Edge Davao 5 Issue 2

Php 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO www.edgedavao.net

The look of the Oscars Page A1

Mayor wants 911 chief fired

By Jade C. Zaldivar

Remembering Page 3

Survivor Page 4

I

F given her way, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio would want Central 911 chief operating officer retired colonel Verner Monsanto fired.

The mayor said she is not satisfied with the way Central 911 has been managed by Monsanto following numerous complaints received by the city on the performance of the emergency response unit and on her own observation.

“Sa tanan tanan nga opisina sa City Hall, ilaha ang pinaka dako na budget ginahatagan namo. Daghan na kaayo ang complaint that the office is not working properly,” Duterte-Carpio said, adding that Monsanto fell short of ‘given expectations.’

“Sila man ang frontliners. Mao na ang ginatawag nga line agencies kumbaga.

Mao na ang naa sa frontline mag-deliver ug service. Of course (mao na) ang ginexpect nato. The chief operations officer siguro should be present during baha, sunog, ug kung unsa pa man ang coordination meeting during events and the like,” the mayor said during her regular press conference Monday where she was asked for an update on her plans to decentralize the reach of Central 911.

The mayor said Central 911 opened outposts in the Toril and Bunawan districts through the aid of Barangay Toril and a businessman, respectively.

-open sa Toril naa pud sa northside sa Bunawan where gipahuram sa usa ka business man ug katong sa Toril gitabangan sa Barangay Toril,” she said.

However, asked whether she is satisfied with the Central 911’s performance, the mayor shot back, “Of course not!”

“Kung pwede lang lagi ako mag-911, ako na lagi mag-911,” she said, However, she refrained from going as far as rating Monsanto’s performance.

“Kinsa may nag-pauso anang rating rating?” the Mayor quipped. “Dili ka makakuha ug rating sa usa ra ka tao dapat daghan imong sampling.”

Asked if it was she who appointed

UPDATES. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte gives updates regarding the coming Araw ng Dabaw celebration to media members present during her Monday morning press

conference at City Hall. The Mayor also made statements regarding certain changes in City Hall related to certain policies and personalities. [CITY INFORMATION OFFICE]

Monsanto to the position, the mayor replied: “Of course dili. Kay kung ako nagpili di ako nay nagtanggal ana diba?” she said.

Unloading of firefighting function The mayor went on to say that she had given orders to Monsanto to trim

FMayor wants, 13

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2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Mayor supports airport autonomy

By Jade C. Zaldivar

F

OLLOWING her criticisms against the management of the Davao International Airport (DIA), City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she’d be supporting any move to grant the local airport a separate authority.

“They DIA management does not have control over its earnings,” the mayor said.

“They say that what the airport earns goes directly to the national government while the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) decides how much goes back to the DIA,” she said.

When it was pointed out to her that Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are governed by authorities separate from the CAAP, the mayor said she is all for DIA to have its own governing

body.

However, since the process involves legislation, the mayor said she would request the City Council to endorse a resolution to the House of Representatives.

“I will ask the City Council’s committee on finance to come up with an endorsement to Congress,” Duterte-Carpio said yesterday during her regular press conference.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) was created through Republic Act No. 6958 in 1990, while the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which oversees the NAIA, was created through Executive Order No. 778, series of 1982.

Both MCIAA and the MIAA are attached agencies of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

P400-million income

Mayor Duterte confirmed that the DIA earns about P400 million every year from terminal fees that departing passengers are obligated to pay. A domestic passenger pays P200 terminal fee, but for one who is flying abroad, the fee is P500. However, since the income subsidize other airports, in effect the DIA cannot finance fixing its own deficiencies.

The mayor showed exasperation over how the decision-making process is centralized in the CAAP. “There is something wrong with the system,” she said.

Deficiencies, etc.

A check made by Edge Davao on the condition of the airport yielded the following facts indicating the deterioration of the multibillion peso facility and some undesirable practices of its management: --of the four x-ray

CLOSED. A portion of Quezon Boulevard is temporarily closed causing a slight traffic congestion in the area.

EDGEDAVAO

The road closure was authorized to give way to the upgrading of the city’s sewage system.

Braga tops in number LIGHT AND EASY of measures sponsored Mar’s men probe why he lost in Davao area M T FMAYOR, 13

n Zozobrado author of 7 ordinances, 13 resolutions

n Cabling behind one ordinance, 14 resolutions HREE members of the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City topped 23 other councilors in sponsoring ordinances and resolutions during the second half of 2011 (July to December), according to documents obtained by Edge Davao.

A semi-annual report prepared by the Sanggunian secretariat credited Dr. Pilar C. Braga and the SP committee on energy, transportation and communication that she chairs, for 26 approved resolutions and one ordinance passed during the six-month period in review.

The councilor from the first district is followed by 2nd District Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, chair of the committee on housing, rural and urban development, with 14 resolutions and one ordinance, and Third District Councilor Rachel Zozobrado, head of the sub-committee on housing for high-end projects, with 13 resolutions and seven ordinances.

In overall sponsored, co-sponsored and proposed resolutions and ordinances, Braga still topped in output with 140 sponsored resolutions and sponsored ordinances, 95

Braga

Zozobrado

Apostol

Cabling

co-sponsored resolutions and 37 proposed ordinances.

Councilor Dante Apostol follows with 140 sponsored resolutions, 14 co-sponsored resolutions, seven proposed resolutions and 38 sponsored ordinances and one proposed ordinance.

Councilor Paolo Z. Duterte completes the top three with 36 sponsored resolutions, eight sponsored resolutions and two proposed ordinances along with one

co-sponsored ordinance.

From July to December 2011, Braga was present in 27 council sessions, a near perfect attendance, registering only one absence due to official business.

During the time, Braga conducted 16 committee and public hearings chair of the committee on energy, transportation and communication which heard deliberated on 64 different legislative items.

[AMA]

EN from the camp of Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas arrived incognito in Davao City recently to conduct a rather very delayed post-election investigation on why Mar lost miserably to Jejomar Binay in the 2010 vice presidential tussle, despite the fact that he enjoyed the support of almost all the political biggies in the Davao region at the time.

The belated political research was really

T

nothing but one-on-one meetings with known political leaders who were asked to give their assessment on what really happened here.

It was not clear which section of Mar’s camp the “investigators” came from – his mother Judy Araneta Roxas, from the Liberal Party, or Mar’s inner circle.

There was a hint that Mar himself doesn’t know about the clandestine activity.

The interviewees

were also reportedly asked if it would be advisable for Mar to run for senator in 2013, a term away from the presidential derby in 2016.

Some of those interviewed think that it would be risky for Mar to run in 2013! What if he does not top it, which would diminish his chances of being nominated to run for president, or even vice president, in 2016. - Edgy, the Monkey.

temperature is caused by the emergence of the Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) over Luzon, which shifted the wind direction from northeasterly to easterly or southeasterly. This weather condition terminated the northeast monsoon.

“The associated weather condition will be generally warm and sunny in most parts of the country aside from isolated to scattered afternoon rainshowers and thunderstorms particularly over the eastern section of Visayas

and Mindanao,” she said.

Scorching hot summer expected

HE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) forecasts the occurrence of continuing hot temperature in Northern Luzon following its formal declaration this week on the start of the summer season.

PAG-ASA weather forecaster Bernadette Yadao said the warm temperature, particularly during noontime, could be expected to end until April.

According to Yadao, the gradual increase of

However, Pag-asa said that there are times that strong easterly wind will prevail particularly over the eastern section of the country associated with moderate to rough coastal waters due to the prevailing La Niña phenomenon.

In addition, the PAGASA advised the public to prepare for hot weather in the forthcoming Lenten season as it forecasted that temperatures might be reaching up to 36 degrees Celsius.

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

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3

Changing people mindset with Ugmad Komunidad

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

HE provincial government of Davao del Norte envisions changing the mindset of the people with its Ugmad Komunidad, a convergence of tourism, sports and livelihood programs. This, according to project head, Assistant Provincial Administrator Romulo D. Tagalo during the launching of the program last February 27 at the Bulwagan ng Lalawigan (capitol building) in Tagum City.

The program’s goal is not primarily to increase the income of the province, but to change the mindset of the people, as well as linking them to the market, he said.

In the press conference, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario

REMEMBERING. Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lights a candle and offers a bouquet of flowers in remembrance of the victims of the 2003 Davao International Airport bombing which killed 21 and injured 148 individuals. said, “The fastest way to improve the economy

Duterte, who was then mayor of the city, said that the bombing of the airport and the Sasa Wharf 9 years ago, has left a deep emotional and physical scar, not only on the image of the city and the family of the victims but also on him.

[JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA]

is through tourism.”

However, tourism is not

an easy undertaking, he said, thus the people

FCHANGING, 13

4

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

PDEA intensifies anti-drug drive

IP families cry foul versus intrusion on their domain D

I

NDIGENOUS families of three barangays in the Island Garden City of Samal crying foul over the alleged intrusion of some investors into their domains located along the sprawling shorelines of the island.

Speaking at the Kapehan sa Davao on Monday here, Joan Comapas of the Isama tribe and a resident of Barangay Kamudmod said a certain Emma Dayot has placed barbed wire fence, bearing a sign warning that it was poisonous, across her titled lot and extended all the way to the shoreline, thereby enclosing the houses of

residents.

For Comapas, the signage is a form of harassment to prevent r over 20 longtime resident families from using the shoreline which she said is part of their ancestral domain along with their ancestral waters.

Cynthia Dumanlug, also from Barangay Kamudmud, said investors have sent emissaries to inform residents to leave the shoreline because it has become “danger zone.”

Others affected by similar plans of other investors are Barangay Balit and Barangay Tagbay where some 40 families

IMPENDING DEMOLITION. tribe of Island Garden City Octaviano Colong (extreme of media about their present

Members of the Isama of Samal led by Datu right) inform members struggle brought by the

reside.

Datu Octaviano Colong identified the other investors planning to invest in the island’s shorelines as Alex Oliger and a certain broker named Josephine Cabigas.

Colong said they applied in 2007 for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), which application has remained unacted upon.

He said there seems to be a plan to remove the Isama tribe from about 80 hectares of the shoreline in three districts of Island Garden City of Samal on

the basis of the category of “danger areas” purportedly under Republic Act 7279 of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992.

He, however, said the truth behind their proposed removal is to give way for the coming in of investments.

He said they would fight for their rights over the shoreline which should be respected.

The Isama tribe, in a statement, said they are willing to cooperate with the government to advance peace and development, but also appealed that their rights over their ancestral domain be respected. [PNA]

impending demolition of their tribe from their ancestral lands by big developers during the Kapihan sa Dabaw at SM City, Davao City. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

2 officials bare reasons for Davao City’s success

By Jade C. Zaldivar

T

EDGEDAVAO

WO top city officials said the locality is currently in the middle of a ‘paradigm shift’ as the local government’s focus is on the proliferation of investments in the city.

The two officials cited how former city mayor, now the vice mayor, Rodrigo Duterte’s effort to maintain peace and order had resulted to Davao City’s current position as the biggest economic hub in Mindanao. Thus, City Mayor Sara Duterte’s administration has been busy attending to investments from the private sector as well as keeping up with the demands of ‘a fastgrowing city.

Davao City Planning and Development Office head Robert Alabado said

the elder Duterte had laid the foundation from which Mayor Sara is now ‘taking a step higher.’

“Ngayon we are in the phase na maayos na ang daan, maayos na ang infrastructure, ang peace and order. Ito na ngayon tayo, welcoming an influx of investors. We are engaging in promotion.

We are pushing towards growth,” Alabado said in an interview.

City Information Officer Bong Aportadera said that other than the most noticeable land development of malls, hotels, hospitals that have been sprouting for the past year and are set to open this year, there has also been subtle signs of growth in the form of boutique hotels.

“You notice, these are small hotels, pensions, inns. Small investments

pero marami,” he said.

Alabado said the feedback he got from meetings in the metro cities of Manila and Cebu was that the mindset now of investors (nationwide) is that Davao is a good market. “Investors are thinking why did Abreeza and SM or Robinsons come in, or why are they expanding?”

“The private sector, they do their market study and they know, they can smell that Davao’s going to be big.

City Hall can always say we are improving, we are improving, but once you see the private sector rushing in and start building all these, you notice and you know where we are, and more clearly where we are heading,” he added.

“We are a melting pot.

(Everyone in Mindanao)

as far as Agusan, Mati, Cotabato, General Santos, comes here. Politicians have homes here. People know there is business in Davao. They can make a start here,” Alabado said.

Aportadera noted that the city government is actually finding itself having to ‘keep up’ with the city’s growth. “The city is growing really fast (and) the city government is keeping up with the rate of development,” he said.

The information officer admitted that April to May 2011 were ‘the worst months’ when three huge national organizations held conventions here, bringing in at least 5,000 tourists at less than a week intervals.

“We really saw then how kulang tayo sa matutulugan, kulang ang

F2 OFFICIALS, 13

ESPITE the slash of P100 million from the average budget of P400 million for the entire Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the regional office has intensified its operations, especially during this month’s celebration of Araw ng Dabaw, Director Emerson Rosales said during yesterday’s Kapihan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.

March had the highest record of confiscated drugs years 2009-2011, according to Emerson, including the Kadayawan Festival in August due to the presence of domestic and foreign tourists. He said that in those three years, dangerous drugs worth of P1.2 M had been confiscated in March compared to P896,000 in February and P587,000 in April.

PDEA 11 is conducting joint operations with the Davao City Police Office and Task Force Davao, such as conducting checkpoints at north and south entries to the city. Emerson said this is one way of coping with the lack of budget, noting their limitations in transportation, mobility and buying of information.

However, he said the agency is focused on highvalue targets, particularly drug traffickers from Cotabato, “pusher ng mga pusher” and those having connections with government officials and law enforcers. PDEA, he added, is more concerned with pushers of tourists as it is difficult for them to carry drugs in entering the city.

“Davao City is very conducive for selling drugs,” he told reporters, adding that within the region, Davao City is the target market of dangerous drugs as it is the center of schools and universities, employment, airport and seaport.

Saying that PDEA has already identified where the drug supplies are coming from, Emerson pointed to to the coastline as one

point Ermeson entry of dangerous

drugs to the city. “Alam na namin kung saan nanggaling. Una, very long coastline ang Davao City, medyo nahirapan tayo dahil limited ang resources natin for sea patrol.

Pangalawa, itong highways, north and south entry ng Davao City. Meron din west entry--Buda, Marilog district.”

Further, Emerson said there are positive drug users in government offices such as the Traffic Management Center, Central 911, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines during drug tests conducted there by PDEA 11.

“Ang malaking mensahe dito ay ang ating government officials are policing themselves,” he added.

Active random drug testing of employees in other government offices and departments is ongoing. This is handled by PDEA’s regional forensic laboratory which is a project of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV from his pork barrel fund, he said, adding that all confiscated drugs in the region are turned over to PDEA to undergo forensic examination in the laboratory. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

5 taxpayers under BIR’s watch, one up for closure

A

T least five taxpayers are under surveillance by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Revenue District Office (RDO) 132 east Davao district, and one establishment is a candidate for closure by the first quarter or semester this year, RDO Abilla “Bella” S. Bentulan said Monday.

The names of the taxpayers cannot be divulged as yet, however, these are individuals and businesses in services, hardware and restaurant. The candidate for closure was already under surveillance since last year.

Appeal to taxpayers Bentulan appealed to all taxpayers, especially those who belong in her district, to comply with BIR revenue rules and regulations so that payment of penalty will be avoided.

“This year, we have so much increase in our goal and, in order for taxpayers

to enhance their voluntary compliance, we have no other way of validating except through surveillance,” she said.

The district has a P4,108,982,000 collection goal this year, the highest share or 40.2% of the regional goal which is P10,245,152,000.

The West Davao City district or RDO113A has 32.08%, Tagum City or RDO 112 has 17.22%, Mati City or RDO114 has 3.40% and Digos City or RDO115 has 7.10%.

Income tax returns Failure to file annual income tax returns has a minimum penalty of P200, with 25% increase rate per charge, 20% per annum or .01667% a month. Deadline for filing this year is on April 15. Only senior citizens whose income is purely pension are not required to file income tax returns.

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

3.7% 4th Qtr 2011 USD 3,342 Million Nov 2011 USD 4,985 Million Nov 2011 USD -1,643 Million Nov 2011 USD -114 Million Dec 2011 P4,442,355 Million Nov 2011

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities 8. Interest Rates 4/

4.71% Oct 2011 P128,745 Million Nov 2011 P 4,898 Billion Oct 2011

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt 11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - January 2011) Month

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

THE ECONOMY

5

Bigger income seen for Davao farmers in oil palm production

H

UNDREDS of farmers in the Davao Region are expected to reap huge benefits from the planting and production of oil palm, a highvalue crop that will soon be grown hand-in-hand with fresh bananas, cacao, coffee and rubber over the next several years.

“We just can’t ignore the advantages of planting oil palm over bananas because it’s so obvious from other farmers who have already started growing oil palm ahead of us,” said Rene Dalayon, president and chief executive officer of the Federation of Farmers’ Cooperatives of Davao (FEDCO) who is spearheading a group of banana growers and farmers who are also going into oil palm.

Dalayon said oil palm is easier to plant and maintain than growing bananas even in marshes, swamps and floodprone areas where banana plants cannot survive.

“Oil palm plantations don’t need drainage systems unlike in banana farming. You don’t need to maintain the farm as much as you do with bananas,” he said.

Putting up a big oil palm plantation is like going into “massive reforestation” of denuded lands, especially hilly cogonal areas which were formerly virgin forests before the trees were cut down by illegal loggers, he added.

“This is the best way to reforest our denuded areas today -the massive planting of oil palm

trees. While the palm fruit earns money for the farmer, the palm trees absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide and emits a lot of oxygen into the air, helping clean our environment,” said the recent national awardee of the Ernst and Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” global award.

Dalayon pointed out that farmers only plant the oil palm once and can harvest every 10 to 15 days for at least 30 years, unlike bananas where they have to cut down the whole trunk when harvesting one bunch of fresh bananas.

Although it takes 28 months before a farmer can harvest the fruits from an oil palm, the investments in an oil palm plantation can be fully recovered

in about five years, according to Dalayon.

“Harvesting is easier and cheaper compared to other crops like coconuts, bananas, sugar. The oil palm nuts are bought by ready buyers, mostly oil mills, from Manila,” he said.

A highly-productive oil palm farmer with ten hectares can earn as much as P140,000 a month or P1.6 million a year net income.

Dalayon said palm oil nuts will be initially sold to Manila oil refineries for processing and refining into cooking oil and other products.

“We have plans later to build our own processing plants right here in Davao del Norte to process our own palm oil,” he said. [PNA]

Casiño: Telcos illegally JCCMI eyes 12 Japanese earned P2 B in charges investors in Mindanao

B

AYAN Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño today reiterated his call 3 months ago on the telecommunications companies (telcos) in the country to return or refund an estimated P2 billion which is the total amount in more than 3 months of the 20 centavos reduction in the interconnection charge for text messages which they have refused to implement.

He said data extrapolated from the latest financial reports provided by the telcos themselves reveal a gross income of at least P200 million per day from text messaging services. Assuming half of the text messages are between telcos and subject to interconnection fees, the 20-centavo reduction in said fees would mean the telcos have been overcharging their consumers by P20 million per day, or a total of P2 billion for the 3 months that the NTC order remains unimplemented.

“This is a conservative estimate considering the fact that as text capital of the world, some 1.5 to 1.8 billion text messages a day are sent in the Philippines. In some of our computations, the overprice even reached

five times this amount,” said Casiño.

“The telcos should immediately comply because this amount increases by the day and consumers deserve this break considering that SMS messaging should be free in the first place. The telcos should not force us to call them into an investigation in Congress or revoke their franchises,” he added.

Casiño also expressed dismay at the National Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (NTC) for not sanctioning the country’s telecommunications companies for ignoring the commission’s order to lower rates for text messages.

“The NTC should stop being inutile and immediately sanction mobile operators who failed to comply with its order to reduce interconnection fees for text messaging. The government should show these giant companies they can’t simply ignore a lawful order and get away with it. How would the telcos follow the NTC when they know that they can circumvent its orders just like that? Ang mga abusado hindi bineneybi, pnaparusahan,” Casiño ended.

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

HE Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Mindanao, Inc. (JCCMI) aims to invite or recruit 12 Japanese companies this year. This, according to Takuya Nishiyama, vice president for external affairs, said during the 6th general membership meeting cum 2012 Officers and Trustees Induction Ceremony last March 3 at the Apo View Hotel, Davao City.

“Everybody is very aggressive in its mission of investment of Japan,” he told Edge Davao.

The prospective Japanese investors will come from the sectors of manufacturing, agri-business, information technology research and development, and business process outsourcing.

JCCMI aims to urge more investment from Japanese companies by using their own Japanese Chamber broad network from both Japan and overseas, and by accepting more investors from Japan. “Our wish is to contribute to the achievement of peace in Mindanao by creating more job opportunities, promoting technology transfer from Japan and achieving economic growth in the Philippines.”

President Akihiro Ushimaru said he is very confident that he can promote Mindanao especially Davao City as “investment haven to the world.” He noted five competitive points of Davao compared to Manila and Cebu, namely: high purchasing power; well-maintained public safety; high education and competitive workers and laborers; but, lower salary rate

compared to Manila; and, good historical background with the Japanese such as abaca plantation.

However, the number of investments in Davao City remains few. “We are far left behind compared to Manila and Cebu in terms of investment from Japanese investors,” Ushimaru said.

Nishiyama said JCCMI has 61 members this year, 12 Japanese companies are located in Davao City, including one in Digos, two big companies in Cagayan de Oro and one in General Santos City.

One of the possible reasons he mentioned was peace and order or the security aspect of the region, such that Mindanao is recognized or misunderstood by Japanese investors as place of terrorism even if Davao City is not. He added the lack of attractive tax exemptions for foreign investors.

“But, one thing about Mindanao, especially Davao, you can say that our place is an ideal place to invest. What the Japanese investors are looking for are already here in Davao,” he said.

Mayor Sara Duterte sent her message to the Japanese chamber, saying the city continues its commitment to make sure to move forward through BAROG, the government’s five-point direction for the city. This stands for barangay empowerment, academics, resource generation, peace and order, and, governance.

“We ‘re taking a stand in making sure Davao City augments the gains of the past and up to our current tourism branding campaign that ‘Life is Here’ for investors, for visitors and for the residents of the

FJCCMI, 13

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

BIR 11 to use new ITR forms T

AXPAYERS in Davao City will be using a new set of forms when they file their Income Tax Returns this year.

Regional director Atty. Glen Geraldino in Wednesday’s Club 888 at Marco Polo Davao explained that these forms are necessary as the bureau prepares to replace manual recording and start marking use of optical machines.

Taxpayers will then be briefed on how to use the new BIR forms 1700 and 1701, wherein additional information are required to be declared.

Geraldino explained that BIR will soon have the Optical Character Reader Scanning machine which will be easier to handle on the part of the bureau personnel as this requires lesser human intervention in the filing process.

BIR 11 is now doubling its information

campaign to urge taxpayers to file their ITR before April 15.

This year’s theme in the 2012 Tax Campaign of the bureau is “ I Love Philippines, I Pay Taxes”.

A kick-off ceremony is set on March 6 at SM City Davao Event Center where all revenue district officers from the region will be around to campaign for a religious paying of taxes.

Since Geraldino started office in Davao, forty establishments were ordered closed under the Polan Kandado Program of the BIR. The bureau is also keen in monitoring the tax payment of professionals and top taxpayers in the region. “ We have processes plenty of doctors and lawyers here in the region already and we will continue being keen on the tax payment of these individuals,” he said. (PIA)

SSS to run after erring employers

T ORNAMENTAL FARMS. Different farms in Davao are now starting to display their products, including ornamental plants and herbs, in the Agro Trade Fair at the SM City Davao parking

area for the month-long celebration of Araw ng Dabaw. A farm owner said that they are lowering their prices this month to encourage tourists and locals to buy their products.[KARLOS MANLUPIG

The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide technical assistance to the Philippines for its wind energy development road map.

In its Quantum Leap in Wind Power Development in Asia and the Pacific project, the ADB said it will also assess wind resources in the Philippines along with three countries, namely Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

ADB said the project, approved in December, is aimed at improving capacity in participating governments “to achieve wind power targets through road maps and faster wind power development facilitated through accurate wind resource data, feasibility

windy land areas could theoretically support over 70,000 MW of potential installed capacity.

“There is a proposal for ADB to help us with our wind resource mapping. But that is precisely the reason behind the service contract, which is they should conduct their feasibility study,” Layug said.

Layug said several wind service contracts surrendered their contracts to the department due to insufficient wind resource.

“Remember we awarded 227 contracts and then we sent show cause letter to 60 of them. Many of them surrendered [their contracts] because it wasn’t viable. Under our service contract, two years feasibility study, so the two

ADB provides assistance to PHL for wind energy dev’t roadmap studies and business models.”

Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug said government is promoting wind energy development due to the country’s strong wind potential.

He acknowledged, however, that there is a need to update the existing study conducted by the U.S.National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

NREL conducted a study in 1999 which showed that over 10,000 square kilometers of windy land areas estimated to exist with a good-to-excellent wind resource potential in the country.

Using conservative assumptions of about seven megawatt per sq. km., this

years fell last year last year.

Based on their wind mass data as an example, there was no wind or it was not strong enough,” Layug said.

Layug said wind service contractors would still have to conduct their own feasibility study even if there will be a new wind resource map.

“Even if we have a study, they have to validate that,” he said.

The Department of Energy (DOE) received a proposal from the Chinese government in 2010 to draw up an updated wind resource map. But the project did not push through.

DOE has already approved more than 700 megawatts of wind projects last year alone. [PNA]

HE Social Security System (SSS), seeking to compel companies to fulfill their obligations to their workers, said the annual total of erring employers it sued last year surged 66 percent last year to 1,227 from only 740 in 2010.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said nine out of every ten employers the agency charged in 2011 were for non-remittance of contributions amounting to P460.52 million, including penalties of over P217 million.

“SSS also collected more than P360 million in overdue contributions last year from delinquent employers through legal action. We will continue to step up our filing of cases this year to send a strong message to employers that they must obey the law,” De Quiros said.

Among those charged last year were 115 employers that failed to register workers for SSS coverage and refused to show company records to SSS account officers, who are tasked to check their compliance with the Social Security Act of 1997.

Employers face stiff fines and imprisonment of six to 12 years for violations of the SSS charter. The law requires employers to report new workers for SSS coverage with 30 days

from start of employment and provides a three percent monthly penalty for overdue premiums.

De Quiros said SSS is poised to intensify its drive against companies with unremitted loan amortizations of employees with the upcoming Loan Penalty Condonation Program for Individual Members, which will open for availment on April 2.

Under the condonation program, members whose amortizations were deducted from their monthly salaries but were not remitted by their employers to SSS will have 100 percent of their loan penalties waived, he said.

“Members applying for condonation will execute an affidavit to certify their employers’ failure to remit the deducted loan payments.

SSS will then go after these employers, who face possible criminal charges for estafa or swindling under the Revised Penal Code,” he said.

Other borrowers with unpaid short-term loans can also apply for the program, which will condone fifty to 100 percent of penalties depending on the mode of payment and type of delinquent member. SSS charges a monthly penalty of one percent on overdue loans.

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY 7

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Making your Camella studio unit efficient C

lueless about designing and organizing your Camella Northpoint studio unit? No worries. Read on for tips on how to maximize the space of your single-room abode and turn it into an efficient, homey dwelling.

So where do you start?

Simple. Get organized. From your wardrobe, appliances, to furniture, organization is key to achieving a harmonious look without the clutter. If your clothes, books, mementos, and other personal effects are everywhere, you won’t achieve a smooth, organized look.

Every item you bring into your Camella Northpoint studio unit has to have its own place, otherwise it will look chaotic and you’ll be snagging things as you move inside your studio home.

First off, go to your closet and look at the clothes that you regularly wear. Chances are you are only using about a quarter or half of them,

which means at least 50% of your clothes are just sitting or hanging in there taking up valuable space. Select old clothing that you can live without and choose to either donate to charity, sell, or hand over to close friends or family.

Now that you’ve freed up some space in your closet, you can use it to store new clothes or your memento box and other personal effects. It’s a great space to store away those items you don’t want prying eyes to see.

Your next stop is the kitchen. Appliances like coffee maker, oven toaster, blender, juicer, mixer, griddle, bread maker, rice cooker and other similar appliances are great helpers. But do you really use all of them every day?

Free up counter space by leaving only appliances that are regularly used, such as coffee maker and rice cooker, and store away those that are only periodically used (you can take them out when you

need them). If you still want to clear up some cabinet space, sell unused or rarely used appliances, or give to someone who can make good use of it.

Collectibles and mementos hold sentimental value for us. Still, go over each item that you have stashed away for a long time and dispose those that no longer have value for you. The few ones you opt to keep you can use to accessorize your studio, but don’t overdo it.

Display only the few items that you love looking at and you’ll avoid giving your studio a cluttered look.

As far as furniture goes, it’s a no-brainer. If you’re bringing old furniture to your studio unit, you have to let go of those that do not fit the style and space of your new home. Probably the top qualifying factors would be, if the furniture is functional, if the look goes with the rest of the furniture, and of course, if there is space for it.

If you’ve been placing

personal files such as important documents, bills, and anything paper on the bed, kitchen table, side table, or anywhere else they’re not supposed to be, time to create a file center with separate folders for each type of document.

Don’t let it pile up where you indiscriminately left it.

There’s nothing like seeing paper all around that gives your home a chaotic look. A

By Carlo P. Mallo

Davao City. He added that the company is already expanding the property within the year.

Uraya Land Development, Inc. is the developer of Villa de Mercedes.

The highlight of the night was the awarding of the Agency Manager of the Year, Cherry Grace Valenzuela, who generated sales worth more than P50 million. She was awarded with an appliance showcase worth more than P400,000.00 Another winner was Erma Cubilla who received P210,000.00 and a certificate for bagging the Excellence Award.

Other winners that

night are Henry John Camahalan, Rommel Resma, Roderick Valenzuela, Helen Laurente, Miguelita Babaison, Rebecca Reyes, Elvie Pabroa, Vivien

Lapidez, Meriam Virtudazo, Gil Antonio Chua, Lynn Camahalan, Cherry Grace Valenzuela, Elvie Pabroa, Cherry Ann Bohol, Evelyn Galvez, and Gene Cadiz.

Villa de Mercedes says Thank you

T

here is no better way of saying thank you than by giving recognition to the people who helped you become one of the most successful real estate projects in the Davao Region.

Last February, Villa de Mercedes president, Debin Uraya II, said thank you to the different property consultants, area managers, and real estate agents who made the project what it is today.

Debin Uraya, president of Uraya Land Development, Inc. said that there is still a big room for growth in the real estate industry here in

Uraya Land Development, Inc. president, Debin Uraya (leftmost), awards the check to Erma Sobredilla

file center frees up space and makes your studio unit look clean and organized.

Finally, keep the discipline. Organizing your studio unit is not a one-off effort; you need to follow through what you have started to keep your singleroom home clean, efficient, and in order. No matter how large or small the space, if everything is in place, your home feels right. Then you

can go enjoy the convenience of a Camella Northpoint studio home.

Your studio home awaits you at Camella Northpoint, Camella’s British colonial themed condo development along Buhangin Road and JP Laurel Avenue. Camella accepts all inquiries at 2/F Delgar Building, JP Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City, telephone numbers (082) 222-0963 and (082) 222-5221.

Cherry Pabroa received a new house and lot for her

outstanding performance last year.

(2nd from left) during the company’s annual sales award.

Elvie Pabroa went home with a new Mitsubishi Pajero.

Uraya Land Development, Inc. president, Debin E. Uraya II (center), with the officers and staff of the company.

Cherry Grace Valenzuela was awarded as the

Agency Manager of the Year for 2011.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

The titans clash but where is mining headed to?

Special Feature

T

EDITORIAL

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To ban, or not to ban

HE leadership of the Philippine National Police has consented to the imposition of a gun ban in Davao City, not only during the week timed with the city’s 75th founding anniversary, but for the entire month of March.

To many people, the gun ban at first blush is good as it will deter the carrying of firearms, licensed or not, in public, thereby eliminating their being used to commit crimes. That is the logical presumption of a gun ban.

Unfortunately, it does not follow that a gun ban will prevent the commission of crimes through the use of gun. Law-abiding gun owners may leave their guns at home for the duration of the ban, but criminal elements who live by the gun as a necessary adjunct to their nefarious trade, will not be deterred from carrying guns which happen to be their means to achieve an unlawful end.

The ban works mainlyagainst the good citizens--(as opposed to the “bad” and the “ugly”)-who possess licensed firearms but who do not have a permit to carry them during the ban which deprives them of their right to self defense while going about their affairs wherever these happen to be. But criminal elements will always carry their guns whether or not there is a ban.

EDGEDAVAO

These are the kidnap for-ransom gangs, holduppers, carnappers, kidnappers and other underworld denizens out to make life miserable for law-abiding citizens.

Not to mention rebels and other enemies of the state of all types and persuasion who also live by the gun, for obvious reasons.

If a gun ban is really that effective in preventing the commission of crime, why don’t we simply ban the carrying of guns in public all year round, except by those who are by necessity authorized to carry them, like the police and security forces?

What brought about this sudden call for a gun ban may have been some recent rather high profile incidents, like the murder of a lady nurse in broad daylight and what looked on television like a “shootout” involving two men on a city street, just when the city was about to celebrate its popular annual Araw ng Dabaw event that never fails to bring in hordes of tourists.

One cannot blame jittery public officials for their knee-jerk reaction to such unsavory incidents.

Just how effective is a gun ban, by the way?

This is the question of the moment, the answer to which still hangs in the air.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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By Edwin Espejo (First of 2 parts)

WO prominent people representing the richest families in the country let their hairs down and let loose scathing remarks against each other in front of national television in a forum Friday that could spell the difference of the future of the mining industry in the Philippines.

Manny Pangilinan, whose vast business empire made him one of the most influential persons in the country, traded barbs with Regina Lopez, she of the old rich Lopez family who are into mass media and communication, real estate and utilities.

While the two shared the same table during the mining conference, they are as diametrically opposed to each other as the west is to the east as far as mining issues are concerned.

Lopez, whose anti-mining advocacy has rubbed off members of her own elite class, claimed the Philippines is better off developing its agriculture and tourism industries than destroying the forests and timberland in the name of mining.

Pangilinan retorted that the country cannot move out of its backward economy without harnessing its mining potential even rattling off the precious metal components of one’s indispensable mobile phone.

Pangilinan owns Smart Communications Inc., the country’s largest mobile communications provider with over 60 million subscribers (including that of its recently acquired Sun Cellular Inc.), and is also into the television industry where the Lopezes hold sway and are the acknowledge industry leader. Pangilinan is also the president of Philex Mining, one of the country’s largest operating mining companies today.

Beyond their personal differences and rhetoric, Pangilinan and Lopez represent two contrasting and opposing camps on the mining issue in the country today.

Pangilinan took the cudgels for the mining industry, which has traditionally drawn support from the country’s chamber of commerce, also offered middle ground where both government and the industry could resolve issues on revenue sharing and strict monitoring of the environment.

Government wants more Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje had earlier stated that the government wants to increase royalty fees on mining from 2 percent to 5 percent on top of the 2 per cent excise taxes.

The Chamber of Mines however fears the government is moving towards a confiscatory policy which could drive away foreign investors.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau director Leo Jasareno, in setting the tone of the conference attended by well over 600 delegates, said the choice is between mining “that significantly contributes to the economic growth in a manner that mitigates impact on environment and improves the lives of the people or no mining at all.”

In 2011, the metallic mining sector posted a gross production value of P122 billion, a 9 percent hike from the 2010 production.

But Jasareno said despite the increase, the mining sector has not increased its share in the gross domestic product beyond 1.5 percent over the last few years.

Paje also said the government loses about P5 billion a year for failure to collect royalty fees.

The government said it is looking into other options and models and may adopt possible imposition of mineral resources rent as well as carbon tax.

EDGEDAVAO FaceOff

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Inside the Impeachment Court ‘I charge this private prosecutor with contempt of this impeachment court! I have evidence right here taken

by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, and to say that nasaktan ang tenga ko (my ears hurt) should have been for you to walk out of this impeachment court. But you cannot make those contemptuous gestures in front of a judge, and get away with it.’

--Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, senator-judge, Impeachment Trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona ‘May I say something? If my actuation hurt somebody, I really did it purposely because my ears were hurting from her shrill voice. My point here is that even if we’re mere lawyers, we also deserve respect. If you demand respect, respect also these lawyers because the human dignity has no equal.’

--Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre, private prosecutor, Impeachment Trial of CJ Renato Corona

Introducing Edgy, the Monkey

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DGE Davao has a mascot. His name is Edgy. He resembles a monkey. However, unlike the promiscuous Proboscis Monkey ( Nasalis larvatus), a virtual icon of nearby Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Edgy is just the product of the creative mind of Arlene Pasaje, our resident editorial cartoonist. As mascot, Edgy will occasionally adorn the white spaces of our feature articles and news stories. His permanent assignment is :Light and Easy, a section for entertaining, gossipy stories.—The editor

K

plus 12 and BEC. These are two terms I learned from my two sons during breakfast this morning. My eldest son, Edman informed me that BEC is Basic Education Course and that is the system that’s existing and being used. “K plus 12” or Kindergarten plus 12 years. I have heard of this program but have not actually confirmed of its implementation. It was Edman who pointed out that since Tommy is graduating from Elementary this March, he is already subject to the K plus 12 program. Having little knowledge on the matter, I googled it and here’s what I found out: “K plus 12 program is based on an intensive curriculum review, taking into consideration curriculum reviews that have been done in the past. The Department of Education (DepEd) points out that only 16% of college students actually graduate from college. The proposal will benefit the 84% who may not get a college degree. It aims to make basic education sufficient enough so that anyone who graduates can be gainfully employed and have a productive life.”

Sounds good. Some parents I know would have the same sentiment as mine. I know of one Chinese family friend who made his son stop his studies and gave him a business to manage. I saw his son when he was still a little boy, without a care in the world and at present, he is pretty successful. He took the business to heart, worked at it with blood, sweat and maybe, tears and he

Monkey Business

K plus 12 was able to buy himself his own car. Don’t get me wrong. I am not at all saying that we do away with our college education but if there was an option of not taking the traditional Basic Education Course, then so much the better.

I told Tommy he has to improve on his grades and do good in school because if he doesn’t I would have to ask him to stop. He would have to look for a job to sustain his needs…

Tough love. When I think about it now, if he has 6 years of high school and if in case he doesn’t pursue his college education, would that be enough to land a job? Would there be decent companies out there that will hire a high school graduate?

Would they even be called degree holders??

When my two sons started schooling and with the tuition fees soaring, I dreamt of the day when Colleges will have just about the necessary subjects that a student would need to prepare him for work or business. Do courses really have to be 4 to 5 years in duration? I have to admit that even before I entered college, I chose a course that had the least Math subjects in it. Mass Communications. Little did I know I would still have Algebra and Trigonometry in my 1st two years. I also had Chemistry. These subjects we also took in High School.

My thoughts, if it were I who would be putting up a school/College where you can get a degree with only two years’ worth of subjects, would the approval be handed down by DepEd? How often are curriculum reviews done? Does DepEd alone do the review and how often? Does it have court ruling or a House Bill perhaps?

I read this post from a batchmate on Facebook. It said: HOUSE BILL 5311, authored by Hon. Isidro Ungab of the 3rd District, which states that all the State Universities in the Davao Region; to name a few, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES (USeP), DAVAO ORIENTAL STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AGRIBUSINESS AND MARINE AND AQUATIC SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY (SPAMAST) will be integrated into one school called DAVAO REGIONAL STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (DRSUS).

He is calling other USepians to counter this bill for many reasons for example: 1.) Gradual face-out of courses 2.) Price hike in units taken by students 3.) Budget cut where teachers will most probably be the most affected. 4.) For students wanting to enroll in other courses, they would have to go to Mati, Davao Oriental to do so.

I don’t know the reason behind the integration of these schools but after reading about the proposal of K plus 12 and DepEd needing more money to run it, the ones hit first by this are the State Universities. DepEd has proposed budget cuts. The Domino effect.

My wish is that we have more people in government whose ambitions are not confined to their own desires. Well it is a wish, some wishes do come true…with prayer. My dream is for my children to have the best education… and hopefully doing so inexpensively.

Bottom of Form

9

Dealing with obstacles to Tampakan project

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ROM OUR vantage point, we see prospects thinning for Sagittarius Mining in its fight against environmentalists, church groups and insurgents, all bent on preventing this Australian mining giant from following its timeline from groundwork all the way to ore extraction and shipments.

Although it was all too clear the recent antimining conference was one-sided (naturally!) at the Ateneo de Davao University, there are still certain things SMI can do to make it easy for their project to keep moving forward. I’m sure they’ve already anticipated all these obstacles coming their way--- that’s part of building a new business.

Placating the grievances and anxieties of the lumads in the mountain area where the open pit mining will be done, is, of course, one very important move--- which is now being done almost successfully by Sagittarius. If you don’t capture the hearts and minds of these lumad groups, you can’t do anything over there.

Dealing with the real threats from rebels in the area, both from communists fronts and Muslim insurgents, are being handled right now by government troops thru advance command posts, as a way for the national government to protect foreign investments. While this is keeping rebels at bay at this time, SMI should expect attempts to disrupt their operations in the near future with ambushes and attacks.

Environmentalists can always have their way in stopping SMI from moving forward, not only because they seem to care for the environment, but also because it’s profitable to do so.

You might not know it yet, but global environ groups have big budgets to fight big business worldwide, so don’t wonder why these groups are so noisy.

But it won’t hurt if SMI can set aside a pretty sum to start new big forests around the area where they plan to start their open pit mining.

If the government says for every tree you cut down, you replace it with ten trees, SMI should replace every tree with at least 20 to 50 trees.

That means thousands of new trees planted in thousands of hectares in the mountains of Tampakan.

Simply put, we should see new big for-

‘Simply put, we should see new big forested mountains by the time Sagittarius starts the open pit mining.’

ested mountains by the time Sagittarius starts the open pit mining. These new forested mountains should be proof of SMI that while an entire mountain is devastated by open pit mining and abandoned after all its ore had been dug up --new giant forests are going to take its place.

SMI’s biggest problem is of course, is the deadly pollution from the mining wastes that surely will endanger the rivers and lakes of Tampakan and surrounding areas in South Cotabato.

This too, can be licked by a system of ground filters that prevent mining wastes from straying into rivers and lakes.

Now, if those Australian partners of SMI don’t have the same mindset as we do, and would rather bribe, push and threaten poor villagers around who are only expressing their anxieties, then this mining company is in big trouble..

(Comments? Email : trad ing post_davao@ yahoo.com)

10 COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

MOM mobile library now set for brighter activities this year W

ITH its growing support and advocacy to Education, Project Margie on the Move (MOM), a mobile community library project of former Ms. Universe titlist Ms. Margie Moran Floirendo, is now set to re-launch its year-round fun-filled learning program to various day care centers in Davao del Norte.

“We are all excited for this year’s mobile library project. With these new reading materials and brighter and more creative activities, the mobile library will definitely draw the interest of the students on reading books,” expressed Monica Floirendo, daughter

of Moran-Floirendo, who enthusiastically received books from Children for Brighter Beginnings founder and directress Chari Gavino last February 13, 2012.

The books were donated by Pastor Cesar Reyes and wife Lulu of House for All Nations Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, whom Gavino said are devoted to improving children’s learning abilities. They will be added to the list of educational materials for the kids in the mobile library.

“I thank Pastor Cesar, his wife Ms. Lulu, and the Children for Brighter

Seeking to establish a stronger and a more diversified front for its continuously growing subscribers, Sun Cellular braces up on intensifying its customer service channels for 2012.

Subscriber inquiries and concerns may now be coursed through Sun Cellular’s hotline through mobile, landline or via webbased communications, and popular social networking sites.

“As we continuously strive to further enhance the overall customer experience of our products, we also work on the continuous development of our service channels. At the end of the day, we just want to make sure that our customers can reach us whenever, wherever, in whatever mode they choose, 24/7”, says Reuben Pangan, Vice President for Customer Relationship Management of Sun Cellular.

Sun Cellular opened up TXTHotline 1200 for subscribers to raise their inquiries or concerns via text. Subscribers would just have to initiate this service via one-time registration by texting REG <space> Last Name, First Name to 1200 using their Sun Cellular numbers.

More after-sales channels have also been set-up online. For realtime online feedback, Sun’s customer service web chat may be availed by logging

in to suncswebchat2.sun. net.ph.

24/7 customer service accounts have also been established for Sun Cellular’s fans and followers on Facebook via facebook. com/suncellularph and on Twitter at twitter.com/ suncelltweets. “We realize that social networking sites are already a part of the lives of a lot of our customers. Hence we would like to give ‘netizens’ a channel they can reach us from while they are on line”, Pangan added.

Concerns may also be raised through the feedback section of its corporate website, www. suncellular.com.ph, or straight to its email address, suncellular@digitel.ph.

Traditional customer service channels remain to be a reliable after-sales service portals like Sun Cellular’s toll-free Hotline 200 that may be reached via Sun-powered mobile phones or at (02) 3958000 via landline. Special documents may also be sent to Sun Cellular through its fax number (02) 397 –8871.

Inquiries and servicerelated concerns may also be addressed at Sun Cellular’s almost 200 Sun Shop outlets all over the country. Customers can now enjoy even better aftersales services with the rise of five flagship stores that have been initially opened last year.

Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDT Group.

SunCell aims to provide better customer service

Beginnings for these wonderful books. These will help the children a lot especially to appreciate and know the importance of education at an early age,” said the younger Floirendo.

She explained that this year’s mobile library project will introduce new-fangled learning experiences equipped with supplemental books, school materials, and entertaining activities that will surely bring more learning and fun to children.

“We made some changes in the program to make it more significant.

Lots of exciting activities and new lesson plan are prepared for the kids,” Floirendo added.

Project MOM has intensified its program, this time, focusing not only on the importance of early child development but understanding the significance of the environment and health as well.

The MOM mobile community library is scheduled to visit Brgy.

Lower Panaga and Brgy.

Malitbog, Panabo City on March 10 for the initial round this 2012.

Monica Floirendo, daughter of Margie Moran-Floirendo, enthusiastically received books from Children for Brighter Beginnings founder and directress Chari. The books were donated by Pastor Cesar Reyes and wife Lulu of House for All Nations Church in Vancouver, BC. [C.P.NAIG]

Davao’s PhilSci student tops OWWA scholarship exams

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student from Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus has achieved the highest score in the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) examinations of 2011.

Diness Pascua Cortez led the top ten passers of OWWA-EDSP exams held simultaneously nationwide and also in Riyadh and Jeddah of Saudi Arabia last November and December of 2011.

The top ten were among the 100 Overseas Filipino Workers dependents nationwide who passed the scholarship exams administered by the Department of Science and Technology-Science

Education Institute (DOSTSEI).

Joining Cortez in the top ten were Justine Wendell Sentillas Navarez of Cor Jesu College in Digos City, Davao del Sur province. Navarez landed at the 9th place. More new EDSP scholars from Davao Region included John Carlo J. Penaso of Holy Child of Davao, Davao City; Arthur Conrad Lipat Diosana IV of Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus, Tugbok, Davao City; and Henrik Renzo L. dela Cruz of Digos City National High School, Digos City. The other two passers were Jessa Velle I. Ituriaga of the University of Immaculate Conception College of Davao City; and Edward Joseph M. Sartiga of University of Immaculate

Conception of Davao City.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon announced that only the top 100 examinees out of the 4,384 OFW dependents who took the exams, will qualify for the OWWA scholarship program for 2012.

The scholars will be provided a maximum of P60,000 per school year for four-to-five year baccalaureate courses in any college or university.

The top ten EDSP for 2012 are: Diness Pascua Cortez (PhilSci-Southern Mindanao Campus, Davao City); Manuel Christian Eguna Parcon (PhilSci-Main Campus, Quezon City); Vic Nelson Batalla Lucero (Cavite State University Science High School); James Lester Casala Desipeda

(Canossa Academy, Lipa City); Gloria May Cayagoy Sayson (University of the Philippines High SchoolIloilo); Bea Camille Kalalo Patulot (De La Salle-Lipa); Joshua Miles Byncel Ilagan Felicida (De La Salle, Lipa); Alison Milo Estabaya (PhilSci-Main Campus, Quezon City); Justine Wendell Sentillas Navarez (Cor Jesu College, Digos City); and, Florette Hanh Parde Albis, Cavite State University Science High School.

Last year, 28 OWWA scholars graduated with magna cum laude and cum laude honors. Of the 28 scholars, 12 passed the nursing and accountancy board exams. A total of 469 scholars were listed as beneficiaries of the program last year.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Comval guv to enforce “No Habitation Policy” C

OMPOSTELA VALLEY -- Provincial Gov. Arturo T. Uy yesterday urged municipal mayors to get serious in implementing and enforcing the “No Habitation Policy” in all accident-prone mining areas in the province.

He aired his call during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered Wednesday at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall to prevent more loss of lives by “imposing provincial governing policies and measures” to regulate mining activities.

Uy, however, admitted of being helpless in putting a stop to small-scale mining as some have come to depend on it as a lucrative economic activity they can engage into, “in the absence

of a gainful livelihood in the lowlands.”

“To tell you frankly, hindi po natin kayang pahintuin ang mga minero sa pagmimina hanggang wala tayong alternatibo pangkabuhayan na maibibigay sa kanila. (we cannot stop the miners from mining as long as we don’t have alternative livelihood to provide them.),” he said in his SOPA. As he considered the landslide incident in Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan as “unforgetable” because it cost lives and properties “beyond the acceptable level”, Uy declared he is serious in preventing such incident to happen again.

“We understand that (mining) is the only source of livelihood of many

but, we will not allow another loss of lives under our watch. Human lives are far more important and can never be exchanged for any other material thing that mother earth could offer,” he said.

Due to occurrences of landslide incidents in smallscale mining areas, Uy last year pushed for the creation of the No Habitation policy that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved on the same year. He also had signed an executive order creating the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Task Force for Small-Scale Mines Safety, Health and Environmental Protection.

Uy is looking forward for the passage of Sustainable Environment Management Code of Compostela Valley “to

a mark in history anew for its successful six-day run, converging the country’s best musical groups and

artists from February 2126, 2012.

Considered to be the longest-running and all-

address the urgent environmental concerns at hand.”

He called for unified responsible actions to take care of the environment having admitted of being bombarded with news on environmental degradation unfolding in Compostela Valley.

On top of his environmental protection thrusts is the local implementation of the National Greening Program of President Benigno Simeon Aquino.

He has rolled out since last year the Provincial Greening Program as part of the Climate Change Adaptation, through which 1.3 million trees of assorted species but he wants 20 million more trees to get planted by year 2015. (PIA)

Musikahan sa Tagum ends on high note

T

AGUM CITY, Davao del Norte -- The 11th Musikahan sa Tagum Festival 2012 made

inclusive music festival in the Philippines, the Musikahan 2012 ended in a perfect note in a colorful ceremony held at the Atrium of the new City Hall of Tagum - the main venue of this year’s festivities.

“We stomped our feet to the tune of pieces of the rondalla, hummed to the melodies of the chorales, swayed to the beats of the bands, surfed the net for updates and racked our brains in the IT forums,” said Tagum City Tourism Council president Alma L. Uy. The Avenida Musika Marching Brass Band Competition served as one of the festival’s finale presentations with the Tagum City Symphonic Band claiming the championship prize.

Tagum City Unified Marching Brass Band and the DMMA College of Southern Philippines Brass Band got the second and third prizes, respectively.

Musical artist Popong Landero - who also composed the official Musikahan theme song led the pack of Mindanaobased artists in a TaosPusong Pagpupugay Celebratory Concert.

In the morning, thousands of Tagumeños from all sectors of the society braved the morning sun in a parade to the tune of marching brass bands.

SUBURBIA 11

LANAO GRADE SCHOOL GOES HIGH TECH Teachers of Kalanganan Elementary School in Pantar, Lanao del Norte, familiarize themselves with the features of a new desktop computer provided by the U.S. Agency for International Developmant (USAID) and the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA).

USAID through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program partnered with the school to establish its minicomputer center and library. (MinDA).

DavNor responders participate in simulated drill

D

AVAO DEL NORTE -- A quick response team from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) simulated rescue at the provincial human resources management office during the simulated earthquake drill at the capitol, Davao del Norte, as one of the activities in the mock quake drill last March 1 to evaluate the preparedness of its workers for a massive earthquake.

The provincial employees performed the proper precautionary methods of “duck, cover and hold” and “crouch and tuck heads,” as soon as they heard the loud wailing sound that signaled the start of the simultaneous earthquake drill.

The provincial employees, along with the personnel of various national agencies holding office at the provincial government center in Mankilam, Tagum City, carried out the six components to a quake drill, which include alarm, response, evacuation, assembly, head count or roll

BizQuips

call, and evaluation.

This was to measure the worker’s response to an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale that lasted for 30 to 40 seconds.

The province of Davao del Norte normally experience flashfloods, especially during onslaught of continuous heavy rains.

However, the probability of a strong earthquake hitting the province in the future is high as Davao del Norte lies along the path of three major fault lines, to include the Central Mindanao fault line, Eastern Mindanao fault line and the Davao River fault line.

OIC-Provincial Administrator Norma Lumain spearheaded the orientation at the conference hall, Capitol, Tagum City last Feb. 21, to ensure the success of capitol’s participation in the nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill.

The activity was also held in line with the directive of Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario for everybody to keep their level of preparedness high. (PIA)

‘YOU made money out of the people of Davao City.

You did not even have the courtesy of informing the local government (about the changes).’

--Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte berating Globe and Smart for modifying the protocol for residents to access Emergency Response Center 911 without informing the city government.

12

NATION/WORLD

Nation briefs Taxi drivers as tour-guide

T

he Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office 6 will start a tourguiding seminar for taxi drivers Monday next week under the recent memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by DOT, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regional heads in Western Visayas.

DOT OIC-Regional Director Helen Catalbas said the seminar aimed to get the support of the taxi drivers and operators in promoting tourism industry of Iloilo City and province and the entire Western Visayas. She said that the taxi drivers are the frontliners in the tourism industry and whatever impression they give to their tourist-passengers would be long remembered and told to other people. (PNA)

SME growth ups

L

ATEST survey by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking (PCCR) showed that cities like Cebu increased in competitiveness by 20 percent and Ormoc, 25 percent compared to their 2007 rankings.

The rankings measured the responsiveness of policies and business regulations to business needs of partner cities. Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo lauded the long-term partnership of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), also known as the Germany Agency for International Cooperation.

(PNA)

Identify plot mongers

W

HILE admitting that no ouster plots are emanating from the ranks of the military, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. urged former Philippine Constabulary chief Major Gen. Ramon Montaño to identify the alleged plotters so that appropriate actions can be taken against them.

Montaño earlier said that some members of the plotters against President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III were associated with former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo, who is detained for electoral sabotage.

(PNA)

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Putin woos rivals after victory T

HE Kremlin held out an olive branch to Russia’s opposition Monday before protesters take to the streets to challenge Vladimir Putin’s victory in a presidential election they said was a “declaration of war.”

Putin celebrated his victory Sunday by telling tens of thousands of flagwaving supporters near the Kremlin that his triumph had saved Russiafrom enemies trying to usurp power.

The prime minister, who is returning to the post he held for eight years until ushering Dmitry Medvedev into the presidency in 2008, had tears in his eyes as he took aim in his speech at protesters opposing his 12-year-domination of Russia.

His opponents complained of widespread fraud in the ballot, in which the former KGB spy won more than 63 percent of the vote, and said they would show their disgust by demonstrating in central Moscow Monday evening.

“He is forcing things to breaking point. He is declaring war on us,” said journalist Sergei Parkhomenko, one of the protest organizers.

With Putin and the opposition on collision course, the Kremlin issued a statement that could be intended to take the sting out of the protests which began over alleged fraud in a parliamentary poll on December 4 and increasingly target Putin.

Medvedev, who will stay in office until early May and is expected to swap jobs with

D

T

Iraq attacks

ozens of gunmen launched a pre-dawn raid on police targets in the western Iraqi city of Haditha, killing at least 26 police officers, police say.

The attacks Sunday with the kidnapping of two senior officers from their homes. They were later found shot dead. The gunmen, some wearing army uniforms, then moved through the city, shooting police at checkpoints. Police in the city blamed al-Qaeda for the attacks.

Obama warning

Russia’s current Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin (R) visits his campaign headquarters in Moscow March 4, 2012. Putin claimed victory in Russia’s presidential election

on Sunday and, tears rolling down his cheeks, said it was a historical turning point that had prevented the country falling into the hands of enemies trying to usurp power.

Putin, told the prosecutor general to study the legality of 32 criminal cases including the jailing of former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Khodorkovsky, who headed what was Russia’s biggest oil company, Yukos, and was once the country’s richest man, was arrested in 2003 and jailed on tax evasion and fraud charges after showing political ambitions and falling out with Putin.

The Kremlin said Medvedev had also told the justice minister to explain

why Russia had refused to register a liberal opposition group, PARNAS, which has been barred from elections.

The order followed a meeting last month at which opposition leaders handed Medvedev a list of people they regard as political prisoners and called for political reforms.

Medvedev’s initiatives “have only one goal: To at least somehow lower the scale of dismay and protest that continues to surge in society,” Communist Party leader

Gennady Zyuganov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency.

The move could be a stalling tactic intended to appease the organizers of the biggest protests of Putin’s rule, or it could be a parting gesture by a man intent of making his mark as the more liberal of the ruling “tandem” with Putin.

Almost complete election results Monday showed Putin, 59, had won 63.68 percent of votes.

Zyuganov was second

security screening facilities,” said Roxas.

This procurement program, which will likely total P500 million, involves the purchase of the following: installation of 46 sets of screening equipment (worth around P475 million); 59 CCTVs; 9 x-rays for cargo; repair of 22 x-ray machines.

“Bidding process will start first week of April.

It is estimated to take 10 weeks from start of the bid before the entire process is completed. We will impose in the TOR (terms of reference) a delivery and

installation schedule that will have the first delivery within 60 days after award of the bid.” Roxas explained.

“By the end of this year we would have delivered and installed 100% of the security screening to all 45 airports,” he said.

The Philippines - an archipelago of over 7,100 islands - has 86 airports but only 45 service commercial flights.

He said that less than half of the 45 airports deploy screening machines that detect prohibited items inside the airport and aircraft.

“Only 21 airports have security screening facilities but these 21 comprises bulk of air traffic. However, their security screenings are only single layered, meaning the passengers and their baggage pass through just one screening process.

“What we want to do is to properly layer the security screening by screening the passengers, baggage and cargo upon entry to the facility and another before they embark on the plane. It’s going to be a two-layered screening process,” he said..[RAPPLER]

Two British journalists working for Iran’s Press TV who were detained late last month in Libya are suspected of being spies, the head of the militia which is holding them said on Sunday.

Faraj al-Swehli, commander of the Swehli brigade, said his men had found among the journalists’ possessions official Libyan documents, equipment used by the Israeli military and footage of them firing weapons.

“We believe they are spies,” Swehli said in Tripoli. He said it was too early to say what

country they were spying for, but that this would be established by their investigation.

“After we have finished the investigation we are going to transfer them to the state authorities to pursue the legal process against them.”

The two have been named as Nicholas Davies and Gareth MontgomeryJohnson.

They were arrested on February 22 in Misrata, about 200 km (130 miles) east of the capital. They are now being held in a Swehli brigade base in central Tripoli.

FPUTIN 13

Equipment for airports for bidding HE Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) plans to hold an auction in April for the security equipment to be installed in at least 45 airports in the country.

In a statement on Monday, March 5, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said the procurement program is part of efforts to beef up security screening procedures at 45 of the 86 airports all over the country.

“The objective is, by end of 2012, all 45 airports would have the appropriate

World today

2 British journalists accused of spying

P

resident Barack Obama says the US “will not hesitate” to use force to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, but says diplomacy could still succeed. Addressing an influential pro-Israel lobby group, Mr Obama also warned against “loose talk” of war in the dispute with Tehran.

Earlier, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Iran was “a danger to the world”. The US and its allies suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies.

Depot blast

M

ORE than 100 people were killed and another 100 injured in a depot blast on Sunday in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, hospital and other local sources have disclosed.

At a hospital, Xinhua’s reporter saw more than 30 bodies at a mortuary, but a medic told Xinhua the toll was more than 100. A military hospital in Brazzaville said around 80 injured persons were receiving medial treatment at the institution.

Earthquake

A

N earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted Aceh province in the northern tip of Sumatra island on Monday, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported here.

The USGS reported the quake at 5.1 magnitude.

The quake struck at 13:35 p.m. Jakarta time (0635 GMT) with epicenter at 31 kms. southeast of Aceh Tengah regency of the province and with a depth of 10 kms under earth, an official of the agency told Xinhua.

A

Topless

magistrate’s court in Moscow sentenced three activists of Ukraine’s Femen movement to administrative arrests for a semi-nude scene at a polling station in Moscow, a court spokeswoman said.

EDGEDAVAO

Mayor wants...

Mayor...

FFROM 1 down Central 911’s responsibilities so that the unit could function more efficiently, however, this was not done.

Duterte-Carpio said that when she became mayor in 2010 she told Monsanto to remove fire emergency response from Central 911’s responsibilities as “this is really not a function of the local government.” “(Since) paglingkod nako niana ko nga maghinay-hinay na ta ug unload ug ubang functions para maka-focus ta sa Urban Search and Rescue (USAR Unit) and sa medical emergencies,” she said.

“Firefighting should not be a function of the Central 911 unless they serve as auxiliary to medical emergencies or USAR,” she added.

It may be recalled that the mayor announced last January that the local

2 officials...

government would grant P1 million as assistance to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in order to improve the BFP’s fire response in the city.

Other than the financial assistance, she said the city also procured 60 firefighting suits, radio equipment and computers for the BFP. “We are now merely waiting for the BFP’s response as to how they will spend the P1million to formalize the grant in writing.

911 chief’s replacement The mayor said she’d opt to find a replacement for the Central 911 COO’s position rather than assign another person to take over the responsibilities of Central 911.

“Bakit ako mag-lagay ng tao diyan trabaho naman yan ng operations officer ah.

Bakit tayo maglagay ng tao

diyan and in the end kung naay magka-problema kinsa mang ang manubag?

Ang point person or ang operations officer? Of course ang operations officer,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio said she would have the position filled once she finds a qualified person.

“Tanggalon na lang nato siya gyud. We will do it as long as we can find another suitable person, another qualified person to run that office,” the Mayor said.

Not personal The mayor did stress that her decision is nothing personal, although admittung that there has been a lack of communication between her office and Central 911.

“Actually wala man mi problema kaming duha.

It’s just that dili pud mi nagaistorya,” she said referring to Monsanto.

roads here that have problems are national roads. There are also city roads that need repairs, but main avenues here are mostly national roads. We are thankful that DPWH is now doing rehabilitation,” Alabado said, admitting that the flood problem took it’s strain on the local administration.

“Yung media, pagkadating ng baha, ang daming questions na ‘Anong gagawin natin sa baha? Anong gagawin natin sa baha?’ On my part, I cannot say we can put a budget on that. Naturally, you know budget kasi yan eh. If you’re going to pour resources sa drainage, baka walang makakapagaral kasi meron kang tinanggalan ng budget. You have to adjust,” he said.

Aportadera said that rather than giving a temporary solution, the local leadership is set for the long term solution.

“Robby and I, we’re not mayors. We are not here to provide a band aid solution. People, they want a band aid solution but it has to be a grander plan. The people are compalining it’s smelly.

Ok, lets say, we take off the smell but you didn’t say where the smell is coming from, what contributes to that. Yun ang iniiwasan natin. We can only give word that what we are doing is for the best in the long run,” he said.

The two officials recalled Mayor Duterte’s BAROG platform which stands for Barangay, Academics, Resources, Peace and Order, and Governance.

Aportadera said

while the city is geared to become more businessfriendly, it is also set on improving its services.

“Internally, we’ve been cutting down on red tape while enticing more investors to come in. Kasi nakakahiya eh.

You invite in envestors, pero nan diyan parin ang hingi-hingi. Nakakahiya,” Aportadera said.

Alabado admitted some projects were delayed ‘due to internal adjustments.’

“It took a lot of effort para baguhin ang system.

That’s why nagkaroon there were some na nadelay ang mga projects,” he said.

“I think, Davao city is experiencing what is also happening in the national level. Pareho man din si PNoy (President Benigno Aquino) at si CMI (City Mayor Inday Sara). They don’t tolerate graft and corruption,” Alabado added.

Aportadera also shared his observations on City Mayor Duterte’s leadership.

“Yan man ang maganda ngayon kasi pag bata ang mayor. We see everybody on their toes.

You cannot give the mayor the runaround because she is a very hardworking mayor. Not because she’s young. Ako sa the father, hanggang ngayon saludo ako, (I have) so much respect for the father.

(But) the daughter, it’s a different brand of respect,” said Aportadera, who also served under the elder Duterte.

“You can’t get past her (Sara). She always sets by example,” he added.

FFROM 4

ating kainan. What we are after now is raising our bed space capacity. If you have a minimum of 4,000 (bed space capacity) you are qualified to hold a national convention which will complement the mayor in giving events and exhibits,” Aportadera said.

Aportadera foresees the upcoming opening of SM City’s facility extention in Ecoland as greatly becoming an asset in that field.

The two officials, however, admitted that along with the local government’s welcoming of the city’s growth, major adjustments would have to be made and efforts have to be doubled.

The most recurring problem last year had been the flooding whenever it rained.

Hence,Alabado welcomes the national government’s, through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), commitment to improve national roads and avenues in the city.

The Davao City Engineering division of DPWH since the second week this month started the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading of damaged portions of the national road along Quezon Boulevard and R. Castillo Street.

The repairs along Quezon Boulevard have a total budget of P36 million while almost P40 million is allotted for the R. Castillo project.

“These roads are past their life expectancy.

Many of us here do not know that most of the

13

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Changing..

FFROM 2

FFROM 3

machines for departing passenger baggage, only one remains in operation, a reason, both domestic and foreign passengers are made to pass through just one x-ray machine on the second floor of the terminal building; --of the three firetrucks needed so that bigger aircraft can be allowed to use the DIA, two trucks have been out of order for more than a year now; --water fountains in the airport have been out-oforder for a long time; --restrooms are foulsmelling, while other fixtures are non-functional; --during peak hours, many passengers are forced to stand or sit on the floor in the pre-departure lounges which lack space and benches; --garbage in the airport’s trash bins are not segregated in violation of the city ordinance on solid waste management; -- the airport tower is infested with termites; --restrooms are not provided with toiletries; among others.

Other risky practices Other unsound practices allowed by the DIA management that put the safety of the airport in jeopardy include: --encroachment of dogs into the runway; --cats are allowed to sneak into the terminal and cargo areas; -- management also allows planting of corn in the airport’s vicinity, thereby attracting birds which are dangerous to landing and taking off of aircraft.

who reside where there are tourism destinations should be well-trained.

Pointing out the major role of communities in treating tourists, del Rosario said, “When you get a tourist, you better have the techniques on how to drain him of budget.”

He said if a tourist is satisfied with his or her experience in the area, most likely he or she would come again; otherwise, he or she would not promote the destination to family and friends.

The initial phase of the project is to identify tourism destinations, both existing and new tourism sites. So far, the identified sites are Panas Falls, Talicud Island and San Isidro cave, according to Tagalo.

After roadshow ends in the first half of March, four barangays in Talicud will be penetrated by Ugmad Komunidad in the second half.

Tagalo said the project team will create a technical working group with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); conduct focused group discussions and community planning.

Aside from the potential tourist sites, the community will not only identify but also utilize the available resources, he added.

By July 1, he added, which is also Araw ng Davao del Norte, the province will start promoting existing and new tourism sites. He

Putin...

FFROM 12

on just over 17 percent and liberal billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov had almost 8 percent. Nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky secured just over 6 percent and former parliamentary speaker Sergei Mironov had less than 4 percent.

“There were practically no serious violations,” Central Election Commission chief Vladimir Churov told reporters, dismissing the allegations of irregularities across Russia by the opposition and volunteer vote monitors.

Golos, an independent monitoring group, said it had registered at least 3,100 reports of violations nationwide. An international observer mission was due to announce its findings later Monday.

Although the urban protest movement portrays Putin as an autocratic leader who will stymie political and economic change in Russia, he rallied core supporters in an election campaign that took him to many of the country’s far-flung regions.

Many voters see him as a safe pair of hands and credit him with restoring order after the chaotic 1990s under President Boris Yeltsin and overseeing an economic boom.

“I want stability. I don’t want any kind of change,” Maria Budaeva, a 38-year old university teacher, who backed Putin.

Raisa Sidorik, a 64year old housewife, said: “He knows the economy, he knows the political system.

It seems to me he’s the best candidate.”

Putin is sure to portray his emphatic election victory as a strong sign of public support against the protesters, whom he has portrayed as a destabilizing minority and pawns of foreign governments.

He is all but certain to revive his tough rhetoric against the West as he tackles foreign policy problems including a risk of isolation over the bloodshed in Syria.

He is also under pressure from foreign investors to cut Russia’s dependence on energy exports.

But many in big cities, especially Moscow and St Petersburg, say he is an obstacle to change and the guardian of a corrupt political system which benefits his friends and allies.

“Nothing has changed,” said protest leader Alexei Navalny.

“You cannot call what just happened elections.”

noted that the areas should be prepared before the distribution of brochures.

The key strategies of Ugmad Komunidad include prioritizing depressed communities with tourism potentials; sustained and sequential (social preparation, capability-building promotion and marketing; and replication); strong partnership with NGAs (DOT, DTI, DOST, TESDA, DOLE), NGOs (MASICAP), local colleges and the congressional offices of Cong. Anthony G. del Rosario; strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; and, partnership with local IT schools, strengthening Information Technology support link from Davao del Norte to the world.

Emphasizing the use of Facebook in promoting the province, Tagalo also mentioned the academe’s role in documentation which follows the standards of the World Bank among other related institutions.

Aside from promotion of tourism destinations, the provincial government’s promotions and investment interventions also include development of the coco coir industry; development of handicraft industry on beach shells as gifts and souvenir items; development of the seaweed industry; promote production of cardava banana; as well as business matching and marketing. [LORIE A. CASCAO]

JCCMI...

FFROM 5 city.”

Nishiyama said for their part, JCCMI will have a particular advocacy program to help remove the stereotyped image of Davao City to foreign investors such as promoting tourism.

“Tourism is not only for the resorts, but for the conventions, meetings, and then investments,” he added.

As to tax incentives, Mayor Duterte assured the JCCMI that Davao City Investment Incentives Board will be finalizing the amendments of the city’s investment incentive code.

And, the list of priorities includes agri-business; tourism and recreational facilities; light manufacturing and assembly; property development; health and wellness; educational and sports facilities; environmental protection project; information and communication technology; generation of new sources of energy; transportation and infrastructure; and, PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) projects.

14

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Scandinavian trees R ‘survived last Ice Age’

US researchers build ‘waste water generator’

S

OME Scandinavian trees survived the last Ice Age, challenging a widely held notion that they were killed off by the huge ice sheet that covered the region.

Modern trees in Scandinavia were thought to descend from species that migrated north when the ice melted 9,000 years ago.

But research suggests some conifers survived on mountain peaks that protruded from the enormous ice sheet, on islands and in coastal areas.

The work appears in Science journal.

“Our results demonstrate that not all the Scandinavian conifer trees have the same recent ancestors, as we once believed,” said Prof Eske Willerslev from the Centre for GeoGenetics, University of Copenhagen.

“There were groups of spruce and pine that survived the harsh climate in small ice-free pockets, or in refuges, as we call them, for tens of thousands of years, and then were able to spread once the ice retreated.

“Other spruce and pine trees have their origins in the southern and eastern ice-free areas of Europe. Therefore, one can now refer to ‘original’ and later naturally ‘introduced’ Scandinavian conifer species.”

The researchers came to their conclusions by studying the DNA of modern spruce - which clearly portrays two Scandinavian types - and

EDGEDAVAO

also by analysing the composition of pine and spruce DNA in sediments from lake-core samples.

“One hypothesis is that trees were able to survive on the top of nunataks, the exposed ridges or peaks of

mountains protruding from glacial cover, or in more sheltered areas close to the coast where proximity to the temperate conditions of the Atlantic Ocean favoured survival,” said Laura Parducci, from the University of Uppsala.

“These areas must have provided sites for roots to anchor and trees to grow in the challenging climate.”

Today, nunataks can be found protruding from the Greenlandic ice sheet, albeit without any trees.

ESEARCHERS in the US have built a prototype device which they say can generate electricity from waste water.

The team at PennsylvaniaStateUniversity says the technology would simultaneously treat the water.

They suggest the process could be adopted in developing countries, providing clean water and power for homes.

Details are published in the journal Science.

Scientists in the Netherlands have for some years been exploring the idea of generating renewable power along the country’s coastline, where fresh water from rivers meets the salt water of the sea.

Using a process called reverse electrodialysis (RED), fresh water and seawater are placed in intermittent chambers separated by membranes, and an electrochemical charge is created.

A Norwegian company is developing a similar technology using saline and fresh water.

The Penn State team says RED technology is problematic because of the large number of membranes required, and because power plants have to be located by

the sea.

They claim the number of membranes can be reduced and the power output boosted by combining the technology with what are called microbial fuel cells (MFCs). These use organic matter in solution to create an electric current - in this instance waste water.

The prototype technology also bypasses the need for salt water by using ammonium bicarbonate solution as a substitute, meaning the system could work in communities far from the sea.

The ammonium bicarbonate solution would be constantly recycled, using waste heat from local industry.

“If we treat waste water in just a microbial fuel cell, we don’t create much power and it takes a long time,” lead researcher Professor Bruce Logan told BBC News.

“In our process, we have the MFC part which is treating waste water and creating energy, and we have the RED stack which is just boosting that process, it’s making it happen more efficiently.”

He says the process could potentially be used anywhere, but could provide both clean water and power to communities in developing countries.

The prototype uses two separate tech-

nologies to generate electricity

World’s first biodegradable joint implant grows new joints J

OINT IMPLANTS SHOULD ALWAYS be made of materials like titanium, so they can last the lifetime of the patient ... right? Well, not according to researchers at Finland’s Tampere University of Technology.

They’ve developed a product known as RegJoint, which is reportedly the world’s first biodegradable joint implant. Unlike permanent implants, it allows the patient’s bone ends to remain intact, and it creates a new joint out of their own tissue.

In arthritic joints, the cartilage that protects the connecting ends of the bones has become compromised.

This allows the bones themselves to grate against one another, causing pain and reducing the joint’s range of movement. A traditional permanent implant replaces the ends of the affected bones with low-friction man-made material.

RegJoint, however, takes a different

JOINT IMPLANT. Scientists have created the world’s first biodegradable joint implant which causes the

body to regrow injured joint tissue

approach.

The implant has been in development

joints of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. It is made from

since the mid 90s, and is intended for use in the small finger and toe

a polylactide copolymer, and is inserted within the joint capsule of the

affected digit.

Once in place, it reduces pain by acting as a cushioning spacer between the exposed bone ends, while also also restoring a reasonable range of movement, and keeping the alreadycompromised cartilage from being damaged further.

Additionally, however, it triggers the body to produce new fibrous tissue, which proceeds to gradually replace the implant.

According to the university, all that’s left eventually is a fullyfunctioning “neojoint,” made from the body’s own cells.

Recently, RegJoint received CE Mark approval, which will allow it to be sold within Europe - it has already been used in over 200 patients, in clinical trials.

Assisting in its development were Conmed Linvatec Biomaterials and Scaffdex Ltd., which is now bringing the implant to market.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Kings of the hardcourt F I

By Neil Bravo

can make a lord, but only God can make a champion. Take that as a slight twist of a famous dictum by King James I. For the Kings of Jose Maria College of Davao, this will be forever etched as their guiding light and no less than team owner Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will remind them that.

From virtual pretenders to the throne, the unheralded Kings have ascended to assume the royalty of the country’s college hoop kingdom—at least for the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC).

The underdog Kings reigned over the hardcourt against the toughest warriors from the country’s hoop-crazy campuses, their last conquest was close to being biblical--against the Generals—surviving a late rally and staving off their rivals in overtime. Their 80-78 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the finals gave them their first taste of a national title.

The Kings thus joined the newly-crowned juniors champions Assumption College of Davao to elevate Davao City to the top of

student caging in the country in both collegiate and high school categories—a record of sorts for Davao caging.

Earlier, ACD beat Malay National High School of Boracay 69-55 to win the juniors crown.

The Kings, who were awarded the championship trophy donated by BAP President Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, earned the right to represent the country in the 9th Asian University Basketball Championship (AUBC) in July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Kings were led by eventual MVP and tournament star Joshua Adalid who had 19 in the championship, John Philip Refuerzo, Reynaldo Casanillo and Bob Ombecan.

Completing the cast were Dexter Caminse, Angelo Morilla, Jumabon Bulac, Marios Martinez, Aldwin Cole, Royce Olanolan, Kenny Guibay, Francis Cutin, Jayar de Guzman and Julius Escobido.

Drawing the plays for the Kings were a troika of veterans in head coach Dodong Cagampang and his able assistants Dindo Pastor and Nick Serafica. Sports Director M a r k Alemania joined the team as school

representative.

The Generals were steered by coach Gerald Esplana and assistant Andy de Guzman—themselves retired PBA stars. They were just four points behind three-fourths of the way before taking the driver’s seat, 64-59, on a baseline jumper by Ralph Sanchez.

The Kings quickly regained composure and dropped a 8-0 bomb of their own to regain upperhand, a67-64.

After eventual MVP Joshua Adalid, who had 16 in the game, put JMC on top 69-66, Jan Jamon hit five straight points topped by an and-one play to shove the Generals ahead, 71-69, with 16 ticks remaining.

A stinging defeat staring them in the eye, Francis Cutin drew a huge foul in the Kings final play. He calmly sank both free throws to end regulation time at 71-all and

HAIL THE KINGS—Jose Maria College-Davao, headed by their coach Dong Cagampang, along with DZRD Sonshine Radio manager Jay Mendoza, as they celebrate their victory after beating Emilio Aguinaldo College-Manila, 80-78, in the 64th National Student Basketball Championship (NSBC) held at the CSI Stadia in Dagupan Friday night.

SCORES NBA

Kobe Bryant

Masked Mamba

Kobe lifts Lakers past Heat

D

WYANE Wayde broke Kobe Bryant’s nose a week ago but yesterday, it was the LA star’s turn to break Wade’s heart.

A masked Bryant sizzled with 33 points as the Lakers beat the Miami Heat at home 93-83 for their 17th win at home in 18 games and 8 of 10 overall.

Wade, who went after a driving Bryant in the All Star game last week bloodying the Laker guard in the nose, limped to the bench with six fouls midway through the fourth and finished the night with just 16. He walked off

to the showers covering his head with a towel as the Lakers deal the Heat a statement win.

The Heat (28-9) are the second leading team in the league behind Chicago and the Lakers (23-14) are still a struggling team at fourth in the West.

In another anticipated match, the Boston Celtics ruined the return of Harvard grad Jeremy Lin to Boston with a 115-11 win in overtime. Lin had 16 points but it was Rajon Rondo who was the night’s biggest performer with 18 points , 20 assists and 17 rebounds.

JMC’s fortunes were saved by a prayer.

With the championship on the line in the extra period, Adalid rose to the occasion as great players are made of. A tip by Jamon for a 75-74 EAC lead proved to be the last cry of the Generals as Adalid struck for a big triple and JMC strung up six in one final blow for a 80-75 cushion and only 10 ticks on the clock.

Jamon’s desperation trey in the final seconds made it look close in the end as the Kings celebrated the sweet taste of a national title.

The balanced Kings offensive had three other Kings knocking in double digits – John Philip Refuerzo with 13, Reynaldo Casanillo 12 and Bob Ombecan 10.

Jamon led the Generals with 19, Sanchez had 15, and Sout African center Noube Happi had 12.

Atlantic Philadelphia Boston New York Toronto New Jersey Central Chicago Indiana Milwaukee Cleveland Detroit Southeast Miami Orlando Atlanta Washington Charlotte Western Conference Northwest Oklahoma City Denver Minnesota Portland Utah Pacific L.A. Clippers L.A. Lakers Phoenix Golden State Sacramento Southwest San Antonio Memphis Dallas Houston New Orleans Yesterday’s Games: Boston New York Lakers Miami New Jersey Charlotte Toronto Golden State Chicago Philadelphia Clippers Houston Phoenix Sacramento Denver San Antonio

W 22 19 18 12 12 W 31 23 14 13 12 W 28 24 22 8 4

L 16 17 19 25 26 L 8 12 23 22 26 L 9 14 15 28 31

W 29 21 19 18 17 W 22 23 17 14 12 W 25 22 22 21 9

L 8 17 19 19 19 L 13 14 20 20 25 L 12 15 16 17 28

115 111 93 83 104 101 83 75 96 91 105 103 96 88 99 94

SPORTS

15

PAL Interclub and sports tourism

OR four straight weeks, my email constantly lights up with releases from the Corporate Communications office of the Philippine Airlines. There were messages too from PAL buddies both from the airline’s Corp Comm office and media buddies who regularly cover the Interclub.

For some reason, everyone gets excited during the Interclub.

From the visiting golfers to the touring pack of sports media, there is something in the Interclub that gets everyone excitedly looking forward to each passing season.

Most excited should be the host city, and the reason is quite obvious.

Every Interclub host city is ensured of economic revenues from hotel accommodation, food, transport, golf and souvenir items.

The recent two golfing weeks of the PAL Interclub in Davao City netted a whopping P60 million in revenues. The 65th edition of the annual golfing tournament raked in some P5.5 million a day in the 11 days it was held here.

My recent trip to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur kept me away from most part of the Interclub including the media golf tournament.

I caught up with the guys in the final two days of the tournament. Some of our golfing friends from Manila were already back to their respective stations but I was able to catch up with my kumpadre Nimrod Quinonez of Freeman Cebu who must be the busiest man as Cebu’s own squad pulled the rug from under the favourites to win this year’s edition of the Regular Men’s tourna-

ment.

Mike Limpag of Sunstar was also around and so were the friendly personnel from PAL like Iya, Charlie, and Lito. Oh, I missed Jonathan Gesmundo who understandably is busy as a bee. Thanks much to you guys, and of course to PAL VP for Corp Comm Joey De Guzman and spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

Boy, I miss the media tournament. It would have been great playing with the guys again especially after last year’s very memorable tournament in Cagayan de Oro. I would have played gracious host to a fellow media golfer who made last year’s event one of my most unforgettable edition ever.

Still, I knew everyone had a grand time in Davao—from golf, to food, to parties, to shopping and some fun. As we say now in our tourism pitch, “life is here.” Indeed, P60 million worth of economic revenues surely spells life well spent here over just 11 days.

A windfall for sure.

It comes simply from sports tourism, something Davao can cash in.

It’s about time.

Metro TMS XI back on track

T

HE stinging loss to veteran laden KMMPC still haunting them, Metro TMS rebounded strongly this time with a statement win in the 2012 DFA Second Division League.

A resounding 8-1 win over an outmatched SF FC was all that the fancied Metro TMS side needed to get back on track in the tournament.

Playing reckless and not defending well, Metro TMS got stung

by KMMPC 3 to nil in their last outing in a match that exposed some chink in their vaunted armor.

Against SF FC, Metro TMS played a tentative first half before settling down after the break.

Right winger Carl Fabre broke the ice in the 60th before Manny

S

Yu found the net twice in the 75th and 76th and striker Eric Sedighour knocked in the first of his three in the 77th. That four-goal barrage in 17 minutes was all the jolt they needed to get back in the groove.

Sedighpour (77’, 87’, 89’) and Fabre (60’, 85’, 90’) both scored hat tricks in the match as Metro TMS laid out their feared artillery to full display. Jeffrey Sauner scored SF’s lone goal in the 80th.

In other matches, Solido Youth beat M7 United 3-1 on goals by Javi Romero-Salas (47th) and Miko Arrieta (53’, 89’). M7 opened up the scoring early in the 16th courtesy of Ruel Sasuman but could not keep up

with the crazy pace of the youthful Solido side.

Intangibles FC also chalked up an easy win against Eden FC 6-0 while Instatech stopped KMMPC 3-2.

RJ Concordo had two markers for Intangibles in the 29th and 75th. Other scorers were Gerome Laruan (10’), Miko Garpisano (53’), Benjie Pacetes (58’) and Teddy Malanguiz (61’).

Dietmer Speckmaier booked two markers for Instatech including the marginal goal in the 70th. Laude Langgam added one in the 57th as Instatech cooled KMMPC which got a goal each in veterans Angging Sabate (46’) and lawyer Iko Villano (59’).

(NEIL BRAVO)

Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge set in April

TA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur -- The municipal government here is all set for the conduct of the 2nd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, a 24-hour extreme adventure race from the beach lines of Sta. Cruz to the summit of Mt. Apo. The boulder challenge slated on April 28-29, 2012 will involve four disciplines namely mountain biking, trekking, water tubing and road running.

This year’s event will be a highlight in the municipality’s annual Pista sa Kinaiyahan (Feast of the Environment) celebration.

The event has been instru-

mental in promoting advocacy on responsible tourism and at the same time conserving the entire Mt. Apo National Park.

The Department of Tourism will be the partner project implementer of the race along with the Mountaineering Federation of Southern Mindanao (MFSM). Likewise, corporate collaborators include San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Aboitiz Power, and Recreational Outdoor Exchange (ROX) as the official outfitter, among others.

The Local Government of Sta. Cruz has earmarked a total cash prize of about P500,000 for the race winners and finishers.

The champion will receive P150,000 and the second placer will pocket P100,000, while the third placer will bring home P75,000.

Top five finishers will also receive a consolation prize of P10,000 each.

The race is open to all athletes in a team category comprised of two racers and one logistic crew.

The route will total to some 70-80 kilometers featuring Sibulan Trail to Mt. Apo with twenty (20) marshal points. For more information and for online registration, you may log in to www.boulderface.com. (PIA)

16 SPORTS The Business PAPER

You can now buy your favorite Business Paper from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

Davao

Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Calinan lass endures long ride to win nat’l triathlon race M ARY Pauline Fornea raced to victory for a little more than half an hour.

She travelled to the race for no little less than one day.

As if four bus rides were themselves triathlon stages, the young lass from Calinan made that long journey a prelude to win a tougher three-stage triathlon. And as if that is not even enough, the account of her travel is so long it would even take more time to talk about than her biggest career win yet.

Davao’s new sports heroine went through the wearying connecting trips from Davao City to Dapitan City before emerging as the top female triathlete of her classs in the Dakak National AgeGroup Triathlon held in an out-and-back course

at the scenic Punto del Desembarco de Rizal recently.

Fornea’s exploits were reported earlier in the Philippine Star.

The 17-year old Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholar at UP Mindanao, clocked one hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds to beat 18-yearold Jenefer Paloma of Cagayan de Oro City by 11 minutes.

Fonea, who swims for

the UP Mindanao varsity squad, registered the fastest time in the swim leg in 12 minutes, 12 seconds. She also posted a remarkable time of 54:04 in the bike stage after completing the 750m swim, 20K bike and 5K run course in 28:13.

The Star report said that Fornea’s total clocking was even better than the 2:14:13 posted by male sprint race winner Glenn Cabunoc.

The long journey to victory started with four connecting trips from Catalunan where the Forneas reside. Along with her mother Ofelia, Fornea endured the rugged roads of Bukidnon en route to Cagayan de Oro, before stepping on another bus to Iligan, another one to Ozamiz and finally another one to Dipolog.

calls for competitions in men’s singles and doubles where ten clubs have so far confirmed participation.

An eleventh entry will come from DATEC to fill in the void of one slot which became available as of presstime.

Taking part in the tournament organized by DATEC and sanctioned by Philta are Ecoland Tennis Center Eco 2 Tennis Club, Midland, DMC Tennis Club, Toril Lawn Tennis Club, Eco 4 Tennis Club, DENR Tennis Club, Babak, GSIS and host IGACOS Tennis Club.

Michael Mesa will banner the cast in the men’s singles as he suits

up for GSIS. He will be challenged by Jay Jasper Quimno (Ecoland TC), BJ Vicente (Eco 2), Osit Judabal (Midland), John Limbo (DMC), Joel Cabusas (Toril), John Jeric Accion (Eco 4) and Emer Cariga (Babak). In the men’s doubles, the tandem of Bong Tapucar-Eric Salazar will carry Ecoland TC, Bobong Caorte-Jun Jun Alcoseba (Eco 2), Chito Tapucar-Cocoy Bendolo (Midland), Ron Ron PalinJim Bacalla (Toril), Alex Ferraren-Danny Eliot (DENR), Dr. Milo-Elvie Lopez (Babak), Dante Dalaygon-Daniel Abad (Igacos),and Boyet CaorteJimboy Kabigting (DATEC).

Fornea

Samal netfest underway

T

F. Torres St., Davao City Tel No. 227-3773 - (72) Fax: 295-3485

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EN clubs are taking part in the ongoing Samal Men’s Invitational Tennis Tournament at the Island Garden City of Samal.

Engr. Carol Angel, who heads the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association Region XI-B, announced the staging of the three-day netfest to coincide with the island city’s 14th founding anniversary.

“Only limited slots are available due to the limitations in the venue but we are expecting an intense competition ahead with just about all clubs in this tournament going all out to win,” Angel told the Edge.

Tournament format

T

ARWIND SANTOS

Spiderman is Player of the Week

O

NE simply can’t hold down a prolific producer like Arwind Santos for long.

The do-it-all forward proved that by delivering very impressive numbers in Petron Blaze’s most recent back-to-back wins to earn for himself the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week honors for the period Feb. 27 to March 4.

In the Boosters’ 10288 and 110-103 victories over Air21 and Rain or Shine, Santos averaged 23.0 points and 11.5 rebounds that made him the scribes’ unanimous choice over Talk’N Text’s Jason Castro and Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa.

Not bad at all for someone who went into those games averaging 10.3 rebounds but just 6.7 points in Petron’s first three games, a far cry from his 17.3 ppg and 11.8 rpg norms in the Philippine Cup. “Ang isang katulad ni Arwind di mo mapipigilan talaga. Talagang lalabas at lalabas ang laro niya,” said Boosters coach Ato Agustin of his longlimbed ace who also averaged 3.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and a steal in the week that was.

For the 30-year-old, it was simply a matter of adjusting to their import, Nick Fazekas, and the opposition.

Junior netters open bid in Asian tilt

HE ITF Asia 14 & Under Development Championships– Division I unwraps today (Tuesday, March 6) with 68 junior netters from at least 13 countries, including boys’ top-ranked Nikshep Ballekere and girls’ No. 2 Pranjala Yadlapalli, both of India, clashing for top honors and ranking points at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Eric Olivarez Jr., No. 22 in the current ITF ranking, and No. 30 Alberto Lim Jr. banner the country’s campaign in the first of two tournaments put up by the International Tennis Federation Grand Slam Development Fund to help develop and promote the sport in Asia and at the same time create the firstever ranking system for junior players in the region.

Also in the fold are Christian Fel Lopez, Jerome Romualdez and Jose Julian Dayrit IV while Meredith

Jones, the highest-ranked Filipina at No. 23 and No. 41 Ericka Mae Manduriao lead the local girls’ bid along with Maia Bernadette Balce, Ingrid Mariz Gonzales and Ma. Dominque Ong. Ballekere, winner of the Bangalore, India leg last January, spearheads the talent-laden boys’ cast along with No. 3 Chung Yun-seong, No. 4 Hong Kit Wong and No/ 7 Lok Pui Lawrence Lo of Hong Kong, No. 8 Aryan Goveas, also of India, No. 9 Hao Sheng Koay of Malaysia and Taiwanese No. 10 Wu Tung-lin.

On the other hand, Yadlapalli, who reigned in the Hyderabad, India stage last month, leads the chase for the girls’ plum along with Malaysian No. 3 Yus Yusri, No. 8 Gozal Ainitdinova of Kazakhstan, No. 11 Himani Mor of India, Hong Kong’s No. 16 Wai Lam Ip, Korean No. 19 Dohee Bae and No. 20 Vanshika Sawhney of India.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

The 8,888 calories of the Lion City EVERY country has its on national pastime that is ingrained in the very fabric of their citizens. Japan’s national pastime is baseball, Italian love fashion, while we in the Philippines love basketball, and of all the national pastimes Singapore would have to be my favorite pastime, and that is eating good food.

And I was given a front row experience of the Singaporean passion for food

by Tiger Airway’s Sharon Cheong, And where better to start counting the calories than at Singapore’s Chinatown. Food stalls line the streets filled with anything and everything to satisfy one’s craving.

Forget the well known Hainan Chicken Rice and Laksa. We were off to sample street fare. All along Sago Street, you can see food stalls selling fruits, cold drinks, plus regional delicacies such as Thai and Malay desserts. Heck, I even saw a sausage stand manned by a German national!

We made our way through the busy streets of Chinatown to arrive at Yum Cha along Trengganu Street for some traditional Singaporean Chinese fare.

This is where the calories start stacking up, thanks to the delicious Peking Duck served three ways. I loved the Singaporean style, hot pot that had a sweet and

delicate broth to match the bountiful seafood. My favorite is the fish tofu that was savory and had great flavor.

After the feast we were off to walk off some calories while looking for some desserts to eat. Of course at the same time we were resisting temptation to taste away each and every offer. From cured meats to flavored jellies and even barbecued crocodile meat, the choices are endless. The key to finding delicious treats though is to look for the longest line and go for it.

So after a few minutes the group settled on having some flavored ice to top off the evening. I loved the black sesame ice paired with almond ice and some black and aloe jelly which really hit the spot. Of course this was coming from my full belly that was loving each and every minute of this Singapore food trip.

And for your next food trip, grab a direct flight from Davao to Singapore on Tiger Airways by logging on to www.tigerairways.com.

The

Business

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PAPER

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Jose Abad Santos St., Corner Arellano St., Tagum City 8100 Philippines Tel. No.: (084) 216-3003 Cell No,: 0939-243-8539

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VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

Summer travel tips

By Peter Imbong

Spend your summer in Singapore’s secret hotspots

W

ITH summer 2012 pegged to be a cool season in the Philippines, it seems like a good time to take a break off from the same old beach routine. Instead of bringing home beach bracelets and sand bottles, bring your friends and family to Singapore and enjoy a new experience exploring its hidden gems.

“Singapore offers surprises for Filipino families, couples and barkadas who are looking for a new way to enjoy the summer vacation,” said Ms Sherina Chan, Singapore Tourism Board Area Director for the Philippines and Brunei.

Bring them to see a new side of Singapore with the Original Singapore Walks by Journeys. Take the road less traveled with expert local guides and explore off the beaten tracks. Be entertained with an endless store of anecdotes that reveal the true heart of the city for you to proudly declare, ‘I’ve truly been to Singapore.’

If you are interested to find out how Singapore was sold to the British for 60,000 Spanish Dollars and catch a glimpse of dying trades, the Sultans of Spice Walk may be for you. Catch the parrot astrologer, visit Singapore’s most colorful wet market and take in the exotic colors and aromas as you begin your Little India Walk.

Know what goes into your golden pint at the Brewery Tour and indulge in a slew of craft beers with the Clarke Quay-Singapore River Walk tour. Pre-booking is not necessary, so you can simply turn up at the designated meeting point, pay the guide and off you go.

If you want to see a more mellow landscape, the D’Kranji Farm Resort in Lim Chu Kang offers a farm-stay experience with 19 villas, a spa, a seafood restaurant and a beer garden, making it a must-visit agri-tainment hub.

You can also visit the Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium, which is both an educational and entertaining experience with its interactive exhibits and a view of the spice trade, maritime archaeology and traditional shipbuilding.

Vivo City also has activities for the whole family. Kids can enjoy the open air playground and rooftop water feature, while the whole family can enjoy the wide array of retail and dining options.

Take the road less traveled with expert local guides and explore off the beaten tracks.

For good food, take your family to the Singapore Food Trail to experience an exciting dining concept which brings out the nostalgic charm of Singapore in the 1960s. The 16,000 square foot property boasts some of Singapore’s best street hawkers with favorites like satay bee hoon, fried hokkien mee and chicken rice.

Barkadas should drop by Singapore’s hottest clubs like Ku De Ta, Avalon and Pangea to party the night away. Clarke Quay offers an intimate downtime happy hour where you can get the best booze for your buck.

Choose from a wide selection of drinks from sake and beers to cocktails and wines for as low as PhP250 per pint.

For the best happy hours, check out Café Iguana, Brewerkz and Harry’s Bar. If you need some local fare to feast on for supper, head to the Food Republic Beer Garden for an array of local delights in an alfresco environment and live bands.

Barkadas can also check out the budding Haji Lane, a fashionista Mecca for those who want unique finds, hip retail apparel and indie record labels. The stretch of Haji Lane and Ann Siang Hill is not just a shopping destination—it’s also a place where girls can enjoy quirky desserts in picturesque cafes while the guys can drink the night away at some of the hippest bars and clubs.

Sentosa also offers barkadas a fun time with attractions like iFly Singapore, the world’s first largest themed

wind tunnel for indoor skydiving.

The 650-meter go-cart-like adventure track of the Skyline Luge Sentosa can provide the addictive rush that speed demons and racetrack devils crave for.

For a romantic getaway, couples can enjoy Holland Village, which is only a 10-minute drive from the busy Orchard Road. Holland Village is an entertainment haven, complete with restaurants, bars and shops.

To set the mood for a romantic evening, couples can swing by the Marina Bay Sands Skypark, which has breathtaking view of Singapore’s skyline especially at sunset. Or view the entire Singapore cityscape while toasting with your loved one at the Moët & Chandon Champagne Dining on the Singapore Flyer.

“Singapore is more than just a city filled with shopping on Orchard Road or attractions such as Universal Studios, it also has a side that features the unique charm that only Singapore can offer. We hope these fresh, new experiences will never cease to surprise our Filipino guests,” said Ms Chan.

IT’S official. According to the spectaclewearing weatherwatching pundits over at Pagasa, the summer season has arrived, albeit a little early than usual, but still as hot as a celebrity break-up scandal with allegations of infidelity and secret pregnancies. For those who have spent the last few months hibernating in an office cubicle, now’s the perfect time to trade those leather shoes and stilettos for flipflops and loafers, go out, and travel. And while, the prospect of trudging through the airport and spending hours locked inside a pressure controlled flying chamber may seem already a huge leap of faith, there are some things you can do to make the trip worth doing.

Pack Off Packing is the most important yet most hated part of the entire travel process.

How does one exactly know how much clothes to bring for two-day trip?

How to fit it all in a suitcase? And the most important: how many pairs of underwear to bring? Start by looking at your travel itinerary and assessing how many times you may need to change into a different set of clothes. If you have a business meeting in the morning, followed by a lunch, and a night out later in the day, lay out complete outfits for each. And to save on space, choose items that you can wear more than once to a different event.

Check Republic To save you from the stress of running to the check-in counter, check-in online before actually going to the airport. Doing this will also allow you to come in at a later time, giving you an extra hour or two to rest or travel instead of spending that time waiting for nothing to happen at the airport .

Emotional Baggage With airlines charging for checked-in luggage, bringing all your stuff on board is a good idea. You

can also spare yourself the time and trouble of negotiating with airport staff in case they misplace your luggage, or it happens to be the last one they unload from the plane onto the conveyor belt. Skip the bulky stroller and instead, take two even-sized, softsided bags. Once on the plane, you can place one in the overhead compartment, and the other one underneath your seat.

Travel on a Wimdu Not everyone has the cash to stay at a fancy hotel or beach front resort.

Also, some travelers want to stray away from the tourist trail, staying at lowcost inns or traveler hotels.

For both, there’s Wimdu (www.wimdu.com). It’s a site that allows you to search through their more than 50,000 properties worldwide—from condominium units, apartments, to extra rooms—and stay with a host from that area.

It’s like couch surfing but safer since all properties are checked and validated.

And when they say worldwide, they mean it. How about a room in Alaska?

Rationalize It’s always a good idea to carry small snack rations in your carry-on in the event that the plane spends a good deal of time waiting on the runway or circling in the air, or the cheap MSG-laden peanuts of the airline just won’t cut it for you. Pack a few protein or cereal bars into a pocket. Throw in some hard candies or gum in case you need a sugar fix or something to chew on during the flight.

Oh My Gadget An eight hour flight seated next to noisy strangers can be excruciating. But if armed with the right gear, can actually be quite productive.

Portable music and movie players will always come in handy. Ebook readers are lightweight and before you know it, you will have made a dent into that book you’ve been reading since the start of the year.

Purchase a nifty gadget organizer from department stores or organizer shops to keep your precious ones in place and easy to reach inside your carry-on. But most importantly, don’t forget to charge.

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

BOOKS

Book tweets The Perks of Being a Wallflower Stephen Chbosky

If you like Catcher in the Rye you’ll probably like this. Enjoy Charlie’s hilarious, devastating, and uplifting coming-of-age whilst he enters uncharted territories of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show among others.

Girl with the Dragon Tatoo (Film Tie-in) Steig Larson

Combines murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue. The society at its most hidden facet with characters forced to face the darker aspect of their world and their own lives.

Bossypants Tina Fey

From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live, Tina Fey reveals all - proving you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.

ENTERTAINMENT

Daniel Padilla and JAMICH celebrate Davao’s 75th at SM!

DANIEL Padilla, one of ABSCBN’s hottest young stars is set to jazz up Araw ng Dabaw afternoon with JAMICH at SM City Davao’s Event Centre.

Daniel, third generation of Padilla in the entertainment industry recently captured the hearts of many girls in his first lead role in Growing Up, where he acted alongside Kathryn Bernardo. The dashing lad has been noted for his looks, charm and talent.

Jamich, the real-life couple who recently rose to Youtube stardom, will send love chills to their Davao fans. Jamville and Paolinne Michelle (JAMIC H) has been attracting thousands of subscribers on Youtube with JamichTV channel earning the 13th most subscribed Philippine-based channel. To date, their videos have amassed 7 million hits. The couple has been featured in various TV shows because of their online popularity.

Get a chance to meet Daniel

and dance with Jamich, live on March 16, 5PM at the SM Event Centre. Admission is free.

SM Davao celebrates Araw ng Dabaw with a weeklong mall-wide sale event beginning March 12. Mall hours are extended to 10PM on March 1216 and until midnight (12MN) on March 17.

Celebrate Life in the City at SM City Davao, where we all come together!

For inquiries, please call 297.6998 local 126. Like SM City Davao on Facebook or visit www.smcitydavao.blogspot.com for event and promo update.

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STYLE

The looks of the

Oscars 2012

F

OR those who caught the telecast of the Academy Awards last week, it was arguably just okay. That goes for the nominees, the awards show itself and the red carpet that preceded it. If the gowns of yesteryears sparked strong reactions, whether they blew us away or made us cringe ala Bjork, at least it made for real fashion entertainment.

VIOLA Davis in Vera Wang.

GYWNETH Paltrow in Tom Ford.

BERENICE Bejo in Elie Saab.

STACY Keibler in Marchesa.

EMMA Stone in Giambattista Valli.

This year, the most awaited awards ceremony in Hollywood seemed upstaged by the energy and couture of the shows that came before it during this 2012 awards season. A jumble of ladies of varying star and style wattages walked the red carpet this year and lent it an equal hodgepodge of looks that left a lot of static in Oscars-worthiness and glamour. Among the trains and strides, I bring you a roster of looks that I felt deserved some mention or acclaim: Angelina Jolie She does vamp best! The leg jut was a little too contrived but otherwise, it was a look that was in her favor.

She was resplendent in this Atelier Versace gown and it played up all her assets, especially her porcelain skin and lithe frame.

Viola Davis She reminds me of Angela Bassett in this Vera Wang dress. She was criticized for doing asymmetrical too often in her appearances for the last few months and this was the perfect way to shake things up and grab some attention. And sans her wig, no less!

Jennifer Lopez This is my favorite Oscars look of hers ever. It used to be the green vintage Valentino once worn by Jackie Kennedy but in that look, I loved her gown more than her. In this body-hugging Zuhair Murad gown and the second one from the same designer that she wore to the after party, she is in her sexy Latina element.

Rooney Mara How can one not include this Best Actress nominee who stormed Hollywood with her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo?

Her almost elfin features and distinctive aura make her an unorthodox beauty and her custom Givenchy Couture gown suited her perfectly that night. Her grace and talent is stirring attention and it is clear that she will build a

ANGELINA Jolie in Atelier Versace.

body of work that will stoke the depths of her multi-faceted character. Let’s hope that she will continue to capture our imaginations style-wise as well.

Gwyneth Paltrow She is the queen of minimalist sleek in this Tom Ford cape dress. To paraphrase something Michael Kors once said about this actress and self-styled domestic goddess, elegantly simple column dresses and ponytails are the perfect way to play up her blondness and perfect bone structure.

Jessica Chastain She is quite the style chameleon and I love this gown on her. Only a fashion house like Alexander McQueen’s could serve up an intricately designed gown like hers. I liked that her hair and makeup was kept fresh and not overly formal, as befitted her age and status as an up-andcoming talent.

Stacy Keibler The fact that this former lady wrestler and George Clooney’s current squeeze was one of my best dressed for this year’s Oscars is speaking volumes of just how much the event was found wanting in the fashion department.

The statuesque blonde was sexy and glamourous in gold Marchesa and she continues to display total ease and smart sartorial choices with every Hollywood event that she attends on the arm of her dashing man.

Berenice Bejo This Argentine-French actress has certainly come a long way from her ladyin-waiting role to Shannyn Sossamon’s princess in the 2001 Heath Ledger starrer,

A Knight’s Tale. As part of the ensemble cast of the silent film The Artist, she was a true standout in her mint green Elie Saab gown. Her entire look complemented the pale hue of her dress and was the perfect “icy” foil for her fiery red hair.

Emma Stone She was a big disappointment for me because the bow and skirt of the Giambatista Valli gown she donned was overpowering for her small frame. It actually reminded me of a curtain as there was just so much cloth. This is quite a safe departure from her past appearances which have always been edgy yet young. Not even her signature bold lip color could save her from the unflattering cut of her cranberry hued gown and her made-for-bridal updo.

LEFT: Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad.

BOTTOM LEFT: Rooney Mara in Givenchy Haute Couture.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen.

VOL.5 ISSUE 2 • MARCH 6, 2012