By MAYA M. PADILLO
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will be conducting intensified monitoring of places of worship like churches and mosques in Davao City in time for the religious observations of Ramadan and Holy Week.
The Holy Islamic month of Ramadan started on Thursday, March 23 while the Holy Week will commence on April 2 to 8, 2023.
Police Major Catherine dela
Rey, spokesperson of DCPO, told media on Wednesday that they will be deploying police personnel to mosques and churches, particularly the big ones, where large number of devotees will
The national and local governments have ensured that utility drivers of vans and jeepneys will receive socio-development assistance due them with the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
share.),” he Llanos said.
gather.
She said DCPO will deploy police mobile cars to patrol small churches and mosques.
“Kay face-to-face naman ta karon ug wala na’y restrictions mao na ang atoang monitoring sa mosques and simbahan. Naa ta’y ipang post na police personnel sa mga dagko na mga mosque pero katong sa gagmay patuyokan ug mobile patrols. Sa Holy Week, focus namo ang mga simbahan
Former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that utilizing modern fish cage farming technology, particularly the submersible fish cages, can make the Philippines fish sufficient, even in typhoon-prone coastal areas.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Piñol cited that 5,000 fish cages, estimated to
yield 20 metric tons (MT) each, could produce 100,000 MT of milkfish, which is 40,000 MT more than the country’s annual fish supply shortfall.
“One of the cruelest jokes we Filipinos have inflicted upon ourselves is importing food commodities that we could easily produce if only we recognize our resources and potentials,”
he said.
Problems, challenges
He added that any program aimed at achieving fish sufficiency in the country should be supported by a well-coordinated effort that involves technology provision, affordable feeds, financing, and marketing.
Piñol said the country has
In one of the recent episodes of the One Davao Presser, Regional Director Nonito Llanos said that the government is due to provide a socio-development package that includes monetary assistance and technical skills training to equip those who would be affected either to find another means of livelihood, employ as bus driver under the modernization program, or do technical jobs at terminals of modernized transport vehicles.
To strengthen the ranks of public utility drivers, the LTFRB assists them to organize into cooperatives or corporations so they would become part owners of the public transport units not plainly drivers or lone operator-driver.
“If ma coop na sila, mamahimo na silang tag-iya, usa na sila sa mga tag-iya. They will become owners of the units. Naa silay regular nga sweldo. Dili na boundary system at the same time, kung unsa ang income sa ilang cooperatiba, uyon sa ilang internal na pagasabutan, naa sila share sa income sa maong mga modernized units. (They will become part owners if they would be organized as coops. They would then have regular salary that would no longer be on a boundary system, and at the same time, whatever would be the income of their cooperative, based on their internal agreement, they would have income
In the PUVMP, owners of PUV and PUJs owners would have to keep their units as private vehicles but aged PUVs and PUJs of 15 years and above, would have to be taken to the LTFRB scrapping center for destruction Llanos said, owners would be given due remuneration based on the assessed value on top of the socio-development package.
Meanwhile, Retired Police Col. Dionisio Abude, chief of the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) revealed that the City Council of Davao had already passed a City Ordinance mandating the grant of the socio-development package to PUJ drivers who would be affected by the High Priority Bus (HPS) System implementation of the city government.
Abude said that even tricycle drivers who would be losing livelihood due to the routing of high-priority buses, are also entitled to receive socio-development package and skills training assistance.
The CTTMO screens the list of duly registered PUJ drivers in the city and conducts education program relative to the implementation of HPBSS that is due to start in the last quarter of 2024, he said.
Meanwhile, LTFRB Public Transport Modernization Program focal, Engr. Ronnel Victor Panigon said LTFRB had so far facilitated the formation of 30 transport cooperatives regionwide. “Sa van, 96 percent units na na-formed nga transport coops. Sa PUJs, 86.57 percent. Taas ni nga percentage,” he said during the One Davao Presser.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib ordered a thorough investigation of a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president and a companion on their involvement in a road mishap on March 21, 2023, which caused serious damage to the Suaybaguio Riña Elementary School property in Magugpo North, Tagum City.
In a statement shared with the media on Thursday, Jubahib expressed his ire concerning the said incident involving a government-owned vehicle assigned to SK Federation president Emerson Dave Silutan and a certain James Sarucan, a resident of Talomo, Davao City.
“One pressing question that needs to be addressed is why a certain James Sarucan, a resident of Talomo, Davao City, who is not even a government employee, was driving
the government vehicle in the first place. This issue raises concerns about Mr. Silutan’s judgment and his adherence to the rules and regulations governing the use of government property,” Jubahib said.
Jubahib said as a youth leader, Silutan is expected to be a positive example and inspiration to the youth of the community and that his involvement, in
At least 280 tricycle drivers from different associations and members of women’s groups in Barangay Talomo received food packs and tumblers from Rodrigo “Rigo Duterte II on March 22, 2023.
The distribution, which was held at the Barangay Satellite Office in Royal Valley, Bangkal, was Rigo’s way to appreciate the contribution of tricycle drivers in their respective communities.
Beneficiaries are members of Morio-Morio TODA Association, Morio-Morio Women’s Association, Talomo Cemento Center Beach TODA Association, New Washington TODA Association, 7-11 Bangkal TODA Association, Puan TODA Association, Flores Village TODA Association, Ulas Women’s Association and NHA Women’s Association.
“Tricycle drivers are responsible for taking us to places ug nag rely sad ta sa ilaha nga safe ang atong pag sakay padulong sa eskwelahan or opisina ug palengke. Dili sayon ang pagiging tricycle driver kay it requires a lot of work and dedication due to the constant workload,” Rigo said.
Showing concern for the tricycle drivers was also done by Rigo’s grandfather, former president Rodrigo Duterte.
In 2016, two days before the second presidential debate, then-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte hold a campaign in Novaliches wherein he talked to tricycle drivers and heard their concerns on the high cost of goods, health care, and crime.
Meanwhile, Rigo has been representing his father First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte these days in turning over various projects such as multi-purpose building, evacuation center, school buildings, and other facilities in some barangays in Davao City.
By Maya M. Padillothis case, raises serious questions about his commitment to said values.
“I condemn this reckless act in the strongest terms possible. An impartial and thorough probe is underway to ferret out the truth in this accident in which SK Federation President Emerson Dave Silutan was involved. It is crucial that all responsible parties, including Mr. Silutan, are held accountable for their actions, and that necessary sanctions and penalties are imposed as per the provisions of Philippine laws,” he added.
Jubahib assured that the provincial government of Davao del Norte will collaborate with the relevant authorities and ensure that all aspects of the case are scrutinized fairly.
Currently, Silutan has not issued any statement concerning the said incident.
“While he may commit to paying for the incurred expenses for the repair of the vehicles and the damaged property, it is important to note that his acts would not exculpate him from his responsibilities and the poten-
tial legal consequences,” Jubahib said.
He said as a governor, he committed to maintaining the integrity and accountability of the government officials and employees, particularly those in the Sangguniang Kabataan who have to be role models for the youth.
Earlier this month, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced the official calendar of activities for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). The BSKE polls are scheduled on October 30, 2023
On the road mishap involving a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation president and a companion on March 21, 2023 which caused serious damage to the Suaybaguio Riña Elementary School property in Magugpo North, Tagum City:
“I condemn this reckless act in the strongest terms possible. An impartial and thorough probe is underway to ferret out the truth in this accident in which SK Federation President Emerson Dave Silutan was involved. It is crucial that all responsible parties, including Mr. Silutan, are held accountable for their actions, and that necessary sanctions and penalties are imposed as per the provisions of Philippine laws.”
Davao del Norte Governor EDWIN JUBAHIB
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” - ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
*******
A nation populated by empty stomachs is the exact formula for restiveness that results into a proletarian revolution.
Throughout history, this much has been proven by many countries around the world where hunger and poverty stalk the people no end and their respective leaders are helpless to solve their domestic problems.
In South America, Africa, Asia even in Eastern Europe where domestic conflicts seem to have no end, the burden lies with the leadership.
In Sri Lanka, incumbent authorities fled with their loot to countries where they were given safe haven.
Similarly, the Taliban drove away Afghan officials from their perch but not without the latter bringing with them enough resources they stacked away in anticipation of such a critical development.
In South America, Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua are three of the poverty-stricken countries that are muddled in their mishandling of government affairs and are rocked by corruption and lawlessness.
Evidently leaders in these countries wanted only to preserve their political interests and stay in power at the expense of their people.
Worse, in Mexico, authorities are in dire straits battling drug cartels in violent confrontations. Drug lords maintain private armies armed to the teeth and are able to seize areas that serve as their territory and bailiwicks.
Close by, Malaysia was submerged by a scandal and incredible controversy leading to the conviction and imprisonment of its former PM and his wife who stole millions of dollars in government funds stashed in a socalled wealth fund.
In South Korea, we were treated to a display of genuine people power when the government, responding to huge street protests, sent to jail two former presidents for corruption and sever-
al others in business and industry who were found involved in graft in the conduct of their affairs with government.
Lincoln must be a visionary. His foreword quoted above mirrors today the state of government leadership all over the globe.
Does it not apply to Vladimir Putin - Russia’s president-forever (?) - who seems to be drunk with power as his invasion of Ukraine has dragged on for more than a year without any indication that ti will come to a peaceful end?
What about North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un? And China’s Xi Jin Ping?
How about Iran whiose repressive rule by the Khomeneis have resulted into nation-wide street protests by their own people who previously supported their Islamic fundamentalist government?
All of these four cited countries and their respective leaders have downright ordered news blackout on negative developments within their domestic realms.
Lord Acton, a British historian whose full name was
1993, though slowly obscured with time, will always be remembered by witnesses for the three events, two of them tragic and gained global coverage.
On October 23, 1993, the two-story New Diamond Lodge at the corner of Pichon Sr. and Feliciano Iñigo streets was hit by a fire that cost nine lives and injuries to thirty others. The victims were mostly students of the Mindanao State University (MSU) on a field trip in the city.
The United Press International (UPI), a global wire agency that source its account (‘Seven killed, 30 injured in fire in southern Philippines’) from news heard over radio station DZXL in Manila, initially reported that seven people killed and several survivors were “treated for fractures suffered when they jumped to safety.”
For its part, the Singapore-based The Strait Times, a day later, carried an updated version (‘9 killed in Philippine lodge fire’) of tragedy: “Davao fire swept through a lodge where stu-dents on a field trip were staying, killing nine people and injuring scores… Some survivors of the early morning fire said they had to jump from the windows of the two-story New Dia-mond Lodge.”
Police probers discovered that the lodge did not have a fire escape and the stairway and aisles dividing the rooms on both floors were too narrow for the occupants to escape in a hurry.
Exactly two months later, San Pedro Cathedral, while a Mass was held inside it, was hit by three bombs. Manila Standard Today reported that the first bomb hit the center aisle, then followed by anoth-
John Emerald Edward Dahlberg Acton, said: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Mind you, this has biblical basis.
Recall that David who was israel’s king, co-habitated with a married womanBathsheba - in a aduslterous relationship. He sent the latter home after impregnating her and gave birth to Solomon.
In our contemporary times, notice that all governments on this planet are collectively buffeted by the winds of change.
The storms in our lives are a result of our own mis-doings and uncanny inclination to achieve things in a jiffy.
People today seem to like - and be entertained by - ambitious (pseudo) poiliticians who make enormous promises - including “turning earth into a heavenly paradise”.
At the same time, after getting hoodwinked, they turn their ire and exasperation on government’s inability to provide them the basic necessities - jobs, income, food and shelter.
In our country, legislators
er near the altar, and the final was at the main entrance of the church, adding “the blast killed seven people and injured 151 others, 32 of them seriously.”
This was the second time in 18 years that the cathedral was bombed. In April 1981, dur-ing an Easter celebration, grenades were exploded inside and outside the church, resulting in nearly two dozen deaths and close to 200 churchgoers injured.
Citing police and military sources, the perpetrators in the second bombing incident be-longed to a “Muslim terrorist group.”
The New York Times, in its December 27, 1993 issue, also carried an account of the story (‘6 Killed and 130 Are Wounded In Blasts at Philippine Cathedral’) and its aftermath:
“Attackers tossed grenades into a packed Roman Catho-
lic cathedral in the southern Phil-ippines Sunday evening, killing at least 6 people and wounding more than 130.
“President Fidel Ramos said today that he had ordered a hunt for those who carried out the attack.
“Eight hours after the attack, suspected Christian militants retaliated by firing two gre-nades at a Muslim mosque. One exploded, but there were no casualties, the police said.
“Red Cross officials put the death toll from the attack on San Pedro Cathedral at 7, but the police in Davao said they had confirmed 6 dead.”
Earlier that month, however, Davao’s first real mall, Victoria Plaza, was fully opened to the public. Owned by Robert Allan Limso, the two-story enterprise, which had its soft open-ing a year earlier, became
tend to enact laws that create processes and procedures in a knee-jerk reaction to solve the socio-economic dilemma.
As you have seen, plugging loopholes oftentimes results in half-hearted and halfcooked resolution.
The latest oil spill in Oriental Mindoro is a case in point.
The whole country is sent on a tailspin because there is not a working template for this particular situation as if it happened only the first time.
The brouhaha on the price of onions that skyrocketed beyond every household’s imagination was another prime example of how unprepared the government is.
They said the existence of cartels who hoards and manipulate prices of staple items is the culprit. The Senate and the HoR conducted probes but…
No one member of the aforesaid cartel has been clearly identified, charged, tried and jailed.
What gives? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
the hangout of mall rats. It later became a cultural hub and indoor family plaza.
Situated two kilometers north of the city’s central business district, the mall became the catalyst that would ignite development in adjacent areas, especially Obrero district, a residen-tial area and host to two academic campuses. Outside the mall, is a sprawling area that once hosted music lounges, pubs, Chinese and Filipino restaurants, and has been the superstore’s parking lot.
In 2019, the entire complex was taken over by the New City Commercial Corporation (NCCC), a homegrown mall owner, from the banking institution that foreclosed it. It is being developed into a mixed-use complex that will be home to skyscrapers and condominiums.
Acorporateexecutive turned on-the-ground farmer in Malungon town, Sarangani province, shared his unique experience of harvesting a cacao fruit whose pulp has similarities with the exotic durian fruit.
“My first time harvesting this kind of fruit. Durian like cacao or cacao like durian?” Edmundo Cejar remarked when this writer dropped by his farm on Tuesday, March 21.
Now a septuagenarian, the former company executive, who retired a decade ago from a jet-setting corporate life with a multinational firm based in the Netherlands, came back to the country
to live a simple life as a hinterland farmer.
The harvest Cejar referred to is his first crop of what he called “A durian in a cacao! Its flesh has the aroma and sweet taste of a durian.”
Unlike the usual cacao, “the flesh covering the seeds can be eaten fresh and it tastes like durian,” he said. Unlike durian that its fruit hangs from its trunk and
branches, Cejar said his durian cacao bears its fruit at the tip of its branches.
Engineer Nenita Barroso, of the Department of Trade and Industry in Sarangani who was present when the durian cacao was opened, nodded in agreement that it is durian-like, saying the pulp indeed smells like the exotic king of fruits. “The taste is a mix of jackfruit and durian,” she said.
In his excitement, Cejar posted his durian cacao on Facebook and it went viral, drawing thousands of reactions, comments and queries from netizens. The post has been shared more than 5,000 times.
British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (BCCP) executive director Chris Nelson on Wednesday praised the Marcos administration for being able to sustain the economic reforms of the previous leadership.
In an interview with ABSCBN News Channel, Nelson said businesses from the United Kingdom remain optimistic about the
growth prospects in the Philippines with the continuation of these economic reforms to make the country a viable investment destination for foreign investors.
He lauded the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for issuing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Public Service Act (PSA) that now allows full foreign ownership for sectors defined as
public services, such as airports, railways, expressways, and telecommunications.
The BCCP executive noted that the amendments to the PSA, the Foreign Investments Act (FIA), and the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), which were passed during the Duterte administration, signaled to the international community that the Philippines is open for business.
As the Marcos administration becomes bullish in utilizing a public-private partnership (PPP) model in infrastructure projects, the Australian government will be providing its technical expertise in rolling out infrastructure projects under the PPP.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu PSM told the Philippine News Agency in an interview at her residence Wednesday that the embassy will be launching the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) on March 24.
“Infrastructure is a big area that the Philippines is focusing on, and I know President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) has announced that he wants to utilize PPP more where it’s possible. So we are working closely with the Philippine government to share with them how Australia has done it,” Yu said.
P4I is an Australian government initiative that brings together experts from the public and private sectors as well as the academe to help Philippine government agencies involved in in-
frastructure development in the preparation stage of projects that would be under a PPP model.
“We can help them with all the project preparation stage. How you do actual cost-benefit analysis of potential projects, and then how you prepare documents for possible procurement, tender processes, and things like that,” the envoy cited.
She said that aside from the PPP Center, the P4I also aims to closely work with other agencies including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), among others.
Yu added that the Australian government will be closely working with the administration through the P4I in meeting its diverse infrastructure requirements, including roads, transport, energy, and public investment management.
The Australian envoy said a number of Australian companies have been involved in infrastructure projects in the country.
Apause in Federal Reserve’s rate hikes this month is seen to give central banks in Asia Pacific a leeway to also do the same but not in the Philippines given the elevated inflation rate.
In a commentary dated March 20, 2023, Moody’s Analytics said “the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will now likely pause in its interest rate hikes at the 20-21 March meeting, before another rate increase in May.”
This, after two US banks, Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, collapsed a few weeks ago while another one is facing some unusual challenges to date.
The commentary said central banks in Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea already took a breather on their rate hike adjustments “and others may do likewise, at least in the near term, because the risk of currency depreciation will diminish if the Fed doesn’t tighten.”
“But in countries where inflation has not yet been tamed, including Australia, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, central banks may continue to raise rates as expected while watching to see if tightening of lending standards within the Asia Pacific region and around the world does some of the heavy lifting for them,” it said.
For one, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy-making Monetary Board (MB) is widely expected to increase the central bank’s key rates by 25 basis points as domestic inflation remains elevated.
Since May 2022, the BSP’s key rates have been increased by 400 basis points, with the overnight reverse repurchase rate (RRP) now at 6 percent from a record-low of 2 percent when the pandemic hit in 2020.
The rate of price increases slowed to 8.6 percent last February from the previous month’s 8.7 percent, among its 14-year highs.
This brought the year-to-data average to 8.6 percent, way above the government’s 2 to 4 percent target bank.
Monetary authorities expect inflation to remain above target for most of this year, with the average inflation projected at 6.1 percent.
Relatively, the elevated inflation rate along with the downtrend in merchandise exports were cited by Moody’s Analytics as main factors for its decision to cut its growth forecast for the Philippines this year from 7.1 percent to 5.7 percent, lower than the government’s 6 to 7 percent assumption.
The commentary said the projections for continued hikes in the BSP rates “will have a greater downward impact on domestic demand, particularly household consumption.”
“With the weaker global economy this year, growth of remittances also will soften adding another hit to the private consumption and housing investment,” it said.
Inflows from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are among the main drivers of Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) at around nine percent of domestic output.
The BSP recently reduced its remittance growth outlook for the year from an expansion of 4 percent to 3 percent on account of the projected slower global output.
Moody’s Analytics said merchandise exports of the Philippines account for around 60 percent of the country’s total exports.
TheHouse Committee on Nuclear Energy has voted to approve a consolidated substitute bill for a comprehensive atomic regulatory framework, creating for the purpose the Philippine Atomic Regulatory Commission.
“There is no longer any legal impediment to build a nuclear power plant once this bill becomes a law. The passage of the bill through the committee is a critical step towards realizing cheap, clean, and affordable nuclear energy in the Philippines,” Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco told the media.
“The bill, as it is presently de-
signed, establishes an independent regulatory body to oversee the various uses of nuclear technologies, provides a rigorous physical safety regulatory framework for the safe use of nuclear energy, and additional safeguards for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in our country and the world,” Cojuangco explained.
The lawmaker also said that
the bill is designed to conform closely to the existing regulatory landscape of the Philippine energy sector.
Cojuango said nuclear energy is cheaper than power from coal plants.
“Ang per KWh cost of nuclear fuel is around P0.35. Meanwhile, ang per KWh cost ng coal na gatong for kuryente was around P3.00 before the Russian invasion, and is now at P10.00 and rising,” Cojuangco said in his text message.
The bill will be submitted to the plenary session for the action of the whole House of Representatives.
Cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks reported that incidents of ransomware, a malicious software that blocks access to a computer system demanding money to be paid to unlock it, in the Philippines surged by 57.4 percent in 2022.
Eleven ransomware attacks were reported in the country last year, said the Unit 42 Ransomware and Extortion Report released on Wednesday.
Most of these cyberattacks targeted those in the manufacturing,
professional, and legal services sectors, and state and local governments.
The Philippines is the fourth most attacked by ransomware groups in Southeast Asia in 2022, with incidents here accounting for 12 percent of total ransomware cases in the region.
Thailand posted 28 cases last year, the highest number of reported ransomware attacks in the region, followed by Singapore with 18 and Indonesia with 14. Malaysia had 11 incidents and
Vietnam had nine.
Ransomware attacks in the Asia Pacific region in 2022 reached 302, higher by 35.4 percent than its previous report.
“Ransomware groups have been observed layering extortion techniques for greater impact, with the goal of applying more pressure on organizations to pay the ransom. Some of these tactics include encryption, data theft, distributed denial of service (DDoS), and harassment,” Palo Alto said.
City that are not yet in the travel guidebooks.
The recent renewal of partnership between Cebu Pacific and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will give everyone the opportunity to fly, explore and discover hidden gems in the Lion
“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Cebu Pacific, which contributed greatly to Singapore’s strong tourism numbers for 2022,” said Juliana Kua, assistant chief executive for International Group of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Collab, Sheraton Manila Hotel on March 13, 2023.
The partnership turned the dream into reality of re-experiencing the iconic Merlion and the well-loved Marina Bay Sands.
For the best travel experience, STB offers the SingapoRewards’ programme, which offers a free experience for every eligible tourist to Singapore.
SingapoRewards is a new program that will provide international visitors with an opportunity to try one of nearly 40 new or “off-the-beaten-path” experiences in Singapore for free, across the whole of 2023.
Some of the attractions waiting to be experienced include a visit to and a tour of Southeast Asia Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa, breakfast with zoo animals in Singapore Zoo, an aqua-spinning class in a pool with the view of the Marina Bay Sands, a dinner cruise on the Singapore River, nature kayaking at Pulau Ubin, and many more activities.
The cherry on top, all of these are free. Just register via the Visit Singapore app or through their official website.
“We value this partnership
with the Singapore Tourism Board. With recovery in place and our growth plans set in motion, our main goal now is to fly every Juan to exciting destination such as Singapore and enjoy all the offering in this beautiful destination that we missed doing during the pandemic,” said Candice Iyog, chief marketing and customer experience officer of Cebu Pacific.
CEB currently flies thrice daily between Manila and Singapore, providing passengers easy access to the Lion City, to experience its famous culinary scene, see its scenic spots, engage in thrill-seeking activities, or go shopping.
CEB will also increase its Singapore flights from Davao City up to 4x weekly starting on March 26, 2023.
No matter how well-travelled you are, there are still a ton of amazing places that you have never been to and these are the off-thebeaten-track travel locations that provide the chance for a richer and more rewarding experiences.
Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues that the world is facing today. Defined as a problem that occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available water supply, water scarcity is seen as a problem that will only get worse, especially since water use continues to increase at an unprecedented rate globally.
According to 2019 figures from UN-Water, an interagency mechanism that coordinates the efforts of United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues, global water demand is expected to continue increasing by 1 percent annually until 2050.
As a company with sustainability at the core of its operations, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) knows that there is a need for solutions that help address the degradation and depletion of the world’s natural resources. In line with this, the company has been continuously working towards strengthening its commitment to a circular economy, implementing solutions that help improve efficiency when using natural resources, including water.
“We all know that fresh water is a finite resource, so it is important that we try our best to conserve it. This is why SM has been adhering to a circular framework
when it comes to our resource consumption, including the way we use water in our malls,” said Engr.
Liza
B.Silerio, Vice President for SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Group and SM Cares Program Director for Environment.
To improve water efficiency in its mall operations, SM employs facilities that help reduce its consumption of fresh water. Among these are sewage treatment plants that treat wastewater plumbing systems. This allows the water to be reused, helping ensure that there is enough water for the malls and the communities nearby.
All wastewater from tenants and mall restrooms are treated in the sewage treatment plants to become non-potable water. The recycled water is then used for air conditioning operations, specifically by cooling towers, as well as for flushing toilets and watering of gardens.
In 2021, SM was able to save a total of 8.7 million cubic meters of water—enough to fill 3,480 Olym-
pic-sized swimming pools—with the help of these facilities, which are present in 72 SM malls nationwide and have been in operation since the early 2000s.
“Aside from minimizing our impact on common water resources, recycling water through these sewage treatment plants allows our malls to save big on water costs,” Engr. Silerio said. “Now, imagine if we all did it. I think we can leave a significant positive impact on our country’s source of
fresh water.”
SM Prime is committed to supporting the United Nations in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including “SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation” which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Other initiatives of SM aimed toward this include the Trash-toCash Market and Plastic Waste Collection initiative, both promoting responsible disposal of plas-
tic waste so they don’t end up in seas and oceans; the AweSMSeas campaign in partnership with the USAID and PRRCI, which raises awareness of the importance of managing plastic pollution affecting the world’s waters; and the International Coastal Cleanup that gathers thousands of volunteers annually. Visit www.smprime.com/sustainability-overview to learn more about the sustainability programs of SM Prime Holdings.
• Better durability against accidental drops and the latest battery smarts means you can keep your phone for longer
• Elevated performance smarts plus streamlined OS that saves you data and storage
MANILA, PHILIPPINES –
HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announces the new Nokia C12. Coming with all the C-series family reassurances, it provides a more efficient smartphone experience, making the promises of durability and security more accessible than ever.
It brings enhanced imaging, the most recent battery smarts for longer battery life, the latest security and privacy features, and better performance with memory extension. Plus, its resilient build has endured some of the toughest reliability tests around, so you can fully trust that Nokia C12 will stand the test of time.
Vivek Khandelwal, General Manager for Pan-Asia, HMD Global: “What people love about Nokia phones is how extremely resilient they are. The new Nokia C12 brings exactly that, plus improved performance.”
More storage and making the
most out of your data
Nokia C-series devices with AndroidTM 12 (Go edition) give you an average of 20% more free storage so you can store up to a thousand more songs or pictures, or even a few hours of HD video.
With memory extension giving you 2GB of additional virtual RAM, you can navigate between your favourite apps even faster, whilst ensuring others don’t slow you down.
By cleaning up unnecessary apps running in the background, Nokia C12 ensures no data is wasted. With resources freed up and data saved, your mobile plan will go further.
Faster and more efficient
Enjoy 30% faster app opening times courtesy of AndroidTM 12 (Go edition). Greater memory combined with more advanced octa-core processing gives you an enhanced performance that can keep up with the busiest of
lifestyles, while performance optimizer carries out a regular “Spring clean” for a fluid everyday experience.
Always safe and secure
In a world of growing cyber threats , the top-notch security Nokia phones are known for is always working in the background to keep you safe. The C-series family ensures at least two years of regular security patches to keep you shielded from threats.
Stellar shots day or night
Enjoy an enhanced imaging experience and capture memories with confidence in Night and Portrait modes, on both front and rear cameras, and then relive them on a stunning 6.3” HD+ display.
Pricing and availability
Nokia C12 is available in Charcoal with 5GB of RAM and octa-core CPU with Php 300 off for only Php 4,290 (from Php 4,590) on our official Shopee and Lazada store, in all Nokia mobile stores, authorized retail partners and resellers nationwide from March 15 to 31, 2023.
“Mas pinasulit!”
all it needs to become fish sufficient, with a thousand rivers and lakes, a coastline of 36,289 kilometers, and coastal waters of over 26 million hectares.
“However, this is easier said than done because there are problems and challenges that could derail any plan to produce more fish,” he added.
He noted that one of the problems faced by the fisherfolk is the lack of “bangus” (milkfish) fingerlings to supply the fish cage operators as the country depends on imported fish fries from Indonesia.
Solutions
“The solution to this problem is to support local hatch-
eries with funding to expand their operations and assure them of a market for their fry and to establish at least three huge and modern hatcheries in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” he said.
Piñol added that funding support by government and government financing institutions, including private banks, is critical in the success of the aquaculture undertakings of private investors and individual farmers.
“With the correct policies and focus on aquaculture and fisheries, we could be a major fish and marine powerhouse in this part of Asia,” Piñol said.
The HOLY CHILD Red Eagles Team emerged victorious in the recent 9 A-Side U-23 Women’s Festival organized by UP Mindanao last March 18, 2023 at the Davao City-UP Sports Complex. The women’s team showcased their exceptional teamwork and skill on the field. The team
kay ginadumog kung Palm Sunday and then daghan activities kung Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday, and Easter Sunday,” dela Rey said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media forum on
defeated their opponents in a thrilling final match. The Red Eagles’ impressive performance throughout the tournament, led by their passionate and dedicated coach, Murphy Jake Somosot, has earned them well-deserved recognition as a dominant force in women’s football. Congratula-
tions to the Holy Child Red Eagles on their hard-earned victory!
������������������: Holy Child College of Davao Red Eagles
������ ����������: Brgy Sto Niño
������ ����������: UP Mindanao Women’s Football Team
Photo by: Department of Human Kinetics - UP Mindanao
Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
For Ramadan, DCPO directed the police stations with the presence of mosques in their area of responsibility (AOR) to monitor
and patrol, and coordinate with the Imams for concerns.
“Para sa mga Imams, ipaabot sa kapulisan ang inyong mga concerns para mamahatagan ug pagtagad,” dela Rey said.
The public is hereby notified that the intestate estate of the late FRANCISCO LEONARDO HERNANDO who died on May 24, 2018 at Davao City, which estate consists of one (1) parcel of land situated in the Barangay Catagman, Island Garden of City of Samal, Davao Del Norte, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO (162) SQ.M. more or less, embraced in and covered by Transfer Certificate of Title 142-2017011267 has been the subject of an Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate With Deed of Sale by and among her heirs, as duly ratified, acknowledged, and entered as Doc. No. 463; Page No. 94; Book No. 95, Series of 2023; in the notarial registry of JOVENCIO A. ARIQUEZ, a duly-commissioned Notary Public in Davao City, Philippines.
points
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis had 27 points and nine rebounds, D’Angelo Russell added 26 points and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a six-game losing streak against Phoenix with a 122111 victory over the depleted Suns on Wednesday night (Thursday, Manila time).
Austin Reaves had 25 points and a career-high 11 assists after moving into the starting lineup for the Lakers, who improved to 7-5 in LeBron James’ latest injury absence with an impressive second half against the powerhouse Suns.
Devin Booker scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half for Phoenix, which has lost five of six. Chris Paul had 18 points for the Suns, who hadn’t lost to the Lakers since May 2021.
Kevin Durant missed his seventh straight game for
Phoenix with an ankle injury, and Deandre Ayton also didn’t make the trip to Los Angeles while sitting out his second game with a hip injury.
James is still sidelined with a foot injury, allowing the Suns to miss him for the third time this season. The Lakers have kept James’ recovery under wraps, but he is scheduled to be re-evaluated later this week.
Booker added six rebounds and five assists, but was limited at key moments by Jarred Vanderbilt while the Lakers maintained a steady lead in
the fourth quarter.
Los Angeles endangered its playoff hopes with losses to Houston and Dallas last week, but has surged back into a tie for ninth place in the Western Conference postseason picture with consecutive victories.
The Lakers shot 27 free throws while taking a 12-point lead in the first half, and Davis scored 14 points in the third quarter to keep Los Angeles narrowly ahead.
TIP-INS Suns: Landry Shamet
scored 15 points in his second game back from a 25-game absence with a left foot injury ... Phoenix coach Monty Williams used 11 players in the first half.
Lakers: Reaves scored a career-high 35 points in Los Angeles’ last game against Orlando, prompting coach Darvin Ham to promote him into Malik Beasley’s starting spot. Beasley has struggled to shoot consistently since joining the Lakers in a trade at the deadline, shooting 38% from the
I have been doing some “muni muni” these past few days, struggling on how to write this column.
You see friends, as I aged and my seniors, editor in chief nong Tony Ajero, editorial consultant Ram Maxey and sadly recently, our sales director Ate Chay Panes have gone to the great beyond, I must admit, I have mellowed down.
Hopefully, gone are the years that I am very combative in my writing, that earned some threats of libel cases, and a sincere advise from a humble lawyer, Attorney Guillermo Iroy Jr., although I was tempted to be one young and idealistic sportswriter once again.
So, this time, after days of “muni muni”, I am writing this on a different tone.
Frankly, I was bit shocked by the football game result between my beloved alma mater, Holy Cross of Davao College and St. Mary’s College of Tagum in the recent Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Meet.
The final game result was 110.
If this game happened 31 years ago, I would not mind and I will just simply write about it. Who cares, right?
Fast forward three decades later, my outlook towards this kind of game result has changed.
I must tell you, I have more
feelings towards game results these days. With an 11-0 shutout, I was a bit concerned.
You see my friends, the DACS Meet was organized to promote better friendships among Catholic school students.
An 11-0 massacre of a fellow Holy Crossian school was just too much. It does not make any sense to me, that is to humiliate an opposing squad that way.
Kinahanglan ba gyud e 11-0 ang kontra?
I find this very arrogant and not even close to a Christ-like attitude towards others.
As members of the DACS community, let us be reminded to be kind to one another. Even in
sports competitions.
“Isports man na Mo!”, you can say that. Yes, I agree. We must do our best to beat our rivals. But this is the Davao Association of Catholic Schools. This is not the SEA Games, Asian Games or the Summer Olympics.
I am blessed that I have mentors, both in journalism and sports management, who I described as true gentlemen in the profession. I learned from them, that is to practice humility, despite the great accomplishments they have done for this country. Pwede gyud mang hambog gud, pero dili lang sila ana.
So, I am expecting my beloved alma mater never to pursue in
humiliating fellow Holy Crossians again. Have we forgotten that St. Mary’s College was first known as Holy Cross of Tagum?
I hope my friends at Holy Cross will see my point.
Balo man tas dula oi! That it can be controlled.
But to the point of handing a humiliating defeat to a fellow Catholic school team, that is too much.
Please, do not forget that we are all brothers and sisters in sports, and we keep on “building a more humane world”. Kana lang.
* * * For comments, email mpb_ sports@yahoo.com.
BY NEIL BRAVO
That world-renowned Ironman brand will get some local spice, thanks to the creativity of the organizing team.
Drawing inspiration from Davao City’s eleven flourishing ethnic diversities, organizers are paying homeage to this deeply enmeshed local culture by creating a new category in the Alveo Ironman 70.3 aptly titled Tribu Maisugon Team race.
It’s a race that will define how a tribe of Ironmen composed of eleven members will conspire to carry their tribe to victory. Quite a bit of a cultural tradition among highly competitive tribal communities willing to give their all -- blood, sweat and tears -- for the glory of their tribe.
All that syncs with the race theme this year: “Race for Oneness.”
The Tribu Maisugon is the newest division in the event that has drawn around 2,000 triathletes from 48 countries.
It all started in 2018, the first of Davao’s three-year hosting run. Back then it was called the Race for Culture followed by the Race for Peace in 2019.
The special team race reckons the quickest overall time where the winning team gets to take home the coveted Tribu Maisugon trophy handcrafted by renowned local artist and medal designer Kublai Millan.
Alveo Ironman 70.3 Executive Committee co-chairperson Princess Galura can’t wait to see competitions get going for the Tribu Maisugon division.
Among those vying for the P550,000 winner-take-all cash prize are the Bayanihan Tri Team, BJMP Multisport, Core Nutrition, Dashing Iron Team, Filipino Homes- Go for Less, Fit PH, FPD Events, Surcyc Multisports Team, Triad, TriClark Scania Triathlon Team, TriDavSur, and Tri SND Barracuda.
Earlier, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte gave his assurance of safety for all participants and tghe crowd.
“The Davao City Ironman 70.3 2023 Committee assures that all necessary preparations are being taken for the safety of everyone and the smooth undertaking of the event,” Mayor Duterte said as he cited the cooperation of neighboring cities, the private sector, and volunteers for the overall success of the race.”
Race director Neville Manois said they retained the race course while making exciting improvements along the way. The Irongirl, the first event on the calendar, will hit the road tomorrow at 5 p.m.
