Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 244 | Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023

A registrant is being assisted by her mother as she fills up the form for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) voters registration at the Commission on Elections 11 (Comelec 11) inside the Magsaysay Park compound in Davao City a day before the January 31 deadline of registration. Lean Daval Jr.

DRIVER DISCIPLINE

Follow CTTMO’s 20-second rule: Rigo tells PUV drivers

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s grandson and namesake Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II asked public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to religiously follow the 20-second rule on yellow boxes implemented by the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO).

Rigo said aside from avoiding traffic congestion, students won’t be late in their classes if drivers will comply.

The CTTMO is resuming the implementation

the 20-second rule in loading or unloading passengers at the loading bays and yellow boxes to ensure that there are no delays for the riding public specially students on their way to

school. “Luoy pud ang mga istudyante. Maayo man nang uban kay naay sakyanan na muhatod nila. Kanang mga wala’y sakyanan maningkamot pa na sila ug hulat ug sakyanan aron makaabot sa ilang tunghaan. Kung magdugay dugay ang mga drivers, ma-late gyud na sila,” Rigo said.

He also cited a study that the most essential learning time of the day for students is in the morning. He added that coming late

PNP to ICC: Respect PH’s sovereignty,

justice system

to school also affects students’ attendance records and ability to learn.

“Dako na ang atong city so normal nga magkaroon ta ug traffic jams which is also among the reasons why students do not get to class on time. Pero maavoid ni ug usa sa mga paagi is ang pag follow sa mga drivers sa mga polisiya nga ginapatuman sa CTTMO sama aning 20-second rule,” he said.

The CTTMO anFDRIVER, P6

3 ranking officials of NPA fall in GenSan

Three ranking officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were arrested in a police operation in General Santos City, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Monday.

CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat said those

arrested were Ruben Saluta, secretary of the National Propaganda Commission of the CPP Central Committee and former secretary of the NPA’s Panay Regional Party Committee (PRPC); Presentacion Cordon Saluta, head of the Komiteng Rehyonal Panay (KR- Panay) and Yvonne Losaria leader of the Sentro-De-Gravidad,

Guerrilla Front 35, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

CIDG operatives nabbed the three suspects in an operation at Phase 5, Doña Soledad, Barangay Labangal on Sunday after receiving information about their presence in the area.

Seized from them were

several firearms -- including three M16 rifles, an M14 rifle, carbine -- several types of ammunition, a hand grenade, mobile phones, laptop computer and documents.

Ruben has standing arrest warrants for several counts of murder while Presentacion is wanted by F3 RANKING, P6

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to respect the sovereignty of the Philippines and acknowledge its justice system, after the court authorized the reopening of an inquiry into the country’s war on drugs.

“The PNP encourages the ICC to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty and acknowledge the capacity of the Philippines’ judicial system,” PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said at a press briefing on Monday.

According to Azurin, the Philippines has a robust and functioning justice system with active legal proceedings and remedies that address the claims of human rights abuses committed during the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday also said that if it were up to him, he will cause the arrest of ICC probers if they arrive in the country as he insisted that the ICC has no sovereign power over the Philippines.

“As the lawyer of the President, I will not allow, as far as I’m concerned, I will not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court of justice. They have no sovereign power over us. If they will come here... If I were to be followed, I will cause their arrest,” Enrile told reporters.

The ICC, in its decision to reopen the investigation, said its pre-trial chamber “is not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the court’s investigations.”

“The various domestic initiatives and proceedings, assessed collectively, do not amount to tangible, concrete and progressive investigative steps,” it said.

Duterte, whose term ended in June 2022, pulled the Philippines out of the Hague-based tribunal in 2019 after it began a preliminary probe and later on launched a formal inquiry into his much criticized drug war.

The international probe, however, was suspended in November 2019 after Manila said it

Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II encourages public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to follow the 20-second rule on yellow boxes implemented by the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) to avoid traffic congestion and students won’t be late in their classes. Lean Daval Jr.

DCM intensifies drive for efficient power provider in DavNor, DdO

DCPO to help gov’t address OFW concerns by launching help desk

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will be coordinating with aligned government agencies particularly the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Davao (OWWA-Davao) in addressing the concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Davao City.

Last week, the city government launched a help desk in every police station to begin its campaign.

Major Catherine dela Rey, DCPO spokesperson, said on Monday that the help desk is open to all OFWs and aspiring OFWs.

“Ang OFW office

naa lang man gud diri sa downtown pati ang OWWA so maglisod ug reachout ang mga OFWs nga naa sa mga probinsiya. Kung naa silay concerns puwede na sila muduol sa nearest police station. Kung naa mo’y pangutana, mu-coordinate mi sa OWWA para matabangan sila. Be patient lang pud kay dili tanang pangutana matubag dayon namo kay i-coordinate pa namo na sa OWWA para mahibalo mo ug unsa inyo buhaton. Dili lang ni sa DCPO apan apil na ang mga provinces kay tanan police station nationwide. Kung naa silay

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The Davao Consumer Movement (DCM) is intensifying its campaign for a modernized, stable, and efficient power supply in Davao del Norte and parts of Davao De Oro by organizing meetings with stakeholders.

The group is campaigning for Tagum City and neighboring municipalities to be transferred from the franchise area of Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORDECO) to the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC).

“Ang panawagan namo nga mabalhin sa franchise sa DLPC ang Tagum ug uban pang kasingpit nga mga munisipyo aron makasinati pud mi ug maayong serbisyo ug barato nga kuryente. Ginaingon ang Samal nga

center of tourism pero as of now problemado ang kuryente didto ug mahal,” said Ryan Amper, co-convenor of the Davao Consumer Movement during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

Nordeco is the power distributor of the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro including Tagum City and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

He said that the electric bill of Nordeco differs by P5 compared to DLPC. He also said DLPC’s rate

of P12 per kilowatt hour is lower compared to Nordeco’s P17.

Amper said their main campaign is for DLPC to serve them.

“Nga mahimong maayo ang amoang power provider. Sa kasamtangan for pila na ka tuig nga ang nga tao sa Davao del Norte ug Davao de Oro nakasinati ug grabeng kalisod sa ilalom sa Nordeco as power provider. Mahal ang ilahang kuryente compared sa mga areas nga giserbisyuhan sa DLPC,” he said.

In July last year, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. vetoed House Bill 10554, an Act Expanding the Franchise Area of Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (DLPC).

The said bill would re-

move the municipalities of New Corella, Asuncion, Talaingod, Kapalong, and San Isidro, the cities of Tagum and Samal in Davao del Norte, and the municipality of Maco in Davao de Oro from the franchise coverage area of Nordeco.

Amper said that the group is hoping that the said House Bill will be refiled.

“Sa pagka-karon amo siyang gina-monitor pero sa pagka-karon wala pa mi nakabalo unsay kapalaran sa House Bill,” he said.

He also called on the leaders in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro not to use politics as a reason to help their constituents who are facing

A barefoot man belonging to an indigenous people’s (IP) group leaves the Commission on Elections 11 Second District office after registering for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) at Comelec regional office inside the Magsaysay Park compound in Davao City a day before the January 31 deadline of registration. Lean Daval Jr.

In saying that the government has “failed” Filipinos, especially the children, on the issue of bridging the gaps that currently exist in the education sector:

PADILLO Senior Reporter

GARAY DELIGERO Editorial Consultant

BILLACURA Sports Editor

D. VELASCO President

D. MARATAS

V. BACSAL General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

OLIVIA

GREGORIO

“If we have failed them, we have to admit that, we have failed our children, and let us not keep failing them anymore, otherwise we will not allow them to become the great Filipinos that we know they can be… They will not become the great Filipinos that we’ll be recognized not only by their fellow Filipinos but by many people around the world and thus it is once again reminds us that education is the most valuable service that the government can give to its citizens.” President

FERDINAND R. MARCOS JR.

Visayans call him the medicine man, the arbularyo, the charlatan, sorcerer, or witch doc-tor. As a general rule, he is known as the tambalan or mananambal. His kind happens to be the ‘last resort’ among Filipinos when all the medications prescribed by the medical doctors fail.

In contrast to what most Christians believe that the medicine man is a devil’s proxy, rural folks, given the high prices of prescribed drugs and the expense involved in getting to the nearest physician’s clinic, say the traditions associated with the mananambal persist. And there is no gainsaying the herbal guy will continue to be part of folklore.

Lumped in the medicine man’s circle is the manghihilot, the bonesetter, which is given the impressive-sounding title of physical therapist in medical

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

FAST

school. While the two engagements are world apart in terms of scientific basis, often the farm-bred bonesetter is more patronized.

Medicine men hold a special place in many cultures around the world. In the Philippines, each indigenous people have its own equal, and are known by different names, including the famous babaylan whose interpretative dances and gibberish wails during trances provide the tribe anticipations and predictions related to sickness, disaster, and spiritual vision.

As a young boy finishing primary school at the Holy Cross of Davao College decades ago, I had my personal experience of the neighborhood tambalan. Lolo, my guardian, complained of pains in the lower back portion; he also felt stomachache, which he thought was related. With the doctor unable to nail

H.

down the cause, he accepted the advice to consult the medi-cine man.

The tambalan’s clinic, which was next to a barbershop, was dimly-lit. Lined along the visi-ble cobwebbed walls were the queues of the reused amber bottle and a stall where he mo-tioned Lolo to sit down while preparing an enamel plate (losa) and a small opaque bottle with the lid on.

With everything in order, the medicine man, with his furtive kerchief around his temple, asked Lolo to stand and roll his shirt up, exposing his abdomen and lumbar spine. He started at the back, gently rubbing a bottle in a specific direction until a round black pebble the size of a marble appeared and fell to the losa, producing the familiar sound of a nugget dropping on an enamel dish. Later, he turned his focus to the abdominal section,

still rubbing the am-ber bottle in a similar fashion until a bone fragment that was like an animal jaw materialized.

Lolo said the pains he was feeling had subsided after the ritual. No account was given by the tambalan or my grandfather. What was confirmed later, when my Lolo was brought to the nearest public hospital, was the presence of cancer of the intestines that eventually cost his life.

There are bright sides, however, to a tambalan’s life, many of these undocumented. A classmate in Grade 5, with playmates as witnesses, was treated for his toothache and cured after the medicine man pulled out worms that looked like glass noodles from the hole of his molar. Asked later what he felt, he regaled his friends saying he did not experience anything except for a slight tingling as the med-

C. MORDENO SOMEONE ELSE’S WINDOWS

FINDING THE LOST CHILD IN US

icine man slowly removed the glistening thread-like wriggles.

Outside the display of their ‘medical’ skills, the tambalans also greatly affect the way sci-ence views the study of medicine. A number of herbal supplements that have found their way to drugstores have provenance in traditional or folk medicine. Plants like yerba buena (Clinopodium douglasii Benth.), panyawan (Tinospora rumphii Boerl.), gabon (Vitex negundo), and dulaw (Curcuma) have already been systematically proven as active ingredients of several branded medicines manufactured globally.

Folkloric medicine, though at times inconsistent with science, has survived the test of time. Because of this, researchers in search for better drugs, have not discounted their values.

For sure, we couldn’t recreate those carefree episodes, we simply wish to savor the memories that brought smiles and

laughter and tied us to our roots. It’s just that the echo of yesterday’s half-innocent mischief seems to ring louder as age advances, as if to rekindle the fire that burned bright in the hearth of youth. And, hopeless romantics that we are, we often wish that the winds of nostalgia would blow life into its dying embers. No, it’s not those moments of timid passion and naughty escapades, from which we draw both

amusement and embarrassment, that we want to relive. Rather, we simply yearn to savor again and again the things that sated our childhood senses – the rainbow behind the hills, the dewdrops on the grass, the music of birds, the fireflies lighting up the trees, the fish beneath clear ponds and streams.

There will always be this child in us who loves to gather shells and pebbles on the shore, climb

guava and cherry trees, mold objects from mud, dance in the rain, and run in the meadows.

It had always been the happiness of pursuit until society’s expectations and standards of “success” changed that to pursuit of happiness. We were forced to embrace something that made us indifferent to the sounds and colors of the world.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun, so goes a song by Terry

Jacks. But unlike the song’s lamentation, we refuse to accept that those seasons are all gone along with the wine and the songs; they are simply tucked away in a corner of our mind, ready to be reborn.

So, go out there and indulge that child within you. Run. Laugh. Love. But above all, live.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@gmail.com.)

MARCOS

18,617 Filipino nurses sought US jobs in ‘22

Thenumber of Philippine-educated nurses that took US licensure exam for the first time in 2022 was the highest in 14 years

A total of 18,617 nursing graduates from the Philippines took the US licensure examination for the first time in 2022, in hopes of practicing their profession in America, Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairperson of the House committee on higher and technical education, said in a news release on Sunday.

“In 2022, we had the highest number of Philippine-educated nurses taking the NCLEX in 14 years, in terms of first-time tak-

ers,” Rillo said, citing figures from the US National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (USNCSBN).

The USNCSBN administers the National Council Licensure Examination, or the NCLEX, for registered nurses in America.

The 18,617 represents a surge of 90 percent compared to the 9,788 Filipino nursing graduates that took the NCLEX for the first time in 2021, without counting repeaters, Rillo said.

“The number of Philip-

pine nursing graduates taking the NCLEX for the first time is a reliable indicator as to how many of them are eagerly looking for employment in America,” Rillo said.

Rillo renewed his call for Congress to invest more compensation funding to retain Filipino nurses in public hospitals and to discourage some of them from leaving the country.

Rillo has been batting for the passage of House Bill No. 5276, which seeks to boost by 75 percent – from PHP36,619 to PHP63,997 – the lowest base of nurses employed by the government.

Under Rillo’s bill, the

minimum base pay of nurses in public health institutions would be raised by six notches to Salary Grade 21 prescribed under the Salary Standardization Law of 2019.

Meanwhile, the latest numbers from the USNCSBN show that a total of 4,318 nursing graduates from India also took the NCLEX for the first time in 2022, along with 1,816 graduates from South Korea.

A total of 1,326 nurses educated in Puerto Rico and 1,264 nurses schooled in Nigeria also took the NCLEX for the first time last year, along with 540 nurses trained in Kenya. (PNA)

Oil firms announce 3rd straight week of hikes

Motorists will have to pay more for petroleum products starting Tuesday, as oil firms on Monday announced another round of hikes to mark the third straight week of increases.

In separate advisories, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum

Corp. and Seaoil Philippines Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P1.30, diesel by P1.00, and kerosene by P1.35.

Cleanfuel will implement the same adjustments, excluding kerosene which it does not carry.

The changes will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, January 31, for all the firms except for Cleanfuel which will adjust prices at 4:01 p.m. the same day.

Other firms have yet to make similar announcements for the week.

Firms last week hiked

DICT says SIM card registration at 15%

Over 15% of all the SIM cards across the Philippines have been registered with their respective public telecommunication entities (PTEs) as of Saturday, January 28, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) reported.

Citing data from the telecommunications firms, the DICT said a total of 26,637,515 SIM cards were registered as of 11:59 p.m. on January 28, translating to 15.76% of the 168.977 million nationwide.

Broken down, Smart Communications Inc. reported 13.632 million or 20.05% of its 67.995 million subscribers, Globe Telecom Inc. with 10.883 million or 12.39% of its 87.873 million subscribers, and DITO Telecommunity Corp. with 2.121 million or 16.19% of its 13.108 million subscribers.

prices per liter of gasoline by P2.80, diesel by P2.25, and kerosene by P2.40.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) show that year-to-date net increases stood at P5.90 per liter for gasoline, P2.05 per liter for diesel, and P3.20 per liter for kerosene.

The IRR of the SIM Card Registration Act took effect on December 27, after the measure was signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last October.

The law mandates all public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to establish their registration platforms where they will onboard us-

ers who present valid identification cards. Users are given 180 days to register their SIM cards, or else face the risk of having these deactivated.

PTEs earlier said they were all set for the registration process, but birthing pains were expected during the initial stages. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has since ordered them to report any problems encountered by users during the registration.

“The DICT is working with PTEs to address the public’s feedback so we can improve the SIM Registration experience for everyone,” DICT Spokesperson Anna May Lamentillo said in a statement released Sunday.

“We also remind subscribers that their personal information remains protected under the Data Privacy Act. Under this law, PTEs are required to secure subscribers’ data with mandatory encryption of data,” she added.

To register SIM cards, users of DITO Telecommunity Corp. can visit https://dito. ph/registerDITO, Globe Telecom Inc. at https://new.globe. com.ph/simreg, and Smart at https://smart.com.ph/simreg.

Ryan Amper, co-convenor of the Davao Consumer Movement, discusses the power issues that is being experienced by the residents of Davao del Norte during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

PBBM approves VAT Refund Program for foreign tourists

Viber launches business features, eyes launch of in-app payments this year

Rakuten Viber unveiled on Thursday new business-centric updates to its messaging app, and said it expects its payments feature to go live this year.

Viber, which said it already has 71 percent penetration in the Philippines, said its “Business Inbox” and a searchable “Commercial Account” will further help its goal to become a superapp.

Cristina Constandache, chief revenue officer at Rakuten Viber said from 2021 to 2022, Viber saw a 603 percent increase in transactional business messages and an 83 percent increase in conversational business messages. She also noted an 11 percent increase in promotional business messages as well as a 34 percent increase in the number of new chatbots.

Viber said its Business Inbox, which is a dedicated space for brand-user interactions, now allows for all business messages from official brand accounts to be stored and organized in one folder.

These messages include bank notifications, order confirmations from delivery services, or special

offers from stores, among others.

“Business Inbox will be activated once the user receives their first business message. For users that have had conversations with businesses in the past, all the chats with businesses will move to Business Inbox automatically once the feature is released (for Viber version 18.0 and higher),” the company said.

Meanwhile, the new searchable Commercial Accounts feature will let users find brands and initiate communication with brands on their own.

Commercial Accounts lets users who want to connect with a business on Viber to choose the channel they prefer and have a mini-website experience within the app, Viber added.

“The recent updates to Viber provide a strong foundation for the introduction of additional features as part of the company’s superapp strategy,” said Constandache who joined the Philippine press launch of the the new features via a video call.

Constandache also said company aims to launch its Viber Pay feature within the year.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the Value-Added Tax (VAT) Refund Program for foreign tourists by 2024 to boost tourist arrivals in the country.

In a news release on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that Marcos approved the VAT Refund Program following the “Quick Wins” recommendations of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Tourism Sector Group.

Marcos also approved the PSAC recommendation to roll out e-visa by 2023, prioritizing China and India; and the removal of One Health Pass (OHP) or requirement of one form only for health, immigration and customs.

PSAC had also recommended the revocation of

outdated advisories and loud-speaker announcements in the country’s airports and the automatic inclusion of travel tax in all airline tickets.

Palace officials earlier said Marcos will issue an executive order to implement the tax refund program, which is also being carried out in other countries.

The Quick Wins proposals, which were presented by PSAC to the chief executive during a meeting in Malacañang last Thursday, are aimed at further boosting the country’s tourism industry, including improving airport infrastructure

and operations, managing the national brand and image, as well as promoting tourism investments, among others.

PSAC officials also told Marcos that they are working on a mobile app called e-Travel, which integrates all of the information on immigration, customs, health and quarantine.

They said the app, which could be used within this month or in February, is being modified to allow groups or families to easily input data, adding the database will also include tourist destinations, transport and hotel information, as well as traffic condition.

Tourists can complete the form through the app before boarding or while onboard the plane as long as they have internet connection.

Marcos has been vocal about his push for digitalization in government which, he said, could allow tourists to easily fill out those forms while traveling and at the same time, enable authorities to ensure security at the borders.

The PSAC is composed of business leaders and industry experts providing technical advice to the President in achieving the government’s economic objectives in six key sectors — agriculture, digital infrastructure, healthcare, infrastructure, jobs generation and tourism.

A total of 2.65 million tourists visited the country from February to December last year, of which 2.02 million were foreign tourists while 628,445 Filipinos were overseas or balikbayans.

CebPac now flying 4x daily to HK, offers P499 one way base fare

Cebu Pacific on Monday said it has ramped up its trips to Hong Kong, and now flies four times a day and 28 times weekly to the Chinese territory.

The airline said it is also offering a P499 one-way base fare sale from January 27 to 31 for travel from

June 1 to August 31, this year.

The Gokongwei-led carrier advises travelers to Honhg Kong to present a negative result from an antigen test taken within 24 hours or a negative 48hour RT-PCR result, and a proof of vaccination of pri-

mary doses for non-Hong Kong residents aged 12 or above.

“The COVID-19 test results may also be submitted online through the Health and Quarantine Information Declaration (https:// www.chp.gov.hk/hdf/).

Travelers are required to

keep photos of their test results for 90 days,” the airline said.

Cebu Pacific earlier said it is set to restore 100 percent of its pre-COVID network and capacity in March as it resumes flights to 25 international destinations in the first quarter.

Davao City Tourism Office officer in charge Jennifer Romero shares updates on the upcoming MiceCon 2023 and Araw ng Davao celebration during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

BANSALAN CELEBRATES DORONGAN FESTIVAL

by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

marks.

Atty. Villaraiz, who is the chairperson of the committee on tourism, gave credit to Sinulog as an inspiration for the annual festivity.

“Dorongan Festival is a thanksgiving celebration honoring the Child Jesus known to the Filipinos as Santo Niño,” Bansalan councilor Kirby A. Villaraiz said in his opening re-

“A Sinulog-based celebration, Dorongan Festival is Bansalan’s way of relieving the tradition and culture of the Visayans whose devotion to the miraculous Santo Niño is widespread,” the boyish-looking lawyer explained. “The population of Bansalan is said to have roots in Cebu and other towns in the Visayas.”

Dorongan Festival started during the first term of

Edwin Reyes as the town mayor. The festivity was stopped due to a pandemic which affected the whole country from 2020 to 2022. During the recent election,

Reyes won again.

“Aside from the thanksgiving, (we are celebrating the festival this year) for all (that) we have received and surpassed in the previous years,” he said, adding it is also an opportunity for us to package our beautiful town, Bansalan.”

Like the Sinulog, Dorongan Festival is also known for its street dancing. This year, it’s not a competition but all high schools in the municipality participated and showcased their flair in honoring Sto. Niño through interpretative and choreographed dances.

The participating high schools were: Marber National High School, Pedro A. Arches High School, Nazareth High School, St. Mary’s School of Bansalan, Libertad National High School, St. Therese School of Bansalan, Mabuhay National High School, and New Clarin National High School.

If Cebu City has Sinulog, the municipality of Bansalan in Davao del Sur has Dorongan Festival.

ASP, SM Cares hold talks on autism issues for National Autism Consciousness Week

In observance of the 27th National Autism Consciousness Week, Autism Society Philippines (ASP) and SM Cares, the City Government of Mandaluyong, and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) recently hosted a panel discussion on autism inclusion at SM Megamall Cinema 4

last January 20. Titled “AOK Pilipinas, Live!,” the event facilitated meaningful conversations on various issues concerning people on the autism spectrum and their loved ones, in line with the theme “Building a Nation Powered by Transformative Autism-inclusive Innovation.

Guests and panelists include P3PWD Representative, Hon. Rowena Guanzon; ASP Chair Emerita Dang Koe; ASP National President Mona Magno-Veluz; Mandaluyong City former councilor Charisse Abalos-Vargas; QC Kabahagi Center Executive Director Karen Sagun; Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation Executive Director Hazel Borja; and SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President Richard Caluyo, and SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Engr. Bien Mateo. Also present were celebrities Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, and Candy Pangilinan, who are autism awareness advocates and proud parents of children with autism.

Veluz-Magno moderated the first session, which focused on the importance of innovation in addressing issues concerning people on the spectrum, with Abalos-Vargas, Sagun, Borja, and Caluyo as panelists. This was followed by the first Q&A session of the day.

During the second session which was moderated by Koe, Montero, Miles, and Pangilinan shared stories and experiences raising children on the spectrum and gave useful tips for other parents living with family members with autism. The panelists also expressed their support for other parents who are taking care of children who have autism and assured them that support is available if and when they need it.

“Everything will be okay, it’s not a burden…chill lang

tayo, kaya natin ‘yan,” Pangilinan assured.

“I feel hopeful for the future here in the Philippines, for your children, for our children. Just look around there is so much support…I just wanted you to know that you are not alone,” Montero said.

In his special message, Mateo thanked the ASP for always believing in the advocacies of SM Cares. He also reiterated that SM is a mall for all, living with disability or not. “We want to send the message to all our mall-goers, including people with autism, that you’re always welcome here at SM.”

“This is also the perfect time for us to thank ASP for their unwavering trust and for continuously believing in our advocacies, especially those that are geared to-

beep launches new Advance Booking System for Manila to Davao route

beep operator AF Payments Inc. is introducing its newest solution designed to make it more convenient for passengers to purchase their bus tickets. This is the Advance Booking System, which will first be implemented by Davao Metro Shuttle (DMS) in its Metro Manila↔Davao route, the longest bus route to date.

Starting January 27, commuters and even tourists will enjoy the convenience of reserving bus tickets in advance to lessen the hassle of queueing onsite. Passengers can purchase and rebook tickets ahead at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) Terminal using their beep™ card or thru their advance booking hotline: Davao-PITX (0939-1351349) or PITXDavao (0981-3313389).

“With our new Advance Booking System feature, AF Payments Inc. is expanding the roster of solutions to continuously support the business needs of our partner transport operators nationwide. We work on these innovations in fulfillment of

our shared end goal of improving the commuting experience of the riding public. This 2023, we hope to be able to bring our technology to more routes by doubling our efforts at reaching out to interested partners,” said Sharon Fong, Chief Commercial Officer of AF Payments Inc.

Davao Metro Shuttle has been a valued beep™ partner since November 2019.

It operates inter-provincial buses that implement an automated fare collection system (AFCS), which includes Davao City↔Arakan; Davao City↔Kidapawan; Davao City↔Butuan City; C.P. Garcia↔Roxas; Catalunan↔Roxas; Ormoc City↔Sogod; and Tacloban City↔Calbayog City. Its latest route—PITX↔Ecoland Terminal in Davao City— was launched in June 2022.

Apart from DMS, Annil Transport Service Inc., operating a Davao City↔Calinan route, has also been an AFCS partner since February 2020. It features modern low-floor city buses equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras,

LCD TVs, leather seats, WiFi, and global positioning system (GPS).

AF Payments Inc. is looking to expand adoption of its payment solutions among buses and modern jeepneys in more provinces this year. It targets to partner with transport operators completing their compliance with the government’s PUV Modernization Program to service the over 70 million commuters in the country.

Its main offering is an AFCS that allows passengers to enjoy the convenience of cashless and contactless fare payments, while empowering transport operators to more efficiently manage their payment collection, recording, and remittance compared to the traditional manual way that is susceptible to human error and pilferage.

A consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Ayala Corp., AF Payments Inc. offers a full ecosystem of related business solutions that includes AFCS, Advance Booking System, Fleet Management System,

QR Ticketing / QR Payment System, Barrier and Gate Solutions, Central Ticketing Solutions, and Queue Management System. Clients can choose the services they need and bundle them together in a packaged offering for more savings.

At present, the stored value beep™ card used in transportation and select retail establishments can be bought online on Shopee, Lazada, and Facebook Marketplace (while stocks last). Reloading options include

ward people with autism. We are always proud to be your companion, and we will continue to support you in your goal to create a more autism-friendly Philippines,” Mateo said. The event is just one of the many ways SM Cares supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly “SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.”

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, with programs that support communities, promote social inclusion, and care for the environment. Aside from the program on PWDs, its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the SM Bike-friendly initiative

the partner transport operators, digital banking and e-wallet partners, and the beep™ mobile app.

Recently, AF Payments Inc. launched a new way of loading that is truly convenient for commuters. Straight from their Android or iOS smartphones, passengers can use the beep™ app to purchase load and fetch their load credits instantly. Through NFC-enabled phones, there is no longer any need to go to an Eload station to fetch loads. By

merely tapping the beep™ card on the phone, load is already transferred without any difficulty.

AF Payments Inc. is also tapping into all businesses that can provide reloading and card distribution services in the Davao region and nationwide. Interested partners may get in touch via <beep.com.ph/beep-business>. More information is also available at the website <beep.com.ph> and its official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

Autism OK advocates and celebrity parents during the AOK Pilipinas Live event Autism OK advocates and celebri-

Marcos signs EO on PH Dev’t Plan for 2023-2028

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order (EO) approving and adopting the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for the period 2023-2028, an economic recovery roadmap that aims to help the country achieve “economic and social transformation” amid the impact of rising inflation and Covid-19.

Under EO No. 14, signed by Marcos on Jan. 27, the PDP is the second medium-term plan anchored on “AmBisyon Natin 2040,” seeking to “bring back the country to a high-growth trajectory and more importantly, enable economic and social transformation for a prosperous, inclusive and resilient society.”

AmBisyon Natin 2040 serves as a guide for development planning from 2016-2040 to enable Filipinos to attain a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay (stable, comfortable and secure life).”

The PDP is also anchored on Marcos’ 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, which seeks to “reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction while addressing the issues brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, which is headed by the President, ap-

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was re-examining several hundred cases of drug operations that led to deaths of suspects at the hands of police, hitmen and vigilantes.

Officially, 6,181 people were killed in Dute-

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nounced that signages for this 20-second rule shall be mounted on the loading bays and drivers who

proved the PDP 2023-2028 on Dec. 16 last year following a series of Cabinet-level and technical inter-agency discussions and stakeholder consultations.

“We approved the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028 and this sets out the framework of the development plan for the Philippines and we have included all of the priority areas. This will facilitate the coordination and the alignment of all departments and all agencies in government to a single plan so that we are all working in the same direction,” Marcos said in his message announcing the approval of the PDP on Dec. 16 last year.

EO No. 14 directs all national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFIs), other national government offices and instrumentalities, government corporate entities (GCEs), state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local government units (LGUs) to adopt and disseminate the PDP 2023-2028.

They are also directed to align their budgetary and department/corporate programs with the strategies and activities identified in the PDP 2023-2028.

The formulation of the PDP 2023-2028 must be

rte’s “war on drugs” but rights group say that up to 30,000 may have been killed, some of them innocent victims, and that corruption was rife among security forces that acted with impunity.

spend more than 20 seconds on yellow boxes or loading bays will now be issued traffic citation tickets.

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an Antique court for a rebellion case. Losaria, meanwhile, has a standing arrest warrant for rebellion charges.

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the high cost of electricity.

“Para sa among kaigsoonan sa Tagum ug kasigbit nga munisipyo nga atoang ipagawas ang

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concern matagaan dayon ug pagtagad kay lisod biya kaayo naa sa gawas sa nasud importante ang abtik na coordination sa mga offices concerned na puwede makatabang sa atoang mga OFWs,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

completed by the first quarter of 2023 and updated annually or when deemed necessary by the NEDA.

The Department of Budget and Management must provide the necessary budgetary support for the implementation, monitoring, assessment and implementation of the PDP and Public Investment Program (PIP) 2023-2028 while appropriations for its continued implementation must be prepared in accordance with regular government budget procedures and must be included in the budget of concerned departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the national government under the annual General Appropriations Act.

Earlier, members of the government’s economic team expressed confidence that the Marcos administration will succeed in bringing down the poverty rate to 9 percent by 2028, which is among the goals of the PDP 2023-2028.

Socioeconomic Planning

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the 9 percent goal by 2028 is achievable through the government’s threepronged approach, which involves bringing growth to a higher level, enhancing the quality of growth through the creation of quality jobs, and improving the social protection system. (PNA)

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has described the ICC’s decision as unwelcome and an irritant.

The Philippine government, meanwhile, intends to appeal the ICC’s decision.

According to the ICC, the Appeals Chamber may reverse or amend the decision on conviction or sentence and may order a new trial before a different Trial Chamber.

The suspects were turned over to the CIDG Central Mindanao headquarters along with the guns and other documents

seized pending the return of the warrant of arrest to the court of origin and issuance of the commitment order. (PNA)

atong sentimyento para madungog sa atoang mga leaders ug matubag ang atong problema,” he said.

Nordeco’s franchise

On January 26, 2023 DCPO held the launching of the help desk and job fair at the DCPO covered court at Camp Capt. Domingo E. Leonor, Davao City.

The said activity was sponsored by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Davao (TES -

in Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro will expire in 2028 except in Samal which will expire in 2033.

DA-Davao), OWWA, and other government agencies. Meanwhile, Dela Rey reported that in the past weeks, Davao City was orderly and recorded zero-incidents amid various activities that were hosted in the city. By Maya M. Padillo

Kyrgios says Australia ‘created a monster’ in Novak Djokovic

Nick Kyrgios has hit the nail on the head with a blunt declaration on Australia’s treatment of Aussie Open champ Novak Djokovic.

Nick Kyrgios has absolutely nailed it.

Novak Djokovic has never called his return to Australia this summer a revenge mission — but his 2023 Australian Open triumph has every detail you’d expect to see in a sickly sweet story of comeuppance. If the 35-year-old’s 12-month rollercoaster was turned into a Hollywood film, Australia would be playing the villain.

Kyrgios on Sunday night was — like many — left in awe of the Serbian as he returned to the No. 1 ranking on the ATP Tour with a 6-3 7-6 7-6 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas that left him in tears.

Djokovic was famously deported from Australia 12 months ago as a result of breaching Australia’s border rules after ultimately being ruled a “health risk” to the country, putting lives

in danger as he remained unvaccinated. The shambolic handling of the case by Australian officials was an international embarrassment.

Of course, it is important to remember the entire scandal could have been avoided if Djokovic had simply accepted the Covid-19 vaccine. The grounds for his deportation remain in every way valid.

However, Djokovic’s triumph on Sunday night means the deportation fiasco is just the first chapter of the story.

The next chapter is his

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Pinoy pole vaulter EJ Obiena gave us something good to cheer about, copping the gold in the Perche En Or indoor tournament in Roubaix, France Sunday.

The Tokyo Olympian, touted to be the next Olympic gold medalist in the 2024 Paris Olympics, cleared 5.82 meters to beat China’s Yan Jie who leaped to a distance of 5.75m.

It is the second tournament for Obiena who settled for the silver a week earlier in a meet in Germany.

Obiena is ranked third in the world after snatching the bronze last year in the World Athletics

return — and the manner of it.

Prominent tennis journalist Christopher Clarey wrote in The New York Times Djokovic’s win: “felt like a full-circle occasion” as he triumphed in the same city where he had been deported.

Despite cementing his legacy of being king of Rod Laver Arena with a 10th Aussie Open crown, Djokovic remains a largely unpopular champion. The disrupter in the GOAT debate many seemingly wanted to be a twohorse race between Rafael

Nadal and Roger Federer.

Here’s a glimpse into the public sentiment.

A string of ugly on-court incidents and, what some would describe, as a demeanour that lacks the grace and sportsmanship of his Big Three colleagues also has plenty to do with it.

Kyrgios’ comments on Sunday night show Australia is getting what it deserves with Djokovic as its supreme tennis overlord.

The Aussie star suggested Djokovic will “get to 28 slams easy”.

Kyrgios saw it coming a mile away.

“For the sport, we need him here,” he said 12 months ago after Djokovic had been moved into a detention facility awaiting the outcome of his visa furore.

“I just want it to end. I’m feeling for him now, it’s not really humane what’s going on.”

He went on to say: “If he’s allowed to play the Australian Open, I don’t want any bar of him. I reckon he’s going to be p***ed off.

“He’s going to be very determined to play well and stick it to everyone of what’s going on. And I don’t want any bar of that Novak.”

EJ OBIENA, HIGH SCORING PBA GAMES, ETC

Championships in Oregon.

High scoring games in the Govs’ Cup do not leave me impressed because opposing teams appear to be less concerned about defense.

Ask Tim Cone and this multi-titled coach will agree.

The imports are concerned about their own individual performances and they need to produce big points for themselves to impress management who will seek their services anew when the next season comes.

The All-Filipino conference (Philippine Cup) is truly the most prestigious of the three tourna-

ments in the PBA calendar. Without imports to help their cause, each ball club and their respective coach will want to prove their mettle.

That victory of Terrafirma over Meralco was a shocking loss for coach Norman Black and his boys.

Converge, by far, is getting the fans’ attention, narrowly edging an unsuspecting Magnolia, 111 -109 even as our favorite point guard of yesteryears, Johnny Abarientos, faces a hefty fine for sticking a dirty finger at the Converge import.

Offside reactions like this

make for intriguing expectations in Asia’s first pay for play league although there’s nothing much to watch during the preliminaries.

I like to see the locals standout or play at par with the imports so that the integrity of the league - as its name implies - is truly about Philippine basketball at its best.

But you see, each ballclub is depending on its import to produce the points and the win.

Justin Brownless is still very much the most outstanding among the present crop of foreign cagers. He scores, rebounds, issues assists and defends to ensure there is complete teamwork.

Elsewhere, Fil-Am super GM Wesley So scored 7.5 pts, good for solo third in the just-concluded Tata Steel Chess Masters at Wijk Aan Zee, Netherlands. WS was undefeated and registered two wins in the 13 round robin tournament won by Dutch number one GM Anish Giri who garnered 8.5 pts after beating Richard Rapport in the 13th and final round.

World champ Magnus Carlsen and erstwhile leader Uzbek teenager Nodirbek Abdusattorov shared second with identical 8 pts. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

Novak Djokovic let it all go.

Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP.

ON THE MARK

Gotamco, Reyes, Advincula lead winners in CIDG RFU 11 shootfest

BY MOSES BILLACURA

Edwin Gotamco, John Megans Suan, Charlyn Reyes, Jeff Te, Jin Yu, Eugene Agoilo and Paul Ancla emerged division champions of the 2023 CIDG RFU 11

Regional Advisory Group Shooting Competition, January 28 in Tagum City.

Gotamco took the handgun carry optics title, besting the efforts of first runner-up Lucy Torres and second runner-up Wes Bangayan.

Suan, on the other hand, bagged the carry optics light crown over first runner-up Cedric Tan and second runner-up Ati Ko while in the classic .45, Charlyn Reyes defeated Nimrod Ogatis for the title.

Te took home the double action/striker fired top spot over second placer Dundee Lectura and third placer Bong Aquino while Yu bested the performances of first runner-up Richard Macaraeg and second runner-up Peter Bongngat in the limited 10.

Agoilo’s efforts gave him the single stack crown with PMAJ Benjie Santos settling at second and Nol Roperos at third while Ancla collected the stock hi-cap title over first runner-up Jannley Ramos and second runner-up John Tamondong.

In the lady’s category, Lucille Lectura won the stock hi-capover Nestle Paden while Yhoyie Opsimar clinched the double action/ striker fired title over Shy Toledo.

Anthony De Chaves won the lawman’s stock hi-cap over Capt. Ah Yan, PMAJ Benjie Santos bagged the single stack crown

over PEMS CD Nabuya and PCMS Sylvester Ninoria clinched the double action/striker fired title over SJO2 Abraham Campomanes.

Don Advincula’s ability to shoot has ripened at the right season, emerging as the senior’s champion.

Advincula’s long years of experience and his reliable gear, a CZ P-10 C, allowed him to top the efforts of John Ricky Lloren in the double action/striker fired category. Bimboy Sia shared the limelight by winning the single stack category while Francis Suan bagged the super senior’s stock hi-cap category title.

Miggy Sia emerged junior’s champion while Mark Daniel Bongngat settled first runner-up in the competition hosted by PLTCOL Jovit L. Culaway of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit 11.

Coy Paden won the unlimited category over runner-up Micmic Colotario and Travis Tan while in the pistol caliber carbine division, Vince Gotamco ruled the PCC unlimited over Carl Paolo Quilban and Warren De Leon, Benjie Pang finished first in the PCC short barrelled category over Joe Delos Santos and Ratim Ratim clinched the PCC limited category.