Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 207 | Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022

CITY

Rigo supports vision of making Davao City highly urbanized

Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II says he hopes the vision of his father, Representative Paolo Duterte of the First District of Davao City and his uncle, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, of making Davao City as a highly urbanized city will be realized. Lean Daval Jr.

CITY

Rigo supports vision of making Davao City highly urbanized

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II expressed support to the vision of his father, Representative Paolo Duterte of the First District of Davao City and his uncle, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, to make Davao City a highly urbanized city with what he considers as a major reason attributed to the city’s rapid growth.

many opportunities for growth and poverty reduction as well as generate job opportunities, educational opportunities, and better living conditions among Dabawenyos.

Among the sectors that generate employment is real estate, although, significantly hit by the pandemic resiliently walked on the path to recovery.

He cited the example of the upcoming mixed-use

development Aeon Bleu of Aeon Luxe Properties Inc, which recently had its groundbreaking along Bacaca Road in Davao City.

“We, Dabawenyos are fortunate to have Aeon in our city as we will now have the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful, luxurious, and holistic living in a highly inclusive dynamic community. Let us all support Aeon as its success is also

Davao City sends cash aid to disaster-hit areas

The City Government of Davao, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), just last week finished the distribution of financial assistance to disaster-struck areas all over the country.

In the spirit of unity and nation-building this Christmas season, the CDRRMO distributed a total of P13,300,000 from the city’s Quick Response Fund to 27 areas all over the Philippines.

Municipalities were given P300,000; cities P500,000; and provinces P1 million.

The provinces of Maguindanao, Albay, Aklan, Cavite; the cities of Cotabato, Calbayog, Zamboanga, San Pedro (Laguna), Biñan (Laguna); and the municipalities of Parang (Maguindanao), Upi (Maguindanao), Sebaste (Antique), Hilongos (Leyte), Mogpog (Marinduque), Dao (Capiz), Amulung (Cagayan), and Pigcawayan (North Cotabato)— areas

that were all hit by Typhoon Paeng collectively received P8,900,000.

Areas hit by Typhoons Maymay and Neneng were given P4,100,000 in total. These areas are the towns of Allacapan, (Cagayan Valley) Claveria (Cagayan), Sanchez Mira (Cagayan), Adams (Ilocos Norte), Santa Praxedes (Cagayan), Sta. Ana (Cagayan), Calansan (Apayao), and the Province of Cagayan.

Meanwhile, the earthquake-devastated province of Ilocos Norte and the town of Lagayan in Abra were also given P1 million and P300,000, respectively.

CDRRMO Chief Alfredo Baloran, in an interview with the City Information Office on Monday, said the recipient LGUs were grateful for the cash assistance and have vowed to make use of the money as soon as possible.

Baloran, who personally delivered the financial assistance to these areas, said the distribution of aid

Davao City eyes buskers, food trucks in Roxas night market

Davao City First District Councilor Bernard Al-ag says he is open to having busking performers at the Roxas Night Market.

“I will bring this up to the night market management team kani siya sound system or pwede mag-

butang ta ug area, sila na magbutang ug sound system (we can put up an area where they will just set up a sound system), pwede ni siya, this is something we can introduce to the night market,” says Councilor Bernard Al-ag, the chairperson of the City Council

Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry.

Busking is an activity of playing music in a public area for voluntary donations. Al-ag said they are open to having buskers to enliven the Roxas night market and the same time showcase Dabawenyo tal-

ents.

Another innovation the city is planning to introduce is having food trucks in the night market.

“We will allow food trucks, we have designated areas where we can have food trucks. We have given authority to the Tiangge

sa Katawhan Management Team to play on this new trend and we not just rely on stalls,” Al-ag said

“We have observed this new trend the food trucks, so we allowed in the ordinance that the management team will look for areas and to set-up spaces

for food trucks,” Al-ag said. The councilor added that the food trucks can provide added variety to foods offered in the night market. They also target customers who prefer higher-priced cuisines than the grilled foods that

Indigenous People from Brgy. Baganihan, Marilog District, receive their Christmas food packs from the City Government of Davao on Monday. The food packs contain rice, spaghetti pasta and sauce, and canned goods. The activity, led by the City Social Welfare and Development Office, is in line with the month-long Pasko Fiesta celebration of the city. CIO

“Kaning mga developments karon like high rise buildings kini isa ni sa mga indications na ang Davao

City padulong na nga mahimong highly urbanized city,” Rigo said.

He said this can bring

Sidewalk rules ‘relaxed’ for vendors this Christmas

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Cops warn vs spike in drunk driving, other crimes this holiday season

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has warned against the expected rise in drunk driving accidents and petty crimes this holiday season.

DCPO spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey, in an interview during the Madayaw Davao program aired over the Davao City Disaster Radio on Monday, said the DCPO is currently intensifying its information campaign against drunk driving in the city amidst the numerous celebrations people will be attending this month.

To remedy this, the DCPO is constantly reminding citizens to drink responsibly and refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Isa na sa atong mga reminders na, siyempre, daghan na man gyud kaayo ang mga okasyon, parties— kasagaran sa mga parties naa gyud ng makahubog. So nag-remind mi na kung makainom lang galing mo, ayaw na mo pag-drive (That is one of our reminders since, of course, there will be a lot of occasions, parties—most of which involve liquor. So we are reminding people not to drink and

drive),” dela Rey said.

She advised people with the intent to drink during parties and events to take a taxi home or have someone pick them up.

Dela Rey said so far no crime has been reported in relation to the Pasko Fiesta since its opening on December 1. Though an increase in crimes against persons and property is usually recorded during Christmas season, this trend is yet to be seen in Davao City.

Dela Rey said the people’s heightened vigilance due to the city’s “culture of security’ has curbed the trend.

“Naay mga ginagmay na petty crimes apan dili pud ingana ka taas na mabalaka ta kay aware na man oud gud ang mga katawhan na inganing mga panahon vigilant na pud sila, naga-amping sila sa ilahang gamit (There were a number of petty crimes but not that high to warrant concern because the people are also now aware that at this time they’re very vigilant, they’re very careful of their possessions),” she said.

The DCPO spokesperson added that the liquor

Sidewalk vendors can double-side their spots during the holiday season after they requested to be given leeway from the office of the Ancillary Services Unit (ASU).

Paul Bermejo, head of ASU, said regular vendors from San Pedro, Uyanguren, and Ilustre areas flocked to the ASU office in the first week of December requesting his office to allow them to double-side

as what they are accustomed to during the leadership of former mayors Rodrigo Duterte and Sara Duterte.

“Ang gihimo namo gimitingan namo sa demolition team ug nahimong suggestion sa mga leaders sa kadalanan sila na maglista kung kinsa ang ilahang mga tao nga ibutang nga mag double-side, kung asa na area, size sa ilahang mga lamesa,” Ber-

mejo said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Tuesday.

Bermejo said Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte also gave his permission to enable the vendors to recover from their livelihood after the pandemic.

“Karon ma obserbahan na pirting daghana na nila hinuon,” he said.

Bermejo also said that those vendors were removed from near Bajada corner Sta. Ana in Gaisano Mall of Davao was also allowed to come back to their respective spot.

However, he said that

the vendors are only allowed until the end of December this year, and the extension will be until January 2 next year.

“Dili na nato na sila pabalikon gyud labi na sa mga area nga ato silang gipangtanggal didto tungod kay ibalik na pud nato sa pedestrians ang atoang mga sidewalks,” he said.

In 2017, former Mayor Sara Duterte signed an Executive Order (EO) No. 05 creating and organizing the interim ASU of the Office of the City Mayor wherein among its duties

235 city gov’t personnel recognized for relief ops

The city government of Davao recognized 235 personnel who took part in relief operations in areas affected by severe tropical storm Paeng and heavy rains that ravaged parts of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato City and oth-

er parts of Southwestern Mindanao.

The personnel, who were recognized during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony, represents the offices that were involved during the operations namely City Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Office (47), City Social Welfare and Development Office (37), City Health Office (10), City Engineer’s Office (27), Ancillary Services Unit (48), Davao City Police Office (44), Task Force Davao (18) and City Information Office(4).

“Again ang city govern-

ment of Davao through Mayor Baste Duterte mapasalamaton sa atong mga kaubanan nga bisan pa man sa mga panghitabo kinahanglan tabangan even beyond Davao City andam gyud na mutabang ug daghan kaayong salamat

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey says the DCPO is currently intensifying its information campaign against drunk driving in the city amidst the numerous celebrations people will be attending this yuletide season. Lean Daval Jr.

The city government is relaxing its rules on sidewalk vendors this Christmas season to allow for better sales.

OLIVIA

JASPER

JOCELYN S. PANES

“There is a possibility of

in the

anybody can plant it.”

Senator SHERWIN GATCHALIAN

Contemporary global developments such as the protracted Russia-Ukraine war, the centuries-old Israel-Palestine situation, the growing restiveness in Iran and China and the US - Iran JCPOA nuclear deal impasse, are getting so critical and tension-filled that one is either driven to boredom or succumbed to ailments that lead to scary, paralyzing results such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, migraine, ulcer, etc.

To escape these cruel impositions by our fellow humans on humanity itself, I take refuge and grant myself adequate time for solitude.

I access a movie warehouse internet link given me by my

grandson that has a collection of thousands of movies - new and old - in all genres.

To say that I love western flicks is an understatement.

I am actually addicted to cowboy films especially those starring Errol Flynn, Randolph Scott, Charlon Heston, Rory Calhoun, Gregory Peck, Glen Ford, Alan Ladd, John Wayne, William Holden, Paul Newman, George Montgomery, Charles Bronson, Audie Murphy and of course Clint Eastwood.

I did a movie marathon one time when there was a break in the UAAP and NCAA wars. I clicked “The Shootist,” from a John Wayne list, Paul Newman’s “Hombre” and Clint’s “The Outlaw Josey Wales.”

I consider these three as classic westerns which I never tire of watching because I just love their individual acting, the photography and production and the storyline.

I am not technically an ex-

pert on moviemaking nor on rating movies. Like I said, I just love cowboy films.

Since childhood, I love seeing my movie heroes triumph in the end alive and not dead. It makes me happy when my heroes subdue or kill the ‘contravidas’ and all the villains and survive the attack.

But in “the Shootist,” Wayne, a retiring US Marshall dying of cancer, got killed, shot in the back by a treacherous saloon bartender after liquidating three of his sworn enemies who wanted his scalp badly.

Wth his usual swagger and his Southern cowboy accent, Wayne, as JB Books, aptly portrayed the attitude of a gunslinger who had barely a month to live.

In the script, Books was celebrating his birthday in the hotel saloon while three angry men waited to kill him. They did not know that Books was already terminally dying.

Thematically, somehow I found similarities in Wayne’s portrayal of the eldest son in “The Sons of Katie Elder.”

Paul Newman is forever number one in methodical acting. In “Hombre,” a 1967 Western action drama, he is John Russell, a man raised by American Indians in Arizona, who accidentally got involved in a situation he did not like and did not create.

He returned to his hometown to collect his inheritance and found the people not so friendly enough to welcome him.

Forced by co-passengers in the stagecoach he was riding to save the life of a woman who expressed her racist dislike against the ways of native Indians, Russell faced a gang of stagecoach hold-uppers led by Cicero Grimes (Richard Boone of Have Gun Will Travel fame).

With a film budget of just USD5.86M, “Hombre” earned

12M during its run in the US market.

“The Outlaw Josey Wales” is a fast-paced cowboy flick that has revenge as the primary motive. Clint Eastwood plays a farmer whose family was murdered by Union Army men in the closing days of the Civil War.

He joins a Confederate guerilla group in Missouri in his effort to track down his family’s killers.

The action sequences will delight you as they did to me and keep you from drowsing.

As in all Clint’s adventurous and action-filled scripts, I found “...Wales” far more refreshing than the Spaghetti Western (Few Dollars…) trilogy he made before that helped launch him into stardom and world-wide fame.

By the way, Clint Eastwood himself directed “...Wales.” Cheers! (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

“Never Forget” is an expression and political slogan used to urge others to remember the events surrounding a national tragedy.

It was first used in relation to the damages brought by World War 2 which started as a sincere symbol of shared trauma.

The estimated 40 to 50 million deaths made it the bloodiest conflict, as well as the largest war, in history.

The Philippines’ involvement in World Waf started in December 8, 1941 when Japan launched a surprise attack just nine hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In order to secure the airstrips and support the ground offensives, initial aerial bombardment was followed by landings of ground troops both north and south of Manila, the main force landing at Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan.

The Philippine defense continued until the final surrender of United States-Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942 and on Corregidor in May.

At least 10,000 men died during the infamous “Death

March” where an estimated 80,000 prisoners of war captured by the Japanese at Bataan were forced to march to a prison camp in Tarlac. Many died before reaching their destination, weakened by disease and malnutrition and treated harshly by their captors.

The growing opposition to Japanese occupation was primarily led by underground and guerrilla activity.

By the time of Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945, the country had suffered great loss of life and tremendous physical destruction. An estimated 1 million Filipinos had been killed and Manila was extensively damaged.

Most of the surviving Filipino veterans are now in the twilight of their lives, many were merely teenagers who were forced by circumstance to come of age and carry the brunt of a nation under attack by being young fighters.

Remembering World War II was the focus of the Pandesal Forum by Kamuning Bakery wherein speakers urged Filipinos to remember what happened, particularly the heroism of the veterans and

the stories of victims such as the “comfort women”.

The speakers included Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo, Veterans Federation of the Philippines Sons & Daughters Association, Inc. National EVP Mike Villa-Real, and yours truly for the “Flowers for Lolas” the alliance of advocates on the comfort women issues.

On December 8, 2017, or seventy six years after the Japanese landing in the Philippines, the four-meter comfort woman “Lola” statue was installed along Roxas Boulevard. It was wearing a traditional Filipino dress, blindfolded, with hands clutched to her chest.

As a reporter in the 1990s, I covered the Asian sex slaves who were brave enough to tell the world about this inhuman practice of the Japanese during the war.

About 200,000 women from Korea, China, Burma, New Guinea, and the Philippines were held in captivity and many thousands more were raped as part of one of the largest operations of sexual violence in modern history.

The girls who were abducted, trafficked, or brought to the

Japanese military camps had their own dreams and visions for the future. All of these were shattered.

The victims spent their lives in misery, having endured physical injuries, pain and disability, as well as mental and emotional suffering.

However, the statue was dismantled on April 27, 2018 by the DPWH , allegedly for a drainage improvement project, but it was seen as a submission to protests from Japan.

The statue was delivered to its artist, Jonas Roces, for safekeeping. But the statue was declared missing when Roces failed to turn over the statue during its scheduled reinstallation on August 25, 2019 at the Baclaran church.

The dwindling number of the surviving comfort women highlights a sense of urgency for them to receive a formal, unequivocal public apology and just compensation from Japan as well as accurate historical inclusion while their voices can still be heard.

Human Rights Day is observed every December 10 which commemorates the adoption in 1948 of the Uni-

versal Declaration of Human Rights.(UNDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly.

The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

The document was primarily influenced by the atrocities committed during World War 2 and by the need to protect the human rights of people from various walks of life, against the inhumane abuses of governments and rulers.

Remembering history helps us to appreciate how events in the past made things the way they are today, to avoid mistakes and to create better paths for our society.

Through the hashtag “#neverforget”, we understand our own lives better.

(Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 09088665786.)

“Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.” - MARK TWAIN.

PH’s weak cyber security seen as risk to BPO sector

The Philippines’ cyber security landscape is looking bleak, putting tens of thousands of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) workforce at risk, according to a report by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

This was after various stakeholders presented a snapshot of the country’s poor Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure at the launch of the National Cybersecurity Plan 2022 Assessment Survey.

According to a report put together by USAID’s Better Access and Con-

nectivity (BEACON), the Philippines is “poised to jeopardize” the US portion of its BPO market. US BPO contracts make up 75 percent of the $23-billion Philippine BPO market.

The Philippines is one of the least cyber-secure countries in Asia to work from, according to a study conducted by an online

marketing firm, Reboot Digital PR Agency.

The study placed the Philippines ninth with 19 monthly drive-by downloads and an average of 880 malware-hosting sites online, which is 20 sites more per 100,000 URLs than that of its relatively close neighbor, Malaysia — which ranks third.

Recently, Global Security company, Kaspersky Lab, identified the Philippines as the top target of banking malware in the Asia-Pacific region. The country has the highest number of users attacked by banking Trojans

malware.

USAID BEACON, in its presentation to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), pointed out that the Philippines should invest in its cyber security capacity to better equip the country to weather increasing and relentless cyber-attacks and information security breaches.

“The data points that were shared in the report were more notional and indicative rather than very specific, but by implementing some of our recommen-

Brokerage firm sees sustained recovery for real estate sector

Officials of a real estate brokerage firm in the country is optimistic of the continued growth of domestic real state sector given the reopening of the economy and the private sector’s low debt level.

In a virtual briefing on Monday, Leechu Property Consultants (LCP) chief executive officer (CEO) David Leechiu said prices are rising amid the uptrend of interest rates but demand

for office and residential spaces remained high.

Results of the firm’s middle of December 2022 study show that office demand so far this year reached 975,000 square meters (sqm), exceeding the combined demand in the past two years at 389,000 sqm in 2020 and 540,0000 sqm in 2021.

Bulk of the demand came from the information technology-business

process management (ITBPM) sector at 466,000 sqm given the hybrid work set-up.

With the return-towork policy expected in 2023, the study indicated that resumption of 100 percent office work for the IT-BPM sector alone would require an office space demand of around 793,000 sqm.

The firm said a 210,000 sqm of live requirement

from the IT-BPM sector is already visible to date.

In terms of the impact of the rising interest rate, LCP Director for Research and Consultancy Roy Golez said property developers are more affected than the customers because the latter are given longer payment terms to cushion the impact of the higher rates.

“It’s more on the developer side where we will

Food ingredients and plastics manufacturer

D&L Industries is optimistic about surpassing this year’s record earnings in 2023 as the economy further reopens.

In a media interview Monday after the marking of the firm’s 10th listing anniversary, D&L president and chief executive officer Alvin Lao said the opening of its Batangas plant by the middle of next year is expected to boost local and export sales.

“Our new plant is based in a PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) zone. So as a Filipino company, in a PEZA zone, we are mandated or required to export minimum 50 percent of our revenue. Right now, we only export 33 percent of revenue. But this new plant, when it comes online, the minimum exports (should be) 50 percent so that is going to be one of our growth drivers to increase exports,” he said.

Lao said they are looking to penetrate new export markets in Asia, North America and Europe.

“2023 will be an even

better year than 2022… Hopefully, the tourism (also) opens up again, recovers and then next year, the global economy will get back to growth,” he added.

Lao said the company is expected to surpass this year its record performance before the pandemic in 2018 despite it was adversely affected by the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases due to the Omicron variant in the first quarter.

As people gain more confidence in going out of their homes with the recent lifting of the mask mandate, he said the resulting increase in consumer spending should be good for their various businesses.

The company registered a 17-percent year-onyear growth in net income as of end-September 2022 to PHP2.5 billion.

During D&L 10th listing anniversary bell-ringing ceremony at the bourse, Philippine Stock Exchange president Ramon Monzon said, “I am confident that this net income growth trajectory will not only

Chemical, food maker sees another record profit in 2023

Davao City First District Councilor Bernard Al-ag says the City Council is open to the idea of having buskers to enliven the Roxas night market and the plan to introduce of having food trucks in the night market. Lean Daval Jr FPH’s,A4

Prime Infra, DOE officials conduct assessment visit in Malampaya

Officials of the Department of Energy, as well as Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc, visited the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project’s shallow water platform last Dec. 8 to assess conditions and ensure sustainability, the Enrique Razon-led firm said on Tuesday.

Prime Infra in November said its subsidiary Prime Energy has completed the acquisition of a 45-percent operating stake in Malampaya gas project operator. It then assumed full ownership of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V (SPEX) which was renamed to Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. (Prime Energy).

Malampaya is located about 50 km offshore from Palawan. The shallow water platform is the part of the facility that processes the gas that will subsequently be exported through a 504-km underwater pipeline, Prime Infra

said.

“Given the urgency to sustain the operations of Malampaya at a time of great energy insecurity, this visit by the DOE officials with the Prime Infra Group to the shallow water platform is timely and necessary,” Prime Infra President and CEO Guillaume Lucci said.

Prime Infra said it is committed to delivering outstanding operations and “further the potential” of SC38, which covers the Malampaya, “to ensure continuity of gas production as long as the reserves can accommodate it.”

“We aim to contribute by doing all that can be done to generate as much power as possible to keep up with the energy demands in Luzon. The most important thing to do for the company right now is to sustain and expand gas production while we address the license extension for SC38,” Lucci said.

A4

PH trade deficit narrower in Oct

PhilippineStatistics Authority (PSA) deputy national statistician Divina Gracia del Prado reported in a press briefing Tuesday that last month’s inflation is more than double from November 2021 inflation rate of 3.7 percent.

The Philippines continued to record a trade deficit in October, albeit narrower month-on-month and yearon-year, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Tuesday showed.

The balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) — the difference between the value of exports and imports — posted a $3.306-billion deficit in October to reflect

a 13.5% annual decrease.

This compares with the $4.843-billion deficit in September, and the $3.822-billion deficit in October 2021.

A trade deficit indicates that the country imported more than it shipped out goods during a period, while a surplus indicates that the country exported more than it brought in goods from other countries.

Exports grew by 20.0% to $7.695 billion from $6.412 billion the same month last year. Receipts were also higher than the $7.163 billion in September.

Increases were seen in three major commodity groups — electronic products up 39.6%, ignition wiring set up 26.1%, and machinery and transport equipment up 1.9%.

The biggest drops were in cathodes which fell by 34.5%, chemicals by 33.6%, other manufactured goods by 13.5%, other mineral products by 11.5%, and metal components by 9.0%.

Hong Kong was the biggest export partner for the month with $1.28 billion or 16.6% of the total for the month, followed by the USA with $1.18 billion, Japan with $999.67 million, China with $959.59 million, and Singapore with $438.03 million.

By economic bloc, the majority of the exports went to member countries of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which accounted for $6.41 billion or 83.2% of the total.

This was followed by East Asia with $3.86 billion or 50.1%, and the Associa-

Office demand resilient in 2023, says Leechiu

Office demand in the Philippines picked up in 2022 as it surpassed the combined demand in 2 preceding years, according to the data from a consulting firm.

This year, office demand was at 975,000 square meters, higher than the 389,000 sqm in 2020 and 540,000 sqm in 2021, data from Leechiu Property Con-

sultants showed.

Its CEO David Leechiu said the IT-BPM sector, which includes business process outsourcing, accounted for the majority of share in demand for the year.

“The IT-BPM sector continues to stabilize and anchor the economy, not only in Metro Manila but also in other key cities of

the country. With traditional office occupiers now also enjoying recovery, real estate is likely to surpass its remaining obstacles in 2023,” he said.

The sector posted a 466,000 sqm demand as of mid-December, the group said. IT-BPM also hired about 265,000 employees in the last 3 years, Director for Commercial Leasing

Mikko Barranda said.

“We can thus expect office demand from this sector to continue growing, moreso because IT-BPM industry studies estimate that 1.1 million more fulltime employees will be hired in the next 6 years. This could mean, at the least, an additional annual 476,000 sqm of office space requirement up to 2028,”

he said.

Meanwhile, traditional office occupiers posted a take-up of 448,000 sqm.

The growth comes despite the exit of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) as well as the hybrid work arrangements.

Leechiu said growth is also likely to continue by 2023.

“Up to mid-2022, it was

difficult to visualize yearend demand hitting close to the 1 million sqm mark. The results have exceeded expectations but we can’t put our guard down just yet,” he said.

“We thus will start the new year cautiously optimistic about the prospects of the real estate industry in the next 12 months,” he added.

To promote the local delicacies of Zamboanga, the City Tourism Office holds the “Golosinas de Zamboanga” competition on Monday, 12 December 2022. Golosinas means delicacies. Zamboanga’s delicacies are a mixture of Chavacano heritage and Malay influences. MindaNews photo by JULES L. BENITEZ

BDO starts mentorship of OSY in cloud services

BDO Unibank welcomed the first batch of on-the-job trainees on cloud-related work as part of its support to the collaboration of YouthWorks PH and Philippine Business Education (PBEd) with Amazon Web Services (AWS), which aims to give free cloud computing skills training for 600 unemployed

and out-of-school youths across the Philippines via AWS re/Start.

The Bank has committed the expertise of its experienced IT professionals to train 100 youths on cloud services, infrastructure and network monitoring, system administration, low-risk security operation activities,

SIT/UAT testing, and automation scripting.

This December, the first batch will undergo a threemonth mentorship and afterward, be eligible for employment opportunities in BDO. But before starting their onsite training with the Bank, the trainees completed remote mentoring,

and employability skills and technical-vocational training with AWS re/Start in Quezon City last month.

“BDO is committed to delivering products and services that exceed customer expectations. As we take our financial services to the next level with the use of cloud technologies, it is

vital that we have the right people for the job. Cloud talents trained by AWS re/ Start through YouthWorks PH will play a critical role toward this big step towards the future,” said BDO Unibank President and CEO Nestor Tan during the contract-signing event.

BDO is the only bank

to be part of this collaborative initiative with AWS and YouthWorks PH, a private-sector driven youth employability program of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and PBEd. Other partners include technology startups PROUDCLOUD and Launchgarage.

Pag-IBIG Fund Stakeholders fete

SHDA members as top developers

With their significant contributions to the continued growth of the Pag-IBIG Fund, twenty-two members of the largest private housing developers alliance in the country, Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Inc. (SHDA), were commended as top-performing real estate developers in the Pag-IBIG Fund Stakeholders’ Accomplishment Report (StAR) for Q1 to Q3 of 2022.

The Stakeholders’ Accomplishment Report is an event conducted by the stateowned Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or PagIBIG Fund to recognize the top developers, employers, service partners, and key stakeholders in five major regions in the Philippines whose support to the organization has been instrumental in allowing them to perform excellently in the pursuit of their mandates.

“As the largest and leading housing and real estate developers association in the Philippines, it is truly an honor

for us that HDMF recognized the achievements of some of our members, which have delivered outstanding performance in the first to the third quarter of this year. We are proud to say that our members have been consistent recipients of Pag-IBIG Fund’s StAR Awards year after year. This shows how our alliance is committed to Pag-IBIG Fund’s pursuit of providing affordable home financing for Filipino families and a more vibrant housing and real estate sector,” said SHDA President May Rodriguez.

SHDA members Raemulan Lands, Inc., Axeia Development Corporation, The New Apec Group of Companies, 8990 Housing Development Corporation, Borland Development Corporation, Homemark Group of Companies, P.A Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation, CENQHOMES Development Corporation and PHINMA Property Holdings Corporation claimed the top nine

spots respectively for top developers in the National Capital Region.

Borland Development Corporation is named “best performing loans ratio” and the “best performing accounts ratio”, while A. J Mark Group of Companies grabbed the “best performing conversion” award in the NCR.

Included in the North Luzon top developers are Hausland Group (Top 1), Borland Development Corporation (Top 3), 8990 Housing Development Corporation (Top 4), The New Apec Group of Companies (Top 7) and P.A Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (Top 8). Borland Development Corporation bagged the “best in performing accounts ratio award. The New Apec Group of Companies got the “best in performing loans ratio” award, while 8990 Housing Development Corporation got the “best performing conversion” award.

Meanwhile, The New

Apec Group of Companies (Top 2), Lynville Land Development Corporation (Top 3), Borland Development Corporation (Top 7), Shelter Systems Development Corporation (Top 8) and Bellavita Land Corporation (Top 10) hailed as the top developers in South Luzon.

SHDA members also dominated the Visayas region with 8990 Housing Development Corporation (Top 1), Cebu Landmasters Incorporation

(Top 3), Saekyung Realty Corporation (Top 5), Johndorf Ventures Corporation (Top 7), Pacific Land Ventures and Property Devt. Inc. (Top 8), and Juanito King and Sons Incorporated (Top 9). Cebu Land Masters bagged the “best performing loans ratio” award.

Finally, 8990 Housing Development Corporation emerged as the top developer in Mindanao along with Johndorf Ventures Corporation (Top 2), VCDU Realty Corpo-

ration (Top 3), Davao Joyful Homes Realty Corporation or DJHRC (Top 5), Liberty Land Corporation (Top7) and PHINMA Property Holdings Corporation (Top 8). The “best in performing accounts ratio” and “best in performing loans ratio” awards were given to DJHRC.

The Pag-IBIG Fund StAR is one of the ways of HDMF to promote transparency and accountability, as they report the strong state of the PagIBIG Fund.

During the event held last November 29, 2022, at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, Pag-IBIG Chief Executive Officer Marilene Acosta also announced that Pag-IBIG continues to soar, with a total of P810.07 billion in total assets as of today. With the current 14.91 million active members, it collected P66.66 billion in member savings, while the MP2 voluntary saving program increased to P33.72 billion.

NEXT GENERATION. BDO Unibank proudly supports the collaboration between Philippine Business Education (PBEd) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) by providing on-the-job training on cloud-related services to participating unemployed and out-of-school youth across the country through YouthWorks Ph and AWS re/Start. In the photo are (from left): BDO President and CEO Nestor V.

Tan, US Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’affaires Heather Variava, PBEd Executive Director Love Basillote, AWS Philippines Country Head Stephen Thomas Misa, USAID/Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn, and LaunchGarage COO Jojo Flores.

Globe, partners land $150M PDSCN cable project in Boracay

Globe and its partners

Eastern Communications and InfiniVAN, Inc. marked another milestone as the US$150-million Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN) project landed in the tourist island of Boracay, Aklan, on November 25, providing better connectivity crucial to economic recovery.

The project deployed fiber cables in the popular tourist destination as part of the country’s longest domestic submarine fiber cable network, designed

to improve mobile and broadband connectivity.

PDSCN also aims to bridge previously unserved and underserved areas with fast internet coverage to ensure equitable access across the country.

“The importance of widespread and reliable connectivity has become more apparent if we are to build a digital economy. We continue with our investments in fiber connectivity to our many islands so we can help in nation-building and drive economic growth,” said

Ernest Cu, Globe Group President and CEO.

“We’re aiming to boost one of the Philippines’ greatest strengths— tourism. Boracay, being one of the most popular destinations in the archipelago, is a strategic landing point to strengthen our network capacity and resiliency. We believe improved connectivity in Boracay can help boost tourism again after the dragging impact of the pandemic,” said Arlene Jallorina, Globe Business Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Invest-

ments.

PDSCN tapped stateof-the-art ship Cable Infinity from Japanese vendor Kokusai Cable Ship Co. Ltd. to bring the cable sourced from global fiber optic cable maker Nexans across the archipelago, covering a total cable distance of 2,500 kilometers.

It aims to improve connectivity across the country and is in line with the government’s pursuit of innovation, e-governance, and greater digital adoption among Filipinos, in line with Globe’s

CHEMICAL...

PRIME...

FROM A1

be maintained but will be surpassed in the coming years as the company’s new PHP10.2 billion facility

PH...

FROM A2

tion of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with $1.18 billion or 15.3%.

Imports for the month increased by 7.5% to $11.002 billion from $10.234 billion in October 2021, but decreased from $12.006 billion in September.

The biggest expansions were seen in the imports of metalliferous ores and metal scrap which increased by 462.7%, transport equipment up by 46.3%, other food and live animals by

in Batangas becomes operational next year, 2023.” (PNA)

40.3%, mineral fuels and lubricants by 29.7%, and miscellaneous manufactured articles by 10.2%.

The biggest annual declines were recorded in industrial machinery and equipment down 22.7%, telecommunication equipment down 16.6%, cereals and cereal preparation down 11.4%, iron and steel down 11.0%, and electronic products down 0.4%.

China remained the biggest importer of goods to the Philippines with $2.22

FROM A2

Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla interacted with the all-Filipino team during the visit, Prime Infra said.

“I am happy to have visited the Malampaya platform and to have met personally the all-Filipino professional team that has maintained the facility in good condition for the benefit of a generation of Filipinos. I look forward to the facility’s serving future generations of Filipinos,”

billion or 20.2% of imports for the month, followed by Indonesia with $1.27 billion, Japan with $1.01 billion, South Korea with $920.05 million, and USA with $767.87 million.

Lotilla said.

Malampaya has helped reduce oil imports by harnessing indigenous natural gas. It has also generated revenues for the government amounting to over P1 trillion, Prime Infra said.

Malampaya has powered up to 20 percent of Luzon’s total electricity requirement since 2001, it added. The consortium’s license for the project is set to expire in 2024.

In terms of economic bloc, APEC member countries accounted for $9.83 billion or 85.3% of imports, followed by East Asia with $4.92 billion, and the ASEAN with $3.26 billion.

commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, the project is in support of UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG No. 17, which emphasizes the value of partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

Boracay is the 20th landing point under the nine-month project, which targets 33 sites across the country. PDSCN ear-

lier landed cables in Lucena City, Quezon; Boac, Marinduque; Calatrava, Romblon; Placer, Masbate; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Roxas City; Siargao, Surigao del Norte; Palompon, Leyte; Mactan, Cebu; Dipolog City; Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental; Talisay City, Cebu; Tagbilaran; Baclayon; Cagayan De Oro City; San Carlos; Toledo; and Caticlan.

The project kicked off at Subic Bay in Zambales last July 14 and is scheduled for completion by April next year.

PH’s... FROM A1

dations... (such as) encouraging more professionals in the cybersecurity professionals in the public sector. The way to do that is to ensure that there are specific

BROKERAGE...

be seeing a higher impact of these interest rates as logistics inflation and interest rates impact on the construction cost when delivery these products, especially when the prices would have been fixed today and the construction for a certain building will be over a period of four years, maybe even five years.” he said during the same briefing.

Leechiu further said the

job descriptions that relate to cybersecurity functions that pay and retain cybersecurity professionals,” said John Garrity, Chief of Party USAID’s BEACON Activity.

FROM A1

real estate sector remains robust despite several economic crisis in recent years and its impact on prices. “That’s a testament to the high savings rate and the low debt levels in the private sector. And that’s why, despite all these ramping up of interest rates, it not really caused much havoc in the property sector as far as capital values are concerned,” he said. He said many people

FROM 2

the pride of our city,” Rigo said.

He also said that Aeon is becoming a trailblazer and trendsetter in urban property development, demonstrated as it is by the successful establishment of Aeon Towers some couple of years ago along Bajada in this city.

It can be recalled that his father recently called for the implementation of the law creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) to put in place efficient,

DAVAO...

long-term solutions to the challenges facing the rapid urbanization and progress of one of the fastest-growing regional economies in the country.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11708 or the MDDA law, Metropolitan Davao is composed of the cities of Davao, Panabo, Tagum, Island Garden in Samal, Digos, and Mati, as well as the municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Hagonoy, Padada, Malalag, Sulop, Carmen, Maco, Malita and Sta. Maria in the Davao Region.

SIDEWALK...

and functions include addressing problems and concerns arising from the illegal occupation of sidewalks, ensuring the unobstructed use by pedestrians of the same,

COPS...

FROM 3

ban and curfew on minors will remain enforced all throughout the season.

“Dili maputol ang atong curfew on minors ug liquor ban, naa gihapoy limit. Kung gusto mo mag-inom, sa sulod lang sa balay (Our curfew on minors and the liquor ban will not stop,

FROM 3

regulate vendors thereon, summarily remove illegal sidewalks vendors, structures or occupants, and such other functions as may be necessary to attain its objectives.

GIANT...

FROM 8

seph Turqueza, FM David Elorta, IM Ronald Bancod, IM Eric Labog Jr., IM Rolando Nolte, FM Jeth Romy Morado, IM Kim Steven Yap, IM Ricky de Guzman and IM Chito Garma.

The fancied foreign

LIONEL...

there are still limits. If you want to drink, do it inside your homes),” she said.

Police officers and security personnel will continue patrolling public places and establishments even during Christmas and New Year’s to ensure the liquor ban and curfew are followed. CIO

FROM 2

was approved by the city council last month to assist the people in these disaster-struck areas.

“Ang tabang nga gihatag sa (the aid given by)

CITY...

FROM 2

are predominant in the night market. The move is a means to level-up considering the number of private night markets being established across Davao City.

Councilor Al-ag said they are looking at the segment of the Roxas Avenue near Quezon Boulevard as an area for food trucks.

Davao City Government to the municipalities or provinces kay para sa ilahang mga (is for their) constituents,” Baloran said. CIO

He added that the amended night market ordinance will soon be signed by Mayor Sebastian Duterte and will put in place different night markets among the city’s three districts. On the pipeline are the night markets in Toril and along the old airport road in Sasa. (PIA/RG Alama)

bets, GMs Hoivhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia, Lucas Van Foreest of the Netherlands, Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden and Pier Luigi Basso of Italy, all breezed through their first round assignments. (PNA)

FROM 7

by Diego Maradona (8), Guillermo Stabile (8), Mario Kempes (6) and Gonzalo Higuain (5).

Messi is the only player to score in the World Cup in his teens, 20s and 30s. Pele missed out on accomplishing the same by four months.

Messi scored his first and latest World Cup goals 16 years and 176 days apart. The next biggest span in World Cup history belongs

235 CITY...

to Cristiano Ronaldo at 16 years and 160 days.

The Player of the Match, first awarded in 2002, has been given to Messi an unequalled nine times. His four at Brazil 2014 is a record for one edition he shares with Wesley Sneijder, who received the same at South Africa 2010.

Miroslav Klose has played in 17 World Cup victories. Messi is currently on 15. (WAM)

FROM 3

kaninyo. Hinaut sa umaabot pa nga mga adlaw wala man nato gina wish nga magpadayon ang pagabot sa mga kalamidad ug needed pa gyud ang atong assistance ug voluntarism naa lang gihapon ta ug ready ta nga mu-extend sa atong help,” said Harvey Lanticse, officer-in-charge of the City Information Office (CIO) over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Tuesday.

Last month, the city sent batches of welfare goods to Cotabato City and Maguindanao and de-

ployed trucks to the said areas, carrying boxes of welfare goods, medicines, sleeping kits, and hygiene kits from the city government, the Philippine Coast Guard, and private donors.

The Davao City Social Welfare and Development Office also sent psychologists and social workers to assist in the psychosocial intervention of the affected individuals. Personnel from DCPO and Task Force Davao were also deployed to help in the distribution of goods.

By Maya M. Padillo

Vegas Davao wins Milo 3x3 Mindanao Finals

Team Vegas powered by Gas Island Mega Bulldogs Davao captured the 16-Under division title in the MILO 3x3 Mindanao Finals held last December 10 and 11 at the Plaza Luz in Pagadian City.

Vegas crushed Valencia, 12-8 in the finals with a team built around Alvin Rex Villanueva, Randy Gimena, Noel Lanceta and Enrico Macavinta.

Vegas marchied to the finals with wins over Cagayan de Oro (14-6), Tagum (by default), Pagadian (7-1), Ozamiz (16 – 2) and Iligan City (1110).

Vegas also saw action in the 12 Under and 14 Under division.

Lionel Messi seeks to break his own World Cup records

DOHA – Lionel Messi boasts multiple World Cup records. They involve one-of-a-kind goals, assists and appearances.

Barcelona’s former and Paris’ current talisman is seeking to surpass Pele and Miroslav Klose’s achievements that the FIFA is highlighting in a report published Monday ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final tie against Croatia.

“Messi is one of only six men to have played in five World Cups alongside Antonio Carbajal, Lothar Matthaus, Rafa Marquez, Andres Guardado and Cris-

tiano Ronaldo,” the report said.

Messi has played in 24 World Cup games, one less than Lothar Matthaus’ record. If he makes it to the semifinals, third-place play-off, or final, “La Pulga Atomica” will seize the overall lead.

The World Cup has seen Messi and Rafa Marquez make a combined total of 18, which is the most of any player. Then Diego Maradona follows them (16).

Paolo Maldini holds the record for the most minutes played in the World Cup: 2,217. Messi is on 2,104 and could break

the record if Argentina’s semi-final against Croatia goes to extra-time.

Messi is the only player to register an assist in five World Cups. His closest challengers are Pele, Grzegorz Lato, Diego Maradona and David Beckham, who set up goals in three editions apiece.

Pele holds the record for the most assists in the knockout phase (6). Messi has five to his name.

Gabriel Batistuta and Messi are Argentina’s joint-leading marksmen in the World Cup on 10 goals apiece. They are followed

Vegas’ 14-Under squad sponsored by RS Tan Construction Little Bulldogs was composed by Juaki Garcia, Abram Amaneo, Joshua Costan and Ralph Claveria.

They beat Iligan, 7-6 in the semifinals but lost to CdO, 8-12 in the cham-

pionship game. Vegas 12-Under squad powered by Farma Auto Supply Mini Bulldogs had only three cagers in JM Oropeza, Alberto Labandero and AJ Ejurango. Duncan Tan did not travel due to an injury.

The team placed fourth after losing to General Santos City, 7-8.

Vegas Fuels was mentored by Coach Prince Macavinta while team owner is John Oropeza.

A total of 10 cities participated in the Mindanao Finals.

The Vegas Fuels Davao 16U team is composed of Alvin Rex Villanueva, Randy Gimena, Noel Lanceta and Enrico Macavinta.

Argentia football star Lionel Messi has played in 24 World Cup games, one less than Lothar Matthaus’ record.

If he makes it to the semifinals, third-place play-off, or final, “La Pulga Atomica” will seize the overall lead.

GIANT SLAYER

Panabo chesser upsets 9th seed Moldova player in Pacquiao chess tourney

National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Panabo City sent shockwaves down the tournament area as he slew ninth seed International Master Dragos Ceres of Moldova to seize an early share of the lead at the start of the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Tuesday.

The 13-year-old Panabo, Davao del Norte native who is now based in Dasmariñas wielded the Caro-Kann Defense with impunity and delivered the knockout blow via an unstoppable queenside passed pawn to hack out the stunning 57-move win.

When it was over, the 18-yearold Ceres, a European Under-15 silver winner and a reserve of the Moldovan team that saw action in Chennai Olympiad early this year, was left with two pawns down, an exposed king and an Arca b-file pawn ready to get promoted to a queen.

The reigning Bangkok East Asia Youth U14 open champion jumped into a 32-player logjam at No. 1 that included Filipino

Grandmasters John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Joey Antonio.

Arca was eyeing a fitting follow up to his mammoth win as he was clashing with veteran IM Cris Ramayrat in the second round at press time.

Gomez downed Ferdinand Leysa; Laylo taught student Mark Jay Bacojo a lesson and won their duel; and Antonio turned back Gerard Yulo in this nine-round tournament staking a total cash pot worth PHP4.2 million including PHP1.14 million to the winner, the biggest in decades, courtesy of boxing legend and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Other Filipinos who survived the first round were IM Richillieu Salcedo III, FIDE Master Mari Jo-

UPSET WIN. Filipino teenage sensation Christian Gian Karlo Arca (left) analyses his next move against ninth seed International Master Dragos Ceres of Moldova at the start of the MCPL’s Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival in General Santos on Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2022). Arca upset Ceres in 57 moves to seize an early share of the lead. (Contributed photo)

FGIANT, P6