Vice
In a recorded speech during the National Cyber security Talent Framework Analysis Report United States Agency for Interna tional Development (US
AID) Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON), Duterte said the Office Of the Vice President’s (OVP) counterpart efforts shall be focused on providing for
the enabling environment for digital infrastructure to become efficient, reliable, and facilitative of a thriving digital economy.
“The assistance that the US Agency for Internation al Development has pro vided for the Philippines over the past six decades have contributed to the resilient and sustainable economic growth of the na tion as a whole, as well as improved the capacities of local government units, the
academe, and civil society to address development challenges,” she said.
She also said that in this fast-advancing digital age, participation in the digital economy is essential and Filipinos are well-posi tioned to reap the benefits of internet-enabled appli cations and services.
However, she said as more Filipinos go online to join the digital economy and benefit from the inter
FDIGITAL, P10
As part of the ongoing Christmas Season festivities, the City Government of Davao has introduced new attractions to the month-long Pasko Fi esta celebration.
The Character Parade, which features popular fictional characters, began Monday night at the Rizal
Park where ice cream, popcorn and cotton candy were also handed out for free.
The Dolce Chordarum Strings Quartet, on the other hand, started giving their live music perfor mance at the People’s Park on December 3.
City Information Of
fice Officer-in-Charge Har vey Lanticse said adding the Character Parade, the String Quartet, and the free treats— concepts initiated by City Mayor’s Office—are meant to add to the festive atmosphere of this year’s ‘Fairyland’ themed Pasko Fiesta and promote the cel ebration to its target audi
ence— the children.
The new additions to the holiday festivities were formulated to ensure that the return of face-to-face Christmas celebration will be true to the essence of the season after two years of pandemic restrictions pre vented the conduct of most
Aforeign-backed homegrown com pany is targeting to start in January the devel opment of a 150-megawatt (MW) agrovoltaics solar power plant, touted as a “pioneering” renewable energy project in the coun try.
Yan Amante, president and chief executive officer of Embrace Nature Power 1 Corporation (ENPC-1), said preparations are un derway for the construc tion of a solar farm and power plant in a 120-hect are property spanning por tions of Barangays Conel and Mabuhay in General Santos City.
She said they are in vesting around $285 mil lion or roughly P16 billion into the project, which is set to break ground in the third week of January.
“We will be employ ing 1,500 workers for the construction phase, which will be completed in 12 months,” Amante said in her presentation to the city council on Tuesday.
ENPC-1, which is based in Purok Guadalupe in Ba rangay Conel, is 60-percent owned by a local company and the 40-percent equity by an undisclosed United
States-based funder, she said.
The project area covers a total of 61 hectares in Ba rangay Conel and 59 hect ares in Barangay Mabuhay that are part of a Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement held by the family of Grace Leyson Beronio.
The company has part nered with a Croatian en ergy firm for the adoption of the agrovoltaics technol ogy for the project, which she said will be among the first of its kind in the coun try.
Amante said agrovol taics is primarily a combi nation of energy and agri cultural activity, with the solar panels installed at least two to three meters above the ground and with the land below utilized for growing various crops.
For the Conel-Mabuhay project, she said they are initially planning to plant upland rice and ginger and later on develop a green tea plantation on the ground hosting the over 200,000 solar panels.
“The project adopts a symbiotic design unlike the traditional solar farms wherein the ground re
President Sara Duterte vowed to look into policy re forms and risk-based cyber-pro tection planning frameworks to safe guard the interests of all stakeholders engaged in global digital economy.
Dabawenyos should take food moderately during the Yuletide Season to avoid lifestyle diseases next year, City Health Office (CHO) Nu trition Division Head Eliz abeth Banzon said in an interview with the City In formation Office (CIO) on Monday.
Banzon said that Dabawenyos should follow Pinggang Pinoy.
“Among gina-awhag ang tanan, as usual, dili nato kalimtan ang Ping gang Pinoy. Sa isa ka plato enough rice, one cup rice daghanon nato ang gulay two cups, at the same time, naa ta’y isda ug meat (We encourage everyone not to forget the Pinggang Pinoy wherein in one plate, only enough rice, one cup, and two cups of vegetables and at the same time we should have fish and meat),” Ban zon said.
She advised Dabawen yos to undergo a health check-up to know their baseline - whether they are hypertensive or not - and if the doctor prescribes medication, it should be followed.
“Kung hypertensive ta, kung gusto mukaon og meat, cube sized lang gyud para pud dili ta magka roon og hypertension. Low salt, low meat diet unta ta karong pasko kay ang pauli man gud sa atoang lawas kung dili ta mag-amping. (If you are hypertensive, and you want to eat meat, it must be cube sized to prevent hypertension. We must practice a low salt, low meat diet this Christmas because it goes back to our body if we will not take good care of it),” she said.
Drinking alcohol should also be done mod erately.
She also advised the youth to avoid junk food.
“Ang atoang pangal agaan ang atoang panla was kay mao mana siya ang tumong ug tinguha no nga mag enjoy ta sa spirit of Christmas. Everybody and the family to be happy (We should take care of our body because the goal is to enjoy the spirit of Christ mas, for everybody and the family to be happy),” she said.
By MAYA M. PADILLOThe Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Davao and Globalport Terminals Incorporated recently explored the modernization plan of the Sasa Wharf.
The project, involv ing the biggest govern ment-owned seaport in the Davao Region, covers an upgrade of the general car go berths and construction of a back-up area to accom modate increasing cargo volume.
Globalport is poised to bag the contract for the
management, operation, and maintenance of the Port of Sasa in Davao City which will add to its grow ing portfolio of terminals across the country.
Globalport’s plans in clude berthing manage ment, container terminal management, passenger terminal management, ste
vedoring services, and reef er facilities and services.
In a statement, BOCDavao also shared its vision to make the region a ma jor player in international trade.
It also states that both parties agreed to collabo rate in the implementation of the Sasa Port moderniza tion project and combine efforts to increase oppor tunities for the Davao Re gion’s economic develop ment.
The meeting was re
portedly part of the Bu reau’s efforts in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s eight-point so cioeconomic strategy of boosting investments and improving infrastructure.
Based on Regional De velopment Council (RDC) 11 Resolution No. 118 Series of 2014, the Davao (Sasa) Port Modernization Project is anticipated to im prove trade access to Mind anao and the Philippines by providing a dedicated con FBOC , P10
Atotal of 54 students from Davao Region passed the qualifying examination for the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) program of the De partment of Science and Technology - Science Edu cation Institute (DOST-SEI).
Out of 9,000 applicants, the Davao students passed the qualifying examination
wherein 21 qualified under RA 10612 scholarship cat egory under JLSS designed to strengthen the country’s Science and Technology education by producing scholar-graduates who aim to take a career path in Science and Mathematics teaching.
The other 18 students passed under the Merit
program for students with high aptitude in Science and Mathematics and plan to pursue careers in the fields of Science and Tech nology.
DOST 11 director An thony Sales praised the qualifiers and hoping that the opportunity granted through their hard work will lead them closer to
their dreams.
The 54 qualifiers who will avail of the scholar ship will enjoy educational benefits, which include tu ition fee subsidy, monthly stipend, learning materials, and/or connectivity allow ance starting in the First Semester of the Academic Year 2022-2023.
By Maya M. Padilloviable in BARMM include manufacturing, agro-in dustry and halal hub.
He said developing the agro-industry in BARMM could help in achieving food security in the country.
ed to PHP4.076 trillion, creating 1.8 million jobs across the country.
PEZA deputy director general Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal told the Philip pine News Agency that Marcos sees ecozone development as a cat alyst for growth in the BARMM.
“(There is a) vast land here, and there are pro posed ecozones from Co
tabato City, Lamitan, Isa bela City and Tawi-Tawi,” Guiapal said in a Viber message.
The region currently has one economic zone, which is the Polloc Free port and Economic Zone (PFEZ) in Maguindanao.
Guiapal said among the economic activities
Guiapal graced the first multi-sectoral forum for the development of PFEZ in Cotabato City on Tuesday.
For the past 27 years, PEZA has been contrib uting to the economic growth of the country.
Investments in PEZA zones already amount
PEZA ecozones grew to 421 composed of 300 information technology (IT) parks and centers, 78 manufacturing eco zones, 23 agro-industrial parks, 17 tourism eco zones and three medical tourism zones.
In 2021 alone, PEZA shared 16 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) while 80 percent of total exports last year were from PEZA zones. (PNA)
The Philippine econ
omy remains robust and will be able to sustain its growth momen tum, the National Econom ic and Development Au thority (NEDA) said.
In his presentation during the House Commit tee on Economic Affairs briefing on Monday, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisa can highlighted the focus
of the upcoming Philippine Development Plan 20232028 for economic trans formation.
“While our key eco nomic indicators remain promising, socioeconomic scarring from the pandem ic is expected to linger un less effectively addressed. The PDP 2023-2028, set for release later this month, is a plan for deep economic
and social transformation, to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back to its highgrowth path,” Balisacan said.
He said domestic con sumption drove the econo my’s recovery and growth.
The further easing of mobility restrictions and resumption of face-to-
face classes supported the growth of tourism, indus try, services and other sec tors severely affected by the pandemic, he said.
“For the first three quarters of 2022, the econ omy expanded by 7.7 per cent. This further implies that the target growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year is highly achievable,” he
The Social Security Sys tem said proposals by congressmen to increase the monthly pen sion of qualified members by P1,000 to P2,000 will reduce the pension fund life by 7 to 12 years.
SSS Senior Vice Pres ident and Chief Actuary Atty. Edgar Cruz said the latest study projects that the state pension’s fund life will last until 2054. But paying out the proposed P1,000 increase in monthly pension will cost an addi tional P47.2 billion for the first year of implementa tion alone, which is seen to shorten the SSS fund life to 2047.
On the other hand, a P2,000 monthly pension hike will cost up to P115.6 billion in additional payout at the last tranche of imple mentation, reducing the fund life to 2042.
The SSS also thumbed down house bills seeking to expand SSS unemploy ment benefits to a maxi mum of six months from the current two, saying it will shorten the fund life by one year.
“We are not supporting the bills for reasons pre viously cited, na hindi po kaya ng pondo. It would have an adverse effect on our future pensioners and future members,” Cruz told the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization on Tues day.
“Compared to the pen sion increase, ‘yung pa nukala to increase ‘yung unemployment benefits, ‘yung impact is not as big, pero malaki pa rin po. We’re still talking of a cou ple of billions,” he added.
“‘Yung two months na ibinibigay natin, dito sa ating existing policy natin, hindi sapat para makah anap ng trabaho eh. Lalu na itong pandemic. Kaya mayroon tayong proposed bill na madagdagan siya,” Committee Chairperson, Rep. Edwin Olivarez said.
“Kung dadagdagan pa natin ‘yun, it will simply add to the huge unfunded liability of the system… it’s not good actuarial practice to provide benefits en hancements kung walang
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to develop more economic zones in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), a Philip pine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) of ficial said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and four other agencies are set to sign a joint ad ministrative order (JAO) that will set up guidelines to make farm-to-market road (FMRs) interconnect ed with other infrastruc ture projects.
The JAO will be signed among officials of the DA, Departments of Pub lic Works and Highways (DPWH), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Trade and Industry (DTI) and Tourism (DOT) this month.
“FMR approved na. Mayroon na tayong nation al timetable (The FMR is approved. We already have a national timetable),” Mar cos, who also heads the DA, made this announcement in a video released by Mala cañang to reporters.
“Lahat ng agencies that are involved, departments that are involved will be signing… by December, before the end of the year, para ma-approve na ang plano para sa pag-con struct ng FMR (All agencies and departments involved will be signing it by Decem ber to approve the plan to construct FMRs),” he add ed.
DA and DPWH, in par ticular, earlier formulated
a regional FMR network overlaying the proposed FMR projects with the Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zone (SAFDZ)/Network of Protected Areas for Agri culture and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD) and production areas.
The two agencies have also spearheaded an in ter-agency workshop on locating and mapping agriculture and fisheries production areas, markets, trading posts, existing road networks and road con ditions and the proposed FMRs.
A total of 43,223 ki lometers is proposed for FMR projects as of October this year.
There is a requirement of 131,410 kms (110ha/ km) of the country to cater to the 14 million hectares of production areas for ag riculture and fisheries.
As of October this year, a total of 67,255-km FMR were completed, leaving a backlog of 64,155 kms.
Meanwhile, Marocs said the government is try ing to find import substi tution for urea and petro leum-based fertilizer.
“But we are looking at all the technologies avail
Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua) recently forged its partner ship with the Department of Envi ronment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XI and FARDECO Multipurpose Co operative (FARDECO) through a five-year reforestation program for the rehabilita tion of DENR’s 200-hectare site in Baran gay Cadalian, Baguio District.
In line with its shared commitment of helping preserve the watershed and providing livelihood oppor tunities to the community, Apo Agua and DENR joined forces to raise awareness of watershed conservation and biodiversity in the com munity through a holistic Information, Education, and Communication campaign.
Apart from multimedia materials such as posters and videos, metal signages will be put up in Baguio Dis trict barangays, highlighting local endemic species to pro mote wildlife conservation through the preservation and protection of animals, plants, and their habitats.
“We’ve worked with Aboitiz on many projects,
and this reforestation pro gram is not just about plant ing trees; it’s also about re storing and caring for our NGP area within the Pani gan-Tamugan Watershed. With this partnership, Apo Agua is helping us ensure the sustainability of our water table all the way to Davaoenos’ homes. I hope it does not end here, and we will continue with our con servation efforts,” said Ba gani Fidel Evasco, DENR 11 Regional Executive Director.
Apo Agua also provid ed the Monitoring Team of DENR’s City Environment and Natural Resources Of fice with digital cameras and DENR-CENRO’s Lawin Pa trollers with mobile devices, power banks, and raincoats
to optimize their watershed monitoring activities.
“It’s an honor to stand alongside DENR in protect ing the Panigan-Tamugan watershed. At Aboitiz, we highly value environmental conservation as part of our strategy for advancing busi ness and communities. We recognize the urgent need to protect the watershed as this will be the next water source of Davao City, and we are taking proactive steps to do so,” said Anna Lu, Presi dent of Apo Agua.
A consistent advocate of environmental protection through various programs, Apo Agua, partnered with the Davao City Water Dis trict for its Adopt-a-Site
Department of Finance (DOF)-led interagen cy body Fiscal Incen tives Review Board (FIRB) gave a thumbs up to the tax incentives application of a manufacturing company.
In a statement on Tues day, the DOF said the FIRB approved the tax perks for TDK Philippines Corp.’s (TPC) manufacturing of microwave-assisted mag
netic recording sliders (MAMR-Slider).
TPC’s P2.5-billion proj ect was the first Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) endorsed appli cation that the FIRB ap proved, the Finance Depart ment said.
The DOF said that Fi nance Assistant Secretary and FIRB Secretariat Head Juvy Danofrata considered
the project an export activ ity under the production and manufacturing of ex port products and is listed in the government’s 2022 Strategic Investment Prior ity Plan (SIPP) during the FIRB’s 17th meeting on No vember 29, 2022.
TPC’s project was grant ed an Income Tax Holiday (ITH), Special Corporate Income Tax (SCIT), duty
exemption on the importa tion of capital equipment, raw materials, spare parts, and accessories, as well as value-added tax (VAT) ex emption on importation, and VAT zero-rating on lo cal purchases.
“The approval of TPC’s application for fiscal incen tives is a boost to our semi conductor and electronics
D. MARATAS Finance
“The assistance that the US Agency for International Development has provided for the Philippines over the past six decades have contributed to the resilient and
economic growth of the nation as a whole, as well as improved the capacities of local government units, the academe, and civil society to address development challenges.”
It was former Education Sec retary Onofre “OD” Corpuz who told me that one of the pioneers in the establishment of banks in the Philippines is a namesake, Damasco Gorricho.
He said that my surname is perhaps a permutation of “Gor richo” and it originated from Bo hol. His statement encouraged me to do a deeper research on my family tree.
Corpuz was the 13th pres ident of the University of the Philippines (UP) from 1975 to 1979. He was a Filipino academ ic, economist, and historian who was also my professor in eco nomic history at the UP School of Economics in the late 1980s.
His name is now part of the list of 21 UP presidents since the state university was established where 19 are Filipinos and two are Americans.
Based on Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008, the UP president serves as the universi ty’s chief academic officer, head of the faculty and chief executive officer for a fixed term of 6 years.
The President is expected to pursue goals stated in the UP Charter and pursue the Vi sion-Mission he pledged to the community.
Two Americans served as UP Presidents: Murray Bartlett ( 1st) from 1911 until 1915 and Guy Potter Benton (3rd) from 1921 until 1925.
Ignacio Villamor (2nd, 1915 to 1921) and Jorge Bocobo (5th, 1934 to 1939) later became Su preme Court justices after their term.
Rafael Palma (4th, 1925 to 1934) and Edgardo Angara (15th, 1981 to 1987) became Senators.
Agriculturist Bienvenido Gonzalez was the only president who was appointed twice: 6th in 1939 to 1943 and 8th in 1945 to 1951. At 46 years old, he was the youngest ever to be named UP president.
Antonio Sison served as the 7th president during the war time years 1943 to 1945.
Two engineers became pres idents: Vidal Tan (8th, 1951 to 1956) and Emanuel V. Soriano (14th, 1979 to 1981).
Statistician Enrique Virata (9th) served from 1956 to 1958.
Vicente Sinco (10th, 1958 to 1962) and Danilo Concepción (21st, 2017 to 2022) were for mer deans of the UP College of Law.
Carlos Romulo Sr. (11th,
1962–1968) and Salvador Lo pez (12th, 1969–1975) are also known as Filipino diplomats, statesmen, journalists and au thors.
It was during Lopez’s pres idency that UP students were politically radicalized, launching mass protests against the Marcos regime right from the so-called “First Quarter Storm” in 1970 to the “Diliman commune” in 1971.
My stay in UP was under two presidents: José Abueva (16th , 1987 to 1993) and Emil Javier (17th, 1993 to 1999).
It was in Abueva’s term when I finished B.S. Economics in 1991. He introduced the So cialized Tuition Fee Assistance Program (STFAP) in 1987. He also institutionalized a Filipino language policy within the uni versity.
It was in Javier’s term when I finished Bachelors of Laws in 1998. He is a Filipino plant ge neticist and agronomist.
Francisco Nemenzo Jr. (18th, 1999 to 2005) is a Filipino polit ical scientist, educator, and activ ist. His son, Fidel, is a mathemati cian and incumbent chancellor of UP Diliman who is also a current nominee for UP President.
Emerlinda Roman (19th,
2005 to 2011) is the first wom an President .
Alfredo Pascual (20th, 2011 to 2017) is a Filipino interna tional development banker and finance expert.
Danilo Concepción’s six-year term as the 21st President start ed in February 2017 and will end on February 9, 2023. He earlier served as Dean of the UP College of Law (2011-2017).
The next UP president will be appointed by the 11-member Board of Regents.
The six official candidates for the next UP President, who will succeed Concepcion, are Catanduanes State University president Patrick Alain Azanza, former 1-Edukasyon party-list representative Salvador Belaro Jr., former faculty regent Angelo Jimenez, UP Diliman chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, former UP Dili man vice chancellor for research and development Benito Pacheco and former UP Los Baños chan cellor Fernando Sanchez Jr.
During the public forum on the search, Nemenzo stressed that his vision for UP is centered on three points: making an agile UP, a smart UP, and a high-impact UP.
An agile UP will allow UP to
pivot and respond quickly to dis ruptions through the use of new est academic research programs which are fostered in an envi ronment of critical thinking and democratic culture.
He believes that building a smart UP means accelerating digital transformation while ad dressing inequalities in access to technology that are responsible for the so- called digital divide.
Nemenzo also stressed that being a high-impact university meant leveraging the diversity of critical knowledge produced across the UP system for UP to take a leadership role in issues of national importance, such as food security, health, culture, and the arts.
The next president must lead the university that molded us to fight for the causes we believe in; trained us for the skills we need to communicate ideas and rally others to effect changes in soci ety.
(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offic es. For comments, e-mail info@ sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 0908-8665786.)
The idea to erect a district building for the province of Davao, the equivalent of a gov ernment center, was first intro duced in 1906-07, during the watch of U.S. governor Allen Walker (July 14, 1906-August 4, 1909). He is the same guy who improved and inaugurated the Santa Ana pier as a subport, and also built Bonifacio Road (now Quezon Boulevard).
At the time, the old Spanish tribunal (town hall), situated where the Davao city hall now stands, was developed to house provincial offices during the ear ly American period. The 190506 Third Annual Report of Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, then gover nor of Moro Province, specified that an amount of P857.19 was allocated for the repair of the district building. Later, Brig. Gen. Tasker H. Bliss, as the new gov ernor of the Moro Province, in
cluded in his 1907 report a pro vincial expenditure of P508.86 for the overhaul of the same structure.
Throughout the years, chief ly the first decade of American occupation, the construction of a new edifice to house both the district and municipal offices was deferred due to the issue of land ownership. Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing’s 1911 annual re port as Moro Province governor admitted that the delay in the construction of the Davao dis trict building was due to a ques tion of title, which amounted to P14,250.00.’ Apparently, the matter was later resolved.
It was during the admin istration of Governor Henry Gilsheuser (1910-12), a Ger man-blooded American lieu tenant colonel in the U.S. Army that the gathering of materi als for the building was put on
track. The enthusiasm to accom plish the plan was in part due to the strong support the munici pal officials of Davao had shown towards the undertaking.
The initial estimate of the two-story reinforced-concrete district structure, completed in 1914, was P50,000. In the Janu ary 1915 Bureau of Public Works Quarterly Bulletin the aggregate expenditure, together with the civic improvements, office ame nities, and other inclusions, cost P110,000.
That same year, Eulalio E. Causing, the first Filipino ap pointed governor of Davao (1915-17), convinced Fr. Frank Lynch, the Jesuit parish priest of San Pedro Church, to donate the church land that now hosts the Sangguniang Panlungsod edi fice. He held office at the second floor of the district building be cause the ground floor was ex
clusively for municipal use.
As the directorial duties of the town of Davao expanded, the idea to move the district offices to a separate building started to gain currency. The idea was launched and includ ed in the public works bureau’s 1918 list of thirteen proposed new government buildings that comprised a hospital, municipal buildings, and public markets.
Using the donated church land, a new provincial capitol was built in the early 1920s and was put in use that same period following the approval of the plan to build a new town hall in the old district building’s lo cation. The town hall (now city hall) was built in 1926 by Tan C. Tee and Co., a Chinese company, which submitted the lowest bid.
The construction firm held office at Calle Aviles (former ly Calzada de Malacanan) in
San Miguel, Manila. Founded in 1923 with a P500,000 capital ization, it was headed by Tan C. Tee, as president; Lo So Hing, as vice president; Ty Kong Ting, as secretary; and George Lo, as treasurer. Just two years after its creation, it started making its business presence felt by taking over the 20-year license agree ment of Port Lebak Lumber Co., then owned by Americans and Filipinos.
Among its noteworthy proj ects were the groundwork of the national legislature; the UP College of Medicine annex build ing; La Ignaciana Cathedral, the center of Adoracion Nocturna, at Santa Ana, Manila; the Iloi lo marginal wharf; Mariquina bridge; Geronimo de los Reyes building, then the country’s leading business house; and several provincial high school buildings.
This year’s Christmas is expected to be more joyful as it will be celebrated with physical gatherings and people going out after the pandemic.
After years of virtual parties, face-to-face Christ mas gatherings are back and some companies and hotels are going all out including Seda Abreeza.
Seda Abreeza marked the start of the Holiday season by switching on its Christmas Tree decked with dazzling
lights, scarlet and silver balls, and glittering tinsels, which is the scenic centerpiece at the main lobby of the hotel.
The lighting ceremony was graced by Davao City’s respected and prominent personalities, as well as Se da’s loyal clients, family, and friends.
The lighting ceremony was enlivened with LED wall dancing lights and angelic Christmas song renditions
from the St. Gregory the Great Choir Group and the Black Box Band.
The scarlet and silver tree is not the only gift of Seda Abreeza to the public, as an annual tradition of the hotel’s Corporate Social Re sponsibility Program, the ho tel presented the kids from Smile Train.
This is part of the hotel’s commitment of its unwaver ing support to Smile Train, a charity drive to help kids with lip impairment.
Seda Hotels has part nered with Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft charity, to sponsor surgeries for the underprivileged.
This is definitely a life changing gift for children born with cleft lip and palate.
Seda Abreeza Area Gen eral Manager Kennedy Kapu long, in his speech, highlight ed the resiliency that helped Dabawenyos get through the toughest of times and how
shared memories become a significant part of this year’s Christmas celebration.
“We wanted to remem ber the good memories we all shared and experience. Fond memories of the past year help us recall the times we overcame challenges. The not so good ones, on the other hand, we now find humor in those tough days. We even make crazy stupid jokes out of those memories. These memories are always sweet and special, and they also remind us of who we are today,” Kapulong said.
Definitely the most won derful time of the year, this festive season treat yourself and those who you care for to an extra special break or party filled with sumptuous food, fine cocktails and end less fun.
Re-experience the best Christmas feeling and create new memories with Seda Abreeza.
At its meeting held on December 3, 2022, the Board of Directors of BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO) approved the dec laration of regular cash div idends on common shares in the amount of P0.30 per share for the 4th quarter of 2022, payable on December 29, 2022 to all stockholders on record as of December 20, 2022.
The Bank likewise re ceived approval from the Securities & Exchange Com mission (SEC) on Nov. 29, 2022 for its stock dividends equivalent to 20% of current outstanding. To recall, BDO’s Board of Directors approved on March 26, 2022: the declaration of 20% stock dividends; an increase in its authorized capital stock (common shares) from 5.5 billion to 8.5 billion shares, and; the amendment to the Bank’s Articles of Incorpo ration to reflect the increase. These were subsequently approved by stockholders at the Bank’s Annual Share holders’ Meeting held on April 22, 2022, and by the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi nas (BSP) on September 15, 2022. The record date for the stock dividends has been set for December 15, 2022, with payment date set for December 29, 2022.
The P0.30 cash dividend will also apply to the addi tional shares arising from the 20% stock dividend dec laration.
The cah and stock div idend declarations reflect BDO’s commitment to pro vide consistent, steady re turns and value to its share holders, while at the same time, continue to invest in its business. The hike in autho rized capital stock provides flexibility to increase capital if needed during periods of rap id growth or should attractive opportunities arise. This will allow BDO to continue to ex pand its business, strengthen its franchise, and deliver qual ity earnings for long-term sustainable growth. Note that BDO’s ability to expand its business is dependent on business conditions and its financial position.
SM Supermalls and BDO are once again bringing a one-of-a-kind, fun Christmas celebra tion to overseas Filipinos and their families with Pamaskong Handog events happening in SM City Santa Rosa on De cember 3, SM City Iloilo on December 10, and SM CDO Downtown Pre miere on December 17 at 2PM.
Massive prizes, en tertainment, and bond ing moments await the OFWs and their benefi ciaries at the Pamaskong Handog 2022 with the theme Kita-Kits Muli sa SM”. Never miss out on the special performance of BDO Remit endorser Piolo Pascual and come dians MC & Lassy who will be hosting all three events. For added fun and humor, comedians Ate Gay and Regina will be performing in SM City Sta. Rosa and SM City Il oilo, while Divine Tetay and Tonton Soriano will be at the SM CDO Down town Premiere.
Aside from celebri ty shows, SM affiliates will give away exclusive deals and discounts for Kabayan Savings account holders. Discounts are available every day at SM throughout December. Avail Miniso’s Php300
discount on Mondays; Php500 off at the SM Stores on Tuesdays; 10% off at Surplus Shop on Wednesdays; and on Thursdays, SM Super market, SM Hypermar ket, and SM Savemore will be giving cheese balls for free! There is also a Php500 off dis count from the Baby Company which started last November 15 and will run until December 31.
As a special holiday gift, BDO is offering a special promo for over seas Filipinos and their beneficiaries. They can get up to PHP20,000 waived fees on Home Loan and PHP30,000 waived fees for Auto Loan. Also, participants in the events get a chance to win PHP1M worth of insurance coverage from BDO Life, cash prizes, and freebies fro BDO Cash, as well as special gifts from BDO Network Bank.
BDO and partner sponsors, Western Union and WorldRemit, will also have bingo, games, and a raffle for the par ticipants. Plus, BDO will provide financial tips on savings and investment to help overseas Filipi nos plan their futures as part of this year’s Pam
askong Handog.
To join the Pam askong Handog event, BDO Kabayan Savings account holders plus one (1) companion each just need to present their ATM card or pass book.
Overseas Filipinos may join the fun by watching the live stream ing of the Pamaskong Handog events on the BDO Kabayan Facebook page with a special view ing inside BDO Remit and BDO Unibank offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Ma cau, France, and the Unit ed Arab Emirates.
There’s going to be a ton of fun as balikbayans and their families get to celebrate the holidays again at SM. Since 2012, Pamaskong Handog pro vided entertainment and gifts for overseas Filipi no and their beneficia ries. And although the celebration has gone vir tual due to the pandemic, BDO and SM didn’t stop spreading happiness during the most wonder ful time of the year,
For more details on Pamaskong Handog events or #Sparkling SMallidays activities, vis it www.smsupermalls. com/, www.bdo.com.ph, or BDO Kabayan Face book page.
WIKO is holding its merriest sale of the year. From November 23 to January 15, 2023, cus tomers can get exclusive discounts on the iconic French brand’s signature smartphones.
Launched in the Phil ippines in June 2022, WIKO introduced afford able and efficient smart phones, designed with French-inspired aesthet ics. The brand’s goal is to make smartphone tech nology accessible to all Filipinos with each of its mobile offerings.
This Christmas season, WIKO will offer special dis counts and freebies for its original T-Series, the WIKO T3, WIKO T50, and WIKO T10; and its latest series,
The WIKO 10 is a styl ish phone powered by 12nm MTK Helio G37 chip and IMG PowerVR G8320 GPU, and built with a 50MP rear camera and 8MP sel fie camera that deliver high-resolution photos and videos. It also comes in a limited-edition Klein Blue colorway.
It will retail for P8,999. Each purchase will come with free WIKO Buds 10 and three months extended warranty.
Flexible options for T-Series Express creativity with the WIKO T50’s eye-catch ing colorways (Lively Pink, Aqua Green, and Midnight
Black), Triple AI Camera with 64MP high-res main camera, and 16MP front camera with HD Portrait. Get the WIKO T50 6GB + 128GB for P9,990 (from P11,990).
For an entry-level cam era phone option, there’s the WIKO T10, available in 64GB and 128GB. It has a 13MP rear camera and 5MP selfie camera. Its pow erful 5000mAh battery en sures all-day use while cap turing moments. The WIKO T10 64GB will retail for P4,990, while the 128GB model will be P5,999 (from P6,499).
Browse social media comfortably with the WIKO T3. Its 6.6” HD+ Display and 5000mAh large bat tery lets users view con tent clearly wherever they go. It also comes with 4GB + 128GB space that’s ideal for downloaded media. The WIKO T3 will cost P6,990 (from P7,990).
All T-Series phone pur chases will come with a free pair of WIKO extra bass headphones.
Treat yourself and your loved ones to styl ish phones during WIKO’s merriest sale of the year. Visit the nearest authorized WIKO stores, and Lazada and Shopee from Novem ber 23 to January 15, 2023 to avail of these discounts.
For more updates, fol low WIKO’s Facebook page and WIKOmmunity Face book Community. Check out WIKO’s official website for more details about the products.
net, the government must ensure that it is also taking action to minimize cyber security threats, and that it is building up a nation of cybersafe internet users.
Duterte added that ca pacitating the people be ginning with institutional skills building for our na tional and local govern ment allows for increased reliability and competence of recipient Filipinos to conduct highly technical digital-based tasks, moni toring, and reporting.
She said it also elevates the digital consciousness of the Filipino workforce, encourages positive out comes, raises awareness of the negative implications of irresponsible digital shar ing, and increases individ ual awareness of the risks posed by cyber-compro mise.
“As we interact with
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She reminded everyone to drink water to cleanse their bodies and exercise. She said that everyone
added.
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international markets, government partners, and various industries, effi ciency and security in our information technology platforms to ensure virtu al connectivity is needed. Our partnership with in ternational donors such as USAID is strategic in that they, as global tech nology and digital innova tion leaders, can transfer knowledge and expertise to improve the state of our digital infrastructure and ecosystem in the Philip pines,” she said.
Duterte also praised the USAID for implementing various initiatives to im prove the digital ecosystem of the Philippines.
“Together, let us strive to scale up local capacities and elevate the cybersecu rity skillset of the Filipinos. Patuloy nating mahalin ang Pilipinas,” she said.
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communal merry-making activities.
“We’ve added these para lang mas matagaan pa ug color og kalingawan ang atong (just to add color and fun to our) celebration, not only for Dabawenyos but for visitors na mubisi ta sa (that will visit) Davao City—because Pasko Fiesta is really for everyone and that has always been the tradition here in the city,” Lanticse said.
Visitors can interact and take photos with dif ferent beloved characters at the Rizal Park every night until Christmas Day, all while availing them selves of the free ice cream, popcorn and cotton can
must only eat or consume a little of everything because too much of everything will cause illnesses. CIO
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Meanwhile, Balisacan also affirmed that the Mar cos administration is well aware of the economy’s do mestic and external risks.
These include factors that could disrupt food supply, elevated commod ity and input prices due to geopolitical and trade tensions, the spread of in fectious animal diseases, inclement weather and is sues in global value chains, he said.
Elevated inflation, in
particular, is expected to dampen the economy’s faster recovery from the socioeconomic scars, in the form of exacerbated in equality and higher pover ty, inflicted by the pandem ic, he added.
“Addressing inflation and the constraints to rap id economic growth, job creation, and poverty re duction in the new normal requires a whole-of-gov ernment and whole-of-so ciety approach,” Balisacan said.
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tainerized port; support the growing agro-industri al sector; assist in creating an enabling environment and model for private sec tor participation in port infrastructure through the development of a financial ly sound PPP scheme; and boost economic activities in the region and Mindan ao.
The RDC has identified the Sasa Port project as one of the priority infrastruc ture projects in Mindanao.
dy at 6 p.m. onwards. Hot porridge and lomi will also be free for merry-makers at the Rizal Park starting Tuesday, 5 p.m. onwards.
People can also listen to live rendition of classic Christmas songs by the Dolce Chordarum Strings at the People’s Park from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on December 10, 17 and 24.
Dabawenyos and vis itors from neighboring regions are invited to join in the fun and merry-mak ing for the whole duration of the Pasko Fiesta cele bration. Wearing of face masks, although now only voluntary, is still highly en couraged in crowded plac es. CIO
scored 28 of his 31 points in the second half as the Pistons thumped the Heat 116-96.
Heat guard Tyler Her ro led all scorers with 34 points, but 21 of those came in the first half and the Heat -- with Jimmy But ler sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back as he manages a right knee in
jury -- couldn’t find an an swer as the Pistons pulled away late.
Detroit never trailed in the fourth quarter. Alec Burks scored 18 points with nine rebounds off the bench and Saddiq added another 14 points off the bench as the Pis tons reserves out-scored the Miami bench 54-19.
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mains unused and barren,” Amante said.
It will help mitigate the impact of climate change as well as prevent flash floods and landslides or erosion, she said.
the company’s operations or after the seven-year government tax holiday for renewable energy projects.
Sasa Port, along with the Davao International Air port, are two main gate ways of the region that are due for major upgrades and are expected to sig nificantly improve the Re gion’s physical connectivity and boost its economic de velopment.
Sasa Port is the most important port and con tainer terminal in Mind anao servicing the needs of the Davao region and neighboring provinces.
When eventually op erational, the solar power plant would be a cheaper power alternative for lo cal electric cooperatives as its generation charge could only reach P5.90 per kilowatt-hour (kwh), she said.
Amante said that would translate to an ac tual power rate of P8 to P9 per kwh, which is be low the average P10 to P11 rate here charged by South Cotabato 2 Electric Cooperative (Socoteco 2).
The plant will hire 50 local workers for its op erations and more man power, possibly including able senior citizens, for its agriculture projects.
“It can also be promot ed for tourism since it is considered as a pioneer ing project here in the Philippines,” she said.
Vice Mayor Rosalita Nuñez expressed full sup port to the project, which she described as “some thing very unique.”
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Reforestation Program in 2019.
It also conducted a wa tershed baseline study with ARUP, a renowned consul tancy firm that outlined recommendations for the Davao City Watershed Man agement Council (WMC) to determine sustainable policies for the Panigan-Ta
mugan watershed.
As it leads the construc tion of DCWD’s Bulk Water Supply Project construc tion works, Apo Agua is determined to expedite the project completion to pro vide safe and sustainable water supply to the con sumers of Davao City Water District.
It will also benefit oth er areas in the country as the solar power plant will be connected to the Mind anao power grid through the Mabuhay-Klinan sub station of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, she noted.
For the city, Amante said it could earn around P225 million annually in income and corporate taxes in the eighth year of
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source of additional fund ing,” Cruz asserted.
ACT Teachers Party List Reprsentative France Castro expressed dismay over the position of SSS, and urged the state pen sion fund to be creative and more efficient in col lecting premiums. But Cruz claimed increasing collection efficiency will not reduce SSS’s unfund ed liabilities.
Former lawmaker Neri Colmenares, who previously authored a bill proposing SSS pension hike, disagreed.
“Kailangan maging proactive din ang SSS na
“We’re very happy see ing this project come into fruition… We don’t see any problem passing a reso lution interposing no ob jection for this,” she said, responding to a request from the company made through City Councilor Froebel Kan Balleque.
Records from the Department of Energy showed that ENPC-1 sub mitted the required per mitting documents for the solar power project in March 2018.
tin… Dapat mayroon din silang mga proposal na iba pa, o naglalalan sila ng budget just in case may ganitong pangyayari sa kanilang member na talagang kailangang kail angan ng tulong sa SSS. Parang pansagot lang naman ito sa inflation,” she said.
“Sinasabi niya kani na, ‘wag lang asahan ang SSS na magsasagot sa in yong pangangailangan… Ina-assume natin na tal agang ang SSS ay maging creative din. Gaano ba ka laki na ngayon ang hindi nasisingil sa SSS na em ployer?” Castro asked.
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industry, which largely con tributes to the Philippine economy,” said Danofrata.
The DOF said the proj ect is expected to generate more employment oppor tunities as part of TPC’s per formance commitments.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the performance commitments of regis
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able, including biofertilizer perhaps as an import sub stitute,” he said.
Last July, Marcos direct ed the DA to come up with
tered business enterpris es will be consistently monitored by the invest ment promotion agency (IPA) and the FIRB.
“We want to make sure that all these fiscal incen tives we grant to registered business enterprises in deed will result in substan tial benefits to our econo my,” said Diokno.
a FMR masterplan that will serve as a guide for the government to promote food security and empow er rural communities.
LOSANGELES -- Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points to lead the Cleve land Cavaliers to a 116-102 victory on Tuesday over a Los Angeles Lakers team that clearly missed the firepower of ailing Anthony Davis.
Star center Davis had scored 99 points in the Lak ers’ last two games, includ ing a 55-point outburst in a victory over the Wizards in Washington on Sunday.
He played just eight
minutes in Cleveland be fore calling it a night with flu-like symptoms, and Mitchell and the Cavs took full advantage to improve their impressive home re cord to 11-1.
“My hat’s off to our guys, man,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “They competed their hearts out.”
LeBron James scored 21 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough against the team where he started his NBA career in 2003, and that he led to a championship in 2016 when he returned af ter winning two titles with Miami.
This time James’s re turn trip to his native Ohio was overshadowed by the loss of Davis, who had aver aged 34.2 points and 15.4 rebounds over his past 10 games as the Lakers began to turn their season around.
Ham said Davis want ed to “give it a go,” even as his symptoms, including a fever, worsened during the evening.
Even without him the Lakers managed to keep it
close, trailing by five with less than five minutes to play.
But Mitchell converted a three-point play to launch a 10-0 Cavaliers scoring run.
He came up with a steal and made a pair of free throws and Jarrett Allen’s steal on the Lakers’ next possession led to Caris Le Vert’s fastbreak layup.
Mitchell capped the run with a step-back
three-pointer.
“The bottom just sort of fell out,” Ham said.
Allen returned for Cleveland after missing five games with a low back con tusion and made a quick impact, scoring 22 of his 24 points in the first half.
Darius Garland added 21 points and handed out 11 assists for the Cavs.
In Miami, Detroit for ward Bojan Bogdanovic
FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KENEven as Pinoy sports fans eagerly await with fanatical excitement the very exciting title confrontation of their fave teams in the UAAP and NCAA collegiate leagues, exasperat ing news surrounding Con verge head coach Aldin Ayo are permeating the air.
It’s unfair that Ayo, after impressively piloting the Fi berexers to the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup, talks that are woven in barbershops are flying fast that he is leaving to rejoin the DLSU Green Archers.
This is an outright lie. And cruel, too.
Ayo and Converge manage
ment have promptly denied the yarn.
Just because the Taft Ave.based squad failed to land a UAAP Final Four slot (losing to Adamson in the playoff), that a coaching change is going to happen automatically.
Coach Derrick Pumaren capably steered his platoon under the circumstances, even though he was short-handed with his stars - Schonny Win ston and Kevin Quiambao - out of commission.
I don’t have any idea from whom and from where the tall tale emanated.
The fact remains that the intriguing loose talk some
what dented both Ayo’s and Pumaren’s personal integrity.
Ayo is credited with a championship he won for DLSU in 2018 after moving from Letran which he also coached to an NCAA crown the year before.
But his past successes does not mean Pumaren was soon to be kicked out so that the Green Archers (under Ayo anew) won’t have anymore embarrassing seasons in the UAAP.
Yes, Ayo’s current status as Converge bench strategist is not a guarantee.that he can trans form the Green Archers from being second rate to first rate.
This is how the ball bounc es.
Sometimes you win, some times you lose.
I think it is best for DLSU to keep Pumaren for the next season and support the guy with blanket authority to reor ganize and rearrange the com position of the Green Archers.
(Ateneo’s Tab Baldwin en joys a twice to beat privilege versus Adamson but is unsure even considering that he has a tall, imposing shifty center in Ange Kouame.)
Coaches agree that it takes at least three years to produce a championship-caliber team whether in the pros or ama
teur levels.
Look at the Lakers.
They got the best point guards to blend with Leb ron James: Lonzo Ball, Ange lo Young, Schroeder, Russel Westbrook but they are strug gling to keep their heads above water. Even with a healthy AD submitting in super scores of 30 and above.
“Weather weather lang” as many are wont saying.
Ayo has transformed Con verge into the ballclub to watch in the PBA today. De spite the intrigues and the “chismis.” (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahooc.om.)
BY CHITO MALABANAN
The Fraternal Order of Eagles will hold its 2nd Davao Tyler Eagles Golf Cup on Saturday, December 22, at the South Pacific Golf and Country Club in what could be the last golf tourna ment in Davao for the year.
“We will be using a System 36 format with Shotgun start at 6am and 11am. Golfers will be classified into four Divisions namely, Division A,B,C and the Ladies” said Tournament Direc tor Marlon Tabanao. “Please be advised further that this is an Open Tournament and not sole ly for Eagles member.”
“We are expecting about 150 golfers to vie for the 18 trophies to be awarded to the winners” Engr Poypoy Canusa, one of the organizers, said.
There will be four winners in each class--gross champion and runner up, net champion and runner up and the overall gross and net champions. The organizers will also award a separate set of winners and trophies for the Eagle mem bers .
There will be two pin place
ments for all par 3s for the Hole in One where prizes include a motorcycle, Hand Gun and an Aircon Unit.
Registration fee is pegged at 2,500 inclusive of the Green Fee, golf cart, dinner buffet and raffle ticket. An addition al amount will be collected for the mulligan, one each for (front and back) during the tournament . The proceeds of this worthy cause will go to the beneficiaries of Pag Amoma Precious Children’s Home, Inc. Dinner, awarding and raf fle of prizes will follow at the South Pacific Golf Clubhouse after the tournament.
For any inquiries and spon sorship, contact Marlon Taban ao (09171130905), Engr Poy poy Canusa (09177002352) and Jerson Lebosada (09177052108).