Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 223 | Friday, January 6, 2023

DOCTORS’ INCENTIVES

Pulong wants tax breaks for doctors rendering free services to indigents

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao City First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has sought the grant of tax incentives to doctors volunteering their services for free to indigent patients as way to recognize their “selfless and committed” efforts in helping provide quality healthcare to Filipinos.

Duterte along with Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Edvic Yap and Jeffrey Soriano proposed through House Bill (HB) No. 5672, which states that physicians continuously rendering pro bono services to poor patients be given tax credits to be deducted from their

gross income. Under HB 5672, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) are tasked to evaluate the pro bono services rendered by physicians by considering the number of hours put in and the nature of the treat-

Mindanao schools need P409-M for repairs due to shear line, LPA

Dozens of schools in Mindanao sustained damage due to the rains and floods triggered by the shear line and a low pressure area (LPA) affecting the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday.

As of Jan. 4, up to 42 learning institutions suf-

fered infrastructure damage as a result of heavy rains in the past days, the DepEd said in a report.

Of the total, 30 come from Northern Mindanao, 11 from the Caraga region and one from Zamboanga Peninsula.

The DepEd said it would need an estimated

P409 million to repair the schools.

Seven schools are currently being used as evacuation centers, including five in Oroquieta City and one each in Siargao and Surigao del Norte, the agency said.

Several local government units suspended Thursday classes in their

jurisdiction as an LPA continues to dump rains across the country.

On Wednesday, the national disaster response agency has reported that the number of people who died due to floods on Christmas day — also caused by rains dumped by the shear line — rose to 52.

The Lingap Para sa Mahirap Assistance online has catered to a total of 7,835 clients for the year 2022, head of Lingap Para sa Mahirap Patrick Celis said in an interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday.

The Lingap Program is an initiative of the Davao City Government to provide medical, laboratory, funeral, and hospital bill assistance to Davao City residents.

“For 2022, for public Lingap assistance, nakatabang tag 6,461 nga mga kliyente through online. Kani sila mga queries mga assistance nga nagapangayo og tabang sa Lingap pinaagi na sa online so ma-paspas ang ilang pagprocesso while sa private maam kaning mga private hospitals, funerals, dialysis, nakatabang tag 1,374 total nga kliyente for private. A total of 7,835 nga mga kliyente atong natabangan sa kaning online lingap palang, lahi paning sa mga walk-ins (For 2022, for public assistance we have helped a total of 6, 461 clients online, these

are clients who had queries and those who asked assistance though lingap so the processing was really efficient. While for the private, private hospitals, funerals, and dialysis we were able to help a total of 1,374 clients. We have helped a total of 7,835 clients and it is only for the online, the walk-in is separate),” he said.

Celis said that the online platform really helped their office decongest and shorter queues were noticed for those who seek assistance. For walk-in clients, they have more or less 500 clients per day at the main Lingap Para sa Mahirap SPMC and four satellite offices located in Marilog District, Bunawan District, Toril District, and Paquibato District.

“Mas daghan daghan pag clients nga walk-in gina endorse nato sa online ang uban ginatudluan nato sila unsaon pag-avail through online kung unsaon ang processing sa online. Tuod man sa online lingap mas mapaspas sila, ang himuon lang nila ani picturan nila ang require-

Commuters’ nightmare of waiting too long to get a ride home returns after classes resumed in Davao City after the Christmas holiday break. Lean Daval Jr.

More than 7k Dabawenyos benefit from Lingap Online

NTC 11 reminds public of June 27 deadline for SIM card registration

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Complaints against investment scams in Region 11 on the rise

Despite repeated warnings from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) against investment scams, many people are falling prey to various scheming activities in Davao Region

Lawyer Arcelito Albao, director of the National Bureau of Investigation NBISouth Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI SEMRO 11), told media the agency still receives complaints from victims of investment scams in the Davao Region.

“The SEC always gives warning to the people to avoid these investment scammers. But still, more and more people are being victimized by these scammers because of the offer of investment,” Albao told media on Wednesday.

Albao said NBI 11 has apprehended some of these scammers who are mostly “small” members as most of these schemes are being operated by international syndicates headed mostly by Nigerians.

“They have members

yung mga Pilipino dito mga victims yung mga nangongomisyon lang. Pag sinabi na okay na yung transactions, gagamit sila ng Pilipino para doon ilagay ang pera and after receiving ito ipapadala na sa mga scammers mismo. Marami na tayong nakasuhan at nahuli na ganitong scams. Maraming mga investment scams and most of these are being operated by syndicates. These are large scale syndicated scams,” he said.

He said the scammers are now also devising other techniques and improvising their scamming activities.

“Kasi nag improve yung mga law enforces and they are also improving their techniques,” he said.

Albao said he cannot divulge the names of the involves as some of them are currently under investigation and some cases were already filed in the City Prosecutors Office (CPO).

Apart from the investment schemes, NBI 11 is

An official of the National Telecommunication Commission 11 (NTC 11) reminded the public of the June 27, 2023 deadline for the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration.

Failure to register could case SIM deactivation.

“Ang mga Pilipino didto na magtapok sa unang adlaw ug sa katapusang adlaw. So ang NTC nagset ug deadline on June 27, 2023. Although, naa pa’y exten-

sion of not more than 120 days according to the IRR, so far karon wala pa tay nakita na reason nganong iextend so i-set nato ang atong hunahuna nga naa na lang tay 170 days para ma rehistro ang atong sim cards or else kung wala

ninyo na rehistro by June 28, 2023 deactivated na inyong mga SIM cards,” “director Nelson Cañete of the National Telecommunications Commission-11 (NTC-11) said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Thursday.

On December 27 last year, SIM card registration has begun. Cañete shared that on Monday registered SIM cards were close to 12 million and as of January 5, 2023, it rose to 15 million. NTC is targeting to register

180 million SIM cards.

“Kung nagtarget ta ug 180 million taas taas pa ang atong latason. Expected na muubos na ang numero kay humana naman tong opening salvo. Its been 10 days na sukad sa start sa registration or else ma out of this world ka kay ma deactivate ang inyong SIM card na gigamit so dili naka makontak ug dili naka kakontak,” Cañete said.

The first day of the

Additional P16 on minimum wage in Davao takes effect January 1

Pursuant to the Wage Order No. RB-XI-21 that granted an increase in minimum wage for workers in various sectors in Davao Region issued by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB) XI, an additional Php 16.00 on the minimum wage rate

in the region has taken effect on January 1, 2023, for both non-agriculture and agriculture sector. Said increase is the second tranche of the minimum wage increase from the issuance of the order on June 19, 2022.

From Php 427.00 rate since the effectivity of

Wage Order No. RB-XI-21, the second tranche has brought the new minimum wage rate to Php 443.00 for the non-agriculture and Php 438.00 for the agriculture sector from Php 422.00.

Meanwhile, for retail/ service establishments employing not more than

10 workers, the new minimum wage rate has rasied to Php 428.00 from Php 412.00. However, a third and final tranche shall be granted to the said sector with Php 15.00 increase effective April 1, 2023.

To recall, the board has simplified the classifica-

Lawyer Arcelito Albao, director of the National Bureau of Investigation NBI-South Eastern Mindanao Regional Office (NBI SEMRO 11), says the agency still receives complaints from victims of investment scams in the Davao Region despite the warning from the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lean Daval Jr.

“A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.’

- JOHN ADAMS.

*******

Because he advocated cleansing, DILG chief Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr may be an excellent endorser of a laundry soap product.

Just a joke, my friends.

Speculations are brewing that his impassioned plea for all PNP officers - from full colonel to general - to submit their courtesy resignation might fall on deaf ears or could create alarm bells that may demoralize the entire PNP hierarchy.

Abalos’ action - aired in a press conference - appeared to have been conducted in haste if the subsequent reaction in mainstream media and on social platforms are to be the gauge.

This corner understands where the DILC chief is com-

ing from.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

CLEANSING VIA COURTESY RESIGNATIONS

The string of buy bust raids and capture of huge amounts of shabu and other illegal drugs (in the billions!)- compounded by the arrest of a police sergeant and the sectoral PDEA chief in Taguig City - is an ominous sign that the drug lords are back in business and how.

Abalos - without categorically admitting it - has nonetheless confessed that high-ranking PNP officers are involved in the illegal “marketing” of shabu that has rendered the nation-wide campaign of the previous administration almost null and void.

He avoided using the word “syndicate,” though.

By focusing on the ranks of colonels and generals, inevitably those who will not submit their respective resignation letters will be deemed “hiding a skeleton in their closet.”

But of course. I will conform with the logic that says: “If you are not guilty, why be afraid?”

The police generals and

colonels have been put on the spot.

Abalos says the cleansing is necessary because the DILG and the PNP hierarchy have jointly discovered that some rotten eggs among the active colonels and the generals are in cahoots with drug lords who were emboldened with the departure of former President Duterete from Malacanang.

Abalos is cutting the long process of dealing with the “rotten PNP eggs” through the normal judicial means because it takes years and decades before a decision is arrived at by the court litigating illegal drugs cases.

So, if the DILG and the PNP have the goods on one, two or three generals et al and they submit their respective resignations, these will be accepted by the appointing power - the President.

Suppose, the guilty officers play it smart and let the law take its own course, endure the ignominy of being suspended and be publicly tried in the court of public opinion,

what happens next?

I presume the DILG and PNP and other collaborating government agencies are already prepared to file a tight case in court.

To achieve the impact of this cleansing process, Abalos needs the cooperation of all media sectors.

Like he emphasized more than once, our families - sons and daughters, mothers and fathers - are not safe anymore.

In truth and in fact, no one is safe if this alarming condition - described by the DILG chief himself - is now existing in our contemporary lives.

If I know, some colonels and generals who are involved are smart enough to promptly file a vacation or sick (medical) leave, seek medical treatment abroad but most likely take refuge in the US of A where they have relatives.

Uncle Sam has been the refuge of scoundrels from the Philippines from way back. Ask the Comelec. I think they know.

How will the DILG react to

this likelihood?

Can it issue a hold departure order against these guys who are yet to be properly identified and face preliminary procedural litigation before the prosecutor’s office?

Already, law firms famous for their litigation successes will be swamped with requests from the colonels and generals alluded to by Abalos in this cleansing process.

With enough “ammo” from their involvement in the illegal drugs trade, they can financially hire the best legal mind there is on the planet.

Running away is an admission of guilt because flight indicates guilt, that the person though not yet proven guilty, cannot face the truth.

But recall that a convicted corrupt military general and his family who “migrated” to the US were eventually punished, thinking the long arms of our laws cannot reach them.

Paging Jason Bourne. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

The ethics of digital well-being deals with emerging issues related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), that powers logarithms. Logarithms influence consumer attitude and behavior, and affects the values of modern culture through social media. Digital ethics impacts people’s mental health, their work, and our moral reasoning. Young people who are exposed to the internet can suffer emotionally due to neuroplasticity. A young mind that is not yet fully developed may be a cause of concern in terms of stress as a result of a toxic digital environment.

The toxic culture in the internet may be related to the influence of fake information, cancel culture, and the lack of understanding of such things as user-autonomy. The internet is not a safe place. For example, young adults can wrongly equate well-being or self-affirmation to “likes” or “reactions”. While these may have a positive role in terms

of one’s sense of personal confidence, more people are actually suffering from a lack of self-esteem because of the toxic environment in the internet.

While digital technologies can help in empowering human beings to make them more self-reliant in terms of self-discovery and the expansion of knowledge, it is also the case that such assistive ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) can result to personal anxiety and depression. Even if schools say that ICTs are critical to education in the new normal, nothing replaces the value of in-person interaction when it comes to authentic learning. The social environment as well as the physical space provided by schools help in terms of grasping the meaning of ideas.

When it comes to work, employees today are subjected to constant monitoring. The emphasis on outcomes means that identity and

DIGITAL ETHICS

self-creativity are a secondary concern for employers. The main purpose of measuring people’s abilities is to be able to manage them. The over-reliance on digital tools takes away important person-to-person encounters and the value of employee engagement. People have feelings. They are not numbers. Monitoring in the workplace tends to overlook the personal qualities of human persons. Some elements related to professional growth like passion and persistence, are non-quantifiable. There are virtues that are communicative, for instance, honesty, fidelity, and empathy, in which social media may play an important role, though not necessary, since social media is also a venue for conflicts, veiled threats, and excessive non-sense. Persons are moral agents as well as moral patients. In the end, computers are nothing but tools that can help us adapt to the modern

age. But there is no way to digitalize the moral decision-making process.

Automation is crucial, however, in the area of good governance. Computerizations helps in attaining and maintaining transparency. The reason for automation is the general lack of trustworthiness in government transactions due to a persistent culture of corruption. People can easily manipulate manual systems which in turn will affect the quality of service rendered to citizens. Despite the advances in the science of machine learning, there is no fool-proof system. We can only rely on the moral character of people.

Fake news is the public enemy number one in today’s digital age. Digitalization has allowed the easy twisting around one’s little finger to spin any information that can result to mass deception and consequentially, the assassination of human character and in the long run, the failure of

governments. The use of the machination reinforces the deliberate acts of others to control the political environment. Social media played a vital role in the Arab Spring that helped topple dictatorial regimes. But it is a double-edged sword. When the state wants to manipulate the mindset of voters, social media becomes a dangerous tool that impedes the whole democratic process.

Social media platforms are not created to promote social justice or democracy in the first place. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are business enterprises. These are meant to profit from people. In using an app, for instance, user-control is critical. In the digital age, people are more concerned about their image that who they really are as persons. Digital literacy as well as ethics in social media matters. It is always within our power as humans to choose only those things that we find meaningful and worth doing.

SoCot mulls dev’t of soybean production

The provincial government of South Cotabato is mulling the development of soybean production as one of the keys to ensure food security in the area.

Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. bared on Tuesday plans to start the propagation of soybean in the province as an ingredient for feed production.

“We already produce copra meal, tiki-tiki and corn. What’s lacking is soya beans, so we can produce feeds for our livestock industry to create a cycle that will ensure food security for our livestock industry,” he said after the flag-raising ceremony at the provincial capitol here.

Tamayo said they are looking to develop at least 1,000 hectares for soybean cultivation in support of a possible feed meal produc-

tion venture in the province.

He said that Department of Agriculture (DA) officials are coming to the province to discuss the development of soybean production in the area.

The DA, which is headed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been working to establish consolidated farms as part of the administration’s efforts to ensure food security in the country, Tamayo noted.

Part of the strategy to ensure food security is to make sure the availability of grain storage facilities to farmers, he said.

Tamayo stressed the need to protect the livestock

industry of the province for the area’s food security.

If the province can produce soybeans as an ingredient for animal feed meal, that will augur well to the province’s food security since the other feed components are available locally, the governor said.

He was referring to the possibility of producing commercial feed meal locally for the consumption of commercial and backyard livestock producers.

South Cotabato, including the chartered city of General Santos, is among the major swine producers in the country.

The South Cotabato Swine Producers Association, the biggest association of commercial swine farms in the area with at least 20 members, has a combined sow population of 55,000

and produces at least 45,000 heads of hogs a month.

Based on the 2020 chicken inventory in Soccsksargen issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, South Cotabato recorded the highest stocks at 58.7 percent or 5.68 million birds, followed by North Cotabato at 27 percent (2.61 million birds), Sarangani at 7.9 percent (767,920 birds) and Sultan Kudarat at 6.4 percent (620,410 birds).

Soybean, a rich source of plant-based protein, is a major ingredient in animal feed meal formulation worldwide.

The Philippines is a net importer of soybean for food and feed requirements, mainly sourcing supplies from the United States. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

Diokno says deals with China will help PBBM admin’s infra agenda

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday that the deals to be signed in China will help the Marcos administration’s “Build Better More” infrastructure agenda.

“We will be signing more than a dozen agreements

and loans, which will allow us to accelerate our ‘Build Better More’ initiative. And also, other areas like agriculture will be a big part of this mission,” Diokno said in an interview.

So far, no detail has been provided on the agreements.

“This very short trip will

promise to be a very successful one,” he said.

The Office of the Press Secretary said the “Build Better More” infrastructure agenda “seeks to construct, among other things, the Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) Network Master Plan, a detailed framework, and strate-

gic directions for sustainable projects.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Marcos met with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping. It is expected that the territorial issue in the West Philippine Sea will be tackled during their meeting.

PEZA welcomes inclusion of ecozone development in PDP 2023-2028

The Philippine Economic Zone Development Authority (PEZA) has welcomed the inclusion of economic zone development in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 as a catalyst for job creation and poverty alleviation.

“We in PEZA have lobbied through NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) to include economic zones in the PDP as for a time in the previous administration that it was forgotten or excluded. Strengthening our ecozone development initiatives is a must as this will serve as a catalyst for growth in the country,” said PEZA Officer-in-Charge Director General Tereso Panga in a statement Wednesday.

Panga said the inclusion of ecozone development in the PDP solidifies the strategic role of ecozones, especially in countryside development, as mentioned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his first State of the Nation Address in July last year.

PEZA approved the biggest ecozone development in 2022 during the first six months of the Marcos administration, which is a mixed-used project for manufacturing and tourism worth PHP81.65 billion.

Eleven out of 29 ecozone projects last year were also approved between July and December.

Total cost of ecozone development for the full year of 2022 amounted

to PHP96.21 billion, with PHP90.65 billion of the projects approved in the first six months of the administration.

“As we welcome the new year, we in PEZA are preparing more initiatives and synergy with other government agencies to strengthen the country’s economic zones in line with the PDP of PBBM administration in the next five years,” he added.

Panga also urged investors to locate their businesses within ecozones to soften the impacts of economic uncertainties.

“Ecozones can be shields to soften the landing of the headwinds, the external constraints, and all these global disruptions happening especially during this time. The other side to this is that ecozones can be economic drivers to accelerate economic recovery and growth,” he said.

NEDA launched the administration’s medium-term plan in December 2022, which is anchored on the government’s long-term vision AmbisyonNatin 2040.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan then said the latest PDP’s goal is to reinvigorate job generation and accelerate poverty reduction by focusing on the “transformation agenda” that will steer the economy back to its high growth path towards a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society. (PNA)

Mall goers choose from the display of ready-to-wear clothes at the “tiangge” area of a mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City days after the Christmas season. Lean Daval Jr.

Inflation quickens further to 8.1% in December ‘22

SMC, RuRi rescue farmers’ harvest during pandemic

San Miguel Corporation (SMC), together with Rural Rising Ph (RuRi), rescued over 1.7 million kilograms of fruits and vegetables from farmers struggling to sell their harvests since the pandemic started in 2020 to date.

In its media release on Wednesday, SMC said its partnership with RuRi has helped boost incomes of about 4,500 farmers from Luzon and provided consumers with fruits and vegetables at affordable prices through the company’s Better World Diliman community center.

“Food security remains to be one of the pressing concerns today and in the coming years, and we are happy to help bridge the gap between farmers and end-consumers by ensuring farmers get better-than-farmgate prices for their agricultural produce to earn higher incomes while of-

fering these directly to consumers, including our employees,” SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang said.

“This partnership also allow us to provide a steady supply of fruits and vegetables to our adopted communities in Tondo through our Better World Tondo community center,” he added.

From the 1.7 million kilos rescued, Better World Diliman donated over 14,000 kgs. of agriculture produce, including sayote, cabbage, lemons and watermelons, to Tondo-based communities since 2020 while its more recent BoxAll-You-Can activities at SMC head office yielded 2,260 kgs. of fruits and vegetables sold to employees.

The initiative is part of SMC’s program to help boost farm incomes, prevent food waste and ensure the country’s food security amid the pandemic.

Inflation for the month of December quickened further mainly due to the higher prices of select food items including onions and other vegetables, the state statistics bureau said on Thursday.

The consumer price index rose 8.1 percent, faster than the 8 percent the previous month and the highest since November 2008, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

Inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages

index in December was at 10.2 percent from 10 percent in November, while the total food inflation at the national level rose to 10.6 percent from 10.3 percent the previous month, PSA data showed.

National Statistician

Dennis Mapa said the inflation rate in prices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses is at 32.4 percent for the month, which is the highest since February 1999.

Onion has a “substantial” contribution to inflation for the month after prices rose to P700 a kilo during the holidays.

“The onion, part of vegetable, for December,

substantial yung kanyang contribution sa inflation (it has a substantial contribution). It contributed 0.3 percentage point to overall inflation. Same as rice,” Mapa said.

“Food inflation contributed 40 percent of the total inflation for December… medyo malaki ang contribution ng vegetables sa food inflation (vegetables had a huge contribution in food inflation),” he added.

Gov’t urged to boost agriculture to mitigate increasing food costs

The Philippines must boost its agriculture sector to temper the rising costs of food items as inflation continues to surge, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said on Thursday.

Inflation reached 8.1 percent in December, largely due to higher prices of vegetables such as onions, and necessities like meat,

sugar, fish and flour, among others, government data showed. December’s total is the highest since November 2008.

“Obviously the demand is very strong because the economy is recovering at the same time our supply has been constrained which is really ironic because we’re an agricultural country. The items registering high inflation rate are

agricultural products like onions, like rice, like corn, fish and chicken - these are the basic products,” Pernia said.

“Agriculture needs to be developed to the fullest. In other countries, agriculture has been given a lot of attention,” he added.

In the Philippines, agriculture is contributing only 2 to 3 percent to the economy as of this time, Pernia

said, comparing it to the service sector which makes up 65 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr remains as the Agriculture chief.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) earlier urged the President to step down as agency chief and appoint a fulltime DA Secretary.

A vendor displays fresh chicken eggs at a stall inside Agdao Public Market in Davao City. The Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) said among the factors behind the surging prices of fresh chicken eggs is the decreasing production of eggs in the country due to the higher operating expenses of breeders following the hike in prices of hatchlings and chicken pellets. Lean Daval Jr.

DavNor prov’l gov’t distributes food assistance to flood victims

The administration of Davao del Norte Governor Edwin “Kuya Gob” Jubahib provided food aid to families displaced by floods after portions of Davao del Norte province have experienced moderate to, at times, heavy rains due to the effects of Low-Pressure Area (LPA).

Low-lying portions of Asuncion town and Tagum City were among the affected ar-

eas after rainfall and water from the higher parts of the province trickled down and swelled the nearby river.

On Wednesday, Jubahib ordered the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to distribute food packs to the affected families displaced by floods.

Displaced families In Tagum City, 195

DOCTORS’...

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ment involved in providing such free services.

In a statement, Duterte lauded the doctors who, with or without the pandemic, “have braved the frontlines” to be able to extend their services for free to underprivileged and marginalized Filipinos.

His proposal is also strengthened with the University of the Philippines’ latest estimates that shows, on average, there are 3.7 doctors in the country for every 10,000 Filipinos, which is way below the World Health Organization (WHO)- a prescribed ratio of 1 for every 1,000 people.

Duterte said that despite this dismal ratio, many doctors still choose to render pro bono services, especially in far-

flung communities where healthcare remains scarce.

He said that these volunteer physicians took the initiative to extend their helping hands to the poor and marginalized as a response to the unreachable gap of access to quality healthcare.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), in consultation with the DOH and PMA, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to enforce the bill’s provisions effectively.

“Given rising healthcare costs, which entail corresponding expenses for doctors providing pro bono services, Duterte said he believes more physicians would be encouraged to provide charity care if given tax breaks,” it said.

COMPLAINTS...

also focusing its operations on violators of the cybercrime law.

“Such as skimming, ito yung mga hina-hack ang ATM cards; smishing, kapag nagbigay ka ng onetime PIN mo automatically yung pera at account mo will be swiped off and can order online; hacking and tracking. We also investigating online lending and keep on harassing those may utang na hindi nakapagbayad at pag nag loan ka sa online lending lahat ng mga contacts mo sa Facebook, Messenger, Viber and other numbers

ACES ...

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kaya nilang kunin. That is why sometimes tinatawagan ka nila that you are a co-maker or guarantor na hindi mo alam,” he said.

NBI 11 is also investigating the “Sweethearts Scam.”

“Kunwari may tumatawag from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) na may padala sa yong mga bagahe or parcel and they are asking for money pangbayad sa parcel but in fact this is not true,” he said.

Albao said they are also setting their sights on illegal recruitment online. By Maya M. Padillo

families have received food provisions and were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers.

Eighty-five (85) families from Barangay Cuambogan were housed in Catalan Elementary School, and 110 families from Barangay San Miguel also took shelter in San Miguel Elementary and High School on Wednesday evening.

A 57-year-old man from the same barangay was found dead after the rampaging flood waters drowned him, citing a report from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

5-year-old dies

In Asuncion town, the PSWDO also gave food provisions and other assistance to the Libante Family of Barangay Cabaywa,

after their 5-year-old daughter drowned because of onrushing canal water.

Several displaced families affected by the floods from Barangay Cabaywa also received food packs and hot meals. They were housed in the Kapalong College of Agriculture, Sciences, and Technology (KCAST) Evacuation Center in Kapalong town.

Jubahib said the provincial government of Davao del Norte is in constant coordination with the Local Government Units to deliver much-needed goods and services to the displaced Dabaonons affected by flooding.

He added that his administration is currently assessing how many families from other LGUs were affected by the flooding.

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ments and isend nila sa atong online lingap kay naa man tay social worker nga naga-atang dira para mutubag sa ilahang pangutana (There are still many walk-in clients and we endorse them online and we teach them how to avail of and how to process online. Indeed, through the online Lingap the process is faster. What they only need to do is to capture their requirements and send them to the Online Lingap because we have social workers on standby to cater to those who have queries),” Celis said, adding that the clients are also given flyers for walk-ins, and the same is distributed during barangay caravans.

Celis said that for January 2023 they intend to open another satellite office in Calinan District. The construction of the office is almost done and they have already hired personnel and trained encoders to welcome clients.

“Ongoing ang ilang training diri sa main office nato para sila ang mu-welcome sa atong mga kliyente sa Calinan area (Their training is ongoing at the main office so that they will be the one who will welcome clients in Calinan),” Celis said. Celis added that Lingap Calinan will help those who cannot go to the Marilog Lingap satellite office as it is 30 minutes away.

nato sa kliyente sa lingap through digitalization (We are doing our best to provide efficient service to our clients through digitalization),” Celis said.

They are also eyeing two additional offices, and it is still under discussion because they will still carefully study areas that need to have a satellite office.

Dabawenyos may visit https://www.facebook. com/lingapparasamahirap or contact 0909 547 4763, 233-4961 for the Main Office.

The main office of Lingap is located on SPMC Compound, Malasakit Center Building, J.P Laurel Avenue, Bajada Davao City.

The office hours of the main office for private hospital assistance is 8 am- 11 pm; for SPMC outpatient: 8 am- 3 pm and for inpatient 24 hours.

Dabawenyos may also visit the nearest satellite offices in Lingap Marilog District located at Marilog District Hospital, Lower Kibalang, Barangay Marilog Proper;

Lingap Bunawan District located at Bunawan District Hall Compound, Barangay Bunawan Proper; Lingap Toril located at Rasay St, Toril Proper; and Lingap Paquibato located at Paquibato Barangay Hall.

NTC 11...

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registration was also met with numerous incidents involving glitches and unsuccessful or incomplete SIM registration from the subscribers. Some netizens also posted online their complaints regarding registration sites being down or inaccessible.

“Glitches tanan service providers tungod sa dasok sa tanan na gusto magpa rehistro. Wala to maagapan dayon sa ma texhnical people in fact ang commission namo nag issue ug show cause sa mga service providers nga i-explain nila ngano nahitabo tong mga glitches,” Cañete explained.

Cañete is referring to the NTC’s order to the telecommunications companies to submit incident reports on anomalies regarding their SIM card registration processes.

The NTC reportedly told telcos to file reports on these incidents, including the platform involved, the number of subscribers

ADDITIONAL...

affected, geographical areas, and actions taken to address these issues.

“On the second day nahimo nang normal hangtod karong orasa medyo malangay langay lang ka ug sulod gamay tungod kay daghan pa ang gusto muapas sa registration.

Atong giingnan nga kung dili mo kasulod karon naa pay ugma, sunod adlaw ug take note naa pa tay 170 days,” Cañete added.

The NTC released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Card Registration Act on December 12, 2022, which will take effect starting December 27.

Subscribers will have 180 days from the effectivity of the law to register their SIM cards. The registration may be extended by up to 120 days.

The law aims to protect consumers from illegal activities such as scams, smishing, and other kinds of mobile phone and online fraud.

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Bachmann now looks forward to meeting with the national sports associations (NSAs) on how he can serve them, especially with a busy 2023, which includes the Philippine team’s participation in the Southeast Asian Games, FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIBA World Cup and Asian

Games, now underway.

“I am deeply humbled to have the opportunity to serve our Philippine athletes in this capacity. I look forward to working with the NSAs, together with our PSC team members and commissioners, in order to help our athletes prepare for this year’s sporting events,” Bachmann said. (PNA)

Among innovations targeted in 2023 are the upgrading of the system for faster processing of lingap and the creation of the Pharmacy online canvassing system to easily check available medicine in Lingap partner pharmacies. This way, clients do not have to go to pharmacies to check the availability of medicines.

“Ginapaningkamutan gyud nato nga mas mapapaspas ang pagserbisyo

“Kung asa man mo pinaka-duol nga barangay or unsa ang pinakaduol nga satellite office pwede ninyo duolan, adto lang mo kay naa tay social workers nga mu-guide sa inyuha ug mutabang og unsaon pagkuha sa assistance diha sa Lingap (Whichever the nearest barangay or nearest satellite office is, you are welcome there because we have social workers who will guide you and help you get assistance from Lingap),” Celis said. CIO

tion of workers in the new wage order: (a.) non-agriculture (industrial, commercial, retail, and service regardless of the number of employees), and (b.) agriculture, in comparison to the previous wage order that took effect on 16 August 2018 which had three (3) classifications, setting apart establishments in retail and service employing not more than 10 workers. One of the bases of the increase was the April 2022 data on existing socio-economic conditions in the region considering the Consumer Price Index in Region XI and the poverty threshold provided by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

DOLE XI Regional Director Atty. Randolf C.

Pensoy, who acts as the Chairman of the board, set in context that the new wage increase shall apply to minimum wage earners in the private sector within Davao Region, regardless of their position and the method by which they are paid. Further, RD Pensoy emphasized that DOLE XI will make sure that any entity who refuses or fails to pay the prescribed rates shall be dealt with pursuant to Section 12 of RA No. 6727.

In 2022, DOLE XI has inspected a total of 3,660 private establishments across the region covering a total of 159,060 workers. Of the establishments inspected, 99.62% were found compliant with the existing minimum wage.

Ginebra rallies to take Finals Game 3 vs. Bay Area

Ginebra came alive in the final four minutes of Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals to steal an 89-82 win against Bay Area to the delight of most of the 15,004 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Wednesday night.

In the first game of Asia’s premier professional basketball league for 2023, the Gin Kings

ended the game on a 17-3 run to snatch the victory from the Dragons, who seemed to be in control

of the game most of the time as they too seemed to have bogged Justin Brownlee down.

Brownlee exploded for 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 34 points along with 17 rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block for Ginebra, which now holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-sev-

en series.

Christian Standhardinger added 15 points, four rebounds and one assist off the bench, while Scottie Thompson chipped in 14 points including the go-ahead tipin with 1:27 left, 10 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Andrew Nicholson led

Bay Area with 23 points, 24 rebounds and two blocks, but he failed to finish the game after suffering an ankle injury late in the contest.

In an earlier interview, Coach Brian Goorjian said he is not keen on bringing back Myles Powell for the championship series as he too is suffering from a

toe tendon injury.

However, a possibility of Powell getting reactivated for the remainder of the series now looms depending on the extent of Nicholson’s own foot injury and on whether he will play through the injury or not with Game 4 scheduled for Friday night also at the MOA Arena. (PNA)

Djokovic likely to miss Indian Wells, Miami Open over Covid vax

Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is set to miss the Indian Wells and Miami Open tournaments for the second year in a row due to his refusal to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The US Transport Security Administration (TSA) reported that until April 10, 2023, any foreigner flying into the country must be immunized against Covid-19 at least twice.

Djokovic missed the Australian Open and US Open last year as he refused to get jabbed.

Indian Wells and the Miami Open, which are part of the Association of Tennis Professionals events (ATP), will begin on March 6 and March 20, respectively.

The 35-year-old player has won 21 grand slam titles so far. (Anadolu)

Novak Djokovic missed the Australian Open and US Open last year as he refused to get jabbed.

Naturalized cager Justin Brownlee exploded for 19 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 34 points along with 17 rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block for Ginebra, which now holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

ACES PHILOSOPHY

Bachmann vows to instill integrity as PSC chair

BY IVAN STEWART SALDAJENO

“I bring with me nearly three decades of experience in organized sports, as well as the Alaska Aces philosophy I have learned and valued over the years, which is to win with integrity while helping our athletes to become better individuals off the court,” Bachmann said on Wednesday, his first official day as PSC chief.

Bachmann, the brother of squash president Robert, had been with the Alaska franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since the 90s as a player out of La Salle.

After his retirement, he quickly got a role in the Aces’ front office as team manager and later on their representative to the PBA board of governors.

Converge governor Chito Salud quickly tapped Bachmann to assist him in the transition after the internet service company bought the Alaska franchise lock, stock and barrel.

After parting ways with the FiberXers, Bachmann became the basketball commissioner for

UAAP Season 85 even as he kept his other position as the chairperson for the PBA 3x3.

Bachmann thanked the basketball community for helping him become the leader that he is now.

“I am also grateful for the continued support of the PBA community, SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) organization, and my mentor, Wilfred Steven Uytengsu (Alaska Milk Corporation chief executive officer),” Bachmann added.

Bachmann quickly went to work on his first official day as PSC chief, visiting its facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex first thing in the morning.

He then formally took his oath of office before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at the Malacañang Palace.

After the oath-taking, he returned to Rizal Memorial Coliseum and called for a meeting with his three commissioners -- Bong Coo, Walter Torres and Edward

OATH OF OFFICE. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (2nd from left) administers the oath of office to Richard “Dickie” Bachmann (center) as Philippine Sports Commission chairman at the Malacañang Palace on Wednesday (Jan. 4, 2022). Bachmann was chairman for the PBA 3x3 prior to his appointment to head the top government sports body. (Photo courtesy of PSC)

In his new role as Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman, Dickie Bachmann looks to bring the “Alaska Aces philosophy” to the top government sports body.