Edge Davao 10 Issue 15 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

Inday treats girl scouts to dinner By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

AVAO City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio sponsored a buffet dinner for a total 685 junior and senior girl scouts along with the working staff, and guests of the 32nd Eastern Mindanao Regional Encampment of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) onApril 18, 2017. The dinner commenced after the encampment’s opening ceremony graced by Regional Chairperson Norma A. Sur and National Executive Director Ma Dolores T. Santiago. National President Susan R. Locsin also gave her heart-warming message to all the council board members, guests, camp staff, troop leaders and campers. “Maayong pag-abot sa syudad sa Dabaw and I hope you will enjoy your stay here,” said Davao City Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omaiza, who represented Mayor Duterte, in welcoming the attendees of the different GSP councils during the opening ceremony. Omaiza explained that Duterte, being a member of the GSP growing up, believed that scouting is an integral part of basic education and over the years, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines have remained

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THROUGH THE WAVES. A skimboarder sails through rough waves at Dahican Surfer Resort in Mati City during the annual Summer Frolic festivities. Skimboarding is a popular watter sport in the eastern coastal city. Armando Fenequito Jr.

Hon. Avegayle Ortiz-Omaiza with GSP National President Susan Locsin, Regional Chairperson Mrs. Norma A. Sur, and National Executive Director Mrs. Ma. Dolores Santiago and the rest of the National Board Members and 32nd Encampment Staff during the Mayor’s Night of the 32nd Eastern Mindanao Regional Encampment held on April 18, 2017. Photo by Joie Maine A. Gelmo

BEST POWER MIECOOP: Renewable energy best for Mindanao M

INDANAO should tap more renewable energy sources like hydropower plants, a group of cooperatives said amid the increasing number of coal-fired power plants in the island. In a position paper emailed on Thursday, the One-Mindanao Energy Cooperatives (One-MIECOOP) said renewable energy should remain as the long-term

dominant source of power in Mindanao. It said the remaining stateowned Agus and Pulangui hydropower complexes could still serve as the major sources of clean power if rehabilitated, maintained, and further developed to continue being the backbone of the energy source of Mindanao. The Agus and Pulangui hydropower complexes have an installed

capacity of 982.1 megawatts and comprise seven plants – Agus 1, Agus 2, Agus 4, Agus 5 Agus 6, Agus 7, and Pulangui 4. In a press release Friday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi revealed the country’s vision to achieve 20,000 MW of renewable energy by 2040 to sustain economic gains and continuously elevate the quality of life in the country.

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SPORTS

SURREAL Kaayo A story made MOMENT in Mindanao A1 Davao girl relishes Malditas’ breakthrough win

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

SOP. Aeromechanics make a last minute inspection before a test flight of Davao Aerowurkz/Fiesta Airways’ Gippsland Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan eight-seater aircraft at the old Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

ARBs claim DAR execs ARMM dialogues with Lanao incited them to violence

EMBERS of a Davao del Norte-based agrarian reform beneficiary cooperative have denounced two officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform for what they claimed was an attempt to dupe them with misleading statements and by inciting them to violence during a recent meeting to discuss their agribusiness venture agreement (AVA) with the Marsman Estate Plantation, Inc. But their claim cannot be confirmed with independent sources. Edge Davao has also tried but failed to get the side of the DAR officials as it went to press. In a press release, members of the Davao Marsman Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Cooperative (DAMARBDEVCO) said they were shocked to hear DAR Undersecretaries Marcos Risonar and David Erro telling them

that they should “attack with bolos” representatives from the Land Bank of the Philippines if the banana farms they are currently tilling are foreclosed by the bank. The press release quoted one Rolando Lusterio, one of the ARBs present during the meeting held March 23 with the DAR undersecretaries, as recalling Erro saying that “kapag nagpunta ang Landbank para maningil, itakin ‘nyo (if the Landbank goes to you to ask for payment, attack them with bolos).” The press released also cited one Dioscoro Abellano, another ARB, who recalled “the indifference and utter lack of concern of the DAR officials to their plight when he asked what would happen to the more than1,800 ARBs of MEPI and their 8,000 dependents once the AVA with the company is revoked.”

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Cops recover motorbike used in Talayan mosque bombing

OLICE authorities in Maguindanao have recovered a motorbike used by two men who lobbed grenades at the Talayan mosque in that town Friday noon. Eight persons, including Mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang of Datu Anggal Midtimbang town, his father, former mayor Kagi Midtimbang and six others, were hurt in the blast as they emerged from a Friday noon prayer. The Regional Darul Ifta (Islamic House of Opinion) condemned the terror attack while worshippers were leaving the Mosque premises after the Friday congregational prayer. “We call upon the authori-

ties to investigate to ascertain the motive and to arrest the perpetrators,” the Darul Ifta said in a statement. Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said police are determining the owner of the motorbike. Tello said the attackers fled on two motorcycles, one of which was recovered later along the national highway. The elder Midtimbang sustained shrapnel wounds in both legs and was airlifted, along with his son Mayor Nathaniel, to Davao City for further medical treatment. Police said the other grenade failed to explode and was properly defused by

del Sur’s social dev’t sectors T

O improve communication with the stakeholders at the grassroots level and promote greater community participation in solving social issues, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has conducted a summit and dialogue in Marawi City on Wednesday, April 19. The event, dubbed Social Development Summit, brought together hundreds of stakeholders in education, health, social welfare, and environment sectors at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Capitol. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman, together with of-

ficials from the regional departments of Education, Social Welfare and Development, Health, and Environment and Natural Resources, attended the summit to address and answer the issues and concerns of each sector. “Bumaba kami dito upang ipaabot sa inyo natransparent ang pamahalaan ng ARMM sa inyo at handa kaming marinig ang lahat ng mga concerns nyo. Sabay natin itong ayusin,” Governor Hataman said. Dr. Nariman Lao Taha, a rural health physician in the town of Sultan Dumalondong since 1990, said in more than

25 years of working, this is the first time they had a dialogue with the ARMM regional governor. “Napakagandang pagkakataon ito na makausap namin ang regional governor at mga regional secretaries para maipaabot namin ang mga concerns namin sa aming lugar,” Dr. Taha said. “Kailangan po talaga namin ng expansion ng health facilities para ma-cater namin ang lahat ng pumupunta sa RHUs (rural health units) namin,”Dr. Taha added. Dr. Alinader Minalang, Lanao del Sur provincial health

officer, said while efforts are underway to cater to the needs of the populace, challenges still face the health sector in the province. Lanao del Sur has 1,063 barangays in 39 towns. Each of these towns has a rural health unit, but only 31 have standard buildings. Meanwhile, only 138 of the total 1,063 barangays have barangay health units. The province has six hospitals, but only one is classified as Level 2 hospital with 200bed occupancy. The remaining five are either infirmary, or Level 1 hospital with less than

Maguindanao Provincial Hospital was part of the PHP100 million Humanitarian Development Assistance Program (HDAP) of ARMM. The provincial hospital-annex will cater mostly to indigents who are the usual victims of natural and manmade calamities that affect Datu Piang and its adjacent

towns in Maguindanao’s first district. “On emergency cases, the nearest medical facility for the people of Datu Piang is about an hour away,” Ismael Piang, a resident, told reporters at the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony for the new hospital annex on Friday. “Once completed, the an-

nex will serve the people of the towns of Datu Piang, Datu SAudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Datu Salibo and nearby communities,” said Maguindana health chief Dr. Tahik Sulaik. The province has one provincial hospital, four district hospitals and few municipal hospitals serving about 750,000 inhabitants. (PNA)

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ARMM to build hospital annex in Maguindanao

ESIDENTS of Datu Piang and its adjacent towns in Maguindanao’s first district will soon have a major health facility, said officials on Saturday. Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said the 25-bed capacity extension health facility of the

F COPS, 10 32nd Eastern Mindanao Regional Encampment staff line up for the the free lugaw given by City Mayor’s Office. Photo by Joie Maine A. Gelmo

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

2,000 pedestrian lanes to be repainted By JECIA ANNE OPIANA

O ensure public utility drivers and pedestrians are following traffic rules, the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) has commenced to repair pedestrian crossings and yellow boxes all over the city. So far, 35 pedestrian

lanes are already painted out of the target 2,000 pedestrian lanes, including those in the national highways. The Department of Public Works and Highways volunteered to repaint those pedestrian lanes in the national highways, especially those located in the inter-

China alarmed by RP military officials’visit to Pagasa Island

HINA has lodged representations with the Philippine side following a visit by the Filipino defense and military officials in Pagasa Island, according to the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. ”Gravely concerned about and dissatisfied with this, China has lodged representations with the Philippine side,” Lu Kang said in a press statement posted on China’s Foreign Ministry Affairs website. Last Friday, Philippines Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Eduardo Año, along with other military officials, visited Pagasa Island, a Philippine-occupied territory that is part of the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. Lu said the move of the Philippines defense and mili-

tary officials has negated the important consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. ”This move runs counter to the important consensus reached between the two leadership, which is to properly deal with the South China Sea issue,” Lu said. Lu said China is hoping that the Philippine government would continue to cherish a five-decade China-Philippines bilateral relations which rejuvenated under the leadership of President Duterte. ”We hope that the Philippine side could faithfully follow the consensus reached between the two leadership, maintain general peace and stability in the South China Sea, and promote the sound and steady development of China-Philippine relations,” he said. (PNA)

sections. CTTMO Chief Dionisio Abude said that the repainting of the pedestrian crossings is for people to strictly follow the Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance that was implemented last December 2016. The yellow boxes are going to be of help especial-

ly for the public vehicles’ proper loading and unloading area to ease the growing traffic problem of the city. The CTTMO Chief also called for the commuter’s voluntary discipline and cooperation in following the traffic rules of the city in order to avoid congestion and

accidents from happening. “I am asking for the road user’s voluntary discipline in following our traffic rules. Even if we strictly implement these rules, it would be useless without the voluntary discipline coming from the people,” Abude said.

In January to March of this year, 19,680 violators have been apprehended for violating the Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance. However, these violators have not been given citation tickets that would have cost Php 100.00 because the tickets are still up for printing.

ENSURING SAFETY. Police officers of the Davao Oriental Police Provincial Office check a vehicle bound to Dahican Beach in Mati City to ensure the safety and security of all tourists who will be joining the Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) events in Dahican. DOPPO-PCR/Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

Mighty Corp. facing more cases for over P27-B tax liabilities: BIR

B AIRASIA’S NEW FLIGTH ROUTES. Officials of AirAsia, vote the world’s best low-cost carrier (LCC) by Skytrax for eight years in row, launched new routes from Davao –to Caticlan/Boracay, CebuPalawan and Clark, during a send-off celebration at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport Saturday morning. Capt. Gomer Manreal, Philippine AirAsia Director of Flight Operation and

operating pilot, cuts the cake, with Davao City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson, Davao City Councilor April Dayap, an official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Benjie Lizada, executive committee chairman of the Visit Davao Fun Sale. They are joined by two lady members of the cabin crew. (Kenneth Ong/Edge Davao)

ELEAGUERED cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. is facing a string of additional criminal complaints involving tax liabilities of over P27 billion for the alleged possession and use of fake internal revenue stamps, according to initial assessments made by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay has pointed out that the P9.5-billion criminal complaint it filed against Mighty last month involved only one raided warehouse in San Simon, Pampanga, which the Bureau of Customs (BOC) had found to be storing some 60,000 master cases of Mighty cigarette brands with fake tax stamps, and does not yet take into account the separate inspections done on its other facilities in General Santos City and Bulacan. “The case we filed involving the San Simon warehouse, we estimated the amount at [over] P9 billion. Now, the Bulacan warehouse is three times bigger than the San Simon

warehouse, so we’re looking at times three, about P27 billion. We used basic assessment and penalties,” Dulay told reporters in an interview earlier this week. Dulay recalled that the BOC also did surprise inspections on a warehouse in General Santos City that yielded around 18,000 master cases of Mighty cigarettes with fake tax stamps, and the other in Bulacan, which was the biggest haul at about 160,000 master cases. “So we’re also working on that and hopefully within the month or even earlier we can complete the documentation and the gathering of the evidence,” Dulay said. Last March 22, the BIR filed a P9.5-billion criminal complaint against Mighty Corp. before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for unlawful possession of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax, and for possession of false, counterfeit, restored or altered stamps.

AirAsia’s flights from Davao to Palawan, Bora, Clark start RP’s improved peace and order T

HE hype continues to build up for AirAsia as the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier yesterday began servicing new routes from and to Cebu, Davao, Clark, Palawan and Caticlan/Boracay. The first AirAsia flight from Davao to Cebu took off from Francisco Bangoy International Airport at 10:40 AM with Philippine AirAsia Director of Flight Operations Capt. Gomer Monreal as operating pilot assisted by Capt. Bernardino Perez and flight officer Leonardo Orendain. “From highlands to islands, AirAsia is officially welcoming summer with new and increased Connectivity from Davao and Cebu to Boracay and Palawan and onto the northern part of the Philippines via Clark Airport in Pampanga,” Capt. Monreal said at the sendoff ceremonies held at the Davao airport ground. Officials and guests from the Davao City Tourism Operations Office, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and local hotel and tourism partners joined the send-off

celebration. Aside from 20 daily flights between Davao and Cebu, AirAsia also formally opened daily flights from Davao to Boracay, to Palawan at thrice a week and to Clark at four times weekly using Airbus A320s or jets which can accommodate up to 180 guests per flight. AirAsia also maintains three daily flights between Manila and Davao. AirAsia flight 22522 from Davao arrived in Cebu Mactan International Airport on time at 11:45 AM with 98 percent load and was welcomed by water salute from Mactan Cebu International Airport Management followed by a cake-cutting ceremony led by officials from GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC). “AirAsia has been painting Cebu and Davao skies red and we are delighted to announced more and more red planes are on the way as we expand and grow operations in the Visayas and Mindanao. There is so much growth potential here for business and tourism with AirAsia’s seamless connection now available for domestic

travels and very soon by international expansion,” Captain Monreal said. From Cebu, added two new flights to Davao City daily, and to Palawan and Boracay via Caticlan daily. AirAsia launched Cebu---Singapore and Cebu---Tapei in November last year and increased Cebu-Kuala Lumpur flights from three times to four times weekly as part of its commitment to boost tourism in Southern Philippines. The airline is also servicing Cebu-Incheon/Seoul in South Korea. Flight from Davao to Clark, meanwhile recommenced yesterday, April 23, providing Dabawenyos access to northern part of the Philippines via Clark International Airport in Pampanga. “Clark is the gateway to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines, and amazing attractions like surfing in La Union; culinary tours of Pampanga; beach and water sports activities in Pangasinan to eco-adventure in the highlands of the Cordilleras and much more await every

In a briefing Friday, Ruby Anne Lemence, bank officer 5 of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) Department of Economic Research (DER), however, said credit standards based on diffusion index showed net tightening. This development was traced to views of stricter financial system regulations, less favorable economic outlook, and lesser tolerance for risk. DI results were derived from getting the ratio of those who reported to have

tightened their standards as against those who eased. Lemence said a positive DI was arrived at if there are more respondents who reported credit standard tightening while a negative DI shows otherwise. Using the DI method, credits standards for household loans is also unchanged, Lemence said. The central bank official traced this to banks’ sustained tolerance for risk, steady profile of borrowers, and stable economic outlook. (PNA)

traveler this summer,” Captain Monreal said. AirAsia returned to Clark airport in March this year following the launch of Clak-Kalibo flights operating thrice a week. To celebrate the launch of six new domestic flights, AirAsia is offering promo fares from as low as P788, all-in now at www.airasia.com for booking today until April 30 and valid for travel betwwen September 5, 2017 to February 8, 2018. AirAsia has also unveiled its latest “Santan” inflight food menu featuring notable Asean flavors like Thai Green Curry, Nasi Lemak, Chicken Rice and Chicken Adobo now available for pre-book order at only P150 with choice of bottled water, coffee, or soda and P149 for hot meals only when purchased on board any AirAsia flights. “The AirAsia Group has swiftly broken travel norms around the globe and has ris-

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attracting tourists -- DOT exec

HE lower crime rate in the country brought about by the Duterte administration’s aggressive drive against illegal drugs and corruption has attracted more foreign tourists to visit the country, an official said Friday. Antonio Fernando Blanco, Department of Tourism director for Region 9 or Zambonga Peninsula, said the government’s relentless anti-drug war has reduced the crime index rate across the country. President Rodrigo Duterte launched a relentless anti-drug campaign upon assuming office on June 30, 2016. Data from the DOT showed that foreign tourists arrival in the country for January 2017 reached 631,639, up 16.48 percent compared to the same period last year. The bulk of the visitors came from neighboring Asian

nations, which account for more than half of the tourists arrival, followed by tourists from south and north America. Blanco noted the frequent visits of President Duterte in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with China, Japan and the Middle East, also boosted foreign tourist arrivals in the country. Although there are security issues in the country, the over all perception of the Philippines as one of the best sites for tourism has remained, he said. “We have a very capable security forces to protect our people,” Blanco said. He said the DOT has heightened its tourism campaign as the country will host the 30th ASEAN Summit next week. (PNA)

BSP survey shows same credit standards for enterprise, household loans in Q1‘17

REDIT standards for enterprise and household loans remain unchanged for the 32nd consecutive quarters as of the first quarter of 2017, the Q1 2017 Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) showed. The survey result was based on the modal approach, which gets the highest number of responses received from 31 of the 35 senior bank loan officers of universal and commercial banks (U/KBs) who joined the survey for the quarter.

WORDS OF WISDOME. Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co. (SGV) Davao partner Alvin Pinpin delivers his welcome speech before the guests of the launching of Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program held at the company’s office in Davao City on Thursday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

MMCECI lauds Pres. Duterte for bringing home 138 OFWs

HE Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. has applauded President Duterte’s move to bring home a total of 138 distressed migrants from the Middle East, saying “it is a victory to have our labor migrant brothers and sisters reunited with their families once more.” President Rodrigo R. Duterte came home with at least 138 stranded Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East after completing his travel. These are the OFWs who availed themselves of the amnesty they were granted by the Saudi Arabian government. According to the President, more OFWs are coming home. MMCECI statement reads: ‘The President himself said that those who wanted to come home can be optimistic that they will be able to fly back to the country as he promised that his administration will do it’s best to serve the interest of the OFWs. The government is beefing up on its plans to help distressed OFWs by providing them the necessary assistance and creating services for them such as medical and skill enhancement in particular to learn new trades. President Duterte thanked the OFWs in his speech and mentioned that labor migrants are big contributions to the Philippine economy. In addition, Sec. Silvestro Bello III announced that they

were working for the pardon and release of the three OFWs in death rows. One of these three is Jennifer Dalquez who was sentenced to die after killing her employer claiming the latter attempted to rape her. Although there is still no official statement coming from the court in Abu Dhabi regarding Dalquez’s case, it is a clear manifestation of sincerity from the government to save those in death rows. As of now, there are still 71 Filipinos on the death row. Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. applauds this administrations’ accomplishment as the Head of the country shows his intent to bring home distressed migrants. It is a victory to have our labor migrant brothers and sisters reunited with their families once more. MMCEAI hopes that the repatriated OFWs will not just receive entrepreneurial kits to support them economically as they start their lives again but be provided with decent employment to sustain them. One of the reasons why Filipinos opt to leave the country and search for employment is the lack of jobs for Filipinos at home that can make them earn the amount that would suffice their families’ needs. More jobs in the Philippines and the enhancement of labor skills are two of the biggest needs labor migrants have.

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

Court rules DAR has no jurisdiction; case is not agrarian reform dispute T HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has no business to interfere in the case involving the compromise agreement entered into by the Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative-1 (HEARBCO-1) and Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC), as “the instant case does not present an agrarian dispute and is therefore not within the DAR’s jurisdiction.” Davao City Regional Trial

Court (RTC) Branch 14 Judge Jill Rose S. Jaugan-Lo in her latest Order dated April 18, 2017 denied the DAR’s Motion to Quash Alias Writ and for the immediate referral to it of the case. The ruling also denied the individual petitions filed by Mely Yu, Linda Dayanan, Antonio Tuyak, Salvador Barcebal, and Antonio Sang-an, offciers HEARBCO-1 and LFC has an existing and valid contract.

FOR POSTERITY. Sharlene Ortiga (2nd from right), retail manager of laj Philippines, Unicef representative Lotta Sylwander (left), Accendo Commercial Corp. general manager Louie Escano (right) and Lego mascot

They entered into a compromise agreement on September 9, 2011 which the court approved on September 30, 2011. This compromise agreement had become final and executory. The Court said that its order “approving a compromise agreement right then and there writes finish to the controversy. In fact, “the judgment does not have to be entered as it is not appealable, and

becomes final and executory upon approval of the court and is deemed for immediate implementation by the parties on the very day it was rendered.” Judge Jaugan-Lo ruled that a compromise agreement upon its perfection becomes binding upon the parties. The moment the parties affixed their corresponding signatures on the Compromise Agreement, the same became

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Ninjago lead the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon during the opening of LEGO certified store at Abreeza Mall in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

CDO cops gear up for ASEAN Summit T

NEW HOUSING UNITS. Compostela Valley Vice Governor Manuel E. Zamora led the official turnover of the housing units from the National Housing Authority (NHA) project development site in Dam Site, Purok Duranta, Union, Monkayo town. At least 227 beneficiaries were initially awarded as

a result of the concerted efforts of the National Government Agencies, NHA, Provincial Local Government Unit of Compostela Valley, Local Government Unit of Monkayo, barangay officials and other stakeholders. (Dandie Llaban, SP/IDS comval)

DSWD wants socio-econ programs for CCT beneficiaries in Region 12 T

HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is working on the rollout of more community-based socio-economic projects in Region 12 in a bid to strengthen the implementation of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program. Social Welfare Undersecretary Ma. Lourdez Turalde-Jarabe said in a statement that they are currently looking into some initiatives that would address the basic needs of communities and the program’s beneficiaries. She specifically cited potable water systems, school buildings, school materials and other basic concerns. Turalde-Jarabe and members of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Technical Working Group of the CCT, which is also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, are on a four-day swing in Region 12 to inspect the program’s implementation. The group visited in the last two days several villages in Malapatan town in Saran-

gani and held interactions with local program implementers and beneficiaries. Malapatan has around 5,000 active household-beneficiaries. In a focus group discussion in Barangay Patag in Malapatan, the beneficiaries raised the lack of basic services and infrastructure in their communities. Turalde-Jarabe assured that the agency will provide them with the necessary assistance to ensure that they would be able to stand on their own “just like what President (Rodrigo) Duterte wanted to see.” “We are working how we can address some of your concerns like potable water, school buildings and school materials. But for now, your grants will continue as well as the money intended to buy rice. See to it that you have your own backyard gardens, children must be in school and attend the family development sessions,” she said. Members of the NAC, which is headed by Turalde-Jarabe, also uncovered some

Ward eases overcrowding at SoCot provincial hospital

VERCROWDING problems at the South Cotabato provincial hospital have finally eased, with the operationalization of the facility’s additional ward. Dr. Conrado Braña, provincial hospital chief, said they already opened the hospital’s newly-converted temporary ward, which used to be its gymnasium and storage area. He said they have transferred to the new ward the patients who were occupying the hospital’s lobby area. The provincial hospital management had allowed the admission of patients who could no longer be accommodated in its wards and rooms to stay at the lobby and other available spaces within the

facility. “The lobby area is now cleared (of patients). We needed to get creative to address this problem,” Braña said. The Department of Health (DOH) had released around PHP17 million for the conversion of the mini gym into a temporary ward and the rehabilitation of the three-storey old research building at the right wing of the provincial hospital. Such funding was from the DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program. When completed, Braña said the additional ward being built at the building could accommodate at least 50 more patients. (PNA)

issues and concerns during the house-to-house visits with beneficiaries. “I understand why there are those who pawned their cash cards, because everybody get their grants every two months. What I cannot understand is that there are clients who are using the money for gambling, for their vice, as well for illegal drugs,” she said. The four-day visit, which ends Friday, was mainly aimed to determine the status of the program’s implementation on the ground as well as various issues and concerns. The group assessed the transition of the exiting or “graduating” beneficiaries and looked into concerns of household-beneficiaries with children enrolled in senior high school. Bai Zorahayda Taha, DSWD Region 12 director, said Turalde-Jarabe and other NAC members spent time with the beneficiaries to directly get their concerns on the program’s implementation. She noted that while a number of issues were raised during the interactions, there

were also some positive feedbacks. “I talked to some of the residents in the community and I am happy because of the dramatic changes in their lives. Some were able to buy their own appliances and even put up small business,” she said. 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to “poorest of the poor” households to improve their health, nutrition and education. It provides beneficiaries cash grants of PHP500 a month for health and nutrition expenses and PHP300 a month per child for educational expenses, as well as PHP600 in monthly rice subsidy. The program presently serves around 250,000 “poorest of the poor” households in Region 12, which comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato. (PNA)

SUPPORT TO ABACA INDUSTRY. Farmer beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Plan’s High Quality Abaca Fiber Program in Barangay Maligang, Kiamba, Sarangani province are getting things all set for the program’s formal launching in May. Concreting of roads going to the upland areas of Maligang has already been initiated to

HE police command in Cagayan de Oro City is now in the thick of security preparations for this city’s hosting of an ASEAN Summit meeting in July. Inspector Mardi Hortilloza, spokesperson of the Cagayan De Oro City Police Command Office (COCPO), said the local police, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, has doubled its efforts in securing the city. “The police had already mapped out an initial contingency plan, which could be changed when the actual days and the number of participants could be determined,” Hortilloza said. He said that the local police command received an initial report that about 150 delegates would be participating in the scheduled ASEAN summit meeting here. Hortilloza said that securing 150 delegates from various ASEAN countries, local technocrats, industrialists and stakeholders “is not a joke.” According to Hortilloza,

transportation is one of the most important elements in securing the delegates. “During the initial meeting with the local government unit and other stakeholders here, the problem of transportation was one of the agenda that has not been resolved,” he said. He said that securing a delegate also requires officers who were trained in providing security to very important persons (VIPs). The K-9 unit is also a necessary as part of the security team in securing the city and the delegates, Hortilloza said. He said that the local police had already adopted security measures by conducting various checkpoints in and around the city in preparation of the ASEAN Summit meeting here. “We have doubled the security personnel assigned in checkpoints to preempt possible security breach by elements who plan to sow terror before, during and after the summit,” Hortilloza said. (PNA)

Koronadal City all set for PH’s ‘biggest motorcycle show’

HE city government is all set for its week-long 1st Motorcycle Festival that will formally open tomorrow, April 22, and will be capped by the city’s bid to break Guinness world records. City Mayor Peter Miguel said Friday they finalized the necessary preparations for the festivity, which coincides with the city’s hosting of the 23rd national convention of the National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs in the Philippines (NFMCP) on April 29. Dubbed as the “biggest motorcycle show in the country,” he said the event focuses on the theme: “Ride for Culture, Ride for Peace.” “We’re expecting to draw around 10,000 local and visit-

ing participants in the lined up activities,” the mayor said. In the NFMCP convention, he said around 2,500 members and other motorcycle enthusiasts from Metro Manila and other areas in the country have already signified their attendance. He said they have invited President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is considered as the father of the Davao City-based “Any Sunday Rider” motorcycle club, to grace the event. Also expected to attend are Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo and several other celebrity riders. Miguel, who is president of the NFMCP, said the event will

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provide easy transport of Abaca yields. Along with these developments, the farmers and the multipurpose cooperative they formed will directly benefit from the profits out of the increased Abaca yields the program targets. (AR Camposano-JP Belmonte/KIAMBA INFORMATION OFFICE)

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

HALAL: A FOCUS AREA ON PH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Aside from gaining understanding on Halal products, concerned bureaus and offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), several government agencies and non-government organizations had substantial discussions on the potential of Halal products as an area of growth for the Philippine economy in an inter-agency seminar on Halal fundamentals in Ortigas on 20 April. At the policy level, DTI Secretary and Halal Export Development and Promotion Board (HEDPB) Ramon Lopez assured National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Commissioner Analiza Flores-Malayang and the Halal Board Members that Muslim leaders are always welcome in the HEDPB to better execute Halal development policies and initiatives, as well as ensure the voice and interests of Filipino Muslims. NCMF said that the Halal industry can also help the government in its poverty alleviation strategy by involving Filipino farmers in the Halal products production, thus promoting countryside development. The country’s Halal industry currently has 1.3% share of the USD2.6 trillion-worth Halal market worldwide. Commissioner Malayang added that establishing Halal warehouses, dressing plans, freezing areas, transportation mechanisms and other facilities is an area of exploration for investors. A serious and sensitive matter, Halal must be understood both by the consumers and the producers, according to NCMF. Visiting Professor Ustadh. Esmael Ebrahim also lectured on the dynamics of halal in the Philippines. DTI takes similar initiatives to convene dialogues to promote the country’s Halal sector. (DTI Photo)

DOE: Country aims for 20K MW RE capacities D

EPARTMENT of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said that the Philippines endeavors to add at least 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy (RE) capacities by 2040 to sustain economic gains and continuously elevate the quality of life in the country.

Cusi issued the statement during the launch by the DOE and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) of the Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) for the country at the Energy Center at Bonifacio Global City. “RRA is a collaboration

but students are encouraged to join. The submitted videos will become properties of the Davao City Government. The videos will be used to promote

Davao City. Entries can be in the form of short stories, music video, animation, video clip, documentary, stop motion and the like. It should be in digital

format, with a minimum resolution size of 720x480, and should not be shorter than one minute or longer than two minutes. A cash prize of P30,000 will be given to the top winner, while P20,000 for the 2nd prize winner and the third prize winner will get P10,000. A People’s Choice award and six consolation prizes amounting to P5,000 each will also be given away. Deadline for submission of all entries will be on May 26, 2017. For more information, please visit the City Information Office at the City Hall Building. Look for Vivian Lorico or Kent Capute. CIO

formation advisor at PLDT and Smart. Sean Gowran, Head of Ericsson Philippines and Pacific Islands, says: “This partnership with Smart in making the first live VoLTE capability available in the Philippines helps reinforce Smart’s technology leadership in mobile communications and its commitment to bring the best customer experience to its subscribers in the country. With the introduction of VoLTE, Smart will ensure and further enhance voice quality, while also enabling a broader range of communication capabilities.” As the name implies, VoLTE uses LTE, also known as 4G, to transmit voice calls, unlike the current practice where

calls go through 2G or 3G mobile networks. As such, VoLTE requires strong and ubiquitous LTE coverage. “We have completed a number of key improvement projects in the last few months, and these have turned our network into a strong platform for offering advanced, purely digital services, such as VoLTE,” added Horn.

among the DOE, IRENA and other renewable energy stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. It is vital in our vision towards attaining 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacities by 2040,” said Cusi. The DOE chief said that

with the Philippine governments’ aggressive stance towards building RE capacities, there is a “need to identify and analyze key challenges to further guide our stakeholders in our policies, regulatory and institutional framework.”

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Destination Davao short video-making contest announced SSS launches RACE campaign

ERE’S your chance to show off your creativity, impressive video-making skills, compelling storytelling abilities, and love for Davao City. Join Davao City’s “Destination: A Video-Making Competition,” and win prizes. Now on its third edition, the “Destination: A Video-Making Competition,” aims to encourage Dabawenyos and Davao City visitors -- whose interests are filmmaking or production of short videos -- to come up with original works that depict Davao City as the desired place to invest, visit, or live in, among others. The contest is open to all

Smart makes PH’s first Voice over LTE (VoLTE) call

LDT wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart), together with its technology partner Ericsson, recently made the Philippines’ first successful mobile call using Voice over Long-Term Evolution (LTE), or VoLTE. “We are excited to be the first network in the country to successfully use VoLTE, because this technology holds so much promise in terms of improving the quality of mobile service available to our customers. Voice will always be an important mobile application, and VoLTE is the platform of the future which will provide the best customer experience when it comes to voice communications,” said Joachim Horn, chief technology and in-

Built for the future Since LTE -- a technology built primarily for data -- is very efficient in carrying data traffic, a voice call transmitted over LTE is of crystal clear quality, with almost no background noise. Devices with built-in VoLTE capability will natively support it, and will not

require a separate, over-thetop (OTT) application. It also guarantees direct, global reach similar to the phone services of today, unlike OTTs that require both caller and receiver to be on the same app. Call set-up time, or the amount of time it takes for one mobile phone to connect to another through a voice call, is also drastically reduced with VoLTE. Once deployed by Smart in its network, VoLTE will allow users with VoLTE-capable devices to stay on the 4G/LTE network even when making or receiving a call. This is unlike how, at present, LTE devices automatically shift to 3G or 2G when these make a voice

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HE state-run Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday mapped about 700 retail stores in Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan as part of its newly-launched Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) program on the back of its strengthening efforts against delinquent employers in the country. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc and Social Security Commission (SSC) Chairman Amado D. Valdez led the RACE campaign to drill awareness among the employers and employees of their obligations and rights to the state-run pension fund. “RACE is a show of force of SSS in public place or a large worker environment where they can address SSS coverage-related concerns, instill awareness on employers’ obligations, and facilitate apprehension and filing of cases against delinquent employers in violation of Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Law,” said Dooc. Valdez, on the other, noted that RACE is a “gentle reminder” for employers to fulfill their duties while SSS also asserted the protection of employees’ rights to SSS benefits and services. “This is to remind the public that the backbone of our economy is the workers. We have to take care of our workers and assure them that the government will take care of their social security protection. We are not what we are if not

for our past workers. We want our present workers, that in the future, they can be assured to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” Valdez said. SSS has mapped a total number of 684 stores in Greenhills Shopping Center. Of the total number of stores mapped, only 284 or 42 percent, were found registered with SSS. The pension fund, however, clarified that the status of contribution payments of the 284 stores is yet to be checked in the system. During the campaign, Valdez issued a Show Cause Order to Hezekiah Toy Shop due to non-registration for coverage despite receiving a demand letter last March 28. The toy store was one of the 40 delinquent stores found to be delinquent employers. Among the delinquent employers, six were served with billing letter, 23 with demand letter, while the remaining 9 were forwarded to legal for appropriate actions and the two others seek out-of-the-court settlement. A printed copy of the show cause order was posted on the store as a stern warning to employers that they are accountable if they fail to comply with their obligations. “This is part of our unrelenting efforts to send a strong message that the present SSS administration is determined to pursue its mandate of providing adequate, universal and sustainable social security protection to our people,” Dooc said. (PR)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

Private initiatives

NIVERSITY of Mindanao, arguably the biggest private educational institution outside Luzon, is doing its own share in national development, not only through educational instruction but now including infrastructure development as well. Aside from its continuous educational expansions both in its main campus in Davao City and in the provinces, UM is investing heavily on sports development. The latest of which is the first ever rubberized track oval of Olympic and International Athletic Association Federation (IAAF) standards ever to be built in Davao City. For decades, Davao City has been strongly criticized for not building a sports complex which can host at the least, national sports events like the Palarong Pambansa. Unlike smaller Mindanao provinces which boast of Palaro-standard facilities, Davao City has nothing to show although it has agreed to a memoran-

EDGEDAVAO

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dum with the University of the Philippines-Mindanao to build a sports complex in Bago Oshiro. That will probably take some ore years to be realized. The UM track oval has just been completed and ready for use. This will serve the UM community as well as Dabawenyos who wish to use it subject to the administration’s policies. With this in place, expect Davao athletes to improve tremendously at the track where Davao has failed miserably in past competitions. UM has also refurbished its basketball gymnasium and is fitted with the most advanced goal and flooring system that passed international standards. This initiative only goes to prove that government need not do it all alone in developing the country. With the active participation of the private sector, the vacuum where government may have failed can be filled. 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: D. TACIO G.•DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDAGOTIANSE-TAN MIA S. VALVERDE•• NICASIO FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GREGORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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N 1974, Henry Kissinger, then the United States’ Secretary of State, famously declared that by 1984 no child, woman or man would ever go to bed hungry. That promise, unfortunately, remains grossly unfulfilled. At the 1996 World Food Summit, political leaders from 186 countries pledged to halve the number of hungry people in the world by the year 2015 – or a reduction of 20 million each year. Yet, “far from decreasing, the number of hungry people in the world is currently increasing,” commented Jacques Diouf, then the director-general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. At that time, “one fifth of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty, while 800 million people are chronically hungry.” So said Eveline Herfkens, who was the United Nations Secretary-General’s executive coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals Campaign when she uttered that statement. Who among the more than 100 people in the Philippines are considered poor – who live in poverty? With the force and empathy of poetry, Edwin Markham wrote in his poem, The Man with the Hoe, the picture of someone who is poor: “The thing the Lord God made and gave to have dominion over sea and land” but whom there is no shape and more terrible. “A thing that grieves not and that

LD timers call the place Trinidad. It was formerly a part of the municipality of Manila but created to a separate town on July 9, 1948 when Congress merged the districts of Batulaki and Caburan and created them into a town known as Trinidad, so named after the Holy Trinity. (Contrary to claims, the original name of the town was not named after Doña Trinidad de Leon vda. de Roxas, the wife of the late President Manuel Roxas, who died in 1948.) On August 1, 1948, President Elpidio Quirino, who succeeded Roxas, issued Executive Order No. 156 formally creating the municipality of Trinidad, and set the polls for its first set of officials in November 1952, coinciding with the regular elections. This old settlement was actually founded by the Jesuit missionaries The community was a holding area for newly-baptized Manobos, the original residents of the place, who were encouraged to live peacefully in a reduction under the guidance of the parish priest. Following the missionary tradition of naming places after the Church event that falls on the day the settlement was built, the old community was most founded by Fr. Saturnino Urios, SJ, on a June 7, 1896. In his August 4, 1896 letter to the Mission Superior, the cleric wrote about his team’s successful ef-

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

VANTAGE POINTS

Providing food for the hungry never hopes.” he typifies a “humanity betrayed, plundered, profaned, and disinherited.” Land – or the lack of it! – is one of the main reasons why the world is currently facing hunger. Gary Gardner, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, said that in the past, civilizations could simply leave one piece of land for another when the soil nutrients had been depleted. Filipino farmers, particularly those living in the uplands, practiced this. It’s called kaingin farming or slash-andburn agriculture. Today, we no longer have this kind of luxury anymore; the world has, for all intents and purposes, run out of available cropland. The thin layer of earth we call topsoil is essential to land’s fertility. Typically, only some 15 centimeters deep, topsoil is a rich medium containing organic matter, minerals, nutrients, insects, microbes, worms and other elements needed to provide a nurturing environment for plants. Unknowingly, topsoil is being washed or blown away. “Soil is made by God and put here for man to use, not for one generation but forever,” said Rev. Harold R. Watson, former director of the Davaobased Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center. “It takes thousands of years to build one inch of topsoil but only good strong rain to remove one inch from unprotected soil on the slopes of

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

mountains.” Soil erosion is an enemy which most people are aware of but nevertheless ignore it. Farmers know it is encroaching their farms but never bother to do something about – or if they do, just a little bit! Erosion is the most pervasive form of soil degradation. “In the developing world, erosion and poverty interact in a destructive cycle: erosion is often rooted in poverty and crowding, while poverty and crowding are often the harvest of erosion,” wrote Gardner in a Worldwatch paper. Humans cause erosion at a rate 10 to 15 times faster than any natural process, according to Bruce Wilkinson, a sedimentary geologist working with

the Syracuse University in New York City. Global erosion, he pointed out, is occurring at a rate of about 75 gigatons a year – a gigaton is equal to a billion tons. “To put that into context,” Wilkinson explained, “current annual amounts of rock and soil moved over the Earth’s surface in response to human activities are an amount of material that would fill the Grand Canyon of Arizona in about 50 years.” “Soil erosion is an enemy to any nation – far worse than any outside enemy coming into a country and conquering it because it is an enemy you cannot see vividly,” said Watson, who received the 1985 Ramon Magsaysay Award for peace and international understanding. “It’s a slow creeping enemy that soon possesses the land. We must consider ourselves in a state of emergency; our topsoil is all going…” Why so much ado about topsoil? Lester R. Brown and Edward C. Wolf, authors of a Worldwatch paper entitled Soil Erosion: Quiet Crisis in the World Economy, say the erosion affects crop production in two ways. The two authors explain: “The loss of topsoil reduces the inherent productivity of land, both through the loss of nutrients and degradation of the physical structure. It also increases the costs of production. “When farmers lose topsoil,” the authors continue, “they may increase land productivity by substituting en-

ergy in the form of fertilizer. Hence, farmers losing topsoil may experience either a loss in land productivity or a rise in costs of agricultural inputs. And if productivity drops too low or agricultural costs rise too high, farmers are forced to abandon their land.” Brown, who is now with the Earth Policy Institute, points out that the immediate effects of soil erosion are economic but in the long run its ultimate effects are social. “When soils are depleted and crops are poorly nourished, people are often undernourished as well. Failure to respond to the erosion threat will lead not only to the degradation of land, but to the degradation of life itself,” he pointed out. Again, land – and the topsoil it possesses – gives us food in the forms of crops, fruits and nuts (even firewood to cook). “Food is literally the most important thing in the world,” Arturo R. Tanco, Jr., who used to be the president of the World Food Council, once reminded. “It is not even next to life, because it is life itself. Deprived of the right to food, man knows no other. “For the hungry,” he further said, “there is no dignity; no human rights, no rule of law, no liberty, no celebration of the spirit… the most crucial task before world community today is to assure that enough food is available at the right place, at the right time, and at the right price.”

late chief justice who died during the Japanese Occupation. As a result, a new territory was carved out. Twenty-five years later, on July 17, 1980, President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued Presidential Decree 1550 creating the town of Sarangani with six (6) barangays originally belonged to Abad Santos, the mother municipality. The adoption of Jose Abad Santos as the town’s name is a gray area that needs further research. No one is sure who suggested the name, but the choice is doubtless a significant one, and it is the only municipality anywhere in the archipelago named after the war hero. A native of San Fernando City, Pampanga, Jose Basco Abad Santos (1886–1942) was a government pensionado (scholar) who finished pre-law course at the Santa Clara College in California, USA; his Bachelor of Laws at the Northwestern University in Illinois, USA; and his Masters of Laws at George Washington University in 1909. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1911 and served as assistant attorney at the Bureau of Justice for four years (19131917). He was instrumental in drafting the By-Laws and Constitution of the Philippine Women’s University, Asia’s first private non-sectarian institution for higher learning for women, and was later appointed first Filipino corporate lawyer of the Philippine National Bank,

Manila Railroad Company and other government corporations. On his return to the justice department, he was appointed attorney-general, justice undersecretary, and later justice secretary (1921-1923). Resigning from the justice department in 1923, he joined Congress as chief legal counsel of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. Three years later, he was sent to the US to head the Philippine Educational Mission. In 1928, he reassumed the post of justice secretary but four years later would be appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court. He became its chief justice in 1941 after the war broke out, and assumed the also functions of the reorganized justice department. On December 30, 1941, in Corregidor, he administered the oath of office of President Manuel L. Quezon and Vice-President Sergio Osmeña Sr., who were elected to their second term weeks before the war erupted. When the President and his vice left for the US, Quezon appointed him Acting President with full authority to act in the name of, and on behalf, of the President of the Philippines in areas unoccupied by the Japanese. On May 2, 1942, nearly two months after his capture in Carcar, Cebu, he was brought to Mindanao and executed by the Japanese in Malabang, Lanao.

The town of Trinidad

fort in baptizing a good number of new Christians in 10 reductions: “With much work, much trouble and more finance expenses, with cajolery and gifts—the two complementing each other in attracting pagans—we have won for Christianity and for Spain about 600 Manobos living in Consolacion, Alegria, San Miguel, Santa Maria, Trinidad, Refugio, Victoria, San Juan, Marbella, and Iberia… among the 600 baptized are a few of the chiefs of each group which in due time and season will multiply.” Santa Maria, Trinidad (now Jose Abad Santos), Refugio and Marbella were classified in the missionary chronicles as areas found in the ‘northern sector.’ In the American era, the village retained its old Spanish label— that is, Trinidad—even when old Iberian towns (pueblos) were renamed as municipal districts and the old gobernadorcillos (‘little governors,’ the equivalent of today’s mayor) rechristened as municipal presidents (presidente municipal). It’s uncertain whether Trinidad was officially created as an administrative territory. On February 23, 1921, under the American Occupation, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison issued Executive Order No. 8 created the municipal districts of Batulaki (Sarangani) and Caburan, some parts of which now form part of Jose Abad Santos, Davao

FAST BACKWARD Antonio V. Figueroa Occidental. Batulaki, under the edict, was composed of ten villages, namely the “barrios of Buquid, (central), Batulaki, Sugal, Noing, Butulan, Kamalian, Balangonan, Marabinwang, Isla de Balut [and] Tumanao” while Caburan was composed of “Caburan (central), Mangili, Culaman, Marabatuan, Maybio, Karabayan, Tabayen, Kipoñga, Malalan, Tanoman, Kalbay [and] Magulibas.” Affected by the reform was Malita whose villages were reduced to only eight barrios. After the war, on April 20, 1955, under Republic Act 1206, Caburan was renamed Jose Abad Santos in honor of the

10 NEWS BEST... FROM 1

To achieve the target for renewable sources, Cusi cited the need to identify and analyze key challenges to guide the stakeholders in terms of policies, regulatory and institutional framework. “The DOE is committed to provide a level of playing field among RE developers to assure the country of its indigenous and sustainable energy for the consuming public,” he said during Friday’s launch of Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) for the country at the Energy Center at Bonifacio Global City. He said the RRA will involve research, consultations and other measures that will lead to a comprehensive and detailed analyses of the country’s renewable energy profile in order to recommend measures to deal with the pertinent issues facing the industry. A 2016 report by the Department of Energy showed that non-renewable energy accounts for over half of Mindanao’s power mix. The reversal was noted between late 2015 and early 2016, or the period when three major coal-fired power plants with a combined installed capacity of 700 MW were connected to the grid, according to Romeo Montenegro, director for Investment Promotion, International Relations and Public Affairs of Mindanao Development Authority. Montenegro was referring to the AboitizPower Corp.’s 300-MW Therma South Inc. in Brgy. Binugao, Toril in Davao City, the 300-MW coal-plant of the San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation in Malita, Davao Occidental, and first 100-MW unit of the Alcantara-led Sarangani Energy Corp. Of Mindanao’s total installed capacity of 3,162 MW, non-renewable energy contributes 1,898 MW (1,070 MW coal and 828 MW diesel), which accounts for 60 percent of the energy mix, while renewable sources account for about 40 percent or 1,264MW (108 geo-thermal, 1,061MW hydro, 36-MW biomass, and 59-MW solar).

One-MIECOOP earlier signified interest to bid for Agus and Pulangui to “democratize the power industry.” Edgardo T. Silagan, 1MIECOOP chairperson, said he believes that the cooperatives can pool funds so they can bid alongside giant power companies to buy out the hydropower complexes despite being in the infancy stage. He said 1MIECOOP has currently 35 members with combined assets of P20 billion but he said they are confident they can still encourage other big cooperatives to join them. He said the electricity costs will become more competitive once the cooperatives are allowed to own power assets and participate in power generation, a field already dominated by a few large power companies. Silagan also asked President Rodrigo R. Duterte to support their plan to acquire Agus and Pulangui. “Mr. President, we, the Mindanao-based cooperatives want to own the hydro power plants which we hope you would support because this will give us social justice, equitable distribution of wealth, peace and prosperity, and job generation,” he said. The 2001 Energy Power Reform Act has excluded the privatization of Agus and Pulangui for 10 years, or until 2011, but the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management moved the deadline to this year. Rhoda Ruth Pillerin, board member of 1MIECOOP, said cooperatives can manage power plants, banking on the efficient practices being followed by a cooperative. “At the end of the day, this would be a dream come true for the energy sector if this is going to happen. We want to democratize the energy sector which is being controlled by a few families,” she said. She said energy generation is a “lucrative investment” and opening the industry to the cooperatives is one way for regular members to become part owners of new power projects. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

“Tinanong namin sila paano na kami kapag nawalan ng trabaho. Ang sagot nila, hindi na daw nila problema yun, at doon daw kami magpunta sa DOLE para magreklamo (We asked them what would happen to us if we are rendered jobless. They responded that it’s not their problem anymore, and that we should go to the Department of Labor and Em-

ployment to complain),” the press release quoted Abellano as saying. The press release said the meeting was held to discuss whether the AVA between DAMARDEVCO and MEPI should be continued and to explore the options for ARBs who will be displaced if the agreement is eventually revoked.

Army bomb experts. The attackers said The attackers abandoned the motorbike at the highway and boarded a waiting white Toyota Innova with no license plates, said residents who ran after them. Talayan has been subjected to grenade and improvised

bomb attacks in recent years after it hosted a Peace Summit denouncing extremism in town. Police eye the involvement of religious fanatics who attended extremism and jihadist talks by suspected foreign terrorists in Maguindanao. (PNA)

ARBs... FROM 2

Cops... FROM 2

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

THRILLED. Davao City Tourism Office head Generose Tecson takes photos of the paintings created by Mindanao artists during Dabawenya alla Prima of Visit Davao Fun Sale’s (VDFS) Art Mindanao held at Abreeza mall on Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

INDAY... FROM 1

true to their mission of “helping girls and young women realize the ideals of womanhood and prepare themselves for their responsibilities in the home, to the nation, and to the world community.” With this said, Omaiza continued that the Mayor hopes that the girl scouts become more effective leaders, relating it to the encampments theme which is “Girls influencing the globe.” “I trust that with this year’s encampment, you, the future leader of Region XI, will get to know yourselves better and unleash your leadership potentials so that you may become more effective female servant leaders in your respective schools,” she

stated. In addition to the dinner buffet during the opening ceremony, the City Mayor’s office also sponsored lugaw for the encampment’s closing ceremony good for 1,200 people, covering the participants, staff, and guests of the encampment, on April 23, 2017. According to Ortiz, the Davao City local government has always supported GSP activities the best way they can. “We believe their (the girl scouts) empowerment will help produce model leaders for our country,” she said. The 32nd Eastern Mindanao Regional Encampment will continue from April 1823, 2017 at Camp Alano, Toril, Davao City.

en to become the world’s best now running for eight consecutive years by Skytrax which is the global benchmark of airline excellence. Our commitment in the Philippines is anchored on the same dream to make travel more affordable, more access and to provide only the best quality service that every Fili-

pino deserves,” Captain Monreal added. Passengers are kept upto-date with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via Twitter (@AirAsiaPH), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines), Instagram (@ AirAsiaPH), and on Viber public chat (@AirAsiaPh).

res judicata among them. Res judicata lays the rule that an existing final judgment or decree rendered on the merits, without fraud or collusion, by a court of competent jurisdiction, upon any matter within its jurisdiction, is conclusive and binds the parties. The Court also took the DAR to task citing that “it cannot just automatically include itself in the controversy, which has already been concluded in a compromise agreement, without filing first a motion to intervene as required.” The Order also underscored that “this is already the second writ of execution issued by the court.” The failure of the DAR and the individual members of MARBAI led by Mely Yu, who joined the DAR in this latest petition, “in not promptly filing a motion to annul the prior writ of execution issued by the court is fatal to

their cause.” Judge Jaugan-Lo emphasized that, “at this stage, the appearance of the DAR is obviously late and beyond the period prescribed by the rules. DAR has no legal interest in the matter in litigation. She also cited the Court of Appeals in its ruling in CA-G.R. SP No. 03851Min, that “the issue in the instant case does not present an agrarian dispute. Therefore, it is not within the DAR’s jurisdiction. Last April 10, 2017, DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano issued a Writ of Installation in favor of the members of MARBAI to portions of HEARBCO-1 owned farm lands in the Sanid area in Madaum, Tagum City. An attempt to implement it last April 18, 2017 was postponed as the Tagum City PNP raised the matter of the DAR’s order conflicting with the order of RTC Branch 14.

AirAsia... FROM 4

Court... FROM 5

ARMM... FROM 2

100-bed occupancy. In 2016, the province had a total population of 828,584. “Our dream for Lanao del Sur is a healthy, empowered and productive Maranaos,” Dr. Minalang added. Other issues and concerns raised were the lack of school buildings, teacher’s appointments and promotions, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) payout, and PAMANA projects. On education issues, the regional government noted it is still working at generating an accurate data about the education sector. The province of Lanao del Sur is composed of three schools divisions, namely Lanao Sur I, II and Marawi City. Governor Hataman encouraged the teachers and local government units to meet for the activation of local school boards. He added that the local school boards could help them resolve the issues of DepEd with immediate response. Alfhadar Pajiji, DepEd-

ARMM’s assistant secretary for special projects, said they recognize the essential role of the local school boards in the advancement of the welfare of public schools in the region. Haroun Alrashid Lucman Jr., regional vice governor and concurrent DSWD-ARMM secretary, reiterated that 4Ps is managed by the DSWD central office. “Hindi na po DSWDARMM ang may control sa payout kung hindi ang central office,” Vice Governor Lucman said. “Buo ang tiwala ko na bago matapos ang aking termino hindi kasainlaki ng problema na hinarap ko ang haharapin ng bagong uupo sa pwesto,”Governor Hataman said. The first Social Development Summit in the region this year was held in Basilan province last month. Similar summits will be held in three other provinces of the region, namely Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the coming months. (Bureau of Public Information)

Dulay said the BIR is readying several sets of similar complaints against Mighty involving the warehouses in Bulacan and General Santos City and also another facility in Zamboanga. Asked by reporters over the possibility of canceling Mighty’s license to operate given the massive number of fake tax stamps uncovered by authorities, Dulay said the BIR is “already working on that,” and noted that the Bulacan warehouse was found to be operating without a license. “We’re looking at that possibility, cancellation of the license. To begin with, the warehouse in Bulacan, there’s no license. You have to have a license to operate that ware-

house. On the manufacturing, we’re firming it up, firming up our evidence on that,” Dulay said. On the possibility of shutting down Mighty’s operations altogether, Dulay said: “That’s a possibility. If you don’t have a license to manufacture, well, then….” Dulay recalled that the BOC earlier cancelled Mighty Corp.’s license to import raw materials, which would constrain the company’s ability to manufacture its brands. “You could imagine that within the next two or three months if you don’t have a license [to import], there’s no importation of raw materials, how do you manufacture your cigarettes?” Dulay stressed. (PR)

mainly showcases the latest and top-of-the-line motorcycles and other motor vehicles, safety trainings and seminars, tree growing, drivers congress, challenge ride, unity conver-

gence ride and agri trade fair. He said they have lined up daily shows and other side activities, among them the “Search for Biker’s Babe.” (PNA)

Mighty... FROM 4

Koronadal... FROM 6

INdulge!

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Kaayo

TO SAY THAT MARGARITA “MARGA” MONTEMAYOR NOGRALES HAS CLOSE TIES TO MINDANAO IS QUITE THE UNDERSTATEMENT. Being a Davao native, she has taken her hometown pride a step further by patronizing talent from around the region through her latest project called Kaayo. In Bisaya, the word “kaayo” means a kindness, to go beyond, for the good. A few years back, Kaayo’s first incarnation came in the form of a livelihood project wherein constituents of Davao’s First District where Marga’s husband Karlo was elected (and since re-elected) as congressman - were taught and mentored on how to create bracelets to help supplement their income. Marga has since widened the scope of this endeavor with its roots still firmly found in taking the skills of local craftsmen and -women and creating something special and modern that is truly bespoke Mindanao. Currently, the brand counts the women from Lake Sebu and the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe as their partners in bringing the rich Mindanaoan culture onto their wearable pieces along with a host of local sewers they employ. They preserve culture and reappropriate it at the same time, bringing new meaning to the traditional crafts of beading and weaving that many women in different tribes count as their livelihood. The curated collection of clothes are not one-off but quite lim-

ited. A skirt can take up to five days to hand-embroider and the logistics of seeing one piece from sketch to finish means that it can make multiple trips around the region between the base of the indigenous weavers or beaders and Davao for quality checks and touchups. This process is an integral part of Kaayo’s aim and the transfer of the products from hand to hand only enriches what they ultimately become. Having helped coin the phrase and now the brand’s hashtag #CarryYourCulture, Marga herself is perhaps Kaayo’s best ambassador. She regularly appears in their Bagobo jackets to events, travels in sweaters from their line with young designer Wilson Limon and manages to throw in their scarves or vests

STYLE SCRIBE A2

STYLE

A story made in Mindanao

InVESTiture. The pull-on vests perfectly exemplify Kaayo’s aim to marry tradition and trends.

EDGEDAVAO Model: Kate Fernandez of GLAM Hair & Makeup: Jean Ong Photos: Mima Tan

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! STYLE STYLE SCRIBE A1

to compliment both her casual and dressier ensembles. They are covetable not only for their chicness but also because of the cultural value in every seam and stitch. Not to mention the lives of the people uplifted through what they do. “Our partners are very talented and many of them are open to learning and growing. Life is not so easy for them, but for those we are working with, we now see how happy and thankful they are for our business. They are happier, healthier and are able to pay for their basic needs and provide for their families. They are very excited to be part of something,” Marga shares. “I am committed to working with them

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long term. For our tribes and for Mindanao.” Inspiration is rich in this line of work, as Marga tells me. Her role as mentor, curator and head of quality control never ceases and it is this tireless work ethic that has led her to unearth and stitch together the elements that make up Kaayo. Another piece of the intricate puzzle that is their brand is the fact that they use plenty “up-cycled” materials such as excess fabric for corporate uniforms that would’ve otherwise been overlooked and even old wallpaper and door jams for their decorative trays. There is a treasure trove locally that she sees and can’t wait to share. I comment that there are a handful of similar homegrown brands

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that have tapped the talents of tribeswomen to create modern ethnic clothes as well but that they are more focused on marketing to overseas markets rather than fellow Filipinos. To wear local, one must be able to have access to things that are proudly made local. Her enthusiastic

foray into showcasing their available pieces on Instagram and participation in trade fairs dispels this notion about Kaayo. “Kaayo is the bringing together of many talents. Many facets make up the brand and we celebrate each and every one of them,” Marga proudly says. “Our goal

is to bring Mindanao to the world but before that, we would like us Mindanaoans and Filipinos to celebrate it first.” Follow Kaayo and its journey to bring Mindanao to the world through Instagram @kaayo.ph. For inquiries, please email orders.kaayo@ gmail.com.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Throwing over a T’boli jacket to reveal your Mindanaoan roots is the best compliment you can pay their skilled craftswomen. Wear their art. Kaayo is breathing new life into the centuries-old craft of beading by Bagobo women as seen in their namesake jacket. T’boli hand beaded tops in refreshing prints have recently landed on Kaayo’s racks.

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

PEOPLE

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

CHAD BORJA: IN HIS TRADITION THE INDUSTRY NEWBIE was quick to reach the peak of his singing career four years after entering the music arena. Chad Borja was 20 years old when he took to the stage in 1987. By 1991, the goodlooking balladeer reached a career highlight as a solo artist. It was on the same year he released his first album, “All About Love.” Three more albums followed and there was no better avenue to showcase this artist’s songs and albums than live concerts that kept Chad close to his fans. “My memorable performances, among others, were my solo concerts with Regine Velasquez, Geneva Cruz & Side A as my guest artists, and many more after that. I went on concert tours in the US and performed

with Kuh Ledesma and many other big-name artists in the industry.” Unfortunately, in 1998, Chad’s career was put on hold, along with the release of his of his fifth album, “Show Me The Way,” when he was diagnosed with papillary carcinoma (thyroid cancer) and had to undergo surgery and radiation therapy. Health and quality of life became top priority, “Di baling mawala ang boses basta mabuhay lang,” he said. It was a big change for Chad to relocate in Davao, but he eventually became more appreciative of the city. He found comfort in his new environment— lush greenery, fresh, clean air, a golf course nearby, which allowed him to play almost daily, and most especially, the birth of his two daughters, Aby in

2001 and Mafy in 2003. Everything about his home sped up his recuperation. No sooner, the vocal chords were at work again, and hitting higher notes coming as a surprise. He even wept after jamming with Rico Puno saying he can’t believe he still can sing. As he built his confidence through the years with gigs in several local joints, it was in 2013 that Chad re-entered the music scene. “Singing has always been my passion. There is this feeling of relief and satisfaction every time I sing my heart out. I have somehow always longed for performing on stage with those follow spots and glaring lights.” Chad may be swamped with bookings for corporate events, concerts

& PAGCOR shows these days, but he makes it a point to return home to Davao to relax, unwind, play golf and attend to personal chores, which includes personal grooming. “Grooming is very important to my career because I perform on stage. Aside from my voice, looking and smelling good are plus factors in marketing myself to producers. I always think that every show is an opportunity to have more shows.” says Chad “I go to Rocky’s in SM City Ecoland at least once a month and have been doing so for years now.” Recently, he was intro-

duced to one of Rocky’s new perfumes, 1996, formulated by French fragrance company, Charabot. The label sports a classic and traditional scent—woody, aromatic and musky with lemon and lavender on the top notes, tarragon and thyme for the middle notes and patchouli and musk for the base notes. Rocky’s is hoping that 1996 become Chad’s alternative scent to his favorite perfume. It must have been fate that what took Chad back in the pink are what Aby and Mafy are into today. The girls picked up their dad’s passion for music and sport. “Singing is a regular

thing at home, especially in our music room. It was a pleasant surprise to see Aby develop into an artist. She has great talent that blossomed in her own time. It’s her personal choice to become a singer, and we are supporting her 100%.” While Aby takes to Chad’s love for singing, it was Mafy who took after Chad’s love for golf “driving” it to the level of professionals. Recruited in 2016 at age 12, Mafy is the youngest member of the girls golf team of the ICTSI Foundation, which trains young amateurs and support their international competitions representing the Philippines. The sportsman, music man, the father is passing on his mantra to Aby and Mafy as well and hope that it becomes a Borja tradition: “Go with the flow and live in the moment. Life is short, so make it a point to find happiness in your daily lives. Play your game right and sing like there’s no tomorrow”. 1996 perfume, from Rocky’s new fragrance line, is available in all Rocky’s Barbershops at Victoria Plaza, Abreeza Mall, GMall, SM City & SM Lanang Premier in Davao City, and Centrio Ayala Mall and SM City in Cagayan de Oro City.

A4 INdulge!

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Globe signs P8-B loan with BDO Unibank Inc. for capex

AEON TOWERS. Attention to details is given utmost priority in the choice of furnishings for units at the Aeon Towers, the 33-level signature high-rise project of Davao developer FTC Group of Commpanies. The mixed use project is set to be completed by the end of the year.

ARBs hit DAR execs for inciting violence, misleading them

AVAO del Norte-based agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) have denounced two officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for attempting to dupe them with misleading statements and inciting them to violence during a recent meeting to discuss their agribusiness venture agreement (AVA) with the Marsman Estate Plantation, Inc. (MEPI). Members of the Davao Marsman Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Cooperative (DAMARBDEVCO) said they were shocked to hear DAR Undersecretaries Marcos Risonar and David Erro tell them that they should “attack with bolos” representatives from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) if the banana farms they are currently tilling are foreclosed by the Bank in the event their AVA with MEPI gets permanently revoked. Rolando Lusterio, one of the ARBs present during the meeting held last March 23 with the DAR undersecretaries, recalled Erro, a lawyer, saying that “kapag nagpunta ang Landbank para maningil, itakin ‘nyo (if the Landbank goes to you to ask for payment, attack them with bolos).”

NOT THEIR CONCERN Dioscoro Abellano, another ARB, also recalled the indifference and utter lack of concern of the DAR officials to their plight when he asked what would happen to the more than1,800 ARBs of MEPI and their 8,000 dependents once the AVA with the company is revoked. “Tinanong namin sila paano na kami kapag nawalan ng trabaho. Ang sagot nila, hindi na daw nila problema yun, at doon daw kami magpunta sa DOLE para magreklamo (We asked them what would happen to us if we are rendered jobless. They responded that it’s not their problem anymore, and that we should go to the Department of Labor and Employment to complain).”

The meeting was held to discuss whether the AVA between DAMARDEVCO and MEPI should be continued and to explore the options for ARBs who will be displaced if the agreement is eventually revoked. Edwin Gil, also an ARB said Erro made the statement when he and the other ARBs asked what would happen if their AVA with MEPI was revoked and they have to start paying amortization to Landbank as required under the law. “Ang sabi ba naman sa amin, itakin daw namin ang taga-Landbank nang tanungin namin kung anong gagawin namin, wala naman kaming ibabayad (Imagine, they told us that we should attack people from Landbank with our bolos when we asked what were we to do, we do not have money to pay Landbank),” Lusterio said. The land being tilled by the ARBs inside MEPI’s farm in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte was donated to them by the company as part of the terms of their AVA. While they were given the land for free, the ARBs also receive lease rentals, above-average compensation and other benefits from MEPI that are considered among the highest in the agriculture sector. If the AVA, which is the condition for the donation is revoked, the donation itself is revoked and the government must pay MEPI more than P1.0 Billion representing the company’s just compensation for the land it had earlier donated to the ARBs. The ARBs, in turn, would have to pay Land Bank for the land that they already owned had the AVA not been revoked. Abellano said the DAR officials also told them that House Bill 555 will protect them and stop Landbank from collecting payment from the ARBs and having their lands foreclosed, when such a proposal has not yet been approved and has long been languishing in the Congress.

F ARBS HIT, 12

LOBE Telecom has signed a 10- year P8- billion term loan facility with BDO Unibank Inc. to finance the company’s capital expenditure and general corporate requirements. Globe will allocate USD750 million for this year which will be invested mostly in data-related projects including the deployment of LTE mobile and LTE@Home, increased network capacities and coverage, modernization of fixed-line data infrastructure for corporates and requirements for transmission facilities. The company spent an estimated P36.7 billion or USD772 million in capital expenditures as of end December 2016 wherein 65 percent were spent for data related requirements. Globe generated all-time

high consolidated service revenues of close to P120 billion last year, surpassing the previous record of P113.7 billion in 2015 by 6 percent. The sustained revenue momentum, despite the competitive intensity in the market during the second half of 2016, was driven by the solid growth in data-related products across all segments, and robust subscriber growth for both mobile and broadband. This was likewise supported by the sustained execution excellence for the various product launches during the year, backed by its improved network performance, as Globe pursues its capacity and coverage enhancement initiatives intended to improve the state of Internet in the country. (PNA)

the Agency Portal for Philam Life financial advisors; and My PAMI Investor Portal, for the company’s mutual fund customers. E-plan, the newly launched customer portal, allows Philam Life clients to manage their policy details and transact anytime and anywhere. This transforms the level of customer service beyond the traditional face-to-face transactions. Philam Life’s Chief Life Operations Officer Richard Bracken said, “At Philam Life, we believe that everything should start and end with the customers. This portal has a human centric design, which means that this was designed by the customers for the customers.

For example, one of our key findings revealed that 90% use mobile devices for online actiities, so we have made e-Plan to be mobile-optimized.” But for customers that prefer traditional face-to-face transactions, SPARK has customer service representatives to assist members with their inquiries and policy concerns. Digital ambassadors are also included to guide policy holders in the use of digital platforms available in the center. In addition, an “Advisor for the Day” is also present to perform financial needs assessment to members looking for solutions for their real life needs. A special corner is dedi-

Philam Life rolls out SPARK P

HILAM Life, the country’s leading insurance company, again added an innovative facility dubbed SPARK. SPARK is a state-of-theart customer service center that offers members fully digital and personalized services. The first flagship center is located in Bonifacio Global City Taguig and is now rolled out to key cities nationwide. Last week, SPARK facilities opened in Davao City in a formal launching at Philam Life building along Rizal Street. The ceremony was attended by the firm’s Chief Agency Officer Anagel “Jay” Ledesma and Richard Bracken, Philam Life’s Chief Life Operations Officer.

In her speech Ledesma said that “ Philam is transforming our customer service centers into one-stop shops to make sure we cater to their growing and differentiating needs in this fast paced environment”. She stressed that with the growing and expanding business of the company, the state of the art technological platform makes up for a faster and easier services for Philam Life clients. The Philam Group had expanded its services to bancassurance and mutual fund business transactions, Ledesma explained. With SPARK Philam has boosted its latest technological capabilities such as the online customer portal called e-Plan,

F PHILAM, 12

Chief Agency Officer Anagel “Jay” Ledesma cuts the ceremonial ribbon of Philam Life SPARK center, She is assisted by VizMin head Roland Enriquez, left, Chief Life Agency Officer Richard Bracken and agency leaders led by Davao Agency Manager Henry Evangelista.

DOE... FROM 7

He said that formulating RRA involved research, interviews, focus group discussions and several multi-stakeholder consultations. The goal, he added, is to provide a comprehensive and detailed analyses of the country’s RE profile in order to recommend measures to deal with the pertinent issues in the industry. Cusi said that the Philippine RRA will also contribute to a database of the status of

renewables readiness across member countries of IRENA. The DOE-Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) also prepared the launching ceremony of the RRA to serve as a forum with industry stakeholders to inform them on its results, solicit their views in carrying out the recommendations and discuss opportunities and challenges of the RE sector. The launching was graced by DOE Assistant Secretary Ro-

berto Uy, DOE-REMB Director Mario Marasigan, DOE-REMB Assistant Director Marissa Cerezo, National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) Chairperson Atty. Jose Layug Jr., IRENA Senior Programme Officer Gurbuz Gunol and IRENA Regional Programme Officer for Asia-Pacific Yong Chen. IRENA is an intergovernmental organization that supports countries in transitioning into a sustainable energy future. It serves as the princi-

pal platform for international cooperation and an avenue to explore other values of renewable energy as it promotes widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms in the pursuit of sustainable development. “The DOE is committed to provide a level of playing field among RE developers to assure the country of its indigenous and sustainable energy for the consuming public,” said Cusi. (PR)

12 NEWS

LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT. The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao region turned over 21 fishing boats and fishing accessories to seven coastal barangays in San Isidro, Davao Oriental through

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

ARBs hit... FROM 11

the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Held on April 18, the event was led by Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat and Mayor Justina MB. Yu. (DSWD)

Defense backs Lopez’s stand in protecting the environment T

HE defense department has expressed strong support for Environment Secretary Gina Lopez’s steadfast commitment to the genuine protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development in the Philippines. “The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomes all initiatives that will help uplift the lives of our

countrymen and bring livelihood to our communities. In fact, the main goal of our Philippine Defense Transformation Roadmap 2028 is the attainment of a more credible defense posture that will lead to national development,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a statement Saturday. While waiting for official communications on how the

DND could help the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) establish “E3 (ecological, economic, and educational) Zones” across the country, the defense chief urged Lopez to encourage her “friends” from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to take this chance to lay down their arms, stop all their criminal and terrorist ac-

call. This means that a user can simultaneously be in a voice call, while actively using highspeed data for other applications. Currently offered by only a handful of leading operators in the world, VoLTE will also allow Smart subscribers to make video calls without tapping a third-party, OTT app. In the same trials, Smart and Ericsson successfully tested video over LTE, using the built-in calling functionality of a smartphone.

According to Horn, LTE is the best technology to help bring fast, affordable, and reliable internet services to as many customers as possible, as more LTE devices becomes available in the market. LTE also provides the platform that will easily allow Smart users to step up to even more advanced technologies like LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). Smart was also the first operator to offer LTE-A in the Philippines last year, when it demonstrated the capability of high-speed mobile internet

through Carrier Aggregation in Boracay. Now available in urban areas like Metro Davao, Metro Cebu, and in greater Metro Manila, Smart’s LTE-A delivers peak speeds of over 100 Mbps to users with LTE-A capable devices. “We are constantly looking ahead to anticipate the ever increasing demands of our customers, and to deliver our services in the best possible quality. Our initiatives in LTE-A, in VoLTE, and eventually in 5G, will allow us to do just that,” said Horn. (PR)

Smart... FROM 7

Rapid LTE deployment “It will take a little time for VoLTE to be fully deployed, largely because capable handsets are either still too expensive, or manufacturers have yet to activate this feature in their existing advanced models. But the excellent results of these tests provides another reason for us to pursue our aggressive LTE roll-out across the Philippines, since ubiquitous LTE coverage is a clear pre-requisite to VoLTE adoption,” added Horn. Smart is in the middle of a three-year program to provide LTE coverage in 95% of the country’s cities and municipalities. This rapid deployment will make Smart’s LTE service available to 97% of the country’s population, or to users in 1,551 cities and municipalities across the country by end2018.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ULYSSES L. ASISTIDO has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.455; Page No.91; Book No. 120; Series of 2017, of the NOTARY PUBLIC SALVADOR M. BIJIS 4/24 ,5/1,8

tivities and become legitimate citizens of the Philippines. “Kung gusto talaga tumulong ng CPP-NPA, bitawan na nila ang kanilang mga armas, itigil ang extortion, at magbalik-loob na sa lipunan (If the CPP-NPA truly wants to help, they should lay down their arms, stop the extortion, and return to mainstream society),” Lorenzana added. (PNA)

Under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and its extension, ARBs can pay for the land awarded to them for 30 years at 6 percent yearly interest. “Ano ba talaga ang gusto ng DAR, umunlad kami o maghirap? Bakit sila nagpadala ng mga opisyal na puro kasinungalingan ang sinabi sa amin? (What does DAR really want— for us to prosper or to become poor? Why did they send officials who told us all lies?),” Abellano said. Lusterio, Gil and Abellano said the DAR officials tried to dupe them by saying that the AVA with MEPI was already “cancelled” when the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC), which is chaired by President Duterte, has not yet rendered a final decision on the motions for reconsideration that had been filed earlier by MEPI and DAMARDEVCO. MEETING WITH DUTERTE The DAMARBDEVCO ARBs said they could hardly argue with the two DAR officials, who introduced them-

selves as lawyers, even though the truth was that President Duterte even plans to attend the second round of consultations with them to discuss their AVA with MEPI. Jun Mercado, another ARB present at the meeting said Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella was quoted as saying recently that the President would be attending the second meeting, along with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who chairs the Landbank. “So how is the AVA already cancelled, mag-meeting pa nga kami with President Duterte?” Mercado said. Mercado also recalled Risonar as claiming that MEPI can no longer appeal the decision before the courts on the revocation of the AVA, which is false because it deprives the company of due process. “They were trying to make us believe na ang (that the) agreement with MEPI is already cancelled by telling us na tapos na daw ang (we already ended our) relationship [namin] with MEPI,” Lusterio said.

cated to Philam Vitality – the first full-scale wellness program offered by Philam Life to promote healthy living. Through the program. Members earn points, discounts, and rewards for living a healthier life. Ledesma and Bracken explained that SPARK is the out-

come of Philam Life extensive series of customer relationship studies that were devised to understand our customers in terms of ways to make it easier for them to do business with the company. The vital findings guided Philam Life on how to reinvent and improve the quality customer service.

Philam... FROM 11

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC) Mortgagee,

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-versus-

MARIBETH CORPUZ PEROCHO, married to CELESTINO AVELINO PEROCHO Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above-mentioned mortgagee against the mortgagor/s MARIBETH CORPUZ PEROCHO married to CELESTINO AVELINO PEROCHO, with residence and postal address at ROSALINA VILLAGE I SITIO LIBBY LOT 17 BLK. 28 BAGO GALLERA TALOMO DIST., DAVAO CITY, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 28 , 2017 amounted to( Php 1,367,065.18) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest and penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; will sell at public auction on June 1, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City to the highest bidder for CASH or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T- 211335

“A parcel of land of the consolidated-subd project (Lot 17, Blk. 28, of the consolidated-subd. Plan Pcs- 11-001332, being a portion of Lots 878-A 1-C; 878-A-1-D & 878-A-1-E, Psd- 11-005208, xxx), situated in the City of Davao, Island of Mindanao, xxx Containing an area of ONE HUNDRED (100) SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 6, 2017 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein-above described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC) Mortgagee, -versus-

Noted by:

JAY C. ESPERANZA Sheriff IV

ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V OIC - Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (Edge 4/24, 5/1, 8)

EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,207-17

ROSALINDA A BULAT-AG, single Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above-mentioned mortgagee against ROSALINDA A. BULAT-AG, single, with postal address at Model F-1, Davao Empress, Phase 1, Lot. 11, Blk. 4, North Diversion Rd. Bo., Panacan, Davao City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 28 , 2017 amounted to (Php 984,053.66) Philippine Currency, inclusive of principal due, interest, penalty and other charges and plus other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; will sell at public auction on June 1, 2017 at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland ,Davao City to the highest bidder for CASH and/or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property/ies mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-234658

“A parcel of land xxx (Lot 11, Blk. 4, xxx Psd-11-029550, xxx), situated in the Barrio of Panacan, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx Containing an area of SIXTY THREE (63) SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 6, 2017 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein-above described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, April 10, 2017.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF:

Davao City, Philippines, April 17, 2017.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF:

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY NATIONAL HOME MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION (NHMFC) Mortgagee, -versus-

FOR: EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE UNDER ACT 3135, AS AMENDED

EFREN C. ROSOS married to JOSEPHINE G. ROSOS Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above-mentioned mortgagee against EFREN C. ROSOS married to JOSEPHINE G. ROSOS, with postal address at Cabantian Country Homes Subd. Blk. 51, Lot 23,Cabantian, Buhangin, Davao City, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 28 , 2017 amounted to Php 734,644.59 Philippine Currency, plus other legal expenses incident to foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of Regional Trial Court, Davao City; will sell at public auction on June 1, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property/ies mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T- 214653

“A parcel of land xxx (Lot 23, Blk. 51, xxx situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao xxx. Containing an area of NINETY SEVEN and 58/100 (97.58) SQUARE METERS, more or less xxx.” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on July 6, 2017 without further notice.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROV’L SHERIFF: NICOLAS L. SUMAPIG Sheriff IV

JULITO J. ANGOT Sheriff IV

Noted by:

(Edge 4/24, 5/1, 8)

ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V OIC - Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

EJF-REM CASE NO. 16,228-17

ATTY. FRANCISCO M. CAMPANER Clerk of Court V OIC - Clerk of Court & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

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VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

STRIPPED

Mindanao boy Tapales fails to make weight, loses title

SAD ENDING. Marlon Tapales ost his world title after failing to make the weight limit. Photo by philboxing.com

ARLON ‘The Nightmare’ Tapales of the Philippines has been stripped of his title after he failed to make the contracted 118 lbs weight on his second try during the official weighin held at Hotel Monterey here Saturday afternoon ahead of his title defense against Sho-

hei Omori of Japan scheduled Sunday at the Edion Arena here. Tapales, who weighed in at 54.3 kilos (119.75 lbs) during the first try, came back 1 hour and 45 minutes later to the weighing scale but this time he weighed in even heavier at 54.4 lbs (119.93 lbs).

WBO supervisor Rolando Marcos Hermosa of Panama then read the WBO championship rules in front of Tapales, his manager Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud and matchmaker Joe Koizumi who also acted as the interpreter stripping Tapales of his title. The fight will push thru Sunday but should

Tapales wins over Omori, the title will be left vacant. Should Omori win, he will become the new WBO world bantamweight champion. According to former world champion Gerry Penalosa, who was in Tapales team, both boxers will wear same ounce gloves. (Philboxing.com)

Westbrook’s triple double gives OKC Game 3 win Celtics recover with team

USSELL Westbrook figured out that he didn’t have to do it all. Once that happened, the Thunder figured out how to beat the Houston Rockets. Westbrook scored 32 points in a triple-double and the Thunder held off the Rockets 115113 on Friday night to cut their deficit to 2-1 in the first-round Western Conference playoff series. Westbrook scored 51 points in a triple-double on Wednesday, but the Rockets won, and Westbrook was criticized for shooting too much. This time, shots and contributions were distributed more evenly throughout the game. Taj Gibson scored 20

points and Andre Roberson and Victor Oladipo each added 12 for the Thunder, who shot 55 percent from the field. ‘’I had to do a better job of trusting my teammates for 48 minutes,’’ Westbrook said. ‘’Tonight, those guys made plays throughout the whole game. That’s what I’m trying to do.’’ James Harden scored 44 points for Houston, but he missed a 3-pointer that could have won the game just before time expired. ‘’We were down two, so I just wanted to get the best shot available, honestly,’’ Harden said. ‘’I didn’t try to overthink it or whatnot. I just dribbled up the basketball court and I see

the paint kind of close in once I passed halfcourt. I gave him (Roberson) a little jab, and he bit for it, and I just shot the ball. I shot it with confidence. It was a little bit short.’’ Lou Williams scored 22 points and Ryan Anderson added 18 for the Rockets, who nearly overcame a double-digit, second-half deficit again. Instead, the Thunder will host Game 4 on Sunday in a much better position. ‘’We did enough offensively,’’ Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. ‘’We just didn’t have the will or the want early in the game. It’s a little bit of a recurring theme we have. It takes us a while to get going. We’ll address

it and try to get it better, because we’ve got to play the whole 48 (minutes) like we did the last 24, and the last two games we have not done that.’’ Westbrook also had 13 rebounds and 11 assists. It was his second straight triple-double and the seventh playoff triple-double of his career. Houston closed the gap throughout the final period. Harden was fouled with 8.8 seconds left, and he made two free throws to cut Oklahoma City’s lead to 114-113. Westbrook went to the line with 8.4 seconds to play and missed one of the two free throws, giving the Rockets a chance before Harden’s final miss.

1-5, in their final assignment. The match against Jordan was a no-bearing game, however, as they had already qualified at that point. “We just came out strong,” said coach Buda Bautista in a separate television interview on Monday with ANC’s “Hardball”. Joining the Philippines in the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup are Jordan, Australia, China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and defending champion Japan. The competition will also

double as the final qualifier for the FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) Women’s World Cup which is set to be hosted by France in 2019. Tickets to the World Cup will await the top five teams of the continental tournament. The Women’s Asian Cup will prove to be a barometer for the Malditas as teams will vie to not only become the continent’s finest, but to earn the right to play in the grandest stage of international football. The Malditas bucked short

training on the way to their campaign in Tajikistan. To make it harder, a number of players were still seeing action for their collegiate squads in the UAAP Season 79 women’s football tournament. That means they had to miss training sessions. Some players also came from overseas. It helped that the Malditas had the luxury of a friendly draw going for them. The lighter draw definitely helped the Filipina booters in their campaign making them the highest

ranked team in the draw based on the latest FIFA ratings. Jordan was unranked as it had been inactive for 18 months. Throughout five games played from April 3 to 12 , the Philippines came in at second place with 10 points from three wins, one draw, and one defeat. Arrieta, daughter of Davao Football Community president Buboy Arrieta, is also joined by fellow DLSU mainstays goalkeeper Inna Palacios, midfielder Irish Navaja, and defender Cristine Duran.

SURREAL... FROM 16

LL local government units are mandated by law to hold sports competitions at least once a year. A budgetary allocation is provided for (or how to source it out) in the Local Government Code. Regardless of how small or large its IRA allotment, an LGU must set aside a portion of their budget for youth and sports activities to comply with this constitutional requirement. At this point, most organizers automatically seed basketball as its top most offering, putting other team sports such as softball, baseball, volleyball, table and lawn tennis, cycling, etc., as secondary choices. Because budgetary requirements (uniforms, equipment, technical, venue) are

ball plus Rondo absence

HE Boston Celtics got pep talks from a past champion as well as their current superstar. Then, they put a charge in a series that was slipping from their reach. Al Horford had 18 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Thomas scored 16 points, and the top-seeded Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 10487 on Friday night after dropping the first two games of their opening-round series at home. The Celtics pulled away after a 20-point lead shrunk to one early in the third quarter and put themselves in position to tie the series just as it was getting away from them. Game 4 is Sunday in Chicago. They got a recorded message from Kevin Garnett before the game. Thomas, still grieving the death of his sister, had a few things to say, too. ‘’To me personally, it was everything,’’ Jae Crowder said. ‘’It was just a little motivation speech. (Garnett) said we looked like a team that wasn’t having fun. We looked like a team that (wasn’t)

soaking in the moment. We just needed to play for one another, and play for the moment which is at hand being in the playoffs and have fun with it. He basically said put a little more KG into it.’’ Dwyane Wade scored 18 for Chicago. Jimmy Butler had 14 points on 7-of-21 shooting, and the offense simply didn’t click the way it had been, with Rajon Rondo out indefinitely with a broken right thumb. Chicago shot about 39 percent and committed 18 turnovers. ‘’We’re not going to put this all on missing Rondo because he might not show up,’’ Wade said. ‘’It sounds like he’s going to be out for a while. We need to come out as a team and figure out how to be better.’’ Thomas rejoined the team after spending time with his family in Tacoma, Washington. He scored eight points in the third quarter, helping the Celtics regain control, and finished with nine assists in the game. Crowder added 16 points. Avery Bradley scored 15 and hit four of Boston’s 17 3-pointers.

eration and camaraderie, shouldn’t LGUs facing some funding shortage as far as sports budgets are concerned come to their respective associations and ask for help? No need to stress that human resource is the most important component in effective governance. A healthy citizenry will need less of basic public health care, do you agree? LGUs financially incapable of pursuing a sportsfest for its youths could produce a blueprint of its sports program, lay it down before League officials and therefore could ask their respective League to grant them reasonable funding assistance. For starters, they should avoid seeding basketball as top sports priority. Basketball is already too well-developed.

Many youths in the barrios prefer to play volleyball and softball (both for boys & girls) and baseball even in crudely shaped paddy fields. These games don’t need well-tailored uniforms for the participants to play with their heart and soul. LGUs can initially hold organized sports contests with two or three events for as long as these are very well conducted, technically speaking. Spectators don’t want to watch games that are refereed stupidly and with bias. If this constitutional mandate is enforced by the DILG to he letter, we can expect a positive upheaval of sorts in all LGUs around the archipelago. Sports makes for healthy living. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

LGU summer youth games

necessary to stage organized sports contests even at this small level, some poor LGUs succumbed and fail to hold a sportsfest in their area due to high costs. This is where creativity comes. I have seen how many well-funded LGUs – even barangays with big IRAs – give out free tailored uniforms to participating teams to the delight of the players and coaches. LGUs belonging to the 4th, 5th and 6th classes and many barangays with funding shortages require participants to shoulder their personal uniforms so that the sportsfest might be pursued. Team members often resort to solicitations from among neighborhood and civic-minded residents and produce decent

SPORTS KEN By RED C. LUMBA

uniforms just so they could compete in the spirit of the games. Most LGUs, however, are inclined to spend their sports budget during fiesta celebrations by including a boxing tournament which is what generally their constituents want. When this budget is done for, the LGUs usually scrounge somewhere else when they are asked to spend for their athletes who rep-

resent them in the Palarong Pambansa regional and national levels. LGUs – barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces – have their respective national alliances and groups. Barangays are affiliated with the Liga ng mga Barangay (or LIGA); towns/municipalities have the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and the cities, the League of Cities of the Philippines and Provinces, the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP). What I understand is that financially-ill-equipped member LGUs are assisted by their respective associations if it is necessary. What for are groups and blocs like these if they are unable to help their fellow members? Right? So, in the spirit of coop-

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 10 ISSUE 15 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 23 - 24, 2017

SURREAL MOMENT Davao girl relishes Malditas’breakthrough win By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

INA Arrieta sat on the bench for the entire stint of the Philippines in the 2018 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, but she did not mind. When teammate and fellow La Salle midfielder Sara Castaneda scored the goal that mattered most, the 19-year old Dabawenya beauty jumped from her seat. “It was a surreal moment,” said Arrieta in a recent CNN Philippines’ sports talk show with veteran sports broadcaster Mico Halili. With a deep midfield roster, the teen footballer had to sit it out to give way to the more seasoned teammates in the talented Malditas line-up like Castaneda. “I don’t mind sitting there,” Arrieta, many-time member of the Philippine girls squad, said. That monumental win did not sink in immediately but it meant Arrieta will

be part of the historic first ever Philippine national team to vie in the Asian Cup—the qualifier for the World Cup.

T h e Philippine women’s football team drew with Bahrain 1-1

in their penultimate match of the tournament last Monday which was enough to send the Filipinas to the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan next year. They finished in second place in Group A Jordan topped the group but was already assured of a spot as hosts. The Filipinas overpowered United Arab Emirates (4-0), Iraq (4-0), and Tajikistan (8-0) before settling for the draw against Bahrain and then losing to Jordan,

F SURREAL, 15

STAR IN THE MAKING. Nina Arrieta (14) is biding her time with the National Team. At 19, she is one of the youngest members of the Malditas.