO?

Can the PCSO unequivocally declare and prove beyond doubt that the lotto computerized lot tery cannot be digitally hacked and the results reconfigured by hackers and criminal syndi cates?

I compare the 6/55 lotto result to a chess confrontation between a world champion and an upstart where the latter up sets the former with a strange opening theory and subsequent variations that catches every chess fan by surprise and wins the match.

Wow! Insane, isn’t this?

Who was it who said and wrote: “Some are smarter than others?”

Thank you Sen. Pimentel for taking up the cudgels for the grassroots, the poor and the needy beneficiaries of the Lotto lottery games. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

“Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives.”JOHN LENNON

PEOPLE

The business and tourism stakeholders of Davao City are upbeat these days and there’s a reason why.

The Institute of In ternational Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneur ship (ICHEf) has received hazard analysis and criti cal control point (HACCP) compliance and halal certi fication from Prime Group of Companies LLC, a quality and compliance solutions provider based in Dubai.

So what’s the big fuss?

It’s the bigger picture that matters. You know why? With this certifica tion, Davao City is strength ening its position as a Mus lim-friendly destination.

Let’s add ICHEf to the list of certified halal and Muslim-friendly restau

rants and accommodations in Davao City.

Do you know what makes the said certification notable? It is the first in the Philippines’ academe sec tor.

“I am very happy that ICHEf will be the first ha lal-certified culinary school (in the Philippines),” Mary Jane Alvero-Almahdi, group chief executive of the Prime Group of Companies, which has an office in the country as well as in Japan and India.

Once considered ha lal-certified, it means all

WHY HALAL CERTIFICATION MATTERS

the processes including the purchasing of the raw materials or ingredients, the storage of the raw ma terials, the utensils, the facilities, the management system, the documentation system, training, and oth ers have complied with the requirements of the stan dards.

Universal Islamic Cen ter president Marilou W. Ampuan, an entrepre neur and halal advocate in Davao City, lauded ICHEf’s certification as a means of joining the global halal economy.

“This is a remarkable milestone for halal in the academe sector in Davao City.”

You must be wonder ing why a school is being certified. This is because halal certification is not confined to meat and oth er food-related products anymore but has expand ed to include pharmaceu ticals, cosmetics, health products, toiletries and even includes halal friendly tourism, medical tourism, warehouse certification, restaurant certification and among others.

This is also good news for local entrepreneurs who want to put up a halal

business.

Nicole Niña Bian-Ledes ma, chief operating officer and vice president of the Academic Affairs Institute of the Joji Ilagan Interna tional Schools that owns ICHEf, said they plan to open the facility as a kind of cloud kitchen — also re ferred to as a virtual kitch en that provides only deliv ery service.

“To the best of my knowledge it will be the first in Mindanao to be a halal cloud kitchen where in those entrepreneurs who want to proceed with a halal business but don’t have an infrastructure or halal kitchen, they can

come here to us,” she said.

The purpose is provid ing an opportunity for en trepreneurs a chance, and if their ideas work later on, they can put up their own kitchen or restaurant.

ICHEf will also be of fering a three-month halal culinary program.

The availability of a halal-certified culinary kitchen, food, products, restaurants, and accom modations is also hoped to put Davao City in a better position for halal tourism and become one of the top destinations for Muslim tourists and investors not only in Mindanao but the Philippines as well.

COMPETITIVE

MAKING LIFE EASIER THIS CHRISTMAS WITH BOSTON BAY

As the most awaited holiday of the year, this season marks the start of Christmas gift shopping for our loved ones. Make Christmas shopping easier by choosing practical gifts that last with a wide range of BOSTON BAY home ap pliances – from big ticket

appliance items such as air cons, refrigerators, cooking ranges to small home appli ances for party raffle prizes such as electric kettles, rice cookers, blenders, oven toasters, microwave ovens, electric grills, electric fans and the like, BOSTON BAY appliances have these items

in store for you.

BOSTON BAY takes pride on the appliance that are manufactured by leading global appliance manufacturers. Our cus tomers are assured that its appliance item offering is good quality, durable and affordable. It has also passed product safety standards set by our local regulations.

With the goal of be coming an essential partner in every Filipino household, BOSTON BAY is commit ted to provide our custom ers with a wide variety of high-quality yet afford able home appliances that homeowners will surely appreciate.

In time for the Christ mas season, selected pro motions are also being of fered to our loyal customers

Lights Out and Away We GOMO!

In recent years, many Filipinos have started to have a more diverse interest in the field of sports, especially with the increasing populari ty of motor racing across the region. After all, this adren aline-pumping sport fuels viewers with much excite ment as they cheer on their favorite athletes and watch the thrilling action unfold right before their eyes in highspeed fashion.

To bring this high-oc tane action closer to Filipinos, GOMO hosted an epic motor racing-themed event that brings the Grand Prix sensa tion to fans for ‘Mo thrills!

“This 2022, we’re bring ing the action closer to our subscribers. Through our game-changing lifestyle app, we are catapulting the GOMO

fam to awesome by giving them access to the most thrill ing experiences aligned with their unique passions by sim ply swapping their data via ‘Mo Creds,” said Don Lauden cia, GOMO Marketing Director.

At the event, GOMO invit ed its subscribers to rise up to the challenge and see if they have what it takes to handle the pressure of performing when it matters. Participants were able to enjoy several adrenaline-pumping activities including:

1. A pit stop challenge where participants were able to live out the absolute pre cision and perfect teamwork needed to ensure an ultra-fast pit stop

2. Next-level simula tor racing where participants got a chance to take a glimpse

into the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing

3. The ultimate reac tion test used by race car driv ers to see if participants have the hand-eye coordination and peripheral awareness re quired of a racer

It also gave participants a chance to bag official mer chandise. What’s more–sub scribers were able to enjoy and get first dibs on these activities simply by joining the GOMO fam and swapping their ‘Mo Creds for TapGO vouchers!

Aside from the thrilling on-ground event, GOMO also gave fans the chance to watch the Grand Prix action live. In a recently concluded promo, subscribers just needed to swap 10GB of data via ‘Mo Creds to get three raffle en

tries and a TapGO three-day Premium Plus Access. One lucky winner won an all-ex penses-paid trip for two to the Singapore Grand Prix, which will happen in October!

“‘Mo Creds is your gate way to a whole new world of thrilling IRL adventures to turbocharge your social life with authentic experiences that fuel your unique pas sions,” added Laudencia.

The digital telco brand,

launched in the Philippines two years ago, has rapidly grown to more than two mil lion subscribers through its fresh and unique offers. It has created fun ways to let users make the most of their data. Through its game-changing lifestyle app, subscribers can enjoy high speed data that never expires not only for text and calls, but also for lifestyle vouchers that give them the freedom and flexibility to ac

cess more meaningful experi ences.

This October, GOMO is celebrating its 2nd Anniver sary and is giving subscribers more reasons to experience ‘Mo thrills, ‘Mo frills, and ‘Mo adventures as it launches awe some events, data deals and offers just for the GOMO Fam! Experience the power of data and be unstoppable with GOMO! Switch now by visiting www.gomo.ph.#ThatsMoLikeIt

such as free Air Cooler for every purchase of BOSTON BAY Air Purifiers, selected appliances items were also marked down in time for the holiday season to make

gift giving more affordable.

BOSTON BAY great value appliance items are exclusively available in all CitiHardware branches na tionwide. In case you get

very busy to head to near by CitiHardware stores for in-store shopping, selected BOSTON BAY appliances are also available in Lazada and Shopee.

LONG-TERM... FROM 2 BSKE... FROM 3

clean every day and night in flood-prone areas in the Poblacion District and oth er areas.

The clean-up includes clearing any obstructions in the storm drains of the

ROAD...

FROM 2

er the fuel requirements for road rehabilitation.

The massive road re habilitation, or the Oplan Karsada, is one of the anti-poverty programs of the provincial gov ernment supporting the agriculture and tourism sectors. This program is

PBBM...

FROM 2 Workers), and Jose Rizali no Acuzar (Human Settle ments).

Newly-appointed Ex ecutive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also joined the reappointed Cabinet offi cials in taking oath of of fice before Marcos.

Bersamin replaced Victor Rodriguez who re signed from office last week.

The OPS shared sev eral photos of the mass oath-taking of the Cabinet members.

On Sept. 28, the CA bypassed the ad inter im appointments of the around 12 Cabinet secre taries because of lack of time.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Infor

GCASH...

FROM 5

our key brands on GLife, Filipinos can now have a more seamless experience in buying Ayala Land prop erties,” ALI president and

city. Drainage clean-ups are also regularly conducted in flood-prone areas that include Jade Valley and La Verna in Buhangin, where severe flooding is always expected.

’yung mga text at online scam (text and online scams are very rampant),” said Zubiri, himself a recip ient of spam text messages.

The SIM Registration Act seeks to put an end to SIM-enabled text and on line scams by requiring users to register their SIM cards using valid identifica tion documents.

been a very, very import ant part of today’s event, maraming, maraming salamat po (thank you very much). Congratulations for a job well done,” Romual dez said.

ALCANTARA... FROM 11

including the Australian Open where he and Fil-Am Treat Huey reached the round-of-32. He paired up with Fil-Am Ruben Gonza les in Italy and the Czech Republic.

and Ulsung Park of South Korea, 6-3, 6-1, in the final.

part of Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon’s commit ment to farmers and resi dents to give them respite and ease their burden in transporting people to the town center and their crops to the market. (jmda reports from PIO Davao Oriental)

“Matagal na nating isinu sulong itong (We have been pushing for this) SIM Regis tration Act, at ’yung(and the) Barangay and SK Elections Postponement Act naman ay (is) very time-sensitive, so tama lang na itong dala wa ang (it is just right that these two will be the) first enrolled bills natin para sa (for) 19th Congress,” Zubiri added.

Romualdez said they hope to have the PHP5.268-trillon national budget for 2023 signed into law by the end of the year.

“Rest assured that as we exit this pandemic, we will usher in a period of recovery and the proper utilization of our country’s resources for the recovery of the economy and of the people,” he said.

The 5-foot-9 Rungkat, who is now based in the United States, captured the Southeast Asian Games men’s singles title twice (2011, 2017). He also bagged the mixed dou bles gold medal in the SEA Games (2021, 2019) and Asian Games (2018).

In May, Alcantara se cured the doubles plum with Colin Sinclair of Northern Mariana Island at the ITF World Tennis Tour event in Cairo, Egypt.

Alcantara claimed the 2019 SEA Games doubles title with Jeson Patrombon. He became a member of the Philippine Davis Cup team in 2005.

mation and Communica tions Technology Secre tary Ivan John Uy were among the Cabinet mem bers whose ad interim appointments were also bypassed.

Cruz-Angeles and Uy, however, were not includ ed in the roster of reap pointed Cabinet secretar ies which was released by the OPS.

Malacañang has yet to issue a statement on the fate of Cruz-Angeles and Uy.

Marcos, in his official Facebook page, said he presided over the 10th Cabinet meeting at Mala cañan Palace.

He, however, did not mention the agenda of the Cabinet meeting. (PNA)

The BSKE Postpone ment Act seeks to defer the BSKE from Dec. 5, 2022 to the last Monday of October 2023.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez commended Zubiri, saying the House will “try to emulate the high standards that he has put there so that we could achieve great things togeth er.”

“We look forward to more of these occasions. And again, to each and ev ery one of you who have

ARMY...

FROM 2

complained that the group had prevented them from tending their farms or fish ing in the marshland.

Also present during the signing were House Ma jority Leader and Zambo anga City Representative Manuel Jose Dalipe; Rep resentatives Toby Tiangco (Navotas City), Marjorie Ann Teodoro (Marikina City 1st District), and Juliet Marie Ferrer (Negros Ori ental 4th District); Senate Majority Leader Joel Villan ueva, Senate Deputy Major ity Leader JV Ejercito, and Senators Imee Marcos and Grace Poe.

After the signing, the bills were turned over to Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza of the Presiden tial Legislative Liaison Of fice. (PNA)

Alcantara’s first title this year was in June. He and Vietnam’s No. 1 play er and SEAG singles gold medalist Nam Hoang ruled the Hai Dang Cup Week 2 event, beating Ji Hoon Son

SWIATEK...

Alcantara is the first Filipino junior Grand Slam champion, achieving the feat when he won the Aus tralian Open doubles title with Cheng-Peng Hsieh of Chinese Taipei in 2009, the same year he reached his highest ranking of world No. 14. (PNA)

FROM 11

bodies didn’t come to an agreement on something as basic as the calendar of tournaments, giving us only one day to trav el through the globe and changing the time zone,” said the 21-year-old.

“This situation is not good for our health and

DOE...

He said the government remains open to BIFF mili tants who wish to surrender. (PNA)

CEO Bobby O. Dy said.

GCash’s partnership with Ayala Land is proof of its commitment to go beyond digital financing

solutions, said GCash Chief Commercial Officer Oscar Reyes Jr.

Aside from real estate, the GCash app also offers

insurance and investment products, among others. It said it would also soon offer stock trading on the app.

FROM 4

fra is well-positioned to carry on the world-re nowned track record of the Malampaya asset and therefore, the next urgent step for the company is to sustain and expand gas production while we promptly address the li cense extension for SC38,” Prime Infra president and chief executive officer

could cause injury.”

The 12-team BJK Cup runs from November 8-13 with champions Russia unable to defend their crown due to being barred from competing in ITF competitions fol lowing the invasion of Ukraine.

Guillaume Lucci added.

The Malampaya nat ural gas field is one of the country’s most cru cial power assets as it supplies 20 percent of Luzon’s power require ments.

The gas field began its operation in 2001, with its license set to expire in 2024. (PNA)

SOCOT.. FROM 4

ly and effectively man aged.

“Through the years, the cooperative has become the DAR’s partner in helping the ARBs and making their lives become more progressive,” he said.

Ali said that being recognized as the most outstanding ARBO in the region is one of the most valuable mile

stones for a coopera tive and encouraged them to dream of be coming recognized as the top ARBO in the en tire Philippines in the future.

The plaque of rec ognition was formally awarded to the coop erative at Club Kal sangi, Brgy. Cannery, Polomolok, South Co tabato.

ECONOMIST...

imports as well as the rise in foreign direct investments, he add ed.

Ricafort said re covery of employ ment in both the agriculture and man ufacturing sectors, which account for at least 40 percent of jobs in the country and around 40 per cent of domestic out put, is also helping the manufacturing sector.

He said the man ufacturing sector is being burdened by the elevated inflation rate, rise in interest rates, weakening of

FROM 5

the peso against the US dollar, and threats of recession in the US.

“Going forward, the manufacturing gauge could still im prove further in the coming months in view of the further easing of more areas to Alert Level to low est 1 for Metro Manila and more areas since March 2022, further pick up in local and foreign tourism, and resumption of in-per son schooling after the accelerated ad ministration of vac cine booster doses,” he added. (PNA)

Alcantara captures third doubles title

Filipino tennis player Francis Ca sey Alcantara stayed on course to breaking into the world’s Top 300 doubles rankings after winning his third title this year.

Alcantara and partner Pruchya Isaro of Thailand defeated Yu Hsiou Hsu of Chinese Taipei and Wisha ya Trongcharoenchaikul of Thailand in the final of the

US$25,000 Hai Dang Cup 2-6, 6-2, 10-3 in Tay Ninh City over the weekend.

“I’m happy to win again here in Vietnam. I achieved my goal this year

already, I’m back to Top 300 with a few more tour naments left for this year,” said Alcantara in an online interview on Tuesday.

“I have one more tour nament here and hopeful ly, I can keep my winning form,” he added.

The 30-year-old netter from Cagayan de Oro City is currently No. 319 based on the Association of Ten

nis Professionals (ATP) rankings. He reached a career-best No. 257 in De cember 2018.

Alcantara was No. 329 after two runner-up finishes at the Bangkok Open ATP Challenger Tour in Nonthaburi City last month.

He teamed up with Christopher Rungkat of In donesia in the two events,

both offering a total cash prize of US$50,000. They lost to No. 3 seeds Ben jamin Lock of Zimbabwe and Yuta Shimizu of Japan, 1-6, 3-6, in the first tour nament.

In the next one, they fell to Chung Yunseong of South Korea and Ajeet Rai of Australia, 1-6, 6-7 (6).

Alcantara first played with Rungkat at the

2016 ITF Futures 2, a US$10,000 event held in Hong Kong. They reached the semifinal round but succumbed to Markus Kerner of Estonia and Mikelis Libletis of Latvia, 3-6, 6-1, 7-10.

The 32-year-old Indo nesian is currently world No. 219. He has joined 10 tournaments this year,

FALCANTARA, P10

Swiatek says no to BJK Cup finals

PARIS,

France -- Wom en’s tennis world number one Iga Swi atek criticized governing bodies for not organising the calendar better as she announced Monday she will not play for Poland in the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Glasgow in No vember.

The BJK Cup -- which is organised by the Interna tional Tennis Federation -- begins on November 8, the day after the presti

gious season-ending WTA finals reaches a climax in Fort Worth, Texas.

Swiatek posted a statement on her Insta gram account saying that after a long discussion with her advisors she had decided it would not be good for her health to play.

“I will not be able to play at the Billie Jean King Cup at Glasgow,” she said.

“And it makes me sad.

“I’m very sorry, be

cause I play for Poland whenever it’s possible and I always give it my best.”

Swiatek said she was going to address the is sue of the scheduling with both the ITF and the WTA.

The Poles have been drawn in Group D along side the Czech Republic and the United States.

“I’m disappointed that tennis governing

Filipino tennis player Francis Casey Alcantara (left) with partner Thai Pruchya Isa after winning the men’s doubles final of the Hai Dang Cup in Tay Ninh City, Vietnam on Oct. 2, 2022. They won the match, 2-6, 6-2, 10-3. (Contributed photo)

TRADITIONAL SPORTS

UPMin launches arnis sports academy

TheUniversity of the Philippines Min danao has partnered with Kapatirang Doble Olisi Escrima (KDOE) to estab lish a sports academy.

Vice-Chancellor for Aca demic Affairs Prof. Annabelle Novero, on behalf of Chancel lor Lyre Anni Murao, signed a Memorandum of Under standing with Grand Master (GM) Mario Palazuelo of the KDOE for the arnis sports academy in the UP Mindanao Main Library on September 23, 2022.

The sports academy train ing sessions will be con ducted from October 01 to December 17, 2022, every Saturday from 8 AM to 11 AM at the UP Mindanao Atrium with GM Mario as the head trainer.

The sports academy would also provide valuable insight on how to sustain and develop the Davao City-UP Sports Complex located on the campus.

The MOU-signing cere mony is the culmination of the two-day workshop on the upcoming Master of Science in Human Movement Science (MSHMS) and the proposed College of Human Kinetics.

“It’s very exciting that we will have a sports academy in arnis because we envision

a College of Human Kinetics that will grow together with the Sports Complex,” Prof. Novero said.

“I practiced many martial arts,” said GM Palazuelo, “but I decided to focus on arnis be cause it is our Filipino martial art and it is now the national martial art through Republic Act 9850.”

The MOU outlines the im plementation of an arnis pro gram for the grassroots, in cluding technical assistance and staffing.

The general role of KDOE is to provide trainers and coaches for the arnis sports academy, while UPMin will provide the venue and assis tance.

The sports academy is in line with UP Mindanao’s stra tegic plan for its Mindanao Sports Development Initia tive to integrate multidisci plinary and interdisciplinary programs in various fields of knowledge.

Registrations are ongo ing until October 03, 2022. Interested individuals of all ages are encouraged to par ticipate.

Kapatirang Doble Olisi Escrima Grand Master Mario Palazuelo (left) and UPMin Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Annabelle Novero sign the memorandum of understanding for the creation of a sports academy for arnis in UP Mindanao, witnessed by Asst. Prof. Jezreel Abarca, and Asst. Prof. Erwin Protacio.