Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 224 | Saturday, January 7, 2023

Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) talks to the parents of businesswoman Yvonette Chua Plaza, who was gunned down in Davao City on December 29, 2022, during his visit at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

CLEANSING OF RANKS

3 PNP Generals, 22 Colonels in Davao Region to render courtesy resignation

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Heeding the call of Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr, of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), three Philippine National Police (PNP) Generals and 22 Colonels in Davao Region are set to render their courtesy resignation on Friday, according to Regional Director BGen. Benjamin Silo Jr, of the Police Regional Office (PRO 11).

“We are about to sign the resignation and the documents are being prepared right now,” Silo said in an interview.

He also said they will be submitting their docu-

ments to the national headquarters.

Abalos appealed on Wednesday to all Generals and full Colonels of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to resign because of

the problem with illegal drugs involving high ranking officers.

“A while back I talked to the Generals and Colonels of PRO 11 and we are in unison in supporting SILG Abalos on the courtesy resignation. We set aside legalities and we do it purely on moral stance as a challenge to our character,” Silo said.

Silo said that nothing will happen to their current posts even if they have already submitted their resignation letters.

“Walang mangyayari sa among position and we will

still be occupying the same position and we will just be waiting for the evaluation of the five-men committee to be created by the DILG and PNP,” he said.

He added that there will be no direct effect on their daily operations and they will be doing the same thing like continue conducting Simultaneous Anti Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO) and lengthening its coverage.

Silo also assured that the men and women of FCLEANSING, P10

PH still has over 17.4M Covid-19 vax in stock

The Philippines still has more than 17.4 million COVID-19 vaccines in stock, the Department of Health said Friday.

“We have... 17,488,050 na totality ng bakuna na nakatago pa rin sa ating warehouse,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing.

“We still have sufficient stocks of vaccines to provide specifically to our eligible population.”

Of the total number of available vaccines, around 6 million are “quarantined,” which means the DOH is waiting for the application of the manufacturers to extend their shelf life, Vergeire said.

Some vaccines can still

last until the second half of 2023 while others are only good until the first or second quarters this year, she added.

Last month, the DOH disclosed that the number of wasted COVID-19 vaccines in the country reached 44 million.

The bulk of the wastage came from procurements made by the private sector

(44.82 percent) and local government units (33.35 percent), the agency has said.

Out of the total vaccines procured by the national government financed through general appropriations and loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, the DOH has revealed that only

86th Araw ng Dabaw execom formed

The city government of Davao, through Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Series of 2022, has created an executive committee (Execom) and sub-committees to ensure a memorable celebration of the city’s 86th founding anniversary on March 1, 2023.

Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte signed EO No. 75, Series of 2022, on December 23, 2022.

EO 75 provides that Davao City celebrates its founding anniversary every March through meaningful and appropriate activities.

“To ensure the success of this 86th Araw ng Dabaw celebration and enable the City Government of Davao to effectively carry out and implement these activities, there is a need to constitute, organize, and create the 86th Araw ng Dabaw Executive Committee to include local government departments and offices, in cooperation with the private sector, non-government institutions, and other socio-civic groups,” the new EO states.

EO 75 also cited Section 18 of Republic Act No. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code

of 1991, which authorizes local government units (LGUs) to establish an organization that shall be responsible for the efficient and effective implementation of their development plans, programs, objectives, and priorities.

The Execom is composed of the city mayor (or the city administrator in his absence) as chairperson and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. as co-chair.

Execom members include the assistant city administrator for operations, Human Resource Management Office acting department head, Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Tourism & Beautification chairperson, and Museo Dabawenyo officer-in-charge.

EO 75 directs Execom members to name their respective permanent alternate representatives.

The Execom is mandated to plan and ensure the smooth coordination of programs, events, and activities in connection with the celebration of the 86th Araw ng Dabaw in 2023; encourage greater private sector participation in the

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) director BGen. Benjamin Silo Jr. chats with BGen. Alexander Tagum, director of the newly established Metropolitan Davao Police District (MDPD) and Davao City police station commanders at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) on Friday. Silo has promised to come up with judicious results in the investigation of the killing of businesswoman Yvonette Chua Plaza. Lean Daval Jr.

PRO 11 vows judicious result in investigation of Plaza’s murder

DavNor bags top Nutrition Award

The provincial government of Davao del Norte has rung in the new year with another feather in its cap after being recognized as the top local government unit (provincial level) in Davao region by the National Nutritional Council Davao Region for implementing nutrition programs effectively.

“I would like to share this iconic success with all the men and women who worked hard day and night to bring fulfillment to our Nutrition Programs in the Province, especially to our barangay health workers, Barangay Nutrition Scholars, and Coordinators, who are at the frontline of the program implementation in the grassroots communities,” said Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib in a statement Friday.

Davao del Norte PLGU was the recipient of the “Pag-Asa Award for Provincial Level” for the year 2022, which was conferred during the ceremony held on Jan. 6 at the Apo View

Hotel in Davao City.

The prestigious PagAsa Award was a distinction given by the National Nutritional Council Davao Region to the provincial government in recognition of its outstanding planning, management, and implementation of local nutrition programs.

Davao del Norte recorded the lowest prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight, overweight, and obesity based on the 2022 Operation Timbang Plus (OTP) results in the Davao region.

Inclusive nutrition programs

Jubahib said the recognition they received demonstrates his administration’s dedication to tackling malnutrition and promoting the well-being and vitality of children in the various communities of Davao del Norte.

“Health and social services undoubtedly occupy a very important space in my administration,” he

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) vowed to come up with quality and judicious results in their investigation of the killing of businesswoman Yvonette “Yvonne” Chua Plaza.

Regional Director BGen. Benjamin Silo Jr. of PRO 11 assured that the murder case will be solved. However, PRO 11 is appealing to give the Special Investigation Task Force (SITG), which is leading the investigation, ample time to gather evidence.

“We would like to assure

the public that we will solve the case and file the case. Just give us ample time. We cannot sacrifice our judicious findings doon sa pagmamadali. We would like to come up with a very quality result of the investigation and we are going to coordinate with the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation. We

will be exchanging notes and find justice for the family of the victim,” Silo said in an interview.

From the initial two persons of interest, Silo said they are also looking at one more individual involved in the killing of Plaza. He also said the SITG is currently reviewing the footage at the crime scene.

“Now we have two persons of interest and may isa pa kaming tinitingnan and we secured the evidence that we submitted safely to the forensic unit of the PNP

for processing. We also have several footages that we are currently reviewing. Our investigators are on the field gathering more evidence,” he said.

On January 3, 2023, Colonel Alberto Lupaz, director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), announced that based on SITG’s ongoing investigation, authorities are looking at two persons of interest in the killing of Plaza.

He also announced the P1 million reward is offered to anyone who can give valu-

Applicants for business permits urged to go online

Applicants for business permit in Davao City are urged to process online for an efficient transaction.

“As of now meron ng naka complete sa kanilang online application on the issuance of the permit. From application down to the system to the payment to the issuance of the permit,” said lawyer Lawrence Ban-

tiding, head of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), during the I-Speak media forum on Thursday.

Bantiding said transacting online is more efficient for both the city and the applicants.

“It would be of great help ang digitalization lalo na sa collection with digitalization no more issuance of receipts. Kung ano ang

dapat singilin considering coming from the other revenue generating offices, meron silang tax order of payment. It would be convenient for us. Isa pa sa generation of reports hindi na tayo babalik sa mano mano doon sa system meron na tayong report immediately,” he said.

In August this year, Councilor Bernie Al-ag, chair

of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry of the City Council, proposed two ordinances — digitizing business permit transactions and applications and adding plantilla positions for more efficient services at the Business Bureau.

Titled “An Ordinance Streamlining and Digitizing the Business Permit Appli-

Lawyer Lawrence Bantiding, head of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), together with City Business Bureau head Maribel Paguican, urges during this week’s I-Speak media forum applicants for the business permit to apply online for an efficient transaction from the application down to the system to the payment to the issuance of the permit. Lean Daval Jr.

PBBM gets $22B in ‘investment pledges’ after China state visit

PresidentFerdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines received about $22 billion worth of investment pledges after his 48-hour state visit to China.

These are investments from new and existing Chinese-owned businesses in the Philippines, Marcos said in a press conference here.

“The pledges amount to about $22 billion… These are pledges that are already backed up already by concrete actions in the Philip-

pines,” he said.

“Nagbubukas na sila ng opisina, kumukuha na sila ng mga permit. Yung mga nakakuha na ng permit nag-uumpisa na sila ng construction,” he said.

He added that the government has also been trying to convince more businesses involved in the

processing of minerals, battery production and electric vehicle manufacturing to come to the Philippines.

Marcos said the government is studying giving concessions to these firms.

“It is important for the Philippines na maipasok natin ang ganoong klaseng industriya because that is the green economy,” he said.

The Chinese investment pledges are expected to generate thousands of jobs for Filipinos, Marcos said.

“That will be starting very soon. Let’s watch and wait because some of the estimates are a little optimistic so I don’t want to put new job numbers,” he said.

Aside from generating jobs, the incoming investments are also expected to help Filipinos gain more skills through training and transfers of knowledge that would be provided by these employers, he said.

During his state visit, Marcos repeatedly said that his administration seeks to

Smart sets up SIM registration assistance booths across PH

Smart Communications has set up assisted SIM Registration booths across the Philippines to help subscribers needing assistance with the measure, the company said on Thursday.

Smart said the SIM registration booths and touchpoints were set up in several areas in Luzon,

Iloilo, Cebu, and the Davao Region, in collaboration with local government units, partner stores, and regional and provincial distributors.

“We look forward to further collaboration with local government units and partners on-ground across the Philippines, helping

Passengers unable to board CEB flight get free rebooking, refund

An executive of lowcost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) on Thursday said 28 passengers who were unable to board their flight to Hong Kong due to long queues at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were given options to rebook their flight for free, get a full refund, or convert their ticket to a travel fund.

CEB spokesperson Carmina Romero said this happened on flight 5J 110

on Wednesday. “As a recovery, we provided them with free rebooking or full refund or travel fund,” she said.

Romero said no passenger was offloaded on CEB’s international flights on Thursday.

According to a reliable source, passengers swamped the NAIA, particularly the immigration counters, since Wednesday.

The source added that CEB asked for a 10-minute ex-

tension to accommodate the missing passengers, but the 28 still did not make it.

AirAsia Philippines deputy spokesperson Carlo Carongoy told the Philippine News Agency that no similar incident happened in any of their international flights.

“We always advise our passengers to be at the boarding gates ahead of boarding time,” he said.

Carongoy added that AirAsia Philippines has al-

ways accommodated passengers to the next available flights free of charge whenever they were left by the plane.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) earlier reported that the long lines at NAIA counters were due to the increase in passengers of recovery flights. It may be recalled that hundreds of flights were canceled, delayed, or diverted last Jan. 1 because of a system glitch.

AboitizPower inks P20-B loan deal with Landbank to fund renewable projects

Aboitiz Power Corp. has secured a P20-billion loan from the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines to fund the growth of its renewable energy portfolio.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, AboitizPower said it entered into a loan agreement with Landbank through its clean energy subsidiary, Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI).

AboitizPower chief renewable energy officer Jimmy Villaroman said the long-term debt financing with the state-run lender will fund ongoing expan-

sion and development projects, including constructing new renewable energy power plants.

“We are very grateful to Landbank for their support and confidence in our company,” said Villaroman.

“This loan will allow us to continue providing clean and sustainable energy to help meet the growing demand in the country,” he added.

Villaroman said that the loan facility aligns with AboitizPower’s 10-year strategy of growing its renewable energy portfolio to 4,600 megawatts

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. invites Chinese business leaders to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, green minerals, battery/electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and agribusiness. Office of the President

Nov. ‘22 unemployment lowest in 17 years: PSA

HSBC eyes 4.4% growth for PH economy in 2023

Hikes in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key policy rates are expected to dampen the strong domestic output for 2023, with an executive of HSBC forecasting a 4.4 percent expansion this year.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, HSBC chief investment officer for Southeast Asia, Global Private Banking and Wealth, James Cheo, said private consumption contributed to the strong recovery of the domestic economy last year but this is seen to be limited by the monetary tightening aimed to temper the elevated inflation rate.

Other factors that boosted gross domestic product (GDP) last year include investments, higher government spending on infrastructure and increased mobility following the resumption of face-to-face schooling, he said.

“Looking into 2023,

the country’s growth will slow and the recovery is going to be more gradual as the reopening boost fades and monetary tightening weighs on domestic demand,” Cheo said.

As of the third quarter of last year, growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), rose by 7.76 percent, exceeding the government’s 6.5 to 7.5 percent growth assumption for this year.

The BSP’s key rates have been hiked by 350 basis points from May to December last year, after being at record-low of 2 percent in 2020, as monetary authorities help address the elevated inflation rate.

Last December, domestic rate of price increases further accelerated to 8.1 percent, the highest since November 2008, due to faster annual jumps in goods and energy prices.

Unemployment rate in November last year declined to 4.2 percent from 4.5 percent in October 2022, and from 6.5 percent in November 2021.

This, as 95.8 percent of the labor force were employed, or a total of 49.71 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above have jobs in

November last year.

Labor force participation rate also increased last November after two months of declines since September 2022.

“The strong labor market signifies the steady recovery of our economy,” said National Economic and Development Authority

(NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan in a statement.

He said the country’s labor market is becoming more dynamic because of flexible work arrangements and digitalization that make employment opportunities more accessible for Filipinos, especially to those who are attending to other essential tasks such as parenting and pursing higher education, among others.

On the other hand, underemployment recorded an uptick on a month-on-

month basis in November 2022 at 14.4 percent, slightly higher than the 14.2-percent underemployment rate in October 2022 but lower than November 2021 rate of 16.8 percent.

Balisacan said the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 targets to provide high-quality jobs for Filipinos.

“Creating an enabling environment to attract investments that can create more and high-quality em-

PH dev’t plan outlines measures to address inflation, NEDA says

As inflation rose in December 2022, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 outlines measures for the government to pursue to address faster rate of price increases.

Following the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that December 2022 inflation stood

at 8.1 percent, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said addressing inflation is among the top priorities of the Marcos administration.

Balisacan said this is part of the government’s eight-point agenda and the medium-term plan that was launched last month.

“As part of the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda of the Marcos administration and as laid out in the

Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, the government will continue to prioritize addressing the impact of inflation as it remains to be a challenge not only in the country, but throughout the globe,” he said in a statement.

Under the PDP 20232028, the government targets to improve and strengthen the country’s supply chain, logistics sec-

tor and the use of technology and innovation in modernizing the agriculture sector.

“As laid out in PDP Chapter 3, the government will strengthen the establishment of strategically located facilities such as interconnected transport systems, wholesale food terminals and trading centers, and other production

The Philippines has recorded the lowest unemployment rate in 17 years in November 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Friday.

Market goers flock to the vegetable section of the Bankerohan Market in Davao City on Thursday, 5 January 2023. MindaNews Photo

GREGORIO

“We

We set aside

and we do it purely on moral stance as a challenge to our character.”

BGEN BENJAMIN SILO JR Police Regional Director (PRO 11)

The plan to energize the southern sector of Davao, long before the split of the province in-to three in 1967, predates the passage of Republic Act (RA) 2717, also known as the Electrifi-cation Administration Act, which lapsed into law without executive approval on June 19, 1960.

Nine years later, Congress passed RA 6038 declaring it a national policy to energize the entire archipelago ‘on an area coverage service basis,’ established the National Electrification Administration (NEA), and organized, promoted, and developed electric coops. The law, re-pealed by RA 2717, was approved on July 28, 1969. Consequently, NEA was created on Au-gust 4, 1969. Two years later, thirty-six electric cooperatives around the country were set up.

Following the establishment of Davao del Norte Electric Coop-

erative (DANECO, now NORDECO) on September 24, 1971, interest in replicating the same project in Davao del Sur snowballed. In 1974, the provincial officials led by governor Non¬ito D. Llanos, Sr., dubbed as ‘the father of rural elec¬tri¬fi¬ca¬tion’ in Davao del Sur, started floating the idea. With the help of Jose T. Amacio, former mayor of Monkayo, Davao de Oro, and incumbent DANECO general manager at the time, an audience with then NEA admin¬is¬tra¬tor Pedro G. Dumol was held.

The initial discussion led to the convening of the provin¬cial elec¬tric coop¬er¬a¬tive team (PECT) with the central aim of preparing loan fea¬si¬bil¬ity and engi¬neer¬ing stud¬ies under NEA guidance. The dis¬trict elec¬tri¬fi¬ca¬tion com¬mit¬tee (DEC) was also formed in towns.

On June 1, 1975, the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (DASURECO)

was orga¬nized as the country’s 63rd elec¬tric coop.

Not long after that, the first loan amounting to P16.554 million was signed at the Ramon Magsaysay Audi¬to¬rium in Digos City on July 13 of that year. It was used to fund the con-struc¬tion of the Phase I elec¬tri¬fi¬ca¬tion project in eleven munic¬i¬pal¬i¬ties under the coop’s cover-age.

On November 12, 1975, DASURECO took over the nine generating sets of Rural Electrifi-cation Corporation (REC) as an interim source of power with a representative from the NEA acting as general manager. Months later, the coop installed its first electric poles under con-tract on May 21, 1976, by Leitz-Zulueta Cap¬i¬tal, Inc., costing P711,206.40 to cover labor only. That same month, Adrian Wil¬son Inter¬na¬tional Asso¬ciates, Inc. (AWIA) sealed a deal with DASURECO

as a consultant to han¬dle the coop’s archi¬tec¬tural and engi¬neer¬ing works.

In January 1977, DASURECO took over the Matanao munic¬i¬pal system. The following month, it conducted a groundbreaking rite for its future headquarters costing P1.555 million. This later led to the transfer of the coop’s office from leased space at Digos Munic¬i¬pal Build-ing. The initial workforce was comprised of former REC employees.

In September of that year, DASURECO contracted Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC) for the pur¬chase of power using the 69KV trans¬mis¬sion lines of National Power Cor-poration (NPC). The accord was signed to back up the gensets it initially acquired from the REC.

That same month, the coop managed to ener¬gize seven of the 11 towns in its coverage,

namely Digos, Bansalan, Matanao, Magsaysay, Padada, Sulop, and Malalag. A year later, Hagonoy, Santa Cruz, Kiblawan, and Santa Maria towns followed. Later, the coop’s cover-age would expand to include the southwest municipalities of Malita and Jose Abad Santos.

Responding to the growing demand for a stable power supply, DASURECO constructed Phase 1 of the back¬bone sys¬tem in the next two years. Notably, on September 13, 1978, the NEA granted DASURECO with Cer¬tifi¬cate No. 016 as the sole elec¬tric fran¬chisee to oper¬ate light and power ser¬vice in Davao del Sur for the period of fifty (50) years.

To its credit, the coop, one of the well-managed throughout the archipelago, is a class ‘A’ coop, named the country’s best electric coop, and was elevated to the NEA Hall of Fame.

As the year of the Rabbit 2023 began, I looked back at the year 1973 to reminisce on the infancy of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) which was organized as the government’s official newswire service 50 years ago.

The then martial law bornPNA, which is celebrating its golden anniversary on March 1, was created in 1973 through a special order by the Department of Public Information (DPI) Secretary and later on Senator Francisco S. Tatad. It was established as the news division of the DPI’s former Bureau of National and Foreign Information (BNFI).

The news agency actually replaced the 22-year-old Philippine News Service (PNS), the country’s first privately-owned news agency set up in October 1950 by the then leading national newspapers in Manila, namely: The Manila Times-Mirror-Taliba, Manila Chronicle, Manila Bulletin, Philippines Herald, Evening News, Bagong Buhay and Fookien Times.

By the way, the main function of PNS was to supply daily news and photos from the provinces to these newspapers as well as to those in the provinces. Radio and television stations also used the PNS stories for a fixed monthly fee or subscription.

Foreign news agencies, such as the Associated Press (AP), United Press International (UPI), Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP) and a few private entities were also allowed to subscribe.

Through the old mail system (using stamps and envelopes), it

also maintained a news exchange agreement with foreign news agencies such as Antara of Indonesia, Bernama of Malaysia, Kyodo of Japan, Yonhap of South Korea, Central News Agency of Taiwan, and Tass News Agency of the former Soviet Union, among several others.

When President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. declared a nationwide state of martial law under Proclamation 1081 on Sept. 21, 1972, PNS was forced to cease its 24-hour daily operations since its major clients -- newspapers, radio, and TV stations -- were padlocked and guarded by government troops. At the time of its closure, PNS had some 120 news correspondents from all provinces and cities of the country.

About four months after the imposition of martial law and shortly after Marcos allowed a handful of newspapers and broadcast stations to reopen, a group of former newspaper editors asked Secretary Tatad to explore the possibility of opening a government news agency by acquiring the World War II-vintage teletype machines and other equipment of the PNS.

The group’s request to once again set up an even more dynamic wire news agency bore fruit when PNS was allowed to reopen but under a new name -- Philippine News Agency (PNA) as the government’s official news outfit.

Negotiations for the acquisition of the PNS equipment were done by a group of former newspapermen from Tatad’s office at Malacañang, including the late

BNFI Director Lorenzo J. Cruz and Press Undersecretary Amante Bigornia.

The government payment for the old PNS teletype machines, typewriters, mimeographing machines and a photo darkroom plus few cameras was used to pay the delayed salaries of the PNS staff in Manila from September to December 1972.

The late Jose L. Pavia, former executive editor of the defunct Philippines Herald, was appointed as the first general manager of the infant news agency. He headed its initial 11-member staff, with the late Renato B. Tiangco, also formerly of the Herald and a foreign news agency wireman as managing editor; and this writer, a holdover from the PNS, as national and provincial news editor at the same time.

PNA initially used the editorial offices vacated by the PNS on the second floor of the National Press Club of the Philippines Bldg. along Magallanes Drive in Intramuros, Manila.

The first PNA correspondents were chosen from among the former PNS stringers covering the country’s then just 70 provinces and 60 cities.

At the outset, four PNA correspondents were assigned each to cover the then existing four Philippine Constabulary (PC) Zones in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. These were the 1st PC Zone in Camp Olivas, Pampanga; 2nd PC Zone in Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna; 3rd PC Zone in Cebu; and 4th PC Zone in Davao.

When Tatad turned on the

switch to launch the PNA in the afternoon of March 1, 1973 in Malacañang, he said: “The Philippine News Agency will be operated in the best tradition of the world’s professional news agencies.”

Since PNA does not have its own building, it has transferred at least six times in the past 50 years. The first was from the NPC Bldg. to nearby UPL Bldg. in front of Fort Santiago (1978-1981); to Puyat Bldg. on Solana Street, also in Intramuros (1981-1983); Office of Media Affairs (OMA) on Bohol Avenue, Quezon City (1983-1987; back to the NPC Bldg. (1988-1996) and finally to its present site at the second floor of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bldg. at the Media Center along Visayas Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.

PNA also used to provide its subscribers daily broadcast news in English and Filipino languages as well as weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual news reports on major national developments.

In the early martial law years (1972-1981), PNA became a “gathering place of the best writers or media eagles” in what was then called Greater Manila Area (now Metropolitan Manila). That was because many of the best editors, deskmen, reporters, photographers and other staff members of the major newspapers and other media establishments shut down earlier by the government found employment in the PNA.

Some staff members of foreign news agencies with bureaus in Manila were also hired by the in-

fant news agency. They returned to their mother bureaus when the government finally allowed the reopening of the closed media outlets.

On the other hand, PNA also became a good training ground for aspiring print and broadcast journalists. After the 1986 People Power Revolt, with the opening of new national newspapers, the PNAtrained young reporters tried their hands at newspapering and in the broadcast field. Many of them became editors and columnists in several national newspapers after they had cut their journalistic teeth at the PNA newsroom

Until early 1986, the PNA, through the former Office of Media Affairs (OMA) headed by the late Information Minister Gregorio S. Cendaña (RIP), had overseas bureaus in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles (California), New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Toronto (Canada), Sydney (Australia) and Jeddah. These were closed down in 1986.

As part of the government reorganization in 1987 during the time of then President Corazon C. Aquino, the BNFI was abolished and replaced with two new bureaus -- the present-day News and Information Bureau (NIB) and the Bureau of Communications Services (BCS).

At present, PNA is a division of the NIB headed by Director Raymond Robert C. Burgos and Assistant Director Lee Ann L. Pattugalan. They are assisted by Executive Editor Demetrio B. Pisco Jr. and Deputy Executive Editor Luis A. Morente.

CLEANSING...

PRO 11 are not involved in illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Abalos also met with the Generals and Colonels in the Davao Region at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) on Friday.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa suporta na ibinigay ng mga kapulisan dito because this is an act of honor,” he said.

Abalos has called on

PH...

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2.02 percent or 2.7 million out of 134 million of the total number of procured vaccines have expired.

The DOH has also disclosed that 10.95 percent of the country’s total accumulated expired vaccines was donated through the COVAX facility.

The Philippines aims to have bivalent vaccines available by the first quarter of

86TH...

FROM 2

staging of their events and sub-activities to be included as accredited events during the celebration; and promote the celebration both locally and internationally through various media outlets to ensure the optimal participation of visitors and tourists.

It shall also find ways and means to support the effective implementation of programs, events, and activities during the celebration; set guidelines, authorize, and/or approve the utilization and accounting of funds for the 86th Araw ng Dabaw celebration; perform such other acts that are necessary to effectively and meaningfully carry out their mandated functions; and; submit and publish audited reportorial documents for the duration of the programs, events, and activities of the 86th Araw ng Dabaw Celebration.

The sub-committees

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all officers of the police to submit courtesy resignations to address the persistent illicit drug problem linking the top officials of the PNP.

It can be recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte also sacked police generals involved in the illegal drug trade during his term. In 2017, he dismissed former Quezon City Police Director Edgardo Tinio

PRO 11... FROM 3

able information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Meanwhile, Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr, of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on the perpetrators of Plaza.

Abalos met Plaza’s parents on Friday at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and assured them that justice will be served for the murder of their daughter.

view with the Davao media.

Abalos assured that they will do their best so that justice will be served and alleviate the grief of the family.

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hasten our SIM Registration process,” said PLDT and Smart first vice president Cathy Yang.

The Manny Pangilinan-led telco said that as of 8 a.m. Thursday, some 6,296,811 Smart,

NOV. ‘22...

2023. These are modified vaccines that target the original form of the virus and subvariants of omicron.

As of January 3, more than 73.7 million people in the country are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Of the figure, over 21.1 million have received their first boosters while 3.7 million have gotten their second boosters.

“Ako’y nanawagan kung andiyan ang gunman, may reward na nakapatong sa ulo mo. Mag ingat ka baka mamaya yung mismong nag-utos sa iyo ang papatay sa iyo. Kung ako sa iyo, magdadalawang isip ako at sumuko na. May reward na at mas mabuti na sumuko ka na,” he said during an inter-

DAVNOR...

are Secretariat (City Tourism Operations Office), Legal (City Legal Office), Solicitation and Private Sector Support (City Treasurer’s Office, City Budget Office, City Accountant’s Office, private sector representatives); Publicity, Promotions, and Documentation (City Information Office), Safety, Security, and Traffic Management (Public Safety and Security Command Center, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office/Central 911, Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao, City Transportation and Traffic Management Office Bureau of Fire Protection — Davao City), Physical Arrangement, Cleanliness, and Sanitation (City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Engineer’s Office, City General Services Office), Covid-19 Protocols (City Health Office), and Spokesperson (CTOO).

Smart Bro, and TNTph subscribers; 316,225 Postpaid users; and 100,596 corporate customers, or a total of 6.71 million subscribers had registered their SIMs on the Smart network.

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ployment while improving the employability of Filipinos are among the major strategies to advance economic and social transformation,” he added.

Among the measures under the PDP 2023-2028 to improve the income-earning ability of Filipinos include expanding opportunities for lifelong learning, training and re-training programs and developing the adaptability of the current and future workforce to the changing demands of the labor market.

“The strategies of the PDP 2023-2028 intend to reinvigorate job creation, particularly high-quality jobs. Expanding our pool of high-quality workforce

will also support our goal of economic and social transformation to accelerate economic recovery and ensure that it will be inclusive and resilient. This thrust then brings us back on track in empowering every Filipinos to have a matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay (strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life),” Balisacan said.

During the launching of the medium-term plan last month, the country’s chief economist said the government would not only focus on reducing the unemployment rate but it targets to create high-quality jobs to accelerate poverty alleviation. (PNA)

“I want to assure the family of Yvonne that the police will do its best that justice is served. At nakita naman natin si General Silo and the task force para lahat ma-address at naka focus sa kaso. The family is grieving dahil masakit mamatayan ng anak. We will try to do our best so that justice is served para maibsan naman ang kanilang pagdadalamhati,” he said.

Abalos added that this kind of case cannot be set with a timetable but what is important is the police will act fast concerning the investigation.

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said, underscoring that it is the commitment of his administration to protect the welfare of his constituents in Davao del Norte as he considered “human resources” as being the most important asset of this country.

“Kay kung kulang ug huyang ang gobyerno sa pagtagad sa ilang panginahanglan, ilabina sa pag-atiman sa maayong panglawas, lisud para kanato ang pagkab-ot sa kauswagan,” Jubahib stressed.

He then expressed gratitude towards the Provincial Health Office staff, various local government units, and academic institutions for their efforts in addressing malnutrition and other nutrition-related issues through their nutrition programs in their communities.

Other awardees

The National Nutritional Council Davao Region also cited Dr. Alfred A. Lacerona and May Flor Espiritu as the Regional Outstanding Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO), and Regional Outstanding District Nutrition Program Co-

ABOITIZ...

ordinator (DNPC), respectively.

“I laud and congratulate the leadership and support of our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Lacerona, and our Provincial Nutrition Program Coordinator Ms. Espiritu, for their outstanding commitment to ensuring that the breadth of our program implementation, reaches everyone in the Province, especially our vulnerable and underserved sector, such as the indigenous people, the poor and indigent families,” Jubahib said.

The pro-people governor has assured the people of Davao del Norte that his administration would work harder “to ensure that our constituents continue to benefit from our economic gains through the programs and services we provide for them.”

“We shall continue to give premium to accessible, effective, and equitable health and nutrition programs to make sure that there is human capital development for a strong and progressive nation,” Jubahib said.

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(MW)—half of the target 9,200 MW capacity it eyes to generate by 2030 alongside its thermal assets.

AboitizPower intends to spend P190 billion over the next decade to add 3,700 MW of clean energy

PH DEV’T ...

capacity.

As of November 2022, the company had over 1,000 MW of disclosed and ongoing renewable projects, which included solar, floating solar, hydro, and onshore wind.

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and postharvest facilities. Also critical will be complementary private sector investments such as warehouses, cold chains, cold storage facilities, processing facilities, and digital marketing channels, among others,” Balisacan said.

He added it is necessary to modernize the country’s agriculture and agribusiness to increase productivity and ensure stable supply of food locally.

Amid the frequent weather disturbances that the country experienced, there is also a need to upgrade and streamline the disaster response and rehabilitation mechanisms.

This will include the use of technology in predicting supply chain disruptions; adoption of site-specific, timely and simplified climate outlook and weather forecasts; improvement of biosecurity measures and accelerating the development of vaccines to control livestock and poultry diseases.

Balisacan also lauded the decision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to extend Executive Order No. 10 that extends the reduction of import duties on various agriculture products such as pork, rice, corn and coal until December 2023. (PNA)

cations” and “An Ordinance Restructuring the Organizational structure of Business Bureau to Add Plantilla Personnel and Appropriating Funds Thereof” aim to streamline business transactions and permit applications in Davao City.

“The main purpose of these ordinances is to make sure that the mandate of our Mayor Baste Duterte is to give our constituents, specially the businessmen, a positive experience in their transactions in the city. We need to streamline our process, we need to digitize the process. It is my desire that people from far-flung areas need not go here to apply for a business permit. Let us take advantage of the technology,” Al-ag said.

Al-ag also said the main problem relative to the slow issuance of the business permits in the case of new applicants is the excessive and tedious requirements and the means of accessing the same is not fully digitized and the lack of personnel in the Business Bureau Division.

Meanwhile, the Davao City Business Bureau (CBB) will be extending its processing hours before the 2023 cut-off on January 31, 2023 to help taxpayers and business owners avoid surcharges on top of their business permit application and renewal fees.

CBB head Maribel Paguican said that for the first two working days of January, the Business Bureau was met with many business tax

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forge closer ties with Asia’s largest economy on multiple fronts.

“Ipinakita natin sa mga present and potential Chinese investors… Ang sinasabi natin sa kanila ay palakihin na ang involvement nila sa Pilipinas,” the President said.

“Maganda ngayon ang investment climate sa Pilipinas. Marami tayong opportunity na puwedeng magpartner… kung ano man sa kanilang palagay ang pinaka bagay sa kanilang operation,” he said.

Aside from investment pledges, the Philippines also received some 1.5 billion renminbi (around $220 million or P12.2 billion) in grants for the construction of several bridges in the country.

Marcos’ predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also boasted about bringing home $24 billi-

HSBC...

payers hoping to catch the deadline for business permit issuance.

The CBB called on taxpayers to process their permits online through the CBB’s online application system. She said online processing and payments will not only decongest the bureau’s processing centers but will also speed up the process for the applicants.

Those who are unable to access the bureau’s online platform may go to the nearest CBB one-stop shop. The one-stop shop is a streamlined processing service that aims to save taxpayers’ time and money by simplifying the business permit application process and removing unnecessary steps to the assessment process.

There are Business Bureau one-stop shops in the Sangguniang Panlungsod building, Almendras Gym, NCCC Mall Buhangin, Calinan Gym as well as in the District Treasury Offices in Toril, Tugbok, Bunawan, Baguio, Marilog, and Paquibato.

On January 31, the cutoff day for business permit processing for the year 2023, operating hours for the one-stop shops in the SP building and Almendras Gym are from 8 a.m to 10 p.m., while the one-stop shop at NCCC Mall Buhangin will be opened from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. The one-stop shops in Calinan Gym as well as the ones in the District Treasury Offices of Toril, Tugbok, and Bunawan will be opened from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. By Maya M. Padillo

onin investment pledges during his state visit to China in 2016.

But years later only a small fraction of the pledged investments and loans had been delivered.

In 2020, Duterte’s own Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said China was “slow” in providing funding for the country’s infrastructure projects.

The National Economic and Development Authority said that as of August 2020, or 4 years after Duterte’s China visit, the country had received only P5.9 billion for the Binondo-Intramurous and Estrella-Pantaleon bridges, P1 billion for the rehabilitation of conflict-stricken Marawi City, P4.4 billion for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, and P12 billion for the New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam.

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Cheo said “household’s consumption in 2023 will likely be curtailed” given the elevated inflation rate.

“Strong employment, tourism recovery, expanding production and retail sales, and public investment will continue to support growth in 2023,” he said.

With inflation expected to remain high, Cheo

projects the BSP to make three consecutive 25 basis point increases this year, “pausing at 6.25 percent by Q2 (second quarter) 2023” and keeping this decision until at least the second half of 2024.

On the peso, Cheo forecasts the local currency to end this year at 56.5 to a US dollar given the peaking of the greenback’s strength. (PNA)

Bay Area ties series 1-1

Bay Area bucked the absence of Andrew Nicholson and held off Ginebra, 94-86, in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals in front of 17,236 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday night.

Kobey Lam caught fire for the Dragons, especially in the second half, as he led their fight back, where they held

the Gin Kings to only 15 points in the third quarter and exploded for 34 in the final period.

“We learned our mis-

takes from the last game,” said Lam, who finished with 30 points on 11-of20 shooting, including 8-of-14 on threes, nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block for Bay Area, which forced a 2-2 tie in the best-of-seven series.

Glen Yang and Zhu Songwei each added 18 points.

Justin Brownlee had

his triple-double of 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists with four steals and one block flushed as Ginebra lost steam early in the fourth quarter and could not complete a comeback, which somehow dampened his Best Import win earlier in the night.

“Sometimes, it just doesn’t work like that (winning on the same

night you win an individual award),” Brownlee said.

Also going down the drain was Scottie Thompson’s 18-point, five-rebound, six-assist, one-steal, and one-block performance, fresh from winning Best Player of the Conference honors.

“Maganda lang talaga yung pinakita nila (They just performed pretty

well),” Thompson said. The Scores: Bay Area – 94: Lam 30, Yang 18, Zhu 18, Liu 8, Reid 8, Blankley 7, Song 3, Zheng 2, Ewing 0, Ju 0 Ginebra – 86: Brownlee 23, Thompson 18, J. Aguilar 12, Tenorio 11, Pringle 9, Standhardinger 8, Malonzo 5, Mariano 0, Gray 0, Pinto 0

Quarters: 19-19, 3846, 60-61, 94-86 (PNA)

Short of labeling as one-sided officiating, Brian Goorjian and his Bay Area Dragons could not hide their frustrations after Brgy. Ginebra came from behind to snatch Game 3 (89-82) to take a 2-1 lead in the Com’s Cup best of seven finals series.

As a result of their rants against PBA game officials, Com. Willie Marcial slapped a P100K fine on Myles Powell (who was not even playing because of injury) and P75K on Hayden Blankley who both made comments on the social media.

“The refs are making a differ-

ence,” wrote Powell, noting the big disparity in free throws between BAD and Ginebra.

Blankley was fined for his comment that officiating was “cooked,” which in our native dialect would mean “lutong Macao,”

Actually, I would not blame them for reacting the way they did but I thought Goorjian and his boys should stop abusing our well-known native hospitality.

When BAD agreed to take part in the Com’s Cup, they submitted themselves fully to the PBA rules,

which meant that they were adequately briefed on PBA officiating and all that jazz.

PBA fans are wise enough to know when officiating is one-sided and they will not condone the stupidity and moronic (if I may say) actuations of game officials when they witness them.

The “kampihan” mentality does not exist anymore in our contemporary society because we have a new generation of young Pinoys who observe and follow the golden rule.

A visiting team should show its respect for the host tourna-

ment organizer (the PBA, that is) because as what has been seen and heard, the narratives coming from the Dragons do not speak highly of their appreciative values.

Yes, they want to win the championship trophy (and I think they are capable because the Dragons qualified for the championship series) but a big amount of goodwill should accompany their participation.

By criticizing the refs, don’t they know that Goorjian and his boys are actually “bad mouthing” their host?

If I were the BAD coach, I would advise my players to refrain from unnecessarily commenting on the officiating but instead focus on their performance on the court.

It appears to me, that even at this time, the Dragons are already telling PBA fans that Ginebra is going to win the title by its “home court” advantage and not because the Gin Kings are far superior as a team.

This leaves a bad taste in the mouth, doesn’t it? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

ON FIRE. Kobey Lam (No. 22) sizzles for Bay Area with eight triples as they held off Ginebra, 94-86, in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Friday (Jan. 6, 2023). Lam finished with 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, including 8-of-14 on threes, nine rebounds and four assists. (Courtesy of PBA Images)

Commissioner Hayco has thought of us Mindanaoans

“Paspas kaayo ang mga panghitabo, pero para nako, akong gusto ihangyo sa kadagkuan nato sa PSC nga anhi ko sa Visayas ibutang. Kung walay commissioner from Mindanao, andam ko mahimong commissioner in both Visayas and Mindanao.”

Those were the quoted words of Cebu sportsman Edward Hayco by the CDN Inquirer.

As you all probably know by now, Hayco has been appointed commissioner by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

What I’d love with the quoted statement of Commissioner Hayco is the fact that he had in his mind that a commissioner from Mindanao will be appointed.

If none will be appointed, then Commissioner Hayco is willing to serve both Visayas and Mindanao.

Love that Comm. Edward!

Nag huna huna gyud ka namong taga Mindanao. Daghang salamat!

I just hope that you will serve your full term of six years, knowing that depending on the “political climate” in Malacañang, the PSC Board

of Commissioners can be replaced.

But you have a sterling record as chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission and that alone can be a deterrent to those planning to covet your post in the future.

Balo nakas mga position nga ana, naa gyud usahay magka interes, maskig mga ugok, kay lakas lagi, bahalag butalo.

The sports community knows your love for dancesport.

And I hope this love can be spread out to the island of Mindanao.

You see, this is one sport that Mindanaoans can excel internationally.

If the needed resources are available, the dancesport organizations all over Mindanao can propel their program to a higher level.

Daghan kaayo hawod mo bayle diri Comm.Edward sa Mindanao.

Of course, there are other noble sports programs too to consider. But it’s up to the new board of commissioners.

We are crossing our fingers.

Welcome to the exciting world of the PSC, we wish you all the best!

Newly-installed PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann inspects the Rizal Memorial Complex.