Operatives arrested a high-value target (HVT) drug suspect and seized over PHP2.4 mil lion worth of shabu in an anti-illegal drug operation in Crossing Bayabas Toril, Davao City Wednesday.
In a report, the Police Regional Office in Davao Re gion (PRO-11) identified the suspect as Romil Quilo, the fifth HVT individual at the regional level.
The suspect will be charged with the violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“This accomplishment bespeaks PRO 11’s continu ous effort to make the Davao Region drug-free,” Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr., PRO-11 re gional director, said.
City First District Representa tive Paolo “Pulong” Duterte sided with the Land Transportation Of fice-Davao (LTO-Davao) in apprehending top box owners.
“While I understand the concern of Bosita, the same is misplaced. As a former law enforcer him self, he of all people should know that the LTO, like all other law enforcers, is tasked to uphold the law. In
view thereof, should there be a clear violation of the law, enforcers are tasked to make apprehensions if necessary,” Duterte said in a statement.
Rep. Duterte was re ferring to the privilege
statement made by 1-Rid er Partylist Representative Bonifacio Bosita regarding the legality of the appre hension of top box owners in Davao City.
Duterte said while Bos ita took a swipe and sin gled out LTO-Davao for the apprehensions, the former also stressed that Bosita admitted there was basis to the apprehensions made by LTO-Davao in the form of the March 15, 2016 mem
orandum signed by LTO’s former assistant secretary Atty. Roberto Cabrera III.
“As a matter of fact, Col. Bosita specifically men tioned in his privilege state ment that he is favorable to the inspection and registra tion of the said top boxes. I, therefore, see no reason why Col. Bosita has to sin gle out LTO Davao where in fact, he has acknowledged their authority to make the
F’I GOT, P10
Province of Cotabato
Third District Repre sentative Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño Santos is keen on pursuing the pend ing development of the Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) by meeting key offi cials to secure funding and support.
Despite the recent ad journment of the First Reg ular Session of the 19th
Congress on October 1, 2022, Santos met with Sen ator Mark Villar to lobby and seek the Senate’s assis tance in its development.
She said she also lob bied for possible funding and support from Secre tary Christina Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT) for the development of CMA (formerly M’Lang Airport).
She also had a meet ing with Undersecretary Roberto Cecilio Lim of the Department of Transporta tion (DOTr) last September 4, 2022.
In late August 2022, Santos and Governor Em mylou “Lala” Taliño-Men doza of the Province of Cotabato also discussed the development of CMA with Secretary Manuel M.
Bonoan of the Department of Public Works and High ways (DPWH).
“Cotabateños have long dreamed of having an airport. Isa pa malak ing tulong ito sa economic growth and tourism in the Province of Cotabato,” San tos said.
Meanwhile, the Provin cial Government of Cota
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Confiscated from Qui lo were three large trans parent plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing some 130 grams and boodle money, and other pieces of evidence, police said.
Silo added that the Philippine National Police strategic peace and secu rity framework MKK=K (Malasakit, Kaayusan, Kapa yapaan tungo sa Kaunlaran) serves as their motivation for ensuring peaceful and drug-free communities. (PNA)
Government forces dismantled six com munist New Peo ple’s Army (NPA) units from July to September this year in Southern Min danao, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said Thursday.
In a statement, the 10ID said among those dismantled by the Ar my-led Joint Task Force Agila (JTFA) were the NPA Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) 1, SRC 2, SRC 4, SRC 5, Guerilla Front (GF) 18, and the Regional Sentro De Grabidad (RSDG) of the Regional Operations Command (ROC), all un der the Southern Mind anao Regional Committee
(SMRC).
The report was based on the JTFA campaign progress review and as sessment meeting for the third quarter of 2022 at Datu Balunto Hall, Camp General Manuel T Yan Se nior in Mawab, Davao De Oro on Wednesday.
Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Army’s 10ID commander, said the JTFA also recorded seven en counters during the Ju ly-September period that resulted in the neutraliza tion of 59 NPA rebels, sev en of whom were killed. Two were captured and 50 surrendered, he said.
A total of 47 firearms
The Department of Health – Davao Cen ter for Health De velopment (DCHD) has received a Mobile Health and Wellness Services CaraVan from the Pili pinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) in a turn over ceremony at the Pinnacle Hotel here on Thursday.
An initiative under the PSFI’s Philippines Response in Optimiz ing Testing, Empowered Communities, Treatment and Sustainability (PRO TECTS) project, the mo bile clinic will be used to deliver health services to the rural areas in Davao Region with a focus on HIV program services, including distribution of preventative medication against HIV, HIV testing and screening, antiret roviral therapy refill, among others.
The P3.8 million vehi cle has a full-clinic set-up with a laboratory, consul tation and examination area, and a comfort room.
Present during the turnover rites are DOH Usec. for Visayas and Mindanao Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., PSFI Deputy Executive Director Marvi Trudeau, DOH XI Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang, DOH XI Program Manag er Ma. Teresa Requillo, City Councilor Richlyn Justol-Baguilod, various civil society organiza tions, and other public of ficials.
Yumang said the DOH will be installing addi tional medical equipment such as an X-ray machine and other testing appa ratus to the vehicle. She said the mobile clinic will be a big help in reaching far-flung areas in the re gion that are most in need of community outreach programs and medical missions from the health sector.
City Health Office head Dr. Ashley Lopez said the mobile clinic will be a big help in the local
By MAYA M. PADILLOTheprotocols are a bit relaxed this time but the wearing of face masks and hand hygiene are still imposed for “Undas” according to Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force.
Schlosser said unlike last year when former Mayor Sara Duterte im posed some restrictions and limitations on cele brating All Saints Day and
All Souls Day, there are no restrictions except the wearing of face masks and hand hygiene this year.
“Since naa nata sa Alert Level 1 and mas
lenient ang atong mga restrictions karon dili na pareha atong una ang atong guidelines na naay limitations sa mga tao na mubisita, naay limitation sa social distancing,” she said over Davao City Di saster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.
Last year, former May or Sara Duterte advised Dabawenyos to visit their dead loved ones earlier
as the city plans to close cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbariums for two weeks in obser vance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
In 2020, the former mayor has ordered the closure of cemeteries and columbariums for seven days during the “Undas” period from October 29 to November 4 through
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After two police per sonnel were involved in a holdup incident in General Santos City on Tuesday evening, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) acting director Colonel Al berto Lupaz told the DCPO personnel to be responsi ble and act accordingly on or off duty.
PCMS Renante Medi na of Foot Patrol and Bike
Unit and PMSg Christopher Ararao of Bunawan Police Office, were allegedly in volved in the robbery com mitted at Purok Ondok Ga wan, Brgy. San Jose General Santos City. They are cur rently detained in the jail of the General Santos City Police Office.
The two police person nel were assigned in the DCPO.
In a statement, DCPO assured that it does not condone and tolerate per sonnel engaging in any acts of lawlessness or crimes and expects that this inci dent will be investigated thoroughly and fairly.
Meanwhile, Police Re gional Office (PRO 11) regional director BGen. Benjamin Silo Jr. ordered for the said police officers
and their immediate super visors and commanders to be relieved from their posts. The two involved po lice personnel will also face administrative cases and will be on automatic leave of absence.
In a statement, PRO 11 was dismayed by the al leged robbery with force and intimidation; and vio
The National Economic and Develop ment Authority said Wednesday it will adjust its strategies for Ambisyon 2040 after the pandemic set back the de velopment plan created back in 2015.
NEDA Secretary Arsen io Balisacan said the goals that while the goals have not changed “what might have changed is our ap proach going there.”
“We have so many things to do and fix, yet government resources are so limited,” Balisacan said.
NEDA is exploring “[ways] for the private sec tor to ride the infrastruc ture that is profitable while also safeguarding the inter ests of the ordinary people, to use the limited resources of government on educa tion, health, and social pro tection.”
The 2023-2028 Phil ippine Development Plan
will be submitted to the president and Congress be fore the end of the year, he assured.
Balisacan admitted there are several pend ing projects, and assured that the NEDA is looking into the projects as they are strengthening its Pub lic-Private Partnership Center to get the projects rolling.
Senator Nancy Binay sought clarification on delayed infrastructure projects under the Am bisyon 2040, which was developed under Balisa can’s previous appoint ment as NEDA Secretary
Seasonal increase of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the last quarter of the year is expected to support the local currency, a National Economic and Develop ment Authority (NEDA) executive said.
During the virtual pub lic briefing on Wednesday, NEDA Assistant Secretary Sarah Daway-Ducanes said the government has no control on the peso’s weakening.
Daway-Ducanes at tributed the local unit’s slide to the policy rate normalization, particu larly in the United States (US).
She, however, said au
thorities expect the cur rent performance of the peso to be temporary.
“Inaasahan namin na sa pagpasok ng mga re mittances ngayong mga huling buwan ng taon ay makakatulong ito sa pag-stabilize ng halaga ng piso kontra dolyar (We expect that inflows of re mittances in the latter part of the year will help stabilize the peso against the US dollar),” she added.
The local unit regis tered a fresh all-time low against the US dollar last Oct. 3 when it finished the trade at 59.00 to a US dol lar.
Meanwhile, remit tance inflows are histori
ning Secretary Arsen io Balisacan has high lighted the crucial role of sustained targeted sub sidies and ensuring that there is an ample supply of food in the domestic market to help Filipinos amid inflationary pres sures.
“The government’s priority is to make sure that there is sufficient and affordable food supply for every Filipino family,” Bal isacan said in a statement Wednesday.
Balisacan, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief, made the statement following the release of consumer price index (CPI) figures for
September 2022, which stood at 6.9 percent — the highest since October 2018.
He said the uptrend in inflation is observed not only in the Philippines but also in other coun tries due to subdued de mand last year brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandem ic, external pressures on commodity prices, logis tics challenges, impacts of weather disturbances, and the volatile exchange rates amid the stronger United States dollar.
“Today’s inflation is far more complex than what we have seen in re cent decades. The govern ment and its stakeholders
The efficient and sound utilization of public funds will help the Marcos admin istration meet its devel opment objectives and goal of reducing poverty, Budget Secretary Amen ah Pangandaman said on Wednesday.
Pangandaman made the statement during the Public Financial Man agement (PFM) learning session for the Bang samoro Transition Au thority (BTA) Committee on Finance, Budget, and Management Parliament Members at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City.
“As we all know, a sound PMF is fundamen tal to meeting develop ment objectives in reduc ing poverty which are the desired outcomes of both the Bangsamoro and the national governments,” Pangandaman, a Maranao leader, said in a keynote speech.
Pangandaman also stressed the importance of the Department of Bud get and Management’s (DBM) collaboration with the Bangsamoro Auton omous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Japan Internation al Cooperation Agency
(JICA) to formulate and implement a “dynamic” fiscal policy that will help improve the lives of the Bangsamoro people.
This, as she reiterated that her “personal dream” is to ensure that BARMM is “thriving” and Mindan ao “shines as the land of promise.”
Pangandaman said the Public Financial Manage ment Competency Pro gram’s (PFMCP) objective is aligned with the na tional government’s goal of ensuring “effective and efficient” delivery of pub lic services by enhanc ing the technical skills
and competencies of the country’s public financial managers.
“The PFMCP aims to enhance the technical skills and competencies of our public financial managers on planning, directing, and controlling financial resources to wards the effective and efficient delivery of public services,” she said.
“This time, the goal of our PFMCP is to enhance the current public finan cial management practic es in the [BARMM] region while undergoing the
S&PGlobal Ratings has assigned a ‘BBB+’ rating on the Philippines’ pro posed benchmark United States dollar-denominated senior unsecured bond of fering.
The government’s planned bond issuance has the same rating as that of the sovereign.
“The bonds represent direct, general, uncondi tional, unsecured, and un subordinated obligations of the Philippines, and rank equally with the sovereign’s other unsecured and unsub ordinated debt obligations,” it said on Wednesday.
This bond offering is the first under the Marcos ad ministration.
Finance Secretary Ben jamin Diokno earlier said they will continue to take advantage of local fund sources to help finance the government’s programs and projects.
In a Viber message to journalists on Wednesday, Diokno said the local cap ital market remains the primary preference for the
government’s fund raising exercises.
He said around 75 percent of this year’s PHP2.2-trillion borrowing program is planned for do mestic fund sources while the balance will be foreign borrowings —sourced ex ternally and through official development assistance (ODA) loans.
“But sometimes one has to be opportunistic,” he add ed.
The latest US dollar bond offering of the govern ment is the second for this year after the multi-tranche —five-year, 10.5-year, and 25-year— USD2.25 bil lion global bonds sale last March.
Part of the issuance is the country’s first environ mental, social, and gover nance (ESG) bond.
Also, the government issued multi-tranche —fiveyear, seven-year, 10-year, and 20-year— yen-de nominated ESG Samurai bonds last April amounting to JPY70.1 billion (around PHP28 billion). (PNA)
Filipino Chinese Chambers of Com merce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCII) vice president Cecilio Pedro said Wednes day their group’s two-hour dialogue with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has centered on issues of power and ease of doing business in the country.
During the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, Pe dro said the Filipino and Chinese business leaders’ meeting with Marcos last Sept. 30 solidified the business group’s support to the initiatives of the government to usher the economy into the new normal.
“My impression is the President is serious in helping the business sec tor to continue their busi ness in the Philippines.
He wants more expansion from the business sector, especially from the local investors first,” he said in mixed English and Filipi no.
Pedro said Marcos be lieves that boosting the confidence of local busi nesses in expanding in the country will help in attracting foreign inves tors to put up their oper ations here.
“Confidence of the lo cal businessmen will en hance investments from foreign companies… He (Marcos) wants the lo cal businessmen to show first the interest since the pandemic is about to end as we move to the new normal, and the new nor mal entails investments from the business sector,”
he added. Pedro said Marcos told their group that resolving the power situation in the country is a priority of his administration.
Earlier, the adminis tration expressed that it aims to expand and har ness indigenous energy resources to achieve the long-term goal of energy security, affordable pow er rates, and accessible clean energy for Filipinos.
For the part of the business sector, Pedro said the FFCCII told Mar cos the need to further
Thereduction in the banks’ reserve re quirement ratio (RRR) is expected to be de ferred given the continued acceleration in domestic inflation rate, according to an economist Wednesday.
The Philippine Statis tics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday reported the acceleration of domestic rate of price increases to 6.9 percent last September,
the highest since October 2018, due to upticks in food prices, among others.
In a report, Rizal Com mercial Banking Corpo ration (RCBC) chief econ omist Michael Ricafort expects Philippine mone tary authorities to continue hiking the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates to help tame the ele vated inflation rate.
“But any further cut in
large banks’ RRR would likely be deferred until in flation stabilizes further, as the economy needs all the support measures that it could get at this time largely due to the adverse econom ic effects of the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) lockdowns/pandemic from 2020-21,” he said.
Currently, the RRR of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) is at 12
percent, the highest in the region.
This has been reduced by 200 basis points in 2020 and monetary authorities aim to bring this down to at least single digit by next year.
Also, RRR of thrift banks (TBs) and rural banks (RBs) have been cut by 100 basis points in 2020 to 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. (PNA)
“I take offense therefore in Col. Bosita’s unfounded and clearly malicious intention of his privilege statement as it is obviously meant to smear the name of the traffic enforcers of Davao City. May I remind Col. Bosita that the said memorandum is meant to be enforced not only by LTO but also by other enforcers of traffic rules? It is also meant to be en forced in the whole nation.”
*******
From the root word “fis cal,” it is defined by the Merri am Webster dictionary as “of or related to taxation, public revenues or public debt”; or “of or relating to financial matters.”
Fiscalizing has been the posture of all opposition par ties to ensure that the gov ernment spends taxpayers’ money accordingly - which is for the benefit of the citizen ry.
This, however, must be dif ferentiated from fault finding where the opposition uses various forms of black pro paganda as its template to grab power by “weakening’ the credibility and effectively destroying the authority and integrity of the national gov ernment.
Just recently, the Lib eral Party, already sweeping ly regarded as on the throes
of death and disintegration, re-appeared in the political horizon with the published election of Albay Representa tive Edcel Lagman as the new LP president.
Weakened by three suc cessive election defeats in the 2016, 2019 and 2022 ballot ing, the “resurrected” politi cal group has left out LP chair and former VP Leni Robredo who lost miserably in her at tempt to win the 2022 presi dency.
This is understandable as the Lagman-led Yellow Party would not want to be identi fied with Robredo, already a lameduck who has lost all her political influence which she once wielded during her VP stint.
Intrinsically, the govern ment cannot operate without taxes which is a basic tenet of democracy. Taxes are a form of financial support from the people who expect efficient public service from the gov ernment.
In this regard, therefore, the role of the opposition is
to strategically fiscalize gov ernment spending which must explain to the people the whys and the wherefores of every government project funded by taxpayers’ money.
But, as you will note, over the decades, the political temperament has invariably changed.
When the multi-party sys tem evolved and party-list representation was allowed by the 1987 Constitution, fis calization became moot and academic as political butter flies conveniently switched affiliations and made a bee line to the incumbent Mala canang tenant to individually enable them to secure favors.
During the era of the two-party system, a politician is either an NP or an LP.
If a politician does not be long to either bloc, he declares himself an independent.
Today, this political princi ple is no longer in vogue.
The reality is that if you belong to the minority, you will find it difficult to seek funding, start and complete
your projects for your constit uency.
So, for practical reasons, a politician worth his salt must wear the colors of a political butterfly and preserve his po litical interest and career.
The LP is solely to blame for the dilemma it finds itself today.
Its leaders failed to firmly consolidate its prime position in the six years of the Noynoy presidency.
Despite enjoying the full exclusive support of the main stream Metro Manila-based media, the late Pres. Benigno Aquino 3rd and his manage ment think tank obviously mishandled the “felt needs” of the Filipino people.
The Noynoy administra tion failed to solve or curb the increasing threats of the ille gal drugs trade which became the top campaign battle cry of Rodrigo Duterte that cata pulted him to the most covet ed top post of the land.
This is not to speak of the Mamasapano massacre of 44 SAF members who gallantly
fought and fell without get ting any military reinforce ment from the Pnoy govern ment at that time.
If you ask me, that was the biggest blunder of the Aquino administration which the Fili pino people never forgot and clearly validated how weak the national leadership was at that point in time.
We are not yet talking of the Luneta hostage incident that much earlier marred the beginnings of the six-year Yel low regime.
If the LP of today is able to wash away this stigma in a very fluent fashion, they may be able to “come back with a vengeance” come the next polls.
However, three years are too short a time to recover valuable lost ground.
Unless the incumbent ad ministration self-destructs which is hard to believeLagman and his fellow LPs are entitled to their dreams.
(Email feedback to fredlum ba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
The making of Davao as a judicial district is a creation of Act No. 3107, passed by both chambers of Congress and approved into law on March 17, 1923, by American gover nor-general Leonard Wood. Prior to this, Davao was under the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga and Sulu, which was under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Non-Christian Tribes.
The judicial branch is im bued with the function to in terpret ‘the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Consti tution.’
The formation of the new district was prompted by re ports of the rising number of cases in the provinces of Davao, now the 27th judicial district, and Cotabato. With this, the statute, as a way of
improving the administration of justice, relieved all Philip pine Constabulary (PC) of ficers designated as deputy governors from taking over the duties as ex-oficio jus tices of the peace if there were qualified civilians willing to assume the function.
Prior to this, Davao, Cota bato, Dapitan, Sulu, and Zam boanga were under the 26th Judicial District, with each area being assigned an escrib ano or clerk of court. Overall, the 26th judicial district had a total of eighteen (18) person nel, including the judge.
The creation of judicial branches, known as the Court of First Instance (CFI) and Jus tice of the Peace, is embodied under Act No. 136, entitled ‘An Act Providing for the Organi zation of Courts in the Philip pine Islands,’ which the sec ond Philippine Commission
passed on June 21, 1901.
As an aftermath of the re alignment, a two-story build ing that would house the city court and the city jail (which was erstwhile hosted by the PC headquarters, the former Spanish cuartel, since 1901) was constructed in an area where the Mindanao head quarters of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas now stands.
Under Act. No. 3107, a CFI judge of Davao received a yearly salary of P8,000 while his clerk of court, P1,200. The assistant and deputy clerks, meanwhile, got P600 per an num; the interpreter, P700; clerk I, P480; and clerk II, P240. Overall, the 27th judi cial district had a staff of five personnel.
The enumeration of judi cial districts changed after the war following the enactment of Republic Act No. 298, the Ju
diciary Act of 1948. CFI-Davao was placed under the Six teenth Judicial District but to minimize confusion adopted, the numbering later followed the geographic partition. This makes Davao the 11th Judicial Region.
Given the cumulative number of cases reaching the courts, statutes like RA 4353, RA 5107, and RA 10243 were passed, adding more regional trial court seats to the judicial region. Under RA 1404, which modified Act No. 296 and was approved on September 9, 1955, three judges were as signed to preside over the CFI courts in the undivided prov ince of Davao and Davao City.
Over a decade later, un der RA 6092, which amended Act 298 and approved on Au gust 4, 1969, the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Davao del Norte, now part
of the expanded Sixteenth Ju dicial District, were assigned the following:
‘[F]our judges shall be sta tioned in the City of Davao; two judges in the Municipal ity of Mati, Province of Davao Oriental; two judges in the Municipality of Digos, Prov ince of Davao del Sur; two judges in the Municipality of Tagum, Province of Davao del Norte; one judge in the Mu nicipalities of Nabunturan and Samal, same province; one judge in the Municipal ity of Baganga, Province of Davao Oriental.’
By 2022, the 11th judicial region, with a far bigger juris diction that includes Davao Region, and the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Surigao del Sur, has fif ty-one (51) trial court branch es, thirteen (13) of these based in Davao City.
“In politics, stupidity is not a handicap.” - NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
It was past lunchtime but Mindanao Butchers and Company at the CT Drive (formerly Tulip Drive) in Matina, Davao City, was still packed with prime meat lovers and I could only think of one reason: the heavenly ribeye.
For those who are not familiar with prime beef cuts, ribeye is the steak lovers’ favorite because of its rich beefy flavor, tender texture and abundant marbling.
Mindanao Butchers and Com pany fed everyone with mouthwa tering medium rare prime meats and fancy wines in a demonstra tion dubbed “Beyond Ribeye” graced by personalities from the food and beverage industry, chefs, hoteliers, restauranteurs, media, and guests from Manila.
Now you know why they don’t want to miss it.
The star of the day was Chef
Amir Gan Abdulla, who demon strated different cuts of beautiful ly marbled ribeye in a rare event in partnership with Oleo Fats, which is considered the country’s top specialty ingredients supplier, manufacturer, and distributor.
Whenever Chef Amir cooked a dish with particular cut style, he also made his audience taste it.
Aside from everyone was satis fied with well marbled beef, it was an afternoon of learnings.
A feeling of deliciousness washed over everyone while sa voring the cuts of Rosedale Ruby cattle beef of New South Wales, Australia; Black Tyde beef; and Sat suma Gyu (A5 Japanese Wagyu) served with mashed potato on the side.
“This year has been particular ly challenging and yet we find our selves together again in probably the biggest gathering of Davao’s finest. Apart from offering a great time, this event we hope will be in strumental in growing your busi
ness in our region. Our food philos ophy is simple. Everything starts with quality ingredients,” said Car mina del Rosario, general manager of Mindanao Butchers.
Mindanao Butchers and Com pany aims to provide Mindanao with quality cuts of meat, seafood, wines, cheeses from the U.S., Can ada, Japan, Australia, Spain, France, UK, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand and Brazil. This venture is com prised and owned by a group of entrepenuers from Davao and Manila namely -Carlo Lorenzana (Sunmade Rice, La Cabreara, Bar Pintxos, Txoko), Bobby Tenchavez (Tender Bob’s, Fireside, Kettle), and Rafael Del Rosario (Delgar Properties, Tropical Fruits).
The company promises supe rior taste and gourmet quality in sisted upon by many of the foreign and local Chefs both in Manila and abroad.
Currently, it has two retail out lets in Davao City: Lanang ( retail and butchery) and Matina (retail and wine bodega).
The Base Innovation Center (BIC), Base Bahay Foundation, Inc.’s (Base’s) International Hub for alter native building technology research, has been busy. Since it was inaugurated in early 2021, its constant ly evolving bear witness to the weekly flurry of activ ity from experts and part ners who are hard at work, studying how bamboo can be further optimized for use in mainstream con struction.
At the country’s first research and testing facility for sustainable and disas ter-resilient construction technologies, Base is lead ing the charge on research and innovation surround ing the use of bamboo for
the affordable housing sec tor, and, eventually, the con struction industry at large.
Committed to their vision of “Building sustain able foundations for the future”, some 1,500 homes all over the country have been built by partners for various beneficiaries using Base’s Cement-Bamboo Frame Technology (CBFT), which has been certified by the Accreditation of Innovative Technologies for Housing (AITECH) by the National Housing Au thority, with over 300 civil engineers and architects trained in its use. Base tar gets to build 10,000 cement bamboo houses by 2024 in response to the growing need for socialized homes
in disaster-prone areas, particularly in Luzon and the Visayas.
“As leaders in the field of sustainable housing technologies, we recognize that we play a pivotal role in ensuring that every Fili pino has access to a home,” said Base Bahay General Manager Dr. Pablo Jorillo, referencing the country’s housing backlog as he points out bamboo’s abun dance. “We hope to unlock more partnerships that will help us provide homes for more Filipino families.”
Shares Base Bahay Head of Technology Luis Felipe Lopez Munoz: “a key part of our commitment to promoting sustainable housing technologies is
constant innovation. Our vision is to be the global reference for bamboo and sustainable construction in order to help countries find alternative construction methods.”
The Center houses a Universal Testing Machine, a Bamboo Wall Panel Re action Frame, fabrication tables, and a model house, wherein new materials and building techniques are tested. Augmented reality is used to adopt and scale new technology for use in construction.
Resulting data will guide the development of a local structural code for bamboo, aligned with the Philippine National Stan dard (PNS) 22157 and the
Alsons Development and Investment Corpora tion (Alsons Dev), the pre mier property developer and real estate pioneer in Davao City, has appointed former Sarangani Gov. Mi guel A. Dominguez as its new director. As director, Dominguez oversees Al sons Dev’s business strate gy and operations.
“Alsons Dev contin ues to build and expand its services to cater to our stakeholders’ needs and preferences, and Miguel’s appointment is a crucial step in advancing this goal. He will be responsible for further growing our exist ing properties and leading the development of up coming projects. This in cludes our expansion into the Soccsksargen region, where we will be launch ing our first mixed-use de
velopment outside Davao City,” said Nicasio I. Alca ntara, President, Alsons Dev. “With his experience as director of Alsons Aqua culture Corporation, we are confident that he will be able to lead Alsons Dev in the right direction, with the welfare of the commu nity as his top priority.”
Dominguez concur rently serves as director of Alsons Aquaculture Cor poration, the Philippines’ largest fully integrated aquaculture farm in Alabel, Sarangani province; trust ee for the Philippine Busi ness for Social Progress and Philippine Business for Education; board mem ber of the General Santos City Chamber of Com merce; vice chair of the Galing Pook Foundation and Eisenhower Fellow ships Association of the
Philippines; and trustee of Synergeia Foundation.
Alsons Dev is the real estate arm of the Alcantara Group, one of the largest and most diversified con glomerates in the country comprising more than 20 corporations. Established in 1962, Alsons Dev has become Davao City’s most trusted property devel oper that has grown with generations of Davaoenos.
“I am truly grateful to have been given this op portunity to lead Alsons Dev. My family has always been steadfast in our com mitment to grow and fos ter the communities where our businesses operate, and I am honored to be leading this effort,” Domin guez shared. “I assure our stakeholders within and outside Davao City that Al sons Dev will remain their
partner in social and eco nomic growth.”
The executive was elected as governor of Sa rangani province for three consecutive terms begin ning in 2004. As provincial governor, Dominguez’s deep understanding of Philippine agriculture al lowed him to lead agricul tural and fisheries support initiatives in Sarangani.
Dominguez earned his Bachelor of Arts de gree in economics from Boston College in 1999 and recently completed his master’s degree in public administration at Harvard University. He was the first recipient of the Jesse Ro bredo Leadership Award in 2013 and granted the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) Governance and Public Service Award.
proposed International Organization for Standard ization’s ISO 22156. The former determines the spe cific testing procedures for obtained bamboo culms, while the latter is meant to institutionalize the use of bamboo in structural de sign.
This year, the BIC is working with ETH Zurich and UP (University of the Philippines) on lifecycle and thermal comfort of cement-bamboo frame homes. Coventry Universi ty and Foundation Univer sity are piloting the appli
cation of bamboo grading and testing new bamboo connections.
Other ongoing re search projects include the UST’s (University of Sto. Thomas) and MAPUA Uni versity’s characterization of different species of bam boo and testing of bamboo shear wall panels, and DL SU’s (De La Salle Universi ty) study of bamboo fiber geopolymer wall.
For more information on Base Bahay Foundation and ongoing projects, visit http://www.base-builds. com.
said inspection and appre hension,” Duterte said.
Duterte also mentioned that Davao City takes pride in the fact that Dabawen yos are strict law abiders and the law enforcers en force the law to the letter as well as the intentions of the framers thereof.
“I take offense there fore in Col. Bosita’s un founded and clearly ma licious intention of his privilege statement as it is obviously meant to smear the name of the traffic en forcers of Davao City. May I remind Col. Bosita that the said memorandum is meant to be enforced not only by LTO but also by other enforcers of traffic rules? It is also meant to be enforced in the whole nation,” he said.
He also cautioned Bosi
bato (PGC) also facilitated meetings and consultations with landowners in M’lang, Province of Cotabato to as sist in the transfer of land titles which shall help ex pedite the development of the CMA.
The PGC facilitated con sultations with concerned stakeholders to seek their recommendations during the conceptualization workshop on the prov ince’s presentation on the CMA for airline companies and possible investors.
“These are just a few of the efforts my team T and Team Serbisyong Totoo (TST) that we have under taken to ensure that the
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under the late former President Benigno “Noy noy” Aquino III.
Binay specifically asked about the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and oth er similar BRT projects across the Philippines, which NEDA said had already been ready for
ta from refraining to make similar unfounded state ments as it is clearly against the principles of the august body.
He urged all law en forcement officers to never hesitate to uphold the law.
“Never let pressures from politicians alter the very purpose of your oaths of office. And most impor tantly never give chaos and anarchy a chance to rule our society,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bosita is advocating for bringing with him to the House of Representatives his fight to protect the rights of riders that he has been advocat ing since 2006.
He was reported run ning for a House seat last May 9 elections after some motorists were wrongfully apprehended.
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CMA will finally be able to take off,” Santos said.
It can be recalled that former President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to make CMA operational and even instructed Senator Christo pher Lawrence “Bong” Go to oversee its completion.
Duterte asked Go to co ordinate with the Depart ment of Transportation (DoTr) to source funds for the completion and opera tion of the said airport.
The development of the airport is expected to help facilitate the transport of high-value crops in and out of the region, as well as support agricultural devel opment in the area.
were also recovered by the government forces.
Mempin also cited the JTFA’s role in attaining the insurgency-free status for the five provinces and one highly urbanized city in the Davao Region.
“Always remember that everything we have done is for the safety of the people and the better
Executive Order (EO) No. 52 which sought to pro vide Dabawenyos enough time to plan their early visits to their departed loved ones before or after the closure dates for cem eteries.
“Katong past two years limited lang ang pasudlon katong imme diate family lang karon everyone can visit the cemetery but will still fol low the minimum public health standards (MPHS). What we are going to do is strict implementation of MPHS which is wearing of face mask and hand hy giene. Before naa tay cer tian time lang, although, karon naa gihapon time limit pero extended na,” Schlosser said.
She said the City Health Office (CHO) will set up medical booths in the cemeteries for in dividuals manifesting symptoms of Covid-19.
Currently, Davao City is following EO No. 11 signed by the former mayor in April this year,
implementation but was held back by right-of-way issues.
Balisacan said that the NEDA board headed by the President will be the one to decide on this, and would entail convening the board with the host agency of the project.
transition,” Pangandaman added, noting that the Phil ippines and BARMM can grow together as “two gov ernments working in sup port of each other towards a common goal [of provid ing] better living conditions for every Filipino.”
The PFMCP covers core PFM competencies, budgeting and perfor mance, procurement, ac counting, auditing, and cash management, to boost the practitioners’ job performance and sup port their career growth.
The event was at tended by top-caliber subject matter experts who demonstrated PFM fundamentals relative to local revenue policies and procedures, such as the principles of local taxa tion and fiscal sustain ability, budget legislation, local government fiscal management, staffing and organization, and the budget process including the Cash Budgeting Sys
tem.
Among those present were newly-appointed Bangsamoro Parliament members, including BTA Parliament Speaker Pan galian Balindong, JICA Senior Representative Ebisawa Yo and represen tative Yukiko Sano, and other DBM officials.
“Through all of these, we hope we can equip you, our PFM practi tioners from the Parlia ment here today, with the knowledge and skills that will enable you to develop and implement effective laws and decisions for the Bangsamoro people,” Pangandaman said.
She also ensured that her office would pursue initiative reforms, such as the issuance of an execu tive order that will insti tutionalize the operations of the Philippines’ Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP).
The OGP, co-found ed by the Philippines in
ment of the communities within our area of respon sibility,” he said.
“I encourage everyone to continue to attain our goals with utmost zeal and commitment. Let us maintain our profession alism and dedication to duty as we continue to be loved by the people,” he said. (PNA)
which lifted Covid-19 rules, including the use of the DQR for contact tracing, but the wearing of face masks had been retained.
Schlosser said all the guidelines and protocols for the upcoming “Undas” will be announced by a fo cal person, who will also include the protocols of the City Transport and Traffic Management Of fice (CTTMO) for the traf fic and protocols from the security cluster.
“Rest assured na ang city health office, LGU, will make sure that it is both safe and healthy foreveryone to celebrate kalagkalag.Medyoluagangatoang guidelines compared to previous years pero gipatumanan gi haponanghugotnasafety and security and I believena bawal ang mag-inumsa sulod ug bawal pudang sharp object maka sulodsamgasementeryo. These are just initials butthere is a focal person forthis,” Schlosser said.
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lation of RA 10591 (Com prehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act).
PRO 11 also vowed not to tolerate any person en
need to collaborate for shared solutions. In the near-term, ensuring suf ficient food supply, while assisting the most vulner able sectors will help us hurdle the current chal lenges,” he added.
The Philippine Sta tistics Authority (PSA) reported that the faster increase in prices of com modity groups of food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and transport had the biggest contribution to the higher inflation rate last month.
“Malaki ang papel ng sektor ng agrikultu ra upang mapanatiling may sapat na pagkain ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino at abot-kaya ang mga pa ngunahing bilihin. Kaya’t tinitiyak nating may su portang nakalaan para sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda upang mapalawak ang supply ng bigas, mais, karne, at isda (The agriculture sector plays a major role in en suring that there is suffi cient supply of food and affordable basic commod ities for every Filipino family. So we ensure that there is support for our farmers and fisherfolk to boost the supply of rice,
gaging in any acts of law lessness or crimes.
“Hence, everyone could expect a fair and honest investigation,” it said.
By Maya M. PadilloFROM 4
corn, meat, and fish),” Bal isacan added.
With the recent on slaught of Super Typhoon Karding late last month, Balisacan said the De partment of Agriculture allocated PHP709 million worth of assistance and interventions to address the damage in production facilities as well as for seed distribution.
He added the govern ment is also providing PHP3,000 worth of fuel discounts to each eligible farmer as a subsidy amid the higher fuel cost.
The NEDA said that as of Sept. 26, there were 148,183 accounts of farmers and fishermen registered for the fuel dis counts.
Of the said accounts, 136,988 have been load ed with fuel discount cards and the government already issued 101,743 cards to corn farmers and fisherfolk.
Meanwhile, NEDA said the government still ex pects to have ample sup ply of rice, chicken, high land vegetables, yellow corn, and white corn until the end of 2022 despite the several weather dis turbances in the previous months. (PNA)
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government’s efforts in delivering quality health care services to far-flung communities in the city. He said that the City Gov ernment of Davao has “acknowledged the im portance of mobilization in reaching the commu nity.”
“We have also pro cured a P14-million mo bile clinic which is a bus. Because ‘yong concept ng mobile clinic that is being procured by the city will contain a minor operating room, labo ratory, may ultrasound and chest X-ray machine. That is why when I heard about this turnover, I was so glad because I know, and I’m sure, this will be a big help, especially in the augmentation of our operations, especially on
2011, is a multilateral or ganization of reformers from government, civil society networks, busi nesses, and non-profits reflective of the values of access to information, public accountability, cit izen participation, and le veraging technology and innovation to strengthen governance.
Pangandaman ex pressed confidence that the learning session would inspire partici pants to become PFM practitioners “who are
the field,” Lopez added.
Meanwhile, City In formation Office offi cer-in-charge Harvey Lanticse thanked the PSFI for its initiative and generous donation. He said that the City Govern ment of Davao remains a steadfast partner of the Department of Health in delivering healthcare ser vices to the people.
“For the part of the City Information Office, we will really strengthen the collaboration with the City Health Office and the Department of Health in terms of raising aware ness to boost the preven tion and treatment efforts para ma-manage ang (to manage the) HIV cases not only in Davao City but the entire Davao Region,” Lanticse said. CIO
accountable to the peo ple and each other, who embrace innovations through digital transfor mation, who act with in tegrity at all times, [and] who recognize that gov ernment exists for and because of the people.”
“We need all of you in order to carry out our agenda for econom ic prosperity that truly ensures inclusivity, one where no Filipino would be left behind, the Bang samoro people included,” she said. (PNA)
improve doing business in the country.
Pedro said the busi ness group recommended to the Chief Executive that the country should have a one-stop shop for all the requirements and pro cesses in starting a busi ness in the country.
“In order for the in vestors to set up here, we need to eliminate red tape,” he added.
Pedro said the Phil ippines should look into the best practices of neighboring countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China wherein there is a onestop shop for investors that will help them in set ting up their business in
the country.
The Philippine Eco nomic Zone Authority offers such service. How ever, the business should be export-oriented and should be located within an economic zone.
Earlier, Marcos thanked the Filipino-Chi nese business group for heeding the call to work with his administration in accelerating the coun try’s recovery from the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“We are pleased they have eagerly responded to our call for a wholeof-nation approach to addressing this immense and arduous task,” Marcos said. (PNA)
cally high in the last quar ter of the year due to the holiday season and this is expected to give the local currency a breather in the last months of the year.
Aside from higher re mittances, Daway-Ducanes said Bangko Sentral ng Pil ipinas (BSP) Governor Fe lipe Medalla has indicated readiness to use available tools, such as the key policy rate or to join the foreign exchange market to help address the peso’s depre ciation.
Monetary authorities said foreign exchange in
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the country remains mar ket-determined but the BSP joins the market to help address extreme vol atility.
Daway-Ducanes said the peso’s long-term per formance leans on the country’s fundamentals.
She added that amend ments on several legisla tions, such as the Public Ser vices Act (PSA), the Foreign Investments Act (FIA), and the Retail Trade Liberaliza tionAct(RTLA),areexpect edtoattractforeigninvest mentsandhelpstabilizethe exchange rate. (PNA)
Magnolia Hotshots banked on a hot fourth quarter from Calvin Abueva and clutch free throws from Paul Lee to beat TNT Tropang Giga, 94-92, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup game at the
The Hotshots some how avenged their Philip pine Cup semifinal defeat to the Tropang Giga, but it was not without some drama.
Magnolia had to play
all-Filipino the rest of the way after Nico Rakocev ic hurt his knee when a teammate bumped into it after making a shot. However, Abueva, al ready saddled with five
fouls, was already taking over the team by that time, and he eventually gave the team the lead, 92-90, with a floater with 32 seconds left.
Cameron Oliver an swered with a putback off his own miss to force a 92all deadlock with 26.4 sec onds remaining.
Lee eventually won it for the Hotshots after draining two free throws
off a Calvin Oftana foul with 4.3 seconds left.
The Tropang Giga tried to steal the game, but the Hotshots’ swarming de fense on Kib Montalbo forced him to pass the ball mid-air, but time already ran out on them when he made the pass.
Abueva finished with 25 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals,
and one block for Magno lia, which moved up to 3-0.
Rakocevic added 22 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal.
After the game, how ever, coach Chot Reyes stormed into the techni cal committee to get an explanation for the Ofta na foul.
Oftana was thought to
have fouled Lee when he tried to swipe the ball out of him while going for a floater, but Reyes believes there was no foul there.
Deputy Commission er Eric Castro immedi ately pacified Reyes and escorted him back to the Tropang Giga’s dugout, but after their post-game huddle, Reyes quickly made his way for the exits.
(PNA)
I am bothered these days.
Bothered, by the fact, that members of the sports commu nity have died on roads in our be loved City of Davao.
Jogging as a kid in Jacinto Street was one of my activities and I go straight to manong Alvin Abrau’s home to borrow his bike and off I go cycling on city roads. It’s funny to recall, manong Alvin thought he lost his bike, so a few days later, he would go to our home, talk to my old man, and retrieve it, LoL. Luckily, all those years, I go home in one piece, salamat sa Ginoo! But those were in the 1980’s, in an era when res idents are not that many, mean
ing lesser vehicles, specifically jeepneys, on the road.
But times have changed and the population boomed in Davao City, thanks to the peace and or der program of Mayor Digong, the former President of this Republic.
I googled and it showed that in 2021, Davao City’s population is 1,866,000. That simply means, more houses built and more ve hicles on the road, compared to Davao City’s population in 1980 which was only 614,000. So ga may ra gyud ang jeepneys sa da lan atong panahona, lucky me!
Let me go to the my main piece of this column, the untimely deaths of Jun Paholio and Popong
Dizon, two lovely members of the Davao sports community.
Salvador “Jun” Paholio Jr., head of the cycling association, lost his life a few years back and just a few days ago, former Holy Cross of Davao College Crusader standout Pedrito “Popong” Dizon.
Paholio, who for many years has served the cycling communi ty, organizing the majority of our cycling races, was hit from behind by a speeding taxi cab in April 2019. He died while doing what he loved to do, cycling.
Popong Dizon was reportedly in his usual jogging routine early morning of September 29, when he was hit by a speeding vehicle.
He died on the spot.
You may say, “Ana gyud ang kinabuhi”, accidents can happen.
But this raises an issue on ath lete safety or in general, the safety of Dabawenyos on city roads.
We all know that rules are al ready in place when it comes to road safety but why the hell, some drivers are not very careful on the roads by looking out for cyclists and joggers.
I don’t know why drivers would not slow down upon seeing cyclists and joggers on the road!
That’s simple! Slow down!
I really cannot understand why some drivers cannot just do that.
It’s easy to say to slow down.
But as drivers, have they not even thought that these members of the sports community have fami lies and children to support?
When you see cyclists and jog gers on the road, slow down! Just like the friendly jeepney drivers in the 1980s!
And if you have a conscience, you irresponsible drivers, who killed Jun and Popong, should support their families for as long as you live!
That’s your penance!
* * *
Comments are welcome by sending an email to mpb_sports@ yahoo.com.
Daghang salamat!
With a cast of over 150 golfers, the first ever Ateneo de Davao Blue Knight Association (ABKA) Cup is all set for tee off this Saturday, October 8, at the Apo Golf and Country Club.
Ateneo de Davao Univer sity Alumni Affairs Director Wildredo Samante and tour nament director Ken Libron will lead the ceremonial tee off rites of the 18-hole golf tournament whose proceeds will go to the various outreach programs of the ABKA.
Also in the ceremonial balls list are SM Mall of Davao VP for Mall Operations Mind anao Oliver John Tiu, Apo Golf and Country Club manager Jesus “Toto” Mabaquiao, Le muel Ledesma of LV Ledesma
Construction and Roy Rasay of Trumph Motorcycle Corpo ration.
The ceremonial rites will be at 10 a.m. prior to the second shotgun tee off at 11 a.m. The first shotgun start is at 6:00 in the morn ing.
The tournament will be played under the 18-hole Sta bleford scoring format.
A brand new motorcycle and P10,000 cash await the lucky player who scores an ace on every par 3 hole.
