Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 150 | Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022

TWO

Department

TWO SIDES

DPWH 11, Coast Guard belies forcible entry allegations, resort owners claim ‘intruders’ came with menacing guns

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 11) and the Philippine Coast Guard Station-Island Garden City of Samal (IG aCoS) debunked the allegations made by owners of Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort of forcible entry into their property.

Resort owners, on the other hand, stood pat in a statement that the unwel come visitors came with menacing arms and scared

tourists in the resort.

On Tuesday, environ mental group Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM) issued a report online that

a group they identify with DPWH along with what they claim as a Chinese na tional and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard.

SDM alleged that the group was “making a force ful entry to the Lucas prop erty in Costa Marina.”

“On the allegations na dunay forcible entry, there was no forcible entry to begin with. Kay kung naay forcible entry, naay ma tawag nato na commotion.

There was no commotion, in fact, after they docked (DPWH representatives) nakipag istorya pa sila sa resort owners and nag snacks pa sila then left,” said Dean Ortiz, spokesper son of DPWH 11, during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

According to Ortiz, the group went to the resort to inspect the area where

FTWO, P8

Civilian hurt in MNLFMILF NorCot firefight

Acivilian was injured by stray bullets when warring Moro fam ilies traded bullets in the remote village of Midasay ap, North Cotabato due to a long-standing feud, police said Wednesday.

Lt. Colonel Rolly Oran za, municipal police chief, identified the victim as Ustadz Hassan Abdullah, 51, of Barangay Sambola wan here.

“This is a long-standing rido (clan war) involving Moro front members,” Oran za said, referring to fami lies who belonged to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

The warring families are locked in fighting in two sub-villages of Barangay Sambolawan since Tuesday dawn, he said.

“This is not an organi zation fight, this is a local

clan war due to land dis pute,” Oranza said, adding that sporadic firing of guns still occurs in the area as of Wednesday morning.

Barangay Sambola wan now forms part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindan ao (BARMM). It is one of the 63 villages in North Co tabato that opted to join the expanded autonomy set up during a two-part in 2019.

For fear of getting caught in the crossfire, hundreds of residents fled toward the nearby villages of Lumupog and Kapinpilan while Army clearing operations contin ued as of posting time.

Oranza said once the municipal peace and order council headed by Mayor Rolly Sacladan has green lighted the return of dis placed families, the police will assist them in returning home. (PNA)

Dabawenyos urged to vote for Davao City in global contest

Davao City has been automatically admit ted into the ‘We Love Cities’ competition.

This, after being short listed in the One Planet City Challenge by the World Wildlife Fund, where cities are assessed and ranked by their climate action ini tiatives, particularly those which concern urban plan ning and development.

The City of Davao has entered the friendly com petition where the winner

is determined by popular ity vote. The city with the greatest number of votes will win the title “Most Lovable City” in the world.

Citizens may also vote by sending in their ideas and recommendations on how to make Davao City into a cleaner, greener city.

Some big-ticket initia tives established under the local government’s Sustainable Environment priority agenda qualified Davao City as a leading city

in climate action within the country.

The initiatives in clude the promotion of zero-emission modes of transport through the cre ation of bike lanes and bike lock-up spaces; adding more public green spaces through the construction of more public parks; and its water conservation efforts through the rehabilitation and reforestation of lands surrounding the city’s aquifers and watersheds.

The city has adapted community-based sustain ability efforts through the used-oil collection program under which used cooking oil is gathered from the ba rangay levels to be refined and processed into biodies el in the city’s oil refinery plant.

Next year, the “No to sin gle-use plastic” ordinance will also take full effect. All business establishments, especially within the food and beverage service in

dustry, will be prohibited from using single-use plas tics such as plastic straws, forks, spoons and others in a bid to minimize plastic wastes.

Dabawenyos are given the chance to improve and add into these initiatives by sharing their ideas on how to make the city’s sus tainability initiatives even more cost-efficient, acces sible and inclusive.

City Planning Officer Ceddrick Dela Cuesta, in

an interview with the City Information Office, said winning the We Love Cities competition will not only raise the awareness of the populace regarding the various green initiatives endeavored by the local government, but will also prompt them to actively engage in the Davao City’s climate actions through their recommendations and suggestions.

Cuesta said the citizens’

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte conducts a dialogue with students and parents as part of the Education department’s PagbaBAGO campaign during her visit in Bangued, Abra on Wednesday. Duterte reiterated to the students the importance of education in their personal development. Official FB page of Inday Sara Duterte

DLPC eyes underground cabling completed by 2024

City gov’t of Davao issues EO to implement revised CCPT

The City Government of Davao has issued Executive Order (EO) No. 47, Series of 2022, known as “An Order Implementing the Revi sion of the Creation of the City Core Planning Team (CCPT) of the Philippine Rural Development Proj ect (PRDP)-City Program Management and Imple menting Unit (CPMIU) of the Department of Agri culture.”

EO 47, signed by May or Sebastian Duterte on September 21, states that “in the exigency of pub lic service and efficient government community collaboration, there is a need to reconstitute, re organize, and amend the membership of the City Core Planning Team.”

The City Government of Davao, one of the par ticipants of the Philippine Rural Development Proj ects, created the CCPT through EO 27, Series of 2015.

The CCPT was orga nized to respond to the

requirement and conform with the DA-PRDP’s pro gram design.

The CCPT shall be composed of City Plan ning and Development Coordinator Engr. Ivan Cortez, CPMIU I-PLAN focal person Arch. Clyde Eric Verga, I-PLAN GGU in-charge Joan Acacho pas, CPMIU I-REAP head City Agriculturist Edgardo Haspe, I-REAP focal per son Josephine Martine, Agri-Fishery Planning incharge Fritz Coloso, In stitutional Development Coordinator James Arly Danac, and Agri-Fishery Engineering Coordinator Engr. Anthony Roy Carino.

The commodity coor dinators are Fe Oguio (du rian, cacao), Dario Divino (coffee, abaca, rubber), Marietta Mirafuentesz (corn, cassava), Pablita Al mador (rice, Adlai), Etchie Rose Nalzaro (mango, ba nana), and Aimee Evora (fisheries).

Also named members of the CCPT were City

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Rodger

S. Velasco, president and chief operating officer of power distribu tor Davao Light and Power Compa ny (DLPC) revealed om Wednesday the company is eyeing to complete the under ground cabling project along Ramon Mag saysay Avenue by 2024.

The project is a compo nent of the Underground Distribution System Project (UDS) in Davao City.

Construction works along Ramon Magsaysay Avenue started mid-June this year.

Velasco said after Ra mon Magsaysay, DLPC will start underground cabling along Quirino Avenue sometime in 2025-2026 and Ponciano Street by 2026-2027.

The UDS project aims to

get rid of the dangling over head wires in the city. It also aims to lessen the risks of fire and power interruption.

The transfer of utility cables underground is man dated under a Davao City or dinance passed in 2017, but DLPC rolled out pilot work earlier in partnership with the local government and other utility firms.

Davao Food Terminal Complex scheduled to open this month

The Davao Food Ter minal Complex (DFTC) in Daliao, To ril is set to open on Octo ber 18, 2022.

City Agriculturist Ed gardo Haspe said the fa cility, which will operate 24/7, will serve as “bag sakan” for vegetables and fruits produce by farmers from Marilog and Paqui bato districts.

“Karong

ato ng gi-schedule na abrihan na gyud ang atong Davao Food Termi nal Complex. Kung atong mahinumduman during sa inaugural speech ni Mayor Baste Duterte, isa sa iyahang priority pro grams ang pag-operate sa Davao Food Terminal Complex,” Haspe said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednes day.

Haspe said the facili ty will also accommodate vegetables and fruits from Digos, Kapatagan, Ban salan, and Bukidnon.

“Ma-accommodate na in one place. Gihimo ni para dunay common bagsakanan sa gulay ug prutas ang atong mag-uu ma sa Davao City. This is a wholesale trading facility. So dinaghan ang pagbalig ya ug pagpalit dinhi. DIli

ni siya conventional nato makita sa wet market sa mga palengke. Dili nimo makita dinha ang retail, wholesale lang. Dako ni na pasilidad ug ma-ac commodate nato ang bulog sa muabutay na gulay ug prutas including oth er provinces from Digos, Kapatagan, Bansalan, ug bukidnon,” Haspe said.

The facility will cater the traders and farmers to FDAVAO. P8

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey gives updates on the anti-illegal drug operations and peace and order situation in Davao City during this week’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Dela Rey also said DCPO will intensify its Oplan R.A.T. Tugis (Robbery/ Hold-up, Akyat Bahay and Theft) as part of its preparation for the upcoming holiday season. Edge Davao

DTI studying applications for price adjustment of Noche Buena goods

TheDepartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is still studying the ap plications of manufacturers of Noche Buena goods for possible price adjust ments for these seasonal products.

During the Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, DTI Assis tant Secretary Ann Claire Cabochan said the de partment is in close co ordination with the man ufacturers regarding the supply and prices of prod ucts for the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Cabochan said the DTI has requested the manufacturers to tem per their price increases despite the rising oil and transportation costs, as well as the depreciation of the peso to ensure that Noche Buena products remain affordable for Fil ipinos.

“We are just coordi nating very closely with the manufacturers para po kung mayroon nagka karoon ng mga increas es because of, you know, madaming factors (so that if there are increases because of many factors) – oil, transportation cost, and the like, even foreign exchange – that those in creases are tempered. At kung pupuwede napapak iusapan din naman as we had in the past, may mga manufacturers tayo tala ga na hindi nagmu-move

iyong prices ng kanilang mga produkto (And if we can ask them as we had in the past, we have man ufacturers who do not move the prices of their products),” she said.

Cabochan added that all “applications are being studied at this time” and the DTI would soon be is suing the suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin for Noche Buena products.

She also assured an ample supply of Noche Buena goods during the coming holidays.

NorCot town corn farmers get P450K post-harvest equipment

Corn farmers in the North Cotabato town of Carmen received Tuesday post-harvest facil ities from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the Climate-Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP) - Sus tainable Livelihood Support Program.

Charish Paña, the pro vincial agrarian reform program officer, said the equipment consisted of a combined 3-in-1 hammer mill, four units of collapsible

dryers, and a package of ca pacity development train ing given to the Malapag Agrarian Reform Beneficia ries (ARB) Farmers Associ ation (FA).

“The assistance has a combined amount of PHP450,000,” she said.

During the turnover program, Paña said the project was awarded to the Malapag ARB FA to strengthen the production of staple food commodities in support of the directive of President Ferdinand Mar

cos Jr. to increase the pro duction of corn and rice in the country to stabilize food prices.

Aside from the facilities, she said, the DAR would also continue to equip and capacitate the farmers and their organizations on fi nancial matters.

Meanwhile, Leonilio Romano, the corn farm er association leader, ex pressed his gratitude to the DAR for the continu ous support services pro vided to them.

“We would like to thank DAR for continuously strengthening our associa tion by providing interven tions like this CRFPSP proj ect, where we can address the needs of our members and generate additional in come,” Romano said.

He said the combined 3-in-1 hammer mill would enable them to produce and sell hammered corn, cracked corn, corn bran, milled rice, and rice bran as add-ons to their agri-supply store. (PNA)

Economists eye Sept. inflation as high as

The country’s infla tion rate likely accel erated in September 2022 after a deceleration in the previous month due in part to higher food prices and power rates, according to economists.

In a report for the eco nomic outlook for Oct. 1-7, Standard Chartered Bank economist for Asia and the Philippines Jon athan Koh projected the rate of price increases in the domestic econo my posting a faster rate of 7 percent in the ninth month this year, higher than the 6.3 percent last August.

Koh said higher food and transport prices, along with the increase in electricity tariffs, were expected to push the in flation rate faster.

“Food inflation may have been boosted by a low base effect and higher fish and vegetable prices in September,” he said.

Koh said the impact of Super Typhoon Karding “also likely contributed to higher food prices amid

supply-side disruptions.”

He cited the 4.1 per cent month-on-month jump in electricity tariff in areas being serviced by the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The increase in fuel prices also contributed to the expected rise in in flation through transport cost, he added.

Koh said the October 2022 inflation rate will further get a hit from the increase in the minimum fare in public transporta tion.

“Overall, with inflation rising and broadening in the Philippines, the cen tral bank is likely to re main hawkish and contin ue on its hiking path,” he added.

Regina Capital De velopment Corporation (RCDC) head of sales Luis Limlingan projected the September 2022 inflation rate in the country accel erating to 6.8 percent.

The expected acceler ation of the inflation rate can be another reason for

The country’s inflation rises to 6.9 percent in September 2022, slightly higher than during the month prior, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday. The PSA said the acceleration of the inflation rate was primarily due to the higher annual growth rate in the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Edge Davao

DA-Davao optimistic local durian variety ‘penetrates’ China market

DTI intensifies crackdown on uncertified products

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has strength ened its enforcement mandate to wipe out un certified products in the country following the in spection operations of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) in Sep tember.

The DTI reported Tuesday that its enforce ment teams clamped down 81,649 pieces of uncertified tires for au tomotive vehicles, G.I. steel pipes, deformed steel bars, and low carbon steel wires amounting to PHP14.78 million in Cebu.

Some 1,765 uncerti fied light-emitting diodes (LED) lamps, plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PVC) electrical tapes, plugs, socket-outlets, snap switches, BI/GI steel pipes, low carbon steel wires, pipes (uPVC) for potable water supply, uPVC rigid electrical con duit, ceramic plumbing

fixtures (sanitary wares), lead-acid storage bat teries, inner tubes for tires, and tires for auto motive vehicles worth PHP830,520 were also cracked down in Davao del Norte last month.

In the cities of Malolos and Meycauayan in Bula can, the DTI found 1,472 pieces of uncertified low carbon steel wires, tires for automotive vehicles, and lead acid storage bat teries valuing at PHP1.63 million.

Twenty-three out of 37 enterprises that were inspected by FTEB were found to be non-compli ant to the Philippine Stan dard Certification Mark Schemes, and were issued notices of violations.

“The DTI and its pro vincial and regional of fices are one in ensuring that only certified prod ucts are being sold in the market; hence, as part of our regular function, all

TheDepartment of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) is optimistic that the China market will soon wel come the local “Puyat” durian variety, af ter a group of inspectors from China visit ed various farms in the region to evaluate their good agricultural practices.

DA-11 Director Abel James Monteagudo said the visit of the General Administration Customs of the People’s Republic of China in August would pave way for local durian

growers to further ex pand their market.

“We are No. one in the country in terms of du rian production, and we are optimistic to be given a chance to export in the

Chinese market,” Mon teagudo said.

Considering China’s sizable market, Mon teagudo said an almost unlimited supply of the “Puyat” durian variety could be in demand.

“We will just have to wait for their decision, and we hope and pray that we passed their standards. We can export our Puyat variety in their country next year,” he added.

Data from the DA-11 showed that the volume of durian production in 2020 stood at 60,675 metric tons (MT) and 57,283 MT in 2021, or a 5.59 percent decrease.

However, the region remains the top produc er in the country, with a national contribution of 77.5 percent.

Monteagudo assured that despite the huge mar ket in China, the country

BSP vows to continue addressing financial market disruptions

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is urging market play ers to remain responsible amidst the latest devel opments in the financial market since volatilities are causing currencies, among others, to weaken.

On Monday, the peso posted another re cord-low close against

the greenback after it finished the trade at 59.00, which authorities and analysts traced to US dollar’s strength giv en the sustained hikes in the Federal Reserve’s key rates.

The local currency, however, recovered on Tuesday and finished the trade at 58.65 to a US dol

lar. In a statement, the BSP said it is “taking steps to manage any disruption in our financial market.”

The central bank said it is “look(ing) forward to servicing all legitimate dollar transactions”, add ing “the USD (US dollar) spot market remains open and active while forwards

and repo (repurchase) are available facilities.”

“All of these can move the economy forward by supporting the financial leg underpinning eco nomic activity and allow ing for an orderly settle ment of USD obligations,” it said.

The BSP said it is com

A durian vendor sells “Puyat” variety along Cordillera Street in Bangkal, Davao City. The Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) is optimistic that the China market will soon welcome the local “Puyat” durian variety of Davao Region. Edge Davao

GREGORIO

MAYA

Our very own Edge Davao General Manager Olivia D. Ve lasco recently celebrated her natal day. In her Facebook ac count, she wrote: “How quick a year has gone! I was 66 last year! Oh, my God!”

“Growing old is mandato ry,” said Chili Davis, a Jamai can-American former baseball player.

There is this joke among the Bisaya folks not to call those who are old tigulang (local term for “old”) or they won’t bother to respond; so, in stead address them as edaran (which means “matured”).

Yes, euphemism is the name of the game. Other terms that can be used include “young adults” or someone having “reached maturity.” And please, abhor yourself from

saying “almost old,” as what Washington Post once labelled those people.

In 1978, the Associated Press initially used the de scription “near-elderly,” ac cording to William Safire of the famed The New York Times. This “is the fatalistic term, em braced by middle-aged demog raphers.”

There are several other words you can use: ancient, bodach, buffer, crock, crumbly, dotard, gaffer, geriatric, gold en-ager, greybeard, koro, joss er, patriarch, pensioner, retirer, senex, superannuitant, woop ie, and wrinkly.

Former American presi dent Bill Clinton was politically correct when he called those using bifocals and with grey hair as “junior-seniors.” In the

HONORING SENIOR CITIZENS

Philippines, “senior citizens” is used to separate them from “younger generations.”

Just a bit of trivia. “Senior citizen” was first used during a political campaign in the United States 1938. Today, it has come into widespread use in legislation, commerce, and common speech.

People don’t become old or elderly at any specific age. But mostly people equate old age with retirement. For gov ernment workers, the optional retirement is 60 (which is also applied to those working for private sectors) and the com pulsory retirement is 65. For those in the military and police services, the mandatory retire ment age is 56, or 35 years of service.

In the Philippines, the first

week of October is celebrated as the Elderly Filipino Week, under Presidential Proclama tion No. 470, s. 1994, which was signed by the late Presi dent Fidel V. Ramos.

The proclamation launched the executive department’s obligation, through the De partment of Social Welfare and Development, to implement a social welfare program sup porting the well-being of the elderly. It is postulated that senior citizens are essential members of the society who need help and protection in order to live productive and happy lives.

The government has passed several laws in sup port and in recognition of the elderly sector including Re public Act 7432 granting ben

efits to senior citizens and the amendment RA 9257 which granted additional benefits: 20% discounts on fare, food, medicines, recreation and oth er services.

RA 9994 allows senior cit izens – who have the capac ity and desire to work – to be re-employed. Terms of em ployment, however, should conform with the provisions of the Labor Code, as amended, and other laws, rules and reg ulations.

In addition, RA 9994 pro vides the following benefits: monthly social pension to be given to indigent senior citi zens and death benefit assis tance to be given to the nearest surviving relative who cared for the deceased senior citizen until his/her death.

The destruction the war inflicted on the DLPC facili ties would have automatical ly terminated the November 1941 deal between P.H. Frank and Don Ramon Aboitiz but the latter ‘valued the chance to purchase the fifty-year power company franchise’ of DLPC to his existing electric plants in Cebu, Jolo, and Co tabato. The sale, paid in cash and only a fifth of the origi nal deal, was priced at P0.70 per share, which Aboitiz paid based on the pro rata share the War Damage Compensa tion pegged. The balance was paid in twenty quarterly in stallments at seven percent interest.

To rebuild the DLPC, Don Francisco Suche was tapped. It did not take long before the firm’s old Fair banks Morse diesel engine again operated. He became resident manager of the firm for six years. In 1952,

he relinquished the post to Edson Canova so he could concentrate on the power plant in Jolo. But leadership also changed hands not so long thereafter. Brothers Luis Jr. and Ernesto, sons of Don Luis Aboitiz, took over the helm, moving Canova to head another Aboitiz firm.

Under the Aboitizes, the DLPC experienced growth consistent with the demand of the times. When the stateowned Talomo No. 2 plant (started in November 1949 and completed in 1950) and the Talomo 2A hydroelectric project (commenced in Octo ber 1950 and finished in April 1953) began operating, each plant generated an annual total capacity of 6.4-million KWH. The output of the two power plants was sold to the DLPC.

DLPC’s dynamic strate gies did not take long in leav ing an indelible mark. From

1500 KW in 1952, the plant’s capacity increased by 18 per cent yearly. By then the new methods of power production influenced the economies of scale that benefited consum ers. By 1970, the power firm’s output hit 10,000 KW as it pi oneered rural electrification in the Davao region.

In 1957, the National Eco nomic Council recommend ed the release of P2 million in bonds for the building of Talomo 3 hydroelectric proj ect. Like its predecessors, the new plant’s output, roughly a fourth of its capacity, was also absorbed by the DLPC for city distribution. Later, DLPC pur sued aggressive marketing by opening a branch of the Cebu-based Aboitiz & Com pany in Davao with the sole purpose of selling electrical equipment. The gamble paid off. A decade later, the power firm became the first utility in the country to use bunker

fuel for its diesel engines.

Ernesto M. Aboitiz’s elec tion as the firm’s president in 1970 rushed the execution of DLPC’s expansion plan, later extending its franchise to ar eas outside the city. Although it acquired new French and Japanese generators, DLPC ceased to be a power genera tion outfit in 1979 when the government transferred the function to the National Pow er Corp. In effect, DLPC be came a mere distributor while maintaining its plants as back up source in case of supply shortfall.

DLPC has also set new milestones as the first to use single-phase lines in rural electrification and the first to use aluminum conductor reinforced steel for its trans mission lines. With the rise of electric coops in 1974, it expanded its franchise area to the towns of Carmen, Panabo and Santo Tomas, Davao del

Norte via a 100-km transmis sion line linking Santo Tomas on the north, to Toril on the south, and Calinan to the west. In 1998, the new town of Du jali was added.

On Sept. 29, 2000, its fran chise was renewed for anoth er 25 years under RA 8960. Two decades later, under RA 11515, which lapsed into law on Dec. 26, 2020, another ex tension was granted.

To further enlarge its in fluence, bills were also filed in Congress to expand its fran chise to Tagum City, the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Asuncion, Kapalong, New Corella, San Isidro, and Talain god in Davao del Norte. But the proposed law was vetoed by the President because it runs counter to the provisions of Section 27 of RA 9136, the EPIRA law, which mandates that ‘all existing franchises shall be allowed to their full term,’

TWO...

FROM 2 DABAWENYOS... FROM 2

the alignment of the land ing platform of the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) Connector Project will be situated.

Ortiz explained that what happened was just inspection, validation, and meeting composed of composite team from the DPWH-UPMO, local gov ernment unit of Samal, and the Department of Environ ment and Natural Resourc es 11 (DENR 11).

“There was a meeting na naka set na. When they (group) arrive the owners were already there together with the LGU. They docked for a while and afterwards ni proceed sa dining area. There were no hostilities,” Ortiz said.

He also said the meet ing between the LGU and the family was “pleasant.”

“They talked about the project but I don’t know about the details,” he added.

He also said that there was no forcible entry that happened because the area where they docked was a government property.

“Naay mga resorts na dili magpa dock sa ilang beachlines pero katong cer tain area sa property had no foreshore lease, no oc cupational fees since 2006, meaning walay matawag nato na forcible entry kay matawag nato to na neu tral na part. That is a gov ernment property to begin with. So legal ang pag dock didto na lugar,” he said.

SIMPLE ESCORTS

Ortiz explained that they sought the assistance of the Philippines Coast Guard Station-IGaCoS to es cort the team in their navi gation.

“Based on the informa tion I gathered we sought the assistance of the Coast Guard for assistance for navigation. Mura lang sila nag escort paadto sa Para dise Island,” he said.

OWNERS’ SIDE

In a statement, the Ro driguez-Lucas family stated that the “Chinese contrac tors were accompanied by several men who identified themselves as DPWH’s Joey Tulaylay and representa tives from the CENRO Pana bo City and DPWH Central Office.”

“The group illegally and surreptitiously en tered through a part of the beach line not intended for entrance onboard a speed boat reportedly owned by a well-known politician. The unauthorized visitors proceeded to carry out work but stopped when they were questioned by the resort employees. This

BSP...

prompted them to ask to speak with the managers of the resorts. The armed escorts who looked menac ing with their long firearms were requested to leave the property or deposit their firearms at the entrance to avoid scaring tourists and guests in Davao’s most pop ular family resort,” it said.

Ensign Vasit Venturil lo, station commander of Philippines Coast Guard Station-IGaCoS, told media they assisted the group in crossing from Davao City to Samal Island as well as to provide safety on their navigation.

“Naay coordination sa amo ang DPWH 11 sa pag tabok nila sa Samal kay known ni nga area nga taas ug pila so they decided to rent a speedboat and nor mal namo ni na routine nga mag assist mi sa mga bisan kinsa na magpa assist,” Ven turillo said.

Meanwhile, the Rodri guez-Lucas clan stressed through a statement, that they “were harassed and intimidated as Chinese con tractors of the controversial project illegally entered their resort properties with armed men in tow alarming tourists and guests.”

“Project proponent De partment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has recently announced the ongoing completion of the project’s Detailed En gineering Design (DED) awarded to the China Road and Bridge Corporation.

The DED requires the drill ing of boreholes on the Sa mal beach resorts and the treasured and biologically rich Paradise Reef nestled in front of them,” it said.

The family stated that they asked the Chinese con tractors about the permits and clearances for borehole drilling.

“None were produced. The resort manager ex plained that the foreshore areas were covered by subsisting foreshore lease agreements with the gov ernment. After a long discussion, the group of Chinese contractors and government personnel left in separate directions,” it said.

The landowners Rodri guez-Lucas clan reiterated they are supportive of the SIDC Project but they have called for its realignment and offered to donate to DPWH their Lumos beach property as an alternative landing site in Samal Is land to save the Paradise Reef, which the family has preserved for almost a century.

ideas and suggestions will be aggregated and curated by the end of the competi tion in November.

“Gina-awhag lang namo tanang Dabawenyo dili lang Dabawenyo but all silingan natong LGU pwede man ta makaboto ani, na mag-participate ta sa atong We Love Cities Campaign kay ang inyong pagboto ug paghatag og suhestiyon mahimong su porta ninyo para ma-im prove atong mga climate actions and enhance adap tive and resilient recovery plans of the city, (We are urging all Dabawenyos, not just Dabawenyos but our

neighboring LGUs since we can all vote in this, to participate in our We Love Cities Campaign because your vote and suggestions can serve as your support to improve climate actions and enhance adaptive and resilient recovery plans of the city),” Dela Cuesta said.

“A vote for Davao City is a vote for a sustainable city,” he added.

To vote for Davao City, simply use the #WeLove DavaoCityPH on any Facebook post or send in your sustainability ideas through the We Love Cities website: https://weloveci ties.org/city/davao/

ECONOMISTS...

further hikes in the Bang ko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates, he said.

However, Limlingan declined to give specif ics on when and by how much the BSP may likely adjust upwards again its key rates.

“(This) depends on in flation and Fed’s (Federal Reserve) next move,” he added.

Aside from the ele vated inflation rate in the country, BSP officials said they need to adjust the central bank’s key policy rates to also address the weakening of the local currency, which recov ered on Tuesday after hit ting another record-low of 59.00 on Monday.

Limlingan said supply cut decisions of the oil exporting countries also play a major factor in in flation forecasting and its impact on the central bank’s key rate decisions.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort forecasts last month’s inflation rate to have risen to 6.8 per cent due to lower base effects; weaker peso; im pact of “Karding” on sev eral food items like rice, corn, and vegetables; and higher electricity rates in Meralco-serviced areas.

These factors are, however, expected to be countered by the drop in the prices of local fuel prices due to the same developments overseas.

However, he said the rise of minimum fare in public transport can im pact the October 2022 in flation rate.

“Inflation could still peak around October 2022 at around 7 percent and could mathematically

FROM 4

ease thereafter,” he said.

In the first eight months this year, inflation averaged at 4.9 percent, above the central bank’s 2-4 percent target band, with the highest monthly rate so far registered last July at 6.4 percent.

With projections for further acceleration in domestic inflation rate, Ricafort said the BSP’s key rates are expect ed to be hiked again “as supported by generally strong economic data.”

Local monetary au thorities have repeatedly said that the impact of hikes in the BSP rates on the domestic economy is expected to be cushioned by the continued recov ery of the economy.

Ricafort said contin ued rise in the US Federal Reserve’s key rates and movements of the local currency against the US dollar will also be among the factors for the ex pected increases in the BSP rates in the coming months.

“For the coming months, more local policy rate hikes are still possi ble, if needed, as a func tion of any further Fed rate hikes in the quest to bring down elevated US inflation/CPI (consumer price index),” he added. (PNA)

DAVAO...

FROM 3

sell their vegetables and fruits.

“Even katong mga hos pitals, hotels, even dako na restaurants pwede na sila didto mukuha sa ilang gikinahanglan,” Haspe said.

The facility will also house the offices of DCAO, City Economic Enterprise (CEE), City Treasure’s Of fice (CTO), and city coop erative.

“In the meantime, dunay ginahimo na sus pension una sa pagpa kolektahon na mga fees didto para katong traders ug farmers nga ma entice sila na didto na magbalig ya para ma patronize ang facility sa mga trades and farmers and consolida tors,” Haspe said.

Funded by the Depart ment of Agriculture (DA), the facility is part of the 5-hectare property that will be expanded to proj ects such as cold storage from the Food Terminal Inc. and fruit and vegeta

DTI...

FROM 5

of our enforcement teams regularly go out to check products under the man datory certification,” DTI

Undersecretary for Con sumer Protection Group Ruth Castelo said.

Castelo said DTI’s market monitoring aims to ensure that only safe and reliable consumer products are being sold in the market.

From January to Au gust this year, the agen cy has clamped down 113,825 pieces of prod ucts that are non-com pliant with the Mandato ry Product Certification Schemes. These products amounted to PHP34.35 million.

CITY... FROM 3

Veterinarian Dr. Cerelyn Pinili, Veterinarian II Dr. Agnes Amores, City Co operative Development Office (CCDO) alternate representative January Fiel, CPMIU I-BUILD Head City Engineer Atty. Joseph

bles processing facilities from the Department of Science and Technology, among others.

“Supposedly ma-im plement na last year pero naabtan sa panahon na dili na siya ma-imple ment,” Haspe said.

Part of the plan in its operation is the formation of farmers’ cooperative and association to sustain it.

Haspe also said that last month a consultation was conducted by the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTT MO) to create an exten sion route in the area. He said there are more than 100 franchises available for the said route.

He said that it is ex pected that within this month, the Land Trasn portation Franchising and Regulatory Board 11 (LTFRB 11) will release an order for the extension of the route. By Maya M. Padillo

The Bureau of Prod uct Standards regulates 111 products and systems that are under Mandato ry Product Certification Schemes, which include the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safe ty Certification Mark Li censing Scheme and the Import Commodity Clear ance (ICC) Certification Scheme.

“The DTI enjoins con sumers to report retailers, distributors, and manu facturers that sell neces sities above their SRPs, through the Consumer Care Hotline at DTI (1384) or consumercare@ dti.gov.ph,” DTI said. (PNA)

Dominic Felizarta, and CP MIU I-BUILD focal person Engr. Deo Naluan.

EO 47 shall take ef fect immediately and will continue until the PRDP’s termination or until it is amended or revoked. CIO

FROM 5

mitted to enhancing the well-being of Filipinos through a financial sys tem that addresses the funding needs of the pub lic while managing risks.

“We ask those who have the means not to take advantage of chang ing market conditions. This does not help the Philippine peso; it does not help the Philippines,” it said. “What we can do

is to bring all transactions into an organized and ac cessible formal market that offers consumer pro tection.”

As market condi tions around the world are challenging, the BSP said “working together allows us to sustain our functioning financial mar ket while appropriately managing the developing risks.” (PNA)

DA-DAVAO...

will still have a sufficient supply of durian.

“They only want the Puyat variety, and we still have a lot of variet ies here. There are also durian supplies coming in here from North Cota bato, Caraga, and other provinces,” he explained. (PNA)

CHITO MALABANAN JABONG!

MIXED NUTS BUDDIES

As we approached the first tee of South Pacific golf, I was intro duced by my friend from Metro bank, Inoc Yuson to the other people waiting around the Hole Number 1 tee mound .

They all offered me a fist bump ( since it was still in pan demic stage), a retired PNP gen eral, a Malaysian coco products exporter, a Korean truck parts im porter, a customs broker and an Insurance manager .

Later on as we divided the group into 3 flights I was includ ed into a flight with a guy who’s into Prawn / sea foods business , a reverend Pastor, a hardware spare parts owner and the Grand old man of Davao Golf, they call as the Master, Master Frank Buno . Being the only Civil Engineer in the group I felt alienated but glad to be welcomed.

I can’t imagine how these bunch of people with varied inter est and backgrounds in life meet up in one place . They talk ,laugh and enjoyed the game we all love

to hate,,hehehe. Only one thing was able to unite them. Golf.

Later on as we gather at the clubhouse for the after round brunch and some few drinks, they officially welcomed me to the group.

Mixed Nuts Buddies.

Indeed it is a mixture of nuts,,err,,of people . People with mixed outlook in business , pol itics and philosophies in life yet they are bounded together and discuss nothing when they met, but golf.

But this group does not only think about golf but also reserve noble causes a special place in their hearts . They have just con structed a public toilet and bath facility for the people of one re mote barangay in Paradise Embac .Combining their love for sports and thoughts for our less fortu nate brothers.

That’s the unique thing about golf. It transcends every thing. Philosophies in life, age, and race . It has its own univer

sal rules , ethics and a language.

Golf knows no boundaries. No wonder you won’t feel alienat ed when you are in other places and surrounded by your fellow golfers. The feeling of you be long is always there.

As we laughed together shar ing the drinks at the 19th hole af ter celebrating the birthday of one member, somebody shoot a crisp question..

“Just in case a lady golfer wants to join our group, do we

have to retain our group’s name?”

A moment of silence ensued but was broken ultimately by hi larious laughter….That would be a good thing to ponder…See you again on tomorrow….Who will play?

Media coverage and promotion

It is sad that only a few choice sports are enjoying mas sive media exposure, support and promotion while the rest of what we call “minor or sec ondary ‘’ sports are not even

written about or covered by major TV and broadcast sports channels.

So, this explains why only spectator events and matches such as basketball, boxing, golf, tennis - and lately, volleyball - are getting maxi mum media coverage and ex posure on TV.

There is today an exclusive sports TV channel but it is con centrating more on the hoops game, boxing and mixed mar tial arts and other events where it can secure huge commercial sponsorships.

(Corporate and commercial sponsors only endorse and fi nance sports coverages that have high ratings and extensive viewer exposure.)

Because of the proven in fluence of various social media platforms, people have stopped patronizing the print medium since most news reports are already being published and aired over these aforemen tioned portals.

There was a time in the late 60’s and early 70s (before the PBA) when baseball and soft ball were extensively covered by both TV and radio, especially during the championship finals.

This was the era of the leg endary Blu Boys and Blu Girls who were world contenders and world beaters.

(I am proud to say that I contributed in a small way in covering the play by play of these exciting matches over the government radio station Voice of the Philippines.)

For a time, golf also had its share of TV exposure and even tennis during Felix Barrientos’

successful run.

Today, this is the current status quo.

TV viewers are limited to watching only basketball, box ing, volleyball and mixed mar tial arts.

Tennis and golf have lost their commercial luster.

Bowling was also being ex tensively covered by TV, radio and the print media during the Paeng Nepomuceno-Bong CooLita dela Rosa era when this trio put the Philippines in the world sports map by capturing one world title after another.

I don’t get to watch live coverage of championship bil liards anymore since Efren “Bata’ Reyes prominently ruled the game on the international stage.

I am afraid that if the cur rent system or preference con tinues, many of the minor and secondary sports may not pro gressively spread their virtues.

Weightlifting and gym nastics where Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and world champion Carlos Yulo re spectively are the anchors, are not also being given even the minimum media support they deserve.

Because young sports minds are easily encouraged and convinced to take part in a sport they see as most popular, I wonder if the country’s grass roots development can even move a foot forward.

Perhaps the PSC under new chair Noli Eala can take a seri ous look into this “imperfect” situation. (Email feedback to

Ginebra’s Von Pessumal goes up for a jumper. PBA has been the biggest TV draw among all Philippine sports. PBA photo