BOLD...

Chai Abaya, regional operations consultant of PRIME Philippines, told Edge Davao.

PRIME Philippines shall also perform marketing initiatives to promote Davao City investment and trade such as invitations to the existing network of local and foreign investors and preparation and conduction of city tours and site visits that shall feature major residential, commercial (office and retail), industrial, hospitality and infrastructure developments together with representatives from the Investors’ Assistance and Servicing

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tions, cooperatives, and business establishments displayed their in the said area through a one-day ‘Kadiwa sa Pangulo para sa Pilipinong Manggagawa.’

Among the products displayed were agricultural produce like vegetables, fruits, fish, and dairy; local delicacies; textiles and garments. (PIA Davao de Oro/MLU)

DAVAO... FROM 4

spread throughout the country,” Batocabe explained.

Noel Daquioag, the Davao del Norte provincial tourism officer participating in the training, said the CLI has a great impact in guiding them on how to promote not only tourism but culture as well.

“In the Philippine brand of service, culture must be on top. With this course, we will be able to institutionalize culture and tourism,” he said in a separate interview. (PNA)

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These factors, the BSP said, are expected to be countered by the weaker-than-expected recovery of the global economy, among others.

The central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) will include the latest inflation report, along with the macroeconomic outlook, in the assessment of the latest developments during the rate setting meeting of the MB on June 22.

“The BSP stands ready to adjust the monetary policy stance as necessary to prevent the further broadening of price pressures as well as the emergence of additional second-order effects. The BSP also supports for the timely and effective implementation of non-monetary government measures to mitigate the impact of persistent supply-side pressures on inflation,” it added.

Last May 18, the MB kept the BSP’s key rates steady, the first since rate hiking cycle started in May 2022, after noting the deceleration of inflation rate and possible slower print in domestic output based on demand indicators.

Since May 2022, the BSP’s key rates have been hiked by a total of 425 basis points from the record-low 2 percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) during the pandemic.

The gross domestic product (GDP) exceeded expectations when it grew by 6.4 percent on an annual basis in the first three months of the year.

GDP growth in the first quarter of this year was slower than the previous three month’s 7.1 percent but authorities and analysts traced this to base effects of last year’s high growth levels. (PNA) in the Davao Region as of April this year. DTI 11 has maintained 53 NCs and assisted 10,223 clients.

These NCs conducted 300 pieces of training attended by 7,205 participants 5,012 were females (70 percent of the total number of participants). Of these training, 37 percent or 110 were classified as entrepreneurial, 16 percent or 49 were skills, 19 percent or 58 were productivity, 9 percent or 27 were regulatory, 7 percent or 21 were financing, 6 percent or 17 were livelihood/product development, 5 percent or 16 were learning visits/ techno demo/forum, and 1 percent or two were from trade training.

Also in April this year, DTI 11 conducted the launching and orientation of the Kapatid Mentor ME (KMME) and Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) Program via Zoom that was participated by 51 mentees from the Davao Region.

KMME is a program that aims to help MSMEs scale up their business thru coaching and mentoring.

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prices of goods),” he said.

The latest inflation rate was discussed in a meeting convened by Marcos at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Tuesday morning, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in a Palace press briefing.

Pascual said the government intends to remove the bottlenecks to further tame inflation.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, in a separate statement, said the Marcos administration would continue implementing economic strategies to keep the inflation rate well within the target.

Marcos on May 26 signed Executive Order (EO) 28, creating the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IAC-IMO) to improve the coordination and action of government agencies in managing inflation and mitigating the effects of rising commodity prices on the Filipino people. (PNA)

CONSUMER...

FROM 9 set to launch in the coming months.

With over 87-years of presence in the Philippines, P&G recognizes its role not only in building the nation as an economic driver, but also in protecting, improving, and restoring its natural resources. As P&G continues to bring the comforts of home to every Filipino household through its products, the company is also committed to advancing responsible sourcing, pioneering environmental safety science, and protecting, improving, and restoring ecosystems through its sustainability initiatives.

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Pro are equipped with high-end Snapdragon® processors, AMOLED displays with high refresh rate, and large battery capacity.

“The POCO F5 Series distinguishes itself from earlier POCO products and other smartphone brands in the market with its innovative and exciting new features,” said Ng. He added that this series would make a great gaming phone because of its power and speed, and a superior camera phone thanks to its advanced imaging capabilities.

“[We’ve made] significant improvements to design and build quality, ensuring that they not only perform well but also look and feel premium.”

Shop the POCO F5 Series on Shopee. For more information, visit the official POCO Facebook Page.

Amendments

FROM 2 PORTRAIT... FROM 4 MSMEs... FROM 3

... FROM 3 programa ng gobyerno na mapapabuti po ang kabuhayan ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino lalung-lalo na po ang mahihirap

(As a senator, I support any step or program of the government that aims to improve the lives of our countrymen especially the poor).”

Signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, RA 11291 aims to provide a comprehensive framework for addressing poverty-related concerns.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission expects to finish the amendments on the law’s IRR by the end of the month. It will specify details on its implementation under the National Poverty Reduction Plan and the local government units’ Local Poverty Reduction Action Plans.

The Marcos administration sees the implementation of RA 11291 as a means to bring down the country’s poverty incidence from 18.1 percent in 2021 to 8.8 to 9 percent by 2028. (PNA)

LIGHTNING...

FROM 3 corner Sta. Ana Avenue, Barangay 30-C.

CDRRMO head Alfredo Baloran reported that a family of seven from New San Isidro, Barangay Buhangin Proper sought shelter at the Barangay Gym as the water level in their house reached waistdeep. They were able to return to their house when the water subsided after few hours.

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the Office of the President to issue an executive order mandating information security standards for CIIs.

To address cyber threats on CIIs in the long-term, the group is pushing for the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act (CIIPA).

Five Senate bills and three House bills were already filed in the Congress on CIIPA. (PNA)

5 itive, although the risk of food inflation remains possible due to El Niño,” he said.

Galang’s appeal came on the heels of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) latest projection on the country’s medium-term inflation path.

“The May 2023 inflation outturn of 6.1 percent is within the BSP’s forecast range of 5.8 to 6.6 percent, consistent with the overall assessment that inflation will remain elevated over the near term before gradually decelerating back to target range in fourth quarter of 2023, in the absence of further supply-shocks,” the BSP said in a statement on Tuesday.

Alan Tan, chair of ADM’s economics department, said “the economy is poised to grow at its average pace of 6.5 percent this second quarter. This is supported by softening inflation and lowering global oil prices.”

Meanwhile, market analyst Astro Del Castillo, president prised to get the Gold Stevie Award, which is the highest level of the award for thought leadership. I feel so honored!”

In addition, Atty. Lee was also recognized as an exceptional FinTech Regulatory and Innovation Leader by the Asian FinTech Academy.

“I also am quite happy to receive this award,” he admitted. “It’s significant as this was the first fintech award I received this year and which recognizes all the fintech policy work we do in the sector. It is often very hard to know if you are doing the correct thing when it comes to regulations and policy work, especially in a field as dynamic as fintech.”

With all the thrills, the challenges, and the awards he received of being a SEC Commissioner, will he still pursue the like of life he has now? He answered affirmatively but added, “However, I would definitely make one major change in my life – and that is to lose weight!”

Atty. Lee has indeed come a long, long way. To think, he dreamed of being a scientist when he was a kid growing up in Davao City. “I never thought I would become a lawyer, much less a government official,” he said.

He graduated at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000. “I took Legal Management because at the time I had started becoming interested in doing business but I thought it best to have some legal background so it would be easier to get into business,” he said. “I never imagined it would help lead me to becoming a lawyer, years later.”

As fate would have it, he attended Ateneo School of Law and graduated in 2008. “The best part was learning all these interesting laws,” he recalled. “I found law fascinating as it opened up a whole new realm of knowledge. And for someone like me, I really enjoy learning new things.”

The worst of becoming a lawyer was the pressure. “The pressure to excel, much less pass the bar, was very, very hard,” he said. “And I honestly am not sure I could do it again today. That’s why I have the utmost respect for bar examinees. The challenge of getting through a bar exam is always hard.”

Atty. Lee took the bar in 2008. While waiting for the results of the bar exam, he worked with the Siguion Reyna Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Office in Makati City. When the results came out the following year, he stayed and worked with the same law office.

“I only left Manila when my family and I decided to go home to Davao,” he said. This was around 2013. He decided to stay in Davao City for good but then Rodrigo R. Duterte became the president of the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Salvador Me- and managing director of First Grade Holdings, said he is more optimistic about the second semester of the year because “the worst of the inflation surge is now behind us.”

With all the pandemic restrictions gone, he said, the economy is once again poised to resume its forward momentum.

However, Del Castillo warned that food security and the energy situation in portions of the country must be addressed sooner rather than later.

It was noted that provinces like Occidental Mindoro, and to a lesser extent, Oriental Mindoro, have been suffering from rotating brownouts since the onset of the dry season.

Del Castillo said the government should lay the groundwork to enhance domestic food production to avoid situations like the recent onion supply crisis, which began late last year and extended to the opening weeks of 2023. (PNA) dialdea invited him to join his office as an assistant secretary, which he accepted.

“It was great,” he said of his stint at assistant secretary of the executive secretary. “I learned a lot from him, on how to deal with problems and issues of a national scale, and how to handle crisis, among others.”

But there were other important things he learned from Sec. Medialdea. “Among those I learned from him were how to stay calm under pressure, to get as much information you can, and assess all the evidence and perspectives before you make a decision,” Atty. Lee said. “To have a leader panic during a problem does no one any good. I try to apply those lessons even now as a SEC Commissioner.”

Despite all the hectic schedules he has, he still has a time working as a law professor at the Rizal Memorial College School of Law.

“I started teaching back in 2019, and I focused on Corporate Governance and later on in Corporate Law for Commercial Law Review,” he recalled. “I usually teach one to two days a week over zoom. And it is very difficult to manage the time considering my busy schedule as a SEC Commissioner. But I consider teaching very important, so I try to make the time.”

Talking of time, he said that time is the hardest part of being a law professor. “Time management,” he said. “Balancing the time between work and teaching and of course family, is very, very hard.”

So much so that for the 2023 school year, he said he had to take a break “as the demands of the office have been a bit too much, especially with the many meetings.”

As part of his job as SEC Commissioner, he is also oftentimes invited to be a guest or invited speaker. He also does lectures.

“Making the topic interesting to the audience,” he replied when asked on what makes lectures challenging. “I usually lecture on very complex topics such as corporate law, corporate governance, fintech policy and sustainable finance. So, it is often a challenge to keep the attention of the audience for an extended period of time on such difficult topics.”

Ten years from now, Atty. Les still sees himself working in law, and perhaps technology. “I hope to still work in government and trying to make a difference,” he said. “But more importantly, I foresee I will still be a happy family man, with a supportive wife, wonderful kids, great mom and siblings and a very fulfilling life.

His final words: “Working in government can be quite fulfilling. I encourage young lawyers and professionals to enter the arena and work in government to try and make a positive difference.” .

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hind Indonesia’s Figo Saputra (23.39) and Firza Listianto (24.00).

Dino clocked 23.55 seconds to settle for the third place in the men’s 200m T47 event.

Nur Ferry Pradana of Indonesia won in 22.36 while his compatriot, Rizal Bagus Saktyono, was second in 22.78.

In the men’s javelin throw F55, Joel Balatucan finished fourth (22.05m) behind Kieu Minh Trung of Vietnam (27.00m), Riadi Saputra of Indonesia (25.69m) and Shar Haji Juma’at of Brunei (22.16m).

LIGHT... FROM 4 tion Project to three months,” said Engr. Jerome Ryan Deleonio, Head of the Distribution Services Department of Davao Light. “That’s how fast electrification is now.”

CHITO MALABANAN JABONG!

AND THEY LIV HAPPILY EVER AFTER?

Shocked? You bet. I was in the middle of my afternoon round of golf with buddies, topnotch Architects Omar Payumo and Benjie Panganiban, when my phone went wild with that familiar twitter sound because of the latest golf buzz in town. I’m surprised as with the rest of the golfing world caught unaware with the “SUDDEN” merger of which nobody knew it coming.

I am in the process of writing my column on another subject but due to this sudden turn of events, I find it too much to resist since this has been my pet subject for the past months. LIV golf.

Business. Profit. The color of money. This more or less sums up the biggest turnaround in golf and most likely the top candidate for the “GOLF NEWS of the year 2023”. After creating much animosity and divisiveness in the golf world when LIV started, this merger I bet will create more questions than answers in the coming days.

“I recognize everything I’ve said in the past in my past positions. I recognize that people will call me a hypocrite” says PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan as he releases the cat out of the box. Or as one of my golf buddies would say. “At the time he said things in the past he didn’t know how much or didn’t imagine what they could personally gain financially from a merger”.

But what about Rory, Freddie Couples and the other mouthpieces of PGA who made war of words against their colleagues in their profession, against the stars of LIV like Lefty Phil, Patrick Reid, DJ and the rest? Poor fellas they need to swallow back the bitter words they have uttered in the past against their LIV counterparts.

All litigations related to LIV and PGA Tour, DP world tour would be cancelled. This was one of the features on the merger of which details are still on the process. All legal animosity is now all water under the bridge.

All LIV golfers can now re apply for PGA and DP World Tour after the 2023 season ends. Wow and wow. But the million dollar question is, “will LIV accept furthermore applicants from the PGA and DP world Tour?”

The big leap of pro golfers from the PGA and DP world tour to LIV is a business decision above all. They knew their world ranking would be affected. They knew it would have an impact in their participation on the majors. They knew their status in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and other “exhibition” tournaments rep- resenting their countries would be jeopardized. But as things are shaping up now, these LIV golfers are most likely smiling as they peeked at their accounts at the bank. It seems they had their cake and ate it to.

The defection of Cameron Smith and Mito Pereira suddenly appear as brilliant career moves but same cannot be said with the case of Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Victor Hovland rumored ready to make their leap of faith but stick just like the others who choose the PGA out of loyalty and shun the million bucks the LIV is dangling for all newcomers. What about the case of PGA and DP World tour players who will now knock on the door of the LIV?

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Very obviously, Jimmy Butler is the heart and soul of Miami in the same manner Nikola Jokic is for Denver.

Butler is a journeyman who has worn uniforms for New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.

Before coming over to the Heat franchise, he had battled Spoelstra and his platoon in the EC in the past and had once muttered that he won’t ever play for Miami.

Today, he has sworn “over his dead body” that the Heat jersey will be his last in the NBA.

Dam Adebayo has been sing-

Well, with the sudden turn of events, the matter has not yet been discussed by the merger unlike the accommodation they have accorded to the LIV golfers. For one, they don’t have yet a name for the entity of this merger, its structure, their plans, and direction. What is only clear is the merger which they announced to the world in haste that caught everyone unaware. Does the pressure of financial sponsors of the PGA and DP World tour have something to do with this sudden turn around? Maybe.

As for Sergio Garcia, Brooksie , DJ and especially Phil, this is a very positive development. The first three can now have a big fighting chance for inclusion in the Ryder Cup with this merg- er but the same cannot be said with the animosity with the other players when they are now gathered in the locker room after the war of words. Only time will tell if the wounds would heal fast. How about the captaincy of Team USA for Ryder Cup to Lefty?

As everyone have started to settle down, I see one blond hair fellow smiling, with that familiar cowboy hat with a shark logo on it riding on his horse in his ranch in Australia. After months of parrying and exchanging blows with the gods of PGA and DP world tour, the shark can now concentrate in running the affairs of LIV golf.

Only time will tell if this short fairy tale would have the usual happy ending… and they LIV happily ever after?

BUTLER IS MIAMI’S HEART AND SOUL

ing paeans to his buddy who has uncharacteristically blown hot and cold from the playoffs up to the best of seven championship setto against their Denver counterparts.

The Heat and Nuggets will cross swords anew today in Game 3 in Miami in what experts like to describe as “the pivotal” match. Pivotal because whoever wins the third match takes the momentum while the loser is faced with utmost pressure.

Considering that Miami stole Game 2 as the Heat were visiting Mile High City, Butler and company will happily cherish how beating the Celtics in Boston twice (Games 1 & 2) was the saving grace that they are now in the finals. Going 2-1 will be each coach’s objective.

As this is the Nuggets’ first NBA finals appearance in several decades, the loss they suffered at home - the first since Denver’s successful run in the quarterfinals and semifinals - to a certain extent, may have sapped their collective or individual optimism.

If you carefully review Game 2, Malone was outcoached by Spoelstra in a subtle kind of way.

The latter rested Butler, paced Adebayo and Robinson and gabe Vincent for the critical fourth period swing.

Spoelstra did not send back Butler, his ace gunner, till the 8-minute mark of the fourth where Miami’s tiny lead was being threatened to be overcome.

From the beginning, Spoelstra’s rotation ably rested his starting five and his inclusion of Kevin Love as a starter added more firepower and presence in the middle to counter the hulking Serbian star’s dominance.

Thus, Adebayo’s load was less- ened and eased somewhat, giving him the opportunity to produce 21 pts (alongside Butler’s similar output).

Denver must find someone who can stop Heat guard Duncan Robinson whose lethal sniping from beyond the arc stymied the Nuggets’ offense.

The Nuggets were initially able to limit Butler’s prolific scoring in Game 1 but there are more headaches coming up for Malone. Still a fifty-fifty though, if you ask me. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!