Edge Davao 10 Issue 12 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

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Serving a seamless society

STARK CONTRAST. A vehicle owner enjoys the comfort of an air-condition system of an expensive SUV while two working class men riding a motorcycle brave the scorching heat of an afternoon sun waiting to be inspected at the Task Force Davao checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril, Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

EXTENDED Mindanao trust fund to last until 2019 By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

RESIDENTIAL Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus G. Dureza has announced the extension of the Mindanao Trust Fund for Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) up to 2019. During the MTF-RDP closing Cremony at SMX Convention Center, Davao City, Dureza described the two-year extension as a “transition for a bigger fund facility” that the MTF steering committee headed by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process was working on. Dureza said there will be new support coming from the existing donors to continuously fund the programs that have been started since its pilot implementation on 2006. “This facility will not be

only limited to the people of the Bangsamoro, but inclusivity on bigger communities who are looking at us for assistance,” said Dureza. Meanwhile, Bangsamoro Development Authority Chair of the Board Dr. Saffrulah M. Dipatuan expressed satisfaction that the Philippine government and the MILF were committed to the continuation of the Mindanao Trust Fund which will serve as the transition to the bigger Bangsamoro normalization fund. “Initially they were contemplating on a one-year extension but we are even happy to hear from Secretary Jess Dureza that it’s not only one year,” he said. “It’s going to be twoyear extension because after all, trying to establish a fund, new funds, will really take

time. It will not be an overnight endeavor.” World Bank Country Director Mara Warwick said during a press briefing that the allocation for the extension of MTF-RDP “is yet to be finalized” but she expects the amount will surely support the activities of the involved communities. With regard to the projects to be supported, Dureza said an assessment will be conducted among the communities to determine how much is still needed to be funded. Dipatuan added that the MTF can refer to the Bangsamoro Development Plan crafted in 2013, a comprehensive and inclusive socioeconomic blueprint for the proposed Bangsamoro territories.

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PCA urges planting of 7M coconut trees By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

HE Philippine Coconut Authority has urged all stakeholders to help plant seven million coconut trees every year in order to save the industry from deterioration. Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City, Roque Quimpan, board

member of the PCA said that the decline of the ‘tree of life’s’ industry had its beginnings during typhoons Pablo in 2012 and Yolanda in 2013 when millions of coconut trees were damaged. To make matters worse, mass infestation of the cocolisap or the bug pest that pre-

vented the tree from bearing fruits. “A total of 33 M coconut trees were destroyed during the two super typhoons. Two to three million trees were cut due to the infestation of the cocolisap,” Quimpan said on Monday.

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MARQUEZ THEORY Horn sets mind on

Marquez-like strategy

Sports P14

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

DUTERTENOMICS FORUM. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, in his keynote speech, highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive tax reform program and to boost infrastructure spending to spur the growth of the country’s economy during the DuterteNomics forum yesterday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Cabinet secretaries hold DuterteNomics Forum

HE Department of Finance and the Presidential Communications Operations Office, in partnership with with the Center for Strategy, Enterprise & Intelligence (CenSEI), hosted the DuterteNomics Forum at Conrad Manila in Pasay City on April 18, 2017. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, in his welcome remarks, said the forum is intended to shed light on the economic policy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He also said the economic policy of the President is anchored on the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda which is aimed at creating an inclusive and dynamic economy for the country which is pro-poor. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, in his keynote speech, highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive tax reform program and to boost infrastructure spending

to spur the growth of the country’s economy. The Finance Secretary also projected that the Philippines could become a upper middle income country by 2022 and a high income country by 2040 once the tax reform is implemented and the infrastructure has been put in place. With an improved economy under President Duterte’s leadership, the Finance Secretary declared that the investments on human capital will improve as well as the education and health programs. Secretary for Socioeconomic Planning and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ernesto Pernia, meanwhile, cited the need to decongest Metro Manila by improving the infrastructure development as well as the business opportunities in various key urban centers throughout the country so that the develop-

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NPA amazon,15, yields “Rose”is 5th reb minor who gave up in 2017 By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

adlopez0920@gmail.com

FIFTEEN-YEAR old minor and a member of the communists New People’s Army operating in the hinterlands of Davao del Norte and other parts of Davao region surrendered to authorities on Monday afternoon, the Philippine Army reported. In a press statement on Tuesday, 2Lt. Amadeuz Celestial, civil-military operations officer of 60th Infantry Battalion said Alias Rose surrendered with another 18-year old NPA member identified as Junjun in Sitio Patil, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte. The identities of the surrenderers will temporarily be concealed for security purposes pending the processing for their turn over to the Department of Social Welfare

and Development for proper dispositions. Celestial added that Junjun served as a squad leader of Pulang Bagani Command 4 of the NPAs in Southern Mindanao while Rose was a member of the medical team. Both belong to Indigenous People, particularly Dibabawon tribe in Davao del Norte. He said that Junjun and Rose made an initial contact with a tribal leader in the area and to the commander of a CAFGU Active Auxiliary Detachment in Kapalong town. In the initial investigation, Junjun revealed that he was recruited to the movement by certain aka Pai while Rose was recruited by a Emilies Bat-ao alias Ka Nice. “Both of them were prom-

ised to work in a legal front office of the NPA in Davao City. Junjun and Rose were also told by their recruiters to study in Davao City,” Celestial said. Contrary to what their recruiters said, the two ended up in the hinterlands of Davao del Norte and parts of Davao region to be with the Pulang Bagani 4 of the NPAs, he added. “Tired of living in the mountains and fears were the reasons why the two young NPA fighters decided to surrender. They also revealed that four more IP minors are still in the company of Pulang Bagani 4,” Celestial said. Both Junjun and Rose are now undergoing medical checkup and stress debriefing with their respective local health and social welfare and development units.

Celestial said Rose will also undergo special psychological debriefing for any indication of child-abuse-related trauma. “I am heavily disheartened with the NPA’s utilization and incessant abuse of vulnerable sectors like these children from IP communities,” said 60th IB commander Lt. Col. Emmanuel Canilla in the same statement on Tuesday. He added that the NPA’s continuing disregard to respect the rights of children are clear manifestations of their disregard to the provisions of CARHRIHL or the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Celestial said that Rose is the 5th child-soldier who yielded to authorities this year in Davao region.

banana production. Philippine fresh bananas are exported to South Korea, Iran, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, New Zealand, San Diego in the United States, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, China, Mongolia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iraq, Egypt, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and even in Europe’s niche markets. In several occasions, NPA rebels resorted to burning

equipment and facilities in fruit plantations particularly in Mindanao to force companies to pay them “revolutionary taxes”. Eduardo Maningo, a spokesman for the Mindanao agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), in a statement, has called on the government to step up its efforts to protect farm workers and agribusinesses vulnerable to NPA attacks. “The safety of our families and our livelihood are threat-

ened. If the government fails to address this problem, businesses can leave and we will lose our jobs,” said Maningo. “Our industry is already hampered with problems. We have low productivity because of pests and diseases, drought, flooding… but the insurgency is most alarming. We are scared for our lives,” he added. Communist insurgents have focused their attacks in Mindanao’s lucrative fruit farm

Doctor, bodyguard slain inside Cotabato City clinic Red attacks imperil leading fruit exports

HE local police and the Army’s Special Forces Battalion have launched a manhunt against a lone gunman who murdered a young ophthalmologist and his bodyguard inside his clinic in Cotabato City Tuesday morning. A report released by the Cotabato City police office showed that the shooting occurred at around 11:10 a.m. inside the clinic of Dr. Sajid Sinolinding, the younger brother of Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr, health

secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . According to police investigators, the gunman posed as a cataract patient and went inside Sinolinding’s clinic located at the second floor of the Cotabato Doctors’ Clinic along Sinsuat Avenue. Once inside, the gunman pulled a handgun and opened fire on the unsuspecting eye doctor and his bodyguard, Mohammad Esmael, witnesses said. (PNA)

TTACKS of the communist New People’s Army on pineapple and banana plantations jeopardized the country’s top fruit exports and place at risk its standing as one of the world’s biggest banana exporters. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows the Philippines produced 9.1 million metric tons of bananas in 2015. The cavendish variety, a top export, accounts for half or 4.57 million MT of the total

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

NEWS 3

Mt. Talomo closed as entry point to Mt. Apo: Mayor Sara

T. Talomo is excluded from the list of entry points for this year’s trekking to Mt. Apo, the country’s tallest peak. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio issued the reminder Tuesday amid reports that some mountaineers are using Mt. Talomo as an entry point to Mt. Apo. “We received evidence that mountaineers and tour operators are entering Mt. Apo through Mt. Talomo,” the mayor said in a statement. She pointed out that

such illegal activities must be stopped, reminding the public of the possible sanctions to be meted out to violators. “Mt. Talomo is one of the mountains and watershed areas that the local government of Davao is keenly protecting because of its important ecological value. It is the recharge area of the Talomo-Lipadas watershed and the home to the endangered Philippine Eagle,” she added. She also informed those who wish to visit the mountain that a comprehensive

ecotourism and cultural plan will soon be rolled out. “This will cover regulations that will ensure that the watershed area is protected from human activities that are injurious and destructive to the environment,” she said. The plan is being undertaken by the city government of Davao, the Department of Tourism XI and the Philippine Eagle Foundation in partnership with the Bagobo community in the area. “We encourage tour op-

of a good leader that citizens from other countries desperately look for.” “We Filipinos should be proud that we have a president who is admired by other nations,” the younger Duterte said, as he called on Filipinos to support the programs and services of the Duterte administration. “We must rally behind President Duterte and continue to support him for his mission to make the country more progressive and at par with more developed countries. That is the least we can do for all the sacrifices that he is do-

ing now,” he said. In a post on its website on Monday, TIME Magazine said President Duterte won the 2017 TIME 100 poll after consistently leading the survey. “Duterte received five percent of the total yes votes in the poll, which closed Sunday night,” the magazine said, explaining that the poll asked readers who should be included in this year’s TIME 100, an annual list of the world’s most influential people. Following President Duterte in the poll were Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,

ting down and it will no longer be exclusively for the Bangsamoro. There will be other fragile and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao that would probably also would like to benefit from our experience from the Mindanao Trust Fund,” said the OPAPP chief. Inaugurated in 2006, the

MTF is the longest running trust fund programming for development in Mindanao. It partners with the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the development arm of the MILF, with technical support from Community and Family Services International (CFSI)

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Paolo lauds result of‘TIME 100’poll

P BANNED. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio speaks during a gathering in this undated photo. Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday issued a stern warning to

mountaineers and tour operators of possible sanctions to those entering Mt. Apo through Mt. Talomo which is excluded from the list of entry points. Lean Daval Jr.

DAR writ to install ARBs on HEARBCO land nixed

HE Lapanday Foods Corporation has taken strong exception to a writ of installation issued by the Department of Agrarian Reform over portions of land in Barangay Madaum that were already previously awarded by the DAR itself and are presently under a collective title issued in the name of all the members of Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-1 (HEARBCO-1). HEARBCO-1, Lapanday explained in a press release, has an existing and valid contract with LFC to manage portions of the plantation. LFC said that it will not submit to the jurisdiction of the DAR to install the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Inc. (MARBAI), a breakaway group of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) over lands in the Sanid Area located in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City, because it has no authority and jurisdiction to issue the writ. he Writ of Installation, issued by DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano, dated April 11, among others, cited Sections 108 and 109 of the DAR Administrative Order No. 7, series of 2011 as well as the Cease and Desist Order against the company as bases for its action. But LFC emphasized that DAR AO No. 7 does not apply since the subject land of the Writ of Installation had already

been awarded to the ARBs who belonged to HEARBCO-1. These ARBs were in fact already properly and duly installed by the DAR, said Lapanday. It added that the claims of MARBAI, whose members voluntarily left their land in 2011, cannot overturn the installation of HEARBCO-1 members on their land. Lapanday said the Court of Appeals has not yet ruled on the main petition of the company that the CDO issued by the DAR secretary was null and void. Lapanday stressed that it cannot be dispossessed of the land and its existing management contract over the area since the company’s possession and management of the farms owned by HEARBCO-1 is by virtue of a final and executory order issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Civil Case No. 33, 536-2010, that approved the Compromise Agreement between LFC and HEARBCO-1. LFC contends that the DAR knows that the Davao RTC Branch 14 had issued a Writ of Execution as early as December 9, 2015, and another Alias Writ of Execution last November 21, 2016. These court orders recognized and upheld the company’s right to manage and possess the Sanid Area owned by HEARBCO-1. More on page

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RESIDENTIAL son Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte has lauded the outcome of the “100 Most Influential Persons in the World” survey conducted by TIME Magazine, which was topped by President Rodrigo Duterte. “The result showed an affirmation of how the world views President Rodrigo Duterte as a leader worthy of respect not just by the Filipino people but by all other peoples from other nations,” the vice mayor said Monday night. He added the result was also an indication that the President “has the trademark

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OPAPP proposes MTF-RDP template of development By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

HE Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has proposed to the GRP-NDF panel to use Mindanao Trust Fund as template of development in conflict-afflicted areas. On Tuesday, OPAPP Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, who serves as chair of the Min-

danao Trust Fund steering committee announced that the proposal was presented during the fourth round of peace talks between the GRP Peace Panel and NDF in Amsterdam, Netherlands April 2 to 6, 2017. “The biggest facility that we are working out is still set-

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ROUTINE. A member of Task Force Davao inspects a private vehicle upon entering Davao City at a checkpoint in Sirawan, Toril on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

Belt and Road Forum in Peking gains support from state leaders

BEACHWARE, ANYONE? A pedestrian walks by an establishment selling swimwear along Rizal Street in Davao City on Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr.

Minda partners renew peace and dev’t promise Cite gains in confidence-building for conflict-affected areas

EVELOPMENT partners reaffirmed their commitment to helping the Philippines achieve long-lasting peace and progress in Mindanao as the long-running Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Project supporting peace and development in Mindanao closed today. “The European Union has been with the Mindanao Trust Fund since 2006, because we believe peace is fundamental for economic development,” said Ambassador Franz Jessen, Head of Delegation to the European Union during the MTF closing ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. “The European Union will continue to support programs such as these

to help bring lasting peace and development in Mindanao.” Administered by the World Bank, the MTF is a multi-donor grant facility established to consolidate international development assistance for the socioeconomic recovery of conflict-affected communities in Mindanao. Since 2006, the EU, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and the World Bank have provided PhP1.4 billion ($28.9 million) to the program. The EU is the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion ($22 million). “The Mindanao Trust Fund has helped a lot to improve the access of Bangsamoro communities to basic services such as clean water, roads, farming equipment and community cen-

ters,” said Secretary Jesus G. Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. “More importantly, as a partnership between the government and the MILF, it has built confidence and social cohesion at the community level, which is an important factor in sustaining the momentum of peace and development in Mindanao.” The MTF has funded programs and projects that promote economic opportunity, provide access to basic services, and build greater understanding and cooperation among community members in conflict-affected areas. In 11 years, the MTF has completed 573 infrastructure, livelihood and functional literacy projects in 315 conflict-affected communities across

75 municipalities in Mindanao, reaching nearly 650,000 beneficiaries, more than half of whom are women. These projects have provided hundreds of thousands of people with access to clean water, roads, post-harvest facilities, and farming and fishing equipment. World Bank Country Director Mara Warwick stressed the World Bank Group’s strong commitment to continue to support Mindanao. “We are planning new World Bank supported programs for Mindanao to sustain efforts toward attaining peace and development, generating jobs, building strong institutions, and supporting social cohesion on the ground. So much

nately, we have a leader capable of much audacity. We have a leader of vision and intense love of country. All the favorable factors are present. It is time now for a breakout.” He said the Duterte administration’s 10-point socioeconomic reform agenda takes into account these positive factors but the economic opportunities arising from them will bear real fruit “only if they are undertaken by audacious policymaking.” This reform agenda, Dominguez said, includes an infrastructure buildup that will entail trillions of pesos in investments that are necessary to help ensure that the next generation of Filipinos do not remain “in the same poverty trap we found ourselves in.” “Realigning income tax rates, however, will bring

down revenues even as we improve tax administration and broaden the tax base. This means we have to introduce new revenue measures that will not only compensate for lower tax rates but also fund the massive infra program that commences now,” he added. “The CTRP, therefore, is the key link in the grand effort to break out from the cycle of low growth and build a dynamic and inclusive economy for our people,” Dominguez said. “It is a pro-active and pro-poor measure that supports the expansionary fiscal posture of the present administration.” Dominguez pointed out that after being saddled by a debt burden and the Asian financial crisis for many years, the country is currently en-

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Tax reform‘key link”to PH breakout from low-growth cycle

HE Duterte administration’s proposed comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) bill now pending in the Congress is the “key link” to the “grand effort” to break out from the cycle of low growth and deliver a dynamic and truly inclusive economy to Filipinos, according to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Dominguez said that Malacanang’s plan to accelerate spending on infrastructure and on human capital by upgrading the country’s educational and health care systems, along with its goal to lower income tax rates to sharpen the Philippines’ global competitiveness, would require additional revenue measures that could only be generated via the CTRP. “The CTRP is an indispensable component of the Duter-

te administration’s economic strategy. It is an audacious strategy that seeks to lift our country to upper middle-income status by 2022 and high-income status by 2040,” said Dominguez at Tuesday’s opening of the first ‘Dutertenomics’ forum at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City. Dominguez said now is the time to move decisively in carrying out this “grand effort,” given the convergence of positive factors that are conducive to high and inclusive growth, such as the economy’s low-interest rate regime, excess liquidity, benign oil prices, investment-grade credit rating, a young, vigorous work force and the strong support of countries like Japan and China. “We do not intend to fail in meeting the challenges of this time,” Dominguez said. “Fortu-

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HE Belt and Road Initiative is gaining more support after state and government leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed interest to attend the Belt and Road Forum International Cooperation next month. According to reports posted at the Belt and Road portal, Putin has confirmed his attendance in the Forum slated on May 14-15 in Beijing. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has described Russia as an important partner among the Belt and Road countries. Zhang said Chinese President Xi Jing Jinping and Putin have reached strategic consensus to integrate the Belt and Road Initiative and Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union. Another world leader who recently expressed intention to attend the Belt and Road Forum include Switzerland President Doris Leuthard whose country was the first from Europe to sign a bilateral free trade agreement with China. Lithuanian President Da-

lia Grybauskaite Skvernelis has also reportedly said Lithuania is ready to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, seeking cooperation in transportation, agriculture, technology and tourism. In her recent visit to Beijing, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said the Norway is supporting the Belt and Road Initiative. United Kingdom has also embraced the Belt and Road economic strategy which strengthened the trade between the UK and China through creation of the Yiwu-London rail line. The Belt and Road Initiative is seen to open a new market to British companies and more opportunity to improve the infrastructure construction and international trade. Last Monday, Vice Premier Zhang thanked Estonia for its support and participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Zhang said Estonia is an important country by the Baltic Sea and partner of China in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). (PNA)

Strengthened ties with Asean, China to sustain exports growth

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Tuesday that strengthening trade ties with Asian neighbors will back the recovery of the country’s exports performance in the coming months. DTI Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen Perlada said the Philippine government’s effort to boost trade relations with ASEAN and China contributed to the growth of exports revenue in the first two months of 2017. Exports of goods in January to February 2017 increased by 11 percent to USD4.78 billion from the same period in 2016. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that shipments to China in January to February period improved by 24 percent to USD799 million. Exports to ASEAN countries likewise made increments in the same period – Singapore, up by 8.0 percent to USD568 million; Thailand, up by 37 percent to USD332 million; Malaysia, up by 46 percent to USD163 million; and Vietnam, up by 16 percent to USD106 million. “Enhancing trade promotion effort to huge consumer markets is seen as a viable strategy in sustaining the performance of Philippine exports in the coming months,” Perlada noted.

In the past months, the Duterte administration has been visiting ASEAN member states and China to ensure strong economic relations with these nations. He added that the conclusion of the ASEAN-led free trade agreement Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is also expected to further strengthen trade in the region. RCEP is a trade agreement among ASEAN member states and its six dialogue partners including China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and India. “RCEP is the chance to balance the country’s trade deficit, especially with China,” Perlada mentioned. Among selected trade-oriented economies in Asia, the country placed ninth in terms of exports growth in February. Vietnam had the fastest exports growth in the said period, which rose 30 percent. “We see a trend of recovery among economies in the first two months of 2017. For us in the Philippines, the numbers are healthy. While we ranked ninth for this month, on a year-todate analysis among selected trade-oriented economies, we placed third in terms of export growth. This is a signal of a robust export sector,” Perlada said. (PNA)

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

High-end housing in Toril breaks ground By JECIA ANNE OPIANA N April 18, Urban East Developments, Inc. held its groundbreaking and time capsule-laying ceremony for a new ‘green’ high-end subdivision that will soon rise in Davao City’s southern part.

The Gardens at South Ridge, with an initial budget of P750 M, is a seven-hectare exclusive and gated green high-end community located at Catigan, Toril. The subdivision has a total of 187 prime residential lots and 10 s-prime commercial lots. According to Edward Bernardo, President of Urban East Developments, Inc, it was named The Gardens at South Ridge because it will be a community with abundant and elaborate landscaping and greenery that is located specifically in the Three Ridges Integrated Area Zone of the TRIAD zone of Davao. Bernardo said that

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SOUTH OF THE CITY. UrbanEast Developments, Inc. president Edward Bernardo (third from left), together with the company’s executives, leads the laying of the time capsule during Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for The Gardens at South Ridge, an upscale, exclusive green and gated high-end community located in Catigan, Toril. Lean Daval Jr.

Strong peso due to RRD’s‘decisive’pursuit of peace and order: Palace

ALACAÑANG on Tuesday said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘decisive leadership’ in pursuing peace and order has resulted to healthy economic growth as indicated by the sustained strength of the Philippine peso. “The sustained strength

of the Philippine peso mirrors the high business and investor confidence in the decisive leadership of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement. “Under the PRRD administration, it is a doctrine that an

economy thrives when there is peace and order. Pursuing that tack has resulted in robust economic growth,” he said. The Palace official said the administration hopes to sustain the economic momentum in order to bring Filipinos closer to Duterte’s promise of a comfort-

able life. “To sustain it we are launching the biggest infrastructure program in Philippine history. Big-ticket projects such as roads and bridges, mass urban transport system, alternative green city solutions are among key investments intended to move the

country closer to the promise of a comfortable life for all,” he said. “The Philippine economic future indeed looks very promising and we enjoin our people to continuously support the administration as we together build a nation worthy of all Filipinos,” Abella said. (PNA)

6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

COMVAL SCHOLARS. Students with their parents join the “Compostela Valley Scholarship Program” Batch 2017 Orientation and Signing of Contract on April 6 at the provincial capitol. The CVSP is among the priority programs of the Comval PLGU in support to education. (J. Clarion/IDS ComVal)

Region 12 eyes strong performance 200 students, OSYs in upcoming ‘Palarong Pambansa’ in NorCot avail of SPES S R EGION 12 or the Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) is eyeing another strong performance in the 2017 Palarong Pambansa slated on April 23 to 29 in Antique province. Henry Dagmil, SRAA overall training manager, said Monday the entire delegation is presently in “high spirits” and ready to compete with perennial powerhouses in the upcoming annual national games. He said they are aiming to make another strong start and eventually “finish stronger” as they bid to improve on the region’s seventh-place record in the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Legazpi City, Albay. “We’re ready to compete from start to finish,” the former Olympian and three-time South East Asian Games athletics gold medalist said. Region 12 comprises the

provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. Dagmil, who hails from South Cotabato and currently a consultant of the Philippine Sports Commission, earlier introduced a “scientific-based” training program for the SRAA delegation. He had been credited for South Cotabato’s back-to-back overall championship in the last two years in the SRAA meet. The training program mainly focuses on the development of the athletes on the technical aspects of the events or games and their preparation for the competition stage, he said. Instead of spending an entire day for formal training, he said they just allotted about

four hours daily and uses the rest of the time for lectures, team-building sessions, film showing and video presentations showcasing different sports performances of winning athletes. Dagmil said they also held regular tune-up games in different venues within the region. “This training program saves the energy of the athletes for the competition proper,” he said. He noted that while endurance-building is very important, it should be done in lower meets and upon the start of the school year. “At this time, all athletes should have already built proper strength and there’s no need for heavy practice,” he said. Magdaleno Duhilag, Department of Education-Region 12 sports coordinator, acknowledged that the region’s

athletes might have failed to sustain strong performances in the past Palaro due to their intensive training program. He said SRAA was usually strong in the first two days of the games but eventually turned “out of power and strength” for the rest due to possible “burnout.” Duhilag said they are very optimistic with the new training program as it had been adopted for many years by the Philippine national team and perennial top-performing regions in the Palaro like the National Capital Region and Calabarzon. SRAA’s 730-strong delegation left its training base in Koronadal City for San Jose, Antique last Saturday, April 15, following a 30-day training. The region garnered a total of 23 gold, 18 silver and 36 bronze medals in last year’s Palarong Pambansa. (PNA)

already approved,” said Mayor Ernesto Matugas. Once completed, all occupants of the old market will be required to transfer to the new one-storey public market building. “The old market has caused traffic congestion because Surigao City is growing fast. The number of vehicles has increased,” Matugas said.

He said the construction of the new market building will commence by the middle of this year. It was delayed because of the recent earthquake. Matugas said a four-storey shopping mall will rise at the old market. Matugas said a Malaysian firm, in partnership with the Villar group of companies, will build the new shopping mall at

a cost of P1.2 billion. “This will be built and

cial Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed the strong opposition of the agency against the said House Bill. “It is not right to punish the young when they commit crimes especially when they are just used by the adults,” said Lim. “We have to strengthen our laws on trafficking and child abuse and find a better and effective system to catch the adults who are using the minors to commit an offense,” she add-

ed.

Surigao City to build new P12M public market

NEW public market spanning two hectares will soon rise in Surigao City to replace the old one, a local government official said. The new P12 million public market will be established in Barangay Sabang, which is still within the city proper of Surigao. “This will be funded locally. The appropriation was

FSURIGAO, 13

OME 200 students and outof-school youth in North Cotabato are now beneficiaries of the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) this year. Provincial Human Resource and Management Officer Aurora Garcia noted that 150 SPES beneficiaries who belong to the first batch started reporting for work on April 10 and will complete their contract on May 22 while the second batch will be working from June 13 to July 2, 2017. “The SPES beneficiaries have met all the requirements last March and subsequently passed the interview conducted by the Provincial Human Resource and Management Office before they were finally accepted to work at the provincial capitol or municipal local government units (LGUs) where they reside,” Garcia noted. The student-beneficiaries will receive daily compensation or wage of P260 which will be paid by the provincial government or the LGU and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under a 60-40 scheme. Apart from the salary, they will also have the chance to attend trainings or seminars at the provincial capitol if deemed neces-

sary and join other work- related activities within the 30-day period of SPES employment. During the orientation and contract signing, Reynalin Nicolas, Administrative Officer V-PHRMO explained the stipulations of the agreement between the Provincial Government of Cotabato and the SPES beneficiaries. She also emphasized that for years, the provincial government has actively partnered with the DOLE in the implementation of the program which resulted to the employment of many students and OSY, thus helping many families cope with the expenses during enrolment. “The provincial government has been instrumental in helping out the youth to have a meaningful summer vacation by employing them and imparting to them the value of hard work, perseverance and dedication as well as developing their skills and other potentials,” Nicolas stated. For her part, Governor Emmylou Mendoza said the youth plays a crucial role in the development of the society. She assured that her leadership will continue to look into the interest and welfare of the students and OSY. (SJDuerme-PIA12)

CARAGA region intensifies juvenille justice consultations, dialogues

HE Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) in Caraga region continues its lobbying efforts to the local government units (LGUs) to intensify campaign against the approval of the bill on the lowering of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) from 15 to nine years old. Officer-in-charge regional director Mita Chuchi Gupana-Lim of the Department of So-

“When our minors are in prison, they are more vulnerable to abuses, their health is compromised,” Lim stated. In the first quarter of this year, the Province of Dinagat Islands conducted a Juvenile Justice Consultation Dialogue where the said LGU expressed its commitment to advocate against the approval of the bill on the lowering of MACR. (Eunice M. Plaza/PIA-Caraga)

VEGGIE SEEDS FOR SARANGANI. Officer-In-Charge Annabelle J. Tagaza of Sarangani Provincial Agriculture Office has seen more hopes to increase food security in the province with the recent provision of 4,100 packs of vegetable seeds by the Department of Agriculture through Regional Executive Director Milagros C. Casis. The seeds will boost Sarangani’s FAITH (Food Always

In The Home) garden, a scheme of the provincial government’s Sulong Kasaganaan Program to improve food sufficiency. Assisting in the turnover is Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council chairman Rodrigo España. (Tres B. Besana/ SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

Davao artist wins US contest

ATU Bago-awardee and UP Mindanao Asst. Prof. Teody Boylie “Bong” Perez of the Department of Humanities once again won an international art contest organized in the USA. In an announcement

made recently by contest organizer Colored Pencil Magazine, Prof. Perez was selected as Winner in the Advanced Category of the March Art Challenge by the magazine which is based in North Carolina, USA.

BARANGAY VISIT. Davao Light Revenue Protection Department Supervisor, Engr. Leonardo A. Apalisoc, discusses pilferage or electricity theft and the danger it may bring to households, such as fire incident, during the recently-conducted

The CPM Art Challenge-Advance Category is an international competition open to artists who have been working with colored pencils as an art medium for over 2 years. The organizers provide a photograph which will serve

as the model from which the contestants render by hand using the medium of the colored pencil. The winning work of Prof. Perez will appear in the June 2017 issue of Colored Pencil Magazine. (PR)

pulong-pulong held in Davao Light’s first Power 101 in Barangay Communal, Cabantian, Davao City. The gathering was also joined by Energy Special Research Specialist Jao Osorio of the Department of Energy. (DLPC Photo)

Davao Light explains Easter Sunday power interruption

AVAO Light and Power Co. explained that the unscheduled power interruption during the Easter Sunday, April 16, was caused by the tripping of the sub-transmission line at Buhangin supplying power to Buhangin, Panacan and Pampanga Substations. This power interruption, which started at 3:57 p.m., has affected customers in the northern part of the Davao Light franchise. During the initial investigation, a technical problem was found at the Buhangin Substation causing the tripping of the affected line. To mitigate the impact of this technical problem, loads from Panacan and Pampanga Substations were temporarily transferred to nearby lines. Full restoration of the areas connected to these substations was done at 4:42 p.m. Meanwhile, restoration of power to areas connected to the Buhangin Substation was made at 6:12 p.m. As part of the company’s personnel and equipment safety and damage prevention measures, thor-

SSS calls on members to settle delinquent loans

Taguiwalo meets new DSWD workers in Davao W

ESPITE her hectic schedule, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo graced the recent Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Orientation with her presence at Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City. Together with DSWD Regional Director Mercedita P.

Jabagat, the secretary gladly welcomed the 63 newly hired Project Development Officers (PDOs) and met with the other existing staffs of the program in a brief visit. With the amount of budget on hand, Secretary Taguiwalo admitted that the program has to double the efforts of utilizing the downloaded budget before June of this year.

She emphasized the PDOs need to coordinate with internal staffs and build relationships among external partners. The secretary also encouraged all PDOs to use their “utak, puso, at kamay” as a formula in implementing their proposed projects. She then generously posed with all the members

present who grabbed their phones and requested for ‘selfies’ before leaving the venue. The Secretary earlier visited the One-Stop Shop at Southern Philippines Medical Center where the Libreng Gamot Para Sa Masa office has been lodged. She also attended community events in Tagum City and Maco town, Compostela Valley. (DSWD)

Promotion Group Undersecretary and ASEAN 2017 Committee on Business and Investment Promotion (CBIP) Chairperson Nora K. Terrado. The event also aims to establish DTI and its Design Center of the Philippines as key players in the development of the Philippine Creative Industries particularly in the area of design. “The Philippines is teeming with rich talent in various creative fields, including sectors that are under Design Center’s mandate—product design, fashion, graphic design. It’s about time we recognize this, and harness this pool of creativity towards a movement that will be beneficial to all creative stakeholders,” shares Rhea O. Matute, Executive Director of the Design Center. Creative economy is an

emerging concept that deals with creativity, culture, economics and technology. Vital to this emerging type of economy are goods and services that use creativity and intellectual property as primary inputs. “To have one Philippine city included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network would mean that every Filipino’s creative assets transformed into products or services contribute to the country’s development,” added Matute. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently highlighted the role of creative industries in bringing in economic growth through trade and intellectual property rights activities. Various creative services in the Philippines, such as the anima-

tion industry which is gaining traction in the international community, are currently being promoted extensively in the global market. The ASEAN Creative Cities Forum and Exhibition will feature initiatives of 10 ASEAN member states through various activities that highlight the role of culture and creativity in driving sustainable and inclusive development in the region. Key influencers, advocates, and champions in the field are expected to hold discussions. At present, there are only four cities from ASEAN member countries that are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. These include Bandung in Indonesia for Design; Pekalongan in Indonesia for Crafts and Folk Art; Phuket in Thailand for Gastronomy; and Singapore for Design. (PR)

PH pushes for promotion of creative industries in ASEAN

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Design Center of the Philippines (Design Center) will be holding the ASEAN Creative Cities Forum and Exhibition (ACCFE) slated on 24-27 April 2017 at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Through ACCFE, the country aims to promote the lucrative economic potentials of its creative industries, creative clusters, and creative cities as a viable strategy for sustainable and inclusive development in the region. “This is also a key initiative to usher the membership of at least one Philippine city in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network by 2018 and further support the development of the 2017 Creative Industries Roadmap,” highlighted DTI Trade and Investments

ough check up and investigation were conducted. This accounted for the longer period that Davao Light crew spent in restoring electric service in the affected areas especially those served by the Buhangin substation. Furthermore, in April 17, at around 2:40 a.m., Davao Light has to conduct a switching power interruption or transfer of load from Buhangin Substation to nearby lines to facilitate the shutdown of the said substation. This is necessary to conduct further investigation to determine the root cause of the problem. Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience brought about by these power interruptions. The power interruptions experienced within its franchise are not a power supply related problem. Davao Light franchise now has enough power to supply the increasing demand of its customers even during the summer months with its additional supply contracts from new generating power plants in Mindanao. (PR)

ITH the loan penalty condonation deadline on April 27, the Social Security System (SSS) is encouraging all members with short-term loan delinquencies to avail of the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) which offers affordable payment terms and conditional condonation of loan penalties. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that a total of 487,278 members have benefited from LRP which has an equivalent collection of P2.89 billion as of February this year. “Employed member payments amounting to P1.78 billion constitute for about 61 percent of the entire LRP collection while voluntary member payments worth P766.35 million represent 27 percent of the overall total. It only shows that the special program is highly recognized by member-borrowers as reflected on the collection performance,” Dooc said. More than 22,000 self-employed members also availed of the LRP with an equivalent collection of P105.65 million. Meanwhile, nearly 30,000 OFW-members benefitted from the program with a total remittance of P234.91 million. In terms of geographical location, the National Capital Region (NCR) processed the highest number of LRP applications with 226,776 followed by Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao area with 141,224 applications, 52,498 applications and 49,126 applications respectively; while the foreign

offices processed 17,654 applications. SSS local branches that received the largest volume of LRP transactions as of end-January 2017 were Diliman, Davao, Calamba, Biñan and Bacoor. Meanwhile, foreign offices that facilitated the highest number of LRP applications were Hongkong, Riyadh and Dubai, where huge number of OFWs are located. Member-borrowers can still avail of the LRP until April 27 to provide financial relief to borrowers affected by natural calamities and disasters who struggle to pay their short-term SSS loans. “We would like to remind other delinquent borrowers to apply for LRP before the prescribed deadline to avoid hassle from last-minute filing as well as to conveniently settle their financial obligations to SSS. If they failed to avail the LRP, the loan interest and penalty will continue to increase every month,” Dooc concluded. To qualify for the LRP, the member should be residing or employed in any of the calamity areas declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) or the national government. The short-term loan must also be overdue for at least six months as of April 28, 2016. Members can pay their overdue loan in full within 30 days with no additional interest, or apply for an installment payment term of up to five years with a minimal annual interest rate of three percent. (PR)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

Plain discipline

HE operative word from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office is ‘voluntary discipline’ as that modicum of standard required for the public to follow rules and make public conveyance comfortable. CTTMO head Dionisio Abude, announcing the strict implementation of the ‘no loading, unloading’ zones, declared that the law can only be successful with the full cooperation of the public. The loading and unloading zones ae not new. They have been existing for a long time albeit not religiously followed because of the lack of discipline by both the riding public and transport sector. Public utility jeeps and taxis practically stop anywhere—even in the middle of the street—to pick up and drop passengers. If at all, the PUJs use the jeepney stops, these PUJs use the stops as temporary terminals to load as much passengers as possible.

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All these ‘bad habits’ have become part of the transport culture that it has become that problematic as to dislodge as practice even if they are patently illegal. Yes, unless our traffic enforcers crack the whip seriously. The question is, will they do it? Mr. Abude now says they will enforce it. Strictly, this time. However, he said they needed everyone’s ‘voluntary discipline’ to be successful. Public discipline need not be voluntary. In fact, it should not be voluntary or to say the least, selective or discretionary. It is innate upon us to think of the bigger picture in order to solve this problem. It can be done if everyone makes discipline their way of life instead of thinking of their own comfort. On the part of the CTTMO, discipline means the highest standard of law implementation. Now let’s bring it on. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

JIMMY K. LAKING Associate Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ KENNETH IRVING K. ONG JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO JECIA ANNE OPIANA MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle CHA MONFORTE LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents Cartoons Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: TACIO GREGORIO G. DELIGERO • JOHNSR., CARLO TRIA • VIDA MIA S. VALVERDE FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO BORBON •HENRYLITO MARY ANND. “ADI” C.•QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO•ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY V.ZEN FIGUEROA CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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HEN Patrick Henry Frank, founder of Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), hit upon the idea of inventing a machine that would make hemp stripping easy, fast, and efficient, there was promise the abaca industry would further flourish. On December 16, 1924, Frank, who also owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC), registered it with the United States Patent Office as Patent No. 1519579, and on March 17,1925 listed it in the Bureau of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines. To make use of the patent and manufacture the machine in quantity, Frank established the Universal Hemp Machine Company, with William Henry Gohn, a thriving American planter in Davao, as one of the major shareholders. Together they introduced and convinced Luzon hemp growers the patented stripping machine that “can clean hemp satisfactorily and economically.” But to their surprise, they belatedly discovered some enterprising Japanese were already using a similar machine, prompting them to file a case in the lower court docketed as G.R. No. L-38010. The defendant was G. Kosuyama, a Japanese. The suit stemmed from the al-

HILLIP Bond, former US Undersecretary of Commerce for Technology sees it as “truly miraculous.” After all, it can enable “the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the deaf to hear.” It can cure “AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other afflictions.” It can end hunger and “even supplement the power of our minds.” More importantly, it will “deliver higher standards of living and allow us to live longer, healthier, more productive lives.” It also “holds extraordinary potential for the global environment through waste-free, energy-efficient production processes that cause no harm to the environment or human health.” Bond is talking about the wonders of nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on the scale of atoms and molecules. “Though nanotechnology is sometimes hyped to the hilt, it is no joke and its societal impacts will indeed be titanic,” observe Hope Shand and Kathy Jo Wetter in their collaborative report, Shrinking Science: An Introduction to Nanotechnology. Nanotechnology – sometimes shortened to “nanotech” – is not a discreet industry sector but a range of techniques used to manipulate matter at the nanoscale, where size is measured in billionths of me-

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

Legal battle over a patented machine leged infringement of the rights and privileges acquired by the Americans as a result of the patent, claiming the defendant was producing and selling machines that were similar to Frank’s invention. The Americans sought from the court to order the Japanese to cease the manufacture and sale of machines similar to the patented, to render an accounting of the profits realized from the machines in question, to pay the patent owner and partner the amount of P60.00 as profit for every machine sold, to post a bond in case of failure or refusal to account, and to sentence the Japanese to pay the cost and damages due to the Americans. Sadly, the court favored the defendant by dismissing the complaint and the P10,000 counterclaim sought by the Japanese, who did not appeal. In the amended complaint, the Americans claimed the machine’s following characteristics: “A stripping head, a horizontal table, a stripping knife supported upon such table, a tapering spindle [the only feature cited in the original complaint, a rest holder adjustably secured on the table portion, a lever and means of compelling the knife to close upon the table, a pallet or rest

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa in the bottom of the table, a resilient cushion under such palletor rest.” Citing its December 21, 1933 verdict, the Supreme Court summarized the trial court’s findings based on evidences presented for appreciation: “In constructing their machine the plaintiffs did nothing but improve, to a certain degree, those that were already in vogue and in actual us in hemp producing provinces. It cannot be said that they have invented the “spindle” inasmuch as this was already known since the year 1909 or 1910. Neither [can it] be said that they have invented the stripping

knife and the contrivance which controls the movement and pressure thereof on the ground that stripping knives together with their control sets were already in actual use in the different stripping machines long before their machine appeared. “Neither can it be said that they invented the fly wheel because that part or piece thereof, so essential in every machine from time immemorial, was already known and actually employed in hemp stripping machines… were in use for the benefit of hemp long before the appearance of the plaintiffs’ machines in the market. Much less can it be said that they invented the pedal to raise the knife in order to allow the hemp to be stripped to pass under it, on the ground that the use of such contrivance has, likewise, been known since the invention of the most primitive of hemp stripping machines.” To support their ownership of patent, Frank and Gohn invoked the doctrine invoked in the case of Frank and Gohn vs. Benito (51 Phil., 712), where the defendant was found to have infringed upon the patent of the Americans. However, the high court argued: “[The] plaintiffs in the former and those of the latter case are the same and that the patent then in-

volved is the very same one upon which the present action of the plaintiffs is based. The above-cited case, however, cannot be invoked as a precedent to justify a judgment in favor of the [Americans] on the ground that the facts in one case entirely different from those in the other. In the former case the defendant did not set up the same special defenses as those alleged by the herein defendant in his answer and the plaintiffs therein confined themselves to presenting the patent, or rather a copy thereof, wherein the ‘spindle’ was mentioned, and this court took for granted their claim that it was one of the essential characteristics thereof which was imitated or copied by the then defendant.” The high tribunal, with finality, declared “the [Japanese] cannot be held civilly liable for alleged infringement of the patent upon which the present action is based on the ground that there is no essential part of the machine manufactured and sold by him, which was unknown to the public in the Province of Davao at the time the plaintiffs applied for and obtained their patent for improved hemp stripping machines, the judgment appealed from is hereby affirmed.” The Americans lost.

same substances do not exhibit at the micro- or macroscales.” For instance, aluminum – the material of soft drink cans – can spontaneously combust at the nanoscale and could be used in rocket fuel. Nanoscale copper becomes a highly elastic metal at room temperature -- stretching to 50 times its original length without breaking. Zinc oxide is usually white and opaque; but at nanoscale, it becomes transparent. “Nanotechnology is sometimes referred to as a general-purpose technology,” explains the Center for Responsible Nanotechnology. “That’s because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society. It will offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.” The concepts that seeded nanotechnology were first discussed in 1959 by renowned physicist Richard Feynman in his talk “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” in which he described the possibility of synthesis via direct manipulation of atoms. The term “nanotechnology” was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974, though it was not widely known. Inspired by Feynman’s concepts,

Dr. K. Eric Drexler independently used the term “nanotechnology” in his 1986 book Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology, which proposed the idea of a nanoscale “assembler” which would be able to build a copy of itself and of other items of arbitrary complexity with atomic control.

When little things mean a lot

ters. A nanometer (nm), from the Greek nanos for dwarf, equals one billionth of a meter. In one of his lectures, Nobel Prize Laureate Horst Störmer said that the nanoscale is more interesting than the atomic scale because “the nanoscale is the first point where we can assemble something – it’s not until we start putting atoms together that we can make anything useful.” “It takes 10 atoms of hydrogen side-by-side to equal one nanometer,” write Shand and Wetter in their report. “A DNA molecule (found in cells of organisms where genetic information is stored) is about 2.5 nm wide. A red blood cell is vast in comparison: about 5,000 nm in diameter. And a human hair is about 80,000 nm thick. Everything on the nanoscale is invisible except with the aid of powerful ‘atomic force’ microscopes.” Nanotechnology, as defined by size, is naturally very broad. “The real power of nanoscale science is the potential to converge disparate technologies that can operate at this scale. With applications spanning all industry sectors, technological convergence at the nanoscale is poised to become the strategic platform for global control of manufacturing, food, agriculture, and health,” Shand and Wetter point out.

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

The “raw materials” of nanotechnology are the chemical elements of the Periodic Table – the building blocks of everything, both living and non-living. “At the nanoscale, where quantum physics rule, a material’s properties can change dramatically,” note Shand and Wetter. “With only a reduction in size (below about 100 nanometers), and no change in substance, materials can exhibit new properties related to electrical conductivity, elasticity, strength, color, and chemical reactivity -- characteristics that the very

Nano in medicine “Whatever you call it, the use of nanotechnology in the field of medicine could revolutionize the way we detect and treat damage to the human body and disease in the future, and many techniques only imagined a few years ago are making remarkable progress towards becoming realities,” the website understandingnano. com notes. As a new technology, there are some issues and concerns to be considered. This is particularly true in medicine. “The majority of current commercial applications of nanotechnology to medicine is geared towards drug delivery to enable new modes of action, as well as better targeting and bioavailability of existing medicinal substances,” according to an expert of group of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency Source (“Reflection paper on nanotechnology-based medicinal products for human use”).

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

PCA... FROM 1

Quimpan also said that at present, 500,OOO coconut trees in Basilan are to be cut because of the cocolisap infestation and around 144,000 trees in Zamboanga. According to the PCA board member, it is important to save the coconut because it is dubbed as the tree of life, considering that every part of it could be used. As a solution to the problem, Quimpan said that in order to replenish the coconuts that we have lost, seven million coconut trees should be planted every year in five years. He said that everyone who will be participating in the planting activity will be given P 40 for every surviving coconut tree. In the indigenous people’s areas, an additional P 20 will be given to

them through their respective indigenous people’s organization (IPO). Furthermore, Quimpan said that had it not been for the coconut’s other components and other high value biproducts like the virgin coconut oil and the palm oil, the industry would have had died. Coconut water is also a product that greatly gives significant income to the Philippines because it is exported to countries like United States and China. In 2014, 10.2 L of coconut water was exported to the United States which is equivalent to $ 11 million. The Philippines have a total of 3.3 M hectares of coconuts, currently making the country as the second in the world to export coconut products.

businesses, aiming to paralyzing their operations by burning or destroying equipment if their owners refuse to pay “revolutionary taxes”. Among the facilities that the communists have destroyed include Dole’s cold storage plant and other equipment in Barangay Sinawal in General Santos City last March 30; a banana processing plant in Pantukan, Compostela Valley last Feb. 5; a pineapple plantation in Bukidnon on Feb. 25; and three container vans loaded with fruits in Maragusan, Compostela Valley on March 25. On March 27, the NPA opened fire on a spray plane

in Tagbina, Surigao. The insurgents continued with their attacks in Sumifru (Philippines) in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier hesitated in resuming talks with the communists, saying that they should first stop with their extortion activities, release all captives and resist from claiming any territory. However, in less than a week after government negotiators and the National Democratic Front agreed on an interim joint ceasefire agreement, communist insurgents have torched some P4 million worth of farm equipment at a pineapple plantation owned by Del Monte Philippines. (PNA)

erators, tourists and mountaineers to join us in the promotion of environmental protection and become active partners in ensuring that the next generations will still experience healthy, safe and sustainable biodiversity and ecosystem,” Duterte-Carpio said. The Protected Area Management Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the local government units around Mt. Apo area opened,

starting last April 12, the trek to the country’s highest peak this year. The opening ended the indefinite closure of Mt. Apo to climbers after a disastrous fire hit the area last year. Entry points that were opened include the trails in Kidapawan City and the towns of Makilala and Magpet in North Cotabato and Digos City and the towns of Bansalan and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. (PNA)

Pope Francis, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. The Duterte family is also hoping that all the sacrifices of the President will be appreciated by all Filipinos, not just the 16 million who voted for

him last year, the vice mayor said. He said he told his father to “keep up the good work” and prayed that God will give the President more strength to continue serving the Filipino people. (PNA)

2 This DAR action defies the final and executory orders of the Court. Ironically, the members of this breakaway group participated in the resolution of the legal dispute. Thus, they are bound by the subsequent legal orders that have now become final and executory. Even the DAR had filed a motion to quash the Alias Writ of execution that remained pending before the court. Hence, the company maintains that since this final order of the RTC has not been annulled by the Court

of Appeals, it subsists and is enforceable, and must be legally complied with, including by the DAR, HEARBCO-1, MARBAI, the PNP and other government agencies under penalty of contempt of court. Lapanday will not hesitate to take all necessary legal action against agencies, organizers, leaders and other persons who will unlawfully interfere with the peaceful implementation of the court-approved Compromise Agreement between LFC and HEARBCO-1.

Red... FROM 2

HOUSEKEEPING. A firefighter from the Davao City Central 911 arranges the hose atop a fire truck after hours of putting a huge fire out which hit a furniture shop in Seaside, Bago Aplaya, Davao City early Tuesday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

EXTENDED... FROM 1 The BDA chair said the some of the fund will continue to support projects which have already been started by the beneficiaries, and at the same time, fund the incoming projects which will be proposed by the communities. “There are many projects that we have already started but like a fruit, those projects are not yet ripe to be abandoned so we want to continue, revisit those projects,” he said. The Mindanao Trust

Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program Closing Cremony gathered government officials, representatives of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) negotiating panel, officials of Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), partner agencies and organizations such as World Bank, European Union, Canadian embassy, Australian Embassy, and about 40 best performing People’s Organizations across seven regions in Mindanao, including benefi-

ciaries in the six acknowledged MILF camps. Inaugurated in 2006, the MTF is the longest running trust fund programming for development in Mindanao. It partnerswith the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), the development arm of the MILF, with technical support from Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and Mindanao Land Foundation, Incorporated (MinLand). By March 2017, the MTF

has completed 573 community-driven projects which will benefit over 650,000 people in 315 conflict-affected communities. Since 2006, the European Union, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the World Bank have provided PhP 1.4 billion (USD 28.9 million) to support socioeconomic recovery in Mindanao. The European Union is the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion (USD 22 million) to the facility.

ment would be distributed to different regions. The NEDA Director General also highlighted the benefits of increasing infrastructure spending citing that it would lead to the increase of the Gross Domestic Product as well as job generation. Moreover, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, in his message, said the infrastructure program that will support the

President’s economic policy will usher in the golden age of infrastructure in the country. As for the budget for the implementation of the infrastructure projects, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno revealed that P8.4 trillion is needed for the infrastructure projects. The budget will then be sourced from the tax collections as well as funds from the Official Development Assistance and loans.

Outlining the different infrastructure projects under the Build! Build! Build! Program were Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon who revealed the various projects that are aimed to streamline transportation as well as strengthen the country’s disaster resilience.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, for his part, announced that the website www.build.gov.ph is now online to provide transparency for the different projects under the Build! Build! Build! program. The Presidential Communications Secretary then hosted a question and answer portion to further provide details on the President’s economic policy.

and Mindanao Land Foundation, Incorporated (MinLand). By March 2017, the MTF has completed 573 community-driven projects which will benefit over 650,000 people in 315 conflict-affected communities in regions namelyCentral Mindanao, Davao, Zamboanga Peninsula, ZamBaSulTa, South Mindanao, and Ranaw. Since 2006, the European Union, Sweden, Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the World Bank have provided PhP 1.4 billion (USD 28.9 million) to support socioeconomic recovery in Mindanao. The European Union is the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion (USD 22 million) to the facility. “As to whether or not this will be adopted by the CPPNDF is still subject to our engagement with them,” said

Dureza. The OPAPP chief said that when they presented the idea of providing development work while in the process of negotiation, the counterpart immediately accepted the concept. Dureza added that the said concept will address several tables: the table for the Bangsamoro and the table for non-Bangsamoro areas that will also need assistance. Also on Tuesday, Dureza announced the extension of Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development Program (MTF-RDP) until 2019. “That’s why we need the Mindanao Trust Fund to continue to provide the transition. We don’t want to have a gap where we move to a bigger new facility and then there will be stoppage on the area and

then we will have a problem with our stakeholders,” said Dureza. The OPAPP chief stressed he would “like to see a seamless transition to the bigger facility”. Dureza also encouraged the donors of the MTF to continue their support to the proposal in case it will be implemented. Meanwhile, Ambassador Franz Jessen, head of the delegation of European Union to the Philippines, expressed his support on the proposal, adding that December last year, EU, the largest contributor, having provided Php 1.17 billion (USD 22 million) to the MTF, has contributed €4 million support not only to the trust fund but to other socioeconomic areas in the country. “We see that the one of the most promising areas is peace

process,” he noted. Jessen said the organization is now looking at addressing “two angles” particularly job creation and the energy sector. With regards to the projects to be supported, Dureza said an assessment will be conducted among the communities to determine how much is still needed to be funded but he stressed that the projects must come from the community themselves. Bangsamoro Development Authority Chair of the Board Dr. Saffrulah M. Dipatuan noted in an interview that the Bangsamoro Development Plan, crafted in 2013, can be a good reference to assess the communities in a bigger scale. BDP is a comprehensive and inclusive socioeconomic blueprint for the proposed Bangsamoro territories.

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INdulge! Summer in

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

STYLE

BLACK &WHITE By KENNETH IRVING ONG

THE HEAT OF SUMMER IS ALREADY UPON US which means that it is again time to update your wardrobe for that perfect 2017 Summer look. One of the easiest looks to achieve is black and white. Clean, minimalist and modern, black and white on the beach exudes a level of classic chic sophistication as presented by SM Women’s Romantic collection. The pieces of the collection include black and white bikinis; made poolside chic in sheer embroidered cover-ups cut close to the body. All swim styles are available in a wide range of shapes and cuts for all body types. For the less daring, you can wear generous day dresses segmented with slits; asymmetric flounces paired with cropped ruffle trousers. The poplin collection of The SM Store does well with an exaggerated touch and a constant interplay between pleats and drapery. All-white is reinvented in resort-ready fabrications but still done up in effortless silhouettes and off-shoulder sheathes. Here are some other

SUMMER A2

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! STYLE

SUMMER A1

tips to achieve that winning summer black and white look: 1. Go beyond the beach. Layer that bikini top with a loose tee and denim or for a nice sophisticated summer look that is nice and cool and pops with attitude. 2. Make it pop. Accessorise with colourful chunky bangles and necklaces for a playful pop of colour. Not feeling too playful? Tone it down with metallic pieces instead and don’t forget your sunnies. 3. Say it with foot candy. Use the simplicity of what you are wearing to bring

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

attention to your foot candy, a.k.a., your shoes. Wear nice strappy heels that in nude, camel or, if you are feeling playful, metal tones to flaunt your feet. 4. Colorize with coverups. Maximise the use of your cover-ups by using it as a way to jazz up a nice crisp shirt or tee. The light and airy material ensures that you don’t suffer in the heat of summer yet adds a nice touch of colour and detail to your get-up. The SM Women’s Summer 17 collection is now available at all SM Stores nationwide.

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

Dr. Vanessa Layug with Belo Medical Group Publica Relations Manager John Eric Ho, Dr. Grace Pearl Purificaciona nd Belo Clinic Marketing officer Andrea Paula Valenzuela.

Two years of beautiful

LAUNCHED IN AUGUST OF 2015, Belo Davao in Abreeza Mall has since then become a landmark of beauty in the south. Catering to needs of fellow Filipinos in Davao and nearby cities like General Santos, Cagayan De Oro and the like, Belo Medical Group has continued to strengthen its presence in Mindanao.

Dr. Grace Pearl Purificacion and Sarah Geronimo.

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On its second anniversary, Belo has decided to reward some its VIPs and loyal patients a chance to meet and greet the one and only Pop Superstar Sarah Geronimo. A limited-edition, specially designed beauty journal was also among the giveaways as thank you to those that have been part of the Belo journey in Davao. Sarah Geronimo graced the second anniversary celebration of Belo Davao and has warmly received the loyal patients who were so excited to see her. Indeed, as one of the brightest stars that illuminate the Belo Universe, her presence stood out and created an uproar in Abreeza Mall. She eagerly invited everyone to visit and continue to support Belo Davao and her very successful concert in Davao produced by EKG productions. Belo Medical Group is thankful for the support it has received and will continue to provide some of the best services and techniques. Truly, the vision of making us the most beautiful version of ourselves has always been at the heart of Belo.

INdulge! A3

Belo Davao VIPs Miracel Shimizutani (left) and Shane Lim (right) with Sarah Geronimo (middle)

Joan Bab Guino-o, Collae Amila and Isabel Serina holding their desnier Beauty Journal from Belo and tickets to Sarah Geronimo’s concert in Davao.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

Water service interruption in Brgy. Ula announced

AVAO City Water District advises of a water service interruption on April 21, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting some areas in Brgy. Ula particularly entire Puroks 3, 8, 9, and 11 and Rubia St., Santan St., from junction Biao Guianga to Brgy. Hall of Ula, and from junction of Davao-Bukidnon Highway to Brgy. Hall of Ula. This water service interruption will give way to the tapping of the newly installed 100mm diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 150mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improvement at Copper St., Purok 8 in Brgy. Ula. Once completed, said project will allow for accommodation of additional service connections. The DCWD management

asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers. They are also advised to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruption. Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise. The general public may visit DCWD website (www. davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates. Contact 09277988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for other updates, complaints, queries, and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Winston C. Ajero)

needs to be done to address poverty and vulnerability in the Bangsamoro and Mindanao in general.” Poverty incidence in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – based on 2015 data – is 48.2 percent, in sharp contrast to the national poverty rate of 16.5 percent. Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim, Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said the peace process is about improving the lives of people. “This is why we are thankful to the Philippine government and the international community for working with the MILF through programs like the Mindanao Trust Fund to make people in conflict-affected areas feel that the peace process is moving,” he said. The main partner of the MTF is the Bangsamoro Development Agency, MILF’s development arm, with technical support from Community and Family Services International, the Mindanao Land Foundation, and the International Labour Organization.

The MTF is the first ever donor-funded program in the world that worked directly with a revolutionary group before a peace agreement is signed. It has provided financial and technical support to the BDA to formulate the Bangsamoro Development Plan, a comprehensive development road map for the proposed Bangsamoro region. Considered the first ever comprehensive development roadmap written by a revolutionary group, the plan recommends programs and projects to strengthen institutions, improve livelihood and access to basic services, and improve security and the rule of law. The Plan is estimated to benefit at least 3.5 million people in the Bangsamoro. The MTF has a Steering Committee that oversees the strategy, implementation and evaluation of the program. It is chaired by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the BDA and the World Bank, which also serves as the Trust Fund Secretariat.

he has committed himself to make sure of the project’s success, following the legacy of the family-owned, Monteritz Classic Estates. “The Gardens at South Ridge will be the future upscale market of UrbanEasts Developments, Inc. and will deliver the best green and suburban living experience in South Davao City. It will be a truly serene and beautiful private village of gardens and another landmark development that UrbanEast will proudly deliver to its clients and the greater community,” Mr. Bernardo said during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Italian-Mediterranean design will be the consistent theme of the entire subdivision. Interested buyers may choose from a total of six model houses with the said style. They could also opt for residential lot-only purchases. The Gardens at South Ridge is the developer’s ninth project, along with CrestView Homes in Tacunan, Mintal and Villa Alevida in Indangan. As of writing, The Gardens is starting to work on its drainage system. Furthermore, the development of the subdivision is expected to be completed by June of 2018.

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High-end... FROM 5

ECOP bucks bills penalizing firms for not filling up positions for PWD

HE Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) opposes bills that impose penalties on companies that fail to employ the required number of positions for persons with disability (PWDs). In its position paper sent to the office of Representative Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado of the Committee on Social Service, ECOP said the government should encourage companies to hire PWDs, and not imposing fines for not meeting

the required number by the bills. Pending in the House of Representatives, House Bills (HB) No. 1916 and HB No. 2396 want government and private corporations engaged in social development to reserve 5.0 percent of its casual, emergency, and contractual positions to PWDs. HB No. 4865 requires 2.0 percent of all positions in both public and private offices with over 1,000 employees to be allotted to disables persons,

while HB No. 5058 encourages private companies with at least 100 employees to have at least one position for PWDs. Except HB No. 5058, the three other bills impose penalties to companies which failed to comply with the required number of position for PWD. The penalties can go up to P200,000 in fines, or imprisonment of up to six years. “The Employers Confederation of the Philippines favors the grant of incentives such as tax deductions to employers

that hire people with disability rather than imposition of penalties to those that fail to employ up to two per cent of the number of new job vacancies,” the group said. “While the requirement will not have direct and immediate impact on existing corporations whose positions are filled up, the brunt will be on newly-established corporations and those intending to expand their business,” ECOP Acting President Sergio Ortiz-Luis noted. (PNA)

TOTAL of 260 UCPB-CIIF scholars, all children of coconut farmers, are graduating this year with 137 of them receiving their college diplomas this April. A tenth or 14 are graduating cum laude. The rest, 43 college scholars and 80 technical vocational scholars will graduatein May and June and in October, respectively These will bring to 1,727 the total number of graduates that the UCPB-CIIF Scholarship Program has produced since its launching in 2003. The scholarship program is being implemented by the UCPB-CIIF Foundation, one of two social arms of the UCPB Group and the Coconut

Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) companies. The other is the UCPB-CIIF Finance and Development Corp., which provides livelihood loans to coconut farmers. More than half or 891 of the UCPB-CIIF scholar-graduates earned college degrees from 71 state colleges and universities, 117 of them with honors consisting of 2 with summa cum laude, 8 with magna cum laude, and 107 with cum laude honors. The rest of the graduates or 836 obtained technical-vocational skill certifications from six Don Bosco Training Centers. All told, over the past 14 years, the program has sent to state colleges and univer-

sities or trade schools 2,700 children of impoverished coconut farmers in 63 coconut provinces from as deep South as Tawi-Tawito as far North as Nueva Ecija. Another 194 will be admitted to the scholarship program starting this coming School Year 2017-2018. UCPB, UCPB Savings Bank, UCPB Leasing and Finance Corp., UCPB SecuritiesInc., United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp., UCPB General Insurance Co. Inc., United Coconut Chemicals Inc., and CIIF Oil Mills Group are funding the program in pursuit of their social mandate to empower coconut farmer families to uplift their living conditions.

Coconut farmers, among the poorest in the country, have difficulty paying school fees and providing daily allowance for meals, lodging, and transportation so much so that many of their children forego college or trade education after high school. Based on the annual monitoring conducted by the foundation, the program is creating an impact. Eight in 10 UCPB-CIIF graduates are now earning incomes as employees, entrepreneurs or farmers, and, eight in 10 of them are earning enough to be able to send money to their families to help with the daily living and farm expenses and with the education of their siblings. (PR)

tively seeking investments not only to rebuild our depleted manufacturing sector but also to capitalize our agriculture to make it more efficient.” The Philippines, he said, is also looking forward “to what has been called a ‘demographic sweet spot.’ As the populations of some of the more mature economies in Asia begin to age, we are looking forward to the entry of millions of young Filipinos into the workforce. We must invest in them and make them globally competitive. We must prepare the economy to provide meaningful jobs for them or else risk building an alienated and discontented generation.” Describing this “demographic sweet spot” as both a “challenge and an oppor-

tunity,” Dominguez said this advantage “is a test of our ability to govern and chart the nation’s future” and requires “reshaping our country’s economic development beginning at this time.” Besides Dominguez, the other participants at the forum tackled how “Dutertenomics” would usher in the country’s “Golden Age of Infrastructure.” They included Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella; Secretaries Ernesto Pernia of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Arthur

Tugade of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCCO); and president and CEO Vivencio Dizon of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Dominguez said at the forum that to begin rebuilding the Philippines’ competitiveness, he said the government must start by filling the infrastructure backlog and realigning the country’s income tax rates. Dominguez noted that “our personal and income tax rates are higher than the rest of the region. We cannot expect companies to set up shop here if we tax them more than our neighbors do.” (PR)

260 UCPB-CIIF scholars to graduate in‘17 A

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joying a “Cinderella moment” when it is now highly capable of shifting the source of growth to an “investment-led” one that creates jobs and opens more economic opportunities for Filipinos. Said Dominguez: “We have completed our fiscal consolidation, which was started under the presidency of Gloria Arroyo.Our credit ratings attest to that. The debt burden is no longer a drag on our economic growth. We can now reshape our economic development so that it is investment-led. This, in turn, will open the door to a truly inclusive economy. An investment-led growth pattern creates jobs and opens more economic opportunities for our people. We are now ac-

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

The rise of sexually-transmitted infections By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

U M A N immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the microorganism that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is deadly. This must be the reason why other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are relegated to the background. Unfortunately, these “neglected” STIs are on the rise. According to the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO), the annual incidence of curable STDs is 333 million cases, of which 111 million occur in people under 25 years of age, particularly those living in the cities. “More than 1 million people acquire a sexually transmitted infection every day,” the United Nations health agency said, adding that these STIs and their complications rank in the top ten causes of healthy days lost in the urban areas of the developing world. “The burden of curable STIs is far greater than the discomfort and pain caused by initial infection,” the WHO says. “They cause many serious complications, especially for women. These include spread of infection of the pelvis (pelvic inflammatory disease) which in turn is a major cause of infertility in many parts of the world.” Rising STI cases also significantly increase the risk of HIV transmission. “The presence of an STI dramatically enhances the efficiency of HIV transmission, increasing the likelihood of infection of exposure to HIV as much as 10-fold,” reports the United States Agency for International Development. STIs are infections that are passed from person to person through sexual contact. “Because sexual activity includes intimate contact, it provides an easy opportunity for organisms to spread from one person to another,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. “A variety of infectious organisms can be spread by sexual contact.” Although they are called sexually transmitted, some STIs may be spread via skin-to-skin sexual contact. “The organisms causing STIs can also be spread through non-sexual means such as blood products and tissue transfer,” the WHO says. Many STIs can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth. In the past, there were only two known STIs. Today, medical science has identified some 60 different STIs. The most common ones are the following: Syphilis Syphilis was once a major public health threat, commonly causing serious long-term health problems such as arthritis, brain damage, and blindness. It defied effective treatment until the late 1940s, when the antibiotic penicillin was first developed. How serious was syphilis in the past? Let’s take a closer

look at history. Christopher Columbus (better known as the explorer of America) became infected with syphilis and later died of it. Napoleon Bonaparte, too, suffered from syphilis and probably died due to consumption of arsenic which was used for treatment for syphilis during that time. The same thing happened to Franz Schubert, a romantic Austrian composer and one of the most gifted musicians of the 19th century. He had battled syphilis since 1822 and the cause of his death was consumption of mercury. A highly contagious disease, syphilis is spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. “Occasionally, the disease can be passed to another person through prolonged kissing or close bodily contact,” WebMd.com explains. “Although this disease is spread from sores, the vast majority of those sores go unrecognized. The infected person is often unaware of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to his or her sexual partner.” In the United States, 75% of the syphilis cases were among men who have sex with men. As it is sexually transmitted, the bacterium that causes it (called Treponema pallidum) is not spread by toilet seats, door knobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bath tubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils. According to WebMd.com, syphilis infection occurs in three distinct stages: Early stage: People with primary syphilis will develop one or more sores. The sores are usually small painless ulcers. They occur on the genitals or in or around the mouth somewhere between 10-90 days (average three weeks) after exposure. Even without treatment they heal without a scar within six weeks. Secondary stage: This may last one to three months and begins within six weeks to six months after exposure. People with secondary syphilis experience a rosy rash typically on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. However, rashes with a different appearance may occur on other parts of the body, sometimes resembling rashes caused by other diseases. They may also experience moist warts in the groin, white patches on the inside of the mouth, swollen lymph glands, fever, and weight loss. Like primary syphilis, secondary syphilis will resolve without treatment. Tertiary stage: If the in-

fection isn’t treated, it may then progress to a stage characterized by severe problems with the heart, brain, and nerves that can result in paralysis, blindness, dementia, deafness, impotence, and even death if it’s not treated. “Syphilis in pregnancy leads to approximately 305,000 fetal and neonatal deaths every year and leaves 215,000 infants at increased risk of dying from prematurity, low-birth-weight or congenital disease,” notes the UN health agency.

Gonorrhea J.E.B. Stuart, Joseph Goebbles and Frederick the Great had one thing in common. They were infected with Neisseria gonorrheaoe, the bacterium that causes gonorrhea. It grows in warm, moist areas of the body. This can include the tube that carries urine out of the body (urethra). In women, the bacterium may be found in the reproductive tract (which includes the fallopian tubes, uterus, and cervix). It can also grow in the eyes. Any type of sex can spread gonorrhea. You can get it through contact with the mouth, vagina, penis, or anus. It occurs among people who have sex with multiple partners, especially in those who do not practice safe sex. Oral sex with an infected partner can produce a gonorrheal infection of the throat. “Symptoms may occur within two to five days after exposure,” wrote Dale Kiefer in an article published by Healthline. com. “However, men may not develop noticeable symptoms for several weeks, and some may never develop symptoms.” A person with gonorrhea who doesn’t have symptoms is still contagious. A person is more likely to spread the infection to other partners when symptoms remain “silent” like this. If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she can pass it on her baby during delivery. This can cause blindness in the child. In men, the first noticeable symptom is often a burning or painful sensation during urination. Other symptoms may include: greater frequency or urgency of urination; a pus-like discharge from the penis (white, yellow, or greenish); swelling or redness at the opening of the penis; swelling or pain in the testicles; and a persistent sore throat. In women, symptoms may be more difficult to identify. Gonorrhea infection is often

mistaken for common vaginal yeast or bacterial infections. Symptoms include: discharge from the vagina; pain or burning sensation while urinating; the need to urinate more frequently; sore throat; pain upon engaging in sexual intercourse; sharp pain in the lower abdomen; and fever. “Untreated infection with gonorrhea may also result in the infection spreading to the bloodstream,” points out Kiefer. “In this case, rash, fever, or pain in the joints may eventually develop.” Chlamydia Doctors miss this bacterial infection because people don’t realize they’re infected. Unless it is picked up in a routine doctor’s visit, a person wouldn’t know he or she had it. “Most people who have chlamydia are symptom-free,” says Dr. Bernard

Fabre-Teste, an advisor with the sexually transmitted infection unit of regional WHO office in Manila. In 80-90% of women, and in 70-80% of men, there are no symptoms. Initially, symptoms consist of discharge or itching that is so mild most people don’t see a doctor. Over time women can experience lower abdominal or back pain, pain during intercourse, bleeding between periods and nausea or fever. For men, discharge from the penis, pain or burning during urination, or pain and swelling of the testicles. “Chlamydia infection is easily confused with gonorrhea because the symptoms of both diseases are similar,” note Dr. David Perlin and Ann Cohen, authors of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Dangerous Diseases and Epidemics. “Direct culture from the vagina or penis, or from urine, is

used to detect the disease. Once diagnosed with chlamydia infection, a person can be effectively treated with antibiotics.” But “untreated chlamydia can lead to some negative consequences,” Understanding Your Health warns. “Initially, your body’s immune system might contain the infection to a sub-clinical level, where you temporarily exhibit no ill effects. However, in men, the pathogens can invade and damage the deeper reproductive structures. Sterility can result. The pathogens can spread further and produce joint problems (arthritis) and heart complications (damaged heart valves, blood vessels and heart muscle tissue).” In women, the bacterial agents enter the body through the urethra or the cervical area. If not properly treated,

FHEALTH, 13

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

Surigao... FROM 6

operated through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. The LGU (local government unit) is still the owner of the land where the four-storey building will be built,” he added. A plan was already presented to the local government, with Matugas assuring that the mall “will no longer cause traffic congestion” in the area as wide inner roads and spacious parking lots will be integrated in the construction

of the building. The new mall will have a basement parking, the first three floors for rental and the top floor for entertainment, including cinemas, he said. “We are going to collect around P400,000 to P500,000 per month for land rental,” Matugas said. Matugas said the PPP scheme will last for 25 years, after which the building will be turned over to the LGU for management. (PNA)

chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, scarring of the fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy and, in some cases, infertility, also a problem for men. Among children born from mothers who have chlamydia, complications include pneumonia and eye infection. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. If your sex partner is male you can still get chlamydia even if he does not ejaculate. If you’ve had chlamydia and were treated in the past, you can still get infected again if you have unprotected sex with someone who has chlamydia.

ty of populations and weakening of traditional customs are increasing the prevalence of people having sexual relations with multiple partners.” If that’s not bad news, here is more bad news. “Resistance of STIs -- in particular gonorrhea -- to antibiotics has increased rapidly in recent years and has reduced treatment options,” the WHO points out. “The emergence of decreased susceptibility of gonorrhea to the ‘last line’ treatment option (oral and injectable cephalosporins) together with antimicrobial resistance already shown to penicillins, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones and macrolides make gonorrhea a multidrug-resistant organism. Antimicrobial resistance for other STIs, though less common, also exists, making prevention and prompt treatment critical,” it adds. (Photos taken from the net)

HEALTH... FROM 12

No room for complacency “The worldwide incidence of STIs is already high and constantly rising,” deplores the WHO. “The ever greater mobili-

NEWS 13

Holcim Philippines again helped the government in quickly repairing major roads in Metro Manila to prevent additional traffic with its building solution SuperFast-Crete, which allows roads to be used in 24 hours after concrete pouring is finished.

Holcim aids government anew for quick road repairs during Lent

ONSTRUCTION solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. again proved its reliability in helping the government execute quick repairs of busy national roads, with its building solution SuperFast-Crete (SF-Crete) allowing a southbound stretch of the C5 truck lane closed for maintenance on Holy Thursday to be passable 24 hours after the concrete pouring was done. Motorists were already using the said section of the road by the morning of April 15, a day after the pouring of SF-Crete was finished. Roads made with SF-Crete are strong enough to be passable in 24 hours compared with those built with regular concrete,

which takes three days to achieve the required strength. Accredited last year by the Department and Public Highways (DPWH) last year as a road repair solution, SF-Crete can help the government reopen reblocked roads faster and prevent adding to traffic that inconvenience motorists especially in highly-urban areas. Tests by the DPWH showed that the SF-Cretemade sections of C5 quickly reached the required strength to be passable in only 12 hours, further highlighting its superior performance. William de Lumley, Head of Aggregates and Construction Materials at Holcim Philippines, said the company

looks forward to supporting the government in completing the rehabilitation of C5. “We will bid on all the repairs. We are working closely with the contractor to highlight the advantages of our solution such as better overall concrete quality, easier solution to place and technical experts on site. We are confident our consistency in delivering solutions will make us the partner of choice for road repairs,” he said Aside from the quick repairs, the DPWH’s decision to rebuild the truck lane entirely of concrete makes it better able to handle heavy vehicles. Previously maintained with asphalt, the road has become uneven with tread marks of trucks, making it unsafe for

motorists. Pavement breaking for the 180-meter stretch and debris clearing started early on April 13, Holy Thursday. It was part of several stretches of EDSA and C5 the government closed that day for repairs to take advantage of the drop in traffic volume during the Holy Week. The speedy C5 repair repeats Holcim Philippines’ achievement last year in helping the government conduct a quick reblocking of EDSA. Due to the heavy traffic in Metro Manila, much needed repairs of major thoroughfares, which are already decades old, are done only during long holidays, to prevent motorist inconvenience since there are fewer vehicles on the roads.

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

MARQUEZ THEORY Horn sets mind on Marquez-like strategy

MARQUEZ IN MIND. Jeff Horn is thinking like Juan Manuel Marquez in training.

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

USTRALIA – Undefeated Australian contender Jeff Horn will carry a Juan Manu-

el Marquez mindset in preparing for the biggest fight of his career against Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

THE KNOCKOUT. Juan Manuel Marquez watches Manny Pacquiao kiss the canvas in that stunning knockout in 2012.

Grieving Thomas set to play Game 2 then fly to sis’funeral

ALTHAM, Mass. (AP) -- In any sport, the one thing a team can’t prepare for is the unknown. Last week, the Celtics were the toast of the East after outlasting the champion Cleveland Cavaliers for the top seed and home-court advantage. Then, the day before Boston’s playoff opener, Isaiah Thomas’ sister was killed in a car accident. It’s created a delicate balancing act. This is a team that expected to be riding a big wave of momentum. Instead, Boston lost 106102 to Chicago in Game 1, and the possibility looms Tuesday of falling into an 0-2 deficit. But if there’s a group built for such a challenge, it

would seem to be this one. There’s empathy in the locker room, and a coach adept at navigating rough situations. ‘’I think the biggest thing is they really care about each other,’’ coach Brad Stevens said Monday. ‘’It’s really tough when he’s sitting there and some of his family is back in Seattle. ... But I think the next extension of your family is who you’re around every day, and your team. ... They care about one another and they support one another. That’s what you hope you have in a team, but it’s probably not always the case.’’ Stevens said Thomas plans to play in Game 2 Tuesday night then head to Washington state to be with his family and help complete funeral arrangements.

The Brisbane former schoolteacher has been playing and playing a YouTube video of the epic Marquez knockout of Pacquiao in 2012. That Marquez knockout punch came so fast “it flashes in the blink of an eye, so fast you can barely see it, but for Brisbane’s fighting schoolteacher Jeff Horn, it opens a window to a whole new world”, the NZ Herald reported on Tuesday. The report said Horn has been scrutinizing meticulously the YouTube footage every day, while pounding the treadmill on his run towards his world welterweight title fight with the 38-year old Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium on July 2. The Herald said “the window of opportunity burns into Horn’s brain.” In that fight with Marquez, Pacquiao had the Mexican wobbling to his knees after a barrage of vicious punches in the sixth round of the 2012 grudge fight at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. After the final 10-second warning was banged near the end of the round, the Mexican counterpunching artist tagged Pacquiao with a sleeper of a punch to the jaw. That instance when Pacquiao fell head first to the canvas and staying still for seconds became a gripping moment for legions of boxing fans—Pacquiao loyalists or not. THE KNOCKOUT The report gave this full

account of that unforgettable moment: “The Mexican who has been on the canvas and his nose busted, Pacquiao smells blood, as his army of supporters urged him to go on. The Filipino terrier sways slightly from side to side, as he always does, before launching the missiles from both hands. He nails Marquez with a booming southpaw straight left and sensing a finish, storms forward, hands down. He stabs at the Mexican with a right jab and as he prepares to launch a big, booming left follow-up, Marquez is a fraction quicker on the draw. The Mexican’s right to the chin sends Pacquiao’s head bouncing back and he falls, unconscious, face first to the canvas. He stays there for the next few minutes, as his wife and handlers wail over him. It was the most stunning defeat of Pacquiao’s career and one Horn believes he can replicate in what shapes as the biggest fight ever in Australia.”

CLONING MARQUEZ It’s exactly this scene in the YouTube video that Horn is playing on and on like crazy. He wants that moment replicated. He wants to clone that Marquez counterpunch if he could. And at the back of his mind, unless Pacquiao changes his boxing habits, that careless moment could come again.

Cavs hold off Pacers for 2-0 lead

LOWN LEADS. Defensive breakdowns. Bad shots. None of it means anything to LeBron James. The only score that matters is 2-0. Kyrie Irving scored 37 points, Kevin Love added 27, James had 25 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided another fourth-quarter collapse in Game 2, beating the Indiana Pacers 117-111 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the series. After giving up a late lead and squeaking out the opener by just a point, James and Co. showed more intensity on defense, more swagger in general and held on to win their 10th straight firstround game over the past three seasons. However, the defending

champions, following a pattern that began late in the regular season, nearly gave away an 18-point lead in the fourth as the Pacers crawled within four in the final minute before Cleveland closed it out at the foul line. Still, James came away encouraged. The Cavs are finding their groove. ‘’We’re right there,’’ he said. ‘’We’re really close to what we can become.’’ James added 10 rebounds and seven assists while winning his 19th straight game in the first round. He did have eight of Cleveland’s 19 turnovers, miscues that allowed the Pacers to hang around. Game 3 is Thursday night at Indianapolis. Paul George scored 32 and Jeff Teague 23 for In-

diana, which showed more fight, but now has a steep hill to climb to get back in the series. Cleveland is 12-0 when starting 2-0 in the postseason. Teague injured his right wrist in the second half and coach Nate McMillan said the starting guard will undergo X-rays. The Cavs vowed they would play better after their near-disaster in Game 1 and they mostly backed up their talk, delivering the kind of performance that was routine last season but rare in 2017. In the third quarter, Cleveland took advantage of a mismatch underneath and pounded the ball inside to Love, who scored 10 straight and drew a charging foul on

Lance Stephenson in a span of two minutes as the Cavs opened an 89-70 lead. Irving closed the period by draining a 3-pointer over Stephenson and the All-Star made sure Indiana’s antagonizing guard knew about it, yapping in his direction long after the horn sounded. ‘’I thought we lost our composure and got frantic out there,’’ McMillan said of his team’s third-quarter meltdown. ‘’We lost our poise and wasn’t calm during that third quarter. And that was big.’’ The Pacers regrouped, ripped off 13 straight points and were within 113-109 when George hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left. Now, they’re heading home in a hole they still believe they can climb from.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

SPORTS 15

Nietes ready to make history B

ARELY two weeks before the big night, Donnie Nietes’ camp reports the longest-reigning Filipino world champion and two-time world titlist is ready to make history. Scheduled for a 12-round world title battle against IBF ranked #4 Komgrich Nantapech of Thailand, Nietes stakes his undefeated status as a world champion for nearly 10 years for yet another milestone in Philippine Boxing. As Nietes fights for a third world title division, he takes the challenge to become the third Filipino champion who’s won world titles in three divisions or more next to eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao and five-division world champion Nonito Donaire.

RARING TO GO. Donnie Nietes has finished his 12-round sparring sessions.

Nietes disclosed he just finished his 12-round sparring sessions last week and will be starting to slow down by this week. “I feel ready for the fight on April 29,” said Nietes. He added, “I have a very good feeling about this fight, because I’ve trained longer. I put in more time and focus, because I want to give a good performance. This is only my second flyweight match, but I’m confident I will be able to deliver a knockout.” In a separate and previous interview, Nietes’ Thai opponent in Nantapech (223-0, 15 KOs) also promised a good showing come April 29. Feeling that his muay thai background and younger age (27 years old) will give him

the winning advantage over Nietes, Nantapech assured the Cebuano fans will see an exciting fight. Presented by ALA Promotions International, the IBF world flyweight match between Donnie Nietes and Komgrich Nantapech will take stage at the Waterfront Cebu City and Hotel Casino on April 29, and will headline the 40th edition of Pinoy Pride, Domination. Up and coming young stars, WBO International Featherweight champion Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo and knockout artist Jeo “Santino” Santisima, will star the comain bouts against Tanzanian veteran Issa Nampepeche and Master Suro of Indonesia respectively.

Will Pac-Horn fight break Loreto still hoping to get unpaid purse the Aussie record?

USTRALIA Promoters are hoping to lure 55,000 fans to Suncorp, far eclipsing the biggest boxing crowd ever seen in Australia - 38,000, when Azumah Nelson beat Jeff Fenech at Princes Park in Melbourne in 1992. Fenech, a long-time Horn fan, says he is urging all Australians to get behind the Brisbane teacher and make the bout one of the great sports events of 2017. Horn says he’s not afraid by Pacquiao’s whirlwind attack that has resulted in 59 wins from 67 fights and earned the Filipino boxer-turned-senator $US500 million from the sport since 1995. “Every time he throws a punch, it gives me an opportunity,” Horn said. “Every time he attacks, there’s the chance for me to punch through the opening. “Marquez stopped Pacquiao with a big shot and I’ve got a very good right hand, but I’m not just planning my strategy around landing one good right hand. “I watched Pacquiao’s last fight with Jessie Vargas. I’ll move

a lot more than Vargas did and give Pacquiao different angles, the same way he did against Vargas. “I’m hoping to catch him off balance every time he lunges in.” Horn’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, who has coached the boxer since he was a bullied schoolboy, unsure of how to throw a punch properly, says despite Horn’s comparative inexperience - 17 pro fights to Pacquiao’s 67 - it’s time for a changing of the guard. “It’s going to be a thrilling fight, because they are both aggressive fighters who come forward,” Rushton said. “They are both busy, with high workrates and both are unpredictable. “Our plan involves a lot more than winging right hands, and Jeff is the right fighter to carry out the plan and to adapt no matter what. To me, Jeff is a younger, bigger, fresher, stronger version of Pacquiao - he will be hunting Pacquiao in every round. “Jeff can change the angles, change the tempo and rhythm of a fight. He breaks up the rhythm of his opponent.

Australia’s top 10 biggest boxing crowds

8,000 - JEFF Fenech v Azumah Nelson, Princes Park, Melbourne, March 1, 1992 32,500 - Jimmy Carruthers v Pappy Gault, Sydney Sports Ground, November 13, 1953 31,000 - Rocky Gattellari v Salvatore Burruni, Sydney Showgrounds, December 2, 1965 30,000 - Anthony Mundine v Danny Green I, Aussie Stadium, Sydney, May 17, 2006 30,000 - Jack Carroll v Izzy Jannazzo, Sydney Sports Ground, December 21, 1937 30,000 - Jack Carroll v Jimmy

Leto, Sydney Sports Ground, January 18, 1938 27,860 - Anthony Mundine v Danny Green II, Adelaide Oval, February 3, 2017 25,000 - Jack Carroll v Bep van Klaveren, Sydney Sports Ground, December 26, 1935 23,000 - Kostya Tszyu v Jesse James Leija, Telstra Superdome, Melbourne, January 19, 2003 20,400* - Jack Johnson v Tommy Burns, Sydney Stadium, 26 December 1908 *An estimated 50,000 people waited outside the Johnson-Burns fight, unable to get tickets.

FTER two long years of waiting, former world champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto of Davao City is still hoping he will receive his unpaid purse from a title fight in South Africa. “Sana po ay mabigyan (pa rin) nang pansin kasi parang bale wala lang ang tagal ng dalawang taon na ang nakalipas,” (I hope it will still be given attention although it has been neglected for the past two years now) said Loreto in his Facebook account. The 26-year old Loreto retained his International Boxing Organization (IBO) world light flyweight title by stopping Nkosinathi Joyi via a technical knockout in 1:46 of the first round at the Mdantsane Indoor Centre in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa on March 22, 2015. Loreto, however, came back home to the Philippines without his purse which he claimed to be worth P2 million. His trainer Joven “JJ” Jorda of Highlands Boxing Gym from La Trinidad, Benguet supposedly did not allow Loreto to fight after the South African boxing promoter did not advance the guaranteed purse before the fight. “Mali ko din kasi pumayag ako sa sinabi ni Sir (Manny) Pinol na OK lang daw na after a week pagkatapos ng laban i-send sa bank account ni Sir Pinol ang premyo,” (It’s my fault because I agreed to what Sir (Manny) Pinol said that it was just OK for after a week after the fight it will be sent in his bank account),” said Jorda in his Facebook. “Sino ba naman ako na di susunod sa pagsabi ni Sir Pinol na OK lang daw at kilalaa naman daw nya ang promoter na si Sepatho Handi,” (Who am I not to follow Sir Pinol that it was just OK for he knows the promoter Sepatho Handi),” added Jorda. Pinol, however, did not receive the payment and has already

Rey “Hitman” Loreto (right) during his courtesy call to former Mayor and now President Rody Duterte. filed a case against the promoter a few months after the fight. Jorda and Loreto re-posted on social media the incident after a futile wait. Jorda said that new Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Kahlil “Baham” Mitra is willing to help them on the case. Mitra has ordered GAB Davao to gather more details and updates of the case. Meanwhile, international promoter-manager Brico Santig of Highland Promotions said that he already told Pinol of his plan to waive his share from being the registered manager of Loreto. “Nag waive na lang po ako ng share ko bilang manager dahil wala naman may kagustuhan sa nangyari sa South Africa (I waived my share as a manager because nobody wanted that to happen

in South Africa) said Santig, who also had informed Mitra. “Ang priority ko ay yung boxer dahil noong panahon na yun halos mabaliw baliw na siya sa kaiisip sa premyo niya at maiyak iyak siya dahil umaasa sila ng trainer nya si Joven Jordan a makatulong at mairaos konte ang kanilang pamilya sa kahirapan (My priority was the boxer because at that time he almost went crazy thinking of the purse at he cried because he and his trainer were hoping that they can at least help and uplift their family from poverty), said Santig. “Dahil alam naman natin ang buhay boksingero sa boxing lang sila umaasa” (Because we know that the life of a boxer only relies in boxing) said Santig. Santig said that Pinol went to Sen. Manny Pacquiao and was able to get a

P500,000 support for Loreto. Santig also did his own effort by asking help from Thailand’s boxing patron Naris Singwancha during the OPBF Convention held in Bacolod City. Singwancha gave Loreto a huge amount, which was used by the boxer to start the construction of their house in Davao City. After his fight in South Africa, Loreto went to Thailand to knockout Fapikat Twins Gym in the first round only at the Ambassador Hotel in Bangkok on January 22, 2016. Loreto did not defend his title and instead fought in Japan on April 24, 2016. He stopped Koji Itagaki via a 4th round TKO at the Marina Hop in Hiroshima. Loreto last saw action last August 19 when he pummelled to submission Rungrit Sor Visetkit via a 3rd round TKO at the Bangkok University Thonburi Campus in Bangkok.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 12 â&#x20AC;¢ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017