Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 179 | Friday, November 11, 2022

First aid is being applied to a “victim” by trained employees of Abreeza Estate during the 4th quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill at Abreeza Mall grounds in Davao City on Thursday. The drill was participated by employees of Seda Abreeza Hotel, Abreeza Mall, Abreeza Residences, Patio Suites, MDC and Robinsons. Also present were personnel from Central 911, Bureau of Fire Protection 11, Public Safety and Security Command Center and Police Regional Office 11. Edge Davao

SAVE THE KIDS

Sara tells parents to shield children against NPA’s

By MAYA M. PADILLO

VicePresident Sara Duterte’s cam paign against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) continues with out let up.

In her message during the recent 57th Founding anniversary of Eastern Samar, Duterte called on parents to never let ter rorist groups take their children’s future.

“May I call on every one to protect the secu

rity and peace of your province against local terrorist groups. Ayaw ninyo tugti ang inyong mga anak nga musampa sa NPA. Ayaw ninyo tug ti nga madaot ang ilang kaugmaon,” she said.

In September this

year, Duterte delivered the same statement in her message during the Kalivungan Festival in Kidapawan City and urged Cotabateños not to support and fall prey to the lies of the NPA.

Her campaign against the NPA started when she was still mayor of Davao City. She accused the communist rebels as terrorists who do not de serve protection of their

human rights.

As Education Sec retary, Duterte said she intends to produce peace-loving and patri otic graduates who can contribute to their com munities.

Meanwhile, Duterte has called on residents of the province to build di saster-resilient commu nities and unite against local terrorism.

BARMM distributes 20K bags of rice seeds to Paeng-hit farmers

TheBangsamoro Au tonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government is distributing 20,000 bags of rice seeds to Severe Tropical Storm Paeng-af fected farmers, officials said Wednesday.

“The program aims to help farmers restart their sources of income that were washed out by the weather disturbance,” BARMM’s Ministry of Ag riculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MA FAR) - Maguindanao chief agriculturist Saudi Mang indra, said.

As initial aid, Mang indra said MAFAR has distributed about 40 per cent of the 20,000 sacks of rice seeds under the Rice Competitiveness En hancement Fund (RCEF) Program.

He said another 50,000 sacks of rice under

the regular program of MAFAR will also be hand ed over to farmers.

Maguindanao, togeth er with this city and the 63 villages under BARMM’s Special Geographic Area (SGA) villages in North Cotabato, bore the brunt of Paeng.

Data provided by BARMM Information Of fice showed that the re gion’s agriculture and fishery sector lost some PHP586 million due to the weather disturbance.

Paeng affected 14,174 farmers, fisherfolk, and agrarian reform benefi ciaries in Maguindanao, Cotabato City, and SGA barangays in North Cota bato.

MAFAR reported that Paeng has affected agri cultural lands in 209 vil lages of 24 municipalities.

The most affected agri

DavOr to boost mental health support services for children

To boost advocacy on welfare and pro tection, the Davao de Oro provincial gov ernment has vowed to strengthen its mental health support services for children.

In an interview Thurs day, Provincial Social Wel fare and Development

Office (PSWDO) Child Welfare Program focal person Preciosa Toledo said the mental health support services for the young include interven tions, psychosocial treat ments, counseling, family therapy and support ho tlines.

These services aim

to ensure the children’s rights to survival, devel opment, protection and participation, she said.

“PSWDO is always ready to provide services for our children especial ly in strengthening our advocacy in detecting mental health issues,” To ledo said.

On Tuesday, the pro vincial government joined the rest of the country in celebrating the 30th Na tional Children’s Month (NCM) at the provincial capitol grounds in Nab unturan town, anchored on the theme, “Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tu

tukan.”

Some 400 children participated in the event focusing on the mental health and well-being of kids.

A report by the Coun cil for the Welfare of Chil dren showed that mental health issues are among those encountered by

kids following the pan demic.

Under Republic Act 10661, the month of No vember is designated as the NCM celebration to commemorate the adop tion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on No vember 20, 1989. (PNA)

Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao gives a talk during the opening of the two-day Innovation Summit 2022 at Acacia Hotel Davao on Thursday. Li Lin invited Huawei, China Telecom, China Comser vice, Fiber Home to participate in the said summit. Edge Davao

Chinese tech companies take part in Innovation Summit

PRO 12: Blast victim suspect in Tacurong bus bombing

One of the blast vic tims in Sunday’s bombing of a Yel low Bus Lines (YBL) unit in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat is a suspect and remains under close guarding by cops in the hospital, police officials said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Maca raeg, Soccsksargen police regional chief, identified the suspect as Esmael Daomilang, 55, of Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.

The suspect, whose leg was amputated, was among the wounded pas senger of the bus in Ba rangay New Isabela here.

“Statement of witness es and pieces of gathered evidence pointed out to the gravely injured Dao milang as one of the sus pects,” Macaraeg said.

The Nov. 6 bus bomb ing killed one and wound ed 11 others.

The bus was on the

way to Tacurong bus ter minal when a bomb went off from its rear.

“It was a case of a pre mature explosion that is why the victim-suspect was injured,” Colonel Raymundo Jr., head of Special Investigation Task Group – Yellow Bus, told DXOM-AM Radio in Koro nadal City.

Macaraeg said a case for violation of RA 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 has been filed against Daomilang at the City Prosecution Office.

Earlier, police investi gators said four women may have been responsi ble for transporting the explosive in the bus as they boarded in North Co tabato.

They said the women alighted before the ve hicle reached Barangay New Isabela supposedly en route to the bus termi nal. (PNA)

By MAYA M. PADILLO

companies from China are among the participants in the ongoing Innovation Summit 2022 in Davao City, which opened on Thursday at Acacia Hotel Davao.

In an interview, Con sul General Li Lin said the Chinese Consulate Gen eral in Davao invited five prestigious technology companies to participate in the event that features such leading tech com

Technologypanies as Huawei, China Telecom, China Comser vice and Fiber Home.

“These companies al ready operating in Davao City, in Mindanao and in the Philippines. These are some of the bilateral co

operations that we have between two govern ments,” Lin said.

Lin also said that now adays connectivity is very important and informa tion sharing specially for the micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“I think the internet coverage is very import ant to help in terms of ac cessibility to interact and get information. I think with better internet cov

erage and mobile service to the community special ly to hard to reach areas, I think this will benefit the economic growth and help the MSMEs to devel op their businesses,” Lin said.

Carrying the theme “Smart Sourcing in the Global Marketplace”, the summit aims to showcase Davao City as a premier ICT destination and con

FCHINESE, P10

Davao Oriental pushed as mining-free zone

Several groups in Davao are pushing for the declaration of the province of Davao Oriental as a mining-free zone.

Environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sus tainability (IDIS), togeth er with the DaDiTaMa

(Davao, Digos, Tagum, Mati) bishops, clergy, re ligious men and women, pastoral directors, and lay coordinators, has called on the passage of House Bill 1124 into law, which seeks to declare the entire province of Davao Orien tal as a mining-free zone by former Davao Oriental

The bill states that mining shall be prohib ited within the province of Davao Oriental, both large-scale and smallscale mining, including

quarrying.

Davao Oriental is known as the home to the first and only UNES CO-declared heritage site, the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, and the protected seascape of Pujada Bay.

Worth Lodriga, the world renowned “Young Picasso” of the country, poses with one of the replicas of his paintings during the opening of Travels and Paints exhibit on Thursday at Stockbridge American International School where he also conducts art workshops. Edge Davao

Second District Represen tative Joel Mayo Z. Alma rio and supported by his son Rep. Cheeno Miguel D. Almario

Marcos OKs DOE offshore wind power dev’t plans

The National Economic and Develop ment Authority (NEDA) welcomed the improvements in the country’s la bor market, as the unemployment rate set tled at 5 percent in September, the lowest since the onset of the pandemic.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given his nod to the Department of Energy’s plan to explore and develop the country’s offshore wind (OSW) potential as a source of clean and sustainable energy, Malacañang an nounced Wednesday.

This developed, after Marcos presided over a meeting with DOE offi

cials at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednes day morning to discuss “immediate and medi um-term” plans to im prove the energy sector.

“In a meeting at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, President Marcos instructed DOE Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and other ener gy officials to move for

ward with the agency’s offshore wind energy production initiatives,” Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said in a statement.

Garafil noted that during the meeting, the DOE also made a propos al to create an Offshore Wind Development and Investment Council that will serve as a one-stop shop for OSW developers.

Marcos, Garafil said, backed the proposed cre ation of the council that will be composed of rel evant government agen cies, but stressed that the

DOE should oversee the regulatory functions to streamline coordination and simplify the approval process.

“It should be the Department of Energy [which] should be talking with the OSW develop ers, in consultation with the council, of course. It has to be led by the DOE,” Marcos, as quoted by the OPS, said.

Bringing down elec tricity prices

In a media interview while onboard the presi dential plane en route to Cambodia, Marcos reit erated his commitment

Multiformat retailer nets P1.85B in Q3 as economy further reopens

Continued reopening of the economy helped boost Robinsons Re tail Holdings’ net income in the third quarter of the year to PHP1.85 billion, up 64 percent year-on-year.

In a report to the Philip pine Stock Exchange (PSE)

on Wednesday, the listed firm said net income attrib utable to equity holders of the parent company rose by 60.8 percent to PHP1.67 billion from year-ago’s PHP1.04 billion.

Net income as of end-September this year

increased by 66.1 percent to PHP4.81 billion while net income attributable to equity holders of the par ent company rose by 62.7 percent to PHP4.41 billion.

Core net earnings from July to September this year jumped by 91.4 percent to

PHP1.45 billion, while the end-September level rose by 72.6 percent to PHP3.53 billion.

The company said net sales rose by 19.3 percent to PHP44.7 billion in the third quarter alone with

Labor dept orders wage review amid rising prices

TheDepartment of Labor and Employ ment has ordered a review for a possible min imum wage increase next year amid rising prices of food and other basic com modities.

According to Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, the Regional Tripartite Wage and Pro ductivity Boards are obli gated to conduct a review to “keep pace with what ever developments in the work sector”.

The agency has start ed to make a pitch with the private sector regard ing the issue.

“If they can afford, a little help can go a long way,” he said on Thursday.

“I think the work ers will really appreci ate these small gestures, which actually are very important for them,” he added.

However, he noted that minimum wage ad justments could be imple

mented only once a year. The last wage hikes were granted in 14 regions in June this year.

Increasing the daily take-home pay of mini mum wage earners will be a “very tough balanc ing act,” Laguesma said, as small businesses are still reeling from the ef fects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The clamor for higher wages and additional ad justments in the existing minimum wages should always be tempered with the reality and the consid eration that majority of business establishments in our country belonged to the so-called micro, small enterprises,” the la bor chief added.

Laguesma said a pos sible wage increase may also have an adverse ef fect on the labor market.

“Another round of ad justments has to be really

Workers bide their time browsing the internet using their mobile phones while waiting for customers outside a shop at a mall in Davao City. Edge Davao

PH economy grows faster at 7.6% in Q3

Fitch Solutions eyes growth in PH household spending in ‘23

Household spending in the Philippines is expected to get a boost from the project ed rise in real income in 2023, a report by Fitch Solutions Country Risk & Industry Research said.

In a report dated Nov. 8, a copy of which was sent to journalists on Wednesday, Fitch Solu tions said it reduced its 2022 growth forecast for real household spending in the Philippines from 7.6 percent year-on-year to 5.5 percent.

However, it projects that household incomes will outperform inflation next year.

“(This) will ensure real income growth and greater potential for con sumer spending,” it add ed.

The report said con sumer spending in the country remains posi

tive, partly because some workers have regained their jobs following a hit when the Covid-19 pan demic started in 2020.

It expects the unem ployment rate to remain low at around 7 percent of the labor force in 2023 from the peak of 14.5 per cent in 2020 when lock downs were imposed be cause of the pandemic.

“We expect the level of unemployment to remain low, averaging around 7 percent of the labor workforce over the peri od 2023-2026,” it said.

Fitch Solutions proj ects the unemployment rate in the country to be around 8 percent for this year and 6.7 percent both in 2023 and in 2024.

Philippine Statistics Authority data show that the unemployment rate in September 2022 declined

ThePhilippine economy grew at a fast er rate in the third quarter of the year at 7.6 percent, higher than the revised gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter at 7.5 percent, the Phil ippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Thursday.

In a press conference, PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said this is the sixth consecutive quarter that the economy recorded ex pansion.

The country’s GDP

growth from July to Sep tember 2022 is also higher than the 7-percent increase in the same period in 2021.

“The third quarter’s GDP exceeded the median analyst forecast of 6.3 per

cent,” National Economic and Development Authori ty (NEDA) Secretary Arsen io Balisacan said.

Balisacan said the aver age GDP growth for the first nine months of the year stood at 7.7 percent.

“With this, we are on track to achieving the gov ernment’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2022. Given the latest GDP out turn, our economy needs to grow by 3.3 to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter,” he said.

The PSA reported that all major industries im proved their performance in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same pe riod last year, with agricul ture, forestry and fishing growing by 2.2 percent; in dustry, rose to 5.8 percent; and services, up by 9.1 per cent.

Services contributed 5.8 percentage points to the 7.6 percent GDP growth in the third quarter, followed by industry which shared

SEC clears Alternergy Holdings IPO

TheSecurities and Ex change Commission (SEC) has considered favorably the initial public offering (IPO) by Alterner gy Holdings Corporation for up to PHP1.89 billion.

In its Nov. 8 meet ing, the commission en banc resolved to render effective the registration statement of Alterner

gy Holdings covering 4,320,669,117 common shares, subject to the com pany’s compliance with certain remaining require ments.

Alternergy Holdings will offer to the public up to 1,281,430,000 com mon shares priced at up to PHP1.48 per share. The offer will also include

192,220,000 common shares to be sold by exist ing shareholders.

The shares will be list ed and traded on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Net proceeds from the offer could reach up to PHP1.62 billion, which the company will use for the development and con

struction of projects under development, debt pay ment for the acquisition of Kirahon Solar Energy Corp., pre-development expenses for projects in the pipeline, and general corporate requirements.

The company engaged BDO Capital & Investment Corporation and Invest

Wan Ben of Chinese company Fiber Home says during the Innovation Summit 2022 presser held at Acacia Hotel Davao on Thursday that the company is looking at making Davao City as its strategic area for operation and also eyeing to help transforming the city to become smart city. Edge Davao

*******

Sen. Pres. Migs Zubiri al most begged on his knees for the mainstream media and all other media orgs to help beau tify the country’s image after the UN Human Rights Com mittee came down hard again on the country’s “war against illegal drugs” and the brouha ha over the recent murder of broadcaster Percival Mabasa, aka “Percy Lapid.”

It looks like the Bukidnon lawmaker went straight into the “eye of the storm” literally, even as the country struggles and gropes out of the grievous death and destruction wrought by tropical storm Paeng.

From another perspective, Zubiri’s appeal may fall on deaf ears because he is vir tually taking the bull by its horns when it should be the

responsibility of officials of the executive department to do what he is doing.

He laments that though the country has the freest media in this part of the world, there appears to be a strange dis connect between the govern ment and the Fourth Estate in the issue of nation-building.

The divide between the journalism profession and the government seems to stem from the lukewarm appreci ation by the latter of the for mer’s role as an integral part of national development.

The scores of unsolved murders, killings and assas sinations of media persons date back to as far back as our memories can recall.

Unfortunately, the SP might have overlooked that it is the duty of the State to pro tect members of the Fourth Estate in the practice of their profession but the impuni ty by which crusading media men and women are shot and premeditatedly killed indicate

ZUBIRI SEEKS MEDIA HELP TO SHORE UP PH IMAGE

clearly that they are on their own.

Until libel is de-criminal ized, the term “freest media ‘’ will remain a jargon that is as passe as an abused cliche.

But don’t forget that Zubi ri has a point but that he had probably appealed at the wrong time to the press be cause of the UNHRC’s contin ued “heckling” and meddling in our internal affairs.

The Percy Lapid murder is too hot not to be pursued to its proper conclusion by media outlets looking to get higher ratings in the market and secure bigger corporate sponsors.

The fiery protests in Iran and the jailing of thousands of anti-government protest ers and the unpublished “si lencing” of political critics of the Khomeini regime are the more incendiary issues the UN should look into.

But no.

The UN targets small de veloping countries like the

Philippines where they think it can coerce and cower the government into sheepish submission.

For instance, the level by which the IDF of Israel “pun ishes” militant Palestinians whom it labels “terrorists” are not given the same UN at tention being focused on the Philippines in its “illegal drugs campaign.”

Is Israel allowed to do what it is doing because it is “at war” and is only defending itself against its enemies?

Instead of begging the Phil ippine media, Zubiri should respond directly to the UN “heckling” and interference.

Because whatever the Phil ippine media do, they cannot - collectively or individuallyhelp beautify a country with cosmetic reporting because the killings of media people remain unabated.

Perhaps, if the SP is read ing this, he could promptly file a legislative proposal for a comprehensive reformation

of the country’s penal system.

Although the issue has now come to the fore because of the Percy Lapid murder, I do not remember any lawmaker who has attempted - and suc ceeded - in the enactment of a comprehensive penal statute.

As far as the media are concerned, it is much better to leave them alone and do what they believe is best for their profession.

As for the government and the officials holding the reins, they are expected to fulfill their sworn constitutional duty for the best interest of the nation and its people.

This is an ideal arrange ment, don’t you think so?

Judging by its performance in the first five months, the present leadership is doing well in the early stages of na tional governance.

Let us wish it well for ev erybody’s benefit. (Email feedback to fredlumba@ya hoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

When the Spaniards intro duced town planning in Davao in 1848, the first three roads that were opened were Calle San Pedro, Calle Claveria, and Calle Magallanes. Situated ad ja-cent to the Davao River, the peripheral areas of the roads hosted the town’s church, ad minis-trative center, military quarters, town hall (tribunal), residential hub, and commer cial center.

Later, an extension of San Pedro Street was opened on both ends. On the west was the first public cemetery while on the east, during Spanish pe riod, was the short road, erst while known as Calle Pizarro, that even today runs alongside the city police headquarters.

Several institutions were also named after the old street, like Escuela Catolica de San Ped-ro (now University of Immaculate Conception), Hos

pital de San Pedro (now San Pedro Hos-pital), San Pedro Restaurant (a defunct Chinese eatery), and the San Pedro Printing Press.

The entry of the American occupation aggressively dis sipated business activities to many areas of the city. Aside from Calle Claveria, numerous enterprises started to occupy the thor-oughfares of Legaz pi, Anda, Oyanguren, Bonifa cio (now Quezon Blvd.), Cor tez-Escario (now Bonifacio), Rizal, and Bolton (now Pacia no Bangoy), to name a few.

In the Commonwealth pe riod, the iconic street hosted, among many other emerging es-tablishments, the Jerusa lem Bazar, Davao Shokokai, H. Watari Watch Repairer & Jewelry Store, Lucky Studio (a Japanese photo house), Gi ducos Book Store, Asahi-Ken (general mer-chandise), Oza

ka Bazar, and Osaka Hotel (a lodging inn).

In the postwar period, due to the government’s rehabili tation efforts that robustly improved the city’s business hub, new shops, some dating from the prewar time, started to appear along San Pedro Street, among them the F. H. Rivera & Co., A. M. Magno Educational Supply, Modern Music School, Davao Piano Rebuilding Shop, Raymundo’s Fashion Park, The Raluma Grocery, Delta Commercial, Filidian Bazar (a Hindu store; blend of ‘Filipino’ and ‘Indian’), Defender Davao Photo Supply, Batangueña Store (owned by the Quinto family);

Quality Store, Vidanes Tailoring, Davao Venus Acad emy (renamed Venus Fashion Academy; now Samson Poly technic College of Davao), Doli Café, Davao Realty Investment

House, Botica Santo Niño, Bur roughs Office (dealer of add ing machines), H.B. Hernando Book Store, Mabuhay Dress Shoppe, Hindustan Bazar (an Indian store), Rony’s Watch Re-pairing Shop, Farmacia Castillo, Alderite Goldsmith Repairing Shop, and Price Stabilization Corp., and Ang Mahunit Store (owned by the Amigleo family).

Through the decades, the fading vestiges of American and Japanese markers gave way to new enterprises. Aside from the ubiquitous cinema houses (Universal, Liberty, Golden, Lyric, Crest, etc.) that dotted the thoroughfare, some familiar names highlighted the city’s oldest colonial road.

Among the names that stick to memory are Merco Ice Cream House (two locations), Cen-tral Bank (Mindanao of fice), BIR regional office, Men

Seng Hotel (two locations), Internation-al Restaurant, Cuu Loong (city’s first Vietnam ese resto), Tambuli (a chicken house), Vera Cruz Hotel (later Pink Cloud), Everlasting Lodge, Banco Filipino (two sites), Max’s Restau-rant (across City Hall), Banco Davao (owned by the Sarmiento family), Time Tunnel (a risqué nightclub) and Mad Max (a disco house), Manila Textile Co. (Mantex), and Lima Department Store.

There were also food houses that camouflaged as a diner by daytime but were turned to massage parlors, brothels, and beer lounges by night. For lack of a better area to convey pas-sengers, San Pedro Street, once upon a time, also hosted a public transport terminal. Today, many of the business ad dresses have become surplus (’ukay-ukay’) depots.

“There’s a world of differ ence between truth and facts. Facts can obscure truth.”MAYA ANGELOU.

EVENT

MORE THAN JUST A SPLASH OF FUN

At this time of the year, we start to feel the cool breeze brought by what we call Christmas air. That hint of chill that makes you think twice going for a splash in the pool.

Not when the water is just so inviting. That’s exactly what you feel at the sight of the Vena do Pool Bar of Acacia Hotel Davao.

Here, fun is more than just swimming laps. It is also a perfect spot

to relax and take a break over refreshing beverages and delicious snacks.

The name of Acacia Ho tel’s pool and bar was de rived from a popular lake at the foot of Mount Apo, the Lake Venado, a Spanish word that means deer.

Local people living in the area call it Lake “Linaw”, a Filipino term for “clear”, because of its pristine and cyrstal clear water.

Just like the calm lake, Venado Pool Bar promises tranquility in the middle of the city. It’s the perfect place to de-stress and relax even on weekdays.

Venado Pool Bar is lo cated at the third floor of Acacia Hotel Davao and is considered as the hotel’s

recreational area. It is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On October 28, 2022, a pool party was held at Ve nado Pool and Bar wherein guests enjoyed not only the cool and clean water of the pool but also the cocktails, beers, and freshly grilled skewers.

The party was enliv ened with hip and trendy music by DJ Adonis Lopez.

Fire dancers also siz zled as they lit up the place with their fiery perfor mances.

The next time you visit Acacia Hotel Davao, take a break and bask in the invit ing swimming pool while enjoying your favorite re freshments.

Vivo V25 Series: A true stunner inside and out

Color influences and reflects almost everything in our lives: our moods, feelings, personality, art, and even our style. Combin ing the power of color with cut ting-edge technology, vivo has equipped one of its latest smart phone lines, the vivo V25 Series, with the new Photochromic 2.0 Technology.

A first in the smartphone

industry, vivo’s very own col or-changing technology allows the vivo V25 Series device to change into stunning colors when exposed to UV light. So whether you’re going for some barkada night out or documenting con tent for your next vlog, you can trust that with vivo V25 Series’ color-changing design, you are al ways in style.

But more than an aesthetically pleas ing fashion accessory, what makes the vivo color-changing tech nology truly special?

Mesmerizing de signs that evoke positive feelings

When vivo devel oped the vivo V25 Series, it didn’t only think of a device that would fit your OOTDs and style. vivo also considered color psy chology to give you a sense of comfort and warmth and bring you closer to nature every time you look at your vivo V25 Se ries device. Under the sunlight, the photo chromic molecular structures in the back cover of the vivo V25 Pro Light Blue variant shifts into a deep blue

shade, taking you div ing into the deepest ocean. And when the phone is removed from sunlight, the subtle Light Blue hue returns, reminiscing the color of the sky. This innovation gives you the calm ocean waves and serves as an aide-memoire of a glorious sky that makes you feel at peace.

Just like the Pro variant, the look and feel of the V25 and V25e also seek to connect you with nature and inspire positive feelings. The device’s back panel changes from gold to orange-gold and red gold when exposed to sunlight, reminding you of the beauty of the sunrise.

While the Photo chromic Technology 2.0 only applies to Surfing Blue (vivo V25 Pro) and Sun rise Gold (vivo v25 and vivo V25e), the vivo V25 Series’ classic Black col orways are no less attractive with its meticulously-crafted back cover. The vivo V25 Pro Starlight Black’s rear sur face is adorned with sparkles that depicts a tranquil night sky illuminated by mil lions of stars, per fect for stargazers and daydreamers.

The Diamond Black colorway of the vivo V25 and vivo V25e also showcase an understated yet un deniable elegance under the light.

Gold, a year’s worth of groceries at Shopee’s Mega Pamasko Sale

Win gold, a year’s worth of groceries, or sub sidy for a year’s worth of electricity with Shop ee’s ‘Shop to Win Gold’ promo this 11.11!

This 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale, Shopee is of fering all its users a chance to win gold, a year’s supply of groceries or essentials, and exclusive deals and discounts! Celebrate the most wonder ful time of the year with these amazing offers:

Make your holidays brighter with Shopee’s ‘Shop to Win Gold’ promo

It’s the season of giving, gathering, and golden days as Christmas fast approaches. As you look for the best gifts for your loved ones, Shopee is giving you the best holiday shopping experience with amazing prizes at the 11.11 Mega Pamasko Sale!

From today up to November 11, shoppers have the chance to take home a gold bar as the grand prize, or a year’s worth of groceries from Procter & Gamble and Rebisco, or subsidy for a year’s worth of electricity, and more. To join, just claim your Golden Ticket after every purchase and gain more chances of winning each time you shop on Shopee.

SAVE... FROM 2 CHINESE... FROM 3 MARCOS... FROM 4

“Owing to its geo graphical location, East ern Samar faces two chal lenges. It is vulnerable to natural calamities and a breeding ground for in surgency,” she said in a statement.

Duterte described the province’s founding cele bration as having a “pro found meaning for most people of Eastern Samar — a province that contin ues to stand strong over the years despite its con stant affair with deadly storms and its problem with insurgency.”

Easter Samar was among the badly-hit provinces of Super Ty phoon Yolanda in 2013. It is also a stronghold of a local rebel-armed group. She said the success

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cultural products includ ed corn, palay, high-value crops, livestock, and fish eries.

MAFAR-Maguindan ao Provincial Director Ronjamin Maulana said the cost of damage could go higher after all the re ports and assessments are done.

“So far, the recent TS Paeng is unique and con sidered to be the first ty phoon that hardly hit us

in building resilient com munities lies in the coop eration of stakeholders, the government, and its people.

“I come from Mind anao and marami ding mga problema doon. I was born and grew up in Davao City but I think the secret to success in mak ing a strong city, a strong province, is the unity and cooperation of the gov ernment and the citizen ry,” she said.

She said that commu nity awareness, disaster risk reduction education in schools, disaster pre paredness, and efficient local warning systems will help the people of Eastern Samar become resilient to natural disas ters.

tributor.

Organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) and ICT Davao, Inc., the two-day summit also fea tures 30 world-class speak ers sharing views related

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The province is also a host to a thriving heritage and cultural tradition of Mandaya and Mansaka in digenous peoples.

In a statement, the group stated that the IPs are now facing the risk of extinction threatened by several mining opera tions.

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to disruptive and next gen eration technologies and innovations in outsourcing services, innovator pitches, innovation in Q- commerce and financial technology and innovations in sustain able IT.

to push for lower rates of electricity.

Marcos said he met with the DOE officials to discuss the “short-term, medium-term, and longterm” energy require ments in the country.

in 2007 at 1.44% and that mining contributed only 1.7% to the excise taxes of the country.

“We spent a long time talking about how to bring down the prices,” he said, noting that the DOE found a way to ratio nalize power supply.

In 2021, the DOE signed a memorandum of understanding with Australia’s Star Scientif ic Ltd. and Japan’s Hy drogen Technology Inc. to explore the potential of hydrogen as a source of energy for the Philip pines in the future.

Contingency plans

in the history of Maguin danao with so many loss es and damages to our agriculture, fisheries, and livestock commodities,” Maulana said.

In Maguindanao alone, he said Paeng damaged about 6,444 hectares of rice fields, 4,367 hectares of corn crops, 183 hect ares of assorted vegeta bles, 527 hectares of fish ponds, and 770 assorted livestock. (PNA)

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the 15.1-percent expan sion in same store sales growth (SSSG) due to the resumption of face-toface classes and work as well as increased travel and tourism.

The government has given the go-signal for the return of face-to-face class es starting in the kinder garten level for school year 2022-2023. It was initially implemented on a partial basis but full face-to-face classes, at least for pub lic schools, are mandated starting Nov. 2.

Robinsons Retail Hold ings Inc. president and

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1.6 percentage points, and agriculture, forestry and fishing at 0.2 percentage points.

By industry, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles contributed 1.9 per centage points to the GDP growth in July to September period, followed by finan cial and insurance services at 0.77 percentage points and construction at 0.76 percentage points.

Compared to last year, the sector of accommoda tion and food service ac tivities expanded by 40.6 percent, which is the larg est across industries. Trans portation and storage also improved by 24.3 percent and construction increased by 12.2 percent.

“This economic perfor mance largely benefitted from the further easing of mobility, including the re sumption of face-to-face

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chief executive officer (CEO) Robina Gokongwei Pe said their third quarter performance “validates our view that the retail climate in the Philippines remains healthy notwithstanding rising inflation.”

She said “sustained re opening trends have trans lated to higher volumes and operating leverage.”

“We continue to invest in our multi-format cate gories — be it in the offline channels — as we remain steadfast in our commit ment to provide quality products and services,” she added. (PNA)

The group also men tioned the records of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the De partment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), wherein a total of 39 mining permits have been granted to several mining companies cov ering a total of 59,976.65 hectares, which includes, among others, 19 Mineral Production Sharing Agree ments (MPSA), four explo ration permits, and 12 Mi nahang Bayan Permits.

“These mining compa nies are expected to ex tract tons of nickel, cop per, gold, and chromite,” it said.

The group also stat ed that the “figures may blind our sight as min ing companies speak of multi-billion-dollar in vestments.”

It said that mining has contributed only an average of 0.91% to the Philippine Gross Domes tic Product (GDP) from 2000-2009, peaking only

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carefully studied because this might actually cause some negative effect on those who would like to probably invest more or continue to operate in our country,” he said.

“While the investment appears to be tectonic in billions, only a pittance of that benefits local com munities for the short term while harming the larger community in the long term,” it said.

In May this year, IDIS underscored that mining site of the Austral-Asia Link Mining Corpora tion and Hallmark Min ing Corporation still has extensive impacts to the environment even if it is outside the protected ar eas of Mt. Hamiguitan and Pujada Bay.

The group explained that portions of these pro tected areas are within a proximity radius of only 8 kilometers from the openpit mining site. Eight kilo meters north-east from the mining site is already Pujada Island and eight kilometers heading east is already the peak and highest elevation point of Mt. Hamiguitan.

The MGB has clarified that the nickel mining project in Davao Oriental is not an open-pit mine and confirmed that it is outside the said protected area and UNESCO World Heritage Site. By Maya M. Padillo

Marcos also noted that there have been on going talks with local co operatives to discuss how “they can sell power at the cheapest price possi ble.”

Based on the World Bank’s OSW Roadmap, the Philippines has the capacity to deploy 40 Gigawatts of OSW elec tricity by 2050.

Currently, there are 42 approved offshore wind contracts with an indi cated capacity of 31,000 Megawatts (MW), based on the data presented by the DOE to Marcos.

Private sector’s ‘strong interest’

The DOE also not ed the “strong interest” from the private sector, especially from countries considered “leaders in offshore wind technol ogy” such as Denmark, Norway and the United Kingdom.

“This is more than enough to cover the 500,000 MW projected peak demand the coun try will require by 2040 based on DOE’s medi um to long-term power outlook,” Lotilla told the President.

Lotilla emphasized that the power that will be generated through OSW projects would be used to help the country meet its energy needs, as well as to produce al ternative fuels, such as Green Hydrogen.

Garafil said the DOE also presented to Marcos its November 2022 to December 2023 outlook which showed that pow er reserves in Luzon may fall below ideal levels, given the continued shut down of the Ilijan Power Plant in Batangas City, which has a total capacity of 1,200 MW.

“As a contingency, the energy department pro poses to run the Ilijan Power plant, a dual-fuel power station in Ilijan, Batangas City, using die sel fuel to produce 420 MW, as well as implement the Interruptible Load Program,” Garafil said.

Garafil added that the DOE and concerned government agencies are closely coordinating to address the delays in the National Grid Corpora tion of the Philippines’ (NGCP) transmission line projects to free up power capacity for 2023.

She said the DOE would also release “short-term” action plans that will serve as guide of the energy sector for 2022 to 2024, pending the release of the Philip pine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

The DOE has also de veloped the Philippine Energy Plan 2020-2040, a 20-year plan which includes energy sector initiatives and projects that seek to ensure sus tainable, stable, secure, adequate, accessible and inexpensive energy.

cent, which translates to 7.33 million workers who were looking for extra jobs or job hours.

classes, which boosted con sumption among Filipinos,” Balisacan said.

The NEDA chief added that the relaxation of bor ders and simplifying travel protocols supported the re covery and growth of local tourism and other sectors.

In terms of spending, household final consump tion expenditure is the larg est contributor to GDP in the previous quarter at 5.9 percentage points, exceed ing the share of construction at 1.5 percent percentage points, durable equipment at 0.7 percentage points, and government final con sumption expenditure at 0.1 percentage points.

“This turnout signi fies that Filipino families are close to returning to pre-pandemic life, as more people visit restaurants and hotels and engage in recre ational activities within the country,” Balisacan said.

Inflation hit 7.7 percent in October, which is the highest in nearly 14 years, largely due to higher food and transport costs.

In September, around 2.5 million Filipinos are unemployed, according to latest data from the Phil ippine Statistics Author ity.

Underemployment also climbed to 15.4 per

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Although employment is expected to improve in the coming months, which will fuel consumer spending, the report ex pects inflation to remain elevated and hamper peo ple’s spending capacity.

Fitch Solutions fore casts inflation to average

Meanwhile, total employment rate for September slightly im proved to 95 percent or equivalent to 47.58 million compared to 94.7 or 47.87 million the previous month, the PSA said.

Socioeconomic Plan ning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has said the increase in employment shows the impact of the full reopening of the economy.

Citing the DOE report, Garafil said hydrogen may be converted into ammo nia, which is a primary component in the produc tion of industrial fertiliz ers used in agriculture.

The DOE said hydro gen may be converted into ammonia, which is a primary component in the production of indus trial fertilizers used in agriculture.

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ment & Capital Corpora tion of the Philippines as joint issue managers and joint lead underwriters for the offer.

The 20-year plan is setting a target of 35 per cent share of renewable energy in the power gen eration mix by 2030 and 50 percent share by 2040.

Marcos, in his first State of the Nation Ad dress delivered on July 25, emphasized the need to prioritize clean energy and tap natural gas and nuclear power to meet the Philippines’ energy demands. (PNA)

hydro, floating solar and battery storage power projects.

at 5.6 percent this year, above the government’s 2-4 percent target band.

As of end-October this year, the rate of price in creases in the country av eraged at 5.4 percent.

The October 2022 print rose to its highest since December 2018 at 7.7 percent from monthago’s 6.9 percent due to acceleration of food pric es, among others. (PNA)

Alternergy Holdings is a renewable energy holding company with a portfolio of investee com panies with wind, solar,

FOLAYANG...

Folayang joins the stacked morning show bannered by the clash be tween two titans when the unbeaten two-division World Champion Reini er “The Dutch Knight” De Ridder defends his ONE Light Heavyweight World

It currently has 67.24 megawatts (MW) of op erating assets in wind and solar, with potential installed capacity of up to 1,368 MW of renewable energy. (PR)

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Title against Anatoly “Slad kiy” Malykhin. Bannering ONE 164 is Folayang’s teammate in Joshua “The Passion” Pa cio who defends his ONE Strawweight World Title against Jarred “The Mon key God” Brooks.

We’re supposed to be heading towards the golf Meccah in Au gusta one cold Autumn morning in 2018 from my younger broth er Tochi’s place in Waycross Gor gia and all set for our three hour journey when my excitement van ished after he got the call from his buddy.

The place is closed because of ongoing repair works. Disap pointed? Yes. But I have a Plan B. Where to Kuya? My brother cum driver asked. With some feel ing of consolation for the aborted

CHITO MALABANAN JABONG!

RUBBING ELBOWS WITH THE CAPTAIN

highly anticipated trip. How far is the TPC Sawgrass? I asked.

Oh, Pontevedra is only about an hour and a half drive. So, to The Players Stadium Course we go.

The Florida weather is per fect . I came prepared thus my attire blended well with the people around the clubhouse when we arrived. We were in formed that a volunteer will as sist us on a guided tour on the finishing holes. Excited is an un derstatement. Super, sinabi mo pa! Just imagining setting foot

on Hole No.17 gives me that in describable feeling.

Bernie ,a retired banker and a septuagenarian welcomed us at the lobby and after a short brief ing and some pointers of do’s and don’t’s we took off for our TPC tour.

As we rode on our cart in the hallowed grounds of Hole No 16 , our guide entertained us with his stories about some drama that unfolded in that esteemed hole. The Players Championship 2001, Vijay Singh standing on the wood en planks surrounding the green and above the lake, using the toe of his putter to hit that cre ative shot, and as history said, it came in for an eagle..Wow, but that was on the third round and was the shot of

the day. It was however complete ly drowned on the final day by a more spectacular shot, a putt that made the crowd gone crazy on Hole 17.

Regaled by his tales and an ecdotes we exchanged about our personal favorite moments on Hole No 17. From the Hole in One of Fred Couples in 1997 to Ricky Powlers courageous tee shot leading to a birdie to win the 2015 playoff ; but we unanimous ly agreed that the iconic putt of Tiger Woods in 2001 tops among them .

As I walked the fairways of Hole No 18 and stood at the tee mount of Hole No 17,I felt goose bumps . By just walking the earth where the gods of golf once stamped their feet I got that strange feeling ,the sensation is surreal.

Then off we headed to the clubhouse and visit the Halls of champions lounge where

the personal clubs donated by past champions were dis played.

As I took a sip of my juice of fered as part of the routine, Bernie told me..Ow,,you have just missed Jim Furyk. He has just finished his round and he’s now at the parking area.

I glanced at my brother and off we sprinted to the parking area but we can’t find the guy. So we just walk back to our car and there he is, lo and behold, Mr 58 , Jim Furyk standing next to our car and about to close the back of his SUV.

Oh no…I have travelled this far and I can’t just let this guy, the 2018 US Ryder Cup Captain leave without touching him in the flesh…I rushed to him with out pretensions but my brother’s finger is faster as he pressed the shutter of his Nikon camera…Mis sion accomplished…and as they say the rest is history.

Folayang figjjts Marques in ONE Fight Night 5 card

Former

ONE Light weight World Cham pion Eduard “Land slide” Folayang has long carried the flag for the Philippines in the global mixed martial arts scene.

So when ONE Cham pionship returns to the country for the first time in nearly three years, he’ll be riding one more time at the forefront.

Folayang returns to ac tion when he takes on Ed son “Panico” Marques at the already-stacked ONE Fight Night 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin card set on the morning of December 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

OFN 5 is the first of two shows that day, starting at 9 a.m as it airs live simulta neously on US prime time through Amazon Prime Video. Capping off the blockbuster Saturday is

ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks which goes live in local prime time at 6:30 p.m.

“Of course I’m happy. I feel honored being put on the forefront of a card that will air live in US prime time through Prime Video, being one of the few Filipi nos in that card,” Folayang said.

“It’s such a huge mo tivating factor for me be cause our trajectory is heading west, and I’d love to entertain our fans over there and make new ones.”

Folayang, 22-12, has long been one of the pil lars of the promotion as he main evented the very first show of ONE in Sep tember of 2011. Since then, he’s won the ONE Lightweight World Title three times, establishing himself as the face of local mixed martial arts in the

process.

11 years later, he’s still one of the most recogniz able figures in the sport both in the Philippines and outside of it, so it’s no surprise to see him be included in the Amazon card.

“All I wanted to do is compete again and join this card. It doesn’t matter who I face. Actually I was waiting for [Yoshihiro] Akiyama but I think he turned down the offer in fighting me,” he said.

“Nonetheless, I’m grateful because I was included, and since the event will be in the Philip pines for the first time in three years, I’m super ex cited. I’m looking forward to performing in front of my home crowd.”

Former ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard “Landslide” Folayang returns to action when he takes on Edson “Panico” Marques at the already-stacked ONE Fight Night 5: De Rid der vs. Malykhin card set on the morning of December 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

ATHLETES’ CAUSE

PSC thanks PHILRACOM, charity races to benefit SEAG-bound athletes

Team

Philippines’ campaign for the 2023 SEA Games is getting a boost from the Philippine Racing Commis sion (PHILRACOM), as it hosts five charity races for the benefit of the Southeast Asian Games bound national athletes on Novem ber 13 at the Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. in Malvar, Batangas.

The PHILRACOM Board, led by Chairman Aurelio “Reli” De Leon approved and desig nated the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as the beneficiary of the said charity races, which will help the PSC in funding the training and preparation of our national athletes bound for the bienni al meet hosted by Cambodia.

“We are one with the Phil ippine Sports Commission in its mission to serve the best interests of our Filipino ath letes. We want to help the PSC in our own humble way by or ganizing five charity races for the benefit of our national ath letes,” said Chairman De Leon.

Racing proceeds that will be given to the PSC will be de pendent on the gross betting sales per designated races.

“The Philippine Racing Commission led by Chair man Reli De Leon has always been a partner of the PSC in all of its sports programs and agenda. And today’s project of extending charity races, is a huge boost towards ensur

ing the success of our Filipino athletes in the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games,” said PSC Chairman Noli Eala.

“We are truly grateful, proud and glad to be a partner of the Philracom in our thrust of caring for our Filipino ath letes like no other, and we hope that this will just be the start of more meaningful proj ects with them,” added the sports agency chief, who is ex pected to grace the awarding ceremonies for the assigned charity races.

Over 800 athletes are pro jected to compose the coun try’s team delegation to the Games, according to Team Philippines Chef de Mission and Philippine Amateur Base ball Association President Chito Loyzaga at their second consultative meeting with SEAG-bound national sports associations last month.

The 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games will fea ture 49 official sports, with a re cord-setting 608 events happen ing from May 5 to 17, next year.

PSC Chairman Noli Eala together with Philippine Racing Commission Chairman Aurelio “Reli” De Leon in a courtesy visit last October 12 at the Philracom Office in Makati.