Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 281 | Wednesday, March 15, 2023

CASH AID

Rep. Pulong facilitates release of government assistance to over 11,000 marginalized workers

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Facilitated by the Office of the First Congressional District and DOLE regional office, the beneficiaries numbering 11,019 including 580 recipients of assistance on February 20, 2023, have received TUPAD payout since

October 2022. These beneficiaries were composed of vendors, tailors, school maintenance, hair stylists/barbers, and cobblers, among others.

FRs to continue receiving E-CLIP; cleared brgys. to get BDP funds

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr carries on the programs to assist former rebels (FRs) as they lived a renewed life, and to push for community development in areas previously under the influence of communist terrorist group.

was downloaded in February 2023 to Davao de Oro for 26 former rebels; Php1.706 Million for 39 FRs in Davao del Sur; and Php 3.727 Million for 51 FRs in Davao de Oro.

On process for downloading in March 2023 is Php 2.666 Million for 31 FRs in Davao Oriental.

beneficiaries’ families during the challenging times, encouraging them to continually support the government’s efforts to provide programs for disadvantaged and displaced workers.

Rep. Duterte vowed to keep helping those in need. The DOLE 11 also promised that, despite a tight budget, the TUPAD program will continue to run its flagship emergency employment pro-

Rep. Duterte is hopeful that the TUPAD program can help the FCASH, P10

Padilla shrugs off colleagues’ objection to Charter change

Sen. Robin Padilla on Monday said he remains unfazed by his colleagues lukewarm reception to his push to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

“No surrender po talaga ito,” Padilla said, adding that he wants to finalize the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes’ report on

Charter change by May.

According to Padilla, he does not feel disheartened even if Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri himself said that Charter change is not their priority.

“Katunayan ang instruction po ni Senate President, tuloy-tuloy lang ako... Sa akin po ay tuloy-tuloy lang ako. Hindi ko po nakikita na parang ako pinipigi-

lan niya,” he said.

The senator also turned down the idea of seeking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s support for Cha-cha.

“Hindi kaya ng prinsipyo ko. Hindi ko kaya. Kasi para sa akin sa legislation ito. Di ko kailanman matatanggap kailangan ako magbow na di sa mandato niya... Pag

In an interview, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Alex Roldan revealed the continued implementation with funding support, for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and for the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

“Sa pagkakaron ang atong E-clip nagapadayon. Nahitabo lang nga dunay kalangan tungod kay nahurot ang pondo niadtong 2022, nag request ta ug budget. (At the moment, E-CLIP will continue. It so happened that there was delay because we ran out of 2022 budget; we have requested a budget),” he said.

“So duna tay pondo nga atong Ihatag ngadto sa mga rebel returnee, mosurender sa gobyerno so wala sila’y kabalak-an moingon nga nawala na ang proyekto, nagpadayon ni siya. (We now have the funds to give to the rebel returnee who surrender to the government. So, they no longer have something to worry about that have made them said that the project is dissolved. This is continued),” he said.

Based on DILG data on E-CLIP presented during the first full council meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), there were already E-CLIP funds that were downloaded in February 2023 to DILG Field Offices for distribution.

A total of Php 2.021 Million

DILG XI further revealed that the P1,722,000 Davao de Oro request for E-CLIP funding intended to benefit 27 FRs is still pending at the Central Office as of March 2023.

There are also requests that are still subject for evaluation as of March, and are still pending at the E-CLIP Information System at the regional level. These are requests from Davao del Norte amounting to P2,415,000 for 115 FRs; P6,010,570 of Davao Oriental for firearms renumeration and other benefits of 21 FRs; and P774,000 of Davao Oriental for 10 FRs.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Roldan said that SBDP additjonal funds are due for release to cleared barangays while ongoing BDP projects are mandated to continue because funds were already downloaded to implementing LGUs.

“Kadtong mga nasugdan dili na pwede undangon, naana ang pondo niana. Dili pwede moingon sila nga nasugdan na unya undangon; tungod ang pondo nanaug na tanan ngadto sa mga LGUs. (Those that have started, should continue because these have been funded. They cannot discontinue implementing thes because the funds were already handed down to LGUs.),” he said referring to the BDP projects in 2022.

Davao Region is appro-

Over 11,000 marginalized workers in Davao City receive Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) assistance since October 2022 through the facilitation of the Office of the First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte. Lean Daval Jr.

More than 11,000 beneficiaries in Davao City received cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE’s)

Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/

Need for more quake drills in local communities: OCD

By MAYA M. PADILLO

DSWD 11 to implement Cash For Work program for quake victims

The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD 11) will be implementing the Cash For Work (CFW) program for the earthquake victims of Davao de Oro, according to an official.

In addition to reviving the market in disaster-hit regions, the CFW program gives the affected population the freedom to set their priorities for reestablishing their lives and their dignity.

“Aside from the relief goods na ipanghatag namo, we are also planning to implement Cash For Work program para sa atoang naapektuhan na mga pamilya didto kay sa pagka-karon some roads are not passable. We will involve our affected people in some way makatabang and also at the same time maka-income pud sila kay dili enough ang food packs ang ihatag lang nato,” said Dahlia S. Padillo, assistant director of DSWD 11, during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

Padillo also assured that DSWD 11 has enough food items as it has augmentation from the national office.

She added that the agency is expecting more than 100,000 food packs coming in not only from the national warehouses but also from the neighboring regions.

She also said DSWD 11 will

continue to provide relief goods until the victims can return to their homes.

“Isa pa gina follow namo ang marching order sa atoang Presidente na in times of disaster dapat walay pamilya na magutman. Mao pud na ang gisunod sa DSWD na sa panahon sa disaster naa gyud si DSWD na mu-provide sa mga panginahanglan sa atoang mga victims,” she said.

Padillo said DSWD 11 has constant coordination with the province and municipalities in terms of relief goods requirements.

“We have an agreement na ang munisipyo, mag send sila ug request to the province, ang province ang mu request sa amoa so all our relief goods will be channeled to the provincial office and the province na ang bahala sa distribution ngadto sa kada munisipyo,” she said.

She clarified that DSWD 11 is not providing construction materials to the victims as the agency’s Modified Shelter Assistance will be handled already by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD).

An official of the Office of Civil Defense 11 (OCD 11) admitted on Monday that only a small chunk of the public are familiar with the safe way of evacuation particularly the “duck, cover and hold” safety reminder whenever there is an earthquake.

This is the reason why the OCD 11 has stressed that more drills are needed specifically in the community level.

OCD 11 director Liza Mazo said more knowledge, more information, and more practice on “duck, cover and hold” safety

reminder is needed for the public following the series of earthquakes in Davao de Oro.

“Yes, definitely we need more drills. Gusto ko i-commend ang mga bata bright kaayo sila and they follow diligently. SIla yung mag duck, cover and hold kasi

regular yung sa school while ang mga mama nagkaratol na ug dagan sa gawas. Sana sa house regular yung parents to join. We do that in the offices. Sa school puwede nila gawin more often than the quarterly kaya mas bright ang mga bata. Yung magpanic normal naman yun specially pag kulang tayo sa kaalaman. Pag hinay ang linog ayaw sa ug dagan,” Mazo said during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

She added that there is a need to develop public awareness at the community level to equip the FNEED, P10

Beware of pseudo-contractors, DILG 11 tells BDP barangays

on the Support to the Barangay Development Program (SBDP) were discussed.

“We will see kung unsa pa ang mahimo ni DSWD as to the rebuilding sa ilahang mga panimalay. Pero naa ta’y CFW para hinay hinay na magamit nila para sa pagtukod o pag-ayo sa ilahang balay,” she said.

TheDepartment of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 11 has called on barangay officials to be cautious about individuals introducing themselves as contractors wanting to clinch a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on solar light projects.

DILG pitched this call in the recent meeting of the Regional Task Force (RTF) on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) during which updates

By Maya M. Padillo

In her presentation, DILG 11 Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) chief, Engineer Charito L. Cinco said “these contractors are convincing the barangays to change their priority or proposed projects to solar lights”, in the guise as representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) or the DILG.

In a separate query, DILG XI Regional Director Alex Roldan advised the barangay officials to seek the assistance of DILG or other pertinent government agencies to check the legitimacy of the individuals claiming themselves as contractors.

DILG raised this call in the light of the Php6.336 Billion fresh funding for SBDP due for release to implementing cities and municipalities based on the Special

Vice President Sara Duterte leads the distribution of Relief for Individuals in Crisis and Emergencies (RICE) food boxes to 1,200 oil spill affected residents of Brgys. Seminara, Tinogboc, Alegria, Sibolo, at Sitio Liwagao in Caluya, Antique on Monday. FB page of Inday Sara Duterte

Alsons expands property venture to Soccsksargen

TheAlcantara Group, a Mindanao-grown Filipino conglomerate, has expanded its property development operations from the Davao region to Soccsksargen, signaled by Friday’s launching of Avia Estate, a mixed-use realty project in nearby Alabel, Sarangani province.

Alcantara Group subsidiary Alsons Development and Investment Corporation (Alsons Dev) officially launched at a hotel here the Avia Estate, a township project that will house prime residential communities, first-class leisure amenities, wide retail and commercial offerings, an educational institution and government support facilities all in one place in Barangay Maribulan.

Avia Estate is about nine kilometers away from General Santos, the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”

“Alsons Dev’s heritage is built

on a strong track record of building and nurturing residential communities and commercial properties that generations of Dabawenyos have enjoyed, and we are excited to bring our experience in Davao to Sarangani and continue this tradition of growth,” Rosie Dominguez, Alsons Dev executive vice president, said in a statement.

“We believe that we will help redefine the standard of living in Sarangani by providing high-quality living and commercial spaces where Mindanawons can flourish,” she added.

DOE chief wants to assess taxes on energy sector

Department of Energy (DOE)

Secretary Raphael Lotilla

Monday said his agency is looking to assess the taxes imposed in the energy sector to determine how these contributed to the high power cost in the country.

Speaking to the members of the Makati Business Club in Makati City, Lotilla said the government also needs to look into the possible impacts on power cost if it will impose a carbon tax.

“This is what we are trying to look at —the entire taxation system in the energy sector. So after making it (power) unsubsidized, we also have value-added tax (VAT), we also have excise tax, the VAT on excise tax, the VAT on sys-

tem losses, and so many elements that add to the cost. Then there’s proposal on carbon tax,” he said.

Lotilla said DOE would like to study the proposal on carbon tax “more deliberately and more systematically” to determine the possible effects of its imposition to the energy sector.

“We need to have a better analysis of the taxes that are imposed on the energy sector,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

Lotilla said that while the DOE is looking at making power available and affordable to the consumers, these taxes are also a big source of revenue for the government to fund its various pro-

PEZA eyes investments from SMEs in China’s Yiwu Market

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from China’s Yiwu Market, the world’s largest wholesale market, is exploring opportunities in the Philippines.

In a statement Monday, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said the agency received a delegation from Zhejiang province last March 7.

PEZA officer-in-charge Tereso Panga invited the SMEs from Yiwu to locate their hubs in economic zones in the Philippines.

“The economic cooperation with Yiwu will surely increase investment and trade for the country as we attract Yiwu’s small commodity manufacturers to set up their production facilities ideally in the ecozones,” Panga said.

He said the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives (CRE-

ATE) law has allowed PEZA to register SMEs locating inside ecozones to cater to the domestic market.

“These ecozone manufactured products can be readily made available to the domestic market, which are expected to be cheaper as compared to imported products and thus, benefiting the Filipino consumers,” he added.

Yiwu Market, also known as Yiwu China Commodities City or Yiwu International Trade City, is a complex with 75,000 stores and small commodity producers of 2.1 million items.

“PEZA hopes to attract more Chinese investors to add to its current 160 Chinese RBEs that generated by far a total of PHP25.446 billion investments, FPEZA, P10

Alsons Dev is a known property developer in Davao City, where it has built top-notch residential and commercial projects that have transformed the lifestyle of Dabawenyos. With Alsons Dev’s entry into Sarangani, it promises to further reinvigorate the Soccsksargen economic landscape.

Former Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez, Alsons Dev director, said that Sarangani has always been a valued province to the Alcantara family, owing to the area’s growth potential.

“We want to be part of that growth, and we are committed to helping lead Mindanao’s progress by creating a new lifestyle destination that will serve as a growth hub and create more opportunities for the people residing here,” said Dominguez, a scion of the Alcantara family.

The first development with-

in the 121-hectare Avia Estate township is the Narra Park Residences Avia, which builds on the success of Narra Park Residences in Davao under the Nurtura Land & Home brand.

Designed to offer the best of countryside living and modern conveniences, Narra Avia offers a lush, secure and conducive environment for starting a family or settling down in a vibrant and secure community.

“We believe that it will be the ideal choice for Sarangani (and nearby GenSan) residents who want to enjoy a serene environment while aspiring to meet their dreams for themselves and their families,” Dominguez said.

Alongside this, Alsons Dev has forged a partnership with The Abba’s Orchard, the country’s largest and most esteemed Montessori school, to ensure that

quality education is within easy reach of residents in the area.

Alsons Dev has also partnered with the local government unit to build a Public Safety and Security Complex, which will house police and fire stations—bringing essential government services closer to the community.

Alabel Mayor Vic Paul Salarda committed to support Alsons Dev’s project.

“We can assure you that we will be here to support the company in this project. We are confident that this partnership will lead to many opportunities that will improve the lives of our residents and put Alabel on the map as a dynamic growth hub in Sarangani,” he said.

The Alcantara Group is one of the largest Filipino-owned conglomerates with over 60 years of

Linemen from the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) conduct a pole relocation work in Lanang, Davao City. The Department of Energy (DOE) has urged the public to observe efficient use of electricity to help ensure the availability of sufficient power in preparation for the dry season when higher temperature triggers increase in demand. Lean Daval Jr.

FDOE, P10

FALSONS, P10

Trade deficit at $5.74B in January 2023: PSA

DOE encourages consumers to save power for summer

Department of Energy (DOE) Raphael Lotilla has urged Filipinos to observe efficient use of electricity to help ensure the availability of sufficient power in preparation for the dry season when higher temperature triggers increase in demand.

On the sidelines of Makati Business Club’s event in Makati City Monday, Lotilla told reporters that based on the available supply and the scheduled maintenance of different power generation plants, yellow alerts are expected especially during the dry season.

Based on DOE’s power outlook for the year, the first yellow alert is expected to occur in week 11 in March, which is this week in Luzon grid.

Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed that for March 14, the Luzon grid will have operating margin of 4,012 megawatts (MW), 354 MW for the Visayas grid and 801 MW for the Mindanao grid.

ThePhilippines opened the year with a wider trade deficit as exports recorded a bigger contraction than the growth in imports, government data released Tuesday revealed.

Lotilla said the current weather and temperature have helped in moderating power demand this week.

“We are already in March. Good thing is that temperature has also helped and in April, we expect some weekly rainy days, that will help manage temperature,” he added.

Lotilla said that for every 1-degree Celsius increase in temperature, demand also goes up by around 100 MW of additional power.

Yellow alerts, or the thinning of power supply but with no rotational brownouts, are also expected in the Luzon grid in months of April, May, June, September, October and November, according to the DOE outlook.

“We would like to have everyone manage their demand,” the energy chief said.

Lotilla cited some practices in managing power demand, such as avoiding the use of electricity during peak hours which are between 11 a.m. to noon,

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) posted a $5.738-billion deficit, wider than the $4.503-billion deficit in December and the $4.513-billion deficit in January 2022.

This is the biggest trade deficit in six months, since the country recorded a $6.430-billion deficit in August 2022.

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

Exports for the month stood at $5.231 billion, lower than the $5.799 billion in December, and 13.5% less than the $6.045 billion recorded in the same month

of 2022.

In terms of export receipts, six commodity groups recorded annual decreases, with coconut oil down by 39.1%, cathodes by 39.0%, metal components by 19.8%, electronic products by 19.2%, chemicals by 14.6%, and other manufactured goods by 11.9%.

Growths were seen in the exports of other mineral products up by 41.2%, gold by 29.3%, machinery and transport equipment by 20.7%, and ignition wiring sets by 15.0%.

FTRADE, P10

Fed survey: Short-term inflation expectations in US falls sharply

Short-term inflation expec-

tations in the United States declined sharply in February, according to a survey released Monday by the US Federal Reserve.

At the one-year-ahead horizon, the median inflation expectations dropped by 0.8 percentage points to 4.2 percent, showed the Fed’s February 2023 Survey of Consumer Expectations.

While the three-year-ahead expectations remained at 2.7 percent, the five-year-ahead measure increased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.6 percent, according to the survey.

“Expectations about yearahead price increases for gas, food, cost of rent, college education, and medical care all declined,” it said. “Labor market expectations improved, with un-

employment expectations and perceived job loss risk decreasing and job finding expectations increasing.”

However, the expectations for voluntary job quits reached the highest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as households’ perceptions and expectations for current and future financial situations both improved, it

Cebu Pacific (CEB) chief Marketing and Customer Experience officer Candice Iyog (right) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) assistant chief executive for International Group Juliana Kua sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to renew their partnership. The MOU signing, which was held at Sheraton Hotel Manila on

Monday, aims to intensify CEB and STP’s collaboration to promote travel to Singapore, which is one of the top travel destinations for Filipinos. Edge Davao

In stressing that more knowledge, more information, and more practice on “duck, cover and hold” safety reminder is needed to educate the on earthquake scenarios:

“Yes, definitely we need more drills. Gusto ko i-commend ang mga bata bright kaayo sila and they follow diligently. SIla yung mag duck, cover and hold kasi regular yung sa school while ang mga mama nagkaratol na ug dagan sa gawas. Sana sa house regular yung parents to join. We do that in the offices. Sa school puwede nila gawin more often than the quarterly kaya mas bright ang mga bata. Yung magpanic normal naman yun specially pag kulang tayo sa kaalaman. Pag hinay ang linog ayaw sa ug dagan.”

Consultant

Reporter

President SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

JASPER V. BACSAL General Manager / VP Operations

S. PANES Director of Sales

GREGORIO GARAY DELIGERO Editorial

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior

MOSES BILLACURA Sports Editor

OCD 11 Director LIZA MAZO

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” - VOLTAIRE.

*******

Brazen. Outrageous. Brutal. Barbaric. Atreocious. Murderers. Killers.

All the above are not even sufficient to aptly describe the recent assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and several others in a daytime killing rampage occuring inside his own dwelling compound in Pamplona.

Several suspects have been rounded up, one already slain in a shootout with pursuing policemen and so much already has been written but still to be firmly determined and officially exposed is/are the identity/ies of the mastermind/s.

Much earlier before this killing spree on March 4, there was the highway ambush of Lanao Sur Gov. Bombit Adiong and his security escorts. Though wounded, Adiong survived the violent assault but not some of his men.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

CRIMINAL EPIDEMIC AND LAWLESSNESS

On. Feb. 19, Vice-Mayor Rommel Alameda of Aparri, Cagayan and five others in his party were also gunned down in a road ambush in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.

Similar to the Degamo killing, the killers, according to news reports, wore military uniforms.

Not to mention the muchhyped assassination of media person Percy Lapid, the recent spate of violence seems to indicate an epidemic of lawlessness and criminality.

While the PNP hierarchy is always inclined to rationalize that these were but isolated cases, the public cannot but think otherwise.

Pinoys may not be as meticulously intelligent and patiently probing as Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. Watson but there seems to be no need for the authorities to elaborate as the effort becomes a flimsy defensive mechanism.

Are the dark days of political vendetta, business double cross and mafia-like assassins-for-hire back in our

midst?

Senior citizens should remember Moises Padilla, an insignificant guerrila WWII hero who defied a political warlord in Negros Occidental in the fifties.

Despite lacking resources, he braved the odds (and lost), running for mayor of Magallon town in 1951 (which was later named after him).

As news petered out, Padilla was brutally tortured (like in the movies) before he was shot and killed.

Then Defense Sec. Ramon Magsaysay pursued Padilla’s tormentors and eventually nailed down Gov. Rafael Lacson and his cohorts.

(Padilla’s bio was made into an epic movie in 1961 and submitted as the Philippine entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 34th Academy Awards but was not accepted as a nominee.)

Augmentation military and police personnel have now been moved to Neghros Oriental obviously to contain what may blow up to be a tindrbox

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST

BACKWARD

Following the destruction of the abaca industry in Davao due to the massive Allied and Japanese aerial offensives during World War II, lands retained after the conflict by the gov-ernment from seized assets erstwhile lease to the foreigners, were shifted to ramie, a plant na-tive to China, which was introduced in the country in 1930.

The idea of planting ramie caught the fancy of the government which promised to fund its cultivation. During the Magsaysay watch, the support for its cultivation was made more significant by loans extended to farmers who organized themselves into coop-like organiza-tions. The leader of the pack at the time was Davao Ramie Textile, Inc. (DARATEX), in Da-liao, Toril.

DARATEX, prior to World War II, was part of the sprawling Furukawa hemp planta-

tion, one of the largest Japanese investments in Davao district.

On August 10, 1955, the Tagum Tillers Company of Davao led by Rafael Torres, its presi-dent, visited President Ramon Magsaysay in Malacañang. They sought assistance for funding in the shift from abaca to ramie so they could pay the remaining P160,000 account the group had obtained from the stateowned Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). The president told the visitors he favored the shift “with a view to attaining self-sufficiency of textiles in this country.”

Magsaysay later issued Executive Order No. 129 on September 23, 1955, “designating the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) as the government agency to handle the purchase and exportation of

of sorts, if the situation is not promptly addressed..

Police authorities appear to be blowing hot and cold as they carefully clear the “chaff from the grain,” picking up hard lessons from the Lapid slay case where the legal procedures and determination have dragged on like a headless chicken running in multi-directions.

These killings are not ordinary crimes, to begin with.

Powerful and moneyed people looking to liquidate their mortal enemies could be the perpetrators and masterminds.

How else can one bring together a band of cold-blooded killers and guns for hire if one does not have money and power?

With power, one exercises authority over people and subordinates.

With money, one can ensure he gets the best men, services and materials.

The ICC must be watching over our shoulders now, curiously looking if our justice system is really functioning.

Have the government authorities set their own deadline to solve these big-time killings?

If they don’t, the public might presume they (the authorities) are facing a blank wall.

If not, why are they acting like a slow poke?

The Alameda family said so, that the police were too slow in catching the Vice-Mayor’s assaillants.

Gov. Adiong’s ambusher have not been clearly identified and arrested. Are there any new concrete leads to this day?.

Are they waiting for the President to issue special and specific orders so that whatever move they do will carry the weight of a presidential imprimatur?

These violent attacks, killings and ambushes - particularly the Degamo assassination - are testing the credibility and capability of the PNP.. Quo vadis, Sir DG Azurin? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF RAMIE

ramie fiber and the importation of ramie goods processed from 100 per cent Philippine ramie fiber.”

To hasten the operation of the ramie factory, President Carlos P. Garcia, on March 28, 1958, directed Central Bank governor Miguel Cuaderno to issue ₱1 million to fund the speedy completion of the mills in Davao operated by the National Development Company (NDC).

The building of the mill was authorized under a P8-million bond issue, with P3 million advanced by the NDC from its operating capital. To finish the construction, the NDC sealed a financing plan with the Republic Finance Corporation (RFC), which in turn requested the Monetary Board for the release of the amount needed for the undertaking.

On October 1, 1961, President Diosdado Macapagal,

his wife Eva Macaraeg, and high of-ficials flew to Davao to inspect the DARATEX plant in Daliao, Toril. It was given a capitali-zation of P12 million and was jointly operated by the NDC, Alcantara & Sons Plywood Fac-tory, and the Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO).

On March 11, 1964, Macapagal returned to the 24-hectare DARATEX complex from his tour of Cotabato Province and ate breakfast with the Malacañang press corps, escorted by acting press secretary Virgilio Reyes.

After the complex shut down in the mid-1960s, efforts to revive the industry in Davao were being proposed. But the production of ramie fiber for use in textiles did not take off. As a result, the DARATEX complex was left to the elements and finally reclaimed by vegetation.

In 1968, the government offered to private buyers the sale of DARATEX mills but there were no immediate takers given the previous experiences the investors had in the acquisition of other state firms which resulted in the walkout of personnel due to forced layoff after the takeover.

On September 18, 2018, Davao Food Terminal, an idea hatched six years earlier, was launched with a thrust of creating an agricultural economic processing zone that would spur livelihood and economic opportunities. The terminal is a marketplace for trading vegetables, the first in Mindanao, with its first structure built on a 3,700-square-meter lot within DARA-TEX, which was originally a workshop for clothing materials produced from ramie fibers.

The comeback of Fusion: The Philippine Music Festival: A celebration of Freedom through OPM

When the pandemic struck, on-ground events like concerts temporarily stopped. At present, however, concerts, festivals, or live events, in general, are here once more. Massive festivals sig-nal a broader trend that concert-goers are ready to party, and the millennials and Gen-Z want to experience live events again! In addition, brands will finally invest and give strategic importance to Music Marketing.

In line with this, PraXis foresees that different media will converge with Mu-sic Marketing at the Center, the Live Events providing the content and experience, and conversa-tion for the earned media it can generate.

Thus, this is the time …

Organized by PraXis, the festival’s goal is to unite the nation to play as one. “We believe that music has the power to break down barriers and bring people together,” said Gladys Basinillo, brains behind Fusion and, at the same time, the CEO and Founder of media agency Intersections and experiential agency Praxis “

and that’s precisely what Fusion aims to do.”

Since 2022, the synergy of PraXis and Intersections has been preparing to create a more robust Fusion as it is set to make an epic comeback on May 27 at the SMDC Festival Grounds. The origi-nal team of Fusion in 2015-2017 is back, with Synchronize 11 Events and Talent Management as producer, FOH, Prophets as a security partner, top network Manila Broadcasting Company as activation and media partner, and of course, award-winning and sought-after concert director, Paul Basinillo.

In addition to the music, Fusion will also feature a wide range of food and beverage options, merchandise booths, and activities. The concert program is curated to feature different seg-ments with a fresh concept and performance interaction to deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

This year, the festival aims to unite the nation to play as one.

Because we at PraXis and Intersec-tions believe that music has the power to break down barriers and bring people together. Fusion 2023, however, is more than just a music festival; it celebrates freedom. The Philippines is a very rich and diverse country. We have more than 7,000 islands and 82 provinces - all with different cultures and beliefs. We have more than 100 million population and multiple generations - all with varying points of view. Regardless of such differences, we can unite, celebrate our freedom, and play as one.

Media Amplification. As early as now, the road to Fusion 2023 has started its journey, as PraXis, the main producer agency of Fusion has already partnered with the giant TV, radio, print, out-of-home, and online platforms. In this way, Fusion 2023 will be amplified strongly with the over-whelming support of the media and the blogging community. We thank you so much for this.

Fusion School Tour and In-

ter-University Band Competition. Fusion 2023 will also be in great partnership with school organizations to connect with the youth and various campuses around Mega Manila. These partner school organizations will form a student unit called the Fusion Squad to help run the music festival. A competition amongst college bands will be announced where shortlisted bands will perform in the preshow on May 27 and the winning band to serve in the main concert.

Road to Fusion Concert Tour. Fusion vibe is more than just an event in Metro Manila. We are bringing the Fusion experience regionally across key Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao cities. How do we do this? We get a Fusion talent to perform with regional musicians, so the audience across the country will have a sneak peek of the Fusion experience; the University of Baguio on April 14, SM Cebu on April 28, and SM Davao on May 12. Fusion Event Day. Expect

the biggest names in OPM to conquer the concert stage. “The pro-gram is curated to feature different segments, each with a fresh approach and performance in-teraction, to deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience for all,” Jake Habitan, Business De-velopment Executive of PraXis

You might wonder whom some OPM greats will headline the Fusion Festival. We have 6Cyclemind, Adie, Al James, Arthur Nery, Bamboo, Ben&Ben, Gloc-9, Gracenote, Hey June!, Lola Amour, Morissette Amon, Shanti Dope, and many more surprise top-caliber OPM artists. Aside from this, there will also be a so-called Wildcard Performance wherein we feature a surprise artist expected to leave everyone awestruck! That’s something to watch out for!

The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - FILSCAP, Organisasyon ng mga Pil-ipinong Mang-aawit - OPM, and Kapisanan ng mga Brod-

Chevron sponsors AmCham Foundation ScholaRun to help send youths to school

Employees volunteered to join this year’s Eat and Run ScholaRun by AmCham’s Foundation.

Manila, Philippines, March 14, 2023 – To help send disadvantaged youths to school, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, together with its shared services center, Chevron Holdings Inc., sponsored the recent 9th AmCham Eat and Run ScholaRUN at the Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

The run-for-a-cause is an annual event by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ACFPI) to help raise

funds for its scholarship program. ACFPI supports underprivileged youth through various development and education initiatives.

The scholarship enables students in high school, college, and vocational courses to fund their tuition fees and school supplies and provides allowance and guidance all to way to their onthe-job training. At least 2,000 former AmCham scholars were able to finish their studies since the program started which Chevron has always supported.

About 175 employees from CHI and CPI joined the run in support of the AmCham Founda-

tion’s cause. The event registered over 3,000 runners.

“We have been a long-time partner of AmCham and its initiatives and programs. Through this activity, we were able to further strengthen our relationship and commitment to the foundation as well as our support to their scholars. We trust that through our collective efforts, students get a chance to have a better life and more opportunities to succeed,” shared Chevron Human Resources Regional Manager Mark Quebral.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that your mere presence and participation is already helping underprivileged students in their studies. As added bonus, you also get to do something good for yourself through exercising and staying active. Chevron believes in AmCham’s cause of contributing to the community and helping people in need, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them and supporting their other events and activities,” CHI General Manager Ethan Flowers shared.

At the awards ceremony after the run, CHI Corporate Affairs Manager Arlita Narag accepted a plaque of appreciation as AmCham’s co-presenter of the 9th ScholaRUN. Hammering on its unique eat-and-run concept, participants got to taste American favorites such as pizza, burgers and donuts upon reaching the pit stop. The 9th Eat and Run ScholaRUN featured categories in 200M, 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K.

“We are very happy with the

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That has been going on for centuries. But in recent years, it has been shown that apples can also be grown under other climates – even in tropical countries. Apples are now grown in African countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. They are also being cultivated in India and Indonesia.

In the Philippines, apples have been shown to thrive in the cooler part of Davao region. Thanks to the initiative of Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe, a graduating agricultural student of Davao del Sur State College (DSSC).

Sepe successfully grows apples in his farm in Kapatagan, a Digos City barangay located in the rolling foothills of Mount Apo. From a single tree, the farm is now home to more than 300 apple trees.

But that’s going ahead of the story.

He planted apples at sitio Marawer, sometime in the late 2013. In the early months of 2018, he harvested literally the fruits of his labor. “There was no difference between the apple I harvested from my farm to the apple I bought from the public market because the juiciness and crunchiness is still there,” said Sepe.

Sepe brought some of the ap-

ples to DSSC for “Brix” testing to measure the sugar content, an essential part of the quality analysis of an agricultural product. Results showed the apple grown by Benzone was much sweeter as it scored 17.5 degrees Brix, much higher to the 13 degrees of commercial apples. Quality of apples for export must meet the standard of at least 12 degrees, he pointed out.

Apples are mostly grown in temperate countries like the United States, Japan, China, and European countries. They tend to thrive in climates where it’s cold in the winter, moderate in the summer and has medium to high humidity rather than a hot and dry climate like the Philippines.

Curiosity kills a cat, a proverb states. But in Sepe’s case, curiosity led him to the discovery of planting the temperate apple in the tropical Philippines. “I started planting apples out of sheer curiosity when I bought Fuji apples from the mall,” said Sepe.

He was able to extract three seeds which he planted in a seashell. To his surprise, they grew. When the apple seedlings attained a height of five inches, he transferred them to seedling bags. After six months, he planted the young apple seedlings into the

DAVAO FARMER SHOWS APPLES CAN BE GROWN IN THE PHILIPPINES

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ground. Unfortunately, only one plant survived.

In early 2018, he observed flowers coming out from the tree. Three weeks later, he became excited when he saw the flowers turned into fruit buds. From the lone tree, he was able to harvest 32 ripe apples.

He admitted that his interest in planting apples was actually fired up when he visited South Korea for a two-month educational trip on farming. In one of the trips, he read an agricultural magazine where farmers are growing tropical fruits, despite the cold climate. With the right technique and technology, Korean farmers grow mangoes successfully.

“If they were able to grow our fruits, why not grow their fruits in our country,” Sepe thought.

Then, he remembered the apple he planted in the backyard way back home. “Why not produce apples in the Philippines?” he told himself.

“That started my eagerness to propagate apples. I also did some research through the internet and read articles about propagating apples,” he pointed out.

In one of his readings, he found out that apples require 7 to 12 degrees of cold weather, called dormancy. The apple tree needs at least 800 hours of temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit in order to produce fruit.

“But since apples are a highly adaptive crop, I think they have adjusted to the cold weather of Kapatagan,” Sepe said. “Besides, in some parts of Africa, particularly Kenya, they are already producing apples and even exporting the fruits.”

In the highlands of Benguet, apples were also planted but the result is not as good as those in Kapatagan.

From one apple tree, the Kapatagan Apple Orchard – as it is now known – has about 330 trees. “I started planting apples in our home lot with an area of 640 square meters,” he said.

At least 30 apple trees are growing now in the homeyard. The 300 others are planted in front of their church and in a half-hectare land which he rents. He dreams of planting more as his contribution in reforesting Kapatagan, which is now denuded due to banana plantation and vegetable production. Sepe raises most of his apple plants from seeds, which he marcotted, bud-grafted and grafted. When planted, seedlings grafted with a branch from a full-grown tree start bearing fruits in two to three years.

“If you are interested in growing apples from seeds, you have to plant as many as you can,” he stressed, adding that apple seeds have a very low germination rate

aside from being attacked by fungus.

An apple grown from seeds is considered a new variety, according to him. That’s why he called the variety he grows as “Benzone Apple,” after his own name. He said he keeps on planting apples from seeds because of the unpredictable fruits they produce.

Aside from Fuji, he also plants other varieties of apples: Golden Dorsett, Starking, Granny Smith, Gala, Redlove Odysso, and Russet to name a few.

In the meantime, the apples he harvests from his farm are only for family consumption. “I am looking forward to producing apples that we can supply in the local market and the entire Philippines,” he said.

Last year, Sepe became the first recipient of The Outstanding Young Farmer during the Young Agri-Laureate Awards (YALA) for his exceptional contribution to the field of agricultural production. He was cited as “the first young Filipino farmer who has produced apples in the Philippines.”

“Your journey and work have the potential to motivate a lot of Filipino youth,” the YALA organizers explained. “We are grateful for your inspiring work, and for leading the charge in contributing to change the narrative of agriculture for the better.”

Apple (scientific name: Malus domestica) is basically a fruit of colder areas as it originated in Central Asia in the mountains of Kazakhstan. It’s no surprise that its farming started in the cold regions of the world like China, Japan, New Zealand, United States, and European countries (Poland, Italy, and France).

Photos courtesy of BENZONE KENNEDY F. SEPE

Benzone Kenney F. Sepe, the farmer behind the success of growing apples in the Philippines. FDAVAO, P10

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gram for struggling workers.

TUPAD is a community–based package of assistance that offers emergency service for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for at least 10 days, but not more than 30 days, depending on the nature of their work.

Most workers, primarily displaced and disadvantaged, unemployed, and senior citizens, from the informal sector will work on tree planting, community gardening, reforestation, road cleaning, drainage/canal de-clogging, community clean-up, and refurbishment of tourist attractions.

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priated in 2023 a total of Php508,729,927.00 fresh SBDP funds for 77 cleared barangays which will be receiving each a funding of Php6,606,882.17 to put on ground their respective priority projects.

Davao City has one recipient barangay; Davao Occidental, 10; Davao del Sur, three; Davao del Norte, four; Davao Oriental, 15; and Davao de Oro, 44.

Per National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NT-ELCAC) memorandum dated December 22, 2022, the fund allocation per barangay is intended for priority projects particularly farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water sanitation systems, health stations and electrification projects. (PIA XI, Jeane Duron Abangan)

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experience in running 20 major companies in various industries. Its core business interests are in energy and power generation, property development and product distribution. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

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added.

For the housing market, the median home price growth expectations increased by 0.3 percentage points to 1.4 percent in February, but still remaining far below the 12-month trailing average of 3.4 percent.

As the US Federal Reserve continues its policy of monetary tightening, its officials last week signaled more rate hikes to come at least for the first half of this year.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last Tuesday that if incoming macroeconomic data would indicate faster monetary tightening is needed, the US central bank would be prepared to increase the pace of interest rate hikes.

Consumer inflation in the US came in at 6.4 percent in January, recording the smallest 12-month increase since October 2021, while it marked a sharp decline from the 9.1 percent yearly gain in June.

The data for February will be released Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

However, the Fed’s preferred inflation indicator, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 4.7 percent annually in January, up from a 4.6 percent year-on-year gain in December.

On a monthly basis, the core PCE price index rose 0.6 percent in January, up from a 0.4 percent monthly gain in December. (Anadolu)

nagmano ako kay Presidente, para mong sinasabi sa ilalim kami ng executive,” Padilla said.

Padilla is set to fly to Cebu this week to hold another hearing on Cha-cha.

The lower House is set to pass on final reading this week the implementing bill that called for a Constitutional convention to propose amendments to the 1987 Constitution.

In the Senate, proposals for Charter change remain at the committee level led by Padilla.

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parents and the residents.

“Sa school okay na yan pero sa community bihira lang mag “duck, cover and hold” specially na naunahan tayo sa social media,” she said.

Mazo also said that what is read on social media, specifically unverified information, has added to the fear and panic among the public during earthquakes.

“Ang daming bright sa socmed like inland ang linog pero naay tsunami daw,” she said.

On March 9, 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enjoined the entire nation in the face-toface conduct of the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED).

The simultaneous drill comes after the announcement from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), asking the public to join the first quarter NSED.

The quarterly conduct of the nationwide earthquake drills each year is an effort of the government to promote disaster preparedness and resilience among Filipinos.

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Japan was the biggest export partner of the country in the year, accounting to $866.25 million or 16.6% of the total exports during the month, followed by USA with $738.26 million, China with $666.99 million, Hong Kong with $530.16 million, and Singapore with $318.47 million.

Imports for the month were $10.970 billion, up from $10.302 billion in December and 3.9% higher than the $10.559 billion in January 2022.

The biggest jump was seen in the imports of metalliferous ores and metal scrap up 333.5%, followed by mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials up 70.6%; telecommunication equipment up 15.2%; other food and live animals up 6.4%; transport equipment up 3.7%; industrial machinery up 3.4%; and miscellaneous manufactured articles up 2.2%.

Declines were seen in cereals and cereal preparations which slipped by 18.4%, electronic products by 12.9%, and iron and steel by 7.7%.

China remained as the biggest supplier of imported goods, accounting for $2.32 billion or 21.1% of the total for the month.

It was followed by Indonesia with $1.16 billion or 10.6%, Japan with $958.70 million or 8.7%, South Korea with $866.19 million or 7.9%, and the USA with $696.99 million or 6.4%.

The latest figures brought the total external trade for the month to $16.201 billion, slightly higher than the $16.101 billion in December but 2.4% lower than the $16.604 billion in January 2022.

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turnout and the general mood of the run. We are, after all, doing this for students and youth in need, so we are beyond grateful to all who participated. Currently, we have 50 scholars studying vocational technology at Don Bosco Makati. All the proceeds from our fundraising events, including the ScholaRUN - Eat & Run, go to our scholarship programs. So as always, we appreciate our sponsors, partners and participants who made this event possible,” said Edwin Feist, President of ACFPI.

About Chevron Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy is essential to achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We are focused on lowering the carbon intensity in our operations and growing lower carbon businesses along with our traditional business lines. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.

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kaster ng Pilipinas – KBP support fusion. University organizations PUP Communication Society, PUP Advertising and Public Relations Or-ganization of Students, Junior Marketing Association of Letran Calamba, Archers Networks, DLSU-D Green FM, and DLSU-D Communication Program Council partner are some of the school organizations partnering with Fusion.

The country’s most prominent media institutions share the same thrust in promoting OPM. Myx, Manila Broadcasting Company, and the Philstar.com joined as the major media partners. Innity, Digital Turbine, What’s New Philippines, Manila Concert Scene, and The New Channel also part-nered as digital collaborators. Additional media partners are Solar Sports, Solar Flix, ALLTV, DZRH, Easy Rock, K-Lite Radio, Home Radio, Yes! FM, Love Radio, Win Radio, Steel Art Bill-boards, Strong Media, Nyxsys, Summit Outdoor Media, Malaya Business Insight, HDI Adven-tures, VLink Interactive, and Outcomm.

Venue partner: O2 Rooftop Bar, 27th Floor, The Residences, Taguig.

Tickets for Fusion: The Philippine Music Festival is going to be available on March 27 at SM Tickets. Take the chance to be part of the biggest music festival of the year!

Fusion 2023, The Philippine Music Festival.

May 27 at the SMDC Festival Grounds.

Follow https://www.facebook.com/fusionphilippinemusicfestival for more information.

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USD1.367 billion exports, and 15,724 direct jobs,” Panga added. Aside from the SMEs and manufacturers, the delegation is also composed of representatives from the Zhejiang Department of Commerce, Yiwu Municipal People’s government, Bank of China, Export-Import Bank of China and China-Philippines Chambers of Commerce. (PNA)

Growing apples in tropical countries like the Philippines needs patience and innovation. In temperate countries, it takes five to seven months for the plants to bear fruits. But in Kapatagan, he waits only four months to start harvesting the fruits.

“It’s possible to harvest three times in a year and a half (because of our warm weather),” Sepe said. “In temperate countries, they can harvest once a year only because of the winter season.”

It’s not the weather that bothers him most but the pests that attack his apple trees. To control them, he applies integrated pest management (IPM), which includes making homemade natural pesticides and foliar sprays.

Despite the fact that he was able to grow apples in Kapatagan, he does not rest on his current success. “I still need more knowledge about growing apples,” he admitted. “There are other things I need to know.”

The Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture has already accredited the Kapatagan Apple Orchard, Rare Fruit Farm and Nurseries as an agricultural learning site for apple growing, the very first of its kind in the country. Visitors who are interested in apple farming or just curious can come; entrance fee is P25 per person.

As the farm is located in the rolling foothills of Mount Apo, where the climate is cool and suitable for producing exotic fruits, Sepe also plants atemoya, blackberry, blueberry, cherimoya, cherry, fig, grapes, guava, guyabano, Hass avocado, jaboticaba, jackfruit, kiwi, lime, mango, mulberry, olive, orange, peach, pear,

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tember at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Panlilio shared that one of the goals of the SBP is to put the Philippines on the map for the biggest attendance in the FIBA WC, by beating the long-standing World Cup final attendance record of 35,000 established when the US played Brazil at the Maracanazinho Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in 1954.

“May all our resolutions and agreements in this meeting be in accordance with the objective of creating an amazing basketball environment that unites people

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Provision No. 2 of the Local Government Support Fund under the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act, Republic Act No. 11936.

The funding is appropriated to implement the identified SBDP priority projects of 959 cleared barangays of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Per NTF ELCAC memorandum dated December 22, 2022, the fund allocation per barangay is intended for priority projects particularly farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water sanitation systems, health stations and electrification projects.

Engr. Cinco reported that Davao Region is appropriated a total of Php508,729,927.00 for 77 cleared barangays which will each be receiving a funding of Php6,606,882.17 to put on ground their respective priority projects.

Davao City has one recipient barangay; Davao Occidental, 10; Davao Occidental, 10; Davao del Sur, three; Davao del Norte, four; Davao Oriental, 15; and Davao de Oro, 44. (PIA XI, Jeane Duron Abangan)

persimmon, plum, pomegranate, raspberry, and strawberry.

“It’s also my hobby to collect different kinds of fruits and these are now my source of income from my farm,” he said. “Also, I want to produce these fruits locally in my orchard since it is a mix of tropical and temperate fruits.”

He likewise grows vegetables and ornamentals.

Sepe believes in companion planting or the planting of two crops in the same space. He plants rose leaf raspberries together with the apples since the former attract bees, which help pollinate the apple trees.

He works alone on his farm. But in some instances, he hires parttime workers if ever he needs some help. “I urge younger generations to work on things that are helpful to mankind,” he said. “I encourage them to engage in agriculture to see and unlock its potential.”

Although his childhood dream was to see an apple tree, he never thought of becoming a farmer just like his parents. “Farming is not my first love,” he admitted. “I really wanted to become a lawyer but because of financial problems, I wasn’t able to do so.”

But with the success he is reaping now from farming, he believes he is destined to be a farmer. “I believe that farming is cool and that there is a future in agriculture,” he pointed out.

Although he is in his thirties now, he urged the younger generations to be involved in farming. “Young generations should think and work on the things that are and might be helpful to humans and society,” he stressed. “We should innovate and never stop discovering the potential within.”

and encourages them to “Win for All.” Maraming salamat po. Laban Pilipinas, puso!” declared Bachmann in closing his speech.

“This is it! We’ve been waiting for this for five years. This is the proper time that we put the Philippines back on the world map in this very crucial event. I encourage everyone to go out of their way to make this event a success,” expressed Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara who spoke on behalf of the government and the Office of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

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2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. for Manila Electric Company franchise areas, as well as placing air conditioning temperature at 25-degrees Celsius in offices, hotels and other establishments.

“We just need to get through the difficult months, the summer months… By June, if the new LNG (liquefied natural gas) supply will come in, the supply will be better,” he added. (PNA)

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grams not limited to energy.

During the forum, the private sector cited the need to bring down power cost in the Philippines to attract more investors.

Lotilla said that aside from being an archipelagic country, which makes power infrastructure more challenging to build, other countries in the region have subsidized power costs. (PNA)

Araw ng Dabaw Karatedo set March 25-26

Some 300 participants have confirmed to take part in the 2023 Araw ng Dabaw Karatedo Championships hosted by the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Incorporated-XI on March 25 and 26 at the SM City Davao Annex.

Visiting clubs from Manila, Cebu, Zamboanga, North Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos City are taking part in the tournament aside from the clubs in Davao City and nearby Davao provinces and cities.

“It will be something like a

national tournament as entries from Manila, Cebu, Zamboanga, North Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Davao are expressing their intent to join,” said KPSFI Region XI Director Rommel Tan during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum

at the SM City Davao Annex last week.

Up for grabs are medals in the various age groups for both Kata and Kumite competitions.

Meantime, Tan expressed gratefulness for the support to KPSFI-XI and AAK (Association for the Advancement of Karatedo).

KPSFI-XI and AAK-Davao’s Heleina Dominique Herrera So and Robert Dayan Jr. were recipients of the SMC-PSA Tony Siddayao Awards which was held

in Manila last March 6. The two awardees graced the DSA Forum last week.

“I’m proud of both Heleina and Robert as they climbed up the stage along with other young athletes who did made the country proud of their feat,” Tan said.

“I was so happy to see other awardees when I climbed up the stage to receive the SMCPSA trophy and the Milo Grit and Glory trophy,” said the nine year-old So, daughter of Davao

City Sports Council Incorporated President Dexter So.

“I felt more motivated to keep on going upon receiving the award,” Dayanan Jr., for his part, added.

On the other hand, Tan bared that the AAK Davao has two entries to the South East Asia Karate Federation Championships with Sam Cartagena and Aldren Solon seeing action as part of the RP Team to be played at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

PSC bridges SBP with government agency for FIBA World Cup hosting

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hosted an inter-agency coordination meeting for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann started by thanking ev-

eryone, particularly the sports leaders, local sports executives, government officials, representatives and stakeholders for responding to the call for a comprehensive plan and unified movement in making the best World Cup hosting possible.

A total of 37 national government agencies (NGAs), local gov-

ernment units (LGUs), private organizations and stakeholders were present during the 3-hour discussion organized by the PSC, resting on its mandate to get full assistance from other government entities to perform its functions as stated in Section 24 of Republic Act 6847.

“Since basketball is the No.

1 sport in the Philippines, this hosting is vital not only in showcasing the best quality of the game to our kababayans and the world, but also in using sports as a universal opportunity to bond, connect and make impossibilities happen,” said Bachmann.

The Philippine government will be one of the hosts for the

global event which is expected to further strengthen sports tourism in the country as observed from previous hostings of the World Cup.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panliliio also extended his gratitude to the PSC for making the inter-agency meeting possible.

“Thank you, Chairman Dickie [Bachmann] for organizing this event. Thank you for coming. This is not for SBP alone, this is for the Philippines,” said Panlilio.

The FIBA World Cup hosting will be another check in history for the country since this will be the first time in 45 years of the prestigious tournament since its last hosting in 1978.

Thirty-two teams will compete in a total of 92 games across fivevenues in three different countries.

The group phase of the competition will be simultaneously played on August 25-30, 2023 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines where the games will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM MOA Arena.

The final phase of the competition is slated from 5-10 Sep-

Rommel Tan, KPSFI-XI Director and AAK Davao Chief Instructor (left) along with SMC-PSA Tony Siddayao awardees Heleina Dominique Herrera So and Robert Dayanan Jr.

Executives from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas pose with FBWC 2023 mascot “Jip” during the Inter-agency Coordination meeting held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on March 14, 2023.

POWERHOUSE CAST

Green Archers, Tamaraws banner 6-team Araw hoopfest

BY NEIL BRAVO

It’s back to the hoopdom as basketball-crazy Dabawenyos are expected to troop to the Davao City Recreation Center for the 86th Araw ng Davao Invitational Basketball Tournament on Wednesday.

UAAP powerhouse De La Salle University and rival Far Eastern University Tamaraws banner the six-team cast in the tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas regional chapter headed by director Glenn Escandor.

Two other collegiate teams from the Big City are in the tournament -- reigning Kadayawan champion Adamson University Falcons and Lyceum Pirates. No to be outdone are two selections from Cavite City who will carry the colors of Uncle Drew and Davao City’s Team Blanca’s.

The tournament runs from Wednesday to Saturday.

Tournament Commis-

sioner John Paul Escobal and Tournament Director Miguel Solitaria are spearheading the running of the tournament which has the backing of the Davao City government and Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Teams will play in a bracket format elimination round after which the two teams with the best record will advance to the finals.

Cash prizes will be up for grabs to all the winners of the tournament presented by Mayor Baste Duterte.

Senator Christopher Bong Go will grace the opening program at 2 p.m. along with Mayor Baste Duterte, Congressman Pulong Duterte and Escandor.

LA SALLE AND FEU. Francis Gabriel Escandor (18) will lead the Green Archers in the six-team tournament that begins today. (Take Aim photo)